applications

Microsoft and Apple are fighting a behind-the-scenes battle over App Store revenue sharing, The Next Web reports.

Apple is currently blocking any Microsoft SkyDrive updates in its App Store until the software giant agrees to share revenue generated through its application, the site reports, citing sources who claim to have knowledge of the disagreement.

Microsoft currently offers its SkyDrive storage app to iOS users. The company rolled out the ability for users to purchase more storage from within the application. However, upon doing so, Microsoft decided that it wouldn't share 30 percent of the revenue generated through those transactions … Read more

Nike is ripping a page from the titans of tech, taking the first steps to building a platform on which developers can create applications for its Nike+ products.

The sports shoe and apparel giant has partnered with TechStars, a startup mentoring and investment organization, to launch Nike+ Accelerator. Through the program, Nike and TechStars will give 10 groups $20,000 to build health and fitness applications that use the Nike+ technology.

"The program aims to leverage the success of the Nike+ platform to support digital innovation by connecting with companies that share Nike's commitment to help people live … Read more

The Daily, News Corp.'s embattled iPad news app, will officially be closing its doors on December 15.

The publishing house revealed the app's demise in a broad announcement today covering a wide range of changes at the company. The Daily as a standalone publication will be shuttered, but News Corp. said that its "brand will live on in other channels." Some staff, for example, will be sent to The New York Post.

"From its launch, The Daily was a bold experiment in digital publishing and an amazing vehicle for innovation," News Corp. chairman Rupert … Read more

Amazon's Appstore is now available in Japan.

Amazon announced the news today, saying that the application marketplace includes both popular worldwide apps, such as "Fruit Ninja" and "Cut the Rope," as well as Japanese favorites like "Mushroom Garden."

The e-retailer has been making a significant push for the Japanese market as of late. Last month, Amazon launched its Kindle Store in Japan, allowing customers to buy its e-books. A few weeks later, Amazon launched its backlit Paperwhite e-reader in the country.

The Kindle Fire and Kindle Fire HD are currently available for preorder … Read more

Nokia is going all in on mapping services for iOS.

The company yesterday launched Here Maps, a free application that provides a host of features for travelers. The mapping application is powered by Navteq data, the same information used in the majority of in-car navigation systems. Users are able to view maps and get real-time traffic data on a particular area. Here Maps also includes a satellite view and the ability to save map areas for later.

To add a social flavor, Here Maps lets users create and save maps that can be accessed by others. Users can also share … Read more

Apple has approved 1 million iOS apps, according to an application discovery company.

Appsfire revealed the findings on its Twitter account yesterday. In an e-mailed statement to CNET, an Appsfire spokesperson said that its tally includes all of the apps "that have been submitted and approved by Apple and that went live in the App Store" since its launch in 2008. The spokesperson was quick to point out that the tally does not include those apps that have been submitted and rejected.

The Next Web was first to report on the Appsfire tally.

Apple announced last month that … Read more

Texas Instruments is officially getting out of the consumer smartphone business, as major phone suppliers like Apple turn to internal chip designs.

"TI...will reduce costs and focus investments in its wireless business on embedded markets with greater potential for sustainable growth. Cost reductions include the elimination of about 1,700 jobs worldwide," TI said in a statement today.

While TI didn't mention any names, one of the most telling statements alluded to companies that are now designing their own chips. That would include Apple, which designs processors for its iPhone.

"Large customers are increasingly developing … Read more

Winmail Reader is a useful and simple tool for anyone who sends or receives messages from the older Microsoft Outlook 97 and 2000 applications (winmail.dat). With Winmail Reader, the user can read, convert, and save file attachments that come from Outlook, Outlook Express, and Microsoft Exchange applications as well as Thunderbird and Lotus Notes e-mail clients. It is a freeware application that works on the later versions of the Windows operating system including XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

The layout of Winmail Reader will be familiar to any Windows user, and there aren't many options, so most people … Read more

A new mobile application centering on President Barack Obama and his daily activities has launched. But it hasn't launched where you might expect.

The U.S. Government Printing Office and the National Archives' Office of the Federal Register announced today that they have launched the Presidential Documents app (PDF). The program comes with access to all of the president's executive orders, speeches, approved acts, and White House press releases, among other documents.

However, while developers are constantly delivering new applications to mobile marketplaces, like Apple's App Store and Google Play, the government agencies balked at that idea. … Read more