Best app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers make paid apps free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money, and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

More: 200 Awesome iPhone Apps | The best Android apps for almost any occasion

Big Clock

Stop squinting to see the time. This is the biggest, ad-free clock available in the App Store. You can even use it to completely customize your alarm.

Available on:

iOS

TopScanner

This app turns your iPhone or iPad into full-featured PDF document scanner. For example, you can scan your receipts and save as PDF file to trace your expenses.

Available on:

iOS

Easy Backup Pro

Your contacts are the most important data in your phone, which may be lost in seconds. Easy Backup Pro keeps your contacts in a safe place.

Available on:

iOS

Dramatic Black & White

Using Dramatic Black & White you can make your own black-and-white photographs, ones where light and contrast, grit and form come together to tell a story.

Available on:

iOS

Expenses OK

Expenses OK is the fastest way to track your expenses. Just enter data in the widget of the app and see how you’re spending your money.

Available on:

iOS

Simple Audio Manager

If you are looking for a voice recorder for college or your business meetings, or for recording anything you want, you should check out the Simple Audio Manager and Recorder.

Available on:

iOS

Apple reportedly sought cut of ‘tips’ exchanged in Chinese messaging apps

Why it matters to you

WeChat is an indispensable service for hundreds of millions of users, and Apple is taking a risk by threatening to remove apps like it from the App Store.

Apple is reportedly clashing with several developers of social networking apps that are prominent in China, according to The Wall Street Journal. The issue concerns the “tipping” feature common in many of these apps, which allows users to pay content creators directly.

One of those developers is Tencent, the company responsible for producing WeChat, China’s most prominent messaging and payment platform. According to the report, Apple’s stance is that the money exchanged by users — specifically tips — are in fact a form of in-app payment. That would allow the company to take a 30-percent cut of each transaction, per App Store rules.

In April, it was reported that Tencent scrubbed the tipping feature from the iPhone version of its app, and it appears other developers may be compelled to follow suit.

This all comes at a time when Apple has hit a roadblock in its Chinese expansion. Domestic manufacturers, like Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo, are outperforming the iPhone maker. In 2016, Apple fell from first place among smartphone vendors in the country for the first time in five years.

As a result, the company could be looking to eke out even more revenue from its install base — though in this particular instance, it runs the risk of alienating its most vital partners in the region. Developers told The Wall Street Journal that Apple has threatened to remove their software from the App Store if they fail to comply.

Losing WeChat in particular would be a serious blow to any smartphone manufacturer selling its wares in China, as the app boasts nearly one billion active users. Even if WeChat remains on the iPhone in its current state, however, consumers may spring for Android devices instead if the ability to tip doesn’t return to Apple’s hardware.

Apple has reportedly been in talks with Tencent to negotiate a solution, but the Cupertino, California company runs the risk of triggering a regulatory ruling by the Chinese government, which may be inclined to side with developers.

An executive from one such developer said that his platform doesn’t take a cut of what users spend on tips, so Apple would effectively be receiving 30 percent “for doing nothing.”

Qualcomm shows how to charge electric vehicles on (and from) the road

Why it matters to you

If the idea of charging your car has dissuaded you from buying an electric vehicle, the convenience of this technology might convince you to take another look.

Electric vehicles have come a long way in recent years, both in terms of their technological development, and their mainstream acceptance among consumers. However, there are still some stumbling blocks are hindering their growth, and one of these is the method of recharging their all-important battery cells.

At present, most electric cars require the driver to plug their vehicle into a power source to recharge while it’s not on the road. The next evolution of the technology seems to be a process where electric cars can recharge while they’re in motion en route to their destination.

Earlier today, Qualcomm demonstrated a technique that it’s calling dynamic charging, according to a report from Venture Beat. A test track in Versailles, France played host to two Renault Kangoo vehicles that were able to charge their batteries simply by driving over specially engineered pads that were embedded into the road surface.

The vehicles were reportedly driving at highway speeds, and still managed to charge at up to 20 kilowatts. While there would obviously be questions to be asked in terms of introducing the necessary infrastructure, this no-hassle charging system could help make electric cars more attractive to potential buyers.

It’s well known that electric cars are better for the environment than traditional petrol or diesel powered vehicles, but charging is still something of a drag for drivers. It can take a long time, and the threat of running out of power before reaching one’s destination has contributed to a phenomenon known as range anxiety.

Qualcomm’s dynamic charging technology is a novel way to integrate charging into the driving experience — but it remains to be seen how long it would take to implement the concept in the real world. In the interim, expect to see more companies push for the expansion of charging stations, as we’ve seen from BMW recently.

Spotify may finally launch in India later this year

Spotify could make its long-awaited debut in India sometime later this year.

Google Play Music rolled out All Access in India last month, making its international catalog available to customers in the subcontinent. It now looks like Spotify and Amazon Prime Music are about to make their foray into the market, according to industry sources speaking to The-Ken (paywall).

