Previously, users could access and download click-wheel games for the iPod classic by clicking on a drop down list next to the App Store button within iTunes, but it looks like the option has now been removed completely. With Apple gearing up to announce the next iPhone on October 4th, this could mean they’re making preparations to remove the classic from the iPod lineup altogether.

TUAW got a tip earlier this week that Apple is indeed planning to get rid of the platter-based iPod in addition to the iPod Shuffle to help streamline the product line and go touchscreen-only.

It seems that the “product transition” Apple mentioned on the last earnings call could very well be within the iPod line. Specifically, if you want to buy an iPod shuffle or iPod classic from Apple, you should do it sooner rather than later. We’ve heard those two iPods are getting the axe this year.

Could we see the iPod classic go the way of the Dodo or will Apple keep it around for nostalgia’s sake?

Source: AppleInsider, TUAW

Seems a little premature since Apple hasn’t even released a gold master (GM) seed of iOS 5 yet, but if this TiPb tip is accurate, Sprint seems to think it’s the right time to add iOS 5 to their CelleBrite data transfer machines.

Interesting.

While there haven’t been any new iOS betas for iPhone or iPad since beta 7, iTunes is still getting some attention — beta 9 was just released to developers.

If you’re a registered dev, just hit the link below and go grab it.

Source: developer.apple.com

Timecard Pro is an iPhone and iPad app that lets you keeps track of the hours you worked and supports multiple jobs. Additionally, it will calculate how much money you’ve earned after each day and keep and running total.

Timecard Pro is a multi-use app to keep track of your hours worked. It’s great for freelance workers, employers to track their employees, or for anyone who wants to see a live view of how much money they’re earning.

Simply add your Job(s) or employees, and then clock in and out whenever needed. At the end of your pay period, you can export your timecard and email it to your boss or client.

• Easy to use interface
• Simple, single touch “Clock in/Clock Out” button for on-the-go time tracking
• Main display shows money earned, clock-in time, and how many hours you’ve worked
• Front page has a drop-down menu to select the current client/employee you want to track
• Clock into multiple jobs at the same time
• Set up a different hourly rate for each job
• Calculate overtime hours (On/Off setting)
• Add multiple jobs, by name, and multiple pay periods for a given job
• Export individual pay periods via in-app email (won’t exit the app)
• Add individual days that you missed
• Manually edit your hours for a given day
• Manually edit when your pay period ends or begins.
• Add notes for each job or day, and include them in your exported timecard (can be turned off).
• 2 themes (Black or White).
• Multitasking support implemented
• All high-resolution, custom graphics built for the iPhone 4 Retina Display (App works on all iOS devices though) And many MANY more features to come!

Timecard Pro is available on the iPhone and iPad for $0.99.

App Store 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.

Picturebook is a new iPhone and iPad app for kids to create their own stories. It’s designed so that even young children who do not know how to read or write can use Picturebook as a digital sticker book.

Picturebook is very easy to use and most kids will be able to dive right into story-writing without any guidance. The clipart that comes free with the app is a little limiting, but there is much more available as in-app purchases. I haven’t been able to test this out on a child yet, but when I do, I’m certain it will be a big hit.

Create and share your very own illustrated stories in a few simple steps!

• Nurtures creativity and writing skills
• Can be used as a digital sticker book without text for younger children
• Fun for all ages (parents, too!)
• Extra picture sets include school, farm animals, Cinderella, ninjas and more

Picturebook is available on the iPhone and iPad for free. The add-on picture sets available as in-app purchases are on sale in celebration of Picturebook’s launch.

App Store 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.

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• Photo Slideshow Director HD: Turns your photos, picasa web albums into dynamic HD slideshow on iPad easily. Export to videos for sharing on YouTube, Facebook and plays on HDTV at 1920×1080 hi-resolution. [$0.99 for iPad - App Store link]

• Contractor Expenses: An advanced expense and mileage tracking app designed specifically for IT Contractors/Freelancers. [$1.99 for iPhone - App store link]

• PDF Reader: A mobile reading master. With PDF Reader, managing files is no longer a burden. It is a sophisticated but easy to operate app that gives you the ability to read just about anything such as MS Office, image files, and audio files. [$2.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Mazen: A simple classic game where you try to find your way out of the randomly generated maze by solving it. Replay a maze to get a better score, challenge your brain, try to memorize the path! [$0.99 for iPhone - App Store link]

• Slide ur Buddy!: Enjoy sliding tiles, racing with time, and solving the traditional sliding puzzle…but with a “buddy” twist in the game. [Free for iPhone - App Store link]

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

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.

