App Store

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx8l2vVWULU]

Originally released in August for Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows, 2K and TransGaming just released The Bureau — XCOM Declassified on the Mac App Store. The release follows the launch of the popular XCOM: Enemy Unknown game on Mac earlier this year, but unlike that game, XCOM Declassified is a third-person shooter with strategy elements taken from the classic XCOM titles. The game received some mixed reviews, but was generally well received by most.

The year is 1962. JFK is President and the Cold War has the nation gripped by fear – but a far more powerful and insidious enemy than communism is threatening America. Known only to a select few, a top-secret government unit called The Bureau begins investigating and concealing a series of mysterious attacks by an otherworldly enemy. As special agent William Carter, call the shots, pull the trigger and lead your squad in a gripping third-person tactical shooter set within a high-stakes, covert war to defend humanity. The Bureau’s mission is clear – survive, adapt and overcome the enemy threat to protect the citizens from the truth.

The Bureau – XCOM Declassified is available now for $34.99 on the Mac App Store. Minimum system requirements below:

OS: Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.7.5 or higher
Processor: Intel Core i series processor
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 15 GB free
Video Memory: 512MB
Video Card: AMD HD4870 / NVIDIA 8800GT or better*
Input: Keyboard and 3 button Mouse or Logitech Dual Analog Stick Gamepad

(via iMore)

Judge formally dismisses user privacy lawsuit regarding location services and App Store data collection policy

Benjamin Mayo Nov 28 2013 - 3:04 am PT

Reuters is reporting that Lucy Koh has today dismissed a data privacy lawsuit against Apple that dates back to 2011. The plaintiffs were suing on the basis that (in iOS 4.1) Apple collected WiFi hotspot and cell tower location data even though Location Services were disabled.

Tweetbot 3.2 brings night theme, account switching shortcuts

Benjamin Mayo Nov 27 2013 - 8:19 am PT

2 Comments

Today, Tapbots has released Tweetbot 3.2 to the App Store, the latest version of their highly-popular Twitter client. Tapbots have been pretty relentless in updating their flagship app with version 3.1 arriving only two weeks ago.

Tweetbot 3.2 brings a long-awaited night theme to the app, offering another theme choice to users who may not like the stark-white default look.

The theme can be set to adjust automatically based on time or manually set as the default look. The application theme can also be changed via a hidden gesture; simply swipe up and down with two fingers to toggle between the light and dark theme.

iOS/Android app revenue gap narrows, but iOS still miles ahead

Ben Lovejoy Nov 27 2013 - 4:38 am PT

Business Insider created the above chart to show exactly how the revenue gap between iOS and Android apps shows up for developers.

While there’s no doubt the gap between the two platforms is narrowing, it’s also clear that in the metrics that count, iOS is still where you want to be. Ad revenue – read free apps – is where Android is making money for developers …
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Report: App Store search updated to compensate for typos, improve discoverability

Jordan Kahn Nov 26 2013 - 9:33 am PT

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According to a report from TechCrunch, Apple has recently implemented updates to the App Store’s search engine allowing it to compensate for “misspelled queries with small typos” and provide more useful results. The update also reportedly extends to app titles that have spaces in the title:

For example, those looking for the highly ranked “QuizUp” game wouldn’t have found it before if they had typed in “Quiz Up” with a space. Now it appears.

The result will ultimately be better discoverability for apps in the App Store, especially for developers targeting keywords that are commonly misspelled. As noted by TechCrunch, it’s also something that has helped Google provide better results on its Play store (as highlighted in the graphic from SEO firm SearchMan above):
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ESPN launches new SportsCenter app for real-time, personalized news & scores

Jordan Kahn Nov 21 2013 - 8:49 am PT

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ESPN is launching a new app today called ESPN SportsCenter, which actually replaces the old ScoreCenter app with a redesign and all new features. The app does much of what the old app did, offering real-time updates on scores for the biggest sporting events of the day, as well as breaking news, analysis, notifications, and more. You’ll also be able to add your favorite teams to customize your experience and the new app introduces a new Favorites feature for quickly accessing news and scores for the teams you want to keep up with most often.

The new ESPN SportsCenter app also includes a new Clubhouses feature that includes all content for every team and league, an Inbox for getting personalized content such as news and alerts, and enhanced game pages that feature “New native sharing and one-click GameCast access.” Also new in the app is ESPN Now, a feature that lets users get real-time scores and updates from social networks.

In addition, the new SportsCenter app has been given a number of enhancements to search and overall performance.

The free ESPN SportsCenter app is available for iPhone now.

What’s New in Version 4.0.0

– ScoreCenter is now SportsCenter
– Speed: Faster than Calvin Johnson going deep
– Favorites: Your team news and scores in an instant
– Clubhouses: Content central for every team and league under the sun
– ESPN Now: Your one-stop-shop for real-time scores and social updates
– Inbox: A dedicated home for personalized content from news to alerts to scores
– Enhanced Game Pages: New native sharing and one-click GameCast access
– Search: Easily navigate to teams, leagues, and sports to view content or add to favorites

HBO GO for iOS picks up Chromecast support

Zac Hall Nov 21 2013 - 7:21 am PT

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9jA2km9TKM]

Google announced today Chromecast support for the HBO GO apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

This means HBO GO subscribers can now push content from their iOS Devices to their Chromecast-connected HDTVs. HBO GO casting is also available from the website from Chrome browser.

