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Marc

Public VS. Private in the Virtual World

by Marc

soapboxIt’s Friday, Apple still hasn’t approved the new version of eWallet, and I want to post something new on the blog, so I’m going to drag out the soapbox and talk about privacy issues. As I said in my Pinchgate post, I’m very sensitive to electronic privacy issues. I’m perfectly happy to share information, but I want to be part of the process. I want an application to ask before it starts sending my secrets off to some distant server for compilation and analysis. At the same time, tracking web usage is a universal aspect of the internet, so where does that fall in the privacy debate?

If you’re interested in this sort of thing, read on after the jump to hear me toss out some ideas!

[Read more…] about Public VS. Private in the Virtual World

More Windows Marketplace Buzz…

by Marc

There is another great article out about the Windows Marketplace, this one at Digital Media Buzz (and it just happens to talk about us.) It’s always fun to see your name in print, especially when it’s associated with something cool like the upcoming Windows Marketplace. 

I know folks give Microsoft a lot of grief, but I’m really excited about the new versions of Windows Mobile and the Marketplace. I think Microsoft really has the right approach on this one. I’m excited to see consumer response to the new projects.

Pop over and check out the article here.

Pinchgate: The Info Tracking Debate

by Marc

spy2I’m a stickler for privacy, so the recent furor over Pinch Media‘s analytics is really interesting to me. The debate (in a nutshell) is whether information gathered by companies like Pinch Media through iPhone applications, for the purpose of developer marketing, is spyware. I thought I’d take a second to toss in my own 2 cents on this issue.

So, for my take on the subject, read on after the jump!

[Read more…] about Pinchgate: The Info Tracking Debate

Apples2Oranges: Now Just 99 Cents!

by Marc

a2o_logo512Haven’t tried Apples2Oranges? Well now is your chance! We’ve just reduced the price to 99 cents!

Now I know this is unlikely, but there just might be some folks who don’t know what Apples2Oranges is. Let me explain it this way…it’s frustrating to figure out different conversions in your head – impossible if you’re looking at units you aren’t familiar with. You can waste lots of time standing in the store with two different packages in your hands, trying to do the math on which is a better deal, or which has fewer calories per serving.

Now you don’t have to waste time or worry about getting the math wrong. Just pull out your iPhone and get the answer in a few taps with Apples2Oranges™ – a quick and easy price comparison and unit conversion app from Ilium Software, available for your iPhone™ or iPod® touch.

(Added note by Ellen: Anyone who buys or has bought Apples2Oranges – please consider adding a review of it to iTunes. We’re fairly sure that reviews help our search ranking, which in turn helps sales. We know a lot of people find Apples2Oranges useful, but more reviews would help even more people find it. Thanks!)

Great AppStore Article

by Marc

I have to share a great article about the iTunes AppStore over at AppleInsider. I don’t have much to say that isn’t already covered in the article, but I will share a quote that I think highlights a very real danger:

“In some respects, the App Store has taken its place alongside YouTube, where poor taste is the defining metric,” Wolf wrote. “More ominously, it has led to a deterioration of the entire pricing structure for iPhone applications. The risk is that developers who hope to build quality applications that have a long shelf life may be discouraged from doing so because prospective development costs exceed the revenues they expect to earn on the applications. In short, this race to the bottom has the potential to degrade the overall equality of the applications sold at the App Store.”

Not only is this something Apple needs to think about, but all the other device and OS manufacturers out there should keep this in mind as they launch their own on device stores.

You can find the entire article over at AppleInsider!

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