Now, stalking your friends on Facebook just got taken to the next level – Zuckerberg and Co. have just added free calling to any of your friends in the US and Canada – through the Facebook app. So get updating and stalk away with heavy breathing and prank calls!
Source: iTunes
Checking the weather = mundane task 101 but Robocatapps doesn’t think it has to be – thus they have released Haze! So what makes this weather app burn the rest, have a look for yourself:
Google released an updated version of Gmail for iOS (2.0), both for the iphone and iPad. The much desired updated features include the following:
After years of sitting on the sidelines, Polaroid is finally getting into the……(cough)…. photo taking/sharing game, with their release of a Hipstamatic like app. Polamatic has everything you’d expect: filters, social sharing features, borders, frames and even Instagram integration. Those are all great features but lets be honest, the app is 2 years too late and the $.99 price is not helping either.
For all you iPad and Spotify customers, your day has finally arrived. Spotify, the wildly popular streaming music service, has just released their iPad app and from what I can tell, it’s getting good reviews.
There is nothing I want more in the world than a diverse and healthy mobile hardware environment (competition spurs innovation) but it pains me to see so much buzz around Blackberry 10′s new camera app. If the camera app is the most interesting things to come out of Blackberry world this week, I see no future for RIMM, as this was their final chance to make a splash in the mobile space.
We all heard the recent news about Facebook buying everyone’s favorite photo sharing app Instagram and how they just crossed over the 40 million user mark but have you ever wanted to download all your photos from Instagram, right to your computer? NO – then stop reading this article. Yes – well then, we have the right service for you.
After months in the works, popular photo taking/sharing app Instar.am is finally available for Android devices. The Android version is almost exactly the same as the iOS version but performance does differ (time to add filter effect) depending on the Android device you own. Also, you’ll need to have a smartphone with Android 2.2 and up, so that does prevent some phones and tablets. Since being released mere days ago, the popular app has over 1,000,000+ instals and a 4.4 star rating in the Android market or as Google is calling it now: Google Play. Get your version now.
Remember the Microsoft Courier? That’s because it was a great idea and Microsoft killed it. Essentially, it was a unique take on a tablet – one that was always “live” – kind of like an up-to-date personal journal. Sounds like a different approach, Google it to find out more of what might have been. After the “Courier” project was killed, a couple people from Microsoft’s development team left the company and started their own start-up – called “53″.
Stalkers Rejoice!!! IZE Ltd, the company behind the app: “Find my Facebook Friends” has finally got Apple to accept their app for the app store but the reason it was twice rejected might surprise you. Find My Facebook Friends is straight forward, it allows you to see all your Facebook friends on a google map interface, similar to Apple’s own “Find My Friends” app.
While the app seems like a personal privacy nightmare, Apple didn’t really have an issue with the app’s functionality, they were more concerned with the naming (Facebook) and graphics (similarity to the official Facebook logo) it used. Regardless, now the app is live, so go out and start stalking your high school sweetheart, whether she wants it or not or whether your current parole officer knows it or not.
FEATURES:
• Easily locate Facebook friends and family.
• Friend proximity alerts.
• Privacy settings based on friend lists and individual friends.
• Manage your Facebook friend lists.
• Integrates with the native Facebook app to send messages.
• Supports multiple devices.
• Keeps running in the background after you quit. Note: Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.
Source: IZE
In just three days, Rovio’s new Angry Birds Space game has already been downloaded 10 million times. Everyone’s favorite Birds Vs. Pigs game is going absolutely viral and is already at the top of Apple’s Paid Apps and #2 on the desktop. So, what’s the lesson learned here: Learn Objective C and start building apps!
Square, people’s favorite personal payment system has rebranded itself overnight – is now known as “Pay With Square.” In the wake of last weeks PayPal mobile payment system announcement (essentially a less attractive Square copy) Square has gone with a slight make-over and somewhat of a massive app update – both for iOS and Android.
Here are the major updates: Rebranded to “Pay with Square” - New UI Changes Make The App faster & simpler - Discovering Merchants & Businesses Much Easier - Add businesses you love to your Favorites list & Share with friends. Essentially, the UI changes allow for better and faster functionality, both in terms of performance but also in terms of finding businesses that use Square. The new UI also allows you to bookmark merchants and businesses that you have used, adding them to a favorites list and then share with friends - personalizing your whole Square experience. Solid update and smart slight re-branding by a very forward thinking company – get your iOS update here & your Android update here. Check out the hipster video below for a visual run-through of the update or visit Square for more info.
