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508 'update' stories June 2011 - July 2013

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Algoriddim teases upcoming release of ‘djay 2’ iOS app

Jordan Kahn Jul 11 2013 - 6:13 am PT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=q_vstCBVtoA

Algoriddim, developers of the popular Apple Design Award winning ‘djay’ app, today is teasing an upcoming release of the app with the ‘djay 2’ teaser trailer above. The app, which aims to turn your iPhone or iPad into true professional DJ mixing software, is going to be adding some big new features in version 2, and we’ll be bringing you a hands on demo of the app as it gets closer to release.

To celebrate the upcoming release of djay 2, Algoriddim is also offering current iPhone app for only 99 cents and the iPad app for $4.99. The app already features a ton of great features– a Hyper-realistic low-latency turntable interface, access to your iOS device’s music library, pre-cueing, audio effects, automatic tempo matching and looping– but we’re excited to show you what Algoriddim has to offer with the upcoming djay 2 release. Stay tuned.

‘MLB.com At Bat’ iOS app updated for All-Star Week, adds new iPhone UI & enhanced video highlights

Jordan Kahn Jul 11 2013 - 5:39 am PT

The MLB.com At Bat app, which allows subscribers to watch live games as well as access on-demand content and news, was updated today with new features and support for the upcoming All-Star Week in New York.

In addition to being able to access All-Star Week content such as the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game, the updated app also adds customized push notifications for the MLB News channel and “in-progress video highlights within the Gameday Plays interface.”

iPhone users are also getting a brand new UI with a revamped news section & sortable statistics, as well as the ability to have “Gameday data synched with live audio broadcasts.”

MLB is currently offering a subscription for the discounted price of $9.99 for the remainder of the 2013 season.

What’s New in Version 6.2.0

• Follow All-Star Week live from New York, including the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game
• Added the MLB News channel for customized push notifications
• Watch in-progress video highlights within the Gameday Plays interface
• Updated user interfaces (iPhone only)
• Available Gameday data synched with live audio broadcasts (iPhone only)
• Highlights now include full description of each clip
• Overall maintenance improvements

Facebook iOS app updated with check marks for verified celebrities, public figures & brands

Jordan Kahn Jul 10 2013 - 1:35 pm PT

Facebook updated its iOS app today with the blue check marks next to names of verified celebrities, public figures and brands that it first rolled out on the desktop. Facebook started its verified profiles and pages for select celebrities, journalists, government officials, popular brands and businesses back in May. Like Twitter, Facebook automatically authenticates accounts with large audiences and adds a small blue checkmark next to their name in search results, timelines, and profile pages.

The updated app also includes performance enhancements for iPad and a “Fix for a problem that was causing News Feed to load slowly for some people.”

What’s New in Version 6.3

• Find verified celebrities, public figures and brands by looking for a blue check mark next to their names
• Improved places editing to fix categories, phone numbers and other info on iPad
• Fix for a problem that was causing News Feed to load slowly for some people

Path 3.1 released: stickers in comments, new iPad interface, more

Scott Buscemi Jul 9 2013 - 1:58 pm PT

Path, the “personal social network”, has just released version 3.1 of their application. The company details out all of the new features on their company blog:

You told us you wanted more stickers in more places. So Path 3.1 is for you. Now, any sticker, whether you buy a new pack or use an old one, can be used to quickly respond to your friends’ moments, to add color and depth to your commentary. Now, stickers can be part of the full story. We are excited to bring you stickers in comments, a new way to express yourself.

We also used this release as an opportunity to update Path for iPad. Improved navigation in both landscape and profile views means you’ll never miss a moment or message. Landscape view now has a fully functioning composer button and feed, so you can share and view moments however you prefer. Plus, any conversations you’re having with friends are simply one tap away.

But we’re not done. Now it’s even easier to send a friend request to that friend you’re standing next to. We generate a QR code for you, your friend scans it, and voila, it’s official! And a refined friends list makes it faster to find and message your friends and family so you can quickly be in touch.

