Apple on Monday added the ability to gift apps on the App Store. This means that you no longer have to buy a generic gift certificate to get someone an application, you can buy them the application itself. This has … Continued
∞ Amazon, Barnes & Noble updating e-book apps for iPad
Amazon and Barnes & Noble already have e-book reading software available for the iPhone and iPod touch. While those apps will certainly run on the iPad as well, both companies have disclosed iPod-specific plans as well, according to the New … Continued
∞ Navigon introduces $25 iPhone GPS navigation app
In the era of 99 cent apps, GPS-based driving assistance for the iPhone has up to now been a big financial nut to crack, with apps regularly costing $70 or more. Navigon, makers of MobileNavigator, have addressed this by introducing … Continued
∞ GDC: Fallen Earth MMO comes to the Mac
At this week’s Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, Icarus Studios announced the Mac beta release of Fallen Earth, a Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game. The new Mac beta release – available now – requires an Intel-based Mac running … Continued
∞ Hands On with Aperture 3.0.1: A huge step ahead for Apple's photo software
Whether you’re a seasoned digital photographer or an amateur looking to step up from iPhoto, chances are that Apple’s Aperture software can help you dramatically. Now in its third major iteration, Aperture is easier to use and more powerful than … Continued
∞ GDC: Unity 3.0 engine adds iPad support, more
Unity Technologies has announced Unity 3.0, a new version of its versatile 3D game engine which enables developers to create titles for Mac, iPhone, Web and other platforms. A final release date is scheduled for this summer.
∞ GDC kicks off with iPhone Game Summit
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) kicked off in San Francisco this morning with a two day summit focused specifically on the iPhone. The summit gathers experts from the technical and business end of iPhone game development.
∞ FileMaker Pro 11 adds charts, easier reporting
FileMaker Inc. on Tuesday announced the release of FileMaker Pro 11, a major new release of its popular database software for Mac OS X and Windows. It’s available beginning today, along with new versions of FileMaker Pro 11 Advanced, FileMaker … Continued
∞ Macworld's Aperture 3.0.1 review
We at The Loop are working on our own first look at Aperture 3.0.1, which you’ll see on Friday. To whet your appetite, please have a look at Russ Juskalian’s thorough review of Apple’s new pro photo software. New features … Continued
∞ Fortune: Apple world's most admired company for third straight year
Fortune magazine has published its list of the world’s 50 most admired companies, and Apple is number one for the third year in a row. Apple beats out Google and Berkshire Hathaway, the holding company chaired by American business titan … Continued
∞ Poker vs. Strong Female Role Models
Apple pulled a Poker iPhone game featuring lingerie models. Forced with the prospect of throwing their babes out with the bathwater, Headlight Software went to the polar opposite, coming up with a poker game featuring strong female role models – … Continued
∞ Camera Plus Pro adds video recording for all iPhones
Global Delight lived up to its name for me when I saw them at Macworld Expo in San Francisco earlier this month. The company develops an all-in-one camera app for the iPhone that adds some impressive capabilities. Now they’ve announced … Continued
∞ Fast Lane service at the Apple Store
Apple really has the retail store experience down to a science at this point. My trip to the local Apple Store took less than two minutes – I would have been hard-pressed to get in and out of McDonald’s any … Continued
∞ Final Fantasy I and II come to the iPhone
Square Enix has released Final Fantasy I and Final Fantasy II for the iPhone and iPod touch – each is now available from the App Store for $8.99.
∞ Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Ultimate Sith Edition comes to Mac
Aspyr Media has announced the release of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Ultimate Sith Edition for the Macintosh. It’s now available in retail stores, but you can also purchase it online and download it through Aspyr’s GameAgent service.
∞ It's business as usual for Freeverse after Ngmoco acquisition
iPhone and iPod touch game publisher Ngmoco has announced that is has acquired Freeverse, another leading iPhone game maker. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
∞ iPod touch vs. Nintendo DS: The parent's perspective
Two of my three children now use iPod touches for gaming. They haven’t totally supplanted their Nintendo DS Lite systems, but the tide is turning in the iPod touch’s favor. Here are some of the most common complaints the kids … Continued
∞ Freeverse passes five million iPhone apps sold
Freeverse announced Friday that it has sold more than five million apps for the iPhone. The company now counts 24 games and apps on the App Store, with more planned for 2010.
∞ CCP unveils details of next EVE Online expansion – Tyrannis
CCP Games technical producer Torfi Frans Olafsson has revealed details of the next major expansion pack in development for EVE Online, the massively multiplayer online role playing game. Entitled Tyrannis, it’s expected to be released before the summer arrives in … Continued
∞ MindTouch sees Fujitsu collaboration as entré to Mac-based SMB
Fujitsu has announced a collaboration with MindTouch, a vendor of open source collaborative networking. Fujitsu’s ScanSnap document scanners are now able to scan documents directly into a MindTouch collaboration site.
∞ Noby Noby Boy – from Katamari Damacy maker – comes to iPhone
Noby Noby Boy is now available for the iPhone. But fans of the PlayStation 3 game should heed this warning – Noby Noby Boy for iPhone, published by Namco Bandai, isn’t exactly the same thing. In fact, it’s categorized as … Continued
∞ StarCraft II closed beta test begins
Blizzard Entertainment has announced launch of the closed beta test for its upcoming real time strategy game release StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. The invitation has gone out to thousands of gamers around the world.
∞ New Dr. Seuss e-books come to iPhone, publisher lays out iPad plans
Oceanhouse Media has launched three new iPhone and iPod touch apps based on beloved children’s books by Dr. Seuss. “The Cat in the Hat,” “Dr. Seuss’s ABC” and “Dr. Seuss Camera – The Cat in the Hat Edition.” They are … Continued
∞ MacPaint, HyperCard creator turns to iPhone with PhotoCard
Bill Atkinson’s name is synonymous with the Mac, and now he’s turned his attention to the iPhone. He has released Bill Atkinson PhotoCard, a $4.99 app that helps iPhone and iPod touch users make and send custom-designed postcards.
∞ Plants vs. Zombies shambles onto iPhone
PopCap Games has announced the release of Plants vs. Zombies for iPhone and iPod touch, a comical game based on a popular casual title for the Mac and PC. It costs $2.99.
∞ Parting Macworld Expo thoughts: Wish you were here
Among all the things I heard at Macworld Expo this past week, absolutely the most banal, trite, idiotic, and pointless observation was, “This show isn’t the same without Apple.”
∞ Expo: Telltale Games makes big Mac push
Amidst the vendors exhibiting at this week’s Macworld Expo in San Francisco is one lone Mac game publisher, a new face on the Mac scene called Telltale Games. The company is employing a unique business model to attract gamers that’s … Continued
∞ Expo: Microsoft reveals new Office 2011 details
Microsoft is using this week’s Macworld Expo in San Francisco to offer new details about its forthcoming Office for Mac 2011, which will be available in store by the 2010 holiday season.
∞ Expo: MacSpeech offers new Scribe app and add-ons
MacSpeech on Thursday announced MacSpeech Scribe, a transcription application for the Mac that turns your voice recording into written text. It costs $149, and MacSpeech Dictate users can get it for $99.
∞ Expo: Navigon previews 3D terrain view in iPhone GPS app
At this week’s Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Navigon AG is previewing the 1.50 version of their MobileNavigator application, a GPS direction finding app for the iPhone. New features include 3D terrain views, social media integration and “intelligent routing.”