Apps

6,235 'Apps' stories April 2010 - July 2013

See All Stories

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.

Apps

Vine for iPhone adds improved sharing, channels, camera tools, & private account options

Jordan Kahn Jul 3 2013 - 12:33 pm PT

Vine has released an update to its iPhone app today that its calling its biggest yet following the release of Instagram’s competitive video feature last month. The update brings the app up to version 1.3 and introduces 15 new channels for different categories of content that users can submit and browse, a new protected accounts feature, and a number of new camera features.

Vine made a blog post today announcing the update and highlighting some of the new features. Among the more notable is new grid, focus, and ghost tools for capturing video, the ability to “revine” other users’ posts with a single tap, and a new protected posts feature:

The new protected accounts option, which will also be arriving for Android users later today, brings the ability to select which specific users will be able to see your posts on a post by post basis.

Protected Posts: Most Vine posts are public, which means they can be viewed, discovered and shared by anyone on Vine. If you want more control over who can see your posts, you can now protect your posts, which means only the people you approve to follow you can see them. And of course, if you choose to share one of your protected posts to Twitter or Facebook, then it will also be viewable on the web.

As for the new channels that users can both submit content to and browse, Vine explained channels such as comedy, music and nature will be available from the Explore tab “each with their own theme and Popular feed.”

Head below for a full list of what’s new:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple celebrating 5 years of the App Store with timeline of milestones

Mark Gurman Jul 3 2013 - 10:07 am PT

In celebration of the iOS App Store’s upcoming 5th anniversary, Apple has created a timeline of notable events in the App Store’s history.

This timeline has been sent to members of the media, including The Financial Times’ Tim Bradshaw, and Apple has created similar promotions in the past.

Earlier this year, Apple sent out a similar celebratory memento for the iTunes Store’s 10th anniversary of existence. Coupled with the note to press, Apple launched a public-facing website to honor the date.

Perhaps Apple will launch a similar site for the App Store’s 5th anniversary on July 10th. Full image and a Vine below:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Disney releases ‘The Lone Ranger’ RPG for iOS as new movie hits theatres

Jordan Kahn Jul 3 2013 - 8:09 am PT

To accompany its latest feature film set to hit theatres today, Disney has just released “The Lone Ranger” game for both iPhone and iPad on the App Store. The iTunes page describes the game as a full 3D role-playing game with quests, duels, and the ability to “Level-up to unlock new weapons, tools, and horses.” The screenshots look promising, so we’re hoping its better than the typical Hollywood movie tie-in. The good news is you won’t have to pay to find out as the full game is available for free on both iPhone and iPad.

Saddle up and take the reins as one of the greatest Texas Rangers in the Wild West. Embark on a thrilling adventure as you protect the town of Colby, face-off in epic showdowns, and bring infamous outlaws to justice. Fight against greed and corruption in this 3d, role-playing adventure!

· Interact with known allies and outlaws throughout your journey: With allies like the Lone Ranger and Tonto on your side, prepare to take on the villainous Butch Cavendish and his unwieldy gang.
· Restore peace to the town of Colby: Protect the citizens of Colby, and embark on legendary quests to end greed and corruption.
· Duel outlaws and bandits: Face-off against wanted outlaws with your best weapons and equipment, and bring them to justice.
· Level-up to unlock new weapons, tools, and horses to aide you on your journey.
· More languages coming soon! Play The Lone Ranger in Italian, German, and Spanish starting late July.

Angry Birds updated w/ new ‘Egg Defender’ gameplay mode, 15 new levels, & 73 Bad Piggies contraptions

Jordan Kahn Jul 3 2013 - 6:14 am PT

Rovio has released a big update today to its original Angry Birds app, which happens to remain as the #1 app of all time. Today’s update brings a brand new gameplay mode known as “Egg Defender,” which according to iTunes gives “Red special powers to attack the advancing pigs.”

Also included in today’s update is 15 new levels with all-new challenges, as well as “73 crazy pig contraptions” straight from Rovio’s hit spin off title ‘Bad Piggies’.

