Apps

Following this week’s release of iTunes 11.1.6 and OS X 10.9.3 betas to AppleCare employees, Apple has pushed the updates live to developers as well. The iTunes update restores the ability to sync contacts and calendars to an iOS device, which had been removed in favor of iCloud in previous versions of iTunes.

The OS X update (with the build number 13D21) includes the ability to output at 4k resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate on the latest MacBook Pro models. The build number on this update is two builds newer than the version that was pushed to employees earlier this week.

Other than these changes and a few bug fixes, there aren’t any major changes in either build.

GarageBand for Mac brings back MP3 exporting, adds new Drummers & more

Zac Hall Mar 20 2014 - 10:58 am PT

Apple released an updated version of GarageBand for Mac today bringing back MP3 exporting and adding 3 new Drummers to the instrument recording software. MP3 exporting, which you would think is a standard feature for the software, was removed from the app in version 10. The update also features improvements to the software accessibility features and bug fixes.

What’s New in Version 10.0.2

• Improves stability and addresses a number of minor issues
• Adds the option to export songs as an MP3
• Contains multiple enhancements to Accessibility
• Includes 3 new Drummers and drum kits from the rock, songwriter, and R&B genres*

*Part of the one-time in-app purchase that includes the complete set of GarageBand sounds, loops, and drummers, as well as access to the GarageBand Lesson Store.

The last version of GarageBand (10.0.1) was released last November while Apple first released GarageBand 10 last October.

GarageBand 10.0.2 is available now on the Mac App Store.

Starbucks releases iOS 7-friendly iPhone app with a few new tricks

Zac Hall Mar 20 2014 - 10:13 am PT

17 Comments

We’ve already seen Starbucks show off a new way to pay and tip your barista in the long-awaited update to its iPhone app it previously announced, and today it is finally available and features a brand new design for iOS 7 when buying your latte.

Previously, the Starbucks app featured a number of various tabs on the bottom navigation bar, but the updated version has been dramatically simplified to focus on three main sections under the headers Pay, Stores, and Gift.

Reward member profiles, messages, and Pick of the Week content is now featured in a clean view with the app’s new tip feature as well.

The update also comes with a new icon to represent the refreshed design of the app.
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9to5Toys Last Call: Logitech UE Boom BT speaker $129, Staples gift card 15% off, Macworld subscription $8, more

Mar 20 2014 - 10:07 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 subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Logitech UE Boom shockproof/water-resistant Bluetooth speaker $129 shipped (Reg. $200)

Staples $100 Gift Card for $85 shipped (15% savings)

1 year magazine subs: Macworld w/ digital $8 shipped (Reg. $84), Rolling Stone $5 shipped (Reg. $102), Pop Mechanics, Motor Trend, more

PayPal is once again chopping 20% off iTunes gift cards ($25-$100) http://t.co/Wq8hAGyTCT pic.twitter.com/5Ys7Cwro63

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) March 20, 2014

Other great deals from today:

New! Games/Apps: Saints Row IV $20 (Reg. $40), Civ V Campaign for Mac: $15 (Reg. $30), Pinball HD FREE, iOS freebies, more
New! Daily Deals: Logitech Keyboard Cover for iPad $35, Mophie Portable Juice Pack refurb $8, Dual USB Car Charger $8, more
New! Power Bundle: HooToo 7-port USB 3.0 hub and RAVPower 10400mAh power bank $52 shipped (Reg. $70)

More great deals still alive:

