Apps

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

5,947 'Apps' stories April 2010 - November 2013

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.

Popular translation app iTranslate gains iPad support

Michael Steeber Nov 28 2013 - 10:01 am PT

0 Comments

SonicoMobile, the developers behind the popular apps iTranslate, iTranslate Voice, Files, and Languages released a new update today, iTranslate for iPad. As the name implies, iTranslate for iPad brings all the features customers have loved from iTranslate to the big screen, with an iPad optimized app.

Like the iPhone version, iTranslate for iPad lets you translate words and text in over 70 different languages, with dictionaries for many languages that offer a wide variety of interpretations and meanings, as well as a full text-to-speech conversion tool. With an in-app purchase, you can also unlock iTranslate premium, with features like Voice Recognition built in, and powered by Nuance.

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The Bureau – XCOM Declassified arrives on the Mac App Store

Jordan Kahn Nov 28 2013 - 8:11 am PT

0 Comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx8l2vVWULU]

Originally released in August for Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows, 2K and TransGaming just released The Bureau — XCOM Declassified on the Mac App Store. The release follows the launch of the popular XCOM: Enemy Unknown game on Mac earlier this year, but unlike that game, XCOM Declassified is a third-person shooter with strategy elements taken from the classic XCOM titles. The game received some mixed reviews, but was generally well received by most.

The year is 1962. JFK is President and the Cold War has the nation gripped by fear – but a far more powerful and insidious enemy than communism is threatening America. Known only to a select few, a top-secret government unit called The Bureau begins investigating and concealing a series of mysterious attacks by an otherworldly enemy. As special agent William Carter, call the shots, pull the trigger and lead your squad in a gripping third-person tactical shooter set within a high-stakes, covert war to defend humanity. The Bureau’s mission is clear – survive, adapt and overcome the enemy threat to protect the citizens from the truth.

The Bureau – XCOM Declassified is available now for $34.99 on the Mac App Store. Minimum system requirements below:

OS: Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.7.5 or higher
Processor: Intel Core i series processor
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Drive: 15 GB free
Video Memory: 512MB
Video Card: AMD HD4870 / NVIDIA 8800GT or better*
Input: Keyboard and 3 button Mouse or Logitech Dual Analog Stick Gamepad

(via iMore)

Judge formally dismisses user privacy lawsuit regarding location services and App Store data collection policy

Benjamin Mayo Nov 28 2013 - 3:04 am PT

4 Comments

Reuters is reporting that Lucy Koh has today dismissed a data privacy lawsuit against Apple that dates back to 2011. The plaintiffs were suing on the basis that (in iOS 4.1) Apple collected WiFi hotspot and cell tower location data even though Location Services were disabled.

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9to5Toys Last Call: MacMall Black Friday sale live, iMac $200 off, iPod Touch $50 off, iPad mini Bamboo case giveaway, Macworld Mag $7, more

Nov 27 2013 - 10:09 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+

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Black Friday Begins Now at MacMall: MacBook Airs $100 off, iPads $40 off, more

Best Buy Black Friday Early Access: iMac $200 off, iPod Touch (5th gen) 32GB $50 off, more

Giveaway: Primovisto handmade iPad mini Bamboo case ($54 value)

1-year subscription to Macworld w/ digital access: $6.50 (Reg. $84)

Apps/games:

Save 44% on 1Password for iOS, the gold standard in mobile password security
BioShock Infinite (PC): $8, Xbox One/PS4 deals, iOS freebies, more
2K iOS Black Friday Sale: XCOM, NBA 2K14, Civ Rev, more

Anker Black Friday/Cyber Monday: A4 13000mAh power bank $35, 25W 5-Port USB charger $16, more

Logitech Harmony smart control w/ iOS integration and simple remote $90 shipped (Reg. $130)

PNY StorEDGE 128GB flash memory expansion for MacBooks is back down to its lowest price ever, $98 shipped http://t.co/ibs76wtcSj

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) November 27, 2013

Grand Theft Auto V for PS3/Xbox 360 is back in stock for $33.99 with free shipping (Reg. $60) http://t.co/uLWlsfB9Ty

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) November 27, 2013

Other great deals from today:

New! Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone $100 shipped (Reg. $150)
New! LG 29″ Widescreen IPS Monitor $400 (Reg. $650), 24″ Dell $120 shipped (Reg. $230), more
New! Best Buy offering Samsung Galaxy S4 in various colors for FREE on contract (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon)
New! T-Mobile, regional carriers offering iPhone 5s and 5c for $0 down on Black Friday

The best deals that are still alive:

