
Back in January Rene made us all aware that the Apple App Store hit the half billion mark in terms of downloads. A few months later it seems like they will be doubling that number by hitting 1 billion app downloads. This is indeed impressive and Apple wants to celebrate with giving you a chance to win some really sweet prizes.
As of today, nearly one billion apps have been downloaded around the globe. So we just want to say thanks — a billion. Download an app and you’ll automatically get the chance to win a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card, an iPod touch, a Time Capsule, and a MacBook Pro. Just go to the iTunes Store, browse the App Store, and download your best app yet.
Apple has even laid out the top 20 paid and free apps [iTunes Link] of all time with Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D and the Facebook app leading their respective categories. So what are you waiting for? Get your download on for your chance to win some sweet Apple goodness! (Just remember entries are limited to 25 per person per day.)
Good luck!

Things have been pretty slow this week in terms of noteworthy apps to bring to your attention. Nevertheless , we did find you two gems on sale in a sea of apps. To learn more about these discounted apps, read on after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Thursday, Mar 5, 2009 by Jeremy Sikora
File Under:App Store Apps, Apps, News; Tags: app store, Apple, apps, baseball, iPhone, iPhone 3G, mlb at bat

Well, Baseball season is fast approaching and you all know what the means: Major League Baseball is taking full advantage and is releasing two new MLB At Bat apps.
The first is available right now in the iTunes store, MLB At Bat Lite. Good thing is, that app is completely free. It’s essentially the same app as last years paid app minus in-game video highlights.
The paid version of MLB At Bat 2009 will be available on April 3rd in the App Store with a price as yet-to-be determined. What this version offers in comparison to the lite version is actual in-game live audio and in-game video highlights (not to be confused with actual live video feeds). With the live in-game audio you will have some options. You have the choice to listen to the home or away teams’ own broadcasters, which is a really nice feature.
The big question here is the price for this app. MLB.com mobile has the same in-game audio feature currently and that alone costs $4.99 a month. So what does that mean, if anything, for this iPhone app? Are we looking at a subscription fee on top of the price of the app? If so, why not simply update the app we purchased last year for $5.00. Seems to us like MLB is double dipping here…
So all of you Baseball fans out there, what is your take on this?
[Via Macworld]
Posted on Friday, Feb 27, 2009 by Jeremy Sikora
File Under:Apps, Development, News; Tags: app store, Apple, apps, Howard Stern, iPhone, Sirius, Sirius XM, uSirius

UPDATED: Developer NiceMac provided an update in the comments:
The app was not rejected, however it could not be approved at this time.
It does no good to send hate mail to or bash Apple or any other involved parties. In fact, it could damage relationships required to get this product to market.
Instead, we encourage positive emails and messages of support to all those involved.
ORIGINAL: Lately I have been the bearer of bad news. First it was Apple rejecting the official South Park application and now they’re breaking our hearts once more and waving bye bye to Howard Stern and Sirius XM by rejecting the uSirius StarPlayr application that we previously told you was due to be in the App Store in a few short weeks. Yes this is a very sad day, as I am a huge Howard Stern fan like many of you.
“As of yesterday, the uSirius StarPlayr Application for iPhone still had a status of “In Review” with Apple. Late last night, we became aware that the application could not be approved at this time. As fans, we are committed to continuing to work with all parties involved as necessary in any capacity required to see this product to market. It is our goal, as it has always been, to release this application at as low of a price point as possible, if not free of charge.”
With no real reason given why this application was rejected, we must sadly move on. You really have to wonder what exactly made Apple reject this application. Surely it was not Sirius XM as Howard himself loved the idea and was ready to pick up an iPhone just for this application.
Apple, why did you reject this one? This was an application that I been patiently waiting for… oh so much. This news will surely disappoint Howard and many of the other Sirius XM iPhone owners out there.
Hopefully, we will see this application available on Cydia or the App Store sooner rather than later.
[Thanks to Darren for the tip!]
Posted on Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 by Jeremy Sikora
File Under:From the Forums, Regular Features; Tags: apps, forums, From the Forums, hack, iPhone, iPhone 3G, jailbreak, Jailbroken

