Yelp updated with local movie listings, in-app ticket purchasing, and more

Yelp has posted a nice little update for its iOS client today. The update, which brings the app to version 7.4, sports a number of new features including movie listings and in-app movie ticket purchasing courtesy of Fandango.

Also new in the app is in-line review business photos. Yelp now shows business photos taken by Yelp users next to their review, so you can get a better idea of how popular a club is, or how delicious a particular entree was…

Here’s the full 7.4 change log:

- We’re now showing business photos from Yelpers next to their reviews. No more needing to imagine just how decadent the dessert was or how hoppin’ the club was, just take a look!
- We’re also now showing current movie listings and showtimes at your local theater. Thanks to our friends at Fandango, you can purchase your ticket right from the page. So stop stalling and go see the new Hobbit movie, we know you want to.
- Happy holidays from the Yelp Mobile team!

Yelp has been making some major moves with its service, and subsequently its mobile app, over the past several months. In November, it added a new SeatMe feature for making reservations at popular food and drink locations.

If you’d like to check out the new Yelp app, you can find the latest version in the App Storefor free.

Apple seeds iOS 7.1 beta 2 to developers: here is what’s new

Apple has released the second beta of iOS 7.1 to registered developers this afternoon. The update, which carries the build number 11D5115D, can be downloaded via Apple’s developer center.

Today’s release comes nearly a month after the first beta, which brought about only a handful of changes including a new ‘ dark keyboard’ feature, and other small tweaks and improvements…

The beta is available for compatible iPhone, iPad and iPod touch models. We’re installing it ourselves, and will be reporting back with any new stuff we find. So make sure to check back with us.

As always, we welcome you to let us know if you find anything that we may have missed by either e-mailing us at tips@idownloadblog.com, or leaving us a comment regarding the change below.

What’s new in iOS 7.1 beta 2

As we continue to dig through the new information in iOS 7.1 beta 2, we’ll be listing any major changes we find below:

Thanks juggernaut!

• Animations are noticeably faster
• Settings for Touch ID and Passcode have been bumped up to main menu
• List view in Calendar has been redesigned
• New option to turn on button shapes in iOS
• Option to enable ‘dark keyboard’ has been removed
• New iPad wallpapers

Twitter 6.0 is out with new design, DM photo-sharing and more

Twitter has updated its official iOS client today, bringing the app to version 6.0. The update is a fairly significant one, bringing about a new look and feel for the app, as well as photo-sharing for direct messages, improved search and more.

The new look pushes the UI of the Twitter app further into iOS 7 territory. There’s more white spacing—the menu bar at the bottom is now all white— and texts and graphics seem flatter. And Twitter has added various other enhancements…

Here’s the 6.0 change log:

New design.
- Refreshed look and feel. Home, Activity and Discover now available by swiping in Timelines. Easier access to DMs.
Share photos in Direct Messages.
- Send and receive photos via DMs.
Notifications from your network.
- Choose to view replies, retweets, and favorites from only the people that you follow.
Search got even easier.
- Access tweets from people you follow and near you, directly from search results.
Safari Reading List support
- Save web articles to read later with Safari Reading List

I actual really like the design tweaks Twitter has made today, and I especially like that they’ve simplified the menu bar. Where as before it read Home-Connect-Discover-Me, now it reads Timelines-Notifications-Messages-Me. Much more clear.

Square introduces new card reader developed by Apple’s Lightning plug designer

Square unveiled a new version of its Square Reader accessory today, which is used to input credit and debit cards into the Square app. It says the new Reader is roughly 45% thinner than its predecessor, and is more accurate at reading cards thanks to its new design.

But what makes the new device really interesting is who designed it. According to a report from Wired, Square’s new ultra-thin card reader was developed by a team led by Jesse Dorogusker—a former Director of Engineering at Apple and developer of the Lightningplug…

Here’s Wired’s Kyle VanHemert in a profile about designing the new Square Reader:

“Jesse Dorogusker is used to working tiny. Before becoming Square’s VP of Hardware, he spent eight years leading the accessories division at Apple, heading the development of the works-both-ways Lightning connector. With the new Reader, he had the chance to take a crack at a flagship product.”

VanHemert goes on to explain how Dorogusker and his team were able to create the new Reader that was both slimmer and more accurate than beforet. The process is interesting, and actually sounds a lot like what Dorogusker did at Apple with the Lightning connector.

