iPad Developers Rapidly Developing Apps for Apple's New iPad

With just under 6 billion mobile applications forecast to be downloaded this year, up from an estimated 2.4 billion in 2009, app development has no indication of slowing down.

First weekend sales of the iPad estimated over 700,000 units and iPhone app developers are switching gears and rapidly turning to iPad app development.

When asked why iPhone developers might continue to develop for iPhone vs move only to iPad, one developer said “Existing iPhone users might be more reluctant to spring another $500 for an iPad. That's a big reason why I'm keeping with both platforms now”.

Read

Google Voice Eventually Appears in iPhone

Apple is a company that has superior quality gadgets, but I felt it necessary to focus on the way they deal with possible competitors. One of their biggest news this year was the way did away with Google Voice applications--and one of these was VoiceCentral. Now a few months later, it seems that Google Voice will be making a comeback to the iPhone through Black Swan anyway.

How will it be able to bypass being banned in the App Store? Easy: it'll run in the browser.

When you dial a number, Google Voice simply makes a call to your iPhone while simultaneously calling the number of the person you are trying to reach, so you still pay for the voice minutes. But the appeal of having Google Voice on your iPhone is the ability to read transcribed voicemails, or play them, and avoid SMS charges by texting through Google Voice.

You can't use the contact list in the iPhone as it's running on the browser. So to get around this I suggest you duplicate your contact list in your iPhone in Google Voice. Although you may access the mobile site freely, using it will require you to pay an amount.

This is a good sign for developers who feel that Apple's App Store is just too strict or for those who want to earn more for themselves. Is this the beginning of paid applications on the browser for the iPhone and the end of application hosting on the App Store? New year coming, new ways of using the iPhone coming...

Source

Verizon Won't Be Getting the Pre After All

Image via Wikipedia

It wasn't the first time I was wrong on something, but Verizon's move on not continuing with the Palm Pre surprised a heck of a lot of tech bloggers as well!

It was previously reported that according to Verizon's COO, they would be getting the Pre soon, however according to this article, it seems that they won't be carrying Palm's Pre nor Pixi in its roster at all. This beguiles the imagination as they're getting beat by Sprint with its exclusive iPhone 3GS contracts.

Questions arise:

• Did Verizon think that Palm's App Store would go against its own store? Probably yes. Unfortunately, Palm's already got some apps going and Verizon isn't that well known for really attracting developers.
• Was it because of the falling sales? Probably unlikely as Palm has just released a cheaper (yet WIFI-less) version of the Pre called the Pixi. They're hoping that it will attract more customers in eventually buying a Pre.
• Are they secretly hoping for the iPhone 3GS to come their way? Unlikely as Mobile Crunch just crushed that idea:

It’s a fun thought, but I’d say no way. AT&T has barely been able to cope with the strain of a network full of iPhones, and Verizon would probably break. It’s also an expensive move, and Verizon’s always been about selling medium-sized services to cheap phones. That may have to change, but they’ll ramp up before they go all out.

• Are they preparing to go Android? This is the most likely scenario as the mobile phone OS has been developing at a quick pace to beat Palm's WebOS and even Apple's iPhone OS.

Source

Spotify has been approved!

When we wrote about Spotify a few weeks ago, we were concerned that Apple might not approve this application for the iPhone 3GS because it will be going up against the iTunes Store. Well, lo and behold! It was approved!

Apple’s Cupertino spokesperson tells us it has approved the iPhone app from Spotify, the music service that many people believe represents a threat to iTunes: “The current status as of right now is it’s been approved and we hope to add the app to the more than 65,000 apps on the app store very soon. We’ve been in constant communication working with the developer and have already notified Spotify that the app will be in the app store very soon.”

However, this will only be available in the following countries: United Kingdom, Finland, Spain, and France. So if you live in the United States and other parts of the world, you may have to wait awhile. Besides, just because Apple approved it for Europe doesn't mean that it's a shoe in here as well.

So how has Spotify affected Apple so far?

