Skype overhauled on iOS and Android with better navigation, search and swipe gestures

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
skype_android_feat
Microsoft has rolled out an update to Skype for iOS devices today that promises simpler in-app navigation and more effective search, which now allows you to quickly look up friends, groups, specific conversations or contacts from the new ‘recents’ tab. Alongside this, there’s a refreshed UI and support for better multi-tasking, so it should be easier to chop and change between a call and chat screen, for example. This is particularly handy if you’re trying to share links or locations while out and about. As part of the navigation changes, you can now just swipe on a contact to make…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1KM1pmx
Read More

Base for iOS gives your photos the retro treatment

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
BaseGIf
Instagram kicked off the trend for vintage-style mobile photography back in 2010 and since then photo filter apps have been a pretty big business. While filtered photos seemed to solely belong on Instagram for a time, now there are plenty of people who want to enjoy the retro-style photography without the social media aspect. Base – Film Stock Camera (aka Base) for iOS is one of the most recent examples of how that can be done. It’s a simple alternative for your phone’s native camera that specializes in retro imagery. At $0.99, it’s one of the few paid editing apps I have downloaded, but…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1hCHQRO
Read More

Bing can now help you tune your guitar and keep a beat

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
Bing Metronome
Microsoft has updated its Bing search engine with a couple of handy tools for musicians: a guitar tuner and a metronome. A simple search for each tool brings them up right on the results page, and they’re not half bad. Bing’s guitar tuner is basic, but gets the job done The guitar tuner is basic, but useful: it includes a bunch of common tunings like standard E, drop D and and a few open chords and plays reference notes when you click on the buttons for each string. The nifty metronome lets you set tempo, measure length and accent beat…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1hCHOJL
Read More

Facebook is testing a pop-out video viewer for its iOS app

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
Facebook_featured
It appears that Facebook — that bastion of experimentation — is trying out a new way of displaying online video. Some users have spotted what has been dubbed “carousel” style viewing in Facebook’s iOS app. There also appears to be a pop-out, picture-in-picture style function at play as well. The video pulls out of position, allowing the user to scroll up or down while watching. True multitasking there. Facebook is testing a pop-out video viewer which you can move anywhere on screen to watch whilst scrolling newsfeed http://pic.twitter.com/WpcCCq4mID — Matt (@MattNavarra) September 2, 2015 New on #Facebook #iOS app. Video feed and…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1ECqIq0
Read More

Google Maps for Android update makes it easier to choose a restaurant

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
product-rover-v3
Google Maps is improving its ‘Explore’ feature on Android. Starting today, it’ll be easier to discover some of the best restaurants in your area through the app. If you head on over to the Explore section of the Maps app, you’ll be able to pick from a variety of categories that fit your needs and occasions. For instance, the app will be able to shoot out suggestions for ‘lunch nearby’ or ‘mission-style Mexican food.’ Once you choose a category, Maps will delve deeper into the specifics for each location, including photos, ratings and reviews. Explore will also tell you if a restaurant…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1hzzGcT
Read More

9 must-have apps for foodies and cooks

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
shutterstock_276302774
Are you a foodie? Do you have more photos of food than your family and friends on Instagram? And go to the farmers market every weekend? I get you. While I love cookbooks and notebooks filled with recipes recorded in nice penmanship, I have become increasingly reliant on my phone or tablet in the kitchen. So, whether you’re a Michelin star chef or a home baker, these essential apps are sure to please: Epicurious If you normally Google recipes, odds are you’ve already ended up on the Epicurious website. The work of Condé Nast Digital, it has more than 30,000 recipes collected from…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1JMTVyR
Read More

Hulu finally gets rid of commercials with new $12 subscription

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
Screen Shot 2015-09-02 at 11.33.17 AM
It’s been a long time coming: you can finally watch Hulu without ads. The streaming video company today introduced a third price tier for its customers, this time costing $11.99 a month. For comparison, Hulu Plus costs $7.99 a month, but only provides a wider selection of older episodes compared to the free tier. As for why it took so long, Hulu explains that it simply was difficult for the company to get the appropriate rights. So difficult, in fact, that it couldn’t secure ad-free playback for seven shows: ‘New Girl,’ ‘Scandal,’ ‘How to Get Away With Murder,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ‘Once Upon…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1UrPfje
Read More

Remember ‘Monument Valley’? These real world locations look like levels from the game

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
Screenshot 2015-09-02 14.44.08
‘Monument Valley’ was such a smash hit that the game was even featured in Netflix’s ‘House of Cards’, but while its levels are often described as featuring “impossible architecture,” that’s actually false. There are places in the world that look a lot like environments from its fantasy worlds. Chicago-based journalist Victoria Lautman first encountered the stepwells of India over 30 years ago and published an extensive essay on them featuring some incredible images back in 2013. It’s just resurfaced thanks to social media. The massive, subterranean temples were designed as way to access water in regions where the weather flips between brutally hot dry months and torrential…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1L4M9wP
Read More

There’s a new Minecraft launcher for OS X and you can test it

♠ Posted by channel-top-news in ,,,,,,,
Minecraft
If you play Minecraft – and if you’re reading this, it’s likely that either you or one of your kids does – then you’ll know that installing and launching the game on OS X has been as awkward as a creeper with a bucket on its head. That about to change! The Mojang development team has revealed that it has a new native launcher that doesn’t require Java to play nice. Here’s the news straight from the dev’s mouth: You may have noticed that launching Minecraft on OS X is kind of a pain in the butt. We’ve been trying for…

This story continues at The Next Web








from The Next Web » Apps http://ift.tt/1hy2G4R
Read More