Apps

Grooveshark Gets Yanked From the App Store

Guest Author ∙ August 16, 2010

Well that didn't last long, did it? Just this week iDB reported that popular streaming agent Grooveshark had been added to the App Store for download. It was noted that the potential of the rights of music being violated existed, and it seems that very issue is the reason behind the short lived app.

Mac Life has the direct quote from the companies official blog, which states:

Earlier this afternoon, Apple sent us a letter notifying us that, due to a complaint they received from Universal Music Group UK, Grooveshark for iPhone has been, strangely, pulled from the App Store.

This comes as an absolute surprise to us, and we are not sleeping until we figure out exactly how to fix this—and get Grooveshark for iPhone back in the App Store. Above all, our biggest concern is damaging the service we provide to all of you guys—our loyal (awesome) users.

I have beaten this horse nearly to a corpse, however I feel another jab is in order. How the hell does Apple (again) validate an application without fully knowing if it is even legal? Did the responsible party just think that because Grooveshark's website runs without consequence, that all the necessary permission slips had been signed? If I were Universal, I would be drafting a threatening letter to not just Grooveshark, but to Apple alike. Maybe that happened, and maybe it didn't.

For those of us who managed to get the app downloaded promptly, Grooveshark tells us we should be able to continue to use it without incident. How come? Not that I'm complaining, but it would seem that if anything legit was violated then Apple should pull the plug, which is something they have the ability to do. Right?

Anyway, I think while the sort the legality of this out, they should figure out how they plan on charging $3 once the 30-day trial is up, without even providing background capabilities. Let's hope it doesn't take another year. Until then, enjoy Pandora!

iPad KegMate Makes Perfect Bartender

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Some engineers at Yelp have made the iPad and a keg of beer work together. The iPad is connected to the keg via several connectors and it is able to tell who's pouring the beer, how much he is pouring, as well as various information about the beer.

Watch the video for more details. It's pretty cool!

Do you want the same at home? Grab the source code here.

[JAiB - Gizmodo]

Get your Groove (Shark) on With Your iPhone

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

If you feel like it has been months and months since the Beta iPhone app for popular on-demand music streaming giant Grooveshark was released, you are correct. However your patience has been well worth the wait. The application has officially hit the market and is available for free in the App Store, sort of.

Upon downloading the handy jukebox, you will be instantly granted a 30-day trial of the service. Once your month is up, the cost is only $3 a month, or $30 a year if you want to pony up 12 months off the bat. Honestly, that's a great deal, especially if you compare it to similar services like MOG, or Rhapsody. The best part is you don't even have to offer up a credit card to start jamming.

Just like web-based version, Grooveshark's content is posted by the users themselves, thus the ability to find obscurities among the classics is usually painless. The ability to add search results to existing playlists, combined with a "genius" type predictor, works well when constructing the perfect variety.

Inevitably someone is going to compare the pennies a day price to the likes of free music streaming via Pandora, and ask why they should switch. I have a hard time believing anyone who has used both Grooveshark and Pandora would ask. Nevertheless, the ability to outright search for specific song titles and have them played on demand, is in itself worth the small stipend. Don't believe me? Go use your free trial and get back to me.

Bump App Shares Your Data With Random People

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

I just got an email from Gurps, an iDB reader who tells me his story about Bump, an application that lets you share images, contacts, and more simply by bumping 2 iPhones into each other. Here is part of Gurps' story:

Basically, I was sitting in my room, introducing my sister (a new iPhone user) on the Bump application. I proceeded to send her some photos. Occasionally it didn't work since it said only one of us had bumped, but we did have some success. Then, we bumped phones again and a message popped on my screen saying, "Connect with Junaid's iPhone", obviously not my sisters name, but I clicked yes anyway. I ended up receiving a picture message from someone totally random, that I've never met in my life.

After looking into it, Gurps found out he was receiving pictures from a guy who was about 15 miles away from him.

Now this is not a big deal as Gurps was just sending and receiving pictures. But imagine if he had been using Bump to send money via the Paypal application. The bug could have lead to something much worse than receiving pictures from randoms.

That's something that should be brought to Bump's developers attention.

Have you ever had such problem with Bump?

App Store Adds List of Apps to Impress Your Friends With

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Have you been to the App Store lately? Over the summer, Apple has been creating sub groups of applications under the featured section, highlighting apps and placing them into specific genres. It is a good way of showcasing apps that are too good to jut be among the other 300,000. The latest category? Apps to Impress Your Friends With.

There is an obvious prerequisite of all those included in this unique category. Of all those making the cut, nearly all of them boast higher than a 3 star rating. They are also among the most complex of programs, especially on a phone.

So what are some of these impressive pieces of desirability? A few from each category: Shazam, Siri Assistant, and Red Laser are useful utilities mentioned. Real Racing, Madden 2011 and Touchgrind are of the sporting games. iMovie, Pano, and Hipstamatic are of the few camera enabled apps to make this seemingly prestigious list. There is another trend here. All of these apps, (and the others listed), work really well on iOS.

