MobileCrunch has a huge post up detailing the latest, and potentially one of the most brazen cases of fake iPhone reviews (astroturfing) to date.

To sum up, MobileCrunch claims PR firm Reverb Communications has been using fake iTunes accounts to deliberately and strategically post fake App Store reviews for their clients — some of which are fairly recognizable names in the iPhone and iPod touch development space. According to an anonymous tipster:

Reverb employs a small team of interns who are focused on managing online message boards, writing influential game reviews, and keeping a gauge on the online communities. Reverb uses the interns as a sounding board to understand the new mediums where consumers are learning about products, hearing about hot new games and listen to the thoughts of our targeted audience. Reverb will use these interns on Developer Y products to post game reviews (written by Reverb staff members) ensuring the majority of the reviews will have the key messaging and talking points developed by the Reverb PR/marketing team.

Reverb has responded-ish to the claims, and MobileCrunch to the response, so check out the full article for all the annoying details.

Bottom-line remains, however, that if you make great apps, people will tend to find them. If you make great publicity absent a great app, people will only find disappointment and hold a grudge against the next app. So, stick to making great apps, and leave the game playing to the users, b’okay?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone App Review Astroturfing Gets Uglier

Apple has begun airing another in their long line of “App for That” iPhone ads, this time with “Avid”, targeting sports fans. The ad shows off:

• Golfshot GPS [$29.99 - iTunes link]
• MLB at Bat 2009 [$9.99 - iTunes link]
• TouchSports Tennis 2009 [$0.99 - iTunes link]

Apple typically releases these spots in batches, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more, and if you see any, let us know.

(Mac fans can also check out the new Get a Mac ads, one of which just might “tick” people off — haha!)

[Video via Ben.at]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

New iPhone Ad Has Apps for That Avid Sports Fan with Golfshot GPS, MLB at Bat, TouchSports Tennis

Since returning to work following a 6-month leave of absence and a liver-transplant, Apple CEO has been locked on delivering the long-rumored, hugely-anticipated (by the blogsphere at least) Apple iTablet, or so says the Wall Street Journal.

Similar to the months before the January 2007 unveiling of the iPhone, Jobs is said to be relentlessly micro-managing away with his typical utter focus on usability and design, making engineers cry and developers miserable in hopes of delighting consumers with a tablet concept that “just works”.

Making it worse, apparently, for Apple employees this time around is that aforementioned leave of absence Jobs took gave them all a brief respite of freedom, and now they’re left to lament what they previously never knew. Or something like that. Really, melodramatic much?

What’s clear, however, is that Jobs takes introducing whole new product categories very seriously:

Mr. Jobs killed the project twice in recent years, the first time because the battery life was too short, and the second time because there was insufficient memory, said one of the people familiar with the matter.

Asked for comment, however, Steve Jobs proved he’s still on top of his game, at least when it comes to curt responses:

“much of your information is incorrect,”

You go Steve!

Update: Fake Steve chimes in with Do not get in my way when I am on a mission, or I swear to God you will get hurt

[via MacRumors]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Steve Jobs Locked on iTablet

Should Apple improve the iPhone App Store, eliminate it as a single point of access to iPhone apps, or both? Given that Apple’s response to the FCC indicated there were only 40+ full-time, trained reviewers for the App Store, and 8500 apps a week for them the review, simple math makes it appear a challenge (as does casual observation of review times). Since the App Store is the only way, outside of enterprise or beta provisioning, to get native apps on the iPhone and iPod touch, depending on your point of view this is either not a problem, an untenable bottleneck, or only half of a better, more workable solution. So what can be done?

First, Apple could try to continue to improve the App Store as is. They could hire more reviewers, improve and make more transparent the review criteria, and otherwise create an environment that’s more predictable and sane for developers.

Second, as Facebook developer Joe Hewitt suggests, they could get rid of the App Store and simply allow developers to release whatever they want. Hewitt claims this works well enough for the Web and WebApps, and it’s currently similar to the model Google is using for the Android Marketplace where, after a series of automated bug tests, the app is simply released. If, post-release, the community flags the app as inappropriate (i.e. copyright violation) or malicious, Google will investigate and potentially remove it.

Third, Engadget suggests Apple create a hybrid model where the App Store remains for those users who want an uber-safe, Apple controlled single point of access, but Apple also allows for “side-loading” applications from other sources. Similar to the (currently restricted to 100 users) Ad Hoc distro method, or Enterprise provisioning method already in place, this means applications not approved for the App Store could still be downloaded and installed via iTunes.

Check out the poll up top and let us know what you think!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Poll: Should Apple Improve the iPhone App Store, Eliminate It, or Both?

The NFL’s regular season is fast approaching and what a better way to kick the season off then with some Madden 2010 on your iPhone (or iPod touch)?! EA has been promising us some Madden action on iPhone for a while and now they finally will deliver.

The game will contain real NFL rosters and, based upon the screen shots, will include Brett Favre and Michael Vick on both of their new respective teams. While EA is promising a release date of no later than opening day, September 10th, there is no official word on a price point. All of that aside, we think you can expect Madden 2010 to stiff arm it’s way into the App Store at $9.99.

[Via Cnet]

Screen shots after the break!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Quick App: Madden 2010 for iPhone