Apps

Uber announced today that it’s added new features that will make the experience even more seamless for both users and its drivers.

We envision a day when there is no coordination necessary to take an Uber ride. Simply push the button, and the rest is essentially on cruise control: the car quickly shows up at exactly the right place and whisks you away to your destination via the best possible route. The latest rider and driver app releases take us one step closer to that world with two new features:

A new destination entry feature lets users quickly enter destination details into the Uber app that are then automatically available to the driver when they arrive. “You can literally skip the step where you tell the driver where you’re going.”

Uber has also added turn-by-turn navigation to its driver app: With one tap, the driver can enable turn-by-turn navigation to the destination you’ve provided. There’s no need to juggle multiple apps or waste time typing in an address.

Uber says the features are live now, although doesn’t list the features in the latest update that hit the app yesterday.

Amazon takes on Square and PayPal Here with $10 iPhone/iPad cardreader & lower fees

Ben Lovejoy Aug 13 2014 - 4:08 am PT

11 Comments

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6YXllIqD_E]

Small businesses looking to take occasional card payments without paying monthly fees now have a third option as Amazon has launched Local Register to compete with Square and PayPal Here – as we predicted last month. The $10 card-reader is compatible with any iPhone from the iPhone 4 onward, as well as any iPad or iPad mini.

Amazon is undercutting both competitor services with a flat fee of 2.5 percent per transaction (vs 2.7 percent for PayPal Here and 2.75 percent for Square). Not enough? Amazon is sweetening the deal with a special introductory rate of 1.75 percent until the end of 2015, and will also credit the $10 cost of the cardreader in full against transaction fees …
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Facebook 13.1 released for iOS, boasts crash rate reduction of over 50 percent

Mike Beasley Aug 12 2014 - 10:21 pm PT

Facebook released version 13.1 of its iOS client today with a rather uninteresting change log noting that the app had received “bug fixes” and nothing more. However, over on Facebook’s engineering blog the company has outlined what exactly went into this fix, and it turns out the update contains a significant fix that will resolve over 50% of reported crashes.

According to the blog post, the issue arose from a file corruption error that appeared in iOS’s Core Data system:

Future Xbox One update will let you stream live TV to your iPhone or iPad

Mark Hearn Aug 12 2014 - 2:44 pm PT

12 Comments

Microsoft announced today that a new system update for its Xbox One game console will soon let users stream live TV to their iPhone or iPad. Set to arrive in the next few months, the Xbox One’s SmartGlass companion app will be equipped with the option to watch television via a local network connection without interrupting a gameplay session.

9to5Toys Last Call: Seagate 1TB wireless iOS storage $130, Olloclip for iPhone 5/5s $45, Retina iPad mini 32GB $400, more

Aug 12 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:

Logitech Ultrathin Protective Keyboard Folio Case for iPad Air refurb Black: $20 shipped http://t.co/qXjLwuO2f8 pic.twitter.com/OgByejeQoc

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 13, 2014

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCfhdmC7oMY?rel=0]

Introducing the OM/ONE: The world’s first floating Bluetooth speaker
Seagate 1TB Wireless Plus iOS storage w/ built-in WiFi streaming $130 shipped (orig. $200)
Home Deals: Oster Blender w/ Sport Bottle $19 (Reg. $40), kitchen items, more
Media: Blu-ray Steelbooks up to 45% off, MP3 albums $2 each, more
Pioneer Speakers: Center Channel $50 (Reg. $100), Floor Speakers $70 (Reg. $130), more
Google Play Music offering free songs from Nirvana, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, more

Olloclip 4-in-1 Lens System & Quick-Flip Case for iPhone 5/5s $45 shipped (orig. $100)

HDTVs: LG 50″ 1080p: $450 (Orig. $800), Seiki 65″ 4K: $999 (Reg. $2000), more

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

Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant for iOS $80 shipped (Reg. $100)

iPad deals:

iPad mini w/ Retina display 32GB WiFi $400 shipped ($100 off)
iPad mini w/ Retina display from $350 ($50 off) or from $300 w/ .edu ($100 off)
iPad Air from $399 ($100 off)

MacBook Air deals:

New 13.3-inch MacBook Air 4GB/128GB: $750 w/.EDU email ($250 off/$850 w/o)
Apple 13.3-inch MacBook Air 1.3GHz Haswell/4GB RAM/256GB SSD: $949 (orig. $1,299)

Other new deals:

New! Canon PIXMA Wireless All-In-One Color AirPrint Printer $50 shipped (orig. $150)
New! Games/Apps: Hatchi & Drop The Chicken go FREE, GoodReader 4 $3 (Reg. $7), more
New! 1-yr magazine subs from $4.50: Maxim, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, more
New! Scosche In-Ear headphones w/ remote & mic $41 shipped (Reg. up to $100), more
New! Daily Deals: Platinum iPhone battery case: $40, Logitech wireless mouse: $12, more
New! HP Chromebook 14 refurb w/200MB 4G for life: $200 shipped ($129 off)

More tech deals still alive:

~~Blue Microphones Yeti USB condenser mic (silver) $75 shipped (Reg. $98+)~~
Get a free Redbox game and movie rental
ThinkGeek 20% off sitewide with no minimum purchase
Urge Basics Sound Brick Bluetooth speaker $30 (Reg. up to $70)
Belkin QODE Keyboard Cases: iPad Air $37 (Reg. $80), iPad 4 $40 (Reg. $70), more
MEElectronics Air-Fi Metro2 AF72 Bluetooth in-ear headphones $60 (Reg. up to $100)
MEElectronics Air-Fi Runaway AF32 Bluetooth Headphones: $40 shipped (orig. $100)
Case Logic Anthracite Berkley 14″ laptop & tablet backpack $22 shipped (orig. $60)
Monitors: Dell 21.5″ $115 (orig. $200), LG 23″ w/ HDMI $125 (orig. $200)
JBL SB 300 2.1-channel soundbar w/ 150-watt sub $199 shipped (orig. $500), more
Sony Bluetooth NFC Wireless Portable Speaker (refurb) $55 shipped (orig. $199), more

Home/fashion/sports:

Philips Syntia Cappuccino Machine: $400 shippedhttp://t.co/pLz4eAIgT3

4/5 Amazon Reviews https://t.co/1YBdk5ON1Y pic.twitter.com/dNy2ooS7rw

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 11, 2014

Home Deals: Up to 50% off name brand vacuums, up to 70% off at JCPenney, more
Reebok Back to School coupon: take $25 off orders of $90 or more (up to 28% savings)
Timbuk2 Spin Messenger Bag $28 shipped (Reg. $69)
Home Deals: Black & Decker Lithium handheld vac $68 (Reg. $80), much more

Receive 30% off 3 books purchased at Amazon. Enter "BUY3GET30" at checkout (up to $10 total savings) http://t.co/YzD35mV23B

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 9, 2014

New products/ongoing promos:

GeckoEye is a mini solar powered surveillance cam that can be mounted “anywhere”
Jabra Stealth Bluetooth headset goes next level with Siri and Google Now control
1Password app sale: iOS $9.99 (Reg. $19), Mac $34.99 (Reg. $50)
Target appears likely to reboot its $199 iPad mini sale later this month
Sketchbook painting and drawing apps for iPhone and iPad go free for the first time ever
Timex introduces its ‘no phone required’ Ironman GPS One+ smartwatch
Navdy HUD may finally make it safe to tweet and drive, save 40% when you preorder
Notifyr app goes free (Reg. $4), receive iOS notifications on your Mac
IK Multimedia launches the new iRig Mic HD for iOS and Mac/PC
IGN makes Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Season 2 its free iOS game of the month

Android/Microsoft/misc tech:

Lenovo IdeaPad 11.6-Inch Touchscreen Chromebook $300 shipped (Reg. $330+)
Google Play Summer Sale up to 85% off: Deus Ex, Gangstar Vegas, Final Fantasy, more
Acer 11.6-inch C720 Chromebook (Refurb) $130 shipped (Reg. $199 new)
Samsung Galaxy Battery Clearance on Amazon, prices start at $6 Prime shipped
HP Chromebox CB1 desktop computer $150 shipped (Reg. $180)

Apple prominently advertising Beats Music to new iOS device users

Benjamin Mayo Aug 12 2014 - 7:00 am PT

4 Comments

Apple has prominently featured its own suite of free apps when iOS users first open the App Store, such as its iLife and iWork apps, for a while. Now that Beats Music and Beats Electronics are officially part of the family, the Beats Music app is now appearing on this ‘Apple Apps’ list as well. Beats Music is currently the last entry in the list, described as a way to ‘listen to music that’s always right for you’.

Tapping ‘Download All’ will install Beats Music alongside Apple’s other apps. Naturally, one way for Apple to significantly increase adoption of the service is to advertise it to every new iOS user.

The view will show up for new iOS devices or by performing a clean restore to a version of iOS 7, on both iPhone and iPad.

Microsoft launches Bing-powered celebrity stalking app

Mark Gurman Aug 11 2014 - 1:59 pm PT

Microsoft today is rounding out its portfolio of apps for iOS with a new program called Snipp3t. The awkwardly named free app is essentially Microsoft’s solution for stalking celebrities like Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Miley Cyrus. As Microsoft explains:

SNIPP3T (pronounced “snippet”) is an app that lets you stay up-to-date on the celebrities you care about most. Building on Bing’s massive knowledge repository containing information on billions of people, places and things, we were inspired to build a custom app specifically targeting one of the areas we know people search for most often – famous people. Whether we admit it or not, most of us love to follow what’s going on with our favorite celebrities. From social media, YouTube, entertainment news sites and celebrity bloggers, there’s certainly no shortage of sources out there. Unfortunately, today we have to jump from site to site or toggle through a galaxy of apps to get the full scoop. While we can find the big stories, it can be difficult to see how different snippets of news are related to one another.

