BrightStart LLC’s educational app, Pre-K Letters and Numbers for iPhone and iPad, aims to teach children to read and write. The app displays a letter or number, calls it by it’s name, has the child trace it, then phonetically pronounces it and associates it with a word.

• Individual user setup (optional)
• Online child performance Report Card (optional)
• Simple and easy to use design
• Memorable characters, pictures, shapes and sounds
• Positive learning experiences
• Numbers, words and phonics include a full word set of animals, fruits, vegetables and items around the house
• Learn early foundations of language and numeracy
• Learn how to recognize, read, write and pronounce upper and lower case letters
• Learn consonants and vowels
• Learn phonograms
• Learn early stage numbers and counting

In just the few moments I spend with the free trial, I was impressed by this app. It runs very smooth, has soothing music, and speaks clearly. I look forward to letting my daughter learn from it when she gets older.

The initial download for Pre-K Letters and Numbers is a free trial and to unlock All Letters and Numbers and the Report Card, there is an in-app purchase for $1.99. Screenshots after the break.

[iTunes link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

Apple has released an app called the iTunes Festival London 2011. The app will let you watch live performances from lots of bands; performing at the Roundhouse in London throughout July. The acts are all taking part in the official iTunes Festival and you can view it all for free on your iOS device.

The iTunes Festival is back with 31 consecutive nights of live music and more. The lineup includes Coldplay, Linkin Park, Foo Fighters, Paul Simon, Bruno Mars, Adele, My Chemical Romance, Duran Duran, Lang Lang and Moby — to name just a few of the great shows you can watch live on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

The iTunes Festival London 2011 app is completely free and works with iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; running iOS 4.1 and later. The app also supports AirPlay which enables you to stream the content to the big screen via the second generation Apple TV.

[Free – iTunes link]

Previous years have seen Apple’s annual fall music event showcase iTunes and iPod in decreasingly spectacular fashion, last year’s exceptions being the iPod touch 4 with cameras and the all new, all iOS-powered Apple TV. This year could be very different, with the possibility of Apple introducing up to 5 new iOS devices to the family at roughly the same time. It would be unprecedented, but so was no new iPhone back at WWDC 2011 in June.

1. iPod touch 5

If anything would usually be considered a safe for the fall music event, it would be a next generation iPod touch. For the last four years, Apple has introduced a stripped down, non-3G version of the same year’s iPhone wrapped in iPod touch clothes. So this year we’d expect an iPod touch 5 with an Apple A5 system-on-a-chip (SoC) and enhanced cameras. (Along with fierce demands for 128GB option to finally retire the iPod classic, of course.) Since WWDC 2011 came and went with no new hardware, however, and we don’t have a new iPhone 5 to base a new iPod touch 5 on, that challenges all preconceptions.

A new iPod touch definitely makes sense for the lucrative holiday season, but with so much else on their plate, it could end up being massively over-shadowed at best.

2. Apple TV 3

Last year’s iOS and Apple A4-powered reboot of the Apple TV in a rental, streaming model at the low price point of $99 turned their previous set top box strategy on its head. An Apple TV 3 (or whatever a 2nd generation of the 2nd generation Apple TV would be called) is certainly a possibility for this fall, especially if the new Apple A5 chip could boost it to a true 1080p powerhouse. Would Apple have 1080p streaming content in place to support it? Would any other new technology, like AirPlay mirroring in iOS 5 make more horsepower make more sense? Quite possibly. There’s every indication this is Apple’s “hobby” entry into the living room app and console gaming market and they’re going to want to hit it hard before competitors catch up. Again, it feels like a safe bet but one Apple could just as easily hold off on for another cycle.

3. iPhone 5

Unlike the last 4 years Apple didn’t introduce a new iPhone back at June’s WWDC 2011 so it feels like we’re overripe for one. The general assumption — and a lot of rumors — indicate this fall we’ll finally see it. Whether the delay was due to Verizon contacts, iOS 5 delays, or hardware production lead times, Apple probably needs to get a refresh out the door just to keep up with competitive pressure from Google, expired iPhone 3GS contracts on AT&T and other contracts, and the increasingly fashion-concious mobile market. Thinner, lighter, faster, these aren’t the things Apple’s TV commercials tell us matter most, but they’re probably the things that will change the most for iPhone 5. The dual-core, ARM Cortex A9-powered Apple A5 processor is probably a given. An 8 megapixel, 1080p rear camera and FaceTime HD front camera feel likely as well. More RAM, 64GB of NAND Flash storage, and a larger, 3.7-inch screen, are on a lot of wish lists as well. (Hopefully 3D isn’t, and we’re still probably a year away from LTE 4G.)

