Skip to main content

Apps

6,561 'Apps' stories April 2010 - May 2015
See All Stories

Learn about the latest news for iOS, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV apps

Apps for iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS power our modern world. 9to5Mac will update you on the latest news, review, and updates for all types of apps. “There’s an App for that”.

The term came became part of our vocabulary when Steve Jobs announced The App Store as part of the iPhone 2.0 software update in 2008.

Over the years, the term has become as common as kleenex for describing applications on all of our devices. Apple’s platforms have apps for just about anything from finance, banking, sports, social media, podcasting, music, and more. We have a guide for helping you discover the best ones as well. Apps are now on everything from our TV, to our smartphones, on our laptops, and all the way down to our wrists.

As new ones are released or existing ones have major updates, the team here at 9to5Mac will bring you the latest news and reviews. If you want to follow along with video footage, be sure to follow 9to5Mac on YouTube. Scroll down below our latest updates on all things relating to applications on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.

Microsoft working on a new Email/IM app for the iPhone, ‘Flow by Outlook’

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 20 2015 - 4:11 am PT
8 Comments
Site default logo image

Microsoft appears to be working on a new instant messaging app for the iPhone, acting as a kind of cross between email and instant messaging, known as Flow by Outlook. The download page, which describes the project as ‘Microsoft Confidential,’ was first spotted by @h0x0d (via ZDNet).

Use Flow with anyone, it’s email: Reach anyone with an email address and all conversations for you and others are also in Outlook. Together, you can use Flow and Outlook interchangeably to participate in the same conversations.

Fast, fluid, natural conversations: No subject lines, salutations, or signatures. Flow is designed for fast, light-weight conversations in real time.

Focus on what’s important: Only conversations started in Flow and their replies show up in Flow, not your whole inbox. Focus on your most important person-to-person conversations without the noise.

While the webpage describing the app is unprotected, the actual download link requires a login…

Expand
Expanding
Close

PCalc brings its calculator app to Apple Watch w/ Glance & Send to iPhone feature

Avatar for Zac Hall May 19 2015 - 12:34 pm PT
13 Comments
Site default logo image

TLA Systems has brought is popular calculator app to the Apple Watch today through the latest version of PCalc for iPhone. The PCalc Apple Watch app features a fully functional calculator for quickly crunching numbers from your watch — 1985 Casio-style like the similar Calcbot app — and similarly features a clever tip calculator that makes splitting the bill a cinch. 
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google adds real-time tweets to mobile web and iOS app search results

Avatar for Mike Beasley May 19 2015 - 11:37 am PT
0 Comments
Site default logo image

Following up on Google’s agreement with Twitter to instantly add tweets to web search results, the duo announced today that users on mobile devices will start seeing real-time Twitter results as well. The feature is available in the Google app on iOS or Google’s mobile website, and is expected to make its way to the desktop soon.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple releases first Apple Watch update with Watch OS 1.0.1, adding new Emoji & languages, app improvements, more

Avatar for Zac Hall May 19 2015 - 9:52 am PT
38 Comments
Site default logo image

Apple has released the first software update for Apple Watch today with the release of Watch OS 1.0.1. The update is available through the Apple Watch app on iPhone.
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: DODOcase 50% off, 5K iMac refurb lowest price, iPhone 6 Plus (unlocked) $660, more

Avatar for May 19 2015 - 9:01 am PT
1 Comment

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

DODOcase handcrafted iPad and iPhone cases 50% off: iPad mini slim case $20, iPhone 6 wallet sleeve $25, more

Apple drops refurbished 5K iMac pricing down to lowest ever in light of today’s announcement

eBay 10% off tech orders of $200+: Apple iPhone 6 Plus 16GB $660 (Reg. $749), more

$100 iTunes gift card for $80 w/ email delivery from PayPal (20% savings)

More new gear from today:

OtterBox iPhone 6/Plus Defender Series case in black from $25 shipped (Orig. up to $60), more

