Apple Modifies App Developer License - Allows Third Party Development & Analytics Tools

Apple backpedaling on some iOS development restrictions, will allow third party tools and ad services

Woah, who saw this coming? Apple has changed its super-controversial stance on third party developer tools for iOS apps, now allowing any and all comers, "as long as the resulting apps do not download any code." We're guessing this is mostly a nod to game developers, who use ported engines like Unreal and interpreters like Lua, but it also apparently covers apps developed in Adobe Flash CS5. In addition, the rules on mobile advertising have changed, so AdMob ads are seemingly back in, and Apple's also publishing its App Store Review Guidelines at long last, which will give developers a better idea of how their apps are going to be scrutinized by Apple before they submit them. We're sure we'll be hearing plenty in the coming weeks as developers and arm chair analysts rifle through Apple's so-far-secretive guidelines, but mostly we're just excited to see what sort of innovation and development accessibility we've been missing out on while these third party tools have been off the market. The full (and brief) release can be found after the break.

Update: Google's responded to the newly-relaxed restrictions, saying "Apple's new terms will keep in-app advertising on the iPhone open to many different mobile ad competitors and enable advertising solutions that operate across a wide range of platforms."

Update 2: Our friend John Paczkowski at All Things Digital has Adobe's statement: "We are encouraged to see Apple lifting its restrictions on its licensing terms, giving developers the freedom to choose what tools they use to develop applications for Apple devices."

Update 3: In case the last update didn't give it away enough, Adobe announced in a blog post that it'll resume development on its Packager for iPhone tools, for Flash CS5 devs who want to convert their work to the portable powerhouse.

Meanwhile, it seems like it's time for a little recap:

• Apple's iPhone lockdown: apps must be written in one of three languages, Adobe in the hurt locker
• Adobe says iPhone / iPad adoption and 'alternative technologies' (cough, HTML5) could harm its business
• Steve Jobs responds directly to developer over new iPhone SDK rules, cites blog for explanation
• Steve Jobs publishes some 'thoughts on Flash'... many, many thoughts on Flash
• Adobe's CEO: Jobs' Flash letter is a 'smokescreen' for 'cumbersome' restrictions (update: video)
• Adobe decries Apple's 'walled garden,' yet pledges 'best tools' for HTML5
• Adobe targets Apple in ad campaign launched today, publishes open letter from founders
• Steve Jobs' D8 interview: the video highlights (updated)
• Adobe's CEO: 'we've moved on' from Apple's argument, and Flash still rules

Continue reading Apple backpedaling on some iOS development restrictions, will allow third party tools and ad services

Apple backpedaling on some iOS development restrictions, will allow third party tools and ad services originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adobe thinks Apple’s new cross-compiler policy is great, lack of support for (non-existant) Flash player not so much…

Like Google, Adobe is also over-joyed at Apple’s newly changed and clarified developer license agreement, specifically the part that now allows cross-compilers like Flash CS5 Packager for iPhone:

Apple’s announcement today that it has lifted restrictions on its third-party developer guidelines has direct implications for Adobe’s Packager for iPhone, a feature in the Flash Professional CS5 authoring tool. This feature was created to enable Flash developers to quickly and easily deliver applications for iOS devices. The feature is available for developers to use today in Flash Professional CS5, and we will now resume development work on this feature for future releases.

It’s not all rosy in Adobe land, however, as they point out Apple still won’t let the still not really functional Flash player for mobile onto iOS:

Adobe will continue to work to bring full web browsing with Flash Player 10.1 as well as standalone applications on AIR to a broad range of devices, working with key industry partners including Google, HTC, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia, Palm/HP, RIM, Samsung and others.

I’ve used Flash Player mobile 10.1 on my Nexus One. It works worse than Flash for Mac which has been around for years and is still horrible (even with hardware acceleration). Flash for BlackBerry and Flash for Palm still haven’t shipped and are so late they could verge on vaporware at this point. Despite Adobe talking about Flash for iOS (then iPhone OS) since 2008, it simply doesn’t exit.

So yes, yay, Flash games and apps can now be ported to iOS. Whoosh, another 2000+. But let’s get Flash player working really well on just one mobile platform before we whine about it on iOS again, shall we?

[Adobe Featured Blogs]

Adobe thinks Apple’s new cross-compiler policy is great, lack of support for (non-existant) Flash player not so much… is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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iPod nano 6 vs iPhone 4 vs iPod touch 4 [gallery]

He may be little, but the 2010 iPod nano 6 still looks like iOS and still acts like iOS so I’m going to show him off like he’s iOS — up against the iPhone 4 and iPod nano 4.

