Archive for the 'Internet & Online' Category

Too often is it the case that raw numbers of available apps are bandied about when it comes to the comparison of mobile OS, but rarely do we have any idea of just how many people are working behind the scenes pushing out the content for each platform.  However, AppStoreHQ have filled this void today with their dev directory, a list they claim to contain 55,000+ coders whose work is currently on show on the App Store or the Android Market.  Taking it a step further, they have grouped them into neat piles of Apple, Google and ‘Gapple’ programmers.  It’s obvious that single platform development is the norm, with Apple holding the bigger stake.  But highlighted are some of the most well know and well funded apps dealing with both sides.  However, an article from BNET points out the difficulties faced by smaller developer who may not be able to call apon the necessary resources required to transfer content from one platform to another.

Download: 50 Top Apps For the iPhone

Nothing surprising here, but the Facebook app that you are never off of is now compatible with Apple’s iOS4.

Fast app switching, high resolution icons, Korean & Russian localization.  As we said, nothing spectacular.  Maybe background images and video upload are on the Facebook guys list of things to-do, but now at least it’s rockin’ the crisp display features we expect from the iPhone 4.

Download:  The Best Plug-ins for Facebook

In light of the success of Opera’s mini-browser making it to the App Store , Mozilla has today submitted its own ‘browser’ for release to the iOS platform.  Firefox Home is not really a browsers like Safari and the a fore mentioned Opera, but what it does is syncs your desktop bookmarks, history and tabs with your iPhone.

The Mozilla team are so confident that it will pass through Apple’s strict app approval process, that they are already promising a guide on how to set it up once it hits the App Store shelves.  The mere fact that it will allow you to shit browsing sessions over to Safari will be looked apon favourably.  However, this doesn’t draw away from the fact that it is still a ‘browser’ and competition to Apple’s own Safari.

Download: 50 Free Firefox Plug-ins

The official Twitter app is keeping up to speed with the rest of the app world by rolling out iOS 4 support.  Now the app is able to run in the background meaning that you will now be able to see tweets while switching in and out of other apps.  Better new, however is that you won’t have to relaunch the app every time you want to checkout the latest happening in your Twitter world.  Retina Display friendly graphics are also a feature along with a more secure means of tweeting.

Unnamed sources have spoken to both CNET and the Wall Street Journal and disclosed Google’s intent to introduce it’s very own music store.

This would initially include a music store where you can stream or download tracks and include a search tie-in to make sure all your music searches end up adding to Google’s coffers.  Suggested Android integration is expected in 2012 and was hinted to at Google’s I/O conference last month.  Obviously none of this is confirmed, but if it does go ahead see the Google vs. Apple battle step up another notch.