Section: iPhone / iPod touch / iPad, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, iDevice Apps

iPhone, iPod and iPad product updates and announcements for September 29, 2010:

• Apps
• Accessories

Apps

• Three iPhone and iPad entries made the list of finalists at this year’s International Festival of Independent Games. From the puzzle-meets-orchestral gameplay of Auditorium to the abstract, artistic gameplay of feelforit and guided platform style of Spirits, they really do represent some of the best that independent gaming has to offer with plenty of creative, unique style.
• Carl R. Andrews has released an update to Grumps, one of those games you simply can’t put down, no matter how hard you try. The objective of Grumps is to prevent your virtual avatar from being hit by grumpy faces while collecting all the happy faces (smileys). A parade of grumpy and happy faces fall from the top of the screen, and you simply tilt your device sideways, avoiding collision with those evil grumps that destroy one of your five lives. Your mission is to collect the smileys to gain points, and when you successfully reach a set amount of points (10,000) the environment (background and avatar) changes, thus keeping the visuals appealing and pleasant to watch.
• Time Geeks is a revolutionary seek and find game based on pixel art graphics, retro style and a lot of fun—just like in the ‘80s. The gameplay is extremely easy to understand in both the main game as well as the mini-games. The difficulty increases but always keeps within reasonable limits so everyone can enjoy the game. The graphics and the original music are designed by the artist Markus Gmür.
• Mykhaylov Dev Studio has announced Fast Tarot 1.1 for iPhone and iPod touch. Like an Oracle in your pocket, Fast Tarot is based on the ancient art of cartomancy and allows to receive answers concerning you future, to estimate chances of success, to warn of a danger or to give advice. Tarot cards are special ancient cards for divination. Interpretation of each card depends on its place in the deal and position.
• Dot Next has announced the release and immediate availability of ABC – Magnetic Alphabet 1.0, their classic magnetic board game for iPhone and iPod touch. ABC – Magnetic Alphabet is an ideal tool to help preschool age children become familiar with letters and numbers. With 28 5-star ratings and 11 four-star ratings ABC – Magnetic Alphabet is one of the most appreciated apps in the education category.
• Moonswing has released Bet Settler 1.4 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. This latest version of the popular betting calculator features an expanded range of bets, many of which are not found on any similar type of calculator in the App Store. With this latest release, Bet Settler, which has already reached Number 15 in the Paid Sports App category in the UK, as well as number 2 in Ireland, is now more powerful than ever before.
• Sinusoid Pty Ltd has released Audio Kit 1.3.1 for iOS. Audio Kit is a collection of four applications which are essential for those working in audio and sound. The app features a real time Spectrum Analyser, a Scope to display waveforms, an SPL Meter, and a Signal Generator producing sine waves, white noise and pink noise. Users can view a real time spectrum of audio, identifying peak frequencies, as well as view the actual waveform of the audio signal and much more.
• While Firemint has previously applied permanent price reductions, this is the first limited-time sale of Real Racing. At a saving of 40% off, Real Racing will be available for the ridiculously low price of only US$2.99 (€2.39 / ?1.79 / AU$3.99) for one week from Sep 30. This is the lowest ever price for the App Store’s champion racing game, proud recipient of an Apple Design Award for bringing “console-like performance and capabilities” to iPhone. Because the sale is for a limited time only, racing fans will need to get in quick to avoid missing out.
• Marko Games has released Sporty Women V2 for iPhone and iPod touch. Sporty Women V2 is a fun, entertaining and informative app with a great variety of wild and intense women competing in various sporting events and other activities. The app also has informative training tips, techniques and regimens that amateur and professional athletes use to train for the various sporting events included in this app. Plus you’ll get fun and little known sports histories.
• Bow + Tie has announced Burrow 1.1, their new physics-based iPhone game. Hungry and adorable woodland creatures have set their sights high as they aim to eat the delicious and healthy food in the recycling bin. Their only hope of achieving this is by being launched from a trashcan-canon into the bin. With realistic physics simulations, attractive graphics and fun sound effects, Burrow allows for intricate and satisfying puzzles throughout 50 levels, with 50 more on the way.
• OCRKit Mobile is a text recognition app specifically developed for mobile use and brings a fast, accurate and easy to use text recognition to iOS. By taking a picture of a document, letter, contract, poster, note or business card OCRKit recognizes the text and shows it on the screen. Version 1.1 adds support for six new languages and improved the text recognition for all languages. In addition, OCRKit is now also designed for iPad and the user interface got improved as well.
• VelvetRope for iPhone provides partiers with more nightlife options in the Las Vegas market. VelvetRope has consistently delivered increasing value to nightlife venues, generating new clientele in a down market. Recently finalized partnerships have added VIP guest list access for 8 of Las Vegas’ most renowned venues, establishing VelvetRope as the premiere app for nightlife connoisseurs, especially those in Sin City.
• Jiin Feng has announced Battle for Rebirth: Savage Tiger Fighter’s Repentance 1.0.2 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. This martial arts fighting app was designed by a Kung Fu instructor and 3D programmer. The game features sophisticated 3D fighting characters, large, realistic locations, and the smoothest fighting moves available. This latest release also features special weapons to be unlocked during game play.
• Quantum Clockwork has released Morris 1.0.0 for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. Quantum Clockwork developers have taken a collection of three classic medieval board games, revamped them for modern usage and are now releasing them in a new product under the name, Morris. Taking advantage of smart phone technology and retina displays, Morris provides users with quick, intensely challenging games, amazing high resolution graphics and iOS4 fast-switching.
