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June 1st, 2011, 11:55 Posted By: wraggster
News via http://0xff.akop.org/2011/05/29/spar...compatibility/
I apologize for the lack of weblog updates lately. Time for side projects has been steadily dwindling as of late, and even something as basic as throwing together a couple of descriptive lines on a website seems to require time I can’t much afford.
Since the last post, there have been at least two or three updates to Spark Trophies and Spark 360 – I haven’t posted about them here, because Android Market already does a decent job at notifying users of new updates. I will most likely stop posting about each and every update here – I will, however, randomly post on stuff of interest, as I’m about to do.
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June 1st, 2011, 23:30 Posted By: wraggster
Researchers have identified a second large batch of apps in the Android Market that have been infected with the DroidDream malware, estimating that upwards of 30,000 users have downloaded at least one of the more than 30 infected apps. Google has removed the apps from the market. There are at least 34 applications that researchers have found in the Android Market in the last few days that had a version of the DroidDream malware dropped into them. Once a user installs one of the infected applications, the malicious component, which researchers have dubbed DroidDream Light, will kick in once the user receives an incoming call. The malware then gathers some identifying information from the phone, including its IMEI number, IMSI number, packages installed and other data, and then sends it off to a pre-configured remote server."
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/...Android-Market
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June 1st, 2011, 23:35 Posted By: wraggster
Middleware company Tapjoy has complained that Apple's ban of "pay per install" promotions is adversely affecting its business and that of a majority of iOS developers.
Despite talks between Tapjoy and Apple the ban was put in place over concerns that developers were paying Tapjoy, via its propriety monetisation platform, to boost their game's ranking in the list of top 25 apps.
With a pay per install app a user is incentivised, usually with the promise of in-game currency, to install another unrelated app. The developer then shares the revenue with the original app that promoted the use.
Tapjoy's argument, that incentivised promotions are commonplace and that they allow developers to create a more stable and predictable business, were not accepted by Apple.
According to website VentureBeat, an attempt by Tapjoy CEO Mihir Shah to institute a compromise, where a cap prevented developers from unfairly breaking into the top 25, was rejected by Apple.
Publisher Glu Mobile has also voiced concerns that its business model could be severely affected, with eight times more developers reporting a decrease in usage following the policy change than those that experienced an increase. This ratio increased to 15 to 1 in terms of revenue declines.
A Tapjoy survey of developers also showed that almost half had begun to receive large numbers of complaints from customers at the sudden inability to earn in-game currency from installing other apps.
The ban of promotions is part of Apple's ongoing attempt to improve the fairness of app rankings. Although actions such as the re-weighting of chart algorithms have generally occurred without comment or explanation.
A dependence on a single format has also caused problems with other casual developers, with Applifier admitting that an over reliance on Facebook has caused problems, while even Zynga has been criticised for not expanding beyond its primary platform.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...n-hurts-tapjoy
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June 2nd, 2011, 00:04 Posted By: wraggster
The iPad has yet to transform the publishing world as many expected it would, but some healthy competition from Android tablets should help to keep that process in motion. Zinio's reader app is now available on select Android 2.2, 2.3, and all 3.0 tablets, bringing Esquire, National Geographic, and 20,000 other magazine titles to the Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and a half dozen other devices. And, to kick off the launch, Zinio is picking up the tab on the most recent issues of 24 top magazines, as long as you download by June 15. Digital subscriptions are still often more expensive than their print counterparts, but at least Android tablet owners will have a safer place to hide their issues of Playboy.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/31/z...ne-issues-for/
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June 2nd, 2011, 23:47 Posted By: wraggster
Patently-O and Ars Technica report that Lodsys has filed suit [here's the complaint] in the Eastern District of Texas against seven iPhone developers, asserting that the defendants are infringing two patents. Apple had previously indicated their belief that all iPhone developers are protected by a licensing agreement that Apple had made with the patents' former assignee, Intellectual Ventures. But Lodsys insists that the defendants are nonetheless liable for infringement. Still an open question is whether Apple will go beyond the mailing of strongly worded letters in defending third-party iPhone devs."
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...ngement-Claims
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June 2nd, 2011, 23:54 Posted By: wraggster
Gameloft's mobile MMO Order & Chaos Online has notched up revenue sales of just over Ł600,000 ($1,000,000) in the 20 days since its App Store debut.
With a retail price of Ł3.99 ($6.99) which also includes three months of subscription time, the figures suggest that around 140,000 MMO gamers are currently playing the heavily WOW-inspired title. Those numbers will no doubt be bolstered further with an upcoming Android release that will see players on both platforms battling together.
Once the initial three months of game time are up, players can choose to continue subscribing at a cost of Ł0.59 for one month, Ł1.19 for three months, or Ł1.79 for six months. As well as in-game gold that can be purchased from the developer, players can also buy Runes which are used to obtain temporary stat and XP boosts, as well as vanity items such as pets.
The game has already attracted the attention of third-party gold sellers, attempting to undercut the game's official store. Eurogamer spoke to Gameloft's Callum Rowley this morning: "We have a dedicated team within Gameloft who are dealing with the problem of players selling gold for real money and we actively encourage our players to report anyone who they suspect is involved in such transactions", he explained.
"We don't view it as detrimental to the game's economy or player gameplay experience because we offer players the opportunity to purchase in-game gold – the game is balanced and tailored accordingly. But if players turn to 3rd party sellers rather than Gameloft's own in-game store, the profitability of the game decreases, making it harder to justify future updates for the game."
A content update expected in June will provide new quests, dedicated language chat channels and a server migration service. Further content updates will bring new dungeons, as well as player-versus-player arena environments to the game. Paid-for expansions may be offered in the future, but for now the developer is focusing on expanding the core game at no extra cost beyond the subscription fee.
Gameloft declined to comment on the development costs behind Order & Chaos Online, but did confirm that the title represented the longest and biggest project undertaken by the company, with around 30 core production team members involved.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...s-USD1-000-000
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June 4th, 2011, 00:19 Posted By: wraggster
According to Shanghai Daily, a boy from the Anhui Province desperately wanted to buy Apple's flagship tablet but didn't have enough cash. Rather than waiting to save up the money for the Apple product when it invariably gets marked down, the lad decided to sell one of his kidneys for 22,000 yuan (roughly $3,400) so he could afford one. But, surprisingly, the scenario in which the organ was harvested wasn't in the best of conditions, and the boy isn't feeling very well."
http://idle.slashdot.org/story/11/06...dney-For-iPad2
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June 4th, 2011, 00:49 Posted By: wraggster
The Adobe-Apple Flash war used to be one of the juiciest catfights around, but, much like two aging boxers, both sides now appear willing to act like adults put it all behind them. Speaking at yesterday's D9 conference in Palos Verdes, California, Adobe head Shantanu Narayen confirmed that he and Steve Jobs have reached an unofficial armistice, bringing an end to their prolonged war of words. According to the CEO, Apple's Flash issues stemmed from the company's "business model," rather than any legitimate concerns over quality. "It's control over the app store that's at issue here," Narayen said, implying that Flash's wide-ranging platform compatibility may not have jibed with the Cupertino ethos. He went on to remind moderator Walt Mossberg that developers can still use Adobe's AIR software to get their products to the App Store, adding that his company is looking forward to the rise of HTML5 and "actively contributing" to its development.
Mossberg, meanwhile, seemed to blindside Narayen when he brought up Flash's poor performance on Android devices. "I have yet to test a single one where Flash tests really well," the columnist claimed. "I'm sorry, but it's true." Narayen sputtered a bit, before pointing to the BlackBerry PlayBook as an example of the progress that Flash has made. When Mossberg reminded him that the PlayBook doesn't run on Android, the CEO not-so-subtly sidestepped the question by emptily declaring that Adobe's mission is simply to provide people with the best tools to create content. Apparently satisfied with this non-answer, Mossberg changed the subject back to Apple, allowing Narayen to wax poetic about their new Pax Romana -- and, perhaps, to breathe a sigh of relief.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/03/a...r-flash-perfo/
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June 4th, 2011, 00:53 Posted By: wraggster
Apple is always filing patents for strange and fantastic things that never seem to find their way into actual products. But an application published today details some interesting tech that we could actually see getting jammed into a future iPhone (for better or worse). By pairing an infrared sensor with the camera already on board, portable devices could receive data from transmitters placed, well, wherever. Beyond simply blasting out text and opening links like a glorified QR code, transmitters could disable certain features, such as the camera, to prevent recording at movie theaters and music venues. If completely shutting off the cam seems a bit heavy-handed, watermarks can also be applied to photos identifying businesses or copyrighted content. Some potential uses are a little less Big Brother, like museums beaming information about exhibits to a user's or launching an audio tour. Obviously third parties would have to get behind the IR push and there's no guarantee that Apple will put this in a future iProduct. Still, we're a little worried that the days of blurry YouTube concert videos may be coming to an end.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/a...rs-in-their-t/
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June 4th, 2011, 01:02 Posted By: wraggster
X-Men Arcade is available now on iOS devices for $2.99. The 1992 beat-em-up classic supports drop-in multiplayer for up to four players, along with Openfeint (Leaderboard and Achievements), Game Center and Facebook Connect for publishing scores. The game appears to be the full experience, including the full campaign and all six playable X-Men (Cyclops, Colossus, Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler or Dazzler).
A word of warning: the game is designed for the 3rd generation iPod touch, the iPads, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. Although the requirement is mentioned in the press release, the App Store doesn't appear to note it. Reviews of the game in the store complain about it not working on the iPhone 3G or any 2nd generation devices.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/x-...o-iphone-game/
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June 4th, 2011, 21:34 Posted By: wraggster
In the lead-up to this year's WWDC, we so far know three things for sure: Apple will unveil OS X Lion, iCloud, and... automatic, over-the-air app updates for iOS 5, apparently. While searching for updates in iTunes, a MacRumors reader stumbled upon this page, which alludes to an "Automatic Download" feature that allows for wireless syncing. Also, the fact that Apple went out of its way to say "...if your device has Automatic Download enabled for apps" makes us wonder what else we'll soon be able to update over the air. The company has since pulled the tattletale page in iTunes, but MacRumors grabbed a screenshot while it was still live. Looks like the cat's out of the bag, but we'll let you know when Jobs & Co. make it official on Monday.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/04/i...air-updates-a/
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June 4th, 2011, 21:43 Posted By: wraggster
Worms 2: Armageddon for iOS devices will be $1 for a "limited time." The "Battle Pack," an in-app expansion, which adds more weapons and a new single-player campaign, has also been reduced to $1. The game and add-on are normally $5 and $2, respectively.
