Apps

Vine app updated with hearts and new ‘Similar Vines’ feature

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

Twitter on Friday pushed out an update for its popular video-sharing Vine app, bringing the iPhone client to version 4.3. The update is a minor one, as the release notes only mention a few changes, but there are two new features worth mentioning.

The first is the addition of Hearts, which bring the app more in line with Twitter's other products. Like the social network did earlier this week, Vine has replaced its 'Favorites' (the smiley face) feature with a new, more meaningful heart-shaped icon.

Apple adding ‘Shopping’ category to iOS App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2015

Two days after it's updated the tvOS App Store on the new Apple TV with a Categories section, Apple is now rolling out a brand new section in the App Store for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad apps: Shopping.

TechCrunch is reporting today that in addition to listing apps with built-in support for its mobile payments service, Apple Pay, the Shopping section will include other shopping-themed apps with emphasis on product reviews, price comparisons, auctions and more.

Alien: Isolation – The Collection swarms its way into Mac App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2015

In addition to releasing Tomb Raider: Anniversary in the Mac App Store this morning, Mac gaming specialist Feral Interactive also unleashed another premium title in the store, Alien: Isolation - The Collection, a survival horror game set fifteen years after Alien.

This gigantic 20.89-gigabyte download packs in all previously released downloadable content, including two stand-alone missions set aboard the Nostromo and five mission packs adding new maps, playable characters and challenges to the Survivor and Salvage modes.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary hits Mac App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Tomb Raider: Anniversary, the grand reimagining of the original 1996 Tomb Raider video game for the new audience, is now available on the Mac as a $9.99 download in the Mac App Store. Created by Feral Interactive and Square Enix, the game retraces Lara Croft's original adventure in pursuit of the legendary Scion artifact.

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is powered by an enhanced graphics engine, dubbed Tomb Raider: Legend, with enhanced physics and animations delivering a fluid experience and bringing life to the game's massive environments on your Mac.

Facebook launches Music Stories with Spotify and Apple Music integration

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2015

Facebook is announcing today a brand new feature called Music Stories, basically a new post format for Facebook that should make it easier to discover and share music from Spotify and Apple Music.

Now every time you share songs or albums shared from Spotify or Apple Music using Facebook's iPhone application, these links will automatically get turned into the new post format which lets others listen to 30-second previews while on Facebook.

Rayman Fiesta Run for iPhone and iPad slashed to $0 in Apple’s Free App of the Week promo

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2015

Since its November 2013 debut, Ubisoft's Rayman Fiesta Run has only gone free briefly through an in-app promotion within the Expedia app.

That's why Apple's editorial team has decided it was high time to permit everyone to download this game to their devices at no charge, so they've made Rayman Fiesta Run free until next Thursday.

This marks the first time the fast-paced platformer has been slashed to zero bucks in the App Store. Taking cues from Rayman Jungle Run, Rayman Fiesta Run has you jumping, flying, punching, running up the walls and more in the wacky new Fiesta world.

Google Maps for iOS gains spoken traffic alerts

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2015

Google yesterday refreshed its iPhone and iPad mapping application in the App Store with a pair of new features. For starters, the iOS application introduces spoken traffic alerts to help you find the best route without taking your eyes off the road. In addition, it is now possible to add new and missing businesses from the app's sidebar menu.

Google Maps is available free in the App Store.

Flickr’s refreshed iOS app goes beyond 3D Touch with 3D Touch Extended

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2015

Flickr today updated its free iPhone and iPad application in the App Store with full support for iOS 9's Spotlight Search, Universal links and 3D Touch on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus smartphones.

It's of particular interest that the app goes beyond 3D Touch Home screen shortcuts and Peek and Pop gestures with something they're calling 3D Touch Extended.

Google Drive gets better with sharing notifications and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2015

Google has updated its Drive cloud storage client for iOS with mobile notifications when files or folders are shared, or when someone requests access to a file you own.

The change allows for a more consistent sharing experience across platforms and includes enhancements such as jumping directly to a shared file by tapping on the notification banner and providing a custom message when sharing a file or folder with others.

Facebook reportedly launching standalone news app next week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 19, 2018

Facebook is preparing to launch a new standalone news app next week, according to The Financial Times. Citing sources familiar with the project, the outlet says that the app is going to be called Notify, and it is going to feature content from dozens of media partners including CBS and Vogue.

As reported by BusinessInsider in August, the app will look similar to Twitter, in that it will allow publications to blast short push notifications to “followers” when they have urgent news to share. If users want to read more about a headline, the can click a link that will take them to the full story.

The Room Three hits the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 4, 2015

Following the success developer Fireproof Games has seen with The Room and The Room Two, it's now posted the third installment in the series to the App Store. Following the established naming convention, the game is aptly titled The Room Three and priced at $4.99 a pop.

For those who haven't played Fireproof's BAFTA award winning Room games yet, the physics-based puzzle series challenges you to navigate the trials devices located on a deserted island by rotating, zooming and examining dozens of artifacts in order to discover their hidden secrets.

Microsoft invites a limited number of iOS users to beta-test Cortana assistant

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Microsoft today announced that a limited number of iPhone owners in the United States and China can now sign up to test-drive the first public beta of its personal digital assistant, called Cortana. “Over the coming months, we’ll continue to deliver frequent updates to the app to expand the features and functionality,” notes the Windows maker.

While Cortana offers the most complete experience on Windows devices due to its tight integration with Microsoft's operating system and Apple-imposed restrictions related to iOS development, Cortana for iOS does take the intelligence of its Windows counterpart and brings that experience to the user's iPhone.