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FlightPath from TestFlight features realtime analytics for developers
TestFlight has long been known by developers as a very useful tool for testing iOS apps (even outside of Apple's distribution system), and for a while now there's also been a TestFlight SDK, which developers can insert into their app code to track various testers and their actions in the app. But today, TestFlight has introduced FlightPath, which is a separate product designed for analytics post-release. FlightPath is a real-time analytics platform: Developers can insert FlightPath code into their apps, and the service will then provide real-time information on customer usage, any crashes the app experiences and even segmented data to target the information precisely. In other words, it sounds like TestFlight is taking its SDK to the release stage. There are a number of analytics services like this -- Google runs one; Flurry is a popular choice; and there are plenty more. But TestFlight has a lot of great experience at providing information to developers directly, so FlightPath should be a helpful tool for anyone used to using their SDK. Currently, FlightPath is still in beta, so we don't have any information yet on how it'll all be priced out. Given how these services work, there will likely be a free option, with charges for premium services or support. Until that's all announced, you can sign up for the beta on the main site, and TUAW has been offered special priority access for the first 100 developers who sign up using this link. Show full PR text TESTFLIGHT LAUNCHES FLIGHTPATH: REAL TIME, ACTIONABLE ANALYTICS FOR APP DEVELOPERS Intuitive Analytics Tool Allows Developers to Customize, Analyze & Manage Data in One Click SANTA MONICA, Calif. – March 21, 2013 – TestFlight, the leading app beta-testing platform used by more than 300,000 apps, today announced the private beta launch of FlightPath, an intuitive analytics solution for mobile app developers. FlightPath brings app data to life in an easy to understand front-page format that is fully interactive and encourages deeper data exploration due to its real-time delivery. "Today we're launching FlightPath, a product that will help streamline mobile analytics. We built TestFlight to help developers build better apps and now FlightPath will help developers build a better business," states Ben Satterfield, co-founder of TestFlight. "Up until now, it can be a laborious and complex process for developers to use existing analytics tools to learn more about their app's usage. It usually involves digging through multiple pages and then waiting hours in order to view specific data. With FlightPath, developers can now do it all on one page, with one click." FlightPath delivers real-time views of high-level data and instant drill downs into limitless combinations of core metrics. Developers can choose from preset segments and add to them on the fly or explore by clicking multiple data points to see how the information changes based on each attribute. Preset segments provide immediate insight including views such as "Loyal Users," "Early Adopters," or "Flight Risks." Key features include: · Single page UI for all analytics · Real-time data · One-click pivoting on any attribute · Click any data point to create endless combinations · Preset segments to view valuable data with no setup required · Instantly save any custom segment · View number of crashes by audience segment Developers can use the same TestFlight SDK to activate FlightPath when they submit to the app store. The SDK is one line of code and takes seconds to include. To learn more, please visit http://www.FlightPathApp.com
BattleBlock Theater closed beta starts Feb. 28, still time to sign up
We've been following The Behemoth's followup to Castle Crashers, BattleBlock Theater, for years now – and it's almost, almost ready to play. The Behemoth has announced that the beta, which took signups back in January, will begin two weeks from now on February 28. Roughly ten thousand players will be allowed in, and The Behemoth says there's still time to become one of them. A new video of BattleBlock Theater, above, shows what the beta will look like. Count on there being laughter, merriment, and plenty of antlers.
Box offering 25 GB for free in promotion
Filesharing service Box is offering up 25 GB of free cloud storage in a new promotion (supposedly for "Gameday," but it seems to still be in effect anyway). To qualify, you must be a new customer on a free plan, or just sign up for a new account with a new email address. The deal is also for non-commercial use only, and because it's free, there's a file-size cap of 250 MB that you'll have to duck in under. But even with those catches, who couldn't use some extra storage, right? Box's deal is as up for as long as they leave it up, so definitely jump on it soon if you're interested. [via Engadget]
Steam for Linux beta now open for applicants
As promised, Valve has opened up the gates to the Steam for Linux beta this month, and it's now taking applicants to use the hugely popular digital distribution service on everyone's favorite open source operating system. Would-be players can sign up with their Steam accounts right over here, and Valve will follow up in the future.Valve specifically asks for experienced Linux users for this beta, just because the release only includes the core Steam client and one Valve game. Newer Linux users are being asked to wait for the next beta release, one that presumably won't be quite as barebones.