Source: Square
Path, the small but increasingly popular mini-social app has just announced a major update to its iOS app. The new version of Path has added music match, which listens to music playing in the background and then tells you who the artist/song is. Secondly, they have added Nike+ to the App, so you can do your workouts, runs, activities and then track and share that data. Essentially, Path has now cut out two popular iOS apps shazam for music matching and RunKeeper for tracking your activities – as they grow. Last but definitely not least, especially for developers, Path has released an API for devs – let the coding begin. Get your update now -click here.
Source: Path
Apple just recently announced that their app store had just crossed over the 25 billion download mark and while that is amazing for an ecosystem that is just about 4 years old, what people really wanted to know is: What’s the top 10! Well, Apple just released the list and we have it below – enjoy. If you want the complete list, as it’s more than just 10 apps – simply click here.
Source: Apple
Square is a company on the cutting edge on point of sale (POS) systems – from their ground breaking square reader to their most recent Square Register. Square understands that small businesses and individual sellers want simplicity, up-to-date features and low cost transaction fees. For some reason (more money) other POS systems and financia in-betweens haven’t understood this and it’s now there business to lose.
Square Register is the best of both worlds – cutting edge payment software and Apple’s revolutionary hardware (iPad). You essentially replace your existing cash register, cash tray and credit card processing machine with an iPad, Square App and square reader. Sqaure has build an amazing POS app that will:
Let’s not forget the best aspect of Square’s POS system – it’s free! That’s right, besides the iPad (iPad 2 soon to be $399) Square only takes 2.75% of credit card transactions - not bad. Square is truly helping empower small businesses and individual sellers – get your hands on a Square Register today – click here.
Source: Square
Apple has announced that its app store has just recently crossed over the 25 billion download mark and while this is trully an amazing feat….you kind of feel bad for the person that got the 25th billion app. They were rewarded by receiving a $10,000 gift certificate to……wait for it……APPLE’S APP STORE! Come on Apple, at least cut that person a check for some cold-hard-cash.
By far, one of the best apps in Apple’s ecosystem (iPhone & iPad) has been Flipboard – hands down. For those not really familier with Flipboard, it essentially allows you to aggregate all your favorite content (on the web) into a simple to use flipbook app. Still unsure, check out the video below:
Version 1.8 brings several cool features: 1) The much loved “Cover Stories” feature is now on the iPad version as well – 2) The addition of a third content page for you to place your favorite web information – 3) New full-screen images and typography make for even more beautiful layouts – 4) International Content Guides with hundreds of recommendations for readers in the UK and Ireland, Canada, Australia, France, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Tap on the red ribbon to choose your Content Guide Edition – 5) Pick topics of interest when first using Flipboard, instantly setting up your Flipboard with great stuff to read. Go and get the update – click here.
Source: Flipboard
Everyone’s least favorite Beatle is being sponsored by Apple for a live streaming concert Feb. 9th @ 7 p.m. PST - all this is for Paul McCartney’s new album, Kisses on the Bottom, which was released Monday and is available on iTunes for $9.99. Since Apple is sponsoring the live event, they are also making it free – all you have to do is download the new Apple Live App and tune it.
Source: AppleInsider
On January 21st, reporters Charles Duhigg and Keith Bradsher (New York Times) published the first of a series of articles describing Apple’s relationship with China – regarding Jobs, worker treatment and Apple manufacturing partners in the communist state. The first article, entitled “How The US Lost Out On The iPhone” was a brilliant piece, which really broke down the infinite variables that go into running a company like Apple and manufacturing in the 21st century. The article stared with a conversation between president Obama and Steve Jobs:
…When Barack Obama joined Silicon Valley’s top luminaries for dinner in California last February, each guest was asked to come with a question for the president.