Apple TV 3rd generation 1080p $89 shipped (Reg. $99)
Canon Pre-Black Friday Sale: Up to 20% off refurb. EOS DSLR cameras/EF Lenses, more
Logitech FabricSkin folio keyboard case for iPad Air $120 shipped, Belkin QODE Air Keyboard case for $40 in-store
Get a free Sonos bridge ($49 value) and up to $40 Amazon credit w/ a Sonos Play wireless speaker
Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion Sensor $60 shipped (Reg. $80)
Staples Black Friday Week Up To $150 Off iPad: mini $249, iPad 4th gen. $349, iPad 2 $299
Logitech UE Boombox Bluetooth speaker: $150 (or $120 refurb) Shipped
Asus Google Nexus 7 2nd gen 16GB 1080p $179 shipped, 32GB: $219 shipped ($50 off!)
Monitor Deals: 27″ AOC w/ speakers $180, 24″ Acer $125, 24″ Dell E-Series $130
Sony PlayStation Vita (3G/Wi-Fi) 8GB Bundle $170 shipped (Reg. $200)
ZAGGkeys PRO Bluetooth iPad keyboard $50 shipped (Reg. $100)
Dragon Dictate for Mac 3 is the World’s Best-Selling and #1 Speech Recognition Software $99 (Reg. $200)
The Karma WiFi Hotspot + 1GB Free Data + FREE Shipping $69 (Reg. $99)
Parallels Desktop 9 Black Friday Bundle $80 (with $436 in savings): Snagit, CleanMyMac 2, Boom, more

Black Friday:

Amazon Movie Deals: Bookmark to save on hundreds of downloads/BluRays/DVDs
Amazon Black Friday Detailed: Earliest start date ever and deals every 10 minutes
TigerDirect’s Black Friday ad leaked: HD TVs, headphones, PCs, gaming deals, more
Stack Social is offering up a very solid Black Friday Bundle this week. 11 great apps for $49.99, chance to win an iPad, and no lines to wait in. Get in there now.
Walmart changes the game, will match Black Friday prices from competitors a week before Thanksgiving
Black Friday Deal Frenzy at eBay Deals: iPad mini $239, Target gift card 10% off, COD: Ghosts $40, more
Seiki’s new 55″ 4K UHD TV will drop to $850 on Black Friday ($650 off!) or 39″ for $520 right now at Amazon.
Staples Black Friday: Nexus 7 2nd gen 16GB $199, Toshiba 1TB $50, ZAGGkeys Pro $50, more
Black Friday H.H Gregg ad leaks w/ $249 iPad mini & big deals on TVs, cameras, & smartphones
Walmart will credit YOU $30 to get an iPhone 5c on contract this Black Friday
Best Buy & Walmart Black Friday ads bring the year’s best Apple deals
Target Black Friday Ad: iPad Air w/ $100 gift card $479, iPad mini w/ $75 gc $299, Apple TV $89, HDTVs, games, more
Guitar Center’s Black Friday ad leaks: instruments, Sennheiser headphones, iRig Pro, 15% off store-wide, more
Leaked Dell Black Friday Ad: Windows 8 laptops, monitors, HDTVs, memory, more
Target’s PS4 launch week ad leaks: will offer buy 2 get 1 free on PS4, Xbox One games, others
Toys R Us Black Friday ad leak reveals early start time and ample video game deals
Radio Shack Black Friday ad leak: Beats Pill, Apple TV, Roku 2, PS3/Xbox 360 consoles

New product announcements & reviews:

Xbox One midnight launch info, reviews from around the web
PlayStation 4 launches tonight at midnight, reviews from around the web

Automatic: The smart driving assistant for the iPhone era [Review]

Zac Hall Nov 27 2013 - 9:00 am PT

17 Comments

For the past few months, I’ve been testing the Automatic Link which aims to make you a safer, more efficient driver. But is it enough to really change your driving habits?

With the holiday season quickly approaching and the hardware now widely available and in stock on Amazon (and Prime eligible at that), what better time to discuss my hands-on experience with the smart driving assistant…

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Tweetbot 3.2 brings night theme, account switching shortcuts

Benjamin Mayo Nov 27 2013 - 8:19 am PT

2 Comments

Today, Tapbots has released Tweetbot 3.2 to the App Store, the latest version of their highly-popular Twitter client. Tapbots have been pretty relentless in updating their flagship app with version 3.1 arriving only two weeks ago.

Tweetbot 3.2 brings a long-awaited night theme to the app, offering another theme choice to users who may not like the stark-white default look.

The theme can be set to adjust automatically based on time or manually set as the default look. The application theme can also be changed via a hidden gesture; simply swipe up and down with two fingers to toggle between the light and dark theme.

