BBC iPlayer for iPad comes to the UK App Store

Mark Gurman

The popular BBC iPlayer service has finally made its way to the iPad, and is now available for free on the UK iTunes App Store. BBC iPlayer allows you to watch live TV from the BBC television station in addition to live radio broadcasts from the network. You can even select your “favorite” programs and these episodes will be “ready and waiting for you to watch.” We assume this means you will get an alert when a new episode is about to air, or it will be somehow saved for you to watch.

Browsing through iPlayer’s program guide is supported over 3G, but actually watching video will require connection to a Wi-Fi network. For those of you who are on tablets, or plan on getting tablets, other than the iPad, BBC says they will eventually release versions for you, too. BBC also says that HD video is not available on the iPad, but will be added at a later date.

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iPad 2's FaceTime app leaked? (video)

Mark Gurman

It looks like the AC/DC luving crew over at iPadDevice figured out how to take the leaked iPad 2 FaceTime files from the iOS 4.3 beta SDK and install them onto a first generation iPad. Because the files are from the SDK, we may be looking at the new iPad’s actual FaceTime application. The interface is very similar to the one found on FaceTime for Mac.

As we previously noted, the new iPad will feature an updated FaceTime logo, that is different than the one currently found on iOS 4.2-rocking iPod touches. When a FaceTime call comes in, your iPad 2 will ring and you will get a popup alert on your lock screen, or on top of the application you are currently working on.

Back to the actual interface, the FaceTime controls (end, mute, etc.) will be found on a floating window towards to bottom of the device’s display. The current iPad 2 does not have a camera and that is the reason for the lack of a camera preview on the lock screen when a FaceTime video call comes in, and when the user is actually FaceTime chatting. You will notice the above video is in Italian, but the concept is relatively the same.

We previously reported that the iPad 2 will be feature two cameras with the front one being a 0.3 megapixel VGA (still and video recording) sensor, and the back one being a one megapixel sensor capable of shooting both pictures and 720P HD video. Although controversy is still present over the iPad 2′s display resolution, SDK evidence has pointed the same 1024 x 768 resolution for the new iPad in addition to our findings on the iPad 2′s actual screen.

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Apple to eliminate boxed software, optical drives?

Seth Weintraub

MacRumors posts that Apple is getting rid of boxed software in its stores this morning.

Based on what we’ve heard, however, Apple is planning on making the move to all digital sooner than expected at their retail stores. Apple is working towards eliminating boxed software and presumably focusing sales through the Mac App Store.
Apple’s recent plans to start offering Personal Setup for Mac seems to be in line with that goal.

They quote this line from a previous 9to5mac post:

When you purchase a Mac at an Apple Retail store an employee will help you setup your e-mail accounts, walk you through the Mac App Store, setup an iTunes account for you, and show you the basic pointers of owning a Mac. Some stores will even have dedicated Mac setup stations.

Sure, you may ask about software that can’t be put in the App Store.  Like Apple’s OSes for instance.  Or Hard Drive utilities.  Or Creative Suite.  Or any software that doesn’t fit in the App Store for one reason or another.

That’s a good question because those products are on Apple’s store shelves now and there doesn’t appear to be a quick replacement.  Perhaps we’re seeing a move to USB software installers (Which still need a physical container).  With 8GB USB sticks at around $10, it may make more sense to install off of USB rather than DL-DVD, especially for the expensive stuff.  Apple included an 8GB USB software reinstall stick with its Air for instance.

Either way, with USB installers or without, the change may also signal a move away from optical in Apple products….   Read more

iPad, iPhone iTunes Store gains Genius recommendations

Mark Gurman

Apple has been updating their iOS stores with new features lately and today, Apple has added the neat ‘Genius’ recommendations function to the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch version of the iTunes Store. The iPhone/iPod touch version gets its own tab with the default placement being in the ‘more’ section, and the iPad version can be accessed by a new button in the ‘music’ iTunes Store tab. Let us know if you find this helpful in the mobile experience. (via TUAW)

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iPad App Store gets search filters

Mark Gurman

Apple has updated the iPad’s App Store to include a new search filter feature. The new feature allows you to filter application searches by category, release date, customer ratings, price, and by device’s that support each respective application. It doesn’t look like the iPhone has received the feature yet, and due to screen size, it might never.

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Developers can now make Mac App Store promo codes

Mark Gurman

Mac Stories reports that developers can now create promo codes for their Mac App Store applications. You can redeem these codes through the redeem tab on the Mac App Store.

You can now generate promo codes for your Mac apps in iTunes Connect. These promo codes can be redeemed in any Mac App Store worldwide. For each version of your app, you can request up to 50 promo codes.

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