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6,513 'Apps' stories April 2010 - April 2015
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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.

Office for iPhone & iPad will soon support cross-platform add-ins from services like Uber and LinkedIn

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 29 2015 - 10:28 am PT
3 Comments
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<a href="https://twitter.com/harrymccracken/status/593459473173204992" target="_blank">via Harry McCracken</a>

It was hard to miss the iPhone 6 and iPad Air on stage during the beginning of Microsoft’s BUILD conference for developers. It turns out the Apple devices were used to demo a new feature coming to Office for iPhone and iPad called add-ins…

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9to5Toys Last Call: 13″ MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch $1,300, iPad Air 2 64GB Wi-Fi $500, iPhone 6 cases from $2, more

Avatar for Apr 29 2015 - 9:10 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:

Spigen iPhone 6/Plus cases in multiple styles & colors from $4 Prime shipped (up to 80% off)

9to5Toys Specials currently has a VPN Unlimited Lifetime Subscription for $39 and ibVPN Total Plan 4 year subscription for $59. Either way you won’t have to worry about hackers for a long time.

Get into Network Attached Storage today with these deals on QNAP and WD Red products

Hulu just paid $180 million for Seinfeld, but this deal on the entire series for $65 is real and it’s spectacular

Patriot’s USB-C Flash Drives are primed for new MacBook and Chromebook Pixel owners

$50 iTunes gift card for $40 shipped: save 20% on apps, music, movies and more

Small States Review: Grovemade’s Laptop Stand combines quality craftsmanship & thoughtful design, giveaway

More new gear from today:

Skiva iPhone/iPad charging bundle: 3.2-ft MFi Lightning cable + 2.4A Car Charger for $9 Prime shipped (Reg. $17)

Spigen unveils new Apple Watch stand and protective solutions, get 15% off + 70-80% off iPhone cases

More deals still alive:

Add AirPlay music streaming to your house w/ JBL’s SoundFly Air Wi-Fi Speaker for $39 shipped (Orig. $200)

Harman Kardon AE in-ears w/mic & remote $49 shipped (Reg. $125+), more

New products & more:

The ON magnetic portable charging station from RUBIX takes inductive charging on the road

Review: Omaker M4 Splashproof/droppable Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker with NFC: $25 Prime shipped (Orig. $70)

Rock out with this scaled down Bluetooth-connected Iron Man Mark XLIII mask

Apple will soon let you shop the Apple Store from your Apple Watch

Avatar for Mark Gurman Apr 29 2015 - 8:23 am PT
11 Comments
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Amazon and Target won’t be the only major retailers on your wrist for long: sources say that Apple is finishing up work on a version of its Apple Store application for the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch app will come “soon” as part of an update to the Apple Store iPhone and iPad application, and will likely enable customers to make certain types of Apple Store purchases from their wrists, as well as receiving Apple Store-related notifications. As the Apple Watch does not have a keyboard, more involved orders will require the user to move over to the iPhone app. Apple will ask employees to push Apple Store app installations for the Apple Watch to customers this summer, when the Watch goes on sale in Apple’s own stores. Until then, retail employees will be encouraged to show off the Apple Store app on demo Apple Watches.


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Pixelmator for Mac adds Force Touch pressure-sensitive painting, even better Repair Tool, more

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Apr 29 2015 - 4:29 am PT
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The developers behind Pixelmator have just released another free update to the Mac app, available in the Mac App Store ($29.99). Despite the bug-fix identifier, Version 3.3.2 packs some cool enhancements to support Apple’s latest technologies and hardware.

For one, as demoed in the screenshot above, Pixelmator brushes now support Force Touch so you can draw with multiple levels of pressure by pressing harder on the touchpad of your new Retina MacBook (or early 2015 13 inch Retina MacBook Pro). This is useful for quick adjustments although serious painters will still want to use dedicated drawing tablets. The update also adds support for the Photos app and a revamped Repair Tool …


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Apple now says human medical research apps ‘must’ get ethics board approval

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 28 2015 - 3:38 pm PT
1 Comment
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Apple has added a clause in its App Store guidelines for developers noting that apps doing health-related human subject research are required to obtain approvals from an independent ethics review board.