From the publication:

Spotify has begun scoping the Indian market, following multiple trips to the country by its executives over the last twelve months. Amazon is also expected to launch its much-vaunted Echo smart speaker in India on either side of its Prime music launch.

With All Access available for just ₹89 ($1.50) a month and Apple Music costing ₹120 ($2) in the country, pricing will be a key factor to determine the success of Spotify in India. The service’s premium tier costs $9.99 in the U.S., but for it to catch on in India it will have to be available for under ₹150 ($2.30).

As for Prime Music, Amazon will be looking to push its music streaming service as an added bonus for those signing up for Prime. Amazon offered Prime yearly subscriptions for as low as ₹499 ($7.50) to incentivize customers to sign up, and with the service coming up for renewal in a few months’ time for ₹999 ($15), Amazon will be looking to add the number of benefits offered with Prime to retain users.

How to mount network storage to the NVIDIA Shield TV

You don’t have to just use storage either inside or physically attached to the NVIDIA Shield TV.

This wonderful media box can also hook into network attached storage, perfect if you’ve got a NAS at home that’s crammed full with your personal media files. Making it so your NVIDIA Shield can see this drive is a pretty simple process.

See at Amazon

All you have to do is follow these steps:

Open settings.
Select storage and reset.
Next, select network Storage.
In available network storage, select your drive.
Click on connect as a registered user.
Enter any username and password for the attached drive.

Assuming it was successful you will now see your connected drive showing up on the Shield for you to access your files. It’s a little less elegant than using something like Kodi or Plex to get at your media, but if all you want is your files, this will get you just that. You can also connect as a guest if your drive allows that, but obviously, any limitations imposed by this will be translated to the Shield.

It’s also great for allowing apps on your Shield TV to access files on your network attached drive. Once you’ve done the initial setup process and you’ve logged in with any passwords, the Shield will remember those and automatically connect everytime it boots up. So apps using the connected storage won’t have to worry about authenticating every time.

NVIDIA Shield Android TV

• Read our Shield Android TV review
• The latest Shield Android TV news
• Shield vs. Shield Pro: Which should I buy?
• Join the forum discussion
• Complete Shield Android TV specs

Amazon

This 3-pack of Anker PowerLine USB-C cables is down to just $14

Our friends at Thrifter are back again with a great deal on a 3-pack of durable USB-C cables!

Making the move from a phone that charges via Micro-USB to USB-C can be a bit of a pain since you have to replace all your cables. Anker, one of our favorite accessory makers, is here to help with the transition, though. The company is currently offering a 3-pack of its popular PowerLine USB-C cables for just $13.99 at Amazon, which is a savings of $4 from its regular price. This effectively means you are paying around $4.66 per cable, which is a great price.

Anker’s PowerLine cables are ultra-durable and they should last around 5 times longer than others, so you won’t need to worry about being rough on these. Each cable is 3 feet long, which should be plenty for most. If you’ve got cables that you don’t want to replace, you could also check out this 2-pack of Micro-USB to USB-C adapters for just $7.99.

Whether you recently made the switch, have made the switch a while ago and still need more cables, or will be doing it in the near future, you won’t want to miss out on this deal.

See at Amazon

Everything you can do with the PlayStation Aim controller

A full controller pretending to be a move controller.

The PlayStation Aim controller was built to bring a new layer of immersion to PlayStation VR games where you’re shooting anything that moves, but it’s good for much more than feeling like a gun when you can’t see the real world. It’s got the functionality of a DualShock controller in an entirely new format, and we have the details on everything it can do here.

Read more at VRHeads.com

Five reasons why I pre-ordered the Amazon Echo Show

Sometimes I really need my Echo to show, not tell.

I’m fairly embedded in the Alexa ecosystem. There’s a full-sized Echo in my living room, an Echo Dot in my bedroom, and the Alexa-enabled Triby sits on my fridge in the kitchen. I don’t use Alexa for anything particularly special, mostly just music/podcasts and smart light control and the occasional timer. There’s a lot more I could do with Alexa, but I often find the experience limiting without a display to accompany the sound.

I currently have a tablet mounted in my kitchen to resolve this issue, but I’m hoping the new Echo Show from Amazon will replace that separate piece of hardware. Here’s what really pushed me to pre-order as soon as it was announced.

See on Amazon

I want voice-controlled recipes

I do most of the cooking in my house, and frequently rely on recipe apps when trying something new. Alexa already has a bunch of different recipe skills, but they’re all voice-based and I need something visual. I need to be able to glance at an ingredient list, and I’d prefer to be able to do this with just my voice because sometimes a recipe involves me getting my hands covered in whatever I’m cooking.

Amazon and its partners being able to deliver a totally voice driven recipe experience with results and details on a display so I can quickly glance would be a big deal for me. It seems like all of the pieces are there for this to work, so I’m hoping this becomes a game changer for me in the kitchen.

