Apps

Ahead of its major media event next week, Apple has issued a significant update to its Apple Store shopping iOS app. The first addition is a complete redesign for the iPhone and iPod touch application’s interface. The new design is more in-line with the recently released iPad variant. Speaking of the iPad version, the tablet-optimized layout is now a universal bundle (single download) with the iPhone/iPod touch version, and it has also gained support for making Apple Store One to One reservations. The app also has a new Stores section to search for upcoming events at local Apple Stores. There is also a new icon. Perhaps the most significant new feature is support for synchronizing shopping between iOS devices and desktop computers. For example, you can start shopping on your Mac and continue via the app on your iPhone. Apple (rightfully so) doesn’t want to a miss a single iPhone 6 or iWatch/iBand sale.

Withings’ new HomeKit-integrated video monitoring & environmental sensor device detects crying

Jordan Kahn Sep 4 2014 - 10:45 am PT

5 Comments

Withings, a company well-known for its line of iPhone-connected health and fitness tracking accessories, today announced a new video monitoring device with environmental sensors called Home. While Home is a video monitoring solution that can be used for security, the company is also including some pretty unique features that it hopes will make your home both a healthier and safer environment.
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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air starting at $400, new Bose QC25 headphones, Harry Potter collection $50, more

Sep 4 2014 - 9:05 am PT

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:

New Toy Roundup: Wacom iPad styluses, Harman Kardon Omni wireless home speaker system, Sphero Ollie, more
Synology’s latest DiskStation is its most affordable NAS at just $130
Free Target $10 gift card w/ 3 household items, more
Expedia $100 off $400+ hotel booking (up to 25% savings)
Timbuk2 Sidebar laptop briefcase (black) $32 shipped (orig. $90), more

Apple iPad Air from $400, select Retina mini models $100 off at Staples

Headphones:

New Toy of the Day: Bose QuietComfort 25 Noise Cancelling headphones
Bose IE2 in-ear headphones $60 shipped (Reg. $100)
Monster DNA On-Ear Noise Isolating Headphones $69 (Orig. $230)
Colorful MEElectronics Sport-Fi Headphones, starting at $18 shipped
Audio-Technica QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones $125 (Reg. up to $186)

Harry Potter iTunes collection $50, new Maroon 5 song free, Fandango movie ticket $7, more

$50 iTunes gift card for $40: save 20% on future apps, music, movies, more

Small States: This is Ground perfects craftsmanship with a purpose, giveaway worth $450, 15% discount

Other new deals:

New! Games/Apps: Infinity Blade 3 $3, Assassin’s Creed Pirates free, more
New! Western Digital introduces 2TB Wireless portable drives with SD Card slot, 6hr battery
New! Routers: ASUS Dual Band N450 $30, TRENDnet N450 $15, more
New! Daily Deals: Samsung 40″ 1080p Smart HDTV: $499, Mophie Juice Pack: $35, more

More tech deals still alive:

OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 5/5s $15 shipped (Reg. $50)
Displays: Samsung 23.5-inch $150, Sharp Aquos 32-inch $180, more
Linksys Certifed Refurb Dual-Band N750 Router $35 shipped (Reg. $140)
USB Charger roundup: Poweradd 10000mAh: $20, more
Best Buy takes $50 off LG G Watch prior to R announcement at IFA
RAVPower 30W/6A 4-Port USB charger $13 Prime shipped (Reg. $50)
Poweradd 50W 6-Port Family-Sized USB Desktop Charger $22 (Reg. $66)

Apple Deals:

Get an iPad mini for $200 shipped at Best Buy (33% savings)
Apple iPad Air 32GB WiFi (Silver or Space Gray) $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

Home/fashion/magazines/games/media:

One year mag subs from w/ digital: Macworld $7.50, GQ $5, ESPN $5, more
Home: Philips Hue lighting pack $25 off , more
Fashion: Nordstrom up to 40%, much more
Home: Cuisinart Toaster Oven (refurb) $50 (orig. $145), more
Watches 20% off at Amazon, more

