MacRumors

Perfect Weather is a new weather app from Contrast (formerly App Cubby), the developers behind shortcut app Launch Center Pro. While there are hundreds of weather apps available in the App Store, Perfect Weather offers detailed information packaged in a no-frills single-screen design.

The app offers a seven-day forecast that includes an interactive line graph of expected temperatures for the next 24-hour period. Sliding a finger on the graph provides the estimated temperature at exact moments, and swiping to the left reveals specific information about humidity, pressure, visibility, wind speed, sunrise, sunset, and more.

Perfect Weather is organized in a manner similar to Apple's Passbook. There is a main forecast window, but pulling down allows access to additional locations and tapping will minimize the window to reveal an animated radar map underneath. The radar map displays either 20 minutes of rain activity or three hours of cloud activity.

All the weather info you need at a glance:

- 7 day forecast
- Weather maps with radar and clouds
- Detailed current conditions
- Temperature chart with hourly forecast pop-up

Clear interface that's easy to use:

- See temperatures in all locations at once
- Switch quickly between locations
- View and share severe weather alerts

Because Perfect Weather uses data from NOAA for its radar map and forecasts, it is only available to users within the United States. The app can be downloaded from the App Store for $2.99. [Direct Link]

Members of the New South Wales police force located in Australia have begun a four-week trial program to allow officers the use of iPad minis when issuing traffic citations to drivers, reports Australian tech site Delimiter (via TUAW). Specifically, the deployed iPad minis are pre-loaded with an app called “Mobile Notices”, which is developed by Australian app maker Gridstone and allows officers to retrieve driver history, photos, vehicle information and license information from police databases.

If a citation is issued, the driver can opt to receive a PDF of the ticket via email or text, delivered right then and there (provided that the officer is within range of a compatible network). Lembit Pikkat, director of Grindstone, notes that no information gathered by the remote officers is stored on their iPads. Instead, it's all sent to the central police database for secure storage.

Earlier this year, Apple redesigned the iPad in Business section of its website and spotlighted the Redlands Police Department, which highlighted the police force’s use of the iPad and iOS devices for live information, communication, and real-time maps.

Apple is set to release the latest version of its mobile operating system, iOS 7, tomorrow. The company has also highlighted the benefits of the new software update for businesses on a dedicated page.

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]