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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.

First look: Clear, the iOS app that vets your social media history for indiscretions

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Going for a sensitive job, or just friended your new romantic interest on Facebook, and want to make sure your drunken post from six months ago isn’t going to come back to bite you? That’s the experience Hipster co-founder Ethan Czahor had when he was hired as Jeb Bush’s chief technology officer. Journalists went digging and found some extremely embarrassing posts that led to his resignation.

He’s now put that experience to good use, though, beta-launching Clear, an app which aims to vet your social media history for offensive or insulting posts and offer you the ability to delete them (not to be confused with the to-do list app of the same name). I decided to take it for a quick spin … 
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Now you can share your Vine masterpieces with all your social networks at once

Vine has updated its iOS app to allow you to share your video loops with Vine friends, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr through a single share action. Previously you had to share to each network individually, and Tumblr was not supported.

Vine is a free download from iTunes. The app was updated last year to optimize for the iPhone 6/Plus and add a favorites function to alert you to new videos from friends whose videos you don’t want to miss.

Microsoft OneNote will now take dictation from Apple Watch, Calcbot will make it a 1985 Casio

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As we near the April 24th launch for the Apple Watch, a pair of notable apps have received support for the device this evening. First off, Microsoft’s OneNote app has been updated to version 2.11.7 with support for the Apple Watch. A variety of features will be available from the Watch, including the ability to dictate new notes.


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Apple updates Keynote for iOS with support for Watch-based remote app, pushes fixes for other apps

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Image via <a href="https://twitter.com/Mbrawler/status/590579777188278272/photo/1" target="_blank">Karan Pandya</a>

Apple today released an update to its mobile presentation software that enables support for an Apple Watch-based remote application. The Keynote Remote app, which will allow users to control their slides from their wrists, was first mentioned during Apple’s October 2014 event.

The Cupertino company also pushed out updates to several of its other mobile apps, fixing bugs and improving stability. The updated apps include Pages, Numbers, Remote, and Beats Music. The Mac iWork apps were also updated with bug fixes.


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Adobe debuts Lightroom 6 and Lightroom CC, standalone and cloud alternatives to Aperture

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45_zCZnqmqU?rel=0&amp;showinfo=0&w=704&h=396]

Following months of rumors, Adobe is today announcing Photoshop Lightroom 6 and Lightroom CC, the latest versions of its popular photo editing and organization software. Sharing the same code, design, and much of the same functionality, the two Lightroom releases are separated into purchasable (Lightroom 6) or subscription (Lightroom CC) versions, only the latter of which can sync with Adobe’s mobile applications. Apple notably recommended Lightroom as a replacement for its recently-discontinued Aperture professional photo application, and worked with Adobe to build an Aperture library importing tool to aid users during the transition.

Lightroom manages large photo libraries, while offering photographers powerful tools for RAW and JPEG image adjustment. Now solely a 64-bit application, Lightroom 6/CC promises huge speed improvements when applying prior effects to images, as well as newly added tools and brushes. As shown in the embedded video, facial recognition has been added, enabling functionality similar to Apple’s Faces feature from Aperture and iPhoto. A new HDR (high dynamic range) tool uses two images to create a composite photo with more vivid colors and detail, while brushes such as radial and graduated filters have been added. The app has also gained new slideshow options, automatic panorama stitching, video slide shows, and many other features.

Photoshop Lightroom CC can be downloaded now as part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud Photography subscription service for $9.99 per month; a prepaid year of CC Photography access is normally $119.88, and currently on sale at B&H Photo Video for $99.88. Photoshop Lightroom 6 can be ordered for $149 as a standalone download. Adobe has also released version 1.4 updates to its mobile apps Lightroom for iPad and Lightroom for iPhone with support for Lightroom CC, improved cropping, and TIFF file support. Both iOS apps are now available for free from the App Store, but require Creative Cloud subscriptions.