New products/ongoing promos:

Sonos Bridge hardware no longer required
Pioneer announces its new compact iOS/Mac WeGO3 DJ controller
Nintendo reveals new 3DS/3DS XL handhelds with 2nd analog stick & faster CPU
Jabra jumps into fitness tracking with new heart rate monitoring headphones
AutoDesk releases a new photo editing app for Mac
New Livescribe Notebook takes ideas from paper to digital in a whole new way
LG’s new CordZero vacuum has stalking skills that’ll help keep your place clean

Skype 5.4 adds ability to host group audio calls from iPhone

Zac Hall Sep 4 2014 - 6:25 am PT

It’s not quite group video calling, but Skype is rolling out an update to its iPhone app to support hosting group audio calls in the latest feature addition to its redesigned iPhone app.

For existing groups (and for new groups) we’ve placed a new call button in the bottom navigation bar. Simply tap it to start your call. We support up to four people on a group audio call in this first release, but you can expect to hear further news on this in the near future.

Once a group audio call has started, the number of participants will be displayed in the top bar. Tap the navigation bar to see the active participants on the call. You can also see any contacts that are in the group but not on the call. Furthermore, as the host, you can also selectively take people off the call without ending the current call.

Freemium Angry Birds Stella hits the App Store with emphasis on the -emium

Ben Lovejoy Sep 4 2014 - 4:02 am PT

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDADCXFdj5A]

The latest Angry Birds edition, Stella, hit the app store today, with pink, female characters apparently designed to appeal to girls. The game itself, though, is a variation on the familiar theme of firing birds at pigs hidden in the scenery …
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Rdio preps revamped music streaming app with a focus on free stations

Mike Beasley Sep 3 2014 - 10:16 pm PT

The Rdio music streaming service is preparing to release an updated version of its mobile app later today will place a new focus on its free “stations” feature as competitors like Spotify, Pandora, and Apple’s one-two punch of iTunes Radio and Beats Music crank up the pressure on the service.

Rdio claims its free music library is as much as fifteen times bigger than those of competing apps. Like other online radio services, the new Rdio will automatically create playlists and stations from that library based on a user’s music preferences. Curated stations from musicians and other celebrities will also be available, much like in iTunes Radio.

Google Drive for iOS updated w/ syncing speed boost & upload progress

Zac Hall Sep 3 2014 - 11:49 am PT

It’s been a few months since Google released version 3.1 of its Drive app for iOS, and today an update in the form of Google Drive 3.2 is available for users. The changes are slim but something users will likely appreciate.

In the latest version, Google says Drive is now faster at syncing data, and uploading files now shows a progress indicator as well as the destination for the file.

The update follows the recent release of Google Slides for iOS after it shipped Docs and Sheets earlier this year.

Drive users can find the latest version on the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Belkin WeMo home automation 20% off, Audio Technica over-ears $125, iTunes GC 20% off, more

Justin Kahn Sep 3 2014 - 9:00 am PT

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 GoldBox: 20% or more off popular Belkin, WeMo, and Linksys home automation products

Audio-Technica QuietPoint Noise-Cancelling Headphones (black/silver) $125 shipped (Reg. up to $186), more

$50 iTunes gift card for $40: save 20% on future apps, music, movies, more

Apple Deals:

Get an iPad mini for $200 shipped at Best Buy (33% savings)
Apple iPad Air 32GB WiFi (Silver or Space Gray) $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

Small States: This is Ground perfects craftsmanship with a purpose, giveaway worth $450, 15% discount

Other new deals:

New! Daily Deals: Dell Laser Printer $50, Klipsch In-Ear Headphones from $35, more
New! Games/Apps: 3DS Mario, Animal Crossing & DK titles for $25, iOS freebies, more
New! One year mag subs from w/ digital: Macworld $7.50, GQ $5, ESPN $5, more

