As if the hot war between Apple and Adobe were not public enough, the two companies today are taking their battle to the advertising arena. Also in today's App Industry Roundup, we look at the New York Times' new official Android application, tell you about the best way to access Facebook on your iPad, and detail top iPhone game developer Ngmoco's acquisition of partner Stumptown Game Machine.
Apple and Adobe engage in commercially-driven warfare
A few months before the U.S. political season heats up, we are seeing attack ads by companies vying for ascendancy in the technology industry. Adobe, smarting from no longer being able to market its development tools to iPhone and iPad creators, published an open letter that was picked up by both the advertising and editorial sections of leading online and print publications.
In their "Our Thoughts on Open Markets" missive, Adobe co-founders Chuck Geschke and John Warnock wrote that they "believe that consumers should be able to freely access their favorite content and applications, regardless of what computer they have, what browser they like, or what device suits their needs. No company — no matter how big or how creative — should dictate what you can create, how you create it, or what you can experience on the web."
In case you were wondering what company Adobe was referring to, the letter concluded that: "We believe that Apple, by taking the opposite approach, has taken a step that could undermine this next chapter of the web — the chapter in which mobile devices outnumber computers, any individual can be a publisher, and content is accessed anywhere and at any time."
Meanwhile, Apple (at least publicly) is staying above the fray with its new "What is iPad" television campaign. Touting "200,000 apps and counting" and the ability to stay on all day, Apple is hoping to reach that small part of the population that hasn't seen previous iPad ads on billboards, bus stops, and the boob tube.
Gray Old Lady goes Android
The New York Times this week released its first official application for Google's Android platform. The free app, like the iPhone version, offers access to virtually everything that can be found in the print and online editions. In addition, the "Latest Videos" section accesses the most recent videos from the NYT website and is currently a feature not available on the iPhone.
Closest thing to Facebook on the iPad (for now)
While Facebook has yet to launch an official application for the iPad, the Sobees for Facebook iPad app is the next best thing (at least for now.) Viewable in landscape and portrait mode, the free application lets you view friends updates and modify your own status. Still a bit clunky, this app is a good alternative for anyone needing to engage with Facebook on a 9.7-inch screen.
Of course, if the rumors of Apple incorporating Facebook into OS 4 are true, all bets are off for Sobee and other third party applications.
Ngmoco acquires Stumptown
Leading iPhone game developer Ngmoco (creator of hit titles including Eliminate Pro, We Rule and WordFu) purchased partner Stumptown Game Machine for undisclosed sum. The two firms collaborated on the development of the popular Touch Pet Dogs game. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
