There are plenty of reasons for develepors to hate the iTunes review system. The problem mainly lies in the way that uninformed or biased reviews can negatively affect the success of a good app.
If you search for some of your favorite apps in iTunes and look at the reviews, chances are you'll see a lot of 1-star "sucks" or 5-star "this is awesome" comments. If you're lucky, you might stumble across a review that's half as good as a recent 5-star rating for Color...
We've picked three apps from the App Store that caught our eye over the previous week. This week, we've got two creative photography/social apps and one game.
Enjoy this week's picks!
Apple continues their "If You Don't Have an iPhone" marketing campaign with the latest ad focusing on Apple's iOS online multiplayer social gaming network, Game Center.
The 30 second commercial opens up by showcasing the huge library of games available in the App Store, such as Infinity Blade, and then shows the capabilities of Game Center, including friends requests, starting a multiplayer game through matchmaking, tracking achievements, and comparing high scores on a leader board.
I must admit, it's been quite some time since an application took me by surprise. But when I read that algoriddim's djay app was coming to the iPhone, I seriously underestimated its entertainment value. I don't typically fall into the 'DJ' category, but it's fun to pretend. I love music, but wouldn't have a clue what to do if you put actual mixing equipment in front of me.
I've played with these kinds of apps before, but only on my iPad. The 10" screen allowed me plenty of room to spin my records, and that's about all I ever did. The novelty usually wore off within 5 minutes. So how could djay for the iPhone give me hours of entertainment?
Those of you who read iDB regularly know how particular I am when it comes to my apps. I like a clean and tidy home screen. One application that seemed to always find a spot on my iPhone was Google Mobile. It was simple, it loaded quickly, and the voice search option was extremely accurate. It was my go-to app for quick lookups.
Today, Google Mobile was replaced by Google Search. The name is different, but the concept is not too far off from its predecessor. It has an accurate voice search function, and uses your location to return local results. Although very similar, there are some notable differences in the new search app...
There's a plethora of location-based apps to choose from in the App Store. Check-in services like Foursquare and Gowalla are popular, and there are some pretty niffty location-based search apps like Siri Assistant and Where.
Localscope, by Cynapse, is a search/navigation app that encompasses the features of most location-based tools in the App Store. By using the backend of services like Google and Twitter, Localscope allows for a more full and encompassing experience of searching for locations around you...
One of the exciting new features in iOS 4.3 is the universal enhancement made to AirPlay. AirPlay existed in iOS 4.2, but it was limited to native iPhone apps. With Apple's new 4.3 firmware, developers are given access to AirPlay functionality, allowing them to incorporate it into their 3rd party apps.
AirPlay is not just limited to App Store developers either; authors of web-based applications for the iPhone will now be able to stream video to the end user's Apple TV. App makers have been pleading with Apple for access to AirPlay APIs (Application Programming Interface) since the feature was introduced in iOS 4.2. But what makes AirPlay so exciting for develepors?
It's no secret that we are Angry Birds fans here at iDB. But then again who isn't? With millions of downloads across multiple platforms, this game will go down in history as the ultimate time waster. Well in case you've missed it, the latest iteration in Rovio's smash hit series is here.
The lovable cast of pigs get a total leprechaun makeover in the newest version of Angry Birds Seasons. And with St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, this application is the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit...
If you are looking for the latest tweak for your jailbroken iPhone, check this out. This new Cydia tweak is called 'Keypad Transparency', and I'll give you 3 guesses what it does. Give up? It gives you complete control over the opacity of your lock screen keypad.
The default opacity is set at 40%, which is what it is in the screen shot above. But the nice little feature about this app is, it allows you to customize it from up to 100% and down. Just how light can it get?
I have been asked now, several times, what the application was I used to write on my iPhone 4 screenshot with in the AirPlay tutorial. So I figured instead of individual replies, I'd share this neat little App Store application with the masses. Definitely don't let the cuddly name fool you, Doodle Buddy is quite a powerful little tool.
Having used several drawing applications in the past on my iPhone, I believe Doodle Buddy to be one of the best. The application is completely free, and it can be downloaded here, in Apple's App Store. Well what makes this doodling app better than all the others? Although it has a nice, simple interface, the extra features are really what makes this one shine. These extras allow you to do things like partner doodling over a wireless connection....
Apple TV has been described, by Apple, as a hobby. But it seems to be a part of some master plan to take over your living room. What was once just a buffer between you and your desktop to stream iTunes content, is quickly becoming an extension of your iDevices.
Already known to be running a version of Apple's iOS platform, that runs on Apple's popular iPhone and iPad products, it can only be a matter of time before we see an Apple TV App Store. With one of Apple's latest software updates to the Apple TV, MLB.TV and NBA.TV (popular iPhone apps) are now available on its home screen. Could this mean other apps aren't too far behind?
Probably not. MLB.TV streaming has existed on Roku and Boxee for a couple of years already, but it's a nice touch. Users are able to watch full games without blackout restrictions and watch highlights from any game in the league. Wow if Apple gets the NFL Network, cable's in trouble.
My hope is that Apple is really considering the potential of an App Store for Apple TV. Imagine playing a racing game on your HiDef TV, off of your Apple TV, using your iPad as a steering wheel. Or imagine playing board games on the big screen, while the whole family uses iPod touches and iPhones as controllers.
Has anyone subscribed to either of these services? Is anyone holding their breath for an Apple TV App Store? Tell us below!
Even with the large amount of fantastic apps available for iOS these days, I try to keep my spring board as clean as possible. In fact, I was ecstatic when Apple announced the new folders feature in their last major overhaul of their iPhone software. In Apple-like fashion, the feature was easy to use, but came with some limitations.
You may only have 4 icons per row, with a limit of 12 total icons per folder. For most people that's more than enough to help you organize your cluttered home screen. But if you are a power user with more apps than the average joe, this limitation can be frustrating. But don't get too discouraged. If you are jailbroken, you certainly have options to fix this....