OtterBox iPhone 6 Symmetry Series Case $25 Prime shipped (Orig. $40), more

  • New! Daily Deals: Dell 28-inch Ultra HD 4K Monitor $299, more
  • New! M-Audio 61-key Oxygen Series bus-powered MIDI keyboard $123 shipped (Reg. $200)
  • New! Games/Apps: Far Cry 4 Kyrat Edition $71, Watch Dogs, Evolve, Destiny (pre-owned) from $10, more

More deals still alive:

The best-selling GoPro HERO4 Silver Action Camera is on sale for $329 shipped (Reg. $400)

Two SONOS PLAY:1 Wireless Powered Speakers: $349 ($398 value)

New products & more:

A one man Swedish design studio made a retro style arcade cabinet that looks like it belongs in an art museum

Narrative’s Clip 2 wearable camera for iOS and Android is available for pre-order today

Site default logo image

Automatic upgrades $100 Bluetooth car dongle, launches ‘app store for cars’

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 19 2015 - 7:28 am PT
8 Comments

Automatic, a Bluetooth dongle that plugs into your car’s on-board diagnostic port to stream data to your iPhone, has been updated to a new version capable of streaming to two apps at the same time. The company has also launched an ‘app store for cars’ in the form of a webpage with download links to 22 apps that are compatible with the device.

We reviewed the original model back in 2013, when Zac Hall described it as smart, fun and interesting. At the time, it could only stream data to Automatic’s own companion app, but the latest version supports two simultaneous Bluetooth data streams, allowing both Automatic and a second app to receive data simultaneously.

Compatible apps include nine business-oriented apps, allowing things like automated mileage expense claims; convenience apps, like Nest, to pre-heat or cool your home while driving home; safety, like a driving coach to help new drivers; and performance, to provide real-time data to assist in car tuning.

The second-gen Automatic adapter also includes “built-in GPS, Made for iPhone (MFi) certification, and an improved connector to fit better in more cars” at the same $100 price.

60Hz TV tracker updated to version 4.0 with overhauled UI, smart queue, and much more

Avatar for Mike Beasley May 19 2015 - 7:00 am PT
1 Comment
Site default logo image

60Hz, the TV tracking app we’ve previously covered, has received a massive update to version 4.0 today, introducing a completely redesigned interface and many new features to help you find new shows and keep track of your current library.

While version 3 maintained much of the same functionality as version 2 with a fresh coat of paint on top, the newest release has rethought the entire application completely with great results.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple Pay adds over 30 new banks & credit unions

Avatar for Zac Hall May 19 2015 - 6:32 am PT
9 Comments
Apple Watch Apple Pay

Apple Pay on <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/05/18/apple-watch-review-video/" target="_blank">Apple Watch</a>

A number of additional banks and credit unions across the United States have now turned on support for Apple Pay including Synchrony Bank which backs Walmart and other retail credit cards, NASA Federal Credit Union, and many more. Earlier this month, Apple Pay went live for the popular mobile-based Simple Bank for the first time. You can find the full list of new and existing banks with support for Apple’s mobile payment service below:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple readies first significant Apple Watch updates, ’TVKit’ SDK for Apple TV

Avatar for Mark Gurman May 18 2015 - 7:59 am PT
54 Comments
Site default logo image

Nearly a month after the release of the first-generation Apple Watch with Watch OS 1.0, a proven source has disclosed a collection of upcoming Apple Watch software and hardware updates. Currently in development, the features seek to enhance Apple Watch security, connectivity with other Apple devices, health and fitness features, Wi-Fi capabilities, and integration with third-party applications. Additionally, Apple is also priming major updates for the Apple TV in both the hardware and software departments, including Apple Watch integration. Below, we detail what users can expect from Apple Watches and Apple TVs in the future…


Expand
Expanding
Close

CarPlay support added to popular Audible audiobooks app

Avatar for Zac Hall May 18 2015 - 7:55 am PT
6 Comments

The popular Amazon-owned Audible audiobooks service is the latest app to gain support for Apple’s CarPlay feature. The new version of Audible’s iPhone app released today now will automatically appear on CarPlay head units once installed on your iPhone so you can find and control audiobook playback from your library using the interface optimized for driving. The update includes a long list of other changes as well including:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

App that lets Tesla owners pretend to be Knight Rider now #1 Lifestyle app in iTunes

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 18 2015 - 5:43 am PT
3 Comments

If you’re the sort of person that buys a car as hi-tech as a Tesla, it’s only natural you’re going to want to control it with an Apple Watch – and who could resist pretending to be communicating with KITT, the intelligent car in the 80s TV show Knight Rider?

