Skip to main content

Apps

See All Stories

Learn about the latest news for iOS, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV apps

Apps for iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS power our modern world. 9to5Mac will update you on the latest news, review, and updates for all types of apps. “There’s an App for that”.

The term came became part of our vocabulary when Steve Jobs announced The App Store as part of the iPhone 2.0 software update in 2008.

Over the years, the term has become as common as kleenex for describing applications on all of our devices. Apple’s platforms have apps for just about anything from finance, banking, sports, social media, podcasting, music, and more. We have a guide for helping you discover the best ones as well. Apps are now on everything from our TV, to our smartphones, on our laptops, and all the way down to our wrists.

As new ones are released or existing ones have major updates, the team here at 9to5Mac will bring you the latest news and reviews. If you want to follow along with video footage, be sure to follow 9to5Mac on YouTube. Scroll down below our latest updates on all things relating to applications on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.

Apple removes Rogue Amoeba’s audio streaming app without reason (Update: Apple explains)

Site default logo image

Update May 25: Following yesterday’s story, The Verge reported today that Apple has confirmed it removed the Airfoil Speakers Touch app after its recent 3.0 update introduced the ability to stream over AirPlay from other iOS devices. Apple said it is against Review Guideline 2.5: Apps that use non-public APIs will be rejected. Verge explained:

The feature in question permits any iOS device running the app to play back audio beamed from a variety of sources using Apple’s AirPlay wireless streaming protocol. Apple presently only allows designated products to act in this capacity — such as the Apple TV and (often expensive) AirPlay-enabled third-party hardware

We have seen Apple both reject and remove apps for many reasons in the past. It is often due to an icon or name that is too close to one of Apple’s own apps. Sometimes, however, apps are removed if they boast features that mimic or are too similar to the core functionality of iOS. Today, Daring Fireball pointed us to a post from Paul Kafasis of developer Rogue Amoeba, who wrote that the company’s Airfoil Speakers Touch app that is designed to send audio between Macs and iOS devices has now been removed from the App Store after being available since 2009.

Although Kafasis noted Apple has not given a clear reason why the app was removed, many are speculating it is due to a new feature introduced in a recent update to the app:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google follows in Apple’s footsteps, opens in-app subscriptions for Google Play apps

Apple unveiled in-app subscriptions for all App Store apps over a year ago, and now Google has announced the same feature today for Google Play apps. The feature is available immediately to users and developers alike for all content-based apps like magazines, newspapers, video, music, and any other type of recurring service that a developer could monetize.

Get the full story at 9to5Google.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apps & updates: Tweetbot 2.4, Infinity Blade II: Vault of Tears, Cut the Rope Experiments, more

Site default logo image

Other than the launch of the new Instagram clone “Facebook Camera” app, the biggest update today goes to the popular Tweetbot Twitter client for iPhone that is now at version 2.4. Included in the massive update is a new search view, as well as access to Trends, Top Tweets, and People that are now together in a single browse section. Nearby tweets were added with an option to change the location, and a ton of improvements to search, including location-based keywords and the ability to change trends’ location from within search view. And, that is only some of the features and fixes included Tweetbot 2.4.

Below is a complete list of features included in the update, with other notable apps and updates to hit the App Store today including the Infinity Blade II: Vault of Tears content pack.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Facebook launches Facebook Camera for iPhone, complete with filters and batch photo uploading

Site default logo image

Just after its proposed $1 billion acquisition of mobile photo sharing service Instagram, Facebook announced Facebook Camera for iPhone in a blog post this afternoon. The app features filters just like Instagram, and it has the ability to upload a batch of photos at once. The regular Facebook app only allows you to upload one photo at a time. Upon first opening Camera, it detects any Facebook accounts already associated with the iPhone, so you can upload photos immediately. Facebook Camera for iOS is now available on the iTunes App Store.

As you can tell from the screenshots of the app in the gallery below, it reminds us a lot of Instagram. There is also the ability to view your friend’s photos in a single timeline. Complete with filters and quick-sharing options, it is almost as if Facebook launched a competitor to its own app.

Here is the full breakdown of features:


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apple’s VP for Europe Pascal Cagni says au revoir

Site default logo image

Le Figaro, a well-respected 186-year-old French daily newspaper, just reported that Apple’s Vice President and General Manager for Europe, Middle East, and Africa Pascal Cagni resigned yesterday.

During his 12 years at Apple, according to Le Figaro, the French executive stimulated Apple’s sales in hundreds of countries. He also engaged in the development of the iPod, iPhone, and the AppStore platform, while helping to expand Apple Stores.

Cagni joined Apple as the Vice President of Europe in 2000, according to Apple’s website, and before that he worked at NEC/Packard Bell Europe as the Vice President of Consumer Products. He previously held sales management posts at Software Publishing Corporation and Compaq Computer. Cagni obtained an M.A. in Law at Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris and an M.B.A. from Institut Superieur des Affaires. Le Figaro noted that Cagni is a graduate of HEC and Sciences Po He and a former member of the Ernst & Young Europe advisory board and the Council of Foreign Trade of France in the United Kingdom, but he now serves as a non-executive director for Kingfisher.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Yahoo launches its own iOS web browser called ‘Axis’, with a focus on syncing bookmarks

Perhaps following suit with Google’s plans, Yahoo has launched its own iOS web browser called “Axis” this evening (via CNET), which hopes to be the ultimate solution for syncing bookmarks and browsing the web. Taking a page out of Instapaper, Readability, or Read it Later’s book, Axis installs as a desktop browser extension on Safari, Chrome, or Firefox and keeps bookmarks synced to the Axis iOS app. From the iOS app, you can browse bookmarks from your desktop, view any webpage you like, and take advantage of Axis’ social features that allow you to share webpages with Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and more. The browser also has a focus on media and shows you the latest trends as you search. In Yahoo’s demo video for the app, Axis takes a popular Chrome feature that many have come to love—search autocomplete—and displays instant information. Engadget took Axis for a spin, claiming: “The desktop browser extension largely stays out of your way until you need it, although we’re surprised the social sharing elements are left out. On the mobile side, it is effectively a full, tabbed web browser, and a fairly solid (if simple) one at that. Most of the advantage comes through having the deeper search options just a pull away.”

Yahoo Axis is available for download now from its website. Google is also rumored to launch a “Chrome for iOS” app, so it will be interesting to see how it compares to iOS’ Safari and now Yahoo Axis. Let us know in the comments how it works for you.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google Search iPhone app completely redesigned for speed and full screen searching

Google updated its Google Search iPhone app to version 2.0.0 today, which introduced a completely redesigned app that focuses on improvements to speed and full screen browsing features. Among the new features are an auto full screen mode that hides controls when scrolling down and reveals when scrolling up, and a new full-screen image search view.

The updated app also includes “major speed improvements,” a built-in text finder for webpages, and quick links to Gmail, Calendar, Docs, and search options such as images, places, and news. The iPad did not receive the same update, but both the iPhone and iPad will now be able to save images to the iOS camera roll.

A full list of features is below, while the updated app is available on the App Store now.

✓ Complete redesign

✓ Major speed improvements

✓ Auto full screen: scroll down to hide controls, scroll up to reveal

✓ Beautiful full-screen image search

✓ Swipe away webpages to quickly return to search results

✓ Search within a webpage using the built-in text finder

✓ Easily switch between images, places, news, and more

✓ Fast access to Google apps like Gmail, Calendar, Docs and more all from one place

Cross-posted on 9to5Google.com

Apps & updates: Diet Coda goes live, Draw Something & Opera Mini go Retina, more

Site default logo image

A few newsworthy apps and updates already landed in the App Store today including the Diet Coda development platform that we told you about a few days ago, and some Retina graphics updates for popular apps such as Draw Something and Opera Mini. Another notable app in the news today is Blizzard’s recently released Diablo III. The company announced on its site that it sold more than 4.7 million copies on launch day and more than 6.5 million in a week.

We will update the list throughout the day as more notable apps and updates are released:

Draw Something: OMGPOP’s massively popular Pictionary-style drawing game was updated today with “Bright, high resolution graphics” for users of the new third-generation iPad’s Retina display. Other improvements included in the update are a new password recovery system, a new loading screen, and the usual bug fixes. The free version of the app received the same update.

Diet Coda: We told you a couple days ago that developer Panic planned to release an iPad version of its Coda developer platform, and the app has already landed on at least the New Zealand store today. It is listed as $13.99, but it should go for $9.99 USD when it hits the U.S. App Store later today. That is a 50 percent discount as a launch special good until Thursday.

Some of the app’s features include remote editing of documents, FTP and SFTP File Management, Syntax Highlighting, and a “Revolutionary Super-Loupe” that allows for easy positioning of the cursor in iOS. It also has an “AirPreview” feature that allows you to use “your iPad as a dedicated preview window for Coda 2 on the Mac.”

Opera Mini Web Browser: Opera’s Mini web browser app for iPhone and iPad has always been a great third-party browser option on iOS, and it gets even better with a new UI today for the third-generation iPad’s Retina display, as well as a Data Usage option in the main menu, and various bug fixes and stability improvements.

Mint Personal Finance app: Intuit has updated its universal Mint.com Personal Finance iOS app today adding “two of your most requested features.” On both iPhone and iPad, you can now create and edit budgets as well as spilt transactions into multiple categories.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Reading List gains offline reading in recent Mountain Lion builds

Safari Reading List is definitely a nice, simple alternative to third party apps like Instapaper, Readability, and Pocket for those who use Safari. Reading List allows you to save and sync links for later reading between both your Mac and iOS devices. It has been known that offline reading is coming soon to Safari on Mountain Lion, and it looks like that feature finally landed. Found by Gear Live today and a commenter on Control Your Mac 10 days ago, offline reading was enabled in recent builds of Mountain Lion. However, offline reading is sadly still not available on iOS devices; although, we would guess iOS offline support is coming at some point.

Offline reading is pretty self-explanatory. While connected, you can mark items to read in your Reading List. Once the Internet is disconnected, you can still load the article thanks to a bit of caching work done on Apple’s end. Apps like Instapaper, Readability, and Pocket have offered a similar feature for quite some time, so it is nice to see Apple finally utilize offline reading.

Earlier this week, Instapaper owner Macro Arment said (video queued below) his app has been pretty much left unfazed after the introduction of Reading List over a year ago, which points to the lack of offline reading to a possibility why Reading List may have not caught steam. Sadly, you can only use Reading List in Safari too, so Chrome users are left to find another option. This looks to be like a nice solution for the mainstreamers, however.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Apps & updates: Hulu Plus, Time Warner Cable, Men In Black 3, Fox Business, more

Site default logo image

A few notable apps and updates landed in the App Store today including a significant update to the Hulu Plus iOS app, Retina optimizations for the Time Warner Cable app, and the official Men In Black 3 game from Gameloft. A full list of noteworthy app releases and updates from today is below:

Hulu Plus: The most significant app update today goes to the universal Hulu Plus iOS app. The new update brings a number of improvements, including: a “re-engineered, optimized video player”, support for the new iPad’s Retina display, and enhancements to AirPlay mirroring, and HDMI support. The update also includes a new UI for iPad and search options for new shows by genre.

Time Warner Cable TV: Much like just about every other iPad app update that takes advantage of the third-generation iPad’s Retina display, the TWC TV app for iPhone and iPad was updated today with optimizations for Retina displays—in addition to the usual bug fixes and performance enhancements.

Men in Black 3: Gameloft just released the official iOS tie-in for the new Men in Black 3 movie that appears to be a top-down strategy game of sorts. It is available as a free universal download for iPhone or iPad. It is already live in the New Zealand store and should hit the U.S. and elsewhere soon.

Fox Business for iPad: Financial news and videos from the Fox Business app get landscape mode, a new Data Wizard feature for tracking market activity, and news sub-sections to “drill down deeper into the news that matters to you.”

NBC Sports Talk for iPad: A decent update for the iOS app that brings the latest news and analysis from the NBC Sports network today adds support for Retina displays. It also includes the addition of CollegeBasketballTalk and ProSoccerTalk with other small UI tweaks.

NASA App for iPhone: NASA’s official iPhone app was updated with its biggest redesign since launching in 2009. The update includes a new interface, weather forecasts, a ton of new content and programs, and new features like the ability to favorite content and bookmark images.

CNN App for iPhone: CNN has a few iOS apps, but the latest update to its CNN App for iPhone turns it into one global consolidated app that offers CNNMoney and Opinion headlines, CNN blog stories, and the rest of the network into a single app including both U.S. and global news.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Juicebox brings slick HTML5 image galleries to iOS

Site default logo image

John Nack, Adobe’s principal product manager, has taken to his usual forum on the Adobe blogs to share a new HTML5 gallery recently debuted by developer Felix Turner. Turner is known for his PostcardViewer and other Photoshop-compatible image gallery applications that inspired Adobe to include Flash support in Photoshop’s built-in Photo Gallery. Turner’s new HTML5 gallery, called “Juicebox“, also works through Photoshop and Lightroom plug-ins (or through the company’s own app), and it has impressive options for iOS galleries.

A simulation of a Juicebox-Pro gallery on an iPhone (here), and demos of all the customization options are on the company’s website. Juicebox is available through a free lite version and paid licenses ranging from $50 to $99 for 1 to 5 domains, and it has a WordPress plug-in available. The Pro version packs over 70 additional configuration options, the ability add audio and watermarking, a Javascript API, and access to CSS and PNG files. Slick and responsive HTML5 galleries like these on iOS are definitely needed.

Late last month, Adobe launched its CS6 suite of 14 apps alongside its Creative Cloud service.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Sony releases ‘Music Unlimited’ Spotify competitor as iOS app

Site default logo image

Looking to usurp rival competitors like Spotify and MOG, Sony today launched its Music Unlimited streaming service as an iOS app. We told you in January that it was coming, but today the free app officially hits the App Store with subscriptions starting at $3.99 a month for varying access to the service’s 15 million+ songs and playback features. There is also a 30-day free trial of the premium service.

Previously only available to Android users and Sony products such as PlayStation 3 and Blu-ray players, the service offers two paid subscriptions options, including: a $4 Basic plan that provides basic channels and access to your own library; and a $10 Premium account giving you access to on demand playback for Sony’s catalogue, offline listening. The more expensive packages also offers the ability to create playlists, and access charts, new releases, and premium channels. Unlike Spotify, which recently debuted its iPad app, the Music Unlimited app does not have an iPad-specific version.

The Sony Music Unlimited app is available in the New Zealand App Store now, and it should hit the United States and other supported markets soon. As of March, Sony offered the service in 14 countries including the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. A full list of features for Basic and Premium subscribers is below:


Expand
Expanding
Close

Latest Mountain Lion update brings iOS-like automatic downloads for apps

Site default logo image

The latest update to OS X Mountain Lion Developer Preview 3 seems to have partially enabled iOS-style automatic app downloads in the App Store. Like on the iPhone and iPad, when you buy and install an app on one of your Macs, all of your other Macs logged into the same App Store account will automatically install the app too.

Unfortunately, the feature does not seem to be working completely. While the App Store will still offer to enable automatic downloads (as seen above), it does not actually install anything when you purchase apps from another computer. However, it does apparently show the app as being installed when you view it in the App Store. There is a good chance we will see at least one more developer preview, or at least a GM, in the coming weeks that should fully enable the feature.

Thanks, Zach!

Facebook rolling out new “Pages Manager” app for iPhone

Site default logo image

Facebook has just broken out another feature of their main app and released Pages Manager for the iPhone. The app appears to function just like the main Facebook app, but with all of the features dedicated to fan pages. It also features some new features like access to Facebook’s Insights for tracking analytics data, such as the number of people sharing your page and the total number of people who have been exposed to your brand through the page. Pages Manager available right now in New Zealand, and will be out in the US soon.

More screenshots after the break.

Thanks Daniel!


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Google launches Google+ integrated ‘Schemer’ app for iPhone

Google launched its Schemer social networking mobile app today as a free iPhone app in the App Store. It originally launched as an invite-only service in December, and then it released on Google Play in April. The service is a social network “all about the schemes” that allows you to post your plans for future activities, meet with friends, and get activities, or “schemes” recommended to you.

Get the full story at 9to5Google.

(via GigaOM)

Site default logo image

Apple, Disney discuss bringing WatchESPN feature to Apple TV (update: no)

Update: Bloomberg has updated its story to say that Disney and Apple are actually NOT in talks to bring the WatchESPN service to the Apple TV.

No deal is imminent with Apple, said Amy Phillips, a spokeswoman for Bristol, Connecticut-based ESPN.

“We’re not having conversations with Apple about authenticating WatchESPN,” Phillips said.

According to a report from Bloomberg, which cites ESPN executive Sean Bratches, Apple is currently in talks with Walt Disney’s ESPN network to bring the WatchESPN app, currently available for iPhone and iPad and recently opened up to Comcast customers, to Apple TV:

ESPN subscribers with AppleTV would gain access to the network’s Internet service on their sets. The sports network, which today announced programming for the TV season starting in September, said a deal isn’t imminent.

Bratches spoke with Bloomberg in an interview today:

Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Wolfram Mathematica coming to the iPad

It would appear that Wolfram, the company behind the Siri search engine, is bringing its original product, Mathematica, to the iPad. In response to a comment on Reddit, when asked if there was an iPad version of Wolfram for iPad in the works, Stephen Wolfram said, “stay tuned.”

What Is Mathematica?

Almost any workflow involves computing results, and that’s what Mathematica does—from building a hedge fund trading website or publishing interactive engineering textbooks to developing embedded image recognition algorithms or teaching calculus.

Mathematica is renowned as the world’s ultimate application for computations. But it’s much more—it’s the only development platform fully integrating computation into complete workflows, moving you seamlessly from initial ideas all the way to deployed individual or enterprise solutions.

Mathematica is huge in science/engineering education and application—a few of the many areas where the iPad is making huge inroads in personal computing.

Cheers Rudy!

Site default logo image

Open source QuickTime component Perian closing its doors soon

Dubbed the “Swiss-army knife for QuickTime,” open source QuickTime component Perian is finally closing down shop. The team of the six-year-old project announced the news today on their website and said the project will retire 90 days after Perian’s final release. The team also said the final release is coming soon and “may or may not work” in the upcoming Mountain Lion, and it will feature a ton of fixes. Luckily, it does not look like Perian’s technology will be hung out to dry, because the Perian team plans to put the source code on Google Code or Github when the time comes. This will allow developers to modify code and add new features for users to enjoy in an open source format.

Perian has been the go-to tool for those looking to add a slew of regular and not-so regular file and video types to QuickTime’s compatibility list, such as WMA, MPEG-4 Part 2, H.263, H.264, and more. Windows Media Video was pretty much the only popular video format that did not make the supported list.

Is anyone really bummed out?


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Review: DropCloud for iOS

[slideshow]

Note: Some of the screenshots in this slideshow are from the current beta version.

I love the CloudApp file sharing service, and I’ve tried my fair share of CloudApp clients for my iPhone. Unfortunately, most of the iOS clients that are currently available have been abandoned by the developers, receive few updates, or just aren’t that great. Enter DropCloud.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Sparrow to charge for push notifications with yearly subscriptions

Site default logo image

The last we heard, iOS email client Sparrow said push notifications were coming “with or without” Apple. Apple has decided not to extend the privilege of VOIP apps to Sparrow, which, due to latency issues, are allowed to keep an open network connection in the background for processes like notifications. The alternative forces non-VOIP, third-party apps—such as Sparrow– to send push notifications from its own servers. The company initially said it would not implement push notifications due to security and cost concerns, but confirmed in a blog post today, while announcing Sparrow v1.2, that it will soon offer push through a yearly subscription:

 

Expand
Expanding
Close

Adobe releases iPad versions of ‘Collage’ & ‘Proto’ apps

Site default logo image

Previously available only to Android users, Adobe released its Adobe Collage app to iPad users today for assembling “modern, conceptual moodboards.” It also released the Adobe Proto app for iPad that allows you to create prototypes of websites and mobile apps.

The Collage app allows users to import content from select Adobe Creative Suite applications, including PDFs, PSDs, and AI files, as well as upload and access existing content stored in your complimentary 2GB Adobe Creative Cloud account. Once you have content imported from Adobe apps or the Web, the app provides a canvas, multiple pen types, text tools, various fonts, and other tools for incorporating images, video, text, and drawings into a collage-style piece of art.

Adobe’s Proto app allows you to “sketch website and mobile app wireframe layouts with simple finger strokes on your tablet’s touchscreen” using a CSS grid system, WebKit preview, jQuery support, and the ability to sync wireframes to Creative Cloud and to Dreamweaver CS6.

The Adobe Collage app for iPad is available on the App Store now for $9.99, and the Adobe Proto app is available for the same price (here). Adobe also updated its Photoshop Touch iPad app today with a ton of new features including new 2,048-by-2,048 resolution settings, auto-sync for Creative Cloud, new languages, and much more. A full list of features for Proto and Collage is below:


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Adobe Photoshop Touch updated to version 1.2

The Adobe Photoshop Touch iOS app received a slew of fixes and small new features this morning after being updated to version 1.2 overnight. The most notable feature in version 1.2 is a new maximum resolution of 2,048-by-2,048 pixels for images. The default measurement will still be 1,600-by-1,600 pixels, but for those looking for a little more can change it in the app’s settings. Sadly, Photoshop Touch still is not Retina-compatible. Other new features include:

  • Automatic synchronization with Creative Cloud
  • Available in 6 languages (English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, Italian)
  • Added export to PSD and PNG via Camera Roll or email.
  • Improved rotate and flip image workflow.
  • Added ability to transfer images to desktop via iTunes.
  • Added two new Tutorials.
  • Added four new Effects (Watercolor Paint, HDR Look, Soft Light and Soft Skin).

As for fixes, Adobe corrected the supported languages in iTunes and fixed an issue with logging in via Facebook. You can grab this update over on the App Store.
Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

Angry Birds creator confirms name of next game to be ‘Amazing Alex’

Are you such an Angry Birds fan that you just cannot wait for the next game out of Rovio? Luckily, for you, that time seems to be coming soon. As noted by The Next Web, Rovio’s CEO announced on a Finnish TV channel that the Angry Birds successor is called “Amazing Alex.” The game will have an educational aspect, and it will be based around “a curious young boy who loves to build things.” Rovio is looking to the game Casey’s Contraptions as a building block.

Making this game high quality is key for Rovio —if they want this game to have a huge success like Angry Birds. Angry Birds is considered one of the most popular mobile games of all times. It hit a total of 1 billion downloads, which helped push the company to a first-quarter revenue of 75.4 million euros ($106,3 million USD). Those kinds of numbers for Amazing Alex will be hard to come by.

Rovio’s CEO Mikael Hed is aware he needs to keep those standards. He said “quality pressure is high,” and they want “to maintain the high standard Angry Birds fans have come to enjoy.”

The release date for the new game was not given.


Expand
Expanding
Close

Site default logo image

RadioShack is offering $50 discount on iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

RadioShack is having a $50 discount sale on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S on all carriers until June 30. The deal is valid at every RadioShack location and can combine with trade-ins through the company’s Trade and Save program. Target is also offering a similar $50 price cut on the iOS smartphones. That means the 8GB iPhone 4 is $49, and the 16GB iPhone 4S is $149, etc., at both retail stores.


Expand
Expanding
Close