I’ll be working on the review this weekend, so if you have any questions, leave them in the comments.

Follow along after the break for the gallery!

iPod nano 6 vs iPhone 4 vs iPod touch 4 is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Adobe to Resume Work on Flash-to-iPhone Compiler

Responding to Apple's announcement that it is easing a number of restrictions on App Store app development including the use of third-party development tools, Adobe has indicated that it will resume work ...

The Language Buddy iPhone app makes remembering Foreign Languages easy

Independent developer Buddy Bergman today released version 1.0 of a new app called The Language Buddy that provides a simple interface to enter in a word or short phrase in your native language along with a Romanized “sounds like” spelling for another language. Add that you can also assign photos and audio clips The Language [...]

iPhone 4 dual-SIM case makes network hopping easy

Now, you can’t have both SIMs active at the same time – that’s a limitation of the iPhone 4, sadly – but you can apparently switch between them without having to reboot the Apple smartphone. According to USBfever, you can simply pick the correct card from the SIM Applications menu in the iPhone 4?s settings, [...]

PopCap making 25% of business in mobile space, sees future in social gaming

PopCap's Dave Roberts spoke with TechFlash recently, and revealed that about 25% of the company's profits are coming from the mobile division. You'd think that the iPhone would be a huge part of that (and it is), but it turns out the iPhone isn't alone -- Java/BREW versions of the games are also very popular for older wireless phones. In that sense, PopCap is a different iPhone game company -- rather than depending on Apple and the App Store for profits, it's a true cross-platform developer.

Roberts says the company is aiming for social gaming next -- Zuma Blitz is going to be the next big push, and PopCap is very tuned in to the relationship between the iPhone and Facebook. "Our customers love it," Roberts says about combining iPhone games with Facebook stats. "It is really sticky. It gets people excited about playing." It'll be interesting to see what PopCap does with Apple's Game Center -- presumably, they'll include the functionality in their games sooner rather than later.

Finally, Roberts says that a lot of casual game companies have come and gone in mobile gaming, but PopCap has endured, mostly because they simply work hard on making great games, and selling those in as many places as possible. "We've made more money on mobile gaming than probably any other company except for EA, just by doing our thing," he says. And as anyone who's enjoyed a Plants vs. Zombies marathon will tell you, we're glad they did.

PopCap making 25% of business in mobile space, sees future in social gaming originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

PopCap making 25% of business in mobile space, sees future in social gaming originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iOS 4.1 Brings Field Test Mode Back To The iPhone

TUAW review: EpicWin for iPhone

As a gamer and productivity fetishist, I've been anticipating EpicWin for iPhone since we first saw the app's trailer. It aims to enhance the drudgery of a to-do list with elements of a fantasy roll playing game like World of Warcraft, thereby adding a bit of fun to your daily tasks. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and, while it's fun in a I'm-gaming-while-I-should-be-working way, EpicWin feels unfinished. The developers have promised (and delivered) new features via updates, but EpicWin still feels like an internal beta. Here's what I found.

Choose your character

Like many fantasy roll-playing games, the first thing you've got to do when launching EpicWin is choose your character. There are five to choose from, all familiar to the genre: a dwarf, a warrior priestess, an "undead" skeleton warrior, a male warrior and, oddly enough, a living tree. Think of a happy-go-lucky Ent and you'll get the idea. The first three are free; the others can be purchased in-game.

Continue reading TUAW review: EpicWin for iPhone

TUAW review: EpicWin for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

TUAW review: EpicWin for iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple HDR head to head with two top competitors

I recently expressed surprise that Apple has dipped into the world of HDR (high dynamic range) photography. It's a great upgrade for the camera, and will help users get better pictures if they use the feature wisely and at the right time.

Megan Lavey has just done a nice summary of what the Apple HDR feature can do, and it's worth a look. So what about the HDR apps that were already available for the iPhone? How does the Apple version stack up to what are probably the two best paid HDR apps? Has Apple made the paid apps irrelevant?

To test them all I took some pictures in challenging sunset lighting giving me bright skies and deep shadows. It's the kind of mix of light and dark that HDR is designed to help with. I also captured some images in bright morning sunlight with moderate shadows.