Linksys Dual-Band N750 Router refurb: $35 (Reg. $140), AC Gig Router $60 shipped (Reg. $139) http://t.co/2WVEDJobGT pic.twitter.com/i6nZtd3WrJ

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) September 3, 2014

More tech deals still alive:

Bose IE2 in-ear headphones $70 shipped (Reg. $100)
OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 5/5s $15 shipped (Reg. $50)
Displays: Samsung 23.5-inch $150, Sharp Aquos 32-inch $180, more
Linksys Certifed Refurb Dual-Band N750 Router $35 shipped (Reg. $140)
USB Charger roundup: Poweradd 10000mAh: $20, more
Best Buy takes $50 off LG G Watch prior to R announcement at IFA
RAVPower 30W/6A 4-Port USB charger $13 Prime shipped (Reg. $50)
Poweradd 50W 6-Port Family-Sized USB Desktop Charger $22 (Reg. $66)
Save an extra 10% on HDTVs: Sony 50″ 3D smart HDTV $710 (Orig. $1,399)
Otterbox Reflex Case iPad 2/3/4 $29 shipped (Reg. up to $54)
JBL Flip 2 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (blue or red) $70 shipped (Reg. $100)
HDTVs w/Dell eGift Cards: Samsung 65″ HDTV+$250 GC $1,298, more
Headphones: Beats Pro over-ears (refurb) $179, more
Joy Factory carbon fiber headrest mount for tablets $50 shipped (Reg. $90)
Two-pack of Kensington ClickSafe $25 (Reg. up to $70)

Apple Deals:

Walmart temporarily cuts 16 GB iPhone 5c price to $.97, iPhone 5s now $79
The Apple Store now sells an $89 refurbished iPod touch and it may actually be worth your time/money

Home/fashion/magazines/games/media:

Home: Philips Hue lighting pack $25 off , more
Fashion: Nordstrom up to 40%, much more
Home: Cuisinart Toaster Oven (refurb) $50 (orig. $145), more
Watches 20% off at Amazon, more

New products/ongoing promos:

Sonos Bridge hardware no longer required
Pioneer announces its new compact iOS/Mac WeGO3 DJ controller
Nintendo reveals new 3DS/3DS XL handhelds with 2nd analog stick & faster CPU
Jabra jumps into fitness tracking with new heart rate monitoring headphones
AutoDesk releases a new photo editing app for Mac
New apps & updates: Tiny Tower Vegas & Wipeout 2
Dyson teases new robot vacuum technology coming September 4th
New Livescribe Notebook takes ideas from paper to digital in a whole new way
LG’s new CordZero vacuum has stalking skills that’ll help keep your place clean
LaCie is now shipping the fastest, highest-capacity Thunderbolt 2 storage solution
Smart buys: our favorite back to school tech essentials
Mo-Fi: Powered Hi-Fi Headphones with Built-in Amp by Blue

Apps

VMware releases Fusion 7 update w/ redesign for Yosemite & optimizations for latest Macs

Jordan Kahn Sep 3 2014 - 7:06 am PT

VMware, the popular virtualization software that lets you run Windows on Mac OS X, is today officially announcing new versions of its VMware Fusion app that introduces all-new features and full support for the latest Macs.

First up is the consumer facing version of the software dubbed VMware Fusion 7. It now includes a redesigned experienced for OS X Yosemite that the company notes includes “translucency in windows, streamlined toolbars and simplified Dock icon,” and more (pictured above). The release also packs in optimizations for the latest Mac hardware and Retina displays. The company says Fusion 7 offers an energy impact reduction of around 42% compared to the previous version and a number of other performance enhancements:

Optimized for the latest Intel Core i5, i7 and Xeon E5 processors, Fusion 7 delivers up to 43% improvements in CPU intensive operations like multimedia, encryption and decryption, and other strenuous performance tests. Leveraging the Mac’s faster memory, faster SSD performance and greater power you run Windows applications at near-native performance… Windows never looked so good with Retina Display optimization for a crisp and detailed experience of your Windows applications. If your Mac has a native Retina display or is connected to one, Fusion 7 ensures you get a seamless experience when running Windows across Retina and non-Retina displays.