Using the database at the core of the Bing search engine, the app can track approximately 10,000 various celebrities and provide news updates, photos, and videos. The app also lets you connect to other fans tracking the same celebrities.

As for me, I won’t be downloading this app, I’ll stick to catching TMZ on TV while channel surfing every now and then. But if keeping tabs on Bieber’s latest egg throwing incident or Kanye West’s latest fight at LAX is your thing, this app may suit your needs.

Facebook Paper gets a speed boost and design improvements

Mark Gurman Aug 11 2014 - 10:57 am PT

Facebook Paper got a small, but important update today. The social network boosted the app’s speed and says that the design is sharpened:

• Speed and stability updates: To help you get the most out of your Paper, we’ve been working hard to make all your sections, stories, photos and videos load faster and more reliably.
• Design improvements: We’ve sharpened details to make your Paper even more appealing.

A more significant update with improved photo management and trending news sections arrived last month.

9to5Toys Last Call: Automatic driving assistant for iOS $80, Belkin iPad Air keyboard case $37, LG 50″ LED HDTV $450, more

Aug 11 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:

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

GeckoEye is a mini solar powered surveillance cam that can be mounted “anywhere”
Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant for iOS $80 shipped (Reg. $100)
Belkin QODE Keyboard Cases: iPad Air $37 (Reg. $80), iPad 4 $40 (Reg. $70), more
HDTVs: LG 50″ 1080p: $450 (Orig. $800), Seiki 65″ 4K: $999 (Reg. $2000), more
Blue Microphones Yeti USB condenser mic (silver) $75 shipped (Reg. $98+)
ThinkGeek 20% off sitewide with no minimum purchase
MEElectronics Air-Fi Metro2 AF72 Bluetooth in-ear headphones $60 (Reg. up to $100)

Philips Syntia Cappuccino Machine: $400 shippedhttp://t.co/pLz4eAIgT3

4/5 Amazon Reviews https://t.co/1YBdk5ON1Y pic.twitter.com/dNy2ooS7rw

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 11, 2014

iPad deals:

iPad Air from $399 ($100 off)
iPad mini w/ Retina display from $350 ($50 off) or from $300 w/ .edu ($100 off)

MacBook Air deals:

New 13.3-inch MacBook Air 4GB/128GB: $750 w/.EDU email ($250 off/$850 w/o)
Apple 13.3-inch MacBook Air 1.3GHz Haswell/4GB RAM/256GB SSD: $949 (orig. $1,299)

Get a free Redbox game and movie rental

Receive 30% off 3 books purchased at Amazon. Enter "BUY3GET30" at checkout (up to $10 total savings) http://t.co/YzD35mV23B

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 9, 2014

Other new deals:

TuneUp: Clean, Artwork up, de-dupe & Organize Your iTunes Music Collection: $20 (60% off)https://t.co/UiiDdl56nY pic.twitter.com/bKwfIBcIdm

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 9, 2014

New! Mountek nGroove Snap 2 car mount for smartphones & tablets $19 (orig. $40)
New! Games/Apps: CARROT Alarm FREE, Turtle Beach headsets $35+, iOS freebies, more
New! Daily Deals: Mophie iPhone Juice Pack: $39, 4′ MFi Lightning cable: $8, more
New! Urge Basics Sound Brick Bluetooth speaker $30 (Reg. up to $70)
New! Home Deals: Up to 50% off name brand vacuums, up to 70% off at JCPenney, more
New! Lenovo IdeaPad 11.6-Inch Touchscreen Chromebook $300 shipped (Reg. $330+)

Automatic: Your Smart Driving Assistant for iOS/Android $90 shipped (Reg. $100) http://t.co/ioFlCLTeEw http://t.co/Qk78i7VuwU

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 11, 2014

More tech deals still alive:

MEElectronics Air-Fi Runaway AF32 Bluetooth Headphones: $40 shipped (orig. $100)
Case Logic Anthracite Berkley 14″ laptop & tablet backpack $22 shipped (orig. $60)
Monitors: Dell 21.5″ $115 (orig. $200), LG 23″ w/ HDMI $125 (orig. $200)
JBL SB 300 2.1-channel soundbar w/ 150-watt sub $199 shipped (orig. $500), more
Sony Bluetooth NFC Wireless Portable Speaker (refurb) $55 shipped (orig. $199), more
Logitech Accessories: UE 4000 ‘phones $18, iPad keyboard Cases, more
Anki Drive Starter Kit, iOS-controlled killer robot car racing game $150 (Reg. $200)
LifeProof nüüd drop/waterproof iPad mini case $30 shipped (orig. $120)
Clear tasks and reminders app up to 60% off: Mac $5 (Reg. $10), iOS $2 (Reg. $5)
TP-LINK AV600 Gigabit Powerline Adapter Starter Kit $60 shipped (Reg. $95)
APC back-up power supply deals: up to 50% off top-rated products
Aduro MFi certified Lightning cables (multiple colors): 3-feet $8, 6-feet $11, 10-feet $13

Home/fashion/sports:

Reebok Back to School coupon: take $25 off orders of $90 or more (up to 28% savings)
Fashion: Kenneth Cole men’s suits $100 (orig. $350), extra 30-50% off Lucky Brand, more
Timbuk2 Spin Messenger Bag $28 shipped (Reg. $69)
Home Deals: Black & Decker Lithium handheld vac $68 (Reg. $80), much more

New products/ongoing promos:

Jabra Stealth Bluetooth headset goes next level with Siri and Google Now control
1Password app sale: iOS $9.99 (Reg. $19), Mac $34.99 (Reg. $50)
Target appears likely to reboot its $199 iPad mini sale later this month
Sketchbook painting and drawing apps for iPhone and iPad go free for the first time ever
Timex introduces its ‘no phone required’ Ironman GPS One+ smartwatch
Navdy HUD may finally make it safe to tweet and drive, save 40% when you preorder
Notifyr app goes free (Reg. $4), receive iOS notifications on your Mac
IK Multimedia launches the new iRig Mic HD for iOS and Mac/PC
IGN makes Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Season 2 its free iOS game of the month

Android/Microsoft/misc tech:

Google Play Summer Sale up to 85% off: Deus Ex, Gangstar Vegas, Final Fantasy, more
Acer 11.6-inch C720 Chromebook (Refurb) $130 shipped (Reg. $199 new)
Samsung Galaxy Battery Clearance on Amazon, prices start at $6 Prime shipped
HP Chromebox CB1 desktop computer $150 shipped (Reg. $180)
Google Chromecast streaming media player $30 shipped (Reg. $35)

Google begins displaying “Listen Now” ads for streaming music services (including Beats) in search results

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2014 - 1:27 pm PT

Google appears to be experimenting with new “Listen Now” ads in search results for streaming music services including its own Google Play Music and competitors like Apple’s Beats Music. The Wall Street Journal first noticed the ads and confirmed the new format with Google:

The ads appear in searches on personal computers as well as mobile devices and are performing well for some advertisers, according to one person familiar with the results. Music services previously could have bought similar ads, but the grouping, display and labeling are new. “We’re happy to help users quickly find legitimate sources for their favorite movies, music and more via Google search,” a Google spokesman said.

Google also confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that the music services pay per click just like traditional ads it displays in search. Along with its own Google Play service and Apple’s Beats Music, the Listen Now section is also currently showing ads from Rhapsody and Spotify.

Google has experimented with other types of links for content in search results including “Watch Now” links for movies and tv that direct users to its Google Play service. It also recently laucnhed app indexing on Android, which displays a button for users to quickly launch apps from search results.

Spotify starts sending invites for users to try service in Canada

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2014 - 11:34 am PT

4 Comments

After revealing plans to finally bring Spotify to Canada last month, users in the country have now started receiving invites to try the streaming music service. A reader sent in the image above and others have received their invite over the last 24 hours,.

Congratulations — you’re in!

You’ve been chosen to try Spotify in Canada before everyone else!

Millions of songs are now waiting for you. The artists you love, the latest hits and new discoveries— all for free on mobile, tablet and desktop. Happy listening!

The company initially announced last month that the service would launch in the coming months, but now seems to be launching a test of the service with select users that signed-up here. Spotify is currently available in a long list of countries around the world, but it doesn’t yet list Canada on its website.

The company appears to be offering the service in trial mode for free but doesn’t mention pricing for a premium service for Canadians. Users that receive a code can access the service here.

(Thanks Josh!)

9to5Toys Lunch Break: 13″ Haswell MacBook Air $949, Seagate 2TB Slim $85, MEElectronics Bluetooth headphones $40, more

Aug 8 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:

Jabra Stealth Bluetooth headset goes next level with Siri and Google Now control
Fashion: Kenneth Cole men’s suits $100 (orig. $350), extra 30-50% off Lucky Brand, more
JBL SB 300 2.1-channel soundbar w/ 150-watt sub $199 shipped (orig. $500), more
1-year magazine sub blowout sale from $5: Wired, GQ, Pop Science, Dwell, many more
Timbuk2 Spin Messenger Bag $28 shipped (Reg. $69)
Home Deals: Black & Decker Lithium handheld vac $68 (Reg. $80), much more
Apple 13.3-inch MacBook Air 1.3GHz Haswell/4GB RAM/256GB SSD: $949 shipped (orig. $1,299)

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive: $85 shipped (orig. $150)

MEElectronics Air-Fi Runaway AF32 Bluetooth Headphones: $40 shipped (orig. $100)

1Password app sale: iOS $9.99 (Reg. $19), Mac $34.99 (Reg. $50)

Target appears likely to reboot its $199 iPad mini sale later this month

Sketchbook painting and drawing apps for iPhone and iPad go free for the first time ever

Other new deals:

Available again! Download Notifyr for free and receive iOS notifications on your Mac (Reg. $4) http://t.co/JQ4TBfkapm pic.twitter.com/tfrWd7MOZ6

