05/25, 3:02am
'Game of the Week,' 'Staff Favorites' dropped
Apple has made another subtle change to its iOS App Store, dropping the "Game of the Week" and "Staff Favorites" sections on the main page in favor of "Editor's Choice" and "Free App of the Week." The new designation has kicked off naming Chillingo's new Air Mail game and Autodesk's SketchBook Ink drawing app for the iPad, and Facebook Camera and Extreme Skater getting the nod on the iPhone. Cut the Rope: Experiments is the free app for both.
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05/24, 5:17pm
Utility takes inspiration from Instagram
Facebook has launched its own camera app for the iPhone (free, App Store), complementing the social network's existing iOS utilities. Following on the heels of the company's recent Instagram buyout, Facebook Camera provides a photo editor that can be used to crop shots or apply various filters.
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05/24, 4:40pm
Options for monthly and annual subscriptions now within Android apps
Google has introduced in-app subscriptions to its Play store, according to the a post on the company's official Android developers blog. From today, App developers can use in-app billing to sell monthly or annual subscriptions from within the app itself. The addition brings Google's app portal in line with the Apple App Store in offering recurring billing to its customers and developers, with all subscriptions being auto-renewing by default.
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05/17, 1:46pm
Company may be looking to control knowledge of jailbreaks
For a brief time on Thursday Apple was censoring appearances of the word "jailbreak" on the iTunes Store, reports note. One example included the Thin Lizzy album and song of the same name, which were suddenly renamed "J*******k." Other instances of the word, though, are said to have remained unaffected. By Thursday afternoon Eastern time, the extra censorship is observed to have disappeared.
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05/15, 2:13pm
Reviewer's test account gives peek behind the scenes
App developers got a brief glimpse into the workings of the review process yesterday when photos emerged of what appeared to be the work desk of an App Store reviewer. As ReadWriteWeb discovered, the photos -- posted on a test Facebook account -- showed an iMac, several Apple products, and what appeared to be app review guidelines.
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05/10, 6:35pm
First-person shooter sequel now on iOS
Gameloft today released the third installment of the N.O.V.A. series of first-person shooters. Previous installations of the sci-fi shooter series have earned acclaim for the detailed graphics Gameloft manages to coax out of mobile hardware. N.O.V.A. 3 [$7 in the App Store] follows a band of space marines from the Near Orbital Vanguard Alliance in their quest to save their planet from aliens.
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05/09, 6:56pm
Google+ gets stylish redesign
Today, Google released an update for its Google+ iOS app (free, App Store). The update amounts to a considerable makeover for the social networking app, bringing crisper fonts, larger profile pics, and a revamped home screen.
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05/03, 4:12pm
Metadata, other fields support more languages
Apple has updated the App Store localization support in iTunes Connect with 10 more languages, a developer bulletin indicates. These include Norwegian, Turkish, Finnish, Danish, Indonesian, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, and traditional Chinese. Through the expanded support, the metadata, keywords, and screenshots on App Store pages can now be rendered more appropriate to a region.
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04/30, 7:00pm
Triggertrap intros $10 cable, $10 app for control
TriggerTrap has just unveiled a new app ($10, App Store) and $10 cable that connects to one of over 270 digital cameras and allows remote control and full control over the camera. This can be especially useful for DSLRs, where it allows full-fledged access to all standard and more features, eliminating the factory remotes. Any iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch running on iOS 5 can be used with the app.
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04/27, 9:00pm
Each $2 e-book offers 100 Foxtrot comic strips
Syndicated Foxtrot comic strip creator Bill Amend, who two weeks ago took his "first steps into the worlds of e-books and self-publishing," has reported that his "Pad Pack" collection (three volumes of 100 strips each selling for $2 on the App Store) have made in two weeks about 25 percent of what his traditionally-published strip collections make in two years. The artist, who created the books entirely in iBooks Author, called the results "amazing."