The application has been updated for both iOS and Android. Just a couple of months ago, users being complaining Path was sending spam messages to their friends, even though then company said it was a feature. Nevertheless, the app receives mostly 5-star ratings in the App Store.

Yahoo! Mail iOS app now lets you sign into multiple accounts, switch between inboxes

Jordan Kahn Jul 9 2013 - 12:32 pm PT

Yahoo updated its email app for iPhone and iPad today with a few new features. Users will now be able to log into more than one account at a time and easily switch between inboxes without logging out.

Also new in version 1.5.5 is support for Business Mail accounts. Yahoo! Small Business customers will now be able to use the free app to access their email and also have access to “push notifications, Yahoo! contacts, and photo attachments.”

What’s New in Version 1.5.5

– Multiple accounts: Have more than one Yahoo! account? More power to you! Now you can add all your Yahoo! accounts and easily switch between your Inboxes, without ever having to sign out.

– Business Mail accounts: Yahoo! Small Business customers can now access their email through this app, with all supported features such as push notifications, Yahoo! contacts, and photo attachments

– Bug fixes and stability enhancements

Viber Mac app updated with group messaging, stickers, emoticons and more

Ben Lovejoy Jul 9 2013 - 6:07 am PT

Viber has updated the Mac version of its popular Skype alternative to add six new features:

Full support for group messaging
Stickers & emoticons
“Is typing” feature, showing who is actively writing in a conversation
Redesigned conversations list
Improved pop-up notifications
Full support for contacts with multiple Viber numbers

The desktop app (also available on Windows) was launched back in May, and the integration between desktop and mobile platforms has been the main reason I favor the platform over Skype. Although you get visual alerts on all devices, audio alerts are limited to the one you’re actively using, and you can easily transfer calls between devices.

Synology releases DiskStation Manager 4.3 public beta w/ revamped iOS apps

Jordan Kahn Jul 9 2013 - 5:33 am PT

Anyone that reads 9to5Mac often knows that we are big fans of Synology’s DiskStation network attached server products. On top of making a selection of well priced storage options under its DiskStation brand (a couple of which we’ve reviewed), Synology’s big draw for us has always been its web interface and ecosystem of apps that goes well beyond Time Capsule and your average NAS. Today, things are about to get even better for DiskStation users as the company announces the public beta release of the latest DiskStation Manager operating system, DSM 4.3, alongside revamped iOS apps and tons of new features.
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Popular translation app iTranslate Voice adds new languages, updated UI, and more

Michael Steeber Jul 3 2013 - 5:47 am PT

Sonico Mobile, the developers of popular apps such as Languages and Files App today are releasing an update to one of their most successful apps, iTranslate Voice. This new update adds several new features to make translating easier, faster and more accessible.

One of the first things you’ll notice if you’re an existing iTranslate Voice user is a refreshed user interface. While it’s nothing totally new, the update provides a more modern look, without any excessive UI elements. The title bar has been removed and a new “hamburger button” has been added between the translation buttons at the bottom of the screen which can either be tapped or swiped up to reveal settings and options.

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Yahoo News app updated with improved sharing, refreshed interface, sponsored stories

Mark Gurman Jul 1 2013 - 9:12 am PT

Yahoo has updated its official app for iPhone and iPod touch with a refreshed interface that is easier to navigate. The new update also includes improved integration with Yahoo’s own Mail service and the ability to conduct multi-tap gestures to navigate through the application.

The new update also is more visual, includes new, simpler content sharing functionality, and improved accessibility options for searching the web. Also included are “sponsored stories” in the stream, which seems to be Yahoo’s method of monetizing its main iPhone app.

Yahoo’s iPhone app includes summarized versions of stories, based on Summly technology, and works to provide users with stories of interest based on what the user has read and accessed in the app in the past. Today’s update is free on the App Store.

