The iPod Nation

We have known for some time that the second generation iPod Touch is the fastest iPod that is perfect for gaming. Well Konami wants to take advantage of that gaming platform. Konami announced their next project to be Metal Gear Solid Touch for the Apple iPhone or iPod Touch. The game is scheduled for release in March 2009 and it will continue where it left off from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. The original release will include eight levels with additional levels to be released at a later time. Gamers can unlock wallpapers and images when they gather enough points. In addition to MGST, Konami also plans to release Dance Dance Revolution, Silent Hill The Escape, and Frogger later this month. With this announcement, it shows that video game developers are considering making games for the iPod Touch and iPhone. It shows the power that the iPod Touch and the iPhone has in regards to the video game market. I am pretty sure gamers are happy to hear this news.

- Geoff

[Source: EdgeOnline]

There are plenty of chess applications out there for the Apple iPod Touch/iPhone. But nothing is as intriguing as this version of the chess game. It is called Samurai Chess. Instead of using the English style of chess, Conit Co. Ltd., who developed the application, created their own version of the chess game by bringing it back to Japan’s civil war era. Now many of you may think this is just another chess application, but this app has new features not found in other chess game applications. The first obvious difference is the reference to Samurais. The application also has a network match mode in which you could play with other users from around the world. Additionally, the application features fierce Samurai battle scenes to showcase the action. The game is available at the Apple App Store for $1 (limited time).

- Geoff

[Source: MarketWatch]

The latest trend in the digital world are digital books and comics. One platform that is notoriously known for this is the Apple iPod Touch/iPhone. Well Star Trek is hoping to take advantage of this trend. Comics publisher and Star Trek licensee IDW has announced that they are starting a digital publishing cycle at the Apple iTunes store. The first digital issue of the Star Trek comics is “Star Trek Archives: The Best of Peter David No. 1″. This is just a digital DC comics reprint. More issues will follow at the Apple iTunes store. There are also other comics that are ready for download at the iTunes store. Although most of the comics at the online store are available for free for the first issue, they will charge you 99 cents for following issues. So go check them out and let us know what you think.

- Geoff

[Source: Wired]

Remember those Tech Decks? Those miniture skateboards that you use to skate with your fingers. Well there is a new application at the Apple App store that transforms your iPhone or iPod Touch into a Tech Deck. The name of the application is Touchgrind. The application has a skateboard in the middle of the screen and you use your fingers as legs and try to grind rails and do kickflips. It contains tutorial videos, competitions, and jam sessions. In addition, when you rack up enough points, you would  be able to unlock different boards and bonuses. According to Gizmodo, the application is very responsive and the graphics and sound effects are great. The only flaw is that it is difficult to see where you are going because the skateboard takes over the entire screen. The application is available at the Apple App Store for $4.99.

- Geoff

[Source: Gizmodo]

Here in the United States, it is all about Facebook and Myspace. But apparently in Europe, it is all about Netlog. Netlog is a social networking site that has over 35 million registered users. Well the Netlog social networking site is getting its own application for the Apple iPhone and the Apple iPod Touch. Similar to the Facebook application, the Netlog application will allow users to connect with new people, send messages, upload photos, check and sign guestbooks (similar to Wall), and update their shouts (similar to status). Netlog’s CEO Lorenz Bogaert released the following statement:

“Our aim was to combine the strength and popularity of the Netlog platform with the flexibility of the iPhone and iPod Touch. This takes us fully into the mobile age, and opens up the network to a wider range of on-the-go opportunities.”

The application comes in a variety of foreign languages, which include German, English, Spanish, Finnish, French, Italian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish and (Simplified) Chinese. This free application is ready for download at the Apple App store.

- Geoff

[Source: IntoMobile]

Handheld Games Corp. announced today that they have found the second generation iPod Touch to be the fastest for 3D gaming among all iPod Touch and iPhone models. Their new 3D TouchSports Tennis game, which is available for download at the Apple App Store for $4.99, seems to run the fastest when played on the second generation iPod Touch. In order to compensate for the varied performances among the different devices, Handheld Games Corp. had to implement different optimizations for the various iPod Touch and iPhone models. The differences in performance can be attributed to the different processor speeds as the second generation iPod Touch has a processor speed of 532MHz. In comparison, the iPhone 3G, original iPhone, and the first generation iPod Touch have a processor speed of 412MHz. But according to the tests, the first generation iPod Touch was shown to operate the slowest.

- Geoff

[Source: MacRumors]

Ever had those moments where you just want to go to Las Vegas. Well Freeverse has just released a new application that brings Las Vegas to you. It is called Burning Monkey Casino for the Apple iPhone and the APple iPod Touch. The application has seven games that include Blackjack, Slots, Video Poker, Money Wheel, Pachinko, Scratch-N-Win Lotto, and 3 card Monty. The application takes advantage of the hardware features of the iPhone and iPod Touch by allowing users to spin the Money Wheel with a swipe and scratching the lotto ticket with a finger. The best part of the application is that there is a lounge area as well as a stand up comedian! The application is available at the Apple App store and it will only cost you $0.99.

- Geoff

[Source: MarketWatch]

A few analysts have looked over Steve Job’s adjusted revenue numbers he released last week, and it shows that iPod sales last quarter  were only 14.2% of Apple’s total revenue. This is down from 55.6% in the first quarter of 2006. Ever since that quarter, Apple’s iPod sales have been slowly diminishing. Check out the following graph:

Although sales of the iPod have been declining as of late, revenue numbers for Apple show that this dip in iPod sales have had little to no effect on revenue for Apple.

The only explanation I can come up with to the declining iPod sales is because the iPhone is doing so well. People are opting for an iPhone, which is basically just an iPod Touch with a phone built-in. So Apple really has nothing to worry about in terms of iPod sales, but I’m pretty sure Steve Jobs is still concerned over the sales of his baby. If it weren’t for the iPod, Apple wouldn’t experience the same success they are experiencing now. The iPod is what made Steve Jobs and help built the Apple selling machine.

- Geoff

[Source: CNNMoney]

Not that we really care about celebrities, but check out this picture of Halle Barry.

Yes, it indeed looks like a first-generation iPod Touch. It looks like Halle Barry couldn’t leave, what looks like a Blackberry, for an iPhone. So it seems she settled for an iPod Touch. But what is more interesting is the book she is holding in her hand. Diagnosis and Treatment for Multiple Personality Disorder. Hmm I wonder what that is for?

- Geoff

[Source: Macenstein]

The Apple iPhone has just been released in Russia recently, yet they do not have an iTunes Store available for customers. As of the moment, Russia is a App Store-only country. But Apple is currently working on a deal with the three Russian wireless carriers who offer the Apple iPhone to allow customers to get a full iTunes Store ready by 2009 for Russian iPhone users. Out of the three Russian wireless companies, only MegaFon seems to be the closest to closing the deal. According to Vasily Kuzichev, the business development director of MegaFon, has stated that the negotiations with Apple is taking time because content in Russia is more expensive than any other country and the prices iTunes is considering for content in the country isn’t high enough for copyright owners. More details have yet to be announced regarding the iTunes store in Russia, but some speculate that it should come as early as early 2009. Please stay tuned as more information comes our way.

- Geoff

[Source: iLounge]