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04/27, 3:35pm
Second straight month of decline
Daily US iPhone app downloads fell 30 percent month-over-month in March, from 6.35 million to 4.45 million, according to mobile marketing firm Fiksu. The company adds that it was the second straight month of decline in the course of tracking, although the January-February transition was much less severe, dipping only from 6.79 million.
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04/26, 10:40pm
Economist forecasts wholesale move to digital
Most print publishing will be gone within the next 25 years, The Economist CEO Andrew Rashbass predicted in a presentation on Thursday. Paper magazines were at new highs, and his publication was hoping to keep demand hihg, but he told paidContent and others at Madrid's Paley Center international council that he was realistic about print going away. He was enthusiastic about tablet reading, which gave the company a possible avenue for a business model after years of uncertainty over a pure web version.
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04/20, 4:15pm
Google 'spring cleaning' targets mobile
Google on Friday detailed another round of sweeping consolidation that would drop even more of the servers it no longer considers vital. One Pass, its digital publication payment system, has been shuttered and its users transitioned to "other platforms." The implementation was intended to compete with Apple's own App Store publication rules and gave publishers as much as a 90 percent cut as well as access to subscriber details.
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04/13, 2:10pm
Dispute over scope of iTunes terms of service
A US District judge, Edward Da Vila, last week upheld four out of five claims in an ongoing lawsuit against Apple over so-called "bait" apps, reports say. The plaintiffs are a number of parents who last year had their class action suits consolidated by a federal judge in California. All of them have complained that Apple marketed certain childrens' apps as free, but that in reality the apps allowed children to buy virtual goods with real money, resulting in bills between $99.99 and $338.72.
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04/12, 4:50pm
Cracks down on account hijacking
Within the last 24 hours or so, Apple has started to require extra security for Apple IDs, notes The Next Web. People downloading new apps in iOS or in iTunes are reportedly being asked to pick three security questions, as well as enter a backup email address. After the process is complete, an email is sent to verify the backup address.
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04/10, 10:15am
Amazon Appstore gets in-app sales
Amazon gave Appstore developers an important catch-up on Tuesday through support for in-app purchases. Its custom Android store now uses the same 1-Click engine to handle buying content as for the apps themselves. The switch preserves the typical 70 percent royalty paid to developers and only restricts things such as solely extra-app purchases, illegal or "offensive" material, and virtual currencies that could be exchanged between users.
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04/07, 8:10pm
BlackBerry PlayBook to drop sideloading in update
RIM is dropping app sideloading support from the BlackBerry PlayBook in a bid to prevent the problems that have plagued Android, the company's Developer Relations VP Alec Saunders stated earlier in the week. The company would have a "solution" for developers to do it in testing, but the end user would have to go through BlackBerry App World, much like Apple does with the App Store. He believed Android had a rampant problem with piracy, where about a quarter of material was pirated.
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03/29, 4:00pm
Tapbots used tech for push notifications
Apple is indeed rejecting apps that collect UDIDs without consent, Tapbots has confirmed. The Tweetbot developer says it has received a rejection notice after trying to submit a v2.2 update to the App Store. "We found your app does not obtain user consent before collecting their personal data, as required by the App Store Review Guidelines," the message reads. Apple singles out the use of UDIDs, which are associated with individual iOS devices.
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03/27, 9:00pm
Growing at the same pace as all of Google Play
Distimo, a market analysis firm specializing in app marketplaces and analytics, has released a report covering two years of the iOS App Store with a particular focus on iPad apps, along with some comparison with the re-named Android Marketplace, now called Google Play. Among the findings, iPad users are more willing to pay for premium content through Newsstand, that the US remains the highest-grossing country, and that in-app purchases are popular on iOS only.
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03/27, 6:00pm
Updates, new version already underway
A story of an approval process that took a winding road has finally come to an end, and a new app called Taposé -- a kind of spiritual successor to Microsoft's short-lived Courier tablet -- will arrive in the App Store later tonight, the developers say. The multimedia note-taking app took over four months, with various rejections and appeals, to gain formal approval. Retina graphics and a 2.0 version are already underway.