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9to5Toys Last Call: Apple Store style iPhone stand giveaway, Big savings on big HDTVs, Chromecast w/ free Play credit, GTA V/COD Ghosts, more

Nov 26 2013 - 10:07 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+

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Giveaway: Apple Store style NewPCgadgets acrylic iPhone stand ($30 value)

Sharp 50″ LED 120Hz 1080P HDTV LC-50LB150U: $400 shipped, 39″ Vizio/JVC 1080P, $300

Google Chromecast+$6 free Google Play credit: $33 (5% off)

Apps/Games:

Gaming Trifecta: GTA V $34, BioShock Infinite $20, COD: Ghosts $40
2K iOS Black Friday Sale: XCOM, NBA 2K14, Civ Rev, more
Splinter Cell Blacklist: $30, iOS freebies/price drops, more

Other great deals from today:

New! LG 27″ Slim IPS HD LED Monitor $200 shipped, Vizio 32-inch LED TV $248 with $100 Gift Card
New! 16GB Kindle Fire HD: $100 shipped
New! Asus Google Nexus 7 2nd gen 16GB 1080p $179 shipped, 32GB: $219 shipped ($50 off!)
New! 1 year mag subscriptions + free giveaway: GQ: $5, Popular Mechanics: $10

The best deals that are still alive:

Apple TV 3rd generation 1080p $89 shipped (Reg. $99)
Canon Pre-Black Friday Sale: Up to 20% off refurb. EOS DSLR cameras/EF Lenses, more
Logitech FabricSkin folio keyboard case for iPad Air $120 shipped, Belkin QODE Air Keyboard case for $40 in-store
Get a free Sonos bridge ($49 value) and up to $40 Amazon credit w/ a Sonos Play wireless speaker
Bose Deals: SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker $40 off, SoundDock Series III $224, headphones, $500 off entertainment systems, more
Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion Sensor $60 shipped (Reg. $80)
Staples Black Friday Week Up To $150 Off iPad: mini $249, iPad 4th gen. $349, iPad 2 $299
Logitech UE Boombox Bluetooth speaker: $150 (or $120 refurb) Shipped
Samsung 55″ 1080p 3D LED HDTV $700
Monitor Deals: 27″ AOC w/ speakers $180, 24″ Acer $125, 24″ Dell E-Series $130
Sony PlayStation Vita (3G/Wi-Fi) 8GB Bundle $170 shipped (Reg. $200)
ZAGGkeys PRO Bluetooth iPad keyboard $50 shipped (Reg. $100)
Dragon Dictate for Mac 3 is the World’s Best-Selling and #1 Speech Recognition Software $99 (Reg. $200)
The Karma WiFi Hotspot + 1GB Free Data + FREE Shipping $69 (Reg. $99)
Parallels Desktop 9 Black Friday Bundle $80 (with $436 in savings): Snagit, CleanMyMac 2, Boom, more

Black Friday:

Amazon Movie Deals: Bookmark to save on hundreds of downloads/BluRays/DVDs
Amazon Black Friday Detailed: Earliest start date ever and deals every 10 minutes
TigerDirect’s Black Friday ad leaked: HD TVs, headphones, PCs, gaming deals, more
Stack Social is offering up a very solid Black Friday Bundle this week. 11 great apps for $49.99, chance to win an iPad, and no lines to wait in. Get in there now.
Walmart changes the game, will match Black Friday prices from competitors a week before Thanksgiving
Black Friday Deal Frenzy at eBay Deals: iPad mini $239, Target gift card 10% off, COD: Ghosts $40, more
Seiki’s new 55″ 4K UHD TV will drop to $850 on Black Friday ($650 off!) or 39″ for $520 right now at Amazon.
Staples Black Friday: Nexus 7 2nd gen 16GB $199, Toshiba 1TB $50, ZAGGkeys Pro $50, more
Black Friday H.H Gregg ad leaks w/ $249 iPad mini & big deals on TVs, cameras, & smartphones
Walmart will credit YOU $30 to get an iPhone 5c on contract this Black Friday
Best Buy & Walmart Black Friday ads bring the year’s best Apple deals
Target Black Friday Ad: iPad Air w/ $100 gift card $479, iPad mini w/ $75 gc $299, Apple TV $89, HDTVs, games, more
Guitar Center’s Black Friday ad leaks: instruments, Sennheiser headphones, iRig Pro, 15% off store-wide, more
Leaked Dell Black Friday Ad: Windows 8 laptops, monitors, HDTVs, memory, more
Target’s PS4 launch week ad leaks: will offer buy 2 get 1 free on PS4, Xbox One games, others
Toys R Us Black Friday ad leak reveals early start time and ample video game deals
Radio Shack Black Friday ad leak: Beats Pill, Apple TV, Roku 2, PS3/Xbox 360 consoles

New product announcements & reviews:

Xbox One midnight launch info, reviews from around the web
PlayStation 4 launches tonight at midnight, reviews from around the web

Report: App Store search updated to compensate for typos, improve discoverability

Jordan Kahn Nov 26 2013 - 9:33 am PT

6 Comments

App-Store-spell-check-

According to a report from TechCrunch, Apple has recently implemented updates to the App Store’s search engine allowing it to compensate for “misspelled queries with small typos” and provide more useful results. The update also reportedly extends to app titles that have spaces in the title:

For example, those looking for the highly ranked “QuizUp” game wouldn’t have found it before if they had typed in “Quiz Up” with a space. Now it appears.

