Apps

6,511 'Apps' stories April 2010 - May 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.

Following acquisition, Pulse iOS news app updated with sharing to LinkedIn

Mark Gurman May 8 2013 - 2:06 pm PT

The free Pulse news-reading app for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch has been updated with support for sharing articles to social network LinkedIn. Of course, this update should come as little surprise as Linkedin acquired Pulse last month for $90 million. Additionally, the new update includes sharing to the Evernote service.

Expand
Expanding
Close

App.net launches ‘Passport’ app for iPhone to manage accounts, find browsing clients, sign up for free

Mark Gurman May 8 2013 - 1:40 pm PT

New Twitter-like social network App.net has launched an iPhone and iPod touch app called “Passport.” The application serves as a simple way to manage App.net accounts, edit your profile, and find and follow other App.net users. Importantly, the “Passport” app does not serve as a browsing client for an App.net feed, but rather as an app primarily focused on finding third-party App.net clients.

Notably, the app allows you to create a free account. Previously, to get a free account, users needed to have been invited by an existing user.

The app is available for free on the App Store. We previously posted a guide to our favorite App.net clients. You can follow us and our staff on App.net.

Expand
Expanding
Close

MiniPlayer jailbreak tweak updated with brand-new design

Mike Beasley May 8 2013 - 10:25 am PT

Fans of the iTunes 11 mini-player will be excited for the newest version of the jailbreak tweak MiniPlayer. The 2.0 update brings a newly-redesigned interface that better matches the iTunes version, as well as the ability to dock it on either side of the screen. The docked player can be moved up or down the screen as needed to keep it out of the way of whatever app you’re using.

MiniPlayer has a few settings that allow you to hide it on the lockscreen, whenenver the music is paused, or by triggering an Activator action. Tapping the album artwork brings up whichever app is currently playing music (it works with any background audio app), and tapping the metadata of the song brings up playback controls.

MiniPlayer 2.0 is a free update for existing users, or a $1.99 purchase for new users on the BigBoss repo.

Bad Piggies for iOS updated with 15 new levels, ability to record & share in-game tricks

Jordan Kahn May 8 2013 - 10:15 am PT

Rovio has updated its popular Bad Piggies title for iPhone today with a ton of new content including 15 new levels, a new feature that lets users record and share tricks, an all-new sandbox, and a selection of new in-game gadgets.

The app, however, is yet to receive Rovio’s just announced ‘Account’ feature that lets users save game progress in the cloud and resume playing on any device.

The HD iPad version of the app receives the same update.

What’s New in Version 1.3.0

Rise and swine! It’s a beautiful morning, but the Bad Piggies have just one thing on their mind: FOOD! Use two ALL NEW gadgets in these 15 NEW LEVELS to track down some elusive chocolate cake!

15 new sun-drenched levels!

Record your best tricks in-game and share through your favorite social networks!

Climb walls with the new suction cup gadget!

Punch your way to victory with the new spring-loaded Boxing Glove!

Fill your need for speed in a new Road Hog challenge!

Go crazy in an all-new sandbox!

Readdle’s PDF Expert iPad app updated with improved annotating, more

Mark Gurman May 8 2013 - 9:38 am PT

Readdle has updated its popular iPad document storing and annotating app, PDF Expert, with several new features for annotating.

-Сopy and Paste Annotations

-Move, resize and change properties of multiple annotation

-New layout in annotations toolbar for rect/oval/line/arrow

-Improvement in Text Highlight tool

Additionally, the update includes various other enhancements:

-New Day/Time keyboard for form filling

-New layout in annotations toolbar for rect/oval/line/arrow

-Added save/discard changes prompt to Save as -> Flatten

-Sync folders are supported in pdfefile:// scheme

-Increased timeout for move pages with tap & hold

I’ve been using PDF Expert for a while, and it is truly a powerful, easy-to-use solution for managing PDFs. Today’s update is free, but the app costs $9.99 on the App Store. There is a separate iPhone version as well for the same price.

