Apr 18

iOS and Android continue chipping away at mobile gaming market, consoles remain strong

Posted in: 3ds, Android, Apple, DS, Google, ios, market share, marketshare, nintendo, psp, Software, sony, stats, Today's Chili

Let’s face it — smartphones (namely, iOS and Android devices) are slowly chipping away at the portable gaming market. If you recall, Apple took a nice slice of the market-share pie — and as you’ll notice in the picture above, we’re seeing the same trend this time around. According to data from Flurry and NPD Group, iOS and Android are earning a sizable chunk of the revenue in the portable gaming software sphere, with the Nintendo DS’s dominant market share dropping from 70 percent in 2009 to just 57 percent in 2010 to accommodate the newcomers. We may be seeing the decrease in relative revenue because the PSP and DS are on the way out to make room for the NGP and 3DS — however, this chart speaks only of the current-gen portables. But hey, it’s easy for almost anyone to spend a single buck on a full-fledged game, right? Head past the break for some more videogame revenue stats, if you please.

Continue reading iOS and Android continue chipping away at mobile gaming market, consoles remain strong

iOS and Android continue chipping away at mobile gaming market, consoles remain strong originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 04:35:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 16

Sign of the times: iPad 2 heads to Toys R Us

Posted in: Apple, ios, ipad, ipad 2, Ipad2, Today's Chili

When we were younger, we lusted after the top-shelf electric train set. The pow-pow-Power Wheels jeep. The Virtual Boy. These days, that rich kid down the street will have a very different sort of toy. When ModMyi reported that Toys ‘R’ Us was training associates to sell the iPad 2 weeks ago, we thought it might be a leftover April Fools’, but sure enough, Geoffrey the Giraffe will begin pushing Apple’s tablet to children who don’t want to grow up as soon as tomorrow morning.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sign of the times: iPad 2 heads to Toys R Us originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 20:20:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Electronista  |  sourceToys R Us, 9 to 5 Mac  | Email this | Comments

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Apr 14

Navigon MobileNavigator for iOS updated with augmented reality, safety camera features

Posted in: app, augmented reality, AugmentedReality, gps, ios, iPhone, navigation, Today's Chili
Navigon just recently rolled out a stylish iPhone Car Kit for use with its iOS navigation app, and it’s now also announced a fairly significant update to the app itself. In addition to all the usual basic navigation features, MobileNavigator 1.8 now also boasts an augmented reality component dubbed the “Reality Scanner” that overlays points of interest on top of a live camera view, as well as a new “Safety Cameras” feature that warns you of speed and red light cameras (available as an in-app purchase for $4.99). What’s more, Navigon has also dropped its prices across the board for the occasion — the full app with maps for all of North America will now set you back just $45 until April 18th, while versions for just the US or Canada run $35 apiece. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Navigon MobileNavigator for iOS updated with augmented reality, safety camera features

Navigon MobileNavigator for iOS updated with augmented reality, safety camera features originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 23:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 14

iOS 4.3.2 / 4.2.7 now available to download, fixes iPad 3G and FaceTime woes (update: jailbroken!)

Posted in: Apple, firmware, firmware update, FirmwareUpdate, ios, ipad, iPhone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, operating system, OperatingSystem, os, security, Software, Today's Chili, update

If you’re hankering to be riding the very latest mobile software from Apple, hit up your iTunes, for version 4.3.2 of iOS is now available for downloadin’ and updatin’. Fixes for occasional “blank or frozen” FaceTime video and iPad 3G issues get top billing, while the obligatory security updates fill out the rest. The size of this mighty software drop? A hefty 666.2MB.

Update: Well, someone’s skipping class today. A tethered jailbreak is already in the wilds, if you dare. Thanks, Jeff!

Update 2: Looks like Verizon customers are getting a slightly different update of their own: iOS 4.2.7. It promises only “bug fixes and security updates.”

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iOS 4.3.2 / 4.2.7 now available to download, fixes iPad 3G and FaceTime woes (update: jailbroken!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 14

Tweetbot might replace your iOS Twitter client (video)

Posted in: app, Apple, hands-on, ios, iPhone, social networking, SocialNetworking, Software, Today's Chili, twitter, video
We awoke this morning to a deluge of hype surrounding Tweetbot, the version 1.0 Twitter client from Tapbot. So we sucked down some legal stimulant and ponied up the entrance fee to give it a go on an iPhone 4 (the app requires iOS 4.1 or later). Granted, we’re still in the honeymoon period but we’re definitely impressed. The design elements, animations, and audio tones are slickly implemented and the functionality is rich and intuitive. We’re especially smitten by the right and left swiping actions used to reveal conversations and replies, respectively, and the customizable tab bar that gives quick access to lists and retweets. In fact, the list integration is so good as to finally make Twitter lists useful on a smartphone. We also applaud Tapbot’s plucky release in light of Twitter Inc.’s preference that developers stop reproducing the Twitter client experience, especially since the result is superior to Twitter’s own free iOS app. Sure, the user interface can be a bit overzealous at times (think HTC Sense vs. Windows Phone 7) but it’s more fun than it is distracting, especially during these early hours. At $1.99 it’s definitely worth a look — just promise to view the video overview after the break first, ok?

