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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.

LinkedIn debuts new Job Search iPhone app for finding your dream career

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LinkedIn has been busy over the past few months redirecting its mobile and feature initiatives after it launched then pulled its Intro service for iOS and replaced its own CardMunch app with integration with Evernote’s business card reading feature.

LinkedIn’s news continues today as it launches a standalone iPhone app for dedicated to job hunting. The iPhone app is called LinkedIn Job Search and it joins the primary LinkedIn app as well as LinkedIn Pulse, LinkedIn Contacts, and the social network’s other existing mobile applications. The app takes advantage of location data and push notifications to keep job hunters updated with relevant opportunities based on a set criteria. LinkedIn describes the app as follows:


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Skype 5.1 for iOS rolling out with improvements to conversations and favorites

Approximately a week after releasing Skype 5.0 with a completely revamped design and new features, Microsoft is now rolling out version 5.1 with various improvements. Notably, there are enhancements to managing conversations, favorites, and finding the status of Skype contacts. From the Skype blog:

  • You can now delete a conversation from the recent list with a long press on recents. You can also edit messages you’ve recently sent with a long press on the message. (Just as you can long press on an individual message to delete it.)
  • Tap the “add favorites” link to easily fill your favorites screen with the people you contact the most.
  • The People list now matches the desktop better: we have added the “Skype” filter; the “online” filter now includes users set to online, away and do not disturb; and best of all your filter settings are saved.

The update also includes improvements to VoiceOver. The update is rolling out on the App Store today for free. Skype says more improvements are coming in the future. Be sure to check out our look at the new Skype design along with an interview with the lead designer of the software.


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Hundreds of businesses in London are about to flip the switch on payments via iBeacons

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In Brixton, South West London, hundreds of businesses will soon integrate iBeacons as part of one of the first real-world networks for mobile payments using Apple’s Bluetooth LE iBeacon tech

In Brixton, businesses introduced a local currency in 2009 that eventually switched from paper into mobile payments by text. Around 250 businesses in the area accept the currency, which is meant to keep the money in the community and support smaller independent local businesses. By the starting of next month, the currency will have its own mobile app called Brixton Pound, and iBeacons will make it easy to automatically prompt users for payments. The Brixton Pound organization teamed up with Dingo for the payment solution and kontakt.io for the iBeacon hardware and integration:
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Disney launches ‘Star Wars Scene Maker’ iPad app

With hype building surrounding the filming of the latest Star Wars reboot, Disney is taking advantage by launching a new iPad app called ‘Star Wars Scene Maker’. The app allows users to create Star Wars scenes by selecting from various 3D assets like characters and environments, camera angles, dialogue (you can also record your own), musical scores, and more:

MAKE STAR WARS YOUR OWN!

Become the master of your own Star Wars video universe! Create your own scenes, choose your favorite characters, control their actions and dialogue, record your masterpiece, and share your Star Wars story! The Force of your imagination is with you!

FEATURES:

· Create your own Star Wars universe and bring it to life with imaginative play and countless options.

· Select from 3D environments with 3D models of your favorite characters, weapons, and ships.

· Use dialogue straight from the Star Wars films, or record your voice and apply a Darth Vader, Rebel Pilot, or Storm Trooper filter to put your words into any character’s mouth!

· Switch between three cameras, each of which can track or follow the action, to record your scene from multiple angles!

· Chooose a musical score taken from the Star Wars films, write your own iconic Star Wars “Title Crawl” and end credits, and share your finished scene with your friends!

Star Wars Scene Maker is available as a free download for iPads running iOS 7 and up (Disney says it’s “most compatible with the newest generation of iPad”), but you will find some paid in-app purchases and Disney ads within.

