Top 10 iOS apps have grown 1000% in size in 4 years

Installing the ten most popular apps on iOS was something that, back in 2013, required 200MB; four years later, installing these same apps requires 2GB.

Uber app wants to track your location at all times

If you don't appreciate apps and services taking too many liberties when it comes to gathering data about you, you certainly won't like Uber's latest update, which wants to track you even if you're not using the app.

ES File Explorer for Android turns into adware

The technique of acquiring a popular app just to push ads (or malware) into thousands or millions of users is nothing new, and it sadly got to ES File Explorer as well, turning a recommended app into one you should avoid at all costs.

Overcast goes free on the App Store

If you're tired of using Apple's podcast app, you'll like to know that Overcast for iOS is now completely free to use.

The mischievous app sizes on the App Store

If you're constantly struggling to have some free space on your smartphone, you may like to know that not everything is at it seems regarding the app sizes, and small apps can gobble up much more space than advertised.

KeyMe App allows you to Copy Keys in

The old "there's an app for that" can now be used once again should you be prone to losing your house keys or find yourself frequently locked out of your home. The KeyMe app allows you to simply clone any key by simply taking a picture of your keys.

While you can't have the duplicate key right away (maybe a portable 3D printer embedded in your smartphone will allow you to do that in the not so distant future), you can simply have the keys delivered to your home, or drive to your nearest locksmith and ask them for a code cut key with the code the app shows you.

I can't really say if I would be comfortable having my key info in my smartphone (and stored in the cloud)... But when we consider we probably have lots of other valuable information in our emails, online bank accounts, etc. already stored and accessible via our smartphones... I think it might be just a false sense of security.

Also worth mentioning, most of these common locks can be easily opened by anyone with minor lock picking training / or no training whatsoever if they have the right tools. So... maybe it's time we just learn to live with the way things are, make our best to keep things safe - but keeping in mind that if someone is willing to put the time and the effort to get them, they'll probably will.

Osito is a Google Now for iPhone

It's hard not to be amazed by Google Now. Without any intervention Google Now keeps you up to date on the latest news, weather conditions, your friends birthdays, alerts you to traffic conditions on your daily commute, and even reminds you when it's time to leave so you get to your appointments on time - all this only when you need it. But... if that's the case for Android users, iPhone user have been left out in the cold until now. Google may not yet have launched a Google Now for iOS, but you get most of it by using this Osito.

This free App does most of what Google Now does, and... well... it's free - so give it a try. It has very clean-looking info panels, and its developers aim to go even further, opening up an API so it can interact with other services. For instance, in the future you might be able to to what its creators already did: turning up the lights whenever they get to the office.

Beat that Google Now...

[via Verge]

iPad Status Board App

Ever wished to turn your iPad into a fully customized status board showing all kinds of info? Now you can, thanks to the Status Board App. Sure you could try and code yourself some fancy dynamic HTML5 web page, host it somewhere, and use you iPad browser to display it. But why go through all that trouble (in case you do know what you're doing) when you can do it in a much simpler drag-and-drop fashion - but still retaining full control of advanced customizations should you chose to do so?

Using this app you can easily chose the built-in panels to show data from your calendar, tweets, e-mail, weather, news, and more. You can also use the pro panels, where you have components like Graph and Table, which you can customize and display data from JSON, CSV, and HTML data - or even design your own components in HTML

When you have everything in place, you can easily share your dashboard with others, or display it in an external display via HDMI or AirPlay ( formatted specifically for HDTV's so you don't get letterboxing).

[Status Board at the App Store]

Cycloramic Makes your iPhone Spin 360º

Ever found your cellphone slowly moving across a tablet when it's vibrating? Now we have an iPhone App that puts that same principle in use to make it spin around and capture a 360º video: Cycloramic.

It sure will be an excellent way to impress your friends, as most won't believe that a standing iPhone will be able to "vibrate" itself around so perfectly - which by itself might be worth the $0.99 they're asking for it.

