Next week, Apple will launch Game Center for the iPhone and the iPod touch. The app and platform will allow video game players to track one another’s achievements, create multiplayer matches and discover new games.
The features are comparable to those found in Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network and Steam — online gaming services used by Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC gamers, respectively. Third parties have implemented similar features for iPhone games using their own networks, but the Apple Game Center will be built into the tools it gives to developers of iOS apps, securing an edge over the existing networks.
Game Center will be one of many new features included in iOS 4.1, a new version of the iPhone and iPod touch operating system. Apple unveiled that and several other entertainment-related products at a live event today, including an updated iPod touch with the same screen and processor found in the iPhone 4.
Video game developer Epic Games joined Steve Jobs on stage to demonstrate a graphically impressive 3D game tentatively titled Project Sword that utilizes both the new hardware and the Game Center service. When one player invited another to join him in a one-on-one battle, the invitee received a push notification informing him of the challenge. He tapped accept and moments later was squaring off against his friend over the network.
Game Center will be free on all iOS devices. iOS 4.1 for iPhone and iPod touch will launch sometime next week, but the iPad version (iOS 4.2) won’t arrive until November.
Apple’s Steve Jobs has taken the stage at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco to make a slew of announcements related to iOS, Apple TV, iTunes and the iPod. First though, he dropped some big stats on the state of the iOS ecosystem.
According to Jobs, Apple has sold more than 120 million iPhones, iPads and iPod touches. This is up from 100 million devices just three months ago. What may be more impressive is that Apple is activating 230,000 new iOS device every single day. That’s more than the number that Google touted in May of 100,000 Android device activations daily (though that number has likely grown significantly higher since then).
Unsurprisingly, the app store is also on fire. Jobs announced that 6.5 billion apps have been downloaded from the app store, and the pace of downloads is now at 200 apps per second. 25,000 of the applications in the app store are now iPad apps.
Apple’s retail stores are also growing. There are now 300 Apple stores in the world, including new ones in Shanghai and Paris.
Content discovery and recommendation engine is bringing its “best of the web” finds to mobile devices with new iPhone and Android applications. The web version, which enables its userbase of nearly 11 million members to “stumble” across content that other users have recommended, is being tailored for mobile by featuring a “best for mobile stumbling.” This includes photos, , and news, making the discovery experience more friendly for the mobile screen and connections. Below that are also the topics that users have indicated an interest in, as well as options to view favorites and recommendations from other users they’re following. The applications replicate the core experience of on the web, featuring a prominent “Start Stumbling” button that links to a piece of content that users can either give a thumbs up or a thumbs down to, alongside likes, reviews and sharing options. Browsing functionality is similar as well. However, what seems to be missing is the easy ability to add content users come across outside of the app (i.e. on the iPhone’s Safari browser) with the StumbleUpon community. The integration would certainly make the experience more connected. Also, in our test the iPhone application version was much faster than the Android version, which also had a few formatting issues. Overall, the mobile applications seem to stay true to the StumbleUpon experience, however. What do you think of the applications? The app is available for download on and by searching the Android Market. Below are some screenshots of both of the apps:
iPhone App: Home Screen
Both application home screens include a Start Stumbling button, the “Best For Mobile Stumbling” options and topics you find interesting.
IPhone App: Favorites
The application enables you to sort and view your favorite content.
iPhone App: Tips
The applications offer subtle tips to get the most out of your experience and navigate your way through the application.
iPhone App: Info
Similar to the Android app, the iPhone application also offers info on each piece of content, such as how much it has been viewed, who has liked it, and its reviews.
iPhone App: Liked
When you’re viewing a piece of content, the info section enables you to see who has liked the content, displaying their avatars.
iPhone App: Reviews
When looking at the info behind a piece of content, users are able to view the reviews by other stumblers.
iPhone App: Sharing
The application enables you to share content to your StumbleUpon friends and through the social space.
Android App: Home Screen
The Android app home page features similar layout to the iPhone app with a prominent “Start Stumbling” button.
Android App: News
This is what the “news” view in “Best for Mobile Stumbling” looks like.
Android App: Photo
The application enables you to stumble just photos, which are easy to view on mobile devices, as part of the apps “Best For Mobile Stumbling” option.
Android App: Info
The applications offer StumbleUpon info on pieces of content, such as how often it was viewed, its reviews and more.
Android App: Sharing
The Android app sharing is a bit different than the iPhone, mostly in that it requires another click for social sharing. Follow Mashable on More About: , , , , , , For more coverage:
Justin Long, the actor who starred as the Mac guy in Apple’s immensely popular “Get a Mac” series of commercials, is not afraid of bending the rules set by his former employer.
While on the Jimmy Kimmel Live show, Long whips out his iPhone, taking the audience through a particularly funny SMS exchange. At one point you can clearly see the Cydia icon among his iPhone apps, a clear sign his iPhone is jailbroken.
You can see the proof in the video below (the relevant bit comes up at 7:04, but the entire video is quite amusing). We’re sure Apple won’t particularly like seeing the Mac Guy using a jailbroken iPhone, but hey, jailbreaking is not a crime, right?
If you value efficiency and effectiveness, then your Android device should be your best friend. These tech toys are capable of handling all kinds of work and personal tasks, from email and schedules to file management and to-do lists. And all the tools you need are conveniently located right in the Android Market. With so many choices, however, things can get a little complicated.
