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6,509 'Apps' stories April 2010 - July 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: iTranslate Voice HD, Twittelator Neue, Total Recall, and more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 27 2012 - 12:01 pm PT
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Today’s noteworthy apps and updates list kicks off with the recently released iPad version of iTranslate Voice. As always, we will update the list throughout the day as more apps hit the store…

iTranslate Voice HD: iTranslate Voice is a great new iPad app, as it is one of the most unique pieces of word translation software on the market. Instead of typing words into an app, you talk in your language, and then the app will respond in the language of your choice. The entire thing is powered by Nuance—the same company that powers Apple’s Dictation on the iPhone 4S, new iPad, and Mountain Lion computers. So you know it is reliable. We have used the app for a while, and it is super helpful and easy to use. For those who are not a fan of voice, text-based translations are available. Thirty-one languages work in the app in addition to word defining. Sharing is also present. We highly recommend this iPad app. An iPhone version has also been available for some time, and it recently received a big update with new gestures and languages.

Twittelator Neue version 2.1:The popular iPhone twitter client Twittelator Neue and Twittelator Free were both updated today with the following new features and improvements:


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As Instagram hits 80 million users, Twitter cuts off their ‘find friends’ API access

Avatar for Mike Beasley Jul 26 2012 - 2:04 pm PT
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Instagram announced earlier today that the popular Facebook-owned photo sharing service reached a whopping 80 million users who shared more than 4 billion photos total. These are impressive statistics, but it seems those 80 million users will have a more difficult time finding their Twitter friends’ Instagram profiles. Today’s Instagram update removed the option to lookup and follow friends from your Twitter profile. While this may seem like an oversight or bug on Instagram’s part, that is not the case.


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Former Sun employees bring Java to iOS with cross-platform SDK

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 26 2012 - 8:21 am PT
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Codename One is an SDK launched by former Sun employees that allow developers to create a single native mobile app for multiple platforms (iOS/Android/Windows Phone, etc.) using Java and an optional GUI builder:

“Ex-Sun employees did what Sun/Oracle failed to do since the iPhone launched. They brought Java to iOS and other mobile devices. They are getting major coverage from Forbes, DDJ,hacker news and others. They are taking a unique approach of combining a Swing-like API with a open source and SaaS based solution.”

In other Apple Java news, a recent Apple job listing is looking for a Senior Java Engineer to join the Siri Server Platform team. Candidates should have experience in Java API design and will “lead and extend the core software infrastructure, algorithms, and APIs that let Siri move, understand, plan, learn, speak, and remember.” Like most huge Server Side Applications, Siri’s backend appears to be Java-based.

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Apps & updates: Walking Dead: The Game, SafePay, Google Catalogs, Angry Birds Space, Twitter, Instagram more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 26 2012 - 7:53 am PT
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It looks like the biggest app update might go to the Google Earth iOS app due to reports that claim the new 3D maps feature Google demoed last month will roll out sometime today. Until then, below is our list of other apps and updates hitting the App Store:

Walking Dead: The Game: While Telltale has been teasing the iOS game for the hit TV series The Walking Dead, today we finally get our hands on the first “A New Day” episode available in the App Store for $4.99. The game requires iPad 2/iPhone 4 or later, and it will release episodes No. 2 through No. 5 via in-app purchases in the near future.

Angry Birds Space version 1.2.2: Both the iPhone and HD iPad versions of Rovio’s Angry Birds Space title were updated today with “the second half of Utopia.” It includes two new characters, 20 new levels, a “never-before-seen space egg,” and a “GIGANTIC” new boss fight.

SafePay version 1.2: Recently released on the App Store, SafePay is getting a lot of attention for its app designed to protect “cardholders and retailers against online payment fraud.” SafePay’s technology allows users to monitor transactions in real-time and verify purchases to protect against fraud—right from their iPhone. The company explained how the technology works:


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Path gets movie, book sharing and improved camera, photo features

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 25 2012 - 9:01 pm PT
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The Path iOS application has been updated to version 2.5. The new update adds many new features such as book and movie sharing, the larger presentation of images, and new features related to the camera and photo editing.

The release notes:

★ Movies & Books! Share the movies you watch and books you read with full previews, actor and author pages, synopses, and reviews.
★ Improved camera that can instantly capture square and landscape photos and videos.
★ New tools to help you fix and improve photos: Glo, Depth, Zoom, and Crop — use Glo to fix and enhance details in dark or bright photos.
★ Simpler more personal invitations — invite your friends to Path with a personally written or recorded audio message.
★ Newly designed and easily accessible rich notifications from your friends.
★ Keep up on conversations with new “For Friends” notifications.
✓ Photos and videos are now displayed 30% larger!
✓ Quickly snap photos using the volume button.
✓ Simple one-tap video recording (no more switch!).
✓ Nudge your friends for photos and check-ins from their city or neighborhood.
✓ Help friends get started on Path now with friend suggestions.
☂ Bug fixes.

Path is a free application on the iTunes App Store. 


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Put Growl in your Notification Center with Hiss

Avatar for Mike Beasley Jul 25 2012 - 5:55 pm PT
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Growl is a notification app for OS X that predates the idea of Notification Center on OS X or iOS. I have used it for years, and it is supported by a vast majority of Mac apps, including high-profile ones like the official Twitter client. When OS X 10.8 was announced, many people assumed Growl was dead. Growl uses its own banners and a “Rollup” window (a place to collect missed notifications), so it seemed the overlap was too large and there would only be room for one notification system on OS X.

