iOS

balatro-arrives-on-phones-sept.-26,-so-plan-your-“sick”-days-accordingly

Balatro arrives on phones Sept. 26, so plan your “sick” days accordingly

android, balatro, gaming, iOS, localthunk, mobile games, roguelike deckbuilders / /

The joker is on you —

It has already sold 2 million copies. Now the fun gets even more multiplied.

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A

LocalThunk, the pseudonymous lead developer of the surprise smash hit deckbuilding/roguelike/poker-math-simulation game Balatro, has long given the impression that he understands that his game, having sold 2 million copies, might be a little too good.

To that end, LocalThunk has made the game specifically not about actual gambling, or microtransactions, or anything of the kind. Shortly after it arrived in February 2024 (but after it already got its hooks into one of us), some storefronts removed or re-rated the game on concerns about its cards and chips themes, causing him to explain his line between random number generation (RNG), risk/reward mechanics, and actual gambling. He literally wrote it into his will that the game cannot be used in any kind of gambling or casino property.

So LocalThunk has done everything he can to ensure Balatro won’t waste people’s money. Time, though? If you’re a Balatro fan already, or more of a mobile gamer than a console or computer player, your time is in danger.

Balatro is coming to iOS, both in the Apple Arcade subscription and as a stand-alone title, and the Google Play Store on September 26. The pitch-perfect reveal trailer slowly ratchets up the procrastinatory terror, with the word “MOBILE” punctuating scenes of gameplay, traditional businessmen crying, “Jimbo Stonks” rising upward (Jimbo being the moniker of Balatro’s joker), and a world laid to waste by people chasing ever-more-elusive joker combos.

Please note in the trailer, at the 36-second mark, the “