Apple previously recommended that developers utilizing its new open-source ResearchKit framework for medical research in apps consult with an “institutional review board or ethics committee” to ensure safety requirements are met, but the new guidelines make approvals from a review board and proof of the approval a requirement for all apps conducting human subject medical research. 

The new guideline reads:


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9to5Toys Last Call: Spigen iPhone 6 cases from $4, JBL AirPlay speaker $39, Aukey 20,000mAh power bank $27, more

Avatar for Justin Kahn Apr 28 2015 - 9:10 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:

Last Call Updates:

iPads: mini 3 16GB Wi-Fi $250 (Reg. $399), Air 2 Wi-Fi 64GB $500 (Reg. $599), 128GB $590 ($699)

Add AirPlay music streaming to your house w/ JBL’s SoundFly Air Wi-Fi Speaker for $39 shipped (Orig. $200)

Aukey: 20,000mAh powerbank $27 (Reg. $35), Bluetooth hands-free car kit $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $30), more

Review: Omaker M4 Splashproof/droppable Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker with NFC: $25 Prime shipped (Orig. $70)

$50 iTunes gift card for $40 shipped: save 20% on apps, music, movies and more

This $7 iPhone 6 armband is the perfect Apple Watch workout companion (Reg. $12)

Small States Review: Grovemade’s Laptop Stand combines quality craftsmanship & thoughtful design, giveaway

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: Samsung 50″ 1080p Smart TV $650 (Orig. $950), Quadcopter w/FPV Cam $130 (Orig. $200), more

More deals still alive:

iOttie iTap Magnetic Air Vent Mount for iPhone 6/6 Plus $17 Prime shipped (Reg. $25)

Hours Time Tracking app from Apple Design Award winner Tapity goes free ($7 value)

djay 2 for iPhone & iPad go free for the very first time

New products & more:

Rock out with this scaled down Bluetooth-connected Iron Man Mark XLIII mask

The Flyte levitating light bulb works like magic and looks like a dream

How to watch the live stream of the 2015 NFL Draft on iPhone & iPad as teams pick players

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 28 2015 - 7:35 am PT
2 Comments
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Courtesy: <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015" target="_blank">NFL.com</a>

You’ll need the NFL Mobile app for iOS if you plan on catching the upcoming 2015 NFL Draft from your mobile device, and Verizon today has shared that it will exclusively carry the broadcast for its subscribers on iPhone. Verizon’s exclusivity deal doesn’t extend to the iPad version of the app, though, so non-Verizon customers can still catch the draft’s live broadcast from the tablet app after verifying with a supported cable provider.
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Facebook Messenger for iOS adds cross-platform video chat support

Avatar for Mike Beasley Apr 27 2015 - 11:04 am PT
3 Comments
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Facebook continues to add new capabilities to its Messenger app today with the launch of a new video calling feature. A new video icon at the top of conversation threads will initiate a call, allowing participants to communicate across platforms over Wi-Fi or LTE connections.

The addition puts Facebook in competition with Apple’s FaceTime, Microsoft’s Skype, and other similar services. Interestingly, web-based video chat has been available on the desktop for some time, and was previously powered by Skype.


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The Weather Channel brings real-time alerts for rain, snow, & lightning strikes to Apple Watch & iPhone

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 27 2015 - 10:21 am PT
2 Comments

The Weather Channel app is today bringing new real-time alerts for rain, snow, and lightning strikes to both iOS devices and the Apple Watch.

For rain and snow alerts, the app will be offering up what the company says are “exact, to-the-minute timing of when rain or snow will start based on their GPS location,” while the app will also notify users of lightning strikes nearby with a new lightning map layer.

