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Video: iStetho Turns your iPhone into a Stethoscope
iPhone Apps Have to Be Approved by Robots Now, Too
Official Commodore 64 Emulator Returns to the App Store
This Week's Best iPhone Apps
Apple App Store Approval Process Becomes Slightly Less Inscrutable
New For iPhone: 2 Balls 1 Cup
100,000 Apps Now Available for the iPhone/iPod touch
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The iPhone Now Officially Runs Doom

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Odin
11/17/09

In reply to iPhone Apps Have to Be Approved by Robots Now, Too
It sucks in the sense that it cuts you off from getting the most out of your software. On the flipside though you have to develop within the rules of the platform ESPECIALLY if you're releasing your app commercially. You may not fuss much if an Apple update breaks your app but the people that bought it will.

What Apple should do after this though is open up to feedback on what API's devs want making public. Give the functionality the devs want to them. #appstore
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ThePaul
11/16/09

In reply to Magellan Sends Its Eldest Child Into the iPhone Turn-By-Turn App War, Tearfully
I'm surprised Apple didn't crap all over the application on the grounds that it doesn't meet Apple's aesthetic design ethos. It's yet another wrinkle in Apple's indiscernible approval process. I guess this one slipped past the "robots." #appstore #magellanroadmate
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Gordonium promoted this comment ThePaul was starred ThePaul was unstarred

crackel
11/17/09

@ThePaul: motionX apps are the same, not to mention countless others. The HIG are guidelines, not so much rules. #magellanroadmate
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ThePaul
11/17/09

@crackel: The fact that they are guidelines and not rules is, I think, the problem here. It's like the Pirate's Code, amiright?

I bet Magellan called "parley." Yeah, that's definitely how it was approved. I reject your logic, good sir! #magellanroadmate
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crackel
11/17/09

@ThePaul: The problem I see is that we complain about apps that are not approved and feel that everything short of illegal should make it to AppStore, yet a decent application that doesn't look like an Apple creation doesn't deserve to make it.

I get your point that this is more of a wrinkle in their process and not a complaint on the developers, but I've never seen Apple reject on HIG grounds therefore I don't see the inconsistency. #magellanroadmate
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ThePaul
11/17/09

@crackel: Now, I don't know how often it happens, but a couple of the apps I have on my iPhone were updated to meet Apple's HIG, in order that they should more closely reflect the Apple design aesthetic. I can't speak for the consequences of not updating applications, but I'd imagine it was enough to prompt the individual developers involved to include those patches in the updates.

And for the record, I don't feel at all that this application didn't deserve approval. My comment was more on the opaque approval process that sends otherwise useful -- and legal -- applications to the Land of Misfit Apps (aka Cydia). #magellanroadmate
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crackel
11/17/09

@ThePaul: There's something to ponder, what kind of pressure is Apple applying onto developers to follow guidelines? Could it be longer approval times, or snarkier reps when the do answer emails or phone calls? The truth is that they're rather terrible, it took them 6 weeks just to answer an email I sent about my signature certificate name being misspelled. I can't imagine an easier request. I literally just wanted to update the name on my profile. :/ #magellanroadmate
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Benguin
11/16/09

In reply to iPhone Apps Have to Be Approved by Robots Now, Too
Maybe I'm naive, but isn't that a good thing? It always seemed to me that if you wanted to use unauthorized APIs just make a jailbreak app. Othewise if you want to be in the App Store, stick to the rules (which are admittedly draconian at times, but this not being one of them). #appstore
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Twisk
11/16/09

In reply to Official Commodore 64 Emulator Returns to the App Store
M.U.L.E. please. kthanx #c64
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Monty
11/16/09

In reply to iPhone Apps Have to Be Approved by Robots Now, Too
This seems like a perfectly reasonable step given the workflow Apple has in place for app approval. (Is it "App" or "app"? Is there an official "app grammer" playbook yet?)

Given the fact that the only way to get apps on an iPhone / Touch is to go through iTunes and the shear number of apps being developed, it makes sense Apple would make the process as streamlined as they can - even if a few submissions are hurt in the process.

Still, I want to back-up a step. Apple set this system up primarily (from what we have been told) to protect the cellular network and their proprietary device. This allows the elves in Cupertino (even the new cyborg ones) to determine if the app is naughty or nice. Got it. However, couldn't Apple give a "back door" approach to putting an app on your device without going through iTunes or Apple that has more limited access to the device and the network? If done correctly, it could protect all of the parties involved, dramatically reduce jail breaking the device, and would slow down the ridiculous number of apps being submitted. I know, it is a ridiculous concept, and I could write the rebuttal myself - but it seems a more benevolent Apple would consider this an option in the future. #appstore
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MarcusMaximus
11/16/09

@Monty: Ah, but then some devs could get away with not paying the 30% to Apple when their app sells. #appstore
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Monty promoted this comment MarcusMaximus was starred MarcusMaximus was unstarred

Monty
11/16/09

@MarcusMaximus: Doh! Forgot about that.

