Apps

Instagram rolling out photo & video ads in the U.S. within a couple of months

Jordan Kahn Oct 3 2013 - 1:22 pm PT

While it previously announced plans to bring advertising to its mobile app sometime this year, Instagram officially announced today that it will be rolling out both photo and video ads from select brands in the coming months. The company said that the ads will begin showing up for users in the US initially and feature “a small number of beautiful, high-quality photos and videos from a handful of brands that are already great members of the Instagram community.”

Our aim is to make any advertisements you see feel as natural to Instagram as the photos and videos many of you already enjoy from your favorite brands. After all, our team doesn’t just build Instagram, we use it each and every day. We want these ads to be enjoyable and creative in much the same way you see engaging, high-quality ads when you flip through your favorite magazine.

Instagram noted in its announcement that it will allow users to hide ads that they don’t like and also provide feedback to help improve the experience over time.

Last month we reported that Facebook was beginning to test silent, auto-playing video ads in the News Feed, and since Instagram already auto-plays videos, it’s likely its ads will be similar to those being tested with a limited number of users on Facebook:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iCH9ReoH_I

Sync.ME adds ‘Widgets’ to Apple’s iOS Contacts app

Jordan Kahn Oct 3 2013 - 7:50 am PT

7 Comments

Sync.ME, a third-party contacts app for iOS with over 8 million downloads, just rolled out an interesting feature that brings new functionality to Apple’s own Contacts app on iOS. As pictured above, the latest version of the Sync.ME app now adds a “Widgets” link within Apple’s Contacts app that provides quick access to social network profiles for contacts and a number of other handy functions for quickly sharing content.

They are called ‘Widgets’, but in reality they are essentially quick links to profiles on social networks and other functions of the Sync.ME app. The interesting aspect is the fact that you’ll no longer have to launch the Sync.ME app and can now access all of the “Widgets” functionality from directly within the native iOS Contacts app.

On top of links to the contact’s Facebook, Google+, and LinkedIn profiles, you’ll also find the ability to place and record calls over VoIP, quickly capture a business card using your camera, jot down a note, or add a reminder to your calendar for a specific contact. Other widgets will allow you to quickly share your location or a photo over iMessage or SMS, as well as post customized greeting cards directly to a contact’s timeline.

To accomplish this, the app appears to use the AddressBook API’s in a novel way that allows the app to automatically add a URL into a custom field for contact cards. That URL opens the “Widgets” section for any particular contact within Sync.ME, but the entire experience feels rather seamless. Here’s how to set it up:
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Duolingo, the fun language-learning app for iPhone and iPad, beautifully redesigned for iOS 7

Zac Hall Oct 3 2013 - 6:49 am PT

Duolingo for iPhone and iPad joined the collection of apps designed with iOS 7 in mind today with the release of Duolingo 3.

Duolingo is a free iOS app that makes learning a second language like Spanish or French easy and fun, and its redesign for iOS 7 is certainly delightful.

We don’t always redesign the app for iOS 7, but when we do, we prefer to go the whole way. From an entirely new look to exciting end screens showing your weekly progress, Duolingo has been completely redesigned for iOS 7. It’s faster, better, and more fun!

You can find Duolingo for free on the App Store.

Sega’s ‘The Cave’ adventure game from Monkey Island creator now available on iOS

Jordan Kahn Oct 3 2013 - 6:43 am PT

Originally released for consoles, PC, and Mac in January, Sega today released ‘The Cave’ for iOS, a unique platformer/puzzle adventure from the creator of the popular Monkey Island franchise. It also comes to us with help from Tim Schafer’s studio Double Fine Productions– the development team behind Brütal Legend, Psychonauts, etc– so there’s definitely good reason to have high hopes for the title.

The game has players assemble a team of three characters with unique skills in order to solve various underground puzzles that pop up while exploring The Cave:

Assemble your team of three from seven unlikely adventurers, each with their own unique personalities and stories, then descend into the mysterious depths to explore locations including a subterranean amusement park and a medieval castle, not to mention a fully armed and ready-to-launch nuclear tipped ICBM. The Cave awaits.

