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iPad Air world tour begins as online Apple Stores start accepting orders

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 29, 2017

Due to time zone differences, Apple's online stores in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Singapore and Australia had gone offline earlier this morning, ahead of the November 1 iPad Air launch. And right on cue, the online Apple Store in Australia, China, Japan and elsewhere have returned for business now.

Most of the stores are listing the device as shipping within 24 hours. The online Apple Stores across Europe and in North America are expected to go down in a few hours as Apple preps to take online orders at midnight.

I've got more info plus line shots from across the world right after the jump...

Half of the Top Overall apps in the App Store are games generating 79% of revenue

Sébastien Page ∙ October 31, 2013

An interesting tidbit of information coming from analytics platform Distimo about the App Store most popular category – Games – and how much that category generates in terms of revenue.

Looking at the Top 400 Overall Grossing, 48% of all apps in the Top Overall were games and those apps generated 92% of the revenue for Google Play in September 2013. For the Apple App Stores (average of iPhone and iPad), 52% of the apps in the Top Overall were games and these apps generated 79% of the revenue.

In short, half of the apps in the Top Grossing charts of the App Store generate 79% of total revenue. Note that these apps do not generate 79% of the total App Store revenue. They generate 79% of Top Grossing charts revenue.

Apple promoting stock apps in App Store search results at devs’ expense

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

Apple has cunningly devised a novel though controversial way of promoting its own iOS 7 stock apps, features and services right in the App Store search. The application store has seen a whopping 60 billion cumulative downloads thus far and with over a million apps carried it's serving a lot of customers on a daily basis.

If you now go to the App Store and run a search for popular generic terms such as 'browser,' 'movies' and 'SMS', the first entry popping up in your search results should be a banner advertising a related stock iOS 7 apps or feature like Safari, iTunes Store, Messages and more...

International Apple Stores going offline ahead of tomorrow’s iPad Air launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

As retailers have now begun receiving large shipments of iPad Air units, Apple's online stores in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere are now going down ahead of tomorrow's launch. The online Apple Stores in China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Singapore and Australia are all offline, with more going down as we speak.

This was to be expected. As is their wont, Apple typically takes its online store offline ahead of major product launches and significant product updates. The iPad Air is slated to launch on Friday, November 1, in the United States and a few dozen international markets...

Apple bars gold/red/green/yellow device shots from devs’ marketing materials

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

Apple has updated its App Store Marketing Guidelines and is now advising developers against using images of the gold iPhone 5s in their marketing materials. According to the new rules, apps carried on the App Store can't feature screenshots on gold iPhone 5s devices nor can such shots be used in other materials used for marketing communications.

Developers should "feature only the most current Apple products", the updated guideline notes, specifically mentioning the following finishes or colors: iPhone 5s in silver or space gray, iPhone 5c in white or blue, iPad Air in silver or space gray and iPad mini in silver or space gray...

FAA greenlights use of gadgets during nearly all phases of flight

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finally relaxed its restrictions on the use of personal electronics devices (PED) such as iPhones and iPads on commercial flights. Going forward, the FAA will allow airlines to expand use of personal electronics during nearly all phases of flight, and is immediately providing the airlines with implementation guidance.

Although the FAA has finally determined that smartphones and tablets have a minimal impact on the airplane's electronic systems, pilots of course are barred from using gadgets for personal reasons at any time during aircraft operations.

Apple patents built-in solar charging solution for Macs and iOS devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 31, 2013

Apple has filed for a few patents in the past related to solar charging for mobile devices and has recently been discovered to be seeking experts in this field. The latest patent filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) indicates Apple may be on the verge of commercializing this technology on a mass scale.

The invention titled 'Power management systems for accepting adapter and solar power in electronic devices' outlines a solar power solution that could be easily integrated into MacBooks, iPhones and iPads without the need for unwieldy external converters...

Climate Clock review: a minimal hourly weather forecast app

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

When you are planning out your day, oftentimes, you want to know what to expect from Mother Nature, especially during the fall and spring, when rain, wind, and temperatures change drastically from one hour to the next.

Climate Clock shows you hourly changes in the weather with a minimalistic, yet informative display so you will know whether you will need to bring a jacket to the ball game…

Dubble superimposes photos to create interesting and unique images

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

Back when there was actual film inside cameras, people would sometimes accidentally create a picture that had a double exposure. That is, two different images would show up on the same photo. Now that digital photography has taken over the world, it is impossible to have accidents like that.

Dubble is a photography app that recreates that rare anomaly and superimposes images on top of each other. Double exposure filters are not new in the App Store, but this one is different because it combines your images with a complete stranger’s…

Gameloft’s ‘Thor: The Dark World’ hits the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Gameloft's new 'Thor: The Dark World' game hit the App Store this morning and is now available for download. The studio has been teasing the title since it first announced it back in July at the San Diego Comic Con event.

Today's release comes a week ahead of the Marvel movie of the same name, with which it shares characters and storylines. In the game, you'll lead the Asgardian forces as Thor on a mission to destroy the 9 worlds...

First-gen iPad 3G owners receiving claim forms for data plan settlement

Cody Lee ∙ October 31, 2013

Last month, US District Judge Ronald White green-lighted a plan for Apple to pay $40 to everyone in the US who purchased an iPad 3G before June 2010 as part of a settlement for a series of class action lawsuits against it and AT&T.

The two companies were accused of pulling a bait-and-switch with the tablet, as Apple initially advertised it with AT&T's $30/month unlimited data plan, which the carrier ended up pulling a few months later in favor of share plans.

And class members have begun receiving their claim forms this week...

Infinity Blade III ‘Soul Hunter’ update now available

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Infinity Blade fans will be happy to hear that the highly anticipated 'Soul Hunter' update is now available in the App Store. The download, which we talked about yesterday, brings the just-released Infinity Blade III game to version 1.1.

The update itself is massive, as evidenced in its lengthy change log which lists off several additions and improvements. Among the changes are various new items, new goals, and an all-new quest that includes a new location and enemy...