What’s New in Version 3.2.0

The #1 app of all time gets a fun new update! You may be an expert pig popper, but how will you cope with a moving target? One bird stands between the egg and the advancing pig army in the all-new Red’s Mighty Feathers episode. The fearless Red Bird faces wave after wave of Bad Piggies in their crazy contraptions. But wait! He now has some magic feathers from the Mighty Eagle himself – giving Red incredible new powers as he darts toward those pesky pigs at incredible speed!

Fun new gameplay – the Egg Defender mode gives Red special powers to attack the advancing pigs!

15 new levels – the latest Red’s Mighty Feathers episode brings fresh new challenges!

73 crazy pig contraptions – wave after wave of Bad Piggies edging closer in their wacky machines!

Hit indie game ‘Limbo’ arrives for iPhone & iPad for $4.99 in App Store

Jordan Kahn Jul 3 2013 - 5:59 am PT

We already knew critically acclaimed indie game Limbo would be arriving on iOS this week after an announcement from Danish developer Playdead late last month. Today the title has finally arrived in the App Store for all users and comes with a mere $4.99 price tag for one of the best reviewed indie console games in recent years.

Early reviews for the iOS port seem to be positive and, apart from some tweaked controls for the touchscreen, includes the entire game experience from the console versions.

Limbo ($4.99) for iPhone and iPad is available on the App Store now.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Popular translation app iTranslate Voice adds new languages, updated UI, and more

Michael Steeber Jul 3 2013 - 5:47 am PT

Sonico Mobile, the developers of popular apps such as Languages and Files App today are releasing an update to one of their most successful apps, iTranslate Voice. This new update adds several new features to make translating easier, faster and more accessible.

One of the first things you’ll notice if you’re an existing iTranslate Voice user is a refreshed user interface. While it’s nothing totally new, the update provides a more modern look, without any excessive UI elements. The title bar has been removed and a new “hamburger button” has been added between the translation buttons at the bottom of the screen which can either be tapped or swiped up to reveal settings and options.

Expand
Expanding
Close

USA TV network lands on iOS with new app to watch full show episodes

Mark Gurman Jul 2 2013 - 9:49 pm PT

The NBC-owned USA TV network has launched its own iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch application to bring the USA show viewing experience to the small-screen. The application, like many TV network apps currently on the App Store, allows customers to watch shows the day after they air. The application also includes a backlog of past show episodes.

Like some other applications of the same category, users will need to authenticate the application with their credentials for their home TV provider. If a user does not subscribe to USA on their home TV setup, they can still watch some exclusive content via the application. Besides TV shows, the application can access behind-the-scenes clips, a full programming guide, interviews, and more.

USA today airs popular shows such as Burn Notice, Graceland, and Suits. The new app is free on the App Store.

Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: Warner Bros. $.99 app sale, Amazon Instant Video Half Yearly Sale, $100 Seagate 3TB USB 3.0 Desktop HD, more

Jul 2 2013 - 3:02 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:

Warner Bros. Mobile App $.99 Sale for iOS: Batman Arkham City Lockdown, Man of Steel, Bastion, more

Amazon Instant Video Half Yearly Sale: Hundreds of free TV show pilots, $.99 movie rentals, more

Seagate Expansion 3TB Black Desktop USB 3.0 Hard Drive $100 Shipped (Reg. $160)

Belkin Charge & Sync Lightning dock w/ built-in 4′ USB cable $25 Shipped (Reg. $35)

Canon announces the new EOS 70D Digital SLR camera, aims to replace your current camcorder… http://t.co/aHlBADzy0a

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 2, 2013

Pre-ordering begins for the 32-inch Asus IGZO 4K UHD display: ASUS, a worldwide leader in… http://t.co/2S5pvYqkzn

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 2, 2013

Other great deals we love:

New! 10-Foot Lightning to USB Cable 2-Pack $10 / 5-in-1 Noodle Style USB Cable $5 Shipped / And More
New! Seagate Momentus XT 750GB internal solid state hybrid drive, 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s: $100 shipped (up to $40 off)
New! HP Deskjet 3520 Wireless All-In-One Printer $60 (Reg $100)
New! Game/App deals & freebies: Field Runners 2 for iPhone and iPad: $1 – $3, iSmoothRun Pro GPS: FREE, more
New! Staples: 20% off in-store coupon or 10% off online

iPhone Case Deals: ~~Incipio Stowaway (iP5) $5 Shipped~~, OtterBox Impact Series (iP4/4S) $10 + $3 Shipping, more
- *The Incipio Stowaway case is now sold out, but you can still grab an Incipio Textured Impact Resistant case or one of several iLuv (Snoopy design) cases for $5 and $4.50 respectively.
Up to 67% off PNY USB 2.0 Flash Drives: 8GB $7, 16GB $10, 32GB $20 w/ free shipping
JLab Crasher Portable Bluetooth Speaker w/ USB charging port (many colors avail.) $40 Shipped (Reg. $100)
Western Digital 2TB My Book for Mac External Hard Drive $70 Shipped
10FT Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable $14 Shipped
Save $30 on all Kindle Fire HD tablets, starting at just $169 w/ free shipping
Gamers’ Deals: MLB 13 The Show (PS3) $25, Amazon Digital Games Summer Sale: freebies & price drops
LaCie 1TB Rugged Thunderbolt HD refurb: $140, LaCie 3TB d2 Thunderbolt HD: $190 shipped
Toshiba Canvio 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $90 Shipped (Reg. $170)

Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 $60 Shipped (Reg. $100)

Logitech Bluetooth Easy-Switch Illuminated Keyboard K811 (Mac version) $73 Shipped (Reg. $100) http://t.co/s6IWOU2uso

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 2, 2013

Real Racing 3 adds Bentley & Mercedes-Benz vehicles, progression system, improved graphics & 180+ events

Jordan Kahn Jul 2 2013 - 1:45 pm PT

EA updated its popular freemium Real Racing 3 game for iPhone and iPad today with a number of new features including over 55 vehicles from Bentley and Mercedes-Benz. On top of a new Time Trail event type and 180+ new events, EA is also adding a progression system that will allow users to “unlock cars and events as you progress through the new career.” That sounds like a nice addition for those that were complaining of EA’s decision to stick with the freemium model for the title.

Also included in the update is improved graphics with “Per-pixel shadowing on high-end devices” and new bonuses:

What’s New in Version 1.2.0

The Prestige Cars Update is here! Bentley and Mercedes-Benz join Real Racing 3’s extensive stable of manufacturers, while the highly requested Time Trial mode arrives with global leaderboards and ghost racing!

• New manufacturers – Bentley and Mercedes-Benz join an exciting line-up of over 55 licenced cars
• New event type – Time Trial! Race against yourself, your friends and the world for the top leaderboard position
• Bonus R$ – Get an R$ boost for the first race of each day, earn bigger bonuses for consecutive days of play
• Clean Race Bonus – Drive cleanly and fairly to receive R$ bonuses
• New progression system – Unlock cars and events as you progress through the new career
• Improved graphics – Per-pixel shadowing on high-end devices!
• 180+ new events!

TeeVee 2 for iPhone, TV show tracking with a modern look [Review]

Zac Hall Jul 2 2013 - 9:00 am PT

In a world where Netflix releases entire seasons of TV shows at a time, like House of Cards and the new season of Arrested Development, personally, I find it increasingly difficult to schedule myself around when HBO wants to air a show or even when it has already aired something.

So when I shared a screenshot on Twitter a few months ago of Episodes, an app that allows you to follow and manage TV shows, a handful of people asked me which app this was I was using. Managing and tracking TV show scheduling is clearly something many people need a solution for.

TeeVee 2 is similar in that it allows you to follow your favorite shows on television without having to manually input any information aside for the name of the series.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Pebble smart watch announces Best Buy as exclusive retail launch partner, available online today & in stores July 7

Jordan Kahn Jul 2 2013 - 8:32 am PT

Yesterday we noted that Best Buy retail sources indicated the popular ‘Pebble’ Bluetooth smart watch would be landing on at least some of the retailer’s store shelves this weekend. Today Pebble and Best Buy have finally made things official by announcing the partnership that will bring the most successful Kickstarter-backed device of all time to both Best Buy online and across all its U.S. brick and mortar locations.

