Apps

Facebook Messenger gains its first airline bot

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2016

Facebook on Thursday announced it is launching its first airline information bot within the Messenger app.

The social network has been enhancing Messenger's functionality on a regular basis with new features beyond chatting and has recently added a Transportation tab that lets users in the United States request a ride from Uber.

Messenger's airline bot lets KLM Royal Dutch Airlines customers manage their flights and browse their flight information within the app, without ever leaving their chats.

Mittomo, Nintendo’s first app designed for iOS devices, hits US App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

As promised, Japanese gaming giant Nintendo today released its first app designed for iOS devices, Miitomo, in the App Store in the United States and elsewhere following a recent soft-launch in the Japanese App Store.

The free-to-play title lets you customize your Mii avatars by mixing and matching from various costumes and styles. You can share your Miis with friends on social media and discover things that you share in common by engaging in conversations.

Skype for iPhone updated with new Bots feature

Cody Lee ∙ March 30, 2016

Skype received an update on Wednesday, bringing the iPhone app to version 6.13. The change log in the App Store says the release just features "General Improvements," but a quick look at the official Skype blog shows that's not the case.

During today’s Build 2016 conference, Microsoft introduced a new feature called Skype Bots. The company describes these Bots as "a new way to bring expertise, products, services and entertainment into your daily messaging on Skype."

Instagram increasing video time limit to 60 seconds

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Instagram on Tuesday announced that it's increasing the time limit on videos from 15 seconds to 60 seconds. The move is part of a broader effort to give users "more fun, flexible and creative ways to create and watch video content" on IG.

The social network says that within the last 6 months, time users spent watching video increased by more than 40%. And it's hoping that the increased clip length, along with reenabling multi-clip uploads, will help it continue that growth.

Snapchat unveils stickers, video notes, Auto-Advance Stories & other chat improvements

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 29, 2016

Snapchat is rolling out a bunch of new capabilities destined for its second-generation chat feature, in addition to other improvements like stickers, all-new Auto-Advance Stories capability and updated privacy terms.

The Venice Beach-headquartered maker of the popular ephemeral messaging software has confirmed that more than 200 stickers are now available within the app, based on its $100 million purchase of Bitstrips.

SoundCloud launches ad-free $9.99 subscription service with offline playback

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 29, 2016

SoundCloud, a Berlin, Germany-based global online audio distribution platform, today pushed a major update to its free audio streaming application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad which includes support for the company's freshly announced paid subscription music service, dubbed Go.

Priced at $12.99 per month through Apple's In-App Purchase mechanism or $9.99 on the web, Go offers SoundCloud listeners an expanded catalog of tracks, as well as new features and new functionality in the app.

Go is now available in the U.S. via the updated SoundCloud app and on the web.

Miitomo, Nintendo’s first iOS game, launches in US and other countries this Thursday

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 29, 2016

Following its soft-launch in Japan, Nintendo's first mobile game for iOS and Android, Miitomo, will be hitting the United States and other countries this coming Thursday, March 31, the Japanese gaming giant announced in a media release issued this morning. A free-to-start social experience, Miitomo lets users spark one-of-a-kind conversations with friends in a whole new way using Mii characters, which first appeared on Nintendo’s original Wii console.

The game was downloaded more than one million times in its first three days of availability in Japan, becoming the top free app on the Japanese App Store.

OLO Kickstarter campaign promises first practical 3D Printer for iPhone

Anthony Bouchard ∙ March 27, 2016

3D printing is the wave of the future, and soon, you'll be able to do it right from your smartphone, whether it's an iPhone, Windows phone, or Android phone.

OLO 3D has launched a Kickstarter campaign for a super affordable 3D printer for your smartphone starting at $99, and within just a week, the campaign has gone viral and user response for the idea has excelled at an incredible rate. Out of the $80,000 goal, the campaign has already raised well over $1,100,000 as of this writing.

So how does it work?

Apps to check out this weekend: Noted, How Many Saturdays? and more

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 16, 2018

It's been a long week. Apple introduced a new iPhone, a new iPad, new Apple Watch accessories and it also released several software updates for its various platforms. So now that it's the weekend, it's time to kick up your feet, relax and check out some new apps and games. And as usual, we've put together a great list of suggestions for you.

Motorsport Manager is Apple’s new Free App of the Week

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 24, 2016

Right on cue, the App Store was refreshed this morning with new apps and games, revealing Apple's new Free App of the Week: Motorsport Manager. Created by Christian West and originally released in August 2014, Motorsport Manager makes an immediately striking impression.

Arguably one of the best racing simulations available on the iPhone and iPad, Motorsport Manager is available free of charge until next Thursday, good for a cool $1.99 savings.

Infinite Skater, a gorgeous endless runner, has gone free in the App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 6, 2018

Infinite Skater, a drop dead gorgeous endless runner has been slashed to zero bucks temporarily in the App Store. Regularly $2.99, this visually stunning game can now be yours at no charge. Available for the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and—yes—the fourth-generation Apple TV, Infinite Skater is “a magic adventure like nothing you've ever seen” and that's not just marketing talk.

iTunes U gains support for Shared iPad feature, Spotlight Search integration and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 24, 2016

iTunes U, Apple's application that gives you access to its collection of free education content on iTunes and lets you create your own teaching material, was refreshed today in the App Store with half a dozen new features.

Among the biggest enhancements is integration with iOS 9's Spotlight Search as well as support for the Managed Apple IDs and the Shared iPad features, which are both part of Apple's new classroom experience in iOS 9.3.