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.
Today, Apple has updated its education-oriented iTunes U app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with a few new important features. Notably, users are now able to take notes during lectures or presentations watched from inside the iTunes U app. Searching through all of the app’s materials and content sharing via Twitter, Mail, and Messages is also present.
iTunes U 1.2 now makes it easy to take notes while watching or listening to a lecture. This update also adds the ability to search within posts, assignments, notes, and materials — from any of your subscribed courses — using the improved Search feature in iTunes U. It is also now simple to share your favorite courses with friends using Twitter, Mail, and Messages.
Alongside OS X Mountain Lion and a slew of other updates, Apple has taken Xcode 4.4 out of beta and is releasing it to the oMac App Store today. The new version is yet to show up in the Mac App Store, but it should shortly. Xcode 4.3.3 is currently on the Mac App Store free of charge. Xcode 4.5 – another major Xcode update – is current in beta/preview form. That will likely launch in the fall.
When Apple released Safari 6.0 for OS X Lion this morning (and included it with Mountain Lion), we noticed that a version of the web browser is not available for Windows. Sure enough, some users running Apple’s Safari download website on PCs are also not seeing the download. It appears that earlier Safari versions for Windows are still available. Safari 6.0 includes features that are integrated into OS X and Apple’s own ecosystem itself – like offline Reading List and Password Pane – so it makes sense for Apple to pass on Safari 6.0 for Windows.
Following this morning’s launch of 10.8 Mountain Lion on the Mac App Store, Apple just launched a separate app as an OS X Server for Mountain Lion. It allows users to add sever functionality to the OS for $20. It is definitely a significant price drop from the $49 Lion server and the $500 or so it cost to add the functionality before that.
OS X Server is the next generation of Apple’s award winning server software. Designed for OS X and iOS devices, OS X Server makes it easy to share files, schedule meetings, synchronize contacts, host your own website, publish wikis, configure Macs, iPhones and iPads, remotely access your network, and more.
Server is now an application you can add to Mountain Lion right from the Mac App Store. Anyone can quickly and easily turn a Mac running Mountain Lion into a server that’s perfect for home offices, businesses, schools, and hobbyists alike.
Alongside OS X Mountain Lion today, Apple has unleashed an updated version of iWork (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) that takes advantage of the company’s latest hardware and software technologies. The new version of iWork – which includes Pages, Numbers, and Keynote – has been completely enhanced to work perfectly with the new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display.
Additionally, this new version of iWork includes iCloud Documents in the Cloud support. That means you can work on an iWork document on your Mac, and pick up your work on an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. Vice versa as well. The entire document sync process is handled in an intuitive document selection interface. The updated apps are also being teased in the Mac App Store’s new iCloud section:
Apple also touts OS X Mountain Lion’s Dictation features in the new iWork release notes. Keynote 5.2:
The update is currently touted on Apple’s official iWork website, and has begun rolling out to end users through software update. You can find the updates on the App Store here: Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.
Tomorrow, after much excitement, Apple will officially launch OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion for $19.99 to the public on the App Store. A new operating system certainly brings a ton of new features. However, there is always the lingering possibility that your favorite app may not be compatible. Just before the launch of Lion last year, we told you about a website called RoaringApps. As Mountain Lion is unleashed from its cage tomorrow, here is a little reminder on exactly why RoaringApps is so useful.
RoaringApps is a free website that allows you to check the compatibility of your apps with Mountain Lion. The website provides a long table of apps (it is a ton) that displays what apps are supported on the new OS X and whether the app is available on the App Store. If you are planning to upgrade to Mountain Lion tomorrow, this is definitely a website worth checking. The website organizes apps by name, and it has a search function to make things easy. [RoaringApps]
On a related note, how many of you plan to purchase Mountain Lion tomorrow? Is anyone holding off?
