Apps

While Americans got the new Apple News app as part of iOS 9, Brits are going to have to wait a little longer – it’s currently in the beta of iOS 9.1. As Engadget notes, that suggests it may be around a month (or more) away.

But if you want to take a look now, you can, just by changing your region from the UK to USA. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region > Region and set it to United States. Confirm, wait a few seconds while your iPhone makes the changes (the screen may switch off for 5-10 seconds at this point) and then the News app should magically appear.

Frankly, though, having taken a look at the app, it doesn’t strike me as a great improvement on Newsstand … I’ll be sticking to the web, thanks.

Ford launches Apple Watch app to find & control your car, but only for three models so far

Ben Lovejoy Sep 17 2015 - 4:36 am PT

Ford has updated its MyFord Mobile iPhone app to add Apple Watch support for its three electric and hybrid cars. The Watch app allows you to get walking directions back to your car, check battery status and range, lock and unlock the car, start it remotely and check a range of stats …
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BBC iPlayer latest app to support new Picture in Picture feature in iOS 9 [Update: MLB At Bat too]

Ben Lovejoy Sep 17 2015 - 3:58 am PT

The BBC iPlayer app, which provides streaming and downloadable access to BBC television shows in the UK, has joined Hulu and Pocket in supporting the new Picture in Picture feature in iOS 9.

As with other apps, press the home button once while playing a show and the video window becomes a small floating window that you can resize and reposition while using other iPad apps. The functionality is available on the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 2 and 3.

iPlayer is a free download from iTunes. MLB At Bat has also joined the party.

Via Engadget

Hulu and Pocket for iOS updated w/ support for iOS 9’s Picture in Picture feature

Chance Miller Sep 16 2015 - 5:54 pm PT

We’ve already rounded up several apps this week that have been updated with iOS 9 support and that rollout continues tonight to a pair of popular apps. This evening, both Pocket and Hulu for iOS have been updated with support for the latest version of Apple’s operating system. Pocket has been updated to version 6.0.1, while Hulu has been updated to 4.6.1.

The new Apple TV might not do 4K but iMovie for iOS can with latest update

Mike Beasley Sep 16 2015 - 2:10 pm PT

In the lead-up to the release of the iPhone 6s, with its new 4K video camera, Apple has released an updated version of iMovie for iOS that enables editing of 4K video on the latest devices. The update also adds 3D Touch support to help users start a new project more quickly from the home screen.

1Password 6 debuts with refreshed design, new password generator options, and iOS 9 features

Mike Beasley Sep 16 2015 - 1:32 pm PT

8 Comments

AgileBits has pushed out the latest version of its popular password management app, 1Password. The update brings support for new iOS 9-exclusive features, such as the ability to search for your saved passwords directly through the native iOS Spotlight screen.

Twitter for iOS 9 enables quick reply to tweets directly from the notification, adds iPad multitasking support

Benjamin Mayo Sep 16 2015 - 12:30 pm PT

Twitter has updated its app with support for iOS 9 features, following the release of iOS 9 earlier today. The update adds multitasking support on iPad, so you can now browse Safari (or do anything really) whilst having Twitter docked in a side column.

More importantly, Twitter adds quick reply to mention notifications. This means you can reply from the tweet without having to enter the app, just like how quick replies with the iOS Messages app. This is a big boon for productivity. Activate quick replies by pulling down on the notification banner to reveal a text box. Type your reply in the message box and press Send — that’s it.

Apple’s new ‘Switch to iOS from Android’ app hits the Google Play Store

Zac Hall Sep 16 2015 - 12:02 pm PT

14 Comments

Sure, technically Apple’s first Android app was the now discontinued Beats Music which it picked up through acquisition last year and it’s developing Apple Music for Google’s platform, but it’s very fitting that Apple’s first in-house app is called Switch to iOS from Android. Apple first announced the new Android app this year alongside iOS 9 at its developer conference, and today with iOS 9’s official launch the Move to iOS app is officially available on the Google Play Store. Here’s how it works:
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Pinterest updated for iOS 9 w/ Spotlight search, 3D Touch on iPhone 6s, more

Jordan Kahn Sep 16 2015 - 10:49 am PT

Pinterest just announced an updated iOS app that introduces a number of new features just in time for Apple’s release of iOS 9 today. The app gets support for iOS 9 features, starting with the ability to search for Pins, Pinners, and boards you’ve viewed from within iOS’s new Spotlight search:

As you view Pins, Pinners and boards, you’ll be able to search for them later right from your iPhone or iPad’s search screen. If you’re planning a Halloween costume and know you’ve seen good ideas on Pinterest, search “costume” and we’ll show you search results right on your phone. The more Pins you view on Pinterest, the more you can search for them from your phone.

