★★★★★
Backbone One USB-C game controller adds real buttons, sticks and triggers to the newest iPhone models, and Androids too.
This is second-generation version of the wrap-around gaming accessory that’s beenupdated, to better fit handsets in protective cases.
I really enjoyed testing the controller out with the iPhone 15 Plus. It lived up to my high expectations.
Those who want to play classic retro games on iPhone or iPad have a couple of new options. RetroArch can emulate a wide variety of consoles, while PPSSPP is a PlayStation Portable emulator.
There’s been something of a flood of these since Apple dropped its ban on them.
When Ubisoft launches Assassin’s Creed Shadows this November, Mac will be on the list of platforms supported by the action-packed role-playing game.
The adventure is set in medieval Japan, and players can choose either a samurai or a shinobi for very different gaming experiences. For more details on the game’s setting and storyline, check out the latest updates on Assassin’s Creed Japan.
A change in the location of magnets built into the M4 iPad Pro breaks compatibility with a wide array of accessories designed for earlier models. That includes many folio cases, clip-on keyboards, and styli. Many of Apple’s own previous offerings are on the incompatible list, too.
Apple had already warned of this, but Wednesday’s launch of the tablet allows real-world tests to confirm the full extent of the affect.
OpenAI’s GPT-4o, a new version of the company’s artificial intelligence chatbot, is a significant step forward from its predecessors. Demonstrations show the AI interacting with users in ways that seem startlingly human.
Unconfirmed reports indicate Apple and OpenAI are negotiating a deal that would build some version of GPT into iOS and macOS.
The first reviews of the M4 iPad Pro praise its slim design, its beautiful screen and its speedy new processor. But there’s also some criticism of the limitations imposed by iPadOS.
Read on for the highs and lows of early reviews of Apple’s new top-of-the-line tablet.
The wait to get Apple Vision Pro is apparently nearly over for consumers in more than half a dozen countries.
Although the AR/VR headset launched in the United States this winter, availability has yet to expand outside the borders of Apple’s home country. But Apple Store employees around the world are reportedly getting trained on the device. And the headset reportedly cleared a major regulatory hurdle Monday for launching in China.
M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air are so new they haven’t even reached customers yet and there are already deals on many configurations. There are discounts on a variety of screen sizes and built-in storage options.
Savvy shoppers can save up to $50 by buying these hot new tablets from Amazon.
Apple brags that the 13-inch version of the M4 iPad Pro is “the thinnest Apple product ever,” but the company took steps to be sure the new tablet isn’t fragile and easily bendable.
In an interview, Apple’s head of hardware engineering describes a “central rib” that makes the computer more stiff.
The just-released Gamma retro game emulator brings original PlayStation titles to iPhone. It’s ready to bring Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7 to the device you carry around everywhere.
The app is free and supports game controllers and iPad.
The dark, gritty series Sugar continues to pull in big audiences on Apple’s streaming service for another week. It stars Colin Farrell as a private detective searching for the missing granddaughter of a Hollywood magnate. It premiered last month and has stayed near the tops of the streaming ratings charts ever since.
And Dark Matter, a new Apple TV+ sci-fi series, very quickly found its audience, too.
Apple reportedly intends to fulfill the hopes of so many iPhone users by giving the Siri voice assistant an upgrade with artificial intelligence. A broad outline of the plan leaked out Friday.
Siri supposedly won’t become a general-purpose chatbot. It’ll be focused on better handling the sort of tasks iPhone users need. Recent reports suggest that Siri on iPhone 15 could see improvements, though the full AI-driven upgrade might take longer to arrive.
Preorder some configurations of the M4 iPad Pro and the recently launched tablet won’t be delivered until late May or even early June. If you held off ordering until you could read a review of the device, you could be facing a bit of a wait.
That said, there are still ways to get one on launch day, May 15.
Some Apple artificial intelligence services reportedly will depend on data centers with servers running on the company’s own processors. Less-demanding AI functions will run locally, on users’ own computers.
This is all apparently part of bringing more AI features to iPhone, Mac, iPad, etc., in the coming months.
John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, reportedly sits at the top of the list to step into Tim Cook’s shoes when the current Apple CEO steps down.
But the real question is, does Ternus have what it takes to fill a role that Steve Jobs once did so brilliantly?
Apple touts the beautiful OLED screen and speedy M4 processor in the latest iPad Pro, but some other features quietly disappeared.
And more that had been rumored or just hoped for simply never appeared.
Benchmarks giving an early look at the performance of the Apple M4 processor in the 2024 iPad Pro reveal that the new chip is 21% faster than its predecessor.
The processor launched in the latest iPad but is expected to make its way to Mac later this year.
Plugable AD-6IN1 is a six-port hub designed specifically for iMac that connects to the desktop’s stand so it doesn’t clutter up the user’s desk. It can even be used as a small shelf.
In addition, Plugable introduced a small USB-C Ethernet adapter that can also supply power to a notebook or tablet.
Apple unveiled the 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air on Tuesday, and third-party accessory-makers were prepared. Logitech, Otterbox, Zagg, Pitaka and ESR have all already unveiled peripherals for the new tablets.
There are keyboard cases, cases, screen protectors ands more.
Those who want the most powerful 2024 iPad Pro available need to choose one with at least 1TB of storage. Going with lots of capacity brings a faster version of the new M4 processor and twice as much RAM.
The high-storage versions also have the option of a nano-texture display glass.
Getting all these adds considerably to the price tag, though.
Apple just took the wraps off the 2024 iPad Pro, the first with an OLED screen rather than a traditional LCD. If that wasn’t enough, a brand-new Apple M4 processor powers the tablet, which Cupertino says is the “thinnest Apple product ever.”
“We’ve always envisioned iPad as a magical sheet of glass,” said John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, during Tuesday’s prerecorded “Let Loose” event. “And with this new design, that vision is brought to life more than ever.”
Gorgeous new iPad Pro and iPad Air models are expected to be the highlights of Apple’s “Let Loose” product event on May 7. Tablet accessories are on the agenda, too.
But there also could be big news for those who don’t use an iPad. Apple might surprise us with the M4 processor, a first glimpse at upcoming AI features, and maybe even a Mac Studio upgrade. Plus more.
Add Apple Pencil Pro to the list of products expected at Apple’s May 7 “Let Loose” event. A reference to the stylus turned up on the Japanese version of Apple’s website.
It’s for iPad but might also work with Vision Pro.
The first iPhone with a folding screen will go into production in 2026, according to an analyst. This is the second such report in recent months, and could be a sign that Apple is really ready to move ahead with the product.
A MacBook with a 20-inch folding screen reportedly will launch the year before.
A MacBook with a 20.3-inch folding screen will hit the market earlier than expected, according to an analyst. The folding Mac supposedly will go into production in late 2025.