Apps

6,231 'Apps' stories April 2010 - June 2012

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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.

Apps & updates: Nike+ Training, Nike+ Basketball, NY Times on Flipboard, more

Jordan Kahn Jun 28 2012 - 8:22 am PT

Our list of newly released apps and updates kicks off today with two new Nike+ apps and another nice update that brings even more content to Flipboard. As always, we will keep this list updated as more notable app related news comes up throughout the day.

Nike+ Training: Nike released a new app today that works with shoes using the Nike+ Sport Adapter (included in Nike+ Sport Pack bundles) that syncs wirelessly with your iOS device over Bluetooth. The app’s iTunes page explained “Sensors in your shoes track every jump, step and rep as you take on pro athlete drill packs that challenge you with the moves the world’s best use to get into shape.” This app is geared specifically towards fitness routines, and it provides four-week programs for daily workouts and demonstrations of drills from Nike trainers.

Nike+ Basketball: Nike also released another iOS app today called “Nike+ Basketball” that that works with the same Nike+ technology, but it is geared specifically towards basketball players, allowing you to track “how high, how quick and how hard” you play. The app provides stats for Vertical, Quickness, Hustle, and more. It also has a “Showcase Your Skills” feature that allows you to capture video and create highlight reels of your games to share through various social networks.

Flipboard version 1.94: After receiving an update earlier this month with Google+ and YouTube integration, today the app gets full access to the New York Times for paid subscribers, as well as the NYT Top Section free to all readers

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irejb1CEFAw&feature=player_embedded]

Amazing Alex: We already knew it was coming when Angry Birds developer Rovio announced it acquired iOS puzzler Casey’s Contraptions and planned to rebrand it as “Amazing Alex”. Today we get a little bit more info about the game and a short teaser video from a post on the official Rovio blog:

Set the objects up to bounce, pop, ricochet, bash, and crash into each other and create an elaborate Rube Goldberg device! With a houseful of toys to play with, there’s more than one right answer! Share your most creative solutions with your friends and see what they came up with!… Got a great idea for a level? Design intriguing new levels using 35 interactive objects and share them — with friends or with the whole world! With other fans constantly creating and uploading new levels, there are always new challenges to check out!

Facebook launching “blazing fast”, rebuilt iPhone app next month

Jordan Kahn Jun 27 2012 - 9:18 am PT

The New York Times’ Nick Bilton reported today that Facebook is planning on doing something about its “painfully slow” iPhone app. Citing unnamed FB engineers, the report claimed Facebook is going to release a new, “blazing fast” iOS app that is rebuilt “primarily using Objective-C”. However, according to Bilton who tested the unreleased app, it will be largely the same design as the current iOS app:

According to two Facebook engineers who asked not be named because they are not authorized to speak about unreleased products, Facebook has completely rebuilt its iOS application to optimize for one thing: speed… Many of the components of the current version of the Facebook app are built using HTML5, a Web-based programming language… The current version of the app is essentially an Objective-C shell with a Web browser inside. When it comes to speed, this is like putting the engine of a Smart Car in the body of a Ferrari…. Objective-C takes the opposite approach, taking full advantage of the hardware in the iPhone and then building most of the functionality directly into the application so it has to collect less information from the Web.

Start using Passbook on iOS 6 with a few simple steps

Jake Smith Jun 25 2012 - 10:22 pm PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAzZtaV2sk4&start=30]

During Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference opening keynote, which took place earlier this month, Vice President of iOS Software Scott Forstall unveiled a new app called “Passbook” that allows customers to track a number of various types of stubs, including boarding passes, loyalty cards, movie tickets, and coupons.

[tweet https://twitter.com/mikehelmick/status/217638173092749314]

The app is included in the iOS 6 preview currently available to developers a part of Apple’s developer program, but it is missing those virtual items to put inside. For now, it is just a sitting page with no functionality. However, Passbook will most likely swing into full gear as Apple makes more additions heading into this fall. For those of you itching to start using Passbook, you can get it going in iOS 6 with just a few simple steps:

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Apps & updates: Instagram 2.5, Facebook Messenger & Pages Manager, free McGraw-Hill apps, more

Jordan Kahn Jun 25 2012 - 12:34 pm PT

Today’s apps and updates news kicks off with four free apps from publisher McGraw-Hill, which was one of Apple’s partners for the iBooks textbooks launch in January, as well as big updates to popular apps such as Instagram, Facebook Messager, Facebook Pages Manager, and Words With Friends HD. McGraw-Hill Education is attending the International Society for Technology in Education conference this week, and it is offering some of its best-selling apps free. Starting today until June 27, you can grab the following textbooks free:

American History Time Line

Words to Learn By

Fusion Reading The Vocabulary Process

Sail Through Math

Instagram version 2.5.0: One of the most notable apps to receive an update today is Facebook’s Instagram with version 2.5 bringing a number of noteworthy features listed below:

– Revamped profile tab
– Search for users and tags in the Explore tab
– Improvements to commenting
– User search autocompletes based on people you follow
– Visual improvements
– Speed optimizations
– Optionally share likes to Facebook (enable in your Profile > Sharing Settings > Facebook)

Facebook Messenger version 1.8: The Facebook Messenger iOS app received a decent update today that includes the following features in addition to “More-reliable push notifications” and “Faster app loading, navigating and sending”:

– Quickly switch between multiple conversations with in-app notifications
– Include friends of friends in conversations
– Swipe to delete individual messages from conversations
– See who’s available when you start a new conversation
– Share bigger photos, tap for full screen and pinch to zoom

Facebook Pages Manager version 1.1: Facebook also updated its Pages manager app with the features listed below as well as the usual bug fixes and performance updates:

• View and reply to messages
• Adjust how often you receive notifications about Pages activity
• See answers to questions and guest lists for events created on your Pages
• Insights added for checkins

CNN App for iPad version 1.6: The CNN iPad app, like many others after the launch of the third-gen iPad, has been updated with enhanced imagery to support the device’s Retina display.

Groupon version 1.6.6: Groupon was updated today with a number of welcomed features, including: the ability to make appointments with Groupon Scheduler for iPhone users, support for users in Chile, and various tweaks and “beautification efforts” to the app’s UX.

Words With Friends HD version 5.0: One of Zynga’s most popular titles was updated today to version 5.0, which mostly brings a number of enhancements for iPad users:

-Interface enhancements will make all those “wanted” posters look out of date!

*Words is “strapped” with a new side menu!

*Surveillance is key! Turn the iPad and enjoy our new landscape mode!

*Words iPad now supports Retina display, so you can analyze every last detail of the scene.

-All this crime has made us more concerned about security!

-Enhanced app security!

-Bug fixes and optimizations!

Gmail version 1.2.7812: We already told you all about today’s update to the Gmail iOS app that brought Notification Center support, alternate sender addresses, and persistent logins. You get can all the information here.

Apps & updates: Hulu Plus, Time Warner Cable, Men In Black 3, Fox Business, more (9to5mac.com)

iOS 6 Beta 2 roundup: Here’s what’s new

Mike Beasley Jun 25 2012 - 12:00 pm PT

Earlier today, Apple released a new iOS 6 beta to developers, introducing the usual “bug fixes and improvements”. Below is a list of all the new buttons and changes we’ve found so far. If you happen to spot any more, send them our way at tips@9to5mac.com.

The first thing you’ll see when installing beta 2 is actually a change that was technically made in beta 1: when installing an OTA update, the cogs in the Settings icon on the Software Update page spin (not the ones on the actual home screen, though).

Check out even more changes after the break.
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Gmail iOS app updated with support for Notification Center, ‘Send-as’ option, and persistent logins

Jordan Kahn Jun 25 2012 - 10:27 am PT

Google just updated the Gmail iOS app with a number of new features. Perhaps the most notable is that Notification Center support provides users with banners, alerts, and lock screen notification options that are manageable from settings. Google also noted on the Official Gmail Blog that notifications in the updated app are “up to 5x faster than in the previous version.”

Another new feature is a “From:” option when composing a new message. It allows you to switch between sender addresses under Settings->Accounts->Send mail as from Gmail on the desktop. Finally, Google explained the improved “persistent logins” would allow you to stay logged in as long as you want:

“we’ve improved the login process to allow you to stay logged into the app for as long as you’d like. You can still choose to sign out of your account, but you won’t be automatically logged out after a certain period of time has elapsed.”

What’s New in Version 1.2.7812

– Notification Center support. Banners, alerts and lock screen notification options.
– “Send-as”. Alternate sender support, if configured within Gmail.
– Persistent login. Sessions no longer expire.

