Apps

Fruit Ninja and all other Halfbrick Studio games are free right now

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

The folks over at Halfbrick Studios must be getting in the holiday spirt, because they just discounted their entire library of iOS games down to free. That's right, for a limited time, you can pick up any one of their popular apps for iPhone and iPad, at absolutely 0 cost.

Even if you're not familiar with the Halfbrick name, there's a good chance you've played one of their titles. The studio is responsible for a number of iOS hits including Fruit Ninja, Monster Dash, Jetpack Joyride and more. Full list of games and App Store links below.

Yahoo’s Search iOS app gains comments, local news and improved navigation

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 18, 2014

Yahoo's main search-focused iPhone and iPad application has received a refresh today. In addition to an improved navigation system focused on the new side panel accessible by swiping, Yahoo 5.4 for iOS now integrates latest local news headlines and finally lets you comment on stories within the app.

“Today we’re bringing local news to your fingertips with the Yahoo App,” writes the Internet company. “As you move around the country, you’ll be able to see what’s going on in your area.”

Bing’s iOS apps get a facelift, translate extension now available on iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Microsoft's mobile Bing apps for the iPhone and iPad are getting a major makeover today, with the translate extension that debuted in the iPhone app two months ago at last available on iPads.

On the iPhone, you can now tap anywhere underneath the search box to check out Bing's image of the day in uncluttered full-screen view. You can also swipe from the left to see yesterday’s image of the day.

Another handy addition: weather information, trending news and images of the day zoom to full screen smoothly when swiping from the bottom of Bing's Home screen.

Duet Display lets you use iPhone or iPad as an extra display for your Mac, without lag

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 9, 2016

Although Duet Display is not the first app to allow your iOS device to act as an extra display for your Mac (Shape's $10 iDisplay comes to mind), it's the first app to have done screen extending right.

Built by ex-Apple engineers who worked at the company for three years on the iPad and iMac, the software delivers a Retina display at a smooth sixty frames per second with no lag whatsoever.

Featuring touch control, Duet Display makes interactions with your Mac fun and smooth while taking advantage of the fact that an additional display increases productivity by giving you up to 48 percent more pixels to work with.

Apple switching to per-country VAT across App Stores in Europe

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 18, 2014

Apple is changing its pricing scheme across European App Stores, switching from the previously same VAT rate it imposed across the entire European Union to a country-specific model, iMore reported.

Apps European customers purchase on their local App Store previously had an Irish 22 percent VAT on them. With this change taking effect soon, Apple will be now calculating app prices based on whatever VAT is used in each customer's home country.

Apple once again reverses decision, brings Draft’s Today widget back on App Store

Jake Smith ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Apple has once again reversed its decision on removing an app's feature because of its functionality within Notification Center on iOS.

As we reported earlier this month, even though the app Drafts had already been through Apple’s approval process and downloaded by users, Apple contacted the developer Greg Pierce, saying he must re-submit the app without the buttons to create drafts or open the app. Now that's not the case.

On Wednesday, Pierce released an updated version of Drafts adding the buttons back. Can Apple not make up its mind?

Fleksy 5.0 introduces customizable Extensions, 30+ theme packs, typing improvements and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 17, 2014

Fleksy, the popular third-party keyboard for iOS and Android, has released a major 5.0 update which turns it into a platform of its own with “multiple fun and useful input options” and the introduction of downloadable keyboard themes with customizable Extensions.

These perks are in addition to other improvements such as an easier, more comfortable typing with gestures, a redesign around the new customization options, a cool one-handed typing mode on the iPhone 6 Plus and more.

Dropbox refreshes Carousel with albums, new ways to free up space and revisit old memories

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 29, 2018

Carousel, the gallery app for all your Dropbox photos and videos, is useful and promising even though it's been lacking some much-needed features.

On Wednesday, the Dropbox-owned app received a major refresh seeking to address some of key user complaints regarding the missing features. Introducing new ways to free up space on your device, Carousel can now remove photos and videos from your device that are already on Dropbox.

Moreover, the app has introduced albums, one of its most-requested features, so now you can organize your photos better on the iPhone and iPad.

Gameloft delivers truly massive Christmas update to Modern Combat 5: Blackout, here’s what’s new

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 17, 2014

Gameloft, the prolific maker of mobile games hailing from France, on Wednesday launched the first content update to its award-winning Modern Combat 5: Blackout shooter for the iPhone and iPad and boy is it massive. Saying the update brings a whole bunch of rich content and goodies to the already well-rounded experience would be a gross understatement.

Now available on both iOS and Android, the feature-packed update brings two of the most beloved multiplayer maps from Modern Combat 3 and 4, several new multiplayer leagues for solo and squad battles, a new Rematch button for squad battles, the ability to vote for the next map in multiplayer, new area of effect skill for each soldier class, additional battle packs, amusing seasonal goodies for Christmas and much more.

And if that wasn't enough, in celebrating the update Gameloft has temporarily slashed MC5 to four bucks, with the discount reflected in the App Store later today.

Asphalt 8: Airborne ‘Winter’ update races into App Store, brings with it tons of goodies

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 17, 2014

Gameloft on Wednesday pushed a holiday-themed update to its freemium racing game for the iPhone and iPad, the insanely crazy, action-driven Asphalt 8: Airborne.

The Winter update brings eleven new cars, including the Tramontana XTR and Arrinera Hussarya, a brand new challenging location to put your driving skills to the ultimate test, pro kits and a brand new token system.

PowerPoint for iOS now works in portrait

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 17, 2014

Software maker Microsoft this morning issued a minor update to its mobile Office apps available in the App Store. Word, Excel and PowerPoint for the iPhone and iPad have received a few bug fixes and one new feature.

Specifically, PowerPoint for iOS has finally introduced support for portrait orientation so you can now view and edit your presentation no matter which way you hold your device.

Google Drive for iOS now lets you upload files from other apps and cloud services

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2014

Following up on a recent Google Drive update which brought out support for Touch ID fingerprint verification and iPhone 6 resolutions along with a brand new Share extension to access cloud files in almost any iOS 8 app, today the search giant Google announced that it's now possible to send files to your Drive from other iPhone and iPad applications that have advertised their storage extension system-wide.

And in addition to the usual slew of bug fixes and performance improvements, the refreshed Drive client for iOS now makes it possible to view and share custom maps through the company's My Maps feature.