The result will ultimately be better discoverability for apps in the App Store, especially for developers targeting keywords that are commonly misspelled. As noted by TechCrunch, it’s also something that has helped Google provide better results on its Play store (as highlighted in the graphic from SEO firm SearchMan above):
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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas arrives on iOS next month w/ MFi controller support

Jordan Kahn Nov 26 2013 - 9:06 am PT

6 Comments

San-Andreas

After releases of Grand Theft Auto III and GTA Vice City on iOS, developer Rockstar announced today that GTA: San Andreas is set for a release on mobile devices next month. The game, which was originally released for the PlayStation 2 back in 2004, will arrive on iOS devices and the other mobile platforms with the usual updated graphics:

Encompassing Los Santos, San Fierro, Las Venturas and everything in between, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has been upgraded for its mobile release. Newly remastered graphics including dynamic and detailed shadows, greater draw distance, an enriched color palette, plus enhanced character and car models make this the best-looking version of San Andreas yet.

Rockstar also notes that the title will include full support for the new iOS 7 MFi game controller framework and new contextual control options for the touchscreen:
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Just in time for Black Friday: Target app update brings store maps, iOS7 design and gestures

Nov 26 2013 - 7:12 am PT

0 Comments

With only 2 days left until the holiday shopping season kicks off with Black Friday, Target has pushed out an update for its iOS app. Version 6.3 brings a new design full of iOS 7-inspired fonts, colors and icons. Users can more easily navigate the app with the swipe-to-go-back feature just like the one that is prominently used in the stock Mail app. Of course, the app continues to offer power shopping tools like a Store Finder, TargetLists, access to the weekly ad, and more.

As a heads up for all you Black Friday shoppers, Target has already made some of its deals available for Red customers. Stay tuned to 9to5Toys all week for instant access to the hottest deals.

What’s New in Version 6.3
Just in time for the holidays…
• Design: Say hello to iOS 7 with updated designs and swipe-to-go-back.
• Shopping List: Build your lists faster with improved typeahead results. See which items in your list are on sale. Then, simply swipe right to check it off your list.
• What’s in Store: Open the app in any Target store to be inspired by trending products, deals across the store, popular Cartwheel offers and recipes.
• Save: See an item with a Cartwheel offer? Add it to your Cartwheel app with a single tap.

Beta Features*
Thanks to your feedback, in-store features keep getting better.
• Find: Maps are now more accurate with better support for multiple floors.
Whether a specific product or a generic item, the new shopping list will show you where to find it on your store map. As you check items off, we’ll show you the next item nearest to you.
• Decide: Tap on an item in your shopping list to see what options are available and if it’s in stock in your store, even from the comfort of home.

*Available in select stores in Minneapolis, Seattle and Chicago, plus all City Target locations.

Procreate for iPad updated with iOS 7 redesign, 64-bit support, 4k canvas, more

Zac Hall Nov 26 2013 - 6:31 am PT

0 Comments

Procreate, the powerful sketching app for iPad and 2013 WWDC Apple Design Award winner, received a major update to version 2 today bringing with it support for the 64-bit Apple A7 chip as well as a new 4k resolution canvas.

The update also includes an iOS 7 redesign and a new icon to match as well as several performance enhancements.

Procreate 2 is a free update to existing users and $5.99 on the App Store for new customers. Happy creating!

Full change log below:
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9to5Toys Last Call: Just-Mobile iPhone stand giveaway, Mophie Helium case $35, Infinity Blade Free, iPad Air $429, Sonos free bridge/credit, more

Nov 25 2013 - 10:00 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+

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Giveaway: Just-Mobile AluCup aluminum iPhone stand ($30 value)

Mophie Juice Pack Helium Protective Charging Case Refurb. for iPhone 5/5S $35 shipped (Reg. $99)

App/Game Deals:

Infinity Blade for iOS goes free ($5.99 savings)
Xbox One & PS4 titles: $49, Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus free, more

iPad Deals:

iPad Air with Retina display, 16GB, Wi-Fi: $429 ($500)
Staples Black Friday Week Up To $150 Off iPad: mini $249, iPad 4th gen. $349, iPad 2 $299

Get a free Sonos bridge ($49 value) and up to $40 Amazon credit w/ a Sonos Play wireless speaker

$50 Brinker gift card for $40. Your choice: Chili’s, Macaroni Grill, Maggiano’s, On The Border. http://t.co/iWPG1FjOs7

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) November 25, 2013

Other great deals from today:

New! Logitech FabricSkin folio keyboard case for iPad Air $120 shipped, Belkin QODE Air Keyboard case for $40 in-store
New! Monitor Deals: 27″ AOC w/ speakers $180, 24″ Acer $125, 24″ Dell E-Series $130, 23″ HP Smartbuy $94
New! Groupon $5 off $15: Foscam Pan & Tilt Wireless IP Camera: $45 (Reg. $85), Hard Candy iPad cases: $11, many more
New! Kingston Digital SSDNow V+200 60GB Solid State Drive $40 shipped (Reg. $100)
New! 1 year magazine subscriptions + free giveaway: Maxim $3.50, Smithsonian $9, free one year sub giveaways, more
New! Samsung 55″ 1080p 3D LED HDTV $700, Dynex 60″ LED 1080p HDTV $580, more
New! Samsung Galaxy S III (no-contract): $260 shipped (Reg. $400)