Google doesn’t plan to leave iOS Maps users without a fight (9to5google.com)
After getting booted from Maps.app, Google is plotting their own amazing iOS Maps experience (9to5mac.com)
Facebook working on ‘major update’ to its SDK for iOS, acquires Face.com (9to5mac.com)

Apps

Facebook adds new Find Friends Nearby feature to apps, makes it easy to add new friends (Updated)

Jake Smith Jun 24 2012 - 10:56 am PT

Update: Facebook has already killed off the feature, according to ABC News. Looks like it was just a little test.

Facebook added another location feature to its iOS, Android, and mobile web apps this weekend. TechCrunch reported that Facebook’s engineers have shown off a new app on their mobile platform called “Find Friends Nearby.” It allows users to easily add each other on the social network. Find Friends Nearby also makes it easy for people at a certain location or event to fire up the app, and then quickly add each other, which gets rid of any need for having to search for names. A screenshot of the web app version is below:

Find Friends Nearby requires both users to log into Facebook and the FFN platform. If both users are logged in, they can then click a button to quickly add each other. It sounds like the perfect app for a social event where you are meeting a ton of new people. If only this was available for this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

Find Friends Nearby’s functionality is not to be confused for what Apple does with its Find My Friends app (but there is a third-party app that works similar and uses FB integration). FFN is not supposed to track your friends, but it is rather intended to make and add new ones. FFN’s functionality looks partly fueled by the technology that was once behind Glancee, which is a startup that was acquired by the folks in Menlo Park in May. Glancee was an app that helped people discover folks with similar interests, but Facebook quickly shut it down. Now, its technology looks rolled into Facebook’s FFN; although, the Glancee team and technology could be used for something very different—you never know.

Facebook engineer Ryan Patterson, who helped build FFN, responded to TechCrunch to help clear a few things up:

I built Find Friends Nearby with another engineer for a hackathon project. While it was originally called ‘Friendshake’, we settled on ‘Find Friends Nearby’ for launch (the URL was a little bit of a homage to the previous iteration).

For me, the ideal use case for this product is the one where when you’re out with a group of people whom you’ve recently met and want to stay in contact with. Facebook search might be effective, or sharing your vanity addresses or business cards, but this tool provides a really easy way to exchange contact information with multiple people with minimal friction.

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Is Apple already juicing its App Store search results with Chomp acquisition?

Jake Smith Jun 23 2012 - 11:01 pm PT

It is no secret that Apple’s search results within its App Store for both the iOS and Mac do not always turn up the best results. In return, many hoped that Apple’s recent acquisition of app search engine Chomp, which revealed in February, would start leading to better results. That time may now be here.

TechCrunch reported earlier this afternoon that developers of popular, high quality apps with good ratings have seen better search results for their apps. This certainly makes it sound as if Chomp is behind the technical change. Chomp’s technology has been described to search for what apps can do, and not keywords and other buzzwords in an app’s description. Users are then able to get better search results with listings for high-quality, useful apps. You know—the good stuff.

It is certainly a hard thing to judge now, because search results are different from region-to-region. TechCrunch pointed out that the developer of the Best Parking app found his app jumped to the top of results recently, which is a place it has never been before (historically overshadowed by lower quality apps). For example, an app including “best parking” certainly does not look like it would be the top of an “sf parking” search. You would rather think an app that has “sf parking” in its title would be selected, but things seem to be changing for the better. The App Store now looks to be recognizing apps with more downloads and user reviews—like Best Parking (see screenshot below).

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Apps and updates: Modern Combat 3 slashes price, Gabi launches, OmniPlan fixes bugs, and FIFA goes Retina

Élyse Betters Jun 22 2012 - 12:59 pm PT

[slideshow]

A slew of popular apps updated, launched, or cut their price tags on the App Store today, and 9to5Mac gathered the most noteworthy ones in our usual round-up below. Today’s crop includes FIFA Soccer 12 getting optimized for the new iPad, Disney Film Pulse bringing interactive gaming to cinemas, Modern Combat 3 dropping to 99 cents, details on Gabi—the new Facebook-integrated service, and much more.

Check them out:

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Flipboard for iOS updated with Google+ and YouTube integration, more languages

Mark Gurman Jun 21 2012 - 9:25 pm PT

In addition to officially launching on Android smartphones and 7-inch tablets, Flipboard has rolled out an updated version of their application for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Like the new Android version, the new version of Flipboard on iOS includes Google+ and YouTube video integration. Now, updates from your Google+ stream and circles can appear in a magazine-like layout. In addition, new videos from YouTube channels that you subscribe to are available for viewing via your Flipboard. On top of the new social integration, the new update includes localization for Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Korea, and Spain.

