Dabble free to Download on the App Store Today

Available as a freebie today only, the innovative word game is winning all kinds of awards.

Save Some $$ with Kiplinger's on iPad

With the announcement of the iPad 3 (probably) just days away, it might be a good time to think about saving a little green. Fortunately, long standing finance mag Kiplinger's is right there with a lil' help for you on that.

Vybe is a Music Info Machine

One of the latest 'New and Noteworthy' apps on the iOS App Store, Vybe is like a little news filter for all the bands you care about.

Shock! Poll Finds That The Dark Knight Rises is Most Awaited Sequel

One of the web's top opinion polling sites sodahead.com today announced info on a bunch of public opinion topics for the big news stories for 2012. Most of the results will not surprise...

Get Choosey With Decide.com's iOS App

With the 2012 CES upon us in full force, Decide.com has released an iOS app (Android coming soon) to help you pick the right shiny new gadget for you.

It's Christmas Time for the Mighty Fin

This game just keeps on getting better- A brand new update for The Mighty Fin from Launching Pad games has just emerged from the iOS App store, unsurprisingly it's got new levels (themed for the Holiday Season) and new hats.

Marathon Comes to iOS

*Screen above is from the Xbox 360 version of the game

A long time ago in the Mac universe, there was a company called 'Bungie'. There they produced one of the best known and much beloved first person shooters to ever appear on the format- Marathon.

Since then, Bungie has gone on the produce the Halo series on the Xbox as well as re-printing the original Marathon in several different forms. And now they're coming home to Apple as the classic shooter blasts onto the iPad.

There's no word yet on whether the game will be enhanced or not, but it would probably be wise to expect a visual bump- this is Bungie after all. As for the story? Developer Daniel Bleznek says it won't be altered, as MCV reports:

"Marathon's story and gameplay are outstanding," he explains. "Durandal's descent into rampancy, his quirky humour and the hidden messages make excellent additions to the old school style.

No word on release yet but old school FPSers are sure to be chomping at the bit already-

Bungie Publishing on iOS?

Okay, it's not actually a game per say- it's an App the lets you keep track of your Halo: Reach stats on the go. That's right... it's kinda useless, but it does have some redeeming features.

The Bungie.net Mobile App allows you to view your friends stats as well, plus the ability to pick up free account bonuses, gift things to your buddies, and watch the company's news feed.

So not too bad overall if you're a big fan of the developer. But it's the old foot in the door that's the bottom line isn't it? With one overarching App that establishes the company on the App Store- more will be on the way- Bungie is promising as much in a statement made this morning.

Keep watching the store-

iPad 2 Coming Next Wednesday

Apple is having a press event next Wednesday- March 2nd -and it's all but confirmed that the iPad 2 will be officially shown off. We reported late last year that the Apple Corps should expect to be shelling out for a new 'Pad come early Spring of 2011 and it looks like that'll be the case- get ready.

Finally... The White iPhone 4

There are some rumblings about the release of the oft delayed white version of the iPhone 4. Now that we're nearing the Verizon launch of the device, those rumors are starting up again and it looks like a Q1 or 2 release is actually possible.

Releasing the white version now would actually make sense since there's a bigger event going on (new carrier). Perhaps it'll even be a Verizon exclusive? If you don't see it soon though- lets just say that the iPhone 5 isn't really all the far into the future at this point. Apple might just want to wait for that one.

Steve Jobs Takes Medical Leave from Apple

There's not much of a reason as to why but Jobs had pancreatic cancer a few years back and needed time off for treatments which forced the disease into remission. Lets all hope that it isn't as serious this time.

Get well soon Steve.

Verizon Gets the iPhone 4

So AT&T's exclusivity contract has run out and the announcement that everyone and their mother knew would be coming finally came along yesterday- telecommunication giant Verizon finally will be carrying the Apple iPhone- starting with a slightly redesigned iPhone 4.

Most notably- the 'new' 4 will feature a modified antenna design for enhanced reception when held in the 'death grip' that the AT&T version suffered from, and will have MiFi functionality that will allow the device to function as a hotspot for up to five additional devices.

A new carrier, especially one as big as Verizon, is really a kick in the pants (and the sales figures) for the Apple phone and can only boost their place in the market.

You can get your Verizon iPhone 4 starting February 10th.

Mac App Store Blasts to 1 Million Downloads in Just 24 Hours

It's only in it's first 24 hours in existence, but the Macintosh version of the App Store has already racked up 1 million downloads.

The store debuted yesterday with about a thousand free and paid Apps (including a bunch of games) available right from the get go and is apparently a big hit. CEO Steve Jobs said he was "amazed at the incredible response the Mac App Store is getting". Really?

