"If there is an app for that"

Twitter’s iOS app gains Peek and Pop previews

May 28, 2016 by macjeff

Although you couldn’t tell it by looking at official release notes for Twitter’s version 6.54 update, which make a passing mention of "a few minor updates that you didn’t even know you needed", the app has finally gained additional 3D Touch goodies in the form of Peek and Pop previews within the app. Before today, Twitter for the iPhone and iPad only supported Quick Actions on the Home screen. Grab Twitter for iOS for free on the App Store.

Owners of the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus can now apply pressure to tweets and other items within the app to peek at content or pop it open in full screen mode or into an associated app.

Twitter’s 3D Touch integration lets you preview the following items:

• Individual tweets
• Twitter user names and accounts
• Twitter Moments
• Embedded media, including links, pictures, videos, animated GIFs and more

A deeper press pops selected media into an associated app, like Safari or YouTube. While peeking at an item, you can swipe up to reveal hidden options.

For media previews, the Share via option is revealed in Peek mode, which invokes iOS’s multi-purpose Share sheet where you can select an app to send the media to.

For individual accounts, the Peek menu provides three options: Mute, Block and Report. For tweets, swiping up whilst peeking at the tweet provides these commonly used shortcuts: Send via Direct Message, Share via, Mute, Block and Report.

Download Twitter for free on the App Store.

Bookmark apps and iTunes content and install them later with Lookmark for iPhone

May 28, 2016 by macjeff

Lookmark for iPhone by developer Claes Jacobsson received a major update yesterday, prompting me to take another look at this interesting piece of software.

With Lookmark, you can bookmark apps and other iTunes content very easily from Safari, other apps and your desktop, and install/download them later when the time is right. Yesterday’s update added a Share sheet extension which can save apps mentioned on any webpage.

Saving apps and iTunes content for later

The premise of Lookmark is simple: save iTunes content like apps, movies, music, books and more. And piece of iTunes content can be bookmarked on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad, including apps on the App Store as well as music, movies, television shows, podcasts, books and audiobooks on the iTunes Store.

Lookmark All the Things! https://t.co/8rLe9HTccq pic.twitter.com/hJrpDwXjek

— LOOKMARK (@lookmarkapp) May 25, 2016

With Lookmark’s extension, you can quickly save App Store apps from any app which supports iOS’s multi-purpose Share sheet, including all of Apple’s iTunes content apps: App Store, iTunes Store, Podcasts, Music and iBooks.

The Share sheet extension is very smart: after invoking it, it’ll scan what’s on a webpage and capture any mention of apps and iTunes media, allowing you to save them all in one go with a simple tap.

The app will even alert you via a push notification when Wi-Fi is available so that you don’t download apps over a cellular connection.

Lookmark Plus and desktop Safari extension

Lookmark is not confined to mobile devices. You can save apps and other iTunes content for later when browsing the web on your computer with Lookmark’s Safari for Mac extension (Chrome fans can download Lookmark’s extension here).

And content saved for later on your computer instantly appears in Lookmark on your iPhone.

This lets you use Google search to find apps on the web and install them easily to your iPhone without needing to manually send an iTunes URL to your iOS device via AirDrop.

If you subscribe to Lookmark Plus, you will be notified when prices of apps you have bookmarked change in the App Store, which is very useful if you’re a bargain hunter.

A six-month Lookmark Plus subscription is available as a $4.99 In-App Purchase.

Pricing and availability

Lookmark requires an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad with iOS 8.0 or later. The English-only app lacks a native iPad interface and doesn’t currently support the Apple Watch.

You can download Lookmark at no charge on the App Store.

Google’s iOS app gains Accelerated Mobile Pages, sports highlight videos in Now cards

May 28, 2016 by macjeff

Google’s native Search application for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad this morning received a newsworthy update in the App Store, gaining faster browsing with support for Accelerated Mobile Pages from major publishers and another feature which allows you to instantly watch sports highlight videos in Now cards.

The app’s available for free on the App Store.

News and articles that load instantly are distinguished by a lightning bolt and "AMP" next to them in the Top Stories section of your search results.

And whenever you get a sports highlights Now card, you can now tap the Play button and watch the video right there, no need to load a new webpage.

Accelerated Mobile Pages, an initiative that the search giant announced in October 2015 strives to tackle the problem of slow loading times on mobile due to ad tracking and other JavaScript code injected into webpages.

Designed to rival Facebook’s Instant Articles, Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages are optimized articles from Google’s content partners which are hosted on Google’s servers and optimized for delivery on mobile devices.

The goal for these articles is to appear on your iPhone and other mobile devices almost immediately after clicking a link in Google search results.

