Apps

Tonight, the Facebook Pages Manager app has been updated to version 2.1 which includes the ability to upload multiple pictures per post, new Page creation right through the app, and improved insights.

The app is great for owners of Facebook Pages, as it makes it easy to quickly respond to comments and check up on statistics, and is available free in the App Store.

What’s New in Version 2.1

– Upload multiple photos for a single post
– Edit Page admins: add new admins for the Pages you manage
– Improved insights to make it easier to manage your Page
– Edit Page cover photo
– Create an event hosted by your Page (iPhone only)
– Create a new Page
– Bug fixes and performance updates

9to5Toys Last Call: Western Digital 1.5TB portable HD $80, Apple EarPods $15, 64GB flash drive, game/app deals, more

Aug 21 2013 - 3:00 pm PT

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:

Western Digital 1.5TB portable USB 3.0 external hard drive $80 shipped (Reg. $120)

Apple EarPods w/ mic and remote: $15 shipped (Reg. $30)

Other great deals we love:

New! Klipsch Image ONE on-ear headphones w/ Mic and 3-button remote $65 shipped (Reg. $150)
New! HP 64GB USB 2.0 flash drive for $28 or $18 after mail-in rebate + shipping
New! Pyle Sound Box Waterproof Wireless Marine Grade Portable Bluetooth Speaker $45 shipped
New! Gamer Deals: 70% storewide at Origin, PS Vita 3G w/ The Walking Dead: $200, 25% off Sim City, more
New! Jabra TALK Bluetooth Headset with HD Voice Technology $18 shipped (Reg. $30)

Freebies:

Google Play Summer Party Hits from Katy Perry, Daft Punk, Beastie Boys, and more for free or $0.91
Get a free audible.com $5 voucher for audiobooks
Get an extra 1GB of Dropbox space for free

4600 mAh Portable Power Bank from A ViiQ: $35 (Reg. $95)
Spigen new-coated backpack $60 (Reg. $100)
TiVo announces new ‘Roamio’ DVRs w/ out-of-home streaming to mobile devices and 6 tuners
NFL Sunday Ticket for $55 after early Madden 25 video game trade-in at Best Buy
Duo Gamer controller for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch: $6 (Reg. $40)
D-Link wireless network day camera with iPad/iPhone integration $35 shipped (Reg. $50)
$50 iTunes Gift Card for $40: 20% savings on future app, music, movie purchases
Apple does rare iTunes ‘buy 1 get 2 free’ movie bundle sale (starting $10)
The Steve Jobs Video Bundle: Lectures On The Man, His Legacy & The Future Of Technology $15
9to5Toys Exclusive: Get an extra $10 on Gazelle when you trade-in your used (or broken!) electronics
Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones $269 (Reg $299)
Nearly 200 Mac Games on sale up to 66% off

Real Racing 3 iOS app adds classic Dodge and Shelby muscle cars, new events, difficulty tuning & more

Jordan Kahn Aug 21 2013 - 2:05 pm PT

EA has pushed out an update to its Real Racing 3 app for iPhone and iPad today that brings a number of new vehicles in addition to new events and performance tweaks.

Among the new vehicles is a collection of V8 muscles cars from Dodge and Shelby that EA says include improved visual physics “with realistic pitch and bodyroll.” The update also adds improved cameras, difficulty tuning, and new events that feature a “Series featuring a field of muscle cars hailing from Detroit.”

A full list of what’s new below:

What’s New in Version 1.3.0

An iconic generation of cars joins Real Racing 3’s diverse garage, with the introduction of timeless classics from Dodge and Shelby.

• New cars – Dodge and Shelby add a collection of big V8 muscle cars to Real Racing 3
• New events – compete in multiple challenging Series featuring a field of muscle cars hailing from Detroit
• Difficulty tuning – faster and more accurate skill adjustment for even tighter competition
• Visual physics enhancements – classic muscle cars come to life with realistic pitch and bodyroll
• Improved cameras – enhanced sense of speed and motion yields a more authentic racing experience
• Additional social networking options for enhanced Time Shifted Multiplayer and Cloud Save functionality

Google brings unified account sign-in to YouTube & AdSense iOS apps

Jordan Kahn Aug 21 2013 - 1:00 pm PT

Following an update to version 2.0 for the YouTube iOS app yesterday, users have noticed that Google appears to have turned on shared account logins for at least YouTube and the recently released AdSense app. That means logging into one app will automatically log you into the other without having to re-enter your account and password. Although the majority of Google’s iOS apps require users to sign into a single Google account used across its services, up until now each app required users to enter their account info when when launching for the first time.

