Apple Online Store Down! US iPad Pre-Orders Imminent! International… iWhat Now?
The US Apple Online Store is down in advance today’s US iPad pre-order kick off. It should be back up by 5:30am Pacific, 8:30am Eastern so shoppers around the country can nab themselves a magical new iPad for delivery or pick-up on April 3. We’ll post the direct link as soon as it’s live.
Now Apple Online Stores in other countries like Canada and the UK… well we’re not sure why they’re down since they’re not getting iPad pre-orders (or iPads until “late April”) so keep your eyes peeled and let us know what they come back with… if anything.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Apple Online Store Down! US iPad Pre-Orders Imminent! International… iWhat Now? is a story by TiPb.
TiPb Apps 4.5: Pool Pro Online 3 for iPhone (GDC 2010)
Live from GDC 2010, Rene talks with Jonathan Kromrey, General Manager of Apple Games at Namco about Pool Pro Online 3 [$4.99 - iTunes link] for iPhone and iPod touch… and coming to the iPad as well!
Namco’s Apple group, known as Order of Magnitude, started with the iPhone version but since much of the game runs server side, and they’ve got high resolution art for the PC and Mac versions, moving it over to the iPad is something they can do very quickly. (It will also allow them to bring it to Android — already in beta — and other platforms). Due to the server-side nature of the game, you can also play it across platforms with your settings and customizations linked to your username. That means if you play on the iPhone now, when you get the iPad you can log in and just keep playing.
Multiplayer is supported over Wi-Fi and bluetooth and you can chat (i.e. trash-talk) in any language supported by the iPhone via their Unite SDK, the same system that allows cross-platform challenges to be sent and received. (And you can wager with virtual cash to make it a little more interesting).
We’ve been promised this kind of multi-player, multi-platform gaming for a long time now but Namco looks like they’re delivering. The performance and real-time rendering are slick and swift and the controls and customization are precise and robust.
Check out the video below, and if you’re playing Pool Pro Online 3 let us know how you’re liking it!
TiPb Apps 4.5: Pool Pro Online 3 for iPhone (GDC 2010) is a story by TiPb.