PNY Turbo USB 3.0 Flash Drives: 32GB $15, 64GB $30, 128GB $50 shipped
Pick any audiobook free with a 30-day Trial Membership on Audible ($20-$30 value)
JBL OnBeat Venue Bluetooth speaker & Lightning dock: $130 shipped (Reg. $200)
iPad Bluetooth Keyboards: Anker Ultra-Slim Aluminum for mini $20, Logitech Ultrathin for iPad 2/3 $30
GameStop 15% off games/accessories: MGS V: Ground Zeroes $25.50, Watch Dogs $51, PS Plus 1 yr. $42.50, more
Logitech Z130 computer speakers $13 (Reg. $25)
Kensington PowerBolt Duo 2-port USB car charger w/ MFi Lightning cable $15 (Reg. $40)
Seagate 3.5-inch 2TB internal hybrid drive: $100 shipped (Reg. $170)
iOttie Easy View Universal Car Mount for iPhone 5/4S: $9 + $3 shipping (Reg. $23)
Samsung 840 EVO Series 1TB 2.5″ Solid State Drive $469 shipped (Reg. $850)
Amazon celebrates its Appstore’s 3rd birthday with 2 weeks of deals
Samsung 32″ 1080p 60Hz Smart LED HDTV $300 shipped (Reg. $500)
Sony RDPM7IPN portable Lightning speaker dock for iPhone/iPod $60 shipped (Reg. $80), more
Free year of ShopRunner ($79 value), while all Prime members can use a workaround to avoid price increase
Staples In-Store: iPod Touch 5th gen 16GB $180 ($50 off), 32GB $230 ($75 off)

New products/info:

Amazon announces rate increases for regular ($99/yr) and Student Prime ($49/yr) memberships

iTunes Connect issue halting new app and update submissions for developers (U: Apple says fixed)

Zac Hall Mar 20 2014 - 7:00 am PT

After just over a month since the last similar episode, several developers from around the world have reported a critical issue with iTunes Connect that is preventing new app and software update deployment to the App Store. Apple has noted the disruption on its developer system status page with a brief message: “Some users are experiencing a problem with [iTunes Connect].” The system status page lists the service disruption as occurring around 8 PM EST yesterday, but developers first began reporting problems with app and update submissions much earlier on Wednesday. The system status page does not report issues with any other developer services, and all consumer services report no issues. Apple does not provide a timeline for when it expects the disruption to be resolved nor does it offer the cause of the disruption.

Apps

Burger King will soon let you pay with your iPhone in its 7000 U.S. locations

Jordan Kahn Mar 19 2014 - 12:30 pm PT

8 Comments

Following announcements from other fast-food chains planning to roll out mobile payment and ordering systems this year, Bloomberg reports that Burger King will be the latest to let customers make purchases using a smartphone app.

The program will be introduced next month and should be in all of Burger King’s more than 7,000 U.S. locations in “a few months,” Bryson Thornton, a spokesman for the company, said in an e-mailed statement. The option to order food and drinks ahead of time for later in-store pickup may be added, he said.

McDonalds, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts and others are all currently testing or already beginning to roll out similar apps in markets around the US, while other chains like Starbucks have long offered similar payment options through its app. The apps will also provide coupons and other promotions to customers, and I’m sure it won’t be long before fast food franchises get on the iBeacon bandwagon.

Burger King is also apparently weighing the idea of allowing customers to order ahead of time for pickup at a later time.

Unreal Engine 4 arrives w/ new $19/month (+ 5% royalty) subscription model

Jordan Kahn Mar 19 2014 - 10:41 am PT

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD5cRnrMqWw]

Epic Games is announcing the release of its new Unreal Engine 4 engine today and in the process introducing a new pricing scheme and support for OS X out of the gate. The engine that powers many of our favorite games across platforms will now be available to developers as a subscription that will see devs pay $19 a month plus a 5 percent royalty on gross product revenue (that’s before Apple takes its 30% cut for the App Store, for example.) That will give devs access to the all Unreal Engine 4 features and tools, full C++ source code available on GitHub, as well as the usual documentation and upcoming updates.

This first release of Unreal Engine 4 is just the beginning. In the C++ code, you can see many new initiatives underway, for example to support Oculus VR, Linux, Valve’s Steamworks and Steam Box efforts, and deployment of games to web browsers via HTML5. It’s all right there, in plain view, on day one of many years of exciting and open development ahead!

