iPad

From the latest news to the most comprehensive tutorials, learn how to get the most out of your iPad with our step-by-step guides and expert tips.

Launcher is back on App Store as Apple’s stance on widget restrictions softens

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2015

Launcher, a tremendously useful iOS application by Greg Gardner for creating app, web and contact shortcuts available from a widget inside the Notification Center, is now back on the App Store following a six-month hiatus. The update is still propagating and it should hit all App Stores worldwide in the coming hours.

The original app was short-lived.

Following its App Store debut on September 17 of last year, the day iOS 8 was released, Apple removed Launcher just a week later citing a misuse of widget functionality.

Thankfully, the re-released app continues to offer the same features like its predecessor, indicating Apple may have softened its stance on launching other apps via the Today view of iOS 8's Notification Center.

China Unicom and China Telecom to carry cellular versions of iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 on March 27

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated July 30, 2017

Wireless carriers China Telecom and China Unicom have begun offering Apple's iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 to its customers for the first time, the two firms announced in press releases issued Wednesday.

The iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 flavors sold by the carriers have support for the TD-LTE and FDD-LTE wireless standards used in China.

Modern Combat 5 goes free, gains MFi controller support, new multiplayer, Support soldiers, more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 18, 2015

In addition to going free for the first time (regularly a $4 value), a barrage of new features have been added to Modern Combat 5 in a brand new Spring update to Gameloft's excellent war shooter (an App Store Best of 2014).

Now available in the App Store, Modern Combat 5: Blackout version 1.2 finally supports 'Made for iPhone' game controllers, both form-fitting and extended variants.

There's a brand new multiplayer mode available called Zone Control in which you must capture and defend areas to boost your score. Other improvements include new weapons and character classes and additional character customization.

Opera brings video boost feature to Coast browser

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 29, 2018

Norwegian browser developer Opera Software has refreshed its free Coast browser for the iPhone and iPad with several new features, among them Opera Turbo compression technology which can boost streaming video performance by reducing the size of video data, resulting in fewer buffering breaks while saving your mobile data bills.

Nintendo changes tune, confirms bringing its beloved videogame franchises to mobile

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 17, 2015

Japanese gaming giant Nintendo confirmed Tuesday a broad partnership with fellow Japanese videogame maker DeNA that will see it create games for smartphones and tablets based on its classic characters, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The iconic company has also teased its next-generation gaming system code0named "NX."

For a long, long time a staunch opposer to porting its prized Mario, Zelda and Pokémon videogame franchises to mobile, Nintendo has thankfully changed its rigid stance in response to lagging sales of its own console hardware and software and the mobile gaming industry becoming an estimated $25 billion market.

New Amazon commercial says Kindle Fire HD is twice as durable as iPad mini 3

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2016

Forget about side-by-side software and hardware comparison, Apple's iPad mini 3 is twice as likely to break into pieces should it slip out of your hand than Amazon's Kindle Fire HD.

That's the key message of Amazon's latest television commercial which paints its tablet “twice as durable” as the iPad mini 3.

The 30-second video, which shows the Kindle Fire HD being subjected to various durability tests, is meant to reinforce the notion that Amazon tablets are sturdier than Apple's.

Ulysses, popular Mac text editor, comes to iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 9, 2018

Ulysses, a popular and versatile Mac app for focused writing, is now available on Apple's iPad. If your job involves writing, or you just love to write and write a lot, you're going to love this nifty app by German developer The Soulmen GbR.

Ulysses for iPad brings the same cohesive, distraction-free writing environment from the Mac to the Apple tablet.

With its powerful, yet simple editor and a comprehensive multi-format export supporting HTML, Markdown, PDF and other popular document formats, Ulysses puts the focus on writing and gives you a good excuse to buy a wireless keyboard for your iPad.

Wunderlist gets smarter with folders, Quick Add for iPhone, overhauled design and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 12, 2015

German developer 6Wunderkinder just pushed a major new update to its excellent list-making app, Wunderlist.

Billed as one of the biggest updates to Wunderlist ever, both the iOS and OS X edition of the software have received a brand new look stemming from a refreshing pop color and twelve hand-crafted pictograms. The facelift simplifies the Home view and makes it a lot easier on the eyes.

Wunderlist users on the web, Windows and Chrome can expect to see the new look interface over the course of the next few weeks.

8bit Doves is Apple’s new Free App of the Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 12, 2015

Today is the day Apple's editorial team gets to cherry-pick a new iOS app to feature as the App Store's Free App of the Week. Are you ready for something completely different this time around? Good, because this week's gem of a game is 8bit Doves (regularly $2.99).

The charming retro title incorporates a Gameboy like color scheme and pixelated graphics which evokes pleasant memories of the golden age of 8-bit gaming.

Spread across three worlds (Sweet Dreams, Deep Sleep and Nightmare), 8bit Doves employs simple mechanics in the form of an intuitive two button gameplay. Your goal is simple: you must fly through each stage and reach the exit. Those who manage to get doves to follow them along the way will earn some extra bonus bragging rights on Game Center.

Fleksy Keyboard gains Tips and Color Pops extensions, three new themes and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 22, 2017

Fleksy, a popular 99-cent keyboard for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad devices running iOS 8 or later, has received another newsworthy update following its equally massive Valentine's Day release.

A dedicated Tips Extension shows you helpful tips throughout the app while a new Color Pops Extension lets you customize the colors of your key pops (disable them completely via a transparancy slider).

Gameloft releases Dungeon Hunter 5

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 16, 2016

Last night, French games maker Gameloft released Dungeon Hunter 5, a new installment in its Diablo-like mobile RPG series. Previewed back in January, the iPhone and iPad hack ‘n’ slash game features single-player campaign through five realms and numerous dungeons.

If you'd rather play with friends, you can enjoy action in co-operative gameplay mode, engage in daily and weekly events or challenge friends in asynchronous multiplayer.

Sid Meier’s Starships launches for iPad and Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 12, 2015

Announced back in January, Sid Meier's Starships, an interstellar companion to Civilization: Beyond Earth, launched Thursday for the iPad and Mac.

Available in the App Store and Steam for fifteen bucks each, the premium strategy game published by Firaxis and 2K Games has you assuming command of a starship fleet.

You'll be discovering beautiful new worlds and completing various missions to preserve intergalactic peace while building a planetary federation and strengthening your fleet to secure your homeworld.