If Apple was to create a list of apps to convince someone to buy an iPhone, this would be that list. So while these apps may impress your friends of your phone's ability, I think inspiring them to open their own wallets is what Apple has in mind. So head over to the App Store, and tell us how you would change this list.

Hey Apple, Lighten Up on Camera+ [Rant]

Guest Author ∙ August 13, 2010

It's Friday, and (as usual), I feel like ranting before the weekend. On Wednesday we reported that Camera+ had "snuck" in a feature in its application, allowing the user to shutter using the volume buttons. This ability has been atop of the request list of many iPhone owners, in regards to Apple's native camera app. As we predicted, Apple put the kibosh on the useful addition, less than a day after it was made public by various outlets. Apparently Apple took offense to the developers at Taptaptap for actually listening to what the consumer has to say.

More often than not I usually side with the way Apple handles its business. Some have even *gasp*, called me a fanboy of sorts. I'm cool with that. What I'm not cool with is the disregard of public opinion about not only a harmless feature, but a very useful one added to a magnificent application.

Camera+ is no fly-by night app. In fact, it recently reported earnings of over $500,000.00, after Apple's 30% cut, in 60 days! Not a bad chunk of change for 2 months worth of exposure. I'm not suggesting Apple should change its policy because an app is making lots of money, as much I'm asking them what the big friggin deal is? It seems that those in charge got their panties in a bunch because Camera+ had previously tried to include the feature legitimately, but were denied because it was claimed the feature "was too confusing". Thanks for identifying (and in turn, insulting) our level of intelligence, Apple.

I understand that there has to be guidelines and enforcement surrounding the entries into the App Store I can even understand hidden circumvention that undermine policies, such as Handylight (which allowed users to tether for free), needing to be dealt with. Camera+'s "easter egg" wasn't included in the app itself. Those wishing to implement the volume button shuttering had to type an address in their Safari URL, and could also remove the ability doing the same. It was optional, until Apple decided to play enforcer.

There have to be rules, and I get that. But just because a rule exists doesn't mean it isn't a silly rule. Camera+ only "broke" policy because Apple told them their feature wasn't easily enough understood. Ironically enough, its Safari-based addition was easy enough to understand by enough people for Apple to kick the app out of the store.

So lighten up, Apple. Camera+ is and was one of the better applications out there. It enhanced the brilliant ability of both the iPhone 4's camera, and Retina Display. Go hassle some of the developers who promise to "find your friend's phone", or the fortune tellers. In fact, stop the hassling of non-abrasive implementations, and then there won't be these silly rules to break in the first place. Otherwise, be prepared to lose millions to Cydia, who I imagine would welcome such revenue. Just sayin'...

Camera+ For iPhone Sneaks in Volume Button Shutter Hack (For Now)

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

First let me say that Camera+ is in my top 5 of amazing iPhone apps. On the iPhone 4, this application allows you to maximize your photography abilities to a whole new level, when it comes to taking pictures on a phone. The developers at Taptaptap have snuck in a feature via Safari, that allows you to shutter photos using the volume buttons. Quite handy when you're using a paid app designed to take stable snapshots.

Apple rejected their public attempt, saying “Your application cannot be added to the App Store because it uses iPhone volume buttons in a non-standard way, potentially resulting in user confusion. Changing the behavior of iPhone external hardware buttons is a violation of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement. Applications must adhere to the iPhone Human Interface Guidelines as outlined in the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement section 3.3.7” Apparently Apple doesn't think we are smart enough to operate the camera via physical buttons.

Fear not though. Just type “camplus://enablevolumesnap” (don't use quotations), into your iPhone's Safari URL box, and Camera+ version 1.2.1 will enable the feature. Want it removed? Just type “camplus://disablevolumesnap”, and you're back to its original state.

Like always when it comes to a developer circumventing Apple's ultimate authority, this won't last long, I'm sure. So you better grab it now, before it's banished into the violators oblivion. I can't help but again think of how many other, less popular apps, have hidden features sneaked into their applications.

[Smoking Apples]

Pandora Update Includes Retina Display for iPhone

Guest Author ∙ August 11, 2010

For those of you who are like myself in the regard of not checking the App Store daily, the streaming sensation Pandora has updated its iPhone app.

The largest feature implemented is the support for Retina Display. It does look nice.

What's New In This Version:

uses high resolution graphics for iPhone 4 yields control of external volume buttons when backgrounded and paused improves detection and notification of device audio failures fixes several crashes improves album art loading other minor bug fixes and improvements

I thought my usage of Pandora would greatly increase with the background capabilities, but I was mistaken. Perhaps it's the lack of 3G in my area, which makes it's functionality nearly unusable. Nevertheless, the update makes it look cleaner on my home-screen.