The Weather Channel® today announced the launch of real-time rain and lightning alerts on iOS, Android and Apple Watch. In the app, users can set up fully customizable notifications based on personal preferences so they receive the exact alerts that are relevant to them, whether they are at home or on-the-go. By combining the most accurate forecasts and weather data from The Weather Channel with real-time notifications, users have the information they need to get outside, stay safe and make the most of the weather.

The Weather Channel app, which just received an update for Apple Watch support over the weekend, is available on the App Store.

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Instagram introduces three new filters and support for emoji in hashtags

Avatar for Mike Beasley Apr 27 2015 - 10:19 am PT
0 Comments

Instagram announced today that three new photo filters will be making their way to the photo sharing app later today through an update on the iOS App Store. The new filters are called Lark, Reyes, and Juno, and are focused on enhancing outdoor photography.

These new filters are just the first of many, as the app’s development team has promised to add new filters more regularly in future updates.


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Discover cardholders get Apple Pay support starting this fall

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 27 2015 - 5:55 am PT
7 Comments
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Discover announced today that it’s made a deal with Apple to join the other three big card companies already offering support for the company’s new payments service, Apple Pay. That means that starting this fall, Discover cardholders will finally be able to add their cards to the service and make contactless, NFC-based payments using iPhone and Apple Watch, as well as make payments within apps supporting the platform on all iOS devices.
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Your Apple Watch can now open your hotel room door at over 100 Starwood Hotels

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 24 2015 - 7:47 am PT
8 Comments
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Starwood Hotels has allowed guests to use their iPhone as their room key since last November, and today announced that guests can now use the group’s Apple Watch app to unlock room doors at more than 100 properties. You can also use the app to get directions to the hotel and to check-in.

“We’re committed to mobile and digital innovation and are excited to be the first hotel company to let guests check in and open their hotel room door with their Apple Watch,” said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Loyalty and Partnership Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Apple Watch allows us to engage with our guests and give them the information they need instantaneously in a simple yet extremely stylish way. ”

For regular guests, the app offers two additional functions … 
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Amazon will let you make a purchase with a tap on your Apple Watch in new app update

Avatar for Chance Miller Apr 23 2015 - 6:23 pm PT
2 Comments

As the first Apple Watch units begin to arrive on the doorsteps of customers, Amazon this evening has updated its iPhone app with support for Apple’s latest device. The Apple Watch Amazon app is full of features, including the ability to complete purchases from your wrist and add items to your Wish List. There’s also support for Apple’s Handoff feature.


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iMovie for Mac updated with improved YouTube compatibility, fix for possible crash

Avatar for Mike Beasley Apr 23 2015 - 2:58 pm PT
3 Comments

Apple released iMovie 10.0.8 today for Mac users, bringing a fix for a potential crash when the app is in the process of opening.

The update also sports improved compatibility with YouTube when using the built-in export option to upload videos to the site. That change seems to be strictly under-the-hood, as the YouTube sharing interface remains the same.

Users who already own iMovie 10 can get the latest version for free in the Updates tab of the Mac App Store. Those who don’t yet own it can buy the app for $14.99.

Apple updates TestFlight to support testing of Apple Watch apps

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Apr 23 2015 - 10:46 am PT
0 Comments
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Update: Developers are still waiting for Apple to update the backend distribution infrastructure, before they can utilize the update to the TestFlight client app.

Apple has updated its TestFlight app to support Apple WatchKit apps embedded inside beta iOS apps. This has been a significant frustration for developers in the run up to the Apple Watch’s release, as it made testing apps for the new platform difficult.

Developers should now be able to deploy beta versions of their iOS apps without removing the Watch extensions.


