Apps

6,288 'Apps' stories April 2010 - September 2014

Learn about the latest news for iOS, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV apps

Apps for iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS power our modern world. 9to5Mac will update you on the latest news, review, and updates for all types of apps. “There’s an App for that”.

The term came became part of our vocabulary when Steve Jobs announced The App Store as part of the iPhone 2.0 software update in 2008.

Over the years, the term has become as common as kleenex for describing applications on all of our devices. Apple’s platforms have apps for just about anything from finance, banking, sports, social media, podcasting, music, and more. We have a guide for helping you discover the best ones as well. Apps are now on everything from our TV, to our smartphones, on our laptops, and all the way down to our wrists.

As new ones are released or existing ones have major updates, the team here at 9to5Mac will bring you the latest news and reviews. If you want to follow along with video footage, be sure to follow 9to5Mac on YouTube. Scroll down below our latest updates on all things relating to applications on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.

9to5Toys Last Call: upgrade iPhone 4 to VZW 6 for free, iPhone 6 cases from $5.60, Samsung 250GB SSD $110, more

Justin Kahn Sep 9 2014 - 3:44 pm PT

2 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:

Upgrade your iPhone 4 (or newer) to a Verizon iPhone 6 for free w/ 2-yr contract

iPhone 6 cases:

Monoprice iPhone 6 cases as low as $5.60 with free shipping
Daily Deals: iPhone 6 cases from $12, Roku 3 (refurb) $68, more

Samsung 840 EVO Series 250GB 2.5″ Solid State Drive $110 shipped (Reg. $150)

The AOC 23.6″ 1080P LED HD Monitor w/HDMI is back for only $100 shipped at Best Buy or eBay http://t.co/wczSlPn5xz pic.twitter.com/w264DUf7mr

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

Small States: Myro:Air wants you to have your high quality audio and AirPlay too, giveaway worth $599

Other new deals:

New! Speakers (refurb): Logitech Z506 $40, Pioneer BT soundbar $70, more
New! Media: Amazing Spider-Man 2 pack $20, 100 Warner DVDs $150, more
New! Games/Apps: BioShock Infinite for Mac $7.50, iOS freebies, more
New! 3-mo of Audible access $0.95/mo ($45 value, new customers only), more
New! Home: ecobee Smart Thermostat $139, Egg Cooker $14, more
New! Destiny releases day: free strategy guide, free next-gen upgrades, more
New! Advance Auto Parts coupon: save 40% on orders up to $125
New! ASUS Chromebook 11.6-inch 2.16 GHz/2GB/16GB SSD $200 (Reg. $250)

More tech deals still alive:

uNu Aero iPhone 5/5s battery case w/ wireless charging $50 shipped (orig. $100)
Best Buy iPad Air sale: $75 off 16GB, $125 off w/ .edu e-mail
Canon EOS 7D 18MP DSLR (refurb) $720 shipped (orig. $1,500), more
New Trent iCarrier 12,000mAh Battery Pack $25 Prime shipped (Reg. $77)
Harman Kardon AVR 1510 Networked AV Receiver: $200 shipped (Reg. $361)
Todoist iOS/Android task manager 6-mo Premium sub free ($14.50 value)
Monster DNA On-Ear Noise Isolating Headphones $69 (Orig. $230)
Bose headphones: QC15 $269 (Reg. $299), QC3 $314 (Reg. $349)
Staples coupon $150 off laptops and desktops priced $499 or more
Routers: ASUS Dual Band N450 $30, TRENDnet N450 $15, more
Linksys Certified Refurb Dual-Band N750 Router $35 shipped (Reg. $140)
Best Buy takes $50 off LG G Watch prior to R announcement at IFA

Home/fashion/magazines/games/media:

Hoover reconditioned vacs from $60, kitchen items, more
Timbuk2 laptop backpacks: Parkside $45 (Reg. $106), Rogue $53 (Reg. $90)
Buy an Xbox One console + any game, including Destiny, for free ($60 savings)
Timbuk2 Sidebar laptop briefcase (black) $32 shipped (orig. $90), more

New products/ongoing promos:

TiVo announces largest (and most expensive) consumer DVR ever made
New Toy of the Day: Bose QuietComfort 25 Noise Cancelling headphones
Brew a cup of coffee from your iPad w/ Philips’ limited edition espresso machine
IFA Roundup: Wacom styluses, Harman Omni, Sphero Ollie, more
Redbox 10 Days of Deals
iCracked beating out the other guys’ iPhone trade-in prices for 9to5Toys readers
Western Digital introduces 2TB Wireless portable drives w/ SD, 6hr battery
Synology’s latest DiskStation is its most affordable NAS at just $130

Apple releases iTunes 11.4 update for OS X Mavericks, adds support for iOS 8

Mike Beasley Sep 9 2014 - 3:41 pm PT

27 Comments

iTunes 11.4 has been released following Apple’s announcement that iOS 8 will be available next week. The GM seed of the software is available now for developers, and the new iTunes update enables syncing with devices running the mobile update.

