AppleInsider Staff
A trio of popular iOS apps were updated on Thursday with major new features, as Mailbox has added a landscape mode on iPhone, Google Hangouts now includes support for tapping on links and inviting friends to chat via text message, and Skype now offers free video messaging.
Mailbox
Mailbox for iOS from Orchestra, Inc. was updated to version 1.3.2 with not only landscape support for iPhone, but also "send as" alias functionality with Gmail. The update also includes various bug fixes.
Mailbox gained attention earlier this year when it launched on the iPhone, and later came to the iPad. The company was acquired by Dropbox in March.
Dropbox's own iOS application was updated on Tuesday to add swipe gesture support and multi-photo sharing.
Google Hangouts
Hangouts version 1.1.1 adds a number of new features for Google's messaging service. The latest version adds support for sending and clicking on links, and also gives users the ability to invite friends to Hangouts via text messages.
The update also adds in-app sounds when a message is received, and it improves badge count behaviors. The company also said that "weirdness" with the connection bar has been addressed, and various bug fixes are included.
Google's cross-platform Hangouts service was launched by the company in May. It competes with Apple's iMessages and other messaging services, and offers video and text conversations within groups.
Skype
Microsoft's official Skype application for iOS was updated to version 4.9 on Thursday with a number of enhancements. The biggest among them is video messaging, which is now free and unlimited for all users.
Skype video messages were launched by the company earlier this month, and are also available in the Mac application. Users can send up to three minutes of prerecorded video for free.
The update also adds stability improvements for audio and video calls, and users will also be able to share photos more reliably. Microsoft said the update also adds improved accessibility for video messaging, and the usual general fixes and improvements to the software.
Malcolm Owen
Marko Zivkovic
Andrew Orr
Christine McKee
Andrew O'Hara
3 Comments
I tried Mailbox and I like what they're doing, but it messes with my existing folders. Landscape mode isn't going to bring me back... my money's on iOS 7.
I wasn't impressed with Mailbox especially since the product only supports Gmail. I do not understand the fascination with such an app. There are many apps that are much more deserving of such attention. I am interested in the impact of iOS 7 on Mailbox. Do many people use Hangouts on iOS? This is another reminder that the best Google phone is an iPhone. Skype is much more well established and FaceTime offers better integration with native apps.
I wish AppleInsider would gain iPhone landscape mode.