How often do you use Pandora?

4,000,000 iPhones Are Downloading Apps Illegally

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated November 25, 2016

The guys over at App Advice got to talk with Dissident, the creator of the infamous cracked app store AppTrackr. In this candid but revealing chat, Dissident shared some interesting numbers about iPhone app piracy.

According to Dissident, Installous, the app used to download these cracked applications is installed on 4 million iPhones, which represents about 4% of all iOS devices in the world. That's insane, isn't it?

Last week we reported about the logic behind iPhone app piracy. Dissident holds the same kind of speech. Here are some of the excerpts from his interview:

I know for a fact that a good share of our users trial applications, and that’s the only reason I continue to work for the community. A very, very considerable portion of our users do so. The user should be able to have a risk-free trial of the application. The user should not have to purchase the application for any amount of money. The user should be given ample time for testing. This trial system should be available for all applications. Developers can be given some flexibility on a per-app basis, but abuse cannot be tolerated and the policy cannot be too lenient.

I do agree that Apple should let people try out applications for a period of 24 hours. I however doubt the honesty of Dissident when he claims his service's sole goal is to help people try applications out.

Apple can work around the edges to either please us or displease us, and that’s really all it comes down to. Indeed, our services will no longer be required if Apple implements such a system.

I don't believe one word of that.

What about you? What do you think about app piracy? Do you download cracked apps? Do you do so because you want to be able to try applications before buying them?

[9 to 5 Mac]

Locktopus App Password Protects Specific iPhone Apps

Sébastien Page ∙ August 9, 2010

Locktopus is a new applications that will let you password protect specific applications directly from the springboard.

After creating a password in Locktopus, you will be able to protect an application with this password by tapping and holding the app icon and wait until they start wiggling. Then tap the little "lock" badge on the app icon. Next time you try to launch this app, it will ask for the password.

Locktopus is available in Cydia for $2. I haven't tried this app so I don't know how it compares to the free LockDown app, which basically does the same thing. If you try it, please let us know how you like it.

Apple Introduces “Try Before You Buy” Section in the App Store

Sébastien Page ∙ August 6, 2010

Apple recently introduced a new category in the App Store called "Try Before You Buy". This category brings together the free or "lite" versions of popular iPhone applications. If this is a move to put an end to app piracy, then it's a big fail!

As a point of comparison, the Android Market let's you use the full version of an app for 24 hours. If you don't like the app, you just get your money back. I don't understand why Apple doesn't implement such a policy in the Apple Store.

Personally, I want to try the full app, not a watered down version of it. While Apple made a step in the right direction, I think it's still not enough.

What do you think?

Pirate Explains the Logic Behind iPhone App Piracy

Sébastien Page ∙ August 5, 2010

The Administrator for the pirate community Hackulous had some sort of open letter on TorrentFreak a few days ago where he explains why he thinks app piracy is not as bad as you may think. In this long piece, he goes over 4 mains points to convey his idea.

1. Most of the pirates who use our services do so because they simply cannot afford to purchase the applications. One of the prominent members of the Dev Team, planetbeing, described the pirates who use our software as “predominantly in their early teens where money is scarce and time is abundant.”

Since these users have never had any intention or capability to purchase the applications whether or not cracked versions are available, developers of these apps are losing significantly less than what they believe they are to these people.

2. Another portion of our pirates are those who have the capability of purchasing iPhone apps, but not the desire. These pirates typically do not “need” any particular application for free, they just want whatever application that can provide a certain level of entertainment for them.

They are not so much making the choice between purchasing or pirating software A, but rather making the choice between pirating software A or B. So again, the profit lost attributed to this tribe of pirates has been overestimated; these pirates would not have forked over their money anyway, they would just move on.

3. Over three million devices are running our software, Installous, to download and install cracked iPhone apps. The people using these devices are Apple customers who are likely to purchase another device, purchase new Apple products, or refer their friends to Apple. As I have stated before, the people who use our services to trial iPhone applications actually help Apple more than they hurt it.

Why, you ask? If a majority of our three million users are pirates, the value in Apple’s devices is significantly higher: These millions of users, who would otherwise be incapable or unwilling to purchase apps, now have a rich source of entertainment that greatly enhances their experience with their devices.

Apple does not like piracy, but as long as piracy increases the value of jailbroken iPhones, they have no need to be passionate about stopping it. As music has shown Apple and Steve Jobs himself, DRM can always be defeated. Apple is in fact embracing piracy for what it can accomplish for their company.

4. Piracy also helps to expose an application to the masses, much like music piracy helps artists and bands get more publicity. Without cracked app sites like apptrackr, a lot of applications would be left languishing in the pits of the App Store among the rest of the 240,984 apps (at last count) available.

I think these are some valid but very candid points.

What do you think?

[PlanetBeing]