MacRumors iPhone and iPad Blog: Apps, News, and Rumors

There are a number of Markdown-based apps that are designed to facilitate simple writing and text editing on the iPad, including options like iA Writer and Byword. Editorial, from developer Ole Zorn, is another app that falls into this category, but in addition to offering many of the features of the aforementioned text editing apps, it also includes an array of useful scripting and automation ...

News of Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition for the iPad first hit in March of 2012 and was followed by a December 2012 release. After being in the App Store for six months, the game was pulled over a contractual dispute between Overhaul Games (a division of Beamdog), and Atari, who had requested the game’s removal from the App Store. It appears the dispute has been resolved and the game...

Finish, the Apple Design Award-winning to-do app created by a pair of 16-year-old developers, has today received a significant update that adds a host of new features that were requested by users, including a much desired Task-by-Task time setting option that allows users to set times for tasks. In addition, version 2.0 of the app allows users to add notes to tasks, activate a "Bother Me"...

ESPN has updated its WatchESPN app with new support for split-screen viewing of content. For example, users could watch a live stream of one of ESPN's many channels while simultaneously pulling up some on-demand video content or live sports scores.The feature is exclusive to newer iPads and the iPad mini currently, but will be coming to other devices like the Apple TV and Xbox in the future.Al...

A newly-published patent application from Apple (via AppleInsider) describes a method to allow users to "gift" media content purchased via iTunes and from their own libraries to other users through near-field communication (NFC), suggesting that the technology may eventually find a way onto iOS devices in the near future. The patent, which was filed back in March of this year and stretches over a ...

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today published an Apple patent application (via AppleInsider) covering an idea for flexible headphone connectors to avoid plug breakage and accidental equipment damage – a common complaint of many users. The patent application, which was first filed back in June 2011 and lists Albert Golko, an iPhone and iPad product development engineering manager at Apple,...

Augmented reality service Layar has released an update for its iOS app today, bringing a complete redesign to the app as well as the ability to archive AR content for later viewing. The app also includes an integrated QR code scanner and a refined Geo Layer interface that allows the user to find points of interest within a physical location. Scan print materials enhanced with Layar to view...

According to market research firm IHS iSuppli (via CNET), production levels for displays destined for this year’s upcoming iPad mini are set to be on par with those of last year’s model. The firm also believes that this year’s iPad mini will feature a high-resolution Retina display, something that has been highly rumored for the upcoming device. "Based [what] we are seeing in the [production] ...

Ginger Labs launched a major update to its iOS note-taking app Notability today that includes universal compatibility with both the iPhone and iPad, as well as iCloud support for syncing and viewing between devices. The update also adds features such as cosmetic user interface changes and a new scissor tool for scaling and rotating. Welcome to Notability, the best-selling note-taking app on...

News aggregator Digg has launched an update to its iOS app, bringing new features such as a “Popular” section that sorts feeds by popularity, as well as a setting to see only unread items in feed views. The update also adds integration with article formatting service Readability, as well as the ability to delete feeds and folders directly from the app. From Digg's official blog:Our new iOS...

Photos from the winners of the sixth annual iPhone Photography Awards have been posted on the IPPA website, displaying some of the best pictures taken with an iPhone over the course of the past year. The photo subjects range from portraits of animals and people to landscapes, with the first place photo depicting a close-up shot of a horse. The second and third place photos were taken during a...

Streaming media device use has doubled since 2011, with 14% of U.S. broadband households using products like the Apple TV or the Roku in 2013, reports Parks Associates (via CNET). While the Apple TV has increased in popularity over the last several years, it falls short of competing product Roku. A survey of 10,000 U.S. broadband households revealed that 37% used a Roku device while 24% used...

Apple has just announced via its App Store Facebook page that PopCap’s much-anticipated Plants vs. Zombies 2 app for iOS will be released on Thursday, August 15. "It's about time," reads the announcement above a photo of a PvZ-style zombie hand reaching out of the dirt. "Guess what game is coming tomorrow?" While Plants vs. Zombies 2 was originally meant to launch on July 18, PopCap opted ...

According to a new report from research firm Canalys, Android tablets have only a portion of the quality apps that are available on Apple's iPad. 30 of the top 100 paid and free apps in Apple's iPad App Store during the first half of 2013 were unavailable in the Google Play store. An additional 18 apps could be downloaded, but were not optimized for tablet users. Only 52 of the 100 top App...

Orbotix has announced Version 2.0 of its robotic iOS-controlled ball Sphero. The upgraded Sphero is reportedly twice as fast -- capable of rolling at 7 feet per second -- and three times as bright, with more LEDs and colors.The device also includes two ramps in the box for greater trickery, as well as an optional 'Nubby' cover ($15) for outdoor use.The first Sphero was originally released...

The latest earnings report by Tencent, a Chinese Internet giant, has revealed that the cross-platform instant messaging service WeChat and its counterpart Weixin have hit a combined high of 235.8 million users monthly, an increase of 176.8% year-on-year. WeChat's usage figure is just shy of that of WhatsApp, which exceeded 300 million monthly users last month and is currently the world's most...

Following its announcement a couple of weeks ago, British carrier O2 has now detailed the costs of its 4G tariffs on its website, with airtime plans starting from £22 (around $34) monthly. The plans, which all include unlimited calling minutes and texts to any British network, include either 1 GB, 3 GB or 5 GB of data, with extra available to users who sign up before the end of October.Customers...

iPhone-enabled home monitoring solution Canary has just hit $1.25 million in funding on startup campaign site Indiegogo, raising well over its intended goal of $100,000. The project is on track to become the most successful crowd-funded home product ever, and has received pre-orders from 67 countries in the world. The $1.25 million commitment marks a stretch goal for project that will enable...