Apps

The eBook wars have just become a tri-partisan dispute, with Amazon versus Apple now seeing a third gorilla enter the room as Google launches its long-anticipated ebookstore.

Google eBooks is apparently “all about choice”, so you can get an app for iPhone, Android, Nook and Sony and for your computer. The service isn’t yet available outside the US.

Interestingly, your books are stored in the cloud, suggesting ad opportunities for the company.
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Apple may have hatched a deal with Verizon under which T-Mobile and Sprint will be locked out of the sexy, beautiful iPhone everywhere post-ATT exclusive in the US next year, an analyst said.

I hasten to note that the analyst here is one Kaufman Bros., Shaw Wu, and I’ve noted that his analysis while widely reported is often incorrect. But here’s the story.
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What’s this we hear? Apple’s going to open up its Mac App Store for business just on time for Christmas? That’s how it seems with the latest claimed insider gossip suggesting Apple’s gonna open its doors on the new big consumer software online retail outlet on December 13, hurrah!

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4aAq9ddA_Y&w=640&h=385]

SBRotator, a new jailbreak-only tweak, was just released and it brings landscape homescreens to the iPhone in addition to a feature that makes all apps work in landscape. The tweak is fully customizable so you can arrange your homescreen apps any way you like, and it is fully compatible with Apple’s latest iOS devices. The tweak is available on the Cydia store and check out the video above to see it in action. Full feature list after the break courtesy of iSpazio:

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COMPUTERWORLD: Apple, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Nokia — these big name firms are locked into eternal struggle in the ever-changing world of technology, but Apple may hold the central skill in this new world order, as building tomorrow’s dreams demands that old engineering adage, “less is more”, and “better is not necessarily better than best”. Why? Because they can’t get the staff.

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(Image c/o, Wired)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ybn-OvSLKg&fs=1&hl=en_GB]

Apple may or may not seize the chance to raid the console gaming markets next year if and when it introduces application support to the Apple TV, but it is one of the world’s few firms with a chance to take a bit at that market, at least that’s according to Electronic Arts.
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Apple has informed Mac Developers that demo, trial, and beta versions of software will not be permitted on the upcoming Mac App Store. Apple will only be accepting fully functional, retail versions of applications. Unlike with the iOS App Store, Apple is encouraging developers who wish to provide demos, trials, and betas to post them as files on their own personal websites.

Your website is the best place to provide demos, trial versions, or betas of your software for customers to explore. The apps you submit to be reviewed for the Mac App Store should be fully functional, retail versions of your apps.

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Apple is attempting to put some life into Ping, seizing the chance to offer an exclusive premiere of a new Michael Jackson (deceased) song on the service.

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SproutCore is something else, a technology which drives the superior Web experience that MobileMe is rapidly becoming. Now SproutCore creator, Charles Jolley, has quit Apple to launch a startup called Strobe, tasked to deliver Apple-like JavaScript and HTML5 technologies to create apps which run smoothly on any device.
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Angry Birds fans (and there’s millions out there) take note: Angry Birds Seasons, the latest free update to the game is availble now.
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Interesting conversation with opinions on Rupert Murdoch, the future of publications and the new Project app from Virgin. Also dinner with a certain Apple CEO.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/money/.element/apps/cvp/4.0/swf/cnn_money_384x216_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=/video/news/2010/11/30/n_branson_ipad_mag.cnnmoney

Flash? Complain here.
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COMPUTERWORLD: Richard Branson and Rupert Murdoch have begun battling it out to create a superior subscription-based magazine in the iPod iPublishing 3.0 race, but Apple’s [AAPL] recent move to ban an iOS magazine dedicated to the competing Android smartphone OS shows that Apple’s app store approvals team could begin an age of censorship.

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDvPIhCd8N4&fs=1&hl=en_GB]

Be happy, iGamers, as the Unreal engine-driven much-anticipated Infinity Blade game is rumored to be set to ship on December 9.

