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The Weather Channel iPad app gets new iOS 7-style redesign

Jordan Kahn Jun 26 2014 - 7:21 am PT

11 Comments

The Weather Channel app for iPad gets a nice update today that brings an overhauled design that the company says is closely aligned to the iOS 7 aesthetic. It also introduces new background photos that display the current weather conditions of the location you’re viewing and tweaked navigation that makes moving around the app easier.

The Weather Channel will officially be replacing Yahoo as the source for Apple’s stock Weather app in the upcoming release of iOS 8 this fall. Part of that decision, according to a recent report, was due to some new enhancements made to The Weather Channel service over the last year.

The Weather Channel app version 4.0 for iPad is available for free on the App Store.

What’s New in Version 4.0.0

Design— Beautiful and easy-to-use. This app is closely aligned to the iOS 7 aesthetic, and our amazing background photos match your current weather conditions.

• Apps & Updates
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SoundCloud iPhone app gets complete redesign, iPad update coming in future release

Jordan Kahn Jun 26 2014 - 6:17 am PT

2 Comments

SoundCloud, the popular music and audio uploading and discovery service, today released an update to its iPhone app that introduces a completely new design. For users of the previous version, the updated design is instantly noticeable with a much cleaner and more streamlined look and feel throughout the app.

There are also a number of navigation and user experience enhancements included in the update:

– Beautifully simple design. Cleaner look. Simpler controls
– ‘One thumb’ interface. Play, pause, skip and explore on the go
– Open another user’s profile straight from a track or playlist
– Your likes and playlists are now all in one place, making it easier to play more of your favorite tracks and artists

While the iPad version of the app isn’t getting the same treatment today, the company says “iPad updates are being worked on for a future release.”

The updated SoundCloud app for iPhone, version 3.0, is available for free on the App Store.

• Apps & Updates
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• Dropbox

Dropbox iOS app uses iPhone camera to make setting up desktop app easier

Zac Hall Jun 24 2014 - 12:23 pm PT

2 Comments

Dropbox updated its iPhone and iPad app today bringing a list of new features to the mobile cloud app. Here are the changes Dropbox points out in the update:

• Reorder your Favorites list with a simple touch and hold
• Set up Dropbox on your computer using your camera
• Dropbox now remembers recent locations when importing files
• Accessibility improvements
• Support for additional languages: Danish, Dutch, Swedish, and Thai
• Lots of bug fixes and usability improvements

That second feature seemed somewhat vague from the description but interesting so we decided to test it out.

Using the latest version of Dropbox, users can now set up the Dropbox desktop app on a new computer by scanning a QR code in the web browser with the iPhone camera. Below you can see part of the process…

The idea is you can scan the QR code on Dropbox.com/connect using the Dropbox iPhone app to prompt your computer to download and login to your account automating the process.
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• Apps & Updates
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• iOS

Civilization Revolution 2 developed exclusively for mobile arrives on iOS July 2

Jordan Kahn Jun 23 2014 - 6:39 am PT

6 Comments

Update: 7/2/2014 6am: Civilization Revolution 2 is now available in the App Store

2K Games has announced a brand new iteration on its popular world domination, 4X franchise with Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution 2 for iOS and Android. Despite its name, Revolution 2 is actually the first title in the franchise designed specifically for mobile from the ground up. The current Civilization Revolution title available on iOS is actually a port of the 2008 console title and never made it over to Android devices.

The game will combine the core tactical elements of the series with intuitive controls and a friendly user interface – designed specifically for mobile gamers on touch-pad devices. Civilization fans will also recognize the 16 historical leaders found in the first game, including Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi and Napoleon, alongside leaders such as Churchill and Kennedy, who are making their appearance in the series for the first time

Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution 2 will be available on July 2 for iPhone and iPad and arrive shortly after that for Android users.

• Apps & Updates
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• HBO
• Boardwalk Empire

Amazon Instant Video 2.7 gets free first episodes, new playback controls and HBO

9to5 Staff Jun 23 2014 - 6:06 am PT

0 Comments

Even though Amazon is investing heavily in its Fire platform including new Fire TV and Fire Phone, it still is showing some chops for iOS. Today’s free update brings the latest features of Amazon’s Video service to its iOS apps.