Google ending YouTube support on older Apple TVs, iPhones, iPads, & iPod touches

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<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/03/24/how-to-hide-rearrange-apple-tv-channels/" target="_blank">Apple TV 3 with Google’s new YouTube channel</a>

Google announced yesterday that it will be ending support for its YouTube Data API v2 used by older devices. For Apple users, this means the YouTube app will no longer work on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches running iOS 6 or earlier; users instead will have to rely on the mobile web version of YouTube at m.youtube.com going forward.

The change also affects some Apple TV users, as only the current 3rd-generation 1080p Apple TV supports YouTube’s overhauled channel; prior-generation models will entirely lose access to YouTube…
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What’s the best approach to delivering news to your Apple Watch? (Poll)

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Re/code has an interesting look at the three different approaches major news organizations are taking to their Apple Watch apps.

The New York Times will dispatch one-sentence stories that answer the question, “Hey, did you hear?” in a conversational tone. The Washington Post will pick one story — say, an article about the end of tipping — and storyboard it like a movie or TV show, using a combination of graphics, images and text to adapt it for the 38 mm (or 42 mm) screen. CNN will let people personalize their news feeds by picking from among a dozen topics and choosing how they’d like to be notified (a tap on the wrist or no?).

News organizations weren’t particularly quick to adapt to the Internet, trying to stick to their existing business models in the face of rapidly-changing consumer behaviour, but this time the major players believe they are ready …


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One Drop for iPhone & Apple Watch is a dashboard & community for managing diabetes

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The iPhone has become a mature platform for health and fitness software in recent years, especially since iOS 8 introduced HealthKit and the dedicated Health app followed by ResearchKit and a new set of medical apps. Today a new app called One Drop is launching with an ambitious goal: to help people with diabetes live a happier and healthier life.
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Now you can control your PowerPoint presentation with your Apple Watch

Microsoft has today updated the iOS version of Powerpoint to allow you to use your Apple Watch as a remote, to start presentations, navigate to the next slide and track your progress by viewing elapsed time, current slide number and total number of slides. The watch app currently only controls the iOS version of Powerpoint, not the OS X version.

Microsoft added support for iCloud and other third-party storage services back in February.

Powerpoint is free for iPhone and iPad, but you’ll need an Office 365 subscription to unlock the full functionality. You can download it from iTunes, and you may like to check out our guide to the best Apple Watch apps available to date.

HTTPS bug leaves 1,500 iOS apps vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks, finds analytics company

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The buggy code highlighted by arsTechnica

A bug in the way that 1,500 iOS apps establish secure connections to servers leaves them vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks, according to analytics company SourceDNA (via arsTechnica). The bug means anyone intercepting data from an iPhone or iPad could access logins and other sensitive information sent using the HTTPS protocol.

A man-in-the-middle attack allows a fake WiFi hotspot to intercept data from devices connecting to it. Usually, this wouldn’t work with secure connections, as the fake hotspot wouldn’t have the correct security certificate. However, the bug discovered by SourceDNA means that the vulnerable apps fail to check the certificate … 
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Apple shares Earth Day 2015 collection with content to help improve the planet

After sharing its latest Environmental Responsibility report this morning, Apple this evening has added a new Earth Day 2015 section to the App Store. The section highlights content that contribute to environmental awareness, as well as apps that promote green living and going paperless.


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TuneIn Radio adds real radio stations to CarPlay + Apple Watch controls

TuneIn Radio is the latest addition to Apple’s short list of App Store apps that work with the iPhone’s CarPlay feature. The service streams “over 100,000 real radio stations from around the world, including sports, news, talk, and music.” The latest version of TuneIn for iPhone brings radio station streaming to the CarPlay interface and includes Apple Watch support for controlling stations from your wrist.
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9to5Toys Last Call: Ooma VoIP Phone w/ Bluetooth $90, iPhone 6/Plus cases from $4, Free App of the Week, more

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: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Amazon Gold Box – Ooma Telo Air VoIP Phone w/ Bluetooth Adapter $90 shipped (Orig. $180)

