App Updates

Google Drive refreshed with multi-accounts, single sign-on and wireless printing

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

In terms of feature additions, it's been a quiet period for the Google Drive iOS app after a major visual makeover two months ago brought the software in line with its Android counterpart. But the team hasn't been standing still. In a small but sweet update Thursday, the app has finally gained a much requested new feature - support for multiple Google Accounts - as well as the ability to print your documents wirelessly via either Apple's AirPrint or Google's Cloud Print protocol.

Jump past the fold for additional tidbits...

RunKeeper is now optimized for Apple’s M7 motion-tracking chip

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2013

RunKeeper, a personal trainer in your pocket, has been updated today and among a pair of AirDrop-related enhancements is a little gem which particularly stands out: support for Apple's M7 motion coprocessor.

As a long time user of fitness-related apps such as Pedometer++, Argus and Strava Run, I can't tell you how many times I wished these GPS-enabled apps were not power hogs.

The M7 is easily one of the most overlooked iPhone 5s features. The aforementioned fitness apps as of recently have M7 motion tracking and you can just immediately tell how the chip improves the experience by not forcing you to keep an app open at all.

The M7 works independently of the main A7 processor, dutifully recording and storing up to a week's worth of motion data. This allows an app to load up your motion history as if it were active all along. Without a doubt, M7 support is a major power-friendly enhancement. So, how does the newly-implemented M7 integration make RunKeeper better?

IFTTT can now add photos to iOS Camera roll, create new to-dos in Reminders

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2013

If you're not familiar with IFTTT (an acronym for 'IF This Then That'), this tremendously powerful app permits you to create time-saving service meshups to automate common tasks.

For example, you could tell IFTTT to update your all social media profile photos when your Facebook profile pic changes. Or, you can even create a Recipe to receive SMS notifications when iDownloadBlog publishes an article, for example.

IFTTT has been around since 2010, but only released an iPhone app back in July. The software has since seen several maintenance updates and today the team issued a new version which brings the ability to add photos directly to your iPhone Camera roll, create new to-dos in the stock Reminders app and more...

LastPass password manager gets some iOS 7 love

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Though I've been syncing my Safari web passwords lately using the new iOS 7 password-syncing feature called iCloud Keychain, I'm still a 1Password type of guy, mainly as iCloud Keychain doesn't support secure notes, tagging, folders and what not.

That said, I understand AgileBit's password manager may not be everyone's cup of tea due to its high asking price ($17.99 for the iPhone/iPad app, plus an additional $49.99 for 1Password for Mac).

But there are other password managers out there and one of them called LastPass is free and has just received a nice little makeover for iOS 7...

Yahoo Finance gets push notifications and all-new iOS 7 look

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Since the iPhone's inception, Yahoo has been Apple's exclusive provider of weather and stock market data in iOS. While I've never been a big fan of Yahoo's Finance app for the iPhone and iPad, I prefer to keep tabs on stocks on the Yahoo Finance website, as opposed to Google Finance.

I'll be changing my mind, however, as the Internet giant has at last given the iOS app a thorough overhaul while adding new features such as notifications for stock price changes, so it now feels right at home in iOS 7...

Google’s Waze app updated with voice search, event reporting and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

After months of speculation, Google bought popular social mapping startup Waze in June of this year. And following the purchase, Google's VP of Geo said the company was looking forward to bringing its search capabilities to the app.

Today, it has made good on that promise. An update just posted for the Waze iPhone and iPad app, which brings it to version to 3.7.6, that includes a handy new voice-based search option for addresses and places in over 40 languages...

Comcast’s new ‘Xfinity TV Go’ app lets you watch live TV on the go

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 15, 2018

Comcast customers will be happy to hear that the cable provider has launched a new app today, Xfinity TV Go, for iOS devices. It's actually a rebrand of the previous 'TV Play' app, with a number of new features.

The most important, though, is the ability to stream live television from your iPhone or iPad while on the go. That's right, as long as you are on a Wi-Fi network (not just the one in your home), you can watch TV...

Rdio finally brings back Recommendations, revamps Stations player

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

Rdio, the popular Internet radio service, has just pushed a long-expected update that has finally enabled a music recommendation engine in its iPhone and iPad app. Fans will remember that the inaugural 1.0 build had that useful feature front and center.

Unfortunately, it was inexplicably pulled as the company started experimenting with stuff like Pandora-style personalized Stations and got busy implementing social features and other enhancements.

It was a little over a month ago that Rdio confirmed plans to bring back the popular music-recommendation capability and today they've made good on that promise...

Apple releases iTunes 11.1.3 with performance improvements

Cody Lee ∙ November 5, 2013

Apple has released an update for iTunes this afternoon, bringing the software to version 11.1.3. Don't get too excited though, it appears to just be a maintenance release with a handful of improvements.

Those improvements include a fix for a known issue where the equalizer may not work as expected, as well as enhanced performance when switching views in large iTunes libraries and other bug fixes...

Spotify iOS refreshed with instant search, artist tour details, new languages and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2013

Spotify, the popular Swedish streaming music startup, today gave its iPhone and iPad app a little love. In addition to support for new languages like Japanese, the new Spotify 0.9 for iOS now includes artist tour information, including such details as concert dates.

Several search-related improvements and the usual bug fixes are also part of this Spotify release.

The free update is available immediately on the App Store and I've included additional details below the fold...

Google Search app gets ‘OK Google’ handsfree voice control, reminders, alerts, and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Google has just updated its native Search app for the iPhone and iPad with a slew of new features, starting with a number of new types of Google Now cards and the ability to activate the voice search handsfree, simply by saying “OK Google” like on Android. This feature works on the iPhone 4s or later devices. You can now enjoy one-touch sign-on and elect to receive alerts for delayed flights and upcoming appointments and events, as well as for public transit reminders.

The app now supports new types of reminders for movies, actors, TV shows, musicians and web content updates, including location-based and time-relative entries like “Remind me to buy coffee beans at Starbucks,” or “Remind me to check out the fair this weekend”. Jump past the fold for the full reveal...

Skype gaining better sign in experience, faster startup and iOS 7 mic permissions

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Microsoft-owned Skype app for the iPhone and iPad is about to get bumped to version 4.14, gaining under-the-hood tweaks for faster startup time and iOS 7-specific permissions for microphone access.

The update has been officially announced on the Skype blog earlier in the morning and should drop later during the course of the day.

Over the past two months, Skype's mobile app has received its iOS 7 style visual makeover and gained the ability to make HD quality 720p video calls from the fourth-generation iPad and later and the iPhone 5 and later...