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Get creative with iPhone videos using Montaj

There's no question that photo apps are extremely popular on mobile devices, which is leading to an explosion in video apps. Twitter launched its own Vine app, which allows users to create 6-second films and share them across Twitter and Facebook.

Another app, Montaj, is aiming to give iPhone users another option when it comes to getting creative with short videos, albeit in a longer form than the 6-second videos you'll find in Vine. Users are able to create short videos; the default limit of clips in a Montaj is 12 (adjustable to 36 in the settings), all … Read more

GM exec: Apps coming to select cars later this year

LAS VEGAS -- General Motors is eager to get its slice of the app pie.

Mary Chan, head of the global connected consumer unit for GM, told CNET that apps would come to select cars in the second half. The initial set of apps will be per-determined by the company, will be available for download, and will make up the early stages of its in-car app store. More importantly, GM will also debut an app framework in these cars that will enable the download of future apps.

With the proliferation of the app market in mobile devices, GM -- and … Read more

Diving into Metro Windows Store app data

Software publisher Soluto made a PR splash last month when it issued its first PC purchasing guide, concluding that a Macbook was the best laptop for running Windows ... mostly because running Windows on Mac requires a clean install of the OS, unlike most default Windows laptops, which include varying amounts of OEM (original equipment manufacturer) software.

Soluto is back today with a new "Monthly Insights" report that looks at Windows Store app usage. Windows Store apps are commonly referred to as "Metro" apps, despite Microsoft's abandonment of the Metro code name for the new "… Read more

Apple hits record revenue per store visitor, says analyst

Apple stores continue to outpace the rest of the retail industry in sales per customer.

The company took in record revenue per visitor of $57.60 during the first quarter, mobile analyst Horace Dediu said Monday in his Asymco blog. That's up from $51.75 per visitor in the first quarter of 2012.

At the same time, the number of visitors rose by 7 percent from the prior year's first quarter. And the average revenue per Apple store reached $13 million for the quarter, its highest number ever for a non-holiday quarter, Dediu noted.

The average number of … Read more

Apple removes Bang With Friends from App Store

No more knocking boots with your Facebook friends, iPhone users. Apple has removed the salaciously titled Bang With Friends iPhone application from its App Store.

Bang With Friends, which was going by "BWF Official" on Apple's App Store, arrived on mobile devices last week. The hookup service, first launched on Web in January, has around 1 million users and helps people discreetly indicate their lust for a Facebook buddy.

Co-founder Colin Hodge, now going by his real name, told Valleywag that Apple removed the application from the App Store. Indeed, the original link to the iPhone app … Read more

Apple looks to move SF store a few blocks away

If Apple can obtain the go-ahead from the city, its San Francisco store on Stockton and Ellis streets will be moving -- but not too far.

According to SFGate, Apple recently applied to move its current store to Union Square in a new silver box-shaped building. The current store opened nine years ago, but Apple has outgrown it, the company claims. By building a new store in Union Square, it believes that it can increase the number of people employed at the store by 50. Apple currently employs 350 people at the retail location.

Apple has so far not presented … Read more

Consumer spending on iOS games outpaces 3DS, Vita

An increasing number of people are deciding to dedicate their cash to Apple's iOS rather than traditional gaming handhelds, according to a new study.

A joint study performed by research firms IDC and App Annie found that during the first quarter of 2013, total spending on iOS App Store games outpaced that of dedicated handhelds such as Nintendo's 3DS and PlayStation Vita. It was the first time that iOS games outpaced the traditional devices. In the fourth quarter, iOS was slightly behind gaming handhelds in total spending.

For now, Google Play is still a distant third, tallying about … Read more

Apple reveals details of 50 billionth App Store download

The Apple App Store odometer was spinning furiously en route to the 50 billionth app download.

Apple on Thursday morning formally announced the passing of the milestone and named the winner of the race to reach 50 billion. That honor went to Brandon Ashmore of Mentor, Ohio, who downloaded Say the Same Thing by Space Inch. Along with bragging rights, Ashmore receives a $10,000 App Store gift card.

The threshold was reached Wednesday just before 2 p.m. PT when the counter on Apple's Web site turned over the 50 billion mark. A tweet from Apple's App … Read more

Windows 8 or RT tablet? Retail may be a guide

Wondering whether to buy a Windows RT tablet? The status of RT at retail may be a good guide.

As of Wednesday evening, the Microsoft store listed no Windows RT tablets aside from Microsoft's own Surface RT. Tablets like the Asus VivoTab RT are no longer listed (though the Intel-based VivoTab is on the site). Even Dell's XPS 10 -- reduced this week to $299.99 -- is absent.

On the other hand, the store lists more than a dozen Windows 8 tablets based on either Intel Core processors or Intel's Atom chip.

On Tuesday, Microsoft Chief … Read more