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6,229 'Apps' stories April 2010 - September 2013
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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.

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‘Ping’ brings iMessage-like functionality to email

Avatar for Scott Buscemi Sep 5 2013 - 8:00 am PT
4 Comments

iOS has seen its fair share of new email applications over the past few years. Most notably, Mailbox found itself overly popular and was eventually acquired by Dropbox. Now, a new mail app called Ping will take email another step forward by bringing in new features that are, by far, revolutionary.

The most notable feature is the iMessage-like responses: if you are emailing with another Ping user, it turns your email into a chat where each user can see when the other is typing and emails appear instantly.

The app also allows you to set custom notifications per contact, so you can know if you really need to dig into your mail app and respond quickly.

Ping will be launching September 18th, but you can reserve your spot today at PingApp.com. I’m betting this app will be much more successful than Apple’s Ping social network…

Ping reimagines email from the inside out with the following capabilities:

  • A smart, people-centric feed: Organize messages by people and groups of people, then everything else (subscriptions, newsletters, etc.) so messaging history with each person and group is in ongoing, contextual streams, like chat. Emails from the most important people and groups are in one feed so you can immediately see what matters most, while subscriptions, newsletters and marketing emails are automatically filtered into a separate workspace.
  • A playful, easy interface: Communicate in a natural, dynamic environment with rich media sharing (personal photos, Web photos, video), voice recording, video chat, doodling and the all bells and whistles that make chatting fun. By eschewing the formal, antiquated letter format, unnatural terms like “Best Regards” are no longer a part of conversations with your colleagues or friends.

And, for the utility-minded, Ping offers:

  • Super real-time responses: Receive emails the exact moment they come in, seconds before you would using any native mobile email app. Users can even see when another person is typing, as you would with iMessage or chat.
  • Better notifications: Stop checking your phone every time it buzzes. Assign custom notification alerts for different types of messages and contacts, and keep it in your pocket.
  • Instant access to shared media: See all recent attachments and documents within a conversation by flipping your phone to horizontal view.
  • Snooze: Hit the Couch button to save messages for later.
  • Quick search: Find friends or conversations instantly with a universal search bar.

By supporting real-time messaging, document and photo sharing, voice and video calls, and more, Ping brings it all together, eliminating the need to use multiple apps to stay in touch. Ping syncs with desktop emails so chats, documents and media are stored right in your cloud, not in a separate app that wipes out your history when you stop using it. Ping solves the fragmentation issues associated with many messaging apps because it’s an open platform and is not limited to communication within the app itself.

All new Call of Duty first/third-person shooter hits iOS devices

Avatar for Sep 5 2013 - 6:49 am PT
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Activision has just dropped a brand new Call of Duty game built from the ground up specifically for mobile devices. Strike Team is set in the year 2020 and puts gamers in control of a Joint Special Operations Team attempting to bring justice to an unknown enemy. Gamers are able to freely switch between the traditional first-person shooter view as well as a third-person view. This game features a Campaign mode which promises to be “full of epic, cinematic moments in diverse locations around the world,” and Survival mode that “Put[s] your skills to the test as you fight off waves of increasingly difficult enemies.”

Call of Duty: Strike Team is available exclusively as a universal iOS download for $7. It requires iOS6 and an iPhone 4S/iPad 2 or newer. No word yet on future release dates for Android or Windows devices.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbQkwsW8GlU&w=640&h=480]

Call of Duty®: Strike Team delivers an all-new, first-person and third-person Call of Duty® experience built from the ground up for mobile and tablet devices. Fully customize your squad’s loadouts and abilities before leading them into combat in diverse gameplay environments. Call of Duty®: Strike Team features the revolutionary ability to dynamically switch from run-and-gun first-person view to reconnaissance and coordinated squad attacks in third-person view.

The year is 2020. Tensions run high amongst the world’s superpowers. In a surprise attack, the U.S. finds themselves in a war with an unknown enemy. Your mission is to lead a Joint Special Operations Team in a global effort to hunt down those responsible.

Play your way. Switch between first-person and third-person action at almost any time. Strategically customize the members of your squad with weapons, perks or body armor.
CAMPAIGN MODE: Experience an immersive single-player campaign full of epic, cinematic moments in diverse locations around the world.
SURVIVAL MODE: Put your skills to the test as you fight off waves of increasingly difficult enemies. Compete against family, friends and the Call of Duty®: Strike Team community for leaderboard domination.

