There’s a lot of good to be said about the Music app. It makes managing massive music collections as painless as possible, and we can even create and edit playlists on the go now. But there’s one feature that I keep quietly wishing for…a queue. Sometimes I like the current song, but not the one I know is coming next; I want to finish this song while being able to pick the next one. Instead, the Music app forces us to either cut off the current song or wait for the song to finish (and then quickly select the song we want next). It’s a small annoyance, but still. I like my Apple gadgets to be perfect. I don’t want to think about their limitations!

Hence: Instant Queue to the rescue! Instant Queue is a bare-bones solution to the “queueing problem.” With Instant Queue, you can select one or more songs to be played next. And…well, that’s it, really. Instant Queue will remain running in the background thanks to multitasking, and will automatically play the songs in your queue in order. Note that you can’t import playlists or save queues.

I don’t know if the “queueing problem” really warrants an entire app, but nevertheless—whenever I run into it, it’s like an itch begging to be scratched. To continue the analogy, Instant Queue is a simple, efficient backscratcher. It doesn’t try to replicate all of the Music app’s features, though it mimics its appearance. Instead, it focuses on solving a single, irritating problem. And solve it it does.

If you, too, suffer from the “queueing problem,” check out Instant Queue on the App Store.

FREE!

Instant Queue

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-11-11 :: Category: Music

After a very long wait Google finally released its Google Voice app for iPhone last month. At the time the app was a true iPhone exclusive, incompatible with any other iOS devices. Now the service has been upgraded so it will work on iPod and iPad, doing everything but sending and receiving calls.

The app allows users access to all the traditional features, including free text messaging to all US numbers as well voicemail transcription for those who want to keep a log of important messages. Also, just because the iPod and iPad can’t make phone calls doesn’t mean the feature is useless, as Google has introduced a feature called Click2Call which will dial the number listed in Google Voice and then connect the call using the phone of your choice. Granted, it’s not terribly convenient but hey, it’s a feature nonetheless.

In addition to all this Google also made some general upgrades to the app itself. New features include the ability to disable text notifications when push notifications are already active, a “do not disturb” setting that sends all calls directly to voicemail and a dedicated contacts button on the dialer tab. Basically just a bunch of little improvements meant to streamline the experience and make the app that much more user-friendly.

We’re happy to see the Google Voice app spread its wings and become available on other iOS devices, but at the same time we’re not totally sure how critical this app is for non-iPhone users. While it’s a nice text-messaging and chat service, the primary function of the app is to make and receive phone calls, but that’s something the iPod and iPad simply can’t do. While this is definitely a nice app, it might also be all but unnecessary for a large percentage of consumers.

FREE!

Google Voice

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-11-16 :: Category: Productivity

[via Google]

In what is quickly becoming an annual tradition here at 148Apps, we have scoured the web to bring you all the latest and greatest info on Black Friday app sales that are going to be popping up starting this week. Here’s the list of our favorite deals and discounts we have seen so far, and we’ll keep updating this post with new info as it becomes available. Hide your wallet, because here comes a whole lot of digital goodness at ridiculously low prices.

We’ve split the list up into Games, Apps, and Navigation apps. There’s lots of money to be saved here and we’ll be adding to it throughout the weekend. We can’t put every single sale app on the list. If you want to see every single app as it goes on sale, head on over to our App Price Drops page. There’s a filterable list there that you can see the hundreds of apps that go on sale every day. You can even search just for the app that are now free.

