Back in May, iMore heard that Apple planned to move ahead with a 7-inch iPad this fall at a $200 price point. Stories about a smaller iPad have been around for a while, but as far as I know that was the first time such aggressive pricing got tagged onto them.

The reasons Apple was planning this, we heard, was the same reason they planned and executed on the lower price point iPod mini and iPod nano -- to take the oxygen out of the market. In this case, to leave no room for discount competitors like Amazon and Google.

Some have a hard time believing Apple would enter the low end tablet market. Apple didn't make a netbook and didn't release an iPhone nano. They thought differently and released the MacBook Air and the iPad, and kept around previous generation iPhones instead. Steve Jobs went so far as to say 7 inch tablets were DOA. So Apple couldn't, wouldn't, and shouldn't do an iPad mini, right?

Yet there's that iPod mini/iPod nano precedent, and the $999 11 inch MacBook Air which is proving incredibly hard for competitors to match in the "ultrabook" space.

I think the 7-inch iPad is one of those, and something that will seem obvious in hindsight, and for the same reasons all of Apple's successful products do -- it will serve their core business.

We've discussed this several times already on the iMore Show, and I went over it on MacBreak Weekly last week, but it bears exploring in written form.

Apple's goal is to mainstream computing. They want to sell hundreds of millions of devices that delight exactly the type of consumer usually left frustrated and alienated by technology.

While neither the 7 inch BlackBerry PlayBook, nor the 7 inch Amazon Kindle Fire, nor the 7 inch Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet took the world by storm, they weren't iPads. They didn't focus on a simple, consumer-friendly interfaces, tablet-specific apps, and content that was accessible beyond U.S. borders.

They blew it. But they won't always continue to blow it.

When talking about why Apple might do a 4 inch iPhone, the reality of the market came down to this: Right now customers have to choose between an 3.5 inch iPhone and a 4+ inch not-iPhone, and while many are choosing the iPhone, many are also choosing the 4+ inch not-iPhone. By going to 4 inches, Apple probably won't lose any customers, but could gain more of those who previously chose the bigger screen, not-iPhone device.

Similarly, even considering the current iPad's incredible market lead, some customers are still choosing between it and a smaller and/or less expensive tablet.

Walk into a coffee shop or waiting room or airplane, and while you see a lot of iPads, you may just see a few eReaders too (and a once in a while one of those Fires or Nook Tablets or PlayBooks...)

Google has now announced their own, ASUS-manufactured, Android 4.1 Jellybean-powered Nexus 7 tablet as well, and at $200. They also revealed to AllThingD that, when commerce and marketing are considered, they don't intend to make much if any money off it either.

While that brutally cuts the legs out from under "partner" Android tablet manufacturers like HTC and Samsung who don't enjoy Google's advertising revenue stream and actually do have to make a profit off hardware to keep products on the shelves -- and once again shows being Google's friend can be just as dangerous as being their enemy -- it also puts a small, almost dirt-cheap not-Apple tablet on the market. One that's running the latest and greatest version of Android.

Amazon will more than likely bring a Kindle Fire 2 to market at some point as well, and they've shown a similar willingness to take a cut in hardware profits in order to make money on content. (The first Kindle Fire is more front-end for the Amazon U.S. store than it was real tablet -- so much so it's almost useless outside the U.S.)

Microsoft may have just announced current iPad and MacBook Air competitors in the Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro tablets. They've also got a deal with Barnes & Noble, however, so smaller sized, lower end tablets aren't touch to imagine.

Apple sat out the low price, low margin netbook market because they said they didn't know how to make a cheap laptop that didn't suck. They also accused competitors of going to 7 inch tablets because it was the only way they could match Apple's 9.7 inch iPad price.

Several years ago Apple was better but more expensive. With the iPad and MacBook Air, we've seen the results of Tim Cook's logistical prowess -- Apple is now better and increasingly less expensive.