Epic hopes that the new model will make it easier for anyone, especially the many smaller mobile game developers that might not yet be using the platform, to ship a product using Unreal Engine. That being said, Epic will negotiate custom terms for some developers, for example, “reducing or eliminating the royalty in exchange for an upfront license fee.” Epic used to charge a $99 license fee plus 25% of revenue after the first $50,000 any particular game brought in.

Epic warns that Mac OS X support in UE 4 still “hasn’t undergone serious developer testing yet” and that iOS deployment is only available on Mac so far.

You can get more info and sign up for UE4 here.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2rM-l-vdQ]

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS6q1H23njM]

9to5Toys Last Call: Logitech UE Boombox $120, Apple TV $80, Retina MacBook Pro $200 off, discounted Amazon Prime, more

Mar 19 2014 - 10:10 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 subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

Apple MacBook Pro ME866LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop with Retina Display and Intel Core i5 2.60GHz 8GB Memory $1600 (Reg. $1800)
Reminder: You only have a few hours left to save $20 on your first year of Amazon Prime
iPad Bluetooth Keyboards: Anker Ultra-Slim Aluminum for mini $20, Logitech Ultrathin for iPad 2/3 $30

Bluetooth Speakers:

Logitech UE Boombox Bluetooth speaker: $120 Shipped ($130 off)
Onkyo RBX-500 iLunar Bluetooth Music System: $123 shipped (half off)
JBL OnBeat Venue Bluetooth speaker & Lightning dock: $130 shipped (Reg. $200)

Apple TV 3rd gen. 1080p streaming media player $80 shipped (Reg. $99)

GameStop 15% off games/accessories: MGS V: Ground Zeroes $25.50, Watch Dogs $51, PS Plus 1 yr. $42.50, more

Other great deals from today:

New! Pick any audiobook free with a 30-day Trial Membership on Audible ($20-$30 value)
New! Games/Apps: Thief (all platforms) $50, Metro Last Light $20, Fling! FREE, Guitar Hero for iPhone $1, iOS freebies, more
New! Daily Deals: Logitech Solar BT Keyboard Case refurb $25, 7800mAh Power bank $15, Skullcandy buds $8, more
New! PNY Turbo USB 3.0 Flash Drives: 32GB $15, 64GB $30, 128GB $50 shipped
New! Kindle Fire HD 8.9″ 16GB Wi-Fi Certified refurb $129 shipped (Reg. $199)

More great deals still alive:

GameStop 15% off games/accessories: MGS V: Ground Zeroes $25.50, Watch Dogs $51, PS Plus 1 yr. $42.50, more
Logitech Z130 computer speakers $13 (Reg. $25)
Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable $95 (Reg. $150)
Kensington PowerBolt Duo 2-port USB car charger w/ MFi Lightning cable $15 (Reg. $40)
Seagate 3.5-inch 2TB internal hybrid drive: $100 shipped (Reg. $170)
iOttie Easy View Universal Car Mount for iPhone 5/4S: $9 + $3 shipping (Reg. $23)
Samsung 840 EVO Series 1TB 2.5″ Solid State Drive $469 shipped (Reg. $850)
Amazon celebrates its Appstore’s 3rd birthday with 2 weeks of deals
Samsung 32″ 1080p 60Hz Smart LED HDTV $300 shipped (Reg. $500)
Nexus 7 Android tablet (2nd gen) 32GB WiFi + LTE $300 shipped (Reg. $349)
Sony RDPM7IPN portable Lightning speaker dock for iPhone/iPod $60 shipped (Reg. $80), more
Wireless Speakers: JBL Charge Bluetooth $84, JBL SoundFly AirPlay $140, Grace internet radio $125
Free year of ShopRunner ($79 value), while all Prime members can use a workaround to avoid price increase
Staples In-Store: iPod Touch 5th gen 16GB $180 ($50 off), 32GB $230 ($75 off)

New products/info:

Amazon announces rate increases for regular ($99/yr) and Student Prime ($49/yr) memberships
Roku announces a new HDMI streaming stick for $50
D-Link Releases the First Portable 11AC Router/Server/Charger for $99 shipped

Apps

Apple seeds Mavericks, Mountain Lion Safari 7.0.3/6.1.3 betas to developers

Mike Beasley Mar 18 2014 - 5:59 pm PT

3 Comments

Apple has just seeded the first beta of the next version(s) of its Safari browser for OS X. The new versions, 7.0.3 and 6.1.3, will be available for Mavericks and Mountain Lion users, respectively.

