Apps

6,528 'Apps' stories April 2010 - July 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.

Facebook to disable messaging in its main iOS app this week, require Messenger for all users

Mike Beasley Jul 28 2014 - 2:36 pm PT

41 Comments

Facebook has announced today that it will no longer allow messaging in its main mobile application later this week. Instead, any users who wish to take advantage of the company’s messaging platform will have to do so through the standalone Facebook Messenger app.

Earlier this year the comapany started informing some European users of the upcoming move to the separate app, but this is the first time a solid timetable has been set for the transition. For users who already have the Messenger app installed, nothing will change. Once the change goes into effect, the “Messages” tab in the Facebook client will simply link to the Messenger app rather than an inbox view.

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NPR One app arrives on iPhone with curated public radio streams

Jordan Kahn Jul 28 2014 - 2:13 pm PT

1 Comment

Alongside the release of its new app for Android today, the new NPR One app has just arrived on the App Store for iPhone users.

NPR One is the new audio app that connects you to a stream of public radio news and stories curated for you… Great storytelling and rigorous reporting that informs, engages, inspires and surprises—from the ends of the earth to your own city or town—available to you whenever, wherever.

Not to be confused with its NPR News apps already available for iPhone and iPad, the new app offers users a more personalized experience by providing a curated stream of news based on your preferences. It also focuses solely on audio streams rather than mixing written stories like its full news app. It does so by curating stories from public radio stations around the country while mixing in local station news:

*Features*
– A personalized stream of NPR and local station news and stories
– Skip, rewind, pause and share
– Search for your favorite shows, stations and podcasts
– International, national, regional and local content
– A simple, intuitive interface

The new NPR One app is available as a free download for iPhone now.

Beats Music iOS app updated w/ customizable recommendations, Sentence history, verified badges, more

Jordan Kahn Jul 28 2014 - 11:37 am PT

5 Comments

Just as news hit this morning that the European Commission approved Apple’s acquisition of Beats, the Beats Music iOS app just received an update with a number of notable new features.
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9to5Toys Last Call: Gazelle $20 bonus on iPad trades, Target stores $10 off $40, ZAGG 20% off, more

Jul 28 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:

Last Call Updates:

Apple iPad mini 32GB WiFi (Silver or Space Gray) $300 shipped (orig. $399)
TouchPico: Turn Any Surface Into A Touch Screen with this Amazing Device
Home Deals: Cuisinart 14-Piece Ceramic Cookware $100 (Reg. $250), Hamilton Beach Smoothie Blender $30 (Reg. $50), batteries, more

Exclusive: Get an extra $20 to trade in your old iPad at Gazelle (up to $430)

Target coupon: save $10 on in-store pickup orders of $40 or more

ZAGG 20% off sitewide Back to School Sale: iPad keyboard cases, invisibleSHIELD, more

Other new deals:

2GB iPod Shuffle from $36 at Target stores (Reg. $46+) http://t.co/0pflYXodrH pic.twitter.com/kkeBEAlWSt

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 28, 2014

New! Case-Mate 50% off sitewide sale: iPhone cases as low as $8 shipped, more
New! Games/Apps: Xbox gift cards 20% off, MagicalPad HD FREE (Reg. $4), more
New! Google Chromecast streaming media player $30 shipped (Reg. $35)
New! Daily Deals: Garmin nüvi 5″ GPS: $120, LOTR Trilogy on Blu-Ray: $38, more
New! Targus Legend IQ laptop backpack $20 (orig. $50)
New! REI 60-80% off promo: Platypus hydration pack $37, LED lantern $16, much more
New! Seagate Expansion 4TB USB 3 Desktop Hard Drive: $100 shipped
New! HP 14″ Haswell Chromebook, 4GB Memory, 16GB SSD, 2 yrs 4G $238 (Reg. $348)

For the ladies…

Ann Taylor extra 60% off: women's clothing, suits, dresses, more http://t.co/CV1woUTmdD pic.twitter.com/ntl4XFZzps

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 28, 2014

More deals still alive:

Fantastical 2 calendar app for iPhone, iPad and Mac up to 50% off
rooCASE iPad mini cases for $3.50 each Prime shipped (Reg. $10)
Apple desktop Macs: iMac 21.5-inch $1100 shipped (Reg. $1299), $110 off Mac mini
Airport wireless routers (Refurb): Express $60 (Reg. $99 new), Extreme $120 (Reg. $199)
Fashion: NFL, MLB, NBA hats $5 each, Tommy Hilfiger extra 50% off all sale items, more
Home Deals: Nespresso Espresso Maker w/ milk frother $194 (orig. $279), more
Roku LT streaming media player $37 shipped (Reg. $50)
Plug/Ethernet Adapter Kits: TRENDnet 200Mbps $20, Zyxel 500Mbs $30, more
Pencil by FiftyThree: Graphite $50 shipped (Reg. $60), Walnut $60 shipped (Reg. $75)
Solid State Drives: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB $120, Crucial M550 512GB $240 / 1TB $400
Google Nexus 7 case $10 w/ free pickup at Best Buy (80% off)
Motorola’s back to school sale drops up to $125 off the Moto X’s regular asking price
OtterBox Defender Series for 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD: $20 (Reg. $80)
TP-LINK AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit $30 shipped (orig. $70)
Headphones: Sony BT over-ears (refurb) $67 (Reg. $130), Scosche over ears $55, more

