Category: Apps (Page 18 of 34)

      Apple allows in-app purchases for free apps

      October 15, 2009 /

      iPhone App Store. Apple has decided to lift yet another App Store restriction, one that has bloated the App Store (that app count isn’t entirely accurate) for some time. Developers are now allowed to have in-app purchases in free apps, a move that spells the demise of all those “lite” apps.

      As things used to be, developers were required to charge for the download of an application if they also wanted to charge for content to be added later. By lifting the restriction, Apple has finally enabled developers to make just one version of an application that can then be unlocked through in app purchases.

      I know this makes trial or limited downloads a lot more appealing. Downloading two apps for one purpose always seemed like a hassle to me. I’m glad things have finally turned the corner.

      Apple, Apps, iPhone, News

      Now you can use your iPhone as your car keys

      October 13, 2009 /

      viper-smart-startIt’s been pretty hilarious to watch all of the fake “there’s an app for that” ads come out, just to see an actual app released a few months later. Such is the case with SmartStart from Viper. The free app hooks your phone up with a starter kit installed on your car and essentially turns your iPhone into your keys.

      SmartStart does more than just ignition. You can start your heater, lock and unlock doors, pop your trunk, and set the alarm. Since the signal is carried over cell networks you can use the app from pretty much anywhere without range limitation.

      All that convenience comes with a pretty hefty price tag, though. It’s $299 for the car module if you’ve already got a Viper system, $499 if not. You get a free year of service but after that you’re looking at $30/year to keep things running. Even at that price, though, I’d imagine a lot of people would be willing to buy. I mean, really, your iPhone controls your car. Now you just need to replace your Ford Focus with an Aston Martin.

      Apps, iPhone

      Photoshop on the iPhone? Not exactly

      October 10, 2009 /

      photoshop-iphoneIf you’ve been waiting for Adobe to put Photoshop on the iPhone, your wait is over. It’s about what you’d expect (and certainly all you need) from an editing application on your cell phone, though calling it “Photoshop” is a bit misleading. The app is free, though, which was a nice surprise.

      The interface is probably the best part of the app. It’s simple slider controls for most effects, which include standard adjustments for saturation, exposure, tint, and all that. You can also crop and use filters, which makes it pretty easy to put together a decent looking picture for a quick Facebook upload. Oh, did I mention the app is free?

      The app includes integration with Adobe’s online system and allows you to upload photos or just save the changes right on your phone. As I may have mentioned, the app is free.

      Apps, Cameras, iPhone

      AT&T ready to allow VoIP calls on 3G

      October 7, 2009 /

      Skype on the iPhone.It seems Apple has one less straw man to throw at investigators over the Google Voice rejection. AT&T has decided, at long last, to allow VoIP calling over 3G connections. VoIP over 3G has been the reason behind a whole slew of app rejections for the iPhone. The change probably comes as a result of the net neutrality discussion, but even so, it’s something I expected AT&T to fight aggressively, not acquiesce to.

      The policy change means you can now do some pretty cool stuff, like use Skype anywhere, or the new Vonage app that heralded the VoIP announcement. It also puts a lot of pressure on Apple to push the Google Voice app through. We all know the “duplicating iPhone features,” defense is a load of crap, and this leaves Apple with very little reason for the rejection.

      Of course, the policy change also means a lot more data traffic on AT&T’s overtasked network. It’ll be interesting to see how well that holds up.

      Apple, Apps, iPhone, Mobile

      Palm embraces Pre development, maybe too late

      October 6, 2009 /

      Palm Pre on WebOS.Palm has finally given in to the idea that open development is the way to go on the Pre. At a conference today where the prime topic was the future of WebOS, the company announced that it would be allowing developers to distribute free apps over the web.

      I would call this the Pre’s saving grace if it weren’t coming so late in the game, because it’s an incredible idea. Developers simply submit the apps to Palm on a review-/censor-free basis and receive a URL back for full distribution. On top of that Palm is waiving the $99 fee for developers using the free distribution method. Regular app submission for the App Catalog will still cost $50. The last brilliant stroke in Palm’s terribly tardy plan was giving each of the developers at the WebOS conference a free Pre with a month’s service and a Touchstone dock. The whole thing is really a great idea…3 months ago.

      At this point developers are working with such a small user base that even free phones and unbridled distribution may not be enough to win them back. The Pre needed to see healthy app growth at launch. Instead the store was stagnant as Palm struggled to get the SDK out on time. This new program could have fostered explosive growth then, but now it will probably look more like Palm’s last flash in the pan.

      Source: TechCrunch

      Apps, Mobile

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