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Apps & updates: Adobe Photoshop Express, Growl, SketchBook Express, Angry Birds Space, and more

Jordan Kahn Jun 8 2012 - 1:01 pm PT

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Below is our usual list of newly released apps and updates that landed in the App Store today. Some of the more notable apps on the list include updates to iOS apps Adobe Photoshop Express, and SketchBook Express, and Mac App Store apps Growl and Angry Birds Space. We will keep the list updated as more apps and updates are released throughout the day.

Adobe Photoshop Express Version 2.5: The free universal iPhone and iPad app was updated to include the Adobe Effects Pack of “45- eye-catching effects” and the Enhanced Adobe Border Pack with 18 new borders as in-app purchases. The update also includes improvements to borders, effects, and editing, as well as Tumblr and Twitter sharing options, improvements to Facebook and Flickr sharing, and support for the iPad’s Retina display.

SketchBook Express Version 2.5: The free version of Autodesk’s SketchBook Pro app was updated today with a few new features including palm rest, a random color option in Color Editor, and other enhancements and bug fixes.

Voice Answer Version 1.3: We told you about the Voice Answer app before when Apple rejected it for being too much like Siri. Today, Apple has finally allowed an update to the app that turns the app’s AI— named Eve—into a “a fully animated 3D robot.” The update also includes voice messaging, email, and calling, and it now supports 54 languages for translations.

Growl Version 1.4:  Popular Mac notification app Growl received an update on the Mac App Store today with dozens of enhancements and tweaks to the service. The app’s release notes mentioned: “Major improvements to networking,” “Applications Tab Redesign,” and a long list of other improvements.

Angry Birds Space Version 1.2.0: The same as the iOS apps the other day, the Mac App Store version of Angry Birds Space now includes the “delicious food planet of Utopia,” which features 10 new levels for the title that recently reached 100 million downloads.

Related articles

• Apps and updates: Little Things Forever, Diet Coda, Sparrow, Netflix, Angry Birds Space, and more (9to5mac.com)
• Apps and updates: LinkedIn passwords leak, Sparrow teases iPad app, and Angry Birds Space hits 100M downloads (9to5mac.com)
• Adobe Photoshop/Premiere Elements 10 $47/ea or $70 for both (9to5mac.com)
• Adobe Photoshop Touch updated to version 1.2 (9to5mac.com)

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Facebook officially launches its App Center with access to 600 apps

Jake Smith Jun 7 2012 - 5:31 pm PT

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Facebook addicts, rejoice! You favorite social network has finally launched its pre-announced App Center, complete with 600 apps that feature Facebook integration of some sort. We reported this morning that Facebook’s App Center appeared in its iOS app for one user, perhaps indicating a launch this evening. Just as we predicted, the time has come. Facebook is currently holding an app-themed event to go over features. The company said it would push the App Center heavily on the left-hand sidebar on both the desktop version and mobile version of the app. A page for the App Center should launch sometime this evening. It will also appear on mobile devices soon. The best thing about Facebook App Center is that it will give you personalized recommendations based on your interests. Check out a video demo!

To download an app from the App Center, you simply click a link. It will send a prompt to your mobile device for downloading. Downloads occur through the iTunes App Store, rather than Facebook’s servers. It is important to note that this is not a store; it is just a hub to find cool apps. Check out the press release below for the full details.

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Apps & updates: OmniPlan for iPad, IM+, SoundHound, NFL ’12, more

Jordan Kahn Jun 7 2012 - 10:09 am PT

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As always—we keep you updated on notable apps and updates that are released throughout the day. A few to already land in most App Stores today include the new OmniPlan for iPad app from Omni Group, Retina support for the popular IM+ messaging apps, a SoundHound update, and more.

OmniPlan for iPad: Omni Group released its OmniPlan for iPad app to fulfill “the company’s two year commitment to bring its core, premium apps to the iPad.” The organization and project planning tool packs many of the Mac version’s features including enhanced collaboration, visual timelines, and change tracking, and is available now for $50 from the App Store.

