Meet the Next Big Interface: Multitouch

Google's system sees 500K activations daily

(NEWSER) - In its battle with Google, Apple’s hearing echoes of the 1990s: Android activations are blowing iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch activations out of the water. Some 500,000 Android phones and tables get activated daily across the world, says Google’s boss for the platform—and that figure is climbing 4% every week. Meanwhile, the Apple devices were seeing 325,000 activations a day last quarter—a number that’s probably higher now, but not approaching Android’s count. More»

App Store is the leading retailer of mobile programs

(NEWSER) - Apple’s App Store has had a pretty good year—since its inception, the store has sold 1.5 billion applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch, making it the leading retailer of mobile applications, CNet reports. Not only has the App Store done well, its success seems to be increasing: the store moved 1 billion applications in its first 9 months, but then sold 500 million in the next 3 months. More»

Pentagon develops apps for ubiquitous Apple devices

(NEWSER) - With more than 30,000 third-party applications now available for the iPhone and iPod touch, a new organization is getting into the game: the American military. As the Independent reports, the Pentagon thinks Apple's gadgets are ideal for "network centric warfare" and is funding projects for everything from translation to bomb disposal. Some soldiers on the front lines are already using the technology. More»

(NEWSER) - The videogame industry, recently geared toward churning out bigger and bigger blockbusters, is shrinking its ambitions down to iPhone size, the Los Angeles Times reports. Thanks to Apple’s App Store, the iPhone and iPod Touch have become surprisingly popular gaming devices—and developers have taken notice. Electronic Arts, for example, will release 14 iPhone games this year. More»

(NEWSER) - Apple has sold 928 million programs to mobile users and plans to celebrate its billionth App Store download by awarding a random customer a huge haul of merchandise, CNET reports. The lucky customer will walk away with a MacBook Pro, a 32GB iPod Touch, and a $10,000 iTunes gift certificate. Which of the 30,000 apps available propelled Apple to these heights? The Facebook app tops the free column, while the most customers paid for Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D. More»