Disney to Establish Footing in iPhone App Development
It looks like the iPhone OS is going to be the next gaming platform that Disney Interactive is setting its eyes on.
Disney has already been an established brand in the video game market –especially in the past few years. With their purchase of the Kingdom Hearts license from (then) Squaresoft (now known as Square Enix) to the development of the Disney Interactive studios that focuses heavily on creating games internally. This latest game, Epic Mickey is an expansive third person adventure game for next generation consoles.
Now, it appears that Disney is seeing the value of games on smart phones and would like to start creating their own apps particularly for the Apple iPhone. Their Apple-preference is seen in the acquisition of Tapuluous, the developer of successful iPhone apps such as Tap Tap Revenge. Tapulous is not just a well known app developer, but they are also an established Apple supporter. The choice to get Tapulous is also quite strategic; the company is currently working on social games for the iPhone.
In any case, this makes purchasing an iPhone 4 (or sticking to the older iPhone 3G/3Gs) a pretty nice alternative for any Disney fans –because with this, no official Disney apps will be released for other platforms.
So far, there has been announcement as to exactly what apps and games will be made available for the iPhone -though some expect some tie-ups with existing console titles or even some functional apps that provide insight into the history of Disney and its works.
In many ways, it is not surprising to see Disney making such a move. The entertainment company has always been at the forefront of the industry and with smart phones becoming a heavily influential media channel –it is natural that Disney would step into the industry as well.
Why the HTC Desire is in the Running for the Best Smartphone of 2010
Picking a competent mobile phone to purchase for one’s personal use is hard enough. There are literally hundreds of different available models in the market and for the uneducated consumer, it can truly be confusing. Perhaps an even more difficult task is identifying the best Smartphone for the whole year. There are just too many categories to consider and way too much mobiles to choose from. However, one Smartphone that we believe should be on the list of any critic is the highly impressive HTC Desire. Here are some reasons why we believe so.
The Screening Process
If we were to identify a number of outstanding features of the HTC Desire, then one of them has got to be its mega-sized 3.7-inch touch screen display. Not only is it one of the largest in the business, but it also delivers picture quality of the highest calibre (480 x 800-pixel resolution). The screen also makes use of the AMOLED capacitive technology which guarantees hassle-free and extremely responsive touch functions on the device.
Improving the Android
The Google Android is already quite impressive in itself. However, what the HTC Desire does is it pairs it up with its Sense UI, thereby creating a one-of-a-kind combination that duly delivers. This is by far the best UI + OS combo we’ve ever experienced and the fact that the Anroid Eclair (the OS version installed on the Desire) was already top class even before it was infused with the Sense UI makes the enhanced combination all the more impressive.
On the Horizon
While all the praises sent towards the way of the HTC Desire are all well and good, one thing we must keep in mind is that 2010 is also the year that has seen the launch of the latest addition to the iPhone family – the Apple iPhone 4G. The 3G performed pretty well in the market since it was launched last year and if this is any indication of how the 4G will do, then the Desire will definitely have its work cut out for it.
Apple iPhone 4 Drawbacks
There are plenty of impressive new things on the Apple iPhone 4, but in the end, Apple’s strict rules in regards to how much functionality will be accessible to users still ends up stifling the experience.
The first big issue with the iPhone 4 is that it cannot function without iTunes. Now, there really is no problem about requiring a mobile phone to hook up with specialized phone software –it is actually safer that way. The real issue here is that iTunes really does a number on the iPhone’s internal memory.
The big issue with iTunes is that the way it stores data and information is so mixed up that anyone accessing the internal memory of the iPhone or any other Apple device directly would be surprised by a bunch of jumbled filenames and file folders. This makes the iPhone unusable with other software, of from being browsed directly with a computer.
The lack of a removable battery is still an issue. This long standing problem with Apple already has many people resigned about it, but the fact of the matter is that not being able to manually change the battery (without doing something that voids the warranty) is a serious issue. Batteries tend to die out faster than the devices that they are stuck to, and being able to replace a battery after a year is a convenience that many Apple device users cannot get to enjoy.
Lastly, Apple’s iPhone OS still does not (nor will it ever) support Flash. Sure, HTML5 is great and impressive, and it will definitely be the new media of choice. But until that time comes, Flash is still the norm in the internet, and there is nothing more annoying than realizing that the site you want to browse on your iPhone uses Flash –and there is no specialized app that will let you see the special content.
Future Forecast: Apple and the Competition
There are plenty of things that we are already expecting from the new Apple iPhone that is reportedly going to be unveiled by Steve Jobs this coming June 7th, but the fact of the matter is, most of the expectations on the device’s market performance are based on how well the iPhone 3G/3Gs has performed for the past couple of years.
The Apple iPhone managed to stay on top of the market by offering the most apps, a new way to use a touch screen user interface and of course, being so incredibly stylish. In fact, they did this so well that they have been on top since the iPhone came out last 2008. But that was over two years ago and Apple is no longer the only big fish in the sea that know how to swim well.