It’s definitely big news for the company ahead of Apple’s rumored smart watch, as well as Sony and others getting deeper into the space. The exclusive retail partnership with Best Buy also marks Pebble’s first retail launch of the device following raising over $10.2 million from around 68,000 backers on Kickstarter.

“It’s been so rewarding to see and share the great things our early backers and development partners have done with Pebble already,” says CEO Eric Migicovsky. “Their work and our evolving app ecosystem has kept demand very high. Best Buy’s partnership with us is a big step towards meeting that demand.”

As we first reported yesterday, Pebble confirmed today that the device will be landing in all U.S. Best Buy locations starting Sunday, July 7, and Jet black and Cherry red editions of the smart watch are already available through Best Buy’s website. The Jet black models will be shipping starting today through the retailer’s online store, while the Cherry red models will arrive sometime later in August.

The packaging for Pebble also appears to have received an upgrade for Best Buy’s store shelves since we first saw it back in January right before the device started shipping to Kickstarter backers:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Reeder for iOS updated with Feedly, Feed Wrangler support in wake of Google Reader closing

Chance Miller Jul 2 2013 - 8:32 am PT

Early Tuesday morning, Google Reader finally closed its doors, but not without a plethora of alternatives launching. We’ve covered all sorts of them before, including Feedly, Digg Reader, AOL Reader, and much more. One of the most popular RSS apps for iOS is Reeder, and it has been updated to support some of those alternatives.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Spotify for iOS gets ‘Discover’ feature, editable playlists, new icon and more

Jordan Kahn Jul 2 2013 - 6:09 am PT

Spotify updated its iOS app today with a few new features, one of which is a brand new ‘Discover’ experience that is rolling out to all users as we speak. As you might expect, the feature allows users to discover content based on their previous listening habits, and is of course a nice feature to have as Apple prepares to roll out its iTunes Radio service with built in Genius features.

Also included in today’s update for Spotify is a brand new logo and the ability to edit playlists directly on your iPhone. Spotify noted that “a shiny, new Now Playing view, featuring the ‘Up Next’ queue” is available now on iPhone and rolling out to all users soon.

A full list of what else is new and fixed in today’s release is below:

What’s New in Version 0.7.1

• New: Ever find yourself wondering what to play on Spotify? Introducing the new Discover experience on iPhone. (Coming soon to everyone.)
• New: A shiny, new Now Playing view, featuring the ‘Up Next’ queue on iPhone. (Again, rolling out to everyone soon.)
• New: Say hello to our new logo.
• New: You can now edit your playlists on your iPhone.
• Improved: We’ve changed the order of the iPhone search tabs. Now it’s Artists, Albums, Tracks. (iPhone/iPod only.)
• Improved: We’ve moved the … context menu button in the Playlist and Album views to the top right of the screen. It’s better there. (iPhone/iPod only.)
• Fixed: Ford integration now works correctly when your iPhone/iPod is set to a language other than English.
• Fixed: In your playlist folders, “All Tracks” will now show you the actual number of tracks.
• Fixed: We’ve sorted lots of crash issues too.
• Fixed: The unread messages in your inbox will now update correctly.
• Fictitious: This app shares 73% of its DNA with bees.

9to5Toys Last Call: 14% off $50 iTunes Gift Card, Incipio/OtterBox iPhone cases from $5, smartphone car mount $8, more

Jul 1 2013 - 3:03 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

Today’s Featured deals:

As one of their Daily Deals, eBay is offering a $50 iTunes gift card for just $43 with free shipping, a total savings of 14%. Each card can be redeemed for music, movies, apps, books and more from the iTunes Store, App Store, iBook Store and all other Apple digital distribution stores. This is a perfect way to save on expensive Apps like the iWork / iLife suite or even OS X Mavericks when it is released.

iPhone Case Deals: Incipio Stowaway (iP5) $5 Shipped, OtterBox Impact Series (iP4/4S) $10 + $3 Shipping, more

*The Incipio Stowaway case is now sold out, but you can still grab an Incipio Textured Impact Resistant case or one of several iLuv (Snoopy design) cases for $5 and $4.50 respectively.

