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6,272 'Apps' stories April 2010 - October 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.

Realmac debuts RapidWeaver 6 with all-new design and features, drops Mac App Store version for now

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 21 2014 - 5:00 am PT
4 Comments
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Realmac Software’s popular website development tool RapidWeaver has been updated to version 6 today. The upgrade introduces many new features and enhancements to the app, including a completely redesigned interface for OS X Yosemite. The new update also adds improved publishing that’s much faster than the previous version and a new addon manager for keeping track of your installed plugins.

Five new responsive themes have been added to support a wide variety of screen sizes, and site previews can take advantage of this feature to show you exactly how your site will appear on a desktop browser or an iOS device. The previews can also be resized to any custom dimensions to fit your target display size.

Newly-added support for site-wide HTML/CSS/JavaScript allows you to write a code snippet once and apply it to your entire site. Markdown can also be used to format pages with a new template.


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Facebook updates Paper app for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, fixes issues

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 20 2014 - 10:04 pm PT
10 Comments

Facebook has pushed out an update for its popular alternative client, Paper, that adds support for the larger displays on the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. It also addresses issues that could arise with the keyboard and video playback. Finally, a few stability issues have been fixed to keep the app from crashing.

The new Paper 1.2.4 update is available for free on the iOS App Store.

Apple Pay Day: Experiences with Apple’s new payment service mostly positive

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 20 2014 - 2:06 pm PT
37 Comments

Apple Pay, which was unveiled to the world at the launch of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, has officially launched in the U.S. today alongside iOS 8.1. Experiences with the service on its first day have been mixed, and notably, Eddy Cue this morning to acknowledged that in saying that Apple still has “a lot of work to do.” Some banks are requiring verification processes which are taking time, and some widespread credit card companies, like Discover, aren’t yet supported at all. But some experiences with Apple Pay have been seamless and it seems that, so far, the service is working as expected despite its slow roll-out.
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Apple Store app for iPhone and iPad updated with Apple Pay support

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 20 2014 - 10:35 am PT
6 Comments

Alongside iOS 8.1, Apple has released a new version of its Apple Store app just in time for Apple Pay. The new version supports Apple’s new mobile payment service with a dedicated “Buy with Apple Pay” button available at checkout. You can download the update for free from the App Store, but be prepared to pay real money for whatever you end up buying in the app.

Apple Pay is available today for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users, and iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 users will be able to buy merchandise within apps when the new tablets ship later this week.

Apple’s Apple Store app is among the first apps to update with Apple Pay support, and a number of other apps are already hitting the App Store now that the service is available.

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Spotify Family to offer half-price Premium subscriptions for additional family members

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 20 2014 - 4:45 am PT
2 Comments

Anyone who has ever shared a Spotify Premium account with a partner or – worse – their kids will know the problems: arguments over who gets to use it when, and your playlists and recommendations polluted by the likes of Jason Mraz or the soundtrack from The Lego Movie.

Spotify Family will soon allow you to purchase additional Premium subscriptions for up to four family members for half-price. The first family member will continue to pay $10/month, but additional family members pay just $5/month.

Your account. Your music. With Spotify Family, everyone gets their very own account. Enjoy separate playlists and recommendations and play your music whenever you like.

Premium for everyone. Everyone on the plan gets the full Spotify Premium experience. Listen offline. Play any song, anytime, on any device. No restrictions. No ads.

The more the merrier. Having a family can be expensive. But music doesn’t have to be. With Spotify Family, you can add up to four family members to your account, and each additional user gets 50% off Spotify Premium.

No tantrums. No more fighting over what to listen to, and no more interruptions when someone else logs in and starts playing.

Spotify said a family membership has been one of its most requested features, and that the package will roll-out globally in the coming weeks.

Spotify apps are available for both OS X and iOS, as well as Windows and Android. Spotify is currently available in over 60 countries, with Canada joining the list just last month.