If Apple can make a 9.7 inch iPad for the same price Apple's competitors can make a 7 inch tablet, how much would it cost Apple to make a 7 inch tablet?

It's hard to imagine a $200 7 inch iPad having huge margins, but it was hard to imagine a $500 9.7 inch iPad having huge margins in 2010. Now the entry-level 9.7 inch iPad 2 sells for $400.

Given Apple's model of ramping up prices with storage, it's not hard to see a $300 and perhaps a $400 7 inch iPad as well, all far more profitable than the base model.

That would leave the absolute lowest cost model for those for whom price is the ultimate deciding factor, and higher end options for those for whom size is what matters.

Like the iPhone and current iPad, that could mean hundreds of millions of devices sold, starting with the next holiday quarter.

A Google Nexus 7 is compelling compared to the Kindle Fire and for those for whom the current iPad is simply too big. It's not nearly as compelling for mainstream users as a 7 inch iPad.

Likely, nothing is.

If you enjoy using FaceTime or Skype with your friends, family, and colleagues, the front facing camera on your iPhone is probably pretty important to you. If it starts malfunctioning or stops working, a DIY repair isn't too difficult and will cost you far less than replacing your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4.

Disclaimer: As with any repair, neither iMore nor PXLFIX can be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

What you need for a DIY CDMA (Verizon or Sprint) iPhone 4 front facing camera replacement

PXLFIX recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like eTech Parts. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• CDMA iPhone 4 (please note there ARE internal differences between the GSM and CDMA models - this guide strictly deals with the CDMA model - in the US, that means Verizon or Sprint)
• Replacement front facing camera - Link to part
• #00 Phillips screwdriver
• Flat blade screwdriver
• Pry tool or spudger
• Security screwdriver (to remove the 2 screws in your dock connector, all CDMA models will come with security screws)

Power off your iPhone 4

Before performing any repair, always power off your device before removing any screws or parts.

Remove the back

1. First remove the bottom 2 dock connector screws in your iPhone 4. Use your five point security screwdriver for this as all versions of the CDMA iPhone 4 have security screws in the dock connector.

2. To remove the back simply slide the back upwards and lift it off gently.
3. Set the back and 2 dock connector screws aside.

Organize your screws

It's very important to make sure you remember where you are pulling screws from, so place them in an arrangement that you'll understand and remember. I normally lay them out the same way every time I disassemble a device so I remember where they came from and how they go back in. They're all different sizes so trying to figure out where they go if you get them mixed up probably won't be fun.

Remove the battery

1. To remove the battery you'll need to remove the #00 screw holding the battery clip in place. Remove this screw located to the bottom left of the battery.

2. The metal clip on the battery is what clips the battery to the logic board. You'll need to pop this clip up with your plastic pry tool. Simply stick the end of your pry tool underneath the clip and gently pull upwards until it unfastens from the logic board.

3. To remove the battery, I do not recommend using the plastic pull tab. There is quite a bit of adhesive underneath the battery and the tab will normally just rip off or you can bend the battery. Instead, run your pry tool along the right side of the battery and break the adhesive that way. Once the battery is free from the adhesive, you can pull the battery out of the phone. There are no other connectors holding it in.

4. I typically fold the plastic tab over while working on the iPhone 4 to keep it out of the way while I'm disassembling parts. It's not necessary but convenient.

Remove the grounding clip

To the left of where you disconnected the battery you'll see another screw holding in a grounding clip over the antenna. We'll need to remove it.

1. Unscrew the one screw holding the grounding clip in place with your #00 Phillips screwdriver.

2. Gently lift the grounding clip out of the device. It's very tiny as you can see above. Take care not to misplace it or lose it.

Remove the dock connector shield and disconnect the cable

1. There is a shield held on with two screws covering the dock connector cable. Remove the two screws holding it in place and set the shield and screws aside, remembering where they came from. (They are labeled as screw 1 & 2 in the photo above.)

2. Next, use your pry tool to pry up the actual dock connector cable. Be careful as there is adhesive holding the cable in place as well. Peel back the adhesive gently to free the cable.