T-Mobile can't wait for November, adds Windows Phone 8X sign-up sheet to its site
T-Mobile is whetting our appetites for HTC's ridiculously named yet highly attractive Windows Phone 8X with a sign-up sheet on its website. The manufacturer confirmed that it's aiming for a November launch for the (surprise, surprise) Windows Phone 8 handset, and we've also heard whispers that it'll retail for $199 when it arrives. If those two factoids haven't gotten you excited enough, you can always see how it compares to its rivals in our comparison feature.
Mojang's Scrolls moves into closed alpha
As reported by the official blog, Mojang has declared its upcoming Minecraft follow-up, Scrolls, to now be in closed alpha. Just like Minecraft, the game is will roll out one piece at a time, first in this testing phase, with more features to come after the official release. In the current alpha, players can build up their deck of scrolls and fight against an AI opponent, or play random matches in multiplayer.It sounds basic, but Mojang wants to iron out the core gameplay before adding any more complexity. The closed alpha will use "quite a modest number" of players to begin with, and eventually grow into a full open beta.
Instagram opens signup page for Android port, release date still unknown
It's no secret that one of the most popular apps to ever hit the App Store will soon be coming to Android, and if you'd prefer to be one of the very first on your block to be notified... well, there's a website for that. Instagram has just opened up a signup page for Android loyalists, enabling folks to input their email address and await word on the download going live. Sadly, there's no hint on the aforesaid page that gets us any closer to a specific release date, but hey -- it's one less unspecified thing you have to remember, right? Pop that source link if your interest has been piqued.
Guild Wars 2 beta signups pressing on for the millionth signup [Updated: Million-mark achieved]
After an exciting 48 hours, the Guild Wars 2 beta signup session left ArenaNet a little less than 10,000 signups short of a million. Rather than settling for this already impressive number, the folks at ArenaNet have decided to keep going until they hit their million-application mark. To add to the fun, the company has quite nearly crippled Ducksboard, a stat-tracking website, by tweeting a link to a live ticker that Ducksboard is hosting. We know that you, savvy readers that you are, have probably already done your bit to try for a spot in future tests, but on the off-chance you've been under a rock for the last 48 hours, here's a miraculous last chance to sign up for that beta. [Update: Anet has now announced via Twitter that GW2 has surpassed 1,000,000 beta sign-ups. The team has also released a quickie video on Facebook showing off the devs' reactions to the milestone!]
WildStar beta sign-ups now open
WildStar fans will find a new destination awaiting them at the game's official site today. Where does said destination lead, exactly? Why, right to the beta sign-up page, which means that -- with any luck -- the game should begin testing sometime in the near future. To sign up for yourself, head on over to the game's official site. [Edit: Apparently sign-ups were active last month. So there you go. Treat this as a reminder.]
Samsung Galaxy S II makes its AT&T debut October 2nd for $199 on contract
You've endured almost a year's worth of Galaxy S II teasing, so what's a few more weeks? AT&T's swiftly sped past its "coming soon" announcement for Sammy's heralded handset, now giving us a firm release date of October 2nd for its NFC-enabled variant. You can snag the 4.3-incher when it hits the carrier for $199.99 on a two-year contract, and choose from the usual array of data packages -- with $15/mo being the minimum required. Make sure to enter your deets at the source link below so you'll be first in line for this sure-fire, sell-out device.
Samsung Galaxy S II 'coming soon' to AT&T, sign up page goes live
So a regional carrier from the home of Palin and moose meat beat 'em to the punch, but AT&T's at least showing signs that it's ready to get the Samsung Galaxy S II train rolling. While it still looks like Sprint will be the first of the Big Four to bring its variant of the Android phone to the US, AT&T's page for the handset is now live and sporting a nice big "Coming Soon!" That's all she wrote for now, but if you're dying to find out when Ma Bell will bring this Galaxy to you, hit the source link and sign up to get your email updates on.
