WaterField, Quirky launch new cases for Apple’s iPad
March 10, 2010
The iPad, not due to ship for another three weeks, is getting its fair share of accessory launches, with several new cases from WaterField and Quirky. WaterField has announced the iPad Smart Case, a drop-in case which features multi-layered padding with a rigid insert and ultrasuede lining, along with a water-resistant exterior to help protect against damage. The case arrives with a low-profile pocket for a charger cable and comes in black, silver, red, brown green and blue. It is due to ship for $60 within one to three weeks of the iPad’s initial availability….
TeamViewer for iPhone allows iPhone to display Mac screen
March 10, 2010
TeamViewer GmbH has launched an iPhone app that allows users to remotely access the Finder view on a Mac. The screen-sharing app works in conjunction with the company’s desktop software which provides a unique password. Entering the info into the iPhone app allows users to access the desktop interface via any Internet connection such as Wi-Fi, 3G or EDGE….
Samsung adds new sound bars, iPhone dock
March 10, 2010
Samsung on Tuesday announced it will soon release the HW-C450 sound bar for simple home theater setups. The 2.1-channel system comes in black, while the HW-C451 will be available in silver. Apart from the color, the systems have an identical 280W power rating and sport Samsung’s Touch of Color design. Their speakers are grill-less, and the subwoofer is wireless….
5 million iPads to be built in first half of 2010?
March 10, 2010
Apple should be able to churn out approximately 5 million iPads in the first half of the year, claims FBR Capital analyst Craig Berger. The number is higher than what some analysts have said Apple will sell in all of 2010, and is based on a dismissal of claims that the company is experiencing production setbacks. “We believe various news articles and competitor notes calling for a build delay were just false alarms,” says Berger. At least one report has suggested that the delay to April 3rd is based on software issues….
iPhone 3.2 SDK beta 4 seeds to developers
March 10, 2010
Apple has released a fourth beta of the iPhone 3.2 SDK, available through the company’s developer portal. Little information has yet leaked out due to Apple confidentiality restrictions, but it is known to be build 10M2144, and a 2.5GB download. Mac OS X 10.6.2 is required to run the software….
EFF exposes iPhone dev agreement, ‘feudal’ SDK terms
March 10, 2010
The license agreement for the iPhone Developer Program contains some draconian terms, says the Electonic Frontier Foundation. The group recently used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain a copy of the license from NASA, a government body which like many has its own iPhone app. Although the document is outdated in that it comes from March of last year, the EFF notes that one of the terms of the agreement is that developers are normally banned from talking about it publicly….
RIAA labels ‘forced’ Apple to make iTunes LP: sources
March 10, 2010
The creation of iTunes LP was largely the result of major label pressure on Apple, a series of telling leaks has revealed. Music industry contacts claim that the ‘deluxe’ albums were a necessary part of the same deal that also forced variable song pricing in exchange for an all DRM-free catalog. The RIAA member labels, not Apple, wanted to resuscitate album sales and thought the bundle of special features would achieve the goal….
Unity 3.0 adds compatibility for Android and iPad platforms
March 10, 2010
Unity Technologies has introduced a new version of its 3D creation tool for game developers, Unity 3.0. After announcing support for Xbox 360 last year, the company is continuing its platform expansion by adding compatibility for the iPad, Android, and Playstation 3. Other 3.0 features include improved performance for faster frame rates, enhanced rendering capabilities, additional support for Bluetooth multiplayer functionality, and faster in-game GUIs….
Briefly: Free app website, Angry Birds sales success
March 10, 2010
OpenFeint says that as a result of its Free Game of the Day promotion generating more than 5 million iPhone game downloads, it is launching a new website in hopes of future expansion. The site is designed to push shoppers towards a variety of games, and provides an alternative to searching through the App Store. The site highlights a new app every day and also lets users browse through previously featured ones….
App Store crackdown moves on to ‘cookie-cutter’ apps
March 10, 2010
Apple attempts at blocking unwanted titles from the App Store have evolved to target so-called “cookie-cutter” apps, developers say. The affected apps — in the crosshairs for approximately a month, according to claims — are mostly built with special generator software, which can be used churn out apps based on standard templates. Apple’s specific focus though is said to be titles that provide little functionality, such as a simple RSS feed….