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Here’s a photo of Tweetbot for Mac running on the Retina Display MacBook Pro, availability details still unclear

Mark Gurman Jun 21 2012 - 11:17 am PT

Click image for larger view

The creators of the wildly popular iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Tweetbot Twitter application have long been working on a Mac version, and today, we have our first peek at the app. The company’s graphic designer, Mark Jardine, posted the photo on his Twitter account. The navigation bar on the left side is reminiscent of the iPad application. The company is yet to share their development progress, pricing, or availability details.

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Tumblr launches completely redesigned, faster iPhone application

Mike Beasley Jun 20 2012 - 11:03 pm PT

[slideshow]

The Tumblr blogging service has launched a completely revamped version of its iPhone and iPod touch application. The new Tumblr application is re-built from the ground up and includes a redesigned dashboard interface for organizing blog posts, high-resolution image support, offline mode, and more. The new application is more intuitive and the process of writing and posting Tumblr posts is shorter. We’ve been testing the new app for a short amount of time and it is incredibly well built. Here are some of the other new features:

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Apps

Official London 2012 Olympic Games iOS game released

Jake Smith Jun 19 2012 - 8:01 pm PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33YhN8Mm1fE]

The 2012 Olympic Games being held in London this July has been given its own official game, dubbed “London Games”, and it is available on the App Store and Google Play this evening. Based off 12 venues that will be used at the Olympics, the game allows players to take part in nine events. A few events include swimming, kayaking, and archery in three different modes: training, competition, and challenge. Just for kicks, you can even build your own athletes with over 220 items. The game also features support for eight languages worldwide.

You can grab London 2012 on the App Store free or a $2.99 version with 3,000 more coins so users can buy more inapp items for their characters.

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Google Offers app now available on iPhone for US users

Jordan Kahn Jun 19 2012 - 10:45 am PT

Google just announced on the official Google Mobile Blog that it is releasing a Google Offers app for iPhone. The app is available on the App Store now for United States users, which is just in time to take advantage of today’s Netflix deal that offers movie theatre tickets for $1 to new subscribers (free one-month trial available here). Google outlined the available cities and some features for the iPhone app below:

Cities available (US only): Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, NYC, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Oakland / East Bay, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Paul, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington D.C.

Instant savings, just around the corner: Quickly discover offers near you in map view or search for deals by category to easily find the right deal for you.
See & use the deals you want, when you want them: All of your purchased and saved offers are tracked in “My Offers,” for easy access from your iPhone or online.
Savings made simple: Instantly redeem most offers with your iPhone, without having to print vouchers.
Never miss a great deal: Get notifications when new deals are available or when a deal that you’ve purchased or saved is about to expire.

Apps & updates: Sparrow update/sale, Spotify radio, Bento 4 for iPad, Square reward cards, more

Jordan Kahn Jun 19 2012 - 9:51 am PT

Below is our usual list of the most notable app-related news from today, including, among others: new web radio features for Spotify, the release of Bento 4 for iPad, and updates to both the Square Register and Pay With Square iOS apps.

Spotify Version 0.5.2: First, we have an update to the Spotify iOS app that brings a new radio experience to the service. A report from AllThingsD detailed the new web radio service and described it as “more or less mirrors Pandora’s core radio service.” The service would include advertising and offers users the ability to listen free on mobile devices, and it would initially launch for iPad and iPhone with an Android version in development. The iTunes page explained users could now start radio stations based on genres, artists, playlists, and albums, as well as customize their stations “by voting tracks up or down.”

Square Register & Pay with Square: Square updated two of its main iOS app today with new features. The Square Register app now allows merchants to offer reward cards including punch cards for repeat customers and “Visit specials” to attract new customers. On the customer’s side of things, the Pay with Square app was updated with an interface to view and manage the rewards, specials, and punch cards. FastCompany has a nice breakdown of all the new features.

Bento 4 for iPad: Filemaker released Bento 4 for iPad today for the introductory price of $4.99 (goes up to $10 on July 31). It also included a ton of new features, such as: new drag and drop tools, 40 new themes, “Direct Access to the Bento Template Exchange,” and “Form view, Table view, Split view and Full Screen view.” As noted by The Loop, Apple posted Bento 4 as a new app on the App Store, which means owners of previous Bento apps will have to pay for the upgrade.

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Previously jailbreak only, Apple allows iOS Display Recorder app into App Store

Jordan Kahn Jun 18 2012 - 7:32 am PT

Update 2, July 03, 2012: It looks like Apple has now pulled the Display Recorder app from the App Store.

The ability to record your iOS display was a functionality previously limited to a Cydia app for jailbroken iPhone users that is called “Display Recorder.” As noted by JBN, Apple has allowed an app of the same name, and with even more screen recording functionality, into the App Store. The App Store version of Display Recorder, released by Bugun Software, allows you to export to YouTube or your Camera Roll, adjust video and audio settings, and settles for recording and merging audio picked up by the built-in microphone.

It appears the app might take a succession of screenshots to compile the video. Apple does not allow third-party screen capturing apps for even screenshots into the App Store (apart from third-party browser apps), because it would mimic the native screenshot functionality in iOS. It is possible Apple will pull the Display Recorder app, but it is still available in at least the U.S. and Canadian App Stores for $1.99. A video of the app in action, courtesy of JBN, is below. We will let you know if Apple decides to pull it.

[tweet https://twitter.com/rpetrich/status/214745592310661121]

Update: The developer of the original Cydia Display Recorder app, Ryan Petrich, confirmed in a tweet (above) that he is not affiliated with the new app. He also filed a complaint with Apple.

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Mozilla developing ‘Junior’ browser for the iPad, prototype features full-screen browsing

Jake Smith Jun 17 2012 - 6:16 pm PT

Calling Safari for iPad “a miserable experience,” Mozilla’s Alex Limi showed a prototype of a new browser for the iPad called “Junior” during a recent presentation. Junior takes a different approach from traditional browsers by ridding an address and search bar on the main screen and going with a full-screen experience instead. Do not worry, though. Key features are still available by clicking a plus button on the right side of the page to get access to recently visited pages, bookmarks, and a URL/search bar.

It is not a bad concept when you think about it, because one of the iPad’s best use cases is consuming content. I think a full-screen experience would really allow more content-consuming. As you would expect, Mozilla will not be able to use its own engine, but it will rather have to follow Apple’s rules and base the browser on Web-kit. Perhaps the greatest feature Junior encompasses is its multiple user accounts, which is great since more than one person usually uses iPads.

It will be interesting to see what the final product of the browser will look like and if the full-screen experience will actually work out. We do not expect it to ship anytime soon, because the company still looks to have a lot of work ahead of them.

WordPress VIP will not allow us to embed certain types of videos (troublesome I know), but you can check out the full presentation of Junior on Mozilla’s website to see it in action. We will have to wait and see if Mozilla gets it out ahead of Google’s Chrome, which is rumored to come to the iPad soon.

What do you think: Will a full-screen browser work well on an iPad?

via The Verge

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Apple launching Podcast app with iOS 6 and working on podcast-producing technology

Jordan Kahn Jun 15 2012 - 12:43 pm PT

Much like Apple did when introducing its standalone iTunes U app at its education event last January, it is also planning to launch a standalone app for podcasts. A report from AllThingsD first mentioned Apple’s plans to include the app in iOS 6 this fall. We also heard that the app is in the works for a release with the final version of iOS 6.

People familiar with Apple’s plans tell me that when its new iOS 6 software becomes widely available this fall, podcasts will have their own app, where users will be able to discover, download and play them on mobile devices. Users who access iTunes via laptop and desktop machines will still find them in that version of iTunes, though.

Apart from the podcast app that AllThingsD noted would allow users to “discover, download and play” on iOS devices, we heard separately that Apple is working on podcast-producing technology, perhaps for inclusion into this app.

As part of its process of breaking the different content categories into standalone apps, many noticed with iOS 6 that Apple removed the Podcasts, Audiobooks, and iTunes U sections from the iTunes app.