Unclip the antenna from the logic board

Underneath where you removed the grounding clip, you'll see a tiny circular cable. This is your antenna cable. You'll need to unclip it from the logic board.

1. Take the edge of your pry tool or spudger and gently pry up the circular head to detach it from the logic board.

2. You'll notice the cable is wound around some metal brackets. Just gently guide it out of the brackets with your pry tool and finger. It's attached to the speaker assembly. Once you've finished unwinding it from the brackets, you can leave it where it is for now.

Remove the top logic board shield

1. There are 5 screws holding the logic board shield in place as labeled in the photo above. Remove the 5 screws holding it in place plus screw number 6 off to the right (we'll get to this one in a second). Just be sure to remember which holes they came out of as the screws are different sizes. I keep them arranged in the shape they came out of the logic board with the shield next to it. I find this to be the easiest way to keep them in order.

2. Next you'll need to remove the shield. There is a tiny clip built into the shield holding it in place. (Refer to the photo above.) Grab the shield by the top where the top screw came out and gently lift up and push down. The bottom notch will come out and you should be able to gently lift the shield out of the device.

Remove wifi antenna grounding clip

1. The number 6 screw we removed previously we're now returning to. There is a clip underneath it. Gently use your pry tool to remove it.

2. You'll find a cross head screw underneath it. We'll get back to that in just a minute.

Disconnect 7 cables from the logic board

Click on the image to view a larger version

1. Pop up all the cables labeled in the pictures above by gently lifting them with your pry tool or spudger..

2. Next gently lift the camera out of the device. You'll notice there is a tiny tab that is seated underneath the LCD and digitizer cables to the right.

3. Play close attention to the direction in which the cables pop up. The cable furthest to the right will pop up in the opposite direction of the others.

Remove the logic board

Click on the image to view a larger version

1. There are 5 screws you'll need to remove in order to remove the logic board. Three need to be removed with a flat blade screwdriver (flathead) while the other two will be removed with your #00 Phillips screwdriver.
2. Remove the screws numbered 1-3 in the image above using your flat blade screw driver. Make sure you remember which ones go where as the heads are a bit different.
3. Now remove screws 4 and 5 with your #00 screwdriver. Notice that the screw labeled number 5 will have a tiny gold grounding clip for the camera underneath it. Make sure you don't lose this and save it for re-assembly.

4. You should now be able to remove your logic board. Holding it at the bottom, gently pull it upwards. I use my other hand to lift up at the top where the rear facing camera used to be.

5. Take note that there is a small rubber piece that sits at the top of the logic board. You will need this for re-assembly so make sure it doesn't fall off. If you lose this, you could experience wifi or reception issues.

Remove the metal retainer & front facing camera

There is a metal retainer covering the front facing camera. To remove it use your pry tool to gently pull it off. Make sure you don't lose it as you'll need it for reassembly. Now that the metal retainer has been removed you can gently lift the front facing camera out of the iPhone 4.

Replace the front facing camera & metal retainer

Now replace the front facing camera with the new replacement part. Once it is securely in place you can replace the metal retainer by snapping it back in place.

Reassemble your iPhone 4

Once you've gotten the front facing camera seated in correctly and the metal retainer snapped back into place to hold it down, you're ready to finish putting your Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4 back together. To do so you can either follow these directions in reverse order or you can refer to our reassembly video above.

Since the reassembly video covers an almost complete teardown, you can go ahead and forward to around 3:30 and follow the directions from that point.

And...done!

After you've managed to get all the pieces of your iPhone 4 put together and the screws back snug into their homes, you should be able to power it up. Tap into the camera icon and test out the front facing camera to make sure all went well. If it did you should now have a fully functioning front facing camera again so you can get back to FaceTiming and Skype calling.

Want to know how to perform another type of iPhone repair or modification? Send me suggestions to ally.kazmucha@imore.com.

