All Articles in Apps

Apple has now hit the milestone 10,000th app in the iTunes App Store, and to celebrate, TapTapTap created the awesome icon tile artwork above (via TUAW), and what’s more, CNBC (via iLounge) noted that Apple has snuck in some new ad copy claiming iPhone users have “downloaded over 300 million” apps.

Those numbers are simply staggering. As Steve Jobs recently, the adoption rate is beyond anything seen before in the industry. That the App Store is as unified, integrated, and easy as the iPhone platform itself is no doubt the driving factor.

But the question increasingly becomes, amid 10,000 apps, how do developers get more of those 300 million downloads for their apps?

Icon Factory co-founder and Frenzic designer Gedeon Maheux, on his gedblog, suggests that the app icon is an important place to start:

All too often icons are treated as second-class citizens, especially in the App Store. Lately, developers have taken to plastering “SALE” or “60% OFF!” within their icons. They’ve become lazy and let the iPhone software mar their design with glossy highlights which obscure efforts to brand their software. They use dull colors or pile on heaps of detail that just adds unwanted noise to an already cluttered array of choices. After the flashy ad pitches have faded, the icon still has to live on the user’s device and is often the first line of interaction with the product.

Another tool that may help is the new promo code system Apple has enabled for the (US-only so far) App Store. Erica Sadun provides a great iPhone promo code walk through over on Ars, explaining how to both give and receive, as well as some helpful hints for developers:

You can preview your Application. Once your App has been given a green light by Apple, the codes can be used—even before the release date you set in iTunes connect. Whenever your app is “Ready for Sale”, Apple says you can offer free downloads. Setting a future date and releasing previews allows you to build your buzz before you go live in the App Store.

The scariest thing of all? It hasn’t even been 6 months since the App Store launched (Dec. 17 will mark that anniversary). What will things look like in another 6?

David Perry of Didev Studios wrote in to tell us about Bugz for the iPhone, and was kind enough to send along some interesting insights into the game, developing for the iPhone, and the App Store.

On the origins of Bugz as a PSP game:

Bugz was originally conceived about 2 years ago as a PSP game. It took me around a year of coding, design, graphics and audio work before I made a release into a competition that was being run at the time. Bugz was well received in the competition and received first place. The public seemed to like Bugz and it’s quirky cuteness.

On moving Bugz to the iPhone:

Recently I decided to look at iPhone development and Bugz was an obvious choice as a first project. The initial version of Bugz for the PSP only had 17 levels – this would obviously need expanding for the iPhone version. Whilst contemplating the iPhone port of Bugz, I asked a friend to join me on the project, he accepted and Didev Studios was born.

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Looks like Google isn’t the only one making sure that when a user talks, the iPhone listens. Vlingo wrote in to tell us that their well-known BlackBerry app is now available for the iPhone, and it sure looks like they’ve been listening as well!

Vlingo lets you:

• Initiate calls to anyone in your address book.
• Look up anything through Yahoo! or Google in one step. Just say, “Web search: concert tickets in Boston,” and the results are displayed.
• Look up and map local listings. For example, by saying, “Find Italian restaurants in San Francisco,” vlingo will show choices and can populate Google Maps with the touch of a button.
• Send Facebook and Twitter status updates without typing. Vlingo also automatically embeds a Web browser so users can easily access the mobile versions of Facebook and Twitter to keep track of their friends’ updates.

Google works pretty well, but doesn’t include contact search (and seems to have trouble with British, Southern, or anything other than TV-ized North American accents.)

Vlingo does search contacts, and does a good job of it (and even suggests alternatives, which is welcome when it has trouble distinguishing between individuals with close-sounding names). However, unlike Google (which uses forbidden API’s to access the phone-like “lift to your ear and start talking” functionality) you have to press a button, then talk, then press a button again when you’re finished. There are helpful tutorials included to get you used to the process and on your way.

Gallery after the jump! Read the rest of this entry »

Ahh, sports. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat. If you are old enough, you probably remember the “agony of defeat” guy – painful on more than one level (for him, and for you if you are old enough to know what I’m talking about). I love me some sports, and thankfully there are some great sports apps for the iPhone. Two of my favorites are freebies – Sportacular and SportsTap. Which one has the edge? Who comes out on top as being more competitive and “sportier?”  Who hits the shot at the buzzer FTW?! Check out the App v. App after the break! Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATE: Chad here giving Amazon Mobile for iPhone a try!

I am very excited for Amazon’s new native app on the App Store [iTunes Link] for a couple of reasons. Mainly, I like to shop on Amazon, so this offers a convenient tool. Second, it is a really neat experimental feature called “Amazon Remembers”, more on this later…

The app gives you what you would expect in an iPhone app these days: a home screen, search, cart, remembers and more. Let’s discuss each of these briefly.

Home: This is your start page in the app. It displays items from your wish list and search

Search: You um, search for products here

Cart: View any items you have in your cart; items display from the web or the app

Remembers: This is really cool. Basically you take a photo of something you are looking for, and Amazon will find a match. Amazon has real people looking at this stuff, so it can take a day or two to get a result.

More: This is where everything else is placed. Wish lists, account information tracking packages, etc.