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03/27, 2:50pm
App Store tailored further for high-end apps
Apple has quietly added $124.99 and $174.99 price tiers as options on the App Store, developers note. The change was announced via an email sent to iTunes Connect users. The new tiers can apply to both apps and in-app purchases; Apple notes that developers take home $87.50 or $122.50, respectively, after Apple's 30 percent cut of revenue and other deductions.
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03/27, 1:20am
Time zone, day/night maps, e-mail assistant
Among the many maps app available on the App Store, The World Clock fills addresses a unique niche. The app provides a real-time day/night map, time zone information across the globe, and an e-mail utility that enables users to send event invites with time tables that represent the event time for each invitee's location, among other features. In our full review, we test the app's usefulness as a tool for international collaboration.
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03/26, 8:00pm
Chinese winner an example of growing popularity
The person who won Apple's contest to be the downloader of the 25th billionth app from the App Store was a Chinese woman named Fu Chunli from Qingdao, reports Chinese Mac site MICgadget. She became the lucky winner by downloading a free version of the Disney game Where's My Water? and received as a reward an iTunes gift card worth $10,000 US. The company invited Fu to the Beijing store to collect her prize.
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03/25, 1:40am
Apple now screening for UDID-tracking apps
Apple has acted on its plans to deprecate UDID access in iOS 5 by starting to reject apps that try to access the unique device identifiers. Tips late Saturday to TechCrunch had two of Apple's ten review teams outright rejecting any app that wants UDIDs, with the number growing to four next week and continuing until every reviewer denies UDID access. Individual developers, management groups, and ad supporters such as Playhaven and MoPub have already been denied App Store spots.
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03/22, 8:55pm
Helicopter piloted by mobile devices
Griffin today shipped the latest generation of its Android- and iOS-guided remote control helicopter. The Helo TC Assault craft is maneuvered using an app running on a smartphone, tablet or even an iPod touch (free, App Store, Google Play Store). The new version earns its name from firing toy missiles from two spring-loaded launchers.
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03/22, 2:05pm
RIM may bring BlackBerry services to iOS users
RIM may break a longstanding policy against apps for non-BlackBerry platforms if a job listing is an indicator. The position for a Senior iOS Mobile Developer wants someone who can design and write enterprise iPad and iPhone apps. As proof that apps themselves are important, any potential hire has to show examples of published App Store titles.
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03/16, 2:40pm
Flipboard gets new iPad tweak
Flipboard stood out in the chorus of companies updating to take advantage of the new iPad with an update to its own title (App Store). The 1.8.2 change updates the rendering of images and text to scale properly to the 2048x1536 display. Its effect is "closer to a true print magazine," Flipboard said.
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03/16, 11:05am
SketchBook, Tweetbot among early entries
To coincide with today's third-generation iPad launch, Apple has launched a new section on the App Store, mostly promoting titles equipped for the tablet's Retina display. Some prominent titles include Evernote, SketchBook Pro, Infinity Blade II, and the New York Times. Less prominent but still significant are Tweetbot, The Daily, and Star Walk, among others.
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03/16, 9:30am
Current forum topics
Today in the MacNN forums members continue to discuss the latest addition to the iPad family in the thread titled "The new iPad", join in here. Earlier this week one Dedicated MacNNer announced the release of their first iOS app in the app store, check it out here.
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03/15, 7:55pm
App Store, Infinity Blade now ultra high res
Last-minute prep for the new iPad's North American launch has seen Apple create a new sub-section (App Store) for the new iPad. The new sub-section, just known as "Great Apps for the new iPad," currently includes about two dozen apps optimized for the new iPad's much higher-resolution screen. Among the examples are Flight Control Rocket, Sketchbook Pro, and Tweetbot.
