Facebook today announced that they're allowing devs to add Like buttons to their apps. Users will have to provide permission for apps to use built-in Like buttons, unlike their web counterparts. Likes through mobile apps will pop up on your timeline, in news feeds and as notifications to friends when appropriate, just as you'd expect. Facebook trotted out Instagram and Foursquare as some of their first partners to implement the capabilities, and I'm sure we'll see plenty more in the next couple of weeks.

There is a slight caveat, however: Facebook says that they won't be approving custom like actions, whereby they can put just about any content they want into the box that's shared online. Now it'll all have to be within a specific format, and developers will have to make the change within the next 90 days.

Facebook's Open Graph is a pretty huge deal, and the implementation of these new Like buttons could significantly improve discoverability of iPhone and iPad apps. If you're a developer and want to know how to build in these new Like buttons into your app, you can check out the Facebook documentation over here.

Are there any particular apps you'd like to see have a Like button? More than once I've wanted to be able to "Like" someone's Twitter status, but something tells me that's not going to happen any time soon.

Source: Facebook

The best iOS podcast in the world returns tonight to wrap up WWDC 2012 and take YOUR questions on iOS 6. Just leave them below and we'll tackle them on the show! With special guest David Barnard of App Cubby.

We'll also have a fresh ZEN and TECH for you tonight immediately after, so stay tuned!

Want to go full screen? Head to iMore.com/live. Want to watch via iPhone or iPad? Grab the Ustream app and search for "mobilenations"!

Stop us if you've heard this before, but a quote is being attributed to Terry Gou, CEO of Apple manufacturing partner Hon Hai (parent company of Foxconn), this time claiming he said that consumers should hold out for the iPhone 5, as it will apparently put the Samsung Galaxy S III to shame.

It was supposedly part of a conference call, and it's claimed Gou didn't stop there -- he also reportedly said that he expects that the joint venture with Sharp will put them ahead of Samsung shipments in three to five years. Of the partnership, Gou said "I respect the Japanese and especially like their execution and communication styles. Unlike the Koreans, they will not hit you from behind." He also called out Samsung as "a company with a track record of snitching on its competitors," referring to Samsung's role in a 2010 price fixing investigation. Yowza.

It's important to remember though, that reports have surfaced of Gou saying Apple-related comments before, only to have them later denied or walked back by PR. So take this for what it's worth.

Of course Foxconn provides parts for more than just Apple, but that's certainly the lion's share of their business. Currently, Apple hardware still uses a few Samsung parts, but of Hon Hai is this dedicated to squashing out their Korean competitor, then maybe they'll be offer Apple an acceptable alternative in the near future.

From what you guys have seen of the Samsung Galaxy S III and what little we've seen of the iPhone 5, are you going to take Gou's word for it that the next iOS smartphone will blow the competition away, or will it be yet another small iterative upgrade?

Source: FocusTaiwan via iClarified

The best way to clean dirt, grime, grease, and grit off all your iOS devices without damaging them or their oloephobic coatings

How should you clean your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch screen? Should you stick with a dry cleaning cloth or is it okay to use a cleaning solution? If so, what kind of solution is safest? From everyday usability, to applying screen protectors and stickers, to reducing the risk of scratches, keeping your iOS screen clean is something we get asked about a lot. And while it's not a DIY repair, it's every bit as important to know.

First off, if you own an iPhone 3GS or any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that came out after it, you're device has an oleophobic coating. This coating works to help prevent fingerprints and also makes it a lot easier to wipe them off using nothing but a dry cloth and in some instances, even a pant leg or inside of your shirt. Older devices don't have this coating and you may find you'll need to use a bit of water or cleaning spray in order to remove some substances and fingerprints.

If your device has an olephobic coating we don't recommend using any type of liquid cleaner on it as it can actually degrade the coating even quicker. Using a dry microfiber cloth or non-abrasive material will work just fine and should remove most of the oils from your fingers.

If you've gotten food or a sticky substance on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch that is resistant to just a dry cloth you can use a bit of water to get it off. Don't apply water directly to your device but moisten the corner of a microfiber cloth and use that. You should make sure you wring out the cloth completely so it is only damp. Also take care not to get any type of moisture in headphone jacks, dock connectors, speakers, or underneath the Home button. After the substance has come off, use the dry part of the cloth to finish wiping it down.

