Starbucks Mobile Payments for iPhone and iPod touch Now Nationwide.
Starbucks was one of the first to use the iPhone and iPod touch as a means to have frequent visitors of the coffee shops to pay for products. It started out in a number of cities, but now, Starbucks has announced that mobile payment on iOS devices are now nationwide. Customers can now pay for product at the well over six thousand brick-and-mortor Starbucks locations as well as the over 1,000 target locations as well
First, and Last, iAd for iPad Debuts Today
Today marks the debut of the first iAd released for use on the iPad, an advertisement for the upcoming Tron Legacy.For the second time in a single year the iAd platform features a Disney film. Last April, Toy Story 3, was used by Steve Jobs, Disney’s single largest shareholder and board member, to demonstrate the potential of iAd for the iPhone.
Despite rumors of a second generation iPad set for release in April(?) the iPad is seen by many media outlets as the “must give” gift for the holidays. It is clear that Apple is interested in showcasing this single advertisement before its use becomes widespread in 2011.
No In-App Purchase or Game Center for the Mac
Cupertino chimed in this week via an updated version of the iTunes Connect Developer Guide. Apple gave some new information on the policies for the developers who have their sights set on publishing on the new App Store for the Mac.
Cupertino let it be known that some features will not be supported for apps that will be distributed through the App Store. For instance there will be no demos, trials, or betas for any software as well as no use of promo codes. The most recent news comes to us from the good people over at 9 to 5 Mac who are saying that Apple is not allowing for in-app purchases or Game Center support either. There is also the possibility that Apple will be selling customer review ad spots (if you will) on the store front. That’s a shame if it is true!
Mac OS X: Lion Launchpad + Mission Control + App Store + Full Screen Apps
With the introduction of the next generation operating system for the Mac, Apple has based this rendition of Mac OS X on the mobile software that it help build, iOS. Demoed this week at the Back to the Mac event, Cupertino showed off three aspects of the new OS that is patented iOS and will be making its debut this summer with the Lion release: Launchpad, Mission Control and the every so familiar App Store.
Launchpad has been designed to behave like the Home Screens on iOS. Using the power of Multi-Touch through your Magic Trackpad or Magic Mouse, users can navigate through multiple home screens (there was no limit mentioned at the event) to launch all the applications that are currently installed on your Mac. Users can even drag applications on top of one another to create folders, just like it’s done on iOS.
Camera+ Gets Kicked Out Of The App Store
Apple pulled the plug on a popular application in the App Store. Camera+ developed by tap tap tap, was given the boot because it violated developer license agreement with a new “Easter egg” feature. The company got caught red handed showing users how to activate the camera shutter using the volume button of the iPhone with a little workaround that could be activated through Safari on iOS. VolumeSnap, the company dubbed feature, was rejected by Cupertino because they said it created “user confusion.” Tap tap tap said they were a little blue about the rejection of their feature, but given the success they were having on the App Store, it didn’t really matter.
Apple Introduces App Store Volume Purchasing/Adobe’s Flash Hardware-Accelerated
Education is still getting that bang-for-their-buck whenever they are dealing with Apple. Is was pointed out the other day that Apple has changed some of the terms in the developer agreement allowing bulk education purchases to receive up to a 50% discount on the App Store. Educational institutions can receive a voucher from the Apple Store for Education in $100, $500, $1,000, $1,500 and $10,000 denominations that would be sent by mail from Apple and redeemed right inside the App Store application (like iTunes gift cards) through a Program Facilitator.
More Hints of iWork Coming to iPhone?
Before the iPhone 4 debut, Apple showcased the new iOS 4 operating system with it’s vast amount of new features for both the consumer and the developer. One of the many features that were mentioned was the ability to open attachments from Mail in third-party applications, such as Omnigraph. In one of the functions’ preview graphics, there was an option to open an attachment in “Keynote,” Apple’s presentation building software. Many have debated that the graphic was a mistake while others say that it allowed a peak at what Apple is planning to do with the software.
iMovie Coming to iPhone
Recently at Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference, a new app had been introduced during Steve Jobs’s keynote speech. Next to the new iPhone 4 and it’s High Definition camera on the big screen was shown Apple’s pioneer video editing app iMovie. This is no watered down version. This is the real deal.
Twinkle Review
Without a doubt, Facebook and Twitter are the largest and most popular social networking sites. However, you do have the little guys who try to make a buzz and take some of the spotlight that Facebook and Twitter shine in. I mean, thats how Facebook and Twitter started out. Twinkle is an application from the folks at Tapulous, who is notoriously known for their collection of musical rhythm games, more specifically TapTap Revenge.
Apple Acquires Siri
Apple has purchased a company called Siri who specializes in voice operated software. The company currently has a free application on the App Store that corresponds with the name of the group and offers the ability for end-users to acquire different information and complete different tasks on their iPhones simply by speaking the request. News of Apple acquiring the company made way to Robert Scoble. The Silicon Valley Insider got wind of the purchase and then contacted a representative of Siri who confirmed the acquisition by Apple. A statement was later given by a Siri investor and board member to the Wall Street Journal stating that the Apple offer was a “no-brainer.”