For a bunch of soil-slithering invertebrates, the Worms are sure getting around in the news this week. On Monday, Worms: Ultimate Mayhem was rated by the Australian Classification Board, though no official details have followed yet.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/wo...-now-1-on-ios/
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June 6th, 2011, 16:55 Posted By: wraggster
Smartphone OS proves popular in this month’s mystery shopper
Our Mystery Shopper ventured deep into Leeds to explore its smartphone retailers and see what they had to offer.
Key requirements included being able to edit documents, email and social networking, the ability to take good photos and video, a decent battery life and a fair tariff.
Carphone Warehouse did well to point out that apps like Documents to Go offer editing, though most shops suggested there would be a way to work on Office files.
The HTC Desire HD, running the Android OS, made the strongest showing in the recommendations, though a wide variety made an appearance, including handsets by Nokia and Samsung.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/36434...ake-over-Leeds
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June 6th, 2011, 17:27 Posted By: wraggster
Need more stuff to attach to your smartphone? Good news: Ten One Design managed to shrink down those stick-on iPad joysticks we played with back at CES, bringing the Fling's screen-cluttering gaming action to the iPhone, iPod touch, and Android devices. The new Fling Mini monopolizes a good deal of its designated phone's display real estate -- and then some -- pushing its way well into the bezel of many handsets. You can pre-order the suction cup controllers now at $24.95 for a pack of two -- five bucks less than their older siblings. They're set to start shipping next month and will no doubt get some good, slightly-obscured face time at E3.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/t...fling-with-yo/
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June 6th, 2011, 19:12 Posted By: wraggster
Larry returns in his original caper for tablets and mobile devices
A remake of the original Leisure Suit Larry is on the way from its creator, Al Lowe, and Replay Games.
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards will be coming to desktop, tablet and mobile devices this summer.
This new release improves the 1991 remake’s 16-color EGA graphics to 256-color VGA graphics.
“It’s no fun telling people who want to play your games that their only recourse is to pirate them. Finally, Larry leaves his digital dungeon to delight those too young (or too smart) to play it way back when,” said Al Lowe.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/44666/E3-2...y-bounces-back
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June 6th, 2011, 19:22 Posted By: wraggster
We don't envy AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega's job one bit, nor the amount of time he spends on the hotseat. We do, however, admire his willingness to open his mouth and reveal interesting tidbits. Interviewed after his D9 appearance, de la Vega fielded questions about Windows Phone, confirming what we have suspected for quite some time: the platform hasn't been selling as well as AT&T or Microsoft would've liked. He didn't divulge numbers or get any more specific, but he did sound optimistic looking to the future. When asked if WP7 is a hard sell, de la Vega noted that it's a brand new OS, and the growth both companies are hoping for will come once the Mango update is readily available; consumers are looking for a bigger app store, more functionality, and a larger number of features. So adding more functionality will make phones more appealing to consumers? Crazy thought. If you're interested in seeing what else Ralph had to say in his one-on-one, head to the source link.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/a...ng-as-well-as/
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June 6th, 2011, 21:29 Posted By: wraggster
Apple has just announced its long-awaited cloud-based music service: iTunes in the Cloud. While not a streaming music service as some had speculated, it will let you download any music you've purchased to all of your devices at no additional charge -- something Steve Jobs notes is a first for the music industry. It can also automatically download all new purchases made on other devices, with music able to be pushed to up to ten different devices -- like the other nine apps that make up iCloud, it's completely free, and a beta version will be available today.
What's more, Apple has also announced its new iTunes Match service that will let you put your existing collection of ripped CDs in the cloud. That's done by scanning your library and matching songs to the versions Apple already has (a DRM-free 256kbps AAC file) rather than uploading everything -- a process Apple notes takes "minutes," not "weeks" -- although songs will be uploaded in cases where there is no match. It will run you $24.99 a year (regardless of how many songs you have), and promises to give you all of the "same benefits as music purchased from iTunes" when it launches sometime "this fall."
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/a...-in-the-cloud/
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June 6th, 2011, 21:31 Posted By: wraggster
Scott Forstall has just taken the WWDC 2011 stage and details about the changes and improvements in iOS 5 are flowing thick and fast. Keep one tab in your browser locked to this post as we update it with all the new features, and throw another one open for our liveblog where you'll get to see and read the very latest as it happens.
We've now put together the full list of highlights from the WWDC presentation, which you'll find after the break. iOS 5 will be made available this fall, with compatibility promised for the iPhone 4 and 3GS, iPad 1 and 2, and iPod touch 3rd and 4th generation.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/a...l-the-details/
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June 6th, 2011, 21:33 Posted By: wraggster
Apple's just announced that iOS 5-enabled iPhones (and likely iPads and iPods, too) are getting a camera shortcut on the lock screen, the ability to snap pics by pressing the volume up button, and the ability to lock focus and exposure by tapping on a subject. Apple also added an optional grid to help frame photos, and a new photo editor with a basic feature set that includes cropping, rotating, red-eye reduction, auto-enhance features, and the ability to create albums on the device.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/a...p-shutter-key/
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June 6th, 2011, 21:34 Posted By: wraggster
Love your iPhone, but hate all of the PC-based tethering it entails? Apple has some good news: the company is taking its "post-PC" stance a step further, letting you activate your smartphone straight out of the box without syncing it to a computer. Also big news is the addition of over-the-air updates, which will let you receive changes without plugging the handset in. And some big news for music fans: users will be able to sync their iTunes libraries over WiFi connections with the update.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/a...wireless-sync/
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June 6th, 2011, 21:36 Posted By: wraggster
Apple's just announced that it's bringing deep Twitter integration to all of its iOS-based devices, and to many of its own apps, including Camera, Photos, Safari and Maps. That integration also, of course, extends to Contacts, where you'll be able to link your contacts to their Twitter handle and keep their information updated accordingly, much like Android. You'll also only have to sign into Twitter once (in Settings), and then simply share those credentials with any app that requests them.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/a...ration-to-ios/
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June 6th, 2011, 21:37 Posted By: wraggster
It looks like iOS 5 has a new approach to notifications -- and we like what we see so far. Notification Center aggregates your various app alerts and eschews the pop-ups for a decidedly Android-esque list that appears at the top of our your screen when you you get a Facebook message, or a tweet, or when you miss a call. Swiping down brings you to the list, and swiping across any instance takes you to the corresponding app. Feast your eyes on the gallery below for a closer look.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/06/n...s-5-announced/
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June 6th, 2011, 21:57 Posted By: wraggster
New additions for iPhone and iPad service; 50m-user milestone reached
Apple has boosted its iOS online gaming service Game Center with a bunch of new additions.
iPhone and iPad owners will be able to purchase and download games directly from Game Center, as well as play turn-based games such as Settlers with others.
Users will also be able to discover friends of friends who play similar titles, get recommendations from them and view their scores. The changes will go live when iOS 5 is released – Apple’s latest operating system.
Speaking at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2011, the firm’s senior VP of iOS Software Scott Forstall said: “iOS is the most popular gaming platform on the planet.
“There are more than 100,000 game and entertainment titles in the App Store.”
“In just nine months we have 50m Game Center users. To put that into perspective, Xbox Live has been around for about eight years and they have around 30m users.”
In-game pop-up notifications are also being altered. Instead of a game pausing when a notification is received, it will be stored in a ‘Notification Center’ which can be accessed later. Users will be able to bring this up by swiping down a narrow panel at the top of the screen.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/44688/APPL...enter-upgraded
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June 7th, 2011, 14:45 Posted By: wraggster
If you live in the US or Canada then the iTunes 10.3 beta is ready to rumble. Automatic downloads and access to your purchase history is limited to iOS 4.3.3 users on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (GSM only, sorry Verizon subscribers), and 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch devices. Once you meet those requirements, the iTunes in the Cloud beta promises to keep all of your newly purchased iTunes music in sync between devices while giving you the choice to download previously purchased tracks whenever you want at no additional cost. 10.3 beta also brings the Automatic Downloads feature to your apps and books, now allowing you to purchase tomes from your desktop while keeping them in sync with the iBooks app running on your iOS devices.
Naturally, we couldn't help but test it out ourselves from both a Mac and iPhone 4, so click through for our first impressions.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/i...load-we-go-ha/
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June 7th, 2011, 14:46 Posted By: wraggster
See those Cydia and iSSH icons? How about the Reminders and Newstand apps, see those? What you're looking at is the harmonious coexistence of hacks and Apple's virgin iOS 5 beta release running on a 4th generation iPod touch. In other words, MuscleNerd and Co are letting us know that iOS 5 presents few surprises so far when its comes to closing the existing holes exploited by the tethered limera1n jailbreak.
Update: It's worth mentioning that limera1n is a bootrom exploit that Apple can't patch on the iPod touch through firmware alone. The real test of the Dev Team's wits will be an untethered jailbreak for the iPad 2.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/07/ios-5-jailbroken/
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June 7th, 2011, 23:34 Posted By: wraggster
There's no such thing as a perfectly secure operating system, but security experts agree — somewhat grudgingly in some cases — that iOS, Apple's mobile operating system, is the most secure commercial OS today, mobile or desktop. It didn't start that way of course, and Robert Lemos explains what Apple did to go from insecure to most secure.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...To-Most-Secure
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June 8th, 2011, 22:27 Posted By: wraggster
Cloud gaming service goes portable this autumn
OnLive has announced the OnLive Player App to bring cloud gaming to tablets and smartphones.
The app, which is due to arrive this autumn, will enable streamed play of “virtually all” OnLive games on iPad and Android tablets.
It will support both touch control and OnLive’s own Universal Motion Controller. The app overlays virtual buttons on-screen if the controller isn’t used. Multiplayer voice chat is also supported.
The app will enable tablets or phones to act as touch and motion controllers if combined with a TV, Mac or PC, displaying both synchronised and independent video on the device and TV screen.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/44774/E3-2...ad-and-Android
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June 8th, 2011, 23:14 Posted By: wraggster
Real Racing 2 developer Firemint has revealed that its state-of-the-art mobile driving game will be the first title to stream gameplay to the TV, via an AirPlay upgrade coming in the new iOS 5.
In the press release issued by the developer, a photo (reproduced below) shows Real Racing 2 HD gameplay is beamed from the iPad 2 across to an AppleTV connected to a high definition display. The iPad 2 screen is used for telemetry data and a map of the circuit, exactly as it is when the HDMI dongle is attached for 1080p gameplay.
In theory, the whole process shouldn't add any kind of performance overhead to the iPad, ensuring the game remains as smooth as ever: Apple's processor features a hardware h.264 encoder used to record movies at 720p, with frame-rate topping out at 30 frames per second. This encoded signal is then beamed out over Wi-Fi and decoded by the AppleTV.
The approach Apple is taking could be described almost as a reverse of Nintendo's concept: processing is carried out in the mobile device and beamed to a receiver connected directly to the screen. Picture quality and latency will be the aspects to examine when the iOS 5 Real Racing 2 HD update ships.
