Apps

• Apps

New clause in Apple’s App Store guidelines could kill app promotion apps market

Jordan Kahn Oct 1 2012 - 5:48 am PT

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A large number of iOS users were disappointed to run into a “bug” last night that repeatedly asked users to agree to new terms and conditions. The problem, which is not uncommon when a high volume of users attempt to activate the new T&C’s at once, is now fixed. In related news, some may be surprised to learn that Apple’s newly updated App Store review guidelines include a new clause that could restrict the way apps advertise other apps and promotions within their own. It could also mean trouble for promotional app services such as FreeAppADay and other cross-promotional apps that often have the power to sway App Store chart rankings. PocketGamer.biz first noticed the new clause that appeared in Apple’s updated guidelines a couple of weeks ago:

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• Apps

Car Facts for iPhone comprehensively manages car repairs, expenses, and more

Sep 30 2012 - 12:52 pm PT

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We’ve been testing out a new iPhone and iPod touch application called Car Facts. The application is a comprehensive way to manage several pieces of data and information during the life span of your ownership of a car.

The application allows you to input every time you refuel your car with gas, conduct a repair, and you can view all of these car facts on nicely rendered graphs within the application on your iPhone or iPod touch.

There are several options for inputting your previously conducted car repairs:

The application allows you to input information such as different car readings like the odometer for future reference.

The car repair management feature will also send you reminders for when recommended car part replacements or checks should be conducted. The user interface and options are very comprehensive for inputted repairs. Again, you can input how much these repairs costed in order to create graphs of how much money you spent on your car.

You can even store photos of your receipts for repairs within the application. This feature is handy if you ever need definitive proof that your car was serviced. Information such as where you had your car repaired can also be stored.

If you have multiple devices, you can sync all of the information you have inputted into Car Facts over Apple’s iCloud sync service. Since Car Facts stores a lot of important information about your car, the iCloud sync also makes things easier if you replace or purchase a new iOS device.

The free version of the application allows you to store up to one vehicle. However, there is a $3.99 in-app-purchase Car Facts upgrade available. This update allows you to store an unlimited amount of vehicles within the application.

The general user-interface for Car Facts is somewhat reminiscent of the popular Tweetbot iOS Twitter client.

The settings portion of the application allows you to choose from several global currencies, fuel units, distance units, and default fuel octane levels.

The application works well in our tests, and we are impressed by how comprehensive the options are for inputting milage, various pieces of data for your car, and repair information.

• Apps
• iOS
• iPad
• iPhone
• App Store

Digg for iPad arrives alongside updated iPhone app

Jordan Kahn Sep 28 2012 - 6:59 pm PT

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On top of introducing a dedicated iPad app, Digg released a big update to its iPhone app that includes a new “Reading Sync” feature, which allows you to pick up reading where you stopped on any device, and support for the iPhone 5. Version 3.1 also packs the following new features and improvements (which are also included in the new iPad app):

When we relaunched Digg last month, we said that we wanted to build an experience that is native to each device. The tablet is quickly becoming an important device for Digg users, and the iPad is leading the way, at nearly 30% of mobile visits to digg.com.

What’s New in Version 3.1

◆ Introducing Digg for iPad!
◆ “Reading Sync” — close the Digg app before you could finish a story? The next time you open Digg on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll pick up where you left off
◆ Share articles via text (thanks for the request, @flashpunk!)
◆ Improved performance
◆ Simplified navigation

• Apps

Facebook Messenger for iPhone redesigned with iPhone 5 support, Favorites, speed improvements

Mark Gurman Sep 28 2012 - 5:01 pm PT

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Facebook has updated its Facebook Messenger application for iPhone with support for the iPhone 5, an improved design, a Favorites feature, and more. The new design is cleaner and the chat view looks more like the Twitter Direct Message interface. A new Favorites feature allows you to pin the people you talk to most to a menu accessible via a quick swipe. Speed improvements and various fixes are also present in the new 2.0 version.

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• Apps
• iOS
• iOS Devices
• Apple News
• Tim Cook

Apple launches alternative Maps app section in App Store

Élyse Betters Sep 28 2012 - 10:35 am PT

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Apple is prominently spotlighting alternative solutions to the new Maps app on the App Store.

The promotion of third-party apps is in conjunction with CEO Tim Cook’s open letter from this morning that apologized to iOS customers for the company’s less-than-perfect Maps offering. Apple further detailed on its website today how to add Google and Nokia maps website icons to an iOS 6 device’s Home screen.

[tweet https://twitter.com/djmexi/status/251729875046645760]

In related news, Reuters created an infographic recently that illustrates a side-by-side comparison of the key features available on mobile map apps from Google and Apple’s iOS in 27 countries (as seen below):

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• Apps

Google’s new Field Trip app begins the journey to serendipitous geo-computing

Jordan Kahn Sep 27 2012 - 9:59 am PT

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[youtube=http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/zWuAnsyU0Jw]

Released today for Android, and coming soon to iOS, Google’s new Field Trip app is attempting to introduce a new generation of serendipitous, location-aware mobile apps. 9to5Google.com has the full story.

