App Store Apps

Viber introduces support for Viber Games, adds Sticker Menu

Viber, the popular messaging platform second only to WhatsApp, today refreshed its iOS application with support for downloadable mobile games while introducing a new Sticker Menu to make finding sticker packs easier.

Viber Games, the headline new feature in Viber 5.2 for iOS and Android, allows users to play select mobile games with Viber characters Violet and Legcat and see how many coins they can earn.

The best Photo apps of 2014

Sometimes, I feel sorry for educated photographers that spent thousands of dollars and years of their lives studying the subject in school. Since mobile devices have advanced in camera technology, we are all taking pro-quality pictures of our cats every day.

We love iPhone photography so much around here that we have an entire section dedicated to it. So, we take new apps in the category pretty seriously. We sat down with the new releases for 2014 and decided which ones stand out for their awesome features. Then, we voted on the best. Below is a list of the winner, runner-ups, and the best all-time photography app.

Apps of the Week: Tales from the Borderlands, Seabeard, Sneaky Sneaky, and more

After spending all week shopping for presents, decorating trees, and baking cookies, I’m ready for a break. All I want to do is sit down with a good game and lose track of time until my fingers cramp up. If you are in need of a bit of relief from the holiday hustle and bustle, take a look at our list of apps and games. You might find something to ease your stress level. Maybe you’ll feel better after some good old fashioned video gaming. I know I always do.

Bean Dreams will bounce right into your heart

Who would have thought that there was a reason to change the traditional platform game mechanics? It’s one of those “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” concepts. At least, I’d always thought that way.

Bean Dreams is a game that features pretty much everything you think makes up a good platformer. However, there is one major change. Instead of running and jumping, you’re little Bean is nothing but jumps.

‘Space Qube’ goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Apple has named the retro-futuristic 3D shooter 'Space Qube' its App of the Week for this week. This means that you'll be able to pick up the title for both your iPhone and iPad, for free through next Thursday—a solid savings of $2.99.

In Space Qube, players are tasked with helping Space Jack in his campaign to save the universe. They are given the opportunity to build their own custom spaceship, and then must blast their way through levels of dangerous monsters.

Google iOS app gains Material Design, iPhone 6 support, Recents and Maps in search results

The search monster Google this morning posted a major update to its main search app for iOS.

The company says it's enhanced the software by bringing out support for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus screens, a fresh new look with Material Design appearance, Maps alongside search results, easier-to-find recent searches, a “G” button that lets you start a new search from anywhere within the app and more.

You can grab the completely rebuilt Google 5.0 app for the iPhone and iPad free of charge in the App Store.

SoundCloud adds playlist creation feature and native iPhone 6 support

SoundCloud, an online audio distribution platform, on Thursday issued a long-expected updated to its iOS client which has finally added support for the new iPhone resolutions so it no longer looks oddly scaled on your brand spanking new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus. In addition to playlist creation and iPhone 6 support, SoundCloud 3.6 contains various bug fixes.

Scanbot goes free for the holidays, adds new features and gorgeous winter theme

Scanbot, a comprehensive, well-designed document scanner and QR reader for the iPhone and iPad, has gone free in a time-limited holiday promotion. You can now grab the $1.99 universal application free in the App Store.

Those who've upgraded to Scanbot Pro via a $4.99 In-App Purchase can send Scanbot Pro as a holiday gift to a friend during the duration of this promotion.

Just tap the Gift button at the top right corner and share the Christmas coupon with that special someone. Haven't upgraded yet? Not to worry, you can gift Scanbot Pro at a discount of up to 60 percent. Last but not least, both editions of Scanbot have received several new features listed below the fold.

Spotify gains iPhone 6 support, adds new ‘Top Tracks in Your Network’ playlist

Better late than never: Spotify, the popular music-streaming service hailing from Sweden, today at last gave its iOS clientproper support for the new iPhone screen resolutions so it no longer runs scaled on your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus.

More importantly, version 2.2 has added the “Top Tracks in Your Network” playlist which shows the most played songs among the people you follow.

Top Tracks in Your Network rolling out as we speak to all users and can be found under the new Top Tracks button in the Browse section of the Spotify app.

Microsoft releases MSN-branded News, Money, Sports, Health & Fitness and Food & Drink apps

Microsoft on Thursday released five new applications for the iPhone and iPad. Available free of charge in the App Store, the News, Money, Sports, Health & Fitness and Food & Drink apps have been created under the MSN brand.

As a bonus, a Weather app from MSN will be hitting iOS later this year. It's interesting that the MSN Health app syncs its data with iOS 8's Health database.

It has pedometer functions to continuously track, analyze and receive insights on your daily steps taken on the iPhone and tracks your runs (record your time, distance, pace and calories burned while you run, bike and do other outdoor activities).

Additionally, the app contains a Diet tracker (there's a database of over 300 thousand to track your daily calorie intake) and a Cardio tracker to monitor your cardio training and analyze progress over time.

Jump past the fold for the full rundown of each app.

Braveland Wizard review: a turn-based strategy game where magic is king

In March, a fun turn-based strategy game called Braveland found its way into the App Store and my heart. I recall enjoying the illustrated fighters and the simplistic game mechanics. In that world, your hero is a warrior, fighting for his people. Braveland is back, but with a new hero, a new landscape, and new enemies to destroy.

Braveland Wizard is the sequel. In it, players control a newly graduated wizard who is on a mission to find out who stole the book that is used to complete a wizard’s final test. While much of the mechanics are the same, this new title offers plenty of additional gameplay features. We’ve got a hands-on game review of Braveland Wizard for you today.

App Recap: discounts, new apps to enjoy mid-week

Welcome to Wednesday. As we prepare for an onslaught of new arrivals that will be hitting the App Store midnight, a number of apps and games have been updated with new features and we're here to tell you what's changed.

We also want to make sure you stay on top of recent discounts as some apps get slashed by as much as eighty percent with the others going all the way down to zero bucks.

And it wouldn't be a roundup without taking a look at some of the forthcoming releases due later this month or sometime next year. This is App Recap, an app-focused column by iDownloadBlog.