In contrast, it is believed that Wii U's approach uses high bandwidth, zero latency technology for a perfect image with no lag, so comparisons with Apple's tech will be very interesting...
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/di...omes-to-gaming
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June 9th, 2011, 02:16 Posted By: wraggster
About two hours ago, MuscleNerd (@MuscleNerd), a prominent developer and hacker for the iDevice, has confirmed that iOS 5 (Beta 1) is jailbreakable. The picture above shows MuscleNerd's iPod running Cydia. According to him, the jailbreak was done in conjunction with the limera1n exploit and a tethered boot. He mentioned that the boot rom exploit has not been patched and will work on iOS 5 final.
Although a tethered boot is aggravating as you have to connect your iDevice to your computer every time you reboot, the sign that jailbreaking is still capable so early on is a huge plus for jailbreakers worldwide. For those of us who are die hard jailbreak users and will for life, it is no longer a matter of will iOS 5 be jailbroken but when untethered will be available.
http://modmyi.com/content/4575-ios-5...-tethered.html
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June 10th, 2011, 01:15 Posted By: wraggster
Reason.tv Editor in Chief Nick Gillespie reacts to Apple's decision to ban DUI Checkpoint Apps from the App Store, writing: 'Let me add something even more damning of this latest development in corporate cave-ins to legally protected free speech and I'm gonna bold it for emphasis: Some police departments actually supply the data used in such apps because they reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads! Somehow, I'm thinking that Steve Jobs circa 1984...would have told U.S. senators sending threatening letters about computer-based info sharing to take a hike. Or at least to spend time on, I don't know, creating a freaking budget for the country rather than worrying about regulating something that helps reduce impaired driving.' Last month, after RIM caved on the same question, Reason.tv released this video on the subject of banning DUI checkpoint apps."
http://politics.slashdot.org/story/1...-Ban-Is-Stupid
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June 10th, 2011, 02:19 Posted By: wraggster
Lamenting the time you restored your iPhone and lost that beloved VLC app because it's no longer available on the App Store? Cheer up, there's an iCloud for that. The service allows you to re-download any app you've previously purchased on any of your iOS devices -- including killed apps. We decided to give it a whirl, testing our luck with an iPhone 3GS humming along on iOS 4.3.3. Upon browsing the Purchases section of the App Store, we beheld Tris, an app that hasn't been available in nearly three years. Sure enough, we pressed the iCloud icon and within seconds, the ol' Tetris clone was back in action. So if you were one of the four people that downloaded I am Rich before it was killed, you'll be sure to enjoy that $1,000 investment for years to come.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/a...from-the-dead/
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June 10th, 2011, 02:22 Posted By: wraggster
The unveiling of iOS 5 at this year's WWDC keynote brought a wonderful feast of features, but it left us wondering if the iPhone 3GS would be updated with a few cards short of a full deck -- the same way the 3G was treated last year. Reports are starting to flow in from folks who've tested it, so let's get the bad news out of the way first: yes, some features are being withheld from the 3GS. The good news? They're much more minor than we feared. So far, it appears that full Twitter integration and notifications are included; the newsstand and App Store are also intact, as well as the Safari reading list and grid lines in the camera. The only things we see missing so far are the photo editing features in the camera and the tab bar in Safari. So breathe a deep and well-deserved sigh of relief, fans, because your iPhone 3GS isn't obsolete -- at least, not yet. The full walkthrough of iOS 5 on the 3GS is right after the break.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/09/i...3gs-3g-owners/
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June 10th, 2011, 11:42 Posted By: wraggster
New iOS 5 feature strikingly similar to rejected app
A University of Birmingham student said he was shocked to discover the similarity of the new Apple iOS 5 Wi-Fi Sync feature to his previously rejected application.
Greg Hughes Wi-Fi Sync application was rejected fro the iTunes App Store in May of last year according to a Register report. An Apple developer relations representative called to deliver the bad news, reportedly telling Hughes that the firm's engineers were 'impressed' by the app.
With his Wi-Fi Sync rejected on the basis of 'unspecified security concerns', Hughes went on to publish the app on jailbroken iPhone App store Cydia where it shifted more than 50,000 copies at$9.99 a time.
On Monday Apple unveiled iOS 5 with an identically named Wi-Fi Sync feature and a logo with a striking similarity to that of Hughes' Wi-Fi Sync icon.
Coincidence or rip-off? You decide.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/36471...-rip-off-claim
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June 10th, 2011, 23:11 Posted By: wraggster
Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg has maintained that the firm will resist a full move into mobile gaming.
In an interview with the New York Times, Hirshberg claimed that Activision would remain focused on core games, despite major competitors such as EA increasingly moving to iOS. "There are 400,000 apps in the iTunes app store," he argued. "I don't want to be number 400,001."
Instead, Activision planned to use services such as Call of Duty Elite, which will see iOS and Android apps, to support its console brands. "What we're trying to do is use new technologies and new devices in gaming to strengthen our core business. We don't just want to go and spread our roulette chips around the table."
To this end, he did not feel a mobile version of Call of Duty was impending, although he admitted the new platforms held some appeal. Mobile was, he claimed, "a double-edged sword - on one hand you have a huge install base, but what we are not doing is just shotgunning all of our games onto mobile."
However, Activision is more determinedly exploring mobile with its impending cross-media Spyro project.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...le-edged-sword
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June 10th, 2011, 23:56 Posted By: wraggster
Music collectors in the US will be able to subscribe to Apple's iTunes Match service this fall, but it looks like our friends across the pond will have to wait a little longer before lofting their libraries up to the cloud. According to sources within the British recording industry, licensing negotiations between Apple and the country's major labels have only just begun and likely won't be concluded until 2012. A spokesman for the Performing Right Society, an organization that protects the rights of musicians and songwriters, likened the situation to the launch of iTunes, which only spread to international markets some 14 months after launching in the US. Speaking to the Telegraph, Forrester Research vice president Mark Mulligan echoed these predictions, while offering some insight into the industry's approach:
"Apple's cloud music service will not launch in the UK until at least quarter one of 2012. These types of negotiations take a long time... For one thing the UK arms of all the major record labels are biding their time and waiting to see how the service affects download sales in the US before they sign up to anything."
Neither Apple nor any of the major labels have commented on the negotiations, but if things drag on we'd be willing to share our cloudy iTunes in exchange for a crack at Spotify.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/i...uk-until-2012/
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June 10th, 2011, 23:57 Posted By: wraggster
Apple's already made its position on the whole Lodsys situation pretty clear, and it's now taken things one step further after the patent holder hit iOS developers with a lawsuit at the end of last month. As noted by Florian Mueller of FOSS Patents, Apple has filed a motion to intervene in the case, and he says Apple is "fairly likely" to be admitted as an intervener based on precedent. In the case that happens, Apple has also concurrently filed its answer to the complaint and its counterclaim, which unsurprisingly line up with its earlier position on the matter: that Apple has already licensed the patents in question on the developers' behalf, and that they are "entitled to use this technology free from any infringement claims by Lodsys." Hit the source link below for the complete filing, along with FOSS Patents' analysis of it.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/a...atent-lawsuit/
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June 10th, 2011, 23:59 Posted By: wraggster
Your patience has paid off. The planet's first openly accessible jailbreak is now available for those who've taken the plunge with iOS 5 (beta), and if you just can't go another day without access to Cydia, well... you don't have to. Redsn0w 0.9.8b1 has been released for Mac users, but given that it's a tethered solution, you'll have to plug 'er back into your machine each time you need to reboot. We'd encourage you to wait for the inevitable untethered alternative, but those who aren't having any of that "listening to your elders" hoopla can hop on down to the source link.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/r...ailbreak-to-i/
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June 11th, 2011, 00:02 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft's App Guy has quite a job on his baby-soft hands: to boost Windows Phone 7's numerically-challenged Marketplace by encouraging developers to port apps across from other platforms. The little fellow helped iPhone devs out a couple of months ago with an API mapping tool to make it easier to translate iPhone APIs to WP7 code. Now he's extended the mapping tool to work with Android APIs too, and backed it up with a 90-page white paper and a promise to get more involved in developer forums. Will the App Guy's efforts unleash a flood of new apps for Windows Phone? We don't know, but we dig his shorts.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/m...ge-for-window/
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June 11th, 2011, 23:51 Posted By: wraggster
You can buy nice audio breakout equipment for your iPod if you don’t mind breaking the bank. This is partly because the demand is not incredibly high so commercial breakout hardware doesn’t benefit from volume discounts. But it’s also because Apple charges licensing fees for third-party accessories (often referred to as the “Apple Tax”). [Reed Ghazala] decided to side-step the whole situation by building his own accessory which he calls the iPad Audio Desk.
It all starts with a breakout board. The PodBreakout Mini provides an easy to solder interface for the iPad, and ensures that the repetitive act of plugging and unplugging the connection doesn’t break a solder connection. From there [Reed's] enclosure finishing skills take over. The shape and curve of the aluminum sheet give the look befitting an expensive tablet device. Along the back you can see the jacks for line-in, line-out, video, mic/guitar, and headphones that make the dock useful. It wouldn’t be hard to make one… but it might be hard to make one look this great. See for yourself after the break.
http://hackaday.com/2011/06/09/exper...sic-ipad-dock/
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June 13th, 2011, 17:20 Posted By: wraggster
Apple has taken a further step towards intervening in the legal cases brought against several app developers, which accuse the studios of infringing copyrights licensed to Apple by the Texas-based company Lodsys.
Previously, Apple had asked Lodsys to withdraw the claims, but the company continued to pursue the cases, arguing that the patents, which cover in-app upgrades and purchases, had been licensed to Apple and not its licensed developers.
Apple had argued that its agreement with Lodsys covered any App Store developers for use of the code in question, but has now seemingly expressed its willingness to fight the legal action on behalf on the companies named so far, telling courts that the developers are: "individuals or small entities with far fewer resources than Apple and...lack the technical information, ability, and incentive to adequately protect Apple's rights under its license agreement."
The filing was posted in its entirety by Florian Mueller, who sees Apple's commitment as a positive move for the smaller companies involved.
"While I don't have any confirmation from anyone that Apple has agreed to cover those defendants' costs and potential risks, it's hard to imagine how else this could work," said Mueller.
Whilst its still possible that the prospect of taking Apple on in court may not appeal to Lodsys, who have a history of litigation, the case has yet to be dropped.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...odsys-in-court
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June 13th, 2011, 20:46 Posted By: wraggster
Mominis discuss the problem of mobile fragmentation
This is the latest of a series of articles from MoMinis to coincide with the launch of its $15,000 Mobile Game Development Contest – GameCast 2011. Find out more about the contest here.