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Apple Watch App Store goes live today with social, health, and news featured (U: now available)

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 23 2015 - 9:41 am PT
16 Comments
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The Apple Watch App Store dedicated to iPhone apps that include WatchKit apps is going live ahead of the new device’s launch tomorrow, BuzzFeed says. Apple first added the Apple Watch App Store in iOS 8.2 as part of the Apple Watch companion app, but until now the section has displayed a coming soon page. The Watch’s App Store is available now.
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9to5Toys Last Call: B&W P5 Headphones $190, MPOW iPhone 6 armband $7, iPad Air 32GB (open box) $290, more

Avatar for Justin Kahn Apr 23 2015 - 9:02 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:

Last Call Updates:

Amazon Gold Box – Bowers & Wilkins P5 Headphones in black $190 shipped (Orig. $300), more

Daily Deals: iPad Air 32GB (open box) $290, RCA 24-inch 1080p HDTV $140, more

GoPro HERO4 Black 4K Action Camera $400 shipped ($100 off)


djay 2 for iPhone & iPad go free for the very first time

13″ Retina MacBook Pro w/ Force Touch 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB: $1,100 (or less) (Reg. $1,299)

Apple 11-inch MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (newest version): $800 (Reg. $899)

Get ready for Apple Watch w/ a pair of battery-saving Bluetooth 4.0 earbuds starting at $14 shipped

Review: Moleskine’s new myCloud Smallpack offers plentiful storage in a tidy design, $150 giveaway

More new gear from today:

Motorola SURFboard SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem (refurb): $40 + $5 shipping (Orig. $100)

More deals still alive:

Seagate 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive $50 shipped (Reg. $70)

New products & more:

Droplet smart buttons remind you to get things done without a barrage of notifications

popSlate’s new case puts an E Ink display on the back of your iPhone 6

Apple cites Pebble support in isolated app rejection, developer says

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 23 2015 - 8:30 am PT
13 Comments
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Update: Apple tells Business Insider that “apps won’t be denied on the grounds that they work with Pebble.”

With the Apple Watch debuting tomorrow with well over 1,000 WatchKit apps already on the App Store, Apple may now be rejecting app submissions and updates that mention support for the competing Pebble smartwatch. The developer of SeaNav US for iPhone shared on Pebble’s developer discussions forum that a recent update has been rejected by Apple as the app and description “declare support for thePebble Smartwatch.” 
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Review: Magzter Gold, the iPad app that’s a (kind of) Netflix for magazines

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 23 2015 - 7:20 am PT
6 Comments
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I love Netflix. I haven’t even owned a TV for many years, relying on either a MacBook Pro – with or without Apple Thunderbolt Display – and iPad for the limited amount of TV and movie viewing I tend to do.

Magzter Gold essentially aims to be a Netflix for magazines, a single monthly subscription giving you all-you-can-eat access to digital magazines on your iPad. The reality is a little messier, and whether it makes sense for you will depend on how many magazines you read and which ones … 
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djay unveils an Apple Watch remote mixer, djay Pro for Mac gains Pioneer DJ support + video features

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 23 2015 - 7:00 am PT
7 Comments

In addition to making djay 2 for iPhone (reg. $2.99) and iPad (reg. $9.99) free for one week, Algoriddim is ready to reveal djay for Apple Watch, which it dubs “the world’s first wearable DJ controller”, and two big announcements for djay Pro for Mac including a new partnership with Pioneer DJ and a brand new video mode for mixing.
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Misfit Minute for Apple Watch offers unique 1, 4, & 7 minute workouts

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 23 2015 - 7:00 am PT
1 Comment
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Misfit, creators of fitness tracking devices and most recently sleep tracking-integrated smart light bulbs, is out today with their new workout app for the Apple Watch ahead of the new device’s release tomorrow. Misfit Minute has a slick look and feel and offers Apple Watch wearers the choice between 1, 4, or 7 minute workout sessions.
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Things task management app coming to Apple Watch with focus on Today View

Avatar for Mark Gurman Apr 22 2015 - 8:15 pm PT
4 Comments
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We’ve known for a while now that the popular Things to-do list management app is coming to the Apple Watch, and we even posted a few screenshots of the application this morning. But now, Cultured Code, the developers behind Things, have provided an in-depth look at how their application sets itself apart from the other task management Apple Watch applications. While the Mac, iPhone, and iPad versions of Things separate tasks into Today, Next, Scheduled, and Someday tasks, the Apple Watch app focuses in on the Today View.


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