In addition, the updated app makes use of the iPhone 6s 3D Touch feature by allowing quick access to the most used features with a press and hold of the Pinterest app icon from the home screen:

If you have a new iPhone with 3D Touch, you can press and hold the Pinterest app icon from your iPhone’s home screen to quickly search for Pins, create a board or see what’s popular on Pinterest… Once you’re in the app, you can press any Pin to get a bigger preview and quickly Pin, like or send. Press the board name to get a preview of the board it came from.

And lastly, the new app supports “universal links,” which means you’ll now be taken directly to the app when clicking a Pinterest link from anywhere on your iPhone, instead of being redirected from Safari first.

The updated Pinterest app is available on the App Store now.

Read our full walkthrough of new features in iOS 9 here.

9to5Toys Last Call: QNAP NAS w/ AirPlay $135, Kanto Bookshelf Bluetooth speakers $250, more

Sep 16 2015 - 9:12 am PT

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:

Explore the depths of the ocean with the new Trident submersible drone

Logitech Type+ Folio Case with Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Air: $35 shipped (Reg. $100)
Cyber Acoustics 30-Watt Powered Computer Speakers with Subwoofer: $30 Prime shipped (Reg. $50)
Media: Friends The Complete Series from $65 (Reg. $105+), Monty Python Holy Grail Limited Edition $35, more
Amazon adds 3 valuable benefits to Prime including free Washington Post access
Mophie goes slender with its new iPhone 6 battery case, details new external power packs
Logitech aims to take over your whole home with its new Harmony Elite remote
Home: Waring Pro Juicer $30 (Orig. $70), T-fal electric kettle $19 (Reg. up to $38), more

QNAP NAS w/ AirPlay: TS-131 1-Bay $135 (Orig. $215), HS-210 2-Bay Fanless $155 (Orig. $289), more

Daily Deals: Western Digital My Book 3TB Hard Drive $90, Canon MAXIFY All-In-One Printer w/ AirPrint $80, more

Kanto YU5 Bluetooth 4.0 Bookshelf Speakers in five colors: $250 shipped (Reg. $350)

The Mega Mac 2015 Bundle: 15 solid Apps including MacBooster 2, Disk Drill Pro & More $25 (Orig. $564)

MacUpdate Bundle: 10 apps including Toast 14, DevonThink, ExpanDrive, Boom, iMazing and more for $50

Save $100 on Apple’s all-new 12-inch MacBook + extra $50 for students/faculty: 256GB model $1,150 w/ .edu (Reg. $1,299)

Apple is handing out free downloads of Super Hexagon for iPhone and iPad ($3 value)

Giveaway: Schoolhouse Electric makes the clock cool again, $290 value

More new gear from today:

This Star Wars Battlefront Deluxe bundle includes a working Han Solo mini fridge

Games/Apps: LEGO Jurassic World $38, iTunes gift cards 15% off, COD games for Mac 50% off, freebies, more

Free $25 Amazon credit w/ 12-mo subscription to Adobe’s Creative Cloud Photography Plan: $120 ($145 value)
Fashion: Fossil watches, bags, wallets, and more 50% off, Puma apparel for men, women, and kids 40% off
Amazon Gold Box – Play-Doh Toys up to 40% off: Doctor Drill and Fill set $8 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)

More deals still alive:

Aukey 13.3-inch Macbook Carrying Bag and Sleeve Case Cover $6.50 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)

Portable Bluetooth Speakers: Bose SoundLink Mini $159 (Orig. $200), Sony SRSX3 $60 (Orig. $140)

