App Store Apps

1Password for Apple Watch is now a native app

1Password developer AgileBits was there on day one with a brand new Apple Watch app when the wearable device made its April 2015 debut. As useful as it was, the app wasn't exactly a speed demon and was limited in functionality by only supporting items stored in your Primary vault. Those issues are now a thing of the past as 1Password for Apple Watch is now a 100 percent native app that takes full advantage of the speed and performance enhancements afforded by running directly on Apple Watch hardware.

As a bonus, the new app now permits you to add items from any vault to your Apple Watch, including items stored in your 1Password.com account vaults.

Instagram launches Saved Posts, expands live video to all US users

Instagram today announced a new feature in the mobile app for iOS and Android: Saved Posts. As the feature's name suggests, this lets you save posts you’d like to revisit later (don't worry, only you can see what you saved). Simply tap a new bookmark icon underneath a post in your feed to save it to a new, private tab on your profile, labeled Saved. This feature requires Instagram 10.2 for iOS, a free download from the App Store.

You can now stream live video from Twitter app

Twitter today announced that users of its mobile app can now broadcast Periscope-powered live video. Why go live on Twitter? Because live video broadcasts “bring moments and events to life in a way that no other medium can,” said the popular microblogging service. This newly added feature requires an update to Twitter's mobile app, which is rolling out to everyone on the App Store today.

Snapchat update enables group chat, Shazam integration, sticker creation & more

Snapchat today updated its iPhone and iPad app on the App Store with a trio of new features. You can now engage in groups chats with multiple users at once, create your own stickers from within the app and even identify a song that's currently playing around you thanks to Shazam integration.

There's also a new Paintbrush tool in Snapchat 9.45 for iOS that will turn your snaps into artistic-looking images.

Nintendo drops a live-action commercial for Super Mario Run ahead of release

Nintendo is scheduled to debut Super Mario Run, its platformer optimized for one-handed gameplay, on the App Store on December 15. Ahead of this eagerly anticipated release, the Japanese gaming giant released a live-action commercial that's all about speed.

Running two minutes and five seconds long, the ad features people from all walks of life running across scenic locations and in front of landmarks across the globe. The video features an upbeat tune and classic Super Mario notes and sound effects.

Pokémon GO update lets trainers transfer Pokémon in bulk and fixes bugs

Niantic has launched an update (version 1.19.1) for the popular Pokémon GO game on both the Android and iOS platforms on Thursday that addresses several bugs, as well as a highly-requested game improvement.

Those who catch many Pokémon know the struggle of having to transfer out the ones they don’t need to Professor Willow, one by one, but Thursday’s update now allows players to transfer a handful of unwanted Pokémon to the professor all at once.

First impressions of Super Mario Run on iPhone

As we noted earlier today, you can now test out Super Mario Run at your local Apple Store. They have preinstalled the game on their demo devices ahead of the games launch on December 15th. I was lucky enough to head over earlier today and put together a video and some first impressions on the upcoming platformer.

Spotify has gone cold on rumored SoundCloud deal

Spotify, the world's top on-demand music service, is not buying Berlin, Germany-headquartered audio distribution platform SoundCloud after all, TechCrunch has learned.

Spotify has reportedly given up on its latest effort to buy SoundCloud realizing, after months of talks, that any such deal would probably negatively impact its impending initial public offering (IPO) and expected expansions in China, Russia and South Korea.

Lightroom for iOS, Lightroom CC and Adobe Camera Raw pick up new pro-grade features

Photoshop maker Adobe today issued a series of updates to Lightroom for iPhone and iPad, Lightroom CC and Adobe Camera Raw, adding several new features for photographers, including refreshed Edit and Capture interfaces, a new info section and a brand new Professional mode.

Lightroom for iPhone and Lightroom for iPad are available free on the App Store. The Lightroom CC 2015.8 update and Adobe Camera Raw 9.8 are available from Adobe.

You can now play Super Mario Run in Apple Stores around the world

Ahead of its scheduled December 15 debut, Nintendo's upcoming platformer Super Mario Run can now be experienced firsthand in your local Apple Store. That's because the iPhone maker has installed Super Mario Run demo stations at its brick-and-mortar retail locations for pre-release play, as announced during Wednesday evening's “The Tonight Show” starring Jimmy Fallon.