There’s no shortage of information about the mobile fragmentation problem occurring in today’s mobile market.
Just plug the keyword into Google, and you’ll find pages of tips, discussions, blog posts and analyst reports about the current and future implications of this subject for mobile developers, manufacturers and end-users.
Historically, mobile fragmentation addressed only technological complexities and discrepancies among devices and operating systems.
But now the problem is entering the realm of distribution too, with a multitude of options available to developers.
Here's a summary of the key development challenges when it comes to fragmentation:
Platform Selection
The first decision that mobile game developers make is which mobile platform and OS they will build their games for (such as Symbian, BlackBerry, iPhone, J2ME, Android, Windows Mobile or others). Should they attempt to become an expert in one OS or try to tackle all of them, including all their sub-variant OSs?
Device Hardware Decisions
Even after selecting a platform, developers are still required to create numerous versions of games that can support different device hardware specifications within each phone. They should decide among supporting multi touch or single touch keypads, pointing devices, track balls, QWERTY keyboards, various keypads and even joystick controls.
They are sometimes even required to make game editions that adapt to various screen resolutions from the highest end devices with HD screens (480x800px) to the lowest-end devices with low screen resolutions (128x128px). Additional parameters that should be taken into account are the processing power, hard disc space and memory capacities of the individual phones.
Learning Curve and Time Constraints
Becoming fluent in each individual platform’s programming language is a process that usually takes many months to years. Research has shown that Symbian, which currently has the largest global device market share, takes 15 months or more to learn while Android, which is predicted to surpass Symbian in market share, takes a reported average of five months or more to learn.
Expertise Constraints
Completing a high quality game and targeting single or multiple platforms is an operation that requires skilled programmers or teams of programmers. There are major barriers of entry into the mobile sphere for developers having less mobile expertise such as flash developers and regular PC game developers.
Maintenance
As upgrades and new versions of devices and OSs emerge, developers need to make sure their applications are compatible with all new and old versions of handsets in the market and update their code accordingly. This upkeep requires intense time allocation, expertise and attentiveness to market shifts.
Risk Management
Many risks are involved in embarking on a mobile game development project including making a bad platform choice, having slow or no market penetration, and receiving low or no return on investment.
There's more on the pressing issue of fragmentation in a new whitepaper from Mominis called ‘platform agnostic development and distribution ecosystems’.
The document also shows how developers can bypass pervasive fragmentation problems using a 'develop once deploy anywhere' system that is adaptable to all mobile device variations while attaining instant entrance to all distribution channels.
http://www.mcvuk.com/news/44859/The-...g-mobile-games
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June 13th, 2011, 20:53 Posted By: wraggster
Over in the UK, Sky TV is streamlining its efforts to serve up TV channels away from the TV by launching the new Sky Go service July 6th. It combines and replaces the existing online Sky Player and Sky Mobile TV services into one offering that's free for subscribers, and in August will open up to those who don't have Sky TV service for between Ł15-Ł40 per month. The new package also means changes for Sky Player on the Xbox 360 (which has its own changes in store) and Fetch TV, which will now just be "Sky" and will no longer count as one of the two allowed Sky Go device activations. Check the link below for the full list of channels which includes all the Sky Sports feeds, MTV, Disney and even ESPN without requiring the WatchESPN app we have in the US. There are a few drawbacks however, as it drops support for Windows Media Center and so far only iOS devices (running version 4.0 or higher - no first gen iPod Touches allowed) are on the approved list, but the official FAQ mentions an Android version on the way this year.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/s...d-ios-devices/
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June 13th, 2011, 20:55 Posted By: wraggster
They hacked Facetime onto the iPhone 3GS, and now they've done it again -- the iPhoneIslam team's bringing cellular calling and texting to your jailbroken iPad 3G. We haven't been able to test it for ourselves quite yet, but the new PhoneIt-iPad app should be available through the team's Cydia repository right now, and it'll cost $20 to bring out the full potential of your slate. And with that, it's only a matter of time before iPad sidetalking becomes a meme.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/p...turn-your-ipa/
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June 13th, 2011, 23:36 Posted By: wraggster
Android has become the top smartphone operating system in the United States, but Google's ambitions for it go well beyond tablet computers and smartphones, even beyond the mobile Web. Now Google says Android can also become the first mass-market bridge between the virtual world and the physical world, allowing smartphone apps to control light bulbs and home medical devices. Hoping to spark a wave of creativity similar to what Apple started when it opened the iPhone app store, Google distributed hundreds of circuitry kits to developers at last month's I/O conference. The Android Open Accessory Development Kit (ADK) allows Android's software to operate and communicate with motors, sensors, controllers and relays, allowing developers to create an interface in which a smartphone app could control or collect data from a thermostat, a lawn irrigation system or a group of lighting fixtures. 'The opportunity exists to dramatically change how you control your home,' said Tom Benton of Lighting Science. Over time, 'we're talking about the elimination of the wall switch.
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/...-Beyond-Mobile
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June 14th, 2011, 15:16 Posted By: wraggster
After almost two years of litigation of Nokia and Apple suing and counter suing each other, the patent war between the two companies has come to an end. The winner out of this settlement is, however, Nokia. As a part of the settlement, Apple has agreed to become a licensee of Nokia's patents. As a part of the licensing agreement, Apple has agreed to give Nokia a one-time payment and ongoing royalties. The exact terms of the agreement has not been disclosed
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...-Fees-To-Nokia
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June 14th, 2011, 15:21 Posted By: wraggster
Steve Jobs and co. showed off all kinds of cool new features during the debut of iOS 5 at WWDC earlier this month. We had the chance to take a few of them for a spin, when we tested the beta build of the mobile operating system, and now that more and more folks have tried their hand at iOS 5, more and more features are getting their turn to shine. Here's a list of some of the cooler ones we've seen in the last few weeks.
Apple has added the ability to make FaceTime calls over 3G -- though rumor has it that this may be a beta-only feature, which carriers can choose to disable, over obvious data usage concerns.
AirPlay Mirroring has been shown off. The feature lets users display video from an iPad 2 on an HDTV, by way of Apple TV, for those times when you just can't keep your tablet content to yourself. (Read)
The new software also offers up the ability to sync 1080p video to iOS 5 devices, opening the door to speculation that future iPads and iPhones may be able to play back content at full 1080p. (Read)
Like to play your iTunes over your car stereo? Good news, iOS 5 will transfer audio information like album, track, and artist names over Bluetooth. (Read)
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/13/m...a-testing-sun/
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June 15th, 2011, 00:26 Posted By: wraggster
"Apple on Tuesday started selling an unlocked version of its iPhone 4, starting at $649. A 16GB unlocked iPhone 4 will set you back $649, while a 32GB version is selling for $749. Both are available in black or white; the black will ship within one to three business days, while the white is available in three to five days, according to the Apple Web site. The benefit of an unlocked phone is that you are not locked into a two-year contract with a particular provider. But it also means that you don't get the subsidized pricing provided by someone like AT&T or Verizon. The same phones with a contract cost $199 and $299.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...-in-US-For-649
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June 15th, 2011, 02:01 Posted By: wraggster
unreal speccy portable v0.0.23 for Android is released. unreal speccy portable is a Portable ZX-Spectrum emulator.unreal speccy portable supports Z80 128K (Pentagon) AY/YM, Beeper, Beta Disk, Tape, Kempston Joystick/Mouse, Snapshots. Created to be ported to many platforms such as Windows/Linux/Symbian/WinMobile/Dingoo/...
unreal speccy portable v0.0.23 for Android Changelog:
+ zooming & filtering options added
+ quit kills process
+ skip frame option
+ .apk size reduced
http://www.emucr.com/2011/06/unreal-...v0023-for.html
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June 15th, 2011, 23:45 Posted By: wraggster
"For the third time in the last few months, Google has had to remove a slew of malware-infected apps from the Android Market and suspend some publishers. Ten Android apps in the Official Android Market are known to be infected, but many more could be victims of the Plankton Trojan. Researcher Xuxian Jiang claims that early variants of the Trojan have evaded detection for as long as two months
http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/06/1...Android-Market
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June 16th, 2011, 00:12 Posted By: wraggster
Bungie has announced Bungie.net Mobile on its official site calling it a "first, small step into the mobile world. The first of many."
The app allows Halo: Reach players to check their stats and keep up to date with Bungie news, operating in a similar way to FPS stat trackers mooted by both EA and Activision.
"It really is just a beginning - our first, super cute baby step. We already have adult-type plans to keep updating Bungie.net Mobile with new features and enhancements in the months and years to come."