Spigen iPhone 6/Plus cases from $4 Prime shipped, multiple colors/styles available

iTunes Free App of the Week: Pursuit of Light ($1 value)

iOttie Easy View iPhone 6 windshield car mount $10 Prime shipped (Orig. $23), more

 

Apple Deals:

iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 128GB in Gold or Space Gray $600 shipped ($99 off)

iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB in Space Gray $529 shipped (Orig. $929)

2015 MacBook Air 11/13″ from $829 w/ free add-ons and discounts

13″ MacBook Air (newest) 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB: $830 shipped (Reg. $999)

Refurbished Apple laptops: MacBooks from $259, Pros starting at $459

Apple AirPort Express w/ AirPlay & Wireless Printing $79 or refurb $65 (Reg. $99)

LAST CHANCE! Review: SOL REPUBLIC’s Shadow wireless headphones w/ Bluetooth 4.0 offer an upgraded audio experience, $100 giveaway

More new gear from today:

Intocircuit Power Castle 11200mAh Dual-USB Power Bank: $18 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

  • New! Garmin nüvi 7-Inch GPS w/ Lifetime Maps (Cert Refurbished) $110 (Reg. $130)
  • New! Headphones: Sony over-ears (refurb) $50, 2 pairs Able Planet $20, more
  • New! Daily Deals: Insignia 28″ LED HDTV $180, Logi Wireless Keyboard $22, more
  • New! Games/Apps: FF Type-0 $40, LEGO Dimensions preorder $10 off, freebies, more
  • New! Samsung Galaxy Android Cam w/ WiFi (refurb) $210 shipped (Orig. $350)

More deals still alive:

Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player (refurb) $20 shipped (Reg. $35)

New products & more:

OWC put a 480GB SSD in a pocket-size USB 3.0 Flash Drive

IKEA details its new wireless charging furniture, add-ons and iPhone cases

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Twitterrific adds Apple Watch app & actionable notifications

Twitterrific today has been updated with support for the Apple Watch. The update comes on the heels of Yelp also being updated with support for Apple’s latest product. The Twitterrific update bumps the app to version 5.11 and also includes actionable notifications. You can now reply to, favorite, and retweet tweets directly from the notification.


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Apple Maps partner Yelp announces Apple Watch app with local listings and reviews

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Yelp today has joined the long list of companies that have debuted apps for Apple Watch. In a blog post this evening, the popular ratings and reviews app shared the first screenshots of its Apple Watch app. The Yelp app for Apple Watch provides the majority of the information you’re used to seeing in the company’s other iOS apps, just on your wrist.


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Ex-iOS chief Scott Forstall became Snapchat advisor in Jan. 2014, Sony leak reveals

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Jobs and Forstall (Image via Getty)

According to a leaked email from the Sony Pictures hack, Snapchat has given former Apple executive Scott Forstall a 0.11 percent stake of its company for being an advisor. According to the email, Forstall was given his stake in early 2014 with his advisory occurring in January of that year.


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Chrome for iOS adds 1Password & LastPass extension support, new widget with voice search, more

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After just releasing a new version of Chrome for the desktop, Google is out today with an updated version of Chrome for iPhone and iPad. Version 42 includes a new widget in the Today section of Notification Center, support for 1Password and LastPass and other app extensions, plus more.
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Yahoo shows off apps for Apple Watch: Weather, Sports Fantasy, & two News apps

Yahoo today announced its plans to bring four of its apps to Apple Watch in time for the device’s April 24th launch date.

Yahoo is planning to update its Yahoo Weather, Yahoo Sports Fantasy, Yahoo News Digest, and Yahoo News Hong Kong apps with support for Apple’s new wearable, today giving a first look at the experience. 

