Category Archives: iTunes

FTC Announces Settlement With Reverb For Fraudulent iPhone Game Reviews

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FTC Announces Settlement With Reverb For Fraudulent iPhone Game Reviews is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Public relations agency Reverb Communications will settle U.S. Federal Trade Commission charges that its employees engaged in false advertising by posing as consumers and writing game reviews on behalf of its clients on Apple’s iTunes store.

The terms of the settlement require Reverb Communications and owner Tracie Snitker to remove any reviews and comments left that portray the employees as regular consumers. It also forbids the PR agency from endorsing a product in any way unless they clearly identify that they are a PR firm.

Reverb and Snitker posted these game reviews between November 2008 and May 2009, using account names that gave readers the impression the reviews were written by disinterested consumers.

These comments would have been relevant to consumers who were considering a purchase of the games, according to the FTC complaint.

The PR agency did not make clear that it was hired to promote the games it left these reviews on, and that they often received a percentage of the sales.

“Companies, including public relations firms involved in online marketing need to abide by long-held principles of truth in advertising,” says Mary Engle of the FTC’s Division of Advertising Practices.

“Advertisers should not pass themselves off as ordinary consumers touting a product, and endorsers should make it clear when they have financial connections to sellers.”

The FTC stated in last year’s revised endorsements and testimonials guides that online posts of any nature must disclose the connection between reviews or comments left and the seller of the service or product in question. This rule goes for employees associated with a product as well as any agency advertising the product.

The announcement for this settlement will be published in the Federal Register shortly and will be subject to public comment for 30 days, from today through the 24th of September. After this period, the FTC will decide whether the ruling will be final. Consumers can comment on the settlement here.

[UPDATE In a statement received by consumer weblog Kotaku, Reverb PR director Casey Lynch says of the settlement, "During discussions with the FTC, it became apparent that we would never agree on the facts of the situation. Rather than continuing to spend time and money arguing, and laying off employees to fight what we believed was a frivolous matter, we settled this case and ended the discussion because as the FTC states: 'The consent agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute admission by the respondents of a law violation."]


Apple Oddsmaker: What Does Apple Have Planned For Us Next Week?

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Apple Oddsmaker: What Does Apple Have Planned For Us Next Week? is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Apple regularly schedules a September event to unveil new iPods and other odds and ends in time for the holiday buying season. I think we can assume this year will be more of the same. What will we see and what won’t we see? I’m going to try to put some odds to the various rumors and possible announcements. Note that these are all just my opinion as a guy that watches what Apple does with a rather critical and overly obsessive eye.

New iPod Touch – odds: even money
It’s almost guaranteed we’ll see a new iPod Touch introduced. This, like the iPhone announcement in June, has become a regular event. The question is what are the features we’ll see? I’m hoping we will, as in past years, see feature plurality with the current generation iPhone. So we’ll hopefully see the Retina Display (odds: 2-1), front facing camera with Facetime capability (odds: 3-1), rear camera (odds: 5-1). I’m also wondering if we’ll see the storage capacity increased to 64GB (odds: 4-1). And will we see other iPod lines retired like the iPod Classic, perhaps (odds: 8-1)?

iOS 4.1 Officially Announced – odds: even
This is also a given. iOS 4.1 has been in beta for 9+ weeks now and it’s been over 3 weeks since the last beta release. Betas usually come out every 2 weeks. So I think we can guess that it’s done and ready to release. We can expect the release either next week on 9/1 or very shortly after. What features will it have? A fix for the proximity sensor (odds: even) and a Game Center release (odds: 3-1) are the best bets. There’s the possibility that the length of time since the last beta was due to Apple adding in a mystery feature or two (odds: 5-1), or maybe it has to do with….

iOS 4.1 on the iPad – odds: 8-1
While I can’t wait to get iOS 4 on the iPad, it won’t be for a couple more months. I’m hoping that we’ll at least get some details on iOS 4 for the iPad (odds: 4-1), but I won’t hold my breath for that. Features I’m hoping for include support for running iPhone 4 resolution apps (odds: 4-1) and dashboard / icon layout update that takes better advantage of the screen size (odds: 30-1).

