Tag: App

Bump and Flock Will Shut Down On January 31

Google acquired contact and file-sharing app Bump back in September. Bump co-founder and chief executive David Lieb said the company was “thrilled” to join Google, citing similar passions for sharing information between people and devices. We’re not too sure he’ll feel the same way now.

Bump and Flock are no more and will stop working and be removed from Google Play (and the App Store) on January 31st, 2014. The reason for this decision: Lieb and his team are now “deeply focused” on new projects within Google and don’t have the resources or time to devote to innovating on either product.

The app allows iPhone and Android users to “bump” together two phones to share contact details and files between devices. Later versions also allowed phone users to “bump” phones with desktop computers.

In September 2011, the company announced it had 50 million downloaders and 10 million active “bumpers.” Just less than a year later, more than 600 million photos were shared by “bumping” phones. Later it released an iPhone-only version photo-sharing app dubbed Flock (not to be confused with the social browser of the same name).

January 1, 2014
Dropbox for Android now allows Folder Sharing

If you just updated your Dropbox app on your Android device, you will be happy to know that you now have the ability to share folders. The new update allows users both invite others to shared folders and manage the relevant permissions. The new in-app purchase will also allow users to upgrade to Pro accounts via Google Play. Dropbox will bring the functionality to iOS soon.

[Dropbox Blog]

December 18, 2013
Official FIFA iOS And Android Apps Launch

Football’s international governing body FIFA has released a free app for iOS and Android that lets you follow your favorite teams and keep up to date with FIFA news and events.

Users can also access match schedules, scores, destination guides and team profiles, as well as personalise their World Match Centre with national teams, competitions, and clubs.

“Download the most comprehensive football app on the planet and unlock the world of football,” says FIFA. “Hundreds of competitions, thousands of goals and over a million minutes of football every single week.”

In addition, football fans can see video from the FIFA TV Studio and FIFA archive. The free app is compatible with iPhones using iOS 5.1 or higher, the iPad, and Android smartphones and tablets using version 2.3 and up.

November 30, 2013
Now You Can Edit and Work on Multiple Posts With Vine

Vine introduced some new additions, Sessions and Time Travel. Vine claims with these new features, you can maintain multiple posts in progress over time and edit your posts before you share them.

Sessions: Tap the new icon in the bottom right corner of your camera to save a new session or open an existing one. Save any post and come back to it later, it can work on up to ten posts at a time.

Time Travel: Tap the green bar from the camera while you’re shooting, or tap ‘Edit’ when you’re previewing a post. With this users can remove, reorganize or replace any shot within a post before its even shared.

Vine was built for one purpose to make it easy for people to capture life in motion and share it with the world. That is the reason we built the Vine camera, and it’s why we continue to improve upon and build new tools for your creations, nurturing the balance between power and simplicity that you’ve come to expect from us.

You can update your application from Play Store and App Store.

October 25, 2013
Blackberry pauses BBM Android and iOS rollout following Leaked apps

Blackberry has stopped seeding the Blackberry messenger for iOS and Android apps following a leaked Android app that caused server and stability issues with the Blackberry messaging network.There were too many simultaneous users, the company says; with over 1.1 million active clients in the first eight hours of the initial seed.

BlackBerry says that it has tried to address the problems caused by the leaked app throughout the day, but to no avail, requiring it to halt its launch plans. The company says that those that have already downloaded the iOS version of the app will still be able to use it, but it will not be releasing it to any new markets at this time. The leaked version of the Android app will be disabled.

Blackberry now plans a “staggered country roll-out” for Android and will soon restart the rollout for iOS. The company was hesitant in giving a timelinefor this new rollout, only saying

our teams continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it’s ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM.”

The company’s official statement is below:

Prior to launching BBM for Android, an unreleased version of the BBM for Android app was posted online. The interest and enthusiasm we have seen already – more than 1.1 million active users in the first 8 hours without even launching the official Android app – is incredible. Consequently, this unreleased version caused issues, which we have attempted to address throughout the day.

Our teams continue to work around the clock to bring BBM to Android and iPhone, but only when it’s ready and we know it will live up to your expectations of BBM. We are pausing the global roll-out of BBM for Android and iPhone. Customers who have already downloaded BBM for iPhone will be able to continue to use BBM. The unreleased Android app will be disabled, and customers who downloaded it should visit www.BBM.com to register for updates on official BBM for Android availability.

As soon as we are able, we will begin a staggered country roll-out of BBM for Android and continue the roll-out of BBM for iPhone. Please follow @BBM on Twitter for the latest updates and go to www.BBM.com to sign-up for updates about BBM for Android and iPhone. These issues have not impacted BBM service for BlackBerry.