Update 11/23, 1:30pm – Believe it or not we already have an update. Lots of titles from EA and Gameloft added. Also Quickoffice apps and a few others.
Update 11/23, 5:30pm – Lots more added. They just keep coming!
Update 11/23, 10:00pm – Found a few more to add, including a few new apps.
Update 11/24, 8:00am – Added many more games, TomTom apps, and more.
Update 11/24, 5:30pm – Added even more. Will it ever stop? 224 Total now!
Update 11/25, 8:00am – Happy Thanksgiving! Up to 270+ now. Added Activision, more EA, and a bunch of great indie games. Also Sketchbook Pro (for $0.99) and more to the apps list way down below the games.
Update 11/25, 10:00am – Bird is in the oven, what to do now? Update the Black Friday sale app list! 25 more added bringing us to nearly 300!
Update 11/26, 8:00am – Oh my. Turkey coma really took a hold of me last night. Gravy hangover in full effect but we still added 80+ new sale items bringing the total up to 389! And remember, leftover pumpkin pie is the true breakfast of champions.
Update 11/26, 10:00am – added a couple more and due to some issues reported, we’ve split up the post into multiple pages. Not something we like to do, but it’s getting really long and overloading some browsers.
Update 11/27, 12:00pm – prices are still in flux. I’ve added a few new, noteworthy sales to the top. While many of the following are still available, more and more are going back up in price all the time. I’ve removed a few that have expired. Make sure you double check the price in iTunes before you purchase the app.
Update 11/29, 9:00am – Black Friday has now morphed in to a whole weekend and the following Monday. While lots of apps on our list below have gone back up in price, a few more have been added to the top of our list. Including the lowest price we’ve seen for GTA: Chinatown Wars and TomTom USA.

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?
Price was: $4.99

Sale: $3.99

Farm Frenzy 2 HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2010-04-30 :: Category: Games

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?
Price was: $1.99

Sale: $2.99

The Treasures of Montezuma HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2010-09-16 :: Category: Games

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?

Sale: $0.99

Soccer Superstars®

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2010-06-03 :: Category: Games

Our Rating: :: HE SHOOTS! HE SCORES!
Read Our Full Review >>

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?
Price was: $1.99

Sale: $0.99

The Treasures of Montezuma

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2009-03-27 :: Category: Games

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?

Sale: $0.99

PANZER PANIC

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2010-02-09 :: Category: Games

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?

Sale: FREE!

Slingshot Safari

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2010-04-16 :: Category: Games

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?

Sale: $FREE

Earth Defence

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2010-06-08 :: Category: Games

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?

Sale: $FREE

ColorRush

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2010-06-14 :: Category: Games

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?

Sale: $2.99

HYBRID 2: Saga of Nostalgia

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2010-09-09 :: Category: Games

Our Rating: :: HACK N SLASH FUN
Read Our Full Review >>

On Sale Now-Nov 29-?

Sale: $0.99

Penultimate

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2010-04-16 :: Category: Productivity

Our Rating: :: QUICK & EASY
Read Our Full Review >>

On Sale Now-Nov 27-?

Sale: FREE!

Denizen

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2010-02-26 :: Category: Games

On Sale Now-Nov 27-?

Sale: $0.99

Chuck Gnome

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, works on iPad
Released: 2010-08-04 :: Category: Games

Poor Mr. Bill, he just can’t catch a break. Next week, when most of us sit down to a gigantic meal and lots of football, he’ll be bouncing off turkeys and trying to avoid scarecrows set up by Sluggo with the express purpose of killing him. That’s right, Mr. Bill is getting a Thanksgiving update and his pain is your pleasure.

According to Capcom, the new update will add 14 Thanksgiving-themed levels to the standard game, as well as a Thanksgiving-oriented Endless mode which will let Bill bounce, flap and fly as far as you can take him until he meets a grisly end. This brings the total number of levels in the game to 56, alongside four different endless maps. Capcom has also promised that this won’t be the last update they add to the game, so hopefully we’ll be seeing a winter holiday edition of the title soon. I’m sure trying to maneuver Mr. Bill past reindeer would be quite a challenge.

I’ve personally got quite a soft spot for Mr. Bill, both because I loved the SNL skits and because it was the first app I ever reviewed for 148. Oh memories, sometimes you’re all I have in this world! The game is the perfect mix of simple yet addictive, and it’s a great app for those times when you’ve got a few minutes to kill and want to play a quality game without launching into more in-depth fare.

