Apps

6,254 '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.

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

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:

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.

CBS Radio News update adds CarPlay support with streaming news, local weather, and bug fixes

Mike Beasley Nov 6 2014 - 3:01 pm PT

0 Comments

CBS has updated its Radio News application with support for Apple’s CarPlay interface. The new UI allows users to browse and play the network’s library of on-demand shows such as the CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes. Users will also find that the Now Playing screen presents them with their local weather conditions.

Also included in the new update is a set of bug fixes for issues such as two audio tracks playing back at once for some users. There is also a new introduction screen that walks users through the functions of the app. CBS News also rolled out a channel for the Apple TV earlier today.

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9to5Toys Last Call: Swype goes free, SanDisk wireless iOS flash drive $35, Motorola cable modem $75, more

Nov 6 2014 - 1:52 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:

Download Swype iOS 8 third-party keyboard for free (Reg. $1)

SanDisk Connect Wireless iOS/Android 16GB Flash Drive: $35 shipped (orig. $50)

Motorola SURFboard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem $75 shipped (orig. $100)

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! How Scribd’s new audiobook service stacks up against Audible & Kindle Unlimited
New! Optoma 3D 1080p home projector + free $50 Amazon GC $599 ($650 value)
New! 4-pack eneloop XX 2500mAh Rechargeable AA Batteries w/ Charger: $21 (orig. $35)
New! Meijer Black Friday: $100 credit w/ iPads, Xbox One bundle w/ $50 credit $330, more
New! Sports Authority Black Friday: Garmin Vivofit $80, up to 70% off North Face, more
New! Home: Chicago Cutlery stainless knife block set $100, extra $10 off Kershaw, more
New! Free Google Play music from Nirvana, Drake, Lorde, Katy Perry, Rihanna, more
New! Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 $156 shipped (Reg. $200)
New! Jaybird enters into wearables with the Reign activity tracker
New! Games/Apps: Sunset Overdrive $50, Cut the Rope 2 & Experiments $1 ea., more
New! Daily Deals: Archos Titanium HD Android Tablet: $95, more

Some solid deals from Specials.9to5toys.com:

More deals still alive:

The Dark Knight Trilogy in HD w/ iTunes Extras: $15 (Reg. $37)
13″ MacBook Pro w/ Retina display 2.6GHz/8GB/128GB $1,149 (Reg. $1,299)
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)
Target offers 20% off all Verizon phones: iPhone 6 starts at $160
iPad Blowout sale at Staples, up to $105 off: Airs starting at $339
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
Sam’s Club 1-yr membership + $20 gift card & free food vouchers $45 ($142+ value)

Black Friday:

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:

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
Canon’s new EOS 7D Mark II DSLR w/ rapid autofocus starts shipping today
Kodak’s PIXPRO 360 degree action camera is now available for $349

Apple releases performance improvement updates for Beats Music, iTunes Connect, iWork for iOS, more

Zac Hall Nov 6 2014 - 11:56 am PT

0 Comments

While these updates aren’t major, Apple has released new versions of several of its own iOS and Mac apps with various performance improvements. If you’ve experienced issues with any of these apps, you may find that your issue has been resolved with these new versions. Included in today’s round of maintenance updates is:

Beats Music: This update includes minor stability and performance improvements
iTunes Connect: iTunes Connect 3.0.2 includes minor fixes
Pages for iOS: This update includes minor stability and performance improvements
Numbers for iOS: This update includes minor stability and performance improvements
Keynote for iOS: This update includes minor stability and performance improvements
Pages for Mac: This update includes minor stability and performance improvements

You can find the new version of each app on the App Store and Mac App Store. (Still no CarPlay support for Beats Music, though.)

Google Drive for iOS adds Touch ID unlocking, video saving, iPhone 6/Plus support, more

Zac Hall Nov 6 2014 - 11:09 am PT

3 Comments

In addition to updating its Maps app with an overhauled design, Google has released a new version of its Drive app for iPhone and iPad users adding support for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as well as some new iOS 8 features.