Many users on OS X Yosemite trying to install the iOS 8 GM seed have run into a serious issue, however. The current version of iTunes 12 crashes after erasing a user’s device, leaving them stranded in DFU mode with no way to actually get back to a usable state (unless they have a Mavericks machine handy). If you are running Yosemite exclusively, it’s probably best to wait for an iTunes 12 update before attempting to install the GM.

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WhatsApp Messenger for iPhone updated w/ photo captions, slow-motion video sharing, more

Zac Hall Sep 8 2014 - 1:56 pm PT

30 Comments

The latest update to the popular, Facebook-owned WhatsApp Messenger app for iPhone hit the App Store with a long list of new features for users including the ability to share slow-mo videos from the iPhone 5s and trim clips down right in the app without having to edit the video in the Photos app.

Chatting with photos also received improvements with the ability to add captions and snap and share photos even faster added. Improvements and changes to location sharing, app wallpapers, and new notification tones are included. The latest version also allows users to move chat logs and contact groups away to an archive. Complete list of changes below…
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Google Play Movies & TV app for iOS gets offline playback support

Jordan Kahn Sep 8 2014 - 12:55 pm PT

0 Comments

Google just announced a nice update for users of its Google Play Movies & TV app for iOS: the ability to download both movies and television shows for offline playback without an internet connection. Google first released the app in January giving iPhone and iPad users access to its movies and TV shows streamed over WiFi.

Google just announced the feature on Google+ and the updated app should be rolling out to the App Store any minute. Version 1.2.0 also brings bug fixes and improvements to accessibility and stability.

The Google Play Movies & TV app is available for free for iPhone and iPad.

What’s New in Version 1.2.0
* Download and play your videos anywhere, without an Internet connection
* Accessibility improvements
* Stability improvements and bug fixes

Apps
iOS

First vehicles with Apple’s CarPlay hit the road as Ferrari delivers new FF to customers

Jordan Kahn Sep 8 2014 - 10:01 am PT

12 Comments

Vehicles with Apple’s new CarPlay functionality are starting to hit the roads with Ferrari announcing today that it’s delivered its first batch of Ferrari FF models equipped with the new feature.
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9to5Toys Last Call: SanDisk USB/SD/SSD memory up to 60% off, Todoist 6-mo free, Xbox One free game bundles, more

Sep 8 2014 - 9:06 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:

TiVo announces largest (and most expensive) consumer DVR ever made
New Trent iCarrier 12,000mAh External Battery Pack $25 Prime shipped (Reg. $77)
Timbuk2 laptop backpacks: Parkside $45 (Reg. $106), Rogue $53 (Reg. $90)
Harman Kardon AVR 1510 Networked AV Receiver: $200 shipped (Reg. $361)
Hoover reconditioned vacs from $60, Winix HEPA Air Cleaner $130 (orig. $240), more

Amazon GoldBox: Up to 60% off SanDisk USB/SD/ SSD products: 64GB as low as $22, 1TB SSD: $450

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDwmp3oP8Uc?rel=0]

Todoist iOS/Android list and task manager 6-month Premium subscription for free ($14.50 value)

Buy an Xbox One console and snag any game, including Destiny, for free ($60 savings)

Xbox One console w/ Kinect, Forza, Destiny, and 12-month Xbox Live Gold $500 shipped http://t.co/XYDYiJkxUY pic.twitter.com/rwzLgVSkzQ

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) September 8, 2014

Headphones:

Bose MEI2 in-ear headphones w/ mic and remote: $79 shipped (orig. $130), more
New Toy of the Day: Bose QuietComfort 25 Noise Cancelling headphones
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)

Small States: Myro:Air wants you to have your high quality audio and AirPlay too, giveaway worth $599

Other new deals:

New! uNu Aero iPhone 5/5s battery case w/ wireless charging $50 shipped (orig. $100)
New! Best Buy iPad Air sale: $75 off 16GB, $125 off w/ .edu e-mail
New! Native Instruments’ iMaschine now available for free on iOS (Reg. $5)
New! Games/Apps: 1 yr. PS Plus $40, $5 Amazon credit w/ pre-orders, freebies, more
New! Canon EOS 7D 18MP DSLR (refurb) $720 shipped (orig. $1,500), more
New! Daily Deals: Sony NFC Bluetooth Speaker: $45, more
New! Staples coupon $150 off laptops and desktops priced $499 or more

