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.

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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.

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Apple halts online sales in Russia due to ‘extreme’ currency fluctuations

Cody Lee ∙ December 16, 2014

Apple has halted all online sales in Russia this morning, due to "extreme" fluctuations in the country's ruble currency, reports Bloomberg. Spokesman Alan Hely told the outlet that the company has decided to shutter the store while it "reviews pricing,” and it “apologizes to customers for any inconvenience.”

The Russian economy has been in trouble for months, but things have gotten significantly worse in recent days due in large part to the falling price of oil and economic sanctions. The ruble has plummeted a staggering 19% within the last 24 hours—the worst single day drop for the currency in the last 16 years.

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Instagram adds five new filters, Slow-Mo video uploading and more in iPhone app update

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

Instagram, a Facebook-owned mobile photography service, today issued an update adding five new filters to its iOS and Android app.

In addition, the popular software has gained a couple handy enhancements such as the ability to upload Slo-Mo video content as well as real-time comments, photo perspective adjustments, a customizable filter tray with live previews and more.

Inspired by the photography, art, fashion and design, the five new subtle filters available in Instagram 6.4 are being marketed as the company's best yet and include: Slumber, Crema, Ludwig, Aden and Perpetua.

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Electronic Arts releases SimCity BuildIt on App Stores worldwide

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

Following a soft-launch in select App Stores weeks ago, Electronic Arts' SimCity BuildIt is now available worldwide.

The freemium iPhone and iPad game, the latest installment in the popular city-building franchise, lets you build a city of your dreams, with the choices you make evolving your city in a variety of ways. Graphics look great, especially with simulated night and day, and the game includes the usual assortment of challenges to solve such as traffic, fires and pollution.

As a mayor on a mission to keep his or her citizens happy, you'll need to keep basic city services running. Jump past the fold for the full reveal.

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Samsung allegedly taking on Apple Pay with ubiquitous solution powered by LoopPay

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Re/code is reporting that Samsung is prepping a response to Apple Pay in the form of its own mobile payment solution that doesn't require NFC and should support virtually 100 percent of credit cards and payment terminals.

The service should be announced sometime in 2015 as the South Korean giant is reportedly in talks with the Burlington, Massachusetts based mobile payments startup LoopPay about possibly incorporating their technology into its wireless mobile payment system.

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App Santa is back with big discounts on great apps

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

Whether you've been naughty or nice this year, App Santa will still bring you great deals on award winning apps by independent developers. Available now through December 26th, App Santa is offering up to 60% on many must-have applications for both iOS and Mac. It's like Christmas before Christmas. Enjoy!

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Google Wallet for iPhone adds Touch ID and iPhone 6 support, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

The Internet giant Google has upped the ante in the mobile payment arena with Tuesday's refresh to its Wallet iOS app. The new version brings out support for Touch ID allowing owners of the iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and the iPhone 5s and onward to unlock the app with their finger.

And with native display support for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus display resolutions, the app now takes full advantage of the screen real estate available to owners of Apple's latest handsets.

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The Kodiak Power Bank will keep your iPhone charged in the rain, snow, or sand

Jim Gresham ∙ December 16, 2014

Samsung called us iPhone users wall huggers in their recent commercial attacks. Sure, we charge fairly frequently, but iPhone owners just like using their device more and do it more frequently. Right? Sometimes that leads to a low battery. Even with an iPhone 6 Plus touting about 10 usage hours before depleting, I sometimes find myself in scenarios where additional charge is critical.

There are loads of battery backups on the market. Just walking into a 7-11 convenient store will reveal small stick sized charging devices for a few bucks. But, a backup is one of those you-get-what-you-pay-for experiences. Take a look inside for details on Outdoor Tech's Kodiak Power Bank.

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Let’s Talk iOS 060: Bore the people

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Episode 60: Using an iPhone to replace a driver's license. Projectors and projector screens. Apple's new commercial. Password Changer. The new Workflow app.

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Sponsor: CASPER — Get $50 toward any mattress purchase by visiting www.casper.com/ios and using promo code ios.

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iDB holiday gift guide: Chris’ picks

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

It's that time of year again and iDownloadBlog is right on cue with its traditional Holiday Gift Guide. Choosing the perfect Christmas gift can be stressful, whether you're looking to surprise your best friend with a useful item that won't break the bank, delight your gadget-toting family members with handy accessories, or give that special someone in your life a unique surprise.

Here's a list of holiday gifts that, based on my personal experience, provide long lasting value without costing too much. Needless to say, it's a highly subjective list and you may not agree with all of the recommended products. That's beyond the point, however, as the article is meant to provide an inspiration as you research before buying things for yourself and the people in your life you care about.

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