Apps

6,273 'Apps' stories April 2010 - November 2014

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.

Photo Editor by Aviary for iOS updated with $200 worth of free tools

Mark Hearn Nov 13 2014 - 11:04 am PT

4 Comments

Today, Aviary announced the release of its a new update for its Photo Editor mobile application for iOS. This is the company’s biggest update software’s biggest update since its maker was acquired by Adobe just a few short months ago. This massive overhaul adds around $200 worth of stickers and effects when synced with an Adobe ID.

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Activision’s ‘Call of Duty: Heroes’ freemium iOS app goes live, with scary in-app purchases

Ben Lovejoy Nov 13 2014 - 5:56 am PT

10 Comments

Activision has officially launched Call of Duty: Heroes, its 3D combat strategy game for the iPhone and iPad. Unlike the companion app for Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare launched earlier this month, this latest offering is a full standalone game like Strike Team.

While the basic game is free to play, you might want to take note of the cost of the optional in-app purchases before you get hooked: these range from $9.99 to a frightening $99.99 …
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Rdio matches Spotify’s family deal of $5/month for each extra person

Ben Lovejoy Nov 13 2014 - 3:57 am PT

3 Comments

Streaming music service Rdio has reduced the price of its family membership plans to match the deal Spotify announced last month of half-price subscriptions for additional family members. This means the first member pays the standard $10/month fee while up to four extra family members get their own account for $5/month.

Rdio has offered family memberships for several years now, but this price reduction brings the service into line with Spotify. As with Spotify, each family member gets their own playlists, keeping things tidy – especially now that you can listen to Rdio in your car thanks to CarPlay support.

With our Family Plan, say goodbye to having only one person being able to listen at a time — or having to share favorites and playlists that aren’t really your own. And say goodbye to friends wondering why “you” are listening to your kid’s music that’s overcrowding the Home feed.

Interestingly, $5/month is rumored to be Apple’s target price when it relaunches Beats Music under its own branding. The company has reportedly been asking record labels to reduce the fees they charge for music streaming to make the deal possible. It has been suggested that the relaunch may take place in February.

Apple has been under pressure to launch a true on-demand music streaming service in addition to iTunes Radio as the money continues to move from downloads to streaming.

2K brings XCOM: Enemy Unknown expansion ‘Enemy Within’ to iOS as standalone app

Mike Beasley Nov 12 2014 - 9:32 pm PT

0 Comments

2K games, maker of BioShock and XCOM have released a new “expansion” for the popular XCOM: Enemy Unknown titled Enemy Within. While the company calls the game an “expansion,” the term “sequel” might be more apt for the iPhone version, which functions as a standalone app rather than an add-on to the previous game.

Enemy Within, which was released for PCs exactly one year ago this past Tuesday to high praise from players, builds on the gameplay of Enemy Unknown, but adds several features and updated mechanics, including new enemies, weapons, abilities, and even an expanded story.

XCOM: Enemy Within is available on the App Store for $12.99. In lieu of a change log, the full App Store description, including a detailed list of the new content, in included below:

COM®: Enemy Within is a standalone expansion to the 2012 strategy game of the year XCOM: Enemy Unknown and it’s now available on iOS devices! Enemy Within features the core gameplay of Enemy Unknown plus more exciting content. Check out the new soldiers, abilities, enemies, maps, missions, and multiplayer mode for the fresh new strategy gaming experience!

• New Soldier Abilities: Build new base facilities to unlock unearthly new capabilities for XCOM’s soldiers. The Genetics Lab will allow soldiers to receive powerful genetic modifications, and the Cybernetics Lab allows soldiers to use devastating mechanized cybersuits in battle.

• New Weapons and Equipment: Give your operatives an extra tactical edge with new projects from your engineering team and the Foundry.

• New Enemy Threats: Adopt new tactics to counter the threats from two new alien types and a deadly new organization known as EXALT.

• New Strategic Resource: A valuable new alien resource, known as Meld, has been discovered. Secure it on the battlefield, research a new technology to unlock its power, and use it carefully back at base to unlock new upgrades and weaponry.

• New Story Elements: Investigate a terrifying threat in an abandoned fishing village, and defend the XCOM headquarters from alien attack in a series of new plot-driven missions.

• New Multiplayer maps, units, and abilities: Create your custom squad from a wider array of options and dominate your opponent in intense, one-on-one, turn-based matches.

YouTube for iOS updated with new music dashboard, ‘YouTube Mix’ mode

Mike Beasley Nov 12 2014 - 7:50 pm PT

0 Comments

YouTube has updated its iOS app with support for a new music-focused view of the dashboard. The new screen features the most popular music videos and artists on YouTube, genre-specific charts, and curated playlists.

The new version also introduces a music playback option called “YouTube Mix” that allows users to create an iTunes Radio-like randomized playlist based on a song or artist.

Earlier today YouTube debuted a related service called YouTube Music Key that includes perks like offline music and video playback, unlimited on-demand streaming, and access to full albums for $10 a month.

