Just like rival WhatsApp, the popular Rakuten-owned Viber messaging application pushed an update to its App Store app this morning, bumping version number to 6.2 whilst adding a few new features related to handling sticker packages within the app. You can now share sticker packages with others and preview stickers before sending one in a chat. And to preserve storage space on the device, there's now the option to delete sticker packages you no longer use. Grab Viber for free on the App Store.
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WhatsApp for iPhone gains 3x bigger emoji, zooming during video capture and more
After launching a desktop Mac app in May, Facebook-owned WhatsApp today gave its iPhone application a little love with a new version now available on the App Store. WhatsApp 2.16.7 for iPhone includes three times bigger emoji when sent alone, a feature also found in iOS 10's Messages app. In this release, you can now zoom when recording videos within the app and select multiple chats to quickly archive, delete or mark as read.
Plus, thanks to under-the-hood tweaks chats now open a lot faster than before.
Google Maps for iOS refreshed with cleaner look, now highlights local areas of interest
Google today updated its mobile mapping application for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch with some rather useful visual tweaks. Google Maps 4.21 for iOS now highlights local areas that might interest you, adding multiple destinations to a route is supported in the new version and the typography of street names, points of interest, transit stations and other places has been improved to make them easier to read on smaller screens, among other changes.
iOS 10’s Safari improves animated GIF experience, prevents spammy videos from autoplaying
Among other enhancements, Safari on iOS 10 boosts the animated GIF experience for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch users while preventing spammy autoplay videos from interrupting your browsing, according to the WebKit blog. On iOS 9, an animated GIF won't start playing until it's tapped.
With the new Safari, silent videos autoplay on webpages when they're visible because iOS 10 respects their “autoplay” attribute when source video tracks have no audio or have been muted.
But if a video gains an audio track without user interaction, like those spammy autoplay video ads on websites, playback automatically pauses.
Apple Maps Transit data expands to San Diego, British Columbia, Honolulu and Kansas City
Transit directions on Apple Maps are now available in four new markets: San Diego, Honolulu and Kansas City in the United States and British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province. Now Apple fans can incorporate localized public transportation options in those locations, including buses and commuter rails, when seeking directions through the Maps app.
Custom locations, breeding, trading, new critters & other perks coming soon to Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO is the biggest mobile game in U.S. history in terms of daily active users and Apple confirmed that the augmented-reality game broke an App Store record for most downloads during its first week of availability, but that doesn't mean its creators are resting on their laurels—quite the contrary.
As the game continues its global assault, Niantic Labs founder John Hanke teased at what's coming next to the app: custom locations, more monsters, the ability to add customizations to lures, trading characters, more ways to play with Pokéstops and Gyms and other perks.
Deutsche Bank analysts think iPhone 7 will ship with Lightning-to-audio dongle
The next iPhone, which sources in China think could be marketed as ‘iPhone 6SE’ to reflect its iterative nature, may ship with a Lightning-to-audio dongle and still end up selling better than the current-generation iPhone 6s, which hasn't quite lived up to Apple's internal expectations.
That's according to a Deutsche Bank research note issued to clients last week, a copy of which was obtained by Business Insider. The investment bankers also shared their predictions for the next iPhone's features, based on their supply checks.
Rumor: ‘iPhone 7’ may be called ‘iPhone 6SE’?
German blog Apfelpage.de has learned from sources in China who claim to have seen the next iPhone's packaging that the forthcoming handset will be marketed under the ‘iPhone 6SE’ moniker rather than be called ‘iPhone 7’. Although the report is somewhat sketchy, such a move may not be without its merits.
For starters, Apple is rumored to be switching to a three-year iPhone refresh cycle and, more importantly, the next iPhone seems to sport iterative enhancements and be very similar in appearance to the existing iPhone 6/6s lineup.
Apple confirms Pokémon Go set App Store record
Apple confirmed last week in a statement to media that Nintendo's augmented-reality game Pokémon Go was downloaded more times in its first week than any other iPhone app since the App Store's inception in the summer of 2008. Apple’s take from the popular mobile game could help the iPhone maker rake in an estimated $3 billion in additional revenue in the next 12 to 24 months as the game expands into more countries, according to a report from Needham analyst Laura Martin.
Rumor: iPhone 7 to launch week of September 12
Apple typically launches new iPhones in September and assuming the company sticks to its release schedule, this year should be no different. With only six or so weeks until an official introduction, prominent leakster and VentureBeat reporter, Evan Blass, posted on his @EVLeaks account on Twitter that the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be released during the week of September 12. New iPhones typically go on sale on Friday, so we're guessing Friday, September 16, is our release date.
Highly, Bangers, Tinycards, and other apps to check out this weekend
We're back with another edition of our Apps of the Week post. This is a weekly roundup of a handful of new and unique apps and games we think are worth checking out this weekend. Today's selections include new apps for highlighting and sharing interesting quotes from around the web, making music, and learning more about new topics, and of course we have two new games for you to try.
Pokémon GO set App Store record for most first week downloads
Pokémon GO set an App Store record for most downloads during its first week of availability, reports The Loop's Jim Dalrymple. This should come as no surprise to folks who have been following the craze surrounding the hit game, which has sat atop the App Store's Top Free and Top Grossing lists since it launched earlier this month.