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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Smart Covers $7, iPhone 5 unlocked (refurb) $379, Retina iPad mini (refurb) $249, more

Avatar for Oct 17 2014 - 3:23 pm PT
1 Comment

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 Original Smart Cover for iPad 2, 3, and 4 (new, open box) $7 shipped (reg. $39)


iPhone 5 factory unlocked manufacturer refurbished w/ 1-yr Apple warranty from $379 shipped

Apple drops refurbished iPad pricing: Retina iPad mini from $249, more

1Password for Mac $34.99 (Reg. $50)

Small States: Waterfield Designs has the perfect bag for all of your gadgets, giveaway worth $329

Other new deals:

More deals still:

New products/ongoing promos:

iPhone 6/Plus deals, accessories, and more:

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iBooks Author updated with ePub and InDesign importer, new templates, and more

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 16 2014 - 10:11 pm PT
2 Comments

Apple has updated iBooks Author for OS X Yosemite and added support for new file formats and other enhancements. First among these is the ability to import Adobe InDesign and ePub files to a project. New blank templates have been added to accommodate custom designs, and authors can now use hyperlinks to jump to a specific location in other book or add a link to an image.

The app’s widgets have also gotten a few upgrades. Auto-play is now available for the media, Keynote, and HTML widgets, and the HTML widget can now be used directly on the page of a book. The Keynote widget gained improved translation support.

You can download iBooks Author for free on the Mac App Store. The change log is below.

What’s New in Version 2.2

• Import ePub files
• Import Adobe InDesign IDML files
• Create customized books with new Blank templates
• New hyperlink options: link to a location in another book, link from an image, and more
• Improved transition support in Keynote widget
• Enable auto-play for media widget, Keynote widget, and HTML widget
• Readers can now interact with the HTML widget right on a book page

Adobe releases iPhoto/Aperture importer plugin to help users transfer their libraries to Lightroom

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 16 2014 - 6:48 pm PT
16 Comments
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When Apple announced earlier this year that it would be discontinuing iPhoto and Aperture in favor of the upcoming Photos app for OS X, Adobe announced that it would be releasing a tool that would allow users to transfer their libraries into Lightroom.

That plugin has been released today on Adobe’s website and allows users to import photos, flags, ratings, keywords, and much more from the two outgoing apps into Adobe’s own offering. If you’d like to transfer your data to Lightroom, you can grab the importer for free from Adobe.

The full description of the plugin is below:
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Roundup: Here are some of the best OS X Yosemite-ready apps hitting the Mac App Store

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 16 2014 - 4:53 pm PT
11 Comments
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With the release of OS X Yosemite today, app developers have started releasing redesigned or upgraded versions of their apps to incorporate the new features and design language found in the latest version of the Mac operating system. Among those are popular apps like 1Password, Airmail, and Things.

We’ll keep this list updated as more apps get updated, so check back often to see what new apps have been updated.


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Apple releases iTunes 12.0.1 for Mac OS X Yosemite and Windows

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 16 2014 - 2:41 pm PT
35 Comments

Along with the actual release of the public version of Mac OS X Yosemite, Apple has pushed iTunes 12.0.1. The update, available for users who have upgraded to Mac OS X Yosemite, brings iTunes to version 12. The update is available through the Mac App Store on the Mac, or you can download it directly from Apple’s website.

Additionally, Apple has now released iTunes 12.0.1 for Windows.

The Cupertino corporation has also just pushed Security Update 2014-005 for Mac OS X Mavericks.

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Instagram for iOS updated with iPhone 6 and 6 Plus support

Avatar for Stephen Hall Oct 16 2014 - 2:18 pm PT
3 Comments

Instagram for iOS is definitely one of the most used apps on the iPhone, but we’ve been waiting quite some time for it to be updated to support the larger screens of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Today, finally, that update has landed bringing Instagram to version 6.1.3. In fact, these are the only new features that this version brings. Head over to the App Store to get the update, and enjoy being able to view your friends’ pictures in full resolution.

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9to5Toys Last Call: 1Password for Mac $35, GoPro HERO3+ Black (refurb) $290, Philips Wake-Up Lights from $49, more

Avatar for Oct 16 2014 - 2:05 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:

1Password for Mac $34.99 (Reg. $50)

GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition refurbished w/ 1-year warranty: $290 shipped (orig. $400)

Amazon Gold Box: save 30% or more on select Philips Wake-Up Lights, deals from $49 shipped

iTunes free App of the Week: Tower Madness 2 ($1.99 value)

Apple drops refurbished iPad pricing: Retina iPad mini from $249, more

Small States: Waterfield Designs has the perfect bag for all of your gadgets, giveaway worth $329

Other new deals:

More deals still alive:

New products/ongoing promos:

iPhone 6/Plus deals, accessories, and more:

Rdio announces CarPlay support, 320 kbps audio, & iPhone 6/6 Plus optimizations

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 16 2014 - 1:58 pm PT
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Rdio today announced support for CarPlay, allowing its users to listen and control content from the subscription music service using the built-in touchscreen of CarPlay-enabled vehicles.