If you’re interested, the new Square Reader can be purchased online and in retail stores beginning in January or you can grab it for free now from Square’s website. And of course you’ll need the corresponding app, Square Register, to use it, which is free from the App Store.

For information on Jesse Dorogusker and the design process behind the new Reader, click here.

Amazon’s Cloud Drive Photos app updated with iPad support, video playback and more

Folks who use Amazon’s Cloud Drive service will be happy to hear that it has posted a significant update for its iOS Photos client this afternoon. The update, which brings the app to version 2.0, adds native iPad support, video playback and other improvements.

Here’s the 2.0 change log:

• Native support for iPad and iPad mini
• Protect your personal videos in your Cloud Drive
• Upload or download video up to 2GB or 20 minutes in length
• Playback saved video streamed instantly to any device
• Crash and bug fixes

Amazon introduced the Cloud Drive Photos app in May of this year, as a way of making it easier for iOS users to upload their photos and videos to their Cloud Drive accounts. It also allows them to view these files, as there’s no official Cloud Drive iOS client yet.

Of course you’ll need a Cloud Drive account to take advantage of this app, and if you don’t already have one, Amazon is giving away 5GB of storage for free. For those that do have one, you’ll want to grab this update, which you can find in the App Store for free.

Google revamps mobile News site with new design, improved navigation and more

Google today announced that it’s making a number of new changes to its mobile Google News site. Well, the changes have already been made, and News readers on Android and iOS devices should start seeing them over the next few days.

Among the changes are an improved overall look-and-feel, making it easier to read and track separate stories, and the ability to customize the web application by changing the theme from light to dark, adjusting the font size, and more…

Here are the full release notes from Google’s blog (via 9to5Mac):

“Here are just some of the highlights:

• Improved overall look-and-feel making it easier to read and track separate stories.
• Ability to customize the webapp to suit your taste by changing the theme from light to dark, the font size and opting for a larger “story card” with more information per story at your fingertips (from the Settings menu, at top right).
• Simplified navigation to any section within News; just click on the Google News icon (top left) to see a list of available sections (including any custom sections you created).
• Easier integration with Google Feedback located in the menu at the top right.

Additionally we have ensured that some favorite desktop features have been included such as:

• A weather gadget in the Local section.
• The popular “Editors Picks” option.
• Social posts from Google + related to the story are included in the article cluster.

All of this can be accessed by visiting news.google.com from the Chrome/Safari browser on your iOS or Android device. Google says that it’s launching in the United States first and plans to bring the same experience to all international editions soon.

Plex app updated with new look for iOS 7

Plex for iOS has been updated with an all new design taking cues from iOS 7. As expected, translucency, new buttons and icons are at the heart of this update, which doesn’t really bring anything new in terms of features, besides a new player for music and videos and the ability to detect URLs on the clipboard for quick queuing to myPlex.

This update also brings the usual performance and stability improvements that are to be expected.

The app is a free upgrade for existing users. For everybody else, it is available in the App Store for $4.99.

Yelp updated with new SeatMe feature for making restaurant reservations

Folks looking to take advantage of the holidays this week by venturing out to their favorite eating spots may want to check out the latest version of Yelp. The iOS client was updated today with a new feature that allows you to make restaurant reservations from within the app.

The new feature is the direct result of Yelp’s summer acquisition of SeatMe, a tech start-up that developed a solution for making online reservations at popular food and drink locations, and reduces the friction between discovering a great place on Yelp and experiencing it…

From the official Yelp blog:

You may recall that SeatMe joined the Yelp family back in July and now we’re excited to introduce the ability to book SeatMe reservations directly from a restaurant or nightlife venue’s Yelp listing! The feature is available online and on iOS and Android…

…Since waiting in line isn’t your favorite thing to do (just guessing, but pretty sure I’m right), whip out Yelp and nab a reso before you head out. Now instead of just drooling over the review highlights for Oakland, CA hot spot Hopscotch (duck fat chips and sweet potato gnocchi?!) you can take your fantasizing to the next level and snag a reservation on the spot.

Even if you’re not a foodie, SeatMe can help you plan a night out. Yelp says that 20% of SeatMe venues are bars and lounges so you can reserve a seat or a bar table at your favorite watering hole. In the iOS app, making a reservation is very quick—only took me a couple of taps.

It looks like this SeatMe feature is going to replace Yelp’s integration with OpenTable. The two companies were definitely competitors before the buyout, and in today’s blog post, Yelp’s Alex Kvamme noted that bars and restaurants “love SeatMe” because of their flat fee structure.