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Hacked AT&T carrier update claims to enable HD voice (wideband audio) on iPhone ahead of official rollout

Jordan Kahn Jun 27 2013 - 6:34 am PT

AT&T already announced plans to turn on HD Voice, aka, wideband audio support, later this year through a carrier update for iPhone users in the US. Today, iTweakiOS announced an update for one of its hacked carrier profiles that it claims will allow AT&T users to access HD Voice, as well as the recently announced CMAS government and Amber alert update, ahead of a full roll out of the feature later this year.

This hack fixes the reported issue of unstable HSPA+ speeds/signal and iPad users having trouble updating and losing all signal. This hack enables, along with the previous enabled features, HD Voice for all iPhone models running on AT&T so users can now use the UMTS/HSPA/HSPA+ network for HD qaulity calling on their 4S and 5. This hack also enables Release 7 HSDPA speeds for the iPhone 4S, giving it a new maximum theoretical downlink of 21Mbps, which AT&T does indeed support. Signal improvements from the previous release have not changed and are still present in this release along with unthrottled LTE and HSPA+.

Apple has actually supported the feature since the iPhone 5 launched last fall, but only around 20 international carriers currently support the feature. Unfortunately, the HD Voice feature, even with the hack, won’t yet work for all users, as AT&T is still currently in the process of rolling out support:
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Skype for iPhone & iPad updated with improvements to audio/video calls & photo sharing

Jordan Kahn Jun 27 2013 - 12:00 am PT

After launching a new Video Messages feature for Skype back in February and making it completely free and unlimited earlier this month, Skype has updated its apps today with a number of performance enhancements. The video message feature, which allows users to record and send video messages within a Skype chat, was previously limited to three-minute-long videos, and after 20 free messages required a $4.99 premium account.

The updated Skype apps for both iPhone and iPad are available in the App Store now and also include stability improvements for audio and video calls, and performance enhancements for sharing photos.

What’s New in Version 4.9

– Video messaging is now free and unlimited.
– Audio and video call stability improvements.
– Share photos more reliably.
– Improved accessibil

Amazon’s iPad shopping app makes its way to key China, Japan markets

Mark Gurman Jun 26 2013 - 12:58 pm PT

Today, Amazon has updated its popular shopping app for the iPad to work in China and Japan. Both of those countries are known as critical growth markets for the mobile shopping and technology industries, making today’s update notable. Additionally, the update brings a new “Shop by Department” mode and performance improvements for the iPhone and iPod touch Amazon app.

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Dropbox for iOS updated with improved sharing options

Mike Beasley Jun 25 2013 - 7:22 pm PT

Dropbox has updated their iPhone and iPad app to verion 2.3. The new version features enhanced sharing options, a swipe-to-show options panel for carrying out common actions, as well as the usual performance enhancements and general bug fixes.

What’s New in Version 2.3

• Easily share a link to a folder
• Swipe on any file to quickly share, move, delete, or favorite
• Select and share multiple photos with your family, friends, and other humans
• Bug fixes and other magical performance improvements to keep you happy

iTunes U iOS app updated with pull-to-refresh, improved language support

Mark Gurman Jun 25 2013 - 10:21 am PT

Apple has updated its iTunes U app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with the ability to check for course updates via a pull-to-refresh animation. In line with this tweak, Apple says that today’s update resolves an issue with updating course information. Importantly, today’s update also brings improved language support for Arabic, French, German, Greek, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. The update is free on the iTunes App Store.

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Air France Mobile app updated with Passbook support for boarding passes

Jordan Kahn Jun 18 2013 - 7:59 am PT

Following British Airways earlier this month, Air France has just updated its iPhone app with support for storing digital boarding passes in Passbook. The feature of course requires iOS 6 and up, and will also require an update to version 4.5.1 of the Air France Mobile app.

New for Passbook and the camera app developers in iOS 7: the ability to scan barcodes.

What’s New in Version 4.5.1

Passbook is now available to store your boarding pass on your iPhone!
This feature requires iOS 6 operating system.

