Apps

Choose which apps are allowed to use Wi-Fi with ConditionalWifi2

iOS lets you restrict apps from using cellular data, so it only makes sense to let users do the same with Wi-Fi networks. Although cellular data is more prone to being limited by caps and speed reductions, Wi-Fi networks can sometimes cause issues with apps because of how they're configured or raise security concerns.

By installing a new jailbreak tweak called ConditionalWiFi2 (iOS 10) by iOS developer Creatix, you can choose what apps can connect to the internet over a Wi-Fi connection.

Spottly, Audm, Motivate, and other apps to check out this weekend

This week's edition of our Apps of the Week roundup features a new travel app with a modern twist, an app that reads out the best long-form journalism content, and an app that serves up daily motivational videos. And as always, we've selected two great new games for you to check out.

Spottly

The App Store is is overcrowded with travel apps, but I'm always on the lookout for curated apps that can cutdown your research time and improve your trips. And that's kind of what Spottly is. The app uses algorithms and user curation to highlight the best places to visit and things to do on your next vacation. Items are presented in photo form, so you can visual what you'll be doing, and ranked by popularity. Spottly is available for free.

Audm

This is kind of interesting. Have you ever wanted to read more long-form journalism, but just can't find the time? Meet Audm, the app that features the best content from the top publications around the world, read aloud by celebrated audiobook narrators. Supported publications include WIRED, The Atlantic, Esquire and ProPublica. Features include playlists, offline listening and more. There's a free trial, which I think is worth checking out, and if you like it it's $6.99/month for full access. Audm is available for free.

Motivate

This isn't a new app, but it's still worth checking out for folks looking for an extra helping of inspiration. Motivate delivers handpicked motivation videos to you daily. You can watch the clips in-app, listen to them in the background, save your favorites, and even share them with friends. I know this stuff may seem kind of cheesy, but for a lot of people it can be really useful and encouraging. Motivation is available in the App Store for free.

A Planet of Mine

A Planet of Mine is an engaging game combining exploration, mining, and strategy. Fully adapted for mobile devices, each game is unique thanks to an innovative "stellar system generator" that distributes resources, recruitable species, spoonable biomes, and buildable planets until a complete playground is yours to command. Some systems feature AI-controlled, faction-building opponents. Will you trade with these factions or fight them for control of the entire system. The choice is yours. A Planet of Mine is available for free (with some IAPs).

Full Throttle Remastered

Originally released by LucasArts in 1995, Full Throttle is a classic graphic adventure game from industry legend Tim Schafer, telling the story of Ben Throttle; butt-kicking leader of biker gang the Polecats, who gets caught up in a tale of motorcycles, mayhem and murder. Now over 20 years later, Full Throttle is back in a remastered edition that features all new hand-drawn and 3D high-resolution artwork, and remastered audio and music. Full Throttle Remastered is available for $4.99.

More apps to check out Apple’s free app of the week: Yankai’s Triangle Panic launches Transmit 5, a major update to the popular FTP client Add Spotify controls to your Mac’s Menu Bar with SpotMenu Lightroom for iOS gains selective brush editing, all-new iPad interface & more WhatsApp gains chat pinning, comprehensive file sharing & more in latest update

Lightroom for iOS gains selective brush editing, all-new iPad interface & more

Adobe today updated Lightroom for iPhone and Lightroom for iPad on App Store with some key new features aimed at making editing on the go easier than ever. You can now use a new brush feature to selectively paint in enhancements to any part of your images.

The selective brush option extends to the eraser tool, allowing you to selectively erase both the linear and radial gradients. And if your device has 3D Touch, like iPhone 6s or iPhone 7, you can even vary the effect by just pressing softer or harder as you paint.

iPad Pro users working with an Apple Pencil get the same pressure-sensing to apply more or less of the effect. You'll also notice a new Details tab within the app where you can add the finishing touches to images by controlling noise and enhancing image details.

The in-app camera now supports a new Show Highlight Clipping feature that shows you the over-exposed areas prior to capture, which lets you adjust the exposure or composition in camera. Lightroom for iOS also packs in an improved virtual level via the in-app camera with haptic feedback and support for latest cameras and lenses.

