Virgin Atlantic has released a “Flying Without Fear” iPhone app for travelers wary of flying high in the sky.  The “course” is loaded with commentary from Richard Branson - who apparently states the facts over the fictions associated with flying  - and offers exercises for relaxing while on the plane.

Not sure what is more shocking…the 98 percent success rate of the program or the fact that Whoopi Goldberg hasn’t flown in 13 years!

Honestly, they didn’t have to develop an iPhone app for this…they could just upgrade panicky fliers to business class, and I guarantee their fears would evaporate by 100 percent.

-Sally

Volkswagen has created a new iPhone application for the launch of its 2010 GTI model.  The free app, called “Real Racing GTI,” allows users to compete by racing others and posting their scores on an online leaderboard.  Users can also post their racing videos on YouTube if they wish.

How will Volkswagen’s app compete with other brands using mobile, you ask? By offering free cars!

“Players who download the app will be eligible for the 2010 GTI sweepstakes, which gives away a 2010 GTI Limited Edition Model every week for six weeks beginning Nov. 2nd. Each day that a player finishes a lap in the Real Racing GTI game he or she can enter into the sweepstakes.”

Incentives are important, especially in the oversaturated mobile app space.

-Maria

(image via www.intomobile.com)

Proving that not all actors posess the same intelligence level as Keanu Reeves, Heroes actor Greg Grunberg (he plays mind reader Matt Parkman) has developed a super-cool iPhone app called Yowza! which allow users to find coupons for stores in their neighborhood by using GPS.

So far, Sears and Pier 1 Imports are signed on as partners, however the future success of this application will depend on on how many retail outlets are willing to participate.

-Maria

Analysts are whispering that Apple will release a $99 dollar (after subsidy) iPhone this summer.  The much more accessible product will not have as many features as its predecessor and some of the cutbacks are predicted to include:

• A lower-resolution camera,
• No 3G Internet access or GPS
• A cheaper data plan (~$15/month) with a usage cap

-Maria

A new iPhone application called Hammertime has been launched for you to keep track of MC Hammer at all times. The early-’90s sensation, who I commend for adopting social media to reinvent his career, is also on Twitter.  The application pitch goes like this:

HammerTime (TM) is a free application for the iPhone and iPod Touch MP3 players available for download in the iTunes app store.

“I’m a big fan of creating premium content for the Internet” says Hammer. “This iPhone application is the next logical progression in my Socialmedia ecosystem and connecting with my fans who like to follow my blog, calendar, music, videos and Twitter feed.”

HammerTime(TM) provides fans of MC Hammer an opportunity to check out what this Grammy award-winning music star is doing with one click. Once installed on an iPhone or iPod Touch, users may keep up with Hammer’s blog, find out where he will be in concert, enjoy his classic music videos and follow his Twitter posts.

My 8-year-old self might be interested in using iPhone memory for good old Hammer (I did have one of his branded pencil cases in ‘92), but my more refined self gives this app a big PASS.

-Maria

Since so many people at M Booth are “Chipotle Heads,” I couldn’t resist posting this story from TechCrunch about the untimely disappearance of the Chipotle iPhone application.  The application, which allowed loyal customers to order their favorite chain restaurant burritos to spec, was shut down because of overwhelming demand.

TechCrunch raises an interesting question: “Why aren’t there other restaurant apps out there already?”

For some reason, I believe we’ll be seeing similar (hopefully capable) apps in the near future.

-Maria

Mobile is the future of the tech industry, how many times do we have to say it? The CTO of Pandora says the click-through rates on their iPhone app ads are actually much higher than the click-through rates of their ads on the Web.

—Alyssa