Nokia N9 coming to Australia in October on three carriers
The Nokia N9 will be considered a rarity in the US, UK and Germany when it's released, but at least fans Down Under won't have to look very far to get their hands on one. Espoo's officially announced its intention of selling the MeeGo device on Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, in addition to distributing it through several major retailers. Look for the one-of-a-kind handset to make its way to Australia in October for roughly $850; those who opt for the 16GB model will be able to choose from black, blue and pink, whereas the 64GB version will only be made available in black. Full presser can be found below.
Funcom opens Secret World beta registration... really [Updated]
So, the beta phase for The Secret World is officially open. For real this time, apparently. If you've been following the game with a microscope and a magnifying glass for the last few years, you're probably aware that last Saturday's beta registration "postponement" was some sort of ARG hoax... or was it? Frankly, who cares, because as of today you can actually register! The catch is that it requires a Facebook account, so if you're of the opinion that the ubiquitous social networking site is run by evil Illuminati operatives hellbent on destroying your privacy and taking over the free world, well, you're right. But you'll just have to put up with that if you want to get a free preview of beta test TSW. If you haven't figured it out yet, this ain't your granddaddy's beta, and admission to Funcom's horror-conspiracy MMO starts with a personality test, a faction choice, and all manner of ARG-related shenanigans designed to move the hype meter into the stratosphere. Head to the game's official website to check it out. [Update: The beta registration is now open on the website as well as part of the Secret War on Facebook.]
Instagram photo sharing service reaches 2 million users
Picture-sharing service Instagram (driven only by the popularity of its free iOS app) has hit a whopping 2 million users already. As TechCrunch notes, the service hit its first million users in just three months, and six weeks after that, it has doubled that number. That's pretty astounding growth -- even other popular sharing services usually don't hit those milestones until a year or more after they start operation. But Instagram certainly seems like it's hitting at the right place and time -- it's a super simple sharing service that offers a lot of features that tie in very well with all of its users walking around with connected HD cameras in their pockets. Instagram doesn't even have an Android app yet (though presumably we'll see one very soon), and also noted by TechCrunch, you can't even sign up for the service on the website -- it's all driven through Apple's iOS platform. That hints at quite a future for Instagram and its service.
EverQuest II opens beta signups for Destiny of Velious
If you've been looking forward to EverQuest II's upcoming expansion, you've likely been waiting for the announcement that beta testing will commence. Good news -- the wait is over, as the official signup page is now available for players. The slightly less-good news is that there will be no open beta for the expansion, which means that the current registration is your one and only chance to test out Destiny of Velious before it goes live. Applications from any players with an EverQuest II account in good standing will be accepted through January 3rd; the pool will be decided upon and the selectees notified sometime before testing begins on January 5th. Fan Faire attendees get an automatic pass, so long as the account used to register for testing is the same as the account registered for the Fan Faire. It's an opportunity to get into a long-lost area of the world before anyone else, so if you're a player, it's well worth at least trying for the beta.
Nvidia offering up a chance to go to BlizzCon
The chances to head off to BlizzCon are coming fast nowadays -- Nvidia is the latest company in on the race, as they're offering up an all expenses paid trip to Anaheim in August for the winner and a guest to experience Blizzard's big show. To enter, they say you have to buy a qualifying Nvidia card, and then use the promo code inside the package to enter. Which might make you think, as we did, that it's a pretty lousy deal -- you have to buy a new graphics card just for a chance to win? But their official rules say "no purchase necessary," So we did the work for you: if you want to enter without buying a card, you have to send a letter or postcard to "NVIDIA "BlizzCon 2009" Sweepstakes – Entries by Mail (USA & Canada), NVIDIA Corporation, 2701 San Tomas Expressway, Santa Clara, CA 95050, U.S.A," and include your full name, your email address, mailing addresses, your telephone number, and "a short paragraph (100 to 250 words), written or typed in English, stating why you like or have an interest in the 'World of Warcraft' game or Nvidia or its products."Not exactly a lot of fun, but then again, it's cheaper than buying a new graphics card, and their rules say that mail-in entries have the same chance at winning that the coupon codes do. We're behind you, readers -- we hope you win.And if you do make it to BlizzCon, keep an eye out for WoW.com -- we're gonna have a nice big shindig on Thursday night (location still TBA, but soon!), and we'd love for you to be there.