The actual Chromecast hardware is only $35 on Amazon (and if that’s not cheap enough, keep an eye on 9to5Toys for more deals) and offers a comparable experience in many ways to AirPlay on Apple TV. HBO subscribers can download and use the HBO GO apps at no additional charge from the App Store.
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Clumsy Ninja finally hits the App Store, originally announced at iPhone 5 event last year

Benjamin Mayo Nov 21 2013 - 7:15 am PT

Originally demoed at Apple’s September 2012 event, to show off the power of the new fifth-generation iPod touch, Clumsy Ninja was said to be launching that holiday season; i.e. fall 2012. However, much like with the announcement of Infinity Blade Dungeons, the app never arrived. Whereas Dungeons ended up being axed entirely, it turns out that Clumsy Ninja was just severely delayed.

After over a year since the game was demoed, Clumsy Ninja has finally hit the App Store today. At Apple’s event, NaturalMotion described the game as an ‘interactive toy’ based on “years of research”. The game centres around a cute 3D ninja, which acts similarly to a virtual pet.

Tumblr iOS app completely redesigned for iOS 7

Jordan Kahn Nov 20 2013 - 1:15 pm PT

Tumblr has finally released a complete redesign of its app for iOS 7 today. The app introduces a new streamlined look and feel for both the iPhone and iPad and also a few new features.

On top of a complete redesign for the Dashboard, you’ll notice a new UI for composing, choosing a post style, and reblogging. The updated app also includes a new autocomplete feature for tags.

What’s New in Version 3.5

We’ve completely redesigned Tumblr for iPhone and iPad! It’s faster and has a beautiful new look and feel, just like iOS 7.

• Total Dashboard makeover
• New post compose screen
• New post chooser
• New fast reblog
• Tag autocomplete!

Tumblr version 3.5 is available now for iPhone and iPad. Screenshots of the iPad app below:

Google Chrome iOS app updated w/ synced Autofill, long press for related image search

Jordan Kahn Nov 20 2013 - 10:10 am PT

Google today released an update to its Chrome app for iOS that it first announced last week and released for Android. As promised, Google has added a new synced Autofill feature that allows users to autofill forms in a few taps and also sign into their Google account on Mac or other iOS devices to sync the data.

Version 31 of Chrome for iOS also adds a new long press feature for images. When holding an image with a long press, Chrome will now automatically run a search for related images.

In addition, Google says the update brings stability and security enhancements.

What’s New in Version 31.0.1650.18

• Fast form completion with Autofill
Tired of filling out web forms with the same information time and time again? The Autofill feature lets you complete forms with just a few clicks. Sign in to sync this data from your computer to your iPhone or iPad and save even more typing.
• Long press on an image to search for related images
• Stability / security improvements and bug fixes

PayPal iPhone app updated w/ iOS 7 redesign, withdraw to bank, QR/bar code scanning, more

Jordan Kahn Nov 20 2013 - 7:38 am PT

PayPal is releasing an updated iPhone app today that on top of introducing a redesign for iOS 7 also introduces a few new features.

You’ll notice a number of UI tweaks in the new app and a redesign that fits in with the look and feel of iOS 7, but you’ll also now be able to withdraw money from your PayPal balance to your bank account within the Wallet tab. Also new is the ability to pay by scanning QR and bar codes a select retail partners:

Paying just got even easier! Scan a QR or bar code to pay at select merchants

In addition, version 5.2 of PayPal for iPhone includes the ability to choose your home screen for fast access to the features you use most.

What’s New in Version 5.2

5.2
• Need to withdraw some cash from your PayPal balance to your bank? You can do that in your Wallet
• Check out our new iOS7 look and feel
• Paying just got even easier! Scan a QR or bar code to pay at select merchants
• Choose your start screen for fast access to the info you need
• We’re still hard at work finding and fixing bugs

We’re always listening, so please send comments, suggestions, and any words of encouragement to mobile-apps@paypal.com.

Fantastical 2 for iPhone updated with new notification sound, additional toggles and improvements, and more

Zac Hall Nov 18 2013 - 6:29 am PT

After a rather successful launch (it was #1 in the App Store for quite a while), Flexibits has updated Fantastical 2 for iPhone with a number of small but notable improvements.

Most notably, Fantastical alerts now come with a notification tone. New options for assigning the app icon badge are available as well.

If you haven’t already tried it out, you can pick up Fantastical 2 on sale for $2.99 in the App Store (regular $4.99) and read our full review here. Fantastical 2.0.1 is a free update to existing customers and available now. (Full change log below.)
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Apple revamps design of iBooks and iTunes U for iOS 7 on iPad & iPhone

Mark Gurman Nov 14 2013 - 9:16 am PT

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Following redesigns of many of its other applications, Apple has completely redesigned its iBooks application for iOS 7. The new iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch app follows the design aesthetic of the bundled Newsstand application, and also includes a completely redesigned iBookstore. The free update is available via the App Store now. For fans of the page curl effect in iBooks, you will be happy to know that it has not been removed.

