Apple has just announced that they’re opening the doors to their App Store for iPad-optimized app submissions. Developers who wish to get their apps on the first batch of iPad units on April 3rd will have to get their works in by March 27th. Just to update you guys, the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK is now in beta 5 form. This announcement may have very little to do with us non-developers who are just waiting to get our hands on the latest gadgets, but we certainly can help the developers out by letting them now which apps we would love to see optimized for the Apple iPad.

I, for one, wouldn’t mind having the recently released Street Fighter IV iPhone game tweaked for the iPad, but how about you guys? What iPhone app or game would you like to see enhanced for the iPad?

[apple via bgr]

Fans of Tony Hawk who own either an iPhone or iPod Touch will soon have a new game to play around with on their Apple device as the renowned skateboarder leaked this snapshot via Twitter with the accompanying message:

In the PR world, this is considered “going rogue,” but I’m too excited to contain it. This is real & dropping soon.

That’s either a jailbroken iPhone running a port of his Tony Hawk Pro Skater game he’s playing around with or a non-public version of an upcoming official Tony Hawk iPhone game. We think that it’s more of the latter. No word though on when it might be released at the App Store, but we’ve got a feeling that it’ll be happening much sooner than later.

[twitter via redmonpie]

What’s even better is that it’s in the final stages of development already. We’re a bit skeptical though on the fun factor of this version since the iPhone since doesn’t exactly have one of the biggest touchscreens in the market today, but we’re totally digging Tekken for the iPad (if its compatible on the said device).

Will this be a completely new version of Tekken, a rehash of the original game, or an iPhone version of Tekken 6 for the PSP? No one knows for sure right now, but with Capcom also set to release Street Fight IV at the App Store as well, we’re guaranteed of a great showdown between these two renowned arcade fighter games on the iPhone platform.

[pocket gamer via fonehome]

The Wonga iPhone app is now available in the App Store, but is understandably limited to the UK only. Who knew that one day you can use your iPhone to borrow money wirelessly? Apps are certainly making a world of a difference for the iPhone.

[pocket-lint via unwiredview]

We’ve already seen how an iPhone can easily be paired to keyboard courtesy of the iPhone BTstack Keyboard app, and it looks like pairing a mouse is next in line. We’re not too sure though who would want to pair a Bluetooth mouse with the iPhone, but this proof of concept video shows that you can also get Apple’s new Magic Mouse to work on the iPhone as well. A little more useful, they also show off am infrared virtual keyboard working in tandem with Apple’s versatile mobile phone. Pretty interesting stuff, but unfortunately, neither app is available right now. Just treat this as a heads up of what app developers for jailbroken iPhones might have in store in the near future.

[btstack via engadget]

This handy new accessory and app that targets cyclists turns any iPhone/iPod Touch into a mobile computer that processes data in real-time while riders pedal away on their two-wheeled speedsters. There will also be a variety of training programs available for Pedal Brain users which you can load on it, or if you’re a trainer already, you can save your own program using the app and sell it to other users as well. It’s a pretty comprehensive app unlike any we’ve seen before that caters to the cycling enthusiasts, but unfortunately, it isn’t available in the market yet.

They still don’t have a final pricing for the Pedal Brain Synapse which works as the iPhone/iPod Touch holder on your bike and ANT+ communicator, but they expect it to retail somewhere within the $130 to $200 price range. Apart from that, you still need to subscribe to one of their programs though the basic one, albeit being limited in features, is free. Needless to say, the Pedal Brain training program isn’t for everyone and is probably meant for hardcore cyclists who are willing to invest on their favorite past time.

[pedal brain via engadget]

We didn’t think this would happen but the iPhone’s non-calling sister, also known as iPod Touch (a.k.a. iTouch) has outpaced it in sales this Christmas. Flurry Media, the same outfit that gave us predictions of a glowing iPod Touch future has updated their numbers for the holidays. They don’t have direct evidence of a spike in iPod Touch sales but based on iTunes App Store activity, there have been more downloads using the iPod Touch than iPhone for the first time since these two devices have been introduced. The numbers are dipping now but at one point, there have been ten times more App downloads on the iPod Touch compared to regular days. Read more at Gigaom at the link below.

[read]

The basic yet full functioning iPhone GrooveMaker app is still free to download, but if you prefer one of their previous releases – House, Hip-Hop, Techno, Trance, Electro, and D’n’B – you need not feel left out of the holiday treats as IK Multimedia has also put these apps on a 20% off sale up until January 6. From a high of $9.99 per app, each one is now retailing for just $7.99. If you want to know a little bit more about this unique app, we have an iPhone GrooveMaker app review you can check out.

Click here to be redirected to the App Store or head on past the break for the full press release.

GrooveMaker® Reggae for the iPhone/iPod Touch released by IK Multimedia
Reggae music by anyone, everywhere

December 2009, Modena, Italy – IK Multimedia is proud to announce the release of a new application for the iPhone/iPod Touch: GrooveMaker Reggae. This new style-based app allows anyone to create and share non-stop reggae tracks for remixing, multimedia and movie soundtrack compositions on the go, in real-time, just like a professional DJ or music producer.

GrooveMaker has quickly become one of the top downloaded remixing applications for the iPhone/iPod Touch, allowing any user to create professional, full-length tracks in minutes, with its unique combination of advanced remixing software and high-quality included loops’ sound content. With 10 available applications in the GrooveMaker range, there are now over 2,800 high-quality fresh loops available for your remixes.

GrooveMaker allows for instantaneous control over 8 stereo loop tracks, making it possible to remix the included massive loop library of drums, bass, bass drums, lines, pads, percussion and effects. Its unique and patented randomization feature allows musicians to generate a vast number of remixes on the fly, with one touch, to produce millions of possible groove combinations.

