Apps

European iOS users may need to re-enable auto-renewing in-app purchases

Following Apple's price increases on the European iTunes App Store last week, auto-renewing subscriptions for in-app content in Europe have been turned off if any of the pricing tiers were changed.

It's a move by Apple to stop charging users more than they agreed to, however Apple has not notified users or developers of the change, which could leave havoc to developers' revenues for a few weeks until users figure it out themselves.

Skype starts pre-release program for iOS, rolls out small 5.9 update

Microsoft-owned Skype announced a new pre-release program for its iOS app on Wednesday, aimed at its most engaged users.

The company said in a blog post that users accepted into the pre-release program will get access to early versions of Skype in exchange for their regular feedback and NDA signature. Skype is limiting access to those 18 or older and who have a valid email address and Skype or Microsoft Account.

Facebook launching Work iOS app for FB@Work

Facebook announced on Wednesday that it's launching FB@Work, a new product that will allow businesses to create their own social networks for their employees that are built to look and act like Facebook itself, to collaborate on work projects.

Facebook is finally bringing itself to the enterprise after ten years.

As part of the new service, Facebook plans to launch a new app titled "Work" for iOS. The FB@Work product will also be accessible through the web and looks exactly like the consumer facing version of Facebook.

New report offers details on Apple Watch companion app

Yesterday we reported that Apple had released a new iOS 8.2 beta to developers, and that it enables pairing with the upcoming Apple Watch and its companion app. Today, 9to5Mac is out with a new report detailing that app and what it's capable of.

Citing a source familiar with the project, the outlet's Mark Gurman says that the "Companion" app has the ability to manage settings for Apple Watch apps, as well as settings for the wearable itself so users can customize how it interacts with iOS.

Study: Google Play overtakes App Store in amount of apps

Google Play had more apps than the Apple iTunes Store at the end of 2014, marking a big change for app community, a new study from appFigures said on Tuesday.

It said Google surpassed Apple for total number of apps with 1.43 million compared to 1.21 million. The apps come from roughly 390,000 Android app developers and 280,000 iOS developers, those of which have to pay $99 a year to be a part of Apple's Developer Center. 

Facebook adds AMBER Alerts to people’s News Feeds on mobile and the web

Facebook on Tuesday announced adding AMBER Alerts to both its mobile applications and the web interface in order to help find missing children in a more systematic way than before.

Realized through a partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the initiative will deliver AMBER Alerts, which include photographs and other details about the missing child, to people’s News Feeds in targeted search areas after a child has been abducted and the National Center has issued an alert, said the social networking behemoth.

Facebook is betting that the power of its network will help find the missing children and is encouraging users to share these alert with friends and link directly to the National Center’s missing child poster.

Apple TV-compatible AllCast media streaming app now available on iOS

Following a beta on Android that first launched more than a year ago, courtesy of CyanogenMod developer Koushik Dutta, the AllCast content streaming app is now available for the iPhone and iPad.

The software allows you to stream online or locally-stored content such as photos, music and videos to your Apple TV, Roku and a number of other set-top boxes and DLNA-compatible devices, including Amazon's Fire TV, Sony's PlayStation console, Microsoft's Xbox and more.

Moreover, the app supports popular online content sources such as Instagram for photos, as well as Dropbox, Google+ and Google Drive, and is compatible with smart TV brands from Samsung, Sony and Panasonic.

Drop Wizard review: another classic retro arcade game for nostalgia’s sake

With 16-bit gaming practically a relic, anyone over the age of 25 will look back on such antiquated graphics with fond memories. Some younger gamers will appreciate the simplicity, as well. It’s all about what types of games make you happy.

Drop Wizard seems like it dropped out of 1987. It is a retro arcade game with nicely designed 16-bit graphics and a chip tune soundtrack that will make old-schoolers giggle with delight. We’ve got a full game review of Drop Wizard for you today.

Google releases Chrome Remote Desktop app for iOS

Google released its long-rumored remote desktop app for iOS today. Dubbed Chrome Remote Desktop, it's available now in the App Store for both the iPhone and iPad, allowing you to securely access your computers from either device.

Setup falls in line with other remote desktop applications. You'll obviously need Chrome installed on your computer (PC, Mac and Linux), the desktop client, and the aforementioned iOS app, and then you simply follow the instructions.

Spotify now has 15 million subscribers, 60 million active users

Spotify now has 15 million subscribers paying for its premium features and 60 million active users total, the music streaming giant announced on its blog on Monday.

The new numbers on Monday compare to number two months ago when the company said it had 12.5 million paying users out of 50 million subscribers, showing impressive growth for the latter number.