Earlier today Apple also released a new OS X 10.9.3 developer preview along with a beta version of iTunes 11.1.6 to employees. Based on the rapid release of these app betas and the decreasing time between OS X betas, the OS X update is expected to be available to developers later this week.

The new Safari beta includes the following release note:

Please focus testing on the following areas:
• General website compatibility
• Safari Push Notifications
• Login AutoFill
• Credit Card AutoFill (OS X Mavericks only)
• Extension Compatibility

Firefox 28 released w/ Mac OS X Notification Center support for web notifications

Jordan Kahn Mar 18 2014 - 12:34 pm PT

5 Comments

Firefox today released the latest version of its desktop browser for Mac, Linux, and Windows and in the process added one much welcomed feature for Mac OS X users: support for Notification Center. This means that web apps and sites taking advantage of Firefox’s web notifications feature will now also appear for Mac users in the Notification Center.

Version 28 of Firefox also introduces a few new behind the scenes improvements including VP9 video decoding, volume control for HTML5 audio/video, and a number of other fixes.

Firefox 28 for Mac is available to download from the Mozilla website now.

9to5Toys Last Call: Seagate 4TB desktop HD $125, Toshiba 2TB portable HD $95, daily deals, more

Mar 18 2014 - 10:09 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 subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

GameStop 15% off games/accessories: MGS V: Ground Zeroes $25.50, Watch Dogs $51, PS Plus 1 yr. $42.50, more

USB 3.0 External Hard Drives: Seagate Expansion 4TB Desktop $125 (Reg. $170), Toshiba Canvio Basics 2TB Portable $95 (Reg. $150)

Daily Deals: Polaroid 1080p Waterproof Camera $90, Logitech Universal Remote Control $80, Craig BT Speaker $18, more

You can still score a FREE HD copy of the hit Tom Hanks movie ‘Big’ (up to $15 savings) http://t.co/gd2thRjDBm pic.twitter.com/bqUVJREqnK

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) March 18, 2014

Other great deals from today:

New! Games/Apps: Infamous Second Son w/ $25 GC $60, Dishonored GOTY $15, Wii U Balance Board & Fit Meter $55 (Reg. $90), iOS freebies, more
New! Logitech Z130 computer speakers $13 (Reg. $25)
New! Home Deals: Frigidaire Stainless Blender/Mixer $50 (Reg. $150), Breville Quick Touch Microwave Oven $300 (Reg. $450), more

More great deals still alive:

Kensington PowerBolt Duo 2-port USB car charger w/ MFi Lightning cable $15 (Reg. $40)
Seagate 3.5-inch 2TB internal hybrid drive: $100 shipped (Reg. $170)
Monoprice 27″ 2560×1440 Slim IPS monitor $290 (Reg. $855)
iOttie Easy View Universal Car Mount for iPhone 5/4S: $9 + $3 shipping (Reg. $23)
Samsung 840 EVO Series 1TB 2.5″ Solid State Drive $469 shipped (Reg. $850)
Amazon celebrates its Appstore’s 3rd birthday with 2 weeks of deals
Samsung 32″ 1080p 60Hz Smart LED HDTV $300 shipped (Reg. $500)
Nexus 7 Android tablet (2nd gen) 32GB WiFi + LTE $300 shipped (Reg. $349)
Sony RDPM7IPN portable Lightning speaker dock for iPhone/iPod $60 shipped (Reg. $80), more
Wireless Speakers: JBL Charge Bluetooth $84, JBL SoundFly AirPlay $140, Grace internet radio $125
Free year of ShopRunner ($79 value), while all Prime members can use a workaround to avoid price increase
D-Link AV2 600Mbps Gigabit PowerLine Starter Kit: $70 shipped (Reg. $100)
Staples In-Store: iPod Touch 5th gen 16GB $180 ($50 off), 32GB $230 ($75 off)
Amazon Kindle Fire 7-inch 8GB: $99 shipped (cert. refurb: $79)