Oleophobic coatings do tend to wear off over time so if you've had your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch for over a year or so, you may start to notice that the screen isn't as easy to wipe down as it once was. At this point it's probably safe to use a non-abrasive cleaning liquid. Always use something that does not contain ammonia, alcohol, or bleach. In short, you should stay away from household cleaners, window cleaners, and aerosol sprays. Only use cleaners that are meant to be used on electronics.

Again, don't spray liquid directly on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch as you increase the likelihood of getting it inside the device. Spray the liquid onto a cleaning cloth and then continue to wipe down the device being sure to use a dry portion of the cloth afterwards to make sure there is no liquid left over.

Make sure you are checking labels on liquid screen and electronics spray cleaners to make sure they don't have any of the previously mentioned chemicals in them. If you want to stay on the safe side, the iMore accessory store also carries a lot of cleaners that are safe to use on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Cleaning cloths & sprays - Buy Now

Apple has just kicked off a free summer camp program where kids 8 - 12 get to make a movie with the help of Apple Store staff. The three-day program includes creating a soundtrack on GarageBand on an iPad, editing footage on iMovie for Mac, and a final showcase event for friends and family. The Apple Camps have all the tools needed, but they encourage attendees to bring their own Mac and Camera so they can get comfortable with their own devices. One would expect that iPhones would be pushed for shooting the video, but since footage is taken between days one and two, it's not surprising that Apple isn't interested in dishing out loaner units to young'uns.

This is a great little program for giving kids something fun and productive to do now that school's out. Of course, Apple has a vested interest in getting 'em hooked while they're young, and this is a great way to do it. Parents that are interested in signing up their children for the program can find more information at Apple over here. For those of you that would rather skip the whole Apple Store rigamarole and try something like this yourselves, you might want to check out our iMovie for iPad review.

Quizboard for iPhone is a new social trivia game that is like Trivial Pursuit meets Scrabble meets social-gaming. It features a beautiful game board and trivia question from a slew of categories that must be answered quickly, thus keeping you on your toes.

The game board for Quizboard features various point multipliers and blocked squares and one cell with a star. The progress of the game is cooperative and the game ends when a player reaches the star. However, the key is that there is no reward given to the player who reaches the star. Rather, the player who has the most points when the star is reached wins the game.

It's important to keep this rule in mind when playing the game, because if you're losing, you will probably want to play on the defensive and try to block shorter paths to the star so that you have more time to catch-up. On the other hand, if you're winning, you're strategy will be get to the star as quickly as possible.

For each turn, you are given 5 questions. You get to choose from a list of 7 categories. Each category is given a color and you can choose to combine two categories of the same color into one question for more points. The catch is that you cannot use that new question for two turns.

When you answer a question correctly, you must choose where to place the next icon on the board. Some of the cells are point multipliers, so if you think you can reach one during your turn, you may want to head to one. On the contrary, if you don't think you can, you may want to place your tiles in a way so that your opponent won't be able to get to the point multiplier on their turn either. You also get extra points when answering multiple questions correctly in a row.

Each question is multiple choice and you only have 24 seconds to choose an answer. This is great because it's long enough for you to choose the correct answer if you know it, but too short to successfully cheat. Trust me, I've tried. By the time I've done a google search and found the answer (on a separate computer), my time is up.

Quizboard comes with one gameboard for free and is ad-supported. If you upgrade for $2.99, the ads will be removed and you'll get access to all premium boards. The good news is, let's say, that Rene has not purchased the premium boards, but I have. If I invite Rene to play on one of my premium boards, he is allowed to join the game for free. Very cool.

As of right now, Quizboard is a two-player game, but a little birdie told me that more player support with bigger boards may be coming in the future. Each player has only 48 hours to take their turn before being forced to forfeit. I understand why a short time period is desired, but I do feel that 72 hours is too short. Some people only have time to play games over the weekend, so I'd like to see the 48 hours extended to 7 days.

If you're not very good at trivia, the good news is that Quizboard will learn this about you and give you easier questions, making it a fun game for all levels of players.

The good

• Looks great
• Social
• Tailors questions to your level of skill

The bad

• Can't retrieve password if you forget it
• Games get canceled if no turn is made after 72 hours
• Only two players allowed per game (for now)
• Not available on iPad (yet)

The conclusion

Quizboard is an awesome new and addicting social game that is also intellectually rewarding. It's clear that a lot of thought went into creating Quizboard and I appreciate the fact that each turn is five questions, not just one. This makes each turn much more interesting and keeps me coming back for more!

