DirecTV app now supports voice navigation

By Christian Zibreg on May 15, 2013

DirecTV has a decent iOS app on the App Store which streams live television programming, supports DVR functionality and lets you browse and access on-demand streams of past television shows and movies.

The company previously promised to activate voice-enabled features and today it made good on that promise by updating DirectTV software to version 2.5.

The new version uses voice-activated navigation to enable users to find whatever they want to watch on their telly. It’s just like Siri: simply speak to the app just as you would to a person in order to find something to watch. In fact, DirectTV’s software gives us a good indication how a rumored Siri-enabled Apple television set could enhance the experience… Read More

 

Facebook app gains faster Events, better Places editing, souped up photo viewer

By Christian Zibreg on May 13, 2013

The social networking giant Facebook just issued an update to its native Facebook client for iOS devices. In what is the first ‘point’ update since the major Facebook 6.0 release from a month ago, the new Facebook version 6.1 enhances your experience with three helpful additions.

For starters, your Facebook Events now load faster on the iPhone and iPod touch. And, if you check in to a venue on your iPhone or iPod touch device, you’ll notice that Facebook has improved the Places editing experience.

In addition to these two iPhone-specific enhancements, I bet you’ll love the improved photo viewer button on both the iPhone and iPad. For more on that, go right past the fold… Read More

 

Huge 1Password update brings lots of changes

By Christian Zibreg on May 13, 2013

1Password is something of a hit with some members of the iDB team. Though I can obviously speak for myself only, I happen to know Jeff is a fan so it goes without saying we’re both pretty excited about today’s update.

The new 1Password version 4.2, now available as a free download to registered users, comes with a whole bunch of changes. For starters, it’s got an optimized in-app web browser that on iPad includes the Strong Password Generator capability.

The improved browser can automatically submit passwords after using AutoFill for login items and now also recognizes a URL in the clipboard and offers to open it for you. That’s just scratching the surface, go past the fold for the full changelog… Read More

 

SoundCloud now has Google+ Sign-In and sharing

By Christian Zibreg on May 13, 2013

Nearly a year ago, the Internet giant rolled out Google+ Sign-In as a way to counter Facebook Connect, a feature web site owners predominantly tap to simplify the sign in and account creation process for their users.

The Google+ SDK for iOS was released shortly after, giving Apple’s registered iOS developers a set of tools and social plugins to write programs that are deeply integrated with the Google+ thing.

Although apps that support Google+ Sign-In are few and far between, at least relative to Facebook Connect-enabled mobile software, more and more developers are integrating Google+ features into their warez. The latest example: SoundCloud, an online audio distribution platform that today updated its iOS app with support for Google+ Sign-In and sharing… Read More

 

Flipboard update brings SMS sharing, revamped profile pages, Friends category

By Christian Zibreg on May 13, 2013

Flipboard, the social news reader for iOS and Android, was updated today with a bevy of features and improvements. The new version includes the SMS sharing option which lets you send story URLs to your friends via text messaging.

Moreover, the app’s Share menu has been re-worked for better usability so you can now share content with fewer taps than before.

Another welcomed (and way overdue) feature: if you seen an image you like, Flipboard now finally lets you save it to your Camera roll by tapping its Share icon and tapping ‘Save to Camera Roll.’ Go past the fold for improvements to Flipboard’s custom magazine feature and other tidbits… Read More

 

Netflix update brings better second-screen experience, new post-play features

By Christian Zibreg on May 9, 2013

After announcing a new $12 per month family plan and having rolled out a major version 4.0 update with a new episode selector on iPads, on-demand Internet streaming media provider Netflix today updated its iPhone and iPad mobile client with an enhanced second-screen experience, recommendations for movies and auto-play episodes for television shows. More information on the changes right below the fold… Read More

 

LinkedIn updates its Pulse iOS app with new sharing options

By Christian Zibreg on May 8, 2013

LinkedIn, the world’s top social network for people in professional occupations, recently purchased the popular news reader Pulse for nearly a hundred million bucks as part of its ongoing efforts to become a media company. Nearly a month following the transaction, LinkedIn has updated Pulse mobile software with the expected LinkedIn sharing. Other new features in Pulse version 3.1 include the much-needed ability to save stories for later reading to such popular read-later services as Pocket, Evernote and Instapaper… Read More

 

Google Now likely coming to Macs via Chrome

By Christian Zibreg on May 7, 2013

Isn’t it interesting how Google circumvents Apple and builds its own platform on top of iOS? Not only are the Internet giant’s popular services like Maps, Gmail, YouTube and Search available as native iOS apps, they’re among most downloaded App Store items.

Despite early complaints of excessive battery drain (and Google’s mild response), the potentially disruptive Google Now feature is now available on iOS devices through Google’s standalone Search iOS app. And now, Google Now could be heading to Macs… Read More

 

Amazon’s Cloud Player can now stream songs to Ford’s SYNC AppLink vehicles

By Christian Zibreg on May 7, 2013

Not to be outdone by the popular Swedish streaming music startup Spotify, which a month ago updated its mobile client with support for Ford’s SYNC AppLink platform, the online retail giant Amazon today issued a similar update to its Cloud Player mobile app.

The app integrates with AppLink vehicles so you can control music playback using your voice and the steering wheel buttons.

Other changes new accessibility features via improved support for the iOS VoiceOver features and an “improved experience” when adding songs to a playlist… Read More

 

RunKeeper gains Pebble smartwatch integration

By Christian Zibreg on May 7, 2013

RunKeeper, the popular mobile fitness and GPS tracking app, received an update Tuesday which allows for some interesting Pebble smartwatch features. Thanks to deep integration with the Bluetooth Smart-enabled E-paper wrist device, RunKeeper users can keep track of their workout stats on their Pebble.

This includes the stuff like displaying elapsed time, distance and pace or using the wrist device to pause and resume RunKeeper. The application also supports an additional seven languages and includes the obligatory bug fixes.

RunKeeper also said future updates will enable even deeper Pebble integration. I’ve included a nice promotional video and more details for you, right past the fold… Read More

 

Facebook Messenger updated with Stickers, swipe-to-delete

By Christian Zibreg on May 6, 2013

The social networking giant Facebook today issued an update to its standalone Messenger app for the iPhone and iPod touch. Facebook Messenger version 2.4, available now, has brought out the popular Stickers feature that was rolled out nearly a month ago in the major Facebook iOS client update. And if Stickers are getting on your nerves, perhaps the reappearance of the swipe-to-delete functionality is just what you needed all along? I’ve included a few more tidbits right below… Read More

 

Gmail iOS update adds two useful tweaks

By Christian Zibreg on May 6, 2013

Google on Monday issued a maintenance update to its Gmail client for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices, adding two welcomed new features.

Gmail version 2.2.7182 adds support for signing out of a single account in settings. Previously, hitting the Sign Out button signed you out of all accounts at once, which was rather clunky and not very user friendly.

The application also has a new setting which lets you specify that YouTube, Google Maps and Chrome links go directly to these native apps instead of the mobile web – of course, provided you have them installed on your device… Read More

 

Instagram rolls out Photos of You

By Christian Zibreg on May 2, 2013

Good news, iPhone photography lovers! Facebook-owned Instagram has issued an update to its iOS and Android client today, introducing a new Photos of You feature – another way to share and discover stories on Instagram, basically a dedicated profile section which collects photos you’ve been tagged in.

As part of the roll-out, Instagram said users can now tag people as easily as you add hashtags. What’s more, you can even tag any account on Instagram, “whether it’s your best friend, favorite coffee shop or even that adorable dog you follow”. They also created a nice promo video to promote the feature, jump past the fold to watch it… Read More

 

Twitter for iOS updated with better Vine support, location-based Trends

By Christian Zibreg on May 1, 2013

Twitter, the popular micro-blogging service which in March 2013 passed 200 million users, on Wednesday updated its mobile apps for iOS and Android platforms. Twitter version 5.6 for the iPhone and iPad now lets you see location-based Trends or browse Trends tailored to your interests. The application also features improved playback of Vine videos and contains a few other minor tweaks, included after the break… Read More

 

Twitter’s Vine gains front-facing camera support and @user mentions

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 30, 2013

Twitter’s Vine, an iOS app that lets you impulse-share short five-second clips, may be struggling to take off, but that’s not stopping the popular micro-blogging service from issuing regular updates that add more functionality. One of my main gripes with Vine is its inability to use a front-facing camera.

That omission right there kills some potentially interesting self-portrait videos. No more, as Twitter today issued Vine version 1.1 which adds support for your iPhone’s front-facing camera… Read More

 

Google’s iOS Search app, now available with Google Now

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 29, 2013

Boom, just like that Google has issued an update to its excellent Search app for the iPhone and iPad which enables some of the most popular Google Now features on the iOS platform. At least initially, Google Now on iOS devices doesn’t support some of the features Android users have come to love.

Boarding passes, activity summary, events, concerts, Fandango and Zillow cards aren’t included in the update.

All told, 22 of the 29 card types found in Android have made their way to the iOS edition, including weather, traffic, transit schedules and sports scores. Also: Google Now doesn’t have Push Notifications, which makes the feature less useful than on Android, where Google Now can notify users via alerts of their upcoming appointments, changes to their flight schedule, weather and more.

Your promotional video, screenies and additional details are after the break… Read More

 

Square’s Register app gains kitchen tickets, new features for restaurants

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 29, 2013

Square’s Register, the free point of sale app, has been available on the iPhone and iPad since May 2010 and has seen a number of updates since. And with the release of Square’s all-in-one $299 iPad POS bundle in February 2012, the Register app gained prominence as the POS solution was designed from the ground up to work wirelessly with the Register app. Today, Square updated the Register software with kitchen tickets and several new ordering features to better server restaurant owners… Read More

 

iMDB adds global release dates, actor heights and aliases, more eye candy

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 26, 2013

IMDb, the popular online film database owned by Amazon since 1998, issued its last major update to the iOS client back in December 2012.

That release (version 3.0) brought out a fresh new look on the iPad while enhancing iPhone filmographies with TV episode details and prettier image galleries, among other features. Today, iMDB version 3.2 landed on the App Store.

The software continues to refine the experience for movie buffs. For starters, non-US users will be pleased to know that the app now lists worldwide movie release dates, for example. They also enhanced the database with all-new actor heights and aliases, crazy credits and other tidbits, included right after the break… Read More

 

Two years later, Twitter updates Mac app with Retina support, nicer design

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 25, 2013

Just as we’ve given up hope that Twitter will put any effort into improving its Mac app, the micro-blogging turned media platform on Thursday rather surprisingly issued an update to Twitter for Mac.

In its first major refresh in nearly two years, the application has brought out way overdue support for Retina graphics, along with several design changes and other under-the-hood tweaks.

Twitter for Mac versions 2.2 now comes with a brand new app icon and improves upon the overall iconography. The compose window has been redesigned and the application can now post photos to pic.twitter.com. Read on for other changes… Read More

 

Tumblr iOS app updated with read later and social sharing features

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 24, 2013

Tumblr is the home to over a hundred million blogs that have published nearly 50 billion posts. In between blogging for a living here on iDB, checking out new gadgets and just leading an ordinary life, I have little time to maintain a personal blog. But if I did, I’d definitely consider Tumblr as my blogging platform of choice. If you run a Tumblr blog, updating your posts on the go has just become a tad easier as a new version of the official Tumblr iOS app has been released on the App Store with a couple noteworthy additions… Read More

 
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