Apple Now Allowing In-App Purchase in Free App Store Applications

Apple has announced to developers that they are changing the in-app purchase feature of App Store applications. In the past, only paid applications could use the in-app purchase feature however, Apple is now allowing the feature to be implemented into free apps as well as paid apps.

I’m not sure what I think about this yet but, I do think it could help clean up the App Store a bit. Instead of developers creating a free lite version of their app, they could just make the application free with an in-app purchase to buy the full game thus eliminating the need for free lite versions of applications.

Below is Apple’s memo. Read more

Apple Updates “Apps for iPhone” Page

Apple has recently updated their “Apps for iPhone” page adding an “Apps for Everything” section. The Apps for Everything sections features apps based on specific categories. The current categories include; Apps for Cooking, Apps for Keeping Current, Apps for the Great Outdoors, Apps for Music, Apps for Work, Apps for Students, Apps for Moms and Dads, Apps for Working Out, Apps for Going Out, Apps for Managing Money, Apps for Traveling and Apps for Fun and Games. Each category features between 8-10 applications. A very nice redesign and a great way to find quality applications in specific categories.

You can check out the new page HERE. Read more

App Store Hits 2 Billion Downloads

Today, Apple announced that more than 2 Billion apps have been downloaded from the App Store. What is even more interesting is that there are now “more than 85,000 apps available to the more than 50 million iPhone™ and iPod touch® customers worldwide and over 125,000 developers in Apple’s iPhone Developer Program.” That it just craziness… 50 million iPhone and iPod Touches out there! And apparently people are not getting bored with the App Store, actually it is just the opposite, the downloads have increased compared to last year.

“The rate of App Store downloads continues to accelerate with users downloading a staggering two billion apps in just over a year, including more than half a billion apps this quarter alone,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The App Store has reinvented what you can do with a mobile handheld device, and our users are clearly loving it.”

Check out the full press release below. Read more

iPhone 3GS Commercial – Pass

iPhone 3GS Commercial – Nature

Sabec Announces VideoCam™ – “World’s First iPhone 2G/3G Video Camera App”

We get quite a few Press Releases in our email everyday… this one caught me eye. Apparently Sabec, a London based company, has developed a video camera application called VideoCam. They claim that the application allows video recording capability on the iPhone 2G and 3G. Apparently VideoCam is currently in review by Apple and will be released “at a very affordable price.” I really don’t see this one making it past the review process. Read more

Apple’s New iPod touch Commercial – Next Level of Fun (Updated)

Ok, so I couldn’t find a list (at least the correct one ) of the games that were demoed in the iPod touch ad Next Level of Fun, so I decided to figure it out myself. I think I got them all right. Below is the list in order that they appear (links to App Store).

• Top Gun
• Real Racing
• Monster Trucks Nitro
• 3D Rollercoaster Rush
• Touch Hockey: FS5
• Homerun Battle 3D
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour by EA Sports
• Finger Foos
• Slope Rider
• A tiny second of a game… I can’t tell what it was!
• 2XL Supercross Read more

“It’s only rock and roll, but we like it” – Keynote Now Available

The keynote from today’s Apple event, “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” is available HERE. The keynote is not available on Apple’s website yet, but it has been published to their iTunes account. Read more

Apple’s iPhone OS 3.1 Feature List

Below is Apple’s list of new features for iPhone OS 3.1.

The free iPhone OS 3.1 Software Update includes some great new features, as well as all the features from previous updates. iPhone OS 3.1 gives you Genius recommendations for apps, lets you download ringtones wirelessly, offers a new way to organize apps on your iPhone, and more.

Genius Recommendations for Apps:
Get recommendations for apps you might like based on apps you’ve already downloaded.

Added by Brooke… The Genius section will be located in the App Store application in the Features option. At the top of the Features page it will now have tabs for New, What’s Hot and Genius.

Genius Mixes:
Have iTunes create up to 12 playlists based on what’s already in your library. You don’t even have to choose a sample song.1

Download Ringtones Wirelessly:
Choose from thousands of iPhone ringtones on the iTunes Store and buy them with a tap.

