‘God of War’ is coming to PS4
Kratos is back — and he brought his axe. Sony kicked off its E3 2016 press conference with a familiar face, as we’re finally getting a new God of War game on PS4. Moving on from last year’s God of War III remake, Sony has a new game that looks bigger in scale than anything we’ve seen before, which is saying something for this series. Kratos took on a giant and just before the end of the stage we saw…a dragon? Check after the break to watch the nearly 10-minute gameplay trailer yourself, just don’t expect any details like a release date just yet.
Follow all the news from E3 2016 here!
‘The Last Guardian’ finally arrives on October 25th
At last, that pesky bird rodent is almost ready to roam. The long-awaited, long in-development, The Last Guardian will hit PS4 on October 25th. The trailer didn’t show us much else (there appears to be multiple giant ratbirds…) but the game seems as melancholy and stylish as ever. Take a look for yourself below.
Sling TV Launches App for Apple TV Following WWDC Announcement
During the tvOS section of Apple’s WWDC keynote today, the company confirmed that Sling TV will be getting an app for the fourth-generation Apple TV. Now, Sling TV has confirmed that the live-streaming app is available to download from the tvOS store, “delivering a live, linear and on-demand multichannel pay-TV service all within a single app.”
The Apple TV rollout will introduce a brand-new user interface that the company plans to install on other devices in the coming months. Anyone who downloads Sling TV today to join its beta multi-stream service will additionally gain access to new channels owned by Fox; across all services, new channels from Viacom will also be available.
There’s a bundle discount available for users who have yet to purchase an Apple TV, and intend to join Sling TV as well. New customers will have the chance to purchase a new 32GB Apple TV for $89 (previously $150), when they also pre-pay for a three-month subscription to Sling TV ($20 per month), which would eventually equal the Apple TV’s original price.
More in-depth coverage of every big piece of tvOS and Apple TV news can be found in our WWDC keynote roundup.
Related Roundups: Apple TV, WWDC 2016
Tag: Sling TV
Buyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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iOS 10 Tidbits: Individual Read Receipts, Wake Alarm, Music Storage Optimization, and More
Apple today announced iOS 10, the next major version of its iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch software platform. The update is available in beta for Apple developers starting today, allowing early adopters to update and take a closer look at what’s new. A public beta will be available in July, followed by an official launch in the fall.
iOS 10 includes a number of changes that Apple neglected to mention in greater detail on stage during its WWDC 2016 keynote, including a new Wake Alarm in the Clock app, individualized read receipts, a new option in the Music app to optimize storage, and many other features outlined below.
Remove Stock Apps
iOS 10 enables users to remove the following built-in apps from the Home screen on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:
• Calendar
• Compass
• Contacts
• FaceTime
• Find My Friends
• Home
• iBooks
• iCloud Drive
• iTunes Store
• Mail
• Maps
• Music
• News
• Notes
• Podcasts
• Reminders
• Stocks
• Tips
• Videos
• Voice Memos
• Watch app
• Weather
The apps are now available as standalone downloads on the App Store, meaning that Apple can issue updates for each app independent of iOS updates.
If you have an Apple Watch paired with your iPhone, removing an app from your Home screen also removes that app from your Apple Watch.
Removing apps can unsurprisingly impact related functionalities such as CarPlay and Notification Center widgets.
Wake Alarm
A new Bedtime tab has been added to the Clock app with a Wake Alarm function that can help you go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. When enabled, the recurring wake-up alarm will remind you when it is time to sleep, track how many hours you slept, and provide detailed sleep analysis.
Individual Read Receipts
Read receipts can be toggled on a per-person or per-conversation basis on iOS 10, rather than be simply turned on or off entirely.
Music Storage Optimization
New Keyboard Sound
New iOS keyboard sound is weeeirdhttps://t.co/c4HxZDZfuQ
— Owen Williams ⚡️ (@ow) June 13, 2016
Other Tidbits
• New wallpaper
• Game Center has been removed
• “Avoid Tolls” toggle in Apple Maps
• Control Center now supports 3D Touch
• Settings has new 3D Touch shortcut for Cellular Data
• Tweaked “back to” icon in Status Bar
Related Roundup: iOS 10
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2016 Apple Design Award Winners Announced: Lara Croft Go, djay Pro, Ulysses Mobile and More
Following its WWDC keynote address, Apple held an event to announce the winners of its prestigious Apple Design Awards. The company hands out its design awards every year during WWDC, highlighting a section of the best apps and games across Apple’s various operating systems.
The design awards were created to recognize high-quality apps that used savvy design to create inventive, compelling new apps and games. Winners of the design awards receive significant recognition, a trophy and receive a selection of Apple products directly from the company.
