Apps

(via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/apollo_zac/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>)

Google announced today a major round of app additions for its media streaming Chromecast HDMI stick including Plex, Vevo, Songza, and more.

Chromecast, which retails for $35 (currently $32.88 on Amazon Prime), can now play local files synced with your Plex media library from iOS, Android, or Chrome. Plex support is highly requested and offers a major advantage for content consumers looking to play content from a device to an HDTV.

Review: Castro for iPhone is a modern approach to an iOS 7 podcast client

Benjamin Mayo Dec 10 2013 - 8:00 am PT

10 Comments

Castro is a brand new podcasting app for the iPhone (available in the App Store for $2.99). It’s not an update to an existing podcast client. It’s a new app. It doesn’t have any legacy to anchor it down because it really is a fresh start.

Flint mobile billing app adds invoicing, Passbook coupon support, and card scans via camera

Mike Beasley Dec 10 2013 - 4:30 am PT

1 Comment

iOS users looking to accept payments on their mobile devices now have another option. Flint has just been updated to version 2.0. The app adds several new and useful features for small businesses, such as the ability to create invoices right in the app.

The app also introduces support for Passbook coupons. Merchants can create their own coupons and issue them to customers as Passbook passes. The Flint app can then scan these coupons and apply them directly to a transaction.

The 2.0 update also allows merchants to create orders with multiple items, and scan credit and debit cards using the camera on their iOS device. Cash and check sales can also be tracked within the new app and customers can get receipts for their transactions.

VoIP app Viber announces Viber Out, allowing cheap outgoing calls to any number worldwide

Mike Beasley Dec 9 2013 - 11:00 pm PT

Viber, the popular cross-platform VoIP app, released Viber 4.1 for iOS today. The new app introduces a new calling feature called Viber Out. This service allows users on any supported Viber platform to place outgoing calls to any landline or mobile number in the world at rates lower than many other similar offerings.

Viber Out also allows users to use their real phone number as their caller ID, meaning the party on the other end will see your number as if the call was coming from the users phone, so there’s no need for your contacts to save a new VoIP number in order to recognize you.

Viber 4.1 is rolling out for iPhone now on the iOS App Store.

Apple launches 2013 “12 Days of Gifts” app on iTunes, available in U.S. for the first time

Mike Beasley Dec 9 2013 - 7:26 pm PT

Apple has just launched its annual 12 Days of Gifts campaign for 2013. In previous years, this campaign was available only in a few select countries, but not in the United States. For the first time Apple will now allow U.S. customers to participate in the giveaway.

The 12 Days of Gifts app is available for free on the iTunes Store. Each day for twelve days the app will provide a special free item from the iTunes, iBooks, and App Stores. Each gift is only available for 24 hours, so users have to check in every day to make sure they get everything that’s offered. This year the giveaways start on December 26th and run through January 6th.

From 26 December – 6 January, you can download a gift each day—songs, apps, books, movies, and more—with the 12 Days of Gifts app. Each day’s gift will only be available for 24 hours, so download the free app to make sure you don’t miss out. Please note: Not all content is available in all countries.

Thanks, Rahul!

Amazon Cloud Drive Photos app updated w/ video support, native iPad version, more

Zac Hall Dec 9 2013 - 11:25 am PT

Amazon’s Cloud Drive Photos app, the company’s dedicated cloud-based photos app which debuted on the iPhone earlier this year in May, updated today with two major features.

First, the app, contrary to the its official name, supports managing videos from your device. Users can upload or download videos up to 2GB in file size or 20 minutes in duration.
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: iMac $200 off, SanDisk Connect drives 20% off, colored Lightning cables $10, SlingBox $50, Xbox One, more

Dec 9 2013 - 10:06 am PT

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+. Also, check out our updated Daily Deals page (for iPad/iPhone) featuring the day’s best deals from across major US retailers.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

21.5″ Apple iMac w/ 8GB RAM, 1TB HD $1,100 w/ free shipping (Reg. $1,300)

SanDisk Connect wireless iOS/Android flash drives: 16GB/32GB for $40/$48 shipped (20% Savings)

ZAGG Apple Certified MFi Lightning cable in several colors $10 shipped (Reg. $19)

Sling Media Slingbox SOLO Television Broadcaster Refurb $50 shipped (Reg. $180)

Xbox One back In Stock at Amazon – will go quick!https://t.co/lNZW4kiY8P

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) December 9, 2013

Other great deals from today:

New! Pioneer A4 wireless AirPlay speaker $80 shipped (Reg. $200)
New! Game/App Deals: Nintendo 2DS bundle w/ game + accessory: $130 shipped, Clear Vision (17+): FREE, iOS freebies, more
New! Klipsch Image ONE on-ear headphones: Wired $55/Bluetooth $105 shipped (Reg. $150/$250)
New! Panasonic Lumix ZS20 14.1 MP $172, 16.1 MP Refurb $150 shipped
New! Logitech UE Boombox Bluetooth speaker $100 shipped (Reg. $250)
New! 20% off Kindles: Kindle Wifi $56, Kindle Fire HD 16GB: $136, Fire HDX 16GB: $183 shipped
New! iHome Minnie Mouse Alarm Clock and Speaker System for 30-pin iPod $10, Dynex wired keyboard $5 shipped, 20% off Griffin/Belkin, more

The best deals that are still alive:

IGN’s FREE iOS game of the month: Infinity Blade II ($7 savings)
Blue Microphones Snowball USB mic up to 50% off: $40-$50 (Reg. $60-$100)
Logitech UE Bluetooth Wireless Boombox Speaker: $45 Shipped
Seiki 4K TVs drop again: 39-inch now $405, 50-inch now $625 shipped
Samsung EVO 1TB 2.5-inch SATA-3 SSD: $540 shipped (36% off)
Amazon Promo: Free $5 credit on purchases of $35 or more
PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: 64GB $40, 128GB $94
Amazon offering 50GB free Cloud Storage with “select” smartphone purchases
Skype offers 30% off $10-$200 gift cards for a limited time
Save 44% on 1Password for iOS, the gold standard in mobile password security

Pandora Radio 5.1 turns stations into alarms on iPhone

Zac Hall Dec 9 2013 - 7:35 am PT

4 Comments

Proving it can stay competitive with iTunes Radio, the streaming music service that debuted with iOS 7, Pandora Radio is busy at work bringing new features to its own customizable streaming music service.

The company released a feature update today to its iOS app bringing with it the ability to set song or artist stations as alarm clocks.

While the native Clock app in iOS can awake you to a specific song, Pandora’s station alarm clock is a nice addition to iOS and a compelling reason to use Pandora Radio even if you’re an iTunes Radio evangelist.

Pandora Radio 5.1 also brings full iOS 7 compatibility as it was previously designed for the iOS 7 but built for iOS 6,

Check out the full release notes below and download the latest version from the App Store.

Neat Shazam update creates automatic Rdio playlist of all Shazammed songs

Ben Lovejoy Dec 9 2013 - 5:30 am PT

If you use Shazam to note music you’d like to listen to later, that just got easier with the latest version of the iOS app: you can set it so that all the tracks you Shazam are automatically added to a My Shazam Tracks in Rdio.

Shazam was last updated in September, with instant previews of tweeted tracks and faster song recognition on older iPhones. Press release below …
Expand
Expanding
Close

Microsoft updates Bing for iPad to version 2.0 with iOS 7 design, SkyDrive bookmarks, and more

Mike Beasley Dec 6 2013 - 9:07 pm PT

3 Comments

Microsoft has released a major update for its Bing app for iPad. The new app features a revamped interface to match the aesthetic of Apple’s latest OS along with a host of other features and improvements. Users are now able to save the daily image found on the search engine’s home page to their camera rolls for use as a wallpaper or whatever other purpose they decide.

Images and bookmarks can now be saved in the app and synced via Mirosoft’s SkyDrive service to other devices. Search results can now be shared to Facebook, Twitter, and other social platforms. Improvements and updates have been made to maps results, the Bing logo, and other graphics throughout the app.

9to5Toys Last Call: Infinity Blade II FREE, LifeProof sale, Samsung EVO 1TB SSD $540, more

Dec 6 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

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:

IGN’s FREE iOS game of the month: Infinity Blade II ($7 savings)

LifeProof Sale up to 75% off: Arm Band for iPhone 5/5s: $13 (Reg. $50), frē iPhone 5 Case: $60 (Reg. $80), free shipping

Samsung EVO 1TB 2.5-inch SATA-3 SSD: $540 shipped (36% off)

Other great deals from today:

New! Canon EOS 6D 20.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera Kit+Bag, 16GB SD Card+$28 gift card, more: $1405 shipped ($2084 w/EF24-105mm IS lens)
New! Game/App Deals: Animal Crossing: New Leaf $25, Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: $35, COD: Ghosts $44 on next gen, iOS freebies, more
New! VIZIO 47″ 1080p 120Hz LED LCD Smart HDTV Refurb. $328 shipped (Reg. $550)
New! Keurig Vue V600 Brewing System $70 shipped (Reg. $140)

The best deals that are still alive:

Amazon Promo: Free $5 credit on purchases of $35 or more
PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: 64GB $40, 128GB $94
Amazon offering 50GB free Cloud Storage with “select” smartphone purchases
Skype offers 30% off $10-$200 gift cards for a limited time
Save 44% on 1Password for iOS, the gold standard in mobile password security

Google enhances News mobile experience with brand new design

David Beren Dec 6 2013 - 11:55 am PT

Even as Google has yet to release a standalone app for its news platform, the company just announced a revamped mobile experience. This revamp comes on the heels of Google revealing the end of its alternative news application, Currents which is being rolled in with Newsstand.

Over the next few days Google News readers on Android and iOS devices will start to see a beautiful new version of the mobile web app that will provide an improved overall experience resulting in a kind of real-time news desk for you on your phone.

Google updates Search apps on iOS & Android w/ voice support for German, Japanese, and French

Chance Miller Dec 5 2013 - 1:10 pm PT

Google this afternoon announced an update to its Search apps on both Android and iOS that includes voice search support for three addition languages. In a blog post, the company announced that the app can now understand French, German, and Japanese. In addition to being able understand the new languages and give text results, the Search app can also now give spoken answers back in those languages.

To try it out, simply tap the microphone in the search box and ask for anything you’re looking for. If you need some coffee in Munich, just say “Wo bekomme ich Kaffee in München?” to get a list of local options. Wondering what the height of the Eiffel tower is? Get a quick answer by asking, “Quelle est la hauteur de la Tour Eiffel?”. Maybe you need to know who invented the transistor ? Try asking in Japanese for “トランジスタを発明したのはだれ？”

Google says it will continue to work on adding even more languages to its Search app and that this is just the beginning of its efforts.

The Google Search app update is available for free in both the iOS App Store and on Google Play.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Best iOS apps for holiday shopping and gift giving

Zac Hall Dec 5 2013 - 11:00 am PT

We’re in the thick of the holiday season and that means lots and lots of gift buying for our family and friends. I’ve been using a number of apps on my iPhone and iPad to smooth out this year’s gift buying experience. Check out my app recommendations below…
Expand
Expanding
Close

Foursquare 7.0 boasts new redesign and more location intelligence

Zac Hall Dec 5 2013 - 8:49 am PT

Foursquare is once again showing off an iOS 7-designed app update and a set of new features with version 7.0.

Foursquare originally updated its user interface in time for iOS 7’s public debut with version 6.3, but today Foursquare is introducing even more changes to its UI for iOS 7.

The app also picked up some additional street smarts with the ability to recommend businesses and locations without the app even being open.

Foursquare 7 for iPhone is available for free on the App Store. (Full change log below)

Plex media player for iOS updated with new design for iOS 7

Mike Beasley Dec 4 2013 - 2:12 pm PT

12 Comments

Plex, the popular media player for desktop and mobile devices, has been updated to version 3.3 today. The update introduces an updated look based on Apple’s iOS 7 design along with a new media player screen for music and videos. The iOS 7 design isn’t entirely new, but a tweaked version of the existing design. The update also includes miscellaneous bug fixes.

You can get Plex for iOS now on the App Store. For new users, the app is $4.99. Existing users can update to version 3.3 for free.

9to5Toys Last Call: Belkin WeMo switch $40, Free $5 Amazon coupon, OtterBox Defender 5/5s $13, more

Dec 4 2013 - 10:00 am PT

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

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Update: Amazon Promo: Free $5 credit on purchases of $35 or more

Update: Skype offers 30% off $10-$200 gift cards for a limited time

Belkin WeMo Switch with iOS/Android integration $40 shipped (Reg. $50)

OtterBox Defender Apple iPhone 5/5s Case Choice of 7 Colors $13 shipped (Reg. $60)

Other great deals from today:

New! PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: 64GB $40, 128GB $94
New! Logitech UE6000 noise canceling headphones w/ mic and remote: $70 + $6 shipping (Reg. $200)
New! Amazon offering 50GB free Cloud Storage with “select” smartphone purchases
New! Game/App Deals: Cyber Monday week sales, $15 titles, $49 Xbox One games, iOS freebies, more
New! Acer 11.6-inch Chromebook w/ 2GB RAM, 16GB SSD (refurb): $130 (Reg. $230 new)

The best deals that are still alive:

Nest Learning Thermostat (2nd generation) with FREE $40 Amazon credit $249
SONOS Playbar TV soundbar and wireless speaker + $100 Amazon credit + FREE bridge $699
Logitech UE Mini Boombox Speaker: $55 shipped, UE 4000 On-ear Headphones: $30 shipped
Logitech UE Wireless Boombox Bluetooth Speaker $129 (50% off), UE Mini Boom $90
Save 44% on 1Password for iOS, the gold standard in mobile password security

Google Wallet for iOS updated with single sign-on, card adding via camera

Mark Gurman Dec 4 2013 - 9:57 am PT

Google has updated its Google Wallet application for the iPhone with a few notable enhancements. First, like it has added to its other apps on iOS as of late, Google now allows single sign-on for Wallet. This means that if you are signed in via Google to YouTube, Gmail, Adsense, or other compatible Google apps, you can be automatically logged in to the Wallet app. More interestingly, you can now use your iPhone’s camera to capture the data from your debit card or credit card to connect it to the app. Google added that feature to the Android app last month. Google Wallet recently launched a physical card program for Wallet. The update is free in the App Store.

Apple Store app giving away free Holiday Playlist this week

Zac Hall Dec 4 2013 - 6:53 am PT

13 Comments

As we’ve previously reported, Apple began giving away select paid apps in its Apple Store app recently as an added incentive to download and check out the app.

This week in particular Apple has replaced the free app with free music from iTunes instead. The playlist is appropriately holiday themed and features songs such as Silent Night by Kelly Clarkson and The First Noel by Mary J Blige.
Expand
Expanding
Close

FireCore releases Infuse 2 iOS app with all new design

Michael Steeber Dec 3 2013 - 10:00 am PT

Back in April, we reviewed Infuse, a media player application by FireCore, the makers of aTV Flash. After several feature updates, and an announcement earlier this year, FireCore today released Infuse 2, an all new version of the application with a completely redesigned user interface and a new pricing structure.

9to5 Walking Dead Bundle: The Walking Dead for Mac w/DLC + Season 2 pre-order: $25 (Reg. $55)

Zac Hall Dec 3 2013 - 9:38 am PT

1 Comment

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IASztJRc9nw]

Just in time for The Walking Dead: Season 2, Mac Game Store is offering an exclusive bundle to 9to5Mac readers including the original The Walking Dead title for Mac, The Walking Dead: 400 Days DLC, and a pre-order of the sequel release which hits the Mac later this month.

The total bundle is $24.95, just two bucks more than a copy of The Walking Dead: Season 2, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you plan to pick up the game anyway. Total savings amounts to $27.52 so it’s essentially a freebie.

The Walking Dead is a five-part game series set in the same universe as Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series. Play as Lee Everett, a convicted criminal, who has been given a second chance at life in a world devastated by the undead. With corpses returning to life and survivors stopping at nothing to maintain their own safety, protecting an orphaned girl named Clementine may offer him redemption in a world gone to hell.

The deal is good through Friday so check it out on Mac Game Store today.

PDF management iPad app PDF Expert redesigned, adds AirDrop, tags & file sorting improvements

Mark Gurman Dec 3 2013 - 9:11 am PT

3 Comments

Readdle’s popular PDF and file management application for the iPad today received a significant update. Version 5 of the software gains a new design with the iOS 7 aesthetic in addition to several new features that will improve file management and sorting:

Review: PopCalc, the calculator that thinks it’s a spreadsheet (with Promo)

Ben Lovejoy Dec 3 2013 - 7:40 am PT

I love it when an app developer takes one of my minor grumbles and comes up with a simple solution. PopCalc is one of those.

There are times when I have a few sums to do, and the standard calculator app is a bit too dumb, while creating a spreadsheet in Numbers feels like overkill. What I really want is a cross between the two: the simplicity of a calculator, but some of the functionality of a spreadsheet. And that’s exactly what PopCalc aims to deliver …
Expand
Expanding
Close

Amazon teams up with BMW for Cloud Player integration

Zac Hall Dec 3 2013 - 6:43 am PT