New products/info:

Amazon announces rate increases for regular ($99/yr) and Student Prime ($49/yr) memberships
Roku announces a new HDMI streaming stick for $50
D-Link Releases the First Portable 11AC Router/Server/Charger for $99 shipped

YouTube for iOS updated with changes to comments, improvements to playlists

Mike Beasley Mar 17 2014 - 3:17 pm PT

Google updated YouTube for iOS today to version 2.5 with a few new changes and enhancements. The bigger changes include support for sharing entire playlists (where previously you could only share individual videos) and the option to quickly get to your own saved playlists from the sidebar.

Comments have also received some upgrades, giving users the ability to reply to other commenters and create conversation threads. Users can also now delete their own comments and see whether another user’s comment was posted publicly or not.

You can grab the free YouTube app on the App Store.

What’s New in Version 2.5.0

* Share and like playlists
* Quickly access your favorite playlists from the Guide
* Reply to comments and delete your own
* See if a comment was shared privately or publicly

Report: Office for iPad to be revealed on March 27th

Benjamin Mayo Mar 17 2014 - 2:38 pm PT

12 Comments

Both The Verge and ZDNet are independently reporting that Microsoft will finally launch Office for iPad at the end of this month on March 27th, according to sources. According to The Verge, the suite will (unsurprisingly) be very similar to the Office app already on the iPhone App Store.

9to5Toys Last Call: Dell/Monoprice IPS monitors from $229, Samsung 1TB 840 EVO Series SSD $469, Griffin Tech. 20% off, more

Mar 17 2014 - 10:47 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 subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

Seagate 3.5-inch 2TB internal hybrid drive: $100 shipped (Reg. $170)
Logitech K760 Wireless Bluetooth Solar Keyboard for Mac/iPhone/iPad $33 Shipped (Reg. $80)
iOttie Easy View Universal Car Mount for iPhone 5/4S: $9 + $3 shipping (Reg. $23)

IPS Monitors: 24″ Dell UltraSharp 1080p $229 (Reg. $370), Monoprice 27″ 2560×1440 Slim $290 (Reg. $855)
~~Apple 13″ Macbook Pro with Retina Display $999 shipped (Reg. $1299)~~ (Update 3/17 2:45pm: Sold out)

Samsung 840 EVO Series 1TB 2.5″ Solid State Drive $434 shipped (Reg. $850) (Update 3/17 2:30pm: Price bumped back up to the low price of $469)

Griffin Technology 20% off sitewide St. Patrick’s Day sale: Save on iPad/iPhone cases, Mac accessories, Lightning cables, more

Kensington PowerBolt Duo 2-port USB car charger w/ MFi Lightning cable $15 (Reg. $40)

Ends today:

Arby’s Buy One Get One FREE Reuben sandwich http://t.co/E6TDvprfPC #HappyStPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/UPMaoM9sXD

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) March 17, 2014

Other great deals from today:

New! Games/Apps: Watch Dogs preorder $50, Titanfall + 1 yr. Xbox Gold $90, up to 70% off 2K iOS titles, more
New! IPS Monitors: 24″ Dell UltraSharp 1080p $229 (Reg. $370), Monoprice 27″ 2560×1440 Slim $290 (Reg. $855)
New! Amazon celebrates its Appstore’s 3rd birthday with 2 weeks of deals
New! Magazine deals: Car, AUX, Stylist, more FREE from Google Play, Macworld $8, Popular Science $5, more
New! Home Deals: Frigidaire Stainless Blender/Mixer $50 (Reg. $150), Breville Quick Touch Microwave Oven $300 (Reg. $450), more
New! Daily Deals: Apple Lightning Cable $9, urBeats Headphones $39, 1080P display $90, more
New! Free download of Cyberlink PhotoDirector 4 for PC/Mac
New! Nexus 7 Android tablet (2nd gen) 32GB WiFi + LTE $300 shipped (Reg. $349)