New products/ongoing promotions:

Incase’s new Icon sleeve is “the next evolution in protection” for your MacBook and iPad
Fashion: Nordstrom Sale yields significant savings on Lacoste, Under Armour, more
Bungie opens up Destiny beta to everyone across all platforms
The new littleBits WiFi enabled cloudBit makes anything an internet connected smart device
Existing and future Chromecast owners can get a free 90-day Google All Access trial
Google Play Summer App Sale: up to 60% off Runtastic apps, FF, NBA Jam, Weather Pro, many more
8Bitdo brings retro gaming to iOS, Android, Mac and more with its NES Bluetooth controller
New and upcoming Bluetooth speakers: Denon HEOS, Scosche boomBOTTLE black & Fugoo +Sport
Logitech Harmony remotes & keyboards now work together to create the ultimate home theater experience
Jump into the world of LED light bulbs for less than $5 a pop with Ikea Ledare
Verizon FiOS goes symmetrical, upload speeds now same rate as downloads at same cost
Save 30% on an AppleCare Protection Plan for your 13 or 15-inch MacBook
Raspberry Pi B+ microcomputer available w/ enhancements, same $35 price tag
Smart Home:
- Free Philips Hue personal wireless lightning bulb ($60 value) w/ purchase of Philips Hue pack
- $25 off the Wink Hub w/ one accessory purchase or $49 off w/ two accessory purchases
Save 25% on Nomad’s new carabiner, key & credit card sized MFi Lightning cables

Amazon’s unlimited ebook and audiobook subscription service finally goes live in the U.S., try it free http://t.co/M9q7crx7bl

— 9to5Google (@9to5Google) July 18, 2014

Hilton hotels to let you use your iPhone as your hotel key from next year

Ben Lovejoy Jul 28 2014 - 6:05 am PT

16 Comments

Queuing up at a hotel check-in desk is often the last thing you want to do after a long flight. Starting next year, you’ll be able to bypass the front desk altogether in Hilton hotels, your iPhone serving as as your hotel room key.

We’ve seen the same thing in smaller hotel groups, but Hilton’s adoption of the technology moves it very much into the mainstream. The group told the WSJ that it will begin introducing the new door locks next year, and expects to complete the global roll-out by the end of 2016.

The Hilton app already allows you to check-in electronically, but currently you still need to collect your room key from the front desk – which kind of defeats the object. With the new system, iPhone check-in will send a key code to your phone which can then be used to unlock your door.

Bluetooth-controlled door locks for home are also expected to be a big thing this year, with products on the way from Okidokeys and August.

Hudson’s Bay Company deploys iBeacon experience in The Bay and Lord & Taylor stores

Jordan Kahn Jul 28 2014 - 6:00 am PT

3 Comments

It’s not the first department store with plans for iBeacons, but it’s certainly one of the biggest we’ve seen yet deploying the Bluetooth LE beacons that send shoppers location-aware, targeted notifications. Today Hudson’s Bay Company announced that it’s rolling out an iBeacon shopping experience in some of its 130 The Bay and Lord & Taylor department store locations across the US and Canada.
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iOS 8’s iPhoto to Photos app transition to ditch Journals, Books, and Slideshows

Michael Steeber Jul 25 2014 - 10:18 am PT

29 Comments

Starting in iOS 8 beta 4, which was released this past Monday to developers, Apple has begun notifying users of the soon-to-be-defunct iPhoto for iOS to migrate their iPhoto data to the totally revamped Photos app in iOS 8, as part of Apple’s new photo strategy being rolled out this fall and early next year. While photo data can be migrated out of iPhoto, Apple warns that Journals, Slideshows and Book layouts will no longer be available going forward. Right now, Apple’s “Learn More” link appears to be dead.

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9to5Toys Last Call: Jawbone UP24 $50 off, WeMo Light Switch 2-Pack $70, iPad mini cases $3.50 ea., more

Justin Kahn Jul 25 2014 - 8:58 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:

Incase’s new Icon sleeve is “the next evolution in protection” for your MacBook and iPad
Mac mini w/ 4GB of memory and a 500GB HD $499.99 shipped ($100 off)
Foscam Wireless Pan and Tilt Network Camera $50 shipped (Orig. $150)
Samsung Galaxy 16.3-Megapixel Digital Camera $200 (Reg. $450)
Home Deals: Nespresso Espresso Maker w/ milk frother $194 (orig. $279), electric shavers, patio chairs, kitchen items, more
WD My Book 4TB Hard Drive $130 shipped (orig. $240)
Fashion: NFL, MLB, NBA hats $5 each, Tommy Hilfiger extra 50% off all sale items, more

Best Buy Black Friday in July: Jawbone UP24 $50 off, iPad 4 from $330, Logitech M310 mouse $10, iTunes 15% off, more

2-Pack of Belkin WeMo Light Switches $70 shipped (Reg. $90)

rooCASE iPad mini cases for $3.50 each Prime shipped (Reg. $10)

~~PNY 256GB 90MB/s SDXC card: $71 shipped (over half off)~~

Fantastical 2 calendar app for iPhone, iPad and Mac up to 50% off

Apple deals:

Apple iPad Air 64GB WiFi (Space Gray) $580 shipped (Reg. $699)
Apple iMac 21.5-Inch Desktop Current Gen: $1100 shipped (Reg. $1299)
Save up to $250 on current gen. MacBook Airs w/ .edu email, 13-inch from $750, more
MacBook Pro w/ Retina display (ME293LL/A) for $1,699.99 shipped (Reg. $1,999.00)
Airport wireless routers (Refurb): Express $60 (Reg. $99 new), Extreme $120 (Reg. $199)
$100 iTunes Gift Card for $85: Save 15% on apps, movies, music, books, more

Other new deals:

New! rooCASE iPad mini cases for $3.50 each Prime shipped (Reg. $10)
New! Roku LT streaming media player $37 shipped (Reg. $50)
New! Plug/Ethernet Adapter Kits: TRENDnet 200Mbps $20, Zyxel 500Mbs $30, more
New! Daily Deals: HP 14″ Chromebooks from $200, K3 Powerbanks from $15, more
New! Games/Apps: The Last of Us $20, Notes Plus for iOS $4 (Reg. $10), iOS freebies, more
New! Bungie opens up Destiny beta to everyone across all platforms

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One – Avengers Assembled (10-Disc Limited Edition) $130, more http://t.co/Vvroql93ss pic.twitter.com/0C8c27SIFo

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 25, 2014

Google Nexus 7 2nd gen (refurbs): 16GB $130, 32GB LTE $220 + free shipping http://t.co/7oGBJ4Nr29 pic.twitter.com/HBLlguEKsl

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 25, 2014

More deals still alive:

Pencil by FiftyThree: Graphite $50 shipped (Reg. $60), Walnut $60 shipped (Reg. $75)
Solid State Drives: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB $120, Crucial M550 512GB $240 / 1TB $400
The new littleBits WiFi enabled cloudBit makes anything an internet connected smart device
Google Nexus 7 case $10 w/ free pickup at Best Buy (80% off)
Existing and future Chromecast owners can get a free 90-day Google All Access trial
Motorola’s back to school sale drops up to $125 off the Moto X’s regular asking price
OtterBox Defender Series for 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD: $20 (Reg. $80)
TP-LINK AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit $30 shipped (orig. $70)
One year magazine subs: Wired & Pop Science $9, Rolling Stone $5, more
Headphones: Sony BT over-ears (refurb) $105 (orig. $400), Scosche over ears $55, more
Google Play Summer App Sale: up to 60% off Runtastic apps, FF, NBA Jam, Weather Pro, many more
Media: Man of Steel Blu-ray set w/ figurine $15, Eric Clapton free iTunes First Play, American Hustle $10, more
Monitors: LG 24″ Widescreen $140 (orig. $249), Acer 27″ G6 Series $180 (Reg. $220+)
Home: Bissell Sweepers from $20, Worx cordless trimmer $100, kitchen items, more
Google Nexus 7 2nd gen 32GB unlocked LTE (Refurb) $220 shipped (orig. $350 new)
Save an extra 25-30% at Canon refurb store: T3 w/ Lens $252, T3i w/ lens $336, SL1 $360, more
Gift cards/in-store credit: Sports Authority $20 for $10, more
11.6″ Acer Chromebook 1.4 GHz/2GB RAM/16GB SSD $179 shipped (Reg. $199)
Routers: Linksys Dual-Band refurb $35 (Reg. $80), more
Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter $30 shipped (Reg. $40)
Belkin Thunderstorm iPad Theater: Lightning or 30-pin $50 shipped (orig. $200)
Fashion: Nordstrom Sale yields significant savings on Lacoste, Under Armour, more

Marvel Unlimited digital comic subscription $0.99 for one month (Reg. $10), DC titles reduced http://t.co/n7ukFJTbdF pic.twitter.com/xLfrlfLm31

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 23, 2014

New products/ongoing promotions:

8Bitdo brings retro gaming to iOS, Android, Mac and more with its NES Bluetooth controller
New and upcoming Bluetooth speakers: Denon HEOS, Scosche boomBOTTLE black & Fugoo +Sport
Logitech Harmony remotes & keyboards now work together to create the ultimate home theater experience
Jump into the world of LED light bulbs for less than $5 a pop with Ikea Ledare
Verizon FiOS goes symmetrical, upload speeds now same rate as downloads at same cost
Save 30% on an AppleCare Protection Plan for your 13 or 15-inch MacBook
ZTE’s new LivePro is the first Android-powered projector and hotspot
Nyko’s latest Power Pak doubles the battery life of a DualShock 4 controller
SlingBox M1 and SlingTV debut alongside free PC/Mac desktop app
Raspberry Pi B+ microcomputer available w/ enhancements, same $35 price tag
Smart Home:
- Free Philips Hue personal wireless lightning bulb ($60 value) w/ purchase of Philips Hue pack
- $25 off the Wink Hub w/ one accessory purchase or $49 off w/ two accessory purchases
Save 25% on Nomad’s new carabiner, key & credit card sized MFi Lightning cables

Amazon’s unlimited ebook and audiobook subscription service finally goes live in the U.S., try it free http://t.co/M9q7crx7bl

— 9to5Google (@9to5Google) July 18, 2014

Kamcord now uploading 1hr of mobile gameplay video every min, launches redesigned social iOS app

Jordan Kahn Jul 24 2014 - 9:58 am PT

3 Comments

Kamcord, the SDK that lets iOS developers offer gameplay recording and sharing functionality, is today launching a redesigned community iOS app while announcing some impressive new milestones for the service.
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Apps

Instagram’s plan for new ‘Bolt’ one-tap photo messaging app leaks?

