Apps

Wickr lets you send messages with military grade encryption

Meet Wickr, the latest messaging client to land on iOS. Like most other messaging platforms, it allows you to send texts, pictures and videos for free to anyone else using the service.

But unlike other platforms, Wickr is outfitted with "military grade" encryption and other features that make it one of the most secure messaging systems on Apple's mobile OS...

Apple caught altering App Store algorithm again

Have you been having trouble finding apps in the App Store lately? Try it now. Word has it that Apple has undone whatever it did to to the Store's search algorithm last weekend.

Last Saturday, search results in the App Store appeared to all of a sudden start favoring download numbers and other factors ahead of app names and keywords. It was bad...

Google’s Chrome is already No. 1 free App Store app

In less than 24 hours following its official introduction, Google's Chrome browser for the iPhone and iPad has risen to become the No. 1 free app on the App Store. That's a remarkable achievement, one clearly highlighting the popularity of Google's excellent web browser. Although it doesn't use the speedy Safari Nitro engine, Chrome for iOS is very zippy (speed test here) and enables seamless synchronization of browsing preferences and open tabs across desktop and mobile installations via your Google Account...

All hundred Atari’s Greatest Hits games are free for the next six hours

As part of Atari's 40th birthday, the publisher just announced an interesting promotion that lets you grab all of its classic game ports for the iPhone and iPad totally free of charge.

The Atari's Greatest Hits app has always been a free download, but each of a hundred Atari 2600 and arcade games found in this collection is normally a paid download through in-app purchases (except Missile Command).

You don't want to pass on this one, but there are some caveats you should know about...

iOS beats Android in app retention by more than 50%

Now that Google and Apple have both unveiled their future plans for their respective mobile platforms, it's up to the consumers, and more importantly, the third-party app developers to make their decisions. Which OS do they make their priority?

Back in the good old days, this was an easy decision to make: go with the one that had the most users. More users typically meant more downloads (and $). But now that Android and iOS are almost even, developers have to look at other metrics...

iOS 6 Beta lets you reorder Apple TV icons. Apps coming?

Earlier this morning we told you about a note by Apple pundit John Gruber who challenged BGR editor Jonathan Geller's false report that Apple would release a software development kit for the Apple TV at WWDC, effectively opening up the $99 set-top box to third-party apps.

The rumor never came to be and Gruber noted in his trademark style that “something big is going on with Apple TV in Cupertino” (but it’s still being cooked, if I may add). An interesting new video evidence released today by the Brazilian blog MacMagazine has strengthened the belief that third-party apps are likely coming to the Apple TV...

Apple launches new Podcasts app

There has been some speculation over the past few weeks that Apple was looking to debut a standalone podcasts app alongside iOS 6 this fall. But it looks like they couldn't wait.

Apple just rolled out an all-new Podcasts application, universal for all iOS 5.1+ devices. And we have to admit, it looks fantastic. Keep reading for more details and screenshots...

SportsYapper: finally, a social network for sports fans

Watching sports — even for the most diehard enthusiast — is always more fun with fellow fans around. You can talk coaching decisions, argue over penalties, and relive highlight plays. But what do you do if no one's around?

Take to Twitter is the obvious answer. But it's tough to keep a conversation going with other sports fans in between non-sports tweets, in 140 character increments. So the folks at Yapp Media came up with SportsYapper...

Facebook Pages Manager gets messaging, check-in Insights, tweaked notifications

Facebook rolled out its Pages Manager app for the iPhone a little over a month ago. It initially came with a number of features to give folks the ability to post updates and photos on the go as your Facebook Page.

It also lets you get notifications on new activity, view Page Insights and respond, post and comment as your Page.

Today, the first official update has landed on the App Store, bringing with it a few noteworthy enhancements missing from the original release...

Facebook Messenger 1.8 brings quick conversation switching and more

If WhatsApp and other instant messaging services weren't scared of Facebook's Messenger before, they should be now. The company just rolled out an update to its messaging app that makes it much more competitive.

Messenger 1.8 hit the App Store today, with a handful of new features and UI tweaks in tow. Headlining the additions are a new online buddy list, and revamped push notifications. Keep reading for the full change log...

Instagram gets Facebook likes, Explore section, revamped profile tabs and more

Instagram just pushed out a new version of its iOS app, the first update following its $1 billion deal with Facebook.

Instagram version 2.5 brings out half a dozen new features, including a revamped profiles tab, a brand new Explore section and the ability to share your likes to Facebook, to name a few.

If anything, we now know Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg was telling the truth when he promised to maintain Instagram as a standalone app.

Full changelog and screenies after the break...