Apps

Samsung’s $800,000 competition lures devs to write exclusive Galaxy apps

Ed Sutherland ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

Samsung wants more developers writing apps that require features exclusively found on its own devices, such as the Galaxy S4 flagship smartphone - and is willing to pay. In an $800,000 competition, the South Korean conglomerate is seeking entries which highlight its own sharing service and proprietary software development kit.

The first-prize winner takes home $200,000, three second-place finalists receive $100,000 each, while six third-place finishers get $50,000 each, according to the Wall Street Journal. The competition's goal is to improve Samsung's standing against Apple's iPhone...

Apple pulls controversial ‘Bang With Friends’ app from App Store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Apple has decided to pull Bang With Friends, a controversial app that lets users anonymously pick which of their Facebook friends they'd like to hook up with, and then notifies them when there's a match, from its App Store this afternoon.

There's no word yet on why the app was removed. But between Apple's staunch attitude toward all things vulgar, and its app review team's track record for pulling software on a whim, we're not at all surprised to see Bang With Friends gone...

BlackBerry Messenger will be iPhone-only at launch

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 17, 2013

If you've been looking to enjoy BlackBerry's upcoming Messenger app on your iPad, bad news. Blackberry’s software portfolio chief Vivek Bhardwaj tells Trusted Reviews that the app will only target the iPhone and Android smartphones, at least initially. Although he wouldn't ruled out the possibility of an iPad edition down the road, he didn't specifically mention it either.

That's hardly surprising given BlackBerry's lackluster PlayBook tablet and the firm's general failure in the tablet space, though it's hard to escape the feeling that BlackBerry Messenger for iPad would make sense for the business types who've come to depend on their Apple tablet for work...

Try Google’s new Hangouts app now

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated August 26, 2017

Previously code-named Babel, Google yesterday announced its new cross-platform unified messaging product called Hangouts. Shortly after, the software surfaced on Apple's App Store and Google's Play store for Android.

In replacing Google Talk, Hangouts supports one-on-one and group chatting across desktop, Android and Apple devices and includes photos, emoji, and video calls.

In a nutshell, the app integrates messaging from Google’s GTalk, Google+ Messenger, Hangouts and Voice products. But that's just scratching the surface as Google obviously has big plans with the product...

Apple reveals 50 billionth app download winner

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 5, 2018

Apple crossed a major milestone yesterday afternoon, with the official App Store Twitter channel confirming the company hit 50 billion app downloads. As part of its countdown promotion, the iPhone maker today issued a press release revealing the lucky winner who won a $10,000 iTunes Gift card, good for apps, videos, books and music. Additionally, per Apple's rules fifty additional lucky winners will take home $500 iTunes gift cards each...

App Store hits 50 billion downloads

Cody Lee ∙ May 15, 2013

Apple's App Store just crossed a major milestone this afternoon. Just a few moments ago, the digital storefront passed the 50 billion download mark, bringing the company's "50 Billion App Countdown" to an end.

The winner of the countdown promotion, who has yet to be revealed, will be given a $10,000 iTunes gift card, good for apps, videos, books and music. And fifty additional lucky winners will receive $500 gift cards...

Google announces Play game services coming to iOS

Cody Lee ∙ May 15, 2013

Google is in the middle of its I/O developer conference keynote right now, and so far it's been pretty boring. There's been no mention of consumer products yet, just some talk about developer API access and some new software and services.

The search giant did, however, unveil a new game service. Flying under the Google Play flag, the service resembles Apple's Game Center, hosting leader boards, achievements, and facilitating real-time multiplayer. Oh, and it's coming to iOS...

DirecTV app now supports voice navigation

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 15, 2013

DirecTV has a decent iOS app on the App Store which streams live television programming, supports DVR functionality and lets you browse and access on-demand streams of past television shows and movies.

The company previously promised to activate voice-enabled features and today it made good on that promise by updating DirectTV software to version 2.5.

The new version uses voice-activated navigation to enable users to find whatever they want to watch on their telly. It's just like Siri: simply speak to the app just as you would to a person in order to find something to watch. In fact, DirectTV's software gives us a good indication how a rumored Siri-enabled Apple television set could enhance the experience...

Limelight, cool-looking app to browse and organize your movie library

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 12, 2018

If you thought TodoMovies was great, wait until you see Limelight for iPhone. Created by young developer Oliver Cameron of the iOS app development agency called 9:42am, Limelight lets you manage your collection of the movies you've already watched or want to watch, share your movie lists with friends, receive recommendations and more.

It basically wants to become your go-to movie library app and it's bringing some nice features to the table. In a nutshell, Limelight isn't just focused on keeping track of your favorite movies, it also monitors when they're released to theaters...

BlackBerry confirms BBM is coming to iOS and Android this summer

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

In a better-late-than-never announcement, Canada-based BlackBerry today posted a surprising announcement confirming it will be bringing its BlackBerry Messenger platform to Apple's iOS and Google's Android platform. Yes, BlackBerry's killer app won't be exclusive anymore.

BlackBerry's move comes amid consolidation in the instant messaging space. Two increasingly popular services, Viber and WhatsApp, recently passed 200 million users each.

With iMessage pretty much ruling the messaging game on iOS devices and Google's rumored unified chatting platform dubbed Babel expected soon, it is no surprise that BlackBerry Messenger will be available to mobile users who don't use BlackBerry devices...

Disney’s Watch ABC live streaming app launches

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 14, 2013

After major networks such as Time Warner and CBS (and even Blockbuster) in recent weeks enabled live streaming in their respective iOS apps, Disney-owned television network ABC has followed suit. I recently called the development a potentially disruptive move on Disney's part and Cody likened it yesterday to a mini-revolution of sorts. Call it what you will, but it's here. Disney basically took its existing ABC Player iOS software and re-branded it under the more suggestive Watch ABC moniker.

The big news is a new Live button that gives you access to ABC's live television programming in select local markets. You can also stream full episodes of the previously aired shows. Not that live TV functionality requires a subscription with an eligible TV provider. Unfortunately, the Watch ABC app doesn’t have DVR functionality. Additional tidbits right below...

Clear app creators unveil the snappiest iPhone photography app, Analog Camera

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

The popular Clear to-do app (currently free for a limited time) won us over with the minimalistic, clean and flattened user interface and its delightful use of multitouch gestures.

And now, from the same guys who made Clear comes a brand new iPhone photography software called Analog Camera. As you could imagine, it's built with the same principles that made Clear such a hit.

Specifically, this photography app features a beautifully simple and uncluttered user interface that will no doubt prove as delight to use as Clear's. It remains to be seen whether Analog Camera can revolutionise taking photos just as Clear revolutionized to-do lists, though it packs in core features you've come to expect from a decent photography app, including a set of filters for post-processing.

I've included a promo video and more tidbits after the break...