Universal Car Mount with 360-Degree Rotation and Adjustable Fit $8 Shipped

ONKYO TX-NR616 7.2-Channel THX Certified Network A/V Receiver $300 Shipped (Reg. $350)

Apple TV integration, streaming services (Pandora, Slacker, SiriusXM), USB port for iPod/iPhone/iPad

They're back!

Klipsch E1 In-Ear Headphones: FREE after $25 rebate http://t.co/sDyU5o1ott

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 1, 2013

Other great deals we love:

New! JLab Crasher Portable Bluetooth Speaker w/ USB charging port (many colors avail.) $40 Shipped (Reg. $100)
New! 10FT Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Cable $14 Shipped
New! Western Digital 2TB My Book for Mac External Hard Drive $70 Shipped
New! Game/App deals: Bioshock Infinite Premium: $45, Hitman Absolution: $12, iOS freebies, more
New! 24″ VIZIO 1080p 60Hz Razor LED HDTV (Refurb.) $130 + $5 Shipping (Reg. $180 new)
New! Roku 2 XS 1080p HD Streaming Video Player w/ WiFi, Angry Birds (Refurb) $50 Shipped (Reg. $75 new)
New! Up to 67% off PNY USB 2.0 Flash Drives: 8GB $7, 16GB $10, 32GB $20 w/ free shipping

CaseCrown Bold Standby Case for Kindle Fire HD w/ sleep/wake feature $4 + free shipping (Reg. $8) http://t.co/PkEqrCVlIo

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) July 2, 2013

Save $30 on all Kindle Fire HD tablets, starting at just $169 w/ free shipping
Gamers’ Deals: MLB 13 The Show (PS3) $25, Amazon Digital Games Summer Sale: freebies & price drops
LaCie 1TB Rugged Thunderbolt HD refurb: $140, LaCie 3TB d2 Thunderbolt HD: $190 shipped
ViewSonic PJD5223 XGA DLP 3D-Ready Projector $300 Shipped (Reg. $350)
Panasonic In-Ear Headphones $4 – $7 depending on color (Free shipping on orders over $25)
Apple iPad 4th Gen. w/ Retina Display 16GB WiFI (black or white) $450 Shipped (Reg. $500)
Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 $60 Shipped (Reg. $100)
Toshiba Canvio 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $90 Shipped (Reg. $170)

Yahoo News app updated with improved sharing, refreshed interface, sponsored stories

Mark Gurman Jul 1 2013 - 9:12 am PT

Yahoo has updated its official app for iPhone and iPod touch with a refreshed interface that is easier to navigate. The new update also includes improved integration with Yahoo’s own Mail service and the ability to conduct multi-tap gestures to navigate through the application.

The new update also is more visual, includes new, simpler content sharing functionality, and improved accessibility options for searching the web. Also included are “sponsored stories” in the stream, which seems to be Yahoo’s method of monetizing its main iPhone app.

Yahoo’s iPhone app includes summarized versions of stories, based on Summly technology, and works to provide users with stories of interest based on what the user has read and accessed in the app in the past. Today’s update is free on the App Store.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Microsoft releases major update for OneNote app on iOS

Chance Miller Jul 1 2013 - 8:45 am PT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vZviDTuaVlA

In a post on the official Office blog, Microsoft has announced a major new version of OneNote for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

First off, the update adds a much more rich editing experience. Now, files and formatting look the same across all devices. This includes things such as text, graphs, tables, borders, and more. If you draw on a note with a Windows tablet, the markings are then visible on your other devices, as well. All devices now support the ability to sync notebooks with Office 365 and SharePoint, as well as the ability to share files with other Office users. OneNote also now lets multiple people edit a note at the same time, much like Google Drive.
Expand
Expanding
Close

In an iOS 7 world, here’s how Apple’s iLife, iWork, iBooks and other apps could look

Michael Steeber Jul 1 2013 - 7:01 am PT

The introduction of iOS 7 brought forth a new era of iOS design: one that discards old thinking and draws little inspiration from past designs. While Apple’s included applications in iOS 7 have all been updated for the new design aesthetic, their App Store apps haven’t. Installing any of Apple’s other applications alongside iOS 7 reveals a huge discrepancy between the old, skeuomorphic design, and the new, flatter look. Obviously, Apple will have to redesign all of their App Store applications. So, what will they look like?

Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: $20 Apple Leather Smart Cover, app/game deals, $119 Western Digital 2TB USB 3.0 portable HD, more

Jun 28 2013 - 3:16 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

Today’s Featured deals:

Genuine Apple iPad Leather Smart Cover $20 Shipped

Gamers’ Deals: MLB 13 The Show (PS3) $28, Amazon Digital Games Summer Sale: freebies & price drops

Back in stock! Western Digital My Passport 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $120 Shipped (Reg. $200)… http://t.co/ZSrTefNvjo

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) June 30, 2013

Other great deals we love:

New! Save $30 on all Kindle Fire HD tablets, starting at just $169 w/ free shipping

Save over 70% on select OtterBox iPhone 5 Cases, starting at just $10 Shipped
LaCie 1TB Rugged Thunderbolt HD refurb: $140, LaCie 3TB d2 Thunderbolt HD: $190 shipped
Game/App Deals: Bioshock Infinite (Xbox 360/PS3): $30 shipped, 250GB Xbox 360 bundle w/12 month Xbox Gold: $280 shipped, iOS freebies, more
Projector Deals w/ free shipping: Optoma WVGA LED w/ Apple 30-Pin Dock $160, ViewSonic 1024×768 3D-Ready $300
Panasonic In-Ear Headphones $4 – $7 depending on color (Free shipping on orders over $25)
Western Digital 2TB My Book USB 3.0 Hard Drive $80 Shipped (w/coupon code)
HP Slate 7 Android 4.1 8GB Tablet 7″ $130 Shipped
Belkin WeMo Home Automation Switch for Apple iOS devices $41 Shipped (Reg. $50)
Game/App Deals: Bioshock Infinite for Xbox 360: $30 shipped, 250GB Xbox 360 bundle w/12 month Xbox Gold: $280 shipped, iOS freebies, more
PNY Attache 128GB Flash Drive $45 Shipped (After Rebate)
Apple iPad 4th Gen. w/ Retina Display 16GB WiFI (black or white) $450 Shipped (Reg. $500)
Logitech Bluetooth Illuminated Keyboard K810 $60 Shipped (Reg. $100)
Toshiba Canvio 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $90 Shipped (Reg. $170)
iTunes Gift Cards: Save 15% off a $50 card from Best Buy
Office Depot 25% off one regularly price item (Online or in-store)

Non-tech deals we’re pretty sure you’ll still love:

Gerber Bear Grylls Pocket-Size Multi-Tool Survival Knife $10 + Shipping (Reg. $22)

Apple MacBook Pro 2.5GHz, i5, 4GB RAM, 500GB (Newest Version) $999 Shipped http://t.co/F1jcxrT6Il

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) June 25, 2013

Apple adds auto-renewable subscriptions for Mac App Store apps in OS X Mavericks

Jordan Kahn Jun 28 2013 - 2:16 pm PT

Just like app developers have the ability to sell subscriptions as in-app purchases in iOS apps and Newsstand, they will soon be able to offer the same auto-renewable content through in-app purchases in Mac App Store apps.

Mac apps on the latest releases of OS X already support non-subscription based in-app purchases. For example, items that are purchased once and automatically applied to a user’s account. Up until now, developers offering an auto-renewable or non-renewing subscription in their iOS apps couldn’t do the same in the Mac App Store equivalents.
Expand
Expanding
Close

An interview with Ryan Orbuch, one of the high school students behind Apple Design Award winning app Finish

Mike Beasley Jun 28 2013 - 11:00 am PT

At WWDC earlier this month, Apple once again recognized some of the top designers of iOS and Mac apps with the annual Apple Design Awards. This year, one of the apps that won the student category was Finish, a unique task management app which we reviewed when it launched in January. Finish was created by Ryan Orbuch and Michael Hansen, a high-school duo from Colorado.