Today’s update arrived ten days following the previous release which brought out much-needed support for hardware keyboard shortcuts for iPad users and the ability to see the busiest hours for places and local businesses directly in the search results page.

Download Google’s iOS app for free on the App Store.

Free Apps to Download TODAY ONLY 05/28/2016

May 28, 2016 by macjeff

Old Maid , Dracula Twins , Gratitude Journal ~ the original! and more

iPhone:

Gratitude Journal will help you better appreciate the little things in life and be more positive. All you have to do is consider the great things that happened to you throughout the day and record them as journal entries. Try to aim for at least five things. Really push yourself. Each entry can include location data, photos, and even the people involved. When you're done reflecting you can share your entries or keep them private. An inspirational quote or motivational advice will appear after each entry. The app also includes the ability to export entries, reminders, a slideshow view, and the ability to backup entries.

Universal:

Old Maid is a timeless classic with a colorful new look. The object of the game is to pick a card from the player on your left in order to fill your hand and create pairs, which can be immediately discarded. Every card in the deck will have a pair except the Old Maid. Just don’t be the player with the Old Maid at the end in order to win. The game includes an amusing cast of characters, instructions, and stat tracking.

Dracula Twins will take you straight down memory lane. Take the fight to Doctor Lifelust’s undead army as you make your way over, under, and around obstacles in order to reach each level’s exit. Your character is armed with skulls that can be tossed at enemies or you can simply bounce off of them. Search low and high to collect every last coin, letter, and emblem in order to earn a 100 percent rating. The game includes three playable characters that you can switch between during play, a classic world map, boss battles, and loads of fun.

Tayasui Sketches artfully mixes simplicity and power to provide you with the perfect canvas. It offers a wide variety of art creation tools including felt and ink pens, watercolor and acrylic brushes, an airbrush gun, and oil pastel. Brushes and pens can be edited in a variety of ways, and you’re able to layer your strokes to create depth. What really makes Tayasui Sketches stand out, however, is its stylus support. It allows anyone with a Wacom, Hex, Adonit, Pencil by 53, and Pogo Connect stylus to add strokes that change their angle and width based on pressure.

The app is powered by your child’s imagination. You won’t find any scores, time limits, or power-ups here. They’re able to explore the entire house from room to room and interact with everything they see. They can play music, cook food, close the drapes, pour drinks, turn on the TV, turn out the lights, and so much more.

Source link: http://appadvice.com/apps-gone-free

Get the Best Fuel Price With the 7-Eleven Fuel App

May 28, 2016 by macjeff

7-Eleven Fuel iPhone App

When we first found out about 7-Eleven Fuel App from 7-Eleven Stores we thought that it was a great idea.

7-Eleven Fuel is a great app for Aussies to find the best local price of fuel and lock it in at their 7-Eleven fuel store.

While we do like the overall functionality and features of this utility, there areas where it could be improved.

From the perspective of someone who just wants to get the best price of fuel, this app is lacking because it works only with their brand and their gas stations.

Concept and Idea

As for the app itself, the concept of the app is quite interesting and very well-thought.

Assuming you do prefer to patronize 7-Eleven, this app offers great value to its customers, and of course, it’s great for the company because it creates brand loyalty and it is a great way to attract new customers.

The idea is that the customers save money with reserving or locking the prices of the fuel. If there is a change in the price and that price is above the locked price they will not pay that price, but the locked one.

However, the great thing is that if the price get’s lower then the locked price, they will pay the lower price. So, the customer will always benefit. The is where the app shines and presumably gets drivers in Australia to use 7-Eleven Fuel stores more often.

Features and How to Use it

7-Eleven Fuel iPhone App

Everything that you need is tailored in 4 steps. First you need to choose the fuel type, then you need to find your best local fuel price, get the card and top it up and as final step you need to lock it in.

Functionality and UI

Although the concept is good on paper, there are several flaws in reality. First of all, it appears that you need to use a credit card to lock in the price. If you don’t have a credit card or prefer to use cash you’re out of luck. On top of that the app only works with Visa or Master Card.

Another drawback is that you can use only one lock in. If you have multiple vehicles this can be frustrating. Also, you can’t put the exact amount of money as input.

The user interface is fair but could be improved to be simpler to use. Things could be better organized and arranged in an easier way. It takes a bit get the hang of how this app works.

Final Thoughts

This is a great idea and a great concept that many other gas stations around the world will no doubt implement.

We’d like to see the developers work on improving the overall user experience and add some features, such as accommodating multiple vehicles and letting folks pay with cash. This could help families to save money, especially the ones that heavily depend on vehicle transport.

7-Eleven Fuel requires iOS 9.0 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.