If you pick this one up, feel free to challenge me to a game. My name is llofte (of course!).

Free - Download Now

As part of their Windows Phone Summit today, Microsoft has unveiled Windows Phone 8, the next generation of their next generation mobile phone operating system. Already surprisingly simple and elegant, Microsoft now seems ready to amp up the power and features of Windows Phone 7. And a lot of those features seem aimed squarely at Apple's upcoming iOS 6. Our Mobile Nations sibling site, WPCentral is live at the event, and here's what they've seen.

• Microsoft officially announces Windows Phone 8

Latest and greatest hardware support

This one was a no brainer -- Windows Phone will now support multi-core and much higher resolution displays, including 800x480, 1280x768, and 1280x720 (15:9 for the two, 16:9 last). The Nokia Lumia 900 has a screen density nowhere near what it should have been for its size. This fixes all that and catches up to the leading edge Android phones on the market.

They've also added MicroSD support. (Which Apple will be adding never.)

• Windows Phone Summit: New resolutions revealed for Windows Phone 8

Internet Explorer 10

Included in Windows Phone 8 will be what Microsoft claims is a feature-complete version of the desktop Internet Explorer 10 (IE 10). That includes SmartScreen, HTML5, and JavaScript performance which Microsoft claims beats Android 4.x on the Samsung Galaxy S III, and the iOS 6 beta on the iPhone 4S.

It is slightly douchey to benchmark prototype Windows Phone 8 hardware against 9 month old iOS hardware running beta software. (And does that break Apple's NDA?). But it is what it is, and almost everyone does it.

Mobile Nations will run our own tests on an iPhone 5 when it ships, as well as whatever Android and Windows Phone devices are on the market at the time.

But credit where it's due. Microsoft is one of the very few not using WebKit -- the rendering engine behind Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome -- in mobile and, in stark contrast to the Pocket IE 6 days, they seem intent on keeping it absolutely competitive.

Native gaming

Microsoft is giving gaming developers C++ and DirectX to work their wonders with on Windows Phone 8, which is a huge step up. Microsoft is aiming to have gaming go from Windows to Windows Phone, which is smart. Curiously, there didn't seem to be any mention of Xbox, though Xbox Live is already in Windows Phone.

Apple has provided direct Objective-C, OpenGL, and an increasing set of APIs for developers since the iOS SDK launched in 2008, and with iOS 6 will be doing Game Center and AirVideo from Mac as well, making for a fairly awesome intra-platform gaming experience.

It'll be interesting to see how Microsoft ties their ecosystem together.

Wallet

At first glance, Windows Phone Wallet looks to be a hybrid of iOS 6 Passbook's repository and Google Wallet payment system. So, not only can you keep all your cards, coupons, tickets, etc. in one place, but you can pay right from the phone as well.

There'll be a dedicated Wallet Hub for everyone, but proper payments look like they'll need a TPM secured SIM card.

Apple hasn't announced any NFC (Near Field Communications) plans yet, but it wouldn't be surprising if Passbook was already set up with this in mind, and the PassKit framework wasn't abstracted and modular enough to, for example, swap out QR Codes for full on NFC in future hardware...

• Microsoft announces Wallet for Windows Phone 8

Nokia Maps

Microsoft used to license NavTeq data for Bing Maps. Nokia owns NavTeq. Microsoft partners with Nokia. So Windows Phone 8 will now simply use Nokia Maps.

That leaves Google with Google Maps, and Apple with the only other supplier of map data, TomTom's TeleAtlas, for iOS 6 Maps.

• Microsoft announces Nokia Map Technology for Windows Phone 8

New Start Screen

Windows Phone 8 updates the tile-based Start Screen, adding more customizable sizes and colors, and removing the old "gutter" so they go full screen.

I'm not a huge fan of Windows Phone tiles. They aren't as easily distinguishable as icons or as informationally dense as widgets. Microsoft means them as a best-of-both-worlds but to my eyes they're the one aesthetically displeasing part of the otherwise gorgeous Metro UI. And this all just makes a bad thing worse.

Still, if you are a fan of Titles, there's more of them to love.

• Microsoft announces the new Start Screen for Windows Phone 8

Windows Phone 7.8

Owners of almost brand new Windows Phones, like the Titan 2 or Nokia Lumia 900 won't be able to upgrade to Windows Phone 8. Instead they'll get a Windows Phone 7.8 booby prize which brings the new look, but not the new APIs needed to keep those phones relevant.

