iDownloadBlog.com

The 10 best productivity apps of 2013

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

If your New Year's resolution is to get more organized, you probably need an app to help you make your resolution come to pass. You may even need an app to help you come up with a list of resolutions to set next year.

This year was a great year for productivity apps. Since Apple announced the iOS 7 redesign, app developers pushed it into overdrive to redesign, recreate, and rework their apps. Plus, some great new titles found their way into the App store this year. The writers at iDownloadBlog have come up with a list of their favorites and below is a list of the 10 best productivity apps of 2013. Don’t forget to tell us which one is your favorite for our Best Apps of 2013 list…

Apps of the week: GTA San Andreas, The Room Two, Wisely, and more…

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Did you already get all of your holiday shopping done? Probably not. I know I haven’t, and I’m a fairly well organized person. What I should be doing this weekend is finishing up all of my holiday chores. What I will likely be doing is playing games on my iPad.

If you are waiting in line for your gift purchases, trimming the tree, or baking holiday cookies this weekend, we have a list of apps and games that you might find worth picking up…

The best email we’ve ever received (and some tips on how to care for your iOS device)

Sébastien Page ∙ December 14, 2013

We receive about 3.5 tons of emails every given day here at iDB, and I have to admit that I don't get past the second sentence of 95% of them before trashing them. Then there is an actual 4.9999% that I actually read and reply to or forward to one of our editors. Finally, there is this 0.0001% of emails that really stand out. They stand out because they are intriguing, well written, funny, or even bizarre, and in some cases, they're all of the above.

This week, we received what I believe to be the best email that ever graced my inbox. It was so entertaining that instead of reading it while standing at my desk, I went downstairs, picked up my iPad mini and read the email from the comfort of my couch. I would lie if I said the idea of pouring myself a glass of Crown Royal didn't cross my mind.

It was so entertaining to me that I wanted to share it with you.

Review: Castro

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

There's no shortage of podcasting apps on the App Store. The growing popularity of podcasting directly correlates to the large amount of podcasting apps we see surfacing. Already, we have apps like Apple's official Podcasts app, Instacast, Downcast, Pocket Casts, and that's just naming a few. Even Podcasting networks like Mule Radio Syndicate—home of popular podcasts like John Gruber's The Talk Show, and 5by5, the fruitage of podcasting pioneer, Dan Benjamin—have created their own dedicated podcasting apps.

So when a new app enters this arena it better be good. No, scratch that; it better be outstanding. That's the only way that newcomers will be able to gain traction in this ever-growing and uber-competitive market.

It helps to start with a catchy name. Castro—the creation of Supertop's Padraig Kennedy and Oisin Prendville—starts out on the right foot in this regard. Its name is the type of play on words that makes itself instantly recognizable, even amongst the podcasting app mainstays listed above. But Castro is more than just a good name; it's a good app, too.

WSJ: Sprint looking to acquire T-Mobile USA

Cody Lee ∙ Updated December 23, 2017

The Wall Street Journal is reporting this afternoon that Sprint is working on a potential T-Mobile USA purchase. The carrier is said to be looking into regulatory concerns right now, and a bid in upwards of $20 billion could come in early 2014.

A merger of these two wireless providers would be significant for a few reasons. For one, it would leave just 3 major competing carriers in the US. And two, Sprint and T-Mobile have a combined subscriber base close to that of AT&T and Verizon...

iOS 7.1 expected to unlock ‘iOS in the Car’ feature

Cody Lee ∙ December 13, 2013

One of the big iOS 7 features Apple showed off during its WWDC event in June was called iOS in the Car. The feature allows for deeper integration between iOS devices and vehicles, enabling users to view iOS apps on factory in-dash displays.

Until now, the feature has not been available, but it looks like the upcoming iOS 7.1 update will change that. Earlier today, Apple seeded the second beta of the firmware to developers, and it includes a new Settings on/off toggle for a Car Display...

Yelp updated with local movie listings, in-app ticket purchasing, and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Yelp has posted a nice little update for its iOS client today. The update, which brings the app to version 7.4, sports a number of new features including movie listings and in-app movie ticket purchasing courtesy of Fandango.

Also new in the app is in-line review business photos. Yelp now shows business photos taken by Yelp users next to their review, so you can get a better idea of how popular a club is, or how delicious a particular entree was...

China Mobile aggressively promoting iPhones and iPads for big launch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that China Mobile and Apple finally inked a deal for the carrier to begin offering iPhones to its some 700 million+ subscribers. Yesterday, China Mobile confirmed the news, taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5s and 5c.

And it looks like the world's largest carrier is enthusiastic about its new partnership with Apple, as it has gone all out on marketing materials for the launch. Many China Mobile retail stores have dedicated much of their ad and display space to iOS devices...

Apple seeds iOS 7.1 beta 2 to developers: here is what’s new

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

Apple has released the second beta of iOS 7.1 to registered developers this afternoon. The update, which carries the build number 11D5115D, can be downloaded via Apple’s developer center.

Today’s release comes nearly a month after the first beta, which brought about only a handful of changes including a new ' dark keyboard' feature, and other small tweaks and improvements...

Rumor: iWatch with wireless charging due in 2014

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

Apple's rumored smartwatch, affectionately dubbed by the media iWatch, is scheduled for launch late next year and will include a wireless charging feature, according to a new rumor by a reliable Chinese blog.

Apple has already tested two prototypes, the story goes, and is shooting to release the health/fitness iOS accessory in October of 2014.

That would put the iWatch debut close to the upcoming iPhone 6. More on that right after the break...

Beyoncé releases her fifth album exclusively on iTunes, packing 18 videos

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 13, 2013

The American singer, songwriter and actress, Beyoncé, has made an unusual move of releasing her fifth self-titled studio album exclusively on Apple's iTunes. Available today from the iTunes Store, the release is dubbed a 'visual album' and arrives with a heavy marketing push from Apple - the iTunes Store is currently featuring Beyoncé's album on all rotating carousel at the top, with links to her previous albums.

You didn't even know she was working on a new alubm? You're not the only one! Visual album? That's because each song comes with an accompanying music video (plus a digital booklet), a great treat given music videos are normally sold separately of songs...

Biggest yet Infinity Blade III ‘Ausar Rising’ update launching next Thursday

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Chair Entertainment's Infinity Blade is an elegiac masterpiece, an iOS exclusive and a system seller that showcases what's possible on Apple's iOS platform better than any other game. Unbelievable console-quality graphics, great soundtrack and atmosphere, complex weapons and upgrade system with RPG elements to keep you coming back for more all contribute to it being one of the best iPhone and iPad games money can buy.

The original game recently went free, as did the second installment which normally costs $6.99 and was yesterday named IGN's Free Game of the Month. As for Infinity Blade III (a $6.99 download for the iPhone and iPad), the substantial Soul Hunter update from a month and a half ago brought us a bunch of new items and goals and an all-new quest that includes a new location and a new enemy, the Deathless Bloodmage.

But that was just warming up as Chair has announced that the upcoming Ausar Rising update will be even bigger. Due next week, the update will let you revisit the original Infinity Blade castle and explore the origins of the Infinity Blade protagonist.

More on that, plus a teaser video, right after the break...