You can get the updated YouTube app for free from the iOS App Store.

What’s New in Version 2.16.11441
Music on YouTube is better than ever. Find your favorite videos and get recommendations on a new music homepage, listen to an endless YouTube Mix based on your favorite song or artist, and play albums right from search.

9to5Toys Last Call: Beats Executive headphones $170, Rosewill Powerline kit $10, iSmartAlarm system $120, more

Justin Kahn Nov 12 2014 - 1:59 pm PT

0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Beats by Dr. Dre Executive over-ear headphones (silver) $170 shipped (orig. $300)

Rosewill 200Mbps Powerline AV Wall-Plug Adapter Starter Kit $10 shipped (orig. $50). That’s less expensive than many Ethernet cables and we rarely see these things below $20, let alone $10. Great reviews at Amazon too!

Home: iSmartAlarm Home Security System $120 (orig. $200), Breville Frother/Hot Chocolate Maker $85 (orig. $149), more

Walmart’s Black Friday ad revealed: iPad mini w/ $30 GC $199, Xbox One/PS4 deals, $4 Blu-rays, much more
Best Buy’s 2014 Black Friday ad is out! Includes: Samsung 55″ 4K $900, iPad Air 2 $100 off, Beats Solo $80, much more
Target Black Friday preview: iPad Air 2 w/$140 GC $499, iPad mini w/$80 GC $249, more

Small States – DODOcase uses old world craftsmanship to protect your modern devices, giveaways & 20% off promo code

Other new deals:

New! Bluetooth speakers: Logitech UE BOOM $130, Jawbone Mini Jambox $69, more
New! Network upgrades: Motorola SB6141 (refurb) modem $55, more
New! Groupon 10% off: LifeProof for iPad mini $27, PS4 $360, more
New! HDTVs: Samsung 55″ 4K UHDTV $1,398, 51″ 1080p HDTV $550
New! Samsung 23.6″ Wide 1080p LED Monitor $140 shipped (Reg. $180)
New! Games/Apps: Infinity Blade III $3 (Reg. $7) AC: Unity $50 (Reg. $60), more
New! Daily Deals: Jabra Solemate speaker (refurb) $45, Metallic iPhone 6 case $16, more
New! Buy a $300 Staples gift card, receive a $50 gift card
New! Old Navy/Gap/Banana Republic: Up to 40+% off everything w/ free 2 day shipping
New! Black Friday Ad Roundup: Costco, Macy’s, CVS, Big Lots, more
New! Free music from Google Play: Hunter Hayes, Skrillex, Tiësto, Avicii and more
New! Satechi’s sleek F3 smart monitor stand: clutter-free environment at work or at home
New! JBL Horizon: audio streaming w/ ambient light to create the “perfect clock radio”
New! Is the new Quirky Norm really the “death of the thermostat”?
New! IK Multimedia’s iRig HD-A is the “first digital guitar interface for Android”

More deals still alive:

Drobo 5-Bay NAS Storage base unit $360 shipped (orig. $600)
GoPro HERO3 Black Edition cam (man refurb) $255 (orig. $399)
Newegg 10% off w/ .edu email address: Bose SoundLink Color, more
Four magazine subs $16 (additional $3.50): Wired, GQ, many more
Best Buy MacBook sale: Pro w/ Retina: $1,800 or less (Reg. $2,000)
Smaller, more efficient Raspberry Pi A+ comes in at just $20 ($15 less)
Beats Tour 2.0 in-ear headphones $120 shipped (Reg. $150), more
Garmin nüvi 5″ BT GPS w/ lifetime maps/traffic: $135 shipped (orig. $220)
Subwoofers: Klipsch 8″ 350W $190, Klipsch Synergy 12″ 300W $200, more
Verizon FiOS 50/50 Internet + HBO and Showtime + Netflix: $60/month
Ridge Racer Slipstream for iOS goes free ($2.99 value)
ASUS 31.5″ monitor adds a IGZO 4K display to your Mac for $1,470 (orig. $3,499)
Download Swype iOS 8 third-party keyboard for free (Reg. $1)
Optoma 3D 1080p home projector + free $50 Amazon GC $599 ($650 value)
4-pack eneloop 2500mAh Rechargeable AA Batteries w/ Charger: $21 (orig. $35)
Prime Members: $10 Free Amazon credit w/$45+ purchases
Free Google Play music from Nirvana, Drake, Lorde, Katy Perry, Rihanna, more
Home: Chicago Cutlery stainless knife block set $100, extra $10 off Kershaw, more
1080p ViewSonic Monitors (refurb): 22-inch $95, 27-inch w/ HDMI $185, more
Free digital copy of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph movie
Woot coupon: $5 off orders of $25 or more (up to 20% savings)
Verizon FIOS + 2yrs. of premium channels + $400 Visa Gift Card: $79.99/mo
BACtrack Vio – 14% off the Smartphone Breathalyzer
World’s Largest iOS 8 + Swift Elearning Bundle

Black Friday:

OfficeMax/Office Depot Black Friday: 20% off iTunes gift cards, more
Staples Black Friday preview: Jawbone or Fitbit w/$25 Visa GC,, more
More Black Friday ad leaks: JCPenney, Kohl’s, Pier 1, Walgreens, more
Sam’s Club: 60″ VIZIO 4K Smart UHDTV for under $1,000 ahead of Black Friday
Sports Authority Black Friday: Garmin Vivofit $80, up to 70% off North Face, more
Meijer Black Friday: $100 credit w/ iPads, Xbox One bundle w/ $50 credit $330, more
Sears Black Friday leak: Samsung 55″ Smart HDTV $600, Dewalt drill kit $100, more
Dell Black Friday ad leak: discounts on monitors, Xbox One/PS4, HDTVS, more
Xbox One holiday price drop now live with prices starting at $349 (or lower)
Sam’s Club’s Black Friday deal has iPhone 6 for $99 on-contract starting Nov. 15
Walmart’s Holiday Savings officially kick off tomorrow with more than 20,000 Rollbacks
Amazon’s countdown to Black Friday kicks off w/ thousands of Lightning Deals
Target announces free shipping for all items through the holiday shopping season

New products/ongoing promos:

Belkin’s smart coffeemaker with WeMo is now available, save 20% for a limited time
Joby adds GorillaPod & Locking Arm accessories to its Action Series
How Scribd’s new audiobook service stacks up against Audible & Kindle Unlimited
Jaybird enters into wearables with the Reign activity tracker
Netgear’s Arlo home security camera is waterproof and completely cord free
Drift’s Stealth 2 is the $249 action camera that films longer than any GoPro
Epson’s WorkForce WF-100 is the world’s smallest/lightest mobile printer
ViewSonic projectors are Chromecast ready and fit in the “palm of your hand”
ChargerLeash Lightning cable makes sure you never forget your iPhone charger again
Amazon offers free unlimited Cloud Photo storage
Internet Archive brings 900 classic arcade titles to your web browser for free
IDrive’s new unlimited plan may be the best mobile backup solution for iOS/Android users
Mount your iPhone 6 inside your car with Logitech’s new Protection+ case
Trilogy Dock positions your iPhone 6 vertically or horizontally and boosts its sound
The thinnest iPhone 6/Plus cases we’ve found so far

Twitter says improvements to Direct Messages coming next week, native video features coming in 2015

Zac Hall Nov 12 2014 - 11:56 am PT

0 Comments

Twitter today shared a few details about its plans for the social network in 2015 including some new features around video, improvements to communicating with Direct Messages on the service, and changes to the timeline to help keep up with relevant content.
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Apple’s Health app can now track how drunk you are w/ updated BACtrack breathalyzers

Jordan Kahn Nov 12 2014 - 11:42 am PT

4 Comments

With an update for the BACtrack Mobile and BACtrack Vio smartphone-connected breathalyzers, iPhone users are now able to share blood alcohol content results with Apple’s new Health app in iOS 8.
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Apple job listing hints at new Maps-related web experiences

Jordan Kahn Nov 12 2014 - 11:26 am PT

2 Comments

A new job listing posted by Apple shows that the company is working to bring its in-house Maps app, currently only available as native apps for iOS and Mac OS X, to the web.
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Flashlight alpha app for Mac could show us the future of Spotlight

Ben Lovejoy Nov 12 2014 - 5:49 am PT

6 Comments

Spotlight, the search tool built into OS X, got a lot smarter in Yosemite – but one developer thinks it could go a whole lot further. He’s developed Flashlight, an app that extends the capabilities of Spotlight to include weather animations and Wolfram Alpha searches.

More interestingly, he’s intending it to act as an unofficial API other developers can use to add functionality to Spotlight …
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Box for iPhone app gets Touch ID support and new features geared to ease of use

Ben Lovejoy Nov 12 2014 - 4:42 am PT

0 Comments

Box for iPhone and iPad – an app designed to allow convenient access to more than 100 document types in the cloud – has been updated to allow unlocking via Touch ID and given a bunch of new features designed to make it easier to use.

Touch ID support should make a big difference to heavy users, who the company says typically use the app 50 times a day.

A Notification Center widget makes Box significantly more convenient, allowing you to view recent files and add new notes. A new Favorites feature allows fast access to frequently-needed files without having to load them into the app first.

What’s New in Version 3.5.0

Now use Box from your Today view in Notification Center to quickly and easily create Box Notes, view recent documents and more (requires iOS 8)

Use your fingerprint to unlock the Box app at the touch of the home button with Touch ID (compatible devices only, requires iOS 8)

Add files and folders to a Favorites list for easy access without having to download any data ahead of time with our new Favorites feature

In-folder search capabilities

Box Bookmarks are now accessible

Support for previewing password protected Office and iWork files

Automatic photo upload for Personal Pro subscribers and Enterprise users

Additional stability improvements and bug fixes

Box appears to be a favored app at Apple, featured in Best New Apps and used to demonstrate app extensions during this year’s WWDC.