The Google Drive file storage app can now be secured using Touch ID so users with supported devices (iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone Plus, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3) can unlock the app using the fingerprint scanner. The new version of Drive also includes an extension to “open form and save to Drive in other apps” for iOS 8 users, and videos can now be saved from Drive to the Photos app (instructions below). Google says the new version of Drive for iPhone and iPad also includes full iOS 8 compatibility, bug fixes, and performance improvements.

Google Drive 3.3 for iPhone and iPad is available for free on the App Store. Full change log below.
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Tapbots, makers of Tweetbot, bring Calcbot to the Mac with Yosemite design

Zac Hall Nov 6 2014 - 7:48 am PT

12 Comments

Tapbots, most known for the popular Twitter client for Mac and iOS called Tweetbot, is out with a new Mac app that some of its followers may recognize from the iPhone and iPad: Calcbot for Mac. Calcbot is described as a simple and intelligent calculator with a “live-as-you-type expression view” for visualizing your calculation history on a scratch sheet-like tape window. Calcbot also packs in a robust unit conversion tool with a wide range of supported categories. Check below for a closer look at Calcbot for Mac and its Yosemite-ready design.
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Frostbite team shows off Battlefield 4 iOS tech demo made possible thanks to Metal

Jordan Kahn Nov 6 2014 - 7:39 am PT

8 Comments

The team at Frostbite, the gaming engine behind many popular console titles and more recent mobile games, today published a blog post showing off a tech demo of the graphically demanding Battlefield 4 console game running on an iPad. The company previously showed off what the Frostbite engine was capable of with the Battlefield 4 Commander app and the Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare tech demo it showed off at WWDC, but the Battlefield 4 tech demo was made possible thanks to some big graphics improvements courtesy of Apple’s new Metal graphics API.

The team says “Metal has created possibilities previously out of reach and for the first time we can include both high visual fidelity and a large number of objects.”
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Microsoft releases Office apps for iPhone, makes basic editing features free

Jordan Kahn Nov 6 2014 - 6:21 am PT

13 Comments

Microsoft announced today that it’s rolling out standalone Office apps for iPhone after releasing the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps exclusively for iPad earlier this year. Microsoft previously had an “Office Mobile” app for iPhone that integrated features of all three Office apps, but today’s release of standalone Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps for iPhone are officially replacing Office Mobile as Microsoft’s Office solution for iPhone.
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Pixelmator 3.3 released with OS X Yosemite optimizations, Repair Tool extension

Benjamin Mayo Nov 6 2014 - 5:01 am PT

14 Comments

Hot off the heels of their iPad app, the Pixelmator team have today released Pixelmator 3.3 for Mac. This update centers around design and structural optimizations for OS X Yosemite, including an extension for integration with other apps and a new icon to match the ‘flatter’ aesthetic of the operating system. The update also includes a new file format to improve syncing and compatibility with the iPad version.

Although the app largely resembles previous versions, with custom floating panels and black chrome, it now takes advantage of Apple’s transparency effects to mesh well with the OS.

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Runtastic releases ‘Sleep Better’ app for tracking sleep habits without additional hardware

Jordan Kahn Nov 6 2014 - 4:59 am PT

10 Comments

[youtube=http://youtu.be/3E24XCQC7hc]

Runtastic, makers of the popular fitness tracking app of the same name, today announced the introduction of a new app focused on improving sleep habits. Rather than using a wearable or bedside sensor, the company’s new Sleep Better app uses an iPhone placed next to your pillow to track sleep patterns with no additional hardware required. Using the iPhone’s sensors, the app offers sleep tracking features including data on Duration, Cycles and Efficiency as well as Smart Alarm & Wake-Up Window features, Moon Phase tracking, and more. The app is also fully compatible with Apple’s HealthKit and Health app in iOS 8:
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9to5Toys Last Call: 13″ Retina MacBook Pro $1149, The Dark Knight Trilogy $15, free Amazon credit, more

Justin Kahn Nov 5 2014 - 2:34 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:

Apple Deals:

13″ MacBook Pro w/ Retina display 2.6GHz/8GB/128GB $1,149 (Reg. $1,299)
Target offers 20% off all Verizon phones: iPhone 6 starts at $160
iPad Blowout sale at Staples, up to $105 off: Airs starting at $339

iTunes Movie deals:

The Dark Knight Trilogy in HD w/ iTunes Extras: $15 (Reg. $37)
Free digital copy of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph movie

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

Daily Deals: $70 iTunes gift card for $60, more

Netgear’s Arlo home security camera is waterproof and completely cord free

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

Other new deals:

New! TCL 40-inch 1080p Smart LED Roku HDTV: $298 shipped (Reg. $350)
New! Audio-Technica ATH-PRO500 Headphones $75 shipped (orig. $180)
New! Logitech Noise-Isolating Earphones (previous gen): $9 shipped (orig. $50)
New! SanDisk 960GB 2.5-inch Solid-State Drive: $370 (or less) shipped (orig. $500)
New! 1080p ViewSonic Monitors (refurb): 22-inch $95, 27-inch w/ HDMI $185, more
New! Games/Apps: Knock for iOS $2 (Reg. $4), iOS freebies, more
New! BJ’s one-year Inner Circle membership + $25 gift card $35 shipped (Reg. $75)
New! Drift’s Stealth 2 is the $249 action camera that films longer than any GoPro
New! Epson’s WorkForce WF-100 is the world’s smallest/lightest mobile printer
New! ViewSonic projectors are Chromecast ready and fit in the “palm of your hand”
New! Home: Nespresso Maker $199, GreenWorks Snow Blower $147, more
New! Magazine subs from $4 per year: Popular Science, Men’s Health, more

Some solid deals from Specials.9to5toys.com:

More deals still alive:

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
2010 Apple Macbook Air 11.6-inch 1.4GHz/2GB/64GB (refurbished) $500 shipped
i Tunes Free App of the Week: PAC-MAN Friends ($3.99 value)
Sam’s Club 1-yr membership + $20 gift card & free food vouchers $45 ($142+ value)

Black Friday:

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:

ChargerLeash Lightning cable makes sure you never forget your iPhone charger again
Amazon drops 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
Canon’s new EOS 7D Mark II DSLR w/ rapid autofocus starts shipping today
Kodak’s PIXPRO 360 degree action camera is now available for $349
Cree introduces shatter-proof LED lightbulbs for less than $8 a piece
Tidal brings Hi-Fi audio streaming to iOS/Android, a guide to music services
Razer’s Leviathan Sound Bar combines surround sound gaming/Bluetooth music
Amped Wireless introduces a high powered WiFi range extender w/ touchscreen
Amazon announces $39 Fire TV Stick to take on Chromecast

WhatsApp update shows read receipts, leaked image suggests future VOIP feature

Stephen Hall Nov 5 2014 - 2:06 pm PT

9 Comments

Although this isn’t an actual update to the app, WhatsApp is now sporting a nifty new feature that—although small—might make a big difference in how users of the messaging app stay in touch with their friends. The Facebook-owned app, which would previously show double check marks if a sent message had been received, now goes one step further and turns those check marks blue if the message has been read.

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Google Maps for iOS updated with a fresh new Material Design layout, integrated OpenTable and Uber

Mark Hearn Nov 5 2014 - 9:49 am PT

26 Comments

Update: The new Google Maps app is now available on the App Store.

Google announced an update for its Google Maps for iOS app today that adds a fresh new Material Design layout focusing on bright colors and real world surfaces and shadows. The software’s refreshed interface is set to roll out over the next few days, with new features like dinner reservations from OpenTable (US only) and enhanced information cards with photos and reviews of popular attractions near your location.