Google didn’t list the new feature when it updated the YouTube app or in the release notes for the new AdSense app, but the support page for YouTube does note, “If you’ve signed in with another Google app on your iOS device, you may see this account listed.” Removing an account in either the AdSense or YouTube app will also remove it from the other app if installed on your device, but Google doesn’t offer users any control over the feature as of yet. Google doesn’t mention support for any specific apps, but we’d imagine this is likely a feature that will make its way to other Google iOS apps in the near future.

Twitter triggers return to automation service IFTTT

Scott Buscemi Aug 21 2013 - 10:17 am PT

Last year, automation service IFTTT (IF This, Then That), which just released an iOS application last month, dropped support for all Twitter triggers after the social network made changes to their third-party app requirements. Now, the two companies have worked together to revive many of the tweet triggers, including “new tweet by you,” “new tweet by you with hashtag,” “new link by you,” and “new favorite tweet by you.”

As noted by The Verge, all of these hooks have to do with your own tweets rather than others’ tweets, which had been accessible before the support was dropped last year.

Some of the popular ‘recipes’ on IFTTT’s Twitter page include: “When #Facebook profile picture changes, update #Twitter profile picture,” “Tweet your newest uploaded Flickr pictures,” and “New link post by you then tweet the link.”

IFTTT is a free service and the iOS application is available for free in the App Store.

Liver surgery: now there’s an iPad app for that

Ben Lovejoy Aug 21 2013 - 7:34 am PT

A German surgeon has used an iPad with augmented reality software running on it to assist in a liver operation in Bremen, Germany, reports Reuters.

The iPad camera was used to photograph the liver, while the iPad app overlayed a virtual 3D model of the pre-op plan. Want to see what that looks like? Make sure you’re not eating anything before you look at the photos below the fold …
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Apps

iTunes Festival channel returns to Apple TV as iOS app is updated with new design

Scott Buscemi Aug 20 2013 - 7:45 pm PT

In preparation for this year’s iTunes Festival next month, Apple has brought back the iTunes Festival channel on the Apple TV. The channel appears automatically over-the-air without any manual updating or notification.

Popular artists such as Elton John, Lady Gaga, Ellie Goulding, and Justin Timberlake will take the stage in London for 30 days of live performances that are streamed and available afterwards through the Apple TV channel or iOS app.
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YouTube for iOS gains video playback while searching, improved ChromeCast integration

Mark Gurman Aug 20 2013 - 10:07 am PT

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir1xdtIb-g0&feature=player_embedded

Google has announced an update for its YouTube for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch application that brings multiple new features. Notably, the app will now allow users to watch a video in the corner of the display while browsing and searching for other videos.

The app also gains support for viewing playlists and more content on mobile. Also new is deep integration with the ChromeCast:

The Cast button on YouTube already lets you send YouTube videos from your phone or tablet to your connected TV, like on Chromecast, Google TV, Playstation 3 and other TVs. To make it easier to choose what to watch next, you’ll see a preview screen when your devices are connected and you select a video, with options to play the video to queue it up to watch next.

The app update is available now on iTunes for iOS and is also available for Android.

Google Maps for iOS adds real-time incident reporting from Waze

Jordan Kahn Aug 20 2013 - 6:32 am PT

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Google announced today on its Google Maps blog that it’s finally tapping into the talent and technology it picked up with its acquisition of Waze back in June by integrating real time incident reports from Waze into Google Maps. The new integration means that when Waze users report incidents for everything from accidents to road closures, Google Maps users on both iOS and Android will now be able to benefit:

Users of Google Maps for Mobile will now benefit from real time incident reports from Waze users. This means when Wazers report accidents, construction, road closures and more on Waze, the updates will also appear on the Google Maps app for Android and iOS.

