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6,254 'Apps' stories April 2010 - November 2014
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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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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air from $339, A Dark Room for iOS goes free, Dell Black Friday ad leak, giveaways, more

Avatar for Nov 3 2014 - 3:49 pm 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:

iPad Blowout sale at Staples, up to $105 off: Airs starting at $339

Some solid deals from Specials.9to5toys.com:

  1. Pre Order Exclusive – 55% off Code Black Drone + HD Camera
  2. BACtrack Vio – 14% off the Smartphone Breathalyzer
  3. World’s Largest iOS 8 + Swift Elearning Bundle

A Dark Room is now available for free on iOS (Reg. up to $3.99)

Mount your iPhone 6 inside your car with Logitech’s new Protection+ case

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

Other new deals:


More deals still:

Black Friday:

New products/ongoing promos:

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Google working to bring new Lollipop Google Calendar app to iPhone

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Nov 3 2014 - 10:22 am PT
4 Comments

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSTmkvn060E]

With the first Android 5.0 Lollipop devices becoming available— Nexus 9 today and the Nexus 6 later this month— Google is also showing off its new Google Calendar app arriving for other devices in the coming weeks. The new app comes on devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop, but Google also confirmed today that the app is in the works for iPhone users.

Google highlighted a few of the app’s new features including events from Gmail, suggestions that learn from your habits over time with a new feature called “Assists”, and a brand new schedule view:
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SwiftKey for iOS updated with support for Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Dutch

Avatar for Mike Beasley Nov 3 2014 - 8:06 am PT
6 Comments

The SwiftKey iOS keyboard has been updated today to include support for several new languages. This will be a welcome update for many users, as the developers say that support for new languages has been one of their most requested changes. The new languages included in this update are:

  • Swedish
  • Danish
  • Norwegian
  • Dutch

The addition of these four languages brings the total to seventeen. SwiftKey is available on the iOS App Store for free.

Several new banks get Apple Pay support including USAA, US Bank, Barclaycard, PNC, more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Nov 3 2014 - 7:52 am PT
26 Comments
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Update: USAA, US Bank and Navy Federal have just confirmed Apple Pay support starting today. In addition, MasterCard confirmed a roll out for Barclaycard, USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union, while readers report cards from PNC, and M&T Bank also working in Apple Pay.

Ahead of a previously announced Nov. 7 launch for Apple Pay support, a number of users today report being able to load USAA issued cards into the new payment service. We’ve received tips from readers regarding support for USAA Debit MasterCards and a long list of other customers online report support for other card types through the bank.

Apple has yet to update its support document detailing supported banks and card types. Currently the list includes American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi, J.P Morgan, Merrill Lynch, U.S. Trust and Wells Fargo.

A long list of other supported banks and cards are scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks and months, however. Apple previously said it had signed up approximately 500 banks for Apple Pay in the US.
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Starwood Hotels begins rollout of iPhone/Apple Watch virtual room keys, Hilton to follow (Video)

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 3 2014 - 6:14 am PT
16 Comments
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Starwood Hotels has officially launched its SPG Keyless service, allowing guests to use their iPhone (and, in the Spring, Apple Watch) to unlock their hotel doors, bypassing the front desk. The boutique hotel group first announced the project back in January.

1. After booking a reservation at a keyless hotel, SPG members are invited to opt-in to SPG Keyless and register their phone through the SPG App.

2. Approximately 24 hours before arrival, the guest receives his/her room number and Bluetooth key via the app.

3. Upon arrival at the hotel, the guest can completely bypass the front desk (where available) and go directly to his/her room.

4. Then, after ensuring his/her Bluetooth is enabled, the guest simply opens the SPG App, taps the smartphone on the door lock, waits for the green light and enters the room.