And that's, frankly, pathetic. Microsoft should have planned better. Can you imagine the much older iPhone 4S not getting iOS 6 but getting an iOS 5.5 build that had the new colored status bar but didn't maintain API compatibility?

Microsoft should have made sure any device sold in the last year had hardware specs that would maintain compatibility. I feel sorry for my Windows Phone friends on this one.

• Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 7.8 update for current hardware

More on Windows Phone 8

That looks to be about it for the announcements. Dan Rubino, Rafael Rivera, and the entire WPCentral team are now watching the demos and digging into the details, and they'll have more -- much more! -- to come. So if you're at all interested in Windows Phone 8, head on over and check out all the info:

• Complete Windows Phone 8 coverage

Analytics firm App Annie has recently published a fun little infographic called Game of Phones which pits the Android app ecosystem against Apple's. One of the key findings was that the App Store leads with a revenue share of 71% (compared to 29% for Android) even though total downloads through Google Play accounts for 35%, versus 28% for iOS. Their data also shows that both platforms have grown in revenue generation at the same rate - 14% so far this year. That means that Apple will likely be keeping its sizeable lead in profits for awhile still.

The infographic takes a look at geography too; Japan is apparently the fastest-growing market for iOS, having increased revenue by 22% so far this year, followed by Russia with 17% growth, US with 13% growth, and France 12%. Meanwhile, Android has boomed in Brazil with 88% revenue growth this year. By sheer downloads, the U.S. still claims the most app activity, claiming 28% of worldwide iOS downloads followed by China (18%) and Japan (6%).

Plenty of other research has backed up the idea that there tends to be a lot more money in the iOS app ecosystem, and some even suggests that the gap is more like 4-to-1 than 2-to-1. RIM would have devs believe that they can actually make more money writing apps for the PlayBook and BB10. It seems to me the biggest issue with maintaining profits on Android is app piracy. The device market share is there, but the open environment makes it easy for anyone with even a bit of technical savvy to get the apps they want without paying.

In any case, here's the whole infographic where you can see how Google Play and the App Store are currently squaring off. Devs, do these figures make sense for you? Are there any particularly busy international markets that you would like to get localized for after seeing this data?

Source: App Annie

Americans of Iranian descent have been having a hard time picking up iPhones and iPads in the state of Georgia due to a U.S. import ban that has translated into a sale policy at Apple stores. On multiple occasions, shoppers were heard by Apple Store managers speaking Farsi and denied service. The reason was a fairly cut and dry part of Apple's sale policy on prohibited destinations.

The U.S. holds complete embargoes against Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. The exportation, reexportation, sale or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a U.S. person wherever located, of any Apple goods, software, technology (including technical data), or services to any of these countries is strictly prohibited without prior authorization by the U.S. Government. This prohibition also applies to any Apple owned subsidiary or any subsidiary employee worldwide.

The big offense here isn't that the U.S. has a trade embargo on Iran (that's another can of worms altogether), but rather that Apple is enforcing this policy through their retail locations. Obviously Apple isn't going to be shipping anything to areas restricted by law, but should they be held accountable for indirect re-exportation after they sell goods domestically? If so, should it really be within the jurisdiction of some chump retail employee to pry into the personal lives of others, or worse still, make brash assumptions based on language alone? It seems to me that the onus sits on government border control if they want to uphold these embargoes.

Apple employees later suggested that the shoppers in question just buy their goods online, but really, why should they have to? If Apple is willing to do that, why not just sell them the iPad or iPhone at a store? It's easy to jump on this situation as a case of racial profiling, but I think in the end it's just poor staff training on Apple's part; they need the shipping policy in place to comply with American law, but if managers were explicitly told not to sell to anyone even vaguely Cuban, Iranian, Korean, Sudanese, or Syrian, then Apple deserves the PR poopstorm to come.

As you might expect, major American Iranian associations are calling for Apple to change their position. Do you think Apple will, or are they right to be worried that the government would see them as being too lax on the law?

Source: WSBTV via 9to5Mac

For today only, the iMore iPhone accessory store has the Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 on sale for only $10.95. That's a whopping 45% off! Get it before it's gone!

The Body Glove DropSuit rugged case is designed to provide protection where and when you need it. DropSuit is made of a durable gel material that resists the battles of everyday life.

The case has reinforced corners with a unique shock dissipation system to absorb impact and defend against bumps and drops. The strategically placed side bumpers provide a secure grip and added drop protection.

And if protecting your device from the rigors of life wasn't good enough, DropSuit even provides protection from the elements you can't see. The case includes an embedded anti-microbial agent that prevents the growth of odor, stain-causing bacteria, and other microorganisms.

Features:

• Durable gel material defends against bumps and scratches
• Uniquely designed corners that contain a shock dissipation system to absorb impact
• Side bumpers provide a secure grip and are reinforced for drop protection
• Embedded anti-microbial agent that prevents the growth of odor, stain-causing bacteria, and other microorganisms

Shop Body Glove DropSuit Rugged Case for iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 now!

Google offers is a Groupon-like service that offers huge discounts on things like restaurants, spas, travel, auto care, services, and more. The app is very well designed and offers many opportunities for users to save a good chunk of money on things they are in the market for -- or spend money on things they wouldn't have otherwise purchased.

Google Offers has a very pretty design and shows off a featured deal at the top of the Featured tab with a big, full-width photo and title. Underneath that hero offer is a list of more featured offers in your area. A picture thumbnail is on the left with a short description of the deal on the right including the business involved and location.

Speaking of "in your area", Google Offers only provides offers to big cities. Even though Monterey, Salinas, and Santa Cruz aren't tiny little California towns, the closest city to me that's supported by Google Offers is San Jose. This almost makes Google Offers completely useless to me. I say "almost" because some of the deals come from only venders.

Tapping on an offer will display it's photo and title nice and big like the main featured deal. It will also give more details about the deal including the time remaining to purchase the deal, the dates you can redeem the deal, the vendor's location, Restrictions, and a detailed description of The Deal.

Know the fine print

As with every deal, you always need to ask yourself "what's the catch?" With Google Offers, that main catch is that the "promotional value must be redeemed in one (1) visit." This is important to remember when encountering deals like $12 for $25 at a coffee shop or restaurant where you may not normally spend $25 (or even $12) in one visit. As long as you shop smart, you can get some really good deals - just make sure you read the Restrictions and details of every deal before making a commitment.

The good

• Pretty design
• Lots of great offers

The bad

• Only includes big major cities
• Offers must be redeemed in one visit

The conclusion

Google Offers is a great way to get good deals, providing that you're smart on purchases that you make and that you live near a city that is supported.

Free - Download Now

The LynkTec TruGlide Stylus takes a different approach to any other stylus pen we've looked at. Instead of having a silicone tip like the Pogo Sketch Plus, Kuel H12, or Wacom Bamboo, or a plastic disc like the Jot Pro, the TruGlide has a tip made of strong, woven, capacitive fibers. LynkTec claims these fibers are more durable and last longer than either the silicone tips or plastic discs of their competitors, and also provide a smoother, more friction-free experience on the iPhone or iPad. Does it work out that way?

During my tests, I found this to be true. The LynkTec TruGlide Stylus tip holds up well and moves nicely across the screen. I also found the quality of the capacitive material to be very good, though not as good as the Pogo Sketch Pro. the woven tip is smaller and less squishy than silicone tipped styluses, which means you get better precision and faster physical feedback.

The stylus barrel is 4.7 inches, not too short to be uncomfortable and not too long to get in your way. The LynkTec TruGlide Stylus also has a clip like a standard pen. There are also some nice, decorative touches which shows they put thought and consideration into the way it looks.

The good

• Durable woven tip
• Good capacitance
• Nice design
• Very well priced

The bad

• Not as precise as some other pro styluses

The conclusion

If you're looking for a stylus with as durable a tip as possible that's stylish and offers very good performance, you'll be happy with the TruGlide Stylus. LynkTec markets it as great for gaming, and that's absolutely true. It's also good for note taking and drawing, and comes at great price.

$15.95 - Buy now

Following up on WWDC 2012 and iOS 6, Apple recently sent an email to developers informing them of new catalog reports, a new iTunes Connect Mobile 2.0 app, and a new requirement fo 1024x1024 icons.

App and In-App Catalog Reports Now Available

Catalog reports provide you with extended information for all of your apps and In-App Purchases. To view and generate reports, go to the Catalog Reports module on iTunes Connect. New reports can be generated only once every 24 hours.

iTunes Connect Mobile 2.0

iTunes Connect Mobile 2.0 is now available on the App Store. iTunes Connect Mobile allows you to access all of your app information, customer reviews, and sales data on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. You can now also access the metadata for your apps, designate favorite apps for easy tracking, and provide access for additional user roles.

