If you are like me then from time to time you marvel at the sheer number of application available for the iPhone – then perhaps take a moment to wonder about the apps that didn’t quite make it.
For your enjoyment, here are a few such apps that didn’t quite make the grade.
Chess Wars
An update for this particular app waited for six weeks to be reviewed, only to be rejected – or so it seemed. In fact nothing actually happened; the developer waited 6 weeks, no progress was made, so he went on a little rant online and finally Apple got in touch. Why was this chess app rejected (or at least ignored)? The bubbles in the game were too similar to those in Apple’s SMS application; he was literally advised to “make them less shiny”.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus makes me personally think of gum trees and koalas, although in fact this is actually an eReader that accesses the text from various out of print titles. Amazingly this was scrapped in the review process; we can only imagine because someone realized that it would be possible to, for example, get an erotic fiction book on there. I’m not even joking – it made it into the store, but only after being slapped with a 17+ rating.
Murderdrome
Ok, so maybe the title is slightly questionable, (or slightly awesome?) but Murderdrome was reportedly the first digital book that Apple actually banned. The book was a futuristic sport comic that more or less involved brutal battles to the death. Even though apps can now make use of ratings, (such as Eucalyptus,) Murderdrome is still sadly missing from the App Store.
Archive for November, 2009
The Forgotten Apps
Monday, November 30th, 2009X6 is Now Shipping with Unlimited Downloads and Huge Price Tag
Monday, November 30th, 2009
The biggest feature of the Nokia X6 is that owners of the device will enjoy unlimited free downloads from the Nokia music store.
The catch is that buyers will have to fork out over 500 Euro to get this mobile phone slash media player SIM-free.
A price tag of approximately 450 Euro has been reported for the X6 and that is the price before duties and taxes. The X6 stocks are currently shipping in from Finland and making its way to Europe right now. It will be interesting to see if music lovers really feel that the device is worth the hefty price tag.
Let’s see now, for 450 Euro, buyers will be getting a mobile with a 3.2 inch capacitive touch screen, a 5 mega pixel camera and a very impressive 32GB of internal storage. This phone is a 3G device so it also comes with HSDPA support (perfect for making use of the ‘unlimited downloads’ feature), as well as GPS, WiFi, Bluetooth, micro USB and micro SD.
The device itself looks like your average touch screen smart phone; it is sleek and the edge lines are pretty neat giving the phone a nice solid form.
The question now is, are these features enough to convince people to buy the new Nokia music phone? The unlimited music download sure sounds nice, but when you consider the fact that the Nokia music store is not accessible everywhere, it defeats the purpose. Though a regional pricing adjustment would make it more practical for others, it also brings in the possibility that there will be those who would get the device at a lower price then bring it to locations with access to Nokia Music.
Anyway, the device ships with its own WH-500 earphones, which actually provide excellent quality audio output (perfect for the music fans).
Google Pushes for Their Own Phone
Monday, November 30th, 2009
What are the developers of the Android platform up to?
Google has been a very strong company that has made very great decisions in terms of business and marketing, and despite the many criticisms of Google software and services, they provide some of the most effective, reliable and financially feasible (aka FREE) channels and methods for getting almost anything and everything done.
The news that Google is making its own Chrome netbook comes as to no surprise, considering that the Chrome OS is not a standard at all and it will not compete with other Google services.
The news that Google is making its own Android phone however, raises a whole lot of eyebrows.
Mobile Today points out two very important points; the first is that no smart phone should ever be without 3G. You cannot rely on WiFi alone. For this reason, Google should tag this phone up with a carrier with a strong 3G network.
The second point is that Google Voice is a very prominent service that would totally throw off any existing mobile deal or contract.
But Google cannot have 3G unless they tie up with a company.
HTC is rumored to be a likely candidate to handle their device; though this does not rule out LG or even Motorola (Motorola practically had exclusive access to the Android 2.0 for a while). It is reported that the new phone will have a very high speed processor, touch screen, WiFi and a few other features.
Also, if Google releases a new device they will end up facing many high end Android mobile phones as well, such as the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10, the HTC HERO, and the ACER Liquid among others.
Critics believe that this is a very fine line that Google is treading upon and one wrong step could make the company lose its credibility to the manufacturers.
iPhone Makes People Want to Buy Online
Monday, November 30th, 2009
If someone asks what the rage about all the applications, additional content, feeds, subscriptions, live streaming, music download and data consumerism is about, the typical consumer standpoint on the idea is that these features are taken, purchased and installed on demand by users to customize a mobile phone to serve specific personal needs.
From a seller’s standpoint, it is all about profit; and this is probably the reason why the Apple iPhone is successful in terms of satisfying both consumers and sellers.
In a recent study by the media law firm Olswang, results indicate that Apple iPhone users are the biggest potential consumers of digital content.
