iLounge

By Jeremy Horwitz

Editor-in-Chief, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, March 17, 2009
News Category: iPhone Applications

The following is a list of third-party developers and applications that were selected by Apple for live demonstration during the iPhone OS 3.0 event today.

Meebo: Having created a popular web app for iPhone and iPod touch instant messaging before the release of the App Store, this developer demonstrated a multi-service instant messaging client that was capable of handling background notifications, a feature that enables users to receive messages even when the program is not open and active on the screen.

Electronic Arts The Sims 3: Another version of the company’s “monitor and guide peoples’ lives” game, demonstrating how characters can use real-world cash through iTunes to buy items in the game, somewhat disgustingly including a $1 stereo that lets you hear your own iPod’s music during the game. Let’s hope that one doesn’t make it into the actual title.

Oracle: Known for its database and enterprise software, Oracle demonstrated how information passed from Oracle’s servers to an iPhone client app can be used to provide background indicators and alerts even when the app is not running.

ESPN: Showed new application functionality enabling users to receive sports scores as background notifications, as well as seeing streaming sports videos that have been optimized to the bandwidth you actually have. The iPhone OS has gained support for HD-quality video and audio streaming, explained Apple, though no indication was given as to why users might need that on a 480x320 screen.

LifeScan Diabetes Monitor: A demonstration of how medical monitoring applications could interact with Dock Connector or wireless accessories such as a diabetes glucose meter, which could communicate to the iPhone a user’s current sugar level, track them over time, and make recommendations on proper meal planning.

Ngmoco TouchPets: Inspired by Nintendo’s Nintendogs, this app showed how users could invite one another to interact with their in-game pet dogs, and make purchases of in-game dog clothing as transactions through the App Store.

Ngmoco LiveFire: A newly announced first-person shooter, LiveFire somewhat resembles Nintendo’s and Rare’s classic Perfect Dark, and enables users to play against each other in an online multiplayer mode, complete with in-game voice chat. Again, microtransactions were shown off, with Ngmoco suggesting that it would sell individual weapons for $1 each.

Smule Leaf Trombone: World Stage: A demonstration of a sequel to the popular Ocarina application that enabled players to perform music and share it with others around the world. Leaf Trombone lets two people play together in a room using Bluetooth wireless, or multiple people play together over a global multiplayer system.