Jordan Kahn Jul 24 2014 - 9:50 am PT

3 Comments

Instagram is reportedly working on a new photo sharing app called “Bolt,” according to screenshots that surfaced online today (via The Verge). The leak comes from an advertisement for the app that appeared inside of the Instagram for Android app (pictured above). The notification, which some users noticed and posted screenshots of online, appears to be visible for some users in the app accidentally ahead of an official launch by Instagram.

We don’t gain much info about the app other than it’s description that it will be a “one tap photo messaging” app, which is leading to speculation it will be a Snapchat competitor of sorts. There is a possibility this could just be a test for new app install ads coming to the Instagram apps.

Instgram hasn’t yet commented and the app isn’t available on the App Store or Google Play yet, but I suspect we’ll be hearing more about the app soon.

[tweet https://twitter.com/yo_areli/status/492170778981318656/]

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air 64GB $580, iMac $200 off, littleBits CloudBit now available, more

Jul 24 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:

Last Call updates:

Apple iPad Air 64GB WiFi (Space Gray) $580 shipped (Reg. $699)
Apple iMac 21.5-Inch Desktop Current Gen: $1100 shipped (Reg. $1299)
The new littleBits WiFi enabled cloudBit makes anything an internet connected smart device
Pencil by FiftyThree: Graphite $50 shipped (Reg. $60), Walnut $60 shipped (Reg. $75)
Solid State Drives: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB $120, Crucial M550 512GB $240 / 1TB $400
Google Nexus 7 case $10 w/ free pickup at Best Buy (80% off)
Existing and future Chromecast owners can get a free 90-day Google All Access trial
Motorola’s back to school sale drops up to $125 off the Moto X’s regular asking price
OtterBox Defender Series for 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HD: $20 (Reg. $80)

Timbuk2 1-Day Sale up to 50% off: Messenger Bags, Backpacks, more

Lumsing electronic accessories up to 80% off at Amazon

8Bitdo brings retro gaming to iOS, Android, Mac and more with its NES Bluetooth controller

Fantastical 2 calendar app for iPhone, iPad and Mac up to 50% off

Apple deals:

Save up to $250 on current gen. MacBook Airs w/ .edu email, 13-inch from $750, more
MacBook Pro w/ Retina display (ME293LL/A) for $1,699.99 shipped (Reg. $1,999.00)
iPad mini 32GB WiFi for $279 shipped (orig. $429)
Airport wireless routers (Refurb): Express $60 (Reg. $99 new), Extreme $120 (Reg. $199)
$100 iTunes Gift Card for $85: Save 15% on apps, movies, music, books, more

Other new deals:

New! WD My Cloud 3TB Personal Cloud Storage $140 (Reg. $200)
New! 2-pack of Lutron Maestro occupancy motion sensing switches $30 (Reg. $40)
New! One year magazine subs: Wired & Pop Science $9, Rolling Stone $5, more
New! Polk Audio 39″ BT Soundbar $150, Braven Wireless BT Speaker/Powerbank $180
New! Games/Apps: Car Club:Tuning Storm, City Maps 2Go Pro go FREE, more
New! TP-LINK AV500 Nano Powerline Adapter Starter Kit $30 shipped (orig. $70)
New! Daily Deals: Insignia 39″ 1080p HDTV: $230, Aduro Wireless BT Headset: $25, more

More deals still alive:

Marvel Unlimited digital comic subscription $0.99 for one month (Reg. $10), DC titles reduced http://t.co/n7ukFJTbdF pic.twitter.com/xLfrlfLm31

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 23, 2014

Headphones: Sony BT over-ears (refurb) $105 (orig. $400), Scosche over ears $55, more
Google Play Summer App Sale: up to 60% off Runtastic apps, FF, NBA Jam, Weather Pro, many more
Media: Man of Steel Blu-ray set w/ figurine $15, Eric Clapton free iTunes First Play, American Hustle $10, more
Monitors: LG 24″ Widescreen $140 (orig. $249), Acer 27″ G6 Series $180 (Reg. $220+)
Home: Bissell Sweepers from $20, Worx cordless trimmer $100, kitchen items, more
Google Nexus 7 2nd gen 32GB unlocked LTE (Refurb) $220 shipped (orig. $350 new)
Save an extra 25-30% at Canon refurb store: T3 w/ Lens $252, T3i w/ lens $336, SL1 $360, more
Gift cards/in-store credit: Sports Authority $20 for $10, more
11.6″ Acer Chromebook 1.4 GHz/2GB RAM/16GB SSD $179 shipped (Reg. $199)
Routers: Linksys Dual-Band refurb $35 (Reg. $80), HooToo Repeater $20 (Reg. $50), more
Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter $30 shipped (Reg. $40)
Belkin Thunderstorm iPad Theater: Lightning or 30-pin $50 shipped (orig. $200)
Fashion: Nordstrom Sale yields significant savings on Lacoste, Under Armour, more
Mac graphics editing app Pixelmator drops to $16, down from $30

New products/ongoing promotions:

New and upcoming Bluetooth speakers: Denon HEOS, Scosche boomBOTTLE black & Fugoo +Sport
Logitech Harmony remotes & keyboards now work together to create the ultimate home theater experience
Jump into the world of LED light bulbs for less than $5 a pop with Ikea Ledare
Verizon FiOS goes symmetrical, upload speeds now same rate as downloads at same cost
Save 30% on an AppleCare Protection Plan for your 13 or 15-inch MacBook
ZTE’s new LivePro is the first Android-powered projector and hotspot
Nyko’s latest Power Pak doubles the battery life of a DualShock 4 controller
SlingBox M1 and SlingTV debut alongside free PC/Mac desktop app
Raspberry Pi B+ microcomputer available w/ enhancements, same $35 price tag
Smart Home:
- Free Philips Hue personal wireless lightning bulb ($60 value) w/ purchase of Philips Hue pack
- $25 off the Wink Hub w/ one accessory purchase or $49 off w/ two accessory purchases
Save 25% on Nomad’s new carabiner, key & credit card sized MFi Lightning cables

Amazon’s unlimited ebook and audiobook subscription service finally goes live in the U.S., try it free http://t.co/M9q7crx7bl

— 9to5Google (@9to5Google) July 18, 2014

Square gets automation-savvy with new IFTTT channel

Zac Hall Jul 24 2014 - 7:37 am PT

0 Comments

<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2013/05/14/square-announces-new-square-stand-hardware-for-ipad-now-available-for-pre-order/" target="_blank">Square Stand for iPad</a>

The mobile payment service Square is getting even smarter thanks to the automation service If This Then That. An entirely new set of possibilities for features that will benefit merchants and mobile payment customers has been unlocked thanks to Square integration with If This Then That, or IFTTT, through a dedicated Square channel on the popular automation service. At the time of launch, a total of 78 other channels supported by IFTTT can be connected to the mobile payment service’s channel and triggered by sales, refund, and settlement data from Square…
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Pixite’s new 3D photo editing app Matter debuts on iPhone and iPad

Zac Hall Jul 24 2014 - 6:00 am PT

5 Comments

Pixite is out today with a new photo editing app for iPhone and iPad called Matter. The app allows you to embed and manipulate 3D objects in your photography or photos from others to give your photos an impressive science fiction effect. This is achieved by Matter’s ability to intelligently apply shadows and reflections that match your photography to its library of 3D objects. You can see examples of images edited in Matter above and more details about the photo editing app below…
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Modern Combat 5: Blackout released after earlier embarrassing leak by competition winners

Ben Lovejoy Jul 24 2014 - 5:22 am PT

0 Comments

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjz614QVyfQ]

‘Modern Combat 5: Blackout,’ the game embarrassingly leaked by competition winners given early access to it, is now available on iTunes.

First seen in a trailer in early June, Gameloft claims that the latest installment is the best yet.

Step into the action as the latest installment in the best FPS series raises the bar for shooters once more! Create a squad, add your friends and test your individual and team skills against other squads!

Is single player your thing? Then step into a world on the brink of anarchy and shoot your way out of one dire situation after another to expose a lunatic who’s trying to tear the world to shreds.

Designed for both iPhone and iPad, it will run on anything from the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 up, as well as the 5th generation iPod Touch. The game costs $6.99.

9to5Toys Last Call: Marvel Unlimited $0.99, Fantastical 2 for iOS/Mac 50% off, Eric Clapton iTunes First Play free, more

Justin Kahn Jul 23 2014 - 9:27 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:

Marvel Unlimited digital comic subscription $0.99 for one month (Reg. $10), DC titles reduced
8Bitdo brings retro gaming to iOS, Android, Mac and more with its NES Bluetooth controller
Google Play Summer App Sale: up to 60% off Runtastic apps, FF, NBA Jam, Weather Pro, many more

Fantastical 2 calendar app for iPhone, iPad and Mac up to 50% off

Media: Man of Steel Blu-ray set w/ figurine $15, Eric Clapton free iTunes First Play, American Hustle $10, more

~~Roku 3 1080p streaming media player w/ HDMI cable (refurb) $65 shipped (Reg. $100 new)~~

Apple deals:

Save up to $250 on current gen. MacBook Airs w/ .edu email, 13-inch from $750, more
MacBook Pro w/ Retina display (ME293LL/A) for $1,699.99 shipped (Reg. $1,999.00)
iPad mini 32GB WiFi for $279 shipped (orig. $429)
Airport wireless routers (Refurb): Express $60 (Reg. $99 new), Extreme $120 (Reg. $199)
$100 iTunes Gift Card for $85: Save 15% on apps, movies, music, books, more

Other new deals:

New! Headphones: Sony BT over-ears (refurb) $105 (orig. $400), Scosche over ears $55, more
New! Daily Deals: Canon Pixma Inkjet Printer $50, Monster Portable Battery Pack $15, more
New! Games/Apps: Trine 2 $3 (Reg. $15), Ninja Turtles Rooftop FREE (Reg. $4), more
New! SanDisk Ultra Plus 256GB 2.5-Inch Solid State Drive $100 shipped (orig. $215)

More deals still alive:

Monitors: LG 24″ Widescreen $140 (orig. $249), Acer 27″ G6 Series $180 (Reg. $220+)
Home: Bissell Sweepers from $20, Worx cordless trimmer $100, kitchen items, more
One year magazine subs: Macworld $7.50, Bloomberg Businessweek $15, more
Google Nexus 7 2nd gen 32GB unlocked LTE (Refurb) $220 shipped (orig. $350 new)
Save an extra 25-30% at Canon refurb store: T3 w/ Lens $252, T3i w/ lens $336, SL1 $360, more
SOUL Volt Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones w/dual Mics: $23 shipped (85% off)
Blue Condenser Mics: Nessie $59 (Reg. $100), Yeti Pro $168 (Reg. $200+)
Power banks: Lepow 6000mAh $16 (Reg. $60), more
Gift cards/in-store credit: Sports Authority $20 for $10, more
11.6″ Acer Chromebook 1.4 GHz/2GB RAM/16GB SSD $179 shipped (Reg. $199)
Routers: Linksys Dual-Band refurb $35 (Reg. $80), HooToo Repeater $20 (Reg. $50), more
Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter $30 shipped (Reg. $40)
Belkin Thunderstorm iPad Theater: Lightning or 30-pin $50 shipped (orig. $200)
Fashion: Nordstrom Sale yields significant savings on Lacoste, Under Armour, more
Lenmar Adjustable Battery Charger w/ LCD $8, 8-pack of AA Rechargeable Batteries $13
Logitech Ultrathin iPad Air Keyboard Folio in Navy (refurb) $30 shipped (Reg. $78+ new)
Home Deals: Cuisinart espresso maker (refurb) $69, kitchen items, more
Mac graphics editing app Pixelmator drops to $16, down from $30
Sporting Goods: Callaway X2 Driver $160 (Reg. $330), Dick’s 40% off clearance, more
TP-LINK wireless USB-powered 150Mpbs travel router $15 shipped (orig. $50)
4K Displays: Dell 28″ LED: $405 (Reg. $700), Seiki 39″ 120Hz TV: $339 (Reg. $699)
JBL OnBeat Venue Wireless Lightning speaker $80 refurb (Reg. $200 new)

New products/ongoing promotions:

New and upcoming Bluetooth speakers: Denon HEOS, Scosche boomBOTTLE black & Fugoo +Sport
Logitech Harmony remotes & keyboards now work together to create the ultimate home theater experience
Jump into the world of LED light bulbs for less than $5 a pop with Ikea Ledare
Verizon FiOS goes symmetrical, upload speeds now same rate as downloads at same cost
Save 30% on an AppleCare Protection Plan for your 13 or 15-inch MacBook
ZTE’s new LivePro is the first Android-powered projector and hotspot
Nyko’s latest Power Pak doubles the battery life of a DualShock 4 controller
SlingBox M1 and SlingTV debut alongside free PC/Mac desktop app
Raspberry Pi B+ microcomputer available w/ enhancements, same $35 price tag
Smart Home:
- Free Philips Hue personal wireless lightning bulb ($60 value) w/ purchase of Philips Hue pack
- $25 off the Wink Hub w/ one accessory purchase or $49 off w/ two accessory purchases
Woot founder’s new daily deal website ‘Meh’ officially opens its doors today
Save 25% on Nomad’s new carabiner, key & credit card sized MFi Lightning cables

Amazon’s unlimited ebook and audiobook subscription service finally goes live in the U.S., try it free http://t.co/M9q7crx7bl

— 9to5Google (@9to5Google) July 18, 2014

CNN iPhone app exposing login info of its iReporters unencrypted, according to security researchers

Jordan Kahn Jul 23 2014 - 8:30 am PT

1 Comment

Update: Apple tells us CNN submitted fixes for both their iPhone and iPad apps that are now live on the App Store.

Security researchers at Zscaler claim to have found a security flaw in CNN’s iPhone app that exposes personal login and passwords of its users. The CNN app for iPhone, which includes an iReport feature that allows users to sign-up and submit news stories, is reportedly not using SSL encryption for registration/login and SSL certificate pinning like its Android app counterpart and sending the personal user info to and from the app unencrypted. The report notes that CNN’s iPad app is not subject to the same vulnerability as it currently doesn’t have the iReport feature:

The current CNN for iPhone App (verified on Version 2.30 (Build 4948)) has a key weakness whereby passwords for iReport accounts are sent in clear text (unencrypted). While this is always a problem, it’s especially concerning that this relates to functionality which permits people to anonymously submit news stories to CNN. This occurs both when a user first creates their iReport account and during any subsequent logins.

As can be seen, both transmissions are sent in clear text (HTTP) and the password (p@ssword) is sent unencrypted, along with all other registration/login information. The concern here is that anyone on the same network as the user could easily sniff the victim’s password and access their account. Once obtained, the attacker could access the iReport account of the user and compromise their anonymity. The same credentials could be used to access the user’s web based iReport account where any past submissions are also accessible.

Zscaler said it notified CNN of the security flaw on July 15th and that the company confirmed it’s investigating. The CNN app for iPhone received an update today with “bug fixes” listed in the release notes, but the company is yet to confirm if the update was to address the security flaw detailed by Zscaler.