The new update is free and available right now. If you’ve already got the app installed on your device then the new “Thanks, but No Thanksgiving” stages will be ready and waiting for you as soon as you install the new data. Now, instead of talking to relatives you only see once a year you’ll actually have something fun to do after you eat and before you take the traditional Thanksgiving nap.

$1.99

Mr. Bill

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad

Our Rating: :: NOSTALGIC
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-09-23 :: Category: Games

[via TouchArcade]

The long wait is finally over as Apple has officially announced that iOS 4.2 will be available for the iPod, iPhone and iPad today at 10am PST, 1pm EST. The new update brings features such as folders, multitasking and a unified inbox to the iPad, as well as AirPlay and AirPrint to all devices. For a full rundown of all the new features make sure to check out the tutorials we posted last week.

Specifically in relation to the iPad, Apple head honcho Steve Jobs said “iOS 4.2 makes the iPad a completely new product, just in time for the holiday season. Once again, the iPad with iOS 4.2 will define the target that other tablets will aspire to, but very few, if any, will ever be able to hit.”

One of the less publicized but still incredibly important features is the fact that Apple is extending the Find My Phone service to all users for free. The feature, which allows users to track down lost iOS devices remotely, was previously restricted to MobileMe subscribers. The feature is great for those afraid of losing their device and having sensitive data exposed to the world, as Find My Phone allows you to locate your device on a map, lock it remotely and even wipe data if it’s been compromised. Granted, most of us don’t really need such a service, but it still makes our lives feel just a little more like a James Bond film, and that’s always awesome.

At any rate, we’re mere hours away from Apple’s next big major operating system update! How excited are you? Are you planning a party to have all your friends come over and you’ll all eat snacks and download the update together? We’ll bring the dip, but if Susan makes that awful casserole again we’re totally leaving right away and will just keep running 4.1 until we get home.

FREE!

Find My iPhone

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-06-18 :: Category: Utilities

[via MacRumors and Apple]

November 26 is a dangerous yet thrilling day to be an American shopper, as it marks Black Friday. As US consumers know, the day after Thanksgiving is typically when retailers offer their biggest sales and best incentives in the hope of kicking the holiday shopping season off with a bang. Further complicating an already hectic day is the fact that if you’re looking to buy an iPad or iPhone for a loved one then you’d best make the Apple Store or another electronics retailer your first stop, as they’re poised to go fast.

According to a survey conducted by BlackFriday.com, the iPad is the most sought after holiday gift this year, and the iPhone comes in third. That means that if you’re looking to buy either item then you might want to go ahead and get in line at your local Best Buy right now, because both are likely to be sold out about ten minutes after the store opens on November 26 and then remain MIA through New Year’s. The upside to all this is that the iPod Touch isn’t in the top 10 list of most-wanted items (it lands at number 11), so while all the other crazed shoppers are fighting over the other iOS devices you should be able to snap up an iPod with minimal fuss.

What’s most surprising about the Black Friday predictions in general is just how tech-centric they are. Every item in the top 15 is some sort of gadget or gizmo, and nearly 60 percent of survey respondents said they wanted some form of electronics as a holiday gift. In fact, tech dominates the list, with most folks saying that they want things with microchips inside them under the Christmas tree this year. And remember, this isn’t some tech site running the survey, but rather a general interest website which is devoted solely to helping people find good sales. In other words, its target market is the average American consumer, and it seems that such consumers really want iPads and iPhones. Looks like Apple is shaping up to have a very happy holiday season.

[via BlackFriday.com]

One of the main compliments typically paid to Apple is that the company does a great job of making sleek, attractive hardware that is generally easy to use. That’s why it’s such a surprise how badly the company has flubbed past attempts at creating first-party Bluetooth headsets for the iOS market. It seems that won’t be an issue much longer though, as a recent acquisition should allow Apple to grow much more competitive in the Bluetooth market.

