Apple is reportedly cracking down on iPhone applications that are built from templates; otherwise known as cookie cutter applications. These applications are often generated using an app building service and are usually just an RSS feed or a flashy business card.

According to TechCrunch, Apple isn’t opposed to app generators and templates per se; however, the company doesn’t want people using native applications for something that a basic web app could accomplish.
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The Daily Telegraph reports that a new Apple patent has surfaced which could potentially allow the iPhone, or another Apple portable, to act as a sort of electronic key. The potential applications are as limitless as the number of things locked by old-school metal keys. It could be used for cars, offices, homes, or lockers. Basically, anything that could have an electronic receiver mounted to it in place of a metal tumbler-style lock could then use an iPhone as a key. Read more…

Steve Jobs appears to have fired off a tersely worded email reply to a user in Sweeden who asked whether the WiFi-only iPad could be tethered to the iPhone: “No.”

Jezper Söderlund of the Swedish website Slashat.se reports that he sent Apple’s chief executive an email identifying himself as an Apple customer before adding, “I’m also awaiting the release of the iPad. However, I have one question: Will the wifi-only version somehow support tethering thru my iPhone?”

The full email headers Söderlund forwarded to AppleInsider appear to indicate that Jobs sent his one word reply at 8:30 AM from his iPhone. Read more…

The Square credit card reader for the iPhone has gotten most of the buzz around here, especially after we saw that impressive demo at Macworld a few weeks ago. But VeriFone’s competing reader has been given the green light by Apple itself: the unit has been granted a deal for shelf space. VeriFone will be selling its PAYware Mobile units inside Apple’s retail stores coming up as soon as the end of March. Read more…

Today Apple announced that the iPad will ship in April, writing that the device will “be available in the US on Saturday, April 3, for Wi-Fi models and in late April for Wi-Fi + 3G models. In addition, all models of iPad will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK in late April.” Consumers will be able to pre-order their units starting March 12th, with pick-up at Apple retail stores. Read more…

Movie rental house Netflix is still testing the waters on potentially streaming movies instantly to the iPhone or iPod touch, according to reports from users.

The information comes from a survey aimed at Netflix users who own an Apple mobile device. According to the survey, the service would be available over Wi-Fi only:

“Whenever you want to instantly watch content on your iPhone, your iPhone must be connected to a Wi-Fi network (such as one you might have at home or at work, or in public places like coffee shops, book stores, hotels, airports, etc.),” the survey reads. Read more…

Michael Pachter is probably the most visible gaming industry analyst out there — while he’s not always right about his predictions and insight on the video game industry, he does usually know what he’s talking about, and he’s definitely got the ear of a lot of investors. And so when he says that Apple is planning to turn the Apple TV into a game console, people listen. Read more…

Comparing to Apple’s app store, the Android Market is still an underdog. Consumers who are considering an android hendheld, are likely to browse the web to see how android apps compare to apple’s apps.

Based on a  AdMob .pdf metrics report, Android and iPhone users download a similar number of apps every month and spend a similar amount of time using the apps. The same reports shows that iPod Touch users download an average of 12 apps a month, 37% more apps than iPhone and Android users. Well you can only do so much with an iPod Touch.

[Via funkyspacemonkey.com]

The end of this week has brought a little flurry of information about the differences between iPhone and Android users. First up, Admob has released the results of a survey that says the iPhone is twice as popular as comparable smartphones in both young and old demographics. Unfortunately, we can only guess as to why (it would be a little more interesting if either age showed a preference for one phone over another) Read more…

Back to the nightmare of explosions on Apple products, in fact, a few days ago in a school in West Newbury, Massachusetts, a girl’s iPod has suddenly exploded.

Fortunately there were no major damage, thanks to the prompt intervention of firefighters and police. It was not made known the model of the iPod, but most likely the cause that triggered the explosion is due to the battery.

Via iSpazio.net [Translated By Google]