VMware is also releasing Fusion 7 Pro that includes advanced features for professionals running the virtualization software in beyond just a personal environment. A full rundown of what’s new in Pro is below:

• Unmatched OS Support for Ultimate Compatibility – Fusion 7 Pro is designed for OS X Yosemite and fully supports the latest Microsoft operating systems, from Windows 8.1 for the desktop to Windows 2012 R2 for the server. For organizations and technical users that run the latest Linux distribution, Fusion 7 Pro supports Ubuntu 14.04, RHEL 7, CentOS 7, Fedora 20, Debian 8 and many more.

• More Connected than Ever – Connection to VMware vSphere, ESXi or Workstation is now available, allowing users to extend and scale virtual machines to your private cloud. Easily connect to hosted virtual machines and run, upload or download virtual machines directly from within Fusion 7 Pro.

• Dual GPU Optimization – For MacBook Pros with a discrete GPU as well as an integrated GPU, Fusion 7 Pro lets users choose which GPU to use for 3D applications. Selecting the integrated GPU will result in longer battery life while selecting the discrete GPU will offer the best performance for 3D applications in a virtual machine.

• Enhanced Connectivity and iSight Support – Macs equipped with an iSight camera can now use it to conduct video conferences within a Windows virtual machine. Fusion 7 Pro also supports USB 3.0 for fast file transfers, HD audio with 5.1 surround sound, and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology.

• Enhanced Productivity – The Fusion Pro Virtual Machine Library’s new power state indicator enables users to monitor and shut down virtual machines not in use to improve overall performance. Fusion 7 Pro also enables application-level, user-configurable shortcuts to easily open or switch to a specific virtual machine.

VMware Fusion 7 ($69) and Fusion 7 Pro ($149) are available now through the company’s website. Those that purchased version 6 between August 1 and September 30 2014 will get a free update. More details on the latest release is available here.

Automatic smart driving assistant brings its dashboard to the web

Zac Hall Sep 3 2014 - 6:00 am PT

The smart driving assistant Automatic is getting even more capable this morning with the roll out of a new dashboard interface made specifically for the web. You will probably recognize the interface (seen above) if you have used the Automatic app, which connects to a Bluetooth accessory in your car to give you data on driving efficiency and more.

The dashboard presents trip history mapped out alongside information including distance, miles-per-gallon, fuel cost, and duration just like the iPhone app. In addition to being able to access data captured by Automatic on the web for the first time, the new dashboard also features filtering and exporting capabilities.
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iOS App Store suffers outage as entire catalog of apps becomes “no longer available” (Updates: Apple confirms/fixes)

Mike Beasley Sep 2 2014 - 6:56 pm PT

25 Comments

The iOS App Store seems to be suffering a major outage, though Apple’s system status page doesn’t yet say that there are any issues (update: now it does). Users took to Twitter to point out that every single application listed on the store is now returning an error stating that it is “no longer available.” Typically this error is reserved for applications that have been pulled from sale.

The Mac App Store seems to be fine and still allows downloading applications. However, both the desktop and mobile versions of the iOS store are experiencing the issue.

Update: Apple has acknowledged that “[some] users may be unable to access multiple stores or make purchases.” The page lists issues for the App Store, the iBooks Store, and the iTunes music store. It also indicates that the issue is ongoing, though a few people have noted that they can now download apps.

Update 2: Apple System Status now says systems are functioning normally, 7 hours after we initially reported the outage.

Apps & updates: Yahoo Screen adds Vevo, Amazon Cloud Drive adds AirPlay, eBay updates UI and more

Benjamin Mayo Sep 2 2014 - 12:38 pm PT

In a flurry of updates today, Amazon Cloud Drive and Sony’s Music Unlimited service have received updates for their respective streaming services. Amazon Cloud Drive adds AirPlay support for photo and video streaming to Apple TV, as well as exposing more metadata information in the UI. You can now also rename albums, although this is iPhone only for reasons unknown.

