Apps

Electronic Arts set off an iApp price war last week when it discounted many of its games to just $0.99, sparking the release of Tap Tap Revenge 4 for free and a big games sale from other iOS heavyweight, Namco.

All the app makers are engaged in a stiff fight to populate the iTunes App Store top ten lists in time for Christmas — after all, Apple’s lists won’t be updated from December 23, so grabbing a good slot on those lists now is likely to translate into great sales opportunities as all those new iPads hit the store.
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9JUwOavKdk&w=640&h=385]

The 4th generation of arguably the most popular iPhone music game has just hit the App Store: Tap Tap Revenge 4. For those not familiar, Tap Tap Revenge was around long before the App Store. It was the premier iPhone game on the jailbroken app market. Since then it brought in Tapulous over a million dollars a month and now Tapulous is owned by Disney. Going back to Tap Tap Revenge 4 the new, free app brings loads of improvements and new features.

First, the new version brings over 100 free tracks to the table. These include songs from popular artists/bands like Lady Gaga, Linkin Park, and My Chemical Romance. (List of several more popular artists in TTR4 is after the break.) TTR4 introduces a “like” button which when pushed displays an avatar showing who else likes the respective track. Tapulous has also done some iOS 4 housekeeping by adding both Game Center and Retina Display support.

Some new social features are now present such as the ability to share scores via Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail. Perhaps the most impressive feature in the new game is the “Arcade Mode.” This new mode presents new tapping obstacles which makes the game even more challenging and when coupled with the new up-to-the-minute global leader boards, the game should be all the more fun. Let us know how you like it all in the comments. Tap Tap Revenge 4 is now free on the iTunes App Store and you can check out some screenshots after the break.

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Facebook, who count 55,060,129 monthly active iOS app users, today updated their iPhone/iPod touch app with a few new features but mostly bug fixes, listed below:

– Improved reliability in chat and messages
– Improved notifications UI
– Fixed memory usage
– Fixed some crashes
– Walls you cannot post on no longer show the text field at the top
– Restore ability to post as a page that you admin
– Fixed group photos
– Various Places improvements

Is it silly to expect a iPad app at this point?

All 55 million of you, hit the App Store updates or head over here.

Screenies below…
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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sc74qIQN2Q&fs=1&hl=en_GB]

There’s never been a better time to stock up on the greatest iPhone games from Electronic Arts, where you’ll find a huge range of hot titles on sale now for just 99-cents a pop (59-p in the UK).

“Giving an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch as a Christmas present?,” reads the official launch statement.”Now is the time to load it up with the best games for less cash than ever before.”

“Already own an iPod touch, iPad or iPhone? Then bring some fun to holiday travel or gather the family for game time around the iPad while warming up by the fire.”
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In case you’ve any doubt left, you can forget the notion of AMOLED screens in the next-generation iPad, there simply aren’t enough components to go round — indeed, Apple competitors who made the leap to the tech are already facing steep component shortages.

There’s an inevitability about all this. Even as Apple competitors attempt to leapfrog iOS devices by fielding more advanced technologies in their gadgets, they forget the need to serve mass market products up in reliable quantity.
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Forget Flash, really, forget it. I don’t care how much more efficient it is at last becoming now it faces much-needed competition — I do however care that US iPad users can now download Vevo HD, a beautiful app offering you access to all 25,000 videos in Vevo’s huge catalog — no Flash required.

“The app has a few special features created especially for the iPad, including our favorite one, Music Maps, which gives you a window into what videos people are watching in your neighborhood and around the world,” the company says on its website.
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48c1083vpcM&w=640&h=385]

Acceleroto, the folks behind the popular Air Hockey app for iOS, have created a Mac App Store version and it will be available at launch. Air Hockey on the Mac is nearly identical to the iOS version and works very well. The graphics and animations are super-smooth and everything just flows. The game and its contents load very fast, both on an iMac and a MacBook Air, and the user interface is just fantastic. The game opens up in a single window and does not have a full screen option at this time ( Full screen option is in the works, waiting for support from Cocos2d). Check out our exclusive, thorough preview video above and some screenshots after the break.

