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The best News apps of 2014

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

It’s hard to believe that a whole year has come and gone since we gave you our best-of lists in 2013. While last year was hard to beat with the advancement in iOS software and updated version of our most favorite apps and games, this year has provided us with a number of fantastic titles to choose from.

Today, we have a list of news apps that the iDownloadBlog writing team has nominated the best releases in 2014. Below is our vote for the best news app of 2014, as well as the runner ups and the app we think is the best all-time news app.

Facebook will begin auto-enhancing photos for iPhone users

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Even with its Instagram product, Facebook is still one of the premier places to share memories with family and friends. That's why Facebook says it will start auto-enhancing your photos for you on iOS. I guess Facebook thinks you're a sucky photographer.

The social network told TechCrunch on Tuesday you’ll still have complete control of your photos, but a slider will now appear on your photos as you post them that will show how enhanced you want the light, shadow, and clarity. You can even revert back to your original shot.

Sprint just had a bad day: Record FCC fine, no more Nascar partnership

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Sprint just had a pretty bad day, sending its stock down 5 percent after some troubling news. The Wall Street Journal reports an FCC official confirmed the regulatory body is preparing to fine Sprint, the nation's third-largest mobile carrier, a record $105 million after allegations it charged consumers for unwanted text message alerts and other services.

Oceanhorn, wonderfully done Zelda-like action adventure, gets discounted for the first time

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

Ever since its November 2013 release, Oceanhorn hasn't received a discount as its developer, Germany-based FDG Entertainment, has stuck to its original price of nine bucks.

Up until today, that is. In a limited anniversary sale, Oceanhorn is now available for five bucks a pop.

If you haven't played Oceanhorn yet or heard about it, you're wholeheartedly recommended to check out Lory's review and grab this remarkable gem of a game before it goes back up to its normal price of nine bucks.

TAG Heuer announces plans for smartwatch ahead of Apple Watch debut

Cody Lee ∙ December 16, 2014

LVMH watch chief Jean-Claude Biver announced today that its popular luxury watch line TAG Heuer is pushing ahead with plans for a smartwatch. At a press conference in Switzerland this morning, the executive admitted he had dismissed the threat of wearables, but recently had a change of heart.

"We started on the project about four months ago," Biver told journalists. "We have done several partnerships and might also do acquisitions." Google and Intel are among those rumored to be working with TAG on its smartwatch, which is believed to feature both mechanical actions and digital sensors.

Google Drive for iOS now lets you upload files from other apps and cloud services

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

Following up on a recent Google Drive update which brought out support for Touch ID fingerprint verification and iPhone 6 resolutions along with a brand new Share extension to access cloud files in almost any iOS 8 app, today the search giant Google announced that it's now possible to send files to your Drive from other iPhone and iPad applications that have advertised their storage extension system-wide.

And in addition to the usual slew of bug fixes and performance improvements, the refreshed Drive client for iOS now makes it possible to view and share custom maps through the company's My Maps feature.

Pixelmator for iPad updated with several bug fixes and performance improvements

Timothy Reavis ∙ December 16, 2014

Today, the Pixelmator team released an update for Pixelmator for iPad that includes numerous fixes and improvements to the performance of the app, particularly surrounding Blur and Sharpen adjustments in the app and its Photos extension. This marks the second update since the app's release in October and sets its version number to 1.0.2.

Apple Pay has gained several new bank and retail partners in recent weeks

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple on Tuesday told The New York Times that it has signed up "dozens more banks, retail stores and start-ups to adopt Apple Pay" in recent weeks. The mobile payment service launched in October with a handful of official partners, and has been adding new ones on a near-weekly basis.

This latest round of additions includes Associated Bank, BB&T, Commerce Bank, TD Bank North America, UW Credit Union and 5 other institutions. Apple says that with the new partners, Apple Pay now supports the cards that represent ~90% of the credit card purchase volume in the US.

Apple did not harm consumers with iTunes’ FairPlay digital rights management, ruling finds

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

Apple's proprietary digital rights management software, FairPlay, that prevented users from loading songs from rival music stores on early iPods, did not harm consumers nor did it violate the United States antitrust laws, an eight-person jury has determined.

As reported by The Verge, the jurors have sided with Apple in a decade-long suit and have not found Apple guilty of exploiting FairPlay DRM as a lock-in preventing rival music stores from syncing with iPods. Though the iPhone maker is off the hook now, an appeal will be filed with a higher court.

Opera Coast 4.0 is now live with Discover, Turbo Compression, Coast Cards and Handoff

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 29, 2018

Opera Coast, a minimalist browser that Opera Software launched for the iPhone back in April (and released on the iPad in September 2013) has received a substantial update on Tuesday bringing out four new features.

For starters, the app now supports Apple's Handoff technology (requires iCloud, iOS 8, Yosemite and Bluetooth 4.0) so you can start browsing on your iPhone or iPad and continue right where you left off in your OS X browser, be it Safari, Opera or whatever app happens to be set as your default Mac browser.

And if you own an iPhone 6 Plus, the elegant Coast app will delight you with its all-new two-pane landscape mode support. Jump past the fold for other enhancements in Coast 4.0.

Google refreshes Photo Sphere Camera with better image quality, new library organization and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

Following its App Store debut four months ago, Google's Photo Sphere Camera has been bumped to version 1.1.

The useful photography software which allows anyone with an iPhone 4s or higher to create panoramic images now features enhanced image quality when creating 360-degree images on an iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.

Additionally, the library view now separates private from public panoramas and the built-in map has been upgraded so that you can expand or contract it as needed.