Universal Music in Sweden is already reported as saying it’s earning more now from Spotify than from iTunes. Some cynics had even wondered whether Apple was delaying Spotify approval to unveil its an unlimited music service of its own in its upcoming September 9 event.

Wow! Hopefully Apple will be able to survive Spotify's reign by creating a superior product. If they ever do, we'll be covering it!

Source

Palm Really Needs More Apps

Image by renaissancechambara via Flickr

We reported a few days ago that Palm's Pre was in dire need of games in its App Catalog to liven it up a bit. Unfortunately it was just the tip of the iceberg as Palm explained the reason for their low number of apps in their store:

Palm said the low number of apps initially were because it had been offering its Software Developers Kit (SDK) called Mojo only to a few select developers. On July 16, the company made its Mojo SDK available to all.

After a week the Pre was launched last June 6 only 30 apps existed. Most can probably attribute it to the SDK not being released early enough, but it's really losing big time to Apple's App Store up until now.

What's curious is that Apple's iPhone 3GS has more apps in its store than the Palm Pre's even though it's regarded to have such a "closed" platform compared to Palm. Why is there a lack of interest in creating applications for the Pre? Is it because the developers feel that they won't earn anything off it? Most likely...

Now with the App Catalog e-commerce beta program, Palm has taken the next step towards having a complete app store. Developers will receive 70 percent of the revenue from their apps, with Palm collecting the rest 30 percent. The split is similar to what Apple charges for iPhone apps. Pre users will be able to purchase apps using Visa and MasterCard credit cards, said Palm.

With this carrot dangling in front of application developers, hopefully it will change things around for the excellent yet app/games thirsting Palm Pre.

Source

What's the Traffic Tweetuation?

Ever had a time where you heard from the news that your way to the office would be clear However that may change as Mobomo just announced that they will be releasing an app for the iPhone 3GS that will allow you to view, search, and tweet traffic conditions in any U.S. city. This is way more better as it is in real-time compared to other services where you need to wait for reports of traffic in your area.

Key Features:

• Leverages iPhone 3.0 OS Maps API to directly embed Google Maps into the application, providing a quick snapshot of all traffic alerts on nearby highways and roads.
• Leverages Twitter Platform so drivers using TrafficTweet can report current road conditions (traffic accidents, lane closures, speed traps and other alerts) to others via Twitter on an interactive map. App users can use color-coded icons to provide the driver with instant feedback.
• One-Click Driver Reporting eliminates need for onerous driver texting as it takes just one click to report speed and two clicks to report a traffic incident.
• Powerful Search Function embedded in TrafficTweet app allows users to quickly search for traffic conditions anywhere in the world.

The good thing about it is that it doesn't depend on proprietary data nor does it refer to driver generated content, but rather it's based more on a community attitude. Think of it as helping your fellow driver in avoiding the heavy traffic you're in right now.

"With the click of a single button, TrafficTweet is really the first way for drivers to, in effect, let off some steam about driving conditions in an easy, safe and productive way that allows other drivers to benefit from real-time updates tweeted by the community," adds Upender. "And by leveraging the Twitter platform so drivers can report conditions of any road or region - no matter how rural - TrafficTweet is truly global from day one."

Source

Apple App Store: NESynth and some really weird apps

With Apple finally patching the SMS vulnerability of the iPhone 3GS OS, everything seems to have settled down (well, if you don't count the FCC asking for an explanation regarding the GV Mobile bruhaha). Let's take a look at some iPhone apps that recently piqued our interests.

NESynth: Make 8-bit music goodness on your iPhone

Using the iPhone as a music medium is a great idea and has been tackled with before, however, they aren't as fun as NESynth. Why? The NES part of the name stands for Nintendo Entertainment System. Here's a sample of it:

If you're a SNES child, you'll recognize the sounds and music. Even if you weren't born at the time, you'll definitely appreciate it anyway. Available for $1.99 US iPhone App Store only.