Bundles! Camtasia/Crossover/+8 more for $10, Metakine 10 apps: $40, AfterShot Pro+10 apps: $49

Avatar for 9to5 Staff Sep 5 2013 - 6:06 am PT
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Specials.9to5Toys.com this month has a “Name Yor own Price Bundle” which is a bit of a misnomer since you’ll need to pay above the average which is currently below $10.  You’ll get Camtasia which allows you to “Easily Create Stunning Screen Captures & Video Recordings” and well as CrossOver which allows you to run Windows programs on your Mac for the sub $10 price. Then there are 8 more great Mac Apps.  At below $10, you can’t miss.

Then there is the 11 app AfterShot Pro bundle from MacLegion, below:
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“2K Drive” iOS exclusive lands on the App Store for $6.99

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Sep 4 2013 - 9:00 pm PT
5 Comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOeno8XsIY8]

2K has been teasing its upcoming “2K Drive” title developed by Lucid Games in recent weeks, and tonight the game is officially landing in the App Store. The iOS exclusive won’t be going the popular freemium model route, as 2K has informed us it will be selling the iPhone/iPad game for $6.99. The game features a number of real world vehicles, 100+ unique events, 25+ tracks, and a “RaceFace” feature that will let users put their own face on their character in the game. Licensed vehicles include Dodge, Fiat, Ford, GM, Icon, Local Motors, Mazda, McLaren, Nissan and So-Cal. The game’s official launch trailer is above and full details are in the press release below.

 2K Drive Now Available Worldwide for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

Immerse yourself in a new dynamic automotive experience for your mobile deviceJoin the conversation on Twitter using the hash tag #2KDrive

New York, NY – September 5, 2013 – 2K and Lucid Games, a boutique studio founded by creators of the Blur and Project Gotham Racing series, announced today that 2K Drive is now available for download from the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch for $6.99. 2K Drive is a cutting-edge racing simulator that brings the depth and richness of console-based driving mechanics to gamers on the go. Featuring high-quality licensed and original cars, iconic locations, precision controls, and an integrated feed for the latest automotive news, 2K Drive brings the fast-paced world of automotive racing culture right to gamers’ fingertips.

With a wide variety of racing modes for both single and multiplayer, 2K Drive promises a dynamic gaming experience for motorsports enthusiasts of all interest levels. Offering more than 100+ unique events on 25+ tracks in five environments, 2K Drive provides mobile gamers with the chance to get behind the wheel of more than 25 licensed cars, from manufacturers including Dodge, Fiat, Ford, GM, Icon, Local Motors, Mazda, McLaren, Nissan and So-Cal. And by using the “RaceFace” function, players can put their own face on their driver’s, as well as see their friends behind the wheels of their cars when playing in asynchronous multiplayer.

“2K Drive was designed to offer the most comprehensive driving simulation experience in today’s mobile market,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “The game successfully combines the appeal of a premier console racing game with some of the leading automotive editorial content available on the Web, to create an all-inclusive entertainment hub for auto-enthusiasts.”

Through the game’s live newsfeed and multiplayer options, 2K Drive also offers players the opportunity to build a strong, authentic connection with car enthusiasts and automotive communities. Gamers will have the opportunity to view video and photo galleries, as well as read, “like” and “share” the latest news from popular automotive blogs and outlets, such as Car & Driver, Road & Track, Autoblog,Between The White Lines (BTWL), CaniBeat, Cars X Hype, Distraction Control, DUB Magazine, eGarage, Electric Cars Report, Fatlace,The Lowdown, Hemmings Motor News, Hooniverse, My Life @ Speed, and My Ride Is Me.

“Lucid has been thrilled to work with 2K in creating a rich and authentic mobile gaming experience that transcends traditional racing games on the platform,” added Pete Wallace, studio head at Lucid Games. “2K Drive immerses players in a vast expanse of dynamic content that allows each user to tailor their individual experience to better suit their own interest and level of engagement with the auto genre.”

2K Drive is available for $6.99 from the App Store on iPhone, iPad and iPod touch or at www.AppStore.com/2KDrive.

For the latest breaking news surrounding the game, look for updates on the 2K Drive Facebook and Twitter pages.

