iPhone News Updated

Yahoo unveils ‘Sketch-a-Search’ iPhone app

Yahoo Inc. on Tuesday unveiled an application for iPhone and iPod Touch users that will search for local restaurants on a map in an area outlined by the user’s finger.

The free “Sketch-a-Search” app was made available on Apple Inc.’s iTunes store on Tuesday.

The application will work in the U.S. initially and provide more search categories in the near future, the company said.

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iPhone Lays Ground for iPad as Game Player

Even a cursory glance at the App Store home page will tell you games are a big driver of both free and paid app downloads. As of Tuesday, games make up all of the top 10 free apps, half of both the top paid titles and six of the 10 highest-grossing ones. Even a classic like Monopoly has renewed cachet as an app, hitting no. 3 on the top-grossing list.

Underscoring how the iPhone (and iPod touch) has become a gaming platform in its own right, the device last year accounted for 5% of U.S. video game sales, or about $500 million, according to new data from mobile analytics firm Flurry. The revenue estimate is based on sales of paid apps only.

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