For questions or to inquire about mail-in repairs through PXLFIX, please follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or e-mail us directly! Of course, you can like us and follow us just because you think we're cool too!

Additional Resources:

• Mod & DIY forums
• How to replace the front facing FaceTime camera in a GSM/AT&T iPhone 4
• How to replace the rear camera in an iPhone 4
• Even more mod & DIY tutorials

Dead Trigger lurched its way into the App Store yesterday, boasting run-and-gun zombie apocalypse action on your iPhone and iPad. The first person shooter is unabashedly cheesy, chock-full of snappy one-liners after recorpsifying the odd shambler, and over-the-top non-player characters that prod the plot forward. The graphics are the real showstopper though - you will be hard-pressed to find more disgusting walking dead anywhere else on a phone or tablet.

It should be said right out of the gate that the graphics are awesome. Lighting is rich and dynamic, 3D models are stunning, and there are plenty of graphical effects like water droplets complete with visual distortion, lens flare, and fog. Though the graphics are admittedly gorgeous, there are a few misgivings. For one, headshots with larger guns result in zombie heads that simply disappear, with nary a morsel of skull shrapnel or withered brain matter to be seen. For a game that thrives on horror, that level of gore is really important. Basic glass shattering isn't present in the game, which would have been a really nice addition and showcase the game's graphical prowess. The zombies have glowing eyes which certainly adds to the atmosphere, but can make it hard to suspend disbelief when you see these goofy green cones coming out of their eye sockets from the profile. The sound effects get top marks, and the soundtrack sets a grim, gritty, breakneck pace as you tear through levels to avoid those that want to gnaw on your frontal lobe.

There's a linear progression of levels and story, though there are plenty of optional missions that pop up along the way. Mission objectives tend to be fairly straightforward: defend an objective for a set amount of time, acquire an object and return it to a location, or simply clear an area of all zombies are just some examples. Levels are rated in difficulty up to three stars, and you're scored out of five stars based on speed, kills, and accuracy. The zombies themselves are brainless and predictable, which is fitting, but makes the game a little too easy if you can find a comfortable corner away from major spawn points. The challenge of Dead Trigger lies more in situation awareness than deking out AI drones or testing your marksmanship skills. A wider variety of zombies (like those in the Left 4 Dead series) could make combat considerably more interesting. Apparently running zombies pop up later in the game, but I haven't seen them yet.

You get five health to start, with bandages available to keep you alive. If a zombie sneaks up on you, then you have to wrestle free in a pretty frightening minigame. Occasionally zombies will drop ammo and cash along the way which can be spent on a variety of weapons and equipment. You can bypass all the hard work with in-app purchases or go for the premium currency for the real high-shelf stuff. You only get one weapon and one item slot to start, but eventually expand to get four of each. There are 14 weapons and 14 equipment items to chose from after they're all unlocked. That isn't that many as is, and the selection is further limited by the fact that you need premium currency for six of the guns and three of the items. Modern Combat 3, by comparison, has 13 primary weapons, 8 secondary weapons, plus attachments and six equipment options.

Gameplay in Dead Trigger is a mixed bag. The core dual-stick controls are fine, with the standard one thumb for moving, and the other for changing facing, shooting, reloading, and healing, but there are a lot of important facets to an FPS that just aren't there. Running, jumping, ducking, and aiming directly down the sights are some of the more basic things you would expect to see but don't. (Android users are apparently getting an update which will allow looking down iron sights.) You can't even see a mission map beyond a mini radar display to gather your bearings. More advanced gameplay options, such as unique skills or talents when leveling up, custom weapon attachments, and online multiplayer are also absent. Even Shadowgun is still waiting on a multiplayer update.

