App Store Apps

Day One journaling app updated for iOS 9 with 3D Touch support and native watchOS 2 app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

Day One by Bloom Built, my go-to journaling app for iOS and the Mac, has had an app for the Apple Watch since April 2015, but it used to be hampered by the limitations of watchOS.

With watchOS 2, apps can now run directly on the wearable device and more independently of its connected iPhone, resulting in better responsiveness and faster execution. A brand new release of Day One now includes a native watchOS 2 app, support for 3D Touch Home screen shortcuts on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus and more.

Super Sharp review: simple physics make this game fun and challenging

Lory Gil ∙ October 12, 2015

Finger-swiping games really stand out on touch-screen devices. Before smartphones, there really wasn't such a thing. Now, slicing and dicing with your finger has become its own category.

Super Sharp is one such game, but it adds a nice physics-based mechanic to a minimalist puzzle that is quite entertaining. We've got a full game review of Super Sharp below. See if it is something you'd like.

10 Tweetbot tips for power users

Jeff Benjamin ∙ October 11, 2015

Tweetbot 4 is one of the best Twitter clients for the iPhone that money can buy. It's always been a solid client, but new long-awaited features were added to the 4th iteration that's really brought the app back to the Twitter app throne.

Many of us have been using Tweetbot since it first appeared on iOS, and as such, we've become quite accustomed to all of the shortcuts and gestures that allow us to use the app in the most efficient way possible.

If you're new to Tweetbot, then this list of 10 tips will help bring you up to speed. But even if you've been using Tweetbot since day one, you may find a tip or two in this list that you weren't aware of. Watch the video, and let me know if any of the following 10 tips are new to you.

Leave me Alone, Assembly, Pause, and more apps to check out this weekend

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 4, 2018

This week, we were pleasantly surprised by AT&T's Wi-Fi calling support, Adobe's decision to make Lightroom for iOS free, and the fact that we may get our hands on the iPad Pro as early as the first week of November.

We were also disappointed to discover that malware was targeting iOS devices, some of our iPhone 6s chips weren't as good as others, and we may not get our hands on the newest Apple TV until as late as the first week of November.

If you are tired of the rollercoaster of tech-based emotions you've been through this week and just want some apps and games to relax you, check out our weekend list.

Review: Overcast 2.0 brings streaming support and new price—free (no IAPs whatsoever)

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2015

Developer Marco Arment today issued a major update to Overcast, its praised podcast player and manager app for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Apple Watch. Going from the freemium to free model, Overcast 2.0 is now a free app without In-App Purchases, advertising or other limitations.

Instead, you can now support the continued development of Overcast, if you want, by becoming a patron which entails a recurring subscription.

If not, enjoy everything Overcast hast to offer absolutely free of charge.

One of the major new features in Overcast 2.0 is streaming, which can now be used with Smart Speed and Voice Boost effects to save time when listening to podcasts by shortening moments of silence without having to download new episodes first.

Some of the previously pulled apps and games now returning to App Store’s Purchased history

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2015

Many of the iPhone and iPad applications that have vanished from users' Purchased histories are now returning to the App Store, TouchArcade reports, suggesting the whole brouhaha was but a glitch in the App Store.

Not all of the pulled games have returned, however, though some classics like Ngmoco's games and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 can now be re-downloaded through the App Store's Purchased tab again.

Wake Alarm Clock goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

Heads-up deal seekers. Apple has named Tiny Hearts Limited's "Wake Alarm Clock" its App of the Week for this week. This means that from now through next Thursday, you'll be able to pick up the popular alarm clock app for free for both iPhone and iPad—a solid savings of $4.

For those unfamiliar with the app, Wake is highly regarded for its beautiful and intuitive design, and its range of various alarm modes. You can slap your phone to activate a short snooze, flip it to turn off all alarms, or you can set it so you have to shake your phone to turn all alarms off.

Gonzo action game The Executive is IGN’s Free Game of the Month

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 10, 2015

So you want to be the CEO of a trillion dollar mining company that has been infiltrated by werewolves? Look no further than The Executive by Riverman Media, a title unlike any other mobile game on the market.

The Executive, normally a $4.99 download from the App Store, has just gone free via IGN's ongoing Free Game of the Month promotion, marking the first time the game has hone free since its July 2015 debut.

Best of all, there are no ads and no In-App Purchases in The Executive so this single free download is all you need. The Executive is part rhythm game and part 2D fighter and can be yours at no charge if you follow our instructions on redeeming your free copy.

Adobe makes Lightroom for iOS free for everyone, no subscription needed

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 8, 2015

Since its April 2014 debut, Adobe's Lightroom mobile app has required you to subscribe to Adobe’s Cloud service in order to use the app, but not any longer. As first noted by The Next Web, both Lightroom for iPhone and Lightroom for iPad are now available for everyone without the desktop app, without a Creative Cloud Photography Plan subscription and even without an Adobe ID.

Apple: yes, we now remove App Store apps pulled from sale from your Purchased history, too

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 7, 2015

Users around the world are noticing that they're no longer able to re-download older iPhone and iPad apps and games that their developers have removed from sale on the App Store.

The abnormal behavior flies in the face of Apple's policy of allowing people who bought apps from the App Store to re-download them to other devices through the App Store's Purchased tab.

As a result, questions arose as to whether this pointed toward a big problem in the App Store. Sadly, as PocketGamer points out, this is definitely a new Apple policy meaning you now have to back up your purchased mobile apps in iTunes to keep them forever.

Fantastical gains iOS 9’s productivity-enhancing features, Apple Watch complication and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 7, 2015

Hot off the heels of its big Mac update, developer Flexibits today issued an update to Fantastical for iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch. The new software takes advantage of the new productivity-enhancing features provided by iOS 9 and watchOS 2.

These include 3D Touch support for iPhone 6s owners, a dedicated Fantastical complication for Apple Watch wearers, Slide Over and Split View multitasking modes on the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 and much more.

Twitter launches Moments for discovering trending stories and highlighting the best of Twitter

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 6, 2015

Twitter's excellent iPhone, iPod touch and iPad mobile application was refreshed this morning with a long-expected feature that strives to make content discovery a lot easier with a brand new tab.

Called Moments, it was designed to highlight stories that are trending on the micro-blogging service right now and important ones you may have missed. This edition of Twitter also supports super-sized emoji in Direct Messages.

Twitter is a free download from the App Store.