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Hatch, the Tamagotchi-like iPhone game, adds Ooga Jump integration & goes 50% off

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Hatch has been teasing today’s update since the end of March and today it’s finally available on the App Store. The app’s developers at Impending have worked with folks from Bolt Creative, the makers of Pocket God, to bring new life to the Tamagotchi-like iPhone and iPod touch pet with integration with the game Ooga Jump


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iTunes Radio streaming is now free on T-Mobile, other services also included

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T-Mobile has just announced at its “Uncarrier 5.0” event (which apparently double as the Uncarrier 6.0 event) that all streaming music services will now be free to stream on T-Mobile, including iTunes Radio. This also applies to Pandora, iHeartRadio, Slacker Radio, and Spotify.

Any streaming you do will always be done over the company’s fastest available network, and won’t count towards your high-speed data limit.

Customers can visit T-Mobile’s website to request new services to be added to the “music freedom” selection. As streaming services gain votes, they will be added to the program.


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Netflix updates its Apple TV and iOS apps with design refresh

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Last night Apple TV users started seeing a new channel icon for Netflix as the company recently updated its logo, and today both the iPhone and iPad versions of the Netflix apps were updated to version 6.0 which includes the new design.

The updates to both Apple TV and the iPhone and iPad apps don’t bring much else aside from the new logo and slight design tweaks, but the iOS apps do include bug fixes and faster video playback according to Netflix.

The Netflix channel update on Apple TV should be available without any software updates, and the latest version of Netflix for iPhone and iPad is available today on the App Store
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iPhone 6 likely to sport barometer/air pressure sensors to measure altitude, weather

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Besides a larger display and redesigned metal body, details regarding which features the next-generation iPhone models will pack have been light. However, it appears that the new models could include a new sensor: a barometer.

A barometer is a sensor commonly used for measuring altitude and the sensor is already commonly found in Android devices such as the Galaxy Nexus. A barometer sensor could be used by hikers, mountain climbers, bike riders, and enthusiasts who want accurate knowledge into their current altitude. Barometers, via air pressure data, also measure temperature and weather information.

The information regarding the next-generation iPhone likely including this sensor comes via Xcode 6 and iOS 8, the latest iPhone software development kit and operating system. The software includes updated CoreMotion APIs that clearly reference the new altitude measuring capabilities:


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9to5Toys Last Call: Samsung 1TB EVO SSD $400, save $15 on $50 or more at Newegg, power banks from $10, more

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

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Jump on Apple’s new $1099 1.4GHz iMac? We might have a better offer for under $1000

 

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Roku current gen streaming media players (refurb) from $35 shipped

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Media: LEGO movie combo pack $18, iTunes comedies $10 each, Breaking Bad DVDs for $10 eachmore

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Best Buy slashes $100 off new MacBook Air, deals as low as $650 with .EDU email

Other new deals:


More deals still alive:

New products/ongoing promotions:

Microsoft/Google/Android:

Adobe launches powerful Mix iPad app, brings Lightroom to iPhone, updates Creative Cloud, Ink & Slide available

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As part of a totally revamped Creative Cloud Photography Plan, Adobe today launched both Lightroom for iPhone, a companion app to the desktop version and twin of the recently launched iPad version, as well as Adobe Mix, a completely new iPad app that brings down many powerful features previously only available on the desktop versions of Photoshop.

Corresponding with these new iOS apps, Adobe has launched new versions of 14 of its Creative Cloud desktop apps. Let’s take a closer look at the new iOS offerings from Adobe.


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iOS calendar app update two-pack: Sunrise gains app integration as Magneto reaches iPad

A pair of calendar services have received updates this afternoon. First is Magneto Calendar, a popular app that has been available for the iPhone for a while now. The company today announced that its app is now available for the iPad, as well. The new app is built with the larger iPad display in mind and includes several  unique features. 
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9to5Toys Last Call: Logitech Ultrathin iPad keyboard (refurb) $20, WD 2TB portable HDD combo, Blu-ray/iTunes movies, more

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

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Bose Soundlink Mini portable Bluetooth speaker (refurb): $135 shipped (Reg. $200 new)

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Apps/games:

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Apple iPad Air 16GB WiFi $400 (Reg. $499), iPad mini w/ Retina display 32GB WiFi $430 (Reg. $499)

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Best Buy slashes $100 off new MacBook Air, deals as low as $650 with .EDU email

Other new deals:


More deals still alive:

New products/ongoing promotions:

Microsoft/Google/Android:

 

Automatic 2.0 for iPhone brings new design & fuel gauge support to the smart driving assistant

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Automatic, the smart driving assistant that connects your car to your iPhone, is updating its accompanying iOS app today with a new design and new features. The new design, Automatic says, is meant to be “lighter, faster and more modern”. The gray header, for example, has been replaced with a white field displaying the current and past driving stats collected by the app.

