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6,511 '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.

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Any.do task manager updated to version 3.0 with new sorting options, grid view, and more

Avatar for Mike Beasley Apr 16 2015 - 6:00 am PT
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Popular task management app Any.do has been updated to version 3.0 with a slew of new features and a fresh coat of paint. You’ll still find all of your lists and collaboration features as easy to use as ever, but now you’ll be able to see an overview of all of your lists with the new grid mode.

Collaborative lists have also been improved, gaining the ability to share “side projects” with a group, or form “work teams” for complex projects. Real-time updating across all users’ devices allows everyone to stay in sync and up-to-the-second.

New sorting options let users sort tasks by due date or priority to help get things done when they need to be done. Finally, the syncing system has been refined to provide a more stable sync experience for all users.

You can grab Any.do 3.0 for iPhone or Mac for free. Click any of the screenshots below for a larger view.

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Google updates iOS Google Docs app with improved editing features, faster loading

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 16 2015 - 5:27 am PT
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Google has updated its iOS for editing Google documents on the move. The Google Docs app now allows you to accept, reject or comment on suggestions, as well as edit tables and track changes and comments in Word files; move, resize and delete spreadsheets; and reorder objects on slides.

Google said that PowerPoint presentations will also be faster to load and scroll.

A previous update back in January allowed password-protected documents using Touch ID. Google Docs is a free download from iTunes.

IFTTT’s Do Button and Do Note apps get Apple Watch, iPad support

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 15 2015 - 2:21 pm PT
1 Comment
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If This Then That (IFTTT), the service that lets users automate tasks from a long list of other mobile apps and web services, is about to launch two apps for Apple Watch.

Do Button, its iOS app for controlling hardware and software connected to the service with a single tap, and Do Note, a notepad app that uses IFTTT to save and share to other services like Google Calendar, Evernote, and Twitter, will both be receiving updates for Apple Watch by tomorrow.
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Tumblr for iOS adds blog creation, trending tags widget, quick video embedding, more

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 15 2015 - 10:10 am PT
3 Comments
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Tumblr is out today with a brand new version of its blogging and community app for iPhone and iPad. Version 4 adds several new features like the ability to create new blogs from your iPhone or iPad and create video posts quickly by pasting YouTube or Vimeo URLs into a new post. The update adds a new widget for the Today section of Notification Center on iOS 8 for quickly seeing which tags are trending on Tumblr when you’re not using the app and much more.
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Skype 7.7 for Mac adds web link previews, fixes

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 15 2015 - 10:02 am PT
3 Comments

Skype today released version 7.7 of its Mac app and with it is rolling out a new web link preview feature that will automatically provide snippets of web content in chats when sharing links.

With web link previews, you no longer need to type the: “check out this funny cat video” alongside the actual link to the cat video. When you send the link in chat, a rich visual preview of the web page is automatically displayed, making it much easier to see what’s been shared. Finding a link in your chat history also becomes quicker, saving precious time to let you focus on the conversation.

The previews will only show up if a link is the only thing in the message, so it won’t break up long blocks of text that happen to include a URL (an annoyance with similar web previews in other chat apps). Skype also notes that it puts “extra focus on optimizing for video and image content, so we encourage you to try links to video, image or even gifs first.”

The update also includes a couple bug fixes:

  • Fixed an issue where some users cannot start Skype due to a corrupted index
  • Fixed an issue preventing some users from disabling “User XYZ went offline” notification

You can access the feature by downloading the latest version of Skype for Mac, version 7.7, here.

Wikipedia for iOS updated w/ design tweaks, ability to share facts as images, more

Avatar for Chance Miller Apr 15 2015 - 9:15 am PT
4 Comments
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Wikipedia today has announced a major update to its app on iOS. The update adds a handful of new features to both the iPhone and iPad Wikipedia apps. First off, the update makes a few design tweaks to the appearance of articles. At the top of every article now is a large header image. Previously in Wikipedia on iOS, header images would appear smaller and below the first paragraph of text.