The best deals that are still alive:

Apple TV 3rd generation 1080p $89 shipped (Reg. $99)
Canon Pre-Black Friday Sale: Up to 20% off refurb. EOS DSLR cameras/EF Lenses, more
Bose Deals: SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker $40 off, SoundDock Series III $224, headphones, $500 off entertainment systems, more
Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion Sensor $60 shipped (Reg. $80)
Logitech UE Boombox Bluetooth speaker: $150 (or $120 refurb) Shipped
Sony PlayStation Vita (3G/Wi-Fi) 8GB Bundle $170 shipped (Reg. $200)
ZAGGkeys PRO Bluetooth iPad keyboard $50 shipped (Reg. $100)
Amazon adds AT&T & Sprint to $0.01 Moto X promotion
Dragon Dictate for Mac 3 is the World’s Best-Selling and #1 Speech Recognition Software $99 (Reg. $200)
The Karma WiFi Hotspot + 1GB Free Data + FREE Shipping $69 (Reg. $99)
Logitech UE Mini Boombox Bluetooth speaker: $69 shipped
Samsung 840 EVO Series 1TB internal Solid State Drive $560, external Thunderbolt solution $648
MegaMan X: $1 (Reg. $5), Amazon pre-Black Friday game sale, iOS freebies, many more
Parallels Desktop 9 Black Friday Bundle $80 (with $436 in savings): Snagit, CleanMyMac 2, Boom, more
Belkin Thunderstorm iPad home theater speaker case 30-pin $130, Lightning $150 (Reg. $200)

Black Friday:

Amazon Movie Deals: Bookmark to save on hundreds of downloads/BluRays/DVDs
Amazon Black Friday Detailed: Earliest start date ever and deals every 10 minutes
TigerDirect’s Black Friday ad leaked: HD TVs, headphones, PCs, gaming deals, more
Stack Social is offering up a very solid Black Friday Bundle this week. 11 great apps for $49.99, chance to win an iPad, and no lines to wait in. Get in there now.
Walmart changes the game, will match Black Friday prices from competitors a week before Thanksgiving
Black Friday Deal Frenzy at eBay Deals: iPad mini $239, Target gift card 10% off, COD: Ghosts $40, more
Seiki’s new 55″ 4K UHD TV will drop to $850 on Black Friday ($650 off!) or 39″ for $520 right now at Amazon.
Staples Black Friday: Nexus 7 2nd gen 16GB $199, Toshiba 1TB $50, ZAGGkeys Pro $50, more
Black Friday H.H Gregg ad leaks w/ $249 iPad mini & big deals on TVs, cameras, & smartphones
Walmart will credit YOU $30 to get an iPhone 5c on contract this Black Friday
Best Buy & Walmart Black Friday ads bring the year’s best Apple deals
Target Black Friday Ad: iPad Air w/ $100 gift card $479, iPad mini w/ $75 gc $299, Apple TV $89, HDTVs, games, more
Guitar Center’s Black Friday ad leaks: instruments, Sennheiser headphones, iRig Pro, 15% off store-wide, more
Leaked Dell Black Friday Ad: Windows 8 laptops, monitors, HDTVs, memory, more
Target’s PS4 launch week ad leaks: will offer buy 2 get 1 free on PS4, Xbox One games, others
Toys R Us Black Friday ad leak reveals early start time and ample video game deals
Radio Shack Black Friday ad leak: Beats Pill, Apple TV, Roku 2, PS3/Xbox 360 consoles

New product announcements & reviews:

Xbox One midnight launch info, reviews from around the web
PlayStation 4 launches tonight at midnight, reviews from around the web

Fantastical for Mac updated with Reminders due times and performance improvements

Zac Hall Nov 25 2013 - 6:28 am PT

3 Comments

Fantastical for Mac received a small performance update today but also added one really useful feature: Reminder due times. As we mentioned in our full review here, Fantastical 2 for iPhone recently picked up full Reminders support and today’s update brings further parity between the two apps.

Fantastical for Mac, which I find to be the easiest way to input dates and reminders, is available on the Mac App Store for $19.99 to new users and today’s update is free for existing users.

Full change log below:
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How-To: Start using Maps in OS X Mavericks

Nov 24 2013 - 12:00 pm PT

16 Comments

Apple has finally implemented a maps app in the OS X platform, and it seems to have been worth the wait. After being noticeably missing from the system, Maps (and iBooks) are helping achieve a greater consistency between the iOS and OS X platforms. After running the free Mavericks update, the Maps app icon will automatically be added to your dock.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to use the new app for everything from searching for locations to getting turn-by-turn directions set directly to your iPhone.

