After Apple released Game Center, OpenFeint’s survival plan was to provide even more services on top of the Game Center functionality, now OpenFeint X hopes to cash in on this. It’s a service that allows iOS developers (plus other mobile platforms) to add over-the-air purchasable content to their games on top of Apple’s already popular in-app purchasing. OpenFeint X works outside of Apple’s store, and allows devs to quickly add in-app content without going through Apple’s approval system. Only a few devs have worked with it so far, but it’s new and more will surely follow soon, especially after their “Million Dollar Challenge” announcement.
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OpenFeint X: Sell New Content Without Updates
Apple’s iPod-based Point of Sale System Already Deployed
According to 9to5mac, Apple and Gap Inc’s Old Navy stores have started piloting an iPod-based PoS (Point of Sale) system which allows customers to sign receipts with their fingers and print receipts wirelessly to printers in Old Navy’s store.
Apparently, some employees are also wearing mini-printers attached to their belts. This is just so cool. 9to5mac also reports Apple and Gap have been in a close relationship since Gap’s former CEO Millard Drexler has been sitting on Apple’s Board since 1999 and Steve Jobs sat on Gap’s one from 1999 to 2002. Read more
Nice Move, Apple: Michael Jackson’s New Song A Ping Exclusive
In a clear attempt to drive more traffic to its music-based and iTunes Store-oriented social network, Ping, Apple managed to grab an exclusive from Michael Jackson’s upcoming posthumous, a new single called “Much Too Soon”. The song, in fact, can only be streamed on Apple’s Ping through Jackson’s official artist page, and as you can guess you have to sign up for Ping to view the page.
While there’s quite a debate going on whether this new MJ album actually features MJ or not, this is undoubtedly a clever move for Apple which I’m certain will drive lots of extra traffic to the service, especially from people who didn’t think would sign up for Ping at first – e.g. Jackson’s loyal fans.
Michael Jackson’s new album will be released on December 14th. [via MichaelJackson.com]
LastPass Buys Xmarks
Early in November we reported Xmarks, which had been struggling trying to find a business model to keep its password and bookmark synchronization service free, found a “new owner” and that more details would be made available soon.
Today, All Things Digital is reporting that online password management company LastPass acquired Xmarks, although no financial details of the transaction have been provided.
Enter LastPass, based in Vienna, Va., whose CEO Joe Siegrist said in an interview that he wanted to help keep the service operating and provide it with an ongoing business model.
“They had a large dedicated audience, but their free offering and advertising model was not working,” he said. “We really want to figure something out that could keep it going.”
Siegrist said LastPass offered a good free service, but relied on a small group of users who pay to upgrade to a premium offering.
Xmarks also received pledges from almost 30,000 who, through an online form, confirmed they were willing to pay $10 or $20 to keep Xmarks running. It is unclear whether this acquisition will cause a rebranding of the Xmarks product or not.
iPads Being Used for U.S. Marine Recruiting
… This is for fighting, this is for fun!” Sorry, I was feeling inspired by the movie Full Metal Jacket.
Military Times has reported that the U.S. Marine Corps is testing out the use of iPads in recruiting. The blog reported that Maj. Gen. Robert Milstead, the commander of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command, said the Corps is doing well in recruitment, but (like everyone else these days) it faces a shrinking advertising budget. So they jumped on the ‘iPads in Public’ bandwagon. That’s where the iPads come in. Read more
That “Official” Apple Twitter Account? Suspended.
I guess Apple cares about Twitter, after all. Steve Jobs may be out of the tweeting game, but Phil Schiller seems to be enjoying the fact that since he went public (and verified) with his Twitter account he can reply to users and fans, troubleshoot and even advise against jailbreaking. He also posted his personal email address on Twitter and got spam in his inbox. Nice.
VP of iOS Scott Forstall hasn’t tweeted yet, but we’re ready to bet he will start posting messages and Instagram pictures pretty soon. Read more
aTV Flash Available: Supercharge Your Apple TV Now
aTV Flash, the first alternative browser and multimedia center for the new Apple TV, is out and available for purchase. We have covered aTV Flash in the past week, and we saw the app it’s capable of bringing several new features to the 2nd gen Apple TV, such as HTML5 playback via a custom browser or weather information.
The first public version of the app is available for $19.95 during the beta (or pre-order) phase here. Read more
Amplify Your iPhone’s Sound with the New Phonofone III
Years ago, RCA Victor (now just RCA) symbolized a dog named Nipper looking into a Phonograph as their advertising icon. Look how far we’ve come - Nipper is being replaced with an iPhone, thus the Phonofone III by Science and Sons.
Renault To Launch First European iAd Tomorrow
Looks like everything’s ready to go for iAds in Europe. With a press release on their official website, European car maker Renault announced that they’ll launch the first iAd campaign in Europe tomorrow, December 2nd.
The advertising campaign will be aimed at promoting the Twizy, a new electric tandem vehicle that will be available next year. It’s a “city car” that’s completely electric and comes with four wheels, a steering wheel and a very unusual shape. The iAd (you can take a look at the video below, in French) will allow users to check on various Twizy information such as charging times. Read more