Seiki set to give its UHDTV owners a free 4K up-conversion HDMI adapter

More info: http://t.co/fTPplynPs9

Adapter: http://t.co/idwStqAG63

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) March 17, 2014

More great deals still alive:

Samsung 32″ 1080p 60Hz Smart LED HDTV $300 shipped (Reg. $500)
Sony RDPM7IPN portable Lightning speaker dock for iPhone/iPod $60 shipped (Reg. $80), more
Wireless Speakers: JBL Charge Bluetooth $84, JBL SoundFly AirPlay $140, Grace internet radio $125
Apple 2TB Time Capsule (previous generation) $160 shipped (Reg. $290)
Free year of ShopRunner ($79 value), while all Prime members can use a workaround to avoid price increase
D-Link AV2 600Mbps Gigabit PowerLine Starter Kit: $70 shipped (Reg. $100)
Seagate 2TB Backup Plus Slim USB 3.0 portable drive (black): $108 shipped (Reg. $150)
Staples $50 off tablets priced $249 or more: iPad mini w/ Retina display from $349, iPad Air $449, more
Staples In-Store: iPod Touch 5th gen 16GB $180 ($50 off), 32GB $230 ($75 off)
Amazon Kindle Fire 7-inch 8GB: $99 shipped (cert. refurb: $79)
Headphones: Beats by Dr. Dre Mixr (Refurb.) $180 (Reg. $250), MEElectronics Atlas On-Ears $55 (Reg. $100), more
$25 off Your next Hotel Booking with iOS or Android FREE App Download
iOttie Easy Flex 3 car mount/desk stand for iPhone & other smartphones $12.50 (Reg. $25)
Lexar 32GB JumpDrive $15 (Reg. $33), PNY 128GB $49 shipped (Reg. $70)
Western Digital My Passport Ultra 2 TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive Black + Photoshop Lightroom 5 $129 ($100 off)
ColorStrokes: Selective photo coloring app for Mac – FREE (Reg. $3)

New products/info:

Amazon announces rate increases for regular ($99/yr) and Student Prime ($49/yr) memberships
Roku announces a new HDMI streaming stick for $50
D-Link Releases the First Portable 11AC Router/Server/Charger for $99 shipped

Apps

Microsoft launches OneNote for Mac as free download in Mac App Store

Jordan Kahn Mar 17 2014 - 7:40 am PT

38 Comments

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kESYSK8NGHU]

Following reports earlier this month that Microsoft was gearing up to launch a Mac version of its OneNote app for the first time, the app is now officially available as a free download in the Mac App Store. Much like its OneNote apps for other platforms, the Mac app brings much of the same functionality allowing users to keep track of notes, lists, receipts and more and keep them synced with other versions of the app across platforms. The app across all platforms is also going free for the first time starting today.
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Google Play Game services brings multiplayer to iOS, lets devs offer cross-platform gaming

Jordan Kahn Mar 17 2014 - 7:27 am PT

2 Comments

From 9to5Google:

At this week’s Game Developers Conference Google is announcing number of new features coming to developers through Google Play Game services. Notable for iOS users is the fact that Google has decided to expand its multiplayer features to iOS devs. That means all iOS devs that integrate Google Play Game services into their apps (which already offers sign-in, achievements, leaderboards, cloud saves, and more) will be able to let their players across Android and iOS challenge each other to multiplayer matches.

The new features should become available to developers later this month. Google is updating its Play Games Unity Plug-in to support the new cross-platform multiplayer features as well as “introducing an early Play Games C++ SDK to support achievements and leaderboards.” Google notes the cross-platform multiplayer feature will support both its turn-based and real-time multiplayer modes.

First look at notifications feature on Apple TV arrives for iTunes SXSW Festival?