• Apps
• iOS
• iPad
• iPhone
• App Store

Rovio’s next big title ‘Bad Piggies’ now available on App Store for 99 cents

Jake Smith Sep 27 2012 - 4:30 am PT

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Banking (quite literally) on the success of its popular Angry Birds game, the folks at Rovio have released yet another game on the App Store. This morning, the crew has released Bad Piggies for 99 cents. The game reminds us of Angry Birds; it is described as “the ultimate flying/crawling/rolling/spinning/crashing device and pilot the pigs safely to the eggs” by the app development firm. Rovio listed the features:

• 60 levels crammed with flying/driving/crashing fun!
• 30 additional puzzles unlocked by three-starring levels!
• Free updates!
• 4 sandbox levels to stretch your creativity!
• Ultra-special, ultra-secret, ultra-difficult sandbox level to unlock by collecting all the skulls!
• 33 objects to create the ultimate machine: motors, wings, fans, bottle rockets, umbrellas, balloons, and much more!

[iPhone, iPad, Mac] Screenshots:

[tweet https://twitter.com/brettbabin/status/251309620021301249]

Update: Already #1
[tweet https://twitter.com/skiman121/status/251316363556179971]

• Apps

American Express to launch Passbook integration as early as today

Sep 21 2012 - 3:47 pm PT

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We already heard Starbucks is coming to Passbook by the end of the month, and Target announced yesterday too, but it appears another industry heavyweight, American Express, will also join the party as soon as today. VentureBeat reported the AmEx integration will not allow users to pay with Passbook, but it will be more centered on current promos and recent purchases. See a complete list of features after the break.

[tweet https://twitter.com/AmericanExpress/statuses/249220141236244481]

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• Apps
• Mac
• Mac App Store
• Mac OS X
• Mac OS

Call of Duty: Black Ops finally lands on Mac OS X Sept. 27

Jordan Kahn Sep 21 2012 - 7:44 am PT

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Aspyr Media is bringing Call of Duty: Black Ops, originally released in 2010 for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360, to Mac OS X later this month with the release of the game through Steam, GameAgent Store, and a Mac App Store release shortly after. The title will hit Macs for $50 and come bundled with the First Strike Content Pack DLC.

In addition to Call of Duty: Black Ops, the Rezurrection Content Pack will also be available for purchase at launch for $14.99. This content pack will be available through the same retail outlets as the game and as an in-app purchase for those that buy the game from the Mac App Store. The other two Black Ops Content Packs, Escalation and Annihilation, will be available on the Mac later this year as a bundle…Game requirements can be found on the Aspyr.com product page or on GameAgent.com, where players can use the site’s Mac Match feature to determine whether or not the game will run on their machine. To find additional info on the game, including a FAQ, please visit the GameAgent Blog.

[via TheLoop]

• Apps
• iOS Devices

London Underground offers offline maps to those who updated to iOS6 and no longer have schedules

Seth Weintraub Sep 21 2012 - 5:40 am PT

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At first, we laughed. Then we realized this is probably necessary for a few. If you are looking for workarounds for the new maps, we got you covered.

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• Apps
• iOS
• iOS Devices
• iPhone
• Apple News

Target announces Passbook support for mobile coupons

Élyse Betters Sep 20 2012 - 10:09 am PT

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Target just announced support for Apple’s new Passbook app in iOS 6. Folks can now use the Target app to send, store, and access Target Mobile Coupons in Passbook. Check out the press release and app changelog below for additional details.

Target for iOS version 5.5.1:

• Big screen, big savings:
• Now you can receive coupons directly in the app and scan them in the store. Check out My Target section to get started. Saving has never been this easy.
• Add coupons to Passbook on iOS 6.
• Filter search results by price, in-store or online availability, color and much more.
• Supports the larger screen size for the iPhone 5 and new iPod Touch.
• And the little things matter, too:
• Change the color or size of a product right from your cart.
• View ratings and reviews for Daily Deals.
• Fixes an issue with adding items to your cart. (Older versions will be fixed soon.)

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• AAPL Company
• Apps

Passbook app listing goes live in the App Store with MLB, Lufthansa, Live Nation and more

Mike Beasley Sep 19 2012 - 11:59 am PT

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Apple has just pushed a page listing Passbook-enabled apps live in the App Store on iOS 6. The list includes apps like Fandango, MLB.com At Bat, Ticketmaster, and even Walgreens. Users can find the page by tapping the App Store button at the bottom of the Passbook app.

While there isn’t a group on the Featured page for these apps, it would not be unlike Apple to add one at some point in the near future.
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• Apps

Microsoft restructures Office for Mac 2011 pricing starting at $8.33 a month or $99.99 a year, can be activated on five Macs

Jake Smith Sep 17 2012 - 4:52 pm PT

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After making a preview available to Windows users earlier in the summer, Redmond-based Microsoft announced the official Office 2013 (or Office 365, as Microsoft likes to put it) pricing. Microsoft is taking an interesting approach with its latest Office version by pushing heavy for a subscription price rather than a one-time purchase (though it is still available). The subscription version of Office 2013 will be available for $8.33 a month or $99.99 a year and will work with up to five PCs or Macs (unlimited users). The version will feature the full foray of apps, including: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher, Access, and more. Microsoft will also package 20GB of free SkyDrive storage and 60 Skype minutes to use worldwide.

As for Mac users, there are no new features yet. Instead, Microsoft is updating Office for Mac 2011 to include activation for Office 365 Home Premium, which essentially gives customers the ability to use the software across five Macs. As for the next version of Office for Mac, which will include new features, a Microsoft spokesperson told us:

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