Update: Upon further review, it seems that Apple hasn’t acquired Wi-Gear after all. Despite earlier reports, company CEO Mark Pundsack stated, “The rumor is false. Wi-Gear and its IP are still available for sale.” What actually transpired is that Wi-Gear co-founder Michael Kim accepted a new position at Apple, but the company he started wasn’t part of the deal.

The company has apparently bought Wi-Gear, a small, San Francisco based Bluetooth headset manufacturer which specialized in iOS devices. Wi-Gear created the iMuffs style of headsets as well as releasing a Bluetooth 2.0 adapter which allowed older model iPhones and iPods to play nice with newer gear. Now it seems that the company will begin creating Apple-branded headsets which will become the “official” Bluetooth devices for iOS machines (and possibly Mac as well). As of yet no firm timetable has been set for Wi-Gear’s first official Apple product.

With an arrangement such as this the sky is the limit for iOS Bluetooth integration. With a new company brought in specifically to handle this aspect of the business, we may finally see Apple fully embrace the technology, which will be a huge boon to business consumers and those who prefer a hands-free setup. While the iPhone has always supported Bluetooth, making it a focus will likely be a net gain by improving functionality and building features with Bluetooth support in mind. Also, could this mean that future iPhones may even come with an official Apple Bluetooth headset? At this point it’s just wishful thinking, but such a pack-in would definitely be welcomed by many consumers.

We’ll keep an eye out for any official product announcements from Wi-Gear. We’ve got our iMuffs plugged into our ears and await their call with more official info.

[via 9to5Mac]

Fruit Ninja has consistently been one of the best-selling and most beloved gaming apps available on the iTunes Store, and now this super-entertaining game has gotten even more addictive with the addition of a brand new mode. The game, both in standard and iPad HD varieties is getting support for a brand-new Arcade mode, which looks to be highly entertaining. Among the new features included are:

Double Points – This banana will award you double points for a short period of time. Criticals and combos count too, so rack up those fruit for some massive scores!

Frenzy – If you’re not content with the amount of fruit on screen, the Frenzy banana will take care of that. A mammoth amount of fruit will begin flying in, but you have to stay focused to slice it all!

Freeze – The entire screen will slow down, allowing for maximum accuracy and combo potential!

Each round in Arcade mode lasts for 60 seconds, and at the end you can post your scores and see how you stack up with other members of the fruit slashing community. It’s very similar to other Arcade style games such as Bejeweled Blitz, and we all know how ridiculously addictive and popular such games can be. When you’re tired of cutting the rope why not go back to cutting the fruit, but this time with a frenzy?

Now that the mysterious “banana mode” which has haunted players for months has finally been revealed we have to ask, what do you think? Is this the sort of thing you had been dreaming of, or would some other new mode have suited the game better? From where I sit, you should be happy I stopped playing long enough to report this news, there are pineapples that must be frozen and then sliced and I’m wasting precious seconds typing instead!

$0.99

Fruit Ninja

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-04-20 :: Category: Games

[via TiPb]

If you find yourself running a Google search on your iPhone or iPad and you find the results popping up as you type, don’t be alarmed, just be excited you’re a part of the advancement of technology. Google has confirmed that they have begun rolling out Google Instant across mobile devices, and some iOS users are getting their first taste of truly instantaneous search results.

For those unfamiliar with Google Instant, it displays instant search results as you type based on popularity, current trends and other analytics, theoretically saving time as you try and find what you’re looking for. The service works extremely well if you’re searching for popular topics or hot news items, but can be a bit less helpful if you’re looking up more obscure information. Still, for folks who need info right now it will likely be a helpful addition.

The service, which is currently in beta, can be turned on simply by tapping the link underneath the search bar on the Google homepage. Google Instant should be available to anyone in the US running iOS 4, and the company is saying that if you don’t see the option to use it then a quick page refresh should do the trick. I just checked on my iPod Touch to confirm the service is up and working, and at least here on the East Coast things seem to be hunky dory.

