Crabs and Penguins is a new game by Coca-Cola where you play the role of Hero Crab and guide him from a tropical paradise through a journey through the ocean involving sharks, sunken pirate ships, freezing water, and other dangers. During this journey, Hero Crab has a soccer ball with him and his goal is to return it to the penguins in the North. To show their gratitude, the penguins present Hero Crab with a Coca-Cola bottle to ride during his journey back home.

To play Crabs and Penguins, you have two controls: the button on the left makes Hero Crab jump (jump twice to go extra high and float down) and the button on the right makes him dive. In addition to dodging sharks, birds, and other mean creatures and obstacles with the goal of making it through the level alive, your other goal is to collect as many tokens as possible. Each level also has a Coca-Coca bottle cap hidden somewhere. Can you find them all?

Crabs and Penguins is a side-scrolling platformer, but you often times have more than one choice when progressing through a level. Sometimes you can choose to dive underwater or explore above the waters. Crabs and Penguins also has a 3D layered world where if you take the right path, you may jump closer or farther in the world. These choices are usually more difficult but offer more tokens.

The graphics of Crabs and Penguins are really great. Everything looks awesome and the mini movies after some levels look amazing. I am really impressed with Crabs and Penguins and applaud Coca-Cola not only for making a fun game, but for keeping the branding down to a minimum. When I first heard the Coca-Cola was releasing a free game, I immediately imagined an overwhelming amount of Coca-Cola symbols all over my iPhone's screen. That is not even close to the case. There is the one bottle cap per level and even the bottle that Hero Crab rides during the second half of the game isn't labeled as Coca-Cola. Sure, it has a red cap, but "Coca-Cola" isn't screaming in my face.

The good

• Awesome graphics
• Often times many different "routes" available
• Fun
• Addicting
• Although short, will keep you coming back for more
• Very little Coca-Cola branding

The bad

• Short game

The conclusion

Crabs and Penguins is a very fun and challenging game by Coca-Cola. Although it's a short game with only six levels, it is not easy to get good scores so you can get a lot of joy out of playing each level multiple times. There is also the fact that many levels actually have two different approaches (underwater or above water) making it so that those levels are almost like having two levels. Not to mention -- it's free!

Free - Download Now

Localytics gathered data from app users across Android and iOS, and found that 23% of Android apps are used more than 11 times, compared to 35% of iPhone and iPad apps. At the other end of the spectrum, iOS users are only slightly more fickle than those on Android: 24% versus 21% apps are only used once before being ditching. Overall, iOS enjoyed 52% higher retention rate than Android. Those rates are on the rise, compared to 2010; there has been a 19% jump in long-term retention, and a 4% drop in short-term retention across all platforms. The data was gathered across 300 million devices worldwide in Q3 2011 and Q3 2010.

The App Store has certainly commoditzed mobile software, and would have some (like Nintendo) believe that it's devaluing software. Clearly increased quality in apps and savvier end-users are contributing to increased loyalty, and with increased app loyalty comes increased likelihood of spending. That's particularly good news for developers using a freemium model - after all, it's hard to sell in-app purchases if users delete an app after opening it once.

How long do you generally keep apps on your iPad or iPhone? Which are the ones that see the most usage? Do you find yourself sticking to apps longer than you used to?

Source: Localytics

Facebook's app for iPhone and iPad tend to get a bad rap, but two anonymous engineers close to the source say that a completely rebuilt version is on the way with a heavy emphasis on speed. The current Facebook app for iOS is written with a lot of HTML5, but the updated one will be made with Objective-C and be released for iPhone later this summer. There's no mention of a timeline for iPad, but hopefully we'll see it at the same time.

Aside from improved performance, however, we likely won't be seeing any new features or user interface. The last update included Pages Manager, photo support in Messenger, and for a brief period the ability to find your friends via GPS. On the developer side, Facebook has recently enabled developers to include Like buttons in their apps.

Facebook and Apple have been pretty cozy lately, having partnered up for deep integration in iOS 6. Who knows exactly how far that partnership extends, but it's easy to imagine Facebook getting some pressure to update their app after sealing the iOS 6 deal. Soon Facebook will have a bit more competition on iPad when Google+ gets released, but until then, Facebook has a chance to get everything up-to-date.

How unhappy are you with the speed of the current Facebook app? Is it entirely unbearable? Did Facebook really have to rewrite the whole thing?

Source: NYT

In a recent interview Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney talked a lot about the freemium model, convergence, and in particular how successful they've been in mobile.

