App Store Apps

Apple to bring full-screen video iAds to iOS apps this year

Cody Lee ∙ March 5, 2014

AdAge is reporting this afternoon that Apple is looking to roll out new video iAds for iPhone and iPad later this year. Citing people with knowledge of the company's plans, the outlet says that these 'interstitial' ads will automatically play in full-screen on iOS devices.

The way it works currently, iAds are much less obtrusive: a user must click on a mobile banner for a brand's ad video to play. Under the new format, developers could opt to display TV commercial-like ads during moments of transition, like in between game levels...

Flipboard buys news reader app Zite for $60 million

Cody Lee ∙ March 5, 2014

Flipboard has announced this morning that it has acquired popular news reader app Zite from CNN. The company didn't disclose pricing details, but word has it that it went for $60 million and part of the deal is that Flipboard will begin syndicating CNN content inside its apps.

For those unfamiliar with the app, it's billed as an 'intelligent magazine' that helps you discover interesting things to read. Almost like a Pandora for RSS feeds, Zite analyzes millions of articles each day to offer you content on over 40K topics based on your habits and preferences...

Gmail updated with iOS 7 Background App Refresh, streamlined sign in experience

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 5, 2014

Google's free Gmail app for the iPhone and iPad is being continuously improved and that's a good thing.

Now, I myself am a Mailbox convert so the only reason for keeping Gmail on my device is to occasionally check out new features. If anything, today's Gmail update gives me two new reasons to reconsider handling my email in Gmail more frequently. Now available, Gmail 3.0 brings out two major improvements.

Firstly, the app now uses Background App Refresh, a new iOS 7 technology which lets apps ask the operating system to retrieve new content even if they're not running. As a result, switching from one app back to Gmail immediately serves up-to-date inbox, negating the need to manually refresh content.

And secondly, it improves the experience by signing you in automatically using the same Google Account defined in Google's other iOS apps, such as Maps and Google+...

Encrypted chat app ‘Cryptocat’ now available on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Popular encrypted chat app Cryptocat has launched this week for iOS. Originally available as a desktop app and a browser plugin, the app offers strong encryption and secrecy for text conversations, as well as protection from government intrusion thanks to its Swedish nuclear bunker headquarters.

This week's iOS launch comes after an initial rejection by Apple's app review team in December. Cryptocat's founder Nadim Kobeissi called Apple's reason for rejection 'illegitimate,' but it's obvious someone or something had to give because the app is now available for download in the App Store...

Real Racing 3 gains iOS 7 controller support, Photo mode, car customization, Aston Martin and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already since Electronic Arts released its free-to-play Real Racing 3 in the App Store. On the downside, a year is a long time in mobile so aside from avid fans, many casual gamers may have by now stopped enjoying this otherwise excellent racer.

If you needed an excuse to re-download and fire up Real Racing 3 on your device, Electronic Arts is celebrating the game's first anniversary and has marked the occasion by issuing a fresh content update today. It contains a bunch of new goodies, including support for the physical iOS 7 controllers helping turn Real Racing 3 into a more of a console experience.

Some of the surprises include deep car customization options along with a brand new Photo mode to go with it. "After seeing everyone creating amazing screenshots with Replays, we're excited to see what players do with Photo mode," developer Firemonkey teased.

As a bonus, you can now drive Aston Martin sports cars and everyone gets to grab a free 1972 Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7. Jump past the fold for the full reveal...

Walking Dead: The Game S2 Ep 2 coming to iOS this week

Cody Lee ∙ March 4, 2014

Get excited Walking Dead fans. Telltale Games has just announced that the second episode of Walking Dead: The Game — Season 2 will be landing on iOS later this week. Titled 'A House Divided,' Ep2 will continue the storyline set forth in Ep 1 released back in December.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Walking Dead: The Game follows the story of Clementine, a young girl orphaned by the undead apocalypse. Left to fend for herself, she must track down other survivors, explore new locations and make gruesome decisions to stay alive...

Brace yourselves for stunning on-rails shooter Star Horizon, arriving March 20

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2018

Fans of such shooters as the excellent Arc Squadron (a free download in the App Store), are going to fall in love with Star Horizon after it hits iOS later in March.

Powered by the Unity game engine (which now supports iOS 7 controllers) and created by developer Tabasco Interactive, Star Horizon shows what a long way we've come in terms of GPU performance on mobile devices.

Console-like graphics, stunning lighting effects, detailed 3D models of starships and fighters and just all-around fancy visuals are bound to knock your socks off. Jump past the fold for a trailer, screenshots and additional highlights...

Facebook updates Paper with new sharing options, sound settings and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Facebook has posted an update for its just-released Paper app this morning, bringing the app to version 1.0.2. The update adds a handful of new features, as well as several improvements including those in the form of reliability and performance.

On the new feature front, Facebook has added the ability to share articles via Facebook Messages, text message, or email. And you can also now turn off the app's sound effects so you can browse through the posts of your friends and family in peace...

Twitter ‘system error’ causes mass reset of user passwords

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Folks who received an email from Twitter tonight letting them know that their password has been reset are not alone. Thousands of users have come forward over the last 6 hours claiming that Twitter has force-reset their passwords, and requested that they create new ones.

The good news is that it doesn't sound like the social network was hacked, or overrun with nefarious bots. A spokesperson for the company has confirmed to tech site Recode that a 'system error' caused the mass reset of user passwords, and the problem should be fixed now...

Primal Flame – play with fire in this atmospheric arcade game

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Many popular atmospheric games use the black, white, and gray color scheme to give you a dreamlike visual experience. The characters might be shadowed in black, while the backdrop is detailed with interesting illustrations.

In Primal Flame, players are surrounded by the dark with only the glow of their flame to show them the way. The backdrops are detailed with interesting illustrations, but it’s the foreground you have to watch out for…

How to create contact groups on iPhone and iPad

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated September 5, 2024

Learn how to create contact groups directly on your iPhone or iPad to manage your contacts better and easily send group texts and emails.