2K is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment globally for console systems, handheld gaming systems and personal computers, including smartphones and tablets, which are delivered through physical retail, digital download, online platforms and cloud streaming services. 2K publishes titles in today’s most popular gaming genres, including shooters, action, role-playing, strategy, sports, casual, and family entertainment. The 2K label has some of the most talented development studios in the world today, including Firaxis Games, Visual Concepts, Irrational Games, 2K Marin, 2K Australia, 2K Czech, Cat Daddy Games and 2K China. 2K’s stable of high quality titles includes the critically acclaimed BioShock®, Borderlands™ and XCOM® franchises, the beloved Sid Meier’sCivilization series, the popular WWE 2K franchise and NBA 2K, the #1 rated and #1 selling basketball franchise*. 2K is headquartered in Novato, California and is a wholly owned label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO). For more information, please visit www.2K.com.

*According to 2008 – 2013 Metacritic.com and The NPD Group estimates of U.S. retail video game sales through July 2013.

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9to5Toys Last Call: 1 yr. Macworld Magazine subscription $6.50, up to 80% off Apple cables/adapters, Sony 4K video downloads, more

Avatar for Sep 4 2013 - 3:00 pm PT
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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+.

1 year magazine subscription to Macworld Magazine w/ digital access: $6.50 ($78 off)

iGear: 40-80% off cables, docks, power banks and other accessories

Sony officially begins serving up 4K Ultra HD video downloads with one big caveat

Other great deals we love:

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VMware Fusion 6 released: ready to take advantage of Haswell processors and upcoming Mavericks features

Avatar for Scott Buscemi Sep 4 2013 - 4:20 am PT
3 Comments

VMware has just released the immediate availability of VMware Fusion 6 and VMware Fusion 6 Professional. The new version of the virtualization software boasts over 50 new features and is prepared for the new operating systems coming from both Apple (Mavericks) and Microsoft (Windows 8.1).

  • Supports Mavericks multi-display features and even AirPlay displays
  • Enhanced dictation support
  • Run Mavericks as a guest operating system – can be installed using the recovery partition in just a couple of clicks
  • Ready for Windows 8.1
  • Built-in optimizations for the Haswell processors
  • Up to 16 virtual CPUs, 64GB of RAM, and 8TB of disk space – ready for the new Mac Pro coming soon

VMware Fusion 6 is available exclusively on the VMware Online Store for $59.99 or $49.99 for VMware Fusion 4 or 5 upgraders. A 30 day trial is available as well.

The announcement comes just days after Parallels announced the release of Parallels Desktop 9, which is currently available as an upgrade. The full version will be available tomorrow. We’ll have a full review of both apps shortly.

Generally Parallels is geared toward single users and has better performance whereas VMware is geared toward larger enterprise and folks who also work on PCs. 
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Google Authenticator for iPhone redesigned, supports iPhone 5 & Retina

Avatar for Mike Beasley Sep 3 2013 - 8:48 pm PT
11 Comments

Update: As was pointed out by 9to5Mac readers in the comments below, the update was zapping account data. Google says that it is aware of the issue and has removed the app from the App Store.

The Google Authenticator app for iPhone was updated this evening with an entirely new design. Version 2.0 introduces a host of visual changes, including the long-awaited addition of Retina graphics (which have been missing from the app since the iPhone 4 launched) and support for the iPhone 5. Even after the long wait for what seems like a relatively minor update, the app still does not natively support the iPad.

The app’s new look is based on the “cards” motif seen in other Google app releases recently. Most of the functionality seems unchanged.

Google Authenticator is Google’s two-factor authentication app, which is used similarly to the Find My iPhone app (or an SMS message) in Apple’s 2-step verification process.

The update is available for free now on the iOS App Store.

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9to5Toys Last Call: 2200mAh portable power bank: $8, Pacific Rim (iOS): Free, new Kindle Paperwhite preorder, app deals, more

Avatar for Sep 3 2013 - 3:00 pm PT
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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+.