Seriously, though - does Apple make money on that percentage, or does it get wasted away on continuing to improve the submission process? At this point, I almost wonder if Apple would love to get rid of all of the fart apps and leave the store to the high-end products from companies that have significant experience developing software. Not to say the fart apps are not great -- I am just wondering if there is a compromise here that could improve the process for the end-user and the elves in Cupertino. #appstore
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OCEntertainment
11/16/09

In reply to iPhone Apps Have to Be Approved by Robots Now, Too

Seriously, John. Either you read Dinosaur Comics....or you need to. #appstore
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John Herrman
11/16/09

@OCEntertainment: Not for years! I loved those, and see NO reason that I shouldn't still #appstore
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ripfire
11/16/09

In reply to Official Commodore 64 Emulator Returns to the App Store

Good! Good!

Now if I can get it to play MULE while waiting at the airport. #c64
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Monty
11/16/09

In reply to Official Commodore 64 Emulator Returns to the App Store
Does anyone know the process for adding additional games to this emulator? Do they have to convert them for us, or could we somehow take a 1541 and plug it into an Amiga and convert it over to a usable format for it to read? It would a fantastic opportunity if we could easily convert the ridiculous number of games sitting in basements everywhere. Eight games is a nice proof of concept, but let's move it to the next level. #c64
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madog
11/16/09

@Monty: Most likely it would consist of them having to legally do it for you. For starters you wouldn't be able to add a file like that to an iPhone by default. That would lead me to believe that with the current paid additions for apps in in the App Store, they could obtain the rights for a game then sell it as an in-game upgrade for a fee. #c64
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saivior
11/16/09

@Monty: From the [toucharcade.com] article it looks like there will be an in-app store that you can purchase more games from.
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Monty promoted this comment Edited by saivior at 11/16/09 2:18 PM saivior was starred saivior was unstarred

Monty
11/16/09

@madog: If that is the case, and if the big names of the past (Epyx, Activision, Broaderbund, Rainbow Arts) could buy into this particular publisher making "the Commodore 64 emulator", then they could make a few bucks re-selling their old [cough] masterpieces. #c64
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madog
11/16/09

@Monty: Hopefully. I bet people would be happy to spend $1 for a new Comm game (that would be better than most of the stuff in the App Store even sans nostalgia). #c64
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Zerod Zunaro
11/16/09

In reply to Official Commodore 64 Emulator Returns to the App Store
Now, will Apple play cat and mouse again and take down the App for undisclosed SDK reasons?

I'm already on a wining bet: Yes. #c64
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dragon:ONE
11/13/09

In reply to This Week's Best iPhone Apps
Hey, John, ever consider a "This Week's Best Android Apps"? Us Android users need some love, too.

Also, can one of the Gizmodo Powers That Be(tm) remove these spam posts in red from "pengzi1990"? #theweekiniphoneapps
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weatherman
11/13/09

In reply to This Week's Best iPhone Apps
Even if it is slightly different, and even if the developer thought of it on their own, I'd still like to take credit for having inspired ARGH when I wrote "I want to see an augmented reality application based on 'They Live.'" back in July. Now all the developer needs to do is add the option to blow them alien/ghost's heads off - I'd pay $2 for that. #theweekiniphoneapps
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Kaiser-Machead
11/11/09

In reply to Apple App Store Approval Process Becomes Slightly Less Inscrutable
That still doesn't change the fact that apps applied to Apple must first be checked by Apple technicians, upon which the checklist must be signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, queried, lost, found, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycled as firelighters.
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Edited by Kaiser-Machead at 11/11/09 4:14 PM Kaiser-Machead was starred Kaiser-Machead was unstarred

Coolmodo
11/11/09

In reply to Withings WiFi Body Scale Will Now Twitter How Fat You Are
They should have called it Tweighter. #withingswifiscaletwitter
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Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo
11/07/09

In reply to New For iPhone: 2 Balls 1 Cup
I read this article, laughed, and then saw at the bottom: "Send an email to Adam Frucci, the author of this post".
How am I not surprised? #iphone
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Shamoononon: I shave my legs.
11/06/09

In reply to New For iPhone: 2 Balls 1 Cup
That's very jocular.

*hint*
*hint*

Ah, never mind. #iphone
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Jrsy Devil's Advocate®
11/07/09

@Shamoononon: I shave my legs.: Hey, look who's got a shiny new star. Congrats! have a beer (or three) on me. #iphone
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