September 22, 2013
Now Get Handwriting Support in Google Translate for iOS devices

Google Translate app for iOS has got a slow but useful update today, which added a new look and gave handwriting support. This feature was already available on the Android app two years ago, and also to its web app earlier this year, but after this update your iOS device will also be able to recognize what you have written on the screen.

The user interface and icons have been changed and now fit in with the newly available iOS 7’s landscape and now the app supports more than 70 languages, which includes seven new languages.(including Marathi)

Google says handwriting is now supported in 49 languages, which should be a boon for the world’s travelers, and at the low price of free is worth throwing on your phone on the off chance you’ll need it. It’s available to download now on iPhones and iPads running iOS 5.1 or later, or if you’re running iOS 7, you can just lie back and let the background update do its thing.

September 20, 2013
YouTube Testing Chromecast support

Anyone wanting to stream YouTube videos through a Chromecast currently has to visit YouTube’s website or run one of its mobile apps. However, YouTube has started to add support for Chromecast to its embedded web player, allowing Chromecast users to beam videos displayed on third-party websites straight from their browser to their TV.

Google has confirmed to GigaOM that it is publicly testing Chromecast support for embedded YouTube clips on third-party web pages. Currently, the access to stream YouTube videos is random, as the (send to) button shows up some times, and may not be available for everyone.

The company says it is monitoring feedback from these experiments and it could offer embedded video support to more Chromecast owners if all goes well. As said by a YouTube spokesperson:

With more videos coming to YouTube every minute we’re always experimenting with ways to help people more easily find, watch and share the videos that matter most to them. As always, we’ll consider rolling changes out more broadly based on feedback on these experiments.”

September 17, 2013
Google Maps Updated For Android, Better Navigation

Google Maps has got a new update (7.2) on Android. Now when you search for directions to a place and there are multiple routes, you will get Google Now card-like options with a new “Start Navigation” button, which saves a tap and a time overall.

The Android app’s latest update tweaks hotel search results by adding sponsored rate and booking links, which places a tiny “ad” icon next to services that paid for exposure.

The information for places such as restaurants, retail stores, etc. also has a minor update. The hours a business is open is now displayed right below the category of store it is in bold.

Navigation has been also been improved, with better traffic and route information, and the side menu now has a “tips and tricks” option that opens a maps help page in the web browser.

September 15, 2013
Twitter App For Android Leaks

During Samsung’s IFA unveiling of the Galaxy Gear, Galaxy Note 3 and the Galaxy Note 10.1, they inadvertently showed “the redesigned Twitter app” for Android tablets. The basics of the app worked exactly how Twitter for Android smartphones operates, just optimized for larger tablet displays (similar to Twitter for iPad).

There was no firm release date by Twitter, but for those deeply into the social media platform – perhaps while watching TV – can go forth and download the app as a copy as a APK has founds its place online. While the APK is available for installation (thanks to the industrious folks over at Android Next), the installer package is tricky to get working. If you can get it to work, the app probably won’t run all that great. But, it’s a great sign of what’s to come, and hopefully, the official version of the tablet-optimized Twitter app for Android will be available soon.

For those who have been complaining that Android tablets aren’t getting all of the apps that they should, this is an encouraging sign.

[Via]

September 9, 2013
BBM for Android gets shown of in a Video

Event though the BBM for iOS and Android has not yet arrived, videos are starting to leak out and that is a good sign. Folks over at BlackberryOS have got hold of a test video of the new BBM for Android and it might just live up to the hype. Apart from the swipe in from the sides to chose chats and setting, the video shows the ability to transfer contacts through NFC, which is good sign that the messaging app will make the most of these the new features that are present in Android Devices.

Let us know below what you think.

September 3, 2013
6tag brings Instagram to Windows Phone – Unofficially

Windows Phone users are missing out on Instagram for a while now, but that is now set to change, unofficially. French developer Rudy Huyn has created 6tag for Windows Phone, previously known as 6tagram just before Facebook and Instagram changed their Privacy rules and Third Party APIs.

6tag is free to download, provides access to the original filters found in Instagram, video uploads, and the linear and radial blur effects. 6tag Developer, Huyn, has also added support for sharing to Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, VK, and Foursquare. The Previous version had some bug issues and privacy concerns which were fixed when Huyn updated the Application yesterday.

Microsoft Apparently has an App for Instagram already in the works, but has been unable to get Instagram to approve it.

August 26, 2013
Instagram Deleting Posts Uploaded Through Third Party Windows Phone App

Those of you using Instance, the unofficial Instagram client for Windows Phone, have probably noticed that things aren’t running as smoothly as they should since yesterday. Indeed Instance seems to be in some trouble.