 The good

• Stellar graphics
• Classic zombie action

The bad

• Lacking key FPS features
• Many unlockable weapons limited by premium currency

The conclusion

Much like Madfinger's previous game, Shadowgun, Dead Trigger feels more like an Nvidia tech demo than a game you could pour a lot of time into. Of course the graphics in Dead Trigger are absolutely amazing and among the very best you will find in an iOS game. If you're looking to put some undead back in the grave, you'll find no gorier way to do it than Dead Trigger, but if you want something more than eye candy, there are first-person shooters available for iPhone and iPad with better gameplay depth. I wouldn't bat an eyelash about spending a buck on Dead Trigger, even if it's only to have something to show your friends just how graphically powerful a new iPad is, but I could only see myself spending more than that if I was really itching for a zombie game.

$0.99 - Download Now

While Apple might be scoring major legal victories against Samsung in the U.S., authorities in Italy are threatening to impose a 300,000 euro fine and temporary closure of local operations if Apple doesn't offer a free two-year warranty on iPads, iPhones, and other products.

The Autorità garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM, or the Guarantor Authority for Competition and Market) enforces the law which requires retailers to offer a free two-year warranty on electronics. Apple has already sucked up 900,000 euros in fines for not telling customers about their right to a free second, and instead try to up-sell them with the extended warranty. Even after that fine months ago, Apple hasn't changed their tune, and now the AGCM is threatening a closure of Apple operations in Italy for up to 30 days. In response, an Apple spokesperson has simply said "We have introduced a number of measures to address the Italian competition authority concerns and we disagree with their latest complaint."

This is vaguely reminiscent of what was going on in Australia and Apple's marketing of the new iPad as 4G (despite it being incompatible with LTE networks). It's a given that Apple will fight government impositions that could limit their profitability, but there comes a point where it's hard to argue with the lawmakers. It's great that Italy's government has consumer interests at the forefront, and that they're willing to protect them even if it's at the cost of Apple's goodwill. It's worth noting that Apple's customer care tends to be above and beyond what you normally get from electronics manufacturers, so I could see how the costs associated with that care might not allow Apple to offer basic warranty beyond the first year.

Any Italian readers in the house? How have you found Apple care? Has the lack of two-year warranty really stung? Those of you elsewhere, wouldn't it be nice if we got a two-year warranty without having to pay more?

Source: Reuters

An ex-Apple employee that spent his time sifting through iOS App Store submissions talked a bit about what life was like at Apple in an interview. Mike Lee has, if nothing else, an interesting experience to relay.

People have this idea that there are 100 people in India doing app reviews. It's just people in a building at Apple, and like every other part of Apple, they can't get enough really good people. Apple will not compromise the quality of its teams to fill it in. I promise you its a lot smaller than you imagine. ... It's a very serious problem, trying to filter out things that no one is there to see. Somebody has to sit there and filter out all those dicks. You can't let all those dicks get through. You have to err way on the side of safety. You have to have people sitting there looking at things that may or may not be dicks all day long. Apple refuses to farm stuff out to massive groups of people. They insist on having actual smart, educated, well-trained people doing the job. So that means they have to have some of their actual employees sifting through a pile of dicks. ... The only way to deal with it is to set the bar so far away from dicks so that even a picture of a cucumber gets blocked by accident. Because if you don't, you have people spending hours and hours of conversation on whether something is a pubic hair. It's a huge waste of time.

App reviewers have tended to be demonized by developers that have been denied or pulled from the App Store, but cast in this light, it's easy to sympathize with their situation; after going through a giant pile of penises, Mike Lee admits that their team "may accidentally toss out the gem".

Source: BusinessInsider

A developer preview of iCloud, including the new Calendar, Notes, Reminders web apps, and Find my iPhone is once again online. They popped up briefly a while ago, only to quickly disappear, but this time they seem to be stable and in working order.

The iCloud beta and developers sites are intended to let developers test against the Documents in the Cloud feature gaining increased support in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion, and other features introduced in iOS 6.

Based on reports by MacRumors, current functionality includes the ability to see all the notes saved on iOS devices, while Reminders shows your fully-synced to-do list, complete with search and status change. Find my iPhone has had a bit of a polish, but nothing insanely new (it still seems to use Google Maps tiles, for example), and by the looks of it, the only thing new in Calendar is the removal of Reminders.