As our forums keep gaining more and more members the threads just keep getting better. Here are some of the latest and greatest Jailbreak-related threads from the forums today!
The first thread is a pretty straight forward poll, are you Jailbroken or not? As of right now the amount of members Jailbroken are way ahead of those who choose not to. So what about you?
Next thread comes to us from BKSinAZ, and he asked the following question. If he is using AT&T, is there any reason to jailbreak? I’m sure all of our readers who are currently Jailbroken can give BKSinAZ some reasons on why he should.
A lot has been said recently about the legality of Jailbreaking your iPhone. So is it a surprise that there are a few threads revolving around that topic? Be sure to check these two threads out: Jailbreak Illegal – What now? Restore? and Apple Says Jailbreaking is Illegal.
For everything that is Jailbreaking Apps… be sure to check out the forums iPhone Jailbreak Apps section. You will just begin to scratch the surface of what is exactly available to you.
In order to discuss these topics on TiPb forums you must be registered, which you can do right here, and it will only take a minute of your time.
See you on the forums!

We get it: Apps are the new Internet. If the recent TV commercials weren’t hint enough, if redesigning the Apple Stores to put them front-and-center wasn’t crystal clear, Apple has sent out an email reminding us that the iPhone Apps, they are good!
Over 15,000 (20,000 but most counts), Apple focuses on ZAGAT TO GO, Flick Bowling, Allrecipes.com, Weightbot, and iHandy Level.
Apple has long said that software, not hardware was their key differentiator, and they’re certainly making sure everyone else knows it as well.
Is it working? Are Apps hooking new buyers the way “just the Internet”-focused advertising hooked previous ones?

Jail or the wrong end of Tony Soprano’s temper? Is there anywhere the iPhone can’t get you?
TUAW reports that casinos in Nevada (and we presume elsewhere eventually if not already) have been warned to look out for next generation card counters powered by iPhone apps (the use of which, like any technological assist, is a felony in the gaming state).
Doesn’t look like anyone’s actually been caught doing this in the wilds of Vegas yet, though who knows what’s going on in private, back room games around the country, or the world.
What’s next? Someone going to sneak one onto the set of Price is Right?

Crackulous, while surrounded by some initial humor, wasn’t funny for developers who work night and day to feed their families only to see their work ripped off. (Come on, how many of us would like it if developers walked off without paying for their ultra-sized combo meals at our work!). Well, now it looks like some of them are fighting back.
Christina Warren over at TUAW talked to the folks behind the new Kali Anti-Piracy service and liked what she saw:
Essentially, Ripdev has figured out how to put an extra wrapper around iPhone apps, which not only prevents the app from launching or functioning properly if it has been cracked, but also prevents the current cracking tools from working on the app at all. Even better, this process only uses documented and allowed calls, making it SDK compliant. Oh — and if the app is legitimately purchased, it can run on a jailbroken iPhone without a problem.
Daring Fireball, for their part, argues that the best anti-piracy doesn’t make itself immediately known, but also doesn’t simply kill a pirated app from running: that might just spread rumors that the app is unstable instead of protected. He references one of my favorite anti-piracy stories of the recent age, involving developer Panic.
In general, however, the iPhone has a unique ID, knows who you are, and where you are, so we have to wonder if even the idea of “corroding the soul” isn’t enough to stop piracy, the threat of angry developers pwning the pirates might constrain it slightly?

Unlike the snow, TiPb’s 2008 Holiday Gift Guide has come and gone, but while festivities pass, the gift of giving lasts all year long — especially when loved ones are expecting them some Valentine’s gift love! So, TiPb once again comes to the rescue with our 2009 Valentine’s Day iPhone Gift Guide!
Need something special for that someone special? We got’cha covered after the break!
Read the rest of this entry »
More pics from yesterday, enjoy!