The Cave is available now on iPad and iPhone for $4.99 on the App Store.

Oops – watch those ‘Incognito Mode’ web searches, Chrome’s latest iOS upgrade no longer forgets

Ben Lovejoy Oct 3 2013 - 6:09 am PT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61SzHpGGFRs

If you’ve been carrying out any dodgy searches in Incognito Mode in the iOS 7 version of Google Chrome, you may want to wander casually into settings to delete the search history (looking toward the sky and whistling helps): it appears that Incognito Mode currently isn’t. All searches performed in the private browsing mode are available in search history once you return to normal browsing.

The above video is rather swift, and has no commentary, but what it shows is erasing history to start with a clean slate, entering Incognito Mode, visiting a website, returning to normal browsing and then viewing search history at Google – where the supposed private web session shows up.

Note that you do need to visit Google to see the history: it doesn’t show up when simply using the combined URL/search bar.

Google updated the app last month. The company has not yet made any statement on the bug.

Thanks, Robin

iTunes Radio gets new competition as Rdio iOS app offers free personalized stations

Ben Lovejoy Oct 3 2013 - 4:40 am PT

Rdio has launched a free personalized radio stations option within its iOS and Android apps. This is a more controllable version of the You FM feature added back in August.

Like iTunes Radio, you can’t choose a specific artist or track, but you can create a radio station based on a song, artist or genre and then listen to the stream Rdio creates based on your selection. Unlike iTunes Radio, Rdio’s free streaming service is ad-free, at least for now.

New subscribers also get a 14-day free trial of the Rdio subscription service, allowing you to play specific tracks. Once the 14 days end, however, you’ll revert to radio stations only unless you sign-up at $9.99 a month to keep the paid service.

Rdio is a free download on iTunes.

Adobe working on an iPad app for presentations called ‘Ginger’

Benjamin Mayo Oct 3 2013 - 4:30 am PT

Adobe is currently testing a new presentation app for the iPad similar in purpose to PowerPoint and Keynote, via CNET. The project is currently called Ginger. Although details are sparse, it seems to be focused on the creation of sales pitches and what Adobe calls “explainer videos”. Adobe has said that the app is in the beta stage of development, but is yet to confirm whether the app will ever be publicly released.

On Ginger’s minisite, there are a few demos of what the app could create. One example presentation is embedded below …

Review: 1Password 4 for Mac is a massive, feature-packed update

Mike Beasley Oct 3 2013 - 2:47 am PT

36 Comments

Back in December, AgileBits released 1Password 4 for iPhone and iPad. The app presented a completely revamped take on password security, but lacked feature parity with the Mac version of the software.

Today, 1Password for Mac has been updated to version 4, bringing a ton of new features to the Mac. In fact, the update brings so many new capabilities that the Mac version of 1Password has now surpassed the iOS version in features. This is a massive release with a completely redesigned interface, overhauled browser extensions, support for new types of saved items, enhanced security, and more.

Find our complete review below:

Snapchat introduces “Stories”, a narrative built with snaps

Scott Buscemi Oct 3 2013 - 1:36 am PT

Snapchat is free in the App Store.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/gPzZevSbgGk]

Snapchat, the popular photo messaging app that is used to share over 350M photos every day, has added a substantial feature in the latest version of their app: Snapchat Stories.

The Verge has a great piece on the new feature:

“Stories: a rolling compilation of snaps from the last 24 hours that your friends can see. You create your Story as you go about your day by tapping “My Story” above the friends you want to send a snap to. Or, you can tap a new shortcut button in the app’s camera screen to instantly post a snap to your Story. But unlike conventional snaps, Stories don’t disappear in a puff of ephemeral smoke after you’ve watched them. You can watch a friend’s (or your own) Story over and over.”

Each Story is the sum of all the snaps you’ve added over the last 24 hours, which means its size is always fluctuating. What doesn’t change is that every piece of the Story is less than a day old, so viewing one might be the fastest way to see what a friend’s been up to. Snapchat may not look much like Facebook, but with Stories, the company is taking its first steps toward competing with Facebook’s most important product: News Feed.

