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New video streaming service ‘Vessel’ out now, includes one year free subscription
Former Hulu CEO Jason Kilar has been hard at world building a new service dedicated to helping the world keep track of their favorite popular YouTube artists and channels, as well as other web shows. Wishing you could watch the next FunnyOrDie release before all of your friends do? Well, now you can.
Vessel is a video streaming service that gathers up some of the more popular web series channels and displays them in a news feed way so you can watch new content. With a subscription to Vessel, you can even see new episodes before the rest of the world does.
Twitter testing autoplay ads on iPhone, iPad apps for some users
Taking a page out of Facebook's playbook, Twitter has begun testing autoplaying videos on the timelines of a small group of users, AdAge first spotted. With the test, you may see videos playing without tapping a play button - and this means ads, too.
A Twitter spokesperson confirmed the test that's occurring on Twitter's iPhone and iPad apps. The autoplay test applies to Promoted Video ads, along with videos uploaded through Twitter's mobile app through its new video service.
Instagram releases photo collage app Layout
Facebook-owned Instagram on Monday announced a brand new mobile application called Layout, dedicated to making interesting photo collages.
Layout from Instagram is rolling out today for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices. The app will be available as a free download in the App Store. Currently only available for iOS, Layout will be available for Android in the coming months.
rop: will this unforgiving puzzle game rope you in?
There is no shortage of puzzle games available on the App Store, and it is becoming harder and harder for them to distinguish themselves from the pack. MildMania’s rop seeks to do so with a stark design philosophy and some of the most difficult and satisfying puzzles I have seen on an Apple device. This game isn’t an instant recommendation though, as those silky smooth puzzles come with some very rough edges.
Magenta Arcade review: tap to destroy everything in this mobile vertical shooter
Vertical shooters are a lot of fun and some of my favorite types of games. The Raiden series is always in my iPad games folder. I enjoy the fast-paced action and all out attack from the top of the screen.
Magenta Arcade is a vertical shooter that takes place in a fantasy world where you are a god granting wishes to your people. When disaster strikes, you must retaliate with an unceasing blast of firepower on the enemy. We’ve got a game review of Magenta Arcade for you right now.
New in iOS 8.3: download free apps and iTunes media without entering Apple ID password
A new 'Password Settings' section has been discovered in the Settings app of the current iOS 8.3 beta which will permit users to set up their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad so that downloading free iTunes apps and iTunes media won't require an Apple ID password.
The new option is only exposed to users when Touch ID is disabled, reports 9to5Mac. With Touch ID enabled, the new option is unavailable.
This is understandable to an extent, because approving purchases — free or paid — with the tap of a fingerprint is a frictionless experience.
Schools of Magic, SwapQuest, Pool Pal, and more apps to check out this weekend
Some weekends are for stepping out and having fun. Some are for sitting around like a couch potato, hoping no one notices the food you’ve spilled on the shirt you’ve been wearing since yesterday.
If this weekend you are in the latter camp, you may need some content to help you pass the time. Check out our list of apps and games for your weekend enjoyment.
Blokshot Revolution review: swing and smash your way to a high score
Foxhole Games' debut title is a highly stylized round of target practice with a heavy focus on combos and high scores. At its core, Blokshot Revolution depends on its interesting control scheme and creative shooting mechanic to differentiate itself from the pack of score attack games populating the App Store. Learning the basics takes only a moment, but this game is certainly worth a second glance.
Adventures of Poco Eco – Lost Sounds combines music and puzzle in a retro future
There have been a number of bands and artists that have collaborated with app developers to come up with a way to release an album digitally. There are apps with videos, scrapbook style content, and even strange visual elements.
Adventures of Poco Eco is a game created to coincide with the launch of Hungarian musician Iamyank’s newest six-song album, Lost Sounds. Players explore a visually dense dreamy atmosphere while listening to the album. Solve mini puzzles to unlock new levels and hear new songs.
Apple reportedly doing away with antivirus apps in the App Store
Apple has decided to eliminate the category of anti-virus and anti-malware products from the App Store, according to security firm Intego. The company announced this week that Apple informed them of their decision after pulling their app 'VirusBarrier for iOS.'
"To be clear, this wasn’t an action directed specifically at Intego, we were one of several companies affected by Apple's decision," writes Intego's Jeff Erwin. Erwin adds that users will continue to get virus definition updates, but there will be no more updates to the app.
iPhoto for Mac updated before dying at hands of new Photos app
Apple has released an update for the iPhoto for Mac app on Thursday, updating the software that's on its death bed before Apple transitions users to the new Photos app.
The update, available through the Mac App Store's software update tool, will help users transition their photo libraries to Apple's new software when it's eventually made available to the public.