10-ft MFI Apple-Certified Nylon Braided Lightning Cable $11 Prime shipped (Reg. $17), more
GoPro HERO4 Silver $315 (Reg. $400), HERO4 Black $379 (Reg. $500)
Wireless Laser Printers: Canon Monochrome $50 (Reg. $66), Dell Color $120 (Reg. $180), more
Bike Accessories w/ Prime shipping: KingTop Aluminum Pump $20, 1byone Mount $16
USB chargers w/ Prime shipping: Aukey Dual Car Charger $6, 3200mAh power bank $6, more
Belkin WeMo iOS connected LED Lighting Starter Kit + extra bulb: $40 shipped ($75 value)
proXPN VPN: Premium Lifetime Subscription $39 ($375 value)
Pandora One: 6-Month Subscription $24 (Reg. $30)
Samsung 850 Pro 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $400 shipped (Reg. $470)
Buy D-Link DCS-5009L IP Surveillance Camera, get a free Smart Plug: $70 shipped (~$115 value)
Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Over-Ear + FiiO E17K DAC $200 ($300 value), more
NERF Buy 2 Get 1 Free: N-Strike, Mega Series and Modulus Blasters, more
Apple-Certified braided nylon MFi Lightning cable (black or silver, 3 ft): $7 Prime shipped, more
Bluetooth Headphones: Beats Studio Over-Ear $264 (Reg. $300+), In-Ear $16 (Reg. $24), more
Disney is giving out copies of Monsters Inc. to users of its free digital movie locker service
M-Audio BX8 D2 8-inch Active Studio Monitors (pair) $349 shipped (Reg. $499)
ASUS Chromebox 1.7GHz/4GB/16GB Desktop PC: $200 shipped (Reg. $230)
Google Play offers free downloads of Sia’s 1000 Forms Of Fear album ($10 value)

App Store Free App of the Week: Infinity Blade III goes free for the very first time (Reg. $7)

New products & more:

Wilson’s X Connected Basketball is a simple shot tracking solution

Sony takes the wraps off a new gold DualShock controller (and other colors too)

Devon and Nixon reveal new luxury Dark Side-inspired Star Wars watches
Kickstarter veteran launches new HiddenHUB smart omnidirectional whole home audio system
The new Westinghouse Nucli combines a deadbolt, door bell and FaceTime
Review: Monoprice’s new action camera is loaded with value for a fraction of GoPro’s price tag
The new Bluetooth Seaboard Rise looks to modernize the typical MIDI controller like never before
The new Gamevice MFi game controllers will fit your iPad Air and iPhone 6s just right
A new Star Wars merch subscription service launches while Amazon discounts Force Awaken toy
Camera+ launches its first free version w/ in-app upgrades for advanced shooting features
Pokémon Go brings the game to real life on iOS and Android with new wearable device

watchOS 2 + iOS 9 apps begin hitting the App Store ahead of tomorrow’s release [Updated]

Zac Hall Sep 15 2015 - 12:27 pm PT

12 Comments

With both iOS 9 and watchOS 2 set to be released tomorrow, Apple has already started releasing third-party app updates that take advantage of the new features in each software update. watchOS 2 for Apple Watch introduces native apps that run faster and have access to sensors, and iOS 9 introduces new split-screen multitasking and deeper Spotlight-integrated search capabilities. There are some of the watchOS 2 and iOS 9 apps we’re already starting to see hit the App Store:
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Snapchat update adds new selfie Lenses + paid extra Snap Replays

Zac Hall Sep 15 2015 - 11:12 am PT

47 Comments

Snapchat is out with its latest update bringing new features and tricks to the photo messaging app. The release notes are short: Before you take a selfie, press and hold on your face for a surprise! That’s referencing the new selfie Lenses trick, which lets you apply some pretty wild effects to your face before sharing with friends. To use Lenses, just tap and hold on your selfie before taking a Snap. A facial outline appears as well as seven effects including that dramatically change up your selfie.
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Apple updates Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for iOS w/ stability improvements, fixes

Jordan Kahn Sep 15 2015 - 11:03 am PT

5 Comments

Ahead of the release of iOS 9 set for tomorrow, Apple has started updating its iOS apps beginning with improvements and fixes for its iWork suite of iOS apps.

All three apps— Pages, Numbers, and Keynote—get an update today with “stability improvements and bug fixes,” many of which are likely related to the iOS 9 update arriving tomorrow.

iOS 9 will officially arrive Wednesday, September 16th, for the iPhone 4s and later, iPod touch 5th generation and later, iPad 2 and later and iPad mini and later. The release follows Apple’s new iPhone 6s and 6s Plus going up for pre-order earlier this month and comes ahead of an official retail launch for the device on September 25th. Following the first weekend of pre-oreders, Apple said this week that it’s on pace to beat its previous opening-weekend record of 10 million units.

We’d expect that other Apple apps will get a similar treatment too alongside the release of iOS 9 tomorrow.

9to5Toys Last Call: 10 Mac apps including Toast 14 for $50, MacBook Air sleeve $7, Portable Wi-Fi Router $10, more

Sep 15 2015 - 9:16 am PT

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:

Wilson’s X Connected Basketball is a simple shot tracking solution

Sony takes the wraps off a new gold DualShock controller (and other colors too)
Amazon 32GB Unlocked Fire phone w/ 1-yr Prime: $120 (Orig. $545)
Bike Accessories w/ Prime shipping: KingTop Aluminum Pump $20, 1byone Mount for smartphones $16
Home: Cuisinart Popcorn Maker $20 (Orig. $40), Dyson stick/hand vac $200 (Orig. $375), more

MacUpdate Bundle: 10 apps including Toast 14, DevonThink, ExpanDrive, Boom, iMazing and more for $50

Aukey 13.3-inch Macbook Carrying Bag and Sleeve Case Cover $6.50 Prime shipped (Reg. $13)

Amazon Gold Box – TP-LINK Networking up to 30% off: Portable pocket router $10, Powerline starter kit $35, more

Save $100 on Apple’s all-new 12-inch MacBook + extra $50 for students/faculty: 256GB model $1,150 w/ .edu (Reg. $1,299)

Apple is handing out free downloads of Super Hexagon for iPhone and iPad ($3 value)

Giveaway: Schoolhouse Electric makes the clock cool again, $290 value

More new gear from today:

Portable Bluetooth Speakers: Bose SoundLink Mini $159 (Orig. $200), Sony SRSX3 $60 (Orig. $140)

Headphones: Beats Solo2 on-ears (open-box, multiple colors) $100 shipped (Orig. $200), more
Games/Apps: Disney Infinity3 Star Wars Bundle $81 (Reg. $115), Xbox One + $50 credit $350, more
Wireless Laser Printers: Canon Monochrome $50 (Reg. $66), Dell Color $120 (Reg. $180), more
10-ft MFI Apple-Certified Nylon Braided Lightning Cable $11 Prime shipped (Reg. $17), more
Monoprice MHD 2.0 1080p Action Camera: $50 shipped (Orig. $90)
Samsung 850 Pro 1TB 2.5-inch Internal Solid-State Drive: $400 shipped (Reg. $470)
Buy D-Link DCS-5009L IP Surveillance Camera, get a free Smart Plug: $70 shipped (~$115 value)
Daily Deals: UP3 by Jawbone Activity Tracker $120, 1-4 Outlet and Dual-USB Wall Charging Station from $14, more

More deals still alive:

App Store Free App of the Week: Infinity Blade III goes free for the very first time (Reg. $7)

GoPro HERO4 Silver Edition Action Cam $315 (Reg. $400), HERO4 Black $379 (Reg. $500)

USB chargers w/ Prime shipping: Aukey Dual Car Charger $6, 3200mAh power bank $6, more
Belkin WeMo iOS connected LED Lighting Starter Kit + extra bulb: $40 shipped ($75 value)
proXPN VPN: Premium Lifetime Subscription $39 ($375 value)
Pandora One: 6-Month Subscription $24 (Reg. $30)
Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Over-Ear + FiiO E17K DAC $200 ($300 value), more
NERF Buy 2 Get 1 Free: N-Strike, Mega Series and Modulus Blasters, more
Apple-Certified braided nylon MFi Lightning cable (black or silver, 3 ft): $7 Prime shipped, more
Mpow 3.3-ft MFi Apple-certified Lightning cable: $5 Prime shipped (Reg. $8)
Bluetooth Headphones: Beats Studio Over-Ear $264 (Reg. $300+), In-Ear $16 (Reg. $24), more
Disney is giving out copies of Monsters Inc. to users of its free digital movie locker service
M-Audio BX8 D2 8-inch Active Studio Monitors (pair) $349 shipped (Reg. $499)
DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter Drone w/ 2.7K Video Camera: $699 shipped (Reg. $799)
Radiation Island for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($3 value)
Kingdom Rush goes free for iPhone and iPad (Reg. up to $3)
Two months of Audiobooks Free from Audible for new subscribers
ASUS Chromebox 1.7GHz/4GB/16GB Desktop PC: $200 shipped (Reg. $230)
Scrivener, The Award-Winning Writing App: $20 (Orig. $40)
Download The Very Best of Britney Spears 14-track compilation album for Free ($18 value)
Google Play offers free downloads of Sia’s 1000 Forms Of Fear album ($10 value)

New products & more:

Devon and Nixon reveal new luxury Dark Side-inspired Star Wars watches

Kickstarter veteran launches new HiddenHUB smart omnidirectional whole home audio system

The new Westinghouse Nucli combines a deadbolt, door bell and FaceTime
Review: Monoprice’s new action camera is loaded with value for a fraction of GoPro’s price tag
The new Bluetooth Seaboard Rise looks to modernize the typical MIDI controller like never before
The new Gamevice MFi game controllers will fit your iPad Air and iPhone 6s just right
A new Star Wars merch subscription service launches while Amazon discounts Force Awaken toy
Camera+ launches its first free version w/ in-app upgrades for advanced shooting features
Pokémon Go brings the game to real life on iOS and Android with new wearable device
Jawbone reformulates its UP2 fitness tracker with a new fashion-forward design

Launch Center Pro for iPhone adds launcher widget to Notification Center

Zac Hall Sep 15 2015 - 8:47 am PT

Apple opened the door to new extensibility features on iOS with extensions and Notification Center widgets in iOS 8, but mixing app launchers with the swipe down Today view was quickly disallowed by the App Store as we saw around this time last year. That policy has since changed and we’ve seen developers able to build better widgets like Workflow’s recent update.

Launch Center Pro has been working on its own Today widget, which puts actions like opening the Instagram camera or messaging a specific contact a swipe down away from anywhere directly in Notification Center.
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Tim Cook talks Siri privacy, iPhone 6s features, and ‘looking at’ letting users remove default iOS apps

Zac Hall Sep 15 2015 - 8:37 am PT

After announcing new iPhones and iPads plus an updated Apple TV in San Francisco last week, Tim Cook is taking a slight victory lap in New York City with a media blitz that leads to an interview with Stephen Colbert tonight on CBS’s The Late Show. Before a surprise visit yesterday at NYC’s iconic Fifth Ave store with Eddy Cue, the Apple CEO gave a quick interview with Buzzfeed. In it he told John Paczkowski that his Apple Store visit really is a surprise to everyone.

“I almost always go in unannounced,” he says. “It’s rare that I tell anyone that I’m going. But I do try to go to stores every time I’m traveling to a new city. It’s important.”

Cook also discussed the privacy implications of an always-listening Siri, what he likes best about the iPhone 6s, and even the possibility of being able to delete system apps in the future…

Bank of America adds Touch ID and Apple Watch support to mobile banking app

Ben Lovejoy Sep 15 2015 - 7:40 am PT

Bank of America has updated its mobile banking app to allow sign-in using Touch ID, and has added Apple Watch support for balances, recent transactions and alerts.

The new fingerprint and Touch ID sign-in capabilities provide eligible Android, iPhone and iPad customers with a secure and convenient way to log into the mobile banking app using their fingerprint. This feature allows access to the most common functionality of the app without the additional need for a passcode.

The mobile banking app is now compatible with Apple Watch, allowing users to view account balances and recent transactions for their linked checking, savings, credit card and investment accounts, as well as receive real-time alerts and notifications on their wrist …

VLC’s app on the new Apple TV will let you play all sorts of video formats

Chance Miller Sep 14 2015 - 6:12 pm PT

13 Comments

Hot on the heels of Plex announcing its plans to build an app for the new Apple TV, the developers behind the popular media playback software VLC have announced that they too are planning to support the new Apple TV. While details on the app are sparse at this point, the VLC team announced in a blog post that they have started work on VLCKit for tvOS.

9to5Toys Last Call: 12-inch MacBook $1,150, Super Hexagon for iOS goes free, 20000mAh battery pack $22, more

Sep 14 2015 - 9:10 am PT

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:

Save $100 on Apple’s all-new 12-inch MacBook + extra $50 for students/faculty: 256GB model $1,150 w/ .edu (Reg. $1,299)

Apple is handing out free downloads of Super Hexagon for iPhone and iPad ($3 value)
Devon and Nixon reveal new luxury Dark Side-inspired Star Wars watches
Kickstarter veteran launches new HiddenHUB smart omnidirectional whole home audio system
Home: Hoover vacs/carpet cleaners from $128 (Orig. up to $300), Cuisinart Bread Maker (refurb) $75 (Orig. $130), more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/643480381052878848 align=’center’]

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/643514477539930112 align=’center’]

Amazon Gold Box – Cut the cord w/ Mohu’s Leaf 50 Indoor HDTV amplified Antenna for $38 shipped (Reg. $70)

proXPN VPN: Premium Lifetime Subscription $39 ($375 value)

Pandora One: 6-Month Subscription $24 (Reg. $30)

Belkin WeMo iOS connected LED Lighting Starter Kit + extra bulb: $40 shipped ($75 value)

Giveaway: Schoolhouse Electric makes the clock cool again, $290 value

More new gear from today:

GoPro Hero 4 Silver Edition Action Cam $315 shipped (Reg. $400)

Games/Apps: Rare Replay $20, Tomb Raider Underworld $5, Logitech G700s Mouse $50, more
USB chargers w/ Prime shipping: Aukey Dual Car Charger $6, 3200mAh power bank $6, more
Daily Deals: JBL Charge 2 Portable Bluetooth Speaker $100, Samsung 48″ Smart HDTV $478, more
Marshall Stanmore Bluetooth Speaker in black $286 shipped (Reg. $400)
Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Over-Ear + FiiO E17K DAC $200 ($300 value), more
NERF Buy 2 Get 1 Free: N-Strike, Mega Series and Modulus Blasters, more

More deals still alive:

App Store Free App of the Week: Infinity Blade III goes free for the very first time (Reg. $7)

Aukey Magnetic Air Vent Mount for iPhone and Android devices: $4 Prime shipped (Reg. $8)

Apple-Certified braided nylon MFi Lightning cable (black or silver, 3 ft): $7 Prime shipped, more
Mpow 3.3-ft MFi Apple-certified Lightning cable: $5 Prime shipped (Reg. $8)
Bluetooth Headphones: Beats Studio Over-Ear $264 (Reg. $300+), In-Ear $16 (Reg. $24), more
Disney is giving out copies of Monsters Inc. to users of its free digital movie locker service
M-Audio BX8 D2 8-inch Active Studio Monitors (pair) $349 shipped (Reg. $499)
Anker iPhone 6 3100mAh MFi Apple-Certified Battery Case: $27 Prime shipped (Reg. $70)
DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter Drone w/ 2.7K Video Camera: $699 shipped (Reg. $799)
Radiation Island for iOS goes free for the first time as IGN’s Game of the Month ($3 value)
Kingdom Rush goes free for iPhone and iPad (Reg. up to $3)
Charge a 12″ MacBook w/ this RAVPower 26800mAh Battery: $53 shipped (Reg. $80), more
OontZ Bluetooth Speakers: Angle3 $30 (Reg. $50), Angle Plus $25 (Reg. $35)
Two months of Audiobooks Free from Audible for new subscribers
ASUS Chromebox 1.7GHz/4GB/16GB Desktop PC: $200 shipped (Reg. $230)
Scrivener, The Award-Winning Writing App: $20 (Orig. $40)
Download The Very Best of Britney Spears 14-track compilation album for Free ($18 value)
Google Play offers free downloads of Sia’s 1000 Forms Of Fear album ($10 value)
49-inch 4K Smart Ultra HDTVs: Vizio 120Hz $600, LG 60Hz $550, more
PlayStation 20th anniversary sale up to 80% off: Final Fantasy Realm Reborn from $10, more

[tweet https://twitter.com/9to5toys/status/642310271063752704 align=’center’]

New products & more:

Review: Monoprice’s new action camera is loaded with value for a fraction of GoPro’s price tag

The new Westinghouse Nucli combines a deadbolt, door bell and FaceTime

The new Bluetooth Seaboard Rise looks to modernize the typical MIDI controller like never before
The new Gamevice MFi game controllers will fit your iPad Air and iPhone 6s just right
A new Star Wars merch subscription service launches while Amazon discounts Force Awaken toy
Camera+ launches its first free version w/ in-app upgrades for advanced shooting features
Pokémon Go brings the game to real life on iOS and Android with new wearable device
Jawbone reformulates its UP2 fitness tracker with a new fashion-forward design
Review: JBL’s new Flip 3 Bluetooth speaker slims down for an ultra-portable form factor
The Raspberry Pi touchscreen display we’ve been waiting for is now available
V-MODA goes wireless with its premium-grade leather and steel headphones
Minecraft: Story Mode gets a release date as pre-orders ramp up

Apple shutting down HopStop transit app in October despite iOS 9’s limited availability

Mark Gurman Sep 14 2015 - 8:34 am PT

Apple acquired transit mapping startup HopStop in 2013 to help form the basis of the new transit mapping feature in iOS 9. Now, as is tradition when Apple launches a product based off of an acquired technology, Apple says it is shutting down the still-running HopStop app in October. This message was shared as a banner on HopStop’s website:

Unfortunately, Apple shutting down the HopStop service will create a gap in transit support. According to its website, HopStop’s transit functionality supports dozens of cities and counties across the world, even ranging from regions of Israel to Russia to Australia. Apple Maps only (so far) supports the following cities:

Google AdSense for iOS hits 3.0 w/ iPhone 6 & 6 Plus support, Material Design, more

Stephen Hall Sep 14 2015 - 8:12 am PT

Google has this morning pushed an update to AdSense for iOS, bringing many features that other apps in the Mountain View company’s catalog received months ago. While it may not be the most popular app outside of publishing and creative circles, the AdSense app has today been updated with support for Native iPhone 6 and 6 Plus resolution, Material Design, and more.

Rounding out the update is support for Hindi and Malay, a new icon for the Home Screen, more metrics, and a today center widget. The last of these, in case you aren’t aware, is a new widget for the Today section of Notification Center. On it, you’ll find four metrics for quick access: Today so far, Page views, Clicks, and Page RPM. It also tells you when the widget was last updated.

While Google’s apps for iOS have always been known for being well-polished (and sometimes just generally better than their Android counterparts), they usually come at a much slower pace. AdSense 3.0 for Android with many of the same new features was released on Android four weeks ago, and you can read more about that update over at 9to5Google.

Here’s the full change log:

What’s New in Version 3.0

This time we’re bringing you:
– Support for Hindi and Malay;
– Native iPhone 6 and 6+ resolution;
– A today center widget;
– Our lovely new AdSense logo;
– More metrics!
– A little something we like to call Material Design.

Head over to the App Store to grab the latest version for free.

Camera+ launches its first free version w/ in-app upgrades for advanced shooting features

Jordan Kahn Sep 10 2015 - 10:22 am PT

Makers of the popular Camera+ app, a $3 third-party photography app for iPhone with around 14 million users, today launched its first free version in an attempt to attract even more users to the platform.

Dubbed simply “Camera+ Free,” the app’s creator gave us the rundown on the free experience, noting that it offers the same experience as the paid app minus some of the more advanced features like manual shooting controls and the app’s “The Lab” editing suite. Instead, the free app offers up focus, exposure and macro shooting settings, scene modes including clarity, and 3 free filter packs. Beyond that, users will be able to add-on some of the more advanced features to the free version using in-app purchases, allowing them to essentially unlock the full experience of the paid app.

We want to get the app out to as many people as possible. We currently have 14 million users, but we’d love to see more people using and falling in love with our app. We think by offering people a free version, more people who typically don’t pay for apps will give it a try. If they like it then they may buy some in-apps or just spread the word about our app. – Camera+ cofounder Lisa Bettany

The free version of the Camera+ app is available on the App Store now.

Pokémon Go brings the game to real life on iOS with new wearable device

Trevor Daugherty Sep 10 2015 - 9:05 am PT