App Store Apps

Vine updated with new share button and other UI improvements

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 9, 2018

I haven't quite figured out what to do with Vine yet, Twitter's video social network, but others don't seem to be having that problem. The app is consistently listed among the top 5 iPhone apps in the App Store, and I see shared Vine videos on Facebook daily.

And if you happen to be a Vine user, you'll be happy to hear that the app received a nice little update today. The new version, marked as version 1.1.3, includes a new share button to make reposting videos to other networks easier, and other UI improvements...

Flush out your business plan ideas with Elevatr

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Everyone has big ideas for starting their own business or inventing some new product. But, not many people follow through with their ideas. Maybe they forgot what they were talking about after six shots of whiskey. Maybe they already moved on to a new business idea.

Elevatr is a productivity app that lets you write down your business plan in a simple, but useful way. Now, when you say you’re going to open your own barbeque-French cuisine fusion restaurant, you might actually turn that idea into a reality…

Shazam updated with new ‘Pulse’ feature for discovering new music

Cody Lee ∙ June 17, 2013

It seems like music discovery is all the rage these days. Twitter launched a new iPhone app back in April, and Apple launched its iTunes Music service earlier this month, both of which place a large focus on helping users discover new music.

And today, Shazam pushed further into the space. The popular song, album and artist identifier released a significant update to its iPhone and iPad apps this morning with, among other things, a new 'Pulse' feature for discovering new music...

Catch Notes makes it easy to capture and collaborate on ideas

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

If you are the kind of person who is always jotting down ideas on napkins, sending random text messages to friends about cool concepts, or leaving notes to yourself on sticky pads, you need something to help organize your thoughts.

Catch Notes is a productivity app that makes it easy to capture your ideas and share them with others without any fuss or muss. Just open the app, type in or record your idea and add your contacts for true collaboration…

Rockmelt turns Web discovery into a social engagement

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 6, 2018

With news aggregators like Pulse and Flipboard out there, it is difficult to compete in the website discovery arena. Plenty of aggregators have launched in the App Store, but few have made much of an impression.

Rockmelt: Discover the Best of the Internet, News & Blogs is an aggregator that, not only looks fantastic, but offers multiple ways to engage with other website readers without having to think of a clever comment…

Cubemen2 will put you on a path of destruction

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 12, 2018

Every week, Apple spotlights a couple of new or recently updated apps that they believe stand out amongst the sea of submissions to the App Store. The Editor’s Choice is usually given to an app or game that looks especially cool, incorporates iOS technology well, or is otherwise innovative in its field.

Cubemen2 received the Editor’s Choice moniker this week for its combination of real-time strategy and tower defense gaming. It is full of customizable playing fields, multiplayer battle action, and more...

Take stunning black and white photos with BW+

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

A few days ago, we told you about the popular new photography app Camera Noir. The simplistic app takes great photos, but doesn’t offer too many options. While that can be a good thing, it is not for everyone.

BW+ is another app that only lets you take black and white photos, but this one offers a few extras that make it more interesting for iPhone photographers that want just a few more options…

Add subtle imaging effects to your iPhone photos with VSCO Cam

Lory Gil ∙ June 15, 2013

Camera filter apps are very common in the App Store. Many times, users feel like photography apps don’t really offer anything new to the genre. However, there are still a few ideas out there that have not yet been tapped into in the App Store.

VSCO Cam is a photo editing app that lets you tweak your image in slight ways in order to enhance their features instead of completely change them…

Office Mobile for iPhone review

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated March 14, 2018

As you're likely well aware of by now, Microsoft dropped Office Mobile for iPhone today. The actual name of the app is Office Mobile for Office 365 subscribers, which is a crazy mouthful, so I'll be referring to it as Office Mobile throughout this write up.

As someone who's been an iWork user during most of their Mac tenure, I'm approaching this review from a different perspective than perhaps most. I don't currently use Office 365 on the desktop, because iWork is suitable for all of my needs. Why pay $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year for something that I have no real need for? I know some people argue that the Office suite is superior than iWork, and I do tend to agree in some cases. But for the basic need of editing documents and the occasional spreadsheet, iWork can, for the most part, handle my needs.

So with all of this in mind, I'm approaching this review as someone who's mainly interested in editing and creating new documents on the iPhone. If the iPhone version is superior to the current iWork experience, then I may be interested in making the switch to Office 365 beyond the scope of my free 30 day trial. Take a look inside as I break it down further on video.

The best apps to watch cable on your iPhone and iPad

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

Over the past few years, cable channels have really jumped on the on-demand bandwagon and now offer premium content available on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. If you have a cable subscription, the entertainment-viewing world is your oyster.

I am one of those people who has “cut the cord” of cable television. Actually, I never had the cord in the first place. I’ve just managed to get by on broadcast TV. When the nation went digital, I didn’t even get a converter box for my TV set. I spend most of my media-watching time on Netflix or Hulu Plus on my Apple TV.

However, there are times when watching television is necessary for me, like when there is an earthquake (which actually happened in Sacramento a few weeks ago) or following the presidential elections. For those times, I go to my iPad or iPhone.

Whether you’ve cut the cord on cable and need a way to watch broadcast television, or want to take your favorite cable shows on the go with you, we have a list of apps to suit your needs

Rovio teases new ‘Angry Birds Go’ game

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Raise your hand if you've been thinking to yourself "you know, I think there really needs to be another Angry Birds game." No one? Ok. Well apparently that's what the folks at Rovio have been thinking, because one is coming.

The developers of the popular Angry Birds platform just announced on their blog that they have an all new game in the works called 'Angry Birds Go.' It didn't offer up many details for the game, but it did post this teaser image...

Apple posts new video: ‘Making a difference. One app at a time.’

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 4, 2016

Apple has posted a new, lengthy video to the iOS section of its website today. The 10-minute clip is called 'Making a difference. One app at a time.' and it highlights how folks around the globe are using apps on Apple's mobile products.

As usual, the videography in the short film is beautiful and the message is concise. Apple is showing how iOS apps help make the world a little bit better, and things a little bit easier, for people from all different walks of life. Watch it...