Google Instant is a lovely little time-saver but there are definitely those out there annoyed by the service. After all, if you type in “Lady” expecting to find Macbeth but instead get Gaga it can be grounds for irritation. Instant also isn’t advised for those who get easily distracted, as the images that pop up in the above example may lead you to forget all about your literature paper and instead spend hours wondering how a human being fits into such dresses, let alone performs in them.

[via Google]

Aspyr and Kaplan have announced that they’re teaming up to bring their SAT Prep game, futureU to the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. The game was originally launched on PC and the Nintendo DS, and features a number of mini-games which are designed to focus specifically in the reading, writing and math sections of the well-known college admissions test. The core version of the game is available for free on the iTunes Store, and four extended study levels are available for $1.99 each.

“As the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch play an increasing role in how students receive their information, it made sense for us to expand the futureU SAT test prep game to this mobile platform,” said Kaplan’s Executive Director of Pre-College Programs Kristen Campbell “Aspyr’s ability to deliver engaging games to students across multiple-platforms has enabled us to bring futureU to a new audience of SAT preppers.”

So in addition to traditional study books, courses and flashcards students can now cram for the single most stressful exam of their lives on their mobile devices. It’s sort of ingenious yet horrifying all at once, as now you truly can take your test prep with you anywhere you go. Just looking at the screenshots of the app is bringing back a wave of sick nostalgia that makes me glad I’m not in high school anymore.

For technology-minded teens though this app may be a godsend, as it gives them a method to study that requires neither book nor sharpened number 2 pencil. Is a high school student more likely to pull out their iPhone to study than they are to text friends or update their Facebook status? Probably not, but at least it’s something there to remind them, and maybe even spur them into expanding their vocabulary or working out a couple algebra problems while they’re waiting to hear where everyone’s meeting up for tonight. You’ve got to celebrate the small victories, right?

[via FingerGaming]

FREE!

futureU SAT

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-11-03 :: Category: Education

Epic has officially announced that Infinity Blade, which up until now has been known as Project Sword, will be coming to iOS devices this holiday season. The game is powered by the Unreal Engine, and has been a hot topic of conversation ever since it was teased at Apple’s keynote back in September. Some are expecting this to be the most visually impressive game yet for iOS machines.

Epic also dropped some new gameplay details, giving us our first taste of how the game will play. The company is promising that Infinity Blade will showcase “adrenaline-fueled sword battles and epic boss fights set in the realm of a fully 3D castle.” There will be at least some RPG element to the proceedings, as players will gain experience, build stats and buy new items as they progress through the story. We also know that the final boss is called the God-King, which is either pure awesome or a shining example of how lazy some people have become.

One down note is that the game won’t have multiplayer at launch, but the good news is that it will eventually come as a free update down the road. Since we don’t yet have a firm release date for the game proper we also don’t know when the multiplayer will show up, but we’d guess it will arrive in early 2011. There’s also been no price announced yet for Infinity Blade, but given the production values and development costs it’s likely going to retail for more than $0.99.

You may also want to invest in a convenient charging solution for your iPhone or iPad, as Infinity Blade will most surely be a battery hog. Enjoy playing the game in five minute spurts; that’s likely about all you’re going to manage to get out of something so resource taxing. Let’s just hope your device doesn’t die in the middle of the final fight with the God-King, because that would just be tragic.

[via TouchArcade]

Classic adventure gamers will soon get to open up their inventories and combine excitement with anticipation in order to create pure joy, as Trilobyte Games has announced that they will be porting The 7th Guest to iOS devices. No specifics have been revealed, but the game’s teaser trailer is touting a Christmas 2010 release. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for any additional details.