We've been very happy with the game industry's growth. For a while we were worried that the divide between the console growth in the west and the growth of PCs would increase. The most profitable game we've ever made, in terms of man years invested versus revenue, is actually Infinity Blade. It's more profitable than Gears of War. ... We expect DirectX technology to be widely available on these mobile devices in the next few years. ... These platforms are rapidly converging, with a set of common capabilities. The lowest end device [the iPad 2] is still a DirectX 9 device!

If you're not familiar, Gears of War is a massively popular shooting game franchise on console which originally launched in 2006 and spawned multiple sequels. The latest title sold 3 million copies in its opening week, beating out the previous two games. As of September 2011, the whole series has grossed over $1 billion.

iOS has been eating the lunch of traditional portable gaming consoles for some time now, but the new iPad has started steering towards competing with consoles, primarily by way of comparison of the Retina display's resolution with standard HD TVs. Even though the processing power and storage space of the iPad and iPhone currently limits what can be done in iOS games, those are limits that even AAA developers like Epic are willing to work around if they can enjoy higher profits than their console titles. Of course Infinity Blade is the exception rather than the rule, but it proves mobile can be at least as profitable for game developers as other platforms.

Sweeney's interview revolved a lot around the Unreal Engine which they created and has a prominent position in the mobile sphere, and provides a clear transition path for developers moving from PC and consoles. Sweeney was largely supportive of the freemium model,  and expects that all games will at some point in the future be distributed globally and digitally.

If Epic can make more money on Infinity Blade than Gears of War, is this a signal that other big-name developers should switch gears to mobile? If so, does iPhone and iPad stand any chance  of becoming a more popular gaming platform than PCs or consoles, regardless of technical limitations?

Source: Gamasutra

Our Mobile Nations sibling site, Android Central is LIVE at Google I/O (think Google's version of Apple's WWDC) so head on over there and get all the live coverage you can handle.

Then come back here for our quick take.

Android 4.1: Jellybean

Android 4.1, flavored as Jellybean, will be available in mid-July and will include a PDK (Platform Development Kit), which supposedly will help ODM's like HTC and Samsung get devices on the latest version of Android, faster. (Though there's no way to engineer motivation -- or lack thereof, unfortunately).

With Jellybean, Google finally invents proper framerate, physics, and touch performance. Seriously, this is awesome. It's the one thing that has stopped me from enjoying Android up until now. Previous versions were like nails on a chalkboard. This "project butter" is just what they needed to do. Kudos to Google.

They've also taken Voice, the Android version of Dictation, offline. That means the local device can parse basic commands, and not time out if there's no network connection.

• Jelly Bean brings offline voice typing

Notifications are now more active, so you can interact with data right in the alert. Personally, it's a bit much, but way better than the almost non-existent iOS active notifications. Somewhere only slightly tempered from Android would be perfect.

• Notifications get a makeover in Jelly Bean

Voice Search is Siri-like, with a robotic female voice looking up information and displaying it in widget form, right on the screen.

• Google brings increased functionality to voice search with Jelly Bean

Google Now handles everything else. Also Siri-like, also map like, it has the transit directions iOS 6 maps no longer does.

• Google Now puts your search data to work

Nexus 7

Nexus 7 is a 7-inch Google experience (stock Android 4.1) tablet made by Asus. Google highlighted reading, gaming, and a lot of other stuff that's fairly standard in tablets these days. What stood out for me was the magazine experience, which was consistent and sane. Newsstand on iOS is a mess of hidden, inconsistent, often annoying apps. Kudos to Google.

• The Nexus 7 is real, see it now!

Nexus Q

It's not quite Apple TV, but more of an Android-powered cloud client that sits in your living room and interacts with your Android devices. In other words, an actual nexus for content.

However, $299 is a helluva price jump from a $99 Apple TV, and Google still hasn't learned to make experience cases the way Apple has.

• Google gets in your living room with the Nexus Q

Strategy Analytics has crunched some numbers, and apparently since the original iPhone's launch in 2007, Apple has generated $150 billion in revenue from their smartphone lineup. Of course, Apple's revenue growth is bigger than ever, but it's crazy to see how their cumulative sales add up. Don't forget, this is just the iPhone; iPad, iPod, and Mac are all still pretty danged popular. Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics commented on the findings.

