Apps

• AAPL Company
• Apps
• iTunes
• AppleTV
• acquisition

Apple bought Matcha because it “found the answer” with its recommendation algorithm

Jordan Kahn Aug 15 2013 - 11:45 am PT

0 Comments

Following reports earlier this week that Apple had acquired video aggregation and discovery service Matcha, TechCrunch claims today that its sources have provided a bit more info on the motivation behind the acquisition. While noting that the purchase price was actually closer to $10-$15 million opposed to the $1 to $1.5 million reported by others, the report says that Apple is after the company’s proprietary recommendation algorithm rather than just its talent:

Nor was it an acqui-hire; this was about the product Matcha built and about the specific recipe for video recommendations it put together via its proprietary algorithm, according to one source close to the matter.Matcha was acquired after testing numerous approaches to generating recommendations, right at the point where it had refined its algorithm such that it saw an explosion in user growth, according to our source. The app did definitely do well on the App Store charts, and was ranked among the top 15 apps in the Entertainment category before it was shut down.’

TechCrunch also adds that Apple found Matcha’s user acquisition and user engagement strategy to be the “best of any other apps competing in that space” and that it had “found the answer” with its recommendation algorithms:

It was Matcha’s user acquisition and user engagement strategy that Apple was interested in, according to one of our sources, since the acquisition happened just after Matcha had completed a round of vigorous A/B testing and had “found the answer” to rapid user growth and time spent in app. Matcha’s pairing algorithms that drove the right content to the right users simply worked best of any other apps competing in that space, the source affirms.

The report also confirms that Apple actually acquired Matcha prior to the company shutting down the service back in May.

The video programming recommendation app, which lets users browse across services like Netflix, iTunes, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime and others, didn’t pick up much steam on the App Store after launching in January 2012. While some have speculated that Apple could use the service to help power recommendations for a revamped Apple TV service, today’s report compares the purchase to Apple’s previous acquisition of app recommendation and search service Chomp.

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• iPad
• iPad mini
• App Store
• update

WatchESPN app updated for iOS 7, adds ‘Live Toolbar’ that lets you stream two videos at once

Jordan Kahn Aug 15 2013 - 8:18 am PT

0 Comments

ESPN has updated its WatchESPN app for iOS today with a new feature called “Live Toolbar” that allows users to multitask while continuing to watch live programming. Rather than having to leave the live stream of whatever event you’re watching at the time, the new live toolbar will allow you to keep up with scores, browse upcoming events, and even watch video highlights or a second video stream. Perhaps the most notable new feature is the ability to watch a second video next to live programming when rotating the device into landscape mode:

Top Videos: Watch multiple things at once! Keep up with the latest news and highlights right alongside the live ESPN programming you’re watching. Rotate your device while watching two videos.

The new live toolbar feature is only rolling out to users on iPad and iPad mini, and will also let users “switch to additional ESPN programming without exiting the video” and follow scores of additional games while watching live programming.

Version 1.7 of the WatchESPN app also includes iOS 7 support, more events from “ESPN on ABC”, and ESPN3 access for users connecting from a college or military network.

Apple just recently added the watch ESPN service, alongside HBOGo and a handful of others, to the AppleTV.

What’s New in Version 1.7

Introducing the WatchESPN Live Toolbar on iPad! Now you can keep up with news, scores and on-demand video from your favorite sporting events while watching live programming on ESPN.

The live toolbar includes:
– Live TV Lineup: See what’s on ESPN’s networks and switch to additional ESPN programming without exiting the video.
– Scores: Follow additional games while watching your game on ESPN. Launch video highlights at the conclusion of an event (where available).
– Top Videos: Watch multiple things at once! Keep up with the latest news and highlights right alongside the live ESPN programming you’re watching. Rotate your device while watching two videos.

*The Live Toolbar is available on iPad and iPad Mini only.

Also new in 1.7:
– Users connecting from a college or military network now get access to ESPN3 events automatically!
– WatchESPN is now compatible with iOS7.
– “ESPN on ABC” events will now appear in the WatchESPN app. Selecting these events will bring you into the WatchABC app.

*WatchESPN 1.7 requires iOS 6 or above.