Box for iOS is a free download from iTunes, with 10GB of storage included. An in-app purchase of $79 a year for the Pro version boosts storage to 100GB and allows individual files of up to 5GB to be uploaded.

Innovative new Type Nine keyboard for iOS 8 takes you way back to 1993

Mike Beasley Nov 11 2014 - 9:41 pm PT

7 Comments

Gather round, children, and let Grandpa Beasley tell you a story about the olden days. Long before these newfangled iPhones and Androids existed, most people didn’t have full keyboards on their cell phones, unless they were using a BlackBerry (but that’s a story for another time). In order to type out our text messages, we had to use “T9” keyboards that required you to press the numbers on the dialpad a few times to select each letter individually.

And now, youngin’s, you, too, can experience all of the fun and frustration of ye olde keyboards right on your iPhone. All you have to do is log into the App Store and download one of those fancy “app” things you’re all so keen on. It’s called Type Nine, and it puts a good ol’ fashioned T9 keyboard right on your screen so you can learn to type the way your forefathers did.

Of course, since you kids seem to love your “predictive text” so much, the Type Nine keyboard includes that function, too, meaning you won’t have to wear your fingers out tapping the same key over and over to get the right letter. All of the punctuation marks get their own special page as well, rather than requiring you to mash the 1 key until you accidentally pass the one you’re after and have to go all the way around again.

If you youngsters really want to see what typing on a phone was like back in my day, you’ll need to track down a Moto RAZR. If that’s not an option, you can take the Type Nine keyboard for a try on your iPhone running iOS 8. It’s available on the App Store for $.99. Now scram. Grandpa Beasley needs a nap.

Overcast 1.1 adds CarPlay, iPad layout and landscape mode on iPhone

Benjamin Mayo Nov 11 2014 - 3:40 pm PT

2 Comments

Overcast 1.1 is out now, bringing several big improvements to the podcast client. The update adds rotation support for the iPhone, which is particularly helpful for people with car docks that enforce landscape device orientation. Arment tastefully uses popovers for the playback settings, a UI element that is generally underused on the iPhone.

For iPad, the app is now truly optimized for the larger canvas, making liberal use of split views and modal sheets. Given that Overcast prides itself on a clean appearance, a native iPad UI for navigation is very welcome indeed. Like the stock Mail app, a list view sits side-by-side with episode details like artwork and show notes. 9to5Mac reviewed Overcast when it originally launched, so check that out if you are looking for more details about the app’s functionality.

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Netflix updated for iOS 8, adds 1080p video playback for iPhone 6 Plus

Zac Hall Nov 11 2014 - 1:16 pm PT

5 Comments

Netflix updated its iPhone and iPad app to version 7.0 today adding optimization for the larger displays on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus introduced in September. The updated version of Netflix shows more content like titles and genres as well as previews of movies and TV shows when browsing for something to watch. In addition to optimizing the Netflix app for iPhone 6 users, Netflix says the new version of its app will now offer video playback in 1080p, full HD, for users with the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus.
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9to5Toys Last Call: Sony memory cards up to 60% off, Belkin 25% off sitewide, Drobo 5-bay NAS $360, more

Justin Kahn Nov 11 2014 - 12:00 pm PT

0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Amazon Gold Box: Sony memory up to 60% off – 128GB SDXC $70, 64GB microSDXC $26, 16GB SDHC $8, more

Belkin 25% off today only:

Belkin’s smart coffeemaker with WeMo is now available, save 25% for a limited time
Belkin 25% off sitewide sale: save on iPad/iPhone cases, Lightning cables, home automation, more

Drobo 5-Bay NAS Storage base unit $360 shipped (orig. $600)

iTunes gift cards w/ email delivery up to 20% off from PayPal

Best Buy’s 2014 Black Friday ad is out! Includes: Samsung 55″ 4K $900, iPad Air 2 $100 off, Beats Solo $80, much more

Small States – DODOcase uses old world craftsmanship to protect your modern devices, giveaways & 20% off promo code

Other new deals:

New! JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Headphones: $113 shipped (orig. $170)
New! Veteran’s Day coupon code roundup: Amazon, Macy’s, many more
New! Games/Apps: Walking Dead Season 2 goes free (Reg. $5), more
New! Daily Deals: Mohu indoor antenna $49, Sharp 50″ HDTV $400, more
New! GoPro HERO3 Black Edition cam (man refurb) $255 (orig. $399)
New! Four magazine subs $16 (additional $3.50): Wired, GQ, many more
New! Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel DLC arrives today (for Mac too!)
New! OfficeMax/Office Depot Black Friday: 20% off iTunes gift cards, more
New! Newegg 10% off w/ .edu email address: Bose SoundLink Color, more
New! Home: Dyson vac $195 (orig. $400), Cuisinart blender $48, more

More deals still alive:

Best Buy MacBook sale: Pro w/ Retina: $1,800 or less (Reg. $2,000)
Smaller, more efficient Raspberry Pi A+ comes in at just $20 ($15 less)
Beats Tour 2.0 in-ear headphones $120 shipped (Reg. $150), more
Garmin nüvi 5″ BT GPS w/ lifetime maps/traffic: $135 shipped (orig. $220)
Subwoofers: Klipsch 8″ 350W $190, Klipsch Synergy 12″ 300W $200, more
Verizon FiOS 50/50 Internet + HBO and Showtime + Netflix: $60/month
Ridge Racer Slipstream for iOS goes free ($2.99 value)
Home: Rachel Ray cookware $122, more
ASUS 31.5″ monitor adds a IGZO 4K display to your Mac for $1,470 (orig. $3,499)
SanDisk Connect Wireless iOS/Android 16GB Flash Drive: $35 shipped (orig. $50)
Download Swype iOS 8 third-party keyboard for free (Reg. $1)
Optoma 3D 1080p home projector + free $50 Amazon GC $599 ($650 value)
4-pack eneloop 2500mAh Rechargeable AA Batteries w/ Charger: $21 (orig. $35)
Prime Members: $10 Free Amazon credit w/$45+ purchases
Free Google Play music from Nirvana, Drake, Lorde, Katy Perry, Rihanna, more
Home: Chicago Cutlery stainless knife block set $100, extra $10 off Kershaw, more
The Dark Knight Trilogy in HD w/ iTunes Extras: $15 (Reg. $37)
1080p ViewSonic Monitors (refurb): 22-inch $95, 27-inch w/ HDMI $185, more
Free digital copy of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph movie
Woot coupon: $5 off orders of $25 or more (up to 20% savings)
Amazon Veterans Day: 20% off clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches, luggage, more
Verizon FIOS + 2yrs. of premium channels + $400 Visa Gift Card: $79.99/mo
BACtrack Vio – 14% off the Smartphone Breathalyzer
World’s Largest iOS 8 + Swift Elearning Bundle

Black Friday:

Target Black Friday preview: iPad Air 2 w/$140 GC $499, iPad mini w/$80 GC $249, more
Staples Black Friday preview: Jawbone or Fitbit w/$25 Visa GC,, more
More Black Friday ad leaks: JCPenney, Kohl’s, Pier 1, Walgreens, more
Sam’s Club: 60″ VIZIO 4K Smart UHDTV for under $1,000 ahead of Black Friday
Sports Authority Black Friday: Garmin Vivofit $80, up to 70% off North Face, more
Meijer Black Friday: $100 credit w/ iPads, Xbox One bundle w/ $50 credit $330, more
Sears Black Friday leak: Samsung 55″ Smart HDTV $600, Dewalt drill kit $100, more
Dell Black Friday ad leak: discounts on monitors, Xbox One/PS4, HDTVS, more
Xbox One holiday price drop now live with prices starting at $349 (or lower)
Sam’s Club’s Black Friday deal has iPhone 6 for $99 on-contract starting Nov. 15
Walmart’s Holiday Savings officially kick off tomorrow with more than 20,000 Rollbacks
Amazon’s countdown to Black Friday kicks off w/ thousands of Lightning Deals
Target announces free shipping for all items through the holiday shopping season

New products/ongoing promos:

Joby adds GorillaPod & Locking Arm accessories to its Action Series
How Scribd’s new audiobook service stacks up against Audible & Kindle Unlimited
Jaybird enters into wearables with the Reign activity tracker
Netgear’s Arlo home security camera is waterproof and completely cord free
Drift’s Stealth 2 is the $249 action camera that films longer than any GoPro
Epson’s WorkForce WF-100 is the world’s smallest/lightest mobile printer
ViewSonic projectors are Chromecast ready and fit in the “palm of your hand”
ChargerLeash Lightning cable makes sure you never forget your iPhone charger again
Amazon offers free unlimited Cloud Photo storage
Internet Archive brings 900 classic arcade titles to your web browser for free
IDrive’s new unlimited plan may be the best mobile backup solution for iOS/Android users
Mount your iPhone 6 inside your car with Logitech’s new Protection+ case
Trilogy Dock positions your iPhone 6 vertically or horizontally and boosts its sound
The thinnest iPhone 6/Plus cases we’ve found so far

9to5Toys Last Call: iTunes gift cards up to 20% off, Raspberry Pi A+ $20, Retina MacBook Pro 15″ $1800, more

Justin Kahn Nov 10 2014 - 2:51 pm PT

0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

iTunes gift cards w/ email delivery up to 20% off from PayPal

Smaller, more efficient Raspberry Pi A+ comes in at just $20 ($15 less)

~~Logitech UE 4000 on-ear headphones (white) $15 shipped (orig. $100)~~

Best Buy MacBook sale: Pro w/ Retina Display 2.2GHz/16GB/256GB: $1,800 or less (Reg. $2,000)

Target Black Friday preview: iPad Air 2 w/ $140 GC $499, iPad mini w/ $80 GC $249, more

