iPad Apps Are Too Expensive

As soon as I got my new iPad home and started browsing the app store, something became very obvious – ipad apps are considerably more expensive than their iPhone/iPod Touch counterpart.  I'm hoping this is because there aren't as many iPad apps available just yet (3,500 vs 180,000).   You know...that darn supply and demand thing our economics teachers told us about.  Developers may be taking advantage of the excitement of new iPad owners who what to load up their shiny new toy with cool applications.  Hopefully the price of these apps come down to a more “buck or two or three” level.  I mean why wouldn't they?   Does it take more development hours to write for iPad?  It's doubtful.   In fact, I'd assume development would be easier since app creators don't have to work as hard to find that sweet spot between screen content, controls, and functionality.

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App Store Infiltrates Facebook

Facebook addicts, rejoice! Apple's App Store is now available to you without having to leave the comfort of your social network. Apple has been terribly lax about implementing any kind of social strategy whatsoever and i hasn't gone unnoticed. I'm not sure if this is intended as another slow move so apple can test the waters on the social scene, or if Apple really thinks it's a good idea, but I can't for the life of me understand why this is necessary. Either way, I felt somehow compelled to tell you about it, so there you have it.

Do you now feel somehow more compelled to purchase from the app store if it's on facebook? Comments!

The Great App Massacre of 2010

via GizmodoOkay, this has been going back and forth so much over the past couple of days, that I wasn't even sure if I wanted to write it up, but here goes. First, Apple got rid of one "overtly sexual" app from the store, then they killed them all off. Then they enabled a new category to submit into in iTunes connect named "explicit", then they removed that, too. 5,000 apps were removed from the App store because they didn't fall in line with Apple's standards, and then Phil Schiller launched into a double-talking spectacle.

While the overwhelming number of suggestive apps was high, this is just one more example of Apple exercising its usual Carte Blanche over its user base, especially when you turn your attention to their reasoning for committing app genocide. So, mainstream suggestive photos are ok, but not the indie stuff? Not to mention that the apps were obviously selling well, meaning Apple got their cut of the sale, so what's the problem?

Yes, porn is still available through Safari. Yes, the apps that were removed sucked anyway. That's not the point. When are we all going to get fed up and finally say, "Hey, you know what? You don't get to decide what we can and cannot use on the devices we own.". If they didn't want the apps cluttering the store, then simply don't list them, but allow an alternative for developers to install apps on the platform other than through your proprietary mess.

Skype Over 3G "Coming Real Soon"

You didn't think Skype would let iCall and Skype get all the attention now that Apple and AT&T are allowing calls over 3G did you? Skype just announced their solution for the incredibly popular service would be "coming real soon". The new version is being held back just a little bit so they can perfect the audio quality. They're boasting CD audio quality for Skype to Skype calls over 3G which is very impressive. Check out the video below for all the details on the release.

Fring Now Making 3G Calls On An iPhone Near You

 Just after Apple and AT&T finally jived on the notion of VoIP calls over 3G, iCall stepped in ready to deliver. Well, you didn't think that's all you were going to be able to do with this newfound freedom, did you?? Fring [iTunes link], the popular Skype client on the iPhone and other mobile platforms, has just announced the ability to make VoIP and Video calls over 3G. Not quite the same feature set as iCall, but just as, if not more, important. I'm not so sure about the quality of the calls on AT&T's shoddy network, but the ability to do so in a pinch is a welcome addition.