Apps

Microsoft optimizes Skype for iPhone 6 screens

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

As promised, software maker Microsoft has just issued an update to Skype for the iPhone and iPod touch adding native display support for the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus screen sizes, the team announced in a blog post Wednesday morning.

As a result, you'll see more of your recent chats and messages in conversation view on Apple's new smartphones because iOS 8 doesn't have to compensate for the lack of iPhone 6 support by blowing up the interface to fill up the whole screen.

Skype for iPhone 5.6, available free in the App Store, also adds presence indicators to your Recent list and number of contacts and time zones information on contact profiles.

Jump past the fold for other features in this maintenance Skype update.

Rovio releases Angry Birds Transformers globally

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Following its soft-launch in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Finland on September 25, Rovio's Angry Birds Transformers is now available globally as a free-to-play download for the iPhone and iPad, the Finnish mobile games maker announced Wednesday morning.

Featuring cars, trucks, tanks and planes and a plethora of heroes and villains with unique attacks and abilities, the movie tie-in challenges your Autobirds (I chuckled) to save Piggy Island from the crazed robots on a mission to nuke it out of orbit.

Design concept reimagines popular iOS apps for Apple Watch

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

When Apple launches the Apple Watch early next year, it will mark the beginning of a new platform for developers. Thanks to WatchKit, the device will support third party applications, including extensions for current iOS apps and new standalone software.

With this in mind, a couple of graphic artists have created a design concept that reimagines what popular iOS apps would look like with an Apple Watch-style interface. Posted to Behance, the images include concepts for Skype, Instagram, Twitter and more.

Good deal: 96% off Mac app bundle featuring Ember, Fantastical and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Heads up Mac users, StackSocial has just launched an awesome bundle promotion for software that includes 8 premium Mac applications and an OS X/Web developer course that teaches you how to make apps in HTML, CSS and Xcode for 96% off their normal retail prices.

The bundle features high profile titles like Fantastical, the popular calendar app by Flexibits, and Ember, Realmac Software's highly regarded image manager. There's also AfterShot Pro 2, Disk Drill Pro 2.3, Capo 3, and more. Keep reading for a full breakdown of the promo.

Experience Instagram in a whole new way with Grids for Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

There's no shortage of unofficial Instagram clients for the Mac, even if the vast majority of them offer limited functionality and clunky user interfaces. Enter Grids by ThinkTime Creations, a beautiful new way to experience Instagram on your Mac with its adaptive grid-based interface, deep interactions and a number of other compelling features.

The $1.99 app, which launched earlier today, offers full Retina display support, native full-screen mode, notifications for new feeds, the ability to interact with your followers, their Instagram snaps and videos and much more.

Microsoft launches Skype Qik, its own ephemeral video messaging app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Tuesday, software giant Microsoft launched a brand new ephemeral messaging app, Skype Qik, in a bid to take on the likes of Snapchat and other applications in the increasingly crowded ephemeral messaging space.

“Imagine if you could reinvent the Skype experience, taking into account how messaging, selfies and app culture have changed the way we communicate,” reads the blurb.

The free of charge iPhone app is based on Microsoft's $100 million acquisition of the mobile video provider Qik three years ago. Microsoft retired the original Qik app soon after, clearing the way for a re-introduction of the reimagined Qik software for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.

As the name suggests, Skype Qik is being promoted through the Skype brand, itself owned by Microsoft. Matter of fact, Qik runs alongside Skype to provide an ongoing form of video chat allowing you to share laughs, and chat with groups of friends.

Live an entire life in 10 minutes with “I am a Brave Knight”

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 27, 2018

Some might argue that traditional gaming has gotten boring. So boring that developers have started working on ways to create new, unique titles that work outside of the normal boundaries in an effort to provide a completely different gaming experience.

I am a brave knight looks to feed into that different experience with a title that is so out-of-the-box, it can’t really even be called a game. It will only take you about 10 minutes to journey through one man’s life from childhood to death. Are you brave enough to make it?

Stop what you’re doing and grab Cycloramic for iPhone 6, free for a very limited time

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 13, 2014

Chances are you've heard about Cycloramic, a stupendously amazing iPhone photography software which allows you to capture stunning, accessory-free 360-degree video using custom vibration patterns in your device and an Apple power adapter.

If you haven't taken the plunge yet, please don't pass on this opportunity as Cycloramic has just gone free for the first time ever.

A $1.99 saving, only the iPhone 6 edition of the app is free, and for “a very limited time”, according to developer Egos Ventures. The iPhone 5/5s version, which hasn't been discounted and is available for $1.99 a pop, relies on the handset's squared base and the vibration motor to spin the device around its axis.

Audiko lets you create ringtones right on your iPhone

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

I’ve been using the same ringtone for about two years now. It’s not so much because I love the sound, although I do (it’s the “Enchanted Tiki Room” song). It’s that I’m too lazy to create new sounds to use.

Audiko is a ringtone creator that lets you make your own tracks right on your iPhone so you don’t have to download music off of the web. You can use your favorite songs, quotes from movies, or even the sound of your buddy snoring.

Mailbox optimized for iPhone 6 screens, Mac beta client now available to everyone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Fans of the popular Mailbox email client, rejoice! A compatibility update became available Monday, bringing native display support for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that lets you see more of your emails rather than be limited by a blown-up interface.

Mailbox 2.3.1, a free download, also brings the ability to customize your swipes further and includes a pair of fixes, one resolving issues with rendering of some emails and the other squashing a bug affecting delivery of Push Notification for new messages in iOS 8.

The best apps for writing

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 12, 2018

National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) takes place every November. The goal is to write a 50,000-word novel between Nov. 1 and 30. That means, participants need to average about 1,667 words per day for 30 days straight. I tried it once. I made it to about 7,000 words and gave up. It’s harder than it sounds.

If you are preparing for this year’s Nanowrimo contest, or you are simply looking for some good apps to help increase your writing productivity, we’ve got a list of what we think are the best apps for writers. Check them out and let us know which one you think is the best.