Small States – DODOcase uses old world craftsmanship to protect your modern devices, giveaways & 20% off promo code

Other new deals:

New! Beats Tour 2.0 in-ear headphones $120 shipped (Reg. $150), more
New! Garmin nüvi 5″ BT GPS w/ lifetime maps/traffic: $135 shipped (orig. $220)
New! Ridge Racer Slipstream for iOS goes free ($2.99 value)
New! Polk Audio all-weather speaker pair: $80 shipped ($120 off)
New! Oontz XL Cambridge Bluetooth Speaker $75 shipped (Orig. $200)
New! Subwoofers: Klipsch 8″ 350W $190, Klipsch Synergy 12″ 300W $200, more
New! Poweradd 6-Port USB Charger $19AC, 25W, 5-port: $12 Prime shipped
New! Daily Deals: Kindle Paperwhite $79, 4-pack Lightning cables $15, more
New! Games/Apps: DualShock 4 Charger $17, BLiP & Blurred go free, more
New! Today only: Redbox free movie rental coupon code
New! Verizon FiOS 50/50 Internet + HBO and Showtime + Netflix: $60/month
New! Staples Black Friday preview: Jawbone or Fitbit w/$25 Visa GC,, more
New! HP Chromebox 1.4GHz/2GB RAM/16GB SSD $129 shipped (Reg. $180)
New! Home: Rachel Ray cookware $122, Black & Decker juicer $13, more

More deals still alive:

ASUS 31.5″ monitor adds a IGZO 4K display to your Mac for $1,470 (orig. $3,499)
SanDisk Connect Wireless iOS/Android 16GB Flash Drive: $35 shipped (orig. $50)
Download Swype iOS 8 third-party keyboard for free (Reg. $1)
Optoma 3D 1080p home projector + free $50 Amazon GC $599 ($650 value)
4-pack eneloop 2500mAh Rechargeable AA Batteries w/ Charger: $21 (orig. $35)
Prime Members: $10 Free Amazon credit w/$45+ purchases
Free Google Play music from Nirvana, Drake, Lorde, Katy Perry, Rihanna, more
Home: Chicago Cutlery stainless knife block set $100, extra $10 off Kershaw, more
The Dark Knight Trilogy in HD w/ iTunes Extras: $15 (Reg. $37)
1080p ViewSonic Monitors (refurb): 22-inch $95, 27-inch w/ HDMI $185, more
Free digital copy of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph movie
Woot coupon: $5 off orders of $25 or more (up to 20% savings)
Amazon Veterans Day: 20% off clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches, luggage, more
Verizon FIOS + 2yrs. of premium channels + $400 Visa Gift Card: $79.99/mo
BACtrack Vio – 14% off the Smartphone Breathalyzer
World’s Largest iOS 8 + Swift Elearning Bundle

Black Friday:

More Black Friday ad leaks: JCPenney, Kohl’s, Pier 1, Walgreens, more
Sam’s Club: 60″ VIZIO 4K Smart UHDTV for under $1,000 ahead of Black Friday
Sports Authority Black Friday: Garmin Vivofit $80, up to 70% off North Face, more
Meijer Black Friday: $100 credit w/ iPads, Xbox One bundle w/ $50 credit $330, more
Sears Black Friday leak: Samsung 55″ Smart HDTV $600, Dewalt drill kit $100, more
Dell Black Friday ad leak: discounts on monitors, Xbox One/PS4, HDTVS, more
Xbox One holiday price drop now live with prices starting at $349 (or lower)
Sam’s Club’s Black Friday deal has iPhone 6 for $99 on-contract starting Nov. 15
Walmart’s Holiday Savings officially kick off tomorrow with more than 20,000 Rollbacks
Amazon’s countdown to Black Friday kicks off w/ thousands of Lightning Deals
Target announces free shipping for all items through the holiday shopping season

New products/ongoing promos:

Joby adds GorillaPod & Locking Arm accessories to its Action Series
How Scribd’s new audiobook service stacks up against Audible & Kindle Unlimited
Jaybird enters into wearables with the Reign activity tracker
Netgear’s Arlo home security camera is waterproof and completely cord free
Drift’s Stealth 2 is the $249 action camera that films longer than any GoPro
Epson’s WorkForce WF-100 is the world’s smallest/lightest mobile printer
ViewSonic projectors are Chromecast ready and fit in the “palm of your hand”
ChargerLeash Lightning cable makes sure you never forget your iPhone charger again
Amazon offers free unlimited Cloud Photo storage
Internet Archive brings 900 classic arcade titles to your web browser for free
IDrive’s new unlimited plan may be the best mobile backup solution for iOS/Android users
Mount your iPhone 6 inside your car with Logitech’s new Protection+ case
Trilogy Dock positions your iPhone 6 vertically or horizontally and boosts its sound
The thinnest iPhone 6/Plus cases we’ve found so far

Instagram revamps Explore tab, adds caption & location editing

Zac Hall Nov 10 2014 - 12:38 pm PT

3 Comments

After updating its app for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last month, Instagram is out with a feature update today with some welcome features.

