App Updates

Facebook Messenger gains its first airline bot

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2016

Facebook on Thursday announced it is launching its first airline information bot within the Messenger app.

The social network has been enhancing Messenger's functionality on a regular basis with new features beyond chatting and has recently added a Transportation tab that lets users in the United States request a ride from Uber.

Messenger's airline bot lets KLM Royal Dutch Airlines customers manage their flights and browse their flight information within the app, without ever leaving their chats.

Skype for iPhone updated with new Bots feature

Cody Lee ∙ March 30, 2016

Skype received an update on Wednesday, bringing the iPhone app to version 6.13. The change log in the App Store says the release just features "General Improvements," but a quick look at the official Skype blog shows that's not the case.

During today’s Build 2016 conference, Microsoft introduced a new feature called Skype Bots. The company describes these Bots as "a new way to bring expertise, products, services and entertainment into your daily messaging on Skype."

Fantastical for Mac gains native Exchange support, printing, iCloud shared calendar alerts & more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 30, 2016

After shipping Fantastical 2 for Mac a year ago with tons of new features and a revamped user interface for OS X Yosemite and later, developer Flexibits today pushed version 2.2 of its calendar, reminder and to-do productivity app on the Mac App Store.

Fantastical 2.2 for Mac brings powerful new features to the experience, starting with full support for Microsoft Exchange accounts with native account syncing, invitation responses, availability lookup, categories and people lookup.

Other enhancements include availability information in calendars, support for printing with multiple layouts and a host of other under-the-hood refinements.

Snapchat unveils stickers, video notes, Auto-Advance Stories & other chat improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 29, 2016

Snapchat is rolling out a bunch of new capabilities destined for its second-generation chat feature, in addition to other improvements like stickers, all-new Auto-Advance Stories capability and updated privacy terms.

The Venice Beach-headquartered maker of the popular ephemeral messaging software has confirmed that more than 200 stickers are now available within the app, based on its $100 million purchase of Bitstrips.

SoundCloud launches ad-free $9.99 subscription service with offline playback

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 29, 2016

SoundCloud, a Berlin, Germany-based global online audio distribution platform, today pushed a major update to its free audio streaming application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad which includes support for the company's freshly announced paid subscription music service, dubbed Go.

Priced at $12.99 per month through Apple's In-App Purchase mechanism or $9.99 on the web, Go offers SoundCloud listeners an expanded catalog of tracks, as well as new features and new functionality in the app.

Go is now available in the U.S. via the updated SoundCloud app and on the web.

iTunes U gains support for Shared iPad feature, Spotlight Search integration and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 24, 2016

iTunes U, Apple's application that gives you access to its collection of free education content on iTunes and lets you create your own teaching material, was refreshed today in the App Store with half a dozen new features.

Among the biggest enhancements is integration with iOS 9's Spotlight Search as well as support for the Managed Apple IDs and the Shared iPad features, which are both part of Apple's new classroom experience in iOS 9.3.

PCalc gains new Apple Watch complication, eight-line mode on iPad Pro and lots more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 24, 2016

PCalc, arguably the most powerful App Store calculator for scientists, engineers, students, programmers or anybody looking for a feature rich calculator, has received a fresh new icon and more features as part of today's update in the App Store.

For starters, the app's now fully compatible with iOS 9 and watchOS 2. If you own an Apple Watch, you can now quickly access PCalc via a complication.

On the iPad Pro, a new eight-line mode is now available and you now specify certain settings like RPN mode and number of decimal places separately for the app, watch and widget.

Google Maps for iOS now integrates with popular ride services, Spotlight Search and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 24, 2016

Google has pushed a refresh to its mapping application in the App Store. Bumped to version 4.17, Google Maps for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad now integrates with a total of six popular international ride services via a new tab in navigation mode.

In terms of other features, the updated application gives you the ability to save route options and integrates with iOS 9'2 enhanced Spotlight Search so you can find your saved places via the search field revealed after pulling down on any Home screen.

WhatsApp for iPhone gains enhanced in-app alerts

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2016

WhatsApp for iPhone was updated in the App Store earlier this morning, bringing out a few noteworthy improvements to in-app notifications.

In addition, you can now choose to save incoming media for specific chats in contact or group info while the ability to share PDF documents from other apps into WhatsApp has expanded to everyone.

WhatsApp no longer charges an annual subscription fee. The Facebook-owned firm's been hard at work testing a feature for exporting chats in a ZIP archive and is also prepping to finally roll out video calling in WhatsApp.

Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog speeds on to Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 17, 2016

Japanese gaming giant Sega is making its long-expected move to bring some of its most popular mobile games to the living room. Fans can now play some of their favorite Sonic titles on the fourth-generation Apple TV for the very first time.

Starting today, Sonic 1 is compatible with the new Apple TV. Next Thursday, March 24, fans will be permitted to grab Sonic 2 for Apple TV from the tvOS App Store. In addition, Sonic CD for Apple TV will release on Thursday, March 31.

Deezer Music launches Apple Watch app

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 16, 2016

Deezer, a cross-platform music streaming service, is now available on your Apple Watch as a native app.

The new watchOS 2 app lets you access your favorite music, use Deezer's Flow feature, see the latest hits and access Deezer's personalized mixes, all with the flick of your wrist.

On iOS devices, Deezer now provides lots of new recommendations to your Flow feed and lets users unlink devices connected to their Deezer account using the mobile app.

Waze for iOS picks up ‘Planned Drives’ feature

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 16, 2016

Waze, a Google-owned community-based traffic and navigation app, today rolled out a new feature called Planned Drives which lets you schedule a drive and get a reminder to leave on time, based on live traffic conditions.

In addition, the traffic bar in Waze 4.3 for iOS now shows the reason for a jam, like an accident or object on the road, and the app now mutes automatically during an incoming or outgoing phone call.