• Apps
• YouTube
• free
• television
• Arts

Plants vs. Zombies 2 hits US App Store

9to5 Staff Aug 14 2013 - 9:32 pm PT

0 Comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJX8dWX4ym4]

As we noted last month when it launched in Australia/New Zealand, the popular Plants vs. Zombies 2 launched today.  [Free iTunes]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbcBYs0ljI0#at=14]

• AAPL Company
• Apps
• 9to5Toys
• Daily Deals
• video games

9to5Toys Last Call: Storage deals (SSD, portable), $60 LifeProof nüüd waterproof iPhone 5 case, iTunes movie sale, more

Aug 13 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to round up the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Today’s Featured deals:

Storage Deals:

• Western Digital 1TB My Passport drive $59 shipped

• Western Digital 2TB My Passport drive $100 shipped

• Seagate Backup Plus 1TB USB 3.0 Portable HD: $60 shipped

• Seagate Expansion 4TB USB 3.0 HD: $140 shipped

• Samsung 840 Pro-Series 256GB 2.5″ SATA III Internal Solid State Drive $195 shipped (Reg. $270)

Samsung’s new Solid State Drives with capacities up to 1TB are now available for preorder, slated to ship this week… http://t.co/PoUPj5naiJ

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) August 12, 2013

SOLD OUT LifeProof nüüd iPhone 5 Case w/Snow, Dirt, Water & Shockproof Design $60 shipped (Reg. $80)

Apple Deals:

• $60 iTunes gift card for just $48: Save 20% on future app, music, movie purchases

• Apple Deals: iPad mini 16GB (new) $290, iPod Touch 4th Gen. 16GB (open-box) $125

• Apple does rare iTunes ‘buy 1 get 2 free’ movie bundle sale (starting $10)

Other great deals we love:

• New! Samsung 11.6″ WiFi Chromebook (Used – Very Good Condition) for $144 shipped
• New! Stream the entire first episode from the final season of Breaking Bad for free
• New! Game/App Deals: GTA Complete bundle for PC: $10, iOS freebies, more
• New! 9to5Toys Exclusive: Get an extra $10 on Gazelle when you trade-in your used (or broken!) electronics
• New! Sanyo 39″ 1080p LCD HDTV Refurb $200 + $5 shipping
• New! Kindle Fire 16GB tablet w/ 7-inch1280x800 HD display and Dolby stereo: $159 ($40 off) shipped
• New! ZooGue Protective Covers from $3 + $1 shipping: iPhone, iPad, Samsung Galaxy

• RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Platinum $5
• Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player software $30 (Reg. $40)
• Samsung 32″ 720p 60Hz HDTV + $125 gift card for $268 shipped ($393 value)
• 500GB Sony PlayStation 3 Assassin’s Creed III bundle $230 shipped (Reg. $300)
• Sony 32GB SDHC/SDXC Class 10 UHS-1, Up to 40 MB/s read speeds: 2 for $35 shipped (Reg. $35 each)
• Android tablet deals: Up to $70 off Kindle Fire, 8” Vizio capacitive touchscreen: $80 shipped, more
• Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5″ SATA III Solid State Drive $91 shipped (Reg. $140)
• Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones $269 (Reg $299)
• Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Software for Mac and Windows (Boxed Version) $100 Shipped (Reg. $150)
• 3M 30-pin/VGA 32 Lumen pocket LED projector with built-in stereo speakers $90 shipped
• Gamers’ Deals: Nearly 200 Mac Games on sale up to 66% off
• Wacom Bamboo Create Pen and Touch Tablet $138 shipped (Reg. $200)
• Popular 1Password iOS app goes on sale for $7.99 until Aug. 16
• rooCase leather iPad folio and stand with sleep/wake functionality (Multiple colors) $6
• Watch 20 James Bond movies in HD for free on Amazon Prime Instant Video
• Get a free $10 gift card when you sign-up for an Amazon Prime membership
• Free 2 month Hulu Plus trial for new customers

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• iOS
• iPad
• Apple TV
• iPhone

VEVO and VEVO HD receive full AirPlay support ahead of rumored Apple TV app

Zach Kahn Aug 13 2013 - 2:42 pm PT

3 Comments

Music video service VEVO just pushed out an update to its apps for iPhone and iPad that allows users to stream both audio and video from an AirPlay-enabled device to an Apple TV. Previously the app only supported AirPlay audio. It’s an interesting move considering the rumors that VEVO is building its own app for Apple TV set to launch sometime later this month.