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 8, 2014

New! Monitors: Dell 21.5″ $115 (orig. $200), LG 23″ w/ HDMI $125 (orig. $200)
New! Logitech Ultrathin Bluetooth iPad Air keyboard case $30 shipped (Reg. $100)
New! Daily Deals: Sharp 2-Ch. Soundbar: $90, Jawbone JAMBOX (refurb): $63, more
New! Games/Apps: Borderlands 2 GOTY $10 (Reg. $40), Metal Gear Rising $11, iOS freebies, more

Roku 1 streaming media player (refurb) $30 shipped (Reg. $49+ new) http://t.co/S5VvYXiUVa pic.twitter.com/25jX6XAMBQ

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 8, 2014

More tech deals still alive:

Case Logic Anthracite Berkley 14″ laptop & tablet backpack $22 shipped (orig. $60)
Woot $10 off purchases of $25 or more
Sony Bluetooth NFC Wireless Portable Speaker (refurb) $55 shipped (orig. $199), more
Logitech Accessories: UE 4000 ‘phones $18, iPad keyboard Cases, more
Anki Drive Starter Kit, iOS-controlled killer robot car racing game $150 (Reg. $200)
LifeProof nüüd drop/waterproof iPad mini case $30 shipped (orig. $120)
Clear tasks and reminders app up to 60% off: Mac $5 (Reg. $10), iOS $2 (Reg. $5)
TP-LINK AV600 Gigabit Powerline Adapter Starter Kit $60 shipped (Reg. $95)
HDTVs: LG 55″ 1080p 120Hz: $550, LG 42″ 1080p LED: $319, more
rooCASE cases for iPhone 5/5c/5s $3 shipped (orig. up to $30)
Home Theater: Samsung soundbars & subs from $80 shipped, more
PNY Attaché 3 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive $40 shipped (Reg. $60)
NAS gear: Synology DS213j $188 (Reg. $230), WD Red 3.5-inch HDD $149 (orig. $280)
Toshiba Canvio Desktop 5TB External Hard Drive $172 (Reg. $210)
Beats by Dre headphones: Studio $250 (Reg. $300), Powerbeats $80 (Reg. $150)
APC back-up power supply deals: up to 50% off top-rated products
iTunes gift cards w/ email delivery: $100 for $90 or $50 for $45 (10% savings)
Aduro MFi certified Lightning cables (multiple colors): 3-feet $8, 6-feet $11, 10-feet $13

Home/fashion/media/other:

Home Deals: Cordless Hand Vacs from $16 shipped, kitchen items, more
Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt w/ built-in alarm $160 (Reg. $200+), more
Media: IMAX Ultimate Collection DVD $35, Gaslight Anthem iTunes First Play, more
REI extra 25% off activewear and gear, includes prAna, Brooks, North Face, Merrell
Fashion: Ralph Lauren up to 70% off, more
D igital Comic Book Sale: Sin City Vol.1-7 $22 (reg. $122), Batman titles, more

New products/ongoing promos:

Timex introduces its ‘no phone required’ Ironman GPS One+ smartwatch
Navdy HUD may finally make it safe to tweet and drive, save 40% when you preorder
Notifyr app goes free (Reg. $4), receive iOS notifications on your Mac
IK Multimedia launches the new iRig Mic HD for iOS and Mac/PC
Solidoodle introduces its most affordable 3D printer yet
Microsoft looks towards football season with new Xbox One Madden bundle
IGN makes Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Season 2 its free iOS game of the month
Casio’s new G-SHOCK watch combines rugged style w/ smart features music fans will love
Turn your Apple USB wall plug into a power bank w/ NomadPlus, save 50%

Android/Microsoft/misc tech:

Google Play Summer Sale up to 85% off: Deus Ex, Gangstar Vegas, Final Fantasy, more
Acer 11.6-inch C720 Chromebook (Refurb) $130 shipped (Reg. $199 new)
Samsung Galaxy Battery Clearance on Amazon, prices start at $6 Prime shipped
HP Chromebox CB1 desktop computer $150 shipped (Reg. $180)
Google Play Summer Steals app sale: Iron Force, TETRIS Blitz, Asteroids Pack, more
Google Chromecast streaming media player $30 shipped (Reg. $35)

Condé Nast’s Epicurious teams up w/ Swirl for in-store iBeacon experience

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2014 - 7:29 am PT

After announcing it would take advantage of iBeacons deployed by inMarket in grocery stores back in April, today Condé Nast’s Epicurious is announcing a partnership with another iBeacon network to further expand the context-sensitive notifications beamed to its users. Swirl, the same company behind recent beacon deployments in Hudson’s Bay Company and Lord & Taylor, will now deliver location-aware notifications to the Epicurious app via its network of beacons already deployed in retailers:

The Sims 2: Super Collection – $29.99 Mac App Store

The Sims 2: Super Collection hits Mac as Peter Molyneux’s ‘Godus’ lands for iOS

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2014 - 6:31 am PT

7 Comments

Two new games are arriving today with Mac users getting access to a new The Sims 2: Super Collection and iOS gamers getting their hands on the latest creation from Fable creator Peter Molyneux.