Adobe’s new Creative Cloud ‘CC’ apps now available to all

Jordan Kahn Jun 18 2013 - 6:00 am PT

Back in May, we told you all about Adobe’s brand new Creative Cloud suite and its decision to end support for CS6 following its presentation at the MAX 2013 Creativity Conference in LA. Adobe introduced big updates and new features to just about every app in the CC suite, including updates to its design apps like Illustrator, a new Kuler iPhone app, revamped web tools such as Dreamweaver and Edge Animate, and updates to just about every other app it makes. Today, Adobe is finally making the massive Creative Cloud update available to all users and is also offering a number of promotional discounts to celebrate. Head below for details.
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Full walk-through of Apple’s UI changes in iOS 7 [Video]

Michael Steeber Jun 11 2013 - 6:53 pm PT

Aside from the short demos that were given on stage yesterday at WWDC, and the few screenshots on Apple’s website, Apple hasn’t shown off iOS 7 in much detail. Although developers now have access to an early beta version of the software, iOS 7 won’t be released to the general public until later this year, and an iPad version of iOS 7 hasn’t been shown off at all.

In order to give you a better idea of exactly what Apple is cooking up down in Cupertino, we’ve put together this walk-through of every redesigned application in iOS 7, showing off how they look and function.

For all of our other iOS 7 hands-on coverage, check out the links below:

-iOS 7 first Hands-On

-Changes to the camera app in iOS 7

-A look at iTunes Radio in iOS 7

-iOS 7 first install gallery

-Subtle features and details in iOS 7 and Mavericks

Kindle for iOS adds line spacing, multipage highlights, accessibility improvements, more

Jordan Kahn Jun 5 2013 - 9:35 am PT

Line Spacing

Amazon updated its Kindle iOS app today with a number of notable improvements. Included in version 3.8 of the app is the ability to adjust line spacing to loose, normal or tight, and multipage highlights allowing you to “highlight long passages that span multiple pages for added convenience.”

Amazon also noted that it added accessibility improvements in today’s update including the ability to set a higher maximum font size.

What’s New in Version 3.8

• Line Spacing – loose, normal, and tight line spacing options change the page layout to suit your reading preference
• Multipage Highlights – highlight long passages that span multiple pages for added convenience
• Accessibility Improvements – select a higher maximum font size, bug fixes
• Bug Fixes/Stability Improvements

British Airways adds Passbook support for digital boarding passes to iPhone app

Jordan Kahn Jun 5 2013 - 6:01 am PT

We knew from a previous announcement last year that British Airways has been working on integrating Passbook integration for its digital boarding passes, much like American Airlines and a long list of other major airlines have done already. Today the airline has officially rolled out an update to its iPhone app that adds the ability to add digital boarding passes to Passbook.

It also confirmed that it will be enhancing the feature further my mid-June with direct links to the Passbook boarding passes on the iPhone’s lock screen:

By mid June we’ll be enhancing Passbook boarding passes by adding direct links to them from your iPhone’s lock screen as you’re ready to fly. This will make it even easier for you to access your boarding pass on the move. We’ll send you a message via the app as soon as these are enabled.

On top of the convenience of having your BA boarding pass alongside your other Passbook passes and cards, Passbook also allows users to sync boarding passes across devices via iCloud and receive time and location-based reminders that display the boarding pass at the time of your flight or upon arriving at the terminal.

BA notes that, “From now on, all new boarding passes will be presented in Passbook.”

The updated British Airways app with Passbook support is available from the App Store now.

Intel officially launches 4th gen Haswell processors bound for next-gen Macs just in time for WWDC

Jordan Kahn Jun 4 2013 - 7:20 am PT

We’ve told you several times in recent months about Intel’s next-generation Haswell processors that are largely expected to replace Apple’s current Ivy Bridge offerings in the next round of Macs. Now, ahead of Apple’s expected WWDC announcements, Intel has just officially launched its next-gen processors. The company confirmed that quad-core versions of the chips are available now with availability of ultrabooks, all-in-ones, laptops and desktops planned for this summer.

Intel says the processors provide up to a 50 percent improvement in battery life (the biggest gain in the history of Intel’s processors), and double the graphics performance of previous generation chips thanks to its ‘Iris’ technology.