Sony has given its Music Unlimited app a big overhaul. The app has been modernized with iOS 7’s aesthetics, featuring sharp imagery and flat iconography. The team have also dedicated significant time in improving performance, to minimize the sluggishness customers complained about in previous versions. You can also edit playlists right from the app, a critical improvement for a music app.
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Microsoft now offering monthly in-app subscriptions in Office iPad apps

Jordan Kahn Sep 2 2014 - 10:25 am PT

Following updates today for Microsoft’s Office suite of apps for iPad, users can now purchase monthly subscriptions to Office 365, the service required for access to full editing features.

So starting today, you can buy a monthly subscription to Office 365 from within Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iPad. You can choose between Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home. Office 365 Personal is designed to help individuals who want to use Office on one PC or Mac and one tablet, while Office 365 Home is for households with up to five PCs or Macs, plus five tablets.

The monthly subscriptions are now available to purchase directly in the app for $6.99/month for the Personal plan and $9.99/month for Home. Microsoft added that “if you buy a monthly subscription on your iPad, you can switch to an annual subscription from your iPad, or from iTunes on your PC or Mac.” Yearly subscriptions to Office 365 offer savings over the monthly plans and are available for $69/year (Personal) and $99/year (Home).

Microsoft offered a chart showing what each of the plans get you within the Office apps vs free features:

The updated Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps for iPad are available on the App Store now.

Cultured Code previews Things system extension for iOS 8

Zac Hall Sep 2 2014 - 9:54 am PT

6 Comments

Cultured Code’s task management app Things has yet to receive an update on iPhone or iPad to fit in with Apple’s design direction introduced with iOS 7 as a major new version has long been in development, but it looks like users of Things will soon get a bit of relief in the form of an iOS 8 system extension.

A preview of the iOS 8 extension for Things has been added to the company’s status board for the app and shows text being copied and pasted from a website on Safari directly into a new entry on Things without leaving the web browser.

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad mini $200, Sony QX10 iPhone lens kit $84, Bose IE2 in-ear headphones $70, more

Justin Kahn Sep 2 2014 - 9:00 am PT

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:

Sonos PLAY:1 speaker hits $170, Bridge hardware no longer required
Home: Philips Hue lighting pack $25 off, Power backup system $55, more
Pioneer announces its new compact iOS/Mac WeGO3 DJ controller

Apple Deals:

Get an iPad mini for $200 shipped at Best Buy (33% savings)
Apple iPad Air 32GB WiFi (Silver or Space Gray) $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

Sony DSC-QX10 smartphone attachable lens kit w/ WiFi $84 shipped (orig. $250) –refurbished option available for $79.

Bose IE2 in-ear headphones $70 shipped (Reg. $100)

Small States: This is Ground perfects craftsmanship with a purpose, giveaway worth $450, 15% discount

Other new deals:

New! USB Charger roundup: Omaker 10,000mAh $17, Poweradd 10000mAh: $20, more
New! Displays: Samsung 23.5-inch $150, Sharp Aquos 32-inch $180, more
New! Linksys Certifed Refurb Dual-Band N750 Router $35 shipped (Reg. $140)
New! OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 5/5s $15 shipped (Reg. $50)
New! Daily Deals: Braven 710 BT Speaker $75, PNY 128GB Flash $40, more
New! Games/Apps: AC Black Flag $23, Worms3 $1 (Reg. $5), iOS freebies, more
New! Fashion: Nordstrom up to 40%, much more
New! Best Buy takes $50 off LG G Watch prior to R announcement at IFA

More tech deals still alive:

RAVPower 30W/6A 4-Port USB charger $13 Prime shipped (Reg. $50)
Poweradd 50W 6-Port Family-Sized USB Desktop Charger $22 (Reg. $66)
Save an extra 10% on HDTVs: Sony 50″ 3D smart HDTV $710 (Orig. $1,399)
Add AirPlay to any speakers w/ AirMobi Receiver for $20 Prime shipped
Otterbox Reflex Case iPad 2/3/4 $29 shipped (Reg. up to $54)
JBL Flip 2 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (blue or red) $70 shipped (Reg. $100)
HDTVs w/Dell eGift Cards: Samsung 65″ HDTV+$250 GC $1,298, more
Headphones: Beats Pro over-ears (refurb) $179, more
94Fifty Smart Sensor Basketball: $200 shipped (Reg. $250)
Joy Factory carbon fiber headrest mount for tablets $50 shipped (Reg. $90)
Two-pack of Kensington ClickSafe $25 (Reg. up to $70)

Apple Deals:

Walmart temporarily cuts 16 GB iPhone 5c price to $.97, iPhone 5s now $79
The Apple Store now sells an $89 refurbished iPod touch and it may actually be worth your time/money

Home/fashion/magazines/games/media:

Home: Cuisinart Toaster Oven (refurb) $50 (orig. $145), more
Watches 20% off at Amazon, more

New products/ongoing promos:

Nintendo reveals new 3DS/3DS XL handhelds with 2nd analog stick & faster CPU
Jabra jumps into fitness tracking with new heart rate monitoring headphones
AutoDesk releases a new photo editing app for Mac
New apps & updates: Tiny Tower Vegas & Wipeout 2
Dyson teases new robot vacuum technology coming September 4th
New Livescribe Notebook takes ideas from paper to digital in a whole new way
LG’s new CordZero vacuum has stalking skills that’ll help keep your place clean
LaCie is now shipping the fastest, highest-capacity Thunderbolt 2 storage solution
Smart buys: our favorite back to school tech essentials
Mo-Fi: Powered Hi-Fi Headphones with Built-in Amp by Blue

Netflix for iOS now lets you privately recommend content to select Facebook friends

Zac Hall Sep 2 2014 - 7:19 am PT

2 Comments

Netflix today announced a new way to recommend movies and TV shows to your friends from your iPhone or iPad. The recommendation feature works using Facebook, but it’s selective and private so you don’t end up spamming everything with the embarrassing movie you just watched that you and two of your friends may like but others not so much. The feature allows you to connect your Facebook friends list to your Netflix account, then recommend videos you just watched to specific friends from Facebook.

Reddit launches official Ask Me Anything iOS app to view its popular Q&A sessions

Ben Lovejoy Sep 2 2014 - 4:47 am PT

Reddit has today launched an official Ask Me Anything iOS app, providing a convenient way to view both real-time and archived AMAs. Reddit’s SVP of mobile Ellen Pao said that move was to address the fact that a third of site visits are made on mobile devices, a number that is growing all the time.

We’ve found in the last year or so a huge uptick in people accessing Reddit from the mobile web, and we want to give those folks a great experience …

Apple highlighting top ten reasons apps get rejected on new developer page

Benjamin Mayo Aug 31 2014 - 4:35 am PT

16 Comments

As noticed by Apfelpage, Apple has published a new page to be more open about why it rejects apps. A chart at the bottom of the page shows the top ten reasons for app rejection in the last seven days; such as lack of information, crashes or bugs encountered, complicated user interfaces. Around 60% of rejections come from violation of just ten guidelines of the App Store rules. Some of these, like the existence of placeholder text in applications, seem rather trivial issues and it’s interesting that it arises so frequently as a cause of rejection.

The page goes into more detail on some of these points. In one instance, Apple highlights what it deems to be a ‘substandard user interface’, which apparently is responsible for 6% of all rejections. In the example, Apple advises use of a tableview to cleanly lay out information.