In addition to the refreshed look and feel, Automatic 2.0 for iPhone brings new features to Automatic Link users. With the update, Automatic will offer fuel level information and warnings on supported cars. While this feature only works on supported cars, in many cases it goes beyond dashboard fuel gauges as Automatic can present an estimate of miles possible to be driven before running out of fuel based on previous driving behaviors.
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Paper by 53 shows off surface pressure feature coming to its Pencil stylus and iPad Paper app

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Paper by FiftyThree Surface Pressure feature

Last fall, the folks behind the iPad drawing app Paper introduced a standalone iPad stylus that integrates with the app appropriately called Pencil. FiftyThree’s Pencil is designed to not only look like a good old-fashioned pencil, but the stylus even talks to the Paper software to decipher which end of the stylus is for drawing and which end is for erasing… like a digital pencil.

Today FiftyThree showed off in a blog post a new feature coming to current and future Pencil and Paper users that the company calls Surface Pressure. In short, FiftyThree’s Pencil stylus is getting even more like a real artist’s pencil: the Paper app will soon be able to distinguish various sides and widths of the Pencil tip as well as recognize the amount of pressure applied. Video and details below…
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Facebook Paper 1.2 adds new photo features, trending section, performance improvements, more

In addition to a few changes to its iPad app, Facebook today released the second major update to its app Paper bringing it closer to feature parity with the main Facebook iPhone app. While the list of changes included in Facebook Paper 1.2 is rather long, the changes largely focus on improving the photo experience. For example, Paper uses can now adjust both profile and cover photos from the app. The update also includes photo tag support and improvements as well as greater support for tilt to explore feature for viewing photos.

Facebook Paper 1.2 is available for iPhone and iPod touch today on the App Store. For more on what’s new, view the full change log below…
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Domino’s Pizza launches voice ordering in mobile apps powered by Nuance

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Dominos announced today that its launching a new voice ordering feature in its iPhone and Android apps that is powered by Nuance’s Nina Mobile voice speech recognition, speech synthesis and natural language understanding technology. The company says the feature will provide “a human-like, conversational customer service experience that allows users to speak an order and quickly add items to their cart.” Imagine opening the app and placing your order by saying, for example, “I’d like a large pizza with extra cheese, pepperoni and onions” or “I’ll take a 14-piece order of Hot Wings”.

“There will be a day where typing on keyboards or with thumbs on mobile devices will come to a close; we want to be the ones who continue to advance the technology experience – hand-in-hand with our customers,” said Patrick Doyle, Domino’s Pizza president and CEO. “Our mobile app users who are a part of this launch are truly helping set the foundation for the innovations of today, that will soon enough become the standards of tomorrow.”

The platform, in partnership with Nuance, will redefine technology convenience – and puts Domino’s at the forefront of an intuitive ordering method that is a true first within both traditional and e-commerce retail.

With the updated app rolling out today, you’ll also be able to browse menus, coupons and navigate through the app using your voice. The feature rolls out in beta today and is available in the updated Domino’s Pizza app for iOS now.

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: WD 3TB desktop HD $94, Samsung 1TB EVO SSD $410, Logitech Powershell $50, more

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

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Update: The 1TB portable drive has unexpectedly jumped back up in price.

