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On the heels of the introduction of its Photoshop Touch SDK last month, Adobe has released three Photoshop companion apps for the iPad as promised. Adobe Eazel, Nav, and Lava hit the App Store this morning priced at $4.99, $1.99, and $2.99 respectively.

All of the apps require Photoshop CS5 version 12.04 or later to connect and transfer files between an iPad and a computer.

Adobe Color Lava allows creatives to use their fingertips to mix colors on the iPad, creating custom color swatches and themes to transfer back into Photoshop.

Adobe Eazel takes advantage of cutting-edge painting technology by letting digital artists create rich realistic paintings with their fingertips, and introduces a new kind of interaction between “wet” and “dry” paints. These paintings can then be sent directly to Photoshop CS5 for compositing or for taking the artwork further.

Adobe Nav increases workflow efficiency by letting users select and control Photoshop tools using the iPad as the input surface, customize the toolbar, browse and zoom in on up to 200 open Photoshop files, or easily create new files.

Also previewed recently was an updated version of Adobe’s Photoshop Express app for the iPad that included more advanced photo editing features than those found in the current version of the app. Adobe has not made any official announcements yet about the expected release of this update.

• $299Buy Now
  Photography
  

  Adobe® Eazel for Photoshop®

  Last Changed:

  21 months ago

  Rating:

  3.00 (37)

  Version:

  1.0.3

  iOS iPad

  Your iPad is the canvas, your fingertip is the brush. Create beautiful paintings and instantly access them in Adobe Photoshop CS5. With Adobe Eazel — a companion app to Adobe Photoshop CS5...

• $299Buy Now
  Photography
  

  Adobe® Color Lava for...

  Last Changed:

  21 months ago

  Rating:

  3.00 (18)

  Version:

  1.0.3

  iOS iPad

  Dab. Swirl. Mix. Create custom colors and color themes to use in Adobe Photoshop CS5. With Adobe Color Lava — a companion app to Adobe Photoshop CS5 software (version 12.0.4 or later required) —...

• $199Buy Now
  Photography
  

  Adobe® Nav for Photoshop®

  Last Changed:

  18 months ago

  Rating:

  3.00 (39)

  Version:

  1.1

  iOS iPad

  Enjoy a whole new way to interact with Photoshop CS5. Tap and swipe your iPad screen to transfer images instantly to Adobe Photoshop CS5, browse open documents in Photoshop CS5, and activate...

Last week, reports emerged that major publishers Hearst Corporation and Condé Nast would begin offering digital magazine subscriptions using Apple’s in-app subscription service.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Hearst Corporation would begin offering digital subscriptions in its iPad apps for Esquire, Popular Mechanics, and O, the Oprah Magazine. Digital subscriptions will be available beginning with July issues for $19.99 per year or $1.99 per month each. Currently, individual digital issues of each magazine can be purchased for $1.99 (Popular Mechanics) through $4.99 (Esquire).

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  Lifestyle
  

  Esquire April 2011

  Last Changed:

  28 months ago

  Rating:

  3.50 (10)

  Version:

  1.0.0

  iOS iPad

  WINNER OF THE 2011 NATIONAL MAGAZINE AWARD FOR BEST MAGAZINE APP. Esquire for the Ipad brings to life the award-winning articles and photography of the print edition, as well as its peerless...

• FreeBuy Now
  Newsstand
  

  Popular Mechanics Magazine

  Last Changed:

  2 days ago

  Rating:

  2.50 (2110)

  Version:

  2.5.0

  iOS iPad

  Fatherhood special issue, with 127 timeless tips from our dads. Contributions from Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe; actor Brad Pitt; MythBuster Adam Savage, and more. Plus: tool tests, road trip tips, and...

• FreeBuy Now
  Newsstand
  

  O The Oprah Magazine

  Last Changed:

  14 weeks ago

  Rating:

  3.00 (30)

  Version:

  2.1.0

  iOS iPad

  In the June issue, O shows you how to grow anything, from your patience to your muscles, and gives you an exclusive look at Oprah's new farm. Plus, enter to win the prize of a lifetime: a trip to...