We received a tip today that may be of interest to QuickBooks users planning to upgrade to Mountain Lion this week. The email below was sent to a reader from Intuit’s QuickBooks for Mac team. It informed them QuickBooks 2011 would not be supported on Mountain Lion. While the email notes “you may find that most things in your QuickBooks for Mac work for you” after upgrading to Mountain Lion, the company will only officially support QuickBooks 2012 on 10.8. The full email is below:
Let’s talk about Mountain Lion!
Like a lot of Mac users, everyone on the QuickBooks for Mac team is excited about the upcoming release of OS X 10.8: Mountain Lion. You may be wondering how Mountain Lion will affect your version of QuickBooks for Mac.
QuickBooks 2011 and prior are not supported on Mountain Lion. (Note that QuickBooks 2012 is supported on Mountain Lion.) Read more about this on Little Square.
If you decide to upgrade your OS, you may find that most things in your QuickBooks for Mac work for you, but if you run into a problem, we may not be able to help you. To minimize the chances of running into issues, you should make sure you’ve installed the latest update for your software. To find and install an update, click QuickBooks > Check for QuickBooks Updates.
If the new features in the Mountain Lion OS aren’t a big deal for you and you don’t want to upgrade either your OS or your current version of QuickBooks, then just stay with your current OS and QuickBooks versions. We can continue to help you with any problems you may run into.
If you must upgrade your OS, but don’t want to upgrade QuickBooks, you can continue safely running QuickBooks for Mac and any other software that may not be compatible with Mountain Lion on a partition. (Note: it’s important that you check all your software on the Mac you use for your business to be sure that it’s all compatible with Mountain Lion.) You can learn more about setting up a partition at this article by Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/PH5845
If you want to run QuickBooks for Mac on Mountain Lion, you should upgrade to QuickBooks 2012 for Mac. That way if you do run into any problems, we can help you. You can find QuickBooks 2012 for Mac on our website at http://quickbooks.com/mac and at most major retailers.
We really appreciate your business and wish you happy accounting whether you choose to upgrade to Mountain Lion or stay with your current version of OS X.
You’ll find great answers to your questions and advice on our Community. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. And Little Square will keep you up-to-date with new developments about QuickBooks for Mac on Mountain Lion.
After iOS 6 beta 3 launched, some noticed that the beta OS was not requiring users to input their App Store password when downloading free applications. It appears that Apple has reversed this in beta 3 – over the air – or the situation is not spread across all users.
@markgurman Refer to my tweet yesterday. The behavior has changed several times, people need to stop talking about it.
There are more than a few apps and updates today worth mentioning, starting with the latest update for the recently launched Tweetbot for Mac Alpha:
Tweetbot Alpha 3: After rolling out a huge update a couple of days ago for notifications, keyboard shortcuts and other performance enhancements, Tweetbot Alpha 3 is officially available for download/update today. It brings the ability to switch usernames/accounts from within the New Tweet compose window. Clicking a small profile image within the “new tweet” pop-up lets you switch between accounts on the fly. The update also included a hashtag popover fix.
IM+ Pro version 7.0: Perhaps the biggest new feature included in today’s update to one of the most popular iOS IM clients is “Metacontacts,” which is the ability to “merge multiple accounts of one contact into a metacontact” and reduce clutter while increasing efficiency for multiple account users. Another big new feature is iCloud support for syncing IM+ settings across multiple iOS devices, as well as support for additional IM services like Gadu-Gadu and MeinVZ. Unfortunately, version 7.0 will also drop support for iOS 3.x, and it now only works on iOS 4 and up.
Viber version 2.2.0:A huge update today goes to the iOS client for the 90 million-strong Viber service, which allows users worldwide to make free calls and send texts and photos without advertising. Included in the update is a completely refreshed UI that brings group messaging, custom backgrounds for any conversation, profile photos in the Contacts list, and a time stamp for every message. In addition, you will now be able to view recently joined users from the Contacts screen. Viber also promises better sound quality and a new voice engine.
Sky News International for iPad: Released today on the App Store to join the already available for iPhone version, Sky News now has a dedicated iPad app for its international edition with breaking news, top stories, and live streaming of Sky News TV in full screen.
Plesk Manager version 1.2.0:Parallels’ app for monitoring and controlling servers running Parallels Plesk Panel 10.4.4 and Plesk Panel Power Pack was updated today with push notifications, a logs viewer, a new skin, an embedded panel view for iPad, an “improved user experience for VPS owners,” and a troubleshooting section.
Sparrow version 1.3.1:A small update for Sparrow’s iPhone app today includes several bug fixes.
Update 2: After a brief time online, Apple appears to have taken down the form to request a copy of Mountain Lion. You’ll still be able to request a copy at Apple’s original link following Mountain Lion’s official release.
Update: As noted by MacRumors, Apple’s form to request a free copy of Mountain Lion for new Mac owners is already live on the company’s website. After entering details about your purchase, personal details, and the serial numbers of your new Mac, Apple sends two emails —one with a password protected redemption code and another containing the password— to open it. The redemption code is not yet working in the Mac App Store.
Apple previously confirmed, when it unveiled the new Retina MacBook Pros and refreshed Mac lineups, that Mountain Lion would be available for free to those who purchased a Mac after June 11 through the Up-to-Date program. Since then, Apple has updated its website to confirm the free copy will be available to new Mac owners for 30 days from the release date, which will likely be sometime after tomorrow’s Q3 earnings call. Those who purchase a new Mac following Mountain Lion’s release will also have 30 days to claim their copy on Apple’s website.
Our favorite OS X cloud file uploader, CloudApp, has released a beta update with support for the upcoming OS X Mountain Lion and the new MacBook Pro Retina display. The CloudApp menubar icon now looks great on the Retina MacBook Pro. More importantly, though, auto-file-uploading now works on Mac OS 10.8. You can grab the betaupdate here.
Tapbots appears to be making significant progress on its upcoming Tweetbot for Mac Twitter client. The development team issued an initial alpha version of Tweetbot for Mac less than two weeks ago, and late yesterday, the company released a much improved version of the alpha. The new update, notably, includes support for OS X Mountain Lion Notification Center, keyboard shortcuts, and the new build also contains many performance improvements. The full change-log:
Notifications for mentions, follows, retweets, favorites (10.8 only)
Go to User (command-u)
Option to open links in background (see preferences)
Less intrusive tweet action overlay icons
Double-click tweets in timeline now takes you to status detail
Fixed some contextual menu issues in direct message conversations
Fixed pull-to-refresh and scrolling to top issue when loading new results
Tweetmarker will now set your timeline position on app startup always
Fixed bugs and crashers related to composing tweets.
Made large and huge fonts bigger
Can swipe the empty space in a conversation to go back to previous view
Can close image window with command-w (also space and esc)
Menu shortcuts added to profile view: Command-d (direct message) and command-r (reply)
It appears that the alpha notification support is a local type of notifications, rather than push notifications. Push notifications will likely require the final version of Tweetbot for Mac via the Mac App Store. The local notifications in this build will only appear when the application is open. iCloud sync between the iOS and Mac variants of Tweetbot will also likely require a Mac App Store-ready version.
The update to the original alpha is available via the “check for updates” option on the current build. It can also be grabbed from the Tweetbot official website.
By far the biggest app news today is the announcement that popular Mac and iOS email client Sparrow has been acquired by Google, but below is our usual list of all the notable apps and updates hitting the App Store:
djay for iPad version 1.5.1:djay for iPad received a significant updated today that brings support for Numark’s upcoming iDJ Pro controller for iPad arriving in September. The update also improves “turntable behavior for fast spinning,” slider accuracy, and some bug fixes including one for distortion issues with Split Output.
Turntable.fm version 2.1.1:Turtable.fm’s iPhone app received a small update today that allows users to log in with their turntable account instead of Facebook or Twitter. The update also added more avatars.
Tweetbot for iPad version 2.4.2:A small update for the extremely popular Tweetbot for Twitter client for iPad brings a number of bug fixes.
Netflix version 2.2.1: Another small update today goes to the Netflix iOS app with version 2.2.1 bringing much-needed stability improvements.
Sparrow has just announced that it has been acquired by Google. The company’s team will be integrated within the Google Gmail team.
We’re excited to announce that Sparrow has been acquired by Google!
We care a lot about how people communicate, and we did our best to provide you with the most intuitive and pleasurable mailing experience.
Now we’re joining the Gmail team to accomplish a bigger vision — one that we think we can better achieve with Google.
We’d like to extend a special thanks to all of our users who have supported us, advised us, given us priceless feedback and allowed us to build a better mail application. While we’ll be working on new things at Google, we will continue to make Sparrow available and provide support for our users.
We had an amazing ride and can’t thank you enough.
Full speed ahead!
Dom Leca
CEO
Sparrow
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lYitaF4lDo]Promo video for Sparrow for iPhone
Sparrow has long been noted as a great third-party email app for both the Mac and iOS, specifically on the iPhone. The application has a unique user interface that is intuitive and very well integrated into social networks.
Teaser for Sparrow for iPad
The company said that an iPad app is in the works, but it is unclear if this app will launch now that the team is integrated into Google. Notably, Sparrow says that its current apps will stay available. Sparrow will also still provide support for its users.
Sparrow has also long been noted as a great Gmail solution for iPhone users. Google’s official iOS Gmail application is definitely in need of new features – beyond just a web view – and we hope that Sparrow’s team has a part in creating a new Gmail experience for iOS users.
Screenshot of Sparrow for Mac
Sparrow has also just sent out a different, more personal note to its users. Notably: no new features or updates coming.
Hello,
We’re excited to let you know that Sparrow has been acquired by Google! You can view our public announcement here, but I wanted to reach out directly to make sure you were aware of the news.We will continue to make available our existing products, and we will provide support and critical updates to our users. However, as we’ll be busy with new projects at Google, we do not plan to release new features for the Sparrow apps.
It’s been an honor and a pleasure to build products for all of our wonderful users who have supported us over the years. We can’t thank you enough.
We look forward to working on some new and exciting projects at Google!
A Google spokesperson has reached out to provide the following statement:
The Sparrow team has always put their users first by focusing on building a seamlessly simple and intuitive interface for their email client. We look forward to bringing them aboard the Gmail team, where they’ll be working on new projects.
We’re also told that Google will support Sparrow in supporting its current Sparrow user-base and in providing essential app updates. The Sparrow team is also said to be focusing on new Google projects, likely related to Gmail. Google would not comment on specific future product plans.
The Verge says the purchase price was under $25 million.
One of the most widely publicized and important knocks against Sparrow’s iOS application is the lack of push notifications. As Sparrow CEO Dom Leca said, “now we’re joining the Gmail team to accomplish a bigger vision — one that we think we can better achieve with Google.” We think that bigger vision includes more resources; assets that will help Sparrow make email even better for everyone with features like push alerts.
Developers of the Find My Facebook Friends app have had quite a rough time getting their app past Apple’s App Store review team. The app was originally called “Find My Friends For Facebook” until Apple rejected the app name and icon for being too similar to its own Find My Friends app, forcing the developers to resubmit the app with a new icon and name. While the app has been live in the App Store and steadily growing among users as “Find My Facebook Friends” since March, the developer told us today that it is once again being forced to change its name—but this time by Facebook.
After a few emails with Facebook’s Platform Operations team, Find My Facebook Friends has now been renamed “Locate”. Facebook also requested the developer remove the “f” logo, and then alter the white silhouette used in its icon. It appears Facebook’s platform policy and trademark rights allow iOS developers to use “for Facebook” in their app titles to clearly indicate the app is “for” Facebook and not an official app. However, there are many apps, such as Facebook Chat+, that seem to violate Facebook’s policies the same as Find My Facebook Friends, and they have been available in the App Store for almost a year. The developer noted Facebook contacted him after briefly testing its location-based Find Friends Nearby feature, which did not include the exact same functionality. However, it could easily be confused with Find My Facebook Friends by its title alone. The app still includes the same features, allowing you to locate Facebook friends on a map, receive proximity alerts, and more, but it is now available as “Locate: Real-time Location Sharing for Facebook” in the App Store.
The iPhone includes a great built-in weather application that is easy and intuitive. However, an even simpler, more intuitive weather application for iOS is making the rounds today. It’s not an App Store app, but a free web application for iOS Safari called Sun. When saved to your home screen, it appears just like a native iOS application, and it lacks the Safari menu bars. More screenshots and details:
Checkmark is a new take on Apple’s Reminders app with additional features and a clean interface. It features the ability to create location- and time-based reminders like Apple’s solution, but it goes beyond what Apple’s implementation offers. For example, when creating a location-based reminder, you have the option of setting a delay before the notification appears. I especially like that, as I usually have a few things to do before getting to the tasks on my list, and Apple’s Reminders app sometimes reminds me way too early. Checkmark also offers time-based reminders, which work exactly as you would expect.
Bolt!: The free game, featuring the World’s Fastest Man and Jamaican track star Usain Bolt, was released by Rock Live a couple of days ago, but it is getting a ton of attention for its addictive gameplay. You might notice a few celebs playing this one (as you can see in the tweets above), and Mike Tyson is even accepting challenges. An iPad version is coming soon.
PDF Expert version 4.1:The iPad version of Readdle’s PDF Expert app was updated today to version 4.1 with a number of new features including:
– Faster PDF rendering
– AutoSync for Dropbox and other storages
– Support for Microsoft SkyDrive
– Recording audio notes into PDFs
– Ability to move opened notes
– Network connectivity fixes (FTP, SFTP, Dropbox)
Vyclone:Released as a free iPhone app on the App Store today, Vyclone takes video shots on several iPhones and stitches it together into the perfect video clip with multiple viewing angles. You can also take all the raw footage and make your own cuts.
Tango Video Calls:The Tango Video Calls app received a decent update today, including the ability to send and receive free text messages to Tango contacts, share videos in text conversations, and more.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies: Activision’s Black Ops Zombies app received a huge update today brining the “dark and ice-covered isles of Siberia” as Call of Dead: Director’s Cut content. The updated also includes new V-R11 and Semtex mine weapons, new achievements, and a new perk called “Deadshot Daquiri”.
Gameloft teased the release of The Dark Knight Rises iOS game last week with the second teaser trailer for the official movie tie-in above. Today, the universal iOS app is already available in the New Zealand App Store for $9.99, and it should hit the U.S. store for around $6.99 shortly. Also of note, although it is not a Gameloft developed Batman title, the popular Batman Arkham City Lockdown iOS game released by Warner Bros. is currently on sale for just 99 cents, down from the usual $6. It also recently received a huge update with Retina support.
PLAY AS THE DARK KNIGHT
Access Batman’s complete arsenal and learn how to take full advantage of each tool. Use the Grapnel to cross the city or to defeat foes, throw the Batarang to knock out your enemies or to hit a distant button; the possibilities are infinite.
When kicks and gadgets are of no use, The Dark Knight relies on his vehicles to get the job done. Drive the Bat-Pod for special vigilante missions or pilot The Bat for fast travel across the city.
EXPERIENCE GOTHAM AS YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE
Explore the entire city of Gotham and its different districts spread across a huge map and enjoy stunning graphics for total immersion in the dark universe of Batman.