According to a recent report by Advertising Age, VEVO’s Apple TV app is supposed to feature a “lean-back” version of VEVO, with programmed channels, but will also feature on-demand programming. The app will allow users to watch VEVO TV, which the company describes as “a 24/7 channel of music videos, live performances, and original shows from VEVO’s massive library – made by music lovers for music lovers, no algorithms allowed.” VEVO already has apps on a variety of competing devices, including the Xbox 360 and Roku Web TV box.

For what it’s worth, HBO GO received an update allowing audio and video AirPlay mirroring just two months before the app made its debut on Apple TV.

VEVO (iPhone) and VEVO HD (iPad) are available free of charge.

• Apps
• nbc sports
• english premier league
• iOS streaming

‘NBC Sports Live Extra’ app to stream all English Premier League matches in US

Scott Buscemi Aug 13 2013 - 11:58 am PT

2 Comments

Image via 148apps.com

148Apps is reporting some big news for English Premier League fans in the US – the NBC Sports Live Extra app will be streaming all of the matches as they happen. Interestingly enough, live streaming will be exclusive to the US and won’t be available in the UK.

The service will be free as long as you have an eligible cable provider and subscription that includes the NBC Sports channel.

The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available for free in the App Store.

• Apps
• Yelp
• Foursquare

Yelp update brings in-app review publishing to iOS application

Scott Buscemi Aug 13 2013 - 10:37 am PT

1 Comment

Yelp, perhaps feeling the pressure of other local-based apps like Foursquare, has released version 7.0 of their app that includes the ability to publish reviews within the application. Previously, users were able to draft up reviews in the app, but to publish them required logging in to the Yelp.com website on a desktop computer.

The reasoning for this is explained on TechCrunch’s post regarding the update:

Back in 2009, here’s how Eric Singley, VP of consumer and mobile products, responded to the request:

“We occasionally hear from other passionate Yelpers on why we haven’t enabled review publishing from our mobile applications. There are several reasons why we do this…Well imagine what it would be like if reviews were done in SMS shorthand: ‘OK so, IANAE, but AFAIC this place has THE best Cfood. It was gr8! ADBB’

Um, yeah.

We love the witty quality of the reviews and the insight that Yelpers share in their detailed accounts of their experiences. We’ve found that Quick Tips and Draft Reviews [two pre-existing short features] are mobile features that provide eager Yelpers with an outlet to catalog their immediate experiences or jot notes that they can then add to or edit when they get back to a computer. While we’re not saying that writing Yelp reviews on your mobile device is out of the question, we feel very strongly about maintaining the high level of content you all provide.”

They have now reversed course and will allow users to publish their high-quality reviews right on their iOS device.

The Yelp app is available for free in the App Store.

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• Facebook
• Path
• opentable

Facebook update brings restaurant reservations and TV listings to mobile apps; Path adds 13 API partners

Scott Buscemi Aug 12 2013 - 11:50 am PT

0 Comments

As announced on the Facebook for Business news blog, the social network has added new features in an update to their mobile applications today.

Taking advantage of the OpenTable service, visiting a restaurant’s page now shows available times and reservations and everything can be completed right inside the Facebook app.

Using their mobile devices, will be able to book tables via Facebook Pages for restaurants. The update represents a new way for people to discover and book great dining experiences, all within the Facebook mobile app. There’s no need to visit a separate mobile site or open a separate app.

The new feature will be available on the Facebook mobile Pages for more than 20,000 OpenTable restaurant customers across North America.

In addition, the update brings listings to the pages of primetime TV shows and movies:

Finding shows and movies on TV is getting easier as well. For people that use iOS, Facebook will display TV listing information on US primetime TV and movie Pages. Listings will be based on your current time zone and include the channel name, air time and a description of the show or movie playing, meaning that the listings that exist in cable box guides, magazines and newspapers are now conveniently located on the Facebook Pages of peoples’ favorite shows.