Even so, hitting the number one slot in the Lifestyle category of the iOS App Store with a $10 app that’s only of any use to owners of a rather exclusive car is still impressive. Remote S for Tesla is a third-party app which uses the Tesla API to allow you to control a number of the car’s functions using a combination of iPhone and Apple Watch.

Highlights are the ability to unlock and start the car using Touch ID, monitor all three ranges at once (estimated/rated/ideal) and keep the heating/cooling running for more than 30 minutes when the car is not being used. Tech-ier users can even create web pages that communicate with the app.

The developer, Rego Apps, says that login credentials and commands are sent only directly to the Tesla servers, with no personally identifiable information stored by Rego. A number of the functions are unique to the Remote S app, shown below.

  • Fully functional Apple Watch app
  • Start car with Touch ID without needing a password (can be disabled)
  • Camp Mode allows you to keep the HVAC on in the car even though there is no activity. Normally, the car will turn off HVAC after 30 minutes.
  • Adjust the panoramic roof to more settings than just vent and close
  • Breadcrumb tracking allows you to see the path that car has recently taken
  • Accurate odometer readout. Remote S gives you the odometer reading that is accurate up to a few feet instead of rounded to the nearest mile.
  • In-app browser can detect commands from javascript and html so that you can create and use a webpage to control your car
  • This opens up all sorts of functionality, such as scheduling, queued commands, and repeated commands
  • Consolidated stats and commands into one screen for quicker and easier access
  • Start/unlock car with Apple Watch without a password
  • Ability to change passenger and driver temperature settings separately instead of always together
  • Estimated range is displayed (this takes the average consumption of your past 30 miles and estimates your battery range based on that past usage)
  • Monitor all three ranges (estimated, rated, ideal) at the same time without changing the settings in your car

With Apple rumored to be working on its own electric car, the two companies have for some time been poaching employees from each other. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said recently that he hoped Apple will indeed enter the car market.

The app is a $9.99 download from iTunes.

Review: Macphun’s Noiseless is the affordable photo noise killer that will save your grainy pictures

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz May 16 2015 - 6:00 am PT
16 Comments

As a serious photographer, I do as much as I can to make my daily shots excellent, using cameras with low-noise sensors and fast lenses — then trying to keep them as steady as possible in low light. But even the latest and best cameras can’t snap perfectly clean images in dark surroundings. Grainy noise is basically inevitable in darkness, and the more basic the camera you’re using, the more likely it is to appear in a wider variety of pictures. To reduce noise, you can either shell out thousands of dollars for new camera gear, or try to fix your noisy photos with software.

Having spent years trying to fix noisy photos with software, including the noise reduction filters included with fully-featured photo editing applications such as Adobe’s Photoshop, I can tell you that the results typically aren’t great. Unless you’re willing to invest in an expensive noise-reduction plug-in, you’ll spend a lot of time trying to clean your image up, and it probably won’t be beautiful when you’re done. So when I learned about MacPhun’s Noiseless ($18), an app designed to do only one thing — eliminate noise — I was simultaneously skeptical and intrigued. Given that standalone noise-reduction apps often sell for 4 to 8 times as much, could an affordable single-purpose app meaningfully improve some seriously messed-up photos? The answer is “yes,” and at a far lower price than buying a comparably noise-free camera…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple quietly doubles total iCloud contact card limit

Avatar for Zac Hall May 15 2015 - 12:23 pm PT
32 Comments
Site default logo image

In a recent change to its iCloud syncing service, Apple has raised the total number of contacts it will store and sync across your devices before hitting the maximum allowed. Previously iCloud enforced a hard limit of syncing 25,000 contacts, but an updated support document (via iFun.de) highlights that limit doubling now to a total of 50,000 contacts…

Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Lunch Break: iPad mini 2 128GB w/ LTE $370, iMac 5K $2,250 (or less), Powerbeats 2 $165, more