CarPlay Support. Control Rdio playback and navigate your favorites and playlists from the built-in display in CarPlay-enabled cars.

Vehicles with CarPlay, Apple’s new feature that brings an iOS-like experience to in-dash touchscreens connected to an iPhone, first hit the road earlier this year in pricey new Ferrari models followed by an aftermarket solution from Pioneer. The service only has a handful of app partners so far, but we noted in our recent review that not all apps are playing nice with the feature yet. Apple currently lists iHeartRadio, MLB At Bat, Spotify, Stitcher Radio, CBS Radio, and its own Podcasts and Beats Music apps as supported apps. 
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Twitter introduces new audio card, allowing in-line audio playback in mobile apps

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 16 2014 - 1:49 pm PT
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Twitter announced a change coming to its mobile apps today that allows users to play music directly from a tweet. The new Twitter Audio Card will allow certain users (there’s a list on Twitter’s blog) to share audio uploaded to SoundCloud with users in-line. Users will be able to listen to these embeds while they continue browsing their timelines.

Twitter says it’s just starting to test the feature right now and plans to roll it out to more content creators and partner audio sites in the future. You can try it out in Twitter for iPhone right now.

CBS follows HBO in targeting cord-cutters with $5.99/month VOD service via app & web

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 16 2014 - 7:02 am PT
30 Comments
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Just one day after HBO announced that it would be offering a web-only subscription at some point next year, CBS has played leap-frog by announcing the immediate availability of a $5.99/month web & app subscription offering on-demand access to almost all content.

CBS All Access will offer subscribers thousands of episodes from the current season, previous seasons and classic shows on demand, as well as the ability to stream local CBS Television stations live in 14 of the largest U.S. markets at launch.

CBS All Access is available beginning today at CBS.com and on mobile devices through the CBS App for iOS and Android.

Cable companies have long shied away from offering access to popular, current programming without demanding that you sign-up to cable access first. But broadcasters now seem to be recognizing that it isn’t just cord-cutting that threatens their existing models, it’s also ‘cord nevers’ – young people who simply aren’t signing up for cable subscriptions in the first place, preferring to get their TV fix online … 
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Apple adding ability to track what you do inside retail apps to serve targeted advertising

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 16 2014 - 4:41 am PT
9 Comments
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Apple is reportedly adding the ability to track what users do inside certain apps in order to present them with targeted in-app ads across iOS devices, reports digital media site Digiday.

Say, for example, a visitor to a retailer’s iPhone app adds a pair of shoes to his cart but ultimately decide not to buy it. In this scenario, the retailer will now be able to retarget that user with an ad for that exact pair — even in another app on his iPad. When tapped, the ad would direct him back to his abandoned checkout page and automatically add the shoes to his online shopping cart.

Ad agencies say that Apple has been pitching the new capability since last month …

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Reddit acquires popular Alien Blue iOS app, rebrands it as official client

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 15 2014 - 4:51 pm PT
10 Comments
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Reddit finally has its own official application for browsing and posting to your favorite subreddits, and users of the service will probably be excited to learn that it’s one they may already be using. The site has acquired the rights to the popular Alien Blue client and hired the developer responsible for creating it.

Alien Blue got a few bug fixes today and was released with a new App Store listing and is avaiable for free for all users. For the next week, all users will be able to get the Alien Blue Pro upgrade for free as well. Reddit launched its first official application earlier this year with the release of the Ask Me Anything app.


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Police officer uses Find My iPhone to track and save woman stranded in 500-foot ravine

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 15 2014 - 4:05 pm PT
8 Comments

A San Jose police officer used Apple’s Find My iPhone service to track down and rescue Melissa Vasquez, a woman who had been trapped in a 500-foot South Bay ravine for 17 hours. According to a report by KGO-TV, officer David Cameron is to thank for locating the stranded driver. After Vasquez was involved in a car accident, OnStar reported her location to the police, but they were unable to find any evidence of the car or driver.