More tech deals still alive:

Routers: ASUS Dual Band N450 $30, TRENDnet N450 $15, more
OtterBox Defender Series Case for iPhone 5/5s $15 shipped (Reg. $50)
Linksys Certifed Refurb Dual-Band N750 Router $35 shipped (Reg. $140)
Best Buy takes $50 off LG G Watch prior to R announcement at IFA
Get an iPad mini for $200 shipped at Best Buy (33% savings)

Amazon discounting the Fire Phone to $0.99 on contract http://t.co/wAxF30sA7a

— 9to5Google (@9to5Google) September 8, 2014

Home/fashion/magazines/games/media:

Timbuk2 Sidebar laptop briefcase (black) $32 shipped (orig. $90), more
Free Target $10 gift card w/ 3 household items, more

New products/ongoing promos:

Brew a cup of coffee from your iPad w/ Philips’ limited edition espresso machine
IFA Roundup: Wacom iPad styluses, Harman Kardon Omni, Sphero Ollie, more
Redbox 10 Days of Deals
iCracked beating out the other guys’ iPhone trade-in prices for 9to5Toys readers
Western Digital introduces 2TB Wireless portable drives with SD Card slot, 6hr battery
Synology’s latest DiskStation is its most affordable NAS at just $130
Sonos Bridge hardware no longer required
Pioneer announces its new compact iOS/Mac WeGO3 DJ controller

Adobe updates Creative Cloud video apps w/ HiDPI support for Retina displays & much more

Jordan Kahn Sep 8 2014 - 6:59 am PT

0 Comments

Adobe is announcing a number of updates for its Creative Cloud desktop apps today with the highlight being a refreshed UI across almost all of its video products. One thing in specific for Mac users caught our eye, however, and that’s HiDPI support for Macs with Retina displays:

A refreshed user-interface across all the video applications supports HiDPI displays for both Mac Retina Displays and Windows 8.1, providing a cleaner appearance enabling video professionals to stay focused on their projects. “The first thing you’ll notice when you open them, is the cleaner look to all of the video apps,” said Bill Roberts, senior director of product management. “We’ve modernized and simplified the user interface so that it doesn’t compete with the content. The point is to allow video pros to focus more on their content, and less on the widgets.”

In addition, there is a long list of other improvements for the apps including some major enhancements to Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Anywhere for video. A full list of what’s new is available here.

Adobe, which announced the new features at IBC 2014, says the updates are coming soon.

Revealing Next Wave of Innovation for Adobe Video Desktop Apps

At IBC 2014, Adobe will showcase new video technology that streamlines video workflows for video professionals, broadcasters and media companies. Key updates include:

Support for cutting-edge hardware and standards is accelerated via Adobe Creative Cloud, enabling the company to respond quickly to new hardware and software standards. Key updates extend native file support, with the addition of AJA RAW. Performance enhancements include accelerated Masking & Tracking; and new GPU-optimized playback that delivers better performance when viewing extremely high resolution 4K and UltraHD footage from Phantom Cine, Canon RAW and RED R3D files.

A refreshed user-interface across all the video applications supports HiDPI displays for both Mac Retina Displays and Windows 8.1, providing a cleaner appearance enabling video professionals to stay focused on their projects.

Powerful new media and project management features, including Consolidate & Transcode; Search Bins; and Multiproject workflows offer more ease and flexibility, at the project level, so Adobe Premiere Pro CC users can complete tasks more efficiently. Adobe Media Encoder now includes Destination publishing with preset options so users can render, deliver and share projects to multiple locations such as FTP sites and their Creative Cloud folder, automating the delivery process. Additionally, Extended Match Source support now includes added support for the QuickTime and DNxHD formats, simplifying the workflow for users who are transcoding or rendering content.

Streamlined workflows and ongoing refinements make everyday tasks easier and faster inside Adobe CC video apps, including Timeline Views in Adobe Premiere Pro CC; Curve adjustments and Look Hover previews in Adobe SpeedGrade CC; and Rough Cut Dissolves and keyboard shortcuts for tagging in Adobe Prelude CC.

Spotify app to offer 30 mins of ad-free listening if you watch a 15-30 second video ad first

Ben Lovejoy Sep 8 2014 - 5:10 am PT

2 Comments

Spotify currently offers you a choice: pay ten bucks a month to listen without ads, or listen for free but have your music interrupted by audio ads. Those using the iOS or Android app will be offered a third option later this year: watch a 15-30 second video ad in return for 30 minutes of ad-free listening.