Continue reading Apple HDR head to head with two top competitors

Apple HDR head to head with two top competitors originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple HDR head to head with two top competitors originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPod touch 4 vs iPhone 4 vs iPad gallery

Just got my hands on an iPod touch 4 here at TiPb actual, and immediately I pulled out the iPhone 4 and iPad for a little versus action.

If form will be a factor in your deciding which iOS device is right for you, or if you just love your gadget porn, check out the full gallery, after the break!

iPod touch 4 vs iPhone 4 vs iPad gallery is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Case study: Griping about signal quality can produce results

For most iPhone owners, it seems like AT&T is deaf to our complaints about signal quality. It appears, however, that griping loudly and repeatedly to the company does have an effect.

I live in the suburbs south of Denver and my signal quality is pretty good. However, whenever my wife and I have gone to Colorado Rockies baseball games in the last few years (we're season ticket holders), we've had awful service at the ballpark. Although the signal strength indicator would show five bars, it was impossible to do much of anything with our iPhones or iPads. Even trying to send out text messages would fail, and attempts to use the MLB At-Bat app in the ballpark were laughable to the point that I didn't purchase the app for the 2010 season. What was even more frustrating is that AT&T is a ballpark advertiser at Coors Field, so you think they'd want their service to be excellent.

Continue reading Case study: Griping about signal quality can produce results

Case study: Griping about signal quality can produce results originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Case study: Griping about signal quality can produce results originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GetGlue brings social networking for entertainment to the iPad

The network, which counts over 5 million members, allows users to "check in" and discuss movies, TV shows, books, and special events, all via their iPad.


Television - Glue - IPad - Social network - Social network service

Review: Chopper 2 for iPhone and iPad

Chopper 2 boasts three-dimensional environments, more realistic physics and all-new levels. Thankfully, it also retain the same addictive side-scrolling gameplay that made the first so much fun.


iPhone - IPad - Side-scrolling video game - Physics - Smartphones

Denon Set to Roll Out AirPlay on Existing Home Stereo Equipment

Engadget reports that rolling out AirPlay support for some home stereo equipment vendors may be as simple as deploying a firmware update for compatible equipment already on the market. The music portion of AirPlay allows users to wirelessly ...

AWS 3G iPhone 4 coming to Videotron… and T-Mobile USA?

Videotron launched their mobile unit today and along with Nexus One and BlackBerry Bold 9700 they said Apple would announce an AWS 3G (the higher spectrum 3G used by upstarts Wind, Moblicity, and Videotron in Canada, and T-Mobile in the US) “in the coming months”.

My usual thinking is that carriers have little if any forward knowledge of Apple’s plans, so take this with a Quebec-sized grain of salt.

If Apple wants to have a truly universal GSM/HSPA 3G phone, however, they’ll need to enable or add those AWS frequencies at some point.

[Engadget Mobile]

AWS 3G iPhone 4 coming to Videotron… and T-Mobile USA? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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MacUpdate Fall Bundle: 12 Mac Apps for $49.99

A few times a year, MacRumors partners with MacUpdate to promote their Mac application bundle deal. Their latest bundle delivers at least 12 Mac applications for $49.99 (a $443 value if all purchased separately) including:

Toas...

iOS 4.1: any problems for you?

Okay, so we've given you about a day to download, install, and tear iOS 4.1 into microscopic shreds. What's the end result? We've been tipped on a handful of troublesome nuances in the update, ranging from unsolved proximity sensor woes to a sudden onslaught of voicemails -- and we're trying to get a feel for how widespread they all are. Care to chime in? Follow the break!

Continue reading iOS 4.1: any problems for you?

iOS 4.1: any problems for you? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic’s iPhone-powered augmented reality T-shirt

This little video shows off what most of the augmented reality features we've seen so far look like; they're cool, but not all that practical or useful. The idea is supposed to be an ad campaign for Panasonic's 3D televisions, so they gave away special AR shirts and a free iPhone app. If you find one of the shirts in the real world, you can point the iPhone app at it, and instead of just the AR code, you'll see an actual animated animal sticking its head out, framed in a Panasonic television.

It's a cool effect, but of course, it's totally cosmetic. You can't actually interact with the animals at all (other than simply taking pictures through the viewfinder and sending them off on Twitter). And it's an ad for a separate piece of tech, so it's nothing to actually do with the iPhone or even Apple. But still, every experiment with AR gets us closer to using the technology for something really interesting.

[via Dvice]

Panasonic's iPhone-powered augmented reality T-shirt originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Panasonic's iPhone-powered augmented reality T-shirt originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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