Expand
Expanding
Close

What does Samsung’s S-Voice assistant think of Siri?

Jordan Kahn May 8 2013 - 5:52 am PT

Despite having access to a pretty powerful voice-enabled, predictive search engine with Google Now, Samsung is still pushing ahead with its own ‘S Voice’ app to try and provide a unique Siri-like experience on its devices. We’ve seen many comparisons of how Samsung might have borrowed from Apple for its own voice-controlled assistant, but today a post from AndroidCentral got us curious about how S Voice reacts when asked about Siri.

The screenshot we grabbed above speaks for itself with the Galaxy S4 returning snappy answers when asked about the iPhone and Siri. When asked, “Have you ever used an iPhone?,” S Voice responded, simply, “No, I have standards.” Another question, “Are you Siri?,” returns the answer, “I think that I am, but I’m a little biased.”

Results appear to vary for users, but it’s certainly an easter egg that Samsung has intentionally included in the app at some point. Siri isn’t free of its own clever responses with users finding several easter eggs and controversial remarks since the app first launched on iPhone 4S. Asking Siri about Samsung or its devices, however, usually just provides a vague response or directs users to Apple’s website or the web.

Some answers Siri gives are amusing, such as responding to marriage questions with “My End User License Agreement does not cover marriage”. People are more amused by the silly stuff, like when you say “call me an ambulance” and she responds by acknowledging “From now on, I’ll call you ‘an ambulance’”.

Amazon Cloud Player app gets support for Ford’s voice-controlled SYNC AppLink platform

Jordan Kahn May 7 2013 - 11:28 am PT

Following Spotify’s update early last month, Amazon has updated its Cloud Player iOS app today with support for Ford’s voice-controlled SYNC AppLink platform that allows users to control supported apps on their smartphones through voice commands and buttons on the steering wheel. The update brings Ford SYNC compatibility to the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as improved VoiceOver support and other enhancements.

The updated app will allow users with access to Ford’s SYNC platform in their vehicles to stream songs, albums, and playlists straight from the cloud or stored on the user’s device.

What’s New in Version 2.1.0

– Now supports Ford Sync on iPhone and iPod touch
– Improved experience when adding songs to a playlist
– Improved VoiceOver support

Boingo Wireless’s iOS app updated with $7.99/month subscription billing via iTunes accounts

Mark Gurman May 7 2013 - 9:51 am PT

Boingo Wireless has updated its iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch “WiFi Finder” application with the ability to sign up for WiFi hotspot subscriptions with iTunes credentials. Boingo has over 600,000 WiFi hotspots worldwide, and I typically see Boingo hotspots at airports across the country. Being able to sign up via an iTunes-based subcription will make using a Boingo hotspot easier than ever, so even though Boingo is seemingly giving up a 30% cut to Apple for these new subscriptions, their user base will probably grow due to the easier sign up process. The plan via iTunes is $7.99 per month. As it has always done, the WiFi Finder app features a data tracker and a VPN service. The app is available for free on the App Store.

Expand
Expanding
Close

RunKeeper iPhone app updated with support for Pebble Bluetooth watch, new languages

Jordan Kahn May 7 2013 - 7:26 am PT

RunKeeper, one of the more popular fitness tracking apps for iPhone, was updated today with support for one of the most popular Bluetooth smart watches, the Pebble e-paper smart watch. The app also receives support for new languages including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese, as well as other performance improvements and fixes.

The updated app will allow you to use your Pebble smart watch to pause and resume RunKeeper from your wrist and view stats during a work out right on the Pebble’s display:

What’s New in Version 3.3

Support for new languages!
You can now use everything from goals to audio coaching in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese!

Track your runs with your Pebble watch!
– Use your Pebble watch to view your stats while working out.
– Pause and resume RunKeeper right from your wrist.

Lots of other improvements and fixes for bugs that you hopefully never noticed!

