MacRumors

Amazon has released an update to Instant Video app for iOS with various new features, including full support for Apple’s AirPlay video streaming and full integration with movie information website IMDb. The update also provides users the ability to read customer reviews, and search for related videos in the context of a specific a cast or director, as well as concurrent downloads and a faster and more streamlined interface.

What's New in Version 2.1

* AirPlay to Apple TV
* IMDB cast and director information, ratings, goofs, trivia and quotes
* Read customer reviews
* Find other videos featuring cast or director
* Customers who watched this also watched ...
* Concurrent downloads
* Improved offline experience
* Faster and more responsive interface
* Bug fixes and stability improvements

AirPlay is a welcome addition for many users, offering a streamlined method for users to send content to their televisions via an Apple TV, serving as a relatively simple solution in the absence of a dedicated Instant Video channel for the set-top box.

Amazon originally released its iPad app for Instant Video in August 2012, adding iPhone support in an update released a few months later. Amazon was also reported in April to be developing a competitor to the Apple TV set-top box. Amazon Instant Video is a free app and can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Customers in China and Hong Kong who are aiming to purchase an iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c in an Apple Store are now able to make reservations for the device on Apple's website.

Reserve iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c online today for pickup at an Apple Retail Store beginning September 20. When you come in, we'll help you pick the right rate plan, transfer your contacts, set up your email, and more.

Apple's reservation system, which was revamped last year, is designed to thwart would-be scalpers, an issue that has plagued Apple releases in China for years.

Under the system, consumers are able to reserve a phone for pickup, but are still required to visit an Apple Retail Store on launch day to purchase and setup the device.

It appears that initial supplies of the iPhone 5s are limited, and multiple stores have sold out of all models of the iPhone 5s, though some are still offering the "Space Gray" 16GB version. Most models of the iPhone 5c remain in stock.

Apple is not accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 5s. Instead, U.S. customers will be able to purchase the device online beginning at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on Friday, September 20 and at 8:00 AM in retail locations. Order periods for the rest of the world appear to be staggered, with online ordering times varying based on local time.

Apple has begun approving games that support iOS 7 game controllers, according to our sister site TouchArcade. AVP: Evolution [Direct Link], a game designed for the iPhone and the iPad, was today updated with support for iOS 7, 64-bit processors, iOS 7 Game Controllers.

I really hate that we're reduced to this level of Apple tea leaf reading, but, here we are. If you're among the boatload of our readers who are totally excited for iOS 7 game controllers, here's some good evidence that they might be coming sooner rather than later: Apple is now approving game updates that specifically support controllers. AVP: Evolution is the first one that has popped up on our radar.

Apple first introduced its MFi "Made for iPhone" iOS 7 API during June's Worldwide Developers Conference, suggesting that the company was allowing third-party manufacturers to develop dedicated iOS gaming peripherals. News soon followed that Apple was working with Logitech and MOGA to produce controllers, and a loose fall launch date was indicated.

While it is unclear exactly when MFi controllers might hit the market, the imminent public debut of iOS 7 and support for the API suggest a release could come at any time, possibly at Apple's rumored iPad-centric fall event.

iOS 7 will officially launch on Wednesday, September 18 for the iPhone 4 and later, the iPad 2 and later, the iPad mini, and the fifth-generation iPod touch.

Sprint has announced (via 9to5Mac) that it will be offering $100 off on both the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to new customers who port their number to the carrier, dropping the price of the 16GB iPhone 5c to $0 and the price of the 16GB iPhone 5s to $99 with a two-year contract.

The move comes shortly after news leaked of Sprint's upcoming "One Up" frequent device upgrade program, which will allow customers to upgrade their phones and tablets at regular intervals. It also comes four days after T-Mobile announced that it will be offering the iPhone 5c for $0 down and iPhone 5s for $99 down, although Sprint's prices only apply to new customers while T-Mobile's pricing applies to current and new customers.

