Apps

Google Drive iOS app gains commenting and swipeable galleries

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 3, 2013

If you use Google Drive to keep your files safely backed up in the Google cloud, pay attention as the Internet giant has just pushed an interesting little update making its iOS client a whole lot more useful for collaborative work than before.

Google Drive for the iPhone and iPad has been bumped up to version 1.4, adding swipeable images while viewing them in full screen, in addition to comments for your Google Docs files.

The first feature lets you swipe through the images stored in your Drive as you would in Apple's stock iOS Photos app. The latter capability supports viewing, creating, replying to and resolving comments in Google Docs files.

Commenting was previously available via the web interface, but not on mobile devices. The free application is now live on the App Store so go ahead and update it if you haven't already...

Google updates iOS Search app, rolls out nutritional information in search results

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 31, 2013

I really, really wish Apple doubled down on Siri. When the intelligent personal assistant debuted as an iPhone 4S-exclusive back in October 2011, Siri was likened to a seismic shift that would vastly improve our interactions with the devices in our lives. And it did.

But merely nineteen months later, Google has leapfrogged Siri with Google Now, which combines the power of Google search with the company's Knowledge Graph and top-notch voice recognition to deliver relevant info before you even asked for it.

But Google isn't standing still. Today the firm has updated its native iOS Search app with "location improvements and bug fixes." And just yesterday, it announced that nutritional information will start cropping up in search results across platforms, including iOS and Android applications that incorporate Google Now...

Apple criticizes TransMedia CEO for saying users are platform-agnostic

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 31, 2013

We all know the great lengths Apple will go to nurture and preserve its developer ecosystem and user experience on its platform.

One developer, however, has tested Apple's patience by issuing an iPhone app press release that suggests users don't really care which mobile platform they happen to be using.

That drew an interesting response from a representative from Apple Worldwide Developer Relations, who cautioned the comment is at odds not just with Apple's primary marketing messaging, "but the entire reason Apple exists"...

Adobe releases new Kuler color-picking app for iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

I guess the title could have read: "Adobe finally releases Kuler color-picking app for iPhone," because the company announced it nearly 2 years ago. Adobe introduced the app as part of a suite of new touch-friendly applications back in October of 2011.

But better late than never. Kuler hit the App Store this morning as the color-picking app Adobe originally promised. You can capture colors using your iPhone's camera, or previously downloaded photos, and you can create and save your own color themes...

Tweetbot for Mac refreshed with Media timeline, profile cover image support

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 22, 2018

TapBots' Tweetbot to this date is my go-to Twitter client, both on iOS and Mac. The iOS app was updated a month ago with a handy new Media timeline, revamped image viewer and a few under-the-hood tweaks. Today, Tapbots gave the Mac edition some love.

On top of fixing a few nagging issues, the new Tweetbot 1.3 brings the Media timeline to your desktop. As part of Twitter's new guidelines, tweet details now have favorite and retweet counts, which comes in handy when checking how viral a tweet is. Another nice-to-have: the Mac edition now supports Twitter's profile cover images...

Skype for iPhone gains improved calling and chatting features

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 30, 2013

Today, Microsoft-owned Skype has been updated on the iPhone and iPod touch (the latter sold 100 million units since its 2007 inception). The enhancements include a pair of features related to the application's chatting and VoIP calling capabilities.

For starters, one-to-one chats now appear in the correct order. There's also a new introduction screens for first-time users. More importantly, the VoIP application now lets you switch easily between headset, speaker or Bluetooth device, without interrupting call in progress...

Google rolling out new-look Gmail inbox with categories and tabbed UI

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 29, 2013

In a steady stream of updates, Google has been perfecting its mobile Gmail app, adding new features and smoothing out rough edges over time. For example, back in March the Gmail iOS app added new gestures so you could swipe left and right to move between messages, without having to return to their inbox. And in a minor update earlier in the month, the software gained ability to open web links in Google's other apps, like Maps and YouTube.

Well, today's a big day as the Gmail team just announced a brand new inbox across mobile Gmail apps and on the web. So, what's new? Basically, categories and tabbed interface, to allow for easier organization of email messages.

Read on for additional details and promo video...

Get 1Password and Knox for half price

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

I'm a big fan of Agile Bits' 1Password utility and I know Jeff is a recent convert, too. This awesome password management utility has been recently updated on iOS with a host of enhancements.

However, 1Password's steep asking price of $17.99 effectively discourages impulse purchases - even more so on the Mac, where the app is normally a $49.99 value.

In addition to 1Password sale, Agile Bits is also offering a time-limited 50 percent discount on its Mac file encryption software dubbed Knox...

Review: Analog Camera, from the makers of the popular Clear to-do app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 3, 2017

Realmac Software's highly anticipated photography app, Analog Camera, has finally landed on the App Store this morning.

Drawing from Analog Camera for the Mac and the company's user interface skills honed developing the popular Clear to-do software, this brand new iPhone photography app gets rid of the clutter to focus on just a few barebone features.

But even though its undisputedly polished and effective interface signals an interesting new direction for iPhone photography software, is less really more in the case of Analog Camera? Read on for the full review...

Dark Sky 3.0 brings crowdsourced cloudsourcing to the masses

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 29, 2013

There's something about weather apps. I don't know if I'm enchanted more by the user interface innovations that mobile weather software brings to the table or by having weather forecast in the palm of my hand, but I just can't get enough of those sleek little apps that now happen to occupy three dedicated 'weather' folders on my iPhone (yes, I need them all).

Dark Sky, for example, is captivating: its simplified user interface and beautiful, unobtrusive animations provide an at-a-glance overview of your local forecast and key weather metrics, up to an hour in advance.

In a major version 3.0 update, Dark Sky is now enabled in several new markets, including the U.K. and Ireland, can tell you weather farther than an hour away and lets you submit your own hyperlocal weather observations...