We're also expecting to see Notification Center-style pop-ups when the final version is ready.

iOS 6 promises to bring a few new features to iCloud, such as synced browser tabs, and potentially photo and video sharing with commenting. 

MobileMe was recently shuttered, setting the stage for Apple's next generation of remote storage and services.

Once upon a time, Steve Jobs said of Android that Apple didn't go into the search business, while Google went into the Phone business, but the fresh emphasis on iCloud is a clear shot across Google's bow. Odds are only hardcore Apple fans will opt for iCloud solutions over Google's, but that's certainly a good start.

Developers, are you getting involved with iCloud for your apps? Is it any better than using an in-house syncing solution? End-users, do you prefer using iCloud to Google solutions? Why or why not?

Source: MacRumors

When Apple introduced the iPhone back in January of 2007, it was clearly aimed not at geeks but at mainstream consumers. Even though it lacked many of the basic functions offered by competing smartphones of the time, including MMS. However, its multitouch interface was so far ahead of the rest of the industry, especially when it came to the core experiences of web browsing and entertainment, that no one else stood a chance.

And there's a very specific reason for that.

It's been said many times, by many people, that Apple is competing with experience against specs and even content. But it's more than that.

John Gruber of Daring Fireball said back in 2008 that Apple had brought a computer to a phone fight. He added yesterday:

What's happened over the last five years shows not that Apple disrupted the phone handset industry, but rather that Apple destroyed the handset industry — by disrupting the computer industry. Today, cell phones are apps, not devices. The companies that were the most successful at selling cell phones pre-iPhone are now dead or dying. Amazon, Google, and now even Microsoft are designing and selling their own integrated touchscreen portable tablets. "App" is now a household word.

All of this, because of the iPhone.

In essence, this seems to show just how backwards former Palm CEO Ed Colligan was in 2007 when he uttered his now infamous iPhone jab, "We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone. PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in."

Yet "PC guys" did exactly that by demoting the phone to an app in a new generation of computing devices.

And again, there's a very specific reason for that.

One of the worst things a company can ever do is mistake their products for their business. Products come and go. If you mistake your product for your business, when -- inevitably -- that product goes, your business goes with it.

Apple under Steve Jobs appears to have always understood this, and with clarity mistakable for prescience. The Apple II was never Apple's business. Neither is the Mac, the iPod, or even the iPhone and iPad. They were and are expressions of Apple's business.

Which is why Apple has been so seemingly fearless about "competing" with their own products. In each case, they did so to evolve and grow their core business.

Which was never phones. Or tablets. Or even computers.

Since their founding, Apple has relentlessly pursued the agenda of mainstreaming computing platforms. The Apple II was the command line version of this. The Mac was the graphical user interface version of this. The iPhone and iPad are simply, wondrously, the mobile and multitouch versions of this.

Even Apple's phenomenal successes with tangential products like iPod, iTunes, Apple Retail, and the App Store, always brutally served Apple's core business. And no doubt now, Apple is working away on whatever's next.

With the iPhone and iPad, and other iOS devices past, present, and future, Apple disrupting MP3 players or even laptops was the effect.

Apple's inexorable drive to simplify and democratize computing itself was the cause.

It wasn't so much because of the iPhone, but because of Apple.

And eventually the iPhone will be next.

Oh say can you see the 4th of July falls on a Wednesday this year? So we're going to give you an extra dawn's early light before and after to celebrate Independence Day with iMore Store savings on all iPhone and iPad accessories!

To save 15% on your orders, which includes all iPhone and iPad accessories -- cases, batteries, chargers, Bluetooth, everything! -- all you need to do is use coupon code j412 at checkout.

Offer ends midnight PST on Thursday, July 5th. That's all there is to it. Jump over to the iMore Accessory Store let the star-spangled savings begin!

