Apps

Xbox One SmartGlass app now lets you record game clips and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated April 18, 2016

Less than two weeks following an update which has enabled Xbox One owners to install games on their console remotely, using their iOS device, the Windows giant Microsoft today pushed another update adding nearly a dozen cool new features.

For starters, the free iPhone and iPad application now allows you to record game clips remotely, too.

And in a series of social improvements, the app now lets players share and post activity feed items and post status updates to their activity feed, as well as browse through their activity feed directly on their profile page.

Bioshock now available in the App Store for $14.99

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Heads up gamers, a major new title has landed on iOS this evening. The official mobile port of 2K Game's Bioshock—thought by some to be one of the best first person shooters of all time—is now available in the App Store, for both the iPhone and iPad, for $15.

For those unfamiliar with the game, it's set in an underwater Utopia in the midst of a civil war. You play as Jack, a cast-away from an airplane crash who finds himself trapped in this mysterious world filled with powerful technology and fascinating characters.

Starbucks offering free month of Lumosity Premium as its ‘Pick of the Week’

Cody Lee ∙ August 27, 2014

Heads up US-based readers, Starbucks is currently offering a free month of Lumosity's Premium service as its App Store 'Pick of the Week.' The promotion is worth a solid savings of $15, and opens up additional games and features for an already extremely popular app.

For those unfamiliar with Lumosity, it's essentially "sophisticated, scientifically designed brain training for anyone." The iOS app, which currently has a 5-star rating on 85K+ reviews, offers games that help improve skills in the areas of memory, problem-solving and more.

Amazon overhauls Audible app, improves search, adds Discover tab and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 27, 2014

The online retail giant Amazon, which just purchased the gameplay streaming platform Twitch for nearly $1 billion, has given its Audible for iOS app a little love earlier this morning.

Now sitting at version 2.1 and featuring a revamped user interface — along with the minimalistic new app icon — the app does away with the outdated design in favor of a more modern iOS 7-friendly appearance.

Audible is an audiobook service owned by Amazon. In addition to the brighter UI, the refreshed software offers a few new features such as an improved search, an all-new Discover tab, a 30-second forward button in the built-in player and more.

Audible for the iPhone and iPad is available free of charge.

Infinity Blade series ending on September 4 with final ‘Kingdom Come’ update

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

The iOS-exclusive Infinity Blade series will conclude on September 4, the video game production company ChAIR Entertainment, the brains behind the game, confirmed in a blog post.

The elegiac masterpiece and one of my favorite games on the iOS platform is set to come to its inevitable conclusion in the final content update, dubbed 'Kingdom Come.'

Free to all Infinity Blade III players, 'Kingdom Come' will reveal some new secrets, answer more questions and “set you on a quest to defeat one very pissed off dragon,” as ChAIR put it.

Minimalistic puzzle game Bicolor goes temporarily free via Apple Store app

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 27, 2014

Concluding its four-week promotion celebrating the life of a college student, the beautiful minimalistic puzzle game Bicolor has gone free for a week inside Apple's official Apple Store client for the iPhone and iPad (not to be confused with the App Store).

Created by 1Button and released on May 1, Bicolor includes 180 handmade levels, each consisting of just two colors. Bicolor tasks you with completing various patterns in order to clear the board and progress to the next level.

Priced at 99 cents in the App Store, Bicolor is free for the next seven days exclusively through the Apple Store app.

‘Madden NFL Mobile’ is now available in the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ August 26, 2014

Just in time for NFL season, EA Sports has released a mobile version of its latest Madden NFL game, aptly-named 'Madden NFL Mobile.' The release coincides with the game's highly-anticipated console release, which began hitting store shelves early this morning.

The good news is, it appears that EA has really improved graphics and animations over last year's mobile Madden title. The bad news, however, is that not much else has changed. The game still requires an Internet connection, and it's littered with in-app purchases.

You can now send money via text message for free with Square Cash

Cody Lee ∙ August 26, 2014

Square has released a big update for its Cash app this afternoon, bringing it to version 2.0. The app, first released in October of last year, facilitates the quick transfer of money from one user to another via e-mail, and today's update makes the process even faster.

The UI for sending and contact screens has been optimized in Square Cash 2.0, making it easier to send money, and you can also now add notes to your payments. But perhaps the biggest addition in today's update is the ability to send cash to anyone via text message.

Tumblr for iOS updated with nicer blogs in Explore, filtering by tagging and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 26, 2014

The popular blogging platform, Tumblr, which Yahoo acquired for $1.1 billion in May of last year, has a decent iOS app available — and it's been getting a lot better post-acquisition. Today, the team pushed another update bringing out several new features and enhancements.

If you're new to Tumblr, the signup experience is now prettier and "a lot more educational," as the team put it. More importantly, a pair of changes outlined after the jump make finding and following blogs a lot easier and more enjoyable.

Instagram launches Hyperlapse, a smart time-lapse video app

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 26, 2014

If you're looking for a clever use of the iPhone's gyroscope and accelerometer sensors, look no further than Hyperlapse, a new iOS app by Facebook-owned Instagram which lets you create panning and time-lapse shots, steadycam-style.

The time-lapse feature is similar to one Apple will bring to iOS devices with the release of iOS 8 in Fall.

As for the tracking shots, the software uses advanced algorithms and your iPhone's hardware to smooth out panning shots as if you recorded video with a Steadicam or a professional $15,000 tracking rig.

And in what prove to be a killer feature for folks who loathe Instagram, Hyperlapse can be enjoyed without an Instagram or Facebook account as no signup is required to use the app.

Hyperlapse is available free in the App Store.

Microsoft gives OneDrive new Photos view, multi-file selection and more

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated February 11, 2016

After launching the official Kindle Fire and Kindle Phone app about two weeks ago, today the Windows maker Microsoft gets to refresh the iOS edition of its OneDrive app.

FYI, OneDrive used to be formerly known as SkyDrive.

The official cloud-storage service client for the iPhone and iPad, the just-updated OneDrive version 4.4 comes with an updated Shared view and a brand new Photos view.

Acting as the Camera Roll folder on steroids, the Photos view collates all the photos in your OneDrive in one convenient place.

Other features included in this update are listed after the break.

App Store Productivity Monday: automate iOS with these fine apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Like any given Monday, Apple's App Store editors today highlighted iPhone and iPad applications aimed at increasing your productivity by helping you get organized and keep pace with your busy life.

In this week's edition of Productivity Monday, the App Store team is sharpening its focus on apps which help make the most out of iOS by automating the things that don't need your expertise, so you can spend your time wisely.

Here's a quick rundown of each featured app.