Hasta La Gadget!

Samsung’s HDTV-based App Store has doubled in size since it was launched at CES but apparently that’s not enough, so it’s putting up 500 stacks plus several home theater packages in the “Free the TV Apps” contest. For those skilled in Java, XML and Flash Lite who are interested in getting their app up on TVs and Blu-ray players next to ESPN Next Level, Hulu Plus, a soon to launch 3D Video On Demand app and all the rest, the contest runs from today through November 11, and requires a working app submission and video description. By the end, 14 developers will walk away with between $1,000 and $200,000 each, plus a 3DTV, Blu-ray player and starter kit for each of them . We figure developing for a Samsung Apps platform with a few million network connected devices out there and more shipping every day is a secondary bonus (unless Google TV is where you’d rather be) but check out the video and press release after the break or the competition website if you’re still not entirely sure it’s worth the effort.

Continue reading Samsung puts up cash, HDTVs for developers in ‘Free the TV Apps’ contest

Samsung puts up cash, HDTVs for developers in ‘Free the TV Apps’ contest originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  FreetheTVChallenge.com  | Email this | Comments

We love Android‘s 24-hour app return policy, so when we heard about Apple opening a “Try Before You Buy” section in the App Store, we grabbed the closest iDevice in our proximity to see what exactly was up. Only, it isn’t exactly what we expected given the name. Located under Features -> Free on the App Store, the new section serves only to highlight the free / “lite” edition of apps with premium older siblings. A smart and organized section, sure, but the for-pay programs without a demo will still be a risk your iTunes account will have to take. Them’s the breaks; might as well add it to your personal iOS 5 wishlist alongside widgets and a new notification system.

iPhone’s App Store ‘Try Before You Buy’ section isn’t exactly what you’re hoping for originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink 9 to 5 Mac  |   | Email this | Comments

Well, there’s nothing like masking bad news with good news, right Apple? Just moments after quietly announcing that the white iPhone 4 is now scheduled to ship sometime between tomorrow and your New Year’s Eve party, the company has also fired up its iPhone 4 Case Program. Just as Jobs promised last week at an emergency press event, this program will ensure that anyone who purchases an iPhone 4 prior to September 30th will be able to receive an iPhone 4 Bumper or select third-party case from the company at no charge. ‘Course, you need to be located in a country or territory that Apple actually ships to, but if that’s all squared away, feel free to hit up the App Store to download the iPhone 4 Case Program app. Once there, you’ll need to sign into your iTunes Store account, select your Bumper or case and wait oh-so-patiently (read: “3 to 5 weeks”). Better hurry — wouldn’t want the servers to get overloaded, now would we?

Oh, and if you happened to have already purchased a Bumper, the company should be hitting your credit card with a full refund (including any applicable taxes and shipping) momentarily. As for the case / Bumper choices? Every single option is available in any color you like… so long as it’s black, of course. There’s a black Apple Bumper option, an Incase Snap Case, Belkin Shield Micra, Griffin Motif, Griffin Reveal, Speck Fitted and Speck PixelSkin HD, but again, don’t go in hoping to select your favorite hue. Yeah, you’re free to bicker about free things — we won’t judge.

Update: If you’re one of those wise guys who purchased an iPhone 4 right away just to sell it, you can forget about getting a free case for the handset you no longer own. Apple has arranged this so that only one case can be ordered per iPhone 4, so even if you ordered two under your account name, you’ll need two phones to place both of those orders. Check out the error message below if you still don’t believe us.

Apple begins iPhone 4 Case Program: apply for your free case or Bumper now originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Apple  | Email this | Comments

Oh, Nick Lee, you clever boy you. See, Nick here tricked Apple with a very simple iPhone application: Handy Light. On the surface it looked just like any other $0.99 flashlight application. But, secretly, it was a lot more useful. More »

Shazam, an amazing app that lets you identify any song by just holding your phone up to it, has turned off the tap for its free users.

It has introduced a premium version of its app called Shazam Encore for $5 on the Android Market. The paid version of the app went live Tuesday evening.

That means Android users who now download the free version will get a seven-day premium trial, and if they don’t upgrade at the end of that they will  be limited to identifying and tagging just five songs a month.

Shazam hit prime time when it launched its app on the Apple App store in 2008. Since then it has gained 15 million users on the iPhone aone and has 75 million users overall.

In November 2009, Shazam introduced the paid version of its app for iPhone users. The premium version offers unlimited tagging of music and recommendations that suggest other music similar to the track that’s been tagged.

Users who downloaded and used the free app before the introduction of the paid version will continue to get all the features they had, including unlimited access. It’s a smart move on Shazam’s part to keep its existing users happy, while trying to make money off its product.

Photo: (Htwo/Flickr)