Jordan Kahn Mar 14 2014 - 9:50 pm PT

10 Comments

Apple might have just gave us our first glimpse at an upcoming notifications feature coming to the Apple TV. During Apple’s live stream of its iTunes Festival at the SXSW festival in Austin tonight, Apple for the first time started prompting users to tune into the live stream with a notification feature on the Apple TV (pictured above). The notification interrupts the currently-playing content— in my case a video AirPlaying from my Mac— and displays a notification asking users if they would like to watch the live performance.
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Apple Store for iPhone updated with improved notifications, iPad version gets gift card purchases

Mike Beasley Mar 14 2014 - 3:19 pm PT

Apple updated its mobile shopping apps for both iPhone and iPad today, with each platform getting a different set of new features or fixes. On the iPhone, improvements were made to the way in-store notifications are handled. These notifications can be triggered by a variety of events, such as a Genius Bar appointment or a nearby iBeacon.

Apps

Secret app picks up $8.6m in funding from Google Ventures & other notable investors

Jordan Kahn Mar 14 2014 - 2:12 pm PT

Less than two months after launching and following rumors of an outside investment, anonymous social network app Secret today officially announced it has raised $8.6 million. That’s a little bit less than the $10 million that it was rumored to be getting, but it’s also picking up some notable partners through the investments while the two co-founders, David Byttow and Chrys Bader, remain sole members of the company’s board:

This week, we brought $8.6MM of new capital into the company from a mixture of venture capital firms and angels. We received support from Garry Tan and Alexis Ohanian of Initialized Capital, MG Siegler of Google Ventures, Bing Gordon and Megan Quinn of KPCB, Chris Howard and Brad Silverberg of Fuel Capital, Vivi Nevo, SV Angel, Ashton Kutcher of A-Grade Investments, David Sacks, Bill Lee, Pete Cashmore, Joe Montana, Rob Wiesenthal, Andrew Chen, and several other secret and amazing individuals, with co-founders David Byttow and Chrys Bader as sole members of the board.

TechCrunch and others had previously reported that Secret had closed a $10m round of funding at a valuation of $50 million.

While Secret’s notable organic growth over the last 45 days has been mostly among the early adopter crowd of techies, the company thinks there is a real opportunity to grow beyond its current audience. In its blog post announcing the funding, Secret also shared some insight to how people are using the app:

We’re now halfway there and have found a direct correlation between the number of friends a user has and their engagement on Secret. Notably, 75% of people with more than 5 friends come back every day. Furthermore, 90% of users that engage in a conversation come back within the week, often several times per day. Data like this reaffirms our belief that there is opportunity to build a platform around rich and unexpected conversations.

TechCrunch also reports that users are starting to see a new warning in the app. According to a co-founder, this warning is triggered whenever a name is detected in a Secret post and warns users not to defame others anonymously. The report notes that this is the first in a series of community management-focused changes coming to the app soon.

The Secret app is available to download for free on the App Store.

9to5Toys Last Call: Free yr. of ShopRunner, Crazy Taxi on iOS free, Harman Kardon Precision headphones $65, more

Mar 14 2014 - 10:11 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 subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

Apple 2TB Time Capsule (previous generation) $160 shipped (Reg. $290)
D-Link AV2 600Mbps Gigabit PowerLine Starter Kit: $70 shipped (Reg. $100)

Free year of ShopRunner ($79 value), while all Prime members can use a workaround to avoid price increase

Games/Apps: Up to 82% off Rockstar titles (Mac/PC), 50% off Braid, Crazy Taxi FREE, Clear Day $3, Kingdom Rush sale, iOS freebies, more

Harman Kardon CL Precision On-Ear Headphones with Extended Bass $65 shipped (Reg. $250)

Other great deals from today:

New! Samsung 32″ 1080p 60Hz Smart LED HDTV $300 shipped (Reg. $500)
New! Sony RDPM7IPN portable Lightning speaker dock for iPhone/iPod $60 shipped (Reg. $80), more
New! Daily Deals: Slingbox Pro HD TV Streamer refurb $80, Bose Headphones $110, Apple Certified Lightning Cable $12, more
New! Wireless Speakers: JBL Charge Bluetooth $84, JBL SoundFly AirPlay $140, Grace internet radio $125