Updated Apple TV / iTV – odds: 5-1
This is the big new announcement most are expecting and an update to the Apple TV has been a long time coming. But I think Apple still sees it as too small of a market. I could be way off base here, but I think it’s too early for this rumored update. Apple has had so many leak problems that we tend to know just about every detail of a new device before it’s launched. We haven’t seen anything about a new Apple TV other than a few persistent rumors. While this would be the perfect time to launch it, just before the holidays, I just think it’s too early. But, in case it will be announced, the rumored features are a $99 price tag (odds: 10-1), and iOS based system (odds: 3-2), and App Store support of some kind (odds: 3-2).

I really hope I’m wrong about the Apple TV update and it does launch with all of the above. I’m certainly looking forward to this when it does launch and my head is spinning with the possibilities for apps for the device.

TV Show Rentals – odds: 3-2
This is almost a given. Goes along with the movie rentals and just makes sense. Once we have this, and on a new Apple TV, who will need their cable / satellite anymore? Along with this we’ll likely see iTunes 10 released (odds: 3-2) as seems to happen with every major new iTunes-based service.

New 7″ iPad – odds: 10-1
I think it’s too early for new iPads. The current one is still nearly impossible to get. And I just don’t see how a 7″ version fits into the future plans for Apple. This only really makes sense in combination with an updated Apple TV. A 7″, slightly cheaper (~$350) iPad model would make a great interactive, touch controlled remote control for an Apple TV though.

Updated iPads – odds: 20-1
In my mind, Apple made just one mistake with the current iPads — too little memory. Running multitasking on the iPad will not be a pleasant experience. But, I’ll put the odds at 20-1 that we’ll see new ones right now. But if they are announced, will they have more memory, yes, of course (odds: even). Retina display on the 10″ model — not likely as the overall resolution would be too large (odds: 30-1). Front facing camera to join in on the FaceTime fun (odds: 3-1). But again, not at this event — probably January.

iTunes Cloud Streaming – odds: 8-1
We know that iTunes cloud streaming is coming. And it should be coming soon as Apple’s huge east coast data center is ready or almost so. But is it ready to announce? I don’t think so. I believe we’ll see a full announcement of lots of integrated cloud based services all at once and we’ll find that the updated Apple TV might be integral to that.

Oh yeah, and the non-iOS related stuff still exists too…

Updated iLife – odds: 2-1 it’s been 18 months, an update is due. Only thing that could be holding it back is previously mentioned large-scale cloud services announcement.

Macbook Air Update – odds: 8-1
Macbook Air Retirement – odds: 4-1
It’s time to update or retire it.

We’ll be covering the major points of the event live on our @148Apps Twitter account next Wednesday starting at 10AM Pacific. And we’ll undoubtedly have a recap for you afterward.

What do you think? Let’s say this is a race track and you have $100 to bet however you wanted on the above possible winners. Who would you pick and how would you put your money down? LEt us know in the comments below.

[ Apple Oddsmaker: What Does Apple Have Planned For Us Next Week? is a post from 148Apps ]


iAds Starting To Show Up In App Store Apps

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iAds Starting To Show Up In App Store Apps is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

Apple’s new iAd mobile advertising platform looks to be gearing up for its launch on July 1st with test ads and spaces for iAds appearing in apps on the App Store.

iAd offers a way for developers to make money from free applications by including advertising spaces within their apps that are then filled by Apple’s new service. iAd looks to deliver more engaging advertising by comparison the traditional mobile ads that Steve Jobs seems particularly averse to.

iLounge points to a selection of applications from Avantar that are currently showing spaces for iAd adverts and, at one point, included “iAd integration” in release notes before changing the information to “minor bug fixes”. Whether or not Apple had a hand in this change is unclear although the big space within the app interfaces reading “Test Advertisement” next to the Apple logo would be a dead giveaway if they were going for some secrecy.

[ via iLounge ]

[ iAds Starting To Show Up In App Store Apps is a post from 148Apps ]


iPad App Stores Go Live Worldwide

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iPad App Stores Go Live Worldwide is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

We’re still a week away from the official launch of iPads in select countries outside the US but it seems that international iPad App Stores are beginning to switch on already. It is likely that Apple is adding iPad downloads to international App Stores so that all potential issues are ironed out in time for the launch of the iPad in these countries. App Stores in countries like the UK, Germany and Canada don’t currently have the iPad and iPhone buttons on the App Store front page like in the US, so users can’t yet split browsing between the two devices. App Store search results are split into iPad and iPhone categories, however. International users with US-bought iPads have, until now, been unable to access their local App Stores via the device but today should have full access despite some noted teething trouble on some stores.

[ iPad App Stores Go Live Worldwide is a post from 148Apps ]


CoPilot Live HD, turn-by-turn navigation available for iPad

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CoPilot Live HD, turn-by-turn navigation available for iPad is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

The team at ALK Technologies has launched its GPS navigation app, CoPilot Live HD, for the iPad on the App Store. The app has been designed specifically for the iPad 3G’s GPS receiver and large screen to provide turn-by-turn, voice-guided navigation.

With recent news of iPad’s being fitted into car dashboards, this is particularly exciting news for those shopping for a new SatNav device for their vehicle.

Street maps are stored on the device and the app can display both 2D and 3D map views with turn instructions for the driver. The app automatically switches between portrait and landscape view and provides iPod controls from within the application, another bonus for those planning to dashboard-mount their new Apple tablet or connect it to their in-car sound system.

CoPilot Live HD offers a feature for users to plan trips offline and preview routes to find the most efficient journey before setting out.

“CoPilot Live HD provides an absolutely sensational GPS navigation and planning experience on iPad 3G,” said Michael Kornhauser, Managing Director at ALK Technologies. “Developing for iPad was a natural step following the tremendous popularity of our CoPilot Live iPhone app. It’s a really fantastic platform for navigation that allows us to fully exploit the many years of expertise we have gained from supporting tablet computers with our CoPilot Live Laptop products.”

CoPilot Live HD is priced at $29.99 for unlimited use with free quarterly map updates through 2010.

Find out more here

$29.99

CoPilot Live HD North America

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

[ CoPilot Live HD, turn-by-turn navigation available for iPad is a post from 148Apps ]


Beware Of App Store Spammers, Says Developer

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Beware Of App Store Spammers, Says Developer is a post from: Best Iphone Apps Review Website

The next time you hear of a cool app and jump straight on to the App Store to get it, make sure you know exactly what you’re looking for and check where it’s coming from.

That’s the advice of Marco Arment, developer of Instapaper for iPhone and iPad.

Writing on his personal blog, Marco notes the staggering number of applications playing on the name of successful apps or using similar keywords in order to con unwitting App Store customers into buying them.

Popular bird-launching game, Angry Birds, is one such successful application plagued by a host of pretenders that are found when searching the App Store for its title. Of the top ten search results, only four apps appear legitimate with the actual Angry Birds game and its Lite version making up two of these. Six of the top ten search results are made up of cheat apps and walkthroughs.

ESCAPP’s Angry Birds Cheats, for example, appears in the top five searches and uses a lookalike icon. At $0.99 (the same price as the full Angry Birds app) the application’s description reads “Wonderful and addictive cheats. Accept No Imitations”.

That should be no imitations other than the imitation of affiliation with an actual application and/or developer.

We’ve not downloaded Angry Birds Cheats, but with 432 one star reviews out of 487 and reviews entitled “Absolute Rubbish!!” and “Waste of time money and effort” we’re willing to gamble our reputation on this being a pretty poor app. Add to this that the developer, ESCAPP, doesn’t have a working website but a GoDaddy holding page instead, and the fraud is complete.

InTekOne, LLC is another app publisher working in a similar way but this time using a modified version of the Angry Birds icon for its Angry Birds Walkthrough app. Once again, its site does not appear when clicked in iTunes and it’s left up to the poor developer, who was presumably commissioned to create the app, to shoulder the blame.

Chillingo, the publisher of Angry Birds, is equally unhappy with these apps: “We are going to send a formal copyright infringement request to Apple about these apps soon,” said Joe Wee, Director of Chillingo.

Chillingo prefers to reward loyal gamers with hints and tips at no cost by providing walkthrough trailers on its Developers’ YouTube channels. That way, they get free, valid information directly from the source. Angry Birds’ developer Rovio provides official suggestions for Angry Birds here

So what can you do to avoid inadvertently downloading fake apps or “squatters” who use successful apps as a marketing tool? Unfortunately, not a lot. Of course, you’re free to contact Apple and let them know your thoughts and Marco Arment also lists ways developers can protect their intellectual property from such apps on his site here.

For the average consumer, however, it appears that vigilance is your only weapon. Find out the name of the developer, check their website and, most importantly, read the app’s reviews for consumer feedback before buying.

Neither ESCAPP nor InTekOne, LLC have responded to our contact regarding their applications at time of writing.

[ via Marco.org ]

[ Beware Of App Store Spammers, Says Developer is a post from 148Apps ]