iPhone sales in China out of the gate were embarrassing with only 5,000 sold the first four days. Sales are now picking up with 100K of them sold since the device debuted in China.

Apple has launched a new RSS feed for developers that lets them get tips on submitting apps to the App Store. The RSS feed also offers info on approvals of new apps.

If Apple rolls out a tablet computer, it could make building applications for its portable devices more complex. That’s because developers–who have built more than 65,000 applications for the iPhone and iPod touch–say one of the big advantages to developing apps for these devices is consistency.

[via Forbes]

The kit comes with:

• One iPhone UI Stencil
• Zebra mechanical pencil
• 2 Design Commission stickers
• Downloadable .PDF letter-sized paper template

[Design Commission via Gizmodo]

Each week, a favorite app will be chosen from new submissions and will be featured on the Mobclix web site. The community votes on the People’s Choice winning app and a panel of expert judges will help Gap and Mobclix choose the Grand Prize winner. Apps will be judged on originality, innovation, ease of use, and customer appeal. As you brainstorm ideas, keep in mind the following things that Gap is known for: denim, color, music, individuality and reinvented classics.

Visit www.mobclix.com/gap, view the official rules and register for the contest.

The site explains how these work:

iPhone toolbar icons are 24-bit PNGs with an alpha channel and dimensions of about 30 × 30 pixels. The icon’s mask (the parts of the image which aren’t fully transparent) is styled to create the normal and active button states. This works the same way for both Toolbar (blue bar, as in Safari) and Tab Bar (black bar, as in the iPod app).

[Source]

Their website explains:

Using the simple interface, you can submit your ideas directly to the incubator. If it passes a series of tests and reviews, we’ll pay one of our development teams to build it. Then we’ll promote and market the application. And we’ll share the profits with you.

We make our decisions based upon five factors: Originality. Functionality. Simplicity. Revenue Opportunity. And Fun.

The AppIncubator application is the first of its kind. You can download the AppIncubator [iTunes link] from iPhone App Store for free.

It’s worth trying, isn’t it? Welcome new iPhone developers!

[via ReadWriteWeb]

The governing “iPhone Developer Program License Agreement” has been updated where Apple forbids the creation of apps that violate privacy, facilitate crimes, or violate intellectual property laws. From now on, app developers are not able to jailbreak their own phones or assist others in jailbreaking their phone. Relevant clauses in the agreement are as follows:

(e) You will not, through use of the Apple Software, services or otherwise, create any Application or other program that would disable, hack or otherwise interfere with the Security Solution, or any security, digital signing, digital rights management, verification or authentication mechanisms implemented in or by the iPhone operating system software, iPod touch operating system software, this Apple Software, any services or other Apple software or technology, or enable others to do so; and

(f) Applications developed using the Apple Software may only be distributed if selected by Apple (in its sole discretion) for distribution via the App Store or for limited distribution on Registered Devices (ad hoc distribution) as contemplated in this Agreement.

Jailbreaking allows access to apps that Apple doesn’t approve of and enables unlocking the phone from approved carriers. It also allows users and developers access to the UNIX underpinnings of iPhone OS. Developers thinking of distributing a rejected app for jailbroken phones, lose access to the iPhone developer program altogether. Jailbreaking is likely to occur even with these provisions. Apple will just be keeping a closer eye on proceedings.

[via Ars Technica]

How iPhoneAppQuotes works? This site explains:

1. Fill out our confidential quote form on this page.
2. We send your contact information to 3 iPhone Developers in our exclusive network.
3. A max of 3 iPhone Developers will contact you to discuss your project, and provide you with a free price quote.
4. You decide which iPhone Application Development Company you want to work with. It’s that easy!

To join The iPhoneAppQuotes Network, every developer must have at least 1 app in the store already.

[via prMac]

Apple announced that renewals now have a full 60 days prior to the developer program expiration date. The date will be in effect from May where developers will be able to renew their iPhone Developer Program. This action automatically renewing existing contracts.

Developers might be keen to bare in mind dates for next time. As the number of apps flies past 25,000, Apple is struggling to keep up. On the bright side, the current limitations of the system are obvious to those within the organization and assistance to the Developers is being provided.

[via CNET]

Coming to iPhones everywhere from Giant Crayon Games, the game offers players the chance to rescue kittens frozen in ice of the Minnesota winter and win points. The goal is to arrange falling blocks to free the furry animals. Sadly the game is not as simple as the real life ambitions of freeing animals.

Available for sale at $2.99, the developers will be passing on the dollars to the non-profit organisation for all sales throughout March and April. The first of it’s kind where proceeds of an iPhone app sale head to charity, I hope that firstly, everyone buys this app (whether you play it or not) and secondly, that more developers put themselves out to help others.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAoJUwhuzNs[/youtube]

[via CNET]

Many a rejection letter for apps has surfaced online and now it seems Apple is tired of the critical press. Now, app developers that receive a rejection letter will see this in the heading:

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS UNDER NON-DISCLOSURE

This is just another thing showing the vice grip Apple has on what does and does not enter the App Store. This is in sharp contrast to the newly revealed Android Market, which will not filter or restrict its apps or content. Seems to me there has to be a meeting in the middle here, don’t you think?

[via MacRumors]

But when you look at developers like Tap Tap Tap, with their Where To? and Tipulator apps, you can’t help but notice there’s real profit potential here. These relatively simple apps are selling like hot cakes and the industrious developers that were there the day the App Store opened are actually making a living at this. 

Now, that’s not to say there won’t be a downward turn. There’s always a downward turn, but I don’t think the App Store will implode because of it. It will level out and. But for now, it’s an interesting new playing field. And with sales figure transparency–at least at the beginning of this new venture–there’s a generally positive feeling going around. I hope it stays that way. 

[via The iPhone Blog]

And as the App Store continues to grow–they’re at over 1,000 apps now–we’re doing our best to keep up with the reviews. In fact, everything from games to useless little tools passed through our eager fingers this week. But a few highlights include free gems such as Pandora and Palringo and paid games like Lucky 7 Slots. Apps have been overall impressive this week, with just a few disappointments, Jott, namely. 

There were a few helpful how-to’s discussed, specifically, how to speed up that pesky back up process, how to share apps with those in your household and a especially helpful description of how to use Ad Hoc Helper for beta testing apps.

Several consumer alerts found their way onto iPhone Buzz as well, as many question the quality of their iPhone 3Gs. For instance, some 3G cases appear to be cracking, many aren’t getting 3G service (even in 3G areas) and others are concerned about the GPS and how it may provide malicious people with access to your personal information.

Finally, news was hot this week on all things iPhone 3G. We had several rumors about iPhone unlocking with YESSIM sim cards and the interesting revelation that Apple and AT&T had extended their exclusivity agreement until 2010. Plus, Apple retail stores have implemented a ticketing system that better streamlines the iPhone 3G purchasing process.

Prior to this, you would have had to wait until the first monthly report was released. Also, download stats were available publicly for short period of time, but were removed because it was very easy to estimate a developer’s earnings. 

With these stats, developers can adjust their app prices to improve sales and make themselves more competitive in the market. And it’s only going to get more competitive from here.

[via MacRumors]

And it would seem Apple and developers would be raking in a lot of cash from this app cash cow, but not so, says Apple Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook during the Q3 conference on Monday. Rather, the App Store is intended to help boost iPhone 3G and iPod Touch sales, much like the iTunes Store itself. 

As the App Store continues to grow, we’ll have to see what new gems pop up and what major developers decide to latch onto the platform. 

[via The iPhone Blog]