When Cameron, who says he’s known around his department for being a bit of a “tech geek,” searched her house, he found her iPad and realized that he could use Find My iPhone to locate Vasquez’s cell phone. Vasquez’s tablet was locked using a passcode, but it took Cameron only three guesses to figure out the code and gain access to Find My iPhone.

From there it took only 20 minutes for police to track down Vasquez and begin the process of airlifting her to a nearby hospital.

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Facebook and YouTube release iPhone 6/Plus app updates

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 15 2014 - 10:43 am PT
13 Comments

After more than a month since the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus screen sizes were announced, Facebook has released an updated version of its iPhone app to take advantage of the bigger screens. The new app features a smaller navigation bar and shows more content on the screen. Facebook had previously updated its Messenger app for the new iPhones, although its alternative Facebook Paper app is still awaiting an update.

YouTube also released an updated version of its iPhone app today optimized for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus screen sizes. This means you can see more video suggestions from the main page as well as well favorites and subscriptions from the side bar.

The status bar and keyboard are also native to the larger iPhone models versus the previously scaled up versions on the new iPhones with the old app. YouTube 2.13 for iPhone and iPad also includes a number of bug fixes for the app:


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9to5Toys Last Call: Seagate 3TB Desktop HDD $90, Beats gear (refurb) up to 75% off, Epson printer w/ AirPrint from $35, more

Avatar for Justin Kahn Oct 15 2014 - 9:23 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:

Last Call Updates:

Seagate Backup Plus 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop External Hard Drive $90 shipped (orig. $140)

Beats by Dre Headphone Recert Blowout, up to 75% off: Solos: $79, Mixr Pro DJ/Studio $109, Wireless $129 and Pros $159, Pill Speakers $140

Epson XP-410 Small-in-One printer w/ AirPrint $35 shipped w/ .edu ($60 w/o)

PSA: you may be overpaying for bundled iOS apps/games

Google Chromecast $28 Prime shipped or less from Staples stores (Reg. $35) + free Hulu Plus/Google Play offers

Small States: Waterfield Designs has the perfect bag for all of your gadgets, giveaway worth $329

Other new deals:

More deals still alive:

New products/ongoing promos:

iPhone 6/Plus deals, accessories, and more:

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Sleep Cycle alarm updated w/ iPhone 6/Plus support & Health app integration

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 15 2014 - 7:51 am PT
6 Comments

Sleep Cycle has updated its smart alarm app for iPhone to take advantage of the larger displays on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus using an adaptive layout to show more content at once.

The updated version of Sleep Cycle also takes advantage of HealthKit for iOS 8 users as the app can now share sleep tracking information with Apple’s Health app. Sleep Cycle says to begin sleep tracking for at least one night before activating sharing between the smart alarm clock and Apple’s Health app.

Sleep Cycle allows iPhone users to capture sleep analysis data by placing the iPhone between the sheets and mattress where you sleep while connected to a power source to measure sleep duration and quality. Previously that data was presented only in the Sleep Cycle app, but the latest update allows iPhone users to also view that data alongside other information available in Apple’s Health app on iOS 8 like step tracking, heart rate, and more.

The app is 99¢ on the App Store and worth trying out for anyone interested in adding sleep tracking data to Apple’s Health app without buying a dedicated fitness band. For more apps that take advantage of Apple’s Health app, check out our running list of supported apps.

As promised, Angry Birds Transformers hits USA and rest of the world today

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 15 2014 - 5:24 am PT
6 Comments
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Rovio’s latest game in the Angry Birds series, Angry Birds Transformers, has rolled out worldwide today after its earlier soft-launch last month in New Zealand, Finland, Canada and Australia.

Angry Birds and Transformers collide in this action-packed, 3D shoot ’em up adventure! The EggSpark has transformed the eggs into crazed robots who are destroying Piggy Island, but who can stop them?! Autobirds, roll out! 

Gamers have been waiting for quite some time as the Transformers mash-up game was first announced back in June …


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