Loops made in GrooveMaker can be manipulated in real-time (pan, volume, mute, solo, group and tempo) and grooves can be arranged easily by dragging and dropping to create full-length tracks. These tracks can then be saved, previewed and recalled on the iPhone/iPod touch devices or exported as hi-quality .WAV files to any computer using a Wi-Fi network.

The new GrooveMaker Reggae allows you to compose reggae, dub and dancehall tracks with walking bass, hypnotic chords and syncopated beats. Pure reggae grooves with thick low-end and heavy bass sounds, dampened guitars, staccato riffs and shuffle keyboards will transport you in the world of Rastafari, with beats coming straight from the roots. Includes 3 songs, plus 1 FREE song by registering, and a total of 252 loops in 80-78-80-92 BPM ranges for 332 MB of samples.

Pricing and availability:
The new GrooveMaker Reggae is already available on the Apple iTunes App Store for only $9.99/€7.99.

This brings the number of currently available GrooveMaker applications to 10 in addition to the currently available GrooveMaker Club, House, Hip-Hop, Techno, Trance, Electro, D’n’B and Rock versions. A fully functional GrooveMaker FREE version is also already available, so everybody can download it and start making music right away!

For more information, video and audio demos, please visit:

GrooveMaker.com

The BTstack Keyboard app which is now available at the Cydia store and retailing for $5 allows you to connect your iPhone to a wireless Bluetooth keyboard for some physical full QWERTY keyboard fun on your Apple touchscreen mobile phone. Needless to say since this app is only available at Cydia, you need to have a jailbroken iPhone get this app and make this work.

To jailbreak your iPhone, just pick your iPhone 3.1.2 jailbreak of choice – Geohot’s blackra1n iPhone jailbreak or the iPhone Dev Team’s PwnageTool.

[btstack keyboard via engadget]

Here’s an amazing free iPhone application for beer connoisseurs. The Stella Artois Le Bar Guide uses augmented reality to help iPhone users find the nearest bar serving the famous Belgian beer. The U.S. is the first market to get a complete database. Here’s how the developer of the Le Bar Guide describes its augmented reality bar guide:

The application combines the street view on the iPhone screen with augmented reality (digital images overlaid on the screen when looking through the iPhone 3GS camera) to provide an interactive guide to nearby bars. Searches can be organized by country, zip code or rating. With the iPhone held vertically, Le Bar Guide reveals profiles of bars in the immediate vicinity, with graphics overlaid on the street view. When the iPhone camera is pointed to the ground, the screen shows arrows leading the way to the closest bars.

Acrossair, the app creator, has also included a user-generated content feature: a review system that allows customers and to rate bars according to ‘Le menu,’ ‘Le dance,’ ‘La clientele’ and ‘Le service.’ Read on for the full press release.

STELLA ARTOIS LAUNCHES LE BAR GUIDE

World’s First Global 3D Augmented Reality iPhone Application Guides Users to the Perfect Belgian Beer Experience

ST. LOUIS (Dec. 10, 2009) – Stella Artois has launched Le Bar Guide to help beer connoisseurs locate a perfectly poured Chalice of the world’s best-selling Belgian beer. The application is available to download free from the Apple App Store.

The U.S. is the first market to host a full national database of bars, with databases for other countries to follow over the coming months to create a guide with hundreds of thousands of bars worldwide.

The application combines the street view on the iPhone screen with augmented reality (digital images overlaid on the screen when looking through the iPhone 3GS camera) to provide an interactive guide to nearby bars. Searches can be organized by country, zip code or rating. With the iPhone held vertically, Le Bar Guide reveals profiles of bars in the immediate vicinity, with graphics overlaid on the street view. When the iPhone camera is pointed to the ground, the screen shows arrows leading the way to the closest bars.

“Enjoying a perfectly poured Chalice of Stella Artois , served using the time-honored nine-step pouring ritual, is the ultimate Belgian beer experience,” said Alexander Lambrecht, global marketing manager for Stella Artois . “Le Bar Guide offers a fun, interactive way for beer connoisseurs to find, savor and share their ideal location for a Stella Artois anywhere in the world.”

The application, created by Acrossair, has user-generated content features for consumers to rate bars according to ‘Le menu,’ ‘Le dance,’ ‘La clientele’ and ‘Le service,’ creating a peer review system for beer connoisseurs worldwide. Those looking for a perfect setting for people watching, a lively dance spot, or just a great place to meet with friends can select a bar according to their preferences – from New York , to Los Angeles , to London .

Upon entering a bar, the iPhone screen also will reveal messages highlighting other users’ experiences. An integrated ‘Le taxi’ system provides phone numbers for taxi services to encourage adults to use designated drivers or alternate transportation at the end of the evening.

The 3D augmented reality version of Le Bar Guide can be used on iPhone 3GS handsets, while a 2D version is available for iPhone 3G and iTouch users.

The application was previewed at the Stella Artois World Draught Master global finals held in New York City on Oct. 29, 2009, where bartenders from more than 25 countries around the world competed in the Belgian Pouring Ritual.

For more information about Stella Artois visit www.stellaartois.com or join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/stella.

Stella Artois is part of a Belgian brewing tradition dating back to 1366. It is the best-selling Belgian beer in the world and is available in more than 80 countries. Stella Artois is a bottom filtered, blonde pilsner. It is thirst-quenching with a malty middle and crisp finish delivering a full flavor and a hint of bitterness. Stella Artois should be served in the signature Stella Artois Chalice according to the 9-Step Belgian Pouring Ritual to guarantee a perfect experience of this gold standard lager.