Adventure gamers fondly remember The 7th Guest as a pioneering CD-ROM title that helped popularize the medium. The horror title moved over 2 million units in its lifetime, qualifying it as a smash success both for PC gaming in general and CD-ROMs in particular. There is some question as to how well the game will work on iOS devices, but given that the original was very puzzle-centric, the translation to touchscreens should be relatively smooth and painless.

Oh, and as if this news weren’t good enough, Trilobyte is also hoping to release the game’s sequel, The 11th Hour, as well. Right now the studio is claiming that they’ll use 7th Guest proceeds to fund 11th Hour development, so if you want to see the sequel relatively quickly then you and all your friends had best buy up tons of copies of The 7th Guest.

While many casual gamers – or those who aren’t intimately familiar with old-school PC gaming – likely won’t find much to be excited about here, it’s big news for fans of nostalgia gaming. The 7th Guest often stands alongside Myst as one of the twin pillars that built and supported PC-ROM gaming, so the title’s return is a big deal if for no other reason as an homage to the games that brought us to where we are right now.

The other great news to come out of this is that we’re seeing the resurrection of a studio, as Trilobyte shut down over a decade ago, but is now coming on strong to lead the charge on this port. We’d hate to see anyone else taking over the reins of such a venerated and beloved franchise, so it’s great to see the original studio back in the saddle once more. Launch day of The 7th Guest is one we’ll all remember, unless of course we come down with a crippling case of amnesia and have to solve a series of demented puzzles in order to remember. Man I sure hope that doesn’t happen.

[via TouchArcade]

A new report from MeFeedia suggests that HTML5 is gaining ground on Flash, with 54 percent of all videos online supporting the format. This is substantial growth from even January of this year when only 10 percent of videos were compatible with HTML5. This announcement is great news for the iOS community seeing as how HTML5 is the format of choice for iDevices.

When the iPhone first debuted one of the major knocks against it was the fact that it didn’t support Flash, the standard format for almost all online video. Detractors wondered how a separate format could ever hope to make inroads against a larger, more-established and entrenched rival, akin to Betamax taking on VHS. Then again, technology is filled with stories of new devices driving one format over another, and it appears this may be yet another example.

The survey claims that mobile phones are indeed the primary driver in the growth of HTML5, and that while Flash remains the dominant format in desktop environments, it’s on the cusp of being overtaken in the mobile space. Just like how Sony’s PS3 basically drove the sale of Blu-Rays until the format established a foothold, the iPhone has blazed a trail for HTML5 to create demand and help provide for more widespread adoption. As if iPhone users aren’t smug enough already, here’s another feather in their cap (we kid).

Really this is good news all around. Flash isn’t going anywhere, and this is just a way for more videos to be easily available for more people. One of the terms used in the survey is that video is becoming “device agnostic,” which is truly a welcome trend. Feel free to celebrate the news by watching videos for the rest of the day, your boss won’t mind, after all you’re just celebrating a happy period in human history.

[via MeFeedia]

Last week’s release of Rock Band 3 pushed the platform’s total number of songs well above 2,000. And with the company pushing to get 5,000 songs into the setlist over the coming years, trying to keep that many tracks straight can be quite a challenge. Thankfully, much like everything else in the world, there’s an app for that with third-party developers Three Brothers creating a sortable list of Rock Band music.

This free app allows users to organize songs based on artist, song, version or even difficulty. So if you remember there’s that one bluegrass song that’s ridiculously hard in Rock Band but can’t think of its name then this little wonder will handily tell you that it’s “Green Grass and High Tides” which completely wrecked your fingers. Of course there’s a big fear that the app will quickly grow outdated due to the ever-expanding musical lineup, but the developers are promising monthly updates to keep the library totally up to date.

Perhaps the most devious inclusion of all is the ability to preview or purchase songs with a single click, allowing you to play a song in Rock Band and then immediately head over to your iPhone or iPod and add the track to your musical library. Just remember that just because you feel nostalgic and hip playing Smashmouth’s “Walkin’ on the Sun” right now doesn’t mean you’ll still want to hear it in a month. Just ask the late ’90s about that.