Users will likely appreciate the ability to edit photo captions and locations attached to photos in post now. That means if you make a typo on your caption, you no longer have to choose between correcting yourself in the comments, deleting and re-posting the photo with the correction caption, or just ignoring it altogether.
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Microsoft Office’s Dropbox integration and move to free is paying off on the App Store

Zac Hall Nov 10 2014 - 10:35 am PT

10 Comments

Microsoft announced a number of changes to its Office for iOS apps last week: deep Dropbox integration, dedicated iPhone versions, and editing and saving features without the need for an Office 365 subscription. All of those changes seem to be paying off, at least in the short term, as TechCrunch points out the new and updated Microsoft Office apps are now on top of the App Store charts.

Currently on the iPhone App Store, Microsoft Word takes the #1 spot for Top Free iPhone Apps while Microsoft Excel ranks in at #8 and Microsoft PowerPoint follows at #10. It’s a similar scene on the iPad side with Microsoft Word at #1, Microsoft Excel at #3, and Microsoft PowerPoint at #7 on the Top Free iPad Apps list.
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Facebook Messenger mobile apps surpass 500 million monthly users

9to5 Staff Nov 10 2014 - 9:29 am PT

4 Comments

Facebook announced this morning that over 500 million people are now using its Messenger app per month. The impressive milestone comes just days after Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg explained why Facebook Messenger was turned into a standalone app for iOS and Android, a move it made in July after disabling messaging in the main Facebook app.
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Planned earthquake alert app aiming to provide 30 seconds’ warning in California, Oregon and Washington

Ben Lovejoy Nov 10 2014 - 5:04 am PT

2 Comments

A joint venture between Early Warning Labs and the U.S. Government is working on app they claim will provide 30 seconds warning of an earthquake in California, Oregon and Washington, reports TechCrunch.

While 30 seconds doesn’t seem like much, founder of EWL, Josh Bashioum says that is enough time to take shelter and save lives. About 13,000 earthquakes in the 4.0 range caused 347 deaths in the U.S. in 2011. However, an earthquake of magnitude 7.0 could have majorly devastating effects. For Bashioum, the best way to get the word out would be via an early warning on a smartphone.

The company hopes to make money by selling a $100-ish physical warning device it describes as ‘Nest for earthquake warnings,’ but the app will be free.

The company’s website provides little detail on how it aims to achieve the 30-second warning. Earthquake alert systems are based on detecting earthquakes in progress outside cities in the hope that they will provide a little warning before they reach urban areas, but typically provide only a few seconds’ notice. EWL says that it aims to use a network of seismic sensors to “rapidly detect the initiation of an earthquake […] and issue a warning before significant ground shaking starts.”

Government advice if an earthquake hits while indoors is to get under a sturdy desk or table if possible, otherwise to stand against an interior wall away from windows and exterior walls. If outside, move away from buildings, streetlights and any other structure that may fall.

You can ask to be notified when the app is available by entering your name and email address into an online form and checking the app button.

New Sainsbury’s supermarket app aiming to integrate virtual and physical shopping

Ben Lovejoy Nov 10 2014 - 4:33 am PT

2 Comments

A new app created by the supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is aiming to integrate the virtual and physical shopping process, allowing you to create shopping lists, be guided to those products in the store and to pay on your smartphone, skipping the checkout queues. It is currently being tested internally, with customer trials to follow early next year, initially in the UK.

Sainsbury’s says that the app is all about saving time.

Overall, the app is proven to cut the time taken to do a shop – reducing checkout time to seconds in testing.

Jon Rudoe, Digital and Technology Director at Sainsbury’s, said “We know that customers’ weekly shop doesn’t start at our front door – they know what they like and they also like that search for a bargain. They still want to come into store – but with limited time, they want to be able to get their shop done quickly. That’s why we’re putting digital firmly at the forefront of our agenda, and putting technology in the hands of our customers.

Personally I’ll stick to online shopping and letting the supermarket deliver the goods to my kitchen, but if you’re one of those people who still like to visit stores personally, this looks like it’ll at least speed up the process.

Paper by FiftyThree updated with Adobe Creative Cloud integration, push notifications and other improvements

9to5 Staff Nov 8 2014 - 2:28 pm PT

2 Comments

The popular iPad drawing and sketching app Paper by FiftyThree has been updated with Adobe Creative Cloud integration, push notifications and sharing directly from Mix, a camera view during account creation, smoother shadows and general improvements for iOS 8. The updated version of Paper by FiftyThree is available now on the App Store.
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9to5Toys Lunch Break: iPad mini $199, ASUS 31″ 4K IGZO display $1470, JBL Lightning speaker/dock $30, more

Justin Kahn Nov 7 2014 - 9:00 am PT

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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Apple Deals:

iPad mini in white or space gray: $199 shipped or pickup at Walmart ($50 off)
iPad Blowout sale at Staples, up to $105 off: Airs starting at $339
13″ MacBook Pro w/ Retina display 2.6GHz/8GB/128GB $1,149 (Reg. $1,299)