At any rate, you can grab the latest version of the Yelp app for iPhone and iPad in the App Store for free. Also, keep in mind that SeatMe isn’t available for all locations yet.

Amazon app redesigned for iOS 7

Just in time for the holidays, Amazon has redesigned its iPhone and iPad app for iOS 7. The update comes a week before Black Friday—the beginning of the biggest shopping weekend of the year for most retailers.

The app gives users virtually full access to the ecommerce giant’s staggering selection of products, which ranges from electronics to clothes, and everything in between. And now it looks right at home on iOS 7 devices…

I love the new look of the app, and find it easier to browse and locate things. But I also like the design of iOS 7. For those who don’t like the new “white space” design trend, you’re probably not going to like this either.

Amazon also mentions that bug fixes are included in today’s update, so unless you absolutely hate the new look, it’s probably worth upgrading. You can find the latest version of the Amazon App in the App Store for free.

Tweetbot for Mac updated with quick notification replies, smoother scrolling

Tapbots has updated Tweetbot for Mac this afternoon, bringing the app to version 1.4. The update brings about the ability for OS X Mavericks users to reply to tweets or direct messages, directly from notifications.

The new app also includes a number of other welcome improvements as well, such as smoother scrolling (10.9 only) and faster refreshing on lists and saved searches. And as usual, there are a flurry of bug fixes…

Here is the full 1.4 change log:

- Smoother Scrolling (10.9 only)
- You can now reply to tweets/DMs from the notification itself (10.9 only)
- Lists and saved searches now refresh every 2 minutes instead of 4
- Fixed the issue where you’d see ‘Please enable wifi’ when fetching your location while composing a tweet
- Fixed the issue where searching your timeline, then scrolling to top then dismissing search field could move your timeline to the top
- Fixed a potential issue where app could hang when using secondary windows
- Fixed a few issues on 10.7
- Various bug fixes and improvements for 10.9

For me, the new quick notification reply feature is huge. It works just like it does with iMessage or email: tapping on an appropriate Tweetbot notification allows you to ‘quick reply’ without having to open the app.

I also instantly noticed how much smoother the scrolling is. In fact the entire app feels better. Again, much of this is only for OS X Mavericks users. But for those that are, who use Tweetbot, this update is a no-brainer.

Twitter for iOS updated with new search filters and more

Twitter has updated its official iOS client this evening, bringing the app to version 5.13. The update includes improvements for Search and Discover tabs, making it easier to find the content you’re looking for.

Among these improvements are new search filters, which will allow you to quickly navigate to specific people and tweets, and toggle between relevant tweets and ‘top tweets.’ Full release notes are after the fold…

What’s new in version 5.13:

Find exactly what you’re looking for.
•Search results now show content that is filtered to the type of moments you want.
See what’s trending on TV and close by to you. 
•After you’ve browsed through all trends in Discover, you’ll see additional trends about both TV and local content.
Better login verification.
•Take a screenshot of your verification backup code when you enroll or generate a new one

The new search filters work just as you’d expect them to, making it easier than ever to find what you’re looking for. And I imagine the new ‘nearby’ trending timeline could be cool at concerts or pro sporting events.

It’s tough for me because yeah, Twitter is doing some cool stuff with its official iOS app, but the UI just doesn’t measure up to third party apps like Tweetbot or Twitterrific. It’s too busy for me, and tough to follow.

At any rate, if you’d like to check out today’s update, you can find the latest version of Twitter for iOS in the App Store for free. And if you’re not yet, be sure to follow iDownloadBlog on Twitter by clicking here.

MapQuest app finds relevance again with beautiful iOS 7 redesign

When the subject of the best iOS maps app comes up, typically you’ll only hear a few names mentioned. There’s Apple Maps, which is the most popular by default, and Google Maps, and then a mix of Waze, HopStop and other user favorites.

But today, MapQuest has thrown its name back into the conversation with its major 4.0 update. The app has been completely rebuilt from the ground up (apparently a 9-month endeavor) with an all-new look, and several handy new features…

Here are the release notes:

Beautifully redesigned for iOS7, version 4.0 incorporates the useful features you need into precise vector maps to help you get where you need to go.