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03/13, 6:50pm
Dev explains why paid Android apps ruled out
Indie game developer Retro Dreamer in a post Tuesday highlighted a wider-reaching problem with Android app sales. The company declined having any paid app on Android as the way the Google Play Store (Android Market) was inherently much more complex than it was on Apple's App Store. Google's Wallet system (replacing Checkout) treated each sale as though it were a sale direct to the customer; the process made it difficult for a small developer to even consider supporting other countries, since they had to account for every country's individual rules, such as European or even US state taxes.
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03/10, 9:40pm
Google Play Store sees exec shuffle
Google's transition to the Google Play store has also seen a management shakeup that could be a sign of taking its Android app market more seriously. The store's lead, Eric Chu, was said by TechCrunch to have stepped down. Jamie Rosenberg, Android's digital content lead and key Google Music persona, would take his place.
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03/09, 5:25pm
Tether uses HTML5 to share iOS connection
Tether may have achieved a rare trick by developing a tethering option that reportedly works over the web. Getting around the blocks on tools like the iTether native app, it uses a combination of a Mac or Windows app with an HTML5 mobile page. Creating an ad hoc Wi-Fi network from the computer lets those signed in on the web page from a smartphone or tablet share the device's cellular connection without a wired link.
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03/08, 8:00pm
Google may pull apps not using Wallet payments
Google is reportedly taking an Apple-like approach and pushing Android developers to use only its own payment system, multiple sources contended Thursday. Developers have told Reuters they were warned that, to stay on the Google Play Store (Android Market), they had no choice but to use Google Wallet for paid apps. Their titles would be pulled if they kept using PayPal or alternatives.
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03/07, 5:00pm
iTunes in the Cloud and 3G App Store get new limit
A studio veteran divulged Wednesday that the iTunes in the Cloud access coming hand-in-hand with the new Apple TV and iTunes 10.6 doesn't include Fox and Universal. Either was tangled in HBO deals that gave the premium cable network brief exclusives that conflicted with the re-download rights, AllThingsD heard. HBO confirmed the issue but expected to find "common ground" that would clear full access.
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03/06, 9:10pm
Seen to be aimed at iPad users
A slip in Apple's iTunes Preview web view of the App Store reveals a new category for catalogs ahead of Wednesday's expected launch of the iPad 3, reports. The improved graphics said to be the biggest feature of the newest iPad version could be providing the motivation for breaking catalog apps out into their own category, showcasing high-resolution graphics and a more visual way of buying products from third-party vendors.
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03/06, 8:05pm
More left-scrolling gives apps more screen space
Apple has quietly updated the iPad version of the App Store for iOS with minor tweaks ahead of (and possibly in preparation for) the iPad 3 debut on Wednesday, AppleInsider reports. The changes mostly involve using more unhinted horizontal scrolling, which allows (for example) the Top Paid and Top Free iPad apps to be on screen in a more pleasing manner with more information available per app. Users can swipe each "list" to the left to see additional selections.
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03/01, 7:25pm
Android has open access to photos
The iOS photo and video privacy hole exists in Android, but as part of a conscious design choice, an investigation found quickly. Following a check by mobile antivirus app writers at Lookout, Google told the New York Times that it had intentionally left media access open like on a desktop OS. The approach was virtually needed to let users store photos on an SD card, Google claimed.
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02/25, 10:20am
Viddy made to rework policies to stay on App Store
Viddy faced an abrupt about-face in policy from Apple after its video sharing app was pulled from the App Store, according to an investigation. The iPhone creator had it removed after "adult material" started becoming common in the service. A look by GigaOM (above) showed that a large number of videos were clearly being used that way.
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02/24, 1:30am
Worldwide rollout following soon
A new iPhone application that lets users post news of local events and discoveries along with reviews or comments called Echoer has launched in the Canadian iOS App Store ahead of a worldwide rollout. The service makes it easy for users to post about local happenings or businesses, or to simply read and "amplify" (similar to Facebook's "Like") other commenters' posts. The Echoer service aggregates timely comments and displays them on a map.
