Apps

Apple updates Pages and iMovie for iOS 8 [updated]

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

Following its release of iOS 8 this morning, Apple has begun updating its mobile apps to support the firmware. It looks like Numbers and iMovie were first on the list, with both apps showing up in the App Store's Updates tab today touting iOS 8 compatibility.

The change log for Numbers is fairly brief, mentioning only support for iOS 8, iCloud Drive compatibility, and stability improvements and bug fixes. iMovie's update, however, is a bit more extensive, bringing about new features like slow motion and video filters.

Update: it looks like Apple has also pushed out iOS 8 updates for Pages and Keynote as well.

Update 2: iMovie was experiencing issue so Apple apparently pulled it from the App Store. It should be fixed and come back quickly.

Update 3: as expected, Apple resolved the issue quickly and iMovie is once again available in the App Store.

1Password 5 launches with Touch ID support, App Extensions, goes freemium

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 17, 2014

AgileBits, the maker of the popular password-keeping utility, 1Password, has issued a major new version of the app following Apple's release of the iOS 8 software update earlier this morning.

1Password 5 for iOS 8 now takes full advantage of Touch ID fingerprint scanning to unlock your vault and comes with a brand new iOS 8 App Extension in Safari and other apps that also uses Touch ID.

The Safari extension is available right in the Share sheet and permits you to fill Logins directly into web pages. Taking advantage of AgileBits' own proprietary extensions for integrating third-party apps with 1Password, supported apps can now log you in with just a tap. And as you update passwords in these apps, 1Password updates the corresponding item in its database.

As for the price, the new 1Password 5 is a free update to existing users and a freemium download for everyone else, with a one-time In-App Purchase to unlock features like folders, tags, custom fields, Multiple Vaults, as well as the full range of items including Bank Accounts, Email Accounts, Memberships, Passports, Reward Programs, Wireless Routers, Software Licenses and many more.

Some extensions not working yet in iOS 8-optimized apps

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

After announcing last week that iOS 8 will be released to the public on September 17th (that's tomorrow), Apple invited developers to begin submitting their apps and app-updates for the new firmware. In fact, it's already approved a number of iOS 8-optimized apps into the App Store.

But there's a problem that you've probably noticed if you're running a beta version of iOS 8 right now: extensions for many iOS 8 apps aren't working properly. According to MacRumors, the issue seems to be related to code-signing on Apple's end, and it's currently working on a fix.

iLife and iWork apps to come pre-installed on 64/128GB iPhone 6/Plus

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 15, 2014

Customers who've purchased a 64 or 128-gigabyte edition of either the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus won't need to download Apple's iLife and iWork productivity suite when the handset hits store shelves this Friday as the apps will come pre-loaded on their device, according to an internal Apple Retail training document obtained by Dan DeSilva of 9to5Mac.

Apple since last September started providing Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iMovie, GarageBand and iTunes U apps as free downloads to every new iOS device owner.

Yahoo adds native iPad UI to News Digest, weekly Katie Couric show and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

After launching its excellent news summarization app, News Digest, in the App Store back in January 2014, the Internet pioneer Yahoo on Friday refreshed the application with a native user interface on iPads and three new iPad-specific features.

First up, there's a brand new weekly video show available by Katie Couric. You'll recall that Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer recently hired the former “The Today Show” host as a global news anchor for Yahoo News.

Couric's show is premiering every Sunday to walk you through a significant story from the week before and give you “key context to get you in the know”. More on an extra news category and new alert timings right after the break.

Taptaptap teases Camera+ 6 with manual controls and other new features

Cody Lee ∙ September 11, 2014

Ahead of the release of the new iPhone 6, and its upgraded camera, and iOS 8 with its various new features, Taptaptap has begun teasing a major update for Camera+. Called Camera+ 6, the update will bring about manual controls and several other new features.

The new manual controls are split into 2 groups: "Shutter Priority" and "Full Manual control." The former allows you to set your shutter speed, while the camera sets the ISO, and the latter allows you to customize both settings without any software intervention.

EA confirms SimCity BuildIt coming to iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 11, 2014

Electronic Arts, the world's top games publisher, announced yesterday that it's readying SimCity BuildIt, the latest installment in the popular city-building franchise, for Apple's iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. Once again, the game will task you with building a city of your dreams, with the choices you make evolving your city in a variety of ways.

“Meet your citizens’ needs to keep them happy, or make questionable choices and feel your citizens’ wrath,” the company wrote. Pricing and availability information will be publicized in due time.

Viber rolls out video calling

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 11, 2014

Viber, the once promising VoIP service, on Thursday introduced video calling across its mobile apps for the iOS and Android platforms.

Now available in the App Store as a free download, the new Viber 5.0 lets you place or receive video calls over Wi-Fi and cellular networks to your Viber contacts who use the service on their smartphones or desktop.

This release also includes enhancements to stickers, improvements for adding friends, better media forwarding and more.

Google Voice finally updated for iOS 7 look and VoIP-to-phones integration in Hangouts

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2014

Almost a year following the public release of iOS 7, Google Voice has finally been refreshed with the revamped user interface to match Apple's guidelines for iOS 7 development.

Now available in the App Store, Google Voice 1.6 also brings support for Google Voice integration in Hangouts and the obligatory bug fixes and performance improvements.

Earlier this morning, the search company issued an update to Hangouts for the iPhone and iPad which enabled free and low-cost VoIP calling to your Hangouts friends and mobile/landline numbers around the world.

You can now make voice calls from Hangouts app

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2014

As suspected, the Internet giant Google on Wednesday has finally gotten around refreshing its free of charge Hangouts mobile application for the iPhone and iPad with the ability to make phone calls to anyone on your Hangouts contact list, using the new voice-calling feature.

As part of its staggered shuttering of the Voice app, “starting today you can make voice calls from Hangouts on Android, iOS and the web,” wrote the search giant in a post over at the Official Google Blog.

Calling landline and mobile phone numbers in the United States and Canada is free, with the international calling rates starting at a ridiculously low one cent per minute.

Spotify gains support for Ford SYNC AppLink

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 10, 2014

Spotify, the popular Swedish music-streaming startup, on Wednesday refreshed its free iPhone and iPad application with improved music discovery and support for the Ford SYNC AppLink platform.

When browsing albums in Spotify for the iPhone and iPod touch, you can now easily check out more releases from the artist in one tap.

More importantly, owners of Ford vehicles outfitted with the car maker's proprietary SYNC AppLink platform can now use Spotify in their car.

Google adds offline support, accessibility improvements to Play Movies & TV for iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Google has just updated its Play Movies & TV client for the iPhone and iPad with offline support, accessibility improvements and bug fixes, the Internet giant announced in a Google+ post Monday morning.

“With Google Play’s updated iOS Play Movies & TV app, you can download movies and TV shows then take them with you wherever you go, no Internet connection required,” reads the post.

Released this January, the free application (which now sits at version 1.2) continues to lack the ability to purchase movies and television shows on Google Play due to Apple's rules for iOS development.