Take me to iMore Accessory Store so I can take advantage of the savings! NOW!

Independence Day is just around the corner, and app developers are celebrating by slashing prices on some really excellent games. First up is EA. Their sales are running until July 9.

• BATTLESHIP for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• Burnout CRASH! - $4.99 $0.99 (our review)
• Mirror's Edge for iPad - $9.99 $0.99
• Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition for iPad - $9.99 $0.99
• Monopoly for iPad - $9.99 $0.99
• Need for Speed Hot Pursuit for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• NBA Jam for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• RISK for iPad - $6.99 $0.99
• Scrabble for iPad - $9.99 $0.99
• Sim City Deluxe for iPad - $6.99 $0.99
• The Game of Life for iPad - $6.99 $0.99
• The Sims Medieval for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• The Sims 3 - $6.99 $0.99
• The Sims 3: Ambitions - $4.99 $0.99
• The Sims 3: World Adventures - $2.99 $0.99
• FIFA SOCCER 12 - $4.99 $0.99
• FIFA SOCCER 12 for iPad - $9.99 $0.99
• Tetris for iPad - $2.99 $0.99
• Dead Space for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• Mass Effect Infiltrator - $4.99 $0.99 (our review)
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 - $9.99 $0.99
• Battlefield: Bad Company 2 for iPad - $9.99 $0.99
• Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• Madden NFL 12 - $6.99 $0.99
• Yahtzee HD - $4.99 $0.99
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• Real Racing 2 - $4.99 $0.99
• Real Racing 2 HD - $6.99 $0.99
• Mortal Kombat 3 for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• Trivial Pursuit: Master Edition - $4.99 $0.99
• Flight Control HD - $4.99 $0.99
• Snood for iPad - $4.99 $0.99
• Fight Night Champion - $4.99 $0.99

Those are some awesome titles up for grabs - get 'em while they're hot! Have you found any other particularly good deals today? We'll be updating this regularly as we come up with more.

NAVIGON, the popular turn-by-turn navigation app for iPhone, has been updated to version 2.1 and now includes Google Street View, manual route blocking, and an optional NAVIGON Cockpit in-app purchase.

Anyone who's ever tried to find a restaurant, bar, or local business knows that knowing what it looks like on the outside can be vitally important to finding precisely where it is. It's not fun driving 30 minutes to get roughly there only to spend another 10 trying to get precisely there. NAVIGON knows this and is adding Google Street View so you can see where you're going even before you get there.

Manual route blocking is more about putting power and control back in the users hands. Once in a while, we really do know better than the machine. So now, if a recommended route comes up, but we know there's some construction there, or just a fast food joint or ex's place we want to avoid seeing, we can tap it and forget it. NAVIGON will consider it blocked and route us around.

Cockpit is like a heads-up mode for driving data. It's all your important info, all in real time, all right where you need to see it. That includes everything from gForce to speed to position. While Cockpit isn't part of the free update, it is available at the same time for $5.99 and could be a lot of fun for off-roaders and performance enthusiasts alike.

NAVIGON is currently the best turn-by-turn navigation app for iPhone for anyone who needs world-wide options and offline support. You can download just the maps you need, when you need them, and have them on your iPhone even when your data connection gets flaky. These new additions and options just make a good thing better.

If you already own NAVIGON, go get your update. If you're planning a trip this summer and need a great turn-by-turn navigation solution for iPhone, go check it out. It's currently on sale until July 16.

Variable - Download now

Full press release:

NAVIGON iPhone navigation app update adds Google Street View, Cockpit function and more

A new version of the NAVIGON iPhone navigation app is now available in the App Store, right in time to guide travelers through the Fourth of July travel period. The free update 2.1 includes Google Street View, NAVIGON Cockpit (in app purchase), manual route blocking and other functions. Additionally, the NAVIGON apps for iPhone and selected in app purchases will be available at a reduced price until July 16, 2012.

