Podcaster was rejected from the App Store for duplicating the (at that point upcoming) functionality of the built in iPod app. Seems like Podstreamer (Streamcaster in the Canadian store?!), however, made it in. While the two apps might not be identical, the situation does nothing to alleviate the appearance of capricious, near-random behavior from Apple’s approval department. (Thanks benstinson for the tip!)
Next up, Daring Fireball reports that a CoverFlow-esque contacts app was rejected by Apple for using the private CoverFlow API.
The problem? According to developer Landon Fuller, they didn’t use any private APIs — they created their own Cover Flow implementation using the public APIs.
Gruber rightly notes the apparent hypocrisy in Google publicly flaunting their use of private API’s in the Google Mobile App, while Peeps is rejected for the mere (apparently wrongful) suspicion they’re using one.
Lastly, Ars Technica says Apple has added a new category to the App Store… one that allows for Pull My Finger to make its inglorious return:
“The very kind Apple Team Member told me that they didn’t want to reject it originally, but that they were sorting out how this ‘genre’ of apps were going to be handled,” he added. “She told me they’d be lifting the restriction on them, and more apps will follow that may have been previously not allowed.”
What else will this new “Entertainment” category cover? What else will it allow? Your most creative guesses welcome in the comments!
This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
State of the Apps: Pods Streamed Not Casted, Peeps Blasted, Pull My Finger’s Back!
Filed under: iTS, iPhone, Holidays, App Store, iPod touch, First Look
When
Tapulous released Christmas with Weezer [
iTunes link] for the iPhone and iPod touch last week, I was pretty excited, as it combined three of my favorite things:
Weezer, Christmas music and
Tap Tap Revenge.
The tough economic climate, stresses over moving two days before I leave for Macworld 2009 and a hectic schedule have given me less holiday cheer than usual, but I'm happy to say, Christmas with Weezer is helping to turn that around.
Christmas with Weezer takes Tap Tap Revenge's addictive format and adds to it some Christmas cheer. Not only do Rivers and company perform a bevy of Christmas classics, the interface is all wrapped up for Christmas.
The Kids Mode is great for anyone starting out with TTR or for kids who want to get in on the fun. Christmas with Weezer also features the multi-tap and tap and hold game elements introduced in the recently released, Tap Tap Dance (
iTunes link).
Check out the gallery below. Christmas with Weezer is $4.99 and available in the
App Store.
First Look: Christmas with Weezer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
First Look: Christmas with Weezer originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Okay, well, only for the first few seconds at the very beginning when Dieter proves HTC pretty much made a point of matching the iPhone 3G form factor exactly. Same height. Same width. Same depth. Of course, it’s plastic resistive screen isn’t the same as the glass capacitive screen of the iPhone — it’s 800×480! (Compared to the iPhone’s 480×320), and it packs an auto-focus 5 megapixel camera… (Along with TouchFlo 3D, about which we’ve done video all our own…)
Now, HTC has said that this device isn’t coming to the US, but TiPb is still hoping Apple rises up an matches at least some of the Touch HD’s specs with an iPhone HD of their very own. HTC’s already shown the hardware can fit the package, and Apple’s already shown they can deliver the content…
We’re just saying…
(Make sure you watch the video through to its bitter-sweet ending. We laughed, we cried, we created a new beverage game around watch-spotting…)
This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.
Saturday Fun: HTC Touch HD vs. iPhone 3G Video
