Apps

WhatsApp now indicates if your message has been read

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

As we patiently await an update to make WhatsApp support native display sizes of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the tremendously popular Facebook-owned messaging service on Wednesday enabled a new check mark in the chat UI indicating that the recipient has read your message.

Now when you're chatting with someone, pay attention to read receipts in the form of blue check marks, as discovered by designer, Dutch translator at Twitter and jailbreak developer Timon Olsthoorn (and many others on Twitter).

This is an over-the-air update so those with WhatsApp installed on their iPhone can start using this feature immediately, without the need to update the app manually.

WhatsApp, which has more than 600 million active users, is free in the App Store.

Expedia is now ready for iOS 8 and new iPhone 6 screen sizes

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

After redesigning its iPad app with combined flight and hotel search in early September, Expedia on Wednesday gave its iOS app some more love by issuing an update which makes the software compatible with iOS 8 and the latest iPhones.

Expedia now supports the new 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, respectively, so you'll see more content and scroll less.

Expedia Hotels & Flights is available at no cost in the App Store.

Google Maps for iOS revamped with Android’s Material Design UI

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2014

Keen on deploying Android Lollipop’s Material Design across its mobile apps on all platforms, Google on Wednesday announced a new version of Google Maps for the iPhone and iPad featuring engaging animations, shadows and depth.

The fresh new design is all about creating surfaces and shadows that echo the real world, the search firm said.

With Google Maps’ new material feel, layers and buttons “come to life so you know just where to touch to get directions, recommendations and imagery”. The update will be rolling out over the next few days.

Google Maps is available free in the App Store.

BricksItOut provides mindless fun while waiting in line for your coffee

Lory Gil ∙ November 5, 2014

The casual game genre on mobile devices is something to be reckoned with. Some might even argue that it has changed the face of gaming forever. Now, a retired grandparent can spend just as much time playing a video game as a teenager and no one questions the coolness of either party.

BricksItOut is one of those casual games built simply for mindless fun. You don’t need fast action or puzzle solving skills. You just need a few minutes of time and a desire for distraction.

Google News & Weather gets iOS 8 Today widget

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Nearly a month following its App Store debut, the search giant's News & Weather application for the iPhone and iPad has received a Today widget for iOS 8's Notification Center, along with a handful of bug fixes.

Bumped from version 1.0.232 to 1.1.276, the software now provides an at-a-glance overview of the top three headlines within the Notification Center, but no interactivity.

Google News & Weather is free in the App Store.

Real Racing 3 updated with new Maserati vehicles, new events and more

Cody Lee ∙ November 4, 2014

Two months after its 'Classic Lamborghini' update, the folks at EA have posted another new version of its popular Real Racing 3 game today that brings about new vehicles from both Maserati and Ferrari, new bonus events, and much more.

The new vehicles include the Maserati Trident, the GranTurismo MC Stradale, and its limited edition race-spec counterpart. The update also features the LaFerrari—Ferrari's first production car equipped with the F1-derived hybrid engine.

Neato lets you jot quick notes directly from Notification Center

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Neato is a new application that mostly consists of a Notification Center extension that lets you quickly jot down quick notes from anywhere on iOS. After installing the free app from the App Store, simply add the Notification Center extension to start typing in notes from the Lock screen, Home screen, or directly from within an application.

Notes can be synced with Evernote or with Dropbox. Additionally, whatever you type can be easily shared to Twitter, or via email or text message.

Woah Dave! will scratch that old-school arcade game itch

Lory Gil ∙ November 4, 2014

Retro games are a big deal in the App Store. I personally love those fantastic 8-bit games from my childhood. I know that technology has made it possible for our video games to look like movies now, but I have a spot in my heart for those pixelated power ups that I grew up on.

Woah Dave! is a retro style game that pays homage to the classics. Not only does it look like it came out in 1982, but the choppy, blips and bleeps of the soundtrack really take you back a few decades.

Disney’s Movies Anywhere out for Android, makes cross-platform movies a reality

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 2, 2018

In a somewhat ironic twist of fate, Disney is helping blur the lines between Apple's and Google's respective ecosystems with Tuesday's release of its Movies Anywhere app for Android, now available free of charge in the U.S. Google Play Store. That's right, the app now lets folks buy and enjoy Disney content on both iOS and Android devices.

The movie-curating app debuted as an iOS exclusive in February 2014 with support for free streaming of any Disney, Pixar and Marvel content previously purchased from Apple's iTunes Store. Any of the 450 Disney movies you bought using the app would immediately register as purchased inside the iTunes Store.

Now that Disney Movies Anywhere is available for both iOS and Android, not only can you watch your Disney movies across Apple's and Google's platforms, but also purchase any Disney, Pixar or Marvel Universe movie on Google Play and have it available on iOS and vice versa.

UniChar Picker is an iOS keyboard for Unicode characters and symbols

Lory Gil ∙ November 4, 2014

We’ve seen dozens of colorful keyboard apps that don’t do a whole lot. We’ve tested a handful that have incredible features, but are still basic keyboards, nonetheless. We’ve even seen keyboards that let you access GIF memes so you don’t have to write actual words. How about something very unique and useful to coders?

UniChar Picker does just that. It features more than 500 Unicode characters across six different categories. Set it as your default keyboard to type in any app, or copy and paste symbols in the app to create just the right text.

Pinterest 4.0 is out with sleek new iPhone interface

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Pinterest has updated its iOS client this morning, bringing the app to version 4.0. The update doesn't feature a lot of changes, but it does include some speed improvements and bring about a sleek new interface for the iPhone.

The Pinterest team says it "de-cluttered and simplified" navigation within the app, so it’s faster to find your way around, and created more space for Pin images and descriptions, making it easier to sift through and digest content.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Companion app hits iOS ahead of tomorrow’s console release

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

The official mobile companion app of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare has been released in the App Store on Monday ahead of the game's global release on consoles tomorrow, November 4.

Featuring Clan Wars, emblem editor and more, the companion app makes it easy to create and manage your clan, produce in-game player and clan emblems on mobile for the first time ever that sync with the console game and even participate in Clan Wars on your iPhone and iPad.

The app is available free of charge in the App Store.