The New York Post reported Friday that Condé Nast will beat Hearst Corporation in the in-app subscription race by offering digital magazine subscriptions earlier, starting with The New Yorker next week and several other titles before the end of the month. By the end of May, iPad users will be able to pay $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year each for digital subscriptions to Wired Magazine, Golf Digest, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Self, Allure, and GQ.

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  The New Yorker Magazine

  Last Changed:

  6 days ago

  Rating:

  2.00 (40)

  Version:

  4.2

  iOS Universal

  We hope you enjoy this new app for iPhone. If you are experiencing problems, please contact us at 1(800)-967-2082. FREE ISSUE To celebrate the launch of our iPhone edition, the August 13...

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  Newsstand
  

  WIRED Magazine

  Last Changed:

  5 days ago

  Rating:

  1.50 (30)

  Version:

  4.0.1

  iOS iPad

  It’s easier than ever to enjoy this groundbreaking monthly on your iPad. Subscribe to the iPad edition of WIRED or, if you’re already a print subscriber in the US or Canada, download the WIRED...

(See all of Condé Nast’s apps here.)

Apple officially launched its in-app subscription service in February and publishers with apps in the App Store have until June 30 to comply with the service’s requirements. While Newsweek was the first major magazine we saw to offer subscriptions via in-app purchase last October, several publishers are following suit like Bloomberg who began offering digital subscriptions to BusinessWeek magazine at very competitive prices last month.

I’m glad to see more and more publishers offer digital magazine subscription pricing on par with or lower than paper versions and hope that this trend continues. While it’s clear that creating a digital version of a magazine is not without its costs, it seems reasonable to conclude that doing so still costs less than printing and distributing a paper version and the pricing should be reduced accordingly.

Also, it’s about damn time that Wired Magazine cost less than $3.99 per issue on the iPad, the same price as the printed version.

Screaming toddler nearby? Construction noise bothering you? Wish your iPhone would automatically increase the volume so you could enjoy your tunes without the background noise getting in the way? With the new app Noize by developers Jakob Horvath and Nick Duffell, you can keep enjoying enjoying your music without laying a finger on your iPhone.

Noize listens to the ambient noise around you using the iPhone’s microphone and increases and decreases the volume accordingly to compensate. Noize reminds us of Awareness!, a neat app we reviewed that listens for ambient noise above a predetermined level and pipes it through to you so you don’t miss anything significant going on around you. However, Noize’s purpose is to help you ignore what’s going on around you.

Using Noize is pretty straightforward. It accesses your music library automatically so you can get to the music already loaded on your iPhone. In the Settings tab, you can set the minimum and maximum volume levels that Noize will use. There’s also a toggle to allow Noize to continue adjusting volume levels in the background if you leave the app, though a warning underneath indicates that this can become annoying since the volume level indicator will appear on the screen each time it makes an adjustment.

In theory, I like the idea of what Noize does for those times when I just want to hear my music despite what’s going on around me. It’s a feature that my car’s stereo also offers and it works well there. In practice, though, Noize is not as pleasing to use primarily because the volume adjustments can be so abrupt depending on noise levels around you. If Noize had some sort of ambient noise threshold that would need to be reached first and a smoother way of adjusting the volume, I’d like it better.

Noize hit the App Store today and costs $1.99. It’s currently compatible with all iPhone and iPad models and second generation and higher iPod touches and requires iOS 3.0 or higher. Horvath and Duffell are working on a universal version that will offer a native interface for the iPad.

• $199Buy Now
  Music
  

  Noize

  Last Changed:

  25 months ago

  Rating:

  3.50 (3)

  Version:

  1.1

  iOS Universal

  Noize automatically adjusts music playback volume to counterbalance outside sounds. - Use as an alternative for the iPod application. - Capability to drown out unwanted noise when listening to...

Apple has released iOS 4.3.3 that contains fixes for the tracking “bug” widely publicized last month by researchers at O’Reilly Media late last month.

Researchers Alasdair Allan and Pete Warden at O’Reilly had described how iPhones and 3G-capable iPads running iOS 4 were recording and storing user location information and including this information in back-ups synced via iTunes. Allan and Warden also made available an iPhoneTracker application to access this hidden information and display it as an overlay on a map.