WoWPals helps you find more friends in Azeroth
WoWPals.net is a brand new social networking site targeted at you WoW players that just got a nice bit of coverage over on VentureBeat's GamesBeat site. Social networking is taking off just as much as World of Warcraft lately, and so there's a whole slew of companies trying to step up and become the de facto social service for gamers, from GamerDNA and Rupture to wowtwitter and even our own little enterprise. WoWPals isn't too different -- it's run by a few gamers based in Israel, and is currently in alpha, and hoping for a beta by the end of the year. You register to the site with your first character, and after a short wait for an activation email, you can jump in and find friends by guild or server, or punch in your location and search around that way. Once you're friends, there's not much more to do but chat and message each other, but what more do you need, really?Personally, I think WoW already covers the bases of a social network (though in the past I've said I would like to have the option to see more about players than the characters, and these sites can certainly fill that need), so all of these end up being either extraneous -- do I really need another Twitter just for my characters? -- or just plain unnecessary: maybe I don't want my friends to know exactly what I did in game last night.So no, I personally haven't been sold on any of these sites yet (though I do like reading through the player blogs here on WoW.com, and I'm not just saying that because I work here). I'm active ingame, and I'm active on various social networks, and keeping the two separate is fine by me. But if you are looking for even more ways to find new friends in World of Warcraft, maybe you can meet some new pals with WoWPals, too.
Sign up for the EverQuest: Seeds of Destruction beta test
Players of the venerable EverQuest take note: SOE has put up a new expansion beta sign-up page. Feel free to sign up to test the Seeds of Destruction expansion right now! The sign-up process works a little differently now than it did before. You won't have to camp out looking for a very narrow window of opportunity during which to sign up. Now the beta application will always be online.Last month, Senior Producer Clint Worley promised that the beta would start in August. It looks like everything is still on track. Seeds of Destruction will be EverQuest's fifteenth expansion. The word is it'll be more of the same -- lots and lots of faction grinding! Whatever floats your boat, man.
One million signed up for AoC beta by the end
Age of Conan's beta test has concluded, and the retail launch is only a few days away, so it's a perfect time for Funcom to start (or rather, continue) hyping the game to the Nth degree. What better way to convince people to play it that than to make the argument: "everyone else is doing it!" Funcom announced on the AoC community website that the AoC beta has surpassed 1,000,000 sign-ups.A little over a month ago we reported that Warhammer Online had hit the same landmark, and our readers had some interesting comments about how much this landmark really matters. Now is an especially good time to ask that question -- some players might not be buying AoC because of performance and stability issues in the IGN open beta event. It's not a stretch to bring into question the true function of a beta (is it marketing, or technical testing?), as well.Does it matter? We don't know, but we'll find out soon enough.
iPod Touch (does not) require iTunes account to use
If you're planning to run out and grab an iPod Touch from an Apple Store this weekend (they're on sale there now, doncha know), Deep Thought has an important tip before you go. Before you even get chance one to use your new gadget, you'll have to make an iTunes account you won't need one-- see Update below.Of course it's not that surprising when you think about it (since you'll need an account for the WiFi store for sure), but an account just to use the iPod Touch? A little strange, no? The Touch might not have a contract like the iPhone, but clearly Apple wants you to check in on the signup form before you get to play with your new iPod.Update: Well, maybe not. Our beloved commenters say this is just plain not true. When setting up the Touch, you can apparently skip making the account, and while obviously you need it for the WiFi store, you don't need it to just use the iPod. Thanks, guys!Update2: DT has posted a retraction as well. In his defense, as I said in the comments, the original statement that said an account was required came directly from an Apple PDF. Not all of us have the resources or the cash to buy or use one of these things as soon as they're released, but all of us are committed to letting you know about any pitfalls before you spend your hard-earned money on one. If you are planning on buying a Touch, enjoy it, account or not.[via MacBytes]
