iPhone Accessories Allowed to Use Download Prompts

Apple is now allowing ‘Made For iPod’ and ‘Works With iPhone’ accessories to communicate with the iPhone software and invoke automatic application download when connected. One such app-supported accessory is Griffin Technology’s new iTrip – seemingly the first to be allowed application download prompts.

An iLounge report claims that, “It appears Apple is now allowing Made For iPod- and Works With iPhone-certified developers to include automatic application download prompts when connecting app-supported accessories,” debuting with Griffin Technology’s new iTrip FM Transmitter with App support.

iLounge explains that such accessories show an alert box labeled “Application Not Installed” when they are connected to an iPhone or iPod touch for the first time. The alert, or dialog box, informs users that the accessory requires an additional component for the complete experience – a software application, in the case of Griffin’s iTrip.

The user is asked if they would like to install the application from the App Store and, if they accept, the command takes them to a new “For This Accessory” page on the iTunes App Store, with a direct link to the appropriate app. iLounge claims this is the first time it has seen a shipping accessory being allowed to fetch its own iPhone app from the App Store.

Download iTrip Controller (Free)

The iTrip boasts a one-touch setup and tuning with Griffin’s exclusive SmartScan, allowing iTrip to scan the FM band and find the best frequency for the listener. SmartSound also adjusts the signal strength automatically for each frequency, in order to go easy on the battery.

Touted as “the perfect partner for Griffin’s newest iTrip FM transmitter,” the iTrip Controller application allows you to use the iPhone’s touch-screen to tune, scan for clear frequencies and display the current station iTrip is using to play your music wirelessly on your FM stereo. A note on the iTrip Controller App Store page reveals that the app woks only with iTrip models introduced after September 2009. The software also requires iPhone OS 3.0 and any iPhone or iPod touch model.

Besides crafting some of the most popular iPod and iPhone accessories, Griffin Technology is also a successful iPhone application developer, currently selling a total of eight iPhone applications through Apple's App Store.