If you've been paying close attention, as most developers do, to the App Store, you may have noticed some changes.
New Releases only show BRAND NEW apps, i.e. version 1.0
Updates are not included in the New Releases
This is potentially a good thing for users but there are some downsides.
The good news is, you won't have to search through old apps to find new gems. It might also discourage developers from submitting minor updates just to be featured on the New Releases page. That will also cut down on approval time as fewer apps need to be reviewed.
Orb sounds pretty neat, though I haven't yet tried it. They just released their software for the Mac yesterday, having been available for Windows for some time. According to their press release, the free Orb application and service enable the streaming of any media type from computers running Windows or the Mac OS, to any other internet-connected device including laptops, mobile phones, and even TVs connected to a game console. You're able to access all your music, photos, and video anywhere, anytime, without first having to download content to your iPhone or iPod touch.
Free Halloween Sounds (free) is just plain fun, what it is is fifteen free spooky sound effects (bats, ghosts, chainsaws, creaky floors, etc) and a spooky soundtrack you can play in the background. To kick it up a notch just get a mini jack to 1/4" stereo jack and plug it into your sound system for Halloween and really give the kids a fright! I've been playing with this thing so much even my son is getting tired of it, and he's 7!
Apple recently announced a major shift in how they treat free apps and I have been mulling over what it means to developers, in addition to end users.
In the past, "In-App Purchases", or the ability to add features to an app, were only available for paid apps. Free apps could not be upgraded, short of purchasing the paid version separately. Now, users of these free apps can purchase upgrades.
On one hand, more choices are a good thing. But I have some concerns.
Fanboys and girls are understandable excited that EA has released Rockband for the iPhone and iPod Touch. The base game costs $9.95 and is 158 megs. Each song is reported to be between 10 and 20 megs each. People with smaller capacity devices may have to delete some content.
I think Siena Entertainment has hit one out of the park with StoryChime's The Queen Bee (.99) a 21st Century take on the Brothers Grimm 1884 Fairy Tail.
Let me walk you through why. According to the company press release, Story Chimes was created by two young fathers who were looking for a way to educationally entertain their kids while promoting a contemporary way to make reading fun.” Well if my son is any indication, they certainly have found a way to make reading fun.
I admit it. I've been avoiding schoolwork and spending too much time on iPhone apps. How can I concentrate on school work when I keep getting apps to review like Ransom Letters(v. 1.5). I love decorating my photos and sending them to my friends; and with Ransom Letters, I can add fun messages written like a ransom note.
The Yahoo app is found in the App Store’s News category, most likely because the first two screens in the app display the latest news. However, the app offers much more for the iPhone and iPod touch user.
