On Tuesday, Microsoft launched its answer to Apple’s iPod touch with the Zune HD. And while the Zune Marketplace will be offering plenty of content in the way of music and movies, what it won’t be offering is an App Store to compete with the Apple iTunes model.
Market analysts appear to be lining up to condemn that plan — or lack thereof. With the wild success of the App Store setting apart Apple’s player (with almost 2 billion apps downloaded in a little over a year) the argument goes, how can the Zune stand a chance?
There are some other head-scratchers involved with the device launch as well, from “why not have the FacebookFacebook (Facebook) and TwitterTwitter (Twitter) apps that will be offered for the device ready at launch?” to “why not integrate the Zune Marketplace with some or all of what will be going on in the Windows Mobile Marketplace?” In some ways it almost seems like Microsoft is going out of its way to ignore some obvious synergies… Read on at mashable.com
Despite having one of the most popular online photo services in the world, FlickrFlickr has done things the hard way on the iPhone. That is to say, for browsing photos they’ve made you go through their optimized website, and for uploading you had to do it through email. Both worked fine, but were not as seamless as a native iPhone application. Now they have that as well.
Yahoo’s Flickr app has just gone live in the US App Store. After only a little bit of time using it, I can tell that I’m going to like it. The main screen is a fairly mesmerizing slideshow of photos from your contacts on Flickr. There is an upload button that is easily accessible right on the main page, and the upload process is nice and easy. You can obviously name your picture and give it a description, but you can also easily manage what set to put it in, and what tags to give it. And the privacy settings are very clearly displayed on the upload page… Read on at TechCrunch.com
Streaming music service SpotifySpotify has launched on the iPhone and AndroidAndroid devices for its premium subscribers only. You can download it from Apple’s App Store here and the Android Market. Though plans to launch there are in play, the service is not yet live in the US, and it has already taken several European markets by storm. This iPhone app is basically identical to the leaked beta we reviewed in detail.
The mobile apps will allow you to play the entire Spotify catalogue and the ‘offline mode’ caches playlists so they can be played… when you are offline, like on a plane. Spotify has set up a special mobile section with more details.
The launch of this mobile version now fires the starting gun on their US launch plans. A large number of record labels have actually invested in the Swedish-born, London-based startup, which is now valued at €170 million, or about $242 million, with a post money valuation of around €200 million… Read on at TechCrunch.com
The Apple/Google VoiceGoogle Voice fiasco just got more interesting. Toktumi, a startup that lets small businesses build office-caliber phone systems with their mobile phones and computers, just had its application Line2 approved by Apple — nearly three months after it was originally submitted. The powerful service allows business employees to assign two phone numbers to their iPhone: one that they can give to family and friends, and another that can be given to business contacts, with features that allow for call filtering and a professional-grade voicemail system. But it’s also notable for its many similarities to Google Voice, an application that Apple has kept out of the App Store for months now.
The story so far: late last July, Apple abruptly pulled all third party Google Voice applications from the App Store, explaining that they somehow were duplicating the iPhone’s native functionality. Later that day, we broke the news that GoogleGoogle’s official Google Voice client had been barred from the App Store, sparking a media storm and a FCC inquiry into Apple’s rationale for the ban… Read on at techcrunch.com
SpotifySpotify, the legal streaming music startup that has wowed even Mark Zuckerburg, has now had its iPhoneiPhone app approved by Apple, and now awaits an appearance on the App Store. How did they get an app approved which streams thousands of music tracks on demand and which potentially competes with iTunes? The short answer is no-one is saying quite how, but it’s pretty easy to surmise that iTunes won’t be affected since the app will only work for paying Spotify subscribers, who currently pay a premium subscription which currently stands at €10 a month in Europe. In which case Apple’s policy of blocking apps that duplicate native apps (like iTunes) would not apply. The green light from Apple now leaves the way open for Spotify to launch in the US, as it’s been planning, and attempt a massive change in the music industry for the record labels that have invested in it. No mean feat. An Apple spokesperson has now confirmed the app is poised for launch in the App store and Apple “has been in constant communication” with Spotify prior to the launch… Read on at TechCrunch.com
The AndroidAndroid world got another app store this week, one aimed at so-called “high-end” devices such as the forthcoming ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet. But in the meantime, existing owners of some not-so-high-end Android handsets were warned the only way they’ll be able to get OS updates is by buying an entirely new device. ARCHOS this week set a date for the official launch of its Android-based ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet, which sports a 5-inch display designed for playing HD video. It’s expected to allow TV recording on the 500 GB hard drive, too, thanks to the TI OMAP3440 processor, which is optimized for video processing. The launch event is scheduled to take place on Sept. 15 in Paris… Read on at gigaom.com
This weekend, developers, UI designers and testers combined forces to share ideas and collaborate at the third annual iPhone Dev Camp. The event encourages individuals at all levels to continue to stretch the development boundaries of the iPhone and iPod touch. The event’s Hackathon competition offers an exhibition of attendee projects and is a showcase of some of the industry’s brightest innovators. Below are some of the latest trends amongst those innovators.
Augmented Reality, Assistive and Health-Related Technology and Mobile Music Production. Read on at ReadWriteWeb.com
My, how the tables have turned. Earlier this week, we learned that Apple had suddenly begun to pull third party iPhone applications for Google VoiceGoogle Voice, citing the unconvincing rationale that they “duplicated” some of the iPhone’s functionality. We then broke the news that Apple had also rejected GoogleGoogle’s own official Google Voice application submitted six weeks prior, sparking a din of complaints from developers and users alike over the arbitrary and possibly anti-competitive restrictions being imposed by Apple. AT&T, too, has been a target of frequent criticism as many of us believe it may have also played a part in the decision. Of course, nobody really knows who is to blame — AT&T has hinted that it was ultimately Apple’s decision, and Apple continues to remain mute on the issue. But now we may get our answers: the Dow Jones newswire reports that The Federal Communications Commission is looking into Apple’s rejection of Google Voice, and has sent letters to AT&T, Apple, and Google to find out what’s going on… Read on at TechCrunch.com
TwitterTwitter and the iPhone. They’re both pretty love-it-or-hate-it subjects – but put them together in the right way, and they’re wonderful. Because everyone loves getting stuff for free that they’d normally have to pay for, 148Apps has thrown together a Twitterbot that monitors for premium apps that have dropped down to the gratis zone. Sure, they’re not always the best apps the store has to offer – but they’re free apps you’d otherwise have to pay for, and they’re finding dozens a day. What have you got to lose? Follow @148apps_nowfree (via mobilecrunch.com)
Microsoft’s upcoming retail stores won’t just be similar in concept to Apple’s — they’ll also be similar in location. Microsoft will open its retail stores near Apple’s existing locations, a company spokesperson confirms, possibly even as close as right next door in some instances. Microsoft revealed its plans to open retail stores in February. While the company claimed the move would “transform the PC and Microsoft buying experience,” many had their doubts as to whether the WindowsWindows crew could really compete with Apple in the retail realm… Read on at pcworld.com
(Facebook) and TwitterTwitter
(Twitter) apps that will be offered for the device ready at launch?” to “why not integrate the Zune Marketplace with some or all of what will be going on in the Windows Mobile Marketplace?” In some ways it almost seems like Microsoft is going out of its way to ignore some obvious synergies…
Despite having one of the most popular online photo services in the world, 
Streaming music service 
is basically identical to the leaked beta we reviewed in detail.
The Apple/
The