It looks like the rumors were true. Apple last night released an update for its iAd Producer tool, which brings the app to version 4.2, with the ability to create full-screen banner ads for the iPhone.
The update also gives users the ability to upload Producer projects directly to iAd Workbench, reorganize folders in the Assets sidebar, and includes a number of other enhancements and bug fixes...
Apple released iAd Workbench last summer, giving its registered iOS developer a much-needed tool to create, manage, optimize and track in-app iAd campaigns, build customized banners and more. The mobile advertising tool used to require a paid iOS developer account, $99 per year.
Starting today, non-developers are free to use iAd Workbench as well: all that's needed is a regular Apple ID account. Or to put it other way, Apple's just given anyone the ability to make their own iAds. Additionally, the iPhone maker has expanded its advertising platform by adding a new video iAd unit to Workbench...
In June of this year, Apple introduced a new tool called iAd Workbench that made it easier for developers to create, manage and optimize ad campaigns to promote their apps. They also lowered the spend requirement to $50.
Last night, the company began rolling out the tool to a number of new countries, giving thousands of new developers access to it. It's now available in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and more...
Last Thursday, an intruder attempted to secure personal information from Apple's developer website. The company immediately took the dev center offline, and at the time of this writing it's still down, in order to rebuild its systems in a way that this won't happen again.
But just exactly how did it happen? Well according to Turkish security researcher Ibrahim Balic, who is claiming responsibility for the outage, he was able to infiltrate Apple's servers thanks to an exploit he discovered in the recently released iAd Workbench software...
It is no secret that iAd, Apple's mobile advertising network based on its Quatro Wireless acquisition, is struggling. Originally conceived to help app makers improve their bottom line by injecting highly engaging interactive iAds into their warez, the platform has been marred with high ad rates, big brand exodus, executive reshuffling and Apple's relative inexperience in running a mobile ad network.
But Apple isn't standing still. Today, the company launched a new iAd Workbench tool that helps its registered developers better target their users, manually, automatically or both. This allows for a much finely-graded targeting criteria, down to the specific device, gender, age, location and preferences...