Here are ten highly rated, absolutely free Android apps that will help you work smarter, get more accomplished, save time and stay organized.
Dropbox is great because it’s not just a mobile app; it allows you to manage files in fully synced folders from desktop and mobile devices. Dropbox’s Android application allows users to access a Dropbox — and any kind of content it contains, including music and movies — from anywhere. Users can also upload files, such as images and links, to their Dropbox account. This video will give you an idea of how it works:
User comments: “So helpful!” “This worked perfectly for me.” “A solid start for a free app.”
This simple application allows you to snap pictures of business cards and automatically import that information to your virtual Rolodex. CamCard Pro is also available as a paid app for $9.99; both versions of the app support multiple languages – from English to traditional Chinese.
User comments: “High accuracy, impressive!” “Did a fair job of getting info off the card.”
GDocs is a text editing application that allows you to access, view, edit and sync documents stored in a Google Docs account. It also lets users create, send, import and export documents.
User comments: “I like being able to make notes and edit documents and sync them back to my Google account.” “Basic text works fine.” “Pretty useful.”
Springpad is brand-new to the Android Market, but has been getting rave reviews from users on other devices. Like Evernote, this app allows you to save items in a virtual notebook. But it doesn’t just save these items; it also pulls in data from other sites and helps you take action on your lists, not just remember them.
User comments: “Superb interface.” “Online sync is nice.” “Great app, saves notes online and locally, so there’s no wait to view.”
If you struggle with information overload, here’s an app that might help you. SlideScreen turns your Android device’s home screen into a display of your information with a meaningful hierarchy to distinguish signal from noise. The app shows a summary of data from text messages, phone calls, GMail, your calendar, Google Reader, stock market data, Twitter and Facebook. A pro version is available for $6.99.
User comments: “Keeps getting better! Google Voice would be awesome.” “Made for simple people with good taste in phones.” “Nice concept and good looks.”
This app represents mobile task-management at it finest. Users can add and check off tasks on the go, organize upcoming tasks, get alerted when they are near a task location and sync their mobile actions with a web interface. It’s available with a $25 yearly subscription to the RTM web interface.
User comments: “It helps me stay on track with what I need to do, and the email service is great.” “Great, simple UI.” “Very fast and intuitive.”
Astrid is more than just a to-do list; its friendly reminders will help you stay focused and productive. It’s location-aware and can sync with Remember the Milk. Best of all, it’s open-source and built specifically with Google technologies in mind.
User comments: “Really convenient, I absolutely love it!” “Astrid keeps me out of trouble and on time.”
Half notebook app, half reminder app, Evernote lets you save your ideas, inspirations and favorite things to the cloud for future access. It’s basically a virtual substitute for a good memory. You can record text, images or audio.
User comments: “Ideal for taking snapshots of documents.” “Almost perfect, just needs offline support.”
Here’s a simple, useful application for taking notes on the go, capturing ideas, remembering songs or recording interviews. The audio recordings are timed, and files are sent as attachments to your Gmail account. You can search for recordings by title or date, and you can set your recordings as ringtones.
User comments: “Words like a charm.” “Good sound quality.” “Helpful for class instead of taking notes.”
Jorte is a personal organizer app that was designed to be both attractive and practical. It’s a scheduler and to-do application that syncs with Google Calendar. Its three home screen widgets allow you to quickly view a monthy or weekly calendar or a to-do list.
User comments: “Very good calendar app.” “Very user-friendly and good customization.”
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Though the Apple iPad has been out for a little over a month now, it is still nearly impossible for customers to find stores that have them in stock. Carnegie Digital Computers knows exactly why these devices are selling so well. Besides the iPad’s sleek design and visual appeal, Carnegie Digital Computers explains why certain features are drawing customers in.
The iPad offers a lot of choice as far as meeting consumer needs, says Carnegie Digital Computers. The tablet computer is available in both a Wi-Fi only version, as well as a Wi-Fi plus 3G compatible version. The 3G compatible version, explains Carnegie Digital Computers, would allow users to access the web anywhere—even where wireless Internet access is not available. Carnegie Digital Computers continues that the iPad is also available with 16, 32, or 64 GB memory. This lets customers pick the iPad that is perfect for them without paying for unnecessary extras.
Another favorite feature of the new iPad is the web and e-mail experience it offers, says Carnegie Digital Computers. For example, when viewing a webpage, users can view it in both landscape and portrait. Carnegie Digital Computers explains that customers love that when they rotate the iPad, the page automatically rotates too and expands to fill the screen. Also, the multi-touch features of the screen are astounding, says Carnegie Digital Computers. Users are able to double tap the screen to enlarge particular portions of websites. Carnegie Digital Computers says that new iPad owners constantly comment on its ease of use and intuitiveness.
The iPad also changes the way users can view photos and video. Carnegie Digital Computers explains that the iPad display is brilliant and vibrant, while high-definition videos show up bolder than ever. According to Carnegie Digital Computers, YouTube is already a working component of the iPad. The iPad also supports iPod and iBook functions. Come in to Carnegie Digital Computers and try out the new iPad—once you experience it, you will definitely want one.
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