• Weather HD bucks the trend of boring weather apps by displaying the weather for your city in stunning high-def video, and it’s now available for the iPhone and iPod touch. Originally released for the iPad and maintaining its position as a top-selling app, Weather HD lets the user experience the beauty of Mother Nature on the go, displaying both the current and forecasted weather with gorgeous animations that blur the line between photo-realism and fantasy. Why just check the weather when you could be soaring through the day’s forecast instead? From explosive thunderstorms to a full harvest moon beaming through serene fluffy clouds, this app brings the elements to life, and it’s all for under a dollar.
• BeeTV has announced the launch of the BeeTV online service into public beta, as well as the BeeTV Guide for iPhone and iPod touch devices. BeeTV is a TV show and movie recommendation service that helps consumers find content on the television, web and mobile platforms. The BeeTV service enables TV and movie fans to receive personalized recommendations, based on their individual tastes and preferences, from the over 10 million TV shows, movies, and original web series options and more.
• IngZ, Inc., has announced the availability of two new mobile apps—Tour Guide Tool (TGT) and touringZ—which allow area experts to create custom GPS-guided audio tours that can be enjoyed by anyone with a smartphone. Currently available on the iPhone App Store, these applications connect guides and travelers through multimedia, GPS-based experiences.
• Jambasoft has released Camera Duo 1.0, a new application that provides the ability to simultaneously capture of photos and video on compatible iPhone devices. Providing two different photo capture modes, Camera Duo was designed to be both easy to use and to take advantage of the latest technologies available. In “Real Photos” mode, the app will use the physical camera to obtain each photo. In “Extract from Video” mode, photos will be acquired from the video data and sequentially saved.
• After two month of private beta, the Mopapp team has announced the immediate availability of the free public beta. Mopapp does Mobile Sales Analytics: it allows mobile application developers to track and analyze sales for their apps. It integrates with most major stores, including Apple iTunes, Google Android Market, RIM App World, Handango, MobiHand, and counting. Everyone is invited to sign-up now and get a free subscription to the Professional Plan.
• Pearson and the Commonwealth of Virginia have launched the nation’s first-ever complete social studies curriculum for the iPad. Pearson has developed four new iPad Apps plus digital curriculum aligned to the Virginia editions of Pearson’s U.S. History and World History programs for seventh and ninth graders. The new iPad program will be piloted in several schools for 12 weeks beginning November 1 as part of Virginia’s Beyond Textbooks initiative.
• Seek and Find, a new app exclusively for iPad, is a fast-paced game focused on family fun and education as adults and children alike work with each other (or against!) to attain high scores while also exercising their memory skills in this new reflex trainer. Essentially, players are asked to find and identify cute, funny faces hidden among a plethora of different faces by locating the particular face and touching it with their finger. The quicker a face is found the more points a player receives! The game is easy to pick up but also has a bit of depth as it features 45 levels and offers various mini-games. As levels progress, the game gets challenging as faces start to move around, look similar to one another, become shadowed, and more.
• Daniele Fruzzetti I created Muse Tour Guide for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad for fans to get all the info about the Muse Tour, including daily updates and concert set lists. Search within the app for YouTube videos of concerts. Search for concert photos on Flickr. The Muse Tour Guide also provide info about ticket availability and links to buy them.
• Same goes for Bon Jovi.
• Widget Revolt, a maker of popular apps for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, has announced an update to its time management utility app, Timewinder. Timewinder is a multi-step timer and alarm clock utility app that allows users to compose and run timers that are comprised of varying length steps. Each timer step can play a different alert sound, display text, change a background picture, and repeat. Users can save and run timers they have created to support common everyday activities such as exercise routines or cooking timers.

Accessories

• The House and Senate have passed the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act authored by Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.). This landmark legislation will make it easier for the blind and deaf to have access to the Internet, smart phones, television programming and other communications and video technologies. Rep. Markey also released a new video today on the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act. The video highlights the landmark accessibility features built into the iPad, iPhone, and similar devices.
• Solid Line Products, LLC has announced the company is now taking orders for its brand new, all-in-one leather case & Bluetooth keyboard for the iPad for shipment next week. The Bluetooth 2.0 silicone keyboard is built into the quality leather folio case designed to protect the iPad from nicks, scratches, and scuffs. Designed for those who find the iPad’s soft keyboard impractical for any serious typing, the built-in keyboard pairs seamlessly to the iPad with three simple steps. The case allows for easy positioning of the iPad at an optimum angle for viewing a horizontal screen and typing. Put another way, Solid Line’s case allows consumers to use their iPad as they would a laptop as needed.
• Booq has announced the Boa folio iPad case. Boa folio features a three-position design for typing, presentations, and desk work, making your iPad as versatile as your work day. Available at booqbags.com and retailers throughout the country, booq’s innovative designs help make today’s creative professional more mobile and stylish than ever. 

Full Story » | Written by Kirk Hiner for Appletell. | Comment on this Article »

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