The Sims 2: Super Collection includes the return of the classic title for Mac exclusively on the Mac App Store and with it you get all of the downloadable content including 6 expansion packs and 3 additional content packs. The collection is available on the Mac App Store now as a single download for $29.99. Developers Aspyr noted, “We’ve completely overhauled The Sims™ 2 to work with modern hardware and OS configurations, optimizing performance with a new renderer, and we are supporting native resolution.”

Up next for games today is the latest from Peter Molyneux, creator of Fable and other popular titles for consoles and PC, with the release of ‘Godus’ for iPhone and iPad. The god simulator of sorts has received some teasers up until now through its Kickstarter campaign, but today the game is finally available on the App Store as a free download.

Godus for iPhone and iPad – FREE App Store

Yelp updates iOS app with Bing-powered review translation feature

Mike Beasley Aug 7 2014 - 2:41 pm PT

Yelp has updated its iOS app with a new feature that automatically translates foreign-language reviews to a users’ native tongue. The feature is powered by Microsoft’s Bing translation service. It currently works for 15 languages, according to a Yelp blog post:

The translation feature works for all 15 officially supported Yelp languages: English, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Spanish, Italian, Norwegian, French, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, and Japanese.

The update doesn’t appear to have rolled out on the App Store just yet, but the company says it will be available later today. The Yelp app is free for iPhone and iPad.

1Password for iOS goes on sale as developer confirms iOS 8 update will be free for current users

Mike Beasley Aug 7 2014 - 2:13 pm PT

11 Comments

AgileBits, the team behind the 1Password security app that we’ve reviewed in the past, announced on in a company blog post that the upcoming iOS 8 update for the software will be free for all owners of the current version of the app.

The update, which is expected to debut around iOS 8’s launch this fall, is currently in a semi-public beta and takes advantage of new features in the operating system like Safari extensions, Touch ID, and more. If you don’t already own the current version of the iOS app, you can grab it at the steeply-discounted price of $9.99. The Mac version is also on sale for $34.99 (Reg. $50).

9to5Toys Last Call: Sketchbook for iOS goes free, PNY 64GB MacBook memory $30, 1Password for iOS $10, more

Aug 7 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:

Sony Bluetooth NFC Wireless Portable Speaker (refurb) $55 shipped (orig. $199), more
Timex introduces its ‘no phone required’ Ironman GPS One+ smartwatch

Sketchbook painting and drawing apps for iPhone and iPad go free for the first time ever

64GB PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: $30 shipped (orig. $100)

Games/Apps: 1Password (iOS) $10 (Reg. $18), Deus Ex: The Fall $1 (Reg. $7), iOS freebies, more

Current iPods up to $110 off: touch 32GB: $214, nano 16GB: $114, shuffle 2GB: $29, more

Navdy HUD may finally make it safe to tweet and drive, save 40% when you preorder

Other new deals:

New! Logitech Accessories: UE 4000 ‘phones $18, iPad keyboard Cases, more
New! Home Deals: Cuisinart 10-Piece Cookware Set $60, LED light bulbs (6 pack) $36, more
New! Case Logic Anthracite Berkley 14″ laptop & tablet backpack $22 shipped (orig. $60)
New! Daily Deals: LG 28″ 720p LED HDTV $170, 20000mAh Power bank: $22, more
New! Woot $10 off purchases of $25 or more

Blu-rays: Cowboys & Aliens $5.25, Saw: The Complete Movie Collection $17.50, more http://t.co/dFRLPgsFEx pic.twitter.com/ZPdnAspsEs

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 7, 2014

More tech deals still alive:

Anki Drive Starter Kit, iOS-controlled killer robot car racing game $150 (Reg. $200)
LifeProof nüüd drop/waterproof iPad mini case $30 shipped (orig. $120)
Clear tasks and reminders app up to 60% off: Mac $5 (Reg. $10), iOS $2 (Reg. $5)
TP-LINK AV600 Gigabit Powerline Adapter Starter Kit $60 shipped (Reg. $95)
HDTVs: LG 55″ 1080p 120Hz: $550, LG 42″ 1080p LED: $319, more
rooCASE cases for iPhone 5/5c/5s $3 shipped (orig. up to $30)
Home Theater: Samsung soundbars & subs from $80 shipped, more
PNY Attaché 3 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive $40 shipped (Reg. $60)
NAS gear: Synology DS213j $188 (Reg. $230), WD Red 3.5-inch HDD $149 (orig. $280)
Toshiba Canvio Desktop 5TB External Hard Drive $172 (Reg. $210)
Beats by Dre headphones: Studio $250 (Reg. $300), Powerbeats $80 (Reg. $150)
APC back-up power supply deals: up to 50% off top-rated products
iTunes gift cards w/ email delivery: $100 for $90 or $50 for $45 (10% savings)
Roku 1 streaming media player $39 shipped (Reg. $49+)
LifeProof frē water/shock proof case for iPad mini: $35 shipped (Reg. $65+), more
Aduro MFi certified Lightning cables (multiple colors): 3-feet $8, 6-feet $11, 10-feet $13

