ipod posts

Last month, our sister site Joystiq launched a total revamp of its site design. However that's not all that our mothership has been working on. This weekend Joystiq also launched its first app for Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch (it also works on the iPad but it's not designed specifically for that device). The app is free to download right now from Apple's app store and has tons of features to check out.

That includes not just easy access to all of Joystiq's news stories (some of which use Big Download as its source) but also access to screenshot galleries, videos and Joystiq and Xbox 360 Fancast podcasts. You can even comment or send a news tip to Joystiq directly from the app. If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch its a must download.

To the surprise of almost no one (except maybe Old Man McKinkle down the street from us) Apple made its introduction of the iPad today. It's basically a much bigger version of the iPod Touch with a 9.7 inch screen and can run most iPhone-iPod touch apps that are already out. However, Apple is also pushing the fact that developers can make apps specifically for the big-screen iPad including games. Two such titles were shown at the iPad debut today; a sci-fi FPS called N.O.V.A and a revamped version of the iPod Touch port of Need For Speed Shift.

So what is the iPad anyway? It's not designed to be a phone but the processor and OS that were revealed today don't seem to be on the high end of the PC laptop market either. Apple is promoting the device for gamers (indeed many gaming media outlets including our sister site Joystiq, were invited to the iPad unveiling today). But the iPad's big screen would certainly suggest that developers could make games that are more complex that the somewhat simplistic titles that mostly are on the iPhone/iPod Touch.