A year or so ago, a German application developer created an application that served to be nothing more than a status symbol. The app was nothing more than a screensaver that showed bright red gem on a black screen that would indicate to the public that the iPhone user is the owner of the said application. The app was named “I am Rich” and it was priced at 999 US Dollars. Apple naturally took down the application, but not before eight individuals have purchased the app.
Anyway, back to the Olswang study. Their research covered not only iPhone users, but non-iPhone users as well (though they have not disclosed what mobile devices the other study samples used). In various levels of data consumerism, it showed that iPhone users consistently bore a significantly greater chance of purchasing than any other.
The study does take into account that most iPhone users tend to be from affluent social backgrounds, still, the numbers are far too big to ignore.
In areas where 58% of the general public would be willing to make a purchase, a study of iPhone users alone yielded a result of 73% (watch a new movie on a phone); and in cases where general consumerism is low at 40%, a good degree of iPhone users would still be willing to fork out some cash (40% of them) to watch a movie on the phone that is already out on DVD.
iPhone to be Carried by Tesco Mobile
Friday, November 27th, 2009
O2 originally had the iPhone 3G as a time exclusive device for quite some time. “Quite” is an understatement for two whole years.
With Orange UK recently releasing the iPhone and Vodafone announcing that they too will be having the device on January of 2010, O2 has just not lost exclusivity, but also price control. Just a week prior to the Orange launch of the iPhone, O2 started coming up with new promotions for the device. Competition can truly be a good thing.
Tesco will be boosting O2’s market share on the iPhone as they too have announced that the Apple iPhone will be available through them as well. Interested buyers may sign up at the pre-registration page at the Tesco website though there are still no details regarding the specific release date.
The official press release from Tesco dated November 25 states that the Tesco will be releasing Apple iPhone products “through its joint venture partnership with O2”. Specific details regarding this are still unavailable, but it is confirmed that all iPhones to be sold by Tesco will be under an O2 pay-as-you-go or monthly tariff plan.
Tesco is a general retailer specializing in a wide range of everyday products ranging from groceries to consumer electronics to clothing and even financial services. The company currently holds the position of third largest retailer in the world (next to Wal-Mart).
The Apple iPhone is a smart phone with multimedia functions. Originally marketed as an iPod with call features, the device gave Apple Computers a foothold in the mobile industry. Thanks to the social status and iconic image of Apple products, the iPhone quickly became a fashion fad for non-tech fans and a gadget of high curious value for the spec-conscious. Naturally, many fans of the iPod easily migrated to the iPhone as well. The iPhone became a rousing success for its marketability and amazing hardware and software features.
Is Symbian Sinking? N97 and Satio are Suspended
Friday, November 27th, 2009
Before anything else, the N97 MINI is doing perfectly fine, and Sony Ericsson is still pushing through with the Symbian S60 based Kurara –and now, on to the news.
It seems like this last quarter of 2009 has been tough on Symbian, with rumors of Nokia and Samsung dropping the OS in favor of their new systems (the Maemo and the Bada, respectively) flying around to two major Symbian devices being pulled out due to software issues, the Symbian Os is starting to look exceptionally weaker compared to the Android OS and the Apple iPhone.
While both Samsung and Nokia have made a firm stand about their support for Symbian, the issues with the software is not as easy to fix.
Many users of the N97 have been reporting various system based errors and bugs that have been plaguing the device since its release date. There are even entire forums dedicated to the bugs and problems of N97 users –a testament to how unstable the system is. The big blow came as both mobile carrier Vodafone UK and distributer Electronista have stopped offering the device to customers. Electronista now redirects buyers to the more stable N97 Mini and Vodafone no longer lists the device.
The Sony Ericsson Satio is not doing any better. Despite the Satio still available on carriers, the retail version of the device has had many firmware based problems –many have reported power drains, loss of ringtones, lags and crashing. While SE’s marketing department says that they are confident that the problems will be fixed, no updates have been released. The only saving grace for Symbian here is that the problem seems to be linked to the SE skin used in the device (carriers used their own skins for the Satio and those devices are not having any problems).
It certainly does not look good that two Symbian devices have been suspended from sales.
First ELSE Joins the Fray
Friday, November 27th, 2009
Access and Emblaze Mobile have been working together on the Access Linux Platform for a couple of years now, and after a considerable time of hard work, the team is proud to announce their high end smart phone, the First ELSE.
This little device was first announced by the team during a conference in Tokyo last October, now, official screens and a list of specifications have been posted at ALP’s website. The device looks promising, from the external design to the internal hardware, the whole phone is nothing short of high-end.
The original video of the ELSE Intuition interface has been pulled out, but it gave a new standard to how intuitive an interface can get (it certainly lives up to its name). The one touch commands are not only easy to follow, but they are stylishly executed.
All that pizzazz happens on the 3.5 inch FWVGA capacitive touch screen. It’s a bright black screen with a nice big resolution of 854 x 480 pixels. The fonts are nicely sized so no need to squint.
