The Windows Marketplace for Mobile is now home to more than 30,000 applications according to app tracking website WindowsPhoneAppList. On July 2nd, the Windows Marketplace for Microsoft’s Windows Phones passed the 25,000 milestone. By comparison, Apple’s iTunes App Store is populated with more than 500,000 applications and Google confirmed in May that the Android Market has more than 200,000 apps. The Windows Marketplace’s paid app list is loaded with games — as it should be considering the great Xbox Live integrations — and the top-five paid apps are Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1, Need for Speed Unleashed and Cro-Mag Rally.

[Via MobileBurn]

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Google on Wednesday announced more ways for Android users to discover fresh applications on its Android Market website. A new “Top apps” chart is now country specific and provides the newest content across top new free, top new paid, and top grossing lists. Google also added an “Editor’s Choice” section that displays the best applications as chosen by the Android team. Other enhancements include a “Top Developers” section, improved recommendations of related apps, and a “trending apps” feature on the home page that shows applications that are particularly hot based on the number of daily installs. The changes are live now at http://market.android.com.

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According to a report filed by Bloomberg, Apple is working with record labels to make music tracks purchased via its iTunes Music Store more accessible. The report, which cites multiple anonymous sources, claims that the digital store creator wants to provide music purchasers with the ability to re-download tracks they’ve bought an unlimited number of times. The functionality would provide users with a permanent backup of purchased audio tracks and make getting that content onto multiple devices even easier. Purportedly, Apple is in talks with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Group. The report did not, unfortunately, specify a timeline as to when the deal could be completed. 

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Apple’s FaceTime video chat service for Mac exited beta on Thursday to coincide with the release of the company’s refreshed MacBook Pro line. It also comes bearing a new price tag: 99¢. FaceTime is Apple’s branded video calling service that allows Mac, iPhone, iPod touch and soon, iPad users to make video calls for free over land-based Internet connections. The service is free to use and the associated app is free on Apple’s iOS-powered devices, but now it carries a small, one-time fee on existing Mac computers. The app is free and pre-installed on Apple’s new MacBook Pro models, however.

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CBS-owned Last.fm announced on Monday that it will soon discontinue its free ad-supported streaming music service for cell phones and home entertainment devices. Last.fm is a custom Internet radio service that competes with the likes of Pandora and Slacker Radio. The service currently streams to computers, to cell phones and to various home entertainment devices such as DVD players and set-top boxes, with two available subscription models — a free ad-supported version and an ad-free version for $3 per month. As of February 15th, free streaming to mobile devices and to home entertainment devices will be shut off, with the exception of Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7 devices, and only paid subscribers will be able to utilize the service. Delivering ad-supported streaming services to mobile and other non-PC devices is not practical, Last.fm stated in a blog post, so the company will no longer offer the option. Free ad-supported streaming to Last.fm’s website will remain, however, as will free streaming to the Last.fm desktop PC app. The shift in strategy now creates a new speed bump for the service, as Last.fm’s biggest competitors will continue to offer free streaming options for mobile and other devices.

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Yesterday, Google announced that “developers from 20 more countries can now sell paid apps on Android Market.” The additional countries include: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan. Paid application support for developers is now available in 29 countries; Android Market users from 32 countries can purchase applications. Google also noted that over the next 2 weeks, “users in 18 additional countries will be able to purchase paid apps from Android Market.”

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This particular piece of intel rates high on the rumor-Richter scale, so do take this one with a hefty dose of salt. Stuff.tv is reporting that a source “working on a future iPad app” has informed the online publication that Apple plans to charge users for the privilege of upgrading from iPhone OS 3.2 to iOS 4 on their iPads. Why someone working on a future iPad application would have this type of information is beyond us, but Apple charging for mobile OS upgrades certainly isn’t out of the question (see: iPod Touch). The closest we’ve gotten to a timeline for iOS 4 on the iPad is “fall.” It looks like we’ll just have to wait until then to find out.

[Via Engadget]

UPDATE: From the iPad 3.2 documentation:

Apple will provide you any iPad OS software updates that it may release from time to time, up to and including the next major iPad OS software release following the version of iPad OS software that originally shipped from Apple on your iPad, for free. For example, if your iPad originally shipped with iPad 3.x software, Apple would provide you with any iPad OS software updates it might release up to and including the iPad 4.x software release. Such updates and releases may not necessarily include all of the new software features that Apple releases for newer iPad models.

Adam Savage: What do you think Jaime?
Jaime Hyneman: Well, I think it’s busted.
Adam Savage: Definitely busted.

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We’re not sure who should be more excited about this news, to be honest. On one hand, developers can finally take a major step toward actually making money from webOS. On the other hand, Pre owners are now a giant leap closer to having more than 30-something apps. It really could be a toss up. The bottom line is the slow and painful ordeal that is Palm’s handling of all things app-related took a step forward today as Palm announced to developers that paid app submissions to the App Catalog are now being accepted. While paid apps aren’t slated to hit the App Catalog for a while yet, any news is good news at this point. So, Pre fans, what are some apps you’re desperately hoping to see pop up in the App Catalog once the faucet is finally turned on?

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We just got a tip that if you’re running the latest T-Mobile G1 OS, you’ll now see paid applications finally appear in the Android Market. We’re in the process of booting up our G1, so we can’t confirm this ourselves, but it sure as heck does seem likely. Anyone bought anything yet?

UPDATE: We’re not seeing paid apps either yet, hmm…

UPDATE 2: We just got some screenshots — there are definitely paid applications. Couple more shots after the break.

Thanks, Dawood