Home/fashion/media/other:

One yr. magazine subs from $4.50: Wired, Macworld, Pop Science, more
Home Deals: Cordless Hand Vacs from $16 shipped, kitchen items, more
Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt w/ built-in alarm $160 (Reg. $200+), more
Media: IMAX Ultimate Collection DVD $35, Gaslight Anthem iTunes First Play, more
REI extra 25% off activewear and gear, includes prAna, Brooks, North Face, Merrell
Fashion: Ralph Lauren up to 70% off, more
D igital Comic Book Sale: Sin City Vol.1-7 $22 (reg. $122), Batman titles, more

New products/ongoing promos:

Notifyr app goes free (Reg. $4), receive iOS notifications on your Mac
IK Multimedia launches the new iRig Mic HD for iOS and Mac/PC
Solidoodle introduces its most affordable 3D printer yet
Microsoft looks towards football season with new Xbox One Madden bundle
IGN makes Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Season 2 its free iOS game of the month
Casio’s new G-SHOCK watch combines rugged style w/ smart features music fans will love
Turn your Apple USB wall plug into a power bank w/ NomadPlus, save 50%
GoalZero Portable Torch, Power Hub, and Emergency Light powered by the Sun or you
Sega’s new Crazy Taxi: City Rush game is out now on iOS for FREE
Amazon launches a new custom 3D printing storefront

Android/Microsoft/misc tech:

Google Play Summer Sale up to 85% off: Deus Ex, Gangstar Vegas, Final Fantasy, more
Acer 11.6-inch C720 Chromebook (Refurb) $130 shipped (Reg. $199 new)
Samsung Galaxy Battery Clearance on Amazon, prices start at $6 Prime shipped
HP Chromebox CB1 desktop computer $150 shipped (Reg. $180)
Google Play Summer Steals app sale: Iron Force, TETRIS Blitz, Asteroids Pack, more
Google Chromecast streaming media player $30 shipped (Reg. $35)

NFL Now app launches on iPhone & iPad, coming soon to Apple TV with personalized video stream & more

Ben Lovejoy Aug 7 2014 - 5:35 am PT

13 Comments

The NFL Now app we revealed a few days ago has launched on iPhone and iPad, offering fans a personalized video stream of their favorite teams.

NFL Now delivers a personalized video stream of your favorite NFL teams, players and coaches right to your iPad or iPhone. Get exclusive interviews and stories about your team, breaking news on your fantasy players, and unlimited access to your favorites in the NFL Films Archives.

This official NFL product combines all of the intense football you love with a smart, easy-to-use interface. NFL Now for the iPhone and iPad learns what you like and delivers a non-stop stream of customized NFL content gathered just for you …

United Airlines adds passport scanning for international flights to mobile app

Ben Lovejoy Aug 7 2014 - 4:52 am PT

The immigration authorities of most countries require airlines to check the passports of their passengers before they are allowed to fly, so if you are making your first international flight with an airline, you have to queue up at check-in instead of downloading your own boarding pass at home. United Airlines is aiming to end this by adding the ability to scan and verify your passport using its mobile app, then head straight to Departures at the airport.

Once you’ve scanned your passport with your iPhone’s camera, the app sends the details to credentials management company Jumio Inc, who verify that your passport is valid which then allows you to download your boarding pass.

If your passport is already registered with United from a previous international flight, you don’t need to scan it again, it is verified automatically.

The bad news is that the system can’t yet verify visas, so if you need a visa for the country you’re visiting, you’ll still need to check-in the old-fashioned way.

You can download the free United Airlines app from iTunes.

ABC News viewers are watching 50% more live video on Apple TV than on desktop & mobile combined

Jordan Kahn Aug 6 2014 - 9:09 am PT

7 Comments

Since launching its new ABC News channel on Apple TV a month ago, ABC today reached out with some stats on how people have been using the app and also announced the addition of new local stations.
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9to5Toys Last Call: Navdy HUD preorders begin w/ 40% discount, 55″ LG LED HDTV $550, iPhone 5/5s/5c cases $3, more

Aug 6 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:

Navdy HUD may finally make it safe to tweet and drive
IK Multimedia launches the new iRig Mic HD for iOS and Mac/PC
HDTVs: LG 55″ 1080p 120Hz: $550, LG 42″ 1080p LED: $319, more
rooCASE cases for iPhone 5/5c/5s $3 shipped (orig. up to $30)
Home Deals: Cordless Hand Vacs from $16 shipped, kitchen items, more
Google Play Summer Sale up to 85% off: Deus Ex, Gangstar Vegas, Final Fantasy, more

OtterBox waterproof Preserver Series iPhone 5/5s case: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $90)

Notifyr app goes free (Reg. $4), receive iOS notifications on your Mac

Daily Deals: Nike+ FuelBand Activity Tracker: $40, Apple iPad Smart Cases: $23, more

Anki Drive Starter Kit, iOS-controlled killer robot car racing game $150 (Reg. $200)

