App Store

Twitter rolls out instant timeline for new users, curating tweets automatically

Jake Smith ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Twitter is working to cater to new users and make it easier for them to get started with the service with an instant timeline feature. Instead of requiring new users to go out and follow Twitter users on their own, the instant timeline feature brings in content without going through the traditional setup process.

After Twitter scans your contacts in the signup phase, it will automatically present new Twitter users tweets based on who their contacts are and who they follow on Twitter. Essentially, Twitter is guessing which accounts and topics might interest you.

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Twitter adds group direct messaging, 30-second video recording

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Twitter has rolled out a big update to its iOS app, adding group direct messaging and the ability to shoot video directly within the app.

The new direct messaging tool changes up the feature that's been around since 2008. It's a move to make messaging a larger part of the platform. The group function lets you start conversations with any of your followers, and they don’t all need to follow one another in order to chat. You can create a group by simply tapping a few names.

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Tweetbot for Mac returns to Mac App Store

Jake Smith ∙ January 26, 2015

Tapbots, the maker of popular third-party Twitter application Tweebot, has brought back the application to the Mac App Store after pulling it over the weekend.

"We've worked with Twitter to resolve Tweetbot for Mac authentication issues," Tapbots said in a tweet on Monday. "The app should be back on the Mac App Store soon." 

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iOS 8 adoption slowing, now sits at 69 percent

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

The rate at which people are upgrading their iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices to iOS 8 is slowing in the post-holiday season. As noted on Apple's own App Store Distribution support page, though iOS 8 adoption is edging toward the 70 percent milestone it's barely hit the 69 percent mark on Tuesday.

That's a rather paltry one percentage point jump over an adoption rate of 68 percent as measured just two weeks ago. And by comparison, that figure was a healthy four percentage points increase over the previous December 22 update.

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Khan Academy launches 150,000 courses on iPad, includes handwriting recognition

Jake Smith ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Khan Academy, often called the go-to place for online learning, has finally launched on the iPad to provide its education tools to students, and really anyone who wants to learn the material from a 10-inch screen.

The non-profit has had an iOS app since 2012, but now has launched a completely redesigned iPad app that features 150,000 learnings exercises, so users can launch them natively instead of having to pull up a webpage.

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European iOS users may need to re-enable auto-renewing in-app purchases

Jake Smith ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Following Apple's price increases on the European iTunes App Store last week, auto-renewing subscriptions for in-app content in Europe have been turned off if any of the pricing tiers were changed.

It's a move by Apple to stop charging users more than they agreed to, however Apple has not notified users or developers of the change, which could leave havoc to developers' revenues for a few weeks until users figure it out themselves.

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Skype starts pre-release program for iOS, rolls out small 5.9 update

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Microsoft-owned Skype announced a new pre-release program for its iOS app on Wednesday, aimed at its most engaged users.

The company said in a blog post that users accepted into the pre-release program will get access to early versions of Skype in exchange for their regular feedback and NDA signature. Skype is limiting access to those 18 or older and who have a valid email address and Skype or Microsoft Account.

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Study: Google Play overtakes App Store in amount of apps

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Google Play had more apps than the Apple iTunes Store at the end of 2014, marking a big change for app community, a new study from appFigures said on Tuesday.

It said Google surpassed Apple for total number of apps with 1.43 million compared to 1.21 million. The apps come from roughly 390,000 Android app developers and 280,000 iOS developers, those of which have to pay $99 a year to be a part of Apple's Developer Center. 

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Spotify now has 15 million subscribers, 60 million active users

Jake Smith ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Spotify now has 15 million subscribers paying for its premium features and 60 million active users total, the music streaming giant announced on its blog on Monday.

The new numbers on Monday compare to number two months ago when the company said it had 12.5 million paying users out of 50 million subscribers, showing impressive growth for the latter number.

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