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COMPUTERWORLD: Apple is making Macs more touch-friendly when touch makes sense. Magic Trackpad is the touch interface for desktops, but how long will it be until we see the Mac keyboard replaced by a touch-sensitive, intelligent device? What would it do?

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The Mac App Store is launching on January 6th and we already have some exclusive previews of apps coming up. We want to be able to review or preview as many Mac apps as possible so developers, Send us your apps!

What you do:

Send an e-mail to tips@9to5mac.com with the subject “Mac App Store: Your App Name” along with a 1-2 sentence description we can post. Also include screenshots and pricing for your applications and any other information you think we should post. If you want your app reviewed please also attach the binary. We won’t be able to review all the apps but hopefully we can get to many.

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Apple this morning confirmed it intends opening its Mac App Store on Thursday, January 6.

The store will be available in 90 countries at launch and will feature both paid and free apps in various categories.

“The App Store revolutionized mobile apps,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “We hope to do the same for PC apps with the Mac App Store by making finding and buying PC apps easy and fun. We can’t wait to get started on January 6.”

Oh and Devs? You need to submit apps by Dec 31 to be in the grand opening.

Press Release follows:
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Good morning, while I apologize to our US readers as Spotify isn’t available in your area yet, for European 9to5Mac visitors news that Spotify has updated its applications for OS X, iPhone (and Windows) could be interesting.

The new version introduces the customary bug fixes, but also adds support for Mac media keys without interfering with iTunes. The new version also supports auto-play for all track links when clicked on from Twitter, Facebook, feed, etc. Existing users will see their install automatically updated in the coming days.

The big news is for iPhone users,
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Flipboard, the iPad app of the year, was updated tonight with several new features. Flickr support was added to the personal, news-based magazine in addition to support for Google Reader. The Flickr support allows you to browse through your photo stream, your friend’s pictures, your favorites, and pretty much everything else the Flickr website offers. Better Facebook and Twitter integration is also present in the update in addition to a slightly enhanced page view setup.

Be informed. Sync with Google Reader to read your feeds, folders and friends’ shared items. Star, share and comment on stories.
Be amazed. Browse all Flickr has to offer, including photostream, favorites, groups, your contacts’ photos and interesting photos of the day .
Be fulfilled. Read full content right away with more beautiful layout. Flip through gorgeous Flipboard Pages from Washington Post, Bon Appetit and more.
Be social. Flip through your Facebook groups, fan pages, and photos from your feed. Browse your tweets, Twitter favorites, @mentions and lists.
Be expressive. Post photos, status updates and even Flipboard pages across Twitter, Facebook and Google Reader.
Be faster. Switch between sections faster using our instant section selector. Enjoy faster performance throughout your Flipboard.

The best part about the new social networking features is a feature that allows you to upload pictures and post status updates simultaneously to your Twitter, Facebook, and Google accounts. The app also recieved some speed and performance enhancements which is great for people looking to get their read on in a speedier manner. There is still no iPhone version and the update and the app are of course free on the App Store.

COMPUTERWORLD: Today we’ve learned internal politics have hindered Google in its cloud music plans while Apple isn’t yet ready to make us all go ‘lala’. Meanwhile, as most of us prepare for long drives to visit family and friends: here’s some great apps for drivers.

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As expected, Apple has updated its iBooks app to version 1.2. The new version has just made its quiet debut on the AAPL servers.

What’s new?

Yep, as we exclusively revealed hereand here: better organization and printing and emailing of PDF’s. And that’s only part of the mix.
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Webout is an iOS browser that just hit the App Store and it allows you to stream HTML5 video to your second generation Apple TV. iOS Safari is currently not capable of streaming video to the Apple TV, only audio, so this app fills the gap. The app is universal for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch and costs $0.99 on the App Store. Let us know how it works out for you.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVeKbsFL_tM&w=670&h=527]

While we wait for iTunes in the cloud, we may as well begin using an iTunes in the cloud service that isn’t from Apple, a free service for iPhones from mSpot, the app for which is now available via the iTunes App Store.