Bungie.net Mobile is a free service and is available in the Apple App Store now.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...es-into-mobile
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June 16th, 2011, 00:21 Posted By: wraggster
Google Sync has pushed Gmail messages, calendar updates, and contacts to iOS since its launch in 2009, but this half-baked solution previously lacked some key functionality. Beginning today, users can finally perform mail server searches and confirm appointment requests from their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. This means that you'll be able to search for messages in your entire mailbox, not just for emails stored on your device -- a feature that first appeared with iPhone OS 3, but without Google Sync support. You can also respond to calendar invites from within the Calendar app. Fancy that! A third update brings support for sending messages from other addresses listed in your Gmail account, though only the first two features worked when we took Sync for a spin this afternoon. (Curiously, Google omitted a "Send Mail as" screenshot on its blog, so this last update may not actually be available yet.) This latest trio of updates is available for both gratis and Google Apps accounts, so head to the source link for set up instructions and the full feature rundown.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/15/g...nfirmation-to/
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June 16th, 2011, 21:01 Posted By: wraggster
Tired of handling your tablet with kid gloves? Go ahead, take them off -- a Toughbook slate is heading your way. Strutting its stuff at InfoComm this week, Panasonic's Android Toughbook tablet boasts a sunlight-friendly 10.1-inch multi-touch display, satellite-based GPS, full-shift battery life and optional 3G / 4G connectivity. Wrap it up in the same badass durability as its snowmobile-abused, tiger-gnawed brethren, and you've got a Android slab for the everyman. No specifics on pricing or release just yet, but feel free to hit up the press release after the break for a slew of feel-good factoids.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/16/p...ledgehammer-s/
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June 16th, 2011, 21:04 Posted By: wraggster
Making friends is hard. Apple knows this. In fact, the company outlined such difficulty in a newly surfaced patent, highlighting the sort of "long and awkward conversation" sometimes required to discover common interests. The patent application, filed back in late-2009, describes a location-based social network that helps users discover people in their vicinity, based on common interests like books, movies, and, naturally, music. Of course, Cupertino already dipped its toes in the social networking waters with the iTunes-based Ping, which, in spite of initial excitement, failed to really capture the imagination of Apple's dedicated base. And this isn't the first time the company has flirted with the idea of location-based social networking either, as a patent that surfaced halfway through last year can attest. The company has clearly learned its lesson with this one, however, and that lesson is: more drawings of women winking and references to Springsteen songs in the application process.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/16/a...orking-encour/
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June 17th, 2011, 00:00 Posted By: wraggster
"Today Lookout disclosed a new form of Android malware found in Chinese markets which attacks third-party firmwares (ROMs). By using permissions granted to apps which are signed with the same private keys as the ROM itself, an app can update itself or install and uninstall other apps without user interaction. Most third-party ROMs use the private keys included in the Android Open Source Project, making them vulnerable to this attack. Last month's release of CyanogenMod 7.0.3 (and all subsequent builds) included an "important security fix" which a team member confirmed protects users against this vulnerability by preventing applications signed with the platform key to be installed to user or app-controlled storage.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/1...ks-Custom-ROMs
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June 19th, 2011, 10:13 Posted By: wraggster
Microsoft just earned itself a boatload of geek-cred and made Apple and Sony look pretty bad in the process. We knew the Windows Phone team was playing nice with the jailbreakers from ChevronWP7, but we didn't realize just how cozy the two were going to get. Today the devs announced that ChevronWP7 Labs would open up soon, with the approval of Redmond, allowing users to load homebrew apps on their handsets. Unlike tools from the iPhone Dev Team, this service won't be free. Instead, customers will have to cough up a small fee via PayPal -- but we're sure many of you are more than willing to pay a reasonable price to avoid the sort of cat and mouse game Apple has been playing with hackers since 2007.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/18/c...ith-microsoft/
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June 19th, 2011, 19:54 Posted By: wraggster
Keeping track of all accusations flying back and forth in the ongoing patent brouhaha between Apple and Samsung? Then we're afraid you'll have to update your scorecards again, as Apple has now amended its complaint with some even stronger language than before, and broadened the scope of the devices involved in the suit. According to Apple, the Droid Charge, Infuse 4G, Nexus S 4G, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Galaxy S II and a handful of other Samsung devices are all also infringing on the patents in question, which now total eight in all (two previously included have been thrown out, but three new ones have been added). As for that stronger language, Apple's now saying that Samsung "has been even bolder" than other competitors in copying its products, and that it's created "products that blatantly imitate the appearance of Apple's products to capitalize on Apple's success." Hit the source link below for FOSS Patents' complete breakdown of the amendment.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/17/a...nclude-more-d/
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June 19th, 2011, 19:58 Posted By: wraggster
It's just one week after Nintendo unveiled dual-screen gaming on the Wii U at E3, but Apple's iOS 5 beta is already bringing a very similar experience to the living room -- many months before Nintendo's latest console is expected to ship. We installed iOS 5 on an iPad 2 and Apple TV, and took the latest version of Real Racing 2 HD for a test-drive, which enables dual-screen gameplay over AirPlay without the need for Apple's $39 AV adapter. Other games, like Angry Birds, simply mirror the iPad's display (and aspect ratio) on your HDTV, but Real Racing streams 16:9 HD video.
For this game (and we imagine many more to come), you use the iPad as the controller -- both while navigating through menus and in race mode -- while the game appears only on your TV (though the tablet does display some vitals, and a map of the track). There's noticeable lag between the iPad and Apple TV when using AirPlay, which may be an issue for games where timing is important, such as Rock Band, but didn't seem to set us back while playing Firemint's racing game. Overall, AirPlay offered a seamless gaming experience without a single hiccup -- surprising, considering iOS 5 just hit beta last week. It's difficult to do this hands-on justice without a video demo, so jump past the break for an exclusive look at wireless, dual-screen gaming on the iPad and Apple TV.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/17/r...ios-5-on-ipad/
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June 20th, 2011, 18:52 Posted By: wraggster
We know you've all been losing sleep, wondering what exactly Skype integration on webOS will look like. Well, tonight, you should sleep like a baby, knowing you've gotten a solid peak at how the Pre 3 will handle the VoIP service. Similar to Google Voice on Android, you'll be able to either route all international calls through Skype or force is to ask every time you press that precious dial button. We also know that it will be able to handle video calls and, at least on the O2 network in Germany, both voice and video chat will be available over WiFi and 3G. You'll also be able to initiate sessions from either contacts or the messaging menu, so there's no need to fire up a separate app. Now, we just need HP to get this out the door and for Microsoft to work out those reliability kinks. Check out the source link for the full-sized images.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/19/w...n-screenshots/
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June 20th, 2011, 21:12 Posted By: wraggster
Tapjoy has established a new $5 million fund to help port selected apps to the Android operating system, as the middleware publisher increases its support for non-iOS devices.
The new fund is intended to offer "monetary and development support" to developers seeking to port existing content and apps to Android. Although Apple's iOS platform has not been mentioned specifically by Tapjoy it is presumably the primary target of the scheme.
Tapjoy recently complained that Apple's ban of "pay per install" promotions is adversely affecting its business and that of a majority of iOS developers.
As part of the new Android scheme Tapjoy will provide full porting and testing services to ensure compatibility with all leading Android handsets. Developers will also have the option to use Tapjoy's virtual monetisation engine, although its use is not mandatory.
Selected games will also receive a free, large-scale distribution campaign for new user acquisition via the company's performance-based advertising network.
"Tapjoy is in the business of democratising the application ecosystem by bringing innovative content and targeted experiences to consumers while providing a level playing field for developers large and small to get their apps discovered," said Mihir Shah, president and CEO of Tapjoy.
"The openness and skyrocketing popularity of the Android platform makes it a perfect match for our long-term objectives. This new porting program will identify great apps and give them the opportunities they deserve."
The fund is one of several established by mobile publishers in recent months, with TinyCo also operating a $5 million fund for iOS and Android devices. Mobile gaming network OpenFeint and Chinese publisher The9 have their own $100 million fund for developers.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...n-android-fund
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June 21st, 2011, 00:18 Posted By: wraggster
Just a quick information:
The production of the new DPad Membranes (which fix any issues with unresponsive DPads) as well as the rubber side clamps (if you want to use it without a phone) will be finished on Monday.
Add some shipping and customs time and they should be there at the end of next week.
Don't forget that you can get the side clamps for free (well, you have to pay shipping costs) if you already own an iControlPad!
We'll keep you informed about that 
http://icontrolpad.com/node/25
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June 21st, 2011, 00:19 Posted By: wraggster
I've got some awesome news today!
The iControlPad is also working nice with non-jailbroken iPhones, as long as the software supports it.
The first app supporting the iCP will be the next version of Manomios C64 emulator.
The next version supporting it should be available soon on Apples official Appstore.
We'll inform you once it's out.
Also iAmiga, an upcoming Amiga emulator from Manomio will also have iControlPad support included.
http://icontrolpad.com/node/26
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June 21st, 2011, 23:34 Posted By: wraggster
Apple's iPhone 5 will not be a mere update of the iPhone 4, but a new device with a 'radical' new design, according to new reports.
If you're familiar with Apple's iteration trends for the iPhone, you might expect nothing more than an 'iPhone 4S' - a device identical in appearance to iPhone 4 but with a boost in processing power in the same vein as the iPhone 3GS.
It's reported that some developers have access to such a '4S' device - but according to BGR, iPhone customers will see commercially will be something more "radical". Citing a 'reliable source', the site claims the iPhone 5 will sport a "radical new case design".
It's generally believed that Apple will reveal the next iPhone at its annual September event, usually focused on iPod, but BGR's source says Apple may hold an event in 'beginning or middle' of August, with a release in late August.
The site received no further info on the phone's specs or appearance, but pointed to the mock image above created today by website thisismynext reportedly based on a sketch provided to them by a source.
According to that report, Apple is doing "interesting things" with bonded glass technology that will allow them to stretch the screen to the very outer limits of the unit, resulting in little-to-no surrounding bezel. This will reported bump the screen size to 3.7 inches from iPhone 4's 3.5 inches, while maintaining the same overall unit dimensions.
It'll apparently also keep the same resolution, and would therefore drop the pixel density down from 326ppi (pixels per inch) to 312 - anything over 300ppi maintains Apple's 'Retina display' attribute.
The report even says Apple has been experimenting with earpieces and sensors that somehow work from behind the display, which would allow the screen to occupy the entire front of the device, although that would appear more farfetched for a device due out within months.
As you can see from the mock-up, it also says the Home button will be enlarged and may double up as a gesture area for enhanced gesture-based controls (a feature apparently "definitely" coming to a future version of iOS).
That's one full rumours board. Expect it to get noisier as the phone's imminent release approaches.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS
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June 21st, 2011, 23:44 Posted By: wraggster
Loretta Chao of the The Wall Street Journal reports on three people in China who were sentenced to between 12 and 18 months in prison for a plot to make iPad 2 protective cases before the tablet's official release. The plan allegedly involved R&D man Lin Kecheng of Hon Hai Precision Industry Company (FoxConn) selling image data to Hou Pengna, who then passed it to Xiao Chengsong, a manager at MacTop. The charges? One 'violated the privacy policy of the company,' two got information through 'illegal means' causing 'huge losses,' and they all 'infringed trade secrets.' The decision was handed down by the Shenzen Baoan People's Court on June 16.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...g-iPad-2-Cases
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June 21st, 2011, 23:47 Posted By: wraggster
Retail prices for tablet games could be a reality according to Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, who says he sees no reason why price points of up to $40 would not be feasible.
Speaking to Forbes, Zelnick began by discussing Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the iPhone, which he described as "creatively successful" but "At the price point for which we can sell on the iPhone, it is not going to be economically meaningful."
"What we intend to do is make something and sell it to millions and millions of people, and sell it at a high price. You don't want to spend lots and lots of money to make something you are going to sell to a small amount of people at a low price," he explained.
He was then asked specifically whether he would charge "$20, $30 or $40 for a tablet game", to which he replied: "I don't see why not."
"Tablets are ubiquitous. And tablets are a great game platform. And it's the right sized screen. And you use the tablet to have an engaging experience. So if all of that's true, I don't see why we wouldn't be able to sell a robust product for the same price point. The reason the price point is currently lower for an iPhone app is it is used for five minutes, and not for a hundred hours
"My take is that small screens will be used for a quick but interactive entertainment experience. Mid and large screens can be a robust and engaging entertainment experience. That's how my kids play games. When they're at home, they don't really play games on their desktops or tablets. They play games on the projection TV."
