Apps

Check out Google Now integration on your Mac in latest Chrome Canary release

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 16, 2014

CNET reported last summer that Google Now cards were heading to Google’s Chrome browser for the Mac. Six months later, Google releases a brand new Google Canary build with Google Now cards functionality nested right inside the browser's notification center which sits in your Mac's status bar.

Although not all Google Now cards are available in this alpha release of Chrome, the search company has integrated a few of the most popular ones like sports scores, real-time weather updates, and travel information...

Skype gains push notifications for chats, two-way video calling in HD on A7 devices

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 27, 2016

Skype for iPhone rolled out the ability to conduct two-way video chatting back in December 2010, but the quality of these video calls left a lot to be desired. Back then, the iPhone 4's back camera could only capture video in 720p and the front-facing camera was good only for VGA-grade video chatting.

Besides, the handset lacked the processing power to make two-way video calling in high-definition a reality.

Today's update to Skype's free iPhone and iPad client brings HD video calling to the iPhone 5s, iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display, along with an improved chatting experience and more...

Speed-read your articles with Outread

Lory Gil ∙ Updated February 21, 2018

In an era when people speak in 140 characters or less, make dinner for four in just a few minutes, and don’t waste any time taking breaks, it is hard to see how any of us have time to read through the millions of articles that are posted to the Internet each day. I know I’m always saving stories to read later because I just can’t get through them all during my morning coffee break.

Outread is an app that teaches you how to speed-read by giving you access to articles you already want to read anyway. Instead of seeing one word at a time, get the entire text and follow the highlighted section to train your eyes to follow along at a faster pace…

Pandora adding personalized station recommendations to its mobile apps

Cody Lee ∙ January 16, 2014

With competition from services like Spotify and Apple's iTunes Radio increasing, and the Beats Music launch on the horizon, Pandora announced this week that it's rolling out a new feature to its mobile apps to help you discover music.

That feature is called 'Personalized Station Recommendations,' and it provides listeners with up to 6 suggested artist stations to listen to at a time. These suggestions are based on your listening habits and like/dislike thumb interactions...

Starbucks admits its iPhone app stores unencrypted passwords, location data

Cody Lee ∙ January 16, 2014

Following a report from security researcher Daniel Wood, Starbucks executives admitted this week that the company's mobile app stores user names and passwords in clear text, with no encryption. It also keeps a record of unsecured geolocation data.

The problem with this, Wood says, is that by connecting your iPhone to a computer, someone could easily retrieve this info from a crash log—no jailbreak or special hardware required. And what's worse is Starbucks isn't doing anything to fix the issue...

Upcoming app to allow streaming of all episodes of The Simpsons

Cody Lee ∙ January 16, 2014

Good news for Simpsons fans this morning. FX Networks CEO John Landgraf announced this week that the group is creating a standalone app for the popular Springfield family, which will allow users to stream all 24 seasons of the TV show to their devices.

Speaking at the Television Critics Association winter press tour yesterday, Landgraf offered up some details about the app. He says it'll feature tons of content including all 500+ episodes of The Simpsons, which will be available for online streaming at all times...

Google Play Movies and TV app hits iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2017

After Google Play Books and Google Play Music, the Internet giant Google on Wednesday has finally released the official Google Play Movies and TV application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices.

A free download from the App Store, the software allows you to access those purchased or rented movies and television shows you bought in Google's Play Store.

With this move, Google has completed a trio of software offerings that make it easier for people on the Apple platform to enjoy media bought from Google's content store. Die-hard Apple fans may not care much, but those who happen to use both iOS and Android will appreciate that Google is catering to Apple users with these apps...

Box revamps iOS app, offers 50GB of free storage

Cody Lee ∙ January 15, 2014

Popular cloud storage service Box has released a big update for its iOS client today, bringing the app to version 3.0. The update includes an all-new UI design, real-time search for files and within files, and a number of other improvements.

As for the redesign, Box says it has completely re-written the app from the ground-up with things like speed and easier navigation in mind. In version 3.0, documents render faster, photos load quicker, and sharing is much less painful...

Apple agrees to refund users in FTC settlement over unwanted in-app purchases

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 16, 2022

Parents whose kids were tricked into obtaining virtual items in iPhone and iPad games by way of the iOS In-App Purchase mechanism will get refunded over unwanted spending, according to Apple's settlement with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The penalty dwarfs Google's $22.5 million fine in the Safari website tracking scandal.

Apple CEO Tim Cook was not pleased with the outcome, but acknowledged in a letter to employees that the company "has entered into a consent decree" over long-standing complaints over inappropriate charges in the App Store, alluding his company may have exhausted its legal options and didn't want to risk an enduring legal battle with the government...

Chrome for iOS updated with data compression, Google Translate

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

Google announced an update for its mobile Chrome browser today, which will bring the app to version 32. The update brings about a handful of new features including data compression, Google's popular Translate feature and more.

The search giant says that the new data compression feature can reduce data usage by up to 50% while browsing the web on your device, using Chrome. And with Google Translate for iOS, you can translate full webpages on the go...

Horizon cures vertical video syndrome

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 19, 2019

By now, most people have heard of the terrible affliction that affects mobile camera phone video subjects and viewers. While the majority of iPhone users have learned of this widespread disease and have successfully broken the Vertical Video Syndrome (VVS) cycle in their lives, not everyone is so lucky.

Horizon is a video app that makes it impossible for you to record vertical videos, even if you are holding your iPhone in portrait mode. So, your loved one who just can’t seem to understand what the big deal is will stop sending you those clips of kittens with ugly black bars on either side.

New ‘Umoove Experience’ game utilizes eye, face-tracking tech

Cody Lee ∙ January 14, 2014

A new game is out this week that's causing quite a bit of commotion in the tech world. It's called 'Umoove Experience,' and it follows a main character as he flies around various villages collecting bottles of purple magic potion to score points.

But the real reason everyone is talking about this game is because of its control scheme. You see, it utilizes Umoove's eye-tracking technology, meaning instead of using touch or motion to control you character, you simply tilt/move your head...