What’s it do? Essentially it is like a music locker service to which you upload your music in order to then enjoy streaming access to that music via your mSpot app.
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Some may recall Unilever to be one of the big brand names to first jump onto the iAds mobile ads bandwagone way back in June, now Europe’s about to see the first Unilever iAds make their appearance as Apple’s ad system hits Europes this month — and the ads will feature the “Lynx effect”.

Unilever is launching a new campaign for Lynx’s Excite range, with a major push through Apple’s iAds, as part of a £8.3m marketing spend. The “Falling Angels” campaign launches next week and will be supported by print, TV, digital and other activity.
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Canada’s government today approved of Apple’s iBookstore and this means Canadian titles will soon be making their way to the store. Prior to today’s announcement the iBookstore was available for Canadian iOS device users sans Canadian works. For this to happen, Apple and Canada needed to strike up a deal and it seems to work out for everyone. Canada’s iBookstore now must be tailored effectively for Canadian users, Apple must offer assistance to Canadian publishers, more opportunities to Canadian-based writers, and of course the promotion of Canadian books.

Our Government is committed to strengthening Canada’s economy through all its sectors, especially arts and culture,” said Minister Moore. “Apple has demonstrated how iBookstore Canada represents new opportunities for Canadian authors and publishers, and I have determined that this investment will be of net benefit to Canada.

Full details after the break:

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4yApx5zyCk&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]

OK, we’re excited to see this, even if it is just an ad.  Adage says that it is the only iAd we’ll see on iPad this year.  Next year we’ll see plenty more.   On iAds, digital agencies are gushing about the quality even if it takes a lot of time and effort to bring the ads to fruition.

“I think as a media format it has the potential to surpass anything that has come before,” said Carrie Frolich, digital director at WPP unit MEC Global, which bought iAd inventory for Citi, AT&T, Chanel and Campbell Soup. “It delivers all the emotive qualities of television or video advertising with the interactivity of a website, plus the functionality of location and all the bells and whistles of Apple devices like the accelerometer.”

More from Adage:
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I can’t wait until my iPod touch/Mifi  is my only phone. This is another step in that direction.

Google today announced Google Voice for iPad and iPod touch as well as some significant updates.  No VoIP gateway yet, but you know it is coming.

What’s New in Version 1.1.0.636

* Support for iPod Touch
* iPod Touch and iPhone can now make calls using Click2Call
* Do Not Disturb setting
* Text forwarding is automatically disabled when registering for Push notifications
* Added Text forwarding setting to the app
* Easier to make calls from the phone Address Book
* Removed annoying OK dialog every time you send an SMS
* Fixed crashes caused by text messages that begin with a space character
* Fixed bug that caused the entire Inbox to load
* Fixed bug that caused Contact pictures to get mixed up
* Improved access to Contact groups
* Improved speed of Contact search

The Google Voice app is available to download from the Apple App Store today. You’ll need an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch with iOS 3.1 or later and a valid Google Voice account to use the app. At this time, Google Voice is available in the U.S. only.
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CNN just released their iPad app and it looks like a pretty good offering.  Oh, and it is free.

Experience the new CNN App for iPad. Share and comment on news & insights, watch live and breaking news video, and take yourself deeper into the stories.

Welcome to the bigger picture.

Features:
– Go beyond breaking news with top headlines, in-depth feature stories and video
– Choose your view from different navigation options; quickly scan the headlines or immerse yourself in a slideshow
– Take part in the conversation by commenting on stories and reading others’ responses
– Share stories on Facebook and Twitter or via e-mail
– Save stories for offline viewing
– Watch live video streams of breaking news and other major news events

More shots below, via MacStories.

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