Their competitors have also been getting better and better, in fact Google was a big surprise as it burst through the industry as a fledgling underdog into what is now the only mobile platform that seems capable of taking down the iPhone OS.
Even Microsoft has hit the reset button in hopes of catching up with the iPhone. While the Windows Mobile OS has maintained a steady hold of the business market, it still failed to win the hearts of the general market. Their new Windows Phone 7 mobile platform might just be the OS that will change all of that.
This is not to say that Apple’s next generation does not have what it takes to last for another couple of more years, but with the rate that mobile technology is improving, they will certainly be facing more and better competition than the previous iPhone ever did –at this rate, it is hard to predict that Apple can maintain its position for as long as it did before.
Apple Purges Apps, Offers Bad Excuse
One would think that Phil Schiller would have a better way of handling a crowd. The man is the head of Apple’s global marketing department, and if you would expect anyone to know how to make a spin, this would be the man.
Well, looks like we were wrong. Not only did people scoff at Phil’s remarks regarding the app purge, many are losing trust in the Apple system.
It is already a known fact that Apple’s app screening program is a waste of time that borders more on red tape formality rather than an actual functional screening process. Often you will find gems and worthless applications side by side. Worst of all is seeing really great applications refused while worthless ones get accepted.
Anyway, the big fuss came about this week as Apple suddenly decided to remove any application with a scantily clad woman. Naughty app games, lingerie stores and even beach apps have been known to be hit by the purge. Ironically, Playboy and Sports Illustrated are perfectly fine.
According to Phil, the move was done in order to address the complaints of women and parents regarding the contents of the app store. While there is no doubt that some people might have protested, the sheer number alone would never be enough to warrant a full purge. The act has brought plenty of loses for many app developers as they suddenly found themselves reading an email informing them about the app removal. No prior notice, no warning to revise the app; just a “we removed your app” email.
Cruel, thoughtless and totally discouraging; with the Apple iPhone relying heavily on app support and the upcoming iPad still needing a solid crowd, this move may cost Apple plenty in the near future.
Read more about the big Apple application purge at the Telegraph UK.
Apple iPhone 3G S
The “Apple craze” is just as strong now as it was 3 years ago. These seems to be no signs of this craze decreasing even thought there are many phones nowadays as good or even better than the Apple phones. The Apple iPhone 3G S is one of the new 3G phones launched this year. The phone was officially launched on the 19th of June this year. The advantage that this phone has over its predecessor is a faster processing speed along with a greater battery life to match it.
Appearance wise, the Apple iPhone 3G S has not changed. The phone still features the glossy black exterior with the large touch screen. The only improvement in the outer body of the Apple iPhone 3G S seems to be its oleophobic coating on the screen. This coated display is a big improvement, as it attracts fewer fingerprints leaving the screen relatively smudge free. The clear screen is a big improvement over its predecessor as it remains clear for a longer period. The Apple iPhone 3G S is slightly heavier than the Apple 3G phone. Luckily, this difference is hardly noticeable and still allows the phone to be slipped into even the smallest space. You can carry the phone around in your pocket or in a small purse. The Apple iPhone 3G S has a 3 MP camera which allows clear shots to be taken. The problem with this is that the camera does not come with a flash. This means that you cannot capture shots in dim light unless you have some sort of external flash. The Apple iPhone 3G S comes with a range of photo and video editing options. This gives you a chance to view your videos frame by frame in a linear format. You have the options of removing or adding extra frames at this point.
iPhone OS 3.0: The Next Generation Application
iPhone OS 3.0 update has been available for users from June 2009. Numerous iPhone users are looking forward to this final edition of the new iPhone OS 3.0 and there are many more who have been waiting for this to purchase their new Apple iPhone 3G S. This free firmware update comes with more than a hundred novel features and also includes the features of the earlier updates.
The free iPhone OS 3.0 Software Update includes some great new features, as well as all the features from previous updates. iPhone OS 3.0 will allow you to run the next generation of iPhone applications such as peer-to-peer games1 etc. In case you have lost out on updating previously this is the right time to do it.
The update takes time and no amount of refreshing will make the 3.0 update faster for your iPhone. You will have to rest your set off finger for some hours. Apple initially announced its mobile OS in March and it is great. They have included the requested copy and paste feature and have also added support for MMS, A2DP or stereo Bluetooth, peer-to-peer connectivity, Bluetooth support has been made available for the touch, and they have also included the latest global search known as Spotlight. It also offers push notifications, a landscape keyboard for email and text messages. In fact the string of improvements which have been done are more of a requirement than revolutionary to be a member of the contemporary Smartphone marketplace. Apple promises many more features and this is just the tip. OS 3.0 is also expected to have voice dialing and video recording, but they will only be for their new iPhone 3G S.
This upgrade is free but will cost 6 pounds for iPod. Some of the users may have already downloaded it, but may have problems as everyone is trying to download at the same time. If possible you can hold it for a few more days.