Hands-on: Fantastical 2.1 for iPhone & iPad adds snooze, invitation/birthday notifications, keyboard shortcuts, more

Zac Hall Jul 23 2014 - 6:59 am PT

2 Comments

We’ve already taken a close look at Fantastical 2 for iPhone and Fantastical 2 for iPad, and today Flexibits is releasing Fantastical 2.1 for both platforms with a list of new features and discounting Fantastical for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Among the list of changes include new snooze functionality, event invitation notifications and badges, notifications for upcoming birthdays, external keyboard shortcut support, and more. Below we’ll take a look at each new feature added to Fantastical for iPhone and iPad…
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FiftyThree launches SDK to bring its ‘Pencil’ Bluetooth stylus to other iOS apps

Jordan Kahn Jul 23 2014 - 5:59 am PT

1 Comment

FiftyThree, the developers behind the popular drawing app Paper, today announced it’s releasing an SDK that will let all developers take advantage of its Pencil stylus for iOS devices. First launched last year alongside an update to Paper, Pencil is a $60 Bluetooth stylus for the drawing app that aims to offer a realistic pencil-to-paper drawing experience.

The SDK will allow for a smooth experience with the Pencil stylus in other apps and that also means in some cases FiftyThree will be working to improve the apps of its direct competitors while hopefully selling its stylus as a platform in the process. Devs will get access to palm rejection, erase, easy pairing, and all the pencil and touch classifiers the company uses in the Paper app. Support for surface pressure is also arriving with iOS 8:
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Apple TV to gain FXNOW channel w/ new Simpsons World content within 12 months

Jordan Kahn Jul 22 2014 - 1:13 pm PT

7 Comments

The Apple TV will soon be getting more content thanks to a new FXNOW channel set to debut on the platform in the near future, according to two new reports (via iLounge). The news comes from the Television Critics Association Press Tour with TV writer Jason Lynch reporting the FXNOW channel will arrive on Apple TV within 12 months. The FXNOW channel, which is already available on iOS devices via an app for iPhone and iPad, offers on-demand video streaming from across the FX, FXX, and FXM networks.
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AMC debuts trailer for ‘The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land’ mobile game arriving w/ season 5

Jordan Kahn Jul 22 2014 - 10:50 am PT

3 Comments

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aiRboM4fok]

AMC announced today that it will release a new mobile game for The Walking Dead early next year alongside season 5 of the hit TV show. The TV network is teaming up with Next Games to develop the title and today shared the first trailer for the game that it plans to show off at Comic Con International later this month.

The game, titled The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land, will allow players to experience the world of the iconic show through gameplay exclusively developed for smartphones and tablet devices. Developed by Next Games in close collaboration with AMC, the game will feature themes familiar to the TV series, where characters fight for survival in a post-apocalyptic, walker-infested world. A recurring theme of choosing the right survival strategy and making the most human choices possible is at the heart of the first-of-its-kind game.

Telltale games already publishes a game based on universe of The Walking Dead comic book series, but this is AMC’s first official game based on its TV show version of the franchise. It isn’t, however, sharing many details on what we can expect from gameplay other than the description above or specifics on platforms.

The Walking Dead Season 5 is coming this October and the game, The Walking Dead: No Man’s Land, will hit smartphones and tablets early next year when the mid-season premiere of Season 5 airs.

9to5Toys Last Call: MacBook Air up to $250 off w/ .edu, MacBook Pro 15″ $300 off, Eric Clapton free iTunes stream, more

Jul 22 2014 - 9:34 am PT

3 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:

Media: Man of Steel Blu-ray set w/ figurine $15, Eric Clapton free iTunes First Play, American Hustle $10, more
New and upcoming Bluetooth speakers: Denon HEOS, Scosche boomBOTTLE black & Fugoo +Sport
Logitech Harmony remotes & keyboards now work together to create the ultimate home theater experience
Google Nexus 7 2nd gen 32GB unlocked LTE (Refurb) $220 shipped (orig. $350 new)

Save up to $250 on current gen. MacBook Airs w/ .edu email, 13-inch from $750, more

Belkin charge & sync iPhone dock w/ built-in Lightning cable $19 Prime shipped (Reg. $35) (price bumped up slightly at 2:15pm)

Apple deals:

MacBook Pro w/ Retina display (ME293LL/A) for $1,699.99 shipped (Reg. $1,999.00)
iPad mini 32GB WiFi for $279 shipped (orig. $429)
Airport wireless routers (Refurb): Express $60 (Reg. $99 new), Extreme $120 (Reg. $199)
$100 iTunes Gift Card for $85: Save 15% on apps, movies, music, books, more

Other new deals:

New! Daily Deals: Kindle Fire 7″ HDX 4G: $229, more
New! Seiki Retro 1080P HDTV w/Yamaha 20W: $100 shipped (75% off)
New! Monitors: LG 24″ Widescreen $140 (orig. $249), Acer 27″ G6 Series $180 (Reg. $220+)
New! Timbuk2 Large 25-inch Aviator Wheeled Backpack $99 shipped (Reg. $200)
New! Home: Bissell Sweepers from $20, Worx cordless trimmer $100, kitchen items, more
New! Enercell Dual-USB 3.1A: Auto Charger + USB Travel Wall Charger $6 shipped
New! Games/Apps: BioShock Triple Pack $11 (Reg. $60), Trine $2 (Reg. $10), freebies, more
New! One year magazine subs: Macworld $7.50, Bloomberg Businessweek $15, more

GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition $330 shipped (Reg. $400) http://t.co/Kq4cFuU48h pic.twitter.com/WL51CAoNzi

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 22, 2014

More deals still alive:

Save an extra 25-30% at Canon refurb store: T3 w/ Lens $252, T3i w/ lens $336, SL1 $360, more
SOUL Volt Bluetooth On-Ear Headphones w/dual Mics: $23 shipped (85% off)
Blue Condenser Mics: Nessie $59 (Reg. $100), Yeti Pro $168 (Reg. $200+)
Power banks: Lepow 6000mAh $16 (Reg. $60), more
Gift cards/in-store credit: Sports Authority $20 for $10, more
11.6″ Acer Chromebook 1.4 GHz/2GB RAM/16GB SSD $179 shipped (Reg. $199)
Routers: Linksys Dual-Band refurb $35 (Reg. $80), HooToo Repeater $20 (Reg. $50), more
Logitech Bluetooth Audio Adapter $30 shipped (Reg. $40)
RAVPower Bolt 30W/6A 4 Port USB Wall Charger: $13 Prime shipped
Mpow Dual USB Portable Car Charger $8 Prime Shipped
Belkin Thunderstorm iPad Theater: Lightning or 30-pin $50 shipped (orig. $200)
Fashion: Nordstrom Sale yields significant savings on Lacoste, Under Armour, more
External USB Batteries: OXA 10,000mAh $20, RAVPower 5,600mAh: $16
Staples offers 20% off in-store purchases (15% off technology items)
Lenmar Adjustable Battery Charger w/ LCD $8, 8-pack of AA Rechargeable Batteries $13
Logitech Ultrathin iPad Air Keyboard Folio in Navy (refurb) $30 shipped (Reg. $78+ new)
Home Deals: Bissell Cordless Vacuum $49, Cuisinart espresso maker (refurb) $69, more
Smart 48″ 1080p HDTVs: Samsung 120Hz: $600, Sony w/ Free movies: $618
Mac graphics editing app Pixelmator drops to $16, down from $30
Sporting Goods: Callaway X2 Driver $160 (Reg. $330), Dick’s 40% off clearance, more
TP-LINK wireless USB-powered 150Mpbs travel router $15 shipped (orig. $50)
4K Displays: Dell 28″ LED: $405 (Reg. $700), Seiki 39″ 120Hz TV: $339 (Reg. $699)
JBL OnBeat Venue Wireless Lightning speaker $80 Refurb, $110 new (Reg. $200)

New products/ongoing promotions:

Jump into the world of LED light bulbs for less than $5 a pop with Ikea Ledare
Verizon FiOS goes symmetrical, upload speeds now same rate as downloads at same cost
Save 30% on an AppleCare Protection Plan for your 13 or 15-inch MacBook
ZTE’s new LivePro is the first Android-powered projector and hotspot
Nyko’s latest Power Pak doubles the battery life of a DualShock 4 controller
SlingBox M1 and SlingTV debut alongside free PC/Mac desktop app
Raspberry Pi B+ microcomputer available w/ enhancements, same $35 price tag
Smart Home:
- Free Philips Hue personal wireless lightning bulb ($60 value) w/ purchase of Philips Hue pack
- $25 off the Wink Hub w/ one accessory purchase or $49 off w/ two accessory purchases
Woot founder’s new daily deal website ‘Meh’ officially opens its doors today
Save 25% on Nomad’s new carabiner, key & credit card sized MFi Lightning cables

Amazon’s unlimited ebook and audiobook subscription service finally goes live in the U.S., try it free http://t.co/M9q7crx7bl

— 9to5Google (@9to5Google) July 18, 2014

Hillshire increases sales w/ iBeacon, 20x increase in purchase intent, 500x increase over average mobile ads

Jordan Kahn Jul 22 2014 - 8:56 am PT

4 Comments

With more and more retailers, event spaces, and others deploying Apple’s Bluetooth LE iBeacon technology in order to beam iPhone and iPad users context and location aware notifications, we still haven’t seen much data on how the beacons are improving ad engagement for marketers. InMarket, a company installing iBeacons in grocery stores around the country that talk to a number of apps from its advertising partners, today shared some of the first stats from a specific consumer brand using the platform.
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Facebook introducing ‘Save’ read later feature for iOS & Android

Jordan Kahn Jul 21 2014 - 1:09 pm PT

2 Comments

[vimeo 101133002 w=700 h=381]

Facebook announced today that it’s rolling out a new feature for its mobile apps that will let users save content for easy access at a later date. A list of saved content from Facebook— including links to things like places, movies, TV, and music— will appear in the Facebook mobile apps in the “More” section and on the left side bar on the web.
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Contest winners turned pirates leak early copy of Modern Combat 5, and Gameloft’s furious

9to5 Staff Jul 21 2014 - 11:34 am PT

3 Comments

Earlier this week, Gameloft hosted a contest on their Facebook page rewarding winners with a free, early copy of Modern Combat 5: Blackout. The upcoming next installment of the popular first-person shooter is slated for release July 24th for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 8 devices. Unfortunately for Gameloft, however, you can already download it-for free. According to the company, one of the contest winners pirated the game made it available for download as a torrent. Unsurprisingly, Gameloft is livid. Gameloft Community Manager Florian Weber said in a statement on Facebook:
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