App Store Apps

Airmail gains iPad and Touch ID support, adds tons of new features in latest update

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 12, 2016

Airmail, the popular Mac email client, has made the leap to the iPhone back in February.

As of today, this powerful email application is available with a native interface on iPads, with full support for iOS 9's Split View multitasking mode, wireless keyboards with fully customizable shortcuts, Touch ID, the ability to draw sketches within the app and much more.

“Never before has e-mail been so powerful and productive across your Apple devices,” developers told me via email. “Use the extended screen real estate to compose and communicate like never before.”

The refreshed iPhone and iPad app is available now in the App Store at no charge for existing users.

BBC releases iPlayer Kids app

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 12, 2016

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on Tuesday announced a kids-friendly version of its iPlayer video-streaming app, called iPlayer Kids. Available in the UK App Store at no charge, the ad and In-App Purchases free software offers kids a safe environment to watch all of BBC Children’s world-class content in one place.

These include over 10,000 episodes being made available this year alone, including both new and old CBeebies and CBBC favorites such as “Wolfblood”, “Blue Peter”, “The Dumping Ground”, “Topsy & Tim” and “Go Jetters”.

Facebook Messenger gains Dropbox integration

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 12, 2017

As Facebook continues advancing its mobile Messenger app, the company just announced in a blog post that users can now take advantage of a brand new integration to share their Dropbox files from within the mobile Messenger app.

The new feature is accessible through the More button in Messenger chats, where Dropbox is now listed as an available source. Simply tap the new icon to open the Dropbox app on your device and select cloud files that you'd like to share in a chat.

Google optimizes the layout of Now cards in native search app for iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 11, 2016

Google on Monday pushed a small refresh to its native Search app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad in the App Store. Bumped to version 14.0, the software features an optimized layout of the Now cards to make better use of the iPad's screen real estate.

“Updated structure for Now cards on iPad, designed to keep your content organized and better surface the info you need most,” reads a line from Google's release notes accompanying the 65.4-megabyte download.

Doodling over live video coming soon to Periscope

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 13, 2016

Periscope is currently testing a brand new feature that allows you to draw with your finger on top of a live video feed, The Next Web reported today. You can pick any color to draw with by tapping on a live video feed or use the new selection interface to draw in three primary colors.

Facebook too is working on ability to draw on video as part of the Facebok Live features so we're not surprised that rival Periscope, which is owned by Twitter, would work on this.

How to combine multiple videos before posting to Instagram

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 1, 2022

To publish two or more videos to a single Instagram post, you can either select them as different slides of the same post or merge the videos together and post them as a single video. This tutorial shows you how to do both.

Upmind, Tweetcat and other apps to check out this weekend

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 24, 2023

Looking for some new apps and games to try out this weekend? iDB has you covered with our latest Apps of the Week post. This week's list includes some great titles such as the language-learning app Upmind, and Espresso Chat, which offers a new take on group messaging. We also have two new games that you won't want to miss.

Making more sense of the fitness data your Apple Watch collects with Activity++

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 8, 2016

Developer David Smith has expanded his lineup of ++ apps for the iPhone and iPad (Pedometer++ and Sleep++) with the addition of Activity++, an iPhone app designed to help you make the most from your Apple Watch fitness data.

But wait, why on Earth would you need another app when the built-in Activity app's rings provide an at-a-glance overview of your Move, Exercise and Stand goals?

Facebook planning to add customer service chatbots and live chat to Messenger

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 8, 2016

Facebook is working hard to turn its Messenger app into a platform for doing all sorts of useful things beyond mere message exchange between friends.

According to a report Friday by TechCrunch, the company is planning on enabling developers to add customer service chatbots and live chat functionality to Messenger and has already introduced Live Chat APIs for Messenger.

A presentation give to select Messenger chatbot developers mentions something called “Structure Messages”, which are basically automated responses that may include a title, image, a description, a URL and calls to action such as visiting a website, viewing an e-commerce order or making a restaurant reservation.

Focus on what’s good in your life with the Five Minute Journal app

Sébastien Page ∙ April 8, 2016

The Five Minute Journal app description claims it to be the simplest and most effective way to become happier in five minutes a day. Having used the physical journal for several months, I can definitely witness some positive changes in my life, which are ultimately making me happier. Now with the release of the iPhone app, I can bring my journal with me on the go, and I don't even have to remember to bring my pen along

But what's the Five Minute Journal about anyway?

Microsoft’s Hub Keyboard now available on iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Microsoft's Hub Keyboard is now available for the iPhone. No, it's not the Windows Phone keyboard that's being ported to Apple's handset. It's an iOS version of the Hub Keyboard that landed on Android in February.

Like other third-party software keyboards, Hub can be easily installed on your device once downloaded. Just navigate to Settings > General > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, and select Hub from the subsequent list.

Cut the Rope: Time Travel goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Apple on Thursday updated its App of the Week promotion in iTunes with Cut the Rope: Time Travel. This means that from now through next Thursday, you'll be able to pickup ZeptoLab's popular puzzler for free for both iPhone and iPad—a solid savings of $2.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Time Travel is one of the many titles in the Cut the Rope physics puzzler franchise. In it, players are against tasked with helping Om Nom collect candy as he journeys back in time to the Middle Ages, Ancient Egypt and more.