Apps

Rovio’s new ‘Account’ feature lets users save game progress in the cloud, resume playing on any device

Jordan Kahn May 7 2013 - 6:01 am PT

Angry Birds maker Rovio has announced a new feature coming soon to its titles that will allow users to save game data in the cloud and resume playing where they left off on any device. It’s a feature that is still missing from many mobile games on the App Store, especially those that implement cross platform support for other devices such as Android and Mac. There’s no word on exactly what games Rovio plans to support with the new feature, but it is already rolling out its new “Rovio Account” to users of The Croods game across the globe and some Angry Birds users in locations such as Poland and Finland.

When you register, your game progress from the device will be saved to the cloud.If someone has already registered an account on that same device, it will ask you if you want to save the device’s progress or not. If you choose not to save it, you will start the game as new, blank… When you sign in on a device for the first time, you will be asked if you want to add the scores, stars and feathers from that device to your account. If you say yes, the game progress from that device will be merged with the one already in the cloud.

Viber releases Mac app for its messaging and VoIP platform, now 200 million users strong

Jordan Kahn May 7 2013 - 5:45 am PT

Viber, the company behind the extremely popular free messaging and VoIP mobile apps for iOS and Android, today took another step towards offering a true Skype alternative by releasing native desktop apps for both Mac and PC.

Not only do the new desktop apps sync and integrate seamlessly with the existing mobile apps, they are also Viber’s first apps to allow video calls. As part of the rollout of the new desktop apps, Viber officially moves into version 3.0 and with it brings new features to the iOS and Android apps including video messages, a revamped photo experience, and a new voice engine with support for eight new languages. With the updated mobile apps, you’ll also have the ability to transfer live calls between your iPhone and the Mac app.

Viber Desktop and the latest versions of the Viber app were designed from the ground up for individuals using Viber on multiple devices, so you can always use the app that’s right for you, whether at home, in school, at the office, or on the go. Viber offers far more flexibility than any similar product. Some of the key combined features include:

-Seamlessly transfer calls between Viber Desktop and the Viber app with one click or tap

-Received and Sent messages are shown on all devices, but will only “beep” on the device you are currently using

-Messages and conversations you delete from one device will be removed from all devices

On top of officially unveiling the new desktop apps, the company confirmed today it has now reached over 200 million users in 193 countries.

Facebook adds ‘Stickers’ to Messenger iPhone app, brings back swipe-to-delete

Mark Gurman May 6 2013 - 3:57 pm PT

Facebook has updated its Facebook Messenger for iPhone and iPod touch application to add the popular Stickers functionality. Stickers will roll out to users gradually and is already available in the standard Facebook for iOS app. Additionally, by popular request, the company has brought back swipe-to-delete functionality for conversations. The update also includes unspecified bug fixes. The app is available for free on the App Store.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Nike+ Fuel Band successor rumored with improved display, heart rate monitor, bolstered API

Mark Gurman May 6 2013 - 2:17 pm PT

Following the launch of FitBit’s Bluetooth 4.0-powered wrist device, Andru Edwards at GearLive claims to have a series of details about Nike’s next-generation Nike+ Fuel Band.

Some of the notable rumored additions:

Heart rate/pulse monitor
More responsive, faster data display
Bluetooth 4.0 for improved battery life, syncing
Accelerometer data for developers via a more robust API

GearLive claims the new device is being actively tested in the wild, but details about a release timeframe are currently uncertain.

Nike’s Fuel Band is known for being an easy-to-use, easy to wear wearable health accessory. The device is also notable as Apple CEO Tim Cook wears one. Apple is rumored to be developing a wrist watch-like device that could include some of the features of the Fuel Band and FitBit products.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Adobe adds new features to Creative Cloud ‘CC’ web tools: Dreamweaver, Flash Professional, Edge Animate & Edge Reflow

Jordan Kahn May 6 2013 - 11:42 am PT

Adobe has officially dropped support for its CS6 suite today and made the announcement at its MAX 2013 conference that it is moving to updates for Creative Cloud members only going forward. We have already detailed a ton of new features coming to Photoshop, video apps such as Premiere and After Effects, and its brand new CC design tools including updates to Illustrator, InDesign, and new Kuler, and Adobe Ideas iOS apps.

