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Apple has begun enforcing in-app purchasing restrictions for e-reading apps, with the Kindle, Kobo, and Nook Kids apps falling into line by removing bookstores from their iOS apps.

Argument for web apps HTML5 has finally matured into a strong alternative to native iOS and Android apps  developers are frustrated that they need to support multiple platforms  Apple recently changed the way that developers can sell content from within their applications. If a developer links out to their own online store, they must also allow consumers to purchase content using an iTunes account

Fortune making a web app instead of a native app. Still includes a premium version, but just lets you access more meaningful applications of the content they provide on different companies.

"The SPG for Glass app lets users search for Starwood properties around the world, explore room photos, hotel amenities and more straight through the app. Users will also be able to get turn by turn directions to the property so they won't have to wander around helplessly in a new city."

By: Brad Reed | Sep 26th, 2012 at 09:15PM Yes, people still like mobile apps. Google ( GOOG) on Wednesday announced that its Google Play store had now served up more than 25 billion total app downloads, an impressive figure for a store that launched just four years ago.

"Steve Yankovich, eBay's VP of mobile, said the average transaction on eBay's mobile apps runs between $30 and $45, in contrast to companies that sell 99-cent mobile games or virtual goods. On the high end, he notes that more than 9,000 cars are sold every week through the app, some of which are priced above $100,000."

Social networks like Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest get lavished with deserved attention, but apps from the leading mobile categories should not be overlooked by anyone wanting to engage or advertise to mobile users. The average news app performs especially well, earning as much monthly time-in-app as Twitter, and (distant) second to only Facebook.

"Walmart began recruiting top Silicon Valley talent and acquiring start-ups last year. For instance, Walmart acquired Kosmix, a company that specializes in making web design more seamless, for $300 million. That team has been working for over a year to fix Walmart's systems and improve its website.  Walmart is investing in the "social gifting" market. A year ago, Walmart launched "Shopycat," which makes gift recommendations based on friends' Facebook profiles. The site is now called "Walmart Gifts" and allows customers to log in and get personalized recommendations based on Facebook and Twitter profiles.  The retailer got a better search engine. A dozen top engineers took 10 months to build it, and while the company won't discuss sales figures, they said the new system is more user-friendly. "If you search for cotton socks now, you'll actually find them," Manjoo writes.  Walmart is trying to lead the charge in same-day shipping. Its at an advantage considering that 96 percent of Americans live within 20 miles of a Walmart.  Walmart is investing like crazy in its mobile app. "Walmart imagines that as you go through an average day, you'll remember things you need--milk, bread, a new tennis racquet, a toy truck for your nephew's birthday--and tell the voice-enabled Walmart app. The app will list each item's location inside your local Walmart and include product info; eventually, it will also learn your preferences and offer recommendations. And once you're actually in the store, you'll be able to summon an associate to help you," Manjoo says. "

"BMW last year invested in the mobile app MyCityWay, and soon it will find if that was money well spent as its eco-friendly Born Electric road show rolls into New York. The luxury automaker next week will run locally targeted display and video ads on the city- guide app, which developers said has 1.2 million users in Gotham."

Called Smileage, the app syncs with Google+ so others can monitor particular trips, and draw in data, comments on photos from all the phones which are synced with the car during any given journey. Users are awarded Smileage points for completing certain tasks, such as uploading photos. Even passing other VW's count, as the app creates a little 'punch' every one is passed on the road.

Here's a video about Smileage: http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/volkswagen-smileage-social-road-trips-powered-by-google/

 Volkswagen's Start-Stop engine technology, through a Google Chrome Store App, using facial recognition technology to detect when someone looks at or away from the screen. This is linked through the app to YouTube, so that any video you are watching automatically pauses if you look away from the screen! 

The Android piece is particularly interesting. If you're a publisher or developer with an Android app to promote, a Google+-authenticated user who is browsing around your desktop website will be prompted to download the Android app, too. Then, the user can opt to get an over-the-air install of the app without ever touching a smartphone. Read more at http://venturebeat.com/2013/04/02/google-plus-login-button/#lOL2oCXRukFeFdM4.99 

sad app

"Big Is Beautiful As smartphone screens get larger, companies have found some success with ads such as "takeovers" that briefly fill all or most of a device's screen. San Francisco app company Fotopedia sells such ads on its iPhone and iPad apps, which let people flip through high-quality photographs of Paris, national parks or wild animals. Marketers including National Geographic and travel websites Jetsetter and Expedia Inc. EXPE -0.23% pay roughly $1 to $1.50 for each user who clicks an ad, which fill a full screen. Like fashion ads in a luxury magazine, the Fotopedia ads appear every 10 "pages" or so of the app. As many as 18% of people who see an ad click on it, said Christophe Daligault, Fotopedia's senior vice president of global operations. On the Web, it isn't unusual for just 1% of people shown an ad to interact with it, marketers said. Still, big ads should be used sparingly, some marketers said. Craig Bierley, director of General Motors Co.'s GM -0.84% Buick advertising, said the auto maker tends to limit takeover ads to major product introductions because otherwise "people might find it annoying.""

Here's how it works: businesses, event hosts or any other group that wants to make a donation snaps a photo of their extra food - Copia takes anything, cooked or uncooked, packaged or unpackaged - and schedule a pickup time in the app or website. The app then automatically matches the donation to a nearby organization and a cape-wearing driver (Copia calls them "food heroes") who completes the pickup and delivery.

More than 40,000 people used the app and the Fan Favourite tab was accessed 68,000 times. Activity around the app was also promoted using Facebook's Sponsored Stories ads.

Karma App - send gifts through the app. Recipient can choose to accept gift or pick something else from the store. Do this through text, email, or facebook. 

It ties Facebook up with one of the bigger companies in the area of mobile billing: Bango is the payments provider for RIM's App World, which yesterday once again laid claim to being the second-most profitable app storefront after Apple's

After downloading the free Blippar app on iPhone or Android, customers were able to 'blipp' any ten-pound note in circulation by opening the app and holding their phone over the note. An animated Queen, and other members of the Royal Family, then appeared on the screen and voiced opinions on the latest football matters. The UK's central bank has now contacted the bookmakers insisting they withdraw the promotional campaign, a spokesperson confirmed: "according to the Bank of England we've broken the law."