The iPhone portfolio has become a huge generator of cash and profit for Apple. A quarter of a billion iPhones have been shipped cumulatively worldwide in the first five years since launch and Apple reaches its fifth birthday at the top of its game. However, there are emerging signs that the iPhone's next five years could get tougher. Some mobile operators are becoming concerned about the high level of subsidies they spend on the iPhone, while Samsung is expanding its popular Galaxy portfolio and providing Apple with more credible competition.

Think about it: the iPhone has only been around for five years, which isn't that long in the grand scheme of things. It's baffling how much the smartphone world has changed in that timeframe, and one can only imagine how much will change in the next five. Do you guys think that Apple will still be in its position of prominence then, or will the gap with Android only widen? Will Windows Phone actually be a threat? Will BlackBerry still be around?

Source: Strategy Analytics

Phone different podcast. iPhone Live. TiPb Live. iPad Live. TiPb TV. iPhone & iPad Live. Almost 5 years, and as many names later, and we're about to hit a milestone.

Episode 300.

Needless to say, we're going to have a monster giveaway (or several), but this is not about that. This about you, our amazing community who supports us, drives us, and makes everything we do so worthwhile. We're hitting 300 because of you, and you better believe we're going to make it spectacular.

Bookmark this post and be back here at 6pm PDT, 9pm EDT, 2am BST. You absolutely don't want to miss this one live.

California judge Lucy Koh has ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 requested by Apple, which will result in a halt of sales in the U.S. once Apple posts a $2.6 billion bond to cover potential damages Samsung would suffer. "Although Samsung has a right to compete, it does not have a right to compete unfairly, by flooding the market with infringing products," Judge Koh said. The official ruling goes on to say:

This Court is persuaded by Judge O'Malley's concurrence that the public interest favors an injunction here 'because the record at this stage shows that the D'889 Patent is likely valid and infringed, and there are no other relevant concerns, the public interest is best served by granting a preliminary injunction.

Of course, Samsung was quick to file for an appeal against the preliminary injunction, which is a very real possibility considering Apple's original request for an injunction in December wasn't granted. This injunction request made it through as Apple had since found more prior art and offered arguments relating to an iPad 2 prototype Apple had presented to the patent office. Apple made pretty good progress against the Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Germany last fall, which ultimately resulted in Samsung releasing a slightly modified variant - an eventuality that seems likely in the U.S.. Even before the ruling was passed, Koh had scheduled another hearing for Friday, so this is far from a final blow against Samsung (though it is a big one). A proper trial is set to begin on July 30.

I have a hard time imagining that Apple will get this ruling to stick considering it's based on the infringement of a single design patent. Do you guys think Samsung is riding on the coattails of Apple's hard work in design, or are there only so many different ways you can make a tablet look? Do you know anyone who might conceivably mix up a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 with an iPad?

Source: Reuters, FOSS Patents

For today only, the iMore iPhone case store is offering the Incipio [performance] Sport Armband for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 for only $17.95 -- that's a steep 40% off! Get yours before it's gone!

Shop Incipio [performance] Sport Armband for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

The Incipio [performance] Sport Armband is the perfect lightweight carrying solution for iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 whether you are running, walking, dancing, lifting or stretching.

A clear, play-through shield holds and protects your device while allowing full access to your touch screen. All ports are accessible through openings in the neoprene band. Plug in your headphones without removing or adjusting your iPhone 4S, AT&T iPhone 4, or Verizon iPhone 4 and turn up the volume for a great workout!

Use the velcro patches to adjust the tightness and location on your arm. The moisture-wicking neoprene material pushes out sweat while retaining a solid grip on your arm.

Features:

• Lightweight
• Great for outdoor activities
• Play-through shield protects screen
• All ports accessible
• Arm strap completely adjustable

Apple has announced that it is continuing its roll out of the iTunes Store, this time targeting Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan & nine additional countries in Asia. The Asian iTunes Stores will feature a selection of local as well as international music from all the major labels and thousands of independent labels too.

Apple is bringing the iTunes Store to music fans in Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Customers can also rent or purchase movies from the iTunes Store, with many available in stunning HD, from major studios including 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, The Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Pictures. The iTunes Store joins the revolutionary App Store™ which offers more than 650,000 apps to consumers in 155 countries.

The iTunes Store is now available in over 150 countries. That is very impressive.

In iOS, Apple is presenting that content in the lean and mean iTunes app, with separate apps for the App Store, iBooks, iTunes U, and now Podcasts as well.

iTunes for Windows and Mac, however, is now trying to do too much. What started out as a simple way to sync music to your iPod has developed into an app that works as a one-stop-shop for everything, as well as a cross-platform sync client, content management tool, device management tool, and more. It's been added to relentlessly over the last five years, and now that it has to do all that for more people than ever, I have to wonder where the breaking point will be?