But as Steven P. Jobs of Apple spoke, President Obama interrupted with an inquiry of his own: what would it take to make iPhones in the United States? Not long ago, Apple boasted that its products were made in America. Today, few are. Almost all of the 70 million iPhones, 30 million iPads and 59 million other products Apple sold last year were manufactured overseas. Why can’t that work come home? Mr. Obama asked. Mr. Jobs’s reply was unambiguous. “Those jobs aren’t coming back,” he said, according to another dinner guest…
The boys over at TheVerge have got their hands on the beta release of Google Chrome Mobile for Android devices – while it’s still in beta, it’s available in the Android Market. Before people get too carried away, you will need a handset running Ice Cream Sandwitch 4.0, so the large majority of Android phones will not be in on the beta release. Mobile Chrome is a lot like the stock Android browser but with many esthetic upgrades:
While the stock Android browser babysat us for some time, Chrome Beta is bringing some real desktop browser features to the table: Browse fast with accelerated page loading, scrolling, and zooming, Search and navigate directly from the omnibox, Open and switch between unlimited tabs in an easy-to-view stack, Sign in to Chrome to sync your bookmarks and view tabs you have open on your computer, Send pages from desktop Chrome to your smartphone or tablet with one click and read them on the go, even if you’re offline, Browse privately in Incognito mode.
While the beta version of Chrome leaves a lot to be desired and by no means is it re-shuffling the mobile browsing space, Chris Ziegler from TheVerge has a great summary of the app:
…Beyond speed and sync, tab management is a focal point in Chrome, which adapts an almost webOS-like interface (in fact, the app’s official announcement post describes managing tabs “as if you’re holding a deck of cards in the palm of your hands”). The Open Tabs button in Chrome’s action bar now permanently indicates the number of tabs you actually have open, fixing a pain point with the old browser….
If you have an Android handset running ICS 4.0, why not go over to Android Market and give Chrome a spin - simply click here for the link. Now, if Google would work on the desktop version of Chrome a little – that browser is buggy as hell!
Source: TheVerge
“For the throat!” I believe that’s the expression that is relevant for Avid’s latest move against Apple and its Final Cut Pro film editing suite. Today, Avid has released a video editing app for the iPad, which is essentially a mobile version of its extremely popular desktop software – Avid Studio. I think it’s only fair to conclude that Apple, once it releases the iPad 3 (more horsepower) will also release a iPad version of Final Cut Pro.
Big-screen moviemaking comes to the touchscreen with Avid® Studio for iPad. We’ve distilled the world’s leading film-editing technology into an easy-to-use app that enables you to edit video, audio, and photos at the speed of your creativity. Swiftly arrange your clips in the Storyboard, make precision edits using the Timeline, and add high-quality transitions, effects, and a soundtrack. Then share your movie directly to YouTube, Facebook, and more—or export your project to Avid Studio for the PC and continue editing with even more advanced tools.
Avid’s app brings all the regular bells and whistles: Timeline view, cutting clips, audio tracks, exporting options, transitions, titles, fonts, color editing, text editing and social media options but you will not find flash exporting options….Regardless, Avid’s play into the mobile device space is strong and being the first player in, most often, is a good thing. I’d say they have a month before Apple releases FCP X for the iPad. Check out further features below and click here is you want to get Avid’s App – it’s $4.99 for the next 30days and then it’ll be $8.00.
Source: Avid
Bad Robot Interactive, a company owned by J. J. Abrams, just released Action Movie FX and it’s one badass app. Essentially, it allows you to add special effects to video you take with your iPhone camera – that’s it! I won’t go into detail but the fun is endless – just trust me and check it out. Get it here.
Source: Bad Robot
Rogue Amoeba, one of the best software houses for the Mac has just released Piezo, which lets you record audio from any app on you mac. Sounds simple right – that’s the point. Recording audio has always been somewhat of a tricky task, especially on a computer because you have so many apps and tasks running. Often times, while recording, you can contaminate a clean audio recording simply by opening up an app that plays a sound or if someone decides to Skype you. Recording on a computer was never easy and now it is….and it’ll only cost you $10.
Source: TheVerge
Flipboard for the iPad is amazing! It makes looking at content from Facebook, Twitter, New York Times and all your favorite websites so much more enjoyable than the static desktop/mobile versions. With its unique magazine+Minority Report style UI, Flipboard has really changed the way people consume and interact with digital content. Yet, there was always one thing missing…..
Today, Flipboard has announced the release of its great tablet app for the iphone – conpletely built, from the ground up, to be every bit as usefully, even on the iphone’s smaller screen. If you’ve never heard of Flipboad, check out the video below and if you have an iOS device – get downloading.
Source: Flipboard
Starbucks processed 26 million orders through its mobile apps, adding $110 million to its bottom-line for 2011 fiscal year revenue. That might not seem like a lot of money, when compared to the $11+ billion it took in from cash/credit transactions but this is a rapidly expanding minority, which is projected to explode in the coming years. Small businesses take note – start providing mobile payment options, even if it’s something as simple as Square.
Source: The Verge