The company provided a breakdown of what you can expect to see on your Apple Watch with each of the apps:

  • Yahoo Weather App on Apple Watch will feature morning updates and evening forecasts through notifications. With a Glance, users can find out if it’s a t-shirt or sweater day with Yahoo’s new “feels like” feature, or learn more about the conditions outside by tapping into the app.
  • With the Yahoo Sports Fantasy App, users can see what’s going on in their matchups or check on their lineup for injuries with a Glance. They can even talk smack with their league using the Apple Watch dictation feature.
  • Yahoo News Digest brings users in the U.S. the most important story on the hour, every hour so they are always up-to-date. Enjoy new microsummaries, visual atoms such as a map, stock ticker or infographic that bring the story to life, and a brand new speed reading feature to get you in-the-know in seconds.
  • With the Yahoo News Hong Kong App, users in Hong Kong will receive breaking news delivered to their wrist and enjoy the top 10 headlines of the hour with a Glance.

Here’s a look at the News Digest and News Hong Kong apps:

You can expect updates to the Yahoo Weather, Yahoo Sports Fantasy, Yahoo News Digest, and Yahoo News Hong Kong apps by April 24th.

Microsoft releases ‘Halo: Spartan Strike’ top-down shooter for iPhone & iPad

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eyazVwm0oY]

Microsoft Studios is today releasing a new top-down shooter set in the Halo universe for iPhones and iPads (in addition to Windows mobile devices and Steam for PC).

The game, developed by Microsoft Studios, 343 Industries, and Vanguard Games, is set during the timeline of Halo 2 and follows a Spartan supersolider on “30 challenging missions while leading UNSC troops through cities and jungles with an all new arsenal of weapons, abilities and vehicles.”

The company is also making Halo; Spartan Assault, the first top-down Halo shooter it developed, available on both iPad and iPhone today. It’s available in a $9.99 bundle with the new Halo: Spartan Strike title:

Also available on iPad, iPhone, and Steam is the Halo: Spartan Bundle. The bundle includes both Halo: Spartan Assault – the original Halo top-down shooter that plays through the historic first missions of the Spartan Ops program as Commander Palmer – and Halo: Spartan Strike for $9.99 ERP.

The iPhone and iPad version of the game is available for $5.99 on the App Store.

9to5Toys Last Call: iTunes Free App of the Week, Spigen iPhone 6/Plus Cases $3, Garmin Fitness Band $60, more

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: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player (refurb) $20 shipped (Reg. $35)

SanDisk Flash Drives: 32GB Ultra Dual w/ microUSB $10, 32GB Connect wireless $35more

Amazon Gold Box – Garmin vívofit Fitness Band $60 shipped (orig $130)

iOttie Easy View iPhone 6 windshield car mount $10 Prime shipped (Orig. $23), more

Easily mount your phone or tablet to any surface with Neutron S Magnet: $20 Shipped

 

Apple Deals:

iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi 128GB in Gold or Space Gray $600 shipped ($99 off)

iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular 128GB in Space Gray $529 shipped (Orig. $929)

2015 MacBook Air 11/13″ from $829 w/ free add-ons and discounts

13″ MacBook Air (newest) 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB: $830 shipped (Reg. $999)

Refurbished Apple laptops: MacBooks from $259, Pros starting at $459

Apple AirPort Express Wireless Router w/ AirPlay and Wireless Printing $79 or refurbished $65 (Reg. $99)

Review: SOL REPUBLIC’s Shadow wireless headphones w/ Bluetooth 4.0 offer an upgraded audio experience, $100 giveaway

More new gear from today:

Games/Apps: Hitman Go $1 (Reg. $5), Super Smash Bros $45, iOS freebiesmore

Dr. Seuss The Lorax interactive book app $2 (Reg. $5) + Free giveaway codes

More deals still alive:

Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Over-Ear Headphones w/ Hard Case $135 shipped ($200 value)

New products & more:

Carbonate your booze from an iPhone app with SodaStream Mix

Design your own pair of headphones with AiAiAi’s new TMA-2 modulars

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Astropad gains support for FiftyThree’s Pencil stylus with latest update

Popular graphic design iPad app Astropad has today announced a new partnership with FiftyThree, the company behind the Paper app and accompanying Pencil stylus. Astropad has revealed that version 1.1 of its iPad app adds deep support for the Pencil stylus by FiftyThree. With support for Pencil, users will be able able to draw from their iPad directly into Photoshop and other apps on the Mac.


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