Black Friday Deals on Apps and Software for iPhone, iPad, and Mac

[MacRumors]

With fewer than three days until Black Friday, a number of developers are beginning to offer deals on their apps and software. Below, we have rounded up some of the notable discounts available for popular iOS and Mac apps and software. More deals will inevitably be announced, so keep an eye on our Black Friday roundup.

Final Fantasy Tactics

Square Enix has discounted both the iPhone and iPad versions of Final Fantasy Tactics to $3.99 for a limited time, marking the game's lowest price ever. The lowest previous sale was $6.99 for the iPhone version and $7.99 for the iPad version. Regular prices are $13.99 for iPhone and $15.99 for iPad.

TouchArcade gave the title a rather mediocre 3.5/5 stars rating back in 2011, but noted Square Enix has significantly updated the game since then. "The graphics got redrawn, iCloud support was added, making it a significantly better port than when it was first released," said editor-in-chief Eli Hodapp.

A gameplay overview from the 2011 review:

You'll be taking over a squad of characters and battling on grid-based maps in a turn-based system. As you play through, you'll be able to level up your characters, equip weapons and effects and change jobs. Since the iOS port is based on the PSP version, you'll also get an updated story, a better translation than the PS1 version and a few fancy cutscenes.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is available on the App Store for iPhone [Direct Link] and iPad [Direct Link].

Lumines Puzzle and Music

Mobcast's falling-block puzzle game Lumines Puzzle and Music is on sale for just 99 cents for a limited time. The app has normally cost $2.99 since it first launched in September. Lumines universally supports both iPhone and iPad.

A mobile rebuild of the classic PSP title, LUMINES PUZZLE & MUSIC is an action packed puzzle game synchronized to a musical beat, featuring newly-produced tracks and classics such as "Shinin'" by Mondo Grosso. Players swipe and tap their screen in portrait mode to properly align their Lumines blocks to clear blocks of four matching colors in rhythm to the beat.

TouchArcade gave Lumines Puzzle and Music a favorable 4/5 stars rating, with editor Shaun Musgrave noting the game "nails the core gameplay" and has "exceptional aesthetics." Here's a bit more on gameplay:

In Lumines, 2 x 2 blocks composed of two different colors drop in the field and begin falling. You need to move them left or right, rotate them, and drop them at the bottom of the playfield. As opposed to making lines as in Tetris, here you are trying to make 4 x 4 squares of a single color. When you do that, they will be marked for clearing. As you play, a bar is constantly moving across the field in line with the tempo of the current song. That bar will removed any marked squares you've matched up, and the remaining blocks will settle into place.

Lumines Puzzle and Music is available on the App Store for iPhone and iPad [Direct Link].

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Article Link: Black Friday Deals on Apps and Software for iPhone, iPad, and Mac

 

[2457282]

I wish that Apple would surprise us all for Black friday with
1. An improved Photos App that worked the same across all platforms (no, it doesn't).
2. An open iMessage App so we can use that versus Whatsapp to talk to those annoying-not-in the-walled-garden friends.
3. An office suite that would actually compete with MS.
4. An iPad that actually could replace a laptop.
5. A music app that still supported music owners.
6. Airpods
7. Laptops that were actually priced so that normal people could afford them
8. And of course more watch bands and emoji

 

[KALLT]

No discount on PDF Expert for Mac?

 

[psac]

Toucharcade is a great site, by the way.

 

[mkeeley]

I wish that Apple would surprise us all for Black friday with
1. An improved Photos App that worked the same across all platforms (no, it doesn't).
2. An open iMessage App so we can use that versus Whatsapp to talk to those annoying-not-in the-walled-garden friends.
3. An office suite that would actually compete with MS.
4. An iPad that actually could replace a laptop.
5. A music app that still supported music owners.
6. Airpods
7. Laptops that were actually priced so that normal people could afford them
8. And of course more watch bands and emoji

Black Friday saying emoji's were just a wind up and we're getting rid of them, even better.

 

[zombierunner]

Obligatory Brack Friday Bunduru comment.

 

[Mike Oxard]

I wish that Apple would surprise us all for Black friday with
1. An improved Photos App that worked the same across all platforms (no, it doesn't).
2. An open iMessage App so we can use that versus Whatsapp to talk to those annoying-not-in the-walled-garden friends.
3. An office suite that would actually compete with MS.
4. An iPad that actually could replace a laptop.
5. A music app that still supported music owners.
6. Airpods
7. Laptops that were actually priced so that normal people could afford them
8. And of course more watch bands and emoji

Airpods? Come on, be realistic!
[doublepost=1479851502][/doublepost]

Black Friday saying emoji's were just a wind up and we're getting rid of them, even better.

 

[oneMadRssn]

5. A music app that still supported music owners.

I agree. Their direction with the music app is truly puzzling. The iOS7-8 music apps were not great - certainly less than the peak of iOS6 - but usable and fine 99% of the time. iOS9 introduced a few annoyances for those who sync their purchased music, but it was workable.

iOS10 gives the impression that it was designed purposely to not only prioritize streaming Apple Music, but to actually make listening to synched purchased offline music a pain with no good workarounds.

It's one thing to design an app to give prominence to the in-house streaming service. It's entirely another to actively discourage listening to MP3s through deliberately bad design and hidden menus.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Didn't see anything of need being offered thus far. I hope that changes. My new MBP needs some new apps etc.

 

[Born Again]

people still download apps?

 

[Sanlitun]

The Parallels deal is a whole lot of nothing. The $49 is already the upgrade price if you own it and the bundled apps are not worth downloading.