The features will initially be limited to users in certain locations, including: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, UK and the US. In addition, as Google first hinted back in June, the company will also be integrating Google Search into the Waze apps on iOS and Android, while the Waze Map Editor now has access to Google Street View imagery:
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TiVo announces new ‘Roamio’ DVRs w/ out-of-home streaming to iPhone and iPad

Jordan Kahn Aug 20 2013 - 6:07 am PT

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TiVo is officially taking the wraps of its latest family of Wi-Fi enabled DVRs today dubbed “Roamio”, which appear to be replacing the company’s high-end Premiere offerings. In addition to inking some new deals with cable providers and redesigning its interface, TiVo is adding a ton of features with the new boxes, including a number of streaming options and support for the DIAL protocol (the same one used by Chromecast) for streaming and controlling apps like Netflix from mobile devices. It is also moving to a new HTML5 engine for a smoother native app experience and introducing an “out-of-home” streaming feature that will launch for iPhone and iPad later this year:

Coming very soon, out-of-home streaming will allow subscribers to stream TV and recorded shows to your iPad® or iPhone®. The built-in TiVo Stream feature allows users to connect to their Roamio over Wi-Fi and watch recordings and cable channels almost ANYWHERE… Streaming is restricted to a limited number of devices owned by the TiVo subscriber. Due to content provider restrictions, not all content can be streamed out of home and some content may only be streamed while a mobile device is on the same local network as the subscriber’s DVR. Mobile devices sold separately.

The new out-of-home streaming feature will also be coming to TiVo’s existing TiVo Stream product, and for Roamio boxes will require at least the mid-range $399 model. Details on pricing and availability below and more on TiVo’s website here.

The TiVo Roamio DVR Series includes three models: TiVo Roamio ($199.99), TiVo Roamio Plus ($399.99) and TiVo Roamio Pro ($599.99). Roamio features four or six tuners and unprecedented storage (ranging from 75 hours to 450 hours of HD content). It ensures subscribers never miss a show again and have plenty of space for recordings. The improved speed and performance of TiVo Roamio also includes integrated wireless and TiVo Stream functionality in certain models… The TiVo Roamio can be purchased today online at TiVo.com, Amazon.com or BestBuy.com and in Best Buy stores in the coming weeks.

Wacom announces affordable pressure-sensitive Creative Stylus for drawing & painting on an iPad

Ben Lovejoy Aug 20 2013 - 5:15 am PT

5 Comments

Wacom, the company that makes professional-grade drawing tablets with four-figure price-tags, has just announced something a little more affordable: the Intuos Creative Stylus for iPad at $99.

Wacom claims the pressure-sensitive stylus with 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity provides a realistic pen-on-paper feel. The stylus works with a range of iPad apps, including a new version of Wacom’s own free app, Bamboo Paper. The latest version of the app adds Dropbox and Tumblr support, as well as additional tools and color palettes …
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Barnes & Nobles releases ‘Nook Video’ app for iOS

Jordan Kahn Aug 19 2013 - 8:43 am PT

Barnes & Noble announced today that it’s launching new apps on iOS (and Android and Roku) for its Nook Video service. The service offers a catalogue of HD movies and TV shows available to purchase or rent, and also lets users view their previously purchased Nook and UltraViolet-enabled movies and TV shows. The launch of the apps on new platforms comes following the company’s announcement in June that it was moving to cut its losses with its Nook tablet line and focus only on its e-readers.

NOOK Video delivers a growing and diverse catalog of favorite HD movies and TV shows from all the major studios, as well as many leading edge independent studios. Titles can be easily purchased or rented from the NOOK Store^®with no subscription required. Customers can shop and add new releases, blockbuster movies, popular television shows, classics films and more to their NOOK Library, then instantly stream or download their purchases on NOOK tablet devices or through a NOOK Video App. Additionally, customers can easily shift their viewing experience across their connected devices by starting a movie or TV show on one device and then picking up exactly where they left off on another device linked to their account.

The free Nook Video app is available to download on iPhone and iPad now.

Apple starts new campaign to push businesses to convert tools to iPad apps

Mark Gurman Aug 17 2013 - 12:02 am PT

Apple has replaced its iPad in Business apps website with a new site that is much simpler and more direct. The new page highlights multiple specific use cases for which a business could use an iPad, then presents specific applications to complete those tasks. The old website was more cluttered and less specific. The iPhone version of Apple’s business apps website still showcases the older format…

Google+ for iOS adds Google Drive photos integration & Apps domain support, removes Messenger

Jordan Kahn Aug 16 2013 - 4:30 pm PT

After updating its Android app for Google+ earlier this week, Google has today updated the iOS app with the same features including Google Drive integration and improved support for Google Apps customers.