Known as Sponsored Sessions, the idea is that advertisers get the ability to run video ads for the first time, while the experience is made relatively painless for consumers by guaranteeing 30 minutes of uninterrupted listening afterwards.

Spotify began pitching the option to advertisers back in June, and Ad Age reports that a number of major advertisers have now signed-up.

Spotify will start testing the video ads in the fourth quarter with a limited number of brands and plans to extend them to all advertisers in the first quarter of 2015.

Coca-Cola, Ford, McDonald’s and Universal Pictures have signed on as the ads’ first global buyers. Kraft Foods, Target and Wells Fargo will be the U.S.-only launch advertisers.

The Spotify app is a free download from the App Store.

Via Engadget

Apple wearable to run third-party apps, big developers already seeded SDK

Mark Gurman Sep 6 2014 - 4:43 pm PT

56 Comments

Apple’s upcoming wearable device, based on iOS, will run third-party applications and, furthermore, may come equipped with an App Store, according to two sources with knowledge of the new device. It is currently unclear if the App Store will be full-fledged, like on the iPhone and iPad, or if it will be a special section with in the iPhone App Store for apps that play nicely with the new wearable device.

A small handful of high-profile social network and services companies with apps on the iPhone and iPad App Store have already been seeded with a pre-release version of the Apple SDK (Software Development Kit) for wearables under strict non-disclosure agreements. One of the developers with access to the pre-release SDK is Facebook, according to a source. Facebook is also said to be finishing up work on an iOS 8-optimized version of its iPhone app with improved notifications. The social network is also experimenting with ways it can leverage the new Notification Center widget APIs.

The SDK was seeded “very recently” to these developers, and Apple likely wants to demonstrate some third-party wearable apps at Tuesday’s event, according to one source. Apple, in the past, has provided select developers with early versions of SDKs in order to boast new apps on the keynote stage. For example, several apps from companies like AOL were shown off with the first public demonstration of the iPhone SDK, fancy gaming and drawing apps were demonstrated alongside the first iPad in 2010, and the iPhone 4S’s dual-core A5 chip was launched alongside a graphics-intense video game…

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9to5Toys Lunch Break: AKG 511 headphones (refurb) $25, new Wacom iPad styluses, This is Ground giveaway, more

Sep 5 2014 - 9:10 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:

AKG Hi-Fi Stereo Over-Ear Headphones refurb $25 shipped (Reg. $60)

More headphones:

Bose IE2 in-ears $60 (Reg. $100), Bose SIE2i Sport $100 (Reg. $150)
New Toy of the Day: Bose QuietComfort 25 Noise Cancelling headphones
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)

New Toy Roundup: Wacom iPad styluses, Harman Kardon Omni wireless home speaker system, Sphero Ollie, more

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

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

Missed the Gold Box sale the other day? Belkin WeMo Switch is back to $40 (Reg. $50) http://t.co/jCYEx2YLcy pic.twitter.com/7hYvkPYpRh

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) September 5, 2014

Other new deals:

New! Games/Apps: Notes Plus $0.99 (Reg. $10), Photo Cookbook goes free, more
New! Daily Deals: Kindle Fire HD 8.9″: $129, Waterproof case for iPad $15, more
New! Apple Lightning to USB Cable $8.35 shipped (Reg. $19)
New! iCracked beating out the other guys’ iPhone trade-in prices for 9to5Toys readers
New! Redbox 10 Days of Deals

Panasonic Arc5 Men's electric wet/dry shaver w/ automatic cleaning system$261 (orig. $600) http://t.co/chwJx8oqCf pic.twitter.com/GIVI3qgqDu

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) September 5, 2014

More tech deals still alive:

Routers: ASUS Dual Band N450 $30, TRENDnet N450 $15, more
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:

Save $100 on select Apple iPad Air and Retina mini models at Staples
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:

Timbuk2 Sidebar laptop briefcase (black) $32 shipped (orig. $90), more
Free Target $10 gift card w/ 3 household items, more
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

New products/ongoing promos:

Western Digital introduces 2TB Wireless portable drives with SD Card slot, 6hr battery
Synology’s latest DiskStation is its most affordable NAS at just $130
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

Apple Store app redesigned, gains upcoming events feature, synchronized shopping

Mark Gurman Sep 4 2014 - 1:58 pm PT

3 Comments

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.

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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

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:

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

0 Comments

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.

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

Ben Lovejoy Sep 4 2014 - 4:02 am PT

1 Comment

[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

3 Comments

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.

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

Zac Hall Sep 3 2014 - 11:49 am PT

1 Comment

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

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:

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

3 Comments

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

3 Comments

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.

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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

1 Comment

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

0 Comments

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.

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