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Google Drive now lets you open files in compatible Mac apps w/ new Chrome extension

Jordan Kahn Nov 5 2014 - 9:36 am PT

1 Comment

Google announced today that it’s releasing a new Chrome extension called Application Launcher for Drive that allows users to open files directly from its Google Drive service in compatible apps on a Mac or PC. The extension adds an “Open With” option that will let users launch files in apps like, for example, Mac OS X’s Preview app or third-party editing apps like those from Adobe and Microsoft.
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Nova wireless Bluetooth flash for iPhone now available through the Apple Store

Zac Hall Nov 5 2014 - 6:31 am PT

1 Comment

We first told you about Nova, the Bluetooth flash for iPhone, over a year again when the portable wireless flash was crowdfunding on Kickstarter. After being funded in just two days and raising three times its goal in funding from backers, the wireless flash debuted earlier this year as promised.

We reviewed the Nova wireless Bluetooth flash after its launch earlier this year and found its a really clever accessory for iPhone and even iPad users snapping pictures from dark scenes to simple selfies. Now Nova is announcing that it is available through the Apple Online Store for the first time, and will be available at Apple Retail Stores across the United States and Canada later this month.

You can find the Nova Bluetooth flash for iPhone for $59 through the Apple Online Store now in addition to Amazon and Nova’s web store. Details below.
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Textplus moves on to Nextplus, adds improved WiFi calling/texting, GIFs, and more

Mark Gurman Nov 4 2014 - 11:59 pm PT

4 Comments

Popular texting and calling app Textplus, which is a more affordable alternative to a standard carrier plan, branched off to a new app called Nextplus today. The new app still has the same texting and calling core (coming soon), but is it now optimized for WiFi networks. The developers tell us that many people want to use unlocked older iPhones (without carrier plans) to text and make phone calls, so Nextplus is a solid alternative to signing up for a normal plan from a carrier.

The new app has also (finally) been modernized with GIF images and stickers support. The iPhone and iPad app is free to download and calling/texting between Nextplus/Textplus users is free. If you want to call a landline or a non-Nextplus user, Nextplus offers some competitive rates per minute, with calls to the U.S., U.K., Mexico, Canada, and Australia costing 2 cents per minute.

If you’re an iOS user, making calls between iOS devices via FaceTime Audio is a great solution, but Nextplus is a great option if you’re looking to talk affordably to landlines and other platforms.

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9to5Toys Last Call: iPhone 6 (VZW) 20% off, free copy of Wreck-It Ralph, Canon All-In-One printer $50, more

Nov 4 2014 - 3:03 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:

Target offers 20% off all Verizon phones: iPhone 6 starts at $160

Free digital copy of Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph movie

Daily Deals: Canon PIXMA Wireless All-In-One Printer: $50, Mophie Juice Pack: $29, more

ChargerLeash Lightning cable makes sure you never forget your iPhone charger again

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

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

Other new deals:

New! ZyXEL 200Mbps Powerline Wall Plug Adapter Starter Kit $20 shipped (orig. $80), more
New! Sears Black Friday leak: Samsung 55″ Smart HDTV $600, Dewalt drill kit $100, more
New! Sennheiser HD 205-II Studio Grade Headphones in black/grey $35 shipped (Reg. $70)
New! Mpow 4.2Amps 20W Dual USB Port Car Charger $7 (Reg. $16), 6 Amp $9
New! Home: Braun Series 5 electric shaver $98 (orig. $170), cookware, more
New! Games/Apps: Xbox One headset $39, StarMap 3D+ & Flick Soccer! $1 ea, more
New! Amazon drops free unlimited Cloud Photo storage
New! Seagate Backup Plus 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop HDD $90 shipped (orig. $160)
New! JBL 1000 watt 12-inch car subwoofer (refurb) $35 shipped (orig. $80), more
New! Woot coupon: $5 off orders of $25 or more (up to 20% savings)

Titanfall for Xbox One: $19.99 Prime shipped (Reg. $40)… http://t.co/IuwBqx2wol pic.twitter.com/rh5392ajSn

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) November 4, 2014

Some solid deals from Specials.9to5toys.com:

More deals still:

iPad Blowout sale at Staples, up to $105 off: Airs starting at $339
Amazon Veterans Day coupon: 20% off clothing, shoes, jewelry, watches, luggage, more
A Dark Room is now available for free on iOS (Reg. up to $3.99)
Apple 27-inch iMac w/ Retina 5K display 3.5GHz/8GB/1TB $2,349 shipped (Reg. $2,499)
Canon PowerShot digital cameras (refurb) starting at $40 shipped
Verizon FIOS Triple Play + 2yrs. of premium channels + $400 Visa Gift Card: $79.99/mo
2010 Apple Macbook Air 11.6-inch 1.4GHz/2GB/64GB (refurbished) $500 shipped
LG 50-inch 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV $499 shipped (Reg. $599)
i Tunes Free App of the Week: PAC-MAN Friends ($3.99 value)
Halloween app sales: Resident Evil 4 $1, Dead Space $2, many more
Sam’s Club 1-yr membership + $20 gift card & free food vouchers $45 ($142+ value)

Black Friday:

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:

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
Canon’s new EOS 7D Mark II DSLR w/ rapid autofocus starts shipping today
Kodak’s PIXPRO 360 degree action camera is now available for $349
Cree introduces shatter-proof LED lightbulbs for less than $8 a piece
Tidal brings Hi-Fi audio streaming to iOS/Android, a guide to music services
Razer’s Leviathan Sound Bar combines surround sound gaming/Bluetooth music
Amped Wireless introduces a high powered WiFi range extender w/ touchscreen
Amazon announces $39 Fire TV Stick to take on Chromecast

Swype iOS 8 keyboard now available in 20+ languages, adds new layouts & auto Emoji suggestions

Jordan Kahn Nov 4 2014 - 12:11 pm PT

1 Comment

Nuance announced an update for its Swype keyboard for iOS 8 today that introduces support for a long list of new languages in addition to new layouts and features for both iPhone and iPad.

New languages include: Czech, Danish, Dutch, UK English, Finnish, Greek, Hinglish, Hungarian, Irish, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Swedish, and Turkish. The app now supports over 20 languages including the previously supported languages– English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.

The keyboard also now includes QWERTY, QWERTZ and AZERTY layouts for both iPhone and iPad as well as access to all Swype themes on iPad. In addition, the update brings an auto-space feature, a “sound on Keypress” option, and auto suggestions for Emoji:

Intuitive Emoji Input: Stoked about the upcoming game this weekend? When you message your friends about your excitement, Swype will now automatically suggest the right emoji. Swype will predict emojis based on the words you enter – so if you’re feeling happy, confused, tenacious or satisfied, Swype’s got just the right emoji for you.

The updated Swype keyboard for iOS 8 is available from the App Store for $1.

Microsoft adding Dropbox integration including syncing and sharing to Office for iOS

Zac Hall Nov 4 2014 - 9:09 am PT

6 Comments

Microsoft and Dropbox announced a new partnership between the two companies today and a commitment to bring integration between Dropbox and Office apps on iOS and Android. Currently Office users rely on local storage for saving files or Microsoft’s own OneDrive service for saving and syncing files, but the newly announced partnership will allow Office users to use the popular Dropbox service as an additional storage and syncing option and introduce new features between the productivity apps and syncing service.
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MCX CEO says CurrentC exclusivity deal that blocks Apple Pay will expire within ‘months, not years’

Zac Hall Nov 4 2014 - 7:03 am PT

31 Comments

After an undeniably bad two weeks of press, MCX CEO Dekkers Davidson seems to have changed the company’s tune on CurrentC’s exclusivity policy that prompted retailers like CVS and Rite Aid to disable NFC terminals and block Apple’s iPhone 6-backed mobile payment system Apple Pay. Davidson told Re/code in an interview that MCX, the merchant consortium behind the Apple Pay competitor known as CurrentC, will lift the exclusivity policy in a matter of “months, not years.”

Previously, the MCX CEO only vaguely hinted that the retail consortium would consider allowing participants to accept both CurrentC, which is still in development, and Apple Pay, which launched in the United States earlier last month, saying that the scenario “could be entirely possible.”
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