Is it shocking to anyone that the Mac Apps are a hit?

Mac App Store is Live

The long wait for the Macintosh version of the iOS' App Store is now officially over.

Encoded into the newest OSX update, the App Store looks very similar to the portable version and is starting off with over a thousand Apps, both free and paid, for your downloading enjoyment- One thing, in particular, worth noting? Full retail priced games.

The iOS version of the App Store has done very well for Apple with roughly 1.4 billion in total sales since is debuted so expectations are high indeed.

iPad Successor Coming in 2011

It seems like a forgone conclusion that a new iPad would be released this coming year. Now we're starting to hear rumblings that Foxconn (the Chinese manufacturer with all the employee suicides last year) has either started production or will very soon.

Word is that the new iPad will be announced in January and go on sale in March or April. So there you go, the first new Apple news of the New Year.

Could Apple be the Next Big iConsole?

EA seems to think so. Electronic Arts VP Eric Soderlund told industry site MCV that he believes the iCompany could successfully break into the home gaming console market, even though it would be no easy task.

Personally, I think Apple has a great thing going with it's iPhone/iPod/iPad line of devices and entering into the battle for the living room might not be the greatest move right now. While it may be true that there are a lot of fun games on the App store- there are also an awful lot of clunkers... and a metric ton of shovelware.

I would like to see Apple clean the shop up a bit and commit itself to real, retail quality, titles (at least for the iPad, the iPhone is just a mobile platform at heart) before they entered into another level of hardware competition.

At the end of the day there's really nothing to this yet. I don't doubt that Cupertino has plans somewhere, on some shelf, for a game console, but at present this is just a third party publisher waxing poetic- food for though though it may be... don't rush it Apple-

iOS 4.2 Available Today for iPad and iPhone

Finally! It looks like today is the magical day for iOS 4.2 to grace waiting iPads and iPhones everywhere.

Just in case you forgot, 4.2 adds multitasking, folders, and Gamecenter to the iPad. iPhone has all that stuff already but it gets something too- Airplay, Apple's wireless music streaming, and Airprint, same idea but with printing, come both to the phone and pad sometime this afternoon.

So you know the routine by now, keep checking for the update then wait an hour for it to download.

Sonic 4 Available Right Now on the App Store

OOOOH! Peppermints!!

Any Sonic the Hedgehog fans out there? Then you've probably been looking forward to Sonic 4 right? Well as long as you've got an iDevice, you can haz Sonic 4s!!!

The game, the first official numbered sequel since Sonic 3 way back in the Genesis days, picks up right after the events of Sonic & Knuckles and looks like a very faithful addition to the franchise.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is available on the App Store for $9.99 and coming soon to Xbox LIVE and PSN

GameCenter Launches for the iPhone/iPod Touch

After a fairly quick update, Game Center will grace your iDevice with it's oddly implemented presence. Why oddly, you ask? Because there's not much that's compatible with it right now, I answer.

I actually have a lot of titles on my phone (shock D:) but only the original Pac Man works with GC. It's not even Championship Edition for God's sake!

After a very brief play of ol' Paccy, I had a few achievements. Yes achievements, I know it's shameless. Collecting 'cheevos on the iPhone is just as strangely satisfying as it is on the Xbox though, I just wish Apple had made sure there were more games that offered them before they launched.

Edit: I just saw that Real Racing by Firemint works too.

iPhone 4 Line Update

So I think it's probably safe to assume that everybody knows that the iPhone 4 released today at Apple, Best Buy, Radio Shack and AT&T.

I thought you might enjoy, in case you're planning a trip after work, a little update on the whole lineup/availability issue. To that end, how about some bullets?

• Best Buy- this actually would have been my first choice because of the Reward Zone points potential from the purchase of the iPhone. With that said- bestbuy.com has no availability listed for either online or in store. Yeah...
• Radio Shack- Wouldn't really bother. At this point, the likelihood of 'The Shack' having any iPhones for you're non-preordering butt would be just that much better than me typing this from a starship that runs on clouds orbiting Jupiter.
• AT&T- If you pre-ordered, you might still get one. They are on first come basis though, and I was told (on the sly) by an employee that Apple wasn't sending nearly enough phones to cover all of the orders that they had for at least a week. If you didn't pre-order? No. That's it- just no.
• Apple- From what I hear, if you reserved one for the 24th, you're golden. You have until the end of business today to go get it, I should add to that that the line for reserves is moving along at a pretty good clip. If you're going in cold- you still have a chance. This is Apple after all- there might be enough stock on hand, there might not. You're best bet is to call your fave Apple shop and ask, you'll have to hang on a bit because hold times are loooooooong right now, but it's worth it to potentially save a trip.