2200mah Portable Back Up Charger for USB Devices $8 shipped

Game/App Deals: Pacific RIM: FREE, Street Fighter 2 Collection: $1, more

Other great deals we love:

  • New! Amazon announces the all-new Kindle Paperwhite e-reader, now available for preorder starting at $119
  • New! Western Digital fills out its NAS-optimized RED hard drive line with new 2.5 inch versions
  • New! Monster NCredible NErgy in-ear noise isolating headphones $25 shipped (Reg. $60)
  • New! eBook Freebie: 50 Ways to Protect Your Identity in a Digital Age… (Reg. $25)
  • New! 1 year magazine subscriptions: GQ & Wired: $5 each (up to $48 off)
  • New! VIZIO HDTVs (new and refurbished) 32″-70″ for $148–$1,299

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Apple updates iLife for iOS (iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband) with compatibility fixes

Avatar for Mark Gurman Sep 3 2013 - 1:37 pm PT
6 Comments

Apple has updated its iLife suite of iOS apps, which includes iPhoto, iMovie and Garageband, with fixes related to compatibility and stability. With iOS 7’s launch right around the corner, perhaps these updates include improved compatibility with the revamped operating system. Apple has released compatibility updates for its App Store apps ahead of major iOS updates in the past. Thanks @preshit!


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Shazam iOS app updated with Twitter previews and faster recognition on older iPhones

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Sep 2 2013 - 6:26 am PT
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The latest version of music tagging and discovery app Shazam now offers instant previews when you tweet a track and offers faster song recognition on the iPhone 4 and 3GS.

○ Much faster recognition, especially on the iPhone 4 and 3GS.
○ Better recognition in difficult environments.
○ Now when you tweet, your followers can play previews right in Twitter through our Twitter Card.
○ Explore charts are more dynamic, showing you what’s hot in the last seven days.
○ New TV experiences (US only).

The update also mentions ‘new TV experiences,’ but Shazam hasn’t yet revealed any details. Shazam’s previous update added multi-track purchases. The free app is available for download on iTunes.

Apple inadvertently asking developers for iOS 7-optimized app icons

Avatar for Mark Gurman Aug 30 2013 - 10:02 am PT
23 Comments
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Ahead of Apple’s iOS 7 launch (presumably alongside the new iPhones in September), Apple seems to be asking developers to submit larger app icons. As part of iOS 7’s dramatic interface changes, the Home screen icons have been slightly enlarged compared to the iOS 6 icons.

For example, as shown in the image above, the non-iOS 7-optimized Netflix icon has a small white border compared to Apple’s icons.

In order to avoid this interface issue, developers will need to include larger icons in their applications. iOS 6 icons on the iPhone come in at 114 x 114 pixel resolutions, while iOS 7 icons are slightly larger at 120 x 120 pixel resolutions. For the iPad, iOS 6 icons are at resolutions of 144 x 144, and on iOS 7 they come in at a resolution of 152 x 152:


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Glui review: Screenshotting for OS X made a delight, not a chore

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Aug 30 2013 - 9:36 am PT
6 Comments

Put plainly, Glui is a screenshot and annotation tool; a utilitarian application. It does not evoke charm, but it doesn’t really need to. What Glui does need to offer is a functional yet efficient workflow and, on this front, it delivers. In use, I never feel like the app is getting in my way.

The activation shortcuts are bound to Shift+Cmd+5 and Shift+Cmd+6 by default to match OS X’s native screenshot shortcuts. These actions select either a rectangular screen region or one window, respectively. With the region mode, the screen cursor changes to a crosshair (which shows x,y pixel coordinates) and the region is chosen by dragging your mouse to create a rectangle. With the window mode, the cursor changes to a camera icon and you simply click on the window you wish to capture.

Although the process is very similar to how OS X’s built-in screenshot features work, it is not identical. For instance, in Glui, window screen grabs do not include the accompanying drop shadow as they do in OS X’s implementation.


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Apple updates iTunes Festival app w/ video streaming ahead of event kickoff this weekend

Avatar for Mark Gurman Aug 30 2013 - 9:03 am PT
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Ahead of this Sunday’s kickoff of Apple’s iTunes Festival concerts, Apple has updated its iTunes Festival iOS app with the ability to conduct video streaming. It is plausible that this video streaming feature will allow customers who are not attending the concerts to watch the events live. The Festival is also available to watch via Apple TV and iTunes. Yesterday, Apple started offering free songs from the Festival via its Apple Store iOS app. 


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Doctape claims to be most comprehensive iOS file-viewing app, 80+ file types supported

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Aug 30 2013 - 4:41 am PT
3 Comments
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There’s no shortage of iOS file-viewer apps out there, but TechCrunch drew our attention to Doctape Viewer, a freemium app which claims to support more file formats and more cloud services than any other. The app enables you to view more than 80 different types of file, spanning office documents, images, audio, video and more.