This year’s winners include popular game Lara Croft Go, 3D4Medical’s Complete Anatomy, music creation tool Auxy, desktop-class writing app Ulysses Mobile and more.
iOS and watchOS
– Lara Croft Go [iOS]
– Frame.io [iOS]
– Chameleon Run [iOS]
– Auxy Music Creation [iOS]
– Streaks [iOS]
– Complete Anatomy [iOS]
– INKS [iOS]
– Zova – Personal Trainer [iOS]
– Ulysses Mobile [iOS]
– djay Pro [iOS]
Student Winners
– Linum – Free Puzzle Game [iOS]
– Dividr [iOS]
2015 winners include Fantastical 2, Crossy Road, Shadowmatic and Workflow. 2014 winners include Threes!, Leo’s Fortune, Blek and Monument Valley.
Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
Tag: Apple Design Awards
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List of Macs Compatible With macOS Sierra
Apple today announced macOS Sierra, the latest version of its Mac software platform and renamed successor to OS X El Capitan. The first beta of the update was seeded to developers earlier today, while a public beta will be released in July.
macOS Sierra will be available as a free software update for compatible MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Pro models in the fall. Many 2007 to 2009 Macs that are compatible with OS X El Capitan will not be upgradeable to macOS Sierra, as the cutoff is now at least Late 2009.
The official list of Macs compatible with macOS Sierra:
Late 2009 or Later
- MacBook
- iMac
2010 or Later
- MacBook Air
- MacBook Pro
- Mac mini
- Mac Pro
Apple has shared the full video of its WWDC 2016 keynote, where it also introduced iOS 10 alongside new versions of watchOS and tvOS.
Related Roundup: macOS Sierra
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Apple WatchOS 3 update: Control Center, Dock, Scribble, and more
Apple has kicked off its Worldwide Developer Conference with some news about the next major operating system update for its Apple Watch.
The update, called WatchOS 3, will be available later this year, but to get you excited for what’s coming, Apple has announced some standout upgrades, including a new feature that lets you write on the screen, a stress-relieving app that helps you with breathing, and an improved navigation experiences, thanks to the introduction of a Dock button and Control Center. Keep reading to learn more about this update.
WatchOS 3: New features
Faster experience
Apple
Apple has brought speed improvements to its wearable. It focused on optimisations in app-launch time, meaning your apps should now respond instantly, and your information should be updated the minute you go look so you’re not waiting. Apple said it’s going to accomplish this by keeping your favourite apps in memory and reporting background updates and data, and then it’ll refresh that information, all of which will apparently lead to an instant launch for any app. Apple demoed launching the Onefootball app from a WatchOS 2-powered app, and the actual launch seemed to take a few seconds, but then Apple demoed the same app-launch with a WatchOS 3-powered watch, and the result was 7x faster.
Messaging options
Message replies are a lot faster now, too, as WatchOS 3 will offer responses without requiring you to tap a button. You will see reply options right in an app, which include a new Scribble feature. This will let you write on-screen, so you can spell out words that are not picked up by dictation. Scribble works in both English and Chinese.
Dock button and Control Center
Apple
Apple has rebranded the Apple Watch’s side button to Dock button. If you press this button, you will now be brought to an area where you can arrange your favourite apps. The Dock area also allows you to multi-task on Apple Watch, because it lets you easily switch between apps. All apps in the Dock are live, so you can get your info without actually having to open the app. To complement all this, Apple has introduced a Control Center. You can activate it by swiping up – just like you do on the iPhone.
Watch faces
Apple
Apple can’t update its wearable without launching new watch faces. It’s therefore rolling out a new Activity watch face, which you’d glance at to see your progress and how your movement is being tracked throughout the day. Activity sharing will also now show your friends and family’s exercise progress to help motivate you. If you want to see more details, tap on any name to get a better look at their activity rings, workouts, step counts, etc. Once you’re done creeping their stats, you’ll be able to send them voice messages within the app using quick replies. You can even launch your own workouts directly from the Activity ring watch face. During a demo, Apple showed how you can swipe between all watch faces too. That’s right. Edge-to-edge swiping will now change faces. And you can get more complications for watch faces, opening up customisation possibilities.
New apps
Apple
Apple quickly revealed new Apple Watch apps are coming. Two of the apps were already available to iPhone and Mac users: Reminders and Find My Friends. The first app lets you set alarms and notifications for remembering different things, while the latter app lets you locate friends nearby. Apple said Find My Friends takes advantage of background updates to make sure you always have the latest locations for my friends and family.
Apple also demoed a third app called Breathe. It’s designed to guide you through simple, deep breathing sessions. It’ll help you to deal with stress, apparently. You can launch the app from your watch face, your dock, or you can set reminders via Stand reminders. You can also change the amount of time you want to do your session (from 1-5 minutes). You’ll be guided by visuals that make it easy to follow along, and you’ll get gentle taps from haptic feedback.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay can now be used in WatchOS apps.
