iPod Touch

Apple issues iOS 10.2 beta 5 to developers

Apple on Friday released a fifth beta of iOS 10.2 (build 14C89) to its registered developers enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. The updated beta software can be deployed over-the-air through Settings → General → Software Update on an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad which has installed a prior iOS 10.2 beta and an appropriate configuration profile. The full installer can be downloaded from Apple's dedicated portal for developers at developer.apple.com.

Apple is switching App Store pricing from USD to regional currencies in 9 countries

Apple's emailed its registered developers to inform them of some upcoming App Store pricing policy changes in Egypt, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Tanzania and Vietnam.

No longer will prices of paid downloads on these local App Stores be shown in US dollars. According to the communique, the App Store in these markets will now show prices of apps and In-App Purchases in their domestic currency.

Apple’s free app of the week: Toca Hair Salon 2

Like every Thursday, Apple today updated its Free App of the Week promotion on the App Store with a brand new item, a kids-friendly game called Toca Hair Salon 2. This means that for the next seven days, you’ll be able to download this app free of charge—a savings of $2.99.

In Toca Hair Salon 2, you play as one of the six charming characters and run a hair salon of your own.

There are lots of virtual tools of trade at your disposal which you'd find in any hair salon that let you cut, color and style any way you want, from a simple comb and scissors to a curling iron and a straightener.

Google Maps for iOS updated with searching along route and Nearby Traffic widget

Google today pushed an update to its native Maps app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, adding a pair of new features whilst bumping version number to 4.25.0. Like with Apple Maps, Google's app now supports searching for points of interest along your route while in navigation mode. In addition, you can also see traffic information on your Home/Lock screen and in the Notification Center with a handy new Nearby Traffic widget.

Snapseed for iOS gains white balancing tool, RAW format improvements & UI tweaks

Google-owned Snapseed, the popular image editing app, was updated Wednesday on the App Store with a trio of improvements bringing the app's version to 2.13. The first change tweaks the user interface to make it easier and simpler to select and change filter parameters.

The second new feature is basically the dedicated tool which got launched on Android a while ago that lets you adjust white balance of your images.

The last feature is a correction for developing RAW files with embedded color profiles.

DirecTV NOW launches on iPhone, iPad & Apple TV

Two days ago, U.S. wireless carrier unveiled DirecTV NOW, its brand new Internet television streaming service that comes with a free fourth-generation Apple TV for those who would commit to at least three months of paid service.

Today, DirectTV apps for the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV have gone live in the App Store.

Netflix launches offline viewing in mobile app

Following reports back in the summer that offline viewing would be coming to Netflix “by the end of the year,” the company said that it's starting to roll the feature to users around the world beginning today. A new Download button appears in the mobile Netflix app on select shows that can be watched without an Internet connection, including popular shows like “Narcos,” “Orange is the New Black,” “Stranger Things” and “The Crown”. Offline support for more shows will be added over time, said the firm.

YouTube for iOS now lets you see how far you made it through videos

Google today refreshed YouTube for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch to let you see far you made it through the videos. YouTube 11.45 for iOS, a free download from the App Store, puts a handy progress bar on the previously watched thumbnails within the app's watched history section. In addition, partially watched videos will now resume from where you left off. No other changes or improvements were spotted in today's update to YouTube for iOS.

Apple releases beta 4 of iOS 10.2, watchOS 3.1.1 & macOS Sierra 10.12.2 to developers

Apple on Cyber Monday seeded new beta downloads to its registered developers who are enrolled in the Apple Developer Program. If you're a developer, iOS 10.2 beta 4 (build 14C82), watchOS 3.1.1 beta 4 (build 14S879) and macOS Sierra 10.12.2 beta 4 (build 16C53a) are now readily available as standalone downloads through the company's portal for developers or as over-the-air downloads on devices with a prior beta and an appropriate configuration profile.

100+ new creatures coming soon to Pokémon GO

After analyzing new code in a Pokémon GO update coming next month, The Silph Road has discovered that developer Niantic Labs will be adding more than a hundred new creatures to the popular augmented-reality game, including normal and legendary ones.

In addition to the new species, the code confirms other new features like Pokémon trading, player vs. player battles, new ways to raise/train your monsters and more.

The most recent Pokémon GO update added a Nearby Pokémon feature, the purple shape-shifting Pokémon, called Ditto, and other perks.

Microsoft brings Solitaire to iPhone and iPad

Microsoft's version of Solitaire has been available on Windows PCs for more than 25 years, but up until now the game has not expanded to other platforms. With Microsoft Solitaire Collection for iOS, the Windows maker is finally bringing its version of the classic card game to the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Available free in the App Store, the app includes 5 of the top Solitaire games that you can play for free—Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, Tripeaks and Pyramid.

As a bonus, daily challenges will extend longevity of the game and built-in support for Xbox Live will keep your achievements, competitions and game progress in sync between Windows 10 and iOS devices.

Facebook is testing an upcoming Find Wi-Fi feature in the mobile app

Facebook appears to be testing a new location-based feature that permits some users to identify free Wi-Fi hotspots through the social network's mobile application for the iPhone and iPad.

As reported by The Next Web, some users, myself included, are now seeing a Find Wi-Fi option in the app's side menu, between the Nearby Places and Nearby Friends options. Tapping it puts up a prompt asking to grant Facebook access to your location so it can find public Wi-Fi hotspots around you.