App Store Apps

Djay 2 picks up new features, Traktor DJ and Cross DJ go half price

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

The App Store and Mac App Store are home to plenty of apps for novice and pro DJs alike. Algoriddim's djay 2 (read our review) and Native Instruments' Traktor DJ are among the finest examples of how a tablet can be used to double as a virtual turntable for mixing tracks in real-time.

I've seen a number of DJs hook up their iPad to pro equipment and mix tracks from their iTunes library as if it were second nature. To be perfectly clear, I suck at DJing and have no interest in it.

Those who dig DJing, however, are advised to take a look at the just-updated djay 2 for the iPhone and iPad or take advantage of a time-limited discount on Traktor DJ for the iPhone and iPad. I also mention another notable discount on a similar app, Cross DJ for Mac. Jump past the break for the full reveal...

Twist your way through a labyrinth of rooms in Oquonie

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

There is a new trend in indie games now, especially with atmospheric cerebral types. Visually stunning bite-sized casual games that draw you in with interesting graphics and keep you in with innovative mechanics

Oquonie is one such indie game that features bizarre characters set in an illustrated black-and-white world that looks fantastic and offers more to players than just a nice pair of… well, you know…

FCC releases ‘Speed Test’ app for measuring cellular and Wi-Fi data speeds

Cody Lee ∙ February 26, 2014

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has just released a new app for iOS devices called FCC Speed Test. As the name suggests, the app is designed to measure data speeds for both cellular and Wi-Fi connections.

The app is part of the FCC's Measuring Broadband America program initiative, which aims to better inform consumers about mobile broadband performance, and it measures download/upload speed, latency and packet loss...

Perloo is an unpredictable puzzle game

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

As puzzle games go, the flatter they are, the simpler they are. What I mean by that is, most minimalistic puzzle games are usually fairly simple and don’t require more effort than a bit of logical thinking. They are not traditionally multi-step and don’t usually make your brain turn to mush on the first go.

Perloo is a minimalistic puzzle game that defies logic and reasoning while providing an entertaining series of brainteasers that will keep you on your toes (or, should I say, fingertips)…

IMDB’s fresh update lets you swipe both ways

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2014

IMDb (abbreviated from Internet Movie Database) is my go-to source for information related to films, television programs and video games. The service is reliable and accurate so I can safely rely on their data.

The Amazon-owned company (they bought IMDb outright in 1998 and attached it to Amazon.com as a subsidiary, private company) has a pretty nice iPhone and iPad application, available free in the App Store.

We haven't seen a major update since last December's refresh brought out iOS 7-friendly look, plus a brand new Road to the Oscars section, among other features. Today, IMDb got bumped to version 4.1. This new edition of the software sports a few cosmetic changes, but that's not what captured my imagination.

My interest was piqued by a cool design choice which makes it possible to use both left and right swiping to navigate through the app. Can we have this in all iOS 7 apps, please?

In time for the 2014 season, MLB.com At Bat app receives iOS 7 makeover

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 25, 2014

In time for the start of the 2014 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, the official MLB.com At Bat app has finally received its long-expected iOS 7-focused redesign. This is a major refresh as the app was last updated in October 2013.

MLB.com At Bat version 7.0, now available free in the App Store, has hit a home run for iOS 7 with a brand new interface (flatter, of course), a new league-wide scoreboard functionality and inline video playback. I've included a few screenshots of the new design and some additional tidbits right below the fold...

Disney launches Movies Anywhere app with free digital download of Pixar’s ‘The Incredibles’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Disney has launched an interesting new iOS app, Movies Anywhere, which offers access to a library of hundreds of movies and exclusive content from the studio, including original programming and never-before-seen videos. It's especially interesting that the iPhone and iPad app, available free in the App Store, allows users to connect their iTunes account to instantly access all their Disney content purchased from the iTunes Store within the app, without the need to go through Apple's stock iOS Videos app or visit the iTunes Store...

Autumn Dynasty review: literally draw your plans to send troops into battle

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Real-time strategy games on iOS are some of my favorites. They remind me of Risk, which I played regularly as a kid with my older brother, who was not the least bit merciful of my three less years on the earth than him. Maybe his take-no-prisoners attitude when playing strategy board games has led me to the life of a game reviewer. Maybe he was just a big old meany.

Autumn Dynasty – RTS is a strategy game that lets you draw where you want to send your troops by making circles and lines on the screen. Dragging your finger has never created so much destruction…

Bing iOS app updated with Safari integration, new search features and more

Cody Lee ∙ February 24, 2014

Microsoft has updated its mobile Bing client for iOS today, bringing the app to version 4.4. The update brings about a number of new features and improvements that both current Bing and potential future Bing users might find worth checking out.

Perhaps most interesting of the additions is a new shake-to-discover feature, which allows you to shake your iPhone about to discover random 'Trending' news topics. Microsoft also added the ability to copy URLs and open URLs in mobile Safari...

Stickers coming to BBM via upcoming BBM Shop

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 24, 2014

The embattled Canadian smartphone maker, BlackBerry, has confirmed plans to bring popular virtual stickers to its cross-platform messaging app, BBM. The stickers will be available for purchase through a new BBM Shop section that will be made part of a forthcoming BBM app update. BBM, a free download from the App Store, has recently been updated with voice calling, BBM Channels, location sharing and other features...

Yahoo News Digest in its first major update adds Weather and Statistics atoms

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Following its January introduction, Yahoo's free News Digest app for the iPhone has quickly become part of my daily news routine. There's just too many news-reading apps out there with lots of longform content and too little time to be able to consume it all on a daily basis. That's where summarization comes into play. A hot new buzzword, summarization technology in News Digest basically uses improved algorithms from Nick D'Aloisio's Summly app that Yahoo bought for the reported $30 million.

In its first major update, News Digest version 1.1 brings two new "atoms" (digests of news stories) that cover Yahoo's popular daily habits, Weather and Statistics. There are a few other features and improvements, listed below the fold...

Facebook testing new ‘Highlights’ summary feature on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ February 23, 2014

Over the weekend, Facebook posted a tiny 7.0 update for its iOS app with a change log that simply read 'bug fixes.' But as it turns out, the update was more significant than that as it activated a feature the company is testing on iOS right now called Highlights.

The feature is currently available to a subset of iOS users, in a new 'People' tab that is also in testing (replaces the Requests tab), and it offers a roundup of recent life events from your friends and family. Annoying UpWorthy posts and meme pics not included...