With the promotion, which ends on October 10, 2013, the iPhone 5c will cost $0 for the 16GB model and $99 for the 32GB model while the iPhone 5s will cost $99 for the 16GB model, $199 for the 32GB model and $299 for the 64GB model. The iPhone 4s will still be $0.

The iPhone 5c can be pre-ordered immediately from Sprint's website, and the iPhone 5s will be available for order beginning on Friday, September 20.

Twitter is planning a massive overhaul of its mobile apps, reports AllThingsD. While the redesigned iOS app won’t be launched until sometime after iOS 7 is available, it will include a focus on streams, doing away with the standard menu bar on the bottom of the screen.

Content, including what is found in today’s Home, Connect, Discover, and Me sections, will be organized into streams, which can be navigated by swiping. The Discover section of the app will be eliminated and embedded media will be available in all streams.

There will be a main, reverse-chronological stream like users are currently familiar with, as well as a stream for interactions between other users and conversations they’re having. Notably new, there will also be a stream dedicated entirely to photos shared on Twitter.

Essentially, moving through all the streams will be more of a visual experience, sources said, with a heavier emphasis on multimedia. There won’t be the need, for instance, to click inside a tweet to see a photo or a video — it’ll just appear in the stream. (For reference, see how Twitter’s current “Discover” tab treats some media content.)

The overall theme: Look pretty, feel richer, and become far more visually immersive than the text-heavy Twitter we’re all familiar with.

The company is also reportedly experimenting with a stream that will display only television-related tweets and conversations, designed to bump up user retention by helping first time Twitter users discover interesting content. In August, Twitter redesigned conversations within its app, adding lines and reordering conversations to make it easier to follow discussions.

Twitter is expected to launch an update for iOS 7 following its release on Wednesday, but the redesigned app will not be released until later this year.

Twitter for iOS is a universal app that can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Google is acquiring Bump for an undisclosed sum, according to a blog post by company cofounder David Lieb.

Bump's eponymous app allows users to share contact information, photos and more with other Bump users by 'bumping' devices with each other, including across platforms. Bump's apps will continue to operate normally for now.

Our mission at Bump has always been to build the simplest tools for sharing the information you care about with other people and devices. We strive to create experiences that feel like magic, enabled behind the scene with innovations in math, data processing, and algorithms. So we couldn’t be more thrilled to join Google, a company that shares our belief that the application of computing to difficult problems can fundamentally change the way that we interact with one another and the world.

Bump and Flock will continue to work as they always have for now; stay tuned for future updates.

We’d like to extend a special thank you to all of you who have used our products so far. It continues to be a pleasure to serve you, and your feedback and evangelism inspire us every day.

Bump is a free download for the iPhone and iPad on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Ahead of tomorrow's Grand Theft Auto V launch, Rockstar has released a companion app for the game, Grand Theft Auto: iFruit (via TouchArcade). Though the name of the app is a parody on Apple devices, it provides a number of helpful in-game features, including allowing users to create and customize vehicles that will then be available in the game.

Customization options for cars include paint jobs, window tints, smoke colors, wheels, hoods, and spoilers. Engines, brakes, exhaust, and suspension can be upgraded, and there are even customized license plates available in the online portion of the game.

The Los Santos Customs app offers players the freedom to create their ultimate vehicle in Grand Theft Auto V from anywhere. At the bar, on the beach, on the toilet. This is the future, we’re almost sure of it.

Gamers can also use the iFruit app to access options for caring for Chop the Dog, an in-game sidekick in GTA V. Though a virtual pet system, the app provides in-game benefits that cause Chop to be more helpful, performing tricks, and locating hidden items.

Depth of content, high production values, defecation. It's the app that has it all. Because who doesn’t love tending to a virtual pet? Chop is Franklin’s canine sidekick in Grand Theft Auto V. Look after him well in the "Chop the Dog" app and you will reap the benefits when playing as Franklin in Grand Theft Auto V. Pet him, feed and water him, play fetch and tug-of-war, teach him tricks.

