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

Back in June, Apple announced that it had been awarded a $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Unified School District to supply 35,000 iPads to students in the district. That program was announced as a pilot effort that was projected to lead to all 640,000 students in the district receiving iPads by the end of 2014. However, a report from the Los Angeles Times indicates that the school...

Vesper, a note-taking app developed by a team led by Apple blogger John Gruber, has launched an update that features a complete redesign in-line with the “flat” design principles of iOS 7, as well various other enhancements such as 64-bit support on the iPhone 5s, new typography settings and improved text rendering. The update also includes brand new gestures for photo management and...

Some users on Apple’s Support Communities discussion forum are expressing discontent with the parallax and zooming animations in iOS 7, claiming that they have experienced bouts of motion sickness, reports The Verge. The specific thread, which spans over eight pages, has users discussing symptoms that correlate to vertigo, intense nausea, and dizziness and which are occurring with prolonged use...

The French government is looking into Apple's carrier contracts in France over the requirements it places on companies that sell the iPhone, reports The Wall Street Journal.This is not the first time that regulators in Europe have looked into the strict terms that Apple requires of its carrier partners -- Apple insists carriers guarantee sales of large numbers of iPhones and other factors that...

Instagram today updated its iOS app to version 4.2, redesigning the look of the app for iOS 7 with a "focus on clarity." In addition to a revamp, Instagram has also gained higher resolution photos and videos that now stretch to the edges of the screen. We put the community—and the photos and videos you share—first. To bring you the best experience possible, we have always valued beauty and ...

With the launch of iOS 7, Realmac released a new universal Clear app to replace its original iPhone-only app, which it planned to discontinue. Following customer backlash over the plan to eliminate the existing Clear for iPhone app, Realmac has reversed course and announced plans to continue support for both the original Clear app and the universal app, which has now been rebranded as Clear+. ...

Fitness tracker Strava has launched an update to its Strava Run iOS app today that takes advantage of the new M7 "motion coprocessor" in the iPhone 5s to deliver a number of new features, reports The Verge. Specifically, the app now includes an auto-pause feature in order to allow users to get better feedback in their fitness by pausing their runs when movement is stopped, and reduced battery...

Following news that Microsoft would be accepting trade-ins for Apple iPads at its various retail stores, Forbes is now reporting that the company will add the iPhone to the promotion, offering consumers a minimum of $200 for an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 in select Microsoft stores in the U.S. and Canada. According to an inside source at Microsoft, Microsoft Stores will begin giving a minimum $200 ...

Apple TV competitor Roku has announced a refresh of its line of set-top entertainment boxes, with the new Roku LT, Roku 1, and Roku 2 models joining the flagship Roku 3 that was announced in March, along with a new service allowing for the purchase and rental of movies and TV shows. Specifically, the entry-level Roku LT retails at $49.99 and allows streaming to virtually any TV with support...

The AppleCare+ service, which covers iPhones, iPads and iPods against accidental damage and warranty-related issues, may soon expand coverage to international travelers, reports TechCrunch. Previously, AppleCare+ users could only get coverage in their home country.This change means that if you’re traveling with your device, you’re able to get service in another country if you purchased...

Nest, the company behind the iPhone-connected Nest Learning Thermostat, is working on developing a smoke detector, reports former Wall Street Journal journalist Jessica Lessin. While information is scarce on the smoke detector, it will presumably be controlled via an iPhone app similar to the Nest thermostat. According to AllThingsD, the product will be called "Protect." The device will be the ...

Popular free messaging service LINE has released a new update to its iOS app today, bringing new features such as the ability to hold video calls with contacts cross-platform, and the “Snap Movie” function, which allows users to add background music to short videos and send them to friends. The app has also added a feature named “Albums” that allows users to create and edit photo albums in...

Major League Baseball has once again updated its MLB At Bat app for the upcoming 2013 MLB Postseason, bringing various new features to enhance the viewing experience of baseball’s playoffs. New features include complete postseason information with live scoreboards and series statuses, as well as the ability to watch multiple camera angles live with the new Postseason TV section within the app....

Yesterday, Apple began offering in-store pickup for online orders of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c, giving users the ability to check availability at their local Apple retail stores and place orders for immediate pickup at the stores. But just 24 hours later, Apple has already removed the in-store pickup option for iPhone 5s orders, leaving shoppers with the options of placing online orders for...

EA Sports has released FIFA 14 for iOS, the newest iteration in its popular soccer gaming franchise. The release marks the first time that the game is free to play, along with offering in-app purchases for use with FIFA’s Ultimate Team feature that allows users to collect and trade FIFA players, play styles, formations and kits and use them in-game. The game features over 16,000 players from...

iMessage Chat, an unofficial iMessage app for Android devices, has appeared on the Google Play store to provide Android users with access to Apple's instant messaging services (via 9to5Mac). The implementation has, however, raised significant security concerns as it routes user's Apple ID information through remote servers, potentially allowing user accounts, which may be linked with iTunes Store ...

A pair of games with support for iOS 7's newly added game controller support have been released on the App Store.Though the game controllers haven't actually been released yet -- there are at least two companies who have announced or hinted at upcoming controller releases -- both Walking Dead and Bastion were updated today with game controller support, according to our sister-site TouchArcade....

The New York Police Department has begun handing out flyers near Apple Retail Stores in New York City encouraging users to download Apple’s new iOS 7 software update, reports AllThingsD. Specifically, law enforcement is encouraging the use of Activation Lock, a new feature within iOS 7’s Find My iPhone service that requires an Apple ID and password before anyone may turn off Find My iPhone, erase ...