Amazon upgraded the iPad and iPhone apps today with all new video playback controls, including one-touch play/pause and 10-second skip forward/backward buttons, and a “Next Episode” button to quickly play back the next episode of the TV show you’re watching (requires iOS 6 or later). If you are thinking about buying a season of a TV series, you can now peep out the first episode for free.

The biggest update however is access to HBO shows like The Sopranos (right), The Wire, and Deadwood, plus early seasons of True Blood and Boardwalk Empire. As with any update, this one includes bugfixes and stability improvements including faster playback start times.

• Apps & Updates
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• Apple Health
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• Nike
• Sports

Nike+ FuelBand app gets push notifications for challenges, upcoming events, more

Jordan Kahn Jun 19 2014 - 4:21 pm PT

0 Comments

Nike updated its Nike+ FuelBand companion app today with one notable new feature: the ability to receive push notifications for a number of different features within the app. Those include things like challenges, upcoming Nike events, exclusive video content, and more.

The new push notifications, along with bug fixes and some other minor improvements are available now in version 2.3 of the app. Nike might be planning to get out of the hardware side of its FuelBand business in the near future, but for now the FuelBand is still available for sale and the update a welcomed one by users.

What’s New in Version 2.3

• You can now stay connected to Nike via push notifications – receive the latest info on challenges and upcoming Nike events as well as exclusive video content.
• Bug fixes and other improvements.

• Apps & Updates
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• Microsoft

Skype 5.1 for iOS rolling out with improvements to conversations and favorites

Mark Gurman Jun 19 2014 - 9:31 am PT

1 Comment

Approximately a week after releasing Skype 5.0 with a completely revamped design and new features, Microsoft is now rolling out version 5.1 with various improvements. Notably, there are enhancements to managing conversations, favorites, and finding the status of Skype contacts. From the Skype blog:

• You can now delete a conversation from the recent list with a long press on recents. You can also edit messages you’ve recently sent with a long press on the message. (Just as you can long press on an individual message to delete it.)

• Tap the “add favorites” link to easily fill your favorites screen with the people you contact the most.

• The People list now matches the desktop better: we have added the “Skype” filter; the “online” filter now includes users set to online, away and do not disturb; and best of all your filter settings are saved.

The update also includes improvements to VoiceOver. The update is rolling out on the App Store today for free. Skype says more improvements are coming in the future. Be sure to check out our look at the new Skype design along with an interview with the lead designer of the software.

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• Apps & Updates
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• iPad
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Disney launches ‘Star Wars Scene Maker’ iPad app

Jordan Kahn Jun 19 2014 - 6:32 am PT

5 Comments

With hype building surrounding the filming of the latest Star Wars reboot, Disney is taking advantage by launching a new iPad app called ‘Star Wars Scene Maker’. The app allows users to create Star Wars scenes by selecting from various 3D assets like characters and environments, camera angles, dialogue (you can also record your own), musical scores, and more:

MAKE STAR WARS YOUR OWN!

Become the master of your own Star Wars video universe! Create your own scenes, choose your favorite characters, control their actions and dialogue, record your masterpiece, and share your Star Wars story! The Force of your imagination is with you!

FEATURES:

· Create your own Star Wars universe and bring it to life with imaginative play and countless options.

· Select from 3D environments with 3D models of your favorite characters, weapons, and ships.

· Use dialogue straight from the Star Wars films, or record your voice and apply a Darth Vader, Rebel Pilot, or Storm Trooper filter to put your words into any character’s mouth!

· Switch between three cameras, each of which can track or follow the action, to record your scene from multiple angles!

· Chooose a musical score taken from the Star Wars films, write your own iconic Star Wars “Title Crawl” and end credits, and share your finished scene with your friends!

Star Wars Scene Maker is available as a free download for iPads running iOS 7 and up (Disney says it’s “most compatible with the newest generation of iPad”), but you will find some paid in-app purchases and Disney ads within.