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02/23, 7:45pm
Could herald revamped app search
Apple has bought both the team and technology behind Chomp, a mobile app search engine that could find apps for users based on vague descriptions of what the apps actually do rather than by title or publisher, TechCrunch is reporting. Some of the 20-plus Chomp employees are already showing on LinkedIn as Apple employees, and the technology may be used as part of a rumored App Store redesign to help focus app searches.
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02/23, 6:40pm
Apple accused of slow action on piracy complaints
A group of nine Chinese writers have amended a December court filing against Apple to almost double the amount of damages sought, according to Macworld. Having previously sought 11.9 million yuan in their App Store piracy case, the group -- operating as the China Written Works Copyright Society -- is now asking for 23 million yuan, or about $3.65 million. As explanation the CWWCS says it has discovered another 26 infringing products on the App Store.
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02/23, 1:40pm
Discrepancy linked to market, in-app purchases
Paid Android apps are on average over two and a half times as expensive as iPhone apps, says research group Canalys. As a test case, the company notes that buying the top 100 paid titles on the Android Market currently costs $374.37, averaging out to $3.74 per app. Buying the top 100 paid iPhone apps costs just $147, at an average of $1.47 per title.
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02/22, 2:50am
Makes it easier to link to apps, App Store
Facebook's native iOS client app controls are being reworked to allow developers of iOS apps more options on ways to link "click points" in Facebook back to either their own iOS app, the App Store page for the app, or an intermediate web page that asks the user if they'd prefer the "mobile" or "full" version of the web page. In addition, links can now take users to specific sub-pages of a site rather than the opening page.
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02/20, 4:20pm
Would be first overhaul since 2009
Apple is at work on a major redesign of the iTunes Store, 9to5Mac claims to have learned. Plans are recently said to have been revealed to a number of record labels and other entertainment companies. The exact details are being kept private, but a redesign for the Mac/Windows version of iTunes is allegedly a "top priority" for Apple. The goal is to make it more interactive, and more efficient in terms of locating new content. Music, movies, TV shows, and the App Store are the focus areas.
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02/20, 1:25pm
Resembles authentic app
Shoppers on the App Store are complaining of a scam Pokémon app, Pokémon Yellow. Title makes some pretenses of being authentic Pokémon game, for instance by using an official-looking icon, and claiming to have "original sounds, features, Pokémon and characters." A quick look shows inconsistencies though, such as an unknown developer, anonymous five-star reviews, and a statement that "All trademarks and copyrights are owned by their respective owners."
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02/18, 12:10pm
Apple developer guide helps platform newcomers
Apple on Friday quietly posted a Getting Started guide for new iOS developers. The overview is intended as a top-level look and goes with basics such as setting up Xcode, understanding what types of code are needed, and more abstract issues such as design guidelines and App Store submission.
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02/17, 12:40pm
Apple to give 10K prize to 25b app downloader
Apple capped the week with a countdown that confirmed it was getting close to its 25 billionth App Store download. The figure is the first App Store-related countdown since the 10 billion mark in 2010. As in its more recent countdowns, Apple is promising a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card to whoever either downloads the 25 billionth app or makes a free contest entry at that point.
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02/16, 5:50pm
FTC wants more transparency on child info
The FTC in a set of recommendations Thursday called on Android and iOS developers alike to provide more information to adults about what information an app might collect about their kids. Officials wanted simple, direct information to help parents either filter access or avoid apps entirely. It was "almost impossible" to know which apps were scraping data and more difficult still to know where that information was going, agency chairman Jon Leibowitz said.
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02/16, 4:25pm
App opens doors, finds car, sounds horn and more
BMW has made its iOS app available to its car owners in the US (free, App Store). The app, My BMW Remote, lets owners use their Apple device in conjunction with the company's BMW Assist service to remotely access and control their vehicle's features. Basic remote functions include finding the car's location, remote door locking and unlocking, and pushing a local Google search to the vehicle.
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