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?
Back before my iPhone was torn from me (sniffle) for the Round Robin, Twitteriffic was (and will be again) my mobile Twitter client of choice. Since TiPb has also been looking into App development and iPhone UI lately, this all added up to make Craig Hockenberry’s post today on furbo.org especially interesting. Hockenberry talks about the importance of making choices in development, about what features to add and what to leave out, and perhaps most importantly to us, in variety of different approaches:
There will always be more than one way to solve a problem: a developer’s personal preferences will inevitably seep into the implementation. Having many choices for a Twitter client means that developers don’t need to create a “one size fits all” solution. In essence, users get to choose a developer whose preferences match their own.
If you’re at all interested in a behind-the-curtains peak into what makes a good app great, be sure to read the whole article.
Also, let us know if you’re currently using Twitterrific, if what he mentions was already obvious to you, or if you’re using another Twitter client, what you’re using and why you prefer it?
Joost, from the P2P masters who brought us Skype and Kasaa, went from hyper-anticipated start-up to barely whispered almost-forgotten in what seemed like the blink of an eye.
Well, according to Gizmodo, they’re back baby, and with free WiFi streaming movies and media to sweeten the deal — if only slightly:
It’s kind of crashy, could use a better navigation UI and takes too long for movie streams to get going (and then when they do it’s kind of finicky) but we definitely appreciate being to stream The Fifth Element over Wi-Fi in decent quality, when it actually gets going. More than anything though, it just makes us soak our pillow with even more drool dreaming of a Hulu app.
So, is the free-ness worth the — what might just be growing — pain? Think Joost has something here? If you try it out, let us know!
Patrik Aronsson let us know that MadInSweden has released their first iPhone game, Whack It: Frogs, intended to deliver a high level of graphics, music, and sound enjoyment. Why target the iPhone? According to Patrik:
The capacity and the possibilities inherent in the iPhone platform is just wonderful. The benefit of having the possibilty to execute a good idea without having to compromise is a thrill. Your own time is the only limitation
If you try it out, be sure to let us know what you think!
Eric wrote in to let us know about Ecardlets, an eCard WebApp targeted specifically at the iPhone. Says Eric:
Ecardlets shows that the Web App SDK is every bit as exciting as the iPhone SDK. We were able to build a rich, tactile, 3-D card experience in a way that can be run entirely through Safari and requires no additional downloads for senders or recipients.
Ecardlets on the iPhone is the first mobile greeting card application that takes advantage of digital photography in such a big way, simply because this is the first platform that has had a beautiful, high-resolution screen.
If any eCard fans out there give it a try, please let us know how it works for you!
A few days ago we mentioned Ars’ iPhone expert, Erica Sadun was taking the lifting of iPhone OS 2.2’s NDA as an opportunity to dump code and sift for gold. Turns out she’s not only found some in the way of “hidden” TV-out features in iPhone 2.2, she’s sacrificed her well earned turkey day to experiment with them. From her previous post, here’s what’s at work:
The MPTVOutWindow class allows your iPhone to send its video to a connected TV rather than to the built-in screen. Intended to be used with movies, the unpublished class creates a live video feed that is sent out through the iPhone’s connector port. End-users will need to buy a video adapter or cable to use this functionality.
Early days still, but fairly awesome stuff. Can’t wait to see what she and other developers — not to mention Apple eventually — come up with!
What to get for that annoying iPhone owner who knows has everything? For that new iPhone user who’s just getting started? For that last minute drop in you never expected but suddenly have to render iSpeechless?
TiPb’s got you covered! Here’s our 2008 Gift Guide, jammed packed with iPhone goodness just in time for the holidays, after the jump!
Well, not strictly speaking, as some Apps are being discounted for more than just the day, and others have even gone up in price, but if you check out sites like AppShopper’s Price Tracker, you can see that some bargains are to be had!
Some deals are sure sweeter than what Apple Retail is offering off the iPhone (nothing!) and iPod Touch (a tiny bit!).
I might just pick up BeeJive for $9. If you find any sweet App deals, or any great deals on iPhone/iPod Touch outside Apple, please let us know in the comments!
I know Dieter hearts 1Password and it’s probably the first thing I load up any time I install — or re-install — a Mac. They’ve got a great FREE iPhone app, but you really need the big desktop brother to get the full functionality, which includes Keychain password filling integrated right into any Mac browser, as well as wallet storage, and a personal favorite — super-strong pseudo-random password generation.
They had a great special on Halloween, but Thanksgiving? Frankly, they’re blowing us away. Anyone who currently has a 1Password license can GIVE away up to 3 FREE licenses to their friends! Those who haven’t got 1Password, or friends with 1Password to give them this awesome gift, can buy a license for 15% off, and still get in on the FREE give away!
Offer’s good until Sunday, November 30th, so if you want it, go grab it.
The Lie Detector App claims that it can detect when a person is lying, 100% of the time I was unsuccessful in getting the app to work. When you open the app it tells you to input a few things about the person that is being questioned. And in the last blank, you enter the question you want to see if the person is lying about.