I am very impressed with the app. Amazon could have just made a native app that mimicked their web app, but instead they are trying new things (Amazon Remembers) and giving us access to useful tools (Tracking Packages). I have captured several photos, enjoy them below!

Amazon sent me an email telling me they found a matching product for the picture of the Sharpie marker that I took (see screen hot below). Very cool! I can then buy that item directly from the iPhone! Sweet!

Gallery and Rene’s original post after the break!

Sure, Android may have the Amazon MP3 store, but now the iPhone has everything else! Amazon Mobile for iPhone lets you shop quickly (1-Click) and securely (SSL). Will it be as good an experience as the WebApp optimized website version? We’ll see — we still prefer the Facebook WebApp to the native App, but Google’s latest native App is killer. So far, it offers all the usual Amazon goodness, plus a new feature called Amazon Remembers, which lets you snaps photos of things (they use a folding chair in the example) you like, which it then keeps in the App and sends to Amazon, and shows you alongside anything Amazon thinks is similar in their catalog. Seems to be US only at the moment (at least it’s not in the Canadian App store yet, anyone else get it internationally?), but if you grab it, please let me know how it works (and if it stimulates you to spend a little for the economy, ‘natch!)

(Thanks Miguel for the tip!)

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Apple has put up a special iTunes page showing off the top free and top paid apps of 2008. In addition to the overall standings, Apps are also broken out according to categories like Games, Entertainment, Music, Utilities, and Social Networks.

Koi Pond leads the paid apps while Facebook owns the free. To see the complete list, head on over to iTunes.

For more, also check out Top Music, Movies, Podcasts, and Audiobooks for iTunes 2008. (And while you’re at it, consider adding Phone different and iPhone Live! to your feeds for 2009 )

(via Macworld)

We like interesting developers and interesting stories here at TiPb, and Mike Kasprzak of Smiles sent us in this gem:

I don’t know how closely you’ve been following the whole price changing fiasco in the iTunes App Store. Games launching at like $8-$10, then dropping to $1 a day or so later. Or apps jumping between 2 prices every few days to get front page exposure on aggregation sites. That sort of thing. It’s really making things hard for us developers trying to run an honest shop. Well, I did something a little different with my game Smiles. I launched the game at $4.99, but instead of dropping the price like ‘conventional wisdom’ seems to suggest, I cut it in half. This works for me, since Smiles is actually 2 games (a clever business idea that… well… hasn’t work out in my favor yet). Customers can buy my game “Smiles” individual parts (Smiles Zen, and Smiles Drop) for $2.99 each, or save about $1 by purchasing “Smiles” for $4.99.

If you try it out, please tell us what you think!

Black Friday may be over, but there are still some good deals happening in the App Store and we have a few notables for you today.

Are you a Star Wars fan? Well then you’ll be happy to know that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed [iTunes Link] has dropped $2 and is now available for $5.99. If you are not sure if it’s your type of game check out Rene’s full Star Wars: The Force Unleashed review!

This next app is perfect for all of you skiers and snowboarders out there. Snow Reports + GPS Ski & Snowboard Trail Maps [iTunes Link] is a great app that uses iPhones GPS to keep track of where you are on the mountain. View all of the trails, lifts, and more! You can now get this app for half off the regular price of $5.99. So if you are hitting the slopes this winter do not pass up on this one for $2.99!

Finally, we have a racer’s delight… Asphalt 4: Elite Racing. [iTunes Link] If you missed out on the reviews for this racer and more, be sure to visit the TiPb Grand Prix! You can now get this top racer for only $5.99, that’s $2.00 off the regular price.

So there you have it folks, just a few sales going on in the ever popular App Store! Enjoy!

Typing Genius Forum Review by cjvitek For more Forum Reviews, see the TiPb iPhone App Store Forum!

Okay, how many people have taken a while to get used to the soft keyboard on the iPhone? Show of hands? Okay, now put your hands down, you all look silly.

I admit, it has taken (and still is taking) me some time to get used to the soft keyboard. I came over to the iPhone from a Treo 680 (which was my first phone keypad) and I still find myself missing the hard keys with the tactile response. But they soft keypad isn’t horrible, it just takes some time to get used to.

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Toby Vincent of SmudgeApps wrote in to let us know that along with general App Store distribution and the 100-device Ad Hoc method universities and beta testers have been using, Apple has just opened the door to a new system:

Apple has finally started allowing us to issue free promotional copies of their iPhone applications. Devs can issue 50 promotional codes for their application. The codes allow the recipient to download a full copy of the application for free. Codes can only be presently used in the U.S. iTunes Stores by using the “Redeem” link in the App Store.

This would allow developers to, among other things, get their apps more easily into the hands of reviewers, or give them away as part of a promotional/marketing initiative.

Vincent was kind enough to send along a promo code for their flagship App, Jam! Unfortunately, as a — I guess undeserving? — Canadian, I was barred from downloading it. Ah well, my loss will be the gain of one of our US based writers for now…

So, while this still keeps apps for the most part still locked into the App Store, does it give developers a little more wiggle room in their iTunes straight jackets? What else does Apple need to do to really help expose the now 10,000 strong catalog to end users?