At the heart of this Linux compliant device is a TI OMAP 3430 processor, still no word on what specific speed it will be clocked at, but the initial video showed a very seamless phone experience.
Also impressive is the internal flash storage of 32GB (huge isn’t it?) which is perfect for storing loads of media files. The rest are your typical smart phone fare- a 5 mega pixel camera on par for today’s smart phone; 3G, EDGE, GPRS and wireless LAN connectivity; and the smart phone bundle: micro USB, Bluetooth, GPS/A-GPS and a 1450 mAh battery.
The only thing missing in the list is a micro SD card slot –odd thing to raise an eyebrow at, but it is not in the specs. Expect this device to go head to head with next year’s high end device such as the Hero and the X10.
Nokia Has Two New Sliders Coming
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
It appears that the days when Nokia would come up with odd GSM devices is slowly passing away. The Finnish phone manufacturer is showing some teeth even in their low end devices.
See the two new slider phones from Nokia, they are practical in form and function, they have a decent design and would do well in the pool of mid-to-low tier devices of this year.
The first is the Nokia 6700 Slide, this futuristic looking phone comes in various colors (six so far) and is designed for connectivity. The bright colours definitely suit a much younger user base, but with the device’s specialty, it might as well be for teens and young adults. The 5 mega pixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics is impressive specs wise, but all in all this is an average device.
Aside from the camera, this model also sports a nice little 2.2 inch QVGA screen, and will have full 3G HSDPA and HSUPA support. The rest of the specs are smart phone staples: micro USB, micro SD and Bluetooth. The 800 mAh battery may not seem like much, but we do not see this device as much of an energy guzzler either.
The second device in Nokia’s line-up is the 7230, this phone features quad-band GSM, a 3 mega pixel camera and a 2.4 inch QVGA screen. The big extra is the apps for quick access to Ovi Share, Flickr and Facebook.
Smart phones these days can never do without social networking applications and when you have a series of hip new devices targeting the younger crowds, these become a must-have. The only thing lacking in this slider is a full keyboard for better messaging capabilities.
No details have been released on which carriers will be having these devices and when, but expect the two phones to come sliding in pretty soon.
The Chocolate BL40 Gets an 8MP Camera
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
Christmas is in the air, even for mobile phones. The old BL40 Chocolate from LG gets a neat little upgrade in the form of a high resolution 8 mega pixel camera.
Yep, you heard that right. Not the BL20, but the BL40. Despite no longer being the item of choice for many people, this bulky little Chocolate still manages to show that vanity counts even when faced with practicality.
Other devices such as the HTC HD2 and the Motorola DROID offer excellent features (Snapdragon on the HD2 and Éclair on the DROID), and are also impeccably styled. They are sleek futuristic looking devices, but hands down, the BL40 Chocolate is far more sexier than these two devices (and the BL20 is even sexier, but that’s a different topic).
The Christmas Edition of the BL40 (that really is what they call it) will be released in Korea starting on December 10. No word has been given on whether this version of the Chocolate will ever reach UK shores, but who knows? It might see a Valentine’s Edition (well, or maybe not).
Aside from the new camera, nothing else is new with this Xmas-Edition phone. The rest of the BL40’s specs remain the same. That means users can expect 1 GB of internal storage for all media and files. The 4 inch capacitive touch screen is still present, as well as the S-Class interface.
For media, the device supports MP3, WAV and eAAC+ music files and MP4, DivX, XviD and H.263 video formats. It also has an FM radio function and of course, a 3.5mm audio jack.
The phone also gets to retain the sleek form and size; at 128 x 51 x 10.9mm it truly remains as one of the thinner and sexier devices available. Tough many would argue that this phone is far out-classed by the more basic BL20.
iPhone Sales Double in Europe
Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
From the moment iPhone was made available for all mobile carriers there was a change in the sales figures.
Now, with the most recent figure being release, it could be concluded that this move to work with more network carriers has worked for Apple. The sales have received major boost in Europe and the figures are through the roof.
According to the recent research conducted by Bernstein, since the distribution network was established in the whole of Europe and UK, there has been a boost in market share value of Apple iPhone. From 21 percent in the previous quarter, the figure has increased to 32 percent.
According to the figures recorded in France alone in Q3 of 2009, 600,000 Apple iPhones were sold in the market.
Pierre Ferragu, who is an analyst of Bernstein, added that the expansion in the distribution of iPhone, which has served quite well for Apple Inc. This has helped in almost doubling the sales of the company in the past 3 months. They have taken the space made void by BlackBerry.
According to Carolina Milanesi, a Gartner Analysts, at this moment, France serves as the biggest market for Apple iPhone across Europe.
Neil Mawston, analyst at Strategy Analytics, said that France saw the exclusivity end in April. Their figures show that shelf share almost tripled and market one doubled in a single quarter.
Mawston added that with the UK market is almost similar to the French one. However, there is a comparatively stronger response in UK and thus, it is expected that an even better result will be on the cards.