All of my apps make use of Apple’s “Push Notification” service, a means of sending out short announcements to users of specific applications without needing those applications to actually be running. When an app is installed that has APN available, the system will warn you and specifically ask if you want to receive notifications from that app. That is under Apple’s domain, so there is no way for a wiley app author to  ”sneak” APN in under the...

I get this question a lot. And yes, it is legitimate to ask. The reason why I don’t upgrade Distant Suns 2 users to version 3 is simple: There is no way to do that on the Appstore between two different apps. “Ok, hotshot, why have two versions of the same thing? Couldn’t you have just made Distant Suns 2 the universal app and not have another version for sale?” Yes, and no. Yes, as that is what I would like to have done…No…is that Distant Suns...

Distant Suns 3 has been released to the Appstore. This is a universal app, and recommended for higher end devices: iPhone 3GS and iPad or above. It will work okay on a 2G machine, and hardly on a 1G. If you want small and fast, go with DS2.

About 30 minutes ago the first maintenance release of DS for the iPad was released: 2.1.5. This fixes the missing lat/long wheels bug, and addresses some issues that makes it truly universal. NOTE: The link on this page is for the iPhone version only. If you want the universal one, go to: http://itunes.apple.com/app/distant-suns-for-ipad-astronomy/id363418936?mt=8

If all goes well, Distant Suns will be available for the iPad the day of launch, this coming Saturday. I received the official blessing from Apple yesterday. There is one last hurdle to go through, but I don’t expect any problems. This will be the sixth platform Distant Suns has been on. Click on each picture to get a better view.

Distant Suns 2 has now made it as a “Staff Favorite” in the Appstore. This is the second time, the first being only about 3 or 4 days after release in October, 08.