App Store Apps

Amazon app now lets you search for things by taking photos of them

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

Amazon has pushed an update to its iOS app, enabling a new feature called Flow. The feature allows users to search for items on the website by simply scanning them in the app using their iPhone's camera. Need a stapler? Just point your iPhone at one.

Flow recognizes via shape, size, color, box text, and general appearance, and can analyze multiple items at a time. Hold your iPhone up to a row of products and every recognizable item is placed in a queue that can then be added to your Amazon cart...

Major update to Tempo Smart Calendar adds People Insights, Smart Alerts and lots more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

We were pretty ecstatic when Tempo Smart Calendar launched last Spring. Here was a comprehensive app that dared to think differently about what calendar apps for the iPhone should be like.

If you're not familiar with Tempo, the app couples your typical to-dos and calendar items with phone, email and SMS functionality while providing the smart-assistant functionality to look up flight statuses, extract meeting data from emails (Mailbox is supported) and more.

In today's update, Tempo has brought out three major new features and a whole bunch of nice-to-haves, adding up to its arsenal of the already strong productivity features...

Battletoads-inspired game ‘Toad Rider’ hits the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ February 5, 2014

Good news for those longing to relive their glory days in the form of a nostalgia-evoking video game. Toad Rider, a new iPhone and iPad game inspired by the classic NES title 'Battletoads,' is now available in the App Store.

The game was actually modeled after one specific part of the original Battletoads game—the notorious Turbo Tunnel level that has you maneuver your hoverbike around obstacles. And it makes for a great endless runner...

How to read iDownloadBlog from Facebook’s new Paper app

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

I'm usually not much of a Facebook user but I have to admit I have been spending more time on the social network in the last two days than I have in the whole last month. Why is that? It's simply due to their new app named Paper, which lets you browse Facebook in a beautiful and intuitive way. If you haven't tried it yet, I really encourage you to have a look at it. It might change the way you see Facebook, at least until they slap a bunch of ads on it.

Although there is no way to customize the sections of Paper with the content of your choice besides the default ones, I want to show you how you can browse through iDB's latest post using Paper...

BlackBerry rolling out Find Friends feature to BBM for iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 5, 2014

Troubled handset vendor BlackBerry today issued an update for its cross-platform messaging software, BBM, bringing out a new Find Friends feature.

Whereas previously you had to punch in a person's BlackBerry ID or email address to add him or her to your list of BBM contacts, today's update simplifies the process by detecting which contacts in your iPhone's Contacts are already using BBM, so you can quickly send them an invite to join your BBM contact list.

The free update is going live in the App Store later today so make sure to grab it (if you're still using BBM, that is)...

Google Wallet updated with loyalty card scanning, notifications for local merchants

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 4, 2014

Released last September following the public launch of iOS 7, Google's Wallet for iPhone application has since seen one major refresh and a couple maintenance updates.

In December, for example, the app gained the ability to authorize users using Single Sign-On and add a credit or debit card to Wallet by taking a picture of the physical card using the iOS device camera.

Wouldn't it be nice if you could add loyalty cards by scanning? Now you can, thanks to a new Google Wallet version 2.0.13611 update, now available in the App Store...

The first DJ app with Spotify integration arrives

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 4, 2014

Native Instruments' Traktor DJ and Algoriddim's djay may be among the finest iPad apps for DJs in the App Store, but now there's a new contender in town, a piece of software which lets one mix the 20 million tracks on Spotify. Introducing Pacemaker, the only DJ app with a Spotify connection (don't worry, it works with your iTunes music, too).

Unlike the aforementioned programs, Pacemaker has a simple user interface that's somewhat reminiscent of Windows Phone. There are some nice features included, too, that'll be likely appealing to those who deem Traktor or djay too complex.

Now available as a free download in the App Store, Pacemaker lets you make loops, skip beats, add and arrange effects, swipe to blend your tracks together, scratch like the grandmaster and lots more...

CARROT Fit review: get weight loss support that will make you cry

Lory Gil ∙ February 4, 2014

The CARROT series of apps will either make you giggle or angry. Personally, I am part of the former category. I laugh all the time when that smarmy lady tells me what to do every morning.

CARROT Fit is the weight loss version of the verbally abusive personal assistant. Not only will she call you “flabby,” no matter how skinny you are, but she will also berate you for keeping or gaining any weight. Think about that the next time you eat a Twinkie after 9 o'clock…

Unread: a beautiful new RSS reader for iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Despite the fact that Google shutdown its Reader service last year, there still seems to be a lot of RSS users out there. And if you're one of them (and even if you're not), you may want to check out this new RSS reader for the iPhone called Unread.

Unread, by developer Jared Sinclair, is a new iPhone app for gathering and reading your RSS feeds. Like many post-iOS 7 releases, the app is a contemporary take on a traditional concept with a beautiful UI, gesture-based navigation, and more...

ESPN SportsCenter app updated with Olympics coverage, several improvements

Cody Lee ∙ February 4, 2014

With the 2014 Winter Olympics just a few days away, ESPN has updated its SportsCenter app to version 4.0.3. The update adds a new tab for keeping track of the events in Sochi and a handful of other improvements.

The Winter games are slated to kick off on February 7, and run through the rest of the month. And thanks to today's update, you can use SportsCenter to keep an eye on events, athlete/country medal count and more...

Google Maps app updated with new ‘faster route’ feature

Cody Lee ∙ February 3, 2014

Despite being kicked off iOS in the fall of 2012, Google Maps has managed to maintain a high profile on Apple's platform. Released as a standalone app that same year, Google's Maps app offers a solid alternative to the stock application.

And it gets even better today. Google posted an updated for its iOS Maps app this morning that adds a new 'faster route' feature. Now, when you're heading towards a destination, you'll get notified when a faster route becomes available...

Facebook refuses to change Paper app’s name following FiftyThree’s objection

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Facebook's new Paper for iPhone app is out in the wild now. Released earlier this morning as a free download in the US App Store, already the software has created a controversy by using the same name as FiftyThree's popular drawing program, Paper for iPad, also a free download.

Facebook was of course aware of FiftyThree's Paper, Apple’s 2012 iPad App of the Year. In fact, the social networking giant was kindly asked well in advance of its own release to avoid using the same name, but refused...