In addition to providing customization options and access to Chop the Dog, iFruit offers GTA V news, access to the Rockstar Games Social Club, and links to other Rockstar Games apps.

Grand Theft Auto: iFruit can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link] Grand Theft Auto V will launch on September 17 for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360.

Apple late last week updated its official guidelines for third-party case makers looking to create products for the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, giving detailed schematics (PDF) and revealing additional details about the construction for each device.

As noted by AppleInsider, the plastic iPhone 5c requires case makers to design radio-friendly transparent windows at the top of bottom of the device, indicating that the radio technology design inside of the iPhone 5c is similar in placement to that found the iPhone 5, which integrated cellular and other antennas in the upper and lower sections of the device.

Meanwhile, the metal and aluminum iPhone 5s now requires case makers to compensate for the new Touch ID fingerprint sensor, with the restricted area for cases surrounding the home button slightly larger than that of the iPhone 5c and the previous generation. iPhone 5. The document also notes that no metal should come in contact with the iPhone 5s chassis, citing unwanted interruption with the device’s antennas and signal degradation.

Apple will begin selling the iPhone 5s and lower-cost iPhone 5c this Friday, September 20. The company began taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5c in 10 countries on September 13, with online orders for the iPhone 5s set to begin early in the morning local time on Friday prior to the in-store availability later in the morning.

Online music streaming service Rdio is announcing the launch of a free, ad-supported music service along with a new, $100 million partnership with radio operator Cumulus, reports The New York Times.

The move comes as Apple is officially launching its own ad-supported music streaming service, iTunes Radio, this week on September 18 with the public release of iOS 7. Currently, plans for Rdio start at $4.99 for web-only streaming, while unlimited web and mobile streaming is priced at $9.99.

Crucially for Rdio, which was introduced in 2010 and has struggled to gain a foothold in the market, Cumulus will also sell advertising for a free version of the service in the United States. Rdio, which costs $5 to $10 a month and is available in 31 markets around the world, lets its subscribers listen to millions of songs, build playlists and interact with other users.

Last month, rival music service Pandora announced that it was going to remove its 40-hour free listening limit ahead of the launch for Apple’s iTunes Radio, stating that it would again allow unlimited listening via mobile devices. Rdio updated its iOS app [Direct Link] with highly personalized radio stations early last month, and the app currently holds a four-star rating with over 9000 reviews since its release in October 2011.

According to an internal first look guide for use by Apple Retail Store employees (via 9to5Mac), the company is planning to implement a Touch ID demo app within iPhone 5s demo units that will show customers the process of registering a fingerprint for on the device.

Specifically, the app will allow in-store customers to register a single fingerprint on the demo unit, compared to the five fingerprints that the actual device allows, and show that it has been recognized through the Home button. The demo will then ask the user to place a different finger on the sensor, showing how Touch ID can reject unrecognized fingerprints for security purposes.

Last week, an Apple spokesman shared additional details about Touch ID amid security concerns, noting that no images of fingerprints are stored on the device. The demoing of Touch ID on the iPhone 5s in Apple retail stores is part of the overall sales push of the iPhone 5s to customers, with the internal first look guide also suggesting quick demos of the 8 megapixel camera to customers along with the new features of iOS 7. The guide also suggests “key messages” that Apple Retail Store employees should relay to customers, which involve speaking about the 64-bit A7 processor, M7 coprocessor, longer battery life, and numerous other features along with promoting the Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

Apple is set to begin selling the new iPhone 5s and low-cost iPhone 5c in-store this Friday, September 20. The company began taking pre-orders for the iPhone 5c in ten countries on September 13 with launch-day supplies generally holding up well. Online orders for the iPhone 5s are set to begin in the U.S. at 12:01 AM Pacific Time on the same day as in-store availability, with other countries seeing similar early-morning debuts local time.