Bing just upped its effort in the search engine war against Google with an updated iPhone app. Just in time for iOS4's firmware update, the app has a bunch of tweaks, but one, real Google-beater: Barcode scanning for quick product IDs.

When we first wrote about BarMax in January, there was a lot of interest in the iPhone app for one obvious reason: it cost $999.99. While it may not have been the first $1,000 app (the useless gimmick app, I Am Rich, can claim that title), it was the first to seemingly be worth the high price tag. Apparently, users have agreed. As the app meant to help law students pass the bar exam is already profitable and ready to roll out a version to cover another state: New York.

There’s a new version of cloud-based note-taking tool Evernote for the iPhone and iPod touch, and it supports the multitasking features added by Apple’s iOS 4 software. Evernote has three million users to recommend it, but no one with a great idea can rest on his or her laurels forever, so the company behind the tool has been updating the app with new features periodically.

Facebook for iPhone 3.1.3 has just been released in the App Store, bringing a series of new features including the ability to play Facebook videos on your phone. Other additions in this update include the ability to view and write on the walls of events, and a new width for the photos you upload: 720px. There’s also a series of bug fixes in the release.

If you were so obliging as to use the “Mark the Spot” app on your iPhone to tell AT&T where coverage was poor, you may find things improving in the spots you marked. In 60-90 days, anyway.

BlackBerry fans aren’t quite as spoiled for choice as iPhone or Android owners when it comes to apps or the World Cup, but there some football-themed widgets worth a look. Here we offer four great World Cup apps (and one bonus), available direct from the BlackBerry App World store. Check them out and stay up to date with the proceedings in South Africa. The very best part? — they are all free!

Apple's App Store is right now carrying the Apple Store app. If that statement doesn't twist reality up in a Doctor Who style for you, then read on to find out about its iPhone-buying powers (from an iPhone!) and Genius session booking.

USA Today has partnered with location-based social network Gowalla to bring its travel content to the network’s users. Gowalla users who follow USA Today and check in at major U.S. airports will receive airport and airline news and features from the news organization’s Travel section and online community.

Malware targeting smartphones has been in the news a bit recently, thanks to some Windows snafus. But did you ever stop to think that the really scary thing about smartphones, according to security folk, is all your lovely data aboard 'em?

The ability of iPhone apps to generate insane revenue is pretty well-documented. It's not limited to Apple's App Store, either; the Android Market is capable of making some serious cash as well. But the App Store's greater popularity and much larger userbase make it a unique case.