Apple has also completely redesigned its iTunes U application, an app for downloading and managing education content. Both apps include redesigned icons:

Mint refreshes its iPhone and iPad app with iOS 7 design, brings Trends to mobile

Benjamin Mayo Nov 14 2013 - 6:18 am PT

The Mint mobile app is rarely updated with new features, but it’s not like it has been abandoned — it receives maintenance updates every few months. Today, though, Mint has pushed version 2.7 to the App Store which does bring more than just bug fixes.

Apple doubles developer promo code limit to 100 per app version

Benjamin Mayo Nov 12 2013 - 9:33 am PT

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Although Apple is yet to provide official confirmation, developers are finding that they are now being allocated 100 promo codes per version of their apps. Until today, the limit was 50.

Facebook iOS app now lets iPad users edit posts

Jordan Kahn Nov 7 2013 - 4:27 pm PT

3 Comments

Back in October Facebook added the ability to edit posts and comments and also view all of your changes. However, at the time the feature was only available to iPhone users. Today iPad users can finally edit posts too with an update to the Facebook iOS app that just rolled out on the App Store.

Also new in version 6.7 of the app is new languages for icons, but Facebook doesn’t list the specific languages in its release notes.

The Facebook app is available on the App Store for free.

What’s New in Version 6.7

• Now in additional languages: Use icons to share how you’re feeling and what you’re doing
• Now on iPad: Edit your posts and tap to see all your changes
• Bug fixes

IFTTT adds actions for iOS Photo albums & Reminders

Jordan Kahn Nov 6 2013 - 12:58 pm PT

IFTTT, the popular web service that allows users to automate tasks from a long list of other mobile apps and web services, today updated its iOS app with the iPhone’s Photos and Reminder apps…
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Updated Xfinity TV Go iOS app adds live streaming

Ben Lovejoy Nov 5 2013 - 4:13 am PT

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Xfinity TV’s iOS app now allows subscribers to stream live TV channels as well as access on-demand content. The app has also been renamed from Xfinity TV Player to Xfinity TV Go.

Early reviewers, though, seem more interested in Air Play functionality, which has not yet been added.

The app is a free download from iTunes.

App Store banner corroborates impending iOS 7 update for Apple’s Remote app

Mike Beasley Oct 31 2013 - 2:33 pm PT

6 Comments

Image via MacRumors

A banner that appeared in the Colombian App Store seems to indicate that Apple may finally be updating its Remote app with a new design for iOS 7. The banner sports a redesigned icon that we first noticed earlier this month in the iTunes device manager. The new icon uses much more white than the previous version and conforms to the icon grid used to design Apple’s other iOS 7 icons.

Many of Apple’s apps have already been updated with a new design, but updates for Remote, Find My Friends, iTunes Connect and iBooks have been noticeably absent. It seems at least one of those will be redesigned in the near future, although there’s still no word yet on when the others might finally get a makeover.

We haven’t been able to independently confirm the precense of the banner in the App Store, which was likely published earlier by accident.

Apple promoting its own stock iOS apps for popular App Store search queries

Jordan Kahn Oct 31 2013 - 8:22 am PT

Apple appears to have recently started promoting some of its own stock iOS apps on the App Store for search terms that would have previously displayed results from third-party developers first. As noted by MacStories, when searching for terms such as “browser”, “web”, “SMS”, “Movies”, “cloud, “Siri”, “internet”, and others on the App Store, Apple is now promoting some of its own apps and services such as Safari, iTunes, Messages, iCloud, and Siri as the first results.

The result for Apple’s apps aren’t typical App Store listings but instead provide users with a brief description and link to either “Learn more” or open the app. Clicking Learn More takes users to Apple’s website in Safari for more information on the app, while some listings, such as iTunes, allow users to tap “Visit iTunes Store” and automatically launch the iOS iTunes app.
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CloudMagic brings cloud-powered email search to the iPhone

Mike Beasley Oct 30 2013 - 9:00 am PT

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A brand-new mail client called CloudMagic launched today on the App Store. The app supports most email services and has all of the basic features you’d expect from a mail app. One CloudMagic feature blows most other apps away, though: search.

Rather than searching on your phone for a certain email and then remotely searching each individual mail account to find what you’re looking for, CloudMagic caches your entire mail account on their server and uses server-side search to find any message almost instantly. The search is powerful and intelligently suggests words and phrases that I found to be exactly what I was looking for.

Fantastical 2: The calendar Apple should have built… again

Zac Hall Oct 30 2013 - 6:00 am PT

50 Comments

After bringing natural language input to the mobile calendar experience with Fantastical for iPhone last November, Flexibits today released a brand new version of what was already my absolute favorite calendar app.

Fantastical 2 delivers an all new design made just for iOS 7 as well as numerous new features like Reminders support, dark and light themes, landscape support for week view, and much more.

I’ve been using Fantastical 2 for the past few weeks, and below I’ll show you why it’s my go-to calendar for iPhone.