What a difference a week makes. Last we heard Samsung sounded like they had only just begun to fight, now they’ve signed an agreement to cross-license and pay Microsoft a fee for every Android device they’ve sold, but according to the Wall Street Journal, they’ve also offered an olive branch to Apple as well.

It wasn’t clear what benefit Apple would gain from any agreement, as details of the proposed deal were not discussed in full in front of the court. But Apple’s attorney, Stephen Burley, conceded there was some potential benefit from an agreement on the matter. “(Samsung’s) inconvenience would be diminished and we would be comforted” by such a deal, he said.

Microsoft’s benefit was easier: money.

"Microsoft and Samsung see the opportunity for dramatic growth in Windows Phone and we're investing to make that a reality," said Andy Lees, president, Windows Phone Division, Microsoft. "Microsoft believes in a model where all our partners can grow and profit based on our platform."

"Through the cross-licensing of our respective patent portfolios, Samsung and Microsoft can continue to bring the latest innovations to the mobile industry," said Dr. Won-Pyo Hong, executive vice president of global product strategy at Samsung's mobile communication division. "We are pleased to build upon our long history of working together to open a new chapter of collaboration beginning with our Windows Phone "Mango" launch this fall."

Apple doesn’t want money from Android ODMs, however. They don’t want to make Android more expensive. They want to stop Samsung from “copying” them in order to make it less usable — they want what they consider to be Apple patented technology taken out.

Google called the Microsoft deal “extortion”, if Samsung does come to terms agreeable to Apple, what would Google call that?

Hopefully “done”. Overly violating and overly litigating patents are too extremes I for one have had about enough of. Restoring some respect and balance to the equation might just allow everyone involved to stop investing in lawyers and start re-investing on the innovation that brought us iOS, Gingerbread, and Mango.

Source: Wall Street Journal, Microsoft, TechCrunch

For today only, the TiPb Store has the  OtterBox Defender Series for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G in hot pink or cool white for only $9.95 — Get them before they’re gone!

• Pink Otterbox Defender Series review

9to5Mac‘s Mr. X claims that not only has the iPhone 4S begun appearing in Apple’s internal inventory system, but that it’s appearing in 3 capacities. For the last couple of years, Apple has only offered 16GB and 32GB iPhones, with the previous year’s model going the budget 8GB size. Could iPhone 4S once again raise the storage stakes to a full 64GB?

Given that we've also heard from manufacturing sources that Apple has at least been prototyping 64GB versions of the new iPhone, we would say it's fairly likely that Apple's new iPhone will come in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB capacities; just like the iPad.

While iCloud theoretically changes the dynamics of local storage, audiophiles, videophiles, and other who still want to carry around a large volume of media and other files would no doubt still want and use 64GB on-device. It would likely require double density NAND Flash chips to achieve, since iPhone has traditionally had half the storage slots as an iPod touch. If Apple does start using those chips, could a 128GB iPod touch be on the horizon as well, allowing Apple to retire their aging iPod classic player?

We’ll find out Tuesday.

Source: 9to5Mac

Well known children's toy company LEGO is bringing its toys into the digital age with the upcoming release of "Life of George". The game consists of three main parts, a pile of LEGO blocks, a play mat and most importantly an iPhone app.

The idea of the game is to build the models shown on the iPhone with the actual Lego blocks. When a player thinks they have completed the model they need to take a picture with the iPhone or iPod touch. The app will then calculate a score based on the speed and accuracy of the finished model.

The game has twelve levels all based around a character called George, a software engineer. Each of the twelve levels has ten models to build; so plenty to keep your little ones entertained. There is also a "My Life" mode which allows players to create their own designs.

The game will be available in October, exclusively in the U.S for around $23.

Source: Macworld