The app iss available right now and, as mentioned before, it’s totally free. If you’re a Rock Band fan who’s tired of scrolling through the menus trying to find a particular song then try out this handy little solution. And we already apologize for how your bank account will soon be emptied from buying all this music.

[via Joystiq]

FREE!

Rock Band Song List

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-10-25 :: Category: Games

Just in case you either don’t like browsing the App Store or just prefer doing all your shopping via Google, the search provider has added a nifty feature which allows users to hunt for iPhone apps right in their browser. The process is fairly simple, with users needing but to click the “More” tab on a search results and then tap on “iPhone Apps” in the resulting drop-down menu. A similar service is available for Android users.

This likely goes without saying, but you will need to be using an iOS device in order to to see the extra options. Just don’t go trying to Google Angry Birds on your home PC and then wondering why you don’t get the option to go directly to the app. Again, we trust that you’re smarter than that, but the last thing we want to do is create confusion and chaos.

At any rate this is a truly handy feature for iOS users, as now you don’t need to jump back and forth from Google to the App Store when looking up something you may want to download. Granted, you’re only really saving a few seconds, but everyone loves convenience and this is just one more way to make your life a little bit easier. If anything this will hopefully speed up searches a bit, allowing you access to the content you want without waiting quite so long.

One other note, we’re hearing that this is a feature which has been around for a while, but this is honestly the first we’ve heard of it and the first time we’ve seen it reported. So before you light up the comment section with “old!” keep in mind that this isn’t a feature Google ever really advertised and it’s one of those things that you don’t know is there if you don’t look for it. We’re just trying to be helpful here, so enjoy the added functionality of Google on your iOS devices.

[via Gizmodo]

What do kids want Santa to bring them this year? According to battery-maker Duracell, iOS machines sit atop the list. Fourteen percent of tykes want an iPhone 4, while 13 percent are wishing for an iPod Touch and 12 percent opine for an iPad. As a point of comparison, Microsoft’s Kinect, the new “controller free” controller, comes in at only six percent.

The survey was conducted with over 2,000 children ages 5-16, and we’re hoping that it was the upper tier of ages which tilted the numbers in favor of the iOS devices. While there’s plenty of reason for a 16 year-old who wishes nothing more than to be cool to want an iPhone or iPad, the machines should really hold little sway over a kindergartner. Then again, Apple’s ubiquitous iOS ads may have made demand transcend age, in which case we can only say kudos to the evil-yet-effective marketing team. Here’s the full top-ten list for those who are curious:

01) iPhone 4 (14%)
02) iPod touch (13%)
03) iPad (12%)
04) Kinect (6%)
05) Zhu Zhu Pet Hamsters (5%)
06) Flip Video Camera (4%)
07) Toy Story 3 Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear (4%)
08) PlayStation Move (4%)
09) Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4: The Video Game (3%)
10) Barbie Video Girl (3%)

For those of our readers with kids, how closely does this list align with what your youngsters have been asking for? More importantly, how many of you are thinking about getting your children an iOS machine and how many believe that these are devices really more aimed at adults and should be kept out of the hands of kids? Maybe instead you buy yourself the iPad and let your kids play with it when you put it down — which is never.

[via CVG]

Fans of the Worms franchise have reason to rejoice today as Worms 2: Armageddon has made its App Store debut. The new entry into the franchise boasts local multiplayer with up to 4 players or 2 player battles online, as well as an increased arsenal of weaponry and 30 single-player missions spread across five locales. The cost of all this new content? $4.99.

Of course, many folks are going to be wary of this game after the less than stellar reception the original Worms received. Though the franchise has been remade and ported many times over, the original iPhone edition of the game was an utter mess, turning off most who played it after only a couple sessions. Over the course of the app’s lifespan, Team17 did add a number of updates which improved performance and functionality, but by then it was basically too little too late.

