RunKeeper’s Goal Coach helps you keep pace without all the yelling
Just a week after introducing its newfangled step-tracking app Breeze, RunKeeper is updating its iOS training software with a new jogging partner. With the latest version, you’ll have access to Goal Coach: a motivational feature that helps with goal setting, sticking to training plans and exceeding your own expectations. If you’ve splurged for the Elite version, the aforementioned trainer will serve up weekly updates — in addition to RunKeeper’s other stats — keeping you longing to hit the trail. Haven’t opted in yet? Well, the price for new users on May 1st increases to $10/month or $40/year, so you may want to decide quickly. Of course, NikeFuel is said to be on its way to the app as well, so you’ll have that extra bit of motivation tossed in, too.
Source: RunKeeper (iTunes)
‘Beats Music’ Tops App Store Music Chart as In-App Subscriptions Spark Interest [iOS Blog]
As noted by Billboard, the Beats Music app [iTunes] for the iPhone climbed to the top of the iOS Music charts on Wednesday, amid grumblings that the streaming music service is struggling to attract customers.
Founded by music producer Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, Beats Music launched its streaming music service earlier this year, entering a crowded market that is dominated by Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Spotify. Beats has aggressively marketed its service, spending millions of dollars for a splashy Superbowl ad featuring Ellen Degeneres and recently partnering with AT&T Mobility to offer its service to AT&T’s 110 million mobile customers.
Beats Music has not released subscriber numbers, but sources for Billboard claim early subscriber estimates are “disappointing,” with numbers climbing only to the “low six figures.” These subscribers are an important metric as they represent the number of customers who exit the free trial and opt to pay for the service. In comparison, market leader Pandora has more than 3.3 million paying subscribers and 75.3 million active listeners.
Beats Music recently updated its streaming music app, allowing users to subscribe to the service via their iTunes account. Beats will be sharing its in-app revenue with Apple according to the App Store’s 70/30 split, but this loss in cash may be offset by an increase in subscriber numbers.
The ability to easily purchase a subscription within the iPhone app may have boosted interest in the service causing it to climb up the App Store charts. Not only is the Beats Music app number one in the free music category, it is also number 5 in the overall Top Free Apps chart and number 8 in the Top Grossing music category. This latter metric suggests more than a few customers are deciding to subscribe to the music streaming service using this new in-app option.
Besides the new in-app subscription, the updated Beats Music app also added support for Facebook friend search, an offline mode, artist promotional offers and more.
Facebook buys smartphone fitness-tracking app Moves
Facebook may already be tracking your usage to serve you ads, but how would you feel if it was able to log your movement? That’s exactly what could be on the cards after the company confirmed it’s bought Moves, the always-on fitness-tracking app that automatically records your daily activities using your smartphone’s sensors. Moves’ mission? It says it’s joining Facebook to “work on building and improving their products and services with a shared mission of supporting simple, efficient tools for more than a billion people.” Zuckerberg and co. intend to keep the iOS and Android apps independent, and the Moves team says there are currently no plans to “commingle data with Facebook.” The social network employs a similar policy with Instagram and Whatsapp, which is no surprise given their huge user numbers and combined $20 billion price tag.
Filed under: Software, Mobile, Facebook
Source: Moves
Microsoft offers a peek at Remote Desktop to Windows Phone 8.1 users
Microsoft promised that it would put out a Remote Desktop app for Windows Phone, and it’s making good on its word — provided you’re an early adopter, anyway. The company has released a Remote Desktop Preview that requires Windows Phone 8.1 (which itself is considered a preview) just to run. If all the stars align, though, you’ll get fairly advanced remote PC access that lets you perform Windows 8′s multi-touch gestures and stream “high quality” media. The folks in Redmond haven’t said when the finished app will arrive, but we wouldn’t be surprised if it launches after Windows Phone 8.1 rolls out in earnest.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft
Via: ZDNet
Finally, you can customize the face on your Sony Smartwatch 2
Sony has added new features to its Smartwatch 2 since its arrival last year, but there was one glaring omission. With the most recent update though, users can finally fine-tune that watch face with simple drag and drop motions. Customizable faces can sort widgets for displaying info including date, weather, calendar, battery level and more. Of course, Sony has invited third-party devs to join the party, so more options should be on the way soon. There’s also improved Gmail and Facebook functionality alongside swappable wallpapers, a calculator and notification drawer. If your devices haven’t already alerted you to the update, you can grab it via that second source link.
