Since developers have rushed to get the Apple SDK for iPhone, each one of them has been trying to develop iPhone apps that can attract millions in users and potentially money. The latest report from TechCrunch confirmed that Social Gaming Network’s (SGN) Fleet Air Superiority Training, short for F.A.S.T. has successfully made $1 million in the first week of it launch only.
We have seen an unprecedented number of iPhone apps rejections by iTunes store in the past few weeks. In some cases, it seems that Apple is willing to bend the rules from time to time if needed to silence screams of rejection, bad media attention or a law suit such as the one we reported in a previous post. We have compiled a list of 5 most problematic and controversial iPhone and iPod Touch apps in the past few weeks:
Eucalyptus E-Book Reader
What is it for?
An e-Book reader that allows the iPhone user to find, download and present classic books from Project Gutenberg.
Rejected by iTunes App Store on Thursday, 21 of May 2009. This is due to the fact that it’s possible, after explicitly (more…)
The number of apps available for iPhone and iPod touch in iTunes store has exceeded 40,000 at the end of April 09. With every developer or company trying to get as many sales as possible, some will eventually drop price. There are already many available for free. This has been somehow backup by a recent report on App Store from Distimo, which is a new ducth company in the crowded mobile market. The report contains some interesting findings that seem to relate apps pricing and its ranking.
Distimo aims to release market-wide data on all Smartphones apps stores (Blackberry, Palm, Android..etc) on a monthly bases. There will be broad report on the US market for free and another one with more insight on worldwide markets for a charge. The first full report of Apple store is available for download here.
One month’s data may not be enough (more…)
Apple recently emailed registred developers requesting participation to test the new app dubbed Association Press which is designed to provide Push Notification to iPhone devices. The app has been been designed to work on the latest iPhone OS 3.0 Beta 5. During the test period, push notifications where real news will be sent to iPhone devices participating in the program will be for US English only. Here is the full email:
Help test the Apple Push Notification service
Dear [redacted],
As a developer actively working with iPhone OS 3.0 beta, we would like your help in testing the Apple Push Notification service. We have selected a pre-release version of the Associated Press app for iPhone OS 3.0 to create a high-volume test environment for (more…)
… before you can use it; is what you see when the iPhone 3G overheats. Before anyone freaks out, this is legitimate message documented on Apple’s support Knowledgebase.
“Operate iPhone 3G in a place where the temperature is between 0º and 35º C (32º to 95º F) … If the interior temperature of iPhone 3G exceeds normal operating temperatures, you may experience [the] Temperature warning screen.”
The warning will look like the image on the right posted by theiphoneblog.com.
Weather wise, we don’t expected to see a temperature in the UK that can cause the iPhone to overheat, but this warning message will likely pop-up more than once in other hot parts of the world. iPhone ready for for Global warming??!
Apple, Inc has recently notified iPhone apps developers that any new app will not be accepted unless it’s compatible with the latest iPhone 3.0 OS Software, currently at Beta 5. Those apps not meeting this criteria will be rejected.
This certainly give some headache for developers who has been working on apps for iPhone OS 2.2 for weeks or months. Apple says that existing apps on iTunes store should already be compatible with OS 3.0, but needs to be tested to ensure no hicups exists. Once OS 3.0 is released, any existing apps found to be incompatible with the new OS will be removed, Ouch!!
Below is part of the email sent to iPhone and iPod apps developers:
“Beginning today, all submissions to the App Store will be reviewed on the latest beta of iPhone OS 3.0. If your app submission is not compatible with iPhone OS 3.0, it will not be approved.Existing apps in the App Store should already run on iPhone OS 3.0 without modification, but you should test your existing apps with iPhone OS 3.0 to ensure there are no compatibility issues. After iPhone OS 3.0 becomes available to customers, any app that is incompatible with iPhone OS 3.0 may be removed from the App Store.” (more…)
Never in the history of portable gadgets I can recall there were so many apps for a device in such a short time. Recent stats from 148Apps.biz suggest that the iPhone already hit 40,000 by end of April with more to come. Although they are not the offcial figures from Apple, but considering the pace of apps releases, this can be expected.
The current numbers, as of Thursday 7th May 2009 afternoon are as follows:
* Total Active Apps (available for download): 38,075
* Total Inactive Apps (no longer available): 2,921
* Total Apps Seen in U.S. App Store: 40,996 (more…)
Need for Speed on iPhone
EA games has released Need for Speed Undercover for the iPhone bringing the options, graphics, sounds, and music for $10, which is higher than many games in the iTunes store.
No need for a joystick here or looking for keys to press on your keyboard; it’s all on the iPhone. It does a good job with it control mechanism, particularly the accelerometer. Fans of Need for Speed game will not find any surprise playing it on the iPhone. Multiplayer is missing (more…)
