The number of applications downloaded from Apple’s iTunes store has now surpassed 50 billion. That’s a lot of apps in five years’ time. And the lucky person who downloaded the 50 billionth app is being handsomely rewarded with a $10,000 iTunes gift card to be spent on – guess what? – more apps. And that’s a lot of apps, since the average price for a downloaded application was $3.18 on an iPhone and $4.44 on an iPad (as of late 2012). Many apps are free. The lower prices go, the more downloads go up. And by 2017, the average price per app is estimated to drop to less than dime, according to a forecast from Strategy Analytics. The pace at which apps are downloaded has speeded way up since the iTunes store began. It’s estimated that 2.5 billion downloads are now taking place every month. There’s an app for everything, and there are thousands of apps that are real estate related. Did you know that Yardi is the real estate technology solutions provider with the most applications available for download from the iTunes store? Here is the run down of the Yardi apps available that might help you improve your business performance. Yardi CRM Mobile – During the leasing process, every day a unit sits empty costs you money. Yardi CRM Mobile will help streamline leasing by automating the process. Prospect and customer contact information and history are tracked in Voyager and synced with Outlook throughout the leasing process, from first contact to final signing. Access to crucial data is always within reach when it is on the mobile device that never leaves your side. Lease abstracts can also be run from Yardi CRM Mobile, available for iPhone and iPad. Yardi Inspection Mobile –...

After a stellar 2012, what does 2013 hold for Apple? Let’s have a look at the online speculation and buzz, and tell us your thoughts in the comments. Apple Radio One of the new products on this list is the “Apple Radio”. This will be a free service that would gain revenue through ads, as its (most likely) competitor, Pandora. Rumors about it appeared last fall and since then Pandora’s stock fell approximately 12%. No major labels are on board yet and according to speculations, the launch would take part sometime in March. Apple Television Right before the holiday season, in November, analysts say that Apple will release an actual television, not just the Apple TV. The iTV might measure between 42” and 55” and costs are estimated at around $1500-$2000. iPhone 5S Like its older brother, the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 will get its second-generation offspring. No technical specifications leaked yet, but bets are set for a better battery life and an improved camera. iOS 7 We all remember the chaos caused by the release of iOS 6 without the Google Maps (and YouTube), so the pressure is high for Apple to release a strong and stable operating system this year. iOS could bring an improved version of Passbook, the digital-wallet app. iPad Mini with Retina display November 2012 was another great month for Apple due to the launch of iPad Mini, and although it’s only been out a few months, more and more are turning their attention to the next generation, the iPad Mini 2. Rumors have it that it will address the disappointment of those who have been expecting the Retina display with the first model. Shenzhen Century Science & Technology (SCST), a subsidiary of Foxconn, seems to have supplied...

Your favorite Apple devices – the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPad 2, third-generation iPad, and the fourth-generation iPod touch – get a makeover with the new iOS 6 upgrade that will be rolled out this fall. The announcement, made during the keynote speech to the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, went into some detail about what we can expect from the newest iteration of the popular operating system: 3D maps. This is a big leap forward for Apple, and a shot across Google’s bow in the increasingly bitter rivalry between the two companies. Designed completely in-house, the new iOS 6 maps function utilizes a vector-based engine to render locations – this means ultra-crisp graphics, fast and smooth panning & zooming, and ample incentive to explore. Functionality includes turn-by-turn navigation, real-time traffic information and alternative routing, fly-over mode with photo-realistic 3D views, full Siri compatibility, and a host of local search options. More Siri. You’ve probably already seen the cute commercial featuring John Malkovich chatting with Siri. iOS 6 expands Siri’s range of functions. Instantly receive sports scores, stats, and schedules. Find movie locations, showtimes, and much more. Browse restaurants with a host of sorting options and make reservations effortlessly. More languages supported than ever before. Full social networking without having to type a word. Updated phone & email. New calling features allow you to respond to declined calls with a text message or a reminder, or turn on a “Do Not Disturb” sign that only lets through your most important callers. Email interface is streamlined for ease of reading & writing. New Passbook app. Keep all of your boarding passes, retail coupons, movie tickets, loyalty cards, and more all in one place. At-a-glance organization of balances, important dates, and updates. Leave your wallet...