Home Deals: Schlage Touchscreen Deadbolt w/ built-in alarm $160 (Reg. $200+), more

Other new deals:

Today only, up to 50% off Waterpik water flossers and more at Amazon.… http://t.co/9zU6TNaBI2 pic.twitter.com/vXdSMc48am

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 6, 2014

New! Clear tasks and reminders app up to 60% off: Mac $5 (Reg. $10), iOS $2 (Reg. $5)
New! Jabra Solemate Mini Wireless Bluetooth speaker $55 shipped (Reg. $100)
New! TP-LINK AV600 Gigabit Powerline Adapter Starter Kit $60 shipped (Reg. $95)
New! One yr. magazine subs from $4.50: Wired, Macworld, Pop Science, more
New! Games/Apps: Order & Chaos Online FREE (Reg. $7), Notability $2, more

Western Digital Red 3.5-inch NAS-optimized HDD: 3TB $115 (Reg. $150), 4TB $149 (Reg. $220) http://t.co/EmXCFjQ7jT pic.twitter.com/TzMbHoN1Qj

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 6, 2014

More tech deals still alive:

LifeProof nüüd drop/waterproof iPad mini case $30 shipped (orig. $120)
Home Theater: Samsung soundbars & subs from $80 shipped, more
PNY Attaché 3 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive $40 shipped (Reg. $60)
NAS gear: Synology DS213j $188 (Reg. $230), WD Red 3.5-inch HDD $149 (orig. $280)
Toshiba Canvio Desktop 5TB External Hard Drive $172 (Reg. $210)
Beats by Dre headphones: Studio $250 (Reg. $300), Powerbeats $80 (Reg. $150)
APC back-up power supply deals: up to 50% off top-rated products
iTunes gift cards w/ email delivery: $100 for $90 or $50 for $45 (10% savings)
Roku 1 streaming media player $39 shipped (Reg. $49+)
LifeProof frē water/shock proof case for iPad mini: $35 shipped (Reg. $65+), more
Aduro MFi certified Lightning cables (multiple colors): 3-feet $8, 6-feet $11, 10-feet $13

Home/fashion/media/other:

Media: IMAX Ultimate Collection DVD $35, Gaslight Anthem iTunes First Play, more
REI extra 25% off activewear and gear, includes prAna, Brooks, North Face, Merrell
Fashion: Ralph Lauren up to 70% off, more
D igital Comic Book Sale: Sin City Vol.1-7 $22 (reg. $122), Batman titles, more

New products/ongoing promos:

Solidoodle introduces its most affordable 3D printer yet
Microsoft looks towards football season with new Xbox One Madden bundle
IGN makes Telltale’s The Walking Dead: Season 2 its free iOS game of the month
Casio’s new G-SHOCK watch combines rugged style w/ smart features music fans will love
Turn your Apple USB wall plug into a power bank w/ NomadPlus, save 50%
GoalZero Portable Torch, Power Hub, and Emergency Light powered by the Sun or you
Sega’s new Crazy Taxi: City Rush game is out now on iOS for FREE
Amazon launches a new custom 3D printing storefront

Android/Microsoft/misc tech:

Acer 11.6-inch C720 Chromebook (Refurb) $130 shipped (Reg. $199 new)
Samsung Galaxy Battery Clearance on Amazon, prices start at $6 Prime shipped
HP Chromebox CB1 desktop computer $150 shipped (Reg. $180)
Google Play Summer Steals app sale: Iron Force, TETRIS Blitz, Asteroids Pack, more
Google Chromecast streaming media player $30 shipped (Reg. $35)

Foursquare’s location discovery-focused app overhaul now available

Zac Hall Aug 6 2014 - 8:39 am PT

Earlier this year Foursquare announced its plans to split check-ins and social features from location discovery and reviewing features from its mobile apps. Swarm, the new app focused on check-ins, launched earlier this year in May while Foursquare gave its users some time to become familiar with having two apps for two different purposes.
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Yahoo Mail iOS app adds improved search w/ filters for files & photos

Jordan Kahn Aug 6 2014 - 7:34 am PT

Yahoo updated its Mail app today for iPhone and iPad with a new and improved search experience that makes it easier to find emails and specific content within emails when searching for contacts.

With the updated app, users can now apply filters after searching for a contact that will filter results by emails, photos, or files. The update will make it easy to, for example, find a specific attachment within an email or conversation.

The update also includes unspecified performance improvements and bug fixes.

The updated Yahoo Mail app for iPhone and iPad, version 3.2.0, is available now for free.

What’s New in Version 3.2.0

– We’re excited to introduce you to our new and improved search experience. Now, when you search for a person’s name, you can easily filter the results by emails, photos, or files. We hope you love it as much as we do! Please drop us a note at aerogram-feedback@yahoo-inc.com with your thoughts or suggestions.
– Performance improvements
– Bug fixes

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Anki Drive Starter Kit $150, new Solidoodle 3D printer, Mac $220 off w/ .edu, more

Aug 5 2014 - 9:00 am PT