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

Rise, an alarm clock app optimized for both the iPhone and iPad, has been named Apple's App of the Week and can now be downloaded for free. The app distinguishes itself from the stock Clock app found on iOS in that it allows for the user to set alarms with dragging gestures and also features the ability to set alarms with individual audio from a device’s library or an iTunes playlist. The...

Google has updated its Google Play Books app, adding support for both rental books and textbooks, which were added today to the Google Play Store. Textbooks can be rented or purchased via the website, and then accessed in the iOS app itself. Once added to a personal book list on the website, the textbooks will show up in the app, though they will be displayed in the same section as regular...

Roku has updated its iOS app to version 2.3.0, allowing users to broadcast videos from their iPhones to their Roku players. Previously, the app limited its "Play on Roku" sharing, which works somewhat similarly to Apple's AirPlay, to photos and music. The app's new video sharing capability only works with video that was captured using the iPhone and saved to the photo library; it does not work ...

Rdio today announced a new and improved Station function, offering radio stations that include a number of personalization features. For example, users are able to listen to stations that have been created based on personal and friend preference, and the whole system is designed to facilitate better music discovery. With the update to Stations, Rdio has also included You FM, which uses Taste...

Google is now showing ads in the Android and iOS versions of its Google Maps app. Google is calling them "relevant ads" and they will appear at the bottom of the screen following a search.As The Next Web notes, Google believes the new ads will be "more attractive for users and more effective for advertisers".Relevant ads on the Google Maps app can now appear at the bottom of the screen after...

AgileBits is currently offering a significant discount on the iOS version of its secure password management app 1Password in order to encourage users who are still accessing the older version of the software to upgrade. Because Dropbox is disabling support for an API that facilitates syncing in version 3 of 1Password, the Dropbox sync functionality of that app will cease to function as of...

Following yesterday's anti-iPad Surface RT ad, Microsoft today released another new advertisement, this time targeting Apple's iPad mini. In the spot, Microsoft compares the mini to the 8-inch Acer Iconia W3 tablet, which runs the full version of Windows 8. The ad returns to using a Siri voiceover to poke fun at the mini while demonstrating the similarities between the two tablets. Microsoft...

Disney has launched “Disney Animated” for iOS, an interactive app that encompasses the history of animation and technology for all 53 films by the company. The app includes features such as interactive animations that feature Disney characters and the ability to zoom in on concept art and backgrounds to see intricate details. Also, the app allows users to animate a character from Wreck-It-Ralph ...

KeyMe, a house key data and key replication app, has launched today for iOS, helping users keep secure virtual copies of their keys even in the event that their original keys are lost. The app includes features such as the ability for users to scan in virtualized photos of keys on their phone using the camera, as well data storage of specific house key characteristics to make locksmith...

AVOS Systems, a company led by YouTube co-founders Chad Hurley and Steven Chen, has launched MixBit, a new social video service for iOS. The app includes features such as the ability to record 16-second clips known as "bits" and allows users mix as many as 256 bits into one video, as well as the capability to remix video clips shared by other users. The app also allows users to record video by...

Bloomberg reports that Apple this week will ask a U.S. appeals court to forbid sales of specific Samsung mobile devices that were found in violation of various Apple patents by a California jury last year. These models include phones such as the Galaxy S2 and the Droid Charge, as well as tablets like the Galaxy Tab, although most of the devices have already been removed from the market by...

T-Mobile revealed today in its Q2 2013 results that it had sold a total of 4.3 million smartphones in the quarter, with iPhone sales accounting for 29% of the carrier's new and upgrade sales since its launch early in the quarter. The company announced an addition of 1.1 million new customers to the network, an improvement of 1.3 million additions from the year ago quarter, and also announced that ...

BeaverTap Games, the studio behind the popular platformer Mikey Shorts, has today released a second game, Mikey Hooks. Mikey Hooks incorporates the platform-style gameplay of Mikey Shorts, but adds an intuitive grappling hook mechanic. As with the previous game, the goal is to get through each level as quickly as possible to earn three stars, which often means multiple plays of every stage to...

Instagram today announced a significant update that allows users to import video from the camera roll. Previously, Instagram Video restricted uploads to videos captured within the app, but now users will be able to use the standard iPhone Camera app along with other third party apps to record video that can then be uploaded to the site. The feature will also allow users to upload video taken at...

Apple has posted a notice on its System Status page that some iTunes Store users "may be unable to make purchases". The company has not provided any further details, nor an estimate for when it will be repaired.No other Apple services are currently affected, however.Update: Apple is now reporting that the outages have extended to the App Store, Mac App Store, and iBookstore, as well as...

Oculus VR, the company behind the highly anticipated virtual reality gaming headset Oculus Rift, has announced that legendary game programmer John Carmack is joining the team as Chief Technology Officer. Carmack co-founded id Software, where he has led development of a number of popular gaming franchises, including Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake. He will remain with id Software, although Oculus...

Vodafone, the world’s second largest mobile carrier, has announced that it will begin a 4G network rollout in the United Kingdom on August 29. The company has said that service will begin in London and will expand to twelve more cities within the UK by the end of the year, and is claiming that it will have 98% indoor coverage across the UK within the next few years. Price plans will begin at...

Boston-based company Boundless Learning has launched an app for iOS devices that enables users to look for alternative electronic versions of curriculum assigned textbooks. The app includes features such as offline browsing and cross-platform integration with desktop computers, as well as other features such as in line search and in app purchases that offer interactive study material to accompany ...