Delivering Intel’s largest generation-over-generation gain in battery life enablement in company history, 4th generation Intel Core processors can bring an 50 percent improvement in battery life over the previous generation in active workloads when watching movies or surfing the Internet, and two to three times improvement in standby battery life. For some systems coming to market this year, over 9 hours of active use battery life or 10 to 13 days of standby with fresh data on a single charge is expected.

Earlier this year we saw stats from early performance tests showing Haswell will provide some notable performance boosts for MacBooks, and we’ve also heard reports that the 4th-gen Intel processors will be headed to iMacs and Mac minis towards the end of the year.

In a more recent report, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed Apple will introduce new MacBook Pro and Air updates next week at WWDC that will include an upgrade to Haswell. Yesterday, we posted even more evidence with SKUs showing that Apple is likely planning a MacBook refresh.
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Google updates Chrome for iOS with conversational voice search, improved voice recognition & performance enhancements

Jordan Kahn Jun 3 2013 - 9:58 am PT

As expected, Google updated its Chrome for iOS app to version 27 today after releasing updates for both desktop and Android late last month. The update includes a number of new improvements, the most notable of which is voice search that allows users to take advantage of the conversational voice search features Google already rolled out to Mac. Google previously announced the feature (pictured above), would be arriving on iOS, but today the updated app is officially available to all on the App Store.

With today’s update you will not only be able to search with your voice right within Chrome (a feature already available to users through the Google Search iOS app), you’ll also get “answers spoken back to you” for specific search results. Google first showed off the new conversational search features at its I/O event last month.

Other improvements in today’s update include faster voice recognition “with text streamed on the fly,” faster page reloads even on slow networks, and the usual stability and security enhancements.
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Popular ‘Dots’ iPhone game updated with iPad support, new multiplayer mode, more

Jordan Kahn May 30 2013 - 6:58 am PT

The extremely popular ‘Dots: A Game About Connecting’ title for iPhone, which happen to hit around 100 million games played in just a couple weeks after its launch last month, today received an update that brings the title to the larger screen with support for iPad.

Not only is Dots coming to iPad users today, developer Betaworks One is also rolling out a new multiplayer mode that allows users to pass their “iOS device between friends to compete on the same board.”

The iTunes release notes also mention that “Shrinkers now 5 / 500 dots to balance gameplay.” One thing to keep in mind: One commenter warns that on iPad dots are “so tiny now you can barely see the dots never mind connect them.”

A future update to the app will also include a new “Timeless mode.”

The update includes a couple other performance improvements as well:

What’s New in Version 1.7

What’s New
· iPad Support!
· Multiplayer mode! Pass your iOS device between friends to compete on the same board.
· High-contrast color options for color blind players

Heads Up
· Shrinkers now 5 / 500 dots to balance gameplay

Bug Fixes
· No more repeating colors dropping
· Fixes to the high score system
· Ability to disconnect from Twitter/Facebook

Apple discontinues fourth-generation iPod touch, replaces with iSight-free 4-inch model

Mike Beasley May 30 2013 - 1:24 am PT

Late Wednesday night, Apple quietly removed the fourth-generation iPod touch from their online store, replacing it instead with a modified version of the current generation. The new model features only a few differences from the fifth-gen, but the omissions are significant.
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Real Racing 3 for iOS updated with Dubai Autodrome, 50+ events, new Lexus & Dodge vehicles

Jordan Kahn May 29 2013 - 3:28 pm PT

We already knew that EA had plans to bring its Real Racing 3 franchise to the Middle East when it released the teaser for the Dubai Autodrome above. Today the update has officially landed in the App Store and also brings some other goodies to the extremely popular racing franchise.

On top of 6 track layouts for both day and twilight racing at the Dubai Autodrome, the game also now features Lexus vehicles including the Lexus IS-F and Lexus LFA. Other additions include the Dodge Charger RT and Dodge Charger SRT8, as well as 50+ new events to explore.