 

[KazKam]

I agree. Their direction with the music app is truly puzzling. The iOS7-8 music apps were not great - certainly less than the peak of iOS6 - but usable and fine 99% of the time. iOS9 introduced a few annoyances for those who sync their purchased music, but it was workable.

iOS10 gives the impression that it was designed purposely to not only prioritize streaming Apple Music, but to actually make listening to synched purchased offline music a pain with no good workarounds.

It's one thing to design an app to give prominence to the in-house streaming service. It's entirely another to actively discourage listening to MP3s through deliberately bad design and hidden menus.

Well said. I know this isn't an Apple Music or Music app thread, but your observations so closely resemble mine I had to agree and chime-in.

To me, the solution seems painfully simple, but I know they won't do it. All of the design changes in the iOS Music app aside, if they just allow us to disable showing un-synched iTunes/iCloud purchases and Apple Music/steaming services as an system/app-wide setting, eliminating the "Downloaded Music" layer and giving us back a Music app dedicated to playing just the music I chose to sync to my phone (and not paste a banner across the app making you feel like a pariah for not turning their streaming cloud crap back on), I'd be much happier.

 

[KALLT]

iOS10 gives the impression that it was designed purposely to not only prioritize streaming Apple Music, but to actually make listening to synched purchased offline music a pain with no good workarounds.

It is clearly labelled as Apple Music in the App Store. A subtle and silent, but notable rebranding of the app.

 

[McScooby]

I wish that Apple would surprise us all for Black friday with
1. An improved Photos App that worked the same across all platforms (no, it doesn't).
2. An open iMessage App so we can use that versus Whatsapp to talk to those annoying-not-in the-walled-garden friends.
3. An office suite that would actually compete with MS.
4. An iPad that actually could replace a laptop.
5. A music app that still supported music owners.
6. Airpods
7. Laptops that were actually priced so that normal people could afford them
8. And of course more watch bands and emoji

Park that request for 1st Apr!

 

[chuckisbusy]

So, Screens for Mac is going to be a paid upgrade in Early 2017! Does it even make sense to buy it if it goes on sale??

 

[cube]

What about accelerated OpenCL?

 

[SockRolid]

I wish that Apple would surprise us all for Black friday with
1. An improved Photos App that worked the same across all platforms (no, it doesn't).
2. An open iMessage App so we can use that versus Whatsapp to talk to those annoying-not-in the-walled-garden friends.
3. An office suite that would actually compete with MS.
4. An iPad that actually could replace a laptop.
5. A music app that still supported music owners.
6. Airpods
7. Laptops that were actually priced so that normal people could afford them
8. And of course more watch bands and emoji

Dream.
On.

 

[CarlJ]

I wish that Apple would surprise us all for Black friday with
...
8. And of course more watch bands and emoji

Well, I don't know about all that other junk on your list, but I'm totally on board for more watch bands and emoji. Can we get watch bands with emoji printed on them?

 

[mdriftmeyer]

I agree. Their direction with the music app is truly puzzling. The iOS7-8 music apps were not great - certainly less than the peak of iOS6 - but usable and fine 99% of the time. iOS9 introduced a few annoyances for those who sync their purchased music, but it was workable.

iOS10 gives the impression that it was designed purposely to not only prioritize streaming Apple Music, but to actually make listening to synched purchased offline music a pain with no good workarounds.

It's one thing to design an app to give prominence to the in-house streaming service. It's entirely another to actively discourage listening to MP3s through deliberately bad design and hidden menus.

Are you just incapable of adapting or what am I missing? Music is a breeze to use with localized music I install. What problem do you have? And don't tell me you're going to complain about the need to build custom Playlists.

 

[Tech198]

if Apple surprised us any more there would be noting to excite us a WWDC events. I'm still trying to wonder why Apple favors Parallels over VMWare proudcts.

If their have one, then give us choices. To me, that leaves a downside since if i want VMWare products i'll go elsewhere.

 

[mbpowner]

The deal should have included the iPhones . iPhone 7 plus 899 quid, speechless...

 

[rockosmodurnlif]

Are you just incapable of adapting or what am I missing? Music is a breeze to use with localized music I install. What problem do you have? And don't tell me you're going to complain about the need to build custom Playlists.

Prior to the current app, I was able to toggle a switch & anything I didn't sync wasn't displayed, currently I have to do that every time I use the app by selecting Downloaded Music tab.

Also, the other day, Apple Music downloaded everything I purchased but hadn't synced to my phone & in some cases I had 2 versions of the same song/album so I had to delete all those.

 

[ackmondual]

3. An office suite that would actually compete with MS.

Are you referring to iWork?
Otherwise, doesn't Microsoft's version for Mac suffice, or freeware options like WPS Office or Libre Office work?

 

[petsounds]

Well said. I know this isn't an Apple Music or Music app thread, but your observations so closely resemble mine I had to agree and chime-in.

To me, the solution seems painfully simple, but I know they won't do it. All of the design changes in the iOS Music app aside, if they just allow us to disable showing un-synched iTunes/iCloud purchases and Apple Music/steaming services as an system/app-wide setting, eliminating the "Downloaded Music" layer and giving us back a Music app dedicated to playing just the music I chose to sync to my phone (and not paste a banner across the app making you feel like a pariah for not turning their streaming cloud crap back on), I'd be much happier.

That's not really a good solution because there's people like me who both subscribe to Apple Music and also have an extensive personal library. What I want is just for AM and my purchased music to be separate silos. I can't use most of AM's features solely because I don't want to risk Apple messing up my library, in addition to the fact that I want to manually put purchased, lossless music on my devices.

 

[Poochi]

Buying myself Windows 10 to "enhance" my mac gaming capability... since Apple is so incompetent in serving the gaming community (and Mac Pro and Mac Mini are beyond embarrassing at this point)