Groupon offers 20% off purchases of Local Events & Activities w/ code PLAY20 http://t.co/yXBpjcVoQC

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) March 14, 2014

More great deals still alive:

TP-LINK wireless USB-powered 150Mpbs travel router $15 (Reg. $44)
Seagate 2TB Backup Plus Slim USB 3.0 portable drive (black): $108 shipped (Reg. $150)
Staples $50 off tablets priced $249 or more: iPad mini w/ Retina display from $349, iPad Air $449, more
Staples In-Store: iPod Touch 5th gen 16GB $180 ($50 off), 32GB $230 ($75 off)
Amazon Kindle Fire 7-inch 8GB: $99 shipped (cert. refurb: $79)
Headphones: Beats by Dr. Dre Mixr (Refurb.) $180 (Reg. $250), MEElectronics Atlas On-Ears $55 (Reg. $100), more
$25 off Your next Hotel Booking with iOS or Android FREE App Download
iOttie Easy Flex 3 car mount/desk stand for iPhone & other smartphones $12.50 (Reg. $25)
Lexar 32GB JumpDrive $15 (Reg. $33), PNY 128GB $49 shipped (Reg. $70)
Western Digital My Passport Ultra 2 TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive Black + Photoshop Lightroom 5 $129 ($100 off)
ColorStrokes: Selective photo coloring app for Mac – FREE (Reg. $3)
Crucial M500 240GB SATA III 2.5″ Solid State Drive $110 shipped (Reg. $180)
RAVPower Travel Pack 2800mAh AC / Battery Charger / Power Bank $9 shipped
Select OtterBox Armor Series Waterproof Cases for iPhone 5 $25 (Reg. $100)
Bose OE2 Over-Ear, fold flat headphones and case: $84 (Reg. $150), QuietComfort 3 Acoustic noise-canceling headphones $285 (Reg. $349)
Sony SRS-BTX300 Bluetooth/NFC portable speaker and power bank $98 shipped (Reg. $200)
Anker 2nd Gen Astro3 12000mAh External Battery Charger $40 shipped (Reg. $100)
Ultimate Ears BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker – Black: $180 shipped
TP-LINK 500Mbps Gigabit Powerline network extender: $30 (Reg. up to $60)

New products/info:

Amazon announces rate increases for regular ($99/yr) and Student Prime ($49/yr) memberships
Roku announces a new HDMI streaming stick for $50
D-Link Releases the First Portable 11AC Router/Server/Charger for $99 shipped

Aftermarket CarPlay solutions? Not so fast says Volvo & Ferrari

Jordan Kahn Mar 14 2014 - 8:21 am PT

While we recently confirmed that Mercedes-Benz is planning to have an aftermarket CarPlay solution for older vehicles out by the end of the year, some of Apple’s other partners aren’t as confident. The two other companies that have so far announced the feature for new vehicles— Ferrari and Volvo— are both hinting that aftermarket CarPlay solutions are probably not happening anytime soon.

We reached out to Volvo about its aftermarket CarPlay strategy and the company told us there are “major roadblocks” to overcome before it commits to any plans for older vehicles:
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Screenshots of WhatsApp’s upcoming VOIP feature surface, design similar to iOS 7’s Phone app

Benjamin Mayo Mar 14 2014 - 8:11 am PT

Shortly after being acquired by Facebook for $19 billion dollars, WhatsApp announced that it was planning to integrate VOIP into its messaging app in the coming months. Today, iPhoneItalia has picked up images of what it claims are screenshots of the VOIP feature in action.

In line with the iOS 7 redesign the app received in December, the VOIP functionality closely reflects the design of iOS 7’s native phone interface. The interface uses the same circular buttons and blurred background image; even copying the circular ‘end call’ button from iOS 7.1.