Adobe also announced today that it is rolling out big updates for its design tools starting June 17 including new features for Dreamweaver, Edge Animate, Flash Professional, and Edge Reflow. Head below for details on the new features:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Adobe shows off new features for Premiere, After Effects, Audition, Prelude, SpeedGrade, & Story Plus for Creative Cloud users

Jordan Kahn May 6 2013 - 11:11 am PT

Adobe isn’t just announcing big updates to Photoshop and its web & design products for Creative Cloud customers It’s also rolling out a ton of new features for its video products including Premiere, After Effects, Audition, Prelude, SpeedGrade, and Story Plus. Below the fold we have all the details on new features:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Adobe rolls out huge update to Creative Cloud ‘CC’ design tools: Illustrator, InDesign, Muse, InCopy, Kuler, Ideas

Jordan Kahn May 6 2013 - 10:48 am PT

Adobe’s MAX 2013 keynotes are happening right now, and below we have the details on the brand new features added to its suite of Creative Cloud products that are now branded with “CC” and apparently replacing its CS6 offerings, which will no longer be supported going forward. We’ve already covered big updates rolling out today to Photoshop and Adobe’s video products such as Premiere and After Effects, but the company also just announced some of the biggest updates yet to its design tools including many highly requested features for apps such as Illustrator, InDesign, Muse, a new iPhone app for Kuler, and new features for the now free Adobe Ideas iOS app.

Head below for all the details:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Adobe announces rebranded Creative Cloud ‘CC’ apps with big updates to Photoshop and more

Jordan Kahn May 6 2013 - 10:12 am PT

Live from Adobe’s MAX 2013 Creativity Conference in LA, the company has just unveiled possibly the biggest update yet to its suite of web, design, and video products for Creative Cloud members. Today the company is announcing it is rebranding its Creative Cloud products to “CC” and introducing a ton of new features that will only be available to Creative Cloud members when they launch in June.

One of the biggest updates goes to Photoshop CC with a long list of highly requested new features including: All-new Smart Sharpen, Intelligent Upsampling, Camera Raw 8 and layer support, features from Photoshop Extended, and much more.

Enlarge a low-res image so it looks great in print, or start with a larger image and blow it up to poster or billboard size. New upsampling preserves detail and sharpness without introducing noise.

Other new features rolling out today include live previews up to a 100x faster when painting 3D objects and texture maps, the ability to resize and re-edit shapes at any time, camera shake reduction, and multi-shape and path selection:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Watch our LIVE 9to5Mac Happy Hour May 3, 2013

9to5 Staff May 3 2013 - 1:50 pm PT

Subscribe now on iTunes!

T-Mobile launches subscription based ‘T-Mobile TV’ app for iPhone

Jordan Kahn May 3 2013 - 10:11 am PT

T-Mobile has offered its TV service through an Android app since 2010, but today the carrier has finally released an iPhone version of the app that offers subscription based packages of popular TV shows, sports, and Live or On Demand programming (via TmoNews).

T-Mobile is currently offering 30 days free access to a number of networks including FOX news and Associated Press, Saturday Morning TV, Campus Insiders & ACC Digital Network, but $12.99 a month will get you access to the following:

• Live and On Demand sports from ESPN Mobile TV, NBC Sports, and CBS Sports.
• Kids programming including the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Discovery and Animal Planet.
• Streaming news from ABC News Now, Bloomberg, FOX News and FOX Business.
• On Demand Primetime and Reality shows from ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC and more.
• Includes programming from ABC Family, MTV, Spike TV, Comedy Central, E! and VH1.