Numerous users report that photos that they share to the social photo service are being deleted shortly after being uploaded. This issue is in addition to an earlier problem that saw some users receiving a log-in error message when trying to use the app, although the two may be connected.

The problems started when Instagram changed their keys that are used to authenticate, and Windows Phone users obviously got left out. However that problem was quickly fixed once Daniel Gary, the app’s developer, got wind of it.

The Facebook-owned photo-based network hasn’t developed an official Instagram app for Windows Phone users. As a result, people have been forced to use third-party clients, such as the popular Instance application.

There’s no clear explanation why this is happening and the app’s creator Daniel Gary half-jokingly posted the tweet below.

Evidently Instagram has little spies that watch every @WindowsPhone user and deletes their images after uploading. #onlythingicanthinkof

— Daniel Gary (@danielgary) July 30, 2013

It’s unclear at this point whether the automatic deletions are a technical problem, or an intentional decision by Instagram to disincentivize third-party applications on the Windows Phone platform.

July 30, 2013
Prince of Persia: The Shadow And The Flame Arrive For iOS And Android

Ubisoft today released the legendary Prince of Persia franchise back to mobile devices with Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame. Available to download now, Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame is compatible with iPad, iPhone and iPod touch as well as on Android devices.

The mobile adaptation takes place 11 days after the conclusion of the original Prince of Persia, and the remake will include both gesture-based and virtual joystick controls over 14 levels. Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame will also ship with GameCenter leaderboards on iOS, “brand-new visuals” created for its mobile rebirth and a new combat system that arms players with a new combo system and pits them against multiple enemies.

The original Prince of Persia game released in 1993 and then re-released as a 3D version in 2007, but the entire franchise has nearly a dozen versions of the action-adventure game with a focus on different incarnations of the eponymous prince.

Ubisoft announced the remake in April. The Prince’s latest adventure is available on iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play for $2.99.

July 26, 2013
Microsoft Office Mobile For iPhone Is Now Official

Microsoft has released the Office Mobile application for the iPhone, enabling users to view and edit Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents from virtually anywhere. It is free to download but requires an Office 365 subscription.

According to the Office Mobile app page on iTunes, Microsoft has carefully optimised the app for the iPhone’s 4-inch display and, as usual with Microsoft’s software, it features full integration with SkyDrive and Sharepoint.

It’s also synchronised to the extent that there is a ‘Recent Documents’ list for quick access and if you left reading a document on a computer or tablet the iOS app will pick up on exactly the same page via SkyDrive.

Offline editing will sync with your documents saved in the cloud when a connection becomes available. The app is also tailored to work with documents sent as email attachments.

Microsoft believes iPad users are better served by the Office 365 web apps anyway and hasn’t (yet) announced this app for the tablet.

The new app might suggest a closer collaboration between Microsoft and Apple, especially following the slightly hidden announcement at WWDC that the default search engine for Siri will be Bing, not Google.

Subscribers to Office 365 will get the Office Mobile app to use on up to five iPhones for free, although the service is currently only available in the US. Microsoft have confirmed that they will continue to roll out the service across 136 markets in 29 different languages in the coming days.

June 14, 2013
Google Calendar for Android updated with more color options and tweaks

If you use Google Calendar a lot on your Android phones, you will love the new changes that Google has made to the app. Starting with a new color tool, which lets you highlight specific appointments and change the color of your entire calendar.

So now all your meetings can be set in blue and all the Home chores in Red ! This feature will let you identify and group up your tasks making the calendar a lot more efficient to do tool. The newly designed date and time function lets you pick out time and dates in the analogue style and as Google says “well before the vacation”.

Time zones are now set automatically by entering the name of the city and the app is available for Android ICS 4.1 and above. Check it out in the link below.

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One of the most requested features we’ve seen so far for Google Calendar on Android is the ability to customize event and calendar colors directly from your device. Today’s update allows you to do just that. Now you can highlight those super-urgent meetings and important birthdays, or just switch up the color of your calendar whenever your heart desires.

Adding events is now easier and more fun with our redesigned date and time pickers, which let you schedule your special dinner date or the start of your well-deserved vacation in a snap.

For all of you world travelers, our redesigned timezone picker makes it simpler to find the region that you’re looking for, whether you’re in San Francisco, Tokyo or Zurich.

Finally, it’s easier to schedule repeating events. You can now set events to repeat every Tuesday and Thursday, every month, or every 7 weeks, it’s completely up to you.

The latest version of Google Calendar is built for devices running Android 4.0.3 and above (Android 4.1 or higher for custom event colors). Get it on Google Play, rolling out over the course of the day, and let us know what you think.

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May 30, 2013