Source: Apple PR

Apple has just released their new Podcasts app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. While it's not as feature-rich or complex as some other podcast apps on the App Store, if it's your first time using a podcast app, you may be wandering just how exactly to get started using it.

Well no worries, we're here to help! With a few searches and a few taps, you'll be subscribed to some fantastic new video and audio shows to both entertain and inform you. And best of all, they're absolutely free!

How to subscribe to podcasts

If you're brand new to podcasts, Apple makes it easy to discover and subscribe to shows. It basically works just like iBooks where you have a Catalog (like the iTunes Store or iBookstore, but free!) where you can search and subscribe to new shows, and a Library where all your downloaded shows are available for easy viewing and listening. To get started:

1. Launch the Apple Podcasts app
2. If you're not already in the Catalog, tap the Catalog button at the top right (iPhone/iPod touch) or bottom left (iPad).
3. Browse through Featured or Top Charts to see popular shows, or if you know what you're looking for, hit Search and type in the title or some key words. (Mobile Nations, for example, will bring up all of our network shows).
4. When you find a show you like, tap the title.
5. Tap on the Subscribe button to make sure you can easily find and download every episode later, or tap the Download button beside an individual episode to download only that show.
6. To subscribe to additional shows, or download additional episodes, simply repeat the process.

That's it, you'll now be subscribed to the show, and downloading episodes.

Mobile Nations quick links

If you're looking to subscribe to iMore's podcast, or any of the Mobile Nations network shows, here are the quick links:

• iMore podcast - Audio | Video
• Mobile Nations podcast - Audio | Video
• Iterate podcast - Audio
• Android Central podcast - Audio | Video
• CrackBerry.com podcast - Audio | Video
• WPCentral podcast - Audio
• ZEN and TECH podcast - Audio | Video
• Superfunctional - Audio

How to change your subscription options in Podcasts

If you subscribe to a show and later want to unsubscribe, or if you download only a single episode to try out and decide you really do want to subscribe, it's simple to change.

1. Launch the Apple Podcasts app
2. If you're not already in the Library section, tap the Library button at the top right (iPhone/iPod touch) or top left (iPad).
3. Tap the show title (iPhone/iPod touch) or Gear button (iPad) to go to the Settings
4. Toggle Subscription to On to subscribe, Off to unsubscribe.

More help with Podcasts

If you need more help getting started with Podcasts for iPhone or iPad, head on over to the iTunes Forum help thread and ask away!

Unfortunately, Podcasts doesn't have Push Notifications yet to alert you to new episodes, and iOS doesn't allow timed background downloads, so you'll have to open the Podcasts app to actually get future episodes. But if you're new to podcasts, it's still a good way to get started.

Bag It! is a game that Rene and I checked out while at Macworld 2012 where the goal is to efficiently bag your groceries while optimizing space and not crushing items by overloading them with weight. For example, placing a watermelon on top of a loaf of bread is a surefire way to smash the bread.

Bag It! is available for the iPhone and iPad, but I will be using screenshots from the iPhone version. The iPad version is exactly the same, just built specifically for the iPad.

The objective of Bag It! is to place all the groceries that pass along the conveyer belt into your grocery bag. Typical bagging rules apply, however. In general, this means that you want your heavy items on the bottom and light, soft items on the top -- or at least in a separate section of the bag.

In addition to getting all the items to fit without crushing anything, there are also mini goals you'll encounter during the game that will reward you with more points if accomplished. For example, some pairs of items, like orange juice and milk, are sweethearts and bagging them next to each other will award extra points. Other times you may get extra points for grouping multiples of the same item, or even putting "enemies" next to each other. These little extras in the game not only add a lot of character to the game, but competitiveness as well. I find myself not being content with just successfully bagging my groceries, but striving to achieve as many bonuses as possible.

That really is Bag It! in a nutshell. It features over 60 levels with the ability to get up to 3 stars and 2 medals at each level.

The good

• Great (and cute) graphics
• Fun
• Challenging
• Addicting
• Mini goals

The bad

• No complaints

The conclusion

Bag It! is a great little casual puzzle game that anyone can enjoy. I love that in addition to the main goal of bagging the groceries, there are lots of mini goals like grouping up items who love (or hate) each other or other little random missions like "well bread". Bag It! is a very fun, cute, and easy to play game for the whole family.

$0.99 for iPhone - Download Now

$2.99 for iPad - Download Now