The service goes live today at three Starwood brands: Aloft, Element and The W.
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9to5Toys Last Call: JLab headphones up to 83% off, iPhone 6/Plus cases from $7, MacBook Air 11″ (refurb) $500, more

Avatar for Oct 31 2014 - 2:44 pm 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:

Amazon Gold Box: up to 83% off JLab In-Ear wired/wireless headphones, starting at $10 Prime shipped

iPhone 6/6 Plus cases in multiple colors/styles from $7 shipped (Reg. $17)

2010 Apple Macbook Air 11.6-inch 1.4GHz/2GB/64GB (refurbished) $500 shipped

Trilogy Dock positions your iPhone 6 vertically or horizontally and boosts its sound

Apple iPad Air 2 16GB WiFi (Gold, Silver, Space Gray) $460 shipped (Reg. $499)

Apple 27-inch iMac w/ Retina 5K display 3.5GHz/8GB/1TB $2,349 shipped (Reg. $2,499)

Small States: Former Nike designer brings together form and function with the Spool Dock, multiple giveaways

Other new deals:


More deals still:

Black Friday 2014:

New products/ongoing promos:

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Google Play Music app for iPhone gets iPhone 6 & iPhone 6 Plus support

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 31 2014 - 11:42 am PT
0 Comments

Following a bigger update earlier this month, Google today updated its Google Play Music app for iPhone with official support for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. That means that the app, which offers access to Google Play Music content and its All Access music streaming service, now takes advantage of the increased real estate on the larger, higher-resolution 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and 6 Plus displays.

Google also notes that the update brings “Lots of little tweaks and bug fixes.” In addition, the app receives a new icon (pictured right).

Earlier this year we reported on an under development iPad version of the Google Play Music app, but it’s yet to get an official release.

The updated Google Play Music app for iPhone, Version 1.5.3184, is available on the App Store now. The app received a big update earlier this month that introduced new Listen Now features for browsing radio stations and recently played music for All Access users in the US and Canada.

What’s New in Version 1.5.3184

– iPhone 6/6+ support
– Lots of little tweaks and bug fixes

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Apple’s WWDC app updated for iPhone 6/Plus & iOS 8

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 31 2014 - 11:19 am PT
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Apple has updated its WWDC (Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference) iPhone app with optimization for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus released by Apple last month. The update also includes a bug fix for a crashing issue for users on iOS 8 and later. The app includes developer session videos, images, and other media from Apple’s annual developer conference. Apple’s WWDC iPhone app is available for free on the App Store, although a registered developer account is required to access some content.

Microsoft redesigns Outlook for Mac, says new Office coming in 2015

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 31 2014 - 7:16 am PT
48 Comments
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Microsoft has today announced an updated version of its Outlook for Mac software with an updated design and performance improvements. The new version of email, calendar, and contacts app from Microsoft is available through the company’s Office 365 subscription service,  and Microsoft says it offers a more consistent experience with the iPhone and iPad versions.

In addition to releasing the new version of Outlook for Mac, Microsoft has shared that it will ship a new version of Office for Mac in 2015. An overhauled version of Office, which includes Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote, will be available for Mac users as a public beta in the first half of 2015 while Microsoft is targeting the second half of 2015 for the commercial release.
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1Password for iOS updated w/ Touch ID lock screen improvements & more

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 30 2014 - 9:03 am PT
9 Comments
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<em>Apple SVP Craig Federighi featuring 1Password at October Apple event</em>

Apple gave a prominent shoutout to the 1Password secure wallet app earlier this month when Craig Federighi, who leads the OS X and iOS teams, mentioned the password management app’s support for Touch ID in an iOS 8 review on stage. AgileBits, the developers behind 1Password, mentioned the shoutout in their latest release notes for an updated version of the iPhone and iPad app which brings a list of new improvements.

The latest version of 1Password for iPhone and iPad brings an improvement to the app’s lock screen when using Touch ID. Specifically, 1Password now moves the lock out of the way when using Touch ID as seen on stage in Federighi’s demonstration. This change means users unlocking 1Password to access stored passwords using the Touch ID fingerprint scanner can see more of the lock screen artwork. The update also brings speak improvements to the lock screen as well as folder syncing improvements for iCloud users and additional improvements.

