Apps

[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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COMPUTERWORLD: If you thought Apple had a busy year in 2010, expect even more in 2011, when at least one analyst is expecting significant acquisitions, a move into 3D, the introduction of its connected TV set and the emergence of multi-core processors in the iPhone and other mobile devices.

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Millennial Media just released their monthly mobile device trends report and here is our breakdown. For the month of November Apple led all devices manufactures with 25% of Millennial Media’s network with Samsung and Motorola coming in 2nd and 3rd with 17.3% and 15.33%, respectively. Apple’s iPhone came in first place for the most used mobile device on the network with 14.28% and Apple’s iPod touch came in second place with 8.96% of the network. Motorola’s Droid finished in third with 7.48% of the market and the Apple iPad topped Apple’s offerings with 1.76% coming in at 7th place.

In terms of the most used mobile application categories, games account for 28% of the network while music and entertainment apps came in second with a combined 22%. In terms of what the Millennial Network adverstises on, Android apps represented 54% of the network and iOS represented 38%. Getting into the Android vs. iOS portion of the report Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android tied at 38% for overall ad impressions.

Ad publishers and app developers were surveyed about the platform they intend to support the most in 2011 and the leading response was Google’s Android operating system. Apple’s iPad and Microsoft’s new Windows Phone 7 platform both tied for second place on the survey. Be sure to check out the top thirty devices graph after the break.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvPIhCd8N4&w=640&h=385]

Hit iOS games are starting to venture into the realm of movie sales type numbers.

Infinity Blade (iTunes $5.99) is reportedly seeing 271K users (or more) on Gamecenter meaning that after four days on the market, it has grossed more than $1.6 million dollars.  That is quite a chunk of change and the news should only spur investment in high quality games on.

Via TUAW
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COMPUTERWORLD: Apple is already evolving a unified user experience. In future, there will be ever less difference when controlling an Apple device, whether it be a phone, a tablet or a Mac. The experience will feel the same.

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Apple’s next edition of iWork may set a landmark as being among the first major Apple software releases to ship first online, as it seems books explaining how to use the productivity suite have been delayed for release in January 2011 — around the time Apple opens its Mac App Store.
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Google Latitude has finally arrived on Apple’s iOS, nearly two years since Google first revealed its technology.

Latitude lets you see friends on the map, share your own location (or not), or even hide your location should you feel uncomfortable. Apple blocked the app initially in order to avoid confusion with Maps on the iPhone,” said Google.
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t41zernuKxo&w=640&h=385]

Following a challenge from Carphone Warhouse in the UK, rapper Tinchy Stryder, along with his crew, performed live using only iPads as their instruments. The result was captured on film (above) and it is quite remarkable. The crew used 21 iPad apps to create their music last night with titles ranging from the popular I am T-Pain app to djay. The rest of the apps are listed after the break (witha iPad Christmas Bonus video).

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COMPUTERWORLD: Fresh research from the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) offers us a few insights into the behavior of iPad users, suggesting the device may well diminish newspaper print sales in future. Overnight reports also confirm weve been on track with our predictions for the iPad 2.0, which, it appears, will indeed host cameras front and rear.

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Gorillaz will release their recorded on an iPad new album for free on Christmas day, the band confirmed.

“At the moment, we’ve got an Advent calendar on our website, and there is a daily door that opens to reveal a gift,” said Gorillaz co-founder Jamie Hewlett speaking to Perth Now. “On Christmas Eve, a video for one of the new songs from the iPad album will be released. Then, on Christmas Day, fans get the whole album downloaded to their computer for free as a gift.”
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Google has announced that the full desktop version of their Google Docs word processing service now works on the iPad. The desktop version should be used on the iPad for advanced document edits such as font or alignment changes.

For basic use of Google Docs it is recommended that users use the newly revamped mobile version. The desktop version working on the iPad is also especially helpful when you want to do some spreadsheet editing and creation, as shown after the break.

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Apple has informed App Store developers that two major iOS app store features will not make their way ‘back to the mac.’ These are Game Center and in app purchases. In app purchases allow App Store developers to go with a “freemium” app model meaning they can sell the app for free and let the users buy more features over time. This is a feature many developers and users enjoy and take advantage of alike.

Note: In app purchases are not available for Mac OS X apps.

Game Center will also not make its way to the Mac and this is something we personally felt would be quite cool on the Mac. With all the upcoming and current games and the Mac, Game Center would be an awesome way to get the social expierience going. It could have even integrated with iOS leaderboards, for iOS versions of Mac games.

Note: Game Center is not available for Mac OS X apps.

Apple seems to be limiting Mac App Store features: Yesterday we found out that promo codes would not be available for the Mac App Store and we recently found out that demos, betas, and trials would not be allowed either. The Mac App Store is expected to launch in January as announced in October.

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COMPUTERWORLD: In a few years time Apple [AAPL] will face a handful of competitors as fierce competition within the smartphone industry drives a wave of consolidation between handset manufacturers, platform developers, carriers and app store providers.

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Apple is deadly serious with its App-driven vision for life in the clouds, with a new patent application describing its new way to share and buy apps from the cloud.

Published today and spotted by Patently Apple the application reveals the concepts behind the Apple vision, whch essentially allows users to share apps on their phones — say you were impressed the first time you saw Angry Birds, for example.
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By the end of 2011, the iPad will generate more than two percent of all North American Web traffic according to Chitika, as reported by DigitalDaily.

In time-honored fashion the leaks are beginning — this picture of a case for iPad 2.0 shows a rear camera, new curves and suggests new speaker positions on the system.
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