Less than a week following its September 17 release, Apple's new iOS 8 mobile software is installed on 46 percent of all active iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices in the wild that have accessed the App Store recently, reveals a dashboard on the Apple Developers website.
At the same time, the number of devices running the iOS 7 software has dropped to 49 percent as of September 21, with older iOS versions grabbing a meager five percent share.
It's Thursday and Apple's editors have slashed another app to zero bucks in the App Store's weekly Free App of the Week promotion.
Free until next Thursday and replacing last week's Free App of the Week, the addictive puzzler Bicolor, movie tie-in Real Steel by Reliance Big Entertainment has now gone free for a week, until next Thursday.
Representing a $0.99 saving, Real Steel for the iPhone and iPad is based on the 2011 Dreamworks movie starring Hugh Jackman which takes place in a secret world in the not-so-distant future where boxing has gone high-tech.
Instead of human boxers, players control sophisticated boxing robots weighing over 2,000 pounds and reaching up to eight feet tall. Featuring lush graphics, fast-paced action and addictive mechanics, Real Steel is a nice time-killer. And with all-new Tournament and Survival modes, it should keep you busy.
Folks who missed the opportunity to grab Bicolor when it was offered for free in the Apple Store app will be happy to hear that it's gone on sale again. Apple is offering the popular game for free from now through next Thursday as part of its App of the Week promotion.
For those unfamiliar with the title, Bicolor is a deceptively-complex puzzler that tasks players with solving 240 handmade puzzles. In each level you must figure out how to draw a path with one color, and then cover it up with another using the right amount of moves.
Apple Pay, the Cupertino-based company's new mobile payment service announced on Tuesday, could prove to be a big source of revenue for the company during a time when music and app downloads are slowing. Bloomberg reports Apple will collect fees from banks when iPhone 6 and Apple Watch users make a purchase. Fees will be charged for every single transaction, though the fee hasn't been detailed.
9to5Mac's Mark Gurman is out with a new scoop this evening regarding Apple's incoming wearable. Citing sources familiar with the project, the well-connected blogger reports that the so-called iWatch will feature support for third-party applications.
In fact, Gurman says that the device will come equipped with an App Store, and apparently a handful of developers have already received a pre-release of the SDK (developer tools). This group includes major social networks, and service companies.
Popular Android keyboard developer Minuum has finally previewed its keyboard coming to iOS 8 this fall. It's not like other third-party keyboards we've seen thus far, instead, it transforms from a standard full-scale QWERTY keyboard with autocorrect and then fades away to take up only half of your visible screen.
The folks behind CloudApp released a big update for the service on Thursday, making it easier for users and companies to quickly share links, photo, texts and more from a Mac. The update is being labeled version 3.0, and brings CloudApp Motion, CloudApp for Teams, updated Pro plans, Google Apps support, and an embedded video and audio player into the mix.
Like any given Monday, Apple's App Store editors today highlighted iPhone and iPad applications aimed at increasing your productivity by helping you get organized and keep pace with your busy life.
In this week's edition of Productivity Monday, the App Store team is sharpening its focus on apps which help make the most out of iOS by automating the things that don't need your expertise, so you can spend your time wisely.
Here's a quick rundown of each featured app.
Google announced on Monday it's rounding out its Google Drive app lineup on iOS, by releasing a Slides app alongside updates to its existing Docs and Sheets apps. The Slides app, now available to download on the iTunes App Store for iPhone and iPad, allows users to create, edit, and collaborate with other users on presentations. It's a great competitor to Apple's Keynote application, and once again highlights Google's commitment to the App Store.
Facebook has begun rolling out an important update to its Facebook Messenger application on Monday, after it was found the app was susceptible to a security flaw forcing users’ iPhones to place expensive calls automatically - racking up a large bill.
Developer Andrei Neculaesei was first to identify the issue last week, saying scammers use the Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) scheme called ”tel” to trigger a call without a user knowing. Usually clicking on a link containing a phone number will take a user to Safari and then prompt them to confirm the call. However, apps like Facebook Messenger, Google+, Gmail, and FaceTime, make the call without asking the user.
It's Thursday and you know what that means, don't you? That's right, today is the day Apple editors get to pick another paid app to go free for seven days, as part of the App Store's ongoing Free App of the Week promotion.
Reminder: last week's freebie was Uppercut Games' excellent post-apocalyptic shooter, Epoch 2.
This week's free app is Atom Run by Fingerlab.
Normally costing three bucks a pop, this retro-futuristic platformer set in a mechanical-dynamic environment will be free until next Thursday so best thing you save yourself $2.99 and download Atom Run for free right now...
Apple has boosted its Affiliate Program that enables website owners to earn commissions on qualifying iTunes sales. Now, the iPhone maker is inviting developers to join the party.
According to an email communique the Cupertino company sent out to the registered iOS developers, makers of iPhone and iPad applications can now earn commissions, too, by promoting paid music, apps, books and other items via iTunes, App Store, iBooks and the Mac App Store affiliate links provided within their apps through the iOS Store Kit Share Sheet.
Jump past the fold for the full reveal...