Support for 3x image assets found in latest iOS 8 beta ahead of larger display iPhone 6

Benjamin Mayo Aug 29 2014 - 12:13 pm PT

24 Comments

Developer James Thompson has found an interesting behavior in the latest iOS 8 beta, giving even more weight to the reports that indicate the iPhone 6 will feature a new resolution, featuring a new ‘pixel-tripling’ scaling factor of 3. In May, 9to5Mac first broke news of Apple testing a new screen resolution for an upcoming iPhone, which used a 3x screen scale for content.

https://twitter.com/jamesthomson/status/505371301272645632

The behavior is inconsistent, as iOS 8 beta 5 does not always load these 3x assets. However, it reliably chooses the 3x image on 2x devices using the ‘initWithContentsOfFile’ method. After seeing Thompson’s discovery, 9to5Mac has independently confirmed that this is indeed the case.

The ridiculous Emoji-only messaging app Emojli officially launches

Stephen Hall Aug 29 2014 - 9:33 am PT

11 Comments

Following in the wake of services along the likes of Yo, the one-word messaging app, a new concept has emerged which is just as novel but also just as useless. In case you felt that sending emoji characters to your friends via text or SMS wasn’t restricted enough, you can now use Emojli to make sure your conversations are always condensed to just miniature pictures—no words allowed.

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Retina mini/Air from $299/$369, Bose OE2i headphones $80, iTunes GC 15–33% off, more

Justin Kahn Aug 29 2014 - 9:00 am PT

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:

uNu DX iPhone 5/5s 2300mAh MFi Battery Case (multiple colors) $36 shipped (orig. $90)
One year magazine subs from $4.50: GQ, Wired, Macworld, Men’s Health, many more
Home: Cuisinart Toaster Oven (refurb) $50 (orig. $145), iRobot Roomba $70 off,, more
Nintendo reveals the new 3DS and 3DS XL handhelds with second analog stick & faster CPU

Apple Deals:

Save $130 on select Apple iPad Air models, 16GB is just $369 shipped (26% savings)
Apple iPad mini w/ Retina, up to $100 off w/ .EDU, starting at $299

Bose OE2 or OE2i headphones with mic (white): $80 shipped (55% off)

iTunes gift cards:

$100 iTunes Gift Card for $85, 15% off apps, movies, music, books, more
$15 iTunes gift card for $10 (33% off)
$50 iTunes gift card for $42.50 (15% savings)

Last Chance! Small States: Inside the world of Grado headphones, giveaway worth $495 dollars

Other new deals:

New! LifeProof frē case for iPad mini (black or white) $30 shipped (Reg. $65+), more
New! Daily Deals: Samsung 60″ HDTV $730, Incipio Case for iPhone 5/5s $8, more
New! Games/Apps: PlayStation 4 $360, Breach & Clear $2, iOS freebies, more
New! RAVPower 30W/6A 4-Port USB charger $13 Prime shipped (Reg. $50)
New! Acer 11.6″ C720 Chromebook 1.4 GHz (refurb) $117 shipped (Reg. $199 new)

More tech deals still alive:

Poweradd 50W 6-Port Family-Sized USB Desktop Charger $22 (Reg. $66)
Samsung 840 EVO 500GB 2.5-inch SATA III SSD $200 (Orig. $500)
Get 75% off ‘Borderlands 2: GOTY Edition’ for Mac: $10 (Reg. $40)
Brother Monochrome Laser Printer $60 shipped (Reg. $120)
Save an extra 10% on HDTVs: Sony 50″ Premium 3D smart HDTV $710 (Orig. $1,399)
Add AirPlay to any set of speakers w/ AirMobi Music Receiver for $20 Prime shipped
Seagate Expansion 5TB USB 3.0 desktop external hard drive: $160 (orig. $250)
iOttie Easy One Touch Car Mount for iPhone & other smartphones $13 (Reg. $25)
Otterbox Reflex Case iPad 2/3/4 $29 shipped (Reg. up to $54)
Bose SoundTrue on-ear headphones (black) $129 shipped (Reg. $150)
JBL Flip 2 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (blue or red) $70 shipped (Reg. $100)
Lexar 32GB TwistTurn USB 2.0 Flash Drive $10 shipped (Reg. $23)
Monoprice Sale: 10% off sitewide, save on MFi Lightning cables, headphones, more
HDTVs w/Dell eGift Cards: Samsung 65″ HDTV + $250 GC $1,298 ($2,100 value), more
Headphones: Beats Pro over-ears (refurb) $179, more
94Fifty Smart Sensor Basketball: $200 shipped (Reg. $250)
Joy Factory carbon fiber headrest mount for tablets $50 shipped (Reg. $90)
Garmin nüvi 5″ GPS Nav System w/ lifetime (US) map updates $85 shipped (Reg. $170)
Sol Republic Relays In-Ear Headphones (multiple colors) $60 shipped (Reg. $80)
Sony PlayStation 24″ 3D 1080p 240Hz (refurb): $100 shipped (Reg $200)
Two-pack of Kensington ClickSafe $25 (Reg. up to $70)