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Google+ for iOS updated with full-resolution photo backups, design tweaks, and more

Mike Beasley Nov 22 2013 - 4:35 pm PT

8 Comments

Google has updated its Google+ app for iOS with a few new tweaks. Version 4.6 of the social networking application introduces full-quality photo backups for iOS 7 users, a few design tweaks in the notifications screen, and the ability to share your location with friends (similar to Apple’s own Find My Friends app which was recently updated).

What’s New in Version 4.6.0

– Full resolution backup of your photos and videos (iOS7 only)
– Updated design for the notification tray
– Share your location, see where your friends are, control who is displayed on the map
– Translate posts and comments inline
– Additional bug fixes and performance improvements

Google+ is available for free on the iOS App Store.

Dropbox updated with new design for iOS 7, AirDrop, and more

Mike Beasley Nov 21 2013 - 3:46 pm PT

2 Comments

As first shown by 9to5Mac, Dropbox has updated its iOS app with an all-new design for iOS 7 and several new feature and improvements. The update brings a streamlined iPad interface, improvements to the sharing process, an updated PDF viewer, and AirDrop support on iOS 7 devices.

Version 3.0 also includes fixes for HTML rendering problems and a variety of crash bugs. Along with the bug fixes, users will find that the app is now faster at certain tasks.

The update is available free to all users on the iOS App Store. You can find the complete change log below.

What’s New in Version 3.0

• Beautiful new design for iOS 7
• Streamlined iPad experience: just tap on your files and photos to toggle fullscreen
• Improved sharing and exporting makes it easier than ever to send files to your favorite apps
• AirDrop support lets you send links and files in a snap
• Seamlessly save videos to your library
• Speed! Faster launch, photo loading, and video playback
• Vanquished our most common crashes
• Fixed bug that caused HTML to render as text
• Oodles of PDF viewing updates

Springpad for iOS updated with customized smart notebook templates

Sarah Guarino Nov 21 2013 - 3:12 pm PT

0 Comments

Springpad, the popular personal organizer app, makes it even easier to stay organized with their latest update by introducing customized notebook templates. These themed notebooks include different categories: Recipes, For Later, Tasks, Work Project, Holiday Gift Planner, Books, Movies, and Home Improvement. These templates are great for helping unorganized people get organized.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVl19HOdMeY]

Some of these templates are “smart templates,” meaning that the app knows the information you are putting in and either organizes it for you or provides you with more information. My family goes out to the movies frequently during the holiday season. Using the Movies template, entering movies we want to see automatically organizes them based on whether each movie is playing in theaters, available to stream on Netflix, or available to rent. Another new template, the Holiday Gift Planner makes it easier to come up with your shopping list. When entering items, you are able to either scan the product’s bar code or type it in manually. This allows you to look up more information about the product and quickly buy it. If you are buying tech-related gifts, don’t forget to check out 9to5Mac for product reviews and 9to5Toys for the best deals this holiday season.

Springpad is a free app available for iOS, Android, Windows, Kindle and on the web.

Apple updates iWork apps for Mac & iOS w/ customizable toolbar, new transitions, and more

Jordan Kahn Nov 21 2013 - 1:29 pm PT

6 Comments

ipad-event-iwork-ios

Apple has just updated its Keynote app for iPhone and iPad today with a number of new features including new builds and transition effects.

Version 2.0.1 of the Keynote app includes new transitions including: Blinds, Color Planes, Confetti, Fall, Perspective, Pivot, and Swoosh. The new builds include: Blinds, Fly in, Fly out, Orbital, Pivot, Scale Big, and Swoosh.

Apple’s other iWork iOS apps, Pages and Numbers, also hit version 2.0.1 today with stability improvements and bug fixes.

On the Mac side of things, Apple’s Keynote, Pages, and Numbers apps all get a new customizable toolbar that gives users the ability to have quick access to their most often used tools. The Keynote Mac app also gets the same transitions and builds mentioned above for the iOS version, and Pages and Numbers get a couple other new app-specific features. Full release notes for all apps below.

Keynote iOS:

What’s New in Version 2.0.1

• New transitions including Blinds, Color Planes, Confetti, Fall, Perspective, Pivot, and Swoosh
• New builds including Blinds, Fly in, Fly out, Orbital, Pivot, Scale Big, and Swoosh
• Stability improvements and bug fixes

Keynote Mac:

What’s New in Version 6.0.1

• Customize the toolbar with your most important tools
• New transitions including Blinds, Color Planes, Confetti, Fall, Perspective, Pivot, and Swoosh
• New builds including Blinds, Fly in, Fly out, Orbital, Pivot, Scale Big, and Swoosh
• Stability improvements and bug fixes

Pages iOS:

What’s New in Version 2.0.1

• Stability improvements and bug fixes

Pages Mac:

What’s New in Version 5.0.1

• Customize the toolbar with your most important tools
• Center and edge guides are on by default
• Stability improvements and bug fixes