Avatar for May 15 2015 - 9:19 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Apple iPad Air 128GB Wi-Fi + Cellular in Silver: $499 shipped (Orig. $929)

Best Buy 2-Day Sale: Apple 27″ 5K iMac $2,250 or $2,200 w/ .edu (Reg. $2,499), more

Beats wireless headphones: Powerbeats 2 in-ears $165 (Reg. $200), Studio 2.0 over-ears $305 (Reg. $399), more

Amazon Gold Box: 50+% off travel tech – portable 1TB HD: $50 w/WiFi: $100, TP-Link router: $13, Bluetooth speakers: $18, more


13-inch MacBook Air:

1.6GHz/4GB/128GB $830 (Reg. $999)
1.6GHz/4GB/256GB $1,000 (Reg. $1,199)

11-inch MacBook Air:

1.6Ghz /4GB/128GB $750 (Reg. $899)

More new gear from today:

 

OtterBox iPhone 6 Symmetry Series Case in black $25 Prime shipped (Orig. $40), more

More deals still alive:

Apple iPhone 6/Plus no-contract refurbished phones from $425 shipped

Apple-Certified iPhone 5/5S 2400mAh charging case with kickstand (5 colors): $15 Prime shipped

New products & more:

The Nuimo Smart Home Interface aims to take control of your SONOS, lighting and other IoT devices

Just throw the Lily Camera drone in the air and it will automatically record

Site default logo image

Feedly updated with Apple Watch support

Avatar for Chance Miller May 14 2015 - 4:57 pm PT
1 Comment

Joining the growing list of apps that support Apple Watch, Feedly this evening has rolled out an update to its iOS client that adds support for the device. The update, which bumps the app to version 27.0.2, allows users to read their feed of stories, save stories for later reading, and mark articles as read.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Apple releases Final Cut Pro X 10.2.1 with bug fixes, improved video support, more accurate Timeline

Avatar for Mark Gurman May 14 2015 - 2:35 pm PT
0 Comments

Apple today updated Final Cut Pro X to version 10.2.1 with bug fixes and improvements. Apple’s release notes say that this update fixes a bug that would cause Final Cut Pro to quit at launch on some Macs. Support for Panasonic AVCAAM video at 25P and 30P rates has been restored, while Apple also says that dragging through the Timeline view is now more accurate. This 10.2.1 update follows up on the significant 10.2 update from April, which added 3D title support, new editing features, and support for several new cameras and video formats. Today’s minor update is the first to Final Cut since its pioneer Randy Ubillos retired from Apple.


Expand
Expanding
Close

HBO GO iOS app updated with fresh design to match new HBO NOW app

Avatar for Jordan Kahn May 14 2015 - 12:12 pm PT
7 Comments
Site default logo image

Following the release of HBO’s new HBO Now app for its $14.99/month standalone streaming service, today the company updated its main HBO GO app with a similar, long-awaited redesign.

Here’s what HBO GO looked like prior to today’s update (left) next to the new design (right):
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Lunch Break: 13″ 256GB Retina MacBoook Pro $1,300, Crucial 2.5-inch 512GB SSD $171, more

Avatar for May 14 2015 - 9:12 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

13-inch Retina MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch (newest) 2.7GHz/8GB/256GB $1,300 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

13-inch MacBook Air:

1.6GHz/4GB/128GB $830 (Reg. $999)
1.6GHz/4GB/256GB $1,000 (Reg. $1,199)

Gold Box Gaming: Crucial 512GB SSD: $171 or 256GB $90, Trendnet AC router: $20, Dell 24″ display: $200, much more

Apple iPhone 6/Plus no-contract refurbished phones from $425 shipped

Apple-Certified iPhone 5/5S 2400mAh charging case with kickstand (5 colors): $15 Prime shipped

Small States: Feltmark’s Wald lighting combines simplicity and function, multiple giveaway winners

More new gear from today:

iPhone 6/Plus cases (multiple colors & styles): rooCASE from $12 (Reg. $25), Verus slim/wallet from $2 (Reg. $22)