The update has also brought hashtag search to iOS.

What’s New in Version 6.4

• Search for hashtags or tap them in posts to see what other people are saying about a topic
• Make restaurant reservations directly on participating Pages in the US
• Faster loading and a cleaner design for timelines on iPad
• Fixed a bug that was causing some people to see red notification badges when there weren’t any new notifications

Smaller, private social network Path has announced the addition of 13 new API partners, including Pic Stitch, WordPress, Viddy, Over and several other notable apps. The company notes that the API will come to more applications over time, but they are starting out with partners of applications they love and find to be related to the philosophies of the app.

To start, we have hand-selected developers we admire for their innovation and quality, as well as a few that have been most requested by our users. From more workout moments, to photo moments, to thought moments, we have worked closely with these developers to ensure that sharing to Path is a seamless and beautiful experience.

Moving forward, we will continue to work with developers with whom we share values. In addition, we’ll continue to work closely with each developer to guarantee an integration that truly delights the user. Our current list of developers that will be able to share to Path are:

Photos & Video

• Over
• Viddy
• PicMix
• PicFrame
• Pic Stitch
• Pic Collage
• papelook
• Manga-Camera
• Otaku Camera
• Miil

Thoughts

• WordPress
• Holy Bible

Workouts

• Strava Cycling
• Nike+ Running
• Nike+ FuelBand

Some of these are available today, others in the coming weeks. We invite you to download them and start sharing to Path!

• Apps
• iOS
• iPad
• iPhone
• Apple Retail

Apple Store app now offering free book amid iBooks retail push

Mark Gurman Aug 12 2013 - 9:05 am PT

0 Comments

The iPhone Apple Store app has been updated over-the-air today to offer a free iBook download to customers. The book is Away in My Airplane by Margaret Wise Brown. According to a note sent to Apple retail employees today, the free book download is meant for employees to have context when discussing and pushing the iBooks app and iBookstore to customers.

As we reported last month, Apple will be pushing free content to the Apple Store app in order to entice customers to download the app. Apple Store employees are also instructed to ask new iOS Device customers to install the app. In turn, if more people have the Apple Store app on their devices, Apple could sell them more products.

The new book offer expires on August 28th, and it is exclusive to the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Sweden, according to an Apple employee.

As part of a general iBooks push, Apple started providing its retail employees with free book titles in order to boost familiarity of the service.

The Apple Store app received its first free piece of content in the form of the Color Zen iPhone app earlier this month.

Expand
Expanding
Close

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• App Store
• update
• Skype
• iPad 4

Skype for iPad & iPhone updated with HD video calls, improved call quality

Jordan Kahn Aug 12 2013 - 6:09 am PT

0 Comments

Update: The iPhone version of Skype just received the same update with HD video calling support on iPhone 5.

Today Skype updated its iPad app with the ability to make HD quality video calls in addition to several other performance improvements. It’s a feature that’s been available on other platforms for quite sometime, including the Mac client, but today the higher quality video calls finally make their way to the latest iPad. Earlier this year Skype rolled out HD video calling to Windows Phone device’s and noted it would include “720P HD on higher-end devices.” We’d imagine that’s also the case with today’s iPad update but, as always, the quality of video will also depend on the quality and bandwidth of your internet connection.

The HD video calling feature is only available on iPad 4, and version 4.10 also brings enhancements to call quality and stability. It also includes “a redesigned country code picker on the dial pad.”

What’s New in Version 4.10

Call quality improvements
– Make HD quality video calls from your iPad 4.
– General improvements to call quality and stability.

General fixes and improvements
– A redesigned country code picker on the dial pad.

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• iPad
• App Store
• iTunes
• update

CBS Sports iOS app gets full iPad support including live video

Jordan Kahn Aug 12 2013 - 5:54 am PT

0 Comments

CBS has updated it’s ‘CBS Sports’ iOS app today with full support for tablet users, allowing iPad users on iOS 6.0 and up to access all of the on-demand and live content that the app previously only offered to iPhone users. The updated app doesn’t just bring a native iPad design with support for the larger screen as pictured above, but it will also now allow users to access live video. On top of on-demand content from CBS, the app offers live streams for a number of sporting events, including: NCAA basketball (January-April), PGA TOUR (May-August), and SEC football games (Sept-Dec). It also brings access to special events including “NCAA March Madness, The Masters, NFL Draft Day, PGA TOUR and more.”

