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6,235 'Apps' stories April 2010 - October 2015
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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.

Twitter launches its ‘Project Lightning’ curated news & events feature called Moments

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 6 2015 - 6:23 am PT
4 Comments

Just a day after Jack Dorsey was named permanent CEO of Twitter, the social network is launching a big new feature in its app called Moments. What started as Project Lightning showcases for a lot of users the best part of Twitter: keeping caught up with in-the-moment news that you care about. The new Moments feature can be found behind the lightning bolt icon through Twitter’s mobile apps and on the web in the US.
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More than 30% of U.S. children first use a mobile device while in diapers, says American Academy of Pediatrics

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 6 2015 - 5:15 am PT
6 Comments

Updated parental guidelines are needed to help make informed decisions about the use of technology by children, says the American Academy of Pediatrics, as it revealed that more than 30% of U.S. children first use a mobile device while still in diapers. The AAP says that “digital life begins at a young age, and so must parental guidance.”

The Academy says that its existing policy statement was actually drafted before the first iPad was launched. A two-day symposium held earlier this year generated twelve key messages, based not just on limiting screen time but also on distinguishing helpful from harmful use of technology … 
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Beddit launches Apple Watch sleep tracking app as Smart Sleep Tracker comes to Apple Stores

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 6 2015 - 2:59 am PT
13 Comments
beddit apple watch

Sleep tracking accessory maker Beddit is out with a new watchOS 2 app for Apple Watch today. Because Beddit offers a dedicated sensor for tracking your sleep duration and quality each night, Apple Watch is able to charge overnight as needed and still present sleep data in the morning. Thanks to hardware access granted to native software, Beddit’s watchOS 2 app lets Apple Watch double as a sleep tracker during the day for measuring naps and creating silent alarms. Just as Beddit’s watchOS 2 app is hitting the App Store, Beddit’s Smart Sleep Tracker is coming to Apple Stores around the world and apple.com for the first time starting today…
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YouTube for iOS updated w/ Material Design interface, in-app video editing tools

Avatar for Chance Miller Oct 5 2015 - 4:48 pm PT
11 Comments

After a long time in scattered A/B testing, YouTube today has updated its iOS app with a brand new design very reminiscent of its Material Design theme that has graced its other iOS apps recently, as well.

YouTube says that the new interface makes it even easier to find and discover new content. Recommended videos, favorite channels, and subscriptions are all directly accessible from the homescreen of the app by either swiping left and right or tapping on the icons. As you can see in the screenshots above and below, a variety of other changes are also present when it comes to the interface of the app.

In addition the redesigned interface, today’s update also brings in-app editing tools to YouTube on iOS, a feature that will certainly be welcomed by on-the-go vloggers.

The redesigned YouTube app makes it easier to find what you love. Now your recommended videos, favorite channels, and subscriptions can be accessed by tapping each icon or swiping your screen. You can also create fun videos on the fly with new in-app editing tools.

 The latest version of the YouTube app is available now on the App Store for free.

First look: Using Apple’s new Audio Unit plug-ins in iOS 9

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 5 2015 - 11:37 am PT
2 Comments

With iOS 9 released late last month, Apple introduced a full-fledged audio plug-in framework for the first time on its mobile devices, allowing iPhone and iPad apps to implement support for third-party audio plug-ins just like on a Mac.

In fact, the audio plugin framework comes in the form of Audio Unit version 3, an updated version of the file type Apple has long used on the Mac for audio plug-ins in professional-class apps like Logic Pro.

Now that iOS 9 is available to all, we took the feature for a test drive using a couple of the very first apps to update with support…
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9to5Toys Last Call: Retina MacBook Pro $1,080, 13″ MacBook Air $800, Bluetooth audio adapter $8, more

Avatar for Oct 5 2015 - 9:12 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

Mattel’s retro-rebooted $30 VR View-Master is now available for iOS and Android

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/651138682674507776 align=’center’]

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13″ Retina MacBook Pro 2.7GHz/8GB/128GB (MF839LL/A): $1,080 shipped (Reg. $1,299)

13″ MacBook Air 1.6GHz/4GB/128GB (MJVE2LL/A): $800 shipped (Reg. $999)

Add Bluetooth/mic to any Aux speaker or headphones for $8 Prime shipped

Giveaway: Trinity Delta aluminum earbuds feature a unique design and top-notch sound ($135 value), 20% discount

Review: Rock Band 4 makes an old favorite come alive with refreshed gameplay, new songs & updated hardware

More new gear from today:

Add a TiVO Roamio OTA HD DVR w/ Lifetime service to your Cord Cutter setup for a one-time $300 fee

More deals still alive:

The Executive for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($5 value)

New products & more:

The Sondors eBike is loaded with features and surprisingly affordable

 

Adobe debuts Photoshop Fix + Capture CC, Mix + Lightroom iOS and desktop updates, more

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 5 2015 - 6:00 am PT
0 Comments

With Adobe Max Creative Conference kicking off later today, it’s time for the wraps to come off the latest advancements in Creative Cloud including new apps for iPhone and iPad.

New from Adobe this year is the Photoshop Fix image retouching iOS app (seen above), Capture CC for iOS and Android which turns images into color themes and brushes, enhanced versions of Photoshop Mix for image composition and Lightroom for iPhone and iPad with new features, a new Portfolio tool for sharing and promoting graphic design work, video content coming to Adobe Stock, plus annual updates to CC desktop apps and CreativeSync.

Many of these apps and updates are available today with others coming later this year, and we’re expecting to hear even more news out of Max which kicks off at 9:30 am PT/12:30 pm ET later today including new details on what Adobe is calling Project Comet (Update: details here), a UX design solution on desktop with a mobile companion. Read on for all the details on the latest from Adobe so far.


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Macphun debuts Creative Kit 2016, six Pro photo editing apps with OS X Photos plug-ins

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Oct 2 2015 - 1:07 pm PT
18 Comments

Macphun, maker of elegantly powerful photo editing tools including Tonality, Noiseless, and FX Photo Studio, has announced the impending release of Creative Kit 2016 — a bundle of 6 of the company’s Pro apps for a discounted price of $150. Creative Kit 2016 includes:

Noiseless CK (reviewed here) and Tonality CK (reviewed here), separately capable of eliminating various types of noise from images, and converting color images into beautiful black and white versions — both highly impressive, as our reviews discuss;

FX Photo Studio CK, a filter, frame, and brush-based photo editing tool that lets you convert simple photos into pieces of art; and

Snapheal CK, Focus CK, and Intensify CK, apps to erase unwanted items from photos, add lens effects such as blurs, or enhance subtle details in your images, respectively…


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9to5Toys Last Call: Jawbone BIG JAMBOX $120, Staples $100 gift card for $85, Klipsch TV Sound System $159, more

Avatar for Oct 2 2015 - 9:00 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

The Executive for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($5 value)

Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker (dented box) $120 shipped (Reg. $180)

UE ROLL 360 Bluetooth Speaker (all colors): $90 shipped (Reg. $100)

Inateck MercuryBox Aluminum Bluetooth 4.0 Ultra-Portable Speaker: $37 shipped (Reg. $46)

Omaker M4 Splashproof Bluetooth Speaker: $19 Prime shipped (Reg. $35)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/649965417776160768 align=’center’]

Staples $100 Gift Card w/ email delivery for $85 from PayPal (15% off): save on Apple gear, Beats, office supplies, more

The best-selling Klipsch SB 120 Bluetooth TV Sound System is on sale for $159 shipped (Reg. $260+)

App Store Gorgeous Games for $1 Sale: Tengami, Superbrothers, KAMI, Icebreaker, Out There, many more

Games/Apps: True Skate for iOS goes free (Reg. $2), WWE 2K15 $20, Notes Plus 50% off, more

App Store Free App of the Week: Combo Quest RPG goes free for the first time ($1 value)

EA’s new free-to-play Need for Speed No Limits is now available on iOS and Android

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi: 16GB $380 shipped (Reg. $499), 64GB $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: LG WXGA LED Minibeam Projector $300, Westinghouse 24-inch LED 1080p HDTV $100, more

More deals still alive:

Lenmar MAVEN iPhone 6 MFi Apple-Certified 3,000mAh Battery Case $29 shipped (Orig. $100), more

Get a no-contract iPhone 6s from Boost Mobile for just $450 shipped (Orig. $649)

New products & more:

These Bluetooth earbuds use your iPhone’s Lightning port to charge

BRO Ball combines Bluetooth audio and pigskin for the ultimate tailgate companion

Skype iOS app updated with support for Slide Over, Split View and more

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Oct 2 2015 - 6:31 am PT
1 Comment

Microsoft has updated its Skype for iPhone and iPad apps to add support for two new features in iOS 9: Slide Over and Split View. This follows close behind its update of the Mac app to add Split View in El Capitan.

Millions of people use Skype every day to share URLs and photos. iOS9’s new Split View and Slide Over capabilities let you use Skype while using another app alongside it, making sharing your content even better. Imagine you’re planning a night out in London with a group of friends using IM or a group voice call. Now you can share links to bars and restaurants and decide on the best place to meet without having to leave the app, just click on the shared content and bring it alongside your Skype conversation. It’s a great way to get things done together … 


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Opinion: Is iOS’s Home screen heading towards text-free 3D icons?

Avatar for Jeremy Horwitz Oct 1 2015 - 11:23 am PT
56 Comments

Is Apple considering another round of major changes to iOS’s Home screen? If watchOS and tvOS are any indication, the answer could be “yes.” Earlier this year, Apple launched the Apple Watch with a purely text-free Home screen, requiring users to identify 20-some initial apps (and manually-added third-party apps) by icon designs alone. This month, it will release the fourth-generation Apple TV with a refreshed UI, again almost entirely eliminating below-app text in favor of redesigned icons with 3D depth.

While it would be easy to write off Apple’s changes to text labels as one-off decisions for “really small screen” and “really big screen” devices, they collectively raise an interesting question: if developers properly redesigned their iOS icons, would text labels — a staple of graphical user interfaces for decades — really be necessary any more? I’ll take a look at some of the pros and cons below…


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HBO Now updated with iOS 9’s picture-in-picture iPad feature

Avatar for Zac Hall Oct 1 2015 - 11:19 am PT
2 Comments

One of iOS 9’s most useful features on modern iPads is the ability to playback videos from the Home screen or other apps using picture-in-picture. Video services have to opt-in to supporting PIP, though, so it means App Store apps must be updated before the feature works.

HBO has done just that with their iOS 9 update for iPad, supporting picture-in-picture when you leave the HBO Now app while you’re watching a movie or TV show. The feature is only mentioned in the update for the standalone HBO Now service, however, so the HBO Go version which requires a cable subscription may not support it.
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Tweetbot 4 for iOS adds redesigned iPad UI and new activity view that puts Twitter’s to shame

Avatar for Mike Beasley Oct 1 2015 - 9:10 am PT
10 Comments

Tweetbot for iOS has undergone another big upgrade today. The new release marks the first time the iPad version of the app has been redesigned to match the all-new UI introduced in iOS 7. iPhone users need not feel left out, however, as this update has a set of new features and design tweaks for you as well.

Let’s dive right in and take a look at what’s new.


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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air Wi-FI + LTE $300, iPhone 6 Battery Case $29, UE Roll Bluetooth Speaker $90, more

Avatar for Oct 1 2015 - 8:58 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

App Store Gorgeous Games for $1 Sale: Tengami, Superbrothers, KAMI, Icebreaker, Out There, many more

Apple iPad Air 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular (AT&T or Verizon) for $300 shipped (Reg. $529)

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi: 16GB $380 shipped (Reg. $499), 64GB $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

Lenmar MAVEN iPhone 6 MFi Apple-Certified 3,000mAh Battery Case $29 shipped (Orig. $100), more

UE ROLL 360 Bluetooth Speaker (all colors): $90 shipped (Reg. $100)

Get a no-contract iPhone 6s from Boost Mobile for just $450 shipped (Orig. $649)

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: FitDesk v2.0 Exercise Bike w/ Massage Bar $205, SanDisk Ultra 32GB Micro USB/USB 3.0 Flash Drive $11, more

More deals still alive:

Free PS Plus Games for October: Super Meat Boy, Broken Age, Kickbeat, more

Free Xbox Live Gold Games for October: Valiant Hearts, The Walking Dead, more

Networking: ZyXEL AV500 Powerline $25 shipped (Reg. $50+), travel routers, more

New products & more

TiVo makes the DVR sexy with 4K content, AirPlay and one-click commercial skipping

Skype for Mac now supports Split View on OS X El Capitan

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 30 2015 - 12:49 pm PT
3 Comments

Just in time for Apple’s official release of OS X El Capitan, Microsoft is out with a new version of Skype with features only available on the new operating system. Available in Skype 7.13 for Mac, the messaging and video chatting app now supports Apple’s new Split View feature for running Skype side-by-side with another full screen app. 
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Popular Reeder 3 RSS client hits the Mac App Store with redesigned themes + OS X El Capitan features

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 30 2015 - 9:42 am PT
4 Comments

Timed cleverly with the launch of OS X El Capitan, the popular RSS client Reeder is officially out with version 3.0 today with full support for OS X 10.11. As we first saw in Reeder 3’s public beta, the latest version of the feed reader includes a selection of Yosemite and El Capitan style themes with translucency and modern design.

OS X El Capitan users will benefit from new features including using Reeder in split-screen mode next to other supported full-screen apps. The new version also supports Apple’s new system font, San Francisco, plus a lot of customization options to make the reading environment best fit your needs. Check out the full release notes below:

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9to5Toys Last Call: Anker Dual-USB Solar Charger $40, WD 4TB NAS $160, Cards Against Humanity 20% off, more

Avatar for Sep 30 2015 - 9:06 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

TiVo makes the DVR sexy with 4K content, AirPlay and one-click commercial skipping

Anker 14W Dual-USB Port Solar Charger: $40 shipped (Reg. $50+)

WD My Cloud 4TB Personal Cloud Storage NAS $160 shipped (Orig. $220)

Amazon Gold Box – Cards Against Humanity 20% off: Starter Kit ($20) and Expansion Packs ($8)

Get a no-contract iPhone 6s from Boost Mobile for just $450 shipped (Orig. $649)

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi: 16GB $380 shipped (Reg. $499), 64GB $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

More new gear from today:

LG 34-inch 21:9 UltraWide LED IPS Monitor: $620 shipped (Reg. $780+)

More deals still alive:

USB Power: Anker 15,600mAh Battery Pack $24 (Reg. $30), Lumsing Wall Charger + 3-ft. MFi Lightning Cable $10, more

Four magazine subs for $16 (or less): Wired, Dwell, ESPN, GQ, Rolling Stone, Men’s Fitness, and many more

New products & more:

Bose’s latest connected speaker lowers the entry price into the SoundTouch family

Keurig’s new KOLD brewer lets you make Coca-Cola at home but it’s going to cost you

Google wants Apple Music to play on Chromecast Audio … but Apple is silent for now

Avatar for Stephen Hall Sep 30 2015 - 8:54 am PT
17 Comments

During the announcement of Google’s Chromecast Audio yesterday, the company made sure to mention that music subscription leader Spotify will soon be one of the many music streaming services supported by the platform. With many Apple Music subscriptions renewing (or not renewing) and Google unveiling a $35 dongle that retrofits our existing home speakers with Wi-Fi, some are rightfully wondering: What about Apple Music?

According to statements from one Googler (via TrustedReviews), Google has no bar on any platform joining in on supporting Chromecast, and the Mountain View company has already directly asked Apple to play along…
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Apple strikes US drone attack-reporting ‘Metadata+’ from App Store

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 30 2015 - 7:52 am PT
15 Comments

As long as there has been an App Store, Apple has practiced strong discretion over which apps it approves and which it doesn’t allow on the iPhone and iPad. This has sometimes meant controversy for Apple, as its judgement is called into question when apps that were once approved are sometimes pulled for questionable reasons. Metadata+, an app that sends iPhone users alerts when a US drone strike leads to death, is the latest casualty, The Guardian reports…
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Box debuts ‘Capture’ iPhone app that lets businesses create workflows using the camera

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 29 2015 - 11:00 am PT
0 Comments


After chatting with Tim Cook about Apple and the enterprise at BoxWorks today, Box took the wraps off a new app for business customers using the iPhone camera. Box Capture is an iOS-only app with enterprise-friendly features like security compliance built on Box’s mobile software development tools.
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iTunes Connect update adds Push Notifications for app review and other important status changes

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Sep 29 2015 - 10:50 am PT
0 Comments

Apple has rolled out version 3.1 of its mobile client for iTunes Connect for iPhone and iPad users. The update adds new push notification options to keep up to date with changes to your apps as a developer. For instance, you can now be informed when your app moves to in review, when your iTunes Connect contracts expire or when you receive royalties for incoming payments.


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9to5Toys Last Call: SanDisk Wi-Fi flash drive $30, Bluetooth 4.1 sport headphones $18, iPad Air 2 $380, more

Avatar for Justin Kahn Sep 29 2015 - 9:07 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates: 

Get a no-contract iPhone 6s from Boost Mobile for just $450 shipped (Orig. $649)

SanDisk Connect Wi-Fi Flash Drive for iOS/Android: 64GB $50 (Reg. $60), 32GB $30 (Reg. $40)

Daily Deals: Aukey Bluetooth 4.1 sweat-proof Headphones $18, SanDisk 128GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive $24, more

Apple iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi: 16GB $380 shipped (Reg. $499), 64GB $490 shipped (Reg. $599)

iTunes gift cards 20% off: $100 for $80, $50 for $40, $25 for $20 shipped

Gift Cards w/ email delivery: Staples $100 for $85, Applebee’s $50 for $40, other restaurants, more

Review: JBL’s new Xtreme Bluetooth speaker goes big on sound and design

More new gear from today:

Gold Box – D-Link DOCIS 3.0 Cable Modem for Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, more $60 shipped (Reg. $80)

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/648841547312726017 align=’center’]

More deals still alive:

USB Power: Anker 15,600mAh Battery Pack $24 (Reg. $30), Lumsing Wall Charger + 3-ft. MFi Lightning Cable $10, more

Keep your Wi-Fi running during a power outage – APC Network Backup UPS w/ dual USB: $40 shipped (Reg. $65)

New products & more:

GoPro introduces a new cost-effective action camera with Wi-Fi capabilities

Exploride combines the best iPhone features into one safe head-up display unit for your car

Microsoft is announcing a new Xbox One bundle every day this week

9to5Toys Last Call: iTunes Gift Cards 20% off, APC 8-Outlet UPS $42, Anker 15,600mAh Power Bank $24, more

Avatar for Sep 28 2015 - 9:03 am PT
0 Comments

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call Updates:

SanDisk Connect Wi-Fi Flash Drive for iOS/Android: 64GB $50 (Reg. $60), 32GB $30 (Reg. $40)

iTunes gift cards 20% off: $100 for $80, $50 for $40, $25 for $20 shipped

Gift Cards w/ email delivery: Staples $100 for $85, Applebee’s $50 for $40, other restaurants, more

Daily Deals: APC Back-UPS 550VA 8-outlet UPS $42, BenQ 1080p DLP Projector $630, more

Keep your Wi-Fi running during a power outage – APC Network Backup UPS w/ dual USB: $40 shipped (Reg. $65)

USB Power: Anker 15,600mAh Battery Pack $24 (Reg. $30), Lumsing Wall Charger + 3-ft. MFi Lightning Cable $10, more

GoPro introduces a new cost-effective action camera with Wi-Fi capabilities

Review: JBL’s new Xtreme Bluetooth speaker goes big on sound and design

More new gear from today:

Games/Apps: Dishonored Definitive $30, Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars Starter Pack $50, iOS freebies, more

More deals still alive:

App Store Free App of the Week: Doodle Jump SpongeBob SquarePants ($2 value)

GoPro HERO4 Session + $40 Amazon Gift Card: $299 ($440 value)

New products & more:

You can make the new J-Force electric surfboard go 0-35MPH with the bend of your finger

Apple’s new Beats Active Collection brings sporty colors to familiar headphones