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Apple Now Accepting iPad Apps, Planning “Grand Opening” of iPad App Store

Apple is now accepting iPad apps for a “grand opening” of the iPad App Store, according to an email just sent to registered developers.
“iPad will begin shipping soon and your opportunity to be part of the grand opening of the iPad App Store starts today,” the email says.
There’s no details about when the store’s grand [...]

Security Expert: “Mac OS X Is Safer, But Less Secure”

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Tech site H-Online has an interesting story today, quoting security expert Charlie Miller about his forthcoming talk at the CanSecWest conference next week.
He says OS X is full of security holes. There are lots more than in Windows, he claims.
And yet: OS X is a safer system to use. Why? Because, in the words [...]

Apple Devotes Entire Home Page To Jerome York Obituary

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If ever you needed a sign that Apple was a different kind of technology company, this is it.
What other computer manufacturer would remove its top-selling, hype-inducing, industry-altering new product from the prime spot on its website home page, and replace it with an obituary to an investor?
This is one of those “Here’s to the [...]

Coming Soon: Steve Jobs, the Sitcom

Fake Steve creator Dan Lyons just signed a deal to bring Steve Jobs to another small screen near you.
The half-hour series called “iCon” is billed by the presser as “a savage satire centering on a fictional Silicon Valley CEO whose ego is a study in power and greed.”
Making sure the barbs prick will be the [...]

The Top 5 Secrets To Designing A killer iPhone App Site

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Here’s the Top 5 Secrets for making a killer website to showcase your iPhone app, courtesy of the WebDesignerWall blog.

“To compete with thousands of iPhone apps in the App Store, having a good app icon is not enough. A nicely designed website for the app is very important. A beautiful website helps to drive traffic in and also makes your app stand out from the crowd.”

Here’s the list:

  • One Page — Your app’s site should be one page. No more, no less.
  • iPhone Image — Use an image of an iPhone running the app as the main design element. Drop shadow or reflection optional.
  • Apple App Store Badge — The download button should be Apple’s App Store badge. Easy to spot and instantly recognizable.
  • Animated Screenshots — All sites show screenshots of their app, but animated screens show it in action.
  • Display Pricing — It’s frustrating for prospective customers to not know the price up front.

Link.

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About the author

Leander Kahney

Leander Kahney is the editor of Cult of Mac, and author of three books about technology culture: Inside Steve’s Brain, the New York Times bestseller about Steve Jobs; Cult of Mac; and Cult of iPod. Leander has written for Wired, MacWeek, Scientific American, and The Guardian in London. Follow Leander on Twitter @lkahney and Facebook.

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8 comments

    Tip six: ensure there are downloadable press assets, so press people like me save time and therefore like you, the app maker, rather than hating you.

    Tip Seven – Make a good app first. This way, the app will help sell itself. Helping developers and users in the long run by not clogging up the app store with junk.

    Um, I don’t see the apps price on the photo. (See Tip #5)

    The new in-app pricing makes the problem worse. Now, you download a app and get surprised after you use it for a while (both with a random amount and at a random time after you start using it).

    Many apps don’t even bother mentioning in the description that you have to pay for continued and/or full functionality.

    A demo video of a few key features and positive quotes from media may also be helpful. :)

    I would like to know more about iPhone user interface for my new apps, does anybody know where i can found iPhone toolbox links ?

    thanks
    Visigraphic

    The reason pricing isn’t displayed, is that Apple doesn’t allow it. It can be a cause for rejection. (Although you could get approved and then add the pricing to the description or website.)

    It’s not a bad policy, since you never know what someone’s local currency is.

    This restriction on pricing is why you’ll often see devs advertise sales with x% off instead of quoting the exact price.

    Apple does not disallow the display of pricing anywhere but in the app itself and application icon. They don’t care if it’s on your website.

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