Velox is one of those tweaks that just brings a ton of new functionality to iOS. Whether you like it or hate it, developers have already stepped up to the plate to bring addons for the tweak. Of those currently available on Cydia are Torch, Compass, App Store, Stopwatch, Google and others. Keep reading for the full roundup. (more…)
Semi Secret Software, LLC | 26.6 MB | $2.99 (Sale Price, Regular $4.99)
The developer of the extremely popular endless runner Canabalt is at it again, with a minimalism-inspired puzzle game entitled Hundreds. As with Canabalt, Semi Secret Software has taken a simple mechanic and revitalized it in order to create something completely new and bizarre. (more…)
My name is Adam Redmond, and I am a cheater. I exploited a score glitch in the classic game Tap Tap Revenge 3 in order to reach rank 171 within an hour. I deceived Tap Tap Revenge veterans by reaching a comparable high score without any effort whatsoever. I beat the system.
All it took was a jailbroken iPod touch, a shoddy YouTube tutorial, and iFile. Granted, all my ill-gotten gains were unlocked through single player, so I was not directly affecting another player’s experience. But do iOS players have the right to cheat?
A comparison between my legitimate score and the hacked leaderboards.
Cheating in video games is not a matter etched in black and white. As I mentioned beforehand, I was not taking away from another player’s enjoyment of the game by using dishonest methods. I was merely enhancing my own experience. While one can say that it was unfair that I unlocked items without putting in the required effort, the bottom line is that I did not make the game unfair for the other players.
Other players had a completely fair chance at beating me in multiplayer. I did not alter that fact. If one wants to use known exploits to enhance his or her own experience, I think he or she should be able to. If someone has invested the time, money, and has the knowledge, why shouldn’t that individual be able to exercise the right to use the product in a way that he or she desires?
But what happens when someone’s decision to cheat infringes on another person’s ability to enjoy the game? (more…)
Saturdays with Stephen is an interesting and equally opinionated weekly series that provides a closer analysis of news related to both Apple and the wider technology industry. So turn off the weekend cartoon marathon and join Stephen each Saturday for detailed insight on a pressing issue. Be sure to leave your own opinion in the comments and get involved in the open, healthy debate.
With over a billion people tuning in to watch the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXX Olympiad, there’s no doubt that plenty are wondering how they can get a better glimpse of the sweat and tears which will most certainly be a result of the next couple of weeks. There’s no legal way of watching a full stream of the Olympics live in the US, however, there are a few recently released iOS apps to supplement your Olympic experience — for better or for worse. (more…)
Someone on Apple’s App Store team somehow managed to mistakenly leak out an internal testing app titled GameStore onto the store for all to download. The app, released on December 31st of 2011, is supposedly for testing the functionality of “buy[ing] different things from within [a] app,” according to its description on the App Store.
GameStore has quite a few in-app purchases that are available to anyone, but currently there is no way to fully utilize them since the app is strictly meant for experimenting. Available “products” range from “2 Lives” for $2.99 to a “Force Field” for $5.99, indicating that the game that Apple intended to receive these items was that of the adventure or FPS genre.
Even stranger yet, GameStore’s initial launch date was June 9th of 2009 — which, coincidentally, was during Apple’s WWDC of that year.
GameStore is priced at $.99 with three in-app purchases ranging from $.99 to $1.99. It would be wise not to buy the app, because it’s not meant to be used by anyone except Apple and it currently does nothing that’s worth $.99. Apple will likely catch this mishap later today and pull the experiment from the store.
Update: The app has disappeared into a puff of smoke, much like genies do.
[Apple via Flo's Weblog, Mac Rumors]
For many people, the iPad is more of a communal device than a personal one. After a quick web browsing session, you may leave it on the coffee table for another member of your family to use, but when you come back to pick up where you left off, you may find all your tabs closed, accounts logged off, and bookmarks changed. For a multi-user gadget, Apple hasn’t really supplied the necessary multi-user safeguards.
Switch, a new web browser available in the App Store for $4.99, aims to remedy this by allowing users to create individual password-protected accounts, keeping the browsing habits for each user safe. Having to sign on and off every account you own each time you use your iPad is very tedious—but necessary, if you want to maintain security. Switch allows you to keep all your information safe with a single master password (just like user accounts on a desktop operating system). Your tabs, bookmarks, history and cookies are all isolated to your individual account, keeping them safe from prying eyes.
Earlier this month, Apperian, Inc. announced their cloud-based app deployment and management service. Their Enterprise App Service Environment (EASE) allows companies that h
ave developed their own in-house apps to build, secure and manage their apps from one comprehensive platform.
This allows companies to roll out apps, updates, training videos, schedules, directories etc., all from one location. Reporting tools can detect how often an app is downloaded and used, as well as notifying employees of updates, or preventing the use of old versions of apps. Apps can also be disabled from use by terminated employees.
Basically, any company (since the company size restriction was recently lifted) can have their own App Store. The apps don’t appear in iTunes, but apps from both Apple’s app store and the private app store can exist on the same device.
For users, they are offered the benefits of installing apps with a single click, finding apps easily and quickly, having instant access to company manuals, white papers, and videos, connecting remotely in-app to IT support and receiving automated updates and push notifications.
EASE accounts are free, with a fee charged per mobile device. EASE works with the iPhone and iPad and an Android-based version will be available in the first quarter of 2011.
The award winning multi-platform game World of Goo, which has become an indie favorite for its innovate gameplay and undeniable charm, is finally making its way to the iPad. The nature of the game makes it perfect for multitouch devices, so it will be a very welcome addition to the App Store. If you’ve never played the desktop version of the game, I highly recommend checking it out. (A free demo is available as well.)
The objective of the game is to build elastic-y structures using, you guessed it, goo, to reach a pipe that whisks away your precious goo-balls to safety. The premise is simple enough, but just like most other physics puzzlers, it can get quite challenging, and will require a fair bit of tinkering and trial-and-error to beat.
The iPad version has been submitted to the App Store, and should be available in the next few weeks. Keep on the lookout on the Top Charts, where it will undoubtedly make its way.
World of Goo on iPad! We’re just about finished, and hope to release the game in the App Store as soon as we get approved and make it through the scary gates. In the meantime, here are some answers to some “frequently” asked questions:
Here’s a little something that’ll make the Monday so much better: iOS 4.2.1 has been released to the public!
Seriously though: how many tablets do you know that get even more magical as time goes on?
Regardless your answer, go fire up iTunes, and get your update on!
Update: Not working for you? Update iTunes, and wait; it’s rolling out as we speak.
Update 2: The ‘Find My iPhone’ app will also be free after you update, i.e. no ridiculous MobileMe subscription needed. You can log in using that interesting log in screen we reported on earlier this month.
Just for kicks, I’ve included the press release after the break!
Hulu Plus, the not-very-popular premium video service from Hulu, has just reduced the monthly subscription price from $9.99 to $7.99 as a part of its official public launch. This price change may allow it to keep up with alternatives such as Netflix, which recently announced a streaming-only plan for the same $7.99 price.. If you are already a paying member, the price change will be reflected in your next bill, and if you are a new user who would like to test out the service, there is a one-week free trial period available.
There is a Hulu Plus client application available in the App Store for newer devices running 4.0 and higher. (And please note that the iPad version does work over 3g.)
[Engadget]
Read on for the full press release.