Apps

The Hit List will help you organize your life in time for the New Year

Lory Gil ∙ December 23, 2014

Around this time of year, I start thinking about New Year’s resolutions. I’ll admit that I only keep about half of my resolutions, but half is better than none, right? One goal that is always on my list is to get more organized. It is also one that I fail to meet nearly every year.

The Hit List is a complex organizer for the iPhone that lets you make multiple lists, make project cards with due dates, and organize tasks by categories. Plus, sync with The Hit List for Mac to always be on top of your daily, weekly, and long-term projects.

Facebook’s ‘Stickered for Messenger’ app now available on iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Facebook this evening released its odd 'Stickered for Messenger' app for iOS. First released on Android last week, Stickered allows users to add some fun stickers to their photos before sending them off to friends and family on Messenger.

More specifically, the app allows you to snap a photo, or pull one in from your camera roll, and pick from hundreds of stickers to apply. You can move the images around, resize them, and then pop into Messenger to send off your work.

DockPhone lets you easily place phone calls from your Mac

Sébastien Page ∙ December 22, 2014

DockPhone is a new app that lets you dial and call any number directly from your Mac. Based on FaceTime's capabilities, and taking advantage of the new Continuity feature found on OS X Yosemite, DockPhone lets you make calls via your iPhone cellular connection right from the Mac, effectively adding a simple feature that users would have expected Apple to ship with Yosemite in the first place.

Twitter for iOS adds analytics, tracking impressions and engagement

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

Twitter unveiled on Monday that it's added detailed analytics to its official iOS app, allowing users to track engagement with their tweets and profile.

The update is rolling out now on the iTunes App Store. Viewing analytics is as simple as clicking on your tweet, going to its detail page, and tapping "View Tweet Activity."

Next Keyboard could be the first iOS 8 keyboard done right

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

The proliferation of incredibly varied, feature-rich software keyboards has proven that Apple did the right move opening up iOS 8 to third-party developers more than ever before. That being said, the initial crop of keyboards available in the App Store leaves a lot to be desired, in my personal opinion.

None of the keyboards I've tried and tested thus far — and I downloaded virtually every single one out there — come close to touching Apple's stock keyboard in terms of efficiency and usability. It's more often than not that cramming all the features one could think of into a keyboard does the opposite of elevating the experience.

Sure, Swype makes you a faster typist but I just can't get over its sluggishness and the globe icon that's inconceivably nested under a menu. Another example: Tintype may take typing and swiping to the next level but it takes a lot of time getting used to and its appearance can be a little overwhelming for most people.

I could go on and on highlighting weaknesses and bad design choices in other keyboards that are mostly Android replicas anyway, but I won't as I'm sure our readers have their own gripes with them. On a brighter note, looks like search for the perfect iPhone keyboard could be over soon.

Enter Next Keyboard.

Docking Sequence is a retro graphics shuttle-landing simulation game

Lory Gil ∙ December 22, 2014

There are loads of simulation games out there. You can take flight in complex military plane cockpits, ride the rails as a train conductor, and even build an entire city as mayor. How about a docking simulation game that takes place in outer space?

Docking Sequence is such a game. Players navigate a shuttlecraft through treacherous environments in an attempt to safely land on a space station. Think Gravity mixed with Interstellar, only in 8-bit.

Google+ gains iPhone 6 support, iOS 8 Share extension and polls

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 22, 2014

Google's official iOS client for the company's social network, Google+, has finally received a refresh for the new iPhones, more than three months after the handsets have hit stores.

In addition to native support for the new 1,334-by-750 and 1,920-by-1,080 screen resolutions of the new iPhones, the updated software brings a useful Share extension allowing you to send stuff to Google+ from other apps, the ability to vote on polls embedded in Google+ posts and bug fixes.

Stair: Slide the Blocks to Ascend review – the name says it all

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

I love it when a completely new type of game comes out. It’s not that often that we, as game reviewers, get to play around with something that has not yet been done to death in one form or another, even in our most favorite genres.

Stair: Slide the Blocks to Ascend is different than most types of games I’ve played, yet its simplicity makes it so easy to get engrossed in that it seems like I’d been playing it for years. It is technically an endless jumper, but not like Knightmare Tower or Ninja Up. We’ve got a hands-on game review of Stair for your reading enjoyment today.

The best Music apps of 2014

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Music is my specialty. If I’m not playing it, I’m listening to it. Admittedly, I’m a bigger fan of analog than digital, but there are times when playing music on my iPhone or iPad is just more convenient. In those cases, a good music player, or a great streaming service is important.

The writing team at iDB put their heads together to come up with a list of the best music apps to come out in 2014. We then fought each other in a mud pit to be the one who gets to decide the best. Below is the resulting winner and runner-ups for best music app in 2014. We’ve also included the music app we think is the all-time best.

Apps of the Week: Duet Display, Shift, Emoji Type, and more

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

It’s the weekend before Christmas and I’m still not finished with my handmade gifts. Around this time each year, I begin to realize I set my goals too high. I just run out of time before I run out of crafts. Luckily, I have a backup plan that involves last minute gifts in the form of apps.

If you can’t think of the perfect gift for that friend who has everything, an app or game may be just right. Whether you are looking for last minute gift ideas or just want to fill your iPhone with new stuff, we’ve got a list of apps and games for you to check out this weekend.

Facebook Messenger gains read receipts, fresh holiday content and a huge speed boost

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 19, 2014

Facebook-owned WhatsApp quietly introduced blue-ticked read confirmations in its mobile iPhone app a month and a half ago and now the social networking behemoth has refreshed its backend to bring read receipts to Messenger for iOS and Android.

And with Christmas around the corner, the company is helping us celebrate the upcoming festivities by adding holiday-themed content to Messenger like fresh sticker packs, a new festive frame and more.

As if that wasn't enough, Facebook's engineers have done a lot of work under the hood to make the app more fluid and responsive than ever before.

Facebook launches Stickered, a Messenger companion app

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 19, 2014

There's a brand new app from Facebook in town and it's hitting iOS real soon. Having launched on Android today, Stickered is a companion app for Messenger which allows you to add some fun stickers to a photo before sending it to a friend on Messenger.

The first companion app for Messenger, the lightweight Stickered app should make it easy and fun to pick a photo and then resize and slap a sticker on top.