This week, we sat down with Orbuch and discussed the inspiration behind Finish, the ADA, and more. You can listen to the complete interview below the break.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Apps

Apple offering additional international pricing tiers to App Store developers

Mark Gurman Jun 28 2013 - 10:22 am PT

Many readers are noticing today that new pricing tiers are showing up on some international App Stores. Most notably, people are discussing a new .99 euro price for European countries. It seems that Apple has created these new tiers (and it is unclear when these actually became available) to better align with the pricing structure in the United States. Prices below (thanks to everyone who sent this in):

Expand
Expanding
Close

BlueStacks announces ‘GamePop Mini’, a free subscription-based Android console that runs iOS games

Chance Miller Jun 28 2013 - 8:11 am PT

Earlier this month, we reported on a new technology from BlueStacks called “Looking Glass” that brought iOS games to your big screen via a subscription-based console. On Friday, however, the company announced another new console with that technology, but the big selling point here is that it is free and incredibly small. In fact, the company says it is about the size of a pack of gum. Just like with the company’s other Cube console (which isn’t yet released), the BlueStacks Mini does require a subscription commitment, which will run you $7 a month for a year.

It’s worth noting that the BlueStacks Cube is also free with a subscription, but that offer expires on July 1st. The company says that its goal is to always offer a gaming console for free.
Expand
Expanding
Close

9to5Toys Last Call: $45 PNY 128GB flash drive (after rebate), app and game freebies & price drops, more

Jun 27 2013 - 3:05 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

Today’s Featured deals:

Expires Tonight: PNY Attache 128GB Flash Drive $45 Shipped (After Rebate)

Game/App deals:

Borderlands 1 & 2 Bundle: $22, Tomb Raider/Sleeping Dogs/Just Cause 2 bundle: $30
12 month Xbox LIVE Gold: $35 (Reg. $60)

Other great deals we love:

New! Sony 32GB High Speed Class 10 SDHC Memory Card $15 + Shipping (Reg. $55)
New! Apple iPad 3 w/ Retina Display 32GB (Pre-owned) $325 Shipped (Reg. $469 Refurb.)
New! Motorola Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard $16 + $2 Shipping

Nikon D3100 14.2 MP DSLR camera w/ 18-55mm VR Lens refurb: $304.99 (up to $142 off)
Apple iPad 4th Gen. w/ Retina Display 16GB WiFI (black or white) $450 Shipped (Reg. $500)
Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard Illuminated w/ easy-switching between devices $60 (Reg. $100)
Toshiba Canvio 1.5TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $90 Shipped (Reg. $170)
iTunes Gift Cards: Save 10% off a $50 card from Best Buy or eBay
Office Depot 25% off one regularly price item (Online or in-store)
Seagate Backup Plus 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $80 Shipped (Reg. $130)
Western Digital My Passport 2TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive $119 Shipped (Reg. $200) from eBay or $114 from BuyDig

Non-tech deals we’re pretty sure you’ll still love:

Gerber Bear Grylls Pocket-Size Multi-Tool Survival Knife $10 + Shipping (Reg. $22)

Apple MacBook Pro 2.5GHz, i5, 4GB RAM, 500GB (Newest Version) $999 Shipped http://t.co/F1jcxrT6Il

— 9to5Toys (@9to5toys) June 25, 2013

Twitter #music and Tweetbot for iOS updated

Scott Buscemi Jun 27 2013 - 1:29 pm PT

Both Tweetbot and Twitter #music have released minor updates this afternoon, extending the capabilities of these social applications.

The two versions of Tweetbot, one for iPhones and iPod Touches and the other for iPads, have been updated to version 2.8.2 and now support Instagram video according to the release notes, although there have been some reports of the feature not working at all.

The Twitter #music update is a bit more substantial, bumping up the app to version 1.1 with the addition of genres:

Genres! Get hip-hoppy or get your metal on or get your dance beats grooving with Twitter #music genres! Tons of genres plus Superstars, Popular, Emerging, Unearthed and Hunted charts.

This build also includes:
• Fixes for some scenarios that could cause tracks to be unavailable.
• Rdio authentication now happens in-app, rather than kicking you out to Safari.
• We have stomped many bugs so that you don’t have to.

The free Twitter #music app is available in the App Store.