In the same interview Zelnick offered only uncommitted support for the Wii U but did confirm that, "you will see future Duke [Nukem] IP coming from this company."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...0-tablet-games
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June 21st, 2011, 23:56 Posted By: wraggster
We knew that Android 3.2 was little more than a tailor-made edition of Android 3.1 for 7-inch slates, but even after speaking with Huawei, we weren't exactly sure when it would be rolling out to things other than its own MediaPad. Our pals over at This is my next managed to confirm that it'll be landing as early as this summer, and for better or worse, it'll be the last major Android release prior to Ice Cream Sandwich hitting retail devices in Q4. Moreover, it's bruited that v3.2 will bring support for Qualcomm CPUs as well as NVIDIA's Tegra 2 chipset, which could lead to HTC's Flyer getting an upgrade of its own. As for more current plans, it seems as if the Motorola Xoom -- a slate that was just recently updated to 3.1 -- will see another point increase in the coming weeks, which should give us a solid indication of what to expect software-wise with the MediaPad drops a few months later. Speaking of which, both CNET and M.I.C. Gadget were on-hand in Singapore for a look at the show-floor model of that very tablet
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/a...ts-huaweis-me/
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June 22nd, 2011, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster
Nearly three and a half years later, Apple has finally been awarded the U.S. patent number 7,966,578, which according to the patent experts should worry rivals. According to exclusive interviews with patent experts, the incredibly broad patent puts Apple in a strong position when it comes to displaying content and using certain finger gestures on smart phones. The patent is so broad that not only will Apple's legal team target iPhone competitors but will also look to go after iPad and iPod rivals. Experts also discussed the scenario of Apple licensing its patented technology or for that matter, the courts completely scrapping the patent in public's interest
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...t-Is-Too-Broad
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June 22nd, 2011, 23:27 Posted By: wraggster
Christopher Mims writes at MIT Technology Review that Mika Mobile, developer of Battleheart, a big hit on both the iOS and Android platforms, says that "a polished, high quality product is more likely to be embraced on Android than on iOS because the quality bar on the android market is so pathetically low." Evidence to that effect comes from the fact that "on iOS, user reviews for Battleheart average 4.5 stars (4000 total ratings), which is quite good. On Android it's a stunning 4.8, with 1000 ratings," writes the developer. "So not only is it reviewed more highly, it's also reviewed more often, with a huge percentage of android users taking the time to rate the app. I think the lack of competition makes quality apps really stand out, and generates a lot of enthusiasm from app-starved android users." Mika Mobile adds that the most frustrating part about developing for android is dealing with the deluge of support e-mail, most of which is related to download and installation problems which have nothing to do with the app itself, and everything to do with the android OS and market having innate technical problems. "Do some googling for "can't download apps from android market" or similar wording, and you'll see that this is a widespread chronic issue for all devices and all OS versions," writes the developer. "Based on the amount of e-mails I get every day, download problems effect 1-2% of all buyers, or in more practical terms, somewhere between two and three s**t-loads.""
http://slashdot.org/story/11/06/22/1...Says-Developer
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June 22nd, 2011, 23:35 Posted By: wraggster
Adobe has released an update to its Flash Builder development suite which will see the technology support both Apple iOS devices and BlackBerry PlayBooks, allowing for the creation of cross-platform Flash apps for the first time.
Although Flash is still not supported on Apple devices, following a very public war of words between Steve Jobs and Adobe, the new support will allow developers to create a single version of an app able to run on any format - saving considerable time and effort.
An update to the Adobe Flash Builder MXML editor (aka Adobe Flex Builder) allows cross-platform apps to be created for mobile, Web and desktop formats using ActionScript and the Flex framework.
Promoted as "one tool, one framework, one codebase" on Adobe's blog, the new tool allows developers to build and distribute apps through the Android Market, BlackBerry App World and Apple App Store via a single chain of tools, programming language and code base.
Further information can be found at the official Flash Builder website.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...and-blackberry
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June 22nd, 2011, 23:43 Posted By: wraggster
A US district judge this week handed Apple a victory in its ongoing legal battle with Samsung, denying the latter its reciprocal discovery request for a peek at prototypes of the upcoming versions of the iPhone and iPad. The request followed a similar one filed by Apple, in order to view Samsung products, including the Galaxy S II, Galaxy Tab 8.9, Galaxy Tab 10.1, Infuse 4G, and Droid Charge. Samsung, for its part, argued that taking an early look at the Apple's upcoming phone and tablet would be relevant to the legal ruling, seeing as how any changes made in those upcoming products would affect the trade dress ("total product image") of the line, and thereby potentially alter the possibility of consumer confusion, an important factor in determining infringement with certain unregistered trademarks with the product.
The court denied Samsung's motion on a number of grounds. For one thing, Apple's initial complaint pertained to infringement of existing products, parameters deemed legit by the court. Also, the court took into account the fact that Apple tends to be far more tight-lipped about its product releases, whereas Samsung made a point of offering up information about forthcoming products into the public domain, including the release of 5,000 Galaxy Tab 10.1 units as samples to the public. That said, the judge was careful to note that Apple's suggestion that court protection of its trade secrets was insufficient "is not well taken." More details after the break.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/s...ng-apple-infr/
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June 23rd, 2011, 22:26 Posted By: wraggster
In yet another setback for Oracle, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has rejected 17 of 21 claims associated with one of the patents in Java that Oracle asserted Google had violated with Android. Groklaw reports, 'In the reexamination of U.S. Patent 6192476 the USPTO has issued an office action in which it rejects 17 of the patent's 21 claims.'
http://yro.slashdot.org/story/11/06/...Android-Claims
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June 23rd, 2011, 22:50 Posted By: wraggster
Angling for a new Android 3.1 tablet, are ya? If so, Archos has a new pair emerging from Paris today, the 80 G9 and 101 G9. Predictably, the biggest differentiator between the two is the screen size, with the former offering an 8-inch panel with a 1024 x 768 screen resolution and the latter stepping up to a 10.1-incher (1280 x 800). Both of 'em are proudly using Seagate's 7mm Momentus Thin in order to scale to 250GB, but of course, only time will tell how a power-hungry HDD will do in tablet form factor.
Under the hood, you'll find a dual-core OMAP 4 processor (1.5GHz ARM Cortex A9), support for Flash, access to the Android Market and a full-size USB port -- one that's good for accepting the outfit's new G9 3G WWAN stick ($49). You'll also get an HDMI output, support for 1080p playback and a pay-as-you-go option with the aforesaid 3G dongle. The duo is scheduled to go on sale at the end of September (you know, just a month or two before Ice Cream Sandwich makes Honeycomb look like old hat), with the 80 G9 going for $279 and the 101 G9 for $349. Don't ever say Archos' accountants didn't look out for you.
Update: We snagged a gallery's worth of hands-on shots from Archos' reveal today in Paris. We're running back for more as we type, so hang tight!
Update 2: A reader over at Engadget Spanish noticed that the ES specifications link for the new G9 tablets mentions a 16GB + microSD arrangement for those who aren't feeling a 250GB HDD. Interesting!
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/a...ts-1-5ghz-cpu/
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June 23rd, 2011, 22:51 Posted By: wraggster
Ok, this one's odd. In fact, we didn't believe the images until a video just surfaced showing Nokia CEO, Stephen Elop, foolishly asking a crowd of people to "put away their cameras" for the unveiling of something "super confidential," codenamed "Sea Ray." Naturally, a few people ignored the plea for "no pictures please" and, indeed, someone leaked what appears to be a Nokia-produced video of the unveiling to the blogosphere. What is it? Why, it's Nokia's first Windows Phone. While it looks nearly identical to the just announced N9, the different LED placement on the back (in line with the same 8 megapixel Carl Zeiss lens) confirms it's a new device as does the additional hardware button (for shutter release, we presume) along the side. And the fact that it's running Windows Phone 7 Mango seals the deal. See a few more shots and the full uncut video (and relevant snippet) after the break.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/n...ges-and-video/
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June 23rd, 2011, 22:53 Posted By: wraggster
Gun accessories for your Wiimote or Move wands are old hat but, we can't help but be at least a little intrigued by this rifle-like dock for the iPhone. The appBlaster is an accessory from apptoyz designed specifically for use with the company's Alien Attack iOS game. Slide in your iDevice and fire up the AR shooter and you'll be treated to a bit of Piper-vision, exposing the invisible aliens in our midst. Pull the triggers and two capacitive pads touch the screen to fire at the invaders that only you can see. The appBlaster is available for pre-order now at RED5 for Ł19.99 (about $32) and will official hit shelves on July 7.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/23/a...-butt-bubbleg/
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June 23rd, 2011, 22:55 Posted By: wraggster
The good news is that Hulu Plus for Android is on the market, but the bad news is that you may not be able to install it yet. The official Hulu Blog has just been updated with news that six phones -- Nexus One, Nexus S, HTC Inspire 4G, Motorola Droid II, Motorola Droid X, and the Motorola Atrix -- are on the compatible list with "additional device announcements" due later in the year. While there's some crossover with the list of Netflix-compatible devices, it's hardly complete and many flagship phones are still missing. Here's hoping the tweakers can work their magic on that apk and get it running for the rest of us, whether we're shelling out $7.99 a month or just want to leech some Chappelle's Show eps on a free one week trial. If you can't get it running yourself, check out a quick video demo embedded after the break.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/22/h...an-install-it/
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June 26th, 2011, 23:35 Posted By: wraggster
A recent arrest report shows that an off-duty police officer from Fullerton, CA was arrested on felony grand theft charges for stealing an iPad at a TSA checkpoint in the Miami International Airport. The theft was captured on video surveillance last month and the officer was tracked down just before boarding her plane.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...TSA-Checkpoint
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June 26th, 2011, 23:37 Posted By: wraggster
A new software app by Google, developed in cooperation with MIT, enables one-step task transfers between Android Smartphones and PCs. If you are like me, you transfer tasks from smartphone to the desktop the hard way at least once a day, so let's get together and crowd-poll Google to commercialize this app so it's as easy as taking a picture with our smartphone!
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/...-Among-Devices
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June 26th, 2011, 23:44 Posted By: wraggster
"A nearly year-long study conducted by WDS on 600,000 support calls has found that Android phones are more susceptible to hardware faults than other types of devices. '14 percent of all technical support calls for Android devices could be traced to a hardware fault, versus 3.7 percent for RIM BlackBerry, 8 percent for iPhones and 9 percent for Windows Phone 7 devices.' WDS attributed the gap in hardware faults to the disparity in OEMs that manufacture Android devices.
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/1...dware-Problems
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June 26th, 2011, 23:46 Posted By: wraggster
Daniel Spitler, a member of Goatse Security, pleaded guilty today to writing the code used to steal email addresses and personal information belonging to 120,000 Apple iPad subscribers from AT&T computer servers. Spitler, who surrendered to the authorities in January, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to gain unauthorized access to computers connected to the Internet and one count of identity theft. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...-Pleads-Guilty
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June 26th, 2011, 23:48 Posted By: wraggster
A new report from research group comScore suggests that the iPad sees 89 per cent of total tablet online traffic in the world market and 97 per cent in the US.
