What better way to end this first full week of February than with an explosion of apps? Thursday was a big day for apps old and new, with plenty of updates and even a couple of fresh releases hitting the pipeline for those with the right access. There's plenty to cover, so let's get right to it, shall we…?
If you happen to own one of Apple's AirPort or Time Capsule products, there are a few updates waiting for you today. Between a combination of updates to AirPort Utility 6.2 for Mac, AirPort Base Station and Time Capsule Firmware Update 7.6.3 and the universal iOS AirPort Utility 1.2, users will now have the ability to extend a guest Wi-Fi network configured with multiple AirPort Base Stations as well as add a WPS-capable Wi-Fi printer. The release notes also include "improved international support," but we'll leave it to our overseas readers to confirm if that one is true.
The Skype Garage Blog announced updates to the company's iPhone/iPod touch and iPad apps this week, bringing them to version 4.5. Both apps now allow automatic call recovery for dropped calls as well as a fix to make instant message conversations now appear in the correct order. The ability to opt in or out of marketing is also included with app registration. The iPhone version also allows emergency calls to be routed through the native dialer, while the iPad edition features an improved spacing and minor UI changes for the iPad mini as well as the ability to swipe from the left of screen to see recent conversations. If you haven't updated by now, hit the App Store and grab the free updates straight away!
Orchestra, Inc. announced the availability of their third-party email client, Mailbox. The iPhone app is free, but in order to use it, you'll need to reserve your place in line -- it's only available on a first-come, first served basis. The mobile-friendly email client has been the talk of the town in recent weeks, despite only working with Gmail at this point (the developer promises other email platforms are "coming soon"). Sadly it's not a universal app so you'll have to make sure with other email solutions on the iPad, but if you're interested in getting on board, you might want to download and open the app now to reserve your place in line.
The Evernote Blog announced a new version of Skitch for iOS on Thursday, with a version 2.0.3 update that introduces a more intuitive text editor and plenty of under-the-hood improvements that make the app "noticeably quicker and more stable." The update makes adding annotations to images or changing text a snap -- just tap on existing text and drag the corner to make it as small or large as you'd like. If you'd rather edit the text, tap once to select it and then tap again to start typing. As always, the free update is available on the App Store now.
MacRumors reported Thursday that video sharing startup Rabbit has launched its new Mac-only chat service in closed beta. But forget about visions of old technology such as AIM or Yahoo! -- Rabbit is something completely new which allows group video conferencing with the ability to screencast music, movies and even applications right from your Mac. While the promo video seems to indicate the service is aimed at teens, we can see it catching on with groups of friends in different cities or even around the world to create shared experiences such as watching their favorite TV show on Hulu or catching up with those forthcoming Arrested Development episodes on Netflix. But first you'll need to sign up for the beta, after which you can invite all of your Facebook friends to also join the party.
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