In a surprise move Apple has once again changed iOS app development rules, this time to relax restrictions on functionality and development. Apple also published a detailed list of review guidelines used by their staff to determine whether apps are allowed to appear in Apple’s online store.
This move once again allows development of iOS apps with tools such as Adobe Flash, which disallowed by a previous change earlier this year. Adobe has responded by saying they will pick up development of the Flash Packager for iPhone tool that they stopped earlier this year.
In addition, it is possible that the new rules will allow previously-banned apps such as ones that access Google Voice and other telecommunications services.
Apple released version 4.1 of the iOS for the iPhone and iPod Touch yesterday. This new version of the operating system includes Game Center, HDR photography, HD video uploading and a variety of bug fixes.
Game Center appears as a new app on the home screen, and also as functionality inside any game that uses Game Center. It allows you to compare scores, keep track of achievements and challenge friends to games.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and gives you better quality photos under mixed light conditions. It takes three photos, instead of one, and then combines them to get the best image from different parts of the photo.
iOS 4.1 is available as a free download through iTunes for the iPhone 4, 3GS and 3G, and the iPod Touch 2nd generation or later. iOS 4.2 for the iPad, which would be the first version of iOS 4 for the iPad, will be released in November.
The new iPod Nano and iPod Touch have appeared in Apple Stores and the first orders have arrived at homes. The new Nano features a small touch-screen for both controls and a display. The new iPod Touch brings it in line with the iPhone 4 in terms of processor power, screen resolution and other factors. It is also the first Touch to have video cameras: one in front and one in back.
Apple also released updates this week to Safari, iWeb, iMovie 1.1 for the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch.
And in late-breaking news, Apple has updated its iOS developer agreement to allow third-party tools for iPhone development. This could possibly allow developers to once again use Adobe Flash and other tools to create iOS aps.
Apple’s September 1 announcements brought us a whole new line of iPods. The new iPod Shuffle brings back buttons to the device, while taking on a smaller square shape. The new iPod Nano is also square, with a color touch screen replacing the controls. Video playback and the video camera have been removed, however.
The new iPod Touch updates the device to the A4 processor and retina display used in the iPhone 4. It also has a thinner body and includes both a front and back video camera and gyro sensors.
The new Apple TV is a much smaller device and also has a much smaller $99 price tag. Gone is hard drive storage and with it the ability to purchase movies and TV shows. But you can still rent videos, and many TV shows are going to be re-priced at $0.99. The new Apple TV also adds the ability for Netflix subscribers to view streaming movies from the service.
A new version of iTunes adds the Ping social network where you can share your music favorites and messages with your friends. The AirTunes system, which allowed you to stream audio from iTunes to other Macs and Apple devices on your network, has been updated to AirPlay which includes video.
Apple also announced iOS 4.1, which will be available for the iPhone and iPod Touch next week as a free download through iTunes. The iOS update includes being able to take pictures with HDR (high dynamic range) which will help bring more detail to photos taken on the iPhone. It will also include Game Center, a system used by some games to connect players and compare scores.
The next update, iOS 4.2, will be for the iPad as well, bringing features like multitasking and app folders to the iPad for the first time. Release is scheduled for November.
Like many, I was thrilled with Apple’s announcements at yesterday’s special event. New iPods, a new Apple TV and iTunes 10. It all sounded great. But then as the day went on, I began to see problems. By this morning, I’ve identified six issues that will hurt the products announced yesterday.
I Guess Video Was a Fad
The new iPod Nano sounds great. It has a touch screen and is smaller than ever. And that color screen displays video, right? Wrong. According to the specs on the Apple site, the new Nano doesn’t support video. But the last two generations of iPod Nano did. That’s a pretty big feature to remove. I mean, it isn’t like watching video on a tiny little screen was that great, but for video podcasts or watching TV shows on a commute or airplane it was a killer feature. It is like someone took your TV away and replaced it with a radio.
What Happened To the Camera?
The previous iPod Nano was great because it had a video camera. For $149 you had the equivalent to the original Flip video camera, but with massive storage in comparison. It was the lightest, smallest video camera out there. But no camera on the new Nano. Another downgrade.
So the new Nano is the same price, but what new features does it have? None. Well, it has a touch screen, but that doesn’t let you DO anything you couldn’t do before. It is just a change to the interface. So the new Nano is missing a camera and video playback, and really adds no new features.
The iPod Touch Still Doesn’t Have a Camera
Well, technically, it has two: front and back. But these are both video cameras, not still image cameras. You can use them to take still images, but you only get very low resolution pictures. The back camera is the better one, and that only goes to 960×720 — less than 1 megapixel. OK for posting to Facebook, I guess. But you won’ want to print those or use it for anything remotely important. And there’s no flash like on the new iPhone either.
Another Salesperson In Your Pocket
So iTunes 10’s big new feature is Ping, a “social network for music.” But if you are that into music and want to share with your friends, then wouldn’t you already be doing that on Facebook? Are you going to make all your friends join Ping?
Ping is really just an extension of the last big new feature of iTunes, Genius. The latter had Apple recommending music to you. The former now has your friends doing it. And both are designed to get you to buy more music on iTunes.
No One Likes the Beatles
So you sign up for Ping anyway. One of the first things it does is to ask you to specify your favorites. But they must be artists on iTunes. Like the Beatles? Tough. They aren’t on iTunes so you can’t possibly like them. So tell me why I would use Ping over Facebook to share my thoughts on music?
Apple TV Still Behind the Curve
There are really only three new things about the new Apple TV: price, lack of storage, and Netflix. The first is great, sure. The second is a good move, I believe. And even if you don’t use Netflix, it is nice to know the option is there.
But that’s it. Nothing really new. The old Apple TV could run Netflix if Apple wanted to put it there. Heck, the Wii and XBox run Netflix. So does the iPad.
But what about streaming video services like Hulu? Everyone knows that is what needs to be on Apple TV. Now I know why Hulu isn’t there. The powers that control Hulu don’t want Hulu to be on TV-targeted devices. Hulu is for computers. They don’t want it to compete with cable. And Apple would probably rather sell you TV shows, even at 99 cents, than give you the chance to watch them for free with commercials. But these reasons have nothing to do with the end-user. In order for Apple TV to really take off, it needs to tap into the free with-commercials video streams. Apple just needs to figure out how to get this done. What would work is a small subscription fee to use Hulu on Apple TV. That’s how Netflix works, so the stage has been set.
Apple will be holding a special event on Wednesday, September 1. The invitation for the event features a guitar which fits with Apple traditionally scheduling iPod and iTunes-related announcements at this time each year.
While there is no official indication of what will be annoucned, rumors are flying that it will be everything from a new Apple TV system to an iPod Touch with a camera. However, many are focusing on an update to iTunes, either bringing the store to the web or adding cloud-based features. Non-music-related rumors include a 7-inch iPad, iLife 11, a cheaper and smaller MacBook Air laptop, and a Verizon iPhone.
Being the largest technology company in the U.S. doesn’t come without its drawbacks. A manager at Apple responsible for working with manufacturers in Asia has been charged with accepting more than $1 million in kickbacks from companies eager to get their hands on inside information.
The manager was accused last week of giving information to companies to help them get contracts from Apple. In addition to the arrest by U.S. Marshals, Apple, Inc. is suing the manager for damages.
While it has been a slow news week for Apple-related events, the rumor mill has been grinding at full speed. Several blogs are reporting that Apple will come out with a smaller 7-inch iPad by the end of the year. Rumors of a new Apple TV model, potentially named iTV, persist. And more bloggers are jumping on the bandwagon to predict a Verizon iPhone in January.