Continue reading Tweetbot might replace your iOS Twitter client (video)

Tweetbot might replace your iOS Twitter client (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 14

What is ‘ix.Mac.MarketingName’ and why is it listed as a supported device for iOS apps?

Posted in: Apple, apps, AppStore, ios, itunes, leak, Mac, Today's Chili

On today’s session of “things to ponder before lunch,” we have a strange new text string added to the iTunes preview of some iOS apps, which identifies an “ix.Mac.MarketingName” as one of the compatible devices with software designed for iOS. We’re seeing it listed alongside a whole bunch of apps, but importantly not all of them, which hints that it might not be just a stray piece of code or a bug in the system. The location-aware and voice-centric MyVoice Communication Aid and Microsoft’s Bing for iPad apps do not include that funky MarketingName code, suggesting that it’s there as a placeholder for a new supported device of some sort — could apps finally be coming to the Apple TV? For now, we’d rather not stack speculation on top of uncertainty, so we’ll just jot this down as another interesting development in the walled garden of Cupertino and wait patiently to see what (if anything) comes from it.

[Thanks, Daniel, Chris and Nick]

What is ‘ix.Mac.MarketingName’ and why is it listed as a supported device for iOS apps? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceiTunes, (MyVoice), (Bing for iPad)  | Email this | Comments

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Apr 13

iPhone-controlled Sphero ball gets a chariot for roving FaceTime sessions, office races

Posted in: ios, iPhone, Today's Chili, video
A tiny robotic ball able to be controlled by a smartphone doesn’t exactly need any more selling points, but Orbotix’s Sphero now has an extra one nonetheless. It’s been outfitted with a chariot that can be used for FaceTime sessions or low-level surveillance — or chariot races around your office, naturally. Of course, this is strictly a DIY affair, but we’re guessing this is one project you will actually want to do yourself once you see the video after the break.

[Thanks, Ross]

Continue reading iPhone-controlled Sphero ball gets a chariot for roving FaceTime sessions, office races

iPhone-controlled Sphero ball gets a chariot for roving FaceTime sessions, office races originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 13

BlackBerry PlayBook Review [Video]

Posted in: Android, BlackBerry, blackberry playbook, ios, ipad, ipad 2, playbook, review, RIM, tablets, Today's Chili, top, xoom

No, it’s not bad, like you expected it to be. More »

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Apr 13

Windows Phone 7, You Were Supposed to be Great. So What Happened? [Phones]

Posted in: Android, Apple, Google, ios, Phones, Today's Chili, top, windows phone 7, Wp7

“Windows Phone 7 is the most aggressively different, fresh approach to a phone interface since the iPhone.” We published those words half a year ago, hoping WP7 would be a radical firebrand in phone land. But it’s stalled. We’re disappointed. More »

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Apr 12

Pieceable Viewer lets devs share iOS apps, personal feelings through a browser

Posted in: Apple, apps, developers, ios, IphoneApp, IphoneApps, Today's Chili

For developers not quite ready to offer their iOS creations in the App Store, a new service promises to suck the grunt work out of bouncing works-in-progress off others. Pieceable Viewer is the magical program in question, launching today to let devs publish a copy of their apps to a private website, whose link they can share with beta testers, clients, and fellow code monkeys. Viewer generates a single line of code for sharing and, irony of all ironies, uses Flash to simulate apps inside the browser. It could be compelling for freelancers working with clients who don’t happen to own an iPhone, and, adds the company’s CEO, it helps devs circumvent Apple’s 100-device limit. All this from a company whose existing product enables people with no coding experience to build apps.

You can try it for free, with one person able to view one app, and a link that expires after an hour. Upgrade to a $30-a-month plan for three simultaneous views of up to five applications, and links that don’t expire. (For unlimited apps, you’ll have to spring for the $60 monthly plan, which lets up to ten people peep at once.) As for all you Android enthusiasts, your version is up next (surprise, surprise).

Pieceable Viewer lets devs share iOS apps, personal feelings through a browser originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 17:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink TechCrunch  |  sourcePieceable  | Email this | Comments

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