However, a new app called Hiss seeks to unify the two systems by putting your Growl notifications right into your Mountain Lion Notification Center. I played around with it today, and it seems to work pretty well. It grabs any incoming Growl messages and stops them, and then it replaces them with native OS X notification banners that stack up in Notification Center just as you would expect.

Hit the break for my full review

Former Apple employees working on Facebook’s faster iPhone app, launching within a ‘couple of months’, overhaul next year

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 25 2012 - 4:23 pm PT
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In late June, the New York Times reported that Facebook is working on re-writing the fundamental architecture of its iOS application in order to provide users with a faster, more reliable experience. The current Facebook app is often slow because it is built with an Objective-C shell with content being fed in through an embedded web browser known as a “web-view.” This faster app was described as being completely built from Objective-C. The NYT report claimed that the app would show up in July, though the month is nearing its end and the app is yet to be released.

Today, Bloomberg reports that Facebook’s faster application is indeed coming, but it will only show up in a “couple of months.” The report says that a complete overhaul – this faster app was previously said to retain the current app’s user-facing interface – of the Facebook iOS application is in the works for 2013. Perhaps most interestingly, the report says that former Apple engineers are spearheading the development of this app. In May, The NYT reported that Facebook is hiring multiple Apple employees to work on its products:


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Apps & updates: Podcasts, AutoCAD WS, Opera Mini, BBC iPlayer, more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 25 2012 - 12:07 pm PT
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We already had a number of updates to Apple’s own apps today, including iWork for iOS, Apple Remote Desktop, iTunes U, Xcode 4.4, Safari 6, and OS X Server, but below is our usual list of popular apps and updates hitting the store today:

Update: Apple has now updated its Podcasts app with the expected bug fixes. Release notes below:

What’s New in Version 1.0.1

Podcasts 1.0.1 provides a number of improvements, including:

• Significant improvements to performance and stability
• Podcasts in your library now show the number of unplayed episodes
• Top Stations now show the podcast title if artwork is missing
• Playback speed is now remembered when playing the next episode
• Fix for a problem where the Subscribe button is inactive
• Resolution of an issue where Top Stations artwork may not appear

Podcasts: If you have experienced issues with Apple’s Podcasts iOS app that released last month, as many have, you will be happy to know Apple plans to release an update today that brings a number of fixes to common bugs. According to a report from AllThingsD, “Apple has been hard at work tweaking the app to fix the problems that currently plague it” and the update expected today should “vastly improve it.” 

AutoCAD WS version 1.5: Autodesk’s app for viewing, editing, and sharing AutoCAD drawings on iOS devices was updated today with two new “powerful collaboration tools that transform design creation, review, and approval into a social experience.” The two features include:

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OS X Game Center launches with few, yet notable, game titles

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 25 2012 - 8:21 am PT
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One of the big new features in OS X Mountain Lion is the Game Center. This Game Center is cross platform between OS X and iOS. Unfortunately, only a few compatible titles have made their way into Mac App Store for today’s launch. However, some of them are very notable. Some of our favorites include Real Racing 2, Sky Gamblers, and Cut the Rope.

Oh, and don’t forget about… Chess!


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Apple Remote Desktop updated, drops OS X Snow Leopard support

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 25 2012 - 7:52 am PT
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Alongside OS X Mountain Lion today and several other updates, Apple has issued an update to its Apple Remote Desktop Mac App Store application. Apple says that the update will improve reliability, support for IPv6, and more:

This update is recommended for Apple Remote Desktop users and addresses several issues related to overall reliability, usability and compatibility. This update also provides:

– new attributes in the System Overview Report
– support for IPv6

Notably, today’s update drops support for OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. OS X 10.7 Lion or OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion are required to use Apple Remote Desktop from the Mac App Store.


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iTunes U iOS app updated with note taking, searching, and sharing

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 25 2012 - 7:40 am PT
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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.

Xcode 4.4 rolls out to OS X, iOS developers via the Mac App Store

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 25 2012 - 7:30 am PT
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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.

Update: It’s out on the App Store. Here are the release notes:


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Apple appears to currently be passing on Safari 6.0 features for Windows PCs

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 25 2012 - 7:13 am PT
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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.

[tweet https://twitter.com/stroughtonsmith/status/228203499660390401]

 

Perhaps the update will come in the future. In the meantime, active WebKit nightly builds for Windows are available. 


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Apple releases OS X Mountain Lion Server for $19.99 on Mac App Store

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 25 2012 - 6:25 am PT
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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.

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Apple rolls out updated iWork with iCloud document sync, Retina display support

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 25 2012 - 6:22 am PT
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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.


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RoaringApps tells you what apps are compatible with OS X Mountain Lion, just in time for tomorrow’s launch

Avatar for Jake Smith Jul 24 2012 - 5:25 pm PT
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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?


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Reminder: QuickBooks 2011 not supported on Mountain Lion

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 24 2012 - 11:01 am PT
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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.

Sincerely,

The QuickBooks for Mac Team

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Free app download password requirement in iOS 6 appears to be arbitrary

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 24 2012 - 10:04 am PT
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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.


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Apps & updates: Tweetbot Alpha 3, IM+ Pro, Viber, more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 24 2012 - 6:40 am PT
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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.

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Reminder: Mountain Lion will be free for 30 days for new Mac owners

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 23 2012 - 8:07 am PT
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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.


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Tweetbot for Mac alpha updated with notifications, keyboard shortcuts, performance improvements

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jul 21 2012 - 10:26 am PT
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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. 


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