1Password for iPhone and iPad is available for free on the App Store (a $9.99 in-app purchase unlocks pro features), and you can read the latest change log below.
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Smule’s popular Sing! Karaoke app updated with collaborative video features

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 30 2014 - 9:00 am PT
1 Comment
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Smule, which makes a variety of music-related iPhone apps like Guitar!, Magic Piano, and AutoRap, has a new version of its popular Sing! Karaoke app out today with a major feature for the app: video. The new version of Sing! Karaoke, which features “a huge catalog of top hits” with instrumental tracks and lyric guides for singing along to, does three things with the newly added video feature.
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Skype for iPhone gets save/delete photos feature, adds improved chat load times, synced avatars, more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 30 2014 - 6:49 am PT
4 Comments
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Following an update to version 7.1 for Mac yesterday, today Skype for iPhone is getting its own update that brings a few highly requested new features.

First up, version 5.7 of Skype for iPhone introduces the ability to save and delete photos: If you want to save a memorable photo to your camera roll or delete a sent photo from a chat, simply press and hold the image and the options will appear.

Also new in the updated app is much improved performance, according to Skype, including faster chat load times especially when entering a chat through notifications: Now when you receive a notification and tap it to open the app, the message will be there waiting for you without any delays.

Skype is also making avatars work as you’d expect for all users, across all chats types and synced across platforms. In addition the updated app is introducing easier to use people list search and filter options:
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Spotify brings iPad app in line with iPhone & Mac apps, with dark theme and Your Music feature

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 30 2014 - 6:26 am PT
4 Comments

Spotify has belatedly brought its iPad app in line with the dark-themed iPhone and Mac apps, also adding in the Your Music feature which made it easier to organise your favourite content.

The iPhone and Mac apps got the same update way back in April, and it’s unclear why it’s taken the iPad app so long to catch up.

Spotify is a free download from iTunes.

Any.do gets a massive update to version 2.0 with a focus on collaboration

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 30 2014 - 6:00 am PT
0 Comments
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Any.do, the popular to-do list management application for iOS, has received a huge update to version 2.0, which introduces a new focus on collaboration among teams and families. All of the app’s previous functions still work the way they did in previous versions, so existing users won’t need to re-learn anything, but those who want better support for groups and sharing will find a lot of useful enhancements in this update.

A new chat function allows members of a project to talk with each other, share files from Dropbox, add and remove group members, and more. Shared lists and tasks make it easy to quickly assign work, update the group’s progress, or just add something to a shared grocery list.


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‘Third-generation’ Flipboard iOS app gets redesign, 30,000 topics and officially curated content

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 30 2014 - 5:03 am PT
3 Comments
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The popular Flipboard app has received a significant upgrade in version 3.0, in what the company is describing as “the most personal and most magazine-like experience we’ve ever built.”

In addition to a slicker interface, users are now presented with top-level topics that drill down into increasingly specific ones (for example, from Technology to iPhone). In all, there are more than 30,000 topics … 
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Microsoft outs upcoming fitness ‘Band’ with premature Mac and iPhone app releases (updated)

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 29 2014 - 5:44 pm PT
16 Comments
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Update: Microsoft has now announced the Microsoft Band, a $199 fitness band that does everything described below. It goes on sale Thursday.

Microsoft hasn’t officially announced its wearable device, but it seems the company has accidentally published its desktop syncing client to the Mac App Store early. Whoops. The device is called the Microsoft Band (possibly Lumia Band, according to some currently non-functional support URLs) and sports a 310 x 102 resolution display.

The Microsoft privacy policy for the app lists some of the Band’s features: “Microsoft Band sensors help you keep track of things like your heart rate, steps, calories burned, and sleep.” Links in the document claiming to lead to a page with additional data, such as a list of sensors, currently lead to a 404 page.

Other key feature include the ability to get phone notifications on the Band, create reminders using Cortana, and more:


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Skype updated to version 7.1 with support for OS X Yosemite and bug fixes

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 29 2014 - 5:23 pm PT
6 Comments

Skype has been updated to support the newly released OS X Yosemite and fix several issues. It is now easier to copy a link in a group chat, or leave the conversation. A few crashes related to video calls and searching have been addressed as well. You can grab the update from the Skype website.

Version 7 was recently released with a redesigned interface and other changes.

 

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9to5Toys Last Call: the thinnest iPhone 6/Plus cases, Snowball USB Mic $40, LG 49″ LED HDTV $400, more

Avatar for Oct 29 2014 - 2:42 pm 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:

The thinnest iPhone 6/Plus cases we’ve found so far and some that are just thick enough to prevent ‘camera wobble’

Blue Microphones Snowball USB mic for Mac/PC/iPad (w/ adapter) $40 shipped (orig. $100)

1080p LED HDTVs: Samsung 60-inch Smart $850 (orig. $1,000), LG 49-inch $400 (orig. $700), more

Kodak’s PIXPRO 360 degree action camera is now available for $349

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

Small States: Former Nike designer brings together form and function with the Spool Dock, multiple giveaways

Other new deals:

More deals still:

New products/ongoing promos:

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Google Wallet adds recurring bank transfers for automatically adding money, low balance alerts

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 29 2014 - 1:31 pm PT
3 Comments

Google today announced it’s adding new ways to add money to its Google Wallet service in addition to some new features that will make keeping an eye on your balance easier.

First up, you will now be able to setup automatic bank transfers that will ensure there is always money to spend in your Google Wallet account. The recurring transfers allow you to schedule weekly, bi-weekly or monthly deposits and can be cancelled at any time:
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Apple making iOS 8 Notification Center a bit less useful by banning calculator widgets

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 29 2014 - 10:27 am PT
25 Comments
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Developer James Thomson of popular calculator app PCalc announced today via his Twitter account that Apple is forcing him to remove the app’s Today Widget due to a restriction that iOS widgets “cannot perform any calculations.”

Apple’s new Today Widgets feature in iOS 8, which allows developers to build functions into the system-wide Notification Center, does have some limitations that Apple outlines in developer documentation. For example, Apple encourages developers not to use Today Widgets for multistep tasks: “If you want to create an app extension that enables a multistep task or helps users perform a lengthy task, such as uploading or downloading content, the Today extension point is not the right choice.” There doesn’t, however, appear to be specific references to apps that perform calculations in Apple’s developer guidelines.
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Google updates its official Analytics app with iPad support

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 29 2014 - 8:49 am PT
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Earlier this year, Google released an official app for its Google Analytics service on iOS allowing users of the popular service to view data and reports on the go, but the dedicated app has only been available for iPhone and iPod touch users. Today that has changed, however, as Google has updated its official Analytics app for full iPad support.
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Microsoft expected to announce Office for Mac timing “very soon,” release rumored for early 2015

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 29 2014 - 3:51 am PT
6 Comments

Following yesterday’s leaked screenshots of a new version of Office for Mac, ZDNet is reporting that its contacts have told it that Microsoft will announce timings for the new edition of Office for Mac “very soon.”

The company also is expected to disclose timing and possibly a public preview of its next Office for Mac release very soon, as well […] The latest rumored release target for the next Office for Mac is early 2015.

Yesterday’s report suggested a flattened look,  support for Retina screens and integration with Notification Center.

Microsoft OneNote for iPhone and iPad updated with iOS 8 support, iPhone 6 design, and more

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 28 2014 - 9:27 pm PT
3 Comments
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Microsoft has pushed out updates for its OneNote client on both iPhone and iPad, adding support for new features added in iOS 8 and a design that’s optimized for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Users can now password protect sections of documents directly from mobile devices (a feature that used to require a Windows PC). Those with an iPhone 5s or newer will also find that they can now unlock password-protected sections of documents using Touch ID. That feature isn’t mentioned in the iPad change log, so users on the iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3 might need to wait for a future update to enable it.


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9to5Toys Last Call: iTunes gift cards 20% off, Tidal Hi-Fi music streaming, 22 Jump Street iTunes release, more

Avatar for Oct 28 2014 - 12:44 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 20% off from PayPal

Tidal brings Hi-Fi audio streaming to iOS/Android, a guide to music services

Media: 22 Jump Street early release on iTunes & discounted bundle, 8 country songs from iTunes for free, more

D-Link DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem $60 shipped (Reg. $80), more

Small States: Former Nike designer brings together form and function with the Spool Dock, multiple giveaways

Other new deals:

More deals still:

New products/ongoing promos: