The best apps and games of 2015

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

At the end of every year, we bring you the best of the best when it comes to apps and games. In the past, we've bombarded you with about 10 categories of our top favorites in different posts. This time, however, we decided to skim the top and really give you the cream of the crop.

Below, we present you with the top 10 apps and games that came out in 2015 based on content the editors of iDownloadBlog submitted and voted on. We have even included what we consider to be the number one app and number one game of 2015. If you don't see your favorites this year, feel free to include them in the comments below.

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Some AT&T customers can now make VoLTE calls to people on other carrier networks

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 31, 2015

United States carrier AT&T said yesterday that some of its customers in select areas can now make Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) calls to users on other carrier networks. Cross-network VoLTE calls are currently supported for just one unnamed carrier, but AT&T will eventually implement support for multiple carriers.

Unlike traditional calls that use a carrier's voice network (which is separate from a 3G/4G data network), VoLTE calls use a 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, resulting in crisp sound quality and optimized bandwidth use.

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Multi-Angle DODOcase for iPad Air 2 is a folio with style

Lory Gil ∙ Updated November 5, 2017

Today's accessory spotlight series is on folio cases for the iPad Air 2. In this series, we provide information on a variety of different accessories for iPhone and iPad to help you pick the right item for your needs. We choose the products in this series because of their significant consumer rating, even though we may not have tested them ourselves.

Dodo makes high quality, executive style folio cases for all models of the iPad. Current US president, Barack Obama has been spotted with a DODOcase in the past. We want to tell you about the company's most popular model, the Multi-Angle DODOcase, which has a sleek, business-like look, but also has useful functionality. 

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Apple’s Kevin Lynch talks Apple Watch timekeeping, says it’s far more accurate than iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ December 30, 2015

Apple VP of Technology Kevin Lynch spoke with Mashable on Wednesday, touting the Apple Watch's ability to keep precise time. Lynch told the publication that the Watch is far more accurate as a timekeeping device than the iPhone—four times better to be exact.

"With New Year’s coming, those who have the Apple Watch will be the most accurate watch in the room... There will be no question about when New Year's Eve actually is now." The VP went on to explain the various features in the Watch that help make it so accurate.

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Microsoft said to be considering smaller Xbox to compete with Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ December 30, 2015

Microsoft is said to be once again looking to create a device that would go head-to-head with the Apple TV and similar products. Citing internal sources, veteran blogger Brad Sams reports (via Business Insider) that the company is considering plans for a "lightweight Xbox One."

The smaller console would feature access to a variety of streaming services, and be capable of playing games from Microsoft's Windows store. Sams believes the device, if it materializes, will launch in the second half of 2016 with a much lower price point than existing Xbox models.

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AT&T to stop offering two-year phone contracts next month

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

AT&T plans to stop offering two-year phone contracts next month, reports Engadget. The outlet on Wednesday published an internal document that says the carrier will launch a "pricing simplification effort" on January 8 that will effectively get rid of contracts.

According to the document, starting on the 8th, AT&T Next and full-retail will become the only purchase options for smartphones. Folks looking to buy a flip, or "basic," phone from the carrier will also have to choose between paying full-retail or an installment plan.

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The best and worst of Apple in 2015

Sébastien Page ∙ December 30, 2015

This has been a busy year for Apple from a product release standpoint. The company launched the Apple Watch in April, the first entry in a new product category for CEO Tim Cook. Then it released a new MacBook, a new iPhone, a whole new Apple TV, and the iPad Pro. And of course there was Apple Music, iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. Busy year indeed!

As 2015 draws to an end, the iDB team takes a look back at the last twelve months. From software to hardware, to services, each Editor shares what he/she feels is the best and worst of Apple this year.

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Twitter for Mac revamped, gains dark theme, inline video and GIF support, group DMs and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 1, 2018

Twitter today at last issued a long-expected update to its free of charge OS X desktop client in the Mac App Store. The new Twitter 4.0 experience starts with a brand new dark theme for those who prefer the Finder's optional dark appearance in OS X Yosemite and El Capitan.

Other enhancements in this edition of Twitter for Mac include the ability to mute accounts, use a new Today widget to see Twitter Highlights in the Notification Center, group chats with up to 50 people and support for Twitter's new quotation format, animated GIFs and inline video playback.

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Apple Stores to offer iPhone photography and iPad illustration workshops next year

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 11, 2016

As part of a major retail streamlining under the watchful eye of Apple's head of online and brick-and-mortar stores, Angela Ahrendts, the company will be hosting a number of workshops next year at its stores that will take its existing and basic photography workshops to the next level.

The new workshops were designed to teach customers about the tips and tricks concerning iPhone photography, as well as drawing, painting and sketching on an iPad, with the promise of giving customers “at all skill levels” a chance to learn about more advanced image-capturing techniques, CNET said today.

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Apple on the hook for $5+ million over hindered performance of older iPhones with iOS 9

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 30, 2015

Apple is under fire over planned obsolescence concerning the iOS 9 software update, with a new class-action lawsuit accusing the company of intentionally slowing older iPhone models with the update, AppleInsider reported Wednesday.

Filed with a New York district court on Tuesday, the lawsuit also accuses Apple of deceptive trade practices and false advertising which assured customers that iOS 9 would run fine on older handsets dating back to four-year-old iPhone 4s models without stating that the upgrade would cripple legacy handsets severely.

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Apple said to be close to signing OLED deal with Samsung and LG Display for future iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 30, 2015

A report Wednesday by ET News contends that Apple is “close” to signing a definitive supply agreement with both Samsung Display and LG Display concerning OLED screens for future iPhones.

Although iOS devices have used ubiquitous liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels since their inception, organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology features deeper blacks and requires less power because it doesn't need a power-hungry backlight module to illuminate the pixels.

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