The existence of this data generated a furor of epic proportions on the internet as iOS device users expressed concern and outrage over what appeared to be Apple tracking users in secret, despite the fact that the data could only be accessed directly from an iOS device itself or the computer with which it is synced and was not being sent to Apple or any other party.

Apple responded to the hubbub by posting a Q&A about the data, describing that iOS devices are not logging user location data but instead maintaining a database of nearby cell towers and Wi-Fi hotspots to more quickly provide current location information on demand and claimed that the amount of data being stored was actually the result of a bug. In that response, Apple promised a software update that would reduce the amount of location data stored on iOS devices and address how much of the data is stored in back-ups and more:

Software Update

Sometime in the next few weeks Apple will release a free iOS software update that:

• reduces the size of the crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower database cached on the iPhone,
• ceases backing up this cache, and
• deletes this cache entirely when Location Services is turned off.

In the next major iOS software release the cache will also be encrypted on the iPhone.

BGR had reported just a couple of days ago that Apple would release iOS 4.3.3 soon, a tip which has turned out to be accurate.

Gigwalk, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, has released a major update to its iOS app in conjunction with the announcement of its public launch today. Gigwalk lets businesses “hire” iPhone users to complete small “gigs” that usually involve gathering information about local businesses. Gigs completed to the hiring business’s satisfaction result in payment to the Gigwalker via PayPal.

TomTom, the maker of personal navigation devices and software for a variety of platforms, used Gigwalk during its private beta to help update its map and POI data.

Leveraging the Gigwalk community has allowed TomTom to cost-efficiently expand our mobile workforce and tap into local resources that can verify changes occurring in the real-world today,” stated Peter King, Regional Operations Manager for TomTom. “The Gigwalk community has proven it can be an integral component of our mission to continue to provide our customers with the freshest map products available.

Gigs pay anywhere from $2 to $90. Completed gigs also grant “streetcred” – a measure of quality and reliability that allows Gigwalkers to access higher-paying gigs. Gigwalk uses the iPhone’s GPS capabilities to find local gigs and automatically tag photos and videos submitted. Gigs can only be completed when a Gigwalker is at the actual location of the gig.

Gigwalk is only active in a handful of areas for now: Los Angeles metro area, New York City, San Francisco Bay area, Philadelphia, South Florida, Boston, and Chicago.

Since I’m in Boston, I took Gigwalk for a spin today and completed a local gig. Signing up is easy, requiring only your name, email address and a password. Note that since Gigwalk pays you through PayPal, the email address you enter must be associated with your PayPal account. If you don’t have a PayPal account, you’ll need to get one to collect any payments received.

Once you’ve created an account, you can view gigs around you marked by red pins on a map. Tapping on a pin reveals the location of the gig and how much it will pay. To accept the gig, you tap on the Start Working button at the bottom of the gig task list.

The tasks for the gig I completed included taking pictures of a local business inside and out as well as its menu, listing the credit cards accepted for payment, and other similar tasks. Once you’ve completed all of the requested tasks, tapping on the Submit Work at the bottom will upload your work. The employer, who is not named anywhere in the gig listing, has up to 7 days to review your submission and decide whether or not to pay you.

Gigwalk claims that some Gigwalkers earn up to $1,600 per month. With most of the gigs that we found in the Boston area at the time of this post paying under $10, earning this much would take a lot of time and effort here though gigs probably vary widely in scope and earning potential in the different areas where Gigwalk is currently available.

Note that while Gigwalk will work on an iPad or iPod touch, an iPhone 3G, 3GS, or 4 are required to actually complete gigs according to Gigwalk’s FAQ.

If you’re like me and have your iPhone with you wherever you go (and you live in an area where gigs are available), Gigwalk could prove to be a not-insignificant source of income. Whether or not you earn a lot depends on the kind of time you have on your hands. For me, Gigwalk is going to stay on my iPhone and though I don’t think I’ll get anywhere close to earning $1,600 in a month, I’ll be satisfied to explore some areas I probably wouldn’t have ventured to on my own and earn a few bucks here and there to buy more apps.