Rather than falling for pressure from users to add a “send all” button or allow for groups, the company appears to be pushing for the new Stories feature as a way to share moments with all of your friends.

Netflix 5.0 for iOS brings HD and AirPlay streaming to iOS 7 devices

Scott Buscemi Oct 3 2013 - 12:33 am PT

6 Comments

Netflix has just released version 5.0 of their iOS app, bringing Netflix HD and AirPlay streaming to iOS 7 users.

With AirPlay streaming, videos can be streamed from the device to an Apple TV while running the background. The feature no longer relies on AirPlay mirroring, so users aren’t tied to the app while watching videos on their TVs.

From my personal experience with version 5.0, the iPad app isn’t working with AirPlay streaming yet, but HD is available. On the iPhone, AirPlay streaming (in the background) is working as well as HD.

What’s New in Version 5.0

* Netflix HD for iOS 7
* AirPlay streaming for iOS 7 (requires disabling AirPlay mirroring)
* Playback optimizations
* Stability improvements

iCloud Mail push notifications return in Germany as injunction gets lifted in Apple/Motorola dispute

Jordan Kahn Oct 2 2013 - 6:50 am PT

Since more than a year ago, Germans have not had access to push notifications for iCloud Mail services following a dispute between Apple and Motorola in the country that forced Apple to disable the feature. Now, as noted by German Apple blog iPhone-ticker.de, Apple has now confirmed that push notifications services have been switched back on in the country. The news comes following Apple’s success in getting the original injunction lifted after posting $132 million bond, according to FossPatents:

After the Federal Patent Court’s preliminary ruling, Apple filed with the Karlsruhe-based appeals court a motion to stay enforcement against Google’s will. In early September, the Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court granted it. I published my own (obviously unofficial) English translation of the order. The order revealed that Apple had to post a 100 million euro ($132 million) bond to get the injunction actually lifted. The paperwork for all of this apparently took a few weeks and presumably Apple’s technical staff conducted some internal tests before finally reactivating the push notification feature for end users — which it did today.

Hulu Plus iOS app adds support for Chromecast for big-screen viewing

Ben Lovejoy Oct 2 2013 - 4:41 am PT

Google has announced that Hulu has added Chromecast support to its Hulu Plus app, enabling online shows to be viewed on the big screen – something it promised back in July.

Now you can easily enjoy your favorite shows, such as “Modern Family,” “New Girl” and “Parks and Recreation,” on your big-screen TV by casting from Hulu Plus on your mobile phone or tablet. It’s the same intuitive, remote-free experience you’ve come to enjoy with the other Chromecast-supported apps, and is as simple as pressing the Cast button which will now appear in the app …

Chromecast is a small, $35 stick that plugs into the HDMI port of a TV set or monitor and allows users to stream content, such as YouTube and Netflix, from devices like computers, tablets, and smartphones. Think of it as a tiny, cut-down Apple TV with functionality limited to AirPlay-style casting of content. It’s available from Amazon with free shipping. The Hulu Plus app is available for both iOS and Android.

9to5Toys Last Call: Beats earbuds $50, Samsung WiFi Blu-ray player $37, Just-Mobile giveaway, GoPro HERO3+, more

Oct 1 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

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

Today’s featured deals:

Beats by Dre urBeats earbud headphones w/ mic $50 shipped (Reg. $100)

SOLD OUT Samsung WiFi Blu-ray Player w/ Netflix and Youtube (Refurbished) $37 shipped

Giveaway: Just-Mobile HeadStand precision-engineered aluminum headphone hanger ($50 value)

Mac Bundle 3.0 Ft. Camtasia 2 and 9 other explosive Mac Apps. Name your own price. Ends tonight!!!