T-Mobile is also offering additional discounts on the packages when purchasing 90 or 180 day subscriptions and you’ll be able to subscribe to additional premium packs of content ranging from $5.99 to $7.99 per month that include: Crackle Movies, E!, TLC, The Style Network, Lifetime, PBS Kids, Nick JR, Discovery for Families, and more:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Verizon’s My FiOS iOS app adds remote control, DVR scheduling, TV listings, more

Jordan Kahn May 3 2013 - 7:15 am PT

Verizon has just pushed out a nice update to its My FiOS app for Verizon FiOS customers that brings more integration of TV functions to the app. Version 3.3.2.8 of the app now includes the ability to view FiOS TV and VOD listings, set parental controls, and access remote control options for functions such as scheduling DVR recordings & more.

The update also includes Voice Assistant feature for the Verizon support tool and the ability to opt-in to push notifications “for billing alerts, service outages, etc.”

What’s New in Version 3.3.2.8

Bug fixes
Integration of FiOS TV functions (TV Listings, DVR scheduling and Remote Control)
Enhanced Verizon Support tool – including Voice Assistant function
Support for opt-in Push notifications for billing alerts, service outages, etc.

The free Verizon My FiOS app for iPhone and iPad is available on the App Store now.

Apple counts down to 50 billion app downloads with all-time best sellers, $10,000 gift card

9to5 Staff May 2 2013 - 1:17 pm PT

.

Apple’s doing another iTunes countdown, this time to the 50 billionth app downloaded. Along with the chance to win a $10,000 iTunes gift card, Apple also greets you with the all time most downloaded free and paid apps. Some interesting notes:
Expand
Expanding
Close

Google denies reports of Google Now battery drain issues on iOS

Jordan Kahn May 2 2013 - 1:03 pm PT

In the days following the launch of Google’s predictive ‘Now’ feature now baked into its Google Search iOS app, some users complained of experiencing noticeable battery drain due the app’s process of accessing location data. Today, Google has weighed in with an official response to LifeHacker calling reports of battery drain “incorrect”:

Reports that Google Now drains battery life are incorrect. We understand people’s concern about seeing the Location Services icon stay on when they use Google Now. Many apps that keep the icon on actually do drain the phone’s battery because they require very accurate location. (For example a navigation app has to run your GPS all the time to keep you from missing your turn.)

Google explained that Now is “built very differently” than other apps that utilize Location Services by using “cell towers and wifi hot spots for much lower battery impact.”

Google’s response continues by noting it didn’t receive any reports of battery drain during its extensive month of testing the feature on iOS and encouraged users to contact them if they continue to see a problem:
Expand
Expanding
Close

StubHub iOS app gets price alerts, improved search & more interactive venue maps

Jordan Kahn May 2 2013 - 10:59 am PT

The StubHub iOS app was updated today to version 4.3.0 and added more interactive venue maps (now over 1000), price alerts to get notifications for your favorite events, easier account sign up, improved search, and more.

The updated StubHub app is available for free on the App Store.

What’s New in Version 4.3.0

Finding the tickets you want is even easier with Price Alerts, easy account sign-up, improved search, and more interactive venue maps (1,000+ and counting!).

• Set Price Alerts for your favorite events and get notifications on your device when we find tickets that match what you’re looking for.
• Don’t have a StubHub account yet? Now you can sign up without leaving the StubHub app – and it’s super quick.
• If we don’t find events with tickets in your location, we’ll automatically show you results in all locations.

YouTube Capture iOS app adds HD enhancement previews, Wi-Fi only uploads, more

Jordan Kahn May 2 2013 - 10:26 am PT

YouTube’s Capture app for filming and sharing video to YouTube was updated today to version 1.3 bringing a few new features alongside performance enhancements. The updated app now includes high definition previews of enhancements, an option to “Only upload on Wi-Fi”, and more:

What’s New:
✓ HD preview of enhancements
✓ “Only upload on Wi-Fi” option
✓ Upload shows time remaining
✓ Faster launch speed

Things We Fixed:
☂ Misbehaving when low on storage space
☂ Misbehaving while uploading