Apps

Google Hangouts for iOS gains refreshed interface, multi-image sending and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 29, 2015

Google on Monday issued a minor but notable refresh to its Hangouts client for the iPhone and iPad. If you're using Hangouts to exchange instant messages with your friends, engage in free audio and video calls, adorn your communications with stickers and more, the brand new Hangouts 4.0 for iOS is now available free in the App Store.

It brings out several user interface tweaks that Google claims elevate your experience while adding a much-needed ability to send multiple photos at once, and more.

Twitterrific now uses facial recognition to properly frame subjects in media previews

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 11, 2018

The Iconfactory has issued a nice little update to Twitterrific 5, its freemium Twitter client for the iPhone and iPad, which brings out an interesting new feature that uses facial recognition algorithms to frame faces in media previews in your timeline.

And if you own an Apple Watch, Twitterrific has a new push notification type for quoted tweets as an opt-in feature in settings. Another enhancement: at last, you're allowed to swipe from the left screen edge to go back or dismiss the current view, a productivity boost for iPhone 6 Plus owners wanting to use the app one-handed.

Facebook testing new photo uploader with live filter previews, text tool, stickers and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 29, 2015

Facebook has been testing a new photo uploading experience in its mobile app with a limited number of users, TechCrunch reported Monday.

Facebook for iPhone and iPad now lets people optionally adorn their photos with text overlays, touch them up with quick color adjustments and make them more interesting with crazy photo stickers, all before uploading them to the service. The new photo uploader is not live for everyone yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Viber is now fully compatible with iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 29, 2015

Viber, the second most popular instant messaging platform after Facebook-owned WhatsApp, on Monday refreshed its iPhone application which now supports iPads.

Now available as a universal binary free of charge in the App Store, the new Viber 5.4.1 does not bring any new features beyond the native interface which takes full advantage of the iPad's bigger screen real estate.

In addition to the iPhone and iPad app, Viber Desktop is also available as a decently done native Mac application and across Windows and Linux platforms.

LEGO Batman: Beyond Gotham review

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Mobile technology has advanced so much in just a few years that it is hard to believe that mobile gaming used to be little more than physics-based puzzle games and endless runners.

LEGO Batman: Beyond Gotham proves that you can immerse yourself in rich gameplay with quality graphics right on your iPhone or iPad. We've got a full game review of LEGO Batman: Beyond Gotham for you today.

Her Story is a police procedural video game for the armchair detective in you

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Fans of police procedural television shows now have another outlet to scratch their itch. No more sitting in front of the T.V., shouting at no one in particular about how you knew all along that the second guy they interviewed was actually the killer.

In Her Story, players take on the role of a detective sifting through archived video footage at police headquarters in attempt to unlock a mystery that is 20 years old. Put on your sleuthing cap and get ready to solve some mysteries.

Focus brings beautiful time management to iOS and Apple Watch

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Perhaps my biggest productivity hindrance is time management. If I’m able to set aside time to focus on a task without distraction and stick with it to completion, my productivity levels exponentiate. Getting to that point, however, can be difficult and requires an incredible amount of self control. Focus is an app I picked recently that helps to both manage time and concentrate on the task at hand. It’s compatible with iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and, soon, Mac as well, and I have a full review below.

Disney launches new GIF keyboard app for iOS

Cody Lee ∙ June 27, 2015

Disney this week launched a new keyboard app for iOS called "Disney Gif." As the name suggests, the app allows you to browse through, and quickly share from, a library of animated GIF images and emoji icons featuring Disney content.

For its launch, the keyboard features hundreds of images pulled from Disney's expansive TV and movie collection, including Star Wars, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Inside Out, The Lion King and various hit television shows from ABC.

Tales from Deep Space, Polarr, Retype, and more to check out this weekend

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

This was a very big week for premium games. So big that it was difficult to figure out which ones to play first. Not only were games on point, but many useful apps were launched and updated, too. We’ve got a list of apps and games for this weekend that we think you will be happy to check out.

BioShock and other 2K games discounted in Independence Day sale

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 6, 2018

Looking to add some new iOS games to your collection this weekend? 2K can help. The publisher announced on Friday that it will be running an 'Independence Day' sale on some of its high-profile mobile titles over the next week.

Included in the promotion are popular sports games such as NBA 2K15 and NHL 2K, as well as the turn-based strategy hit Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution 2 and BioShock. The discounts range from 25% off, to well over 50% off.

Shazam updated with support for Apple Music

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

The popular audio identification service Shazam updated its iOS client today with support for Apple Music. The release brings the app to version 8.7, and arrives just ahead of the launch of the new music service next week.

With Apple Music support, users will be able to identify songs using the Shazam app, and then tap a button to launch the service so they can listen to the track in its entirety. And remember it's free for the first 3 months.

Apple removing games featuring the Confederate flag from the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple has joined the likes of Amazon, eBay, Walmart and others in removing products bearing the Confederate flag, reports TouchArcade. The outlet pointed out this morning that a number of apps and games, which featured imagery of the controversial flag, have been pulled from the App Store.

Despite the fact that Apple has told developers it's only removing titles that "feature images of the Confederate flag used in offensive and mean-spirited ways," several Civil War-era games, which contain images of the Confederate flag for historical and educational context, have been pulled as well.