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9to5Toys Last Call: Speck iPhone 6 cases from $19, 2015 MacBook Air deals, GoPro HERO4 Silver $329, more

Avatar for Apr 15 2015 - 9:03 am PT
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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: 50+% off Speck cases for iPhone, iPad and MacBook Air starting under $19 Prime shipped

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

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

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (newest version) 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB: $830 shipped (Reg. $999)

GoPro HERO4 Silver Action Camera $329 shipped (Reg. $400)

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)

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:

Stream the entire first season of Orphan Black on Amazon for free without a Prime membership

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

More deals still alive:

Choice of 2 rugged, highly-rated Bluetooth speakers from Lumsing: $19 Prime Shipped

Fleksy customizable keyboard app w/ GIF support goes free for iOS (Reg. $1)

New products & more:

Guitar Hero returns w/ new gameplay modes and a refreshed controller, pre-order today

Calling Dick Tracy: Glide iOS app brings live video messages to Apple Watch

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 15 2015 - 6:45 am PT
8 Comments
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Glide, the app that lets users send live video messages, today becomes the first to bring the feature to Apple Watch. With an update to Glide’s iOS app, users of Apple Watch will be able to receive live videos messages right on their wrist, although it’s a one-way experience for Apple Watch as the device doesn’t yet include a camera; your responses will be limited to text.
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Microsoft updates Office 2016 for Mac preview, launches companion apps for iPhone

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 15 2015 - 6:40 am PT
7 Comments
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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05VrH4uX-Mc]

Microsoft has updated its preview version of Office 2016 for Mac with several new features and a number of bug fixes. It has also launched two companion apps for the iPhone, Office Delve (above) and Office 365 Video.

Office 2016 for Mac allows meeting attendees to use Outlook to propose new times for meetings to which they’ve been invited, and allows organizers to modify proposed meetings and send updates. Word gets macro recording, online template search and new proofing tools. Excel is given new analysis tools and a “solver” feature. Powerpoint gets bug fixes and better support for VoiceOver … 
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Workflow bringing over 200 automated actions to your Apple Watch

Avatar for Chance Miller Apr 14 2015 - 11:00 am PT
7 Comments
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Workflow for iOS was initially released back in December with a plethora of capabilities thanks to iOS 8. Now, the app has been updated to version 1.2 with support for Apple Watch. Workflow, similar to Automator on OS X, allows users to create more than 200 automated actions with a mix and match interface on the iPad and iPhone. With Apple Watch, users will be able to view and download workflows designed for Apple Watch instantly from their wrist.


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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air 128GB WiFi+Cell $529, Bluetooth speaker $19, newest 13″ MacBook Air $830, more

Avatar for Apr 14 2015 - 9:08 am PT
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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:

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)

Choice of 2 rugged, highly-rated Bluetooth speakers from Lumsing: $19 Prime Shipped

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (newest version) 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB: $830 shipped (Reg. $999)

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:

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


Fleksy customizable keyboard app w/ GIF support goes free for iOS (Reg. $1)

More deals still alive:

Sennheiser HD600 Over-Ear Headphones $239 (Reg. $320)

New products & more:

VIZIO introduces new 4K UHDTVs starting at $600, expands its audio lineup

1Password update brings password manager to your wrist with Apple Watch app

Avatar for Mike Beasley Apr 14 2015 - 7:40 am PT
6 Comments
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A big update is currently rolling out to users of the excellent 1Password application that includes support for the Apple Watch. According to the company’s blog post, the watch app will let you access important information like credit card numbers and one-time passwords (introduced in a recent update) directly from your wrist.

Without a proper keyboard or Touch ID scanner on the Apple Watch, how exactly you’ll unlock the miniaturized password manager has yet to be revealed, but it will likely rely on the iPhone’s security features to make sure that only authorized users have access to your data.


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EasyJet’s new app provides end-to-end proactive guidance to air passengers

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 14 2015 - 7:29 am PT
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[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwHpkBg-N64]

European no-frills airline EasyJet seems to have taken a full-service approach to its new app, dubbed Mobile Host. The app aims to provide proactive, location-based guidance to passengers from one end of their journey to the other.

