At least, not for free. In another confusing and beyond explanation attitude, the clever people who review whether an app is ok to be in the App Store rejected Eucalyptus, an ebook reader that makes it easier to search for books in the Project Gutenberg.
If you’re not familiar with the project, know only that they aim to offer old books that have no longer copyright to download, for free. Right now, they’ve made available over 28,000 books.
Then, using all its wit and wisdom, Apple rejects the app because, I kid you not, the reviewer found Kama Sutra for download and said the app was not suitable for the App Store because it contains obscene material. Have in mind that through iPhone’s Kindle you may buy the very same book.
They may reason what they want, I can only think of one word: absurd!
Apple insists on having no criteria to evaluate and approve apps for the App Store. The latest victim was Drivetrain, which allows you to remotely control your pc, add torrent files and automatically start downloading them.
The company says “this category of applications is often used for the purpose of infringing third party rights.” On the other hand, Maza Digital, app’s developer, says it’s not a BitTorrent client, but a remote control to Transmission, the real client for Mac.
The funny (or sad) part is that there’s already a similar app (Trackr) for download on the App Store. To developers, like us, this causes a feeling of discomfort, since we haven’t got the slightest idea about Apple’s criterias to approve or reject an app.
Android has a similar app, as we posted here exactly 2 months ago. Is it really surprising that the iPhone lost the leadership to BlackBerry Curve and that Android shall be in over 8 million mobile devices sold this year?
So, the suspense is over and App Store reached its billionth download. Officially, the iPhone and iPod online store is a huge success after only 9 months since its launching.
To have an idea of how popular these devices have become and what a pop culture icon they’ve become, here’s (another) example: the US Army is using iPods in Iraq for translations, satellite data analysys, ground sensors and even to control remote robots to dispose bombs.
And all this costing and weighing way less than any other equipment specially designed for the armed forces.
Over a week has passed since Pirate Bay went to trial. Leaving all the torrent, copyright and legitimate file sharing aside, here’s a couple of ideas that may point to the future of digital music.
The first one comes from App Store – shall we say Apple's iTunes Store is the only successful internet mp3 selling enterprise? Now instead of buying files, listen to them through streaming. The Presidents of the United States discography is out for mere 3 bucks. All you gotta do is download the app and listen to the songs as many times as you please.
The second one is Republic Project, a platform that will allow bands and artists to sell their music directly, publish videos, post on their blogs and schedule chats with their fans. The idea is not exactly new, but it’s another attempt to be free from majors’ tentacles.
About once a week someone launches a new cell phone and another someone writes the new smartphone will be an iPhone killer. It won’t, but ok.
The new promise is Nokia N97, the first model designed thinking particularly of the company’s app store. It’s got a qwerty keypad, 32GB of storage (good call, Nokia!), 5 Mpx camera and, of course, touchscreen.
According to a Nokia VP, the great advantage of OVI Store (compared to Apple’s App Store and Microsoft Marketplace) is the fact that it will learn what you like and suggest apps and widgets based on what you’ve already downloaded. Online in May, and the N97 out in June.
PS: we ain’t saying the device will not be a hit, market leader, etc, etc. it’s just it’s getting really boring having to read iPhone killer all the time…
A while ago we heard some rumors that a vip/premium area would be created in App Store, for the big and mighty and rich developers. On one hand, it’s ok because there are so many cheap and questionable apps, but on the other, it’s a turn off for serious independent developers.
That said, the fact is that a big game developer has arrived at the App Store. Namco, famous for good old arcade games such as PacMan, Rally X and Galaga (a tear rolls down =o) and some many others for later consoles, has just released Time Crisis for iPhone.
If you stop and think about it, with all the iPhone and App Store success, it sure took more time than expected for the competition to join in and follow Apple.
Microsoft, according to the Wall Street Journal, is to launch its own mobile devices store – running Windows Mobile, of course. The detail is that the story talks about a bazaar and distribution. Is Microsoft giving apps away?
Anyway, suspense should last ‘til next week, when more info are expected during Steve Ballmer’s keynote speech at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
Same thing for Nokia, which is expected to announce its official distribution channel during the event. Guess next week will be very exciting for the mobile market…
It’s partially a joke, but don’t be scared if all of the sudden your iPhone’s screen turns blue and you read that lovely message ‘this program caused a GPF and will be terminated’. If they at least put Arnold’s voice to say it…
Well, the fact is that Microsoft just launched its first iPhone app, now available to download from the App Store. Seadragon Mobile is a large image viewer and online zooming.
Funny things is that the app was launched for iPhone before it was available for Windows Mobile. Humility to understand that the competitions’ system is better or disguised sabotage? =o)
Do you still have any doubts that 2009 will be the mobile marketing year? So here are a few more reasons, big head!
In a recent event, that had carriers, advertisers and agencies, it was estimated that 3G users will go from present 3 million to 20 million next year. A growth of 660%.
Google’s system Android was chosen by 14 more cell phone and chip manufacturers, including Sony Ericsson and Vodafone, to have support for and app development. That makes a total of 47 companies that are together in the Open Handset Alliance. Will Apple continue with its bureaucracy and obstacles – even after we had proof that some big companies had access to SDK’s private APIs?
Besides, developer Craig Hockenberry, famous in the App Store and iPhone community, wrote an open letter to Apple and Steve Jobs, pointing that the present 99-cent-app trend, plus the company’s policy not to let users test before buying, are keeping him and other developers from launching more complete and useful apps.
Added to this, the fact that a research ordered by Google estimates that online advertising will grow 500% in the next five years in Latin America, and that Net Virtua announced its 5G broadband is now available in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo with speeds of 20 and 60 mbps, and you can picture a very promising future for our market.
At least, not for free. In another confusing and beyond explanation attitude, the clever people who review whether an app is ok to be in the App Store rejected Eucalyptus, an ebook reader that makes it easier to search for books in the Project Gutenberg.
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