The report was created as part of comScore's new Device Essentials service, which discusses digital traffic by device. The Unified Digital Measurement (UDM) data is based on census-level information from tagged web page content.
To promote the news service comScore has released public data, which shows that the iPad's contribution to total non-computer device traffic is highest in Canada at 33.5 per cent. In the US the figure is 21.8 per cent and in the UK 21.13 per cent.
Contributions from Android tablets are less than 1 per cent in most markets, although Apple does not dominate across all device types. In the US the iPhone contributes only 23.5 percent of non-computer online traffic, compared to 35.6 per cent for Android devices.
A report last year claimed that gaming is the number one paid-for App category on the iPad, suggesting the device and tablet format may be even more significant for gaming than smartphones.
Earlier this week Take-Two Interactive boss Strauss Zelnick said that he saw no reason not to create games for tablets which could be priced between $20 and $40.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ffic-worldwide
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June 26th, 2011, 23:58 Posted By: wraggster
Those of you toting around an HTC Flyer probably just got an update that loaded OnLive Viewer on your 7-inch tablet. Don't get too excited though, the name of the app says it all -- this is a viewer not a player. So, if you've got a voyeuristic streak, you can watch others shoot their way through F.E.A.R. 3, but you won't slowing down time yourself. If that sounds like a blast but you don't have a Flyer, fear not, the folks at the XDA forums were kind enough to rip the APK and post it for all the world to enjoy. We successfully tested it on a Droid X, and reports are that it's up and running on the EVO 4G, Desire HD, and even a hacked Nook Color. Once installed you'll just need a WiFi connection (the app kicks you back to the homescreen on 3G) and low expectations -- the video quality was less than impressive. Hit up the source link to download it for yourself, and check out the video our tipster sent us after the break.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/26/o...-other-androi/
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June 26th, 2011, 23:59 Posted By: wraggster
Good news for Palm Pre 2 owners of the Big Red variety, the endless breath-holding can finally stop -- webOS 2.1 is finally making its way to your handset. Released back in March to the global unlocked masses, this update to HP's platform brings along voice-dialing, email and security fixes, messaging backup (sorry, no MMS), and a Sense 3.0-like charging display that'll float your photos, agenda, or simply keep the time. That should be enough to tide you over until the Pre 3 hits VZW's stores, no? Die-hard Palm OS fanatics, chin up, your Classic emulator's now only ten steps away.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/25/v...bos-2-1-wings/
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June 27th, 2011, 11:22 Posted By: wraggster
If you have an Iconia Tab A500 and an unbridled passion for running the latest Android software, we've got good news for you. Acer's 3.1 update for the 10-inch Tegra 2 slate has actually slipped out a little early and can now be downloaded at the source link below. It brings the resizable widgets and other goodies that Xoom and Eee Pad Transformer users have been savoring for a while, though that's naturally not been enough for some and there are already custom ROMs built off this leak that augment the upgrade with superuser privileges. Alternatively, should you be disinclined to flash your own tablet, you can just wait for Acer to start beaming Android 3.1 over the air to its European A500s on July 5th.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/a...-out-in-china/
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June 27th, 2011, 11:25 Posted By: wraggster
Google has pulled one of the most popular torrent download managers from the Android Market because of policy violations. Before Google booted the application, Transdroid had been available for two years and amassed 400,000 users during that time. Thus far Google hasn't specified what the exact nature of Transdoid's violations are, but it's not unlikely that they relate to copyright infringement.
http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/11/...Android-Market
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June 27th, 2011, 14:53 Posted By: wraggster
While we wait (rather impatiently, we might add) for Mango to make its official debut others are still playing with test builds, pouring over code, and digging up interesting tidbits about Microsoft's mobile OS update. That WP7 will be getting improved HTML5 support is nothing new but, that it will specifically support in-browser audio and continue to stream even if you navigate away from the browser or lock the screen, is music (literally) to our ears. Snippets discovered in a recent Mango dump have also turned up mentions of Xbox Live Voice chat, parties, multiplayer gaming, and tighter integration with the 360 for pushing Live content to your big screen. If you hit the WPSauce source link you'll find a whole host of other fascinating things in the WP7 code, and some details about just how deeply Facebook will be tied to the OS. But, before you go, check out the video of the HTML5 audio support in action after the break.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/m...reams-xbox-li/
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June 27th, 2011, 14:54 Posted By: wraggster
It's only been a few days since Apple released iOS 5 beta 2, but we've already received a bevy of tips from developers who've spent some quality time with the update and uncovered a few of its more salient features. Here are some highlights.
It looks like Apple has blocked Applenberry's Gevey SIM software, which allowed users to unlock devices running iOS 4.3 or iOS 5 beta 1 without having to jailbreak. (Read)
According to Dev Team member MuscleNerd, iOS 5 beta 2 can still be jailbroken using the RedSn0w 0.9.8b1 tethering tool, released earlier this month. (Read)
The beta refresh also brings a few tweaks to iOS 5's notifications system. Traditional alerts and reminders now pop up on the lock screen in larger typeface, alongside their appropriate icon. If left unattended, the notifications will eventually be added to the Android-like banner menu, at the top of the lock screen. (Read)
Users can now create and curate photo albums directly from their iDevices, though the feature isn't without its quirks. A tipster informs us that photos added to new albums remain in the original collection, as well. If you migrate an image from one album to another and delete the original, both pics will disappear.
The next beta release might be issued over the air. When a tipster checked for updates on an iPad running beta 2, he received a "No updates were found" message, suggesting that users may be able to find future refreshes without syncing their devices with iTunes. (Screenshot after the break.)
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/i...album-curatio/
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June 27th, 2011, 17:18 Posted By: wraggster
An anonymous reader noted a forum post that looks to be confirming that Apple will be fighting downgrading in iOS 5 quoting
"This will only affect restores starting at iOS5 and onward, and Apple will be able to flip that switch off and on at will (by opening or closing the APTicket signing window for that firmware, like they do for the BBTicket)."
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...OS-Downgrading
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June 27th, 2011, 17:19 Posted By: wraggster
Singapore, the country infamous for fining residents caught chewing gum in public, will begin issuing iPads to its army, air force, and navy recruits in November. Considering all able-bodied male citizens are required to serve for two years, a large portion of the city-state's population could eventually be using the Apple tablet. Troops will use the iPads to upload stills and video to the military's online education platform, and will also use custom-build apps, currently being developed by "military contractors" (app devs). Only about 8,000 iPad 2s will be distributed in the first round this fall, but Singapore's defense ministry plans to hand out more tablets next year -- to be timed with the release of a Singapore-themed Angry Birds, we assume.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/s...s-to-incoming/
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June 27th, 2011, 17:29 Posted By: wraggster
Besides Manomios emulators, some more apps are currently being updated supporting the iControlPad.
One of the developers asked Apple if it is okay if he adds support for the iCP into his app and they replied that this is fine as long as it uses their official BT Stack as well the app features touchscreen-support as well.
This is some great news, as it opens the door for officially available games to support the iControlPad!
.http://icontrolpad.com/node/27
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June 27th, 2011, 17:37 Posted By: wraggster
the gpSP is a gameboy advance emulator originally written by Exophase. And now it’s ported to the Symbian OS!
This version supports only Symbian^3 phones (N8, E7 etc.). The S60 5th edition users should use the older gpsp 0.6.5 for S60 5th edition
What’s new:
•Support for Symbian^3
•Better Audio
•alpha channel for keys is now configured at video section (not in controls panel)
•8-directional / 4 directional DPAD
•Hidden A+B button areas
•save/load states is now working
Controls:
•You can choose between 8-directional and 4-directional DPads.
•You can add hidden A+B button areas, to press both of them at once.
http://www.summeli.fi/?p=2520
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June 27th, 2011, 17:39 Posted By: wraggster
the gpSP is a gameboy advance emulator originally written by Exophase. And now it’s ported to the Symbian OS!
What’s new:
•Better Audio!
•save/load states is now working
gpSP mainview
know issues:
•not working on Symbian^3 based devices such as N8
•It’s a gpsp port, so see the gpsp compatibility list before complaining about non-working ROMs
•the emulator crashes if you try to load a ROM without setting the BIOS
•there are some limitations in the ZIP file support, so maybe you have to upzipt the ROMs
•The ZIP files seem to be eating quite a lot of RAM, so If ROM doesn’t work, try extracting it.
•Samsung blit fails when “keep aspect ratio” is ticked off
ZIP limitations
•WinZip
•Roms ziped in the WinZip Maximum (PPMd) format WILL NOT work.
•Roms ziped in the WinZip Maximum (bzip2) format WILL NOT work
•Roms ziped in the WinZip Maximum (Enhanced Deflate) format WILL NOT run
•Roms ziped in the WinZip Normal format WILL run
•Roms ziped in the WinZip Fast format WILL run.
•Roms ziped in the WinZip Super Fast format WILL run.
•Roms ziped in the WinZip None format WILL run.
http://www.summeli.fi/?p=2557
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June 28th, 2011, 02:16 Posted By: wraggster
Dan Yoder, CTO at Border Stylo, offers insights on the current state of simultaneous iPhone / Android development using PhoneGap and his thoughts on the debate over native apps versus Web apps. Quoting: 'One problem with the debate is that it’s a false dichotomy, since you can embed a Web browser within a native application. And, conversely, you can extend an embedded Web browser to provide access to native APIs. The two alternatives have not been mutually exclusive for years now. And, focusing on the strengths of native applications ignores the benefits of Web applications. For example, there’s the appeal of writing code that will run on a variety of different devices, ranging from mobile phones, to tablets, to laptops, even to gaming consoles. Virtually every major device platform now sports a Web browser, and it can often be discreetly embedded within a native application. To boot, much of this code can be tested using a Web browser, which enables more easily automated testing. It’s also easier to find Web developers than it is to find native developers
http://developers.slashdot.org/story...ve-Native-Apps
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June 28th, 2011, 11:35 Posted By: wraggster
We've already noted our slip into Bizarro World, a strange and topsy-turvy land where -- thanks to patent-infringement claims -- Microsoft strikes licensing deals with Android device makers. Redmond has used a carrot-and-stick strategy thus far, suing competing manufacturers (Barnes and Noble, Motorola) while reaching a protective royalty agreement with HTC, which, not coincidentally, also makes Windows Phones. Today, another company joins the licensee list: General Dynamics Itronix, known for its rugged computers, some of which do run Windows. Neither company offered much in the way of details, other than declaring that Itronix will pay royalties, but we've no reason to believe it's too different from HTC's arrangement. See the press release after the break for an excellent example of terse, unrevealing business-speak.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/m...uses-more-hea/
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June 28th, 2011, 12:10 Posted By: wraggster
BAFTA this morning launched its second annual games design competition for kids, to help encourage them to consider a career in the games industry.