Users will now be able to view, edit and share photos that are stored in their Google Drive account, while Google Apps domain customers get “domain icons to identify members” and the ability to “restrict posts to the domain, domain icons to identify members.”

Version 4.5.0 also removes the Messenger from the Google+ iOS app as Google makes way for its unified Hangouts messaging app.

What’s New in Version 4.5.0

– View, edit, and share photos stored in Google Drive
– Google Apps domain support: restrict posts to the domain, domain icons to identify members
– Hangouts app replaces Messenger for messaging and video calls. Visit Google Takeout to download your Messenger data.

Apple asks devs to prepare for new App Store Kids category in iOS 7, adds age ranges for children

Benjamin Mayo Aug 16 2013 - 3:13 pm PT

Apple has sent out an email reminding developers about the new Kids category, originally announced at WWDC. The email explains that the category is intended to provide a ‘safe-haven’ for parents that want to find age appropriate apps for their children.

For apps aimed at users below the age of 11, developers can now select from three more finely-grained age ranges; under 5, 6-8 and 9-11.

Apple reiterates that the new Kids section will be distinct from the rest of the App Store and apps can still appear in other categories nonetheless. Even so, the current Kids subcategory in Games will be removed when the new area is introduced this fall.

The App Store is getting many changes ahead of iOS 7 targeted at children, in addition to this change. We have already reported on changes to the approval guidelines about how only non-behavioural tracking is permissible for apps centred around young children.

CARROT Alarm is a sadistic new alarm clock app that probably won’t murder you in your sleep

Mike Beasley Aug 15 2013 - 2:29 pm PT

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The makers of the CARROT to-do manager launched a new app this morning that is sure to haunt your dreams. CARROT Alarm is apparently the offspring of an alarm clock app and a sadistic AI reminiscent of Portal‘s GLaDOS, and boy does it want you to get out of bed…

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

Jordan Kahn Aug 15 2013 - 11:45 am PT

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.

Finish for iPhone 2.0 introduces Kiip integration, more notifications, task times, and more

Mike Beasley Aug 15 2013 - 9:00 am PT

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Finish, the Apple Design Award-winning task management app created by a duo of high school students, received a substantial upgrade to version 2.0 today. The new version brings many visual tweaks and bug fixes throughout the app, but the biggest changes are the addition of several new, highly-requested features.

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

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.

Apple’s new App review guidelines strengthen protection for children & clamp down on gambling

Ben Lovejoy Aug 15 2013 - 4:53 am PT

Apple has strengthened its App Review Guidelines to require greater protection of children under 13 years and to clamp down on gambling apps that involve real money.

Some of the changes were required in order to comply with tougher requirements in the newly-expanded Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits apps from collecting personal data from children under 13 without ‘verifiable parental consent.’ Personal data initially meant name, address, phone numbers, email address and present location, but has now been expanded to include photos, video and audio. Apple has, however, gone further …
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Plants vs. Zombies 2 hits US App Store

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

[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]

Unlike the original title, which is currently available for 99 cents on the App Store, PopCap is making the new game entirely free to play with some in-app purchases available, but not necessary to enjoy the full game:

Free to download, Plants vs. Zombies 2 will expand and extend the classic gameplay of the original and provide players with dozens of all-new levels, plants and zombies across multiple worlds at no cost. While the vast majority of the game will be entirely free to play (players can face every zombie and access every level in every world at no cost), Plants vs. Zombies 2 players will also be able to purchase upgrades and other in-game items.

PopCap adds that “New worlds with new levels, plants, zombies and new ways to play will be released on an ongoing basis.”

Designed from the ground up as a live service, the ever-expanding universe of Plants vs. Zombies 2continues the epic struggle of plants defending your brainz against zombies from your backyard through the vast reaches of time, both past and future. New worlds with new levels, plants, zombies and new ways to play will be released on an ongoing basis. Leveraging the touch interface of Apple’s popular mobile devices, Plants vs. Zombies 2 includes all-new touch-screen power-ups that enable players to “break the fourth wall” and interact with zombies directly, as well as via plant defenses.

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