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  Lifestyle
  

  Gigwalk

  Last Changed:

  1 week ago

  Rating:

  4.50 (27)

  Version:

  2.25

  iOS iPhone

  Gigwalk is a new way to get paid while building your professional profile. With Gigwalk, you can connect with businesses looking to get local contract work done. Build a great profile on the...

As MacRumors points out, a forum member at our sister site TouchArcade describes that Apple has apparently changed its review policy and no longer allows users to write reviews for apps obtained with a promo code.

Forum member slewis7 described that he had tried to post a review for an app downloaded via a promo code but encountered errors and was then told by an Apple support representative that “it is no longer possible to rate or review an app if it was downloaded using a developer’s promotional code to prevent comprimising (sic) of the rating system.”

Another forum member received the following response from an Apple support representative:

It is no longer possible to rate or review an app if it was downloaded using a developer’s promotional code. You can review this app by purchasing it on a different iTunes account using something other than a developer’s promotional code, such as a Gift Card, Gift Certificate, or other payment options.

Other members who participated in that thread describe a variety of results in writing reviews for apps obtained with promo codes, indicating that there may be some other criteria involved such as the date the promo code was generated.

Promo codes are a resource that app developers often use to help promote their apps since they allow recipients to download paid apps for free. Apple allows developers to generate up to 50 promo codes per app release. Many developers give away promo codes in forums and through Twitter and other mediums in hopes that users who might not otherwise purchase an app will try it out and leave a favorable review in the App Store. Of course, positive reviews that aren’t merited can be misleading to potential buyers, a situation Apple may now be actively trying to prevent.

Apple has not released an official statement on this purported change though we’ll be sure to let you know if one is made.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Time Warner, the parent company of publisher Time, Inc., has finalized a deal with Apple that allows subscribers of its print magazines to download digital versions for the iPad for free. The arrangement goes into effect today and includes Time, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated magazines and their respective iPad apps.

Starting Monday, subscribers to Sports Illustrated, Time and Fortune magazines will be able to access the iPad editions via the apps, which will be able to authenticate them as subscribers.

The Time Magazine iPad app has already received an update this morning that allows subscribers to the print version to enter their credentials to access digital issues at no additional charge:

The evidence of this arrangement between Time Warner and Apple first appeared last August when subscribers to the print version of People Magazine gained the ability to download digital versions through the iPad app for free. We’re not quite sure what took so long for other magazines in Time Warner’s lineup to follow suit but it’s a welcome change nonetheless.

The issue between publishers and Apple appears to hinge on the subscriber information that Apple is reluctant to provide to publishers according to the Wall Street Journal:

Time Inc. and other major publishers have yet to agree with Apple on terms for selling subscriptions to their iPad editions, the next step beyond making them available to existing print subscribers. Talks are hung up on Apple’s resistance to sharing information with publishers about their iPad customers, which publishers say is critical to applying the “TV everywhere” model to magazines.

• FreeBuy Now
  Newsstand
  

  TIME Magazine

  Last Changed:

  7 months ago

  Rating:

  3.00 (1262)

  Version:

  6.3

  iOS iPad

  Experience TIME Magazine on the iPad. Download your FREE sample issue now! Then, subscribe, and get ONE MONTH FREE with an annual subscription. Download the TIME Magazine App for free and then...

• FreeBuy Now
  Newsstand
  

  Sports Illustrated Magazine

  Last Changed:

  24 weeks ago

  Rating:

  4.00 (784)

  Version:

  6.3

  iOS iPad

  Experience SPORTS ILLUSTRATED on the iPad. SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE! Download the Sports Illustrated Magazine App for free and then either subscribe or purchase individual editions of SI...

• FreeBuy Now
  Newsstand
  

  FORTUNE Magazine

  Last Changed:

  7 months ago

  Rating:

  4.00 (232)

  Version:

  6.5

  iOS iPad

  The new FORTUNE app brings the business analysis and trend-tracking of FORTUNE magazine together with exclusive, interactive content for the best FORTUNE experience ever. The app includes a daily...