Apps

Ultratext is a fun app that will spice up your iMessages

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 29, 2018

I'm not big on messaging. I don't do Snapchat. I don't do Whatsapp. I barely use Twitter DMs. However, I'm a pretty big iMessage user, the messaging platform introduced by Apple along iOS 5 in 2011.

iMessage is great because it allows you to communicate with any iOS user in a very simple way. There is no app to download, no account to create, and no password to remember. Oh, and yes, it works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac too.

While trawling the App Store earlier today, I found Ultratext, a fun app that lets you send GIF messages to your contacts, giving iMessage a little more spice and colors...

Square Enix announces ‘Final Fantasy Record Keeper’

Cody Lee ∙ July 18, 2014

Square Enix and developer partner DeNA have announced a new game for the mobile Final Fantasy franchise. It's called Final Fantasy Record Keeper, and you play as Deci, a bright student to Dr. Mog in the history department.

Dr. Mog serves as the record keeper for all previous Final Fantasy games, and his department is filled with paintings of famous battles and other scenes. And if you happen to see one you like, Dr. Mog can use magic to send you in...

Celebrating 40 years of synthesizers, 8 Yamaha music apps go free

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 29, 2018

Good news for all of you aspiring musicians out there. In celebration of 40 years of Yamaha synthesizers, the company is offering a number of its iOS apps for free. This includes some smaller titles, like Set List Organizer, and more prominent ones like Cloud Audio Recorder.

We've listed 8 of the apps below (there may be others), which are normally priced between $1.99 and $15.99. Admittedly, many of them were built to compliment actual instruments, but some, like Mobile Music Sequencer, are fun to tinker with on their own as standalone apps...

RideScout will get you around your city fast

Andrew Kunesh ∙ Updated January 29, 2018

From bike share to rail to ride sharing, if you live in a big city, chances are there is a ton of transportation options to choose from. And with so many options come different pricing, routes, and timing, so it can be tough to pick what works best in each situation. That's where RideScout comes in.

RideScout is a relatively new app that takes multiple forms of transportation into account when searching for directions. The app compares cycling, driving, taxis, ride share, and public transportation to give you the best options in regards to timelines, cost, and health. Read my full Ridescout review to learn more.

Novation Launchpad is a simple but powerful music maker

Jake Underwood ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

Let's cut to the chase: creating music on an iPhone or iPad isn't as easy as it should be. The gold standard, GarageBand, almost requires some knowledge of an instrument, which drastically whittles down the amount of users that can create on the platform. However, the complexity of the music-making process isn't specifically limited to GarageBand, as it is something music-creating apps have struggled with throughout the history of the App Store. Wouldn't it be nice to just press buttons and watch a creation form in front of your very eyes?

Novation Launchpad sure would seem to think so. The app, created by developers Novation, is as simple as it can get, but the results don't suffer from the ease-of-use. Read on for a full Novation Launchpad review...

EU officials upset as Apple remains mum on proposed IAP policy changes

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 18, 2014

In-App Purchase, a way overused feature which provides a way for supposedly free games and apps to ask users for cash in order to enable advanced features or unlock virtual items, is increasingly drawing ire of regulators across the globe.

In-App Purchases are notorious for fooling less-informed adults and kids into downloading so-called freemium apps so it's no wonder the European Union officials have repeatedly warned that companies like Apple and Google should stop labeling free-to-download apps that contain In-App Purchases as "Free".

Companies could soon be forced to make the “true cost of apps” unambiguously clear before purchase, according to a complaint the European Commission filed today...

Gameloft releases endless jumper ‘Ninja UP!’

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

Gameloft today released an interesting new game called Ninja UP! It's not a first-person-shooter, movie tie-in, or anything else the studio is typically associated with—instead it's an endless jumper, à la Line Jumper and others.

Gameplay is as addictive as you'd expect. Players are tasked with sending a ninja flying upward by drawing lines that simulate trampolines. The smaller the line, the bigger the bounce, and levels are littered with deadly obstacles...

Hours for iPhone: gorgeous time-tracking app by Apple Design Award winner Tapity

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 29, 2018

I don't use time-tracking software because it's a huge pain in the you-know-what. Part of the reason is that I don't have enough time to keep track of how I spend my day.

On the flip side, I'll be the first to admit there's something inherently fun and appealing about the concept of monitoring when I work and how I spend/waste my day.

Realizing as much that most time-tracking apps suck anyway, Tapity — an Apple Design Award-winning studio behind Languages, a beautiful offline translator, and the popular student organizer and GPA calculator Grades — has spent the past three years bringing Hours for iPhone to life.

Now available as a $4.99 download, Hours takes the pain out of time tracking by letting you visualize how you spend your precious time...

Hearthstone ‘Curse of Naxxramas’ expansion hitting iOS, Mac July 22

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Back in March, Blizzard launched its popular free-to-play collectible card game ‘Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft’ on the Mac. A month later, it brought the game to the iPad, and promised an expansion pack for both platforms.

Today, the studio made good on its promise, announcing that Hearthstone's first expansion 'Curse of Naxxramas' will be landing on PCs, Macs and iPads on Tuesday, July 22nd. You'll find all the details on the add-on pack below...

Cinamatic goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Apple has named Hipstamatic's just-released video-capturing app Cinamatic its App of the Week for this week. This means that through next Thursday, you’ll be able to pick up the title for both your iPhone and iPad, for free—a modest savings of $1.

For those unfamiliar with the app, it essentially does for videos what Hipstamatic does for photos. Users can record short clips, between 3-15 seconds, and turn them into short films. Tools like lighting filters and social sharing are just one tap away...

Facebook releases Mentions, new iPhone app you probably can’t use

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 28, 2017

The social networking behemoth, Facebook, today launched a brand new iPhone application: Mentions.

Although you can download it - the app is currently rolling out to the U.S. App Store as we speak - chances are you probably won't be able to use it.

That is, unless you're a verified public figure such as an actor, athlete, musician or other influencer, in which case Mentions is right for you.

In a nutshell, Mentions allows celebrities to see what fans are saying, engage in conversations with people and influencers who are talking about them, tell their own story by sharing updates, photos and videos - and even host live Q&As directly from their iPhone...

HBO launches Game of Thrones Ascent on iPhone

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

HBO, the premium cable and satellite television network owned by Time Warner (which itself could get acquired by Rupert Murdoch-owned 21st Century Fox) today has enabled iPhone owners to enjoy the worlds from the successful Game of Thrones book and television series.

Having originally launched on the iPad in time for Season 4 debut in late-March, developer Disruptor Beam once again teamed up with Kongregate, having bumped the game to version 2.0 and adding native support for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Jump past the fold for the specifics...