Added by Brooke… There will be over 30,000 ringtones available from all 4 of the major music labels. They ringtones will be sold for a $1.29 (USD) each.

Organize Apps in iTunes:
Use iTunes on your computer to drag apps onto virtual Home screens, then sync them to your iPhone.

iPhone OS 3.1 also includes these features and updates:
* Improved syncing for music, movies, TV shows, podcasts, and photos1
* iTunes U content organization1
* Redeem iTunes Gift Cards, codes, and certificates in the App Store
* Display available iTunes account credits in the App Store and iTunes Store
* Save video from Mail and MMS into Camera Roll
* Option to “Save as new clip” when trimming a video on iPhone 3GS
* Better iPhone 3G Wi-Fi performance when Bluetooth is turned on
* Remotely lock iPhone with a passcode via MobileMe
* Use Voice Control on iPhone 3GS with Bluetooth headsets
* Paste phone numbers into the keypad
* Option to use Home button to turn on accessibility features on iPhone 3GS
* Warn when visiting fraudulent websites in Safari (anti-phishing)
* Improved Exchange calendar syncing and invitation handling
* Fixes issue that cause some app icons to display incorrectly

ScreenShots

Apple Store Back Up – Reflects New iPod Touch Sizes and Pricing

Like during all Apple events, the Apple store was down earlier today and throughout the event. It is now back up and reflects the new iPod touch sizes and pricing. For more info on changes to the iPod touch during today’s “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it” event check out THIS post.

iPod touch – $199 8GB, $299 32GB & $399 64GB (No Camera)

The iPod touch did receive some attention today at Apple’s “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.” event however, it might not have been what everyone was expecting.

Of course Apple gave all the statistics on how the iPod (including the touch) is blowing all other devices out the water and how they have sold over 20 million already. They also spent quite a bit of time demoing games on the device such as; sequel to Assassin’s Creed, Riddim Ribbon (a new game by Tapulous – developers of Tap Tap Revenge), Nova (new game by Gameloft) and Madden NFL 2010 (a new game by EA Games). They went on to say that there are 607 titles on PSP, 3680 on DS, and 21,178 on iPhone OS… not too bad (and much cheaper!). Read more

3.1 Firmware Available Today – Genius and Ringtones

Apple has just announced at the “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.” event that the 3.1 firmware will be available today in iTunes. The update will be free for all iPhones and for iPod touches that are already on the 3.0 firmware. The 3.1 firmware includes a few new features however, they only touched on a few which include; Genius and Ringtones.

The Genius feature will make recommendations for new apps based on the apps you already own. It will give you a list of recommended apps and why they have recommended them. The Genius section will be located in the App Store application in the Features option. At the top of the Features page it will now have tabs for New, What’s Hot and Genius. Read more

“It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.” – Apple Event Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Apple is hosting it’s “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it.” event. At the event, they are rumored to be announcing a new iPod touch that will include a camera. Many people also believe there will be an iTunes update as well as a new iPhone OS (3.1). However, CrunchGear just wrote a nice article about what to expect tomorrow and they say that there will not be a new iPhone OS. They also say the new iPod’s will just be announced and will not be available until later. Check out their full article HERE. Read more

Thieves Break into Apple Store – Video

At 2:00 in the morning, five guys broke into the Marlton, New Jersey Apple Store and in 31 seconds flat they leave with 23 MacBook Pros, 14 iPhones and 9 iPod touches.

It was definitely a well organized robbery… they are crazy fast. You can watch the security video below.

Anyone with tips on the identity of the masked bandits is being asked to call police at 856-983-1118 or the confidential tip line at 856-988-4699.

See full article HERE. Read more

Apple Changing US iPhone Carrier?

According to a recent article by AppleInsider, there is evidence that the iPhone might be available through other carriers, besides AT&T, within a year!

Gene Munster, senior research analyst with Piper Jaffray, predicts that Apple will announce new carriers in the summer of 2010. Read more

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