The big question is whether or not it will be a major redesign or just a streamlined iPhone 4. Rumors have gone both ways, which isn’t unusual given Apple typically tests both less and more ambitious prototypes during the design face, and field tests camouflaged units as production gets closer. I’m guessing we’ll end up in between. A tweak, but not a major overhaul. Not yet.

4. iPhone nano

iPhone nano rumors have been around as long as… the original iPhone. There’s an iPod nano, after all, and it’s the most popular model in the industry. Every other manufacturer makes multiple models, so why not Apple? If they want to move into greater demographics and emerging markets, it’s a logical move. Just like Intel Macs and CDMA iPhones, they’ve probably had an iPhone nano, and other variants, deep in the Apple labs for a while, waiting until they felt was the right time for release.

With that in mind, we keep hearing it’s done, it’s ready, and it’s just waiting on Apple to pull the trigger. What “it” is, however, remains a mystery. Just like neither the iPad nor 11-inch MacBook Air are Netbooks, collectively they effectively address — and eviscerate — the netbook market. Apple is as notoriously hard to predict in advance as they are seemingly obvious in hindsight. A barebones feature phone is probably out of the question given the size and power of the App Store and iTunes ecosystems, but could a stripped down, 3- to 3.5-inch iPhone 3GS in new packaging work for the ultra casual and emerging markets? The lower resolution but still compatible screen and the other components, now enjoying huge economies of scale, make it an interesting idea.

(Georgia’s still hoping the iPhone nano is a watch that “AirPlays” iPhone information to a more convenient screen.)

5. iPad 2 HD/Pro / iPad 3

Whatever you want to call it, Apple really could release another new iPad this year. Since they called 2011 the year of the iPad 2, iPad 2 HD or iPad 2 Pro (given the MacBook Pro and Mac Pro branding) makes more sense, but either way we might just see a new tablet with a Retina Display this fall. It’s not an obvious choice, given how it will have only been 6 months or so since the (original) iPad 2 shipped, and since the “pro” market for iPads hasn’t even begun to be established. But Apple doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Component pricing and production yield rates could mean a 2048×1536 iPad can’t be produced at Apple usual $499 price points, at least not any time soon. And while competing tablets from Samsung, BlackBerry, and HP webOS have failed to gain any real traction, they’re going to keep coming. Getting a Retina Display iPad out on the market soon, before anyone else is even anywhere close, just makes competing that much harder, and going with a “pro” level price for those who want and can afford it protects Apple’s low cost of entry on the regular iPad 2. It would be a tactical gamble, but Apple has often been utterly fearless when it came to those.

Whether “pro” also means LTE, USB, SD, or any other acronyms you want to throw at it, and whether it mandates a newer battery or even newer A5 chipset remains a really interesting question.

6. There is no 6

Rumors of Apple television sets continue to swirl, and there are always other product areas Apple could and one day probably will explore (maintaining growth takes work). However, the last time rumors popped up about an Apple television, TiPb heard it was a 27-inch iMac and low and behold, that’s what we got. Could the latest round of rumors be a harbinger for a 32-inch iMac? No idea. The television business is low margin and everything Apple typically isn’t. That’s not to say they couldn’t revolutionize it the way they did smartphones, but I don’t think they’ll do it this fall.

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Rumors of another new iPad this year have been circulating for a while, and now This is My Next is hearing it won’t be an iPad 3 but instead will be an iPad 2 HD sporting a pixel doubled Retina Display and aimed at the higher end market.

As hard as it might be to believe, the new tablet is said to sport a double resolution screen (2048 x 1536), and will be dubbed the "iPad HD." The idea behind the product is apparently that it will be a "pro" device aimed at a higher end market — folks who work in video and photo production possibly — and will be introduced alongside something like an iPad version of Final Cut or Aperture. This product is specifically said to not be the iPad 3, rather a complimentary piece of the iPad 2 line. Think MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Aside from the new name, this matches up very closely to what TiPb has been hearing as well. It also fits in nicely with Apple’s slogan from earlier this spring, that 2011 would be the year of the iPad 2.

If they really want to stay consistent, however, iPad 2 Pro has a nice ring to it. As always, however, when exactly Apple chooses to pull the trigger on new hardware depends on the prices and yields of components like that HD screen. After all, it’s been problematic enough to produce the current resolution iPad 2s fast enough to meet demand.

Update: Sounds like the announcement might be in September with the launch in October. [TiPb Forums]

Apple today announced some huge numbers for the iTunes App Store, including 15 billion downloads, 425,000 apps (and games), 100,000 native iPad apps, available in 90 countries, for the more than 200 million iOS devices sold to date.

"In just three years, the revolutionary App Store has grown to become the most exciting and successful software marketplace the world has ever seen," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Thank you to all of our amazing developers who have filled it with over 425,000 of the coolest apps and to our over 200 million iOS users for surpassing 15 billion downloads."