While there’s a bunch of services allowing accessing files on the go, users are still suffering from the limited filetypes supported by their mobile devices. With the release of doctape Viewer, we’re opening our background conversion-services to work with about every existing service & app there is … 
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9to5Toys Last Call: Bluetooth home/car adapter $15, MacBook Air 11″ Haswell $899, Cut The Rope goes free, more

Avatar for Aug 29 2013 - 3:00 pm PT
1 Comment

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+.

SOLD OUT XtremeMac InCharge adds bluetooth audio to your home or car for $15

MacBook Air 11.6″ 1.3GHz i5 Haswell/128GB/4GB $899 shipped (Reg. $999)

Game/App Deals: Amazon end of summer sale up to 80% off, Cut The Rope: FREE (first time EVER!), and more

Other great deals we love:

Freebies:

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Apple offering free iTunes Festival songs in Apple Store app as part of sales push

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Aug 29 2013 - 8:21 am PT
1 Comment

Continuing with its new push to offer free content to users through its Apple Store app, Apple today started offering users a selection of free songs under a new banner promoting the upcoming iTunes Festival. The new section promoting the iTunes Festival is currently offering six free songs with the offer set to expire on October 31. You can access the free content by navigating to a specific store location within the app, but the free content is currently only available to those in the US.

The song downloads follow Apple offering free apps such as Color Zen and free iBook titles through the Apple Store iOS app as part of a new sales push that we reported first back in July. The new initiative offers free content downloads through the Apple Store app as a way to boost content sales and awareness about the company’s App Stores, iTunes content, and iBooks. Apple Store employees are also being encouraged to install the Apple Store app on iOS devices sold in the store.

Apple iTunes Festival is scheduled to take place during the month of September in London, and the events will be streamed to iOS devices, iTunes, and even an app on the Apple TV.

Parallels announces Parallels Desktop 9: performance improvements, enhanced Windows support, more

Avatar for Scott Buscemi Aug 29 2013 - 7:24 am PT
7 Comments
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[youtube=http://youtu.be/Copuyw_qQdA]

Right after releasing its new remote access application Access, Parallels has just announced Parallels Desktop 9 for the Mac. The updated application will support Mavericks and the upcoming Windows Blue/8.1 update and boasts many speed boosts.

Performance improvements with Parallels Desktop 9 are notable – “40 percent improvement in disk performance; virtual machine startup and shutdown are now up to 25 percent faster; and customers can suspend their virtual machines in up to 20 percent less time than before. 3D  graphics and web-browsing were also made noticeably speedier with up to 15 percent improvements for both.”

The company has also brought Power Nap to Windows applications. They’ve also introduced synced cloud services between virtual machines, which means you only have one version on your computer and all virtual machines access the same cloud files.

Pricing

PD 7 or 8 customers will be able to grab this update for $49.99 starting today (download link will be sent immediately). The full version will be available September 5 and remains $79.99 with students paying just $39.99. In addition, the software will come with a free 6-month subscription to Parallels Access ($39.99 value).

We’ll have a complete review of Parallels Desktop 9 when the full version is released on September 5. Press release below:
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Review: DeskConnect beats Apple to AirDrop-like file sharing between iOS and Mac

Avatar for Mike Beasley Aug 29 2013 - 7:00 am PT
9 Comments
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From time to time, I find myself needing to send some files from my Mac to my iPhone, or from my phone to my computer. This is especially true with things like screenshots for reviews. In the past I have used Photo Streams or email to get the images from my phone to my Mac, but both of those are a little more annoying than they need to be.

Using a Photo Stream requires me to open iPhoto on my Mac, which means it will probably take forever just to grab a few images. For email I have to select all the images from my Camera Roll and either mail them five-at-a-time from the photos app, or copy them, switch to Mail, paste them into a message (which somehow bypasses the absurd five-image limit on in-line sharing in the Photos app) and then address the message to myself and wait for it to send, then wait for it to arrive on my computer.

There are also a ton of apps that allow you to connect to your phone through a web browser to transfer files, but those require the app to be running on your phone, and for the app to be in a specific mode to receive the files. It’s not seamless and it’s not as effective as it could be.

This is not a good workflow. That’s where DeskConnect comes in. DeskConnect is an pair of apps for iOS and Mac that avoids all of the unpleasantness of connecting the two devices and allows you to seamlessly send files from one to the other.