IM+ Pro Version 6.5: One of the most popular third-party, cross-platform messaging apps updated today with “complete optimization” for the iPad’s Retina display, as well as the addition of support for Mamba.Ru and Fetion. The service dropped support for the MySpace IM service going forward, but existing users can continue to access their accounts. The free version received the same update.

SoundHound Version 5.0: Another notable update today goes to music discovery and recognition app SoundHound. The update includes even faster music recognition, “big, beautiful album art and hi-res artist photos,” and a redesigned home screen and SoundHound Player. There are also improvements to LiveLyrics, and a “cleaner, easier to use interface.” The free SoundCloud app also received the update.

NFL 12′: The official NFL ’12 for iPad app was just updated with bug fixes, and it now has the entire 2012 schedule.

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Incredible vjay iPad video mixing app goes live

9to5 Staff Jun 7 2012 - 6:29 am PT

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[slideshow]

Algoriddim released its highly anticipated Vjay app for iPad [iTunes $9.99] today following up on the popular Djay app.

As of this writing, every review is 5 stars. The downside is that it does not work on the original iPad.

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Foursquare 5.0 hits the App Store with an all-new user interface

Mike Beasley Jun 6 2012 - 9:46 pm PT

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Foursquare has just released an all-new version of their iOS app that features a completely revamped design. Version 5.0 is much simpler and cleaner than previous versions, taking some of the functions previously in the tab bar along the bottom and moving them to the front page, making checkins faster and easier than before.

The new version also has a reworked Explore tab, which lets you search near your location for interesting locations in several of categories such as restaurants and locations with special deals for checking in, and automatically sorts them by proximity to your current location. The Explore tab will also show you locations in your area that are popular as well as locations visited by your friends, and places that may interest you based on your checkins at previous businesses or locations. Of course, all of this will be plotted on a full screen map so that you can easily find your way.

Oddly, the new update seems to put much less emphasis on one of the previous version’s flagship features, the Radar, which actively grabs your location while running in the background and alerts you if you find yourself near a popular place or a spot that you want to remember to visit. It took me several minutes of digging around to figure out where the Radar toggle, which used to be on the front page, had been moved.

Foursquare 5.0 is available in the App Store right now for free. There are more screenshots after the break.

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Osfoora for Mac 1.2 brings streaming support

Mike Beasley Jun 6 2012 - 5:40 pm PT

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Osfoora, one of the newer Twitter clients for Mac, got a very nice update today, bringing to version 1.2. Aside from a much-improved icon (which sports a resolution of 1024×1024, making it ready for those upcoming Mac refreshes), the new version finally brings Twitter’s live streaming API, joining a handful of other apps to provide instantaneous updates to the timeline, including the seemingly-neglected official Twitter app. 

Osfoora also supports Tweet Marker, the syncing service adopted by many mobile Twitter clients, allowing you maintain your timeline position across devices when using supported mobile apps such as Tweetbot or Twitterrific.

Finally, Osfoora has many features I had previously found only in the official Twitter app, such as a global keyboard shortcut for composing a new tweet, and uses similar keyboard shortcuts to the official app. It also supports several image upload services, multiple accounts, Growl notifications, and other useful and convenient features.

The app isn’t perfect. There are a few little bugs in the timeline and the way it handles certain streaming events, and it doesn’t support drag-and-drop image uploads at this time, but the good here outweighs the annoyances. I’ve made Osfoora my Twitter client of choice after using Twitter for Mac for months.

Osfoora costs $4.99 in the Mac App Store, and I highly recommend it.

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Apps and updates: LinkedIn passwords leak, Angry Birds Space hits 100M, and Sparrow teases iPad app

Élyse Betters Jun 6 2012 - 9:00 am PT

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[slideshow]

The blogosphere is abuzz this morning regarding a few key developments—some good, some bad—within notable iOS apps, including: Linkedin, Angry Birds Space, and Sparrow.

