App Updates

Instagram quietly removes option to disable video autoplay

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2016

Late last month, Facebook-owned Instagram finally received its somewhat dull iOS 7-inspired update. I say dull because the redesign feels a tad rushed out and a bit rough around the edges. More importantly, not many people have noticed that yesterday's minor maintenance update has killed off the tremendously useful video auto-play toggle.

Although iTunes release notes for Instagram 4.2.2 innocently list only "bug fixes and performance improvements," in reality the new build has stealthily removed the useful Instagram > Settings > Auto-Play Videos switch.

This may not seem like a big deal, but consider for a moment the fact that the vast majority of iPhoneography fans turn to Instagram to enjoy beautiful photos.

Conversely, not many people give a heck about video on Instagram. Instagram disappointedly has never provided an option to block all video content from a user's feed so you don't need me to tell you that enforcing auto-play on videos isn't really helping anyone but Instagram itself...

Launch Center Pro 2.0 is out with new design, Dropbox support and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 13, 2018

Launch Center Pro hit the App Store last summer to rave reviews. The app, which is created by the folks at Contrast, allows users to setup shortcuts for performing iOS actions like launching apps, sending messages and more.

Today, Contrast posted a significant update for the app, bringing it to version 2.0. The update brings about a number of new features and improvements, including a new iOS 7-inspired design, Dropbox support, and more...

Foursquare app updated with new design and real-time recommendations

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

Foursquare has issued a fairly significant update to its iOS client today, bringing the app to version 6.4. The update includes a number of improvements, including new UI and an all-new 'Nearby' button.

But easily the biggest addition to Foursquare 6.4 is the new Real-time recommendations feature. With it enabled, the app will send you useful location-based information, like current specials at a restaurant...

Flickr gains background auto-uploading on iOS 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2013

Yahoo yesterday issued a major revamp of its Mail service across the web and mobile platforms and today the Internet company pushed a new version of Flickr for iPhone.

In addition to a slightly refined user interface for iOS 7, folks who've upgrade their iDevices to iOS 7 can take advantage of a new Auto Upload feature that will “seamlessly upload and save your photos in full resolution." Other tidbits include fixes for Google sign-in issues and a brand new Auto Straighten feature...

Facebook testing iPhone client with Graph Search, revamps Messenger for iOS 7 style

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 9, 2013

The social networking giant Facebook used to irk fans with its sluggish mobile clients that used to be second-class citizens on smartphones and tablets. Blame it on Zuck & Co. for taking the easy route by wrapping the mobile-optimized HTML code into "native" apps. That changed last year after Facebook hired a few former Apple engineers like Greg Novick and tasked them with rewriting these apps from the ground up to be snappier and more responsive than the web app disguised as a native one.

Although Novick has now reportedly departed Facebook and will return to Apple, the company has been busy developing major new updates to mobile Facebook and Messenger clients on iOS and Android. Both applications are now apparently dogfooded to company employees for testing purposes. Here's what's in store for the revamped Facebook and Messenger...

Kik Messenger app updated for iOS 7 with new design, stickers and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 16, 2018

Adding to our growing list of iOS 7 updates, the Kik Messenger client for iPhone received a refresh last night, bringing it to version 6.7. The update brings the app's design more in line with the all-new firmware.

Kik's entire UI has been given the usual iOS 7 treatment, with fewer borders, flatter graphics and text, and empty white spaces. And the developers also gave it a new sticker package and stability improvements...

Infuse iOS media player updated with gesture control, teases iOS 7-ified 2.0 release

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 13, 2018

One of my favorite iOS media players, Infuse by jailbreak developer FireCore who brought you the aTV Flash Black for Apple's $99 "hobby" box, has just received a nice little update bringing the software to version 1.5.

Today's update has brought out two new noteworthy enhancements: gesture-based controls and TV show groups which basically cleans up your library by grouping all TV shows together by season.

FireCore also confirmed that a major Infuse 2.0 update is "coming this Fall". I've included additional tidbits concerning both Infuse 1.5 and 2.0 right after the break so give it a quick read...

Yahoo totally revamps Mail, now with 1TB of free storage

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 8, 2013

Yahoo's beleaguered Mail has long given up its leadership position to Gmail although many people would agree that Yahoo's web-mail service is far more elegant, sophisticated and streamlined compared to Google's Gmail, which often times looks very much like work in progress. Taking another crack at dethroning Google, Yahoo today started rolling out a significant Mail makeover across the web, mobile and desktop.

Further sweetening the deal, the company has raised the storage cap so everyone now gets one terabyte of free storage. The new design looks absolutely gorgeous, jump past the fold for the full reveal...

Screenies of WhatsApp iOS 7 update leak

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

As WhatsApp continues to shrug off competition from not only Viber, but also Apple's iMessage, Microsoft's Skype and even Google's Hangouts, the instant messaging space continues to burst with activity.

However, WhatsApp - arguably the most popular cross-platform instant messaging solution - has yet to update its iPhone client with iOS 7 look and feel.

Even though we don't know when that update might drop, we have a pretty good idea of how the iOS 7-inspired application might look like thanks to iOS developer @HackiPhone who tweeted out a couple of work-in-progress screenies...

Camera+ updated with full-resolution burst-mode and new filter pack

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

Camera+ users that have been having problems with the app crashing during burst-mode shooting will be happy to hear that the problem has been fixed. Developers tap tap tap issued an update today, bringing the app to version 4.2.

In addition to the burst-mode bug fix, the app also received a booster shot for the popular feature: your burst-mode snaps are now taken in high-resolution (for compatible devices), and a new filter pack. Release notes after the fold...

Netflix promises fix for HDMI AV adapter issue

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 7, 2013

Netflix last week refreshed its iOS app with much-needed AirPlay support allowing subscribers to beam TV shows and movies to their living room television set through the Apple TV set-top box.

Unfortunately, the updated application has also introduced a nasty bug preventing the app to connect to the big screen via Apple's HDMI AV adapter.

Disgruntled users took to Twitter and some even accused Apple and Netflix of joining forces to intentionally cripple the feature, presumably in order to push folks into buying an Apple TV to take advantage of AirPlay. This is unfounded talk as Netflix on Monday promised a fix for the issue it claims is affecting a "small percentage" of customers...

AT&T U-verse app for iPhone updated to let you watch live TV

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 15, 2018

AT&T U-verse subscribers will be happy to hear that you can now watch live TV right on your iPhone (and iPad). The TV, phone and Internet provider updated its iOS client this weekend with this and several other new features.

Today's 3.0.1 update also adds a slew of improvements to the app's visual interface, with new fonts, colors and Retina graphics. And the remote control screens have been revamped with sound settings for enhanced usability...