Apps

Revisit the places you’ve been with Foursquare’s new history feature (bonus: Photos extension)

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 21, 2016

Since launching in 2009, there have been over nine billion check-ins on Foursquare across the globe. Celebrating its seventh anniversary, the startup pushed an update to its mobile application on the App Store which includes a handy new history features.

Similar to location history on Google, the updated Foursquare app makes it simple for users to browse any place they've been and checked into via a new History tab.

In addition, Foursquare now has its own Photos extension which makes it super easy to share a photo as a tip, right within the context of the Photos app.

Readdle’s Calendars 5 slashed to $0 as Apple’s new Free App of the Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 21, 2016

Calendars 5, one of the best iOS calendar applications out there with a built-in event and task manager and native Google Calendar sync, has been slashed to zero bucks as Apple's new Free App of the Week. The $6.99 universal productivity app is now available at no charge on the App Store until next Thursday. This marks the first time Calendars 5 has gone free in years following Readdle's two-day promotion back in May 2014.

How to allow only age-appropriate apps and media on child’s device

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 24, 2025

Are you worried that your child may download an app, watch a movie/TV show, play a song, see a news story, or read a book that is not suitable for them? Learn how to block your kid’s access to explicit, vulgar, gambling, violent, or inappropriate apps and media on their iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

Use Apple Maps and plan trips on the big screen with TV Maps for Apple TV

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 20, 2016

Since learning that Apple's software development kit now includes a new MapKit framework for tvOS, I've been eagerly awaiting to see what Apple TV developers are going to do with it. I salivated at the prospect of Apple Maps on a big screen telly because it sounded too good to be true.

Even better, Apple's SDK supports advanced features like map annotations, adding overlays and performing reverse-geocoding lookups to determine placemark information for map coordinates, among other features.

With TV Maps by Arno Appenzeller—to my knowledge, this is one of the first of MapsKit-enabled apps for the new Apple TV—you can browse Apple Maps from the comfort of your couch. At long last, planning trips on the big screen has become a reality for those of us who're invested into the Apple ecosystem. The experience of using maps on a television is much cooler than you could imagine: this is the first tvOS app that has made me wish that the Apple TV supported hand gestures so that I could explore maps Minority Report-style.

Apple begins enabling web previews for Apple TV apps

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple has begun rolling out iTunes web previews for fourth generation Apple TV apps. The move, which was first spotted by Jeff Scott (via MacStories), will allow both users and developers to easily share links to Apple TV apps on the web.

It doesn't appear that web previews are available for all apps yet, and it's unclear which apps it's working for—Apple isn't advertising them anywhere. If you want to see what they look like, here's a link to Scott's app for Beergeek.com TV.

Privacy-enhanced Viber for iPhone lands with end-to-end encryption, hidden chats and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 19, 2016

Two weeks after rival WhatsApp announced that chats on its platform are protected from eavesdropping with end-to-end encryption, the popular messaging app Viber on Tuesday released a privacy-enhanced edition of its iPhone and iPad app.

Bumped to version 6.0, messages you send and receive through Viber are now protected with end-to-end encryption, as indicated by the new padlock icon, and you can also hide away specific chats.

Have you seen Pinterest’s new-look iOS app yet?

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Pinterest today announced a completely overhauled iPhone and iPad application—“our fastest, cleanest app yet”—that lets you focus on more Pins than ever before. The app, used by more than a hundred million people around the world, is a lot faster than the previous version it replaced, with your Home feed now loading up to three times faster.

The refreshed application is now rolling in the App Store so check back later if the new version isn't immediately available where you live. The Android edition of Pinterest and its web-based counterpart are next on Pinterest's list to tackle, though they wouldn't commit to a firm release dates for these.

Check out this endless runner game you can play from Notification Center

Anthony Bouchard ∙ April 19, 2016

Knowing that Apple has been restrictive in the past on what is and what isn't allowed to pass in the App Store for a Notification Center widget, it can be fun when little gems find their way into the top charts section and you stumble upon them.

While looking through them, I discovered a free endless runner game called Steve - The Jumping Dinosaur, but unlike other endless runners you've played before, this game is played inside of a Notification Center widget rather than from the app itself.

This by Tinrocket, Blogo and other apps to check out this weekend

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

It's the weekend, and you know what that means: it's time for another round of iDB's Apps of the Week post. Every week we put together a list of apps and games we think are worth checking out, and this time around we've got some great selections. This week's picks include a navigation app for walking, an annotation app, and more!

Apple TV’s Siri can now tune you in to live broadcasts in supported apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 15, 2016

Apple has enhanced the tvOS operating system via a silent backend update that now permits users to ask Siri to tune in to live broadcasts in supported apps such as Disney XD, ESPN and CBS, the latter having gained integration with the Apple TV's universal search feature yesterday.

MacRumors has caught wind of this useful new feature addition on a splash screen that customers see after upgrading their 4th-generation Apple TV to the new tvOS software.

Apple working on paid search results and other App Store changes

Cody Lee ∙ April 14, 2016

Apple has a "secret team" exploring various changes to the App Store, reports Bloomberg. Citing people familiar with the company's plans, the outlet says among the ideas being pursued is paid search results, where developers pay to have their apps more prominently displayed.

Such a move would drastically impact search results, as a developer with a word puzzle game in the App Store could essentially pay to have their game listed among the top search results—similar to Google.com. It would also give Apple a new way to make money from the App Store.

Apple selects sci-fi Wild West shooter Space Marshals as its new Free App of the Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 14, 2016

Like on any given Thursday, Apple today refreshed the App Store to reflect new software arrivals and promotions.

In addition to highlighting apps whose proceeds will go to the World Wildlife Fund until April 24 through the new 'Apps for Earth' section, Apple's editors have slashed Pixelbite's award-winning sci-fi action adventure, Space Marshals, as the App Store's new Free App of the Week.

This universal iPhone, iPod touch and iPad game normally retails for $4.99, so do yourself a favor and save a few bucks by grabbing this great freebie right now.