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Developer gets iOS 6 Maps with Flyovers and turn-by-turn running on iPhone 4

Jordan Kahn Jun 15 2012 - 9:18 am PT

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XArIjKcSMZg&feature=player_embedded]

With the introduction of iOS 6 this fall, many iOS users will be left out on some of the new operating system’s flagship features. We already covered Apple’s official list of compatibility for iOS 6 features, and by far one of the most disappointing for iPhone 4 users was the news that they would not have access to the Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation features in Apple’s new in-house Maps app. Today, we have news from Russian website iGuides (via SlashGear) that iOS developer Anton Titkov found a way to get Apple’s new 3D maps up and running on the iPhone 4:

After yesterday’s release of jailbreak iOS 6 developer, well known to all users iGuides Anton Titkov (iTony) decided to dig a little bit in the new firmware, and became the first man in the world, who managed to get working 3D card on the iPhone 4. New tweak from Anton Titkova called 3DEnabler , and at the moment we can confidently say that it adds support for 3D cards on the “old” devices, but it is possible that the “unavailable” Turn-by-turn navigation will be defeated by our talented developer.

iGuides offers instructions for the hack on its website, while another video of 3DEnabler running on iPhone 4 is below:

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Apple’s iTunes Connect Mobile app updated with new features

Jordan Kahn Jun 14 2012 - 9:47 am PT

Apple updated its iTunes Connect Mobile app today that allows developers to keep an eye on their app sales stats and related data from iTunes Connect. Among the new features are “enhanced product detail views for your entire catalog,” the ability to view app ratings and reviews from customers, a new advanced search feature, and user-interface refinements on the iPad. Developers will also now be able to reject apps submitted for review and release approved updates from within the app. The updated iTunes Connect Mobile app is available on the App Store now.

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Skype 5.8 for Mac out with redesigned contact list & full 10.8 Mountain Lion support

Jordan Kahn Jun 14 2012 - 7:04 am PT

Skype updated its Mac client today to version 5.8 to add full support for 10.8 Mountain Lion and a number of features that aim to bring the app up to par with the current Windows version. Perhaps the most notable new feature included in the update is a refined contact list that replaces the old floating menu. Accessible from the “Window” menu, the new Contacts Monitor (pictured right) provides a simplified view of your contacts in a window that can be repositioned and resized. Skype said it is meant to be much like older versions, such as Skype 2.8, that users seemed to prefer. The new contact list also has filters such as “Friends” and “Family,” and the ability to right-click to start a call or new message.

Another new feature for Skype 5.8 on Mac previously only available to Windows users is access to group screen sharing. The feature is for premium subscribers, but it supports up to groups of 10 with only one member of the group required to have a premium subscription. You will also now be able to share your video feed simultaneously while screen-sharing with multiple users.

A few other updates we noticed in the latest release:

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Google Chrome to feature Retina resolution for new MacBook Pro soon, developer build shows early work

Jake Smith Jun 13 2012 - 3:53 pm PT

Early reviews of the new Retina MacBook Pro suggest its Retina resolution looks great—on apps that support it. All of Apple’s stock apps feature the high-resolution quality that we have all been craving; however, third-party apps have yet to support it. There is one in particular that needs it quick, and that is Google Chrome. Luckily, the folks in Mountain View just announced Retina resolution is coming to the web browser “in the next few weeks.” For those who cannot wait, they can check out the “basic high-resolution” support in Google’s Chrome Canary (developer build).

Apps

Control your Xbox with the updated My Xbox LIVE iPhone app

Jordan Kahn Jun 13 2012 - 10:55 am PT

Microsoft just updated its My Xbox LIVE app to include functionality for controlling content on your Xbox from your iPhone (or iPod touch). The app previously let you access Xbox LIVE achievements, connect with friends, and change your 3D avatar, and now it lets iPhone users “connect, control and discover content” from their console through a number of new features. Among them are a remote with “play, pause, fast forward and rewind” and a new Quickplay list of recently viewed Xbox content. The update also brings high-resolution images and improved authentication for iPad, but no support for the new controls.

Earlier this month, Microsoft previewed a new AirPlay-like wireless streaming app called “SmartGlass” that will allow users to share video content from their mobile devices (iOS included) with their Xbox. The previewed app will also include integration with Xbox games, but Microsoft only mentioned Windows 8 support for those features.

A full list of new features in version 1.5 of the My Xbox LIVE app is below:

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Phil Schiller: App Store is more democratic than traditional retail, Passbook is not a direct payment service

Jordan Kahn Jun 13 2012 - 9:39 am PT

In a recent story about growing concerns among app developers who want better ways to promote their apps in the App Store, The Wall Street Journal published quotes from an interview with Apple’s Vice President for Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller about the “tremendous amount” of work Apple does to help new apps get discovered. Schiller also talked about how things will improve with the redesigned App Store, Facebook integration, and new user tracking tools for developers in iOS 6:

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