As for any practical uses, I think it would make much more sense if it was able to capture a panoramic photo instead of a 360º (or less) video pan - captured in portrait mode to make it even less usable. Maybe they'll update it in the future, but as of now, its value is purely as a "novelty" that can impress people.


[via LAtime]

Apple App Store Increases App Prices in Europe

Bad news for most european customers. Apple has decided to bump up its app price tiers in the App Store and the prices we used to know are now... gone.

The app base price of 0,79€ now goes yp to 0,89€ - a 12.6% raise; but that can get even higher, like the 10.49€ apps that will now cost 13.99€ (33% more!).

Here are some tbefore-after prices.

• 0,79 € | 0,89 €
• 1,59 € | 1,79 €
• 2,39 € | 2,69 €
• 3,99 € | 4,49 €
• 7,99 € | 8,99 €
• 10,49 € | 13,99 €
• 19,99 € | 21,99 €
• 29,99 € | 38,99 €
• 49,99 € € | 59,99 €
• 89,99 € € | 99,99 €

In the USA, the prices have remained unchanged so far, and we have to keep in mind that in Europe, the comission Apple charges the developers is already a heftier 40% (while in the US it's 30% - at least for now.)

Although I don't think this will have a huge lasting impact on customers, other than the first initial "shocked" reaction, as they adjust to the new prices ranges... it's quite odd that Apple has decided to tweak this at this time, when the economic crisis is forcing so many people to save all the cents they can save.

Twitter Launches new App for iOS and Android

Besides the new iPad Google+ App, today we're also getting the new Twitter Apps for iOS and Android. Apps that we we're already expecting for the past couple of days due to leaked information, but that now are up for grabs by everyone.

What's new?


Expand Tweets
Tweets with links to supported/recognized content will now be show directly in yout timeline. This includes photos from various online services, as well as videos from vimeo, and even Kickstarter projects. This new experience will roll out gradually to web, iPhone and Android users.


Experience events
Now you can discover the best Tweets and photos for events experiences like twitter.com/#NASCAR on your iPhone. Now, Twitter for iPhone complements any live event, whether you’re watching from home or from the stands.

Search simply
Twitter made some improvements in search autocomplete (major improvements they say) so that you will see more suggestions when you search for people. As before, you can search for real names or @usernames before you complete your query.

Receive notifications
You can now receive push notifications from people you follow whenever they send a new Tweet or Retweet; turn on push notifications for Tweets for any user via the action button on their profile, and edit these notifications in your account settings on your device.


You can get the Twitter Apps here.


(P.S. I still can't get over one tiny little detail that annoys me a lot. The minimum font size of 14pt. Thanks to this limitation, I can see just about 4 tweets per screen on the iPhone - and with "oversized" characters. For reference, using Echofon I can set it to 12pt fonts, and get up to 6 tweets per screen, while still plainly readable - in fact, I wish I could get the font size down to 10pt or maybe even less. Would it be so hard to allow it on Twitter official app?)

Portuguese Airports App for iPhone

If you're thinking of flying to Portugal, I have very good news for you: the official Portuguese Airports App for iPhone has just been launched, and is probably the best I've seen of the kind!

Update: it's also available for Android.

Giving you access to information regarding the Lisbon, Oporto, Faro, Beja and Azores airports, this App not only presents valuable information - but does so with a beautiful (and easy to use) design.

This ANA Portuguese Airports is definitely worth a spot on any traveler's iPhone. :)

ANA puts the airport in your hand so that you may travel with greater enjoyment and less stress. Now you will be able to check your flight status and view information about your destination or transport options to and from the airport. Plan your journey, gain time with online services, and enjoy the solutions that we have created for you.

YOUR FLIGHT
Check arrivals and departures, and receive flight notifications. Locate your check-in counter, departure gate or where to collect your luggage. You can also check the weather at your destination or contact your airline.

PLAN YOUR JOURNEY
Find out about transport or parking options and other airport services and facilities. Keep up to date with news. You will also find useful contacts for everything you need.

EXPLORE
Discover the shopping, eating and leisure options available at your airport.