Amamiya Momo iPhone App: bordering on lewdness

The following app is kind of disturbing--wait--it's REALLY disturbing. If you think the XXX iPhone App should be taken down, then you should check this out as well: Amamiya Momo.



Some may think it cute, especially those Otakus who just like cutesy anime girls or those who just plain like cartoons. But nevertheless, the way that one can just swish on her body is a bit suspect. Although I do have to comment that Tamagotchi, an electronic pet, is a great (and less messier) alternative to real ones, this was not marketed to be a pet but rather as a virtual girlfriend. If you want to check it out, it's $2.99 at the App Store.

Is Apple cleaning up at the App Store?

And lastly, here's an actual Apple third party developer named Perfect Acumen that's getting their whole list of apps getting taken off from the App Store for the somewhat right reasons. Does this mean that the app Store's finally learning from the whole GV Mobile fiasco and taking out the really disgusting apps?

Yes and no. No, in the sense that this, the removal of the 3rd most prolific app-shitters in the whole store, doesn't have anything to do with a change in policy, or an increase in transparency. Yes, in the sense that Apple is finally enforcing some of their clearer prior rules. Like, "DON'T STEAL THINGS."

Ok, granted that they the app developer was taken out still shows that somehow Apple is putting their marbles back inside their hands and trying to put in some quality apps in their store. Now if they can only re-think about putting GV Mobile back there...

Source for NESynth

Source for Amamiya Moto App

Source for Perfect Acumen and its 900 applications pulled from App Store

Apple and ATT: Explanation time?

Apple's hot news for any tech blog and that's why it's in here today--and it's still bad news for the giant company.

FCC wants explanation from Apple and AT&T re: GV Mobile

Image by somefool :: ɹǝqɐɯ ʍǝɥʇʇɐɯ via Flickr

When GV Mobile was removed from apple's app Store, there was quite a large uproar from the tech community. They instantly thought that AT&T was the culprit here; influencing Apple to take the app out of the store. However, with such a large amount of attention, the Feds have sent a letter to both Apple and AT&T asking them to explain why GV Mobile was treated that way. Obviously the FCC didn't like what they read and wanted the 4 W's and 1 H: What, where, when, why, and how the whole thing started.

The FCC’s new chairman Julius Genachowski made it clear Friday in announcing the letters that he was not pleased by Apple and AT&T’s actions, while leaving wiggle room about what, if anything, the feds would do.

“Recent news reports raise questions about practices in the mobile marketplace,” Genachowski said in a press statement. “The Wireless Bureau’s inquiry letters to these companies about their practices reflect the Commission’s proactive approach to getting the facts and data necessary to make the best policy decisions on behalf of the American people.”

How will both companies reason out that they eliminated GV Mobile just because Google's VOIP was messing with Apple's other apps? Everyone's dying to know how they'll get out of this one.

VoiceCentral finally gets response from Apple, but it's weird

Image by B Tal via Flickr

The other app taken out surreptitiously after it was approved 4 months ago and was already downloaded and being used was VoiceCentral. We reported last time that the developer was pretty much confused and angry and is now was faced with emails from angry users asking for their money back. What was even more frustrating on his side, was that apple never gave him a straight answer as to why it was taken out without even a notice coming from them. Well, Apple apparently needed time to carefully construct their words as they replied the next day:

On June 30, the team was finally contacted by Richard from Apple, a cordial person who was profoundly unable to provide specific, useful information to Duerr, details beyond the fact that “VoiceCentral has been removed from the App Store because it duplicates features of the iPhone … and was causing confusion in the user community.” When Duerr pointed out that other apps like Textfree, Skype, fring, and iCall also duplicated iPhone features, Richard said he couldn’t discuss other apps.

Apple and AT&T sure have a lot of explaining to do after this. I see this as a game changing event with the way carriers and mobile phone makers make their contracts and exclusive deals.

Source of FCC sent a letter of explanation to both AT&T and Apple

Source of apple's reply to VoiceCentral