ArmorSuit iPhone 6/Plus Screen Protectors for $0.95 Prime shipped (Reg. $6.95)

Audio-Technica AT2020USB Condenser USB Microphone $80 shipped (Reg. $99)

More deals still alive:

Yamaha RX-V377 5.1-Channel 4K A/V Receiver w/ USB $172 shipped (Orig. $300)

 

Portable Bluetooth Speakers: Logitech UE BOOM $129 (Reg. $199), Mpow MBOX $38 (Reg. $50)

New products & more:

Just throw the Lily Camera drone in the air and it will automatically record

Sony’s new LED Lightbulb has a built-in Bluetooth speaker with iPhone controls

How to view more Health app data on the Apple Watch

Avatar for Jordan Kahn May 14 2015 - 7:42 am PT
6 Comments
Site default logo image

With the HealthDash app, an alternative dashboard for Apple’s own Health app, Apple Watch users can view more health and fitness data points captured from Apple’s HealthKit platform, as well as a history of stats, right on their wrist.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Hundreds of dollars being stolen from Starbucks app users – weak/duplicated passwords blamed

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 14 2015 - 7:16 am PT
25 Comments
Site default logo image

Starbucks has confirmed multiple reports of users of its smartphone app having three-figure sums stolen from their accounts in the form of gift certificates, reports CNN.

One user lost $550 in a matter of minutes, his account auto-reloaded each time it was emptied by a hacker sending a series of $50 gift cards. Other users have also reported three-figure losses within a matter of seconds or minutes … 
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Lufthansa joins the Apple Watch party, offering flight information & boarding pass app

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy May 14 2015 - 4:27 am PT
3 Comments

As someone who still mostly views my Apple Watch as a gimmick, I have to admit that airline apps do make a good case for the device, making viewing alerts and directions as easy as glancing at the time. American Airlines, BA and EasyJet were among the front-runners in offering Apple Watch apps, and now Lufthansa has joined the party too, reports Forbes.

Use your watch as a boarding pass and have your essential flight information displayed on your wrist. It reminds passengers of their flight the day prior to their departure, provides continuous updates about the status of the flight and displays the boarding time, terminal, gate and seat number. Just like a timer, it enables passengers to see – down to the very minute – how long is left until their scheduled boarding time

The app is currently available only to members of Lufthansa’s frequent flyer program, Miles & More, with a general rollout expected later in the year.

Site default logo image

Wolfram, creator of Siri’s knowledge base, releases impressive new Image Identification tech

Avatar for Jordan Kahn May 13 2015 - 2:10 pm PT
8 Comments

Wolfram Research, the company behind the Wolfram Alpha knowledge base that Apple’s Siri taps into, is today releasing new artificial intelligence tech to answer the question, “What is this a picture of?”

Wolfram is showing off what the Wolfram Language Image Identification Project is capable of using this web app accessible on desktop and mobile devices. You simply drag any photo into the app and the image identification AI attempts to detect what it is (as pictured above).

Now I’m excited to be able to say that we’ve reached a milestone: there’s finally a function called ImageIdentify built into the Wolfram Language that lets you ask, “What is this a picture of?”—and get an answer…. It’s a nice practical example of artificial intelligence. But to me what’s more important is that we’ve reached the point where we can integrate this kind of “AI operation” right into the Wolfram Language—to use as a new, powerful building block for knowledge-based programming.

And the new ImageIdentify function will be accessible to developers to create APIs or apps that tap into the feature through Wolfram Language: “And if one had lots of photographs, one could immediately write a Wolfram Language program that, for example, gave statistics on the different kinds of animals, or planes, or devices, or whatever, that appear in the photographs.”

Wolfram has a lengthy, interesting read on the backstory of the project and more about how everything works behind the scenes.

Site default logo image

Apple’s App Analytics feature now available to all developers, no request required

Avatar for Zac Hall May 13 2015 - 12:29 pm PT
0 Comments

Apple’s TestFlight-based App Analytics service is now available to all registered iOS developers through the iTunes Connect interface. Apple recently made App Analytics available to select developers upon request (which were fulfilled in a short amount of time), but starting today all developers can access the service without the need for requesting access.
Expand
Expanding
Close