Teams of three 11-16 year-olds are invited to pitch their idea for a game to BAFTA's Young Game Designers judging panel. The winner, crowned at this year's BAFTA Children's Awards, gets their design coded up into a working prototype by a team at Dundee's Abertay university.
A launch event is running throughout the day at London's Westfield shopping centre, with young celebs like Outnumbered's Tyger Drew-Honey and Waterloo Road's Millie Katana due to appear as ambassadors for the project.
Other stars, including Arsenal's Jack Wilshire and The Sarah Jane Adventure's Anjil Mohindra, who you can see in the video below, have been recruited to lend a supportive word or two.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...es-design-comp
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June 28th, 2011, 12:12 Posted By: wraggster
Robert Broglia just released his next emulator - time to play some Sega classics on your phone and celebrate Sonic's 20th anniversary!
Grab the Android version at the marketplace, the WebOS and iOS-Ports are currently being worked on and should be released soon.
As every emulator from Robert Broglia it supports the iControlPad out of the box
http://icontrolpad.com/node/28
.
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June 29th, 2011, 00:31 Posted By: wraggster
Apple's sent over its picks of the new titles available on the iOS app store this week.
The biggest name on the list for us is Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing, which didn't put up a bad showing on console and can now be snapped up for three quid on the iPhone.
On your iPhone or iPad? Click on the titles to be taken to the app store.
iPad:
The Incredible Machine
Walt Disney
Ł1.79 (Rated 9+)
Create incredible contraptions as you solve physics puzzles, launching rockets and reunite mice with cheese.
Trenches: Generals
Thunder Game Works
Ł1.19 (Rated 9+)
Go head-to-head in trench warfare against your friend on one iPad, fighting for hegemony of the battlefield.
Monster Soup
Kieffer Bros., LLC
Ł0.59
Create chains of critters and save them from an impending ice age in this fun, simple and addictive matching game.
Kona's Crate HD
IndiePub
Ł0.59
Move rocket propelled crates to Chief Kona before he becomes irate, dodging obstacles and navigating mazes.
Continuity 2: The Continuation
Ragtime Games LLC
Ł0.59
Slide tiles, collect a key and escape the level in this deceptively simple puzzler wrapped in an enigma.
BackStab
Gameloft S.A.
Ł3.99 (Rated 12+)
Assume the role of swashbuckling Henry Blake on a quest for justice and revenge in this epic Caribbean adventure.
iPhone
Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing
SEGA
Ł2.99
Whip around corners, dodge your foe's missiles and pick up power-ups whilst attempting to maintain your lead to the finish live in this wacky racer.
Monster Soup
Kieffer Bros., LLC
Ł0.59
Create chains of critters and save them from an impending ice age in this fun, simple and addictive matching game.
Conquist 2
Marcos Campal
Ł2.99
Play for world domination in this modern take on the classic game of risk, facing off against friends via online play using Game Center.
BackStab
Gameloft S.A.
Ł3.99 (Rated 12+)
Assume the role of swashbuckling Henry Blake on a quest for justice and revenge in this epic Caribbean adventure.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS
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June 29th, 2011, 00:38 Posted By: wraggster
Taiwan recently mandated that online download sites (like Apple's App Store and Google's Marketplace) must comply with a law stating consumers have 7 days to return goods bought sight-unseen. While Apple has complied, Google has refused to comply. Taiwan fined the search giant NT$1M (approx. US$34,600). In retaliation, Google pulled the paid apps section of the Market for users in Taiwan."
http://apple.slashdot.org/story/11/0...Android-Market
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June 29th, 2011, 00:51 Posted By: wraggster
You may have noticed that Steve Jobs isn't nitpicking anymore over how Google measures the number of Android activations. It probably has something to do with the fact that, no matter how you slice it, at this point Android's growth is outpacing that of the iOS. In fact, according to Andy Rubin, 500,000 new Android devices are activated every day, and that number is continuing to grow. Heck, as of December that number was only 300,000 -- that's a 60-percent increase in just over seven months. At this rate there will be more Android phones than people in just a few short years. There might not be enough food and potable water to sustain the Earth's ever growing population, but at least everyone will be able to tweet about it.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/a...y-and-growing/
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June 29th, 2011, 00:55 Posted By: wraggster
Sure, you could have fired up Fring to make four-way video calls from your iPad 2 this whole time, but you'd have saddled with an iPhone-sized interface on your 9.7-inch IPS screen. And, as we say around the Engadget compound -- tablet optimized or get the frack out. OK, we don't really say that, but everything is better when it's designed for the screen you intend to use it on. So, we're very pleased to tell you that Fring has been updated with proper iPad support (cue cheers). Basically there's no reason to use Facetime now, with its lame single-caller and WiFi only limitations. Hit up the source link if you're in the group video chatting mood.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/f...smiley-ipad-2/
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June 29th, 2011, 23:48 Posted By: wraggster
In Symantec's bleak, dystopian world, it doesn't matter whether you choose Android or iOS -- you'll be making yourself vulnerable to attacks regardless of the camp you're in. The company just concluded a study pitting iOS's security against Android's -- an undertaking intended mainly for corporate IT staffs trying to figure out which devices they can safely issue to employees. (Curiously, despite the enterprise focus, you won't find a single comparison against BlackBerrys.) Although iOS won higher marks when it came to thwarting traditional malware and showed a more modest advantage in terms of data loss, data integrity, and service attacks, the two platforms proved equally adept at preventing web-based attacks -- and equally powerless to catch socially engineered ones. And when it came to implementing certain security measures, such as permissions-based controls, Android pulled ahead.
Ultimately, Symantec (which sells mobile security software of its own, by the by) concluded that both "are still vulnerable to many existing categories of attacks," not least because both platforms allow users to sync with third-party apps or web services that may or may not be secure themselves. Indeed, Symantec's thesis is that Apple's App Store approval process helps explain its lead in the malware-blocking department. Also, in shocking news, Symantec adds that people using jailbroken are especially attractive targets for attackers, and that these devices are as vulnerable as computers. Don't say no one warned you. Head past the break for a press release with a summary of the findings or, if you're curious, hit the source link for a PDF version of the full report.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/s...d-android-bot/
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June 29th, 2011, 23:50 Posted By: wraggster
HP CEO Leo Apotheker has already indicated that he's totally open to licensing webOS to other companies, and he's now confirmed that HP has, in fact, been in talks with a "number of companies" about that possibility. Not surprisingly, he didn't get much more specific than that, and went some way to dampen expectations a bit, saying that "there is no time pressure to do this." According to Bloomberg, however, "three people with knowledge of the discussions" say that Samsung is one of the companies HP has had talks with, and one said that the company is specifically interested in possibly using webOS for its Galaxy Tab tablets. HP's Jon Rubinstein also dished a bit more on the subject to This is my next, noting that "if someone wants to really invest, and potentially help develop webOS, we're interested in talking to them," although he went on to indicate that HP isn't interested in playing second (or third) fiddle with a company primarily focused on Android or Windows Phone -- it'd seemingly have to be webOS first, but not necessarily webOS exclusively.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/h...amsung-tipped/
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June 30th, 2011, 23:57 Posted By: wraggster
Capcom has just released Street Fighter IV Volt on the App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch.
Volt is a separate title from the previously released Street Fighter IV on iOS, despite it being almost the same game. However, Volt's headline new feature is online multiplayer, letting you now take the fight to other players globally.
It also adds three characters to the roster that aren't in the original version; Balrog, Vega and Cody.
Cool, but we find it rather cheeky that those who already purchased the original have to buy the whole game again to get access to a new menu screen option and three characters.
Capcom says that SFIV Volt "perfects the acclaimed iOS fighting game". We say it should have been an update, but this isn't the only bad decision Capcom has made recently (cough *irreversible save files* cough). It's like they're trying to piss off fans.
Luckily though, if you grab it today it'll only cost you pennies (99 cents in US). But that price will increase by a dollar each day from now to July 6, when it will reach its full and fixed price of $6.99.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS
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July 1st, 2011, 00:06 Posted By: wraggster
Michael Schade, CEO of Fishlabs, has told listeners at Gamelab that if a bigger competitor drops their prices, you should raise yours in reply.
Rather than entering a price war with a company which has superior resources, Schade believes, mobile developers must instead be brave enough to raise prices beyond the common range - not only to increase revenues, but also to increase sales.
"When you try and get into a price war with someone like EA you lose," said Schade. "When they dropped their prices down to 99 cents, instead of trying to compete, we put the price of Galaxy on Fire up from $6.99 to $9.99. Not only did we see an increase in revenues, but also in sales."
Speaking to Gamesindustry.biz after the roundtable discussion, which also featured Torsten Reil of Natural Motion and Xavier Carrillo of Digital Legends, Schade clarified his position.
"Obviously we observed the episode quite closely and we saw that the big guys were trying to squeeze out the smaller guys by having their AAA, high production values at 99c. I believe that if the top ten or twenty positions are already cluttered with these games, it doesn't make sense to price drop.
"It rather works if you go up in price and try to differentiate yourself, because on the categories you might still be top ten, so people can find you if they look for a specific genre of game."
That differentiation is the key factor, Schade argued, saying that the obverse tactic is equally effective.
"It works the other way round," the CEO continued. "If EA or whoever have the higher price, then should have a price drop. You have to differentiate. For a smaller developer, you will always lose the fight against the big guys if you do the same stuff at the same time.
"Always do the opposite of what the big guys do. So we switched from $6.99 to $9.99, and it was around Christmas. Everyone was going for 99 cents or free.
"Of course, the game has to deliver the right quality and the experience has to be top notch - then you can differentiate. I mean we had close to a five star rating at $6.99, then we raised it to $9.99 and that rating stayed there."
But Natural Motion's Torsten Reil told GamesIndustry.biz that it's also possible to pull the same trick by following the lead of the bigger players.
"Just to add a slightly different data point to that argument," Reil interjected, "when EA dropped all the prices over Christmas, we did the same and dropped ours. We stayed in the top 20 and we got seven times our sales."
Whilst both tactics can prove successful, both Reil and Schade agreed that it was likely the result of the two companies' different audiences.
"I think you have a larger audience," Schade told Reil. "Backbreaker was 7.5 million? Galaxy on Fire was 2.5."
Reil agreed that Natural Motions Backbreaker was aimed at a more casual audience than Galaxy on Fire's core space sim mechanics. That core audience will enable Fishlabs to take a different approach to future iterations of its flagship game.
"Actually," Schade continued, "for upcoming versions of Galaxy on Fire we will take a pricing approach that's more similar to a PC digital download game. You can say, I don't care what others do on iOS - if you want to play Galaxy on Fire, you're part of our core fanbase, that's our price."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ou-raise-yours
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