I can see my connected cameras

If the FedEx guy is dropping something off and I don’t need to sign for it, or if there’s a marketer at the door trying to sell me something, I can check the Ring app from my phone and never actually need to leave my office. The only way that experience could be improved is by not needing to interrupt my current task by grabbing my phone and touching the display.

Being able to glance at the Echo Show, see who is at the door, and react without my fingers leaving the keyboard is going to be amazing. Knowing Amazon supports Ring, Arlo, and other connected cameras out of the box is a big selling point for me.

I want Echo-level audio quality in a tablet

One of the big things I do with my kitchen tablet when I’m not using it for a recipe is streaming video. I like being able to catch up on the shows no one else in the house watches while I cook, but even the loudest tablet speakers struggle to keep up with the roar of a frying pan and a blender and a microwave all at once.

Amazon has proven itself capable of designing room-filling speakers with the Echo, and the Echo Show is promising the same kind of experience. Echo Show currently only supports YouTube streaming, but as more apps become available it’s likely this will become a critical streaming accessory in my house.

Simplified video chat could be cool

I have no shortage of video chat apps, but my kids usually need to come to me in order to call the grandparents or my sister in Hawaii. If I can convince my sister to pick up one of these as well, the kids will be able to video chat whenever they want (within reason) and I won’t need to stop what I’m doing or hand over my phone to facilitate this conversation.

My kids are already big Echo users, so I see this being a feature frequently used by the younger members of my household. Who knows, I may decide it’s a better video chat solution and use it occasionally as well.

The price is more than reasonable

I was happy to pay $200 for the original Amazon Echo, so I have zero problems paying $30 more for a significant boost in features. The $230 price tag is cheaper than any tablet I’d want to use around the house for these same things, offers way better audio, and because I’m already an Echo user will require very little setup on my end.

I probably would have purchased another Echo Dot had I really been looking to expand my Alexa connectivity throughout the house, but streamlining my kitchen tech and offering some new features along the way is enough to push me to ensure I’ll be opening my own Echo Show on launch day.

See on Amazon

Popular MVNO US Mobile adds Verizon as a network partner

A new provider for an up-and-coming alternative carrier.

US Mobile, an alternative carrier that uses granular plan customization as its differentiator, has announced that it is adding “service on the biggest, and most dependable 4G LTE network in America,” which is likely Verizon, to augment its existing nationwide coverage with T-Mobile.

US Mobile is interesting because it allows users to customize their plans to meet their exact voice, text and data needs; if you only want a little bit of talk and text, you can spend $3 for 100 voice minutes and another $2 for 100 texts — more than enough for basic coverage — and add as much data as you want, from $2 for 100MB to $30 for 10GB.

When the new provider comes online later this summer, users will be able to connect a la carte as they did previously with T-Mobile, and the network will dynamically choose between the two services. And while US Mobile isn’t explicitly saying that Verizon is the partner, Big Red often goes by “the most dependable network in America,” and typically is quoted as having the largest LTE network in the States. Thankfully, US Mobile doesn’t plan to change its prices, and claims that when the service launches it will be the first alternative carrier to offer such an a la carte plan with Verizon.

See at US Mobile

Alternative carriers (MVNOS)

• What is an alternative mobile carrier?
• What are the advantages of going with an alternative carrier?
• How to make sure your phone works on a prepaid alternative carrier
• 8 Important Considerations When Switching To An MVNO
• These are the cheapest data plans you can buy in the U.S.
• Mint SIM vs. Cricket Wireless: Which is better for you?

This is our first look at the Moto Z2

An image purporting to be of the Motorola Moto Z2 has appeared online, courtesy of Android Authority. The Moto Z2 would be a third Z-family phone, and would join the Moto Z2 Play and Moto Z2 Force. The latter two were both seen on a company presentation slide leaked earlier this week.

• Motorola smartphone strategy for 2017 revealed, Moto X returns

While we’re referring to this third phone as the Moto Z2, we believe it may follow a similar naming pattern to the G-series. That being it will officially be called the Moto Z, but will be the second version. Calling it Z2 is for our benefit to help differentiate. The Moto G5 for example is officially the Moto G, but is referred to as the G5.

Back to the photo. The Moto Z2 bears a striking resemblance to the Moto Z Play, images for which have been previously leaked. It has a sleek, slightly curved design, with glass on the front and a home button which will likely house a fingerprint scanner.

Volume and power buttons are in the same position as the Z Play too, and even though there aren’t any images, we’d hazard a guess that the rear camera will look similar too. It’s entirely possible that the resolution of said camera will be different in both phones, but that’s merely speculation.

Android Authority hasn’t been able to obtain any specs or features for the Z2, but it’s believed that all will be revealed on 8 June, as the date can be seen on the screen in the image.