After a quick sell out, the Breaking Bad Blu-ray collection w/ money barrel is available again http://t.co/ew12gcbBds pic.twitter.com/9X7LRktXXl

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 27, 2014

Apple Deals:

Walmart temporarily cuts 16 GB iPhone 5c price to $.97, iPhone 5s now $79
The Apple Store now sells an $89 refurbished iPod touch and it may actually be worth your time/money

Home/fashion/magazines/games/media:

Cuisinart Pressure Cooker (refurb) $54 (Reg. $100+ new), kitchen items, more
Watches 20% off at Amazon, Lord & Taylor gift cards 20% off, more
MLB.TV rest of season $12, Katy Perry’s Prism album for free, more
$100 StubHub gift card for $85 shipped (15% savings)

New products/ongoing promos:

Jabra jumps into fitness tracking with new heart rate monitoring headphones
AutoDesk releases a new photo editing app for Mac
New apps & updates: Tiny Tower Vegas & Wipeout 2
Dyson teases new robot vacuum technology coming September 4th
New Livescribe Notebook takes ideas from paper to digital in a whole new way
LG’s new CordZero vacuum has stalking skills that’ll help keep your place clean
LaCie is now shipping the fastest, highest-capacity Thunderbolt 2 storage solution
Smart buys: our favorite back to school tech essentials
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Apple updates iOS 8 terms, disallows developers from selling data acquired through HealthKit

Mike Beasley Aug 28 2014 - 6:30 pm PT

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Apple has updated its iOS 8 terms of use, according to The Guardian, to note that developers are not allowed to resell any information gained through the upcoming HealthKit framework. The HealthKit software was announced as part of a larger event earlier this year, but it was only with the most recent beta that Apple made note of this restriction.

The move is not unexpected, as it would be very much against Apple’s modus operandi to allow developers access to such crucial data without some restrictions on its use in place as a protection for users. Similar restrictions exist for the Touch ID API, which doesn’t allow developers to access user fingerprint data at all, let alone store it.

There is one exception to this rule, however…

Adobe updates Photoshop Mix for iPad with undo/redo support, Dropbox support, and more

Mike Beasley Aug 28 2014 - 5:25 pm PT

Adobe has updated its Photoshop Mix iPad app with several new features and tweaks. Version 1.1 of the app includes undo and redo support for quickly rolling back edits up to three levels.

The update also introduces support for exporting a JPEG or masked PNG to the iPad’s camera roll. You can also import images to edit from Dropbox. Foregrounds and background layers can now be switched using the Image Swap feature. Other miscellaneous performance enhancements have also been made to allow for faster project loading.

OneDrive for iOS updated with All Photos view and improved file search

Mark Hearn Aug 28 2014 - 11:55 am PT

Microsoft’s OneDrive cloud storage mobile app received an update today across multiple platforms. The iOS flavor of the refreshed software introduces improved file search options for iPhone and iPad, along with All Photos view for fast access to your saved pictures. This section displays your photos in chronological order and lets you keep an eye on your camera’s backup status.