Skip to main content

Apps

6,287 'Apps' stories April 2010 - March 2014
See All Stories

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.

Site default logo image

9to5Toys Last Call: Logitech UE Boom BT speaker $129, Staples gift card 15% off, Macworld subscription $8, more

Avatar for Mar 20 2014 - 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+ 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


Other great deals from today:

More great deals still alive:

New products/info:

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

Avatar for Zac Hall Mar 20 2014 - 7:00 am PT
7 Comments
Site default logo image

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.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for 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.

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 19 2014 - 10:41 am PT
0 Comments

[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]

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for Mar 19 2014 - 10:10 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 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:

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:

More great deals still alive:

New products/info:

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for 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

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for 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.

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for Mar 18 2014 - 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+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:


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


Other great deals from today:

More great deals still alive:

New products/info:

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for Mike Beasley Mar 17 2014 - 3:17 pm PT
7 Comments

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

Site default logo image

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

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

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

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)


Other great deals from today:


More great deals still alive:

New products/info:

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

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 17 2014 - 7:40 am PT
38 Comments
Site default logo image

[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. 
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google Play Game services brings multiplayer to iOS, lets devs offer cross-platform gaming

Avatar for 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.

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for 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.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Apple Store for iPhone updated with improved notifications, iPad version gets gift card purchases

Avatar for Mike Beasley Mar 14 2014 - 3:19 pm PT
1 Comment

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.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

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

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 14 2014 - 2:12 pm PT
1 Comment

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.

Site default logo image

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

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

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

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:


More great deals still alive:

New products/info:

Aftermarket CarPlay solutions? Not so fast says Volvo & Ferrari

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 14 2014 - 8:21 am PT
7 Comments
Site default logo image

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:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Screenshots of WhatsApp’s upcoming VOIP feature surface, design similar to iOS 7’s Phone app

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Mar 14 2014 - 8:11 am PT
1 Comment

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.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple launches new featured App Store section dedicated to taking selfies

Avatar for Mike Beasley Mar 13 2014 - 5:52 pm PT
12 Comments
Site default logo image

Apple has added a new section to the iOS App Store today promoting apps used to share selfies (via MacStories‘ Federico Viticci). Among the apps included are classics like Snapchat and the Justin Bieber-backed Shots and lesser-known apps such as selfie-editing app Facetune and an app called Front Flash that’s design to make it easier to take selfies in low light…


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Plex app adds Chromecast support free for all users, shuffle & camera upload features

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 13 2014 - 1:47 pm PT
4 Comments

Plex, the popular media server software with apps for web and mobile, today announced some big new features coming today for users. The first big piece of news is that Chromecast support is now available to all users for free after a brief preview period where it was only available to paying subscribers. The feature, which will allow users to stream content from the Plex mobile apps to a Chromecast, will become available through updates for the iOS and Android apps that should hit the App Store and Google Play any minute.

It’s also adding a new music shuffle feature coming first to the iOS and web apps that incorporates filters and the ability to edit play queues. The company said the feature is a “prelude to full-blown playlists for Plex”:

We’re happy to be introducing our play queues feature, which is—as you might have guessed—a prelude to full-blown playlists for Plex. As always, we don’t take new features lightly; what you’re seeing below is a shuffle of over 40,000 tracks, using the highest quality shuffle mechanism there is. It’s incredibly fast, even over a remote connection. And once you’ve created a play queue, you can easily add to or edit it… Quickly queue up all unwatched episodes, shuffle all episodes, or for example, I could also use our powerful filters to shuffle all unwatched movies rated G to protect Barkley’s sensitive ears while I write code, for you.

Lastly, Plex announced that it’s adding a new feature for paying Plex Pass members that will bring the ability to upload all photos from your camera roll automatically to a library:

It’s easy to explain: point the Plex app at a server and a photo library, and it’ll make sure all the photos on your camera roll automatically upload to that library. We do all the work for you, in the background, using a brand new iOS 7 feature. Keep your phone in your pocket, as your photos are backed up safely in a Plex library, and then you can access them on all Plex apps, share them with friends or family, or (of course) fling them to your Chromecast (free for everyone now!).

The updated Plex apps will be available for iOS and Android today.

BioShock Infinite, Civilization V, & Civ V: Brave New World for Mac – $7.50 ea. (75% savings)

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 13 2014 - 1:18 pm PT
6 Comments
Site default logo image

From 9to5Toys:

To help celebrate some of the great games that were honoured at yesterday’s BAFTA Game awards, we’ve teamed up with GameAgent again to offer a few great deals on some of the notable Mac games that were nominated.

First up we have BioShock Infinite, one of the most popular games of last year that was nominated in a few categories yesterday including Artistic Achievement, Audio Achievement, and Performer. It also won  for best Original Music. For 24 hours only, you can pick up BioShock Infinite for Mac from GameAgent for 75% off. That brings the price down from $30 to just $7.50.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

9to5Toys Last Call: iPad mini from $249, up to $75 off iPod Touch, iOttie iPhone car mount $12.50, more

Avatar for Mar 13 2014 - 10:32 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 subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

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)

iOttie Easy Flex 3 car mount/desk stand for iPhone & other smartphones $12.50 (Reg. $25)

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

Other great deals from today:

https://twitter.com/iDannyOcean/status/444141043135414272
More great deals still alive:


New products:

  • Roku announces a new HDMI streaming stick for $50
  • D-Link Releases the First Portable 11AC Router/Server/Charger for $99 shipped

Toyota leaks its own CarPlay release date, briefly says feature coming to 2015 models

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 13 2014 - 7:23 am PT
3 Comments
Site default logo image

Toyota had a bit of a slip up this morning on its official UK blog. The company, which has long been announced by Apple as one of its partners working on CarPlay, today accidentally released its plans to release the feature in upcoming new vehicles. Before quickly removing the statement (we grabbed a screenshot, below) and replacing it with a denial of its own blog post, someone at Toyota gave the go ahead to announce CarPlay is “coming soon” in 2015 models. Clearly the higher-ups caught wind of the press release that was apparently not supposed to go public as Toyota has now replaced it with the following brief and confusing denial:
Expand
Expanding
Close