Google

Finally, the official Google Calendar app has arrived on the iOS App Store. Users of Google Calendar for work or pleasure will enjoy the fact that Google has released its own take on calendar functionality for iPhone and iPad users. The app has a pleasant user interface and facilitates interaction with a Google Calendar account on iOS without complicating the process.

The native iOS app streamlines what was previously available only as a mobile website on the iPhone. Various third-party apps made it possible to view and interact with Google Calendar, but the official Calendar app found on Android devices was not available for Apple users until now. Google Calendar meshes with Exchange calendars as well, and plays nice with Gmail events. This means emailed event details can automatically be converted into calendar events.

iOS and Android users can now manage their gift cards and request / send money using the Google Wallet app. Like loyalty cards, Google Wallet users can now digitally store their gift cards by scanning the card or manually typing its info into the app. Users can also check gift card balances from participating partners such as Toys R Us, and receive a reminder that they have a gift card for a certain retailer when they are near a brick and mortar location.

Google has also added the ability to request money from your contacts, and send them a "friendly" reminder in the form of a notification in case they forget to pay you the first time around. Users can send money through Google Wallet by using an attached debit card.

Google has updated its iOS music app to version 1.3.0.2190. The update adds the ability to listen to full albums or playlists with "gapless playback", meaning there are no breaks or silence between tracks. Users can also now view all of their downloaded music and download subscribed playlists for offline listening.

Google recently also added the ability to edit playlists directly on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and created a "Download Only" filter. Google Play Music is available to download on the Apple App Store. The free version of the app allows users to store up to 20,000 tracks of their own music online and create their own playlists.

Google today announced that iOS developers can now sign up for the company's Instant Buy API program. Google Instant Buy allows developers to add an easy to use "Buy With Google" button to their mobile apps for iOS devices.

Google claims 97% of mobile shoppers abandoned their shopping carts because they typically "have to fill out up to 25 fields to checkout." Google Wallet allows customers to skip the annoying registration process by offering an easy 2-click check out option in all apps that offers its service. The Instant Buy service also works with a developer's existing payment processor and guarantees secure transactions.

Google rolled out a huge update to its iOS Maps app on Tuesday. Version 3.0 of Google Maps adds several new features such as lane guidance, Uber integration and the ability to save offline maps to a custom list for quick access.

Lane guidance is a pretty standard feature on most GPS devices. It lets drivers know which lane of traffic is the correct route so they do not miss important turns or exits. The new offline mode allows users to save maps to a custom list in case they run into a bad network connection or are worried about data charges. Other new driving features include the ability to view travel time and distance in navigation mode and the ability to search for local businesses by rating, price, opening hours, and more.