The updated CBS Sports iOS app is available for free on the App Store now.

What’s New in Version 6.0

v6.0
* Tablet Ready! Follow all the action on your iPad, including watching Live Video.

• AAPL Company
• Apps
• Deals
• 9to5Toys
• Daily Deals

9to5Toys Last Call: $90 iPhone/iPad pocket projector, up to 66% off Mac games, Bose headphones, laser printer, 500GB external hard drive, more

Aug 9 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to round up the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Today’s Featured deals:

3M 30-pin/VGA 32 Lumen pocket LED projector with built-in stereo speakers $90 shipped

Gamers’ Deals: Nearly 200 Mac Games on sale up to 66% off and Xbox 360 games starting from just $10

Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones $269 (Reg $299)

Other great deals we love:

• New! $14 for 34 AA or AAA Duracell CopperTop Batteries (up to 52% savings)
• New! Sceptre 50″ LCD 1080p 60Hz HDTV $379 shipped (Reg. $600)
• New! Sharp 2.0-Channel Sound Bar Home Theater System $55 (Reg. $100)

• ZyXEL 802.11n Wireless Pocket Travel Router and Access Point $16 shipped
• Brother Monochrome Laser Multi-Function Printer / Copier $98 shipped (Reg. $180)
• MEElectronics M9-BK Hi-Fi Sound-Isolating In-Ear Headphones $10 shipped (Reg. $30)
• Buffalo Technology MiniStation 500GB USB 2.0 external hard drive $40 shipped (Reg. $70)
• Buy One Get One 50% Off: Protective gear from Speck for your iPhone, iPad, Galaxy and more
• Jabra DRIVE Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone: $30 shipped (up to $30 off)
• Gigabyte Dual Lens Gaming Mouse: $10 shipped (Reg. $18)
• Wacom Bamboo Create Pen and Touch Tablet $138 shipped (Reg. $200)
• Popular 1Password iOS app goes on sale for $7.99 until Aug. 16
• Free After Rebate: MEElectronics Black 3.5mm Stereo Headset, Scosche Dual USB Car Charger
• Brother Compact Laser Printer w/ wireless connectivity and duplex printing $75 Shipped (Reg. $150)
• Magfoot magnetic tablet stand: $30 shipped (Reg. $90)
• rooCase leather iPad folio and stand with sleep/wake functionality (Multiple colors) $6
• Watch 20 James Bond movies in HD for free on Amazon Prime Instant Video
• Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection on Blu-ray $110 Shipped (Reg. $300)
• Select eBooks starting at $1 from the Amazon Kindle Store
• Get a free $10 gift card when you sign-up for an Amazon Prime membership
• Free 2 month Hulu Plus trial for new customers
• 100 MP3 album downloads for $5 each from Amazon: Coldplay, Kanye West, Rolling Stones, U2, more
• Samsung 11.6″ Chromebook goes on sale for $219 shipped at Amazon ($269 for 3G)
• Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player software $30 (Reg. $40)

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• Twitter
• update
• Music
• recommendations

Twitter #music app gets new ways to discover artists, scans iPhone library for personalized recommendations

Jordan Kahn Aug 9 2013 - 10:36 am PT

0 Comments

Twitter updated its Twitter #music iPhone app today with several new ways to discover new artists in addition to personalized recommendations based on the content in your iPhone’s music library.

Version 1.2 of the app now allows users to “listen to artist’s top tracks, similar artists, and the artists that your favorite artist follows on Twitter.” However, another interesting new feature will scan the device’s music library in order to serve up relevant recommendations based on your past listening habits.

Twitter is also making it easier to find artists that you like by making it easy to quickly access the artists that you’ve tweeted about in the past.

Personal recommendations based on previous listening habits is becoming a prerequisite for just about any music app ahead of Apple’s iTunes Radio launch. Apple’s upcoming service will rely heavily on its personalization features similar to iTunes Genius, and Rdio and others have been adding similar features that focus more on stations custom tailored to the user’s listening preferences.

Lastly, the app gets support for a number of new languages:

What’s New in Version 1.2

We’ve added a bunch of new ways of discovering music. Listen to artist’s top tracks, similar artists, and the artists that your favorite artist follows on Twitter.

We also scan your iPhone’s music library now to suggest more relevant artists to you. And we show you the artists that you’ve Tweeted about so you can always get back to them.

Finally, we’ve localized #music into all of your favorite languages. If you’re one of those good looking people living in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, or Switzerland then we’ve got you covered!

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• iOS
• textbooks
• Google Play Books
• rentals

Textbooks rolling out to Google Play Books iOS app

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2013 - 4:02 pm PT

0 Comments

Google announced back in July during its Google I/O keynote that it would be rolling out textbooks to Google Play Books sometime in August, and today the listings for textbooks have finally arrived in the store via an update to the iOS app. The textbooks get their own section in the Google Play Books store, and are currently only available to users in the US.

Google’s new textbooks are available to purchase, but some titles will offer a rental option that allows users to rent the book for a lower-cost over a six month period. Google is also providing free samples for the new textbooks. The service is currently available through the Google Play Books apps on Android, iOS, and on the web.

Google is also piloting a new Google Play for Education service and accepting app submissions ahead of a full roll out.

What’s New in Version 1.6.0

Highlighting and note-taking are now supported in scanned pages books.
Added support for rental books.
Added sepia reading mode.
Stability and performance improvements.

• Apps & Updates
• Apps

Roku’s iPhone app updated with ability to stream video to your TV

Chance Miller Aug 8 2013 - 3:45 pm PT

1 Comment

In an effort to further compete with the Apple TV, Roku has just updated its iOS app with a new AirPlay-like feature. Last fall, the app was updated with a new “Play on Roku” feature that let you beam music and photos to your TV, and now that feature has been further expanded upon to support videos.

The process for videos works just as it does for music and photos. Within the app, tap the Play on Roku button and then the video menu to select something to play.

The biggest downside to this feature, however, is that it only works with content you’ve shot with your iOS device, not videos/movies/TV stored in the actual Videos app like Apple’s AirPlay functionality.

The feature is supported on the Roku 2, Roku 3, Roku LT, Roku HD, and Streaming Stick and the update is available now in the App Store. In addition to the ability to beam videos, the update also includes “minor bug fixes.”
Expand
Expanding
Close

• AAPL Company
• Apps
• 9to5Toys
• video games
• last call

9to5Toys Last Call: $33 Anker Astro 10000mAh power bank, $900 Seiki 50″ 4K LED HDTV, iPhone 5 battery case, Wacom Bamboo tablet, more

Aug 8 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

0 Comments

From 9to5Toys.com:

A large majority of the deals we cover each day come from a variety of ‘Daily Deal’ websites or are so popular that they don’t even last 24 hours. We know you can’t be at your computer every second, so we’re going to round up the best deals each day to make sure you have a fair shot at the deals you want. Be sure to follow 9to5Toys.com so you never miss a deal... Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Today’s Featured deals:

SOLD OUT Anker Astro 3E 10000mAh portable high capacity power bank $33 shipped (Reg. $100)

Seiki Digital 50″ 4K Ultra HDTV, 120Hz, LED $900 (Reg. $1,500)

Other great deals we love:

• New! uNu iPhone 5 protective 2300 mAh battery case in black or white $45 + $5 shipping (Reg. $80)
• New! Wacom Bamboo Create Pen and Touch Tablet $138 shipped (Reg. $200)
• New! Popular 1Password iOS app goes on sale for $7.99 until Aug. 16
• New! Sony 32GB SDHC Class 10 UHS-1 Memory Card $25 shipped
• New! Game Deals: Tiger Woods 14 Historic Edition: $50, Max Payne 3: $10 shipped, Worms 3 out now, iOS freebies, more

