iTunes
Full category list for displayed posts: News, iPhone, iPod Touch, iTunes
8:53 am, April 13th, 2009, Lonnie Lazar
Apple has released new lists of the “all time” Top 20 paid and free iPhone and iPod Touch applications, as the iTunes AppStore plows on toward 1 billion total downloads.
The “all-time” designation is kind of interesting, given the AppStore has only been open less than a year, but some of the numbers coming out make an impressive case for yet another ding in the universe attributable to Steve Jobs and his little niche computer company.
The number two paid app, the lovely, meditative Koi Pond has been downloaded 900,000 times at 99¢ apiece, according to one report, certainly a nice year’s work for its developers, The Blimp Pilots.
But how about the number one paid app, the game Crash Bandicoot? Its total downloads are unreported, but one could assume a figure somewhat north of Koi Pond’s 900K — at $5.99 per copy, Crash Bandicoot must have Vivendi Games Mobile wondering how much richer they might have become had the world economy not suffered a total melt-down in the past year.
On the free side of the ledger Facebook and Google Earth run one-two, which is no surprise at all, given the worldwide popularity of those two web properties.
Apple has a giveaway contest going in conjunction with the countdown to one billion downloads, with winners slated to get a fully loaded MacBook Pro, a 32GB iPod Touch, a $10,000 iTunes Gift Card and a Time Capsule wireless hard drive.
Posted by Lonnie Lazar in News, iPhone, iPod Touch, iTunes | Comments Off
2:35 am, March 26th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
Proctor & Gamble is now behind (pardon pun) global public bathroom finder app “Sit or Squat.” Below the list of facilities in the area, a Charmin logo appears with the phrase “Gotta Go? Relax. We got your back.”
The app, offered gratis on iTunes, has info on where to find bathrooms, changing tables, handicap access and other amenities. Users can add new content to the service and rate featured toilets.
“Our goal is to connect Charmin with innovative conversations and solutions as a brand that understands the importance of bringing the best bathroom experience to consumers, even when they’re away from home,” explained Jacques Hagopian, Brand Manager for Charmin in the press release. “Helping people find a bathroom that is clean and comfortable is exactly what the SitOrSquat project is all about.”
So far, SitOrSquat has compiled information on more than 52,000 toilets in 10 countries worldwide. Some 1,600 users have downloaded the app, although complaints about the user interface and slow loading times are frequent.
Still, as far as corporate-sponsored apps go, it’s much better than Coke’s “spin the bottle” app or Target’s virtual snow ball.
Via textually
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, iTunes | 1 Comment »
12:05 am, March 26th, 2009, Lonnie Lazar
Apple must have the sweetest distribution deal in the entire retail universe, if a report published Wednesday at TechCrunch is to be believed.
The AppStore refund policy allows purchasers a full refund up to 90 days from the date of download of any application purchased in the iTunes AppStore. Which seems questionable enough in the light of, say, the Android Market’s 24 hour return policy.
But a clause in the developer’s contract all iPhone developers must sign in order to have their apps sold in the AppStore indicates that in addition to a three month return policy, “Apple will have the right to retain its commission on the sale of that Licensed Application, notwithstanding the refund of the price to the end user.”
In effect this means Apple will charge 100% of the sale price to a developer for every refund given, even though the developer only got 70% of the price of the sale in the first place.
Many iPhone app developers are on the record as having no problem with Apple’s 30% sales commission for applications sold through the iTunes AppStore. The thinking goes that independent developers gain access to many more potential customers by having their products in the widely visited venue, save tons of money on marketing and transaction costs and generally benefit from being associated with the legitimacy of the Apple brand.
When consumers get wind of this policy, which may be a new development, according to the TechCrunch report, developers of some widely purchased though basically useless apps could be in for a rude awakening.
UPDATE: No developer is likely to go bankrupt in the real world, according to a level-headed explanation posted Thursday by Erica Sadun, a developer/blogger for ArsTechnica.
The reason, which makes perfect sense when you think about it, is that Apple never gives refunds, except in extreme circumstances and then, only after causing the customer many headaches.
All the Fart app people can rest easy now.
Posted by Lonnie Lazar in Apple, News, Software, iPhone, iPod Touch, iTunes | 4 Comments »
2:35 am, March 23rd, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
Though it’s not entirely surprising that pop-synth vets Depeche Mode, who recently launched the first “iTunes Pass” are Macs, they way they expressed it in a recent interview was entertaining.
The Guardian asked them to link a song from their latest album to typical PC problems:
Guardian: Being in PC World, hoping to by an external disk drive to back up your important data, considering reliability to be more important than price.
Martin “Miles Away would be the best song on the new album for the situation, because Microsoft Vista is miles away from working. You wouldn’t find us in PC World, we’re all Mac users.”
Guardian: You can buy Macs in PC World now, you know.
Martin: “Well I wouldn’t know about that. Does Windows Vista work yet? (Chuckles) I wouldn’t like to be a beta tester for that!”
Dave: “Hard drives always crash. Make sure you back up!”
Hat tip to CoM reader Peter Philipsen.
Image used with a CC license, thanks to mrmatt
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in Music, iTunes | 4 Comments »
2:56 am, March 20th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
Apple has added HD movies to the US iTunes store, including action flicks “Transporter 3,” “Bangkok Dangerous” and “The Spirit.” HD versions cost five dollars more to buy ($14.99 regular, $19.99 HD) but rentals cost the same as regular flicks, $3.99. HD purchases also come with an iPod/iPhone compatible standard def version for viewing on smaller screens.
Upcoming titles available for pre-order on iTunes include “Quantum of Solace” and “Twilight.”
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in News, Quickies, iTunes | 3 Comments »
3:03 am, March 18th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
Well, it’s more of an unfortunate oversight. But the iCount logo — a numbers game for the iPhone, iPod touch – looks like it’s all about something else thanks to the dropping of the “o”. Oh, my. Chalk up another one for the iTunes store censors.
Via the Inquirer
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in Humor, iPhone, iPod Touch, iTunes | No Comments »
4:53 am, March 12th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
The app designed to provide alerts on kidnapped kids in the US is now available, gratis, on iTunes.
As we reported last month, Jonathan Zdziarski, creator of the first iPhone forensics toolkit, developed the AMBER alert. These alerts are issued when missing child cases are granted Amber status – kidnappings of children under age 17 who police believe to be in danger of bodily harm or death.
The iPhone Amber app provides a real-time feed of recent alerts including victim photos, suspect photos and descriptions, vehicle photos and descriptions and a reporting mechanism allowing users to report sightings.
The Amber Alert program was created in 1996 after the kidnapping and killing of nine-year-old Amber Hagerman.
The application was approved just two days after Zdziarski emailed Steve Jobs pleading for him to help expedite the app’s approval after waiting over a month, though Apple has not said if his letter had any effect on the approval.
Via ars technica
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, iTunes | 1 Comment »
9:45 am, March 11th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
At China’s biggest online shopping site, Taobao, $200USD iTunes gift cards are on sale for a fraction of their value, some as low as $2.6 USD.
Outdustry broke the story, interviewing the owner of the site where hundreds of iTunes gift cards are on offer in varying amounts, from $25-200.
“The seller just sells the gift voucher code which they send you directly through Taobao’s IM software. You then redeem the card in your iTunes account.
Once successfully redeemed you then click ‘confirm’ and Alipay transfers your 18 RMB to the seller and you are free to start downloading.
The owner of the Taobao shop told Outdustry the gift card codes are created using key-generators. He also said that he paid money to use the hackers’ service.”
The hacked cards have been on sale for about six months, the price has been driven down due to competition but a growing market have kept the false iTune cards lucrative.
Prices do seem to vary widely, when we checked there were $200 cards were going for about $15USD.
Via slashdot
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in iTunes | 4 Comments »
6:42 pm, March 10th, 2009, Lonnie Lazar
More evidence that they just kinda make it up as they go along at the Apple iTunes store.
[Hat tip Harry McCracken]
Posted by Lonnie Lazar in Humor, News, iTunes | 2 Comments »
7:25 am, March 10th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
iTriage is an app for the iPhone and iPod touch that helps US users find local healthcare information on the road.
Developed by two emergency room doctors, it offers a national directory of emergency departments, urgent care facilities, retail clinics and pharmacies. Drilling down, the info also includes descriptions of capabilities and areas of specialization, web site links, opening hours and contact information. Quality reports on hospitals and physicians can be downloaded, too.
The docs saw a lot of patients making uninformed snap decisions, so they formed partnerships with leading health care information, service and technology companies to offer additional services, including companies that can provide iTriage users with everything from quality and safety ratings and patient recommendations to 24-7 phone consultations with board certified physicians and assistance in negotiating medical bills.
Reviewers — including an ER doc and closet programmer — suggest filtering to wade through all the info but otherwise like the app.
Available for $.99 on iTunes.
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPod Touch, iTunes | 1 Comment »
9:49 pm, March 9th, 2009, Lonnie Lazar
Zumobi announced Monday the arrival of the first-ever official American Idol application for Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch. “American Idol Season 8 Exclusive” (link opens iTunes) follows this season’s American Idol Top 13 finalists in their quest to be named the next American Idol and brings fans exclusive multimedia content and news updates for $2.
The app gives dyed-in-the-wool AI nuts contestant bios, pictures, news and exclusive video from behind-the-scenes of the on-air show. In total, 78 original videos of the remaining contestants will be released weekly between now and the Finale, giving fans the opportunity to get know their favorite contestants better.
A “My Rankings” feature allows users to test their talent-picking power by predicting, customizing, and tracking the order of who stays and who gets voted off each week. As users track their favorite contestants’ progress, they are also one click away from the American Idol iTunes page where they can download music from recent performances.
Of course.
Posted by Lonnie Lazar in Media, Music, News, iPhone, iTunes | Comments Off
7:44 am, March 9th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
The iTunes Celeb Playlist feature is now a free podcast. Kicking off the 15-minute-podcast of tracks loved by the rich and famous is Tom Jones, who recently admitted that his knowing hands are all a fumble when it comes to his iPod, which is stocked by an assistant.
The podcast is worth it just to hear that Welsh accent as a very personable Jones admits first hearing Aretha Franklin on the car radio thinking it was jazz singer Nancy Wilson , professes his love for Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black,” and thinking Elvis was talking about “salomi” instead of “so lonely.”
Read the rest of this post »
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in iTunes | 3 Comments »
