mobile apps

Apps That Curb the Temptation to Text and Drive

Bonnie Cha in Product Reviews on May 9 at 6:00 am PT

We’ve all probably done it, even though we know it’s dangerous. But these apps can help steer you or your teen away from texting behind the wheel.

Twitter Takes On Music Discovery, but Comes Up Short

Bonnie Cha in Product Reviews on May 2 at 6:00 am PT

Behind Twitter Music’s well-designed interface is a music discovery app that’s too limiting. #NeedsMoreCowbell

Humin App Adds a Human Touch to Your Phone’s Address Book

Bonnie Cha in Dive Into Mobile on April 15 at 12:22 pm PT

Not just an app for storing contact info, Humin looks to highlight personal relationships while encouraging new ones.

Evernote 5.0 for Android Adds Shortcuts, Photo Features

Bonnie Cha in Product News on March 25 at 8:15 am PT

Five months after iOS, Android users finally get updated to Evernote 5.0.

Improving Smartphone Battery Life With Apps

Bonnie Cha in Product Reviews on March 14 at 6:00 am PT

Battery-extender accessories aren’t the only way to make your smartphone last longer. Find out how these two apps can help.

News Byte

Google Maps for iPhone Update Adds Contacts Integration

Bonnie Cha in News on March 5 at 10:37 am PT

Google Maps for iPhone is getting its first major update today. In version 1.1, users can now search for any address stored in their Google contacts list. In addition, tapping inside the search bar brings up the option for finding nearby places in 13 different categories (e.g., restaurants, hotels, gas stations). Google is also rolling out the app to seven new countries, including Egypt, Lebanon and Bahrain. Google Maps for iPhone launched in December and was quickly downloaded by iPhone users frustrated with the poor Apple Maps experience.

Only in Barcelona: Dual Screens and Phones That Translate

Bonnie Cha and Ina Fried in Mobile on February 27 at 12:54 pm PT

You won’t see those phones in the U.S. anytime soon.

Mailbox: Swipe Your Way to a Clutter-Free Inbox

Bonnie Cha in Product Reviews on February 21 at 6:00 am PT

Mailbox for iOS helps turn your email inbox into an action center rather than a storage center, but it has limitations.

News Byte

SwiftKey 4 Launches in Google Play Store

Bonnie Cha in Product News on February 20 at 12:01 am PT

The latest version of SwiftKey, the popular predictive keyboard app for Android, is now available in the Google Play Store. New features of SwiftKey 4 (previously SwiftKey Flow) include the ability to type words by dragging your finger letter to letter in one continuous motion. It also features technology that can predict what you’ll write next, based on context, and learns your typing style for better accuracy. SwiftKey 4 is a free upgrade for existing users, while newcomers can grab the app for $1.99 for a limited time. The regular price is $3.99.