Got a new iPhone or iPad for the holidays? Make the most of it by getting your hands on some of the best, most useful iOS apps. We’ve rounded up five of our favorites that we think every iPhone and iPad owner should be using.
Apple reveals if its own apps live up to promises of privacy
Apple isn’t exempting itself from a new privacy rule requiring App Store software to reveal how users’ information is used. Even the applications that come pre-installed on iPhone and iPad will display their privacy info in the App Store.
Transfer iPhone photos to hard drive to free up space with OWC Copy That
OWC’s just-released Copy That application frees up space on iPhone or iPad by transferring images or videos to external drives. Alternatively, it can easily back up an collection of these files.
And it’s free, with an in-app purchase for extra features.
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides for iOS now edit Microsoft Office files
Google has rolled out new updates for Docs, Sheets, and Slides on iOS that add support for Microsoft Office files. A bunch of different Office formats are supported without the need for file conversion.
Mac App Store will grow enormously with every iPhone and iPad app listed
The Mac App Store is about to balloon in size. The Apple M1 processor allows the latest Macs to run iOS and iPadOS software as easily as macOS apps. So the entire contents of the iPhone App Store will soon be listed in the Mac software store.
Apple’s Clips app gets a massive upgrade aimed at influencers
Apple Clips 3.0, released on Wednesday, includes an improved user interface to make it easier to record video and then add effects to it. There are enhancements for both iPhone and iPad users.
This free software helps users combine video clips, photos and music into fun videos. It’s aimed at producing eye-catching content for TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and more.
4 great apps for squeezing more productivity from your Mac and iPhone
These days, it’s hard to stay productive, so we rounded up four Mac and iOS apps that can help you stay on task and on deadline. There’s something here to help anyone get more from their screen time — and all these apps are heavily discounted for a limited time.
Dropbox subscribers get new password manager, secure vault, more
Dropbox today rolled out a number of helpful new features for paying subscribers, including a password manager, a secure vault for sensitive files, and new computer backup tools. You can start using them now.
Plex offers free streaming live TV for iPhone, iPad or Apple TV
Plex began offering 80+ free channels of live TV on Thursday. The service is available on many types of Apple devices, and offers children’s programming, news, lifestyle shows and even sports.
There’s a catch, of course. There always is. In this case, it’s commercials. Plex Live TV is supported by advertising.
See how much time you’ve wasted watching YouTube videos [Pro tip]
How much time have you wasted watching YouTube videos this week? It’s really easy to find out, thanks to a helpful tool built into the YouTube app on iOS. Here’s how to use it to uncover hard truths you probably aren’t ready for.
Everyone is using these apps right now to monitor police activity
Protests across the United States led to a spike in interest in iPhone applications that let users listen to police radios. Several of these now rank very high on App Store top charts.
Ring in Memorial Day with 4 awesome iPhone apps [Deals]
For our big Memorial Day sale, we pulled together deals on four excellent iPhone apps that will put powerful capabilities in the palm of your hand. From taking control of your finances to mastering languages, these apps will expand your horizons and boost your bottom line. And if you just want to relax, we’ve got apps that will let you master meditation and catch up on important reading.
There’s something for everyone in this Memorial Day roundup. All these apps are on sale today, with most offering lifetime subscriptions.
Adobe’s AI-powered iPhone camera app debuts June 9
The wait for Adobe Photoshop Camera is almost over. When it hits the App Store on June 9, the free iPhone application will let users add filters and effects before they even take a picture. And it will employ artificial intelligence to clean up images.
Stay inspired with daily insights from the world’s best thinkers [Deals]
These days, we could all use a little extra motivation and inspiration. What better way than to start each day with uplifting and encouraging words from some of the world’s best and brightest?
Stellar writing app Ulysses gets mouse support on iPad, big improvements
Ulysses, the outstanding writing app for Mac and iOS, just got its big version 19 update. It brings full mouse and trackpad support on iPad, as well as a number of neat improvements to things like keywords and Files integration.
It also boasts a new feature dubbed Material sheets, which allows you to mark sheets you’ve used for brainstorming and research, and have them excluded from counters, goals, and exports.
Amazing Darkroom photo app now does video
Darkroom, one of the best photo library and editing apps on iOS, is now also one of the best video library and editing apps on iOS. In today’s update, Darkroom adds support for editing your videos. Not cutting and chopping them up, like iMove, but changing how they look, as if you were applying filters and edits to a still photograph. And the along thing is, it’s instant, just as fast as editing a still image.
Facebook Messenger Kids expands its reach, adds new features
Facebook Messenger Kids, the free chat app designed specifically for your little ones, on Wednesday expanded its reach to more than 70 new markets and added a number of helpful new features.
It’s now possible for parents to give kids control over their contacts (if they wish), and for kids to join approved groups. The changes come at a time when many children are out of school and unable to see friends.
Facebook beta reveals hidden dark mode for iPhone and iPad
A new beta version of the Facebook app for iOS contains hidden resources that suggest a dark mode is on its way to iPhone and iPad.
The feature is expected to work in tandem with the system-wide dark mode settings on iOS for automatic activation and deactivation, but users should be able to toggle it manually, too.
WhatsApp starts pushing out increased group call limit for all
WhatsApp has begun rolling out a big increase to its group call limit that will make it easier to keep in touch with colleagues and loved ones while stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s now possible to have voice and video calls with up to eight people. The change comes just days after code hinting at a new limit was spotted in an early WhatsApp beta release.
The best health-tracking, groovebox-integrating and home-automating apps this week
This week we switch on our lights with a tap of the iPhone, customize our Finder’s menus, track our health with HealthChampion and more.
Steam Link for iOS picks up mouse and keyboard support … kind of
Steam Link for iPhone and iPad just got a big update that adds mouse and keyboard support for the first time. Don’t get too excited just yet, however. While direct mouse input is available, it’s not ideal for many game genres just yet.
WhatsApp may increase group call limit to help keep us connected
Seeing friends and family in person just isn’t possible during a global pandemic, so WhatsApp could be making some changes to ensure that we can still have face-to-face contact (via a screen) without leaving our homes.
Changes in the app’s latest beta release suggest the limit for group audio and video calls will soon increase. It currently allows for just four participants at any one time, while others — like Facebook Messenger — can support up to 50.
TikTok bolsters parental controls with new Family Pairing feature
TikTok on Thursday rolled out its new Family Pairing feature that gives parents greater control over kids’ accounts in the U.S. It’s now possible to set screen time limits, disable direct messaging, and more.
Apple adds local information to its COVID-19 iPhone app
Apple updated its COVID-19 screening application for iPhone with information from each U.S. state’s health department to help users know what’s expected in their area.
This fits with the goal of Apple’s app — giving people resources to stay informed on steps they can take to protect their health during the coronavirus outbreak.
Outrun is a beautiful, privacy-first iPhone running app
Outrun is a privacy-focused run-tracking app that integrates with the Health app. (It’s also a seminal arcade racing game from 1986, but that’s not what we’re talking about today.) The Outrun running app is a great alternative to all those running and cycling apps that upload and/or sell your data to anyone who wants it, or drive you crazy with ads. Or both.