Other great deals from today:

New! Save 10% on most Amazon Warehouse items: TVs, Video Games, Computers, more
New! GoPro’s new HERO3+ cameras are smaller, more capable, and ready for next-level action
New! $25 for $50 worth of protective gear from Speck for your iPhone, iPad, Galaxy and more
New! Game/App Deals: NBA 2K14 now available on iOS, 50% off Batman Arkham games for Mac, iOS freebies, more
New! 1-year magazine subscriptions: Maxim $3.50 (Reg. $48), Motor Trend $4.50 (Reg. $60)
New! The X-Files: The complete series and movies on DVD for $90 shipped (Reg. $330)
New! Belkin announces Express Dock for iOS devices w/ adjustable dial to accommodate cases

Added a refurbished Apple Lightning cable for $8 to our ‘Best Of’ list.. http://t.co/iQwmZR1S4z

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) October 1, 2013

The best deals that are still alive:

Logitech K810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard $50 (Reg. $100), K400 w/ touchpad $30 (Reg. $40)
Lifeproof iPhone 5 Frē water/dirt/snow/shock proof case $40 shipped (Reg. $80)
Apple iPod Touch 16GB 5th gen. (Refurb.) $149 (Reg. $229 new)
Pre-order: Breaking Bad complete series on Blu-ray w/ replica money barrel, Los Pollos Hermanos apron, more
Apple online store now offers 128GB iPad starting at $679 (up to $140 off new)
3M Projector Sleeve for iPhone 4/4S $80 shipped
Vizio 40” 2.1 home theater sound bar with wireless subwoofer $140 shipped (Reg. $200)
ViewSonic PJD6221 XGA 3D ready projector (refurb): $210 (Reg. $451 new)
The best Apple-certified (MFi) Lightning cables in various lengths, colors, and styles
Google Chromecast now in stock at Amazon $35 with free shipping

Mac software bundles:

Parallels is getting into the bundle game with its own “update bundle” which includes the Parallels 8->9 Update (which you need to run on Mavericks). Included is a 6 month subscription to Parallels Access for iPad and the CleanMyMac 2. Offer ends after this weekend.
TuneUp iTunes cleaner $30 – Ends in 2 days!
The Mac Freebie Bundle 2.0: 10 Apps To Enhance Your Design, Photography & Productivity
$50 MacUpdate Bundle: Snapheal Pro, Civ V Gold, PDF Pen, TechTool Pro 7, ScreenFlow, more – Ends in just over 2 days!

New product announcements & reviews:

Valve announces Steam Machines hardware beta for SteamOS
Amazon freshens up the Kindle Fire HD, now starts at just $139
Roku announces refreshed lineup of devices starting at $50
Belkin announces YourType Wireless Keypad to extend your Mac’s keyboard

Apple adds Vevo and NHL channels to Apple TV in Germany (Update: UK gets NHL too)

Jordan Kahn Oct 1 2013 - 7:32 am PT

German Apple blog Macerkopf notes that Apple TV users in Germany today have been greeted with new content in a server-side update that includes Vevo and NHL channels. Vevo first landed on the Apple TV for US, Canada, and other countries back in August alongside a big update for the platform that also brought content from Disney, the Weather Channel, Smithsonian, and others. The National Hockey League channel, however, has been available in many countries since an Apple TV update back in 2011.

Apple has been adding a ton of new content to Apple TV in recent months fueling rumors that a major revamp to the platform could be on the way. Most recently the company added new content from Major League Soccer and Disney Junior in the US.

Update: Users in the UK are also reporting receiving access to the NHL channel:

There's @NHL now on #AppleTV !! Get in!! New season starts… tomorrow? Here's hoping the UK sub options are good!

— Tony McGuire (@tmcgvideo) October 1, 2013

https://twitter.com/betterthan/status/384985585146146816

Paper by FiftyThree app now lets you create & order customized Moleskine books

Jordan Kahn Oct 1 2013 - 6:58 am PT

Paper by FiftyThree, the popular sketching and illustration app, today announced that it has teamed up with Moleskine to offer its users the ability to create and order customized 15-page Moleskin books directly from the app. The partnership with Moleskine means you’ll get a quality, hand-assembled 15-page foldout book on sustainable matte paper, but it also means you’ll have to hand over $40 USD in the process:
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9to5Toys Last Call: Klipsch/Logitech noise-cancelling headphones from $100, 1TB USB3 portable HD $50, iPod Touch 5g 16GB (Refurb) $150, iPad 128GB, more

Sep 30 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

From 9to5Toys.com:

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

Today’s featured deals:

Noise-Cancelling Headphones: Klipsch Mode M40: $145 (Reg. $350), Logitech UE 6000: $100 (Reg. $160)

Samsung USB 3.0 portable HD: $50 shipped, 1TB Western Digital: $53 shipped

Apple iPod Touch 16GB 5th gen. (Refurb.) $149 (Reg. $229 new)

Mac Bundle 3.0 Ft. Camtasia 2 and 9 other explosive Mac Apps. Name your own price. Ends in 1 day!