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BioShock Infinite and SimCity arrive for Mac gamers starting today

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Aug 29 2013 - 5:54 am PT
7 Comments
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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvrnUcB8ZJc]

A couple of big new games are landing today for Mac users. We told you about BioShock Infinite earlier this month, the third instalment in the popular 2K/Irrational Games series that originally launched in March to rave reviews on consoles. Mac gaming heavyweights Aspyr have been working on porting the game to Mac since its initial release, and today the game is finally going on sale through Aspyr’s GameAgent store and other retailers. Aspyr sent over a beta of the title last week, and we’ve had nothing but positive first impressions from our time with the game since. The other big Mac title launching today, SimCity, might have had some major issues in its beta, but we’re happy to report you won’t run into similar performance problems with BioShock Infinite.

As usual, the title will support SteamPlay, allowing users to purchase the game once and play on both PC and Mac through Steam. It’s also available on the Mac App Store. However, Aspyr’s own distribution service, GameAgent, is offering some pretty enticing pre-order bonuses if you pick up the title through them…
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Flickr eyes Instagram with updated iOS app offering live filters and powerful editing

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Aug 29 2013 - 4:43 am PT
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Flickr appears to be making a play for the Instagram market with the latest update to its free iOS app adding new filters with live previews and instant editing tools which include the ability to crop photos, adjust colors and add vignettes.

It’s a little late to the party, with Instagram having already expanded into video in a big way after witnessing the popularity of Vine, and of course filters and square crops are built into the revamped Camera app in iOS 7 … 
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Mailbox updated to version 1.5 with cloud searching, per-account signatures, and more

Avatar for Mike Beasley Aug 28 2013 - 6:29 pm PT
4 Comments

Mailbox, the iOS email app recently acquired by Dropbox, was updated with a few new features today. Among the new additions is Gmail cloud search which allows you to search messages stored on the server but not downloaded to your phone. The ability to set an individual signature for each account—a much-requested feature—was also added, along with an option to open links in Google Chrome.

The update is available now to all users for free.

What’s New in Version 1.5.0

– Cloud Search (now search every message in your Gmail account)
– Account-specific signatures
– Open links in Chrome
– Performance improvements and bug fixes

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Facebook releases new SDK to bring 3D iOS & Android Unity games to its 260 million gamers

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Aug 28 2013 - 1:51 pm PT
2 Comments

After Unity announced in March that it was beginning to work with Facebook to help bring web games using the engine to the social network, Facebook announced today that it’s releasing a new SDK to bring 3D Unity games from Android, iOS, and the web to Facebook. The cross-platform SDK will also allow developers to easier integrate Facebook sharing and game invite features directly into their unity games across mobile devices and the web.

Facebook has a relevant and engaged audience of gamers that mobile developers can reach by publishing their games on Facebook, and the SDK makes bringing a mobile game to web as simple as writing one line of code. By filling out a few fields in the developer app and giving us the URL of your game object, you can bring your mobile game to a whole new audience of avid gamers on Facebook.

The SDK will also let Unity developers implement native dialogs for inviting friends, requests, and sharing through Facebook, and the company will be “helping more people find and play Unity games on Facebook by driving discovery of the Unity player with a custom install flow for the Unity plug-in.”

Facebook noted that a few games, including Cmune’s UberStrike, Madfinger’s Shadowgun:Deadzone, and Nival’s King’s Bounty: Legions, are already utilizing the new SDK.

The Facebook SDK for Unity is available here.

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Twitter for iOS updated: new conversation view in timeline, notification enhancements

Avatar for Mark Gurman Aug 28 2013 - 11:38 am PT
0 Comments

Twitter has updated its iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch application with a redesigned timeline and conversation view. The new conversation view inputs a blue line to indicate a conversation between people on Twitter that you follow.

Conversations have a new look! They’re easier to find and fun to join.

• A blue line indicates a conversation between people you follow
• The first Tweet in the conversation now appears above the most recent reply
• Tap to see all of the replies

This release also includes various other improvements:
• New notification settings
• Bug fixes for direct messages, login verification and mor

User can also now more easily tap to see replies to a tweet and instantly Reply, Retweet, or Favorite a Tweet. The Twitter website and Android apps are seeing a complementing update:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnRmayAuB4M

Twitter also says that improved notifications and bug fixes are included in the update. The update is version 5.10 and it is available for free on the App Store. 


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