Numbers iOS:

What’s New in Version 2.0.1

• Stability improvements and bug fixes

Numbers Mac:

What’s New in Version 3.0.1

• Customize the toolbar with your most important tools
• Window size and placement preserved on Save
• Set default zoom in Preferences
• Stability improvements and bug fixes

9to5Toys Last Call: BodyGuardz giveaway, Haswell 15″ Retina MBP $250 off, Xbox One reviews/midnight release, app deals galore, more

Nov 21 2013 - 10:00 am PT

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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Giveaway: $30 worth of Apple accessories from BodyGuardz

Haswell 15″ Retina MacBook Pro from $1,750 shipped, $1,700 for .edu email addresses

Xbox One midnight launch info, reviews from around the web

Amazon Black Friday Detailed: Earliest start date ever and deals every 10 minutes

Game/App Deals: MegaMan X: $1 (Reg. $5), Amazon pre-Black Friday game sale, iOS freebies, many more

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

Other great deals from today:

New! Samsung 840 EVO Series 1TB internal Solid State Drive $560, external Thunderbolt solution $648
New! Seiki 50-inch 4K 120Hz LED Ultra HDTV $760 In-Store, $830 shipped (Reg. $1,300)
New! Amazon Movie Deals: Bookmark to save on hundreds of downloads/BluRays/DVDs
New! Asus Google Nexus 7 2nd gen 16GB $200, 32GB $240 shipped from Amazon
New! Beats by Dre urBeats Earbud Headphones w/ Built-In In-Line Mic $45 shipped (Reg. $100)
New! Seagate Expansion 3TB USB 3.0 desktop external hard drive $89 shipped (Reg. $125)
New! 1 year magazine subscriptions: Popular Photography: $5 (Reg. $54), Bloomberg Markets: $20 (Reg. $60)

The best deals that are still alive:

Parallels Desktop 9 Black Friday Bundle $80 (with $436 in savings): Snagit, CleanMyMac 2, Boom, more
Belkin Thunderstorm iPad home theater speaker case 30-pin $130, Lightning $150 (Reg. $200)
LifeProof Nüüd case for iPad $75 shipped (Reg. $130)
Logitech Bluetooth over-ear headphones+noise cancelling mic: $21
Versatile Low-Profile IN1 multi-tool iPhone 5/5s case $36 shipped (Reg. $50)
TiVo Roamio HD DVR and streaming media player $150 shipped (Reg. $200)
Sony RDPX 30-pin iPhone/iPad/iPod Speaker Docks $88 shipped
Anker Dual-USB 24W car charger: $9 (quick charge 2 iPads at once)
13″ Haswell MacBook Air: $975 shipped, $925 for .edu email addresses, Apple SuperDrive $70
2 sets of Logitech Ultimate Ears 200vi noise-isolating earphones: $18 shipped (Reg. $38)
Refurb. Logitech protective keyboard folio for iPad mini $33, full-size iPad w/ FabricSkin $25
RCA 32″ LED HDTV with Built-in DVD Player $200 shipped (Reg. $350)
Moto X now available for $0.01 on Verizon w/ 2-yr contract
Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 (Mac/PC) download $50 (Reg. $100)

Black Friday:

TigerDirect’s Black Friday ad leaked: HD TVs, headphones, PCs, gaming deals, more
Stack Social is offering up a very solid Black Friday Bundle this week. 11 great apps for $49.99, chance to win an iPad, and no lines to wait in. Get in there now.
Walmart changes the game, will match Black Friday prices from competitors a week before Thanksgiving
Black Friday Deal Frenzy at eBay Deals: iPad mini $239, Target gift card 10% off, COD: Ghosts $40, more
Seiki’s new 55″ 4K UHD TV will drop to $850 on Black Friday ($650 off!) or 39″ for $520 right now at Amazon.
Staples Black Friday: Nexus 7 2nd gen 16GB $199, Toshiba 1TB $50, ZAGGkeys Pro $50, more
Black Friday H.H Gregg ad leaks w/ $249 iPad mini & big deals on TVs, cameras, & smartphones
Walmart will credit YOU $30 to get an iPhone 5c on contract this Black Friday
Best Buy & Walmart Black Friday ads bring the year’s best Apple deals
Target Black Friday Ad: iPad Air w/ $100 gift card $479, iPad mini w/ $75 gc $299, Apple TV $89, HDTVs, games, more
Guitar Center’s Black Friday ad leaks: instruments, Sennheiser headphones, iRig Pro, 15% off store-wide, more
Leaked Dell Black Friday Ad: Windows 8 laptops, monitors, HDTVs, memory, more
Target’s PS4 launch week ad leaks: will offer buy 2 get 1 free on PS4, Xbox One games, others
Toys R Us Black Friday ad leak reveals early start time and ample video game deals
Radio Shack Black Friday ad leak: Beats Pill, Apple TV, Roku 2, PS3/Xbox 360 consoles