• Free After Rebate: MEElectronics Black 3.5mm Stereo Headset, Scosche Dual USB Car Charger
• Brother Compact Laser Printer w/ wireless connectivity and duplex printing $75 Shipped (Reg. $150)
• Magfoot magnetic tablet stand: $30 shipped (Reg. $90)
• rooCase leather iPad folio and stand with sleep/wake functionality (Multiple colors) $6
• Watch 20 James Bond movies in HD for free on Amazon Prime Instant Video
• Bond 50: The Complete 22 Film Collection on Blu-ray $110 Shipped (Reg. $300)
• Select eBooks starting at $1 from the Amazon Kindle Store
• Get a free $10 gift card when you sign-up for an Amazon Prime membership
• Free 2 month Hulu Plus trial for new customers
• 100 MP3 album downloads for $5 each from Amazon: Coldplay, Kanye West, Rolling Stones, U2, more
• Samsung 11.6″ Chromebook goes on sale for $219 shipped at Amazon ($269 for 3G)
• Macgo Mac Blu-ray Player software $30 (Reg. $40)

• Apps
• iOS
• Google
• Android
• maps

Google introduces new local ads experience in Google Maps on iOS & Android

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2013 - 12:48 pm PT

2 Comments

Google today announced on its blog that it’s introducing an “updated ad experience” for Google Maps on iPhone, iPad, and Android that will display a small banner at the bottom of the screen when a user performs a search. Google used to display smaller banner ads that would pop up as an overlay on the map after searching for a location, but the new experience brings ads into the new bottom bar that Google introduced in its recent redesign of the Google Maps mobile apps. 

Relevant ads on the Google Maps app can now appear at the bottom of the screen after a user performs a search. They include a title, ad text, and a link to get directions. Users can tap or swipe upward to see more information — this is a new click type known as “Get location details” and results in a standard CPC charge.

Just like the previous ads, tapping or swiping up on the new ads placed at the bottom of the screen will pull up details about businesses including images, reviews, phone numbers and addresses. Google’s recent update to the Google Maps mobile apps also brought Zagat ratings and Google Offers into the local business search results displayed on the new bottom navigation bar.

Google provides more information for advertisers interested in display local ads in Maps in its blog post here. 

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• iOS
• iPad
• iPhone
• App Store

Rdio apps get revamped Stations with personalized “You FM” feature

Jordan Kahn Aug 8 2013 - 11:45 am PT

0 Comments

Subscription music service Rdio announced today that it’s completely overhauling how stations work through the service.  While stations and the player get a refresh with new endless station types to pick from, the big new feature is something Rdio calls “You FM”:

You FM — A brand new, personalized, adjustable station that leverages Taste Profiling technology from The Echo Nest and incorporates all your listening history, track voting, Facebook likes, Twitter follows, and more to create a truly unique and individualized listening experience. As your tastes grow and evolve, so does You FM.

The new player will let users “vote on individual songs, tune stations towards familiar or adventurous sounds, and pivot stations based on favorite tracks” in order to fine tune stations. You’ll even be able to listen to others’ You FM stations. An endless station that’s automatically customized to the user’s listening habits seems like a must have feature for apps competing with Pandora and Spotify, and it’s something that Apple’s upcoming iTunes Radio app will take advantage of heavily.

The Rdio iOS app has already received the update and the new features are available on Android and the web app as well.

• Apps & Updates
• Apps
• App Store
• Security
• app
• Dropbox

1Password 4 for iOS goes on sale ahead of Dropbox API changes

Mike Beasley Aug 8 2013 - 8:00 am PT

2 Comments

AgileBits, the development team behind 1Password for iOS and Mac, announced today that due to an upcoming change in Dropbox’s API, Dropbox syncing in version 3 of the 1Password iOS client will no longer work as of September 1st. Because the old version of 1Password has been discontinued, it will not be updated to work with the new Dropbox API.

Instead, AgileBits is offering the new and improved 1Password 4 at $7.99 the lowest price to date. The sale will last until Friday, August 16th. Since 1Password 4 requires iOS 6, some customers may not be able to update to the latest version. If that’s the case, those users will be glad to know that 1Password 3 will still support Wi-Fi syncing with computers on the same network.

AgileBits has also published a new FAQ document to explain the changes and possible solutions.