"We sparked musical magic when iPhone users experienced Ocarina three years ago," said Dr. Ge Wang, a Smule co-founder and assistant professor at Stanford's Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics. "And now with iPad, we've created the Magic Piano and Magic Fiddle apps. Who could've dreamt an iPad would make its way into the San Francisco Symphony?"

"iPad provides us with an unparalleled mobile device for creating gorgeous, immersive games," said Mark Rein, vice president and co-founder of Epic Games. "Infinity Blade has been a runaway hit with customers around the world and we couldn't be more excited about our success on iOS devices."

"We're bringing Martha Stewart, Angelina Ballerina, Sesame Street and many more of the world's most popular books and magazines to iPad," said Nicholas Callaway, CEO of Callaway Digital Arts. "We knew the iPad was going to be a revolutionary storytelling device, but never could have anticipated it would become so popular, so quickly."

Apple also reiterated the $2.5 billion in cash that’s generated for App Store developers.

[Apple PR]

Derek Clark has updated his budget app, Ez Budget – Quick Envelope Budgeting, with cloud syncing. Additionally, he has released an iPad version.

• Define spending envelopes
• Group the envelopes into categories
• Manually import transactions
• Automatically import transactions using OFX for banks that support it
• Split income and transactions into multiple envelopes
• Keep a running total for the amounts in each envelope
• Keep track of the balance for all envelopes
• Keep track of past transactions
• Keep your budget synced with a spouse
• Keep your budget synced between your iPhone and iPad.

This is a fantastic solution to those who want to keep track of all their spending but share an account with their spouse. As long as both of you have an iPhone or iPad, you can each enter your purchases and keep your budget perfectly balanced and up to date.

Ez Budget – Quick Envelope Budgeting is available on the iPhone for $4.99 and on the iPad for $4.99. Screenshots after the break.

[iPhone iTunes link] [iPad iTunes link]

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

As expected, Apple is preparing a software update — likely iOS 4.3.4 for most devices, iOS 4.2.9 for the Verizon iPhone — to close the PDF exploit behind JailbreakMe.com. While JailbreakMe.com uses the exploit to Jailbreak current iOS firmware and install the Cydia app store, the same exploit could be used by a hacker to easily gain access to a user’s device for malicious purposes.

Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said Thursday, "Apple takes security very seriously. We're aware of this reported issue and developing a fix that will be available to customers in an upcoming software update."

Currently, the only way to fix the vulnerability is to Jailbreak and install PDF Patcher 2.

[Washington Post]

Marathon 1 is now available free in the App Store. Originally released for the Mac in 1994, Marathon is a classic first person shooter game by Bungie (who were later acquired by Microsoft and responsible for the Halo series). It started its iPad journey as a personal project by a developer called Daniel Blezek. Bungie got wind of the project and it has now been officially sanctioned. Marathon 1 is the first part of a trilogy.

STORY - defend the UESC Marathon colony ship against the aggressive Pfhor - play the role of the cyborg security officer - witness the rampancy of Durandal, the ship-board A.I. - uncover the surprising secrets of the Pfhor and the UESC Marathon

FEATURES

• 27 levels divided into six chapters
• missions include exploration, puzzles and extermination
• smooth game play experience
• “Carnage is as easy as point and shoot.” from the Marathon Manual
• 7 unique weapons

The iPad version of Marathon 1 is free for the original version. If you want to upgrade the graphics to something more modern and eye pleasing, you can do that via an in app purchase for $3.99. You can also skip straight to Master Chief Mode for an additional $0.99 which brings unlimited ammo, level skipping and all the usual things you find in a god type mode.

While it’s not really my cup of tea (I have never even heard of this game until today — don’t judge me!) — it does remind me a little of Doom or the first release of Quake, and classic Mac gamers and Halo fans will no doubt love it.

[Free - iTunes link]

Capture puts an icon on your iPhone, iPod touch 4, or iPad 2 home screen and, when tapped, immediately fires up your video camera and records. How many times have you missed something you wanted to shoot, waiting to load the camera app, toggling it into video mode and then pressing the record button? This happens to me all the time and is very frustrating.

Never miss another moment! Capture is like a record button for your home screen. It immediately starts recording video after launched, and saves the video to your Camera Roll after it quits.

Features:

• Minimal UI
• Start/stop recording
• Focus on tap
• Rear light toggle
• Double-tap zoom to view full frame
• Lock orientation (in Settings)
• Disable record-on-launch (in Settings)

I will definitely be buying Capture today; I’m sick of missing my little girls crazy antics while the camera app loads up!

[$0.99 - iTunes link]