SOS
Apple
Apple Watch finally offers emergency features. You can call 911 using your iPhone signal (or directly via Wi-Fi). It’ll work internationally as well. Once the call has gone through, all your emergency contacts will be notified. Your watch can send your location and MedicalID data too. To access this SOS feature, press and hold the side button, and it will count down to let you know it’s ready to call 911.
Support for wheelchair users
Apple
Apple has added support for wheelchair users to WatchOS 3. This support replaces stand time with roll time, and it brings wheelchair-optimised activity rings and workouts and apps.
WatchOS 3: Release date
Apple said WatchOS 3 is coming this autumn (probably alongside the Apple Watch 2 and iPhone 7).
Xbox Project Scorpio is the most powerful games console ever, coming Christmas 2017
Not content with unveiling the Xbox One S, a slimmer, better Xbox One, Xbox boss Phil Spencer announced Project Scorpio during the Microsoft E3 media briefing. It’s the next games machine from Xbox and will be “the most powrerful console ever”.
Although we’re light on specs at present, the 6 teraflop GPU will be the best in a console to date when it arrives in the Holiday season of 2017.
It’s unlikely that it will keep the name Project Scorpio on its release, but considering there were few leaks about it prior to the event, that’ll no doubt be well bandied around for a while.
The console will have 4K HDR gaming on launch, but all games will work across all Xbox One machines, from the original and the Xbox One S to Scorpio.
In addition, it is geared for virtual reality, with Xbox claiming that it will be capable of high resolution VR – a slight dig at PlayStation and the PS VR.
Pricing, etc, is naturally yet to be revealed, but with the Xbox One S starting at $299, we suspect it’ll come in a lot higher.
Still, it’s very exciting stuff.
We’re at E3 all this week and if we can find out more about the new machine we’ll bring it to you. And there we were impressed by the Xbox One S.
Apple Music update brings new look, lyrics, and hidden Connect section
Apple’s music-streaming service is getting a major update that brings an all-new look while significantly diminishing a previously-major feature.
Apple Music has a new design that not only rearranges the tabs along the bottom of the app (in the menu bar) but also brings a new interface for each one to make them easier to use. The tabs are now for the following screen: Library, For You, Browse, Radio, and Search. Notice there is no more “Connect” tab by default. Instead, it’s been tucked away into For You. Here’s what you need to know…
Apple Music update: All-new look
Navigation
The first tab in the new Apple Music is Library, and it has an entirely new section for downloaded music (this is all the music on your iPhone). It also has a Recently-added section, so you can see all the songs and playlists recently added to your library.
The second tab in the menu bar is For You – and at the top of this area there is a new Discovery mix section. You can go here to see all the songs that have been picked just for you. You will also see daily-curated playlists on this tab. Connect is now bundled in this tab, too, suggesting the music social network-like idea never really took off. And that just reminds us of Apple’s failed Ping attempt.
The next tab in the menu bar is called Browse. It has the most recent and most important music of today, including top charts. Apple has once again curated this whole spot. During a demo on stage, we saw music from Drake, Dre, and a Jonas brother here.
The Fourth tab is Radio. It lets you listen to 24/7 radio via Beats 1. From this section, you will also find genre-based stations. And the fifth and final tab is all about search, so you can find whatever song, artist, playlist, album, or video you may want to hear.
Lyrics
Apple has announced you can now see lyrics beneath album art. To access lyrics, just swipe down when listening to a song.
Apple Music update: Number of users
Apple’s music-streaming service launched at WWDC last year. So, during today’s keynote, Apple revealed Apple Music has amassed 15 million paying subscribers in a year.
Apple Music update: Release date
Apple didn’t specify when the new Apple Music will roll out, but we can assume it’ll release alongside iOS 10 this autumn.
TPO, the US carrier that gives 10 per cent of your phone bill to charity
Hey do-gooder, here’s a chance for you to do even more do-gooding. By making sure every month 10 per cent of your monthly phone bill costs go to charity.
TPO, aka the The People’s Operator, is a mobile network provider that gives back the more you spend. The idea, is that not only can you save money each month on your mobile phone bill with the carrier’s great Pay Monthly SIM Only deals or Pay As You Go SIMs, but that you can make a difference by directing 10 per cent of your spend to any charity or cause of your choice – at no cost to you.
TPO has teamed up with Pocket-lint to offer readers 20 per cent off the first month of the 3GB Caring and 5GB Hero plans by using the code BEST20. Both plans offer unlimited talk and unlimited texts.
It’s more than just a cheap mobile phone deal – it’s totally feel-good.
You get to choose from TPO’s national partners like WWF or Feeding America right down to your local school or animal shelter.
But don’t just expect the prices to be 10 per cent higher to cover the donation costs. TPOs plans for both GSM and CDMA phones are as competitive as other carriers and there’s always someone in the US on the phone to answer any queries you have. No international call centres here.
And remember by signing up you’ll be part of a network that is helping raise money for thousands of amazing causes in the US every month.
Get the deal now!