Linkedin

[tweet https://twitter.com/linkedin/status/210390233076875264] 

Angry Birds Space

[tweet https://twitter.com/AngryBirds/status/210363760307732481]

Sparrow

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Microsoft announces AirPlay-like ‘SmartGlass’ wireless streaming app for Xbox/iOS

Jordan Kahn Jun 4 2012 - 11:44 am PT

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IYvQu00t75w]

Microsoft just wrapped up its presentation at this year’s E3 event. While we did not hear anything about iOS support for its new cross-platform Xbox Music service, the company did confirm Xbox SmartGlass would come to Apple devices. SmartGlass incorporates at least some AirPlay-like features that enable users to send video from their mobile devices to Xbox Live and Windows 8. It would also allow phones and tablets to be used as a second screen for providing content related to video or games on Xbox.

Microsoft demoed the feature with Madden on Xbox. It allowed players to use their tablet’s touchscreen to draw plays. Unfortunately, Microsoft only mentioned support for Windows 8 mobile devices for the Xbox gaming features:

Microsoft announced ahead of the E3 conference a new software application called “SmartGlass,” which can be downloaded on Windows phones and Windows 8 tablets, as well as devices powered by rivals such as Apple Inc’s iOS and Google Inc’s Android operating systems… For TV, someone watching “Game of Thrones” on the “HBO GO” streaming service via Xbox could simultaneously browse websites about the show’s cast.

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Brightcove CEO: Apple’s cable TV strategy will focus on AirPlay, not an HDTV

Jordan Kahn Jun 4 2012 - 6:53 am PT

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While the media is quick to jump on any hint that Apple might be working on an HDTV—and many analysts even pinpoint a late 2012 launch—CEO of video cloud company Brightcove Jeremy Allaire said Apple’s approach to cable TV will not focus on a traditional TV monitor product (via AllThingsD). Instead, he makes the case for beaming content from iOS devices through dedicated cable TV apps using AirPlay. This follows reports late last month that claimed Apple is set to introduce a new Apple TV OS at WWDC this month. Allaire explained:

I believe Apple will seek partnerships with the top cable companies for them to open up their APIs for their EPG, VOD libraries and Network DVR infrastructure so that Apple can offer a superior user experience on top of those services… In such a model, you’d purchase and use an Apple TV device (more on what the devices will actually be below) and use it in concert with an existing subscription from a TV operator, and access the TV functionality as an App. Yes, cable TV will just be an app among what will be tens and then hundreds of thousands of apps on your Apple TV.

As for new devices and software, Allaire claimed Apple’s main focus would be to enhance its current TV platform and integration with iOS devices, while possibly entering the TV monitor business. He further claimed Apple will release a completely redesigned Apple TV set-top box as a “thin black bar,” a “TV monitor” device that includes the same features as the set-top box, and updates to iOS APIs and AirPlay to include “new camera and microphone, motion detection and speech recognition” capabilities:

First, Apple will release a new Apple TV add-on product, though I expect that rather than using the current “puck” design it will instead be a thin black bar, perhaps 1 inch tall and 3 inches wide, that can easily mount to the top of almost any existing HD capable TV set. Like the existing Apple TV, it will have HDMI and power jacks on the back, but it will also include a high-def camera built into it’s face, as well as an embedded iOS environment that provides motion-sensing and speech processing.

Second, Apple will also release a TV monitor product as well with identical capabilities as the updated Apple TV add-on device, but in a design and form factor that presents the Apple brand effectively. Why would they do this when it is such an established market with such long replacement cycles? In short, because they can, and it will be gorgeous and include the latest innovations in display technology, and will sell at a premium price that ensures a reasonable gross margin for Apple.

Third, Apple will provide updates to iOS that include significantly enhanced and improved AirPlay functionality, and where AirPlay capabilities become a more front and center aspect of the iOS experience. Additionally, they will release new iOS APIs for dealing with second screen device capabilities such as the new camera and microphone, motion detection and speech recognition. Developers will be encouraged to build iOS apps that are Apple TV ready, using dual-screen features and motion user interaction, among other things.