The hope with Worms 2 is that players will be presented with a polished, finished product right from the start, and we won’t have to wait six months or longer after launch to get a game that’s actually worth the flash drive space. From the looks of things, the game is promising, but you’ll forgive us if we’re just a little gun-shy after last time. An added bonus is that the app is apparently Universal, allowing iPad owners a chance to play on a larger screen.

Therein lies the major issue Worms 2 has to overcome. How will Team17 lure back jilted gamers who feel betrayed by the franchise? How much demand is left for a franchise that had a sub-par debut on the iPhone when Worms can be played on the PC, Xbox or any number of other outlets? Is the Worms brand strong enough to overcome these hurdles? We’ll just have to wait and see.

[via TouchArcade]

$2.99

Worms 2: Armageddon

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Our Rating: :: YAY
Read Our Full Review >>

Released: 2010-10-27 :: Category: Games

Thus far video game retailer GameStop has stayed out of the Apple market in general and iOS sales in particular. That appears to be changing, though, as a picture of the store’s inventory system shows a new entry for iPod trade-ins. As of right now there are no listed prices for the devices, but it seems that GameStop will soon be set to accept everything from Shuffles to Touches for cash or store credit.

If true, then this will be quite a surprising development seeing as how the chain doesn’t currently deal in Apple products. While GameStop once accepted PC games and DVD movies for trades, the company slimmed down its policy a few years ago to only focus on console games. This would indeed be a strange reversal of fortune.

There is some speculation that GameStop may begin selling iPod Touches, marketed as handheld gaming systems, but that seems unlikely. The store derives most of its profits from used game sales and another big chunk from new software. Selling a piece of hardware where all content is delivered digitally and directly to the consumer seems like a bad business move for GameStop, which thrives on being the middle-man between publishers and consumers. The store hates the very idea of digital distribution, so why would it want to take a small cut of hardware sales with no future earnings potential?

The more likely scenario is that the chain is prepping for some sort of holiday promotion which will give customers hard up for cash another opportunity to earn a bit more credit toward the season’s hottest games. We’re expecting a trial run for the holidays, with performance dictating whether or not the company makes accepting iPods a standing policy.

So far neither GameStop nor Apple has commented on the rumors, so we’re forced to wait and wonder. In the meantime, what are your thoughts? Would you trade your iPod in at GameStop, or are you worried that given the chain’s questionable pricing of used games that you’d only get ripped off?

[via Kotaku]

In an effort to automate check-ins at Apple Stores and provide customers with yet another reason to pull out their iDevices and wave them around, Apple is developing a new Concierge app. According to reports, the app will allow customers to wirelessly report in when they enter the store and direct them to available associates. On the flip side, Concierge will also send push notifications to store staff, letting them know when customers with appointments are in-store and awaiting assistance.

For customers, Concierge will activate when they enter the store and ask if they have an appointment. If so, the user may check in, see approximate waiting time and even be sent a photo of the store associate they’ll be meeting with that day. Apple is also releasing a companion app called Scout which store managers can use to keep track of room-by-room locations so they know exactly where checked-in customers are browsing.

While the app seems very useful it’s kind of funny that even when you’re in a position to talk to someone face-to-face Apple would prefer you communicate via your iDevice. How hard is it to walk into an Apple Store and check-in for an appointment? Apparently too hard, as now you’ll be able to do it digitally rather than walking 20 feet and taking care of it in person. How long before all Genius Bar requests are handled via text message even as you sit across the desk from the associate? Maybe they’re right and modern tools such as text messages, emails and IMs are eroding our communication skills.

There’s no specific timeline for when Concierge will roll out but it will likely be soon. The service went live yesterday for Apple Store employees so it should be available in at least a select number of stores over the coming weeks. We fully expect the service to be nationwide in time for the holiday rush, so if you’re heading to an Apple Store to do some shopping don’t worry, you won’t have to talk to an actual person unless you want to.

[via Mac Stories]