New product announcements & reviews:

PlayStation 4 launches tonight at midnight, reviews from around the web
The best gets better: reVOLT 12W + 12W Dual USB Car Charger for iPod, iPhone and iPad $30 shipped

ESPN launches new SportsCenter app for real-time, personalized news & scores

Jordan Kahn Nov 21 2013 - 8:49 am PT

2 Comments

ESPN is launching a new app today called ESPN SportsCenter, which actually replaces the old ScoreCenter app with a redesign and all new features. The app does much of what the old app did, offering real-time updates on scores for the biggest sporting events of the day, as well as breaking news, analysis, notifications, and more. You’ll also be able to add your favorite teams to customize your experience and the new app introduces a new Favorites feature for quickly accessing news and scores for the teams you want to keep up with most often.

The new ESPN SportsCenter app also includes a new Clubhouses feature that includes all content for every team and league, an Inbox for getting personalized content such as news and alerts, and enhanced game pages that feature “New native sharing and one-click GameCast access.” Also new in the app is ESPN Now, a feature that lets users get real-time scores and updates from social networks.

In addition, the new SportsCenter app has been given a number of enhancements to search and overall performance.

The free ESPN SportsCenter app is available for iPhone now.

What’s New in Version 4.0.0

– ScoreCenter is now SportsCenter
– Speed: Faster than Calvin Johnson going deep
– Favorites: Your team news and scores in an instant
– Clubhouses: Content central for every team and league under the sun
– ESPN Now: Your one-stop-shop for real-time scores and social updates
– Inbox: A dedicated home for personalized content from news to alerts to scores
– Enhanced Game Pages: New native sharing and one-click GameCast access
– Search: Easily navigate to teams, leagues, and sports to view content or add to favorites

HBO GO for iOS picks up Chromecast support

Zac Hall Nov 21 2013 - 7:21 am PT

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[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9jA2km9TKM]

Google announced today Chromecast support for the HBO GO apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

This means HBO GO subscribers can now push content from their iOS Devices to their Chromecast-connected HDTVs. HBO GO casting is also available from the website from Chrome browser.

The actual Chromecast hardware is only $35 on Amazon (and if that’s not cheap enough, keep an eye on 9to5Toys for more deals) and offers a comparable experience in many ways to AirPlay on Apple TV. HBO subscribers can download and use the HBO GO apps at no additional charge from the App Store.
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Clumsy Ninja finally hits the App Store, originally announced at iPhone 5 event last year

Benjamin Mayo Nov 21 2013 - 7:15 am PT

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Originally demoed at Apple’s September 2012 event, to show off the power of the new fifth-generation iPod touch, Clumsy Ninja was said to be launching that holiday season; i.e. fall 2012. However, much like with the announcement of Infinity Blade Dungeons, the app never arrived. Whereas Dungeons ended up being axed entirely, it turns out that Clumsy Ninja was just severely delayed.

After over a year since the game was demoed, Clumsy Ninja has finally hit the App Store today. At Apple’s event, NaturalMotion described the game as an ‘interactive toy’ based on “years of research”. The game centres around a cute 3D ninja, which acts similarly to a virtual pet.

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iMovie for Mac update enables installation on some older systems, fixes reliability issues

Mike Beasley Nov 20 2013 - 2:26 pm PT

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Apple has released a small update to iMovie for Mac today which allows the app to be installed on some older Macs. The change log doesn’t specify which machines are included, stating only that “computers with some older video cards” can now run the latest version of the video-editing software.

The update also introduces fixes for unreliable behavior when importing old iMovie projects into the updated app, which uses a new format for storing and maintaining video footage, events, and projects.

The app is availble for $14.99 on the Mac App Store for new purchases, although users who already own previous versions of iLfe may be able to update for free.

What’s New in Version 10.0.1

• Allows iMovie to be installed on computers with some older video cards
• Addresses reliability issues when updating projects and events from previous versions of iMovie

Parallels Black Friday Bundle: 8 great apps for the $79.99 price of Parallels 9 alone (82% off)

Seth Weintraub Nov 20 2013 - 1:53 pm PT

5 Comments

The Black Friday software bundles are already streaming in and this latest from Parallels promises to be popular. For the retail price of Parallels 9 alone ($79.99), you get Parallels 9 and a 6 month subscription to Parallels Access for iPad. Parallels then adds Snagit screen capture tool, CleanMyMac 2 and Kaspersky Internet Security for Mac. You also get a year of Hightail (formally Yousendit) Professional plan for sending big files via email, Boom volume booster and mSecure password manager. A fantastic deal at $79.99 (make sure to click the “Bundle and Save” link), it ends December 3.

We reviewed Parallels 9 in September (excerpted below the fold) and found it to again be the best virtualization software for Mac with speed improvements for Mavericks and Windows 8.1 along with easier setup and operation.

Today’s earlier Black Friday software bundles from Adobe and Stack Social.
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