The app begins with check-in reminders, guides you to the baggage-drop if you have luggage, tells you when your gate is open and navigates you there, opens your boarding pass when you get there, and directs you to the correct baggage carousel on arrival. The service goes live at London Gatwick Airport today, with other airports to follow.

easyJet’s Mobile Host is a joint initiative with Gatwick and combines live data from the airports information systems, using Google indoor maps, together with a passenger’s booking details, location and flight time.  The result is personalised instructions and updates for passengers during their journey.

The app is currently iPhone-only, and is available in seven languages. The new app was not on the App Store at the time of writing, but if you download the current app, it should update.

EasyJet last updated the app a few weeks ago to add support for the Apple Watch. It was one of the first European airlines to support Passbook boarding passes, and started using iBeacons for location-based alerts last summer.

Flashlight, the utility that puts Spotlight on steroids, out of beta as Apple hires developer

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 14 2015 - 5:34 am PT
5 Comments
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Command-line fans will be happy today, as Nate Parrot’s Flashlight utility comes out of beta. Flashlight is a utility that enables you to carry out more than 160 different tasks just by typing commands into Spotlight – a kind of command-line Siri for the Mac. Functions include checking the weather, creating notes, adding calendar appointments, translating words, emailing files, sending messages, moving files, ejecting drives and performing image searches.

Apple seems impressed too: it has hired Parrot as an intern on its Spotlight team … 
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Pandora Radio adds Apple Watch app for remote music control, favoriting songs, more

Avatar for Zac Hall Apr 13 2015 - 9:03 pm PT
1 Comment
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Apple revealed the first look at its all-new Music app for iPhone and iPad with the first beta release of iOS 8.4 today, which brings a new look to iTunes Radio among other major changes. Pandora Radio, the similarly-modeled music streaming service that’s arguably superior to iTunes Radio in music variety and selection, released a timely update this evening adding Apple Watch support to its iPhone app ahead of the new wearable device’s release on April 24th. Pandora Radio’s WatchKit app for Apple Watch will include a glance for swiping up from the watch face to identify the song currently playing from the iPhone app.


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Apple Watch gains pill reminders, doctor consultations & more from a dozen new healthcare apps

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 13 2015 - 10:05 am PT
20 Comments
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As Apple continues to approve more Apple Watch apps following the device going up for pre-order late last week, a long list of healthcare companies are showing off apps for the Apple Watch at the HIMSS 2015 conference this week in Chicago.

Inlcuded are apps from HCSC, WebMD, Kaiser Permanente, Dexcom, HealthTap, Vocera and many others, enabling everything from health records for patients to medication reminders and continuous glucose monitoring on the Apple Watch. Head below for a full list of healthcare apps for Apple Watch on show:
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Apple releases Final Cut Pro 10.2, Motion 5.2 with 3D titles, Compressor 4.2 with iTunes publishing

Avatar for Mike Beasley Apr 13 2015 - 9:14 am PT
1 Comment
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Apple has pushed out an update to its suite of pro video editing tools for Mac today, including new versions of Final Cut Pro X, Motion, and Compressor.

Final Cut has been upgraded to version 10.2, which adds support for 3D titles, improved color grading and effects tools, support for additional camera formats, and GPU-accelerated processing of RAW footage from RED cameras.


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9to5Toys Last Call: 128GB iPad Air 2 $600, AirPort Express $79, APC 6-Outlet UPS $33, more

Avatar for Apr 13 2015 - 9:13 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:

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

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

APC and CyberPower UPS Battery Backup Systems up to 55% off: APC 6-outlet $33 (Orig. $56), more

Amazon Gold Box – up to 70% off Crucial & Lexar flash storage: 128GB microSD $88, 1TB SSD $330, more

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

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: Harman Kardon Bluetooth Speaker/phone $105, Toshiba Canvio 1TB External Hard Drive $50, Aduro Bluetooth Shower Speaker $15, more

More deals still alive:

Rules! is now available for free inside the Apple Store iPhone app (Reg. $3)

iTunes Free App of the Week: Twisty Hollow ($3 value)

New products & more:

On The Go stuffs nearly every must-have iPhone/Android add-on into one tiny cube

Apple’s iOS 8.3 update blocks access to apps from desktop file managers like iExplorer

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 13 2015 - 9:00 am PT
32 Comments
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Apple has seemingly moved to block desktop apps that allow users to manage files on their iOS devices in its recent iOS 8.3 update, as noted by MacRumors. Many popular file transfer apps, such as iFunBox, iTools, iExplorer, iBackupBot and PhoneView, have experienced the issue that prevents users from accessing file directories for apps on iOS devices. The apps were previously a popular way for users to install software on iOS devices that Apple does not allow in the App Store, like game emulators.
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Report: Apple plans $10-$15 tiers for new music service, approaching artists incl. Taylor Swift for exclusives

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 10 2015 - 11:51 am PT
21 Comments
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A new report from Bloomberg today claims that Apple is considering $10-$15 month plans for its upcoming music streaming service while the company approaches high-profile artists to get exclusive content.

The report today follows our own report last month that Apple was planning to relaunch its Beats Music streaming service at its WWDC event in June. At the time we noted that Apple was considering a $7.99 price point, but today’s report suggests Apple could go with paid tiers ranging from $9.99/month for a single user to $14.99/month for a family account.
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9to5Toys Last Call: 13000mAh Power Bank $24, Samsung 500GB SSD $180, Logitech Bluetooth KB $40, more

Avatar for Apr 10 2015 - 9:36 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:

Keep your iPhone/iPad charged all day: Anker Astro E4 13000mAh Power Bank $24 Prime shipped (20% off)

Samsung 2.5″ Internal SSDs: 850 EVO 500GB $180 (Reg. $200+), 850 PRO 256GB $120 (Reg. $180)

Logitech K480 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard & iPad/iPhone stand $40 (19% savings)

iTunes Free App of the Week: Twisty Hollow ($3 value)

Small States Review: This is Ground’s Mod 2 is the ultimate on-the-go iPad companion, giveaway worth $310

More new gear from today:

Motorola’s Moto 360 Smartwatch is on sale for $179 or $155 w/ .edu (Reg. $250)

More deals still alive:

Motorola SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Modem + TP-LINK Archer C7 802.11ac $130 shipped ($185+ value)

New products & more:

Moleskine puts Batman on the cover with its new limited edition Gotham inspired notebooks

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Apple Watch app developers say it’s all about timely notifications

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Apr 10 2015 - 6:34 am PT
1 Comment

Apple was clear with developers from the start that the Apple Watch is all about “quick, easy looks” rather than lengthy interactions, and it seems the message has been taken on board by major brands, reports the WSJ.

“If people use their desktop computers for hours at a time and their phones for minutes at a time, we think people will use the Watch for seconds at a time,” said Shayne Sweeney, an engineering manager at Facebook’s photo-sharing site Instagram, which created a Watch app.

Adam Grossman, founder of the Dark Sky weather app, echoed the comment.

Who wants to keep their wrists up to their face for many minutes?

Expedia’s chief product officer John Kim said the company was focusing mostly on itinerary-focused push notifications.

Instead of “pulling” information from websites or apps, users will want relevant information “pushed” to them at the most useful moments.

With American Airlines’ Kevin MacFarland agreeing.

The goal is the right information at the right time.

Apple revealed last year that the watch offers both “short and long looks,” with not even a touch needed to switch between the two.

The best Apple Watch apps you can download now

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 10 2015 - 6:27 am PT
11 Comments
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You’ll need something to do while you wait for your pre-ordered Apple Watch to arrive — things officially kicked off online at 12:01 PDT last night, or 3AM if you’re on the East Coast like me — so we’re compiling a running list of Watch apps hitting the App Store to keep you busy. When you actually get your Apple Watch — sometime between now and July — will depend on what model and how early you placed your pre-order. 

These apps are either already available on the App Store or plan to update with support for Apple Watch by its launch on April 24th. Install the apps on your iPhone now, and you’ll be ready to go when your Apple Watch arrives on April 24th or after. Head below for the full list of apps:
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