WD 1TB Elements USB 3.0 portable external hard drive $48 shipped, WD 3TB Desktop USB 3 HDD $94 shipped (Reg. $129)

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Samsung EVO 1TB 2.5-inch SATA-3 SSD $410 shipped (half off)

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Games/Apps: Logitech Powershell controller $50, Nintendo 2DS $100, TurboScan $1, iOS freebiesmore

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Best Buy slashes $100 off new MacBook Air, deals as low as $650 with .EDU email

Other new deals:

New! Beats by Dr. Dre DiddyBeats In-Ear Headphones w/ ControlTalk $33 (Reg. $150)
New! Drobo 5N 5-Bay NAS Storage Array with Gigabit Ethernet $400 shipped (Reg. $600)
New! Daily Deals: Samsung 55″ HDTV $700, Macbook Air $599, Otterbox cases $15, more
New! Home Deals: Cuisinart portable grill $110, Canopy Zero Gravity Chair $38, more

More deals still alive:

New products/ongoing promotions:

Microsoft/Google/Android:

 

Facebook rolling out new discovery panel for iPad with game and trending news access

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Facebook is now rolling out a new right-side panel for its iPad application to provide timely information, the social networking company told developers today. In the newest version of the Facebook iPad app, a new panel (shown in the image above) will provide instant access to trending news topics, calendar events, the weather, and games.

In the latest update to Facebook for iPad in the US, we’re testing new ways to help people discover more timely and entertaining content on tablet. This update will surface content on the right-hand side of the iPad that’s relevant to how people use tablets today, which is primarily to read news, watch videos and play games.

The move is primarily positioned by Facebook as a way to continue to attract gaming within the network. Facebook says that over 70% of iPad users have played a game on Facebook over the past three months, so it makes sense for the company to further promote gaming on the platform. This move also serves as a way for Facebook to keep users inside of its app while on the iPad.


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iBeacons in retail stores blowing up app usage, ad engagement

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One of the big debates regarding iBeacons, the tech that allows iOS apps to receive location-aware notifications over Bluetooth LE, is whether or not the experience will become intrusive for users. Imagine having your local grocery store’s app installed. Once the store has installed a few beacons, you could soon find yourself overcome with notifications as you walk around without ever even opening the app. You run the risk of users getting frustrated and potentially avoiding or deleting the app entirely. However, that hasn’t been the case when it comes to the iBeacons installed by inMarket in grocery stores across the country. It tells us app and ad engagement has skyrocketed since rolling out the platform:
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Angry Birds Transformers mash-up game coming soon from Rovio and Hasbro

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Rovio has a lot in the works. The Finnish-game maker last week released Angry Birds Epic, an RPG-style game and a first for the series, and later this year Rovio will release Angry Birds Stella led by the lady bird in the saga.

On top of all that, Rovio is announcing something they’ve been working on with Hasbro: Angry Birds Transformers. The latest title in the series will be like Angry Birds Star Wars, another Hasbro partnership for Rovio, combining the iconic gameplay with characters that resemble those from the movies.
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Ahead of Apple’s HealthKit, WebMD app now tracks health & fitness data from connected accessories

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WebMD today launched “Healthy Target”, a feature within its iOS app that lets users track health data from a variety of sources like activity trackers, glucose meters, and other iPhone-connected health and fitness accessories. The feature lets users set goals, track habits, get easy to understand summaries of biometric data, and also provides progress reports and inspiration along the way. WebMD says the feature “will provide valuable assistance to individuals looking to manage chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes and obesity, as well as to a broader audience interested in achieving their fitness goals or more generally living a healthier lifestyle.” The feature acts a lot like Apple’s new Health app, which is about to launch alongside its new HealthKit platform for developers this fall with iOS 8
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Bitcoin wallet apps returning to the App Store after Apple relaxes rules on virtual currency

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After an App Store guideline change earlier this month, it seems that Bitcoin wallet apps are once again welcome on the platform, as noticed by Coindesk. The updated rules said that Apple would allow virtual currency apps if they do not violate any federal laws. Apps like eGift and are now available for download in the App Store.

Albeit merely a wrapper around a web app, Coin Pocket does indeed enable the exchange of Bitcoin from within the app itself. This would have not passed Apple approval just a few weeks prior, as Apple’s previous stance did not allow any app that allowed transfers to take place.


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