Last but not least, Lightroom for iPad now features a revamped interface, shown top of post, designed for the tablet's larger canvas. According to Adobe, the app makes editing via iPad a serious option as a laptop replacement for any photographer.

Download Lightroom for iPhone and iPad free in App Store.

Vigor brings useful new features to Home screen app icons

The iOS Home screen has always left a lot to be desired. Being nothing more than a wall of app icons, you really can’t get useful information on the Home screen without using a 3D Touch gesture or swiping over to the Today widget page.

A new jailbreak tweak called Vigor by the AtomDevTeam changes that by displaying useful information directly inside your app icons, making it easier to see at a glance.

WhatsApp gains chat pinning, comprehensive file sharing & more in latest update

As part of a broader set of capabilities recently teased for the Facebook-owned WhatsApp messaging platform, the app has now gained a trio of new features in the latest update. WhatsApp version 2.17.40 for iOS brings a chat pinning feature, multi-format file sharing and other improvements.

With the pinning feature, you can make it so your favorite chats remain at the top of the list, so you can quickly find them. To use this feature, just swipe right on a chat in the conversation list, then tap a Pin or Unpin option.

The app has also expanded the file sharing feature, which now allows you to share any type of file with one or more recipients. To send files of any type, open a chat, tap the plus icon at the bottom then choose the Document option.

In the popup menu, select your favorite storage provider like iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive and so forth (any app that includes an iOS Document Provider extension should be available from the menu).

And lastly, when you receive multiple photos the app now lets you tap and hold on the group of photos to quickly forward or delete all of them in one fell swoop.

Download WhatsApp for iPhone, iPad and iPod for free from App Store.

Sticky AI, Picsew, RoverPass, and other apps to check out this weekend

This week's edition of our Apps of the Week roundup features a sticker-maker, screenshot-stitcher, and an app for locating and reserving campsites. And as usual, we've selected two great new games for you to check out.

Sticky AI

Sticky AI uses artificial intelligence to help you create your own selfie-stickers incredibly fast. Create still and animated stickers, save them to the sticker pack and share them easily across your favorite messaging apps. Features include awesome comic and cartoon-like sticker styles, bright and colorful backgrounds to choose from, and a simple and clean user interface. For me it's kind of like having Instagram or Snapchat stickers in all of your favorite social apps. Sticky AI is available for free.

Picsew

In the market for a screenshot-stitching app? Check out Picsew. It's not a new app, but it just received a big update. Picsew can automatically merge multiple screenshots into a single image. The developer says it has the leading auto-stitching success rate among similar products, and it also has a manual stitching option for more complex projects. Other features include support for both vertical and horizontal screenshots, high resolution output, watermarks and more. Picsew is available for $0.99.

RoverPass

It's that time of year again! Search, compare, and book with thousands of other travelers using RoverPass. With more than 20,000 campgrounds across the country, RoverPass is the only directory to offer nationwide booking through its online travel agency service. Other features include quick-loading search results, large photos, map exploration, online booking, and more. This isn't a new app, but if you like to camp and haven't checked it out, it may be worth doing so. It has one of the largest campground databases of any app I've seen. RoverPass is available for free.

Dice Smash

In the mood to try a new puzzler this weekend? Check out Dice Smash. This game is simple, with the goal of tapping empty spaces between pairs of dice in an effort to clear the board. Features include daily challenges, support for Apple Watch and iMessage, and a gorgeous interface. Think you have what it takes to smash the dice? Try it. Dice Smash is available for free.

Street Fighter IV Champion Edition

A new warrior has entered the ring. Street Fighter 4: Champion Edition perfects the winning gameplay formula of its predecessor by offering higher resolution graphics, three new characters (Poison, Ibuki and Dudley), wide screen support for newer iOS devices and a host of updates and refinements. Long time Street Fighter fans can jump into the action and have an instant familiarity with the controls. For more casual players, Street Fighter 4 features numerous settings and tutorials that put you on the path to victory. Street Fighter IV Champion Edition is available for $5.

More apps to check out Pocketdex app by Majd Alfhaily and Surenix complements Pokémon GO Apple’s free app of the week: illi Fantastical for Mac gains attachment and travel time support, time to leave alerts & more