ASUS 31.5-inch PQ321Q monitor adds a high-end IGZO 4K display to your Mac for $1,470 (orig. $3,499)

JBL OnBeat Mini iPad & iPhone 6/6 Plus speaker dock with lightning connector $35 shipped (orig. $99)

Prime Members get $10 Free Amazon credit when you buy $45+ in Amazon Gift cards

Small States – Tucker and Bloom: father & son create functionally beautiful bags, giveaway worth $175

Other new deals:

New! Sam’s Club: 60″ VIZIO 4K Smart UHDTV for under $1,000 ahead of Black Friday
New! Sennheiser Momentum on-ear headphones (black) $80 shipped (orig. $200)
New! Games/Apps: Skylanders Trap Team Pack for iPad $55 (Reg. $75), more
New! Daily Deals: RCA 48-inch 1080p HDTV $299, 7-port USB hub: $12, more
New! Tablet roundup: Nexus 7 16GB: $80, Kindle Fire HDX, more

Some solid deals from Specials.9to5toys.com:

More deals still alive:

SanDisk Connect Wireless iOS/Android 16GB Flash Drive: $35 shipped (orig. $50)
Motorola SURFboard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem $75 shipped (orig. $100)
Download Swype iOS 8 third-party keyboard for free (Reg. $1)
Optoma 3D 1080p home projector + free $50 Amazon GC $599 ($650 value)
4-pack eneloop XX 2500mAh Rechargeable AA Batteries w/ Charger: $21 (orig. $35)
Free Google Play music from Nirvana, Drake, Lorde, Katy Perry, Rihanna, more
Home: Chicago Cutlery stainless knife block set $100, extra $10 off Kershaw, more
The Dark Knight Trilogy in HD w/ iTunes Extras: $15 (Reg. $37)
Audio-Technica ATH-PRO500 Headphones $75 shipped (orig. $180)
1080p ViewSonic Monitors (refurb): 22-inch $95, 27-inch w/ HDMI $185, more
BJ’s one-year Inner Circle membership + $25 gift card $35 shipped (Reg. $75)
Free digital copy of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph movie
Woot coupon: $5 off orders of $25 or more (up to 20% savings)
Mpow 4.2Amps 20W Dual USB Port Car Charger $7 (Reg. $16), 6 Amp $9
Amazon Veterans Day coupon: 20% off clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches, luggage, more
Verizon FIOS Triple Play + 2yrs. of premium channels + $400 Visa Gift Card: $79.99/mo

Black Friday:

Sports Authority Black Friday: Garmin Vivofit $80, up to 70% off North Face, more
Meijer Black Friday: $100 credit w/ iPads, Xbox One bundle w/ $50 credit $330, more
Sears Black Friday leak: Samsung 55″ Smart HDTV $600, Dewalt drill kit $100, more
Dell Black Friday ad leak: discounts on monitors, Xbox One/PS4, HDTVS, more
Xbox One holiday price drop now live with prices starting at $349 (or lower)
Sam’s Club’s Black Friday deal has iPhone 6 for $99 on-contract starting Nov. 15
Walmart’s Holiday Savings officially kick off tomorrow with more than 20,000 Rollbacks
Amazon’s countdown to Black Friday kicks off w/ thousands of Lightning Deals
Target announces free shipping for all items through the holiday shopping season

New products/ongoing promos:

How Scribd’s new audiobook service stacks up against Audible & Kindle Unlimited
Jaybird enters into wearables with the Reign activity tracker
Netgear’s Arlo home security camera is waterproof and completely cord free
Drift’s Stealth 2 is the $249 action camera that films longer than any GoPro
Epson’s WorkForce WF-100 is the world’s smallest/lightest mobile printer
ViewSonic projectors are Chromecast ready and fit in the “palm of your hand”
ChargerLeash Lightning cable makes sure you never forget your iPhone charger again
Amazon offers free unlimited Cloud Photo storage
Internet Archive brings 900 classic arcade titles to your web browser for free
IDrive’s new unlimited plan may be the best mobile backup solution for iOS/Android users
Mount your iPhone 6 inside your car with Logitech’s new Protection+ case
Trilogy Dock positions your iPhone 6 vertically or horizontally and boosts its sound
The thinnest iPhone 6/Plus cases we’ve found so far

Say Play iOS app makes music streaming as easy as speaking the name of the track

Ben Lovejoy Nov 7 2014 - 5:44 am PT

6 Comments

You’ve long been able to tell Siri to play any track on your iPhone, and the Say Play app gives you the same ability with music you don’t own. Just open the app, hit the red button and speak the name of the track.

To be sure, you could do a voice search in YouTube, but the app appears to simultaneously search several music video sources, and continues to play the track while you’re using other apps. As you’d expect from an app powered by Nuance, voice-recognition is faultless, and in my brief tests it was lightning-fast.

The app costs $0.99 on iTunes.