Apps

Facebook updates Paper with mentions, hashtags, profile editing, better photo viewer and much more

Facebook has just pushed a massive update to its Paper for iPhone app, bringing out a host of much-needed features, starting with the ability to edit your profile picture and cover photo.

The free application now allows you to view photo tags, too, and use mentions to tag friends and let them know about the story. You can explore hashtags to see all the related posts, tilt the phone to explore every detail of the photo, tap-and-hold text to copy it from a post you're reading, change your audience after you post and more...

Apple begins reaccepting Bitcoin apps on the App Store

Apple can't make up its mind. Just months ago, it pulled all Bitcoin wallet apps from the App Store after enacting a policy against all apps using the virtual currency. Now, it has reversed that decision and is allowing apps based the virtual currency back into the App Store. As reported by The Next Web, at least one app has already made its return to the storefront. Take a look…

Facebook’s iPad app gains new sidebar solely dedicated to entertainment and games

Facebook on Monday pushed an update to its iPad client to put more entertainment (and ads) into your hands.

Realizing that seven out of each ten people who use Facebook for iPad played a Facebook-connected game in the past 90 days, Mark Zuckerberg & Co. are now testing a new sidebar within the iPad app, specifically created for entertainment content and game discovery.

The iPad-exclusive section provides game trailers and in-game footage, as well as Trending videos/news articles, social notifications for native Facebook games, as well as those offered on the web, and much more.

Note that this experiment is currently limited to Facebook's iPad users in the United States and there's no word when it could launch globally. Additional tidbits can be found right after the break...

WebMD launches Healthy Target, its own health-improvement platform

Ahead of iOS 8's public launch this Fall, WebMD today introduced Healthy Target, its own health improvement program for the iPhone that aggregates data from various biometric sensors and makes it understandable and actionable.

It sounds much like HealthKit, Apple's new platform in iOS 8 which gives makers of health/fitness apps and accessories official APIs to store users' performance metrics and health data into a system-wide database accessible by the stock Health app and third-party software...

Mac App Recap: 10 apps for OS X to test drive

App Recap primarily focuses on iPhone and iPad apps throughout the week, but each weekend we post a special edition Mac App Recap for our OS X readers. If you have a Mac, you're in for a real treat. This edition of the roundup has apps ranging from a SoundCloud player and popular RSS reader to a desktop thermometer and an exciting new adventure game. Read ahead for a look at 10 apps that every Mac owner should check out… 

The best apps for tracking your fitness activities

Whether you're struggling to keep a New Year's resolution, or just trying to tone up before beach season, everyone could use a little extra support. Luckily, there's an app for that.

In fact, we've found several apps that help you accomplish your fitness goals by tracking your steps and workouts, tracking your food intake, and offering support and motivation.

Powershot is a useful screenshot annotation and markup app for Mac

I take a lot of screenshots for a variety of purposes, often times for inclusion in a blog post or to simply show something quickly to someone. For that reason, I was interested in trying a new app called Powershot that I stumbled upon in the Mac App Store. The simple OS X utility allows you to annotate and markup screenshots systemwide, without the need to use third-party software. Read ahead for a closer look at how the app works… 

Apps of the Week: Broken Age, These Lumps, Unread for iPad, and more

This has been a great week for new and updated apps and games. We’ve seen major changes to Skype, the Amazon Prime Music streaming service, and new titles from some popular game developers. You’re going to be busy this weekend. Looks like that HoneyDo list is going back on the fridge.

This week’s list of apps and games are sure to occupy your brain and your fingertips. Call in sick to the visit with the in-laws because after you read our list, you won’t want to leave the house…

Apple partner OpenTable to be acquired by Priceline for $2.6 billion

Priceline has announced today that it has reached an agreement to acquire online restaurant reservation service and Apple content partner OpenTable. The travel site will be doling out $103 per share in the all cash transaction, which is said to be worth $2.6 billion.

For those unfamiliar with it, OpenTable facilitates restaurant reservations through its website and mobile apps. Apple has long been a proponent of the service, which it reaffirmed in 2012 by integrating it into its digital assistant Siri, as part of the year's iOS 6 update...

Salt & Pepper review: fill the bowls to win

Most people mix salt and pepper on their food. In fact, someone should invent a container that holds both seasonings together so you don’t have to go through all those extra steps. It is very rare that you’d meet a person that keeps salt and pepper separate on their plate. However, this game requires that you separate your seasonings by filling them into bowls.

Salt & Pepper: A Physics Game is what it says, a physics-based puzzle game. Players must fill the black bowl with pepper and the white bowl with salt. However, when walls, blocks, and moving platforms block the pathway, getting the seasonings into their respective bowls is much harder than you’d think…

Despite Apple deal, Beats updates Android app, plans on using Samsung shill LeBron James in ads

Looks like Tim Cook wasn't joking when he told The Financial Times Apple would keep alive Beats Music apps for Android and Windows Phone platforms. Keep in mind that Cook made that promise after Apple snapped up Beats' streaming-music service, headphones, brand and talent in a $3 billion transaction.

Indeed, Beats has now issued an update to its Android client, the first refresh post-acquisition. But that's not all: it seems Beats will continue to feature Samsung endorser and Miami Heat cager LeBron James in future advertising...

Apple cracking down on fake App Store ratings

The latest statistics reveal that there are over 1.1 million apps and counting on the App Store, making app discovery for small and large developers alike increasingly challenging. On top of that, Apple is known to have an algorithm that makes only apps with higher ratings more easily discoverable.

As a result, a significant number of developers manipulate the position of their app in the App Store charts by posting fake reviews with high ratings, often times five stars. But according to TechCrunch, Apple is aware of the rank manipulation and is now taking action against these fake ratings…