If you’ve been watching you’ll know this is the game Apple showed us during a keynote presentation with Epic Games folks invited to share stage time with Jobs. And the audience oohed and ahhed at those hot, hot graphics.
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[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/17285675 w=651&h=488]

Project magazine looks to be a pretty exciting alternative to some of the print magazines that have been showing up for the iOS platform (some amazing, some not). Project will be iPad-only and what better a cover story than Tron?

iTunes link Screenies below:

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WjfrDNi18g&w=640&h=385]

When hidden AirPlay APIs and AirPlay enhancements from Cydia came to life just days ago we knew the party was just getting started. A 9to5mac reader managed to stream live TV from his iPad to his Apple TV via a modified version of AirPlay (video above).  Cool stuff and we’re sure this is just the beginning.

In other news the same upcoming web browser for the Apple TV we showed you recently has a new walkthrough video (below) this time demonstrating HTML 5 video playing functionality on the second-generation Apple TV.

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COMPUTERWORLD: Apple’s iPad 2.0 is on its way, and a Chinese language newspaper is reporting industry sources who have allegedly revealed five of the future hardware features we can expect to see in the next-generation of Apple’s market-defining tablet-cum-netbook replacing computing device.

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AirPrint is currently Mac only and works exclusively with a few HP printers. For Mac users without one of those fancy AirPrint-compatibile printers there’s a fantastic Mac application called Printopia but what about Windows? For Windows husers who want AirPrint to work with their computer there is a new tool called ‘AirPrint Activator.’

The tool works on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows machines and all setup requires is three easy steps. The steps are in German but here’s our English version via (translated) Macerkopf:

Just download the one-click tool, install and activate AirPrint for Windows 32bit or 64bit. Then you have to have the printer in System Preferences (printer properties) to share. Already, all printer under Windows 32-bit or Windows 64-bit for IOS 4.2.1 and AirPrint available. Please note Step 3: AirPrint.exe must be enabled in Windows Firewall.

Oh, and you want to download it? Here. Let us know in the comments how it goes for you.

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Apple has reportedly banned single station radio apps — even as digital radio manufacturer, PURE, introduces its well-regarded digital radio-cum-portal service as an app made available via the App Store.

Radio apps have been around on the store for some time, but Apple appears to have changed its policy on these. This emerged after Jim Barcus, president of DJ Radio Apps, approached the company to ask why ten of his single station radio apps had been rejected.
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Update: We’ve received screenshots of the new iBooks update with ‘Collections.’ Check them out and read the details below:

Just yesterday we reported that Steve Jobs informed a customer that better iBooks management would be ‘coming’ and today we got our hands on the details. First of all folders are indeed coming to iBooks for iOS and are similar to the folders on the iOS 4 homescreen. Users will be able to create their own ‘Collections’ which they can call whatever they like.

There will be two default collections: Book and PDF’s. If you look in your iBooks app right now you will notice that these two collections already exist. The new ‘collections’ feature lets you create your own lists that hold books and PDF’s. You can even move the collections and the items in them around.

From looking at these Apple documents it appears that collections will be a button you tap on the iBooks toolbar that brings up a list of all your collections but it also appears there will be ‘collections’ actually sitting on your bookshelf.

Also, you will now be able to take PDF’s you have stored in iBooks and e-mail them off to whomever you would like. Printing PDF’s via AirPrint will also come in this update which should be handy for many users. Apple will also be very clear to say that the printing and e-mailing of actual books is not happening.

No word on when iBooks will be getting these new features but they should be coming very soon. Apple’s document regarding the new features is after the break:

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According to Yahoo Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Mobile etc., will be launching an iPad-only newspaper/magazine next week called “Project.” Project will include sections pertaining to entertainment, travel, business, design, and international culture. Branson’s announcement comes only days after News Corp.’s news about their tablet-only newspaper The Daily. Branson will be holding a press conference soon to announce full details.

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When Steve Jobs announced AirPrint back on that day in early September excitement rang as iOS users finally got the ability to print from their device. Then as a few weeks passed and we learned that this was not the case. AirPrint only works on a few select HP printers which leaves most of us in the dark for one of the slickest features in iOS 4.2. Well, that is where Printopia comes in.

Printopia is by far the best piece of software you can get right now for your Mac if you have an AirPrint-capable iOS device. In short, Printopia allows any iOS user with an AirPrint-capable device to print. Installation is a snap. Simply download the software (which does not mess with your file system!), click and install, and you’re done.
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