Here's a rundown of the new functionalities included in version 2.1 of the NAVIGON iPhone app:

Google Street View

When using in-car navigation, it can sometimes be challenging to find the right building at your destination, especially if one can't recognize the house number without leaving the car. The new Google Street View function of the NAVIGON app provides users a street-level image of their destination before starting a route, helping, for example, to identify a specific building upon arrival. Users can even look at a full screen 360° view to get a better understanding of their destination's surrounding. Shortly before arriving at the destination, the Google Street View image slides in again, making it easier to identify the correct location.

NAVIGON Cockpit

A new Cockpit function displays relevant driving data in real time on a cockpit-like screen. Captured data includes gForce (current and maximum value), speed, horizontal and vertical position, and an adjustable speed and altitude graph. Drivers can use this information to see a snapshot of their driving habits. Also included is a dedicated off-road screen with compass and altitude information for off-road driving. NAVIGON Cockpit is available as an in app purchase for $5.99.

Manual Route Blocking

The new and easy to use manual route blocking function allows users to view their route on a map and block certain sections of it by simply tapping them. The app will then automatically calculate an alternative route. This feature is available in route planning mode and during navigation and allows users to better customize their route according to their own preferences. This is especially helpful when navigating in familiar territory, since users can avoid going through a certain city or taking a highway they'd like to navigate around.

Performance enhancements

In response to customer feedback, we improved the start-up time and map rendering performance of the NAVIGON app. Zooming and panning in the map view is now faster as well.

Also included in the app update are enhanced iPad retina display graphics and an optimized map manager interface with new controls for downloading and deleting maps.

Price reductions for a limited time

The North American NAVIGON apps and in app purchases are available at a reduced price until July 16, 2012.

NAVIGON USA: $29.99 instead of $49.99 NAVIGON North America: $39.99 instead of $59.99 NAVIGON MyRegion: $19.99 instead of $29.99 NAVIGON FreshMaps USA: $14.99 instead of $39.99 NAVIGON FreshMaps North America: $9.99 instead of $19.99 NAVIGON FreshMaps MyRegion: $19.99 instead of $49.99 NAVIGON Cockpit: $3.99 instead of $5.99

iCade mobile, the handheld gaming solution for serious mobile gamers, is now available with immediate delivery. Announced back at CES in January, the iCade Mobile is a case extension for your iPhone that offers dedicated hardware buttons and a directional pad for that PSP-style, tactile, full-on handheld gaming experience.

Gamers of all ages will love iCade Mobile's classic controller configuration, designed to play modern and retro games the way they were meant to be played. iCade Mobile's four-way directional pad, four front-facing action buttons and four shoulder buttons are designed to withstand even the most fierce button mashing. iCade Mobile gets your fingers out of the way and gives you a full view of the action with a specially designed cradle that ensures safe loading and unloading of your iPhone or iPod touch, while also providing a solid, secure fit even during the most intense game-play sessions.

The iCade Mobile supports all games that currently have support for the original iCade system. Unfortunately, that list is not that extensive; it includes around 44 games. Many of them are classics and ideal for a joystick or d-pad control, but for this system to become a runaway success it needs many more than that.

$69.99 - Buy now

A three month old iPhone has reportedly combusted in a user's pocket in Finland. According to the report, the iPhone was safely stored in his pants back pocket when smoke started to appear. The phone was ripped from his pocket and thrown to the ground. The whole incident was caught on a security camera.

The iPhone, which looks like an iPhone 3GS rather than the later iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S models, ended up in a bad way. We have heard a similar story recently when an iPhone started to behave in the same way when on an Australian aircraft. After investigation, it was found to be caused by a third party battery replacement. This time however the iPhone is said to be only three months old and it's unknown what may have caused it.

While there have been legitimate battery problems in everything from laptops to mp3 players from Apple and other manufacturers, it's impossible to count out publicity stunts or other possibilities until more information is known.

There have been no widespread reports of incidents like this involving iPhones.

Source: SK24 via 9t05 Mac