Although we are often skeptical of reports from security companies, a new report today from BitDefender highlighted just how important Apple’s new data isolation privacy initiative is in iOS. Starting with the public release of iOS 6 this fall, users will now be prompted to allow access to apps that want personal data such as contacts, calendars, reminders, and photos. However, until then, BitDefender claimed approximately 18.6-percent of the 65,000 iPhone apps included in its study can still access a user’s address book data, while 41 percent can track location.
Even more troubling is that only 57.5-percent of apps encrypt that cropped private data. MobileEntertainment (via COM) quoted BitDefender Chief Security Researcher Catalin Casoi:
“It is worrying stored data encryption on iOS apps is low and location tracking is so prevalent. Without notification of what an app accesses, it is difficult to control what information users give up… “We see a worrying landscape of poor user data encryption, prevalent location tracking and silent, unjustified, Address Book access.”
Pixelmator 2.1: We get a quick look today at some new features coming to Pixelmator 2.1 in a new video focusing on the Vintage Effect (via TheLoop). The upcoming app will also include Retina support and a ton of new features, some of which the developer has highlighted in a blog post.
Adobe Reader version 10.3:Adobe updated its free Reader iOS app today with a number of new features that are listed below:
• Add text to your PDFs with the Add Text tool
• Use forms that have Field Validation, Calculation, and Formatting
• Organize and manage your documents in Reader’s improved file organizer. Create folders, copy, move, rename, and delete files.
• Help us make Reader better by optionally sharing anonymous usage data with us
• Look up definitions with our new Dictionary Support (requires iOS 5 or later)
• Fixed several bugs and performance issues
Music Unlimited version 1.1:Sony’s Music Unlimited streaming app was also updated today, adding a number of enhancements including the ability to delete login information and fixes to several commonly reported issues.
Facebook Pages Manager version 1.2:Included in version 1.2 of Facebook’s standalone Pages manager app is the ability to upload photos to your Page’s albums, view photos attached to messages, and the app is now available in a total of 11 languages.
PayPal Here version 1.2:While noting it is aware of an issue with the display of refunded transactions, PayPal updated its PayPal Here app for accepting credit card and PayPal payments on the iPhone. Improvements in the update include longer time allowed between login, multiuser support (setup on paypal.com), improved Star printer, AirPrint, HP ePrint support, and a number of other new features and fixes.
Evernote for Mac version 3.2:Evernote announced in a blog post that it is releasing an updated version of its Mac client today that includes Retina support for the new MacBook Pros, a new Activity Stream feature, faster sharing, and “more reliable sync.” The update is currently only available through the developer’s site, but Mac App Store users can follow these instructions to complete the update.
1Password version 3.9.6:1Password’s Mac App Store app was updated with two important features including support for high-resolution MacBook Pro Retina displays and support for the Chrome Web Store 1Password extension.
Xbox LIVE version 1.6: There are more than a few notable updates today, starting with the Xbox LIVE app that just received iPad support for the controller features rolled out to iPhone users in June. Among the new features for iPad: the app will now allow you to “connect, control and discover content” on your Xbox 360 console through a quickplay list of content, and it provides controls for play, pause, fast forward, and rewind.
Nike+ Running version 4.0.2: Nike is constantly adding new features to its iOS apps, and the Nike+ Running app was updated today with the following enhancements:
– Sharing has changed. Your run gets posted to your timeline, so even though you won’t see it on your newsfeed, your friends will see it in theirs.
– Quick start. Just hold down the Run button and you’re off with the new Quick Start feature.
– Pro Tip: Rotate your phone to landscape when looking at your run summary to view your mile splits.
– We are continually working to give you the best possible running experience. This update includes performance stability and GPS improvements. We appreciate your feedback.
Spotify version 0.5.3: Also updated today was the Spotify iOS app, which received a new context menu in search for iPad users, as well as stability improvements and a number of fixes to common issues.
As always, we will continue to update this list as more updates roll out today…
There are more than a few apps and updates today worth mentioning, starting with the latest update for the recently launched Tweetbot for Mac Alpha:
