Apps

iTunes U finally adopts pull-to-refresh thing

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 25, 2013

Although optimized for the iPhone 5, iTunes U - Apple's free download from the App Store - is still skeuomorphic, just like Find My iPhone, AirPort Utility and other Apple downloads not included as part of the stock iOS 7 experience. Though today's iTunes U 1.3.1 update doesn't get rid of the wooden bookshelf, the new versions does add several noteworthy features. Among them: the popular pull-to-refresh gesture to checks for course updates in the notepad...

All American Airlines flights now with iPads aboard

Ed Sutherland ∙ June 25, 2013

American Airlines is now using Apple's iPad in all its flights, the tablet replacing millions of pages and pounds of documents pilots previously had to carry into the cockpit. In a Monday announcement, the airline said switching to the tablet will save the company more than $1 million in fuel costs every year.

American pilots flying the Boeing 777, 767, 757, 737 as well as the MD-80 will use the iPads equipped with the Jeppesen Mobile Terminal Chart app for controlling gate-to-gate flight controls. The announcement follows American becoming in 2012 the first airline to receive FAA approval for tablets in the cockpit...

Imgur coming to iOS soon, hits Android

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

When Alan Schaaf’s free image sharing service dubbed Imgur went online on February 23, 2009, it was met with genuinely positive feedback from users who'd been longing for an image hosting service that didn't suck.

Though no one expected the San Francisco-based startup to compete with the likes of Flickr, Instagram or other established photo sharing services, it did start picking up considerable steam after users on Reddit and Digg began sharing viral images on Imgur. In response to its rising popularity, the startup has just issued the official Android client and confirmed that iOS version is coming along soon...

Amazon Instant Video iOS app gets personalized recommendations

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

Good news for those how prefer to get their entertainment from Amazon instead iTunes. In a newest update to its Instant Video streaming iOS app, the online retail giant has enabled personalized recommendations for movies and television shows based on your past viewing habits, while enhancing the experience with a handy new navigation bar.

Of course, in order to take advantage of the app you'll need to be subscribed to Amazon's Prime, a $79 a year membership which gives you unlimited access to thousands of titles and over 140,000 videos available from the Amazon Instant Video store, with support for Watchlists, offline viewing and more...

AOL joins RSS race, announces its own Google Reader replacement

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 21, 2013

Wow, it's never been a more exciting time to be in the RSS space. And who would have thought it would have taken the Internet giant announcing its popular Reader service is heading to the graveyard of technology?

And with the impending July 1 Google Reader shut down all but upon us, the market for RSS readers is bursting with activity like never before. Of course, RSS isn't going anywhere as there are a few dozen quality apps out there.

In addition, the likes of Digg, Flipboard, Feedly and many others are stepping in to fill the void with their own Google Reader replacement services. And now, you can put AOL on your list of upcoming Google Reader alternatives. You remember AOL, right?

Readdle’s premium Calendars+ app goes free for 48 hours

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

Eagle-eyed readers will remember Readdle back in March released a free version of its awesome Calendars+ application on the App Store. Naturally, the free download omits several major features present in the more advanced paid version.

For example, multiple event reminders, recurring appointments, event invitations and a few other biggies meant for power users remain the exclusive realm of the paid Calendars+ app.

If you wanted to take the plunge but were put off by the app's high asking price of seven bucks, good news: Readdle has decided to drop the premium Calendars+ app to zero bucks. The promotion runs over the next 48 hours only so download Calendars+ now before the price goes up back again...

Feedly opens RSS web app to everyone ahead of Google Reader shutdown

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 19, 2013

Following Google's disappointing announcement that its Reader service will be retired on July 1, after running for eight straight years, Feedly back in May announced work had started on a clone of Google’s RSS API to help user transition from Google Reader to Feedly.

Today, the startup shed more light on the subject by announcing a new Application Programming Interface (API) along with a lineup of first third-party apps that will leverage the Feedly Cloud platform. In addition, they've opened the Feedly RSS web app to everyone...

Twitter teases upcoming Vine features ahead of Instagram Video launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 9, 2018

Coincidentally or not, Twitter has just teased the upcoming Vine features just as the blogosphere lit up with a confirmation that Facebook will be releasing an Instagram video product on Thursday.

According to Twitter, they will be introducing "some exciting new parts of Vine” over the next few weeks. The rather cryptic and unusual announcement was accompanied by a rather clever Twitter-made video posted to - you guessed right - Vine...

Amazon Cloud Drive Photos now supports background uploading

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated December 13, 2022

Amazon's Cloud Drive Photos app debuted in May, giving iDevice owners an easy way to browse image files stored in their Amazon cloud storage.

Among other features, the iPhone/iPad application allows for downloading of individual images straight to your iDevice. You can also batch-upload your on-device snaps up to the cloud, useful if you want to keep your photos securely backed up in the cloud (and trust Amazon with your data - okay, that was a joke).

Unfortunately, the app doesn't support background network activity, and that's a shame as quiting it or even receiving a phone call stops any upload in progress. Amazon finally saw to that, having updated Cloud Drive Photos with support for Background Save feature, along with other improvements...

Air France rolls out Passbook boarding passes

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 18, 2013

From the onset, the world's airlines were sold on Apple's Passbook, an iOS feature that debuted as part of iOS 6 launch last Fall. And it's easy to see why. The application keeps your digital boarding passes handy and simplifies checkins with barcodes and other goodies.

Flight and gate changes can be delivered to users' Lock screen in real-time. Additional handy alerts pop up when you're near the gate or when your flight is about to departure.

With the likes of American Airlines, British Airways, Alaska Airlines, Qantas, EasyJet, Delta and many others having deployed Passbook support, small wonder that Air France has now jumped on the bandwagon.

On Tuesday, the French airline has updated its iOS app with support for boarding passes via the Passbook system...

A closer look at App Store in iOS 7

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 22, 2017

Like all stock apps, the App Store on iOS 7 has been graced with a sprinkle of Jony Ive's magic. Not only does the storefront looks a lot nicer now - gone is the dark-themed look in favor for sleek appearance with lots of white space for easier reading - the app is way smoother and nimbler than on iOS 6.

It also features several enhancements that will appeal to pretty much everyone, from parents and their kids to power users to the likes of Senator John McCain who will love not having to manually update apps on his iPhone. Here's a quick look at all the changes in App Store on iOS 7...

Digg’s Google Reader replacement launching June 26 on iPhone first

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 17, 2013

In spite of die-hard users screaming and crying foul, Google quite unapologetically remains on track to shut down its popular news aggregation service dubbed Reader come July 1. But don't worry, there are plenty of alternatives to Google Reader such as the popular Mac/iOS app Reeder, the unavoidable Flipboard and many other apps.

The social news aggregator Digg is among the companies looking to exploit the opportunity. In March, Digg announced that work had begun on its own Reader replacement. Today, the firm said the app will be rolling to everyone by June 26, giving Google Reader refugees almost a full week of head start before the July 1 cut-off deadline...