Apple

Google iOS app gains Material Design, iPhone 6 support, Recents and Maps in search results

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 11, 2014

The search monster Google this morning posted a major update to its main search app for iOS.

The company says it's enhanced the software by bringing out support for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus screens, a fresh new look with Material Design appearance, Maps alongside search results, easier-to-find recent searches, a “G” button that lets you start a new search from anywhere within the app and more.

You can grab the completely rebuilt Google 5.0 app for the iPhone and iPad free of charge in the App Store.

SoundCloud adds playlist creation feature and native iPhone 6 support

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 11, 2014

SoundCloud, an online audio distribution platform, on Thursday issued a long-expected updated to its iOS client which has finally added support for the new iPhone resolutions so it no longer looks oddly scaled on your brand spanking new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. In addition to playlist creation and iPhone 6 support, SoundCloud 3.6 contains various bug fixes.

Scanbot goes free for the holidays, adds new features and gorgeous winter theme

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 11, 2014

Scanbot, a comprehensive, well-designed document scanner and QR reader for the iPhone and iPad, has gone free in a time-limited holiday promotion. You can now grab the $1.99 universal application free in the App Store.

Those who've upgraded to Scanbot Pro via a $4.99 In-App Purchase can send Scanbot Pro as a holiday gift to a friend during the duration of this promotion.

Just tap the Gift button at the top right corner and share the Christmas coupon with that special someone. Haven't upgraded yet? Not to worry, you can gift Scanbot Pro at a discount of up to 60 percent. Last but not least, both editions of Scanbot have received several new features listed below the fold.

Spotify gains iPhone 6 support, adds new ‘Top Tracks in Your Network’ playlist

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Better late than never: Spotify, the popular music-streaming service hailing from Sweden, today at last gave its iOS clientproper support for the new iPhone screen resolutions so it no longer runs scaled on your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.

More importantly, version 2.2 has added the “Top Tracks in Your Network” playlist which shows the most played songs among the people you follow.

Top Tracks in Your Network rolling out as we speak to all users and can be found under the new Top Tracks button in the Browse section of the Spotify app.

Microsoft releases MSN-branded News, Money, Sports, Health & Fitness and Food & Drink apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Microsoft on Thursday released five new applications for the iPhone and iPad. Available free of charge in the App Store, the News, Money, Sports, Health & Fitness and Food & Drink apps have been created under the MSN brand.

As a bonus, a Weather app from MSN will be hitting iOS later this year. It's interesting that the MSN Health app syncs its data with iOS 8's Health database.

It has pedometer functions to continuously track, analyze and receive insights on your daily steps taken on the iPhone and tracks your runs (record your time, distance, pace and calories burned while you run, bike and do other outdoor activities).

Additionally, the app contains a Diet tracker (there's a database of over 300 thousand to track your daily calorie intake) and a Cardio tracker to monitor your cardio training and analyze progress over time.

Jump past the fold for the full rundown of each app.

Apple Watch reportedly entering mass production in January amid ‘breakthroughs’ in yield issues

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Instead of the previously mentioned February timeframe, the Apple Watch will be entering mass production in January as Apple's component suppliers have reportedly solved yield issues concerning vital components such as the display and processor, according to a new supply chain report published by Taiwan's United Daily News [Google Translate] and relayed Thursday by GforGames.

As a result, the device might hit store shelves in time for Valentine's Day, as originally suspected.

According to a recent rumor, Apple’s retail boss Angela Ahrendts told staffers that the highly anticipated wrist-worn gizmo will be launching in the spring.

Apple launching cellular iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 models in China this week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple today announced that cellular versions of the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 will be available in China this week. Wi-Fi only models of the two tablets have been in the country since launch, but the cellular editions had to be approved by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The two new iPads will support TD-LTE and FDD-LTE standards, as well as TD-SCDMA, DC-HSDPA, HSPA+ and other network technology. Prices will begin at 4,488 (RMB) for the 16GB iPad Air 2, 3,788 (RMB) for the 16GB iPad mini 3, and top out at 5,888 (RMB) for the 128GB iPad Air 2.

App Recap: discounts, new apps to enjoy mid-week

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

Welcome to Wednesday. As we prepare for an onslaught of new arrivals that will be hitting the App Store midnight, a number of apps and games have been updated with new features and we're here to tell you what's changed.

We also want to make sure you stay on top of recent discounts as some apps get slashed by as much as eighty percent with the others going all the way down to zero bucks.

And it wouldn't be a roundup without taking a look at some of the forthcoming releases due later this month or sometime next year. This is App Recap, an app-focused column by iDownloadBlog.

United Airlines outfitting over 20,000 flight attendants with iPhone 6 Plus

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

United Airlines announced today that it plans to equip its flight attendants with Apple's iPhone 6 Plus next year. The airline says that the move will put important safety and service information at flight attendants' fingertips and enhance their ability to meet customers' needs.

Attendants will be using the handsets for a number of tasks, including onboard retail transactions for food, drink and other purchases. They'll also be used for accessing important info via email and the United Airlines Intranet, as well as their policy and procedure manuals.

Apple seeds second iOS 8.2 beta to developers

Cody Lee ∙ December 10, 2014

Apple this morning posted the second beta of iOS 8.2 for developers. The release comes nearly three weeks after the first 8.2 beta, and follows yesterday's public launch of iOS 8.1.2, which brought about a fix for disappearing ringtones.

The new 8.2 beta can be downloaded either over-the-air, or via Apple's developer portal, by all registered iOS developers. It's unknown what new features the firmware will bring, but beta one enabled support for Apple's WatchKit platform.

HERE Maps coming to iPhone in early 2015

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2014

HERE Maps had been available in the App Store briefly before it got pulled in December 2013 because “iOS 7 ruined the experience”. Nokia later admitted the app was “a rushed product” that “went horribly wrong” because it was “never thoroughly proven.”

The Finnish firm has now officially confirmed that HERE Maps will return to the iPhone in early 2015 following today's release of HERE for Android and a relaunch of a new web-based experience over at here.com.

“Our iOS app development team is working hard on this and we plan to officially launch HERE for iOS in early 2015,” said the team. The revamped iOS navigation app will be joining several big-name mapping products in the App Store from the likes of Google, Garmin, TomTom and many more.

Instagram hits 300M monthly users, rolls out verified badges

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 10, 2014

Facebook-owned Instagram shared a new milestone today as the popular mobile photo-sharing service hit 300 million monthly users, making it bigger than Twitter which on October 27 had 284 million active users.

The figure is sharply up from 200 million active users Instagram had at the end of March, meaning the service has grown 50 percent in the past 9 months alone.