High-Resolution App Icon and Newsstand Cover Art for Retina Display

Starting in July, newly submitted iOS apps require high-resolution icons and cover art. Large icons and Newsstand cover art must have a minimum resolution of 1024 x 1024 pixels. To change your app icons or cover art, go to the Manage Your Applications module on iTunes Connect. For more information, see the Custom Icon and Image Creation Guidelines in the iOS Developer Library.

If anyone plays with the new reports or new version of iTunes Connect, let us know how they work for you. And if you're updating your assets, let us know how much of a chore it is to go to 1024.

At WWDC 2012, Apple SVP of iOS, Scott Forstall, announced one of the major new features of iOS 6 would be FaceTime over cellular. Introduced in iOS 4, FaceTime has been Wi-Fi only up until now, despite the widespread availability of 3G and 4G networks, and despite rival products like Skype having access to video of cellular for years already.

So the question becomes, will carriers allow FaceTime now?

Rumor has it the carriers have been the ones blocking it up until now, fearful that FaceTime would be far more accessible and popular than Skype, and place too much of a burden on their sometimes fragile networks. Does Apple announcing FaceTime over cellular as an iOS 6 feature mean all the carriers have changed their minds? Of course not.

Apple announced MMS for iPhone in iPhone OS 3 and AT&T blocked it in the U.S. until iOS 4 a year later. Tethering is still a huge mess across many carriers.

To find out, Marketwatch asked the major U.S. wireless companies about their plans for FaceTime over 3G and 4G.

The carriers that offer the iPhone wouldn't comment on their plans for offering FaceTime on their networks, but an AT&T spokesman said the company is "working closely with Apple on features disclosed for iOS 6, and we'll share more information with our customers as we get closer to launch."

So there you have it, a firm "no comment" with a dash of "maybe".

Are they afraid FaceTime users will clog their networks? Or burn through capped data plans and then complain bitterly? Make it available only on tiered-plans and launch a popup the first time a user tries it, warning them of data usage. Done.

Marketwatch gives voice to some of the same silly fear-mongering we've heard before, most recently about LTE making it too easy to watch videos, and Retina displays making it likely large images will kill data plans. The truth isn't anywhere near as sensational as that. It's simply that carriers are nervous when it comes to iPhones hitting their networks, and since iOS 6 doesn't ship until the fall anyway, they have time before they have to address it as a customer-facing issue.

When that time comes, however, let's hope saner heads prevail and Apple's FaceTime enjoys the same access Microsoft's Skype enjoys now.

Source: MarketWatch

Barely a week after the WWDC 2012 keynote, Apple has released the session videos. For any registered developers who either couldn't attend WWDC, or who simply couldn't attend every session they wanted to, here's what you missed.

So get a beverage or three lined up, find a comfortable chair, warm up AirPlay if you have it, and hit the link below.

Source: developer.apple.com/videos/wwdc/2012/

Pay with Square and Square Register have both received updates that give merchants the opportunity to better connect with and reward their customers. Pay with Square now allows customers to keep track of virtual punch cards at their favorite merchants. Square Register for iPad has been updated with the ability to give discounts as well as a few minor interface enhancements.

Pay with Square allows customers to make hands-free payments to participating merchants via their iPhone or Android phone. Once you've created a login and linked a bank or credit card you can start paying merchants that already accept Square payments. The new punch card feature allows customers to have in-app punch cards for participating merchants. These businesses can then reward loyal customers with discounts or other offers after so many visits.

Customers can also use location services to search for things such as coffee houses, chinese food, or any other place they choose. Square will them give them a list of merchants in their area that are accepting Square. This adds even more visibility for Square merchants over the previous version of Pay with Square.

Square Register for iPad has also been updated and now gives businesses the ability to natively create discounts within Square. Your employees can then choose the Discounts section and apply discounts after ringing up a sale. If you want to run a special that gives people who like your Facebook page $5 off of their next purchase you can now do so. You can choose between percentage or dollar off discounts on an individual basis.

Businesses can also create first visit specials to attract new customers into their location. Using this in conjunction with punch cards and loyalty rewards makes it much easier for small businesses to grow their client base and retain them with continued rewards.

Pay with Square - Download Now

Square Register - Download Now