Related articles

• iOSLiveTV.com streams Airplay compatible TV from all over the world to your iOS device (9to5mac.com)
• Gruber: TBA sessions on WWDC schedule could point to apps for Apple TV (9to5mac.com)

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Review: ‘JamUp’ multi-effect guitar app for iPhone & iPad

Jordan Kahn Jun 1 2012 - 8:27 am PT

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Written by Travis Tucker

First off, let me just say this is by far the best and most intuitive amp modeling iOS apps that I have seen to date. If you know how to move and manipulate the app layout of your iPhone/iPad, you will be up and running on JamUp in no time. The app has five main sections: Amp/FX, preset, songs, sampler, and tuner.

The Amp/FX section is what you would expect. It is an area for you to experiment with by adding and manipulating amps and effects in various locations in your signal chain. Various staple amp models are featured, as well as the tried-and-true lineup of effect pedals. The amp sounds are genuinely warm and sound noticeably better than comparable models in Amplitube’s amp modeling app. With that said, some of the amp features are not as faithful to the models they are based upon. On-board tremolo and decent clean sounds are noticeably absent on some heads. The pedals sound great. A feature I would like to see added is the ability to stack the same model pedal in series, instead of using it only once.

The Preset section is a collection of sound patches pre-programmed by PositiveGrid that serve as nice launching points for tinkering and coming up with your own sounds that can then be saved. It is self-explanatory, but what makes this work as easy as it does is the fast and intuitive interface. It is also much less daunting and intimidating than similar apps.

The Songs section is great, because it allows you to jam along with any audio file in your iDevice’s music library. You can sort/find the songs in your library in a variety of ways, and control the volume mix. You can even vary the pitch/speed of the music playing! I loved this feature for playing along with some bands that detune a half or whole step. The pitch change alone does not vary the speed. These features are a great practice tool for breaking guitar parts down and playing through setlists by bands with various tunings.

The Sampler section allows you to record yourself playing a section of music, and then you can play something along with it, after the fact, in loop fashion. This is another great tool for practicing and songwriting. I especially liked the ability to export and share recordings as song ideas.

The Tuner is self-explanatory, although, again, I really like the interface choice (the vintage “note wheel”). It also cuts the audio output, so no one is forced to hear your droning notes being tuned.

HARDWARE

Another great feature of this app is the interoperability that it provides with many guitar input interfaces. More than half a dozen other interfaces work with the app besides PostiveGrid’s own JamUp Plug. I compared the audio response of IK Multimedia’s iRig and the JamUp Plug, but the JamUp model was undeniably better sounding. However, noticeable clipping is evident while using some sound combination choices, regardless of input level and interface chosen. This is a problem not unique to this app, but it frustrates nonetheless.

SUMMARY

I think the JamUp is a wonderful tool for guitar players looking to experiment with different amps and pedals before buying the real deal. It is also quite handy in helping to decipher songs and putting simple song ideas together. It sounds much better than Amplitube. It does not offer the ability to dive as deeply into sound tweaking as the rival app by Agile Partners, but its interface is much smoother and intuitive.

JamUp Pro is available for $19.99 here. The company also offers a free, scaled-back lite version available.

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Nuance releases Dragon Express Mac app in 7 additional countries, 3 new languages

Jordan Kahn May 31 2012 - 7:49 am PT

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Nuance announced it is releasing the Dragon Express Mac App Store app today to seven new countries in three new languages. Originally released last year, the app is now available in the following countries for around $50:

Dragon Express 1.1 now supports the French language in Canada, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, the German language in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and the Italian language in Italy.

Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Switzerland (French), Switzerland (German)

According to iPhonehellas [translated], Nuance also held a press event today in Greece to announce the availability of Dragon Dictation for June 6.

The full press release from Nuance is below:

Nuance’s Dragon Express for Mac OS App Store Now Available in French, German and Italian Languages

BURLINGTON, Mass., – May 31, 2012 – Nuance Communications, Inc., (NASDAQ: NUAN) today announced that its Dragon Express App, an introductory voice recognition app for Mac OS X Lion, has debuted in seven additional countries, supporting three additional languages. Dragon Express 1.1 now supports the French language in Canada, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland, the German language in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and the Italian language in Italy. Available exclusively for download from Apple’s Mac App Store, Dragon Express is an easy and fun way to put words to work without the hassle of typing, allowing users to do more in less time.

Released in late 2011, Dragon Express quickly rose to the top of the charts in the Mac App Store. It’s a fast, hands-free way to quickly turn speech into text, whether sending email, surfing the Web or posting an update to Facebook and Twitter. Dragon Express is priced to provide people with an opportunity to experience the power and performance of speech recognition.

“The excitement for Dragon Express has been overwhelming, and we’ve heard our customers’ requests for additional language support,” said Peter Mahoney, chief marketing officer, senior vice president and general manager, Dragon, Nuance Communications. “We know that people around the world are embracing speech as a useful and fun interface, and we’re excited to bring the Dragon Express app to a broader worldwide audience.”

Dragon Express can be conveniently accessed from the menu bar at any time and doesn’t require a network connection. Users dictate directly into the Dragon Express window, using the internal Mac microphone or a USB headset microphone (which can be purchased via http://www.nuance.com), and the text instantly appears in the Dragon Express window. When finished, Dragon Express places the transcribed text into the application of choice. The download comes with a short enrollment so that the app can better recognize a user’s unique voice.

Dragon Dictate, the most full-featured and advanced speech recognition software for Mac OS, was recently updated to version 2.5. Dragon Dictate 2.5 includes many features beyond those in Dragon Express. These features include the ability to dictate directly into applications, edit, format and correct recognition errors by voice, open and close applications by voice, control the mouse by voice, create custom voice commands and support for the Dragon Remote Mic app for iPhone.

Related articles

• Fantastical Mac Calendar gets updated with iCal and iOS reminders, bugfixes (9to5mac.com)

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Gruber: TBA sessions on WWDC schedule could point to apps for Apple TV

Jordan Kahn May 30 2012 - 3:19 pm PT

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In a post where he admittedly overanalyzed the recently released schedule for WWDC 2012, Daring Fireball’s John Gruber speculated that the high amount of “To Be Announced” sessions could indicate the launch of a new developer platform. His bet? Apps for Apple TV:

To me, this is what a preliminary WWDC conference schedule would look like if Apple were set to announce a new developer platform, like, say, apps for Apple TV. Apps for Apple TV is just a guess — I’ve heard not a single whisper about such a thing from any Cupertino area little birdies. (Cf. the aforementioned Tim Cook quote about Apple doubling down on secrecy.) But it’s one of the few things I can imagine would that would be big, new, and different enough to warrant that much attention at WWDC.

This tidbit follows reports from this morning that claimed Apple is set to introduce a new Apple TV OS and APIs, which could work with the unconfirmed Apple HDTV. We noted this morning that a new Apple TV OS raised questions, especially because Apple introduced a revamped Apple TV UI in March. We will have to wait a couple weeks to find out for sure, but we are expecting to see at least thinner, redesigned MacBook Pros, iOS 6, and Mountain Lion. Some of the TBA sessions could be for Retina Mac apps.

Apple will kick off WWDC with its keynote presentation at 10 a.m. PST on June 11.

Related articles

• Tim Cook: We’ve sold 2.7m Apple TVs this year (9to5mac.com)

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Fantastical Mac Calendar gets updated with iCal and iOS reminders, bugfixes

Seth Weintraub May 30 2012 - 9:06 am PT

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.

Perhaps our favorite Mac Calendaring app got a big update today: Fantastical (App Store—$19.99) now supports iCal and iOS reminders. It is free for all existing customers. The press release follows:
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