Other great deals from today:

New! Apple online store now offers 128GB iPad starting at $679 (up to $140 off new)
New! Logitech K810 Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard $50 (Reg. $100), K400 w/ touchpad $30 (Reg. $40)
New! Pre-order: Breaking Bad complete series on Blu-ray w/ replica money barrel, Los Pollos Hermanos apron, more
New! Sony 5.1-Channel Home Theater System with DVD Player, Remote, and HDMI $80 (Reg. $128), Vizio sound bar $140 (Reg. $200)
New! Dell 23″ 1080p full HD IPS LED monitor (Refurb.) $99 shipped (Reg. $167)
New! ZyXEL cloud-enabled wireless N 720p surveillance camera w/Night Vision, iSecurity+ $40 shipped (Reg. $120)
New! Western Digital My Net N900 HD dual band wireless router: $49 shipped (Reg. $160)
New! VIZIO 55″ or 70″ 1080p Smart TV with Apps $660-$1300/ 3M Projector Sleeve for iPhone 4/4S $80 shipped

The best deals that are still alive:

Lifeproof iPhone 5 Frē water/dirt/snow/shock proof case $40 shipped (Reg. $80)
Adobe Photoshop Elements 12 (Mac/Windows) $73 shipped (Reg. $100)
Super Mario Galaxy 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wii: $30 shipped (Reg. $50), Free $50 Amazon credit w/ Xbox 360 purchase, more
Vizio 32″ 720p LED Smart HDTV $240, Sceptre 32″ Class LCD 720p HDTV $190
ViewSonic PJD6221 XGA 3D ready projector (refurb): $210 (Reg. $451 new)
Apple Airport Extreme 5th Gen (Refurb): $80 shipped (Reg. $180 new)
Save 25% on any OtterBox iPhone 5 Defender case or up to 15% on everything else
The best Apple-certified (MFi) Lightning cables in various lengths, colors, and styles
Google Chromecast now in stock at Amazon $35 with free shipping

Mac software bundles:

Parallels is getting into the bundle game with its own “update bundle” which includes the Parallels 8->9 Update (which you need to run on Mavericks). Included is a 6 month subscription to Parallels Access for iPad and the CleanMyMac 2. Offer ends after this weekend.
TuneUp iTunes cleaner $30 – Ends in 2 days!
The Mac Freebie Bundle 2.0: 10 Apps To Enhance Your Design, Photography & Productivity
$50 MacUpdate Bundle: Snapheal Pro, Civ V Gold, PDF Pen, TechTool Pro 7, ScreenFlow, more – Ends in just over 2 days!

New product announcements & reviews:

Valve announces Steam Machines hardware beta for SteamOS
Amazon freshens up the Kindle Fire HD, now starts at just $139
Roku announces refreshed lineup of devices starting at $50
Belkin announces YourType Wireless Keypad to extend your Mac’s keyboard

Extreme Reality SDK gives any iOS game Kinect-like motion control, now open to all devs

Jordan Kahn Sep 30 2013 - 12:19 pm PT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2t1wM-Bnlg

Extreme Reality, a company that has been developing motion capture technology that Sega and others have used in PC & mobile games, today announced it is opening up its SDK to all developers. The software works with any 2D camera and allows devs to easily capture and analyze motion for games and apps. Think Microsoft’s Kinect, but with Extreme Reality motion is captured with an iOS device’s built-in FaceTime camera rather than bulky, expensive external hardware:
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NBA Game Time iPad app updated for 2013-2014 preseason

Jordan Kahn Sep 30 2013 - 8:16 am PT

The official NBA Game Time app has been updated today with support for the upcoming 2013-2014 NBA preseason. Preseason games for the 2013-14 season, the 68th NBA season, will kick off on Saturday, October 5th.

