Apps

Lead Them review: help the microcosm grow by pointing the way

As far as simple mobile games go, there are an uncountable number of them, so many that it is difficult to search through them to find the interesting ones.

That's where I come in. One game that was recently introduced to me is called Lead Them. While at first glance, it may seem like a vertical scroll game with a pretty skin, it turns out that it has a few tricks that make it stand out. We've got a full game review of Lead Them for your reading enjoyment today.

Periscope for iPhone refreshed with muting, Handoff support and more

In addition to refreshing its main application for the iPhone and iPad with drafts support and interactive notifications on iOS 8, the micro-blogging startup Twitter today issued a noteworthy refresh to its live-broadcasting app, Periscope.

Available at no cost in the App Store, the new Periscope 1.1.3 implements support for Handoff, a new technology in iOS 8 which lets you seamlessly move tasks across devices.

In addition, the app has gained other perks like a new notification setting for people you follow, viewer statistics when browsing past broadcasts and more. Plus, it now tailors your global list of recommended broadcasts to your geographical location.

Chrome for iOS gains a cool tab-switching gesture

Just days after updating Chrome for iOS with the ability to swipe right or left to navigate backward or forward, the search giant issued another app refresh this morning.

Bumped to version 44.0.2403.67, Chrome's added a handy shortcut to switch between open tabs without having to reach for an icon in the upper right corner with your thumb.

Google's mobile browser for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad is available at no cost in the App Store.

eBay folding Valet, Fashion and Motors apps into its main client for iPhone and iPad

eBay's bidding application for the iPhone and iPad is about to get a whole lot better as the e-commerce service announced plans to streamline its App Store offering.

As part of the restructuring effort, eBay will shutter its Valet, Fashion and Motors apps and fold some of their functionality into the main iPhone and iPad client, available free of charge in the App Store.

Here are 5 new features coming soon to Google’s YouTube app for iPhone and iPad

Google is doubling down on its mobile YouTube client. The most recent update, for instance, has at last brought push notifications to YouTube for iOS and support for fullscreen playback of vertical videos.

Prior updates have brought out such enhancements as the Cards feature and more perks and we also know that Google's been testing a major YouTube redesign with a subset of its users since May.

Moreover, at the beginning of this year Google finally ditched Adobe's Flash Player and switched to an HTML5-based player for YouTube's desktop interface.

But the fine folks at Google aren't standing still: yet another redesign effort is about to adorn YouTube's iOS app and with it come a few major feature additions to make it easier than ever to find videos and create them, too.

Obscura simplifies taking the perfect picture

Photography is the capture of emotion for reuse. I’m particularly fond of art – photography or otherwise – that makes me feel something on an emotional level, because if art doesn’t induce emotions, what is its point?

Obscura is a new camera app for iPhone that simplifies the art of taking meaningful pictures. The first real shot I took with this app made an onlooker want to download the app immediately, because she looked at the image and felt something. Even Obscura’s flat, black and white interface leaves the user with a feeling of simplicity that, while decidedly modern, somehow connects back to the original colorless photograph.

This War of Mine review: a brutal look at war from the civilians’ side

In the video game industry, most war-related titles involve soldiers on the front line and put players onto the battlefield, fighting for a cause. Most are shooter games that let you test your sniper skills.

This War of Mine works from a completely different perspective. Instead of rescuing hostages in an airport, players act as civilians trying to survive in a war torn city. We've got a full game review of This War of Mine today.

Best apps of the week: Etch Keyboard, Audiobus Remote, incurve, and more

As the summer gets into full swing and the days are actually starting to get just a little shorter, you may find yourself restless for a little less outdoor activity and a little more screen time.

If you are looking for something new to pass the time as you forget your troubles this weekend, check out our list of apps and games that might just give you the distraction you are looking for.

TurboScan puts the power of a high quality mobile scanner in the palm of your hand

TurboScan by Piksoft Inc., a small Bay Area company, has been available on the App Store for more than five years. Yesterday, they finally launched a free version which leaves no features behind so anyone can now experience the power of a high quality scanner in the palm of their hand, at zero cost.

Ranked #1 business app in the US App Store and with over three million existing users, this document and receipt scanner includes powerful features wrapped around an engaging interface.

Google releases Spotlight Stories, an impressive 360-degree movie app for iPhone

Originally released on Android back in the fall of 2013, Google's 360-degree spherical video app called Spotlight Stories has arrived on the iPhone as a free of charge download.

Based on the technology originally developed by Motorola's Advanced Technology And Products division ahead of Google's 2011 purchase of the handset maker, Spotlight Stories uses a variety of advanced technologies to deliver cool-looking animated stories in the palm of your hand, including 3D and 2D animation, 360-degree spherical video, sound sphere audio and various sensor fusion techniques.

Xenowerk review: a top-down shooter with an ever-expanding arsenal

If you are a fan of top-down arcade shooters, then you know how much fun it can be to run from room to room, killing things and blowing up stuff with wild abandon. Pixelbite, the team that brought us the Sci-Fi western Space Marshals is back with a new adventure in space.

Xenowerk is an action shooter that puts players in charge of cleaning up a mutant mess left by a biological experiment gone bad. We've got a hands-on game review of Xenowerk for you today.

100 apps and games discounted to $0.99 in massive App Store sale

Apple is running a massive sale in the App Store right now, marking down the prices of 100 notable apps and games. The promotion includes titles from a variety of genres, and everything has been discounted down to $0.99.

The promo has been split up into 6 sections: Apps for Photography Lovers, Apps for Kids, Smart Tools for Everyone, Game Hits, App Store Veterans, and More Games to Explore. We've listed some of our favorite deals below.