• Apps & Updates
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• Hatch
• Impending
• Tamagotchi
• Bolt Creative

Hatch, the Tamagotchi-like iPhone game, adds Ooga Jump integration & goes 50% off

Zac Hall Jun 19 2014 - 6:00 am PT

0 Comments

Hatch has been teasing today’s update since the end of March and today it’s finally available on the App Store. The app’s developers at Impending have worked with folks from Bolt Creative, the makers of Pocket God, to bring new life to the Tamagotchi-like iPhone and iPod touch pet with integration with the game Ooga Jump…

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• Apps & Updates
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• Apple TV
• Netflix
• movies
• entertainment

Netflix updates its Apple TV and iOS apps with design refresh

Zac Hall Jun 18 2014 - 12:18 pm PT

4 Comments

Last night Apple TV users started seeing a new channel icon for Netflix as the company recently updated its logo, and today both the iPhone and iPad versions of the Netflix apps were updated to version 6.0 which includes the new design.

The updates to both Apple TV and the iPhone and iPad apps don’t bring much else aside from the new logo and slight design tweaks, but the iOS apps do include bug fixes and faster video playback according to Netflix.

The Netflix channel update on Apple TV should be available without any software updates, and the latest version of Netflix for iPhone and iPad is available today on the App Store. 
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• Apps & Updates
• AAPL Company
• Snapchat
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• iphone app
• My Story

Snapchat debuts new ‘Our Story’ function for communal snap stories at events

Mark Gurman Jun 17 2014 - 9:27 am PT

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZeDPfHiBC8

Social network app Snapchat is today rolling out a new feature called Our Story. It’s just like the My Story feature, where you can put a bunch of photos into a single album-like story, but multiple people can contribute to it. The feature works based on events and on your location. As Snapchat explains on its blog:

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Facebook Paper 1.2 adds new photo features, trending section, performance improvements, more

Zac Hall Jun 16 2014 - 10:34 am PT

3 Comments

In addition to a few changes to its iPad app, Facebook today released the second major update to its app Paper bringing it closer to feature parity with the main Facebook iPhone app. While the list of changes included in Facebook Paper 1.2 is rather long, the changes largely focus on improving the photo experience. For example, Paper uses can now adjust both profile and cover photos from the app. The update also includes photo tag support and improvements as well as greater support for tilt to explore feature for viewing photos.

Paper 1.2 is out today! Lots of new features: https://t.co/JB6JaXVbsI

I built privacy editing and lots of under-the-hood improvements.

— Grant Paul (@chpwn) June 16, 2014

Facebook Paper 1.2 is available for iPhone and iPod touch today on the App Store. For more on what’s new, view the full change log below…
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• Apps & Updates
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• Nuance

Domino’s Pizza launches voice ordering in mobile apps powered by Nuance

Jordan Kahn Jun 16 2014 - 9:31 am PT

4 Comments

Dominos announced today that its launching a new voice ordering feature in its iPhone and Android apps that is powered by Nuance’s Nina Mobile voice speech recognition, speech synthesis and natural language understanding technology. The company says the feature will provide “a human-like, conversational customer service experience that allows users to speak an order and quickly add items to their cart.” Imagine opening the app and placing your order by saying, for example, “I’d like a large pizza with extra cheese, pepperoni and onions” or “I’ll take a 14-piece order of Hot Wings”.

“There will be a day where typing on keyboards or with thumbs on mobile devices will come to a close; we want to be the ones who continue to advance the technology experience – hand-in-hand with our customers,” said Patrick Doyle, Domino’s Pizza president and CEO. “Our mobile app users who are a part of this launch are truly helping set the foundation for the innovations of today, that will soon enough become the standards of tomorrow.”

The platform, in partnership with Nuance, will redefine technology convenience – and puts Domino’s at the forefront of an intuitive ordering method that is a true first within both traditional and e-commerce retail.

With the updated app rolling out today, you’ll also be able to browse menus, coupons and navigate through the app using your voice. The feature rolls out in beta today and is available in the updated Domino’s Pizza app for iOS now.