Version 5.0 of the free NBA Game Time app for iPad is available now on the App Store.

Another popular sports app, Yahoo’s Sportacular Pro, received a recent update that brought iPad support and a redesigned experience with new content and features.

What’s New in Version 5.0

Enhanced support for the 2013-2014 NBA preseason.

Review: Tricky Letters serves up daily messages to keep you inspired

Sarah Guarino Sep 29 2013 - 3:04 pm PT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4LX-6DTX00

Tricky Letters is a new app that serves daily inspiration. The app is simple to use and delivers its content in a unique, cute way. You receive letters everyday at random times that contain wisdom, inspiration, meaningful quotes, and art. Tricky Letters stands out in that it doesn’t serve up content on demand. Instead, it only delivers content when the app decides to.

More M7 details: data storage, battery life, Android motion coprocessor adoption

Scott Buscemi Sep 29 2013 - 10:46 am PT

11 Comments

When the iPhone 5s launched with the M7 motion coprocessor on September 20, Azumio’s ARGUS fitness app was updated that same day with M7 compatibility. I’ve been an ARGUS user for quite awhile, as it syncs with my LifeTrak and can also independently track steps in the background throughout the day even without a wristband.

The app is now the #1 free Health & Fitness app in the App Store and has been featured as one of the top “Designed for iOS 7” apps.

Seeing that the app gained M7 compatibility so quickly – it was the first one that I noticed and I haven’t been able to find one that added it before them – I was curious about how ARGUS was able to take advantage of the M7 so quickly. I had the opportunity to speak with Peter Kuhar, product manager for ARGUS at Azumio. He was able to break down some of the intricate information surrounding the M7.
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Review + Giveaway: Velocity helps you get through your reading list faster

Sarah Guarino Sep 26 2013 - 12:23 pm PT

5 Comments

Velocity is a new speed reader app for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad that helps you read faster by presenting one word at a time using a technique called Rapid Serial Visual Presentation. Studies have shown that using Rapid Serial Visual Presentation helps increase reader’s reading speed because it forces the reader to stop reading out loud inside their head (subvocalization), and suppresses the tendency for eyes to backtrack the line while reading and searching for the end of the sentence. Generally a reader’s average reading speed is two hundred words per minute, but Velocity supports reading speeds up to one thousand words per minute.

Update to Google Search iOS app to bring cross platform notifications

Jordan Kahn Sep 26 2013 - 11:29 am PT

iPhone Triptych - Clear Background

Google is celebrating its 15 birthday and today announced a number of improvements to search on mobile devices including an incoming Google Search app update for iPhone and iPad that will enable notifications for reminders & more across platforms:

With this update, you can get notifications across your devices. So if you tell your Nexus 7, “OK Google. Remind me to buy olive oil at Safeway,” when you walk into the store with your iPhone, you’ll get a reminder. We’ll also show you Google Now notifications so you’re not late to your cooking class.

You’ll start noticing many new improvements to search on Android and iOS today, but Google says the cross platform notifications will arrive within a couple weeks through an update to the Google Search iPhone and iPad app.

More on all of Google’s new features for search on mobile on 9to5Google.

Major update to VLC for Mac adds 4K support, improved MKV support, interface improvements and more

Benjamin Mayo Sep 26 2013 - 5:57 am PT

8 Comments

VideoLAN has released version 2.1 of its popular open source video player, VLC. The update — codenamed “Ricewind” — brings new audio processing to the app, to improve both processing performance and audio fidelity. There is full support for surround sound outputs in addition to new effects and many new supported metadata formats for audio.

On the video side, the app has ported the OpenGL output to OpenGL ES, making ports to iOS and Android much easier. Notably, VideoLAN says that VLC is now ready for Ultra-HD content (otherwise known as 4K). The app update has also focused heavily on improving MKV compatibility, including better seek performance and subtitle metadata support.