Version 4.0 boasts:

• Exquisite, eye-catching map styling – Our map now offers sharper detail and is much easier to read
• Traffic conditions on route – Your route turns red (heavy) or yellow (some brake lights) to keep you informed of live traffic conditions
• Custom home/work bookmarking – Bookmark your home and work addresses so no matter where you are, you can find your way to either at the push of a button
• Road alerts – Get alerted to toll roads and seasonal road closures on your route
• Sharing – Keep friends and family in the loop by sharing your location
• Audio mute capabilities – Select the audio mute option to turn off voice-guided directions while enjoying music or making a phone call
• Advanced search capabilities – Locate your destination faster when you search

Initial feedback for the update has been very positive. The new high resolution vector maps are gorgeous, the menus are easy to navigate, and with features like ‘Layers,’ you can see nearby gas stations, restaurants, and more with just a single tap.

I obviously haven’t had time to test out its accuracy—which is perhaps the most important feature in a maps app—but if it works half as good as it looks, it should be fine. MapQuest isfree in the App Store, but you’ll need a $4 IAP to get rid of the ads.

Have you tried the new MapQuest app yet? What do you think?

Apple releases iTunes 11.1.3 with performance improvements

Apple has released an update for iTunes this afternoon, bringing the software to version 11.1.3. Don’t get too excited though, it appears to just be a maintenance release with a handful of improvements.

Those improvements include a fix for a known issue where the equalizer may not work as expected, as well as enhanced performance when switching views in large iTunes libraries and other bug fixes…

Here are the release notes for iTunes 11.1.3:

This version of iTunes resolves an issue where the equalizer may not work as expected and improves performance when switching views in large iTunes libraries. This update also includes additional minor bug fixes. 

Note: If you are using OS X Mavericks, your book library can now be found in iBooks for Mac.

For information on the security content of this update, please visit:support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.

Folks looking to grab the newest version of iTunes can find it either via the Mac App Store’s ‘Updates’ tab, or as a direct download on our Downloads page.

Flipboard gets iOS 7 makeover, new text settings, and more in 2.1 update

Flipboard fans will be happy to hear that the app finally got its proper iOS 7 update, bringing the client to version 2.1. The update brings about a ‘fresh, modern look and feel,’ in-line with Apple’s recent firmware release, and several other improvements.

Among them are speed and performance enhancements across all devices, meaning the app should feel noticeably faster on your iPhone and iPad. There’s also a new feature that allows you to change text size, on-screen alerts for new feed items, and more…

Here are the release notes for version 2.1:

This release is all about performance and polish just in time for the new iPad Air and iPad Mini.

- Speed and performance enhancements throughout. Everything is just faster on all devices.
- Fresh, modern iOS 7 look and feel.
- Ability to change text size settings in the app.
- More section tiles added to the first page on iPhone 5 and 5S.
- On screen alert when there are new items in a feed.
- Dozens of bug fixes and detailed updates.

Feedback is always welcome. Please contact support@flipboard.com with any issues or suggestions. Thank you for using Flipboard.

Flipboard’s last major update, version 2.0, came in March of this year and added the ability to create and share custom magazines, user notifications, and more. And last month, the social news reader announced that it had passed the 90 million user mark.

To grab the latest version of Flipboard for iPhone and iPad, click here (free). And if you’re not already following iDB in the app, be sure to check out our quick tutorial on how to do so.

New Remote app icon surfaces in App Store’s ‘Designed for iOS 7′ section

Last week we reported that a redesigned Remote app icon had been spotted in iTunes, suggesting that the app would be getting its long-awaited iOS 7 makeover sometime soon. But we have yet to see that happen.

That doesn’t mean we aren’t close though. Today, more evidence of an impending update surfaced by way of a similarly-new Remote icon appearing in the Columbian App Store’s ‘Designed for iOS 7′ section…

MacRumors, who was first to spot the icon, says the promo is only ‘occasionally visible’ on the Colombian App Store. But still, combined with the previous sighting, it seems like a strong indication of a coming refresh.

The Remote app, which iOS device owners can use to control their Apple TVs and iTunes libraries, is one of Apple’s few remaining apps that have yet to receive an update for the redesigned iOS 7 operating system.

Other Apple-made apps awaiting updates are Find My Friends, iTunes U and surprisingly, iBooks. We’ll obviously let you know as soon as these hit. Until then, Remote is available in the App Store for free.

Tweetbot 3 is out with all-new design for iOS 7

Popular Twitter client Tweetbot has finally received its iOS 7 update this afternoon. A week after Tapbots announced that the new app had been sent off to Apple and was awaiting approval from the App Team, Tweetbot 3 has arrived.

