The number of applications in the App Store surpassed 775,000, downloads - more than 40 billion

According to an official Apple, the number of downloads of applications from the online store App Store, opened in 2008, has exceeded 40 billion, and accounted for half of the downloads in 2012. Clarifies that it is 40 billion unique downloads without re racing and software updates.

Community of developers created more than 775,000 applications for the owners of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch from 155 countries around the world, including more than 300,000 programs written specifically for the iPad. According to Apple, last December was a record for the store.

"It was a great year for the community iOS-developers" - said vice-president of Apple's Internet services Eddy Cue. According to a top manager from the opening App Store developers company donated more than $ 7 billion.

App Store users have access to applications submitted in 23 different categories, including newspapers and magazines available in the Kiosk, games, business, news, sports, health and fitness, and travel. Also in Apple reported that the number of active user accounts in the system App Store has exceeded 500 million.

The results fell short of forecasts for a California company analysts Gartner, who expected the App Store will record up to 2012 about 21 billion downloads, and will remain the leader in this segment. Only on the results in December 2012, mobile device users have downloaded from the Apple App Store for about two billion copies of applications.

Note that the directory main rival App Store - store software for Android-devices Google Play - as of November 2012, an estimated 700 000 development.

Announced Lego Mindstorms EV3 programmable robot for iPhone and iPad [CES 2013]

At CES 2013 in Las Vegas Lego company revealed its new high-tech designer, who is also set to create robots. The main feature of Mindstorms EV3 is the ability to communicate iPhone and iPad using the interface Bluetooth.

"Smart" Lego set interacts with mobile devices Apple. As a result, the owner of the iPhone can use the phone as a remote control for the assembled structure. Additional software included in the kit, you can write simple programs for gadgets without having programming skills.

Previously announced first-generation Lego Mindstorms, but it maintained control only with devices on Android. The company notes that the predecessor was not equipped with Bluetooth-chip compatible with the "Apple" device. In addition to supporting iDevice, a new generation Mindstorms has stereo infrared sensor that can detect other sources of infrared radiation.

In Lego said that in the box to the robot designer company will also provide a detailed guide for the assembly of different types of robots. Instructions and the software will be available in 5 languages.

Sales robot kit Mindstorms EV3 begin in the second half of 2013 at a price of $ 350.