Apps

Amazon updates Kindle app with Flashcards and several improvements

Amazon posted a major update for its iOS Kindle client this afternoon, bringing the app to version 4.1. The update includes a number of new features, like Flashcards for students, and several improvements for things like search, X-Ray and Dictionary.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes in 4.1 is the new Flashcards feature. It's only available for print replica textbooks, but students can use the feature to convert important terms from X-Ray, or their own notes, into flashcard sets for studying...

Day 12 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts event: The Rolling Stones EP

It's day 12, and what we assume to be the final day, of the big 12 Days of Gifts event. Apple has removed Mr. Crab and has posted a new item for download. Today's free gift is an EP (or extended play) from the English rock band The Rolling Stones.

The band really needs no introduction. These guys have been making music for over 50 years, and are ranked #8 on the "Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists" chart. They're legends, and widely considered one of the best rock bands that ever lived...

Day 11 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts: Illusion Labs’ Mr. Crab

We are nearing the end of the big 12 Days of Gifts event. We're now on day 11, and Apple has removed the free Sesame Street episode and posted a new item for download. Today’s free gift is the game Mr. Crab by Illusion Labs.

For those who haven't played it yet, Mr. Crab is a popular vertical arcade game for iOS that auto-scrolls from side to side as you jump your way through levels. It's a deadly combination of bright graphics and addictive gameplay...

Day 10 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts: free episode of Sesame Street

We are nearing the end of the big 12 Days of Gifts event. We are now on day 10, and Apple has removed the Kings of Leon EP and posted a new item for download. Today’s gift is a free episode of the popular children's television series Sesame Street.

Sesame Street shouldn't need too much of an introduction. Originally debuting in 1969, the series is now broadcasted in 140 countries and has collected over 150 Emmy Awards. It's widely recognized as one of the most popular kids' shows of all time...

Day 9 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts: Kings of Leon EP

We are now on day 9 of the big 12 Days of Gifts event, meaning Apple has removed the Diary of a Wimpy iBook and has posted a new free item for download. Today’s gift is an EP (or extended play) from the American rock band Kings of Leon.

The band is widely popular in the UK, and more recently the US, taking home 3 Grammy Awards in 2010 thanks to hits like 'Use Somebody.' And today's free EP includes some of those hits, which it played at Apple's iTunes Festival this year...

Readdle’s ‘Scanner Pro’ goes free as Apple’s App of the Week

Apple has named Readdle's popular 'Scanner Pro' its App of the Week for this week. This means that through next Thursday, you’ll be able to pick up the application for both your iPhone and iPad, for free—a sizable savings of $7.

For those unfamiliar with the app, Scanner Pro essentially turns your iOS device into a portable scanner. It can scan documents, receipts, notes, photos, and more, and then upload them to Dropbox, Evernote, and other web services...

Day 7 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts: Ubisoft’s Rayman Jungle Run

Apple's 12 Days of Gifts holiday promotion continues as the seventh day brings us a cutesy little free platformer for the iPhone and iPad, Rayman Jungle Run by the famous French developer Ubisoft.

The winner of many awards and Apple's iPhone Game of the Year 2012, Rayman Jungle Run is presented in beautiful, crisp Retina graphics, courtesy of the same UbiArt Framework engine that powers Rayman Origins, the console-only release and the winner of numerous Game of the Year and Platformer of the Year awards...

Day 6 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts: ‘New Year’s Eve Mix’ by Avicii

We are now on day 6 of the big 12 Days of Gifts event, meaning the company has removed the Hugo movie and has posted a new free item for download. Today’s gift is the song 'New Year's Eve Mix' by popular Swedish producer Avicii.

It's been a huge year for Avicii, who has been topping charts around the globe with his latest album True. And New Year's Eve Mix is a 9-minute track that features a mashup of some of his hit songs from that album such as 'Hey Brother.'

Fitbit updated with MobileTrack feature via iPhone 5s’s M7 motion coprocessor

The list of apps enabled for Apple's power-efficient motion tracking chip, the M7, just keeps on growing. Fitbit, one of the finest fitness apps in the App Store, has been bumped up to version 2.1, now available in the App Store, and can now use the iPhone 5s's motion tracking chip to monitor your activity without draining your device's battery or having the app active for that matter.

M7 support has also made possible a new MobileTrack feature that allows you to use some of Fitbit's tracking features, but without buying the company's wearable tracking accessories. More on that and other changes in this Fitbit update right below...

Day 5 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts: the movie Hugo

We are now on day 5 of the big 12 Days of Gifts event, meaning Apple has removed the Toca House game and has posted a new free item for download. Today’s gift is the award-winning historical adventure drama Hugo.

Based on Brian Selznick's novel 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret,' and directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, Hugo tells the story of a 12-year-old boy living in the walls of the Paris Gare Montparnasse railway station...

Day 4 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts: Toca House game for kids

We are now on day 4 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts event, meaning Apple has removed the Lonely Planet iBook and has posted a new free item for download. Today’s gift is a popular educational game for children called Toca House.

Parents love Toca House because it allows their children (intended for ages 2-6) to virtually participate in everyday household chores like doing the dishes, ironing, and planting flowers in the garden through various mini-games...

Day 2 of Apple’s 12 Days of Gifts: free episode of ‘Once Upon a Time’ [updated]

We are now on day 2 of Apple's 12 Days of Gifts event, meaning Apple has removed the Justin Timberlake EP and has posted a new free item for download. Today's gift is an episode—the pilot episode—of ABC's hit television series: 'Once Upon a Time.'

For those who haven't seen it, it's an American fairy tale drama that takes place in the fictional town of Storybrooke, Maine, where the residents are actually fairy tale characters. It sounds odd, but it's currently the #1 non-sports show on Sunday nights.

Update: interestingly enough, it looks like Apple changed the free download item mid-day. It now shows the game Tiny Thief here in the US. Get it while you can!