As expected, Tweetbot 3 has been completely redesigned from the ground up for iOS 7—as you can see in the screenshot above, it looks nothing like its predecessor. And also as expected, the brand new app comes with a new price tag…

Here are the release notes:

Tweetbot is a full-featured Twitter client that’s fast, beautiful, and redesigned from the ground up for iOS7. Tweetbot has slimmed down to look and feel more like iOS7 and has also gained a lot of charm and speed in the process. Prepare to fall in love with your favorite Twitter client all over again.

Brief Highlights:

- Completely redesigned from the ground up for iOS7.
- Native Push Notifications.
- Mute filters lets you block messages from users without unfollowing them. Mute services, hashtags, people, and even keywords (regex included).
- Sync timeline position, direct message read statuses and mute filters between iPhone, iPad, and the Mac via iCloud or Tweetmarker.
- Customizable Navigation. The last 2 tabs are customizable and unused tabs are easily accessible.
- Support for multiple services like Pocket, Instapaper, Readability, CloudApp, Droplr, and more.
- Save drafts, add locations and POI’s, attach photos/videos, manage your lists, and much more.

And another screenshot for good measure:

Again, this is a brand new app for iOS 7. So you’ll need the new firmware to download it, and even if you already own the Tweetbot app, you’ll have to pay for it again. The good news is, it looks and feels like a completely different client.

If you’re interested, you can find Tweetbot 3 for iPhone in the App Store, for a limited-time price of $2.99.

Apple sued over automatic iOS 7 update

A California man is taking Apple to court over the recent iOS 7 update, which he says automatically downloaded to each of his family’s devices without his consent. Actually, the small claims court suit is titled ”Mark David Menacher vs. Tim Cook.”

Apple’s over-the-air update mechanism for iOS is designed to make it easier for users to keep their devices up-to-date. But the problem outlined in Menacher’s complaint is that it automatically downloads a 1GB+ file, with no way to remove it…

CNET reports:

“Mark Menacher, a resident of Poway, Calif., filed a small-claims complaint against Apple’s CEO Tim Cook in the Superior Court of California in San Diego on Thursday, asking for the removal of the iOS 7 install file — something that’s downloaded to devices automatically when they’re connected to power and a Wi-Fi connection.

Some users were irked to discover this feature last month, which is designed to get users onto the latest version of Apple’s iOS software, updates that often contain security fixes and new features. However in the case of iOS 7, it also means a brand new look and feel of the OS, along with potential compatibility issues with some pieces of software, and a sizable download that can take up 1GB or more.”

This actually isn’t the first time we’ve heard this complaint. Last month, a thread popped up on Apple’s support forums with users claiming that iOS 7 had auto-installed on their devices, reducing their free hard drive space by as much as 15%.

It’s worth noting that the auto-download feature was present during the jump from iOS 5-iOS 6 as well. But to be fair, the jump from iOS 6 to iOS 7 was much bigger, with the latter sporting a new UI design and several other notable changes.

Here’s more from Mark Menacher:

“Apple’s disregard for customer preferences in relation to iOS7 is corporate thuggery,” Menacher said in a statement. “Steve Jobs was reportedly rough on company employees in pursuit of happy customers, but Tim Cook apparently cultivates a culture of contempt for customer satisfaction in pursuit of corporate profits. It is a policy that will eventually fail.” 

In his complaint, Menacher asks for a way to get rid of the downloaded file, as well as $50 in compensation. He also says he’s “considering” elevating the issue to a higher court, and exploring whether it holds ground for a class action suit.

What are your thoughts on all of this? Does Menacher’s case hold water?

Facebook makes it easier for iOS developers to add sharing to their apps

Are you not getting enough Facebook in your life? Do you find yourself wishing that your third party apps offered better integration for the social network? If you answered yes to either one of these questions, you’ll love this.

Facebook just announced that it’s pulling the native Share Dialog feature it introduced last month out of beta today. This will allow developers to add sharing features from the social network to their apps with a single line of code…

The company explains that the new Dialog offers a lightweight and consistent way for developers to enable Facebook sharing from their apps. This will eliminate the need for users to login before sharing, negating up to 3 extra steps.

From Facebook’s developer blog:

“The Share Dialog further improves upon theiOS 6 share sheet by adding support for publishing Open Graph actions to make it easier for people to tell their stories on mobile. In addition, people can now tag friends and share where they are enabling them to share in a more meaningful and engaging way, while helping even more people connect with your app.”

If you’re a developer, and you’re wanting to check out the new Share Dialog, you can find it in Facebook’s SDK 3.5 for iOS by clicking here.