There’s been a lot of controversy surrounding Apple and their practice regarding the iPhone App Store, like multiple app bannings (including the Google Voice fiasco), inconsistent rules, and a lack of communication with developers. More »
Internet news web site The Next Web reports that Google Wave will eventually launch its own app store with a similar aim as the iPhone’s wildly successful application marketplace. It’s good news for both developers and users, and with any luck it’ll mean great new functionality for users and a way that developers can make some money for their efforts. [The Next Web]
One year ago, Apple opened the doors to the iTunes App Store. We’ve been wowed with some of the apps, left longing for others, and we’ve got a (relatively) small wish list.
Apple often takes a deserved bollocking for its strange iPhone App Store policies, but it isn’t the only guilty party. David Braue at ZDNet reports that development of Transit Sydney, an iPhone application listing timetable information for Sydney trains, may cease after threats of legal action by CityRail. The lack of a timetable app for Sydney’s rail service was highlighted as an issue by Lifehacker readers last year, and the use of copyright provisions to block access to public information seems pretty dodgy. On the other hand, there’s a glimmer of hope, as CityRail is apparently working on its own mobile application — one that presumably will work on more than one handset, won’t cost anything, and will include up-to-date trackwork information. RailCorp targets rogue iPhone app [ZDNet]
If you’ve already got an iPhone or an iPod touch and you aren’t planning to buy the new iPhone 3G, you’ve still got goodies coming your way from Apple this week. Right beside the iPhone 3G, Apple is set to release the iPhone 2.0 software update, its new App Store, and iTunes 7.7 — so if new hardware’s not in your future, at the very least new software is. While the iPhone 2.0 update won’t add any mind-blowing features to your device, it does promise to fill in a few gaping holes in the touch interface. (Oh yeah, and the App Store, scheduled to open today, lets third-party developers fill in the rest.) Apple chief Steve Jobs announced iPhone 2.0 features during his WWDC keynote, but that was over a whole month ago—so let’s take another look at what exactly you’re getting this week in the iPhone 2.0 update.
One of the new apps slated for release during this Friday’s iPhone 2.0 launch is Friend Book, a “super Address Book” that promises to make dealing with your iPhone contacts much easier and fun. Made by Tapulous, a new company dedicated to iPhone/iPod touch apps, Joel Johnson at Boing Boing describes Friend Book’s “holy crap” feature: The coolest feature without a doubt is the new “Handshake”: put two iPhones running Friend Book together, shake them up and down, and the personal contact information of the phones’ owners will be beamed through the net to the paired phones. Handshake doesn’t work through a device-to-device connection, but instead passes location data back to Tapulous’ servers — two shaking phones in the same location means it’s time to swap information.
Friend Book, along with the company’s other two apps, Tap Tap Revenge and Twinkle will be free to download from Apple’s new App Store on Friday. Hit the play button to see Friend Book in action. Tapulous shows iPhone Apps: Friend Book, Tap Tap Revenge, and Twinkle [Boing Boing Gadgets]