Filed under: Wearables, Software, Sony
Via: Android Police
Source: Sony, Google Play
Withings Pulse O2 monitors blood oxygen levels for climbers, asthmatics
Withings released its Pulse tracker late last summer, and now the outfit has announced it’s successor: the Pulse O2. Just like that first fitness gadget, the new model keeps tabs on heart rate, sleep and activity (steps, distance, elevation and calories), but it also keeps an eye on blood oxygen levels with a lens and light mounted on the unit’s back side. While you might not find that a useful bit of info, mountain climbers and folks who suffer from breathing problems — like asthma — need the data to monitor respiratory function. The Pulse O2 automatically syncs in the background thanks to Bluetooth Low Energy and Withings has added real-time coaching to its Health Mate app for a bit of added motivation. And as you can see in the image above, there’s a new wrist strap so you can sport the Pulse O2 like a watch, if that’s your preferred method of wear. Sound too good to pass up? Well, the wearable is on sale now for £100 ($120).
Filed under: Wearables
Source: Withings (1), (2)
Mailbox’s Auto-swipe archives and deletes on iOS so you don’t have to
When Mailbox hit Android earlier this month, it came with a new feature called Auto-swipe that wasn’t on the iOS version — until now, that is. Yes, iOS users who just can’t be bothered to wrangle those cluttered inboxes anymore: Mailbox for iPhones and iPads can now learn what kind of emails you usually archive or defer until later, so it can eventually do all the dirty work for you. All you need to do to activate Auto-swipe is to link Mailbox to a Dropbox account after you’ve updated the app. Once that’s done, the email app will also use Dropbox to remember your preferences and sync them across Android and iOS devices. While it sounds like a tool for the lazy at first blush, we hope it ends up great for nuking spam and preventing unread missives from piling up.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile
Via: 9to5mac
Source: iTunes
You can now pay for your Domino’s Pizza with Google Wallet
Domino’s has already made it pretty easy to order your favorite pizza using your smartphone, but today things are getting even simpler for US Android device owners. Today the company confirmed that it’s added Google Wallet to the list of supported payment types in its Android app, allowing you to complete an order using the same details you’d typically download apps or rent movies with. If app-based ordering wasn’t already affecting your impulse spending, dispatching a deep dish with even fewer screen presses might be a blessing or a curse.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Via: Domino’s
Source: Domino’s Pizza (Google Play)
AllCast’s screen-mirroring magic arrives on Amazon’s Fire TV App Store
Been putting off sideloading AllCast’s SDK to your brand new Amazon Fire TV? Well, friend, your procrastination has paid off. Now, all you have to do to install the casting and screen-mirroring app is download it straight from the Amazon App Store. So long as you also have AllCast installed on an Android device, you can beam photos, videos and music from your phone or tablet to Amazon’s set-top box. Plus, you can use the app to view images and videos saved on Google+ and Dropbox. If you don’t plan to pick up a Fire TV (waiting for the second one, eh?), you can still use AllCast with a number of other devices, including Chromecast, Xbox One, Roku, Apple TV and a smattering of smart TVs.
Filed under: Household, HD, Amazon
Source: Koushik Dutta (Google+), Amazon
Skitch makes sharing annotated pics easier for iPhone and iPad
Skitch’s share screen for iOS just got a makeover, making it easier to send out and save your annotated, doodle-filled masterpieces. The latest iOS update now shows a preview of your image on the Share screen, where you can type in and attach a caption to the bottom of the photo, as well. On the same screen, simply swipe left to send a pic to friends or co-workers attending a meeting you’ve listed, or swipe right to save modified images. Once you’re done uploading, the updated app will now show a confirmation screen, which comes with options to edit and share the same image again or annotate a brand new pic. As a nice plus, a “Frequents” section will appear to speed things up once you’ve performed the same action several times.
Other than the shared screen overhaul, the updated app now also forms paragraphs when you resize the text box and comes with the option to buy PDF Annotation even if you’re not a premium user. You can get these and a few more changes by updating the Skitch app for iPhone and iPad, or by downloading it from iTunes.
Source: Evernote
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