May 2009 Archives

Apple has emailed registered iPhone developers to inform them all app submissions will be tested on iPhone OS 3.0, starting today. In the email , Apple states, "Beginning today, all submissions to the App Store will be reviewed on the latest beta of iPhone OS 3.0. If your app submission is not compatible with iPhone OS 3.0, it will not be approved."

The email continues, "[e]xisting apps in the App Store should already run on iPhone OS 3.0 without modification, but you should test your existing apps the iPhone OS 3.0 to ensure there are no compatibility issues. After iPhone OS 3.0 becomes available to customers, any app that is incompatible with iPhone OS 3.0 may be removed from the App Store." Apple is expected to release iPhone OS 3.0 this summer.

<p>We previously reported on complaints of <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhones</a> in the US being damaged by sweaty workouts and the ensuing customer frustration when Apple responded then insisted those customers had to pay full price for replacements <em>and</em> extend their AT&amp;T contracts.</p>
<p>Now US Apple retail stores have adopted a new policy allowing them  to charge less to replace water-damaged <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhones</a>.   Representatives at the stores confirmed that Apple now offers  replacement <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhones</a> for $199 (without a contract extension) if the  phone has stopped working because of moisture damage.</p>
<p>Customers are issued a refurbished <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhone</a> replacement  of the same generation <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhone</a> model that they turn in. If you decide to  upgrade from a 2G to 3G <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhone</a> in the process, however, you will need  to upgrade your contract to the higher cost 3G data plan. In some  cases, customers may receive a new <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhone</a> if there are no refurbished  <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhones</a> available. </p>

As promised in early April, Cyan Worlds has launched an <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhone</a> version of Myst,  its signature adventure game. The title is sized at 727MB, making it  one of the largest downloads available through the App Store. The  original Mac version from 1993 was in fact smaller, having been  released on a single 650MB CD-ROM.
<p>Players  assume the role of an anonymous stranger, brought to the island of Myst  through one of the game's linking books. There gamers must solve a  variety of puzzles to help uncover the truth about Atrus, whose sons  are trapped in a pair of books and each claim that the other is a  murderer. The <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhone</a> version of the game retains all of the original  music, sound and gameplay, but improves on the rendering quality of the  graphics.<br>
    <br>
The mouse interface has meanwhile been substituted with the <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/">iPhone</a> touch controls,  which allow players to tap or swipe across objects to manipulate them,  and also navigate from one area to the next in the same way. Auto-zoom  functions are present in some areas, and the game will automatically  save if quitting or when a phone call is received. A hint guide can be  opened without leaving the title.</p>

Apple has rejected Makayama's iPhone application Newspaper(s) due to objectionable content. Newspaper is an app for the iPhone and iPod touch that will let users to read 50 national and international newspapers, including the New York Times, Frankfurter Algemeine and El Pais.

The application was rejected due to content found in the Page 3 section of UK-based tabloid The Sun, which contains images of topless women. In the rejection message, Apple noted that Parental Controls have been announced for iPhone OS 3.0, adding that it "would be appropriate to resubmit your application for review once this feature is available."

Makayama has since removed The Sun from the application's database of papers and resubmitted the application.

Worried about Swine Flu? Wondering how you can avoid falling victim to the deadly virus that's sweeping the world? Fear not - now there's an <a href="http://www.iworld.co.uk/iWorldSite/category/iPhone_Accessories/">iPhone</a> app with help at hand.<p>

Well, almost. IntuApps' Swine Flu Tracker will tell you everything and anything a true Swine Flu enthusiast needs to know about the pandemic - but it's not yet on the App Store. The app is designed to give you symptoms to look out for and key facts; places to avoid (complete with map of confirmed and suspected cases), and there's even an alert page for breaking swine flu news.<p>

The good people at IntuApps will be giving the app away for free, according to employee Barry Schwartz.