Apps

90% of the Money Spent on Mobile Apps Comes From the App Store

Oliver Haslam ∙ November 21, 2011

With the iPad coming under scrutiny as the competition begins its latest assault on Apple's tablet dominance, new figures suggest that the iPad may still be the best bet for those looking to make a living out of making tablet-based apps.

Piper Jaffray Senior Research Analyst Gene Munster has written in a research note released Monday that Apple's iPad still accounts for between 85% and 90% of the money spent on mobile applications.

The news comes as Android moves into a new era thanks to the release of Ice Cream Sandwich, the release which Google hopes will combine the tablet and smartphone software in a way similar to the iPad and iPhone. Munster's claims show that Android may still be suffering from an old issue: Android users just don't seem to buy apps as much as iOS users...

Check Out These Beautiful iOS 5 Settings Panel Shortcuts

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Ever since our initial post that showed how to create shortcuts for some of the most used items in the Settings app, many have taken a lot of interest in the idea.

Considering that there is no jailbreak for the iPhone 4S, and no untethered jailbreak for iOS 5 in general, many are using Settings panel shortcuts as they wait for a jailbreak solution that works for them.

In the meantime, UI designer Jeff Broderick has taken things into his own hands, creating the most beautiful and detailed shortcuts icons we've seen to date...

Sent is a Gmail App for iPhone that Gets Things Right, But Not Perfect

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated February 21, 2018

It seems like iOS Gmail apps are a little bit like London buses: you wait an hour for one, and then three come along at once. Two notable Gmail apps have entered the App Store as of late.

Gmail users rejoiced when Google finally brought an official Gmail app to the App Store, but after downloading the app, it was clear that the bug-laden effort wasn't what it should be. Google pulled it and eventually made it available again after fixing some of the more glaring bugs. That said, it's still not great, and is missing some features that we hope Google will eventually get around to adding.

A new app to join the Gmail fray goes by the name of "Sent," and while it is indeed a more native experience than Google's solution, the app doesn't get everything right...

OmniFocus Gains Siri Support and iCloud Syncing

Oliver Haslam ∙ Updated February 19, 2018

For those that really take todo systems seriously, the OmniFocus app is often at the top of the list for getting things done. With a suite of apps that covers the Mac, iPad and iPhone, OmniFocus creators The Omni Group have created a real powerhouse of applications that many swear by.

In the latest update for the iPhone version of their OmniFocus app, the developers at The OmniGroup have taken Apple's lack of a Siri API and gone all Chuck Norris on it. Instead of waiting for Apple to give them permission to use Siri to create tasks, they have linked OmniFocus with iCloud, which in turn gives the app full access to reminders created using iOS 5's built-in Reminders app.

The end result? You can now tell Siri to create reminders in OmniFocus...

VoIP-Based Services Like iMessage Reportedly Eating Carriers’ Lunches

Oliver Haslam ∙ November 19, 2011

With third-party instant messaging apps, Apple's own iMessage, and VoIP services becoming more prevalent, it is to be expected that at some point mobile networks will see a reduction in revenue as people move away from using SMS and voice calling.

What we didn't really expect is the move to start happening so soon. But according to one report, carriers are already feeling the pinch.

Research carried out by infrastructure solutions provider Mavenir Systems on behalf of mobileSQUARED suggests that carriers are already finding that third-party solutions are beginning to impact their business, and it's only going to get worse for the bottom line...

Type2Phone: Use Your Mac as a Bluetooth Keyboard for Your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Have you ever been using your Mac, received a text message on your iPhone, and thought, "I wish I could just use my Mac's keyboard to respond to the text?" What about emails or iMessages? Now you can, thanks to the new Type2Phone app.

The software, released earlier this month, allows Mac users to connect to their iPhone or iPad via Bluetooth. The Mac can then be used to type text on the iOS device. Users can even use the app to paste text from their Mac's clipboard to a text field in iOS...

iOS Devices are Still the Most Desirable Among Developers

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 24, 2017

With Amazon's Kindle Fire just a day away from public release, there's no shortage of news regarding the new tablet. Not only does it undercut the cost of most slate offerings by $300, it's also the first Android tablet to feature a truly cohesive user experience.

Because of that, the Kindle Fire now ranks as the top Android-based tablet among developers. But according to The Loop, Amazon's slate still has a ways to go before it reaches the programming popularity of Apple's iOS devices...

Have a Headache? There’s an App for That

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 19, 2018

Third-party applications have turned smartphones into digital Swiss Army knives over the last few years. It seems like there are apps for everything these days, that do anything from helping you become a better lover, to improving your golf game.

Apparently, there is even software for your iPhone that can help alleviate your headaches. These apps omit audible tones that supposedly synchronize your brainwaves to deeply relaxing low-frequency waves. It sounds impressive, but does it work?

Veterans Day Weekend Brings Massive Game Sales

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 13, 2019

Veterans Day is a US holiday, celebrated every year on November 11th. It was established to honor our military veterans, and because it's a federal holiday, many people get the day off from work or school. And do you know what else it means? App sales.

Several developers have started slashing prices on their applications in honor of Veterans Day weekend. Companies like EA and Gameloft have deeply discounted some of their biggest gaming titles, with most of them falling to just under a buck...

How to Create Custom Shortcuts For WiFi Settings, Airplane Mode, and More – No Jailbreak Required

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated May 26, 2017

It's going on a month since the iPhone 4S made its initial debut, and we're still without a jailbreak. Not that we're complaining; we never expected a jailbreak for the 4S to be released this soon anyway.

Still, it's hard giving up some of the luxuries that jailbreaking brings to the for — namely SBSettings toggles to quickly enable and disable certain low-level functions like WiFi, Bluetooth, Airplane mode, etc.

Fortunately, there is a compromise. We've briefly touched on it before, but in this article and video walkthrough we'll show you how to create custom shortcuts to your favorite settings; no jailbreak required...

12-Year-Old Talks App Creation and More in This Video

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 10, 2018

What were you doing in your spare time at age 12? Playing little league baseball, or video games? That might seem like the norm now, but times are definitely changing. Just ask 6th grader Thomas Suarez what he does in his free time.

On top of developing his own applications, and running his own software company, Suarez has organized a club at his middle school to help other kids learn to program. He talks about this and more at this year's TEDxManhattanBeach conference...

Belkin’s LiveAction Camera Stand and Remote For iPhone Coming Soon

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 24, 2016

iPhone photographers rejoice, Belkin has a new iPhone accessory in the oven that will take your picture-taking abilities to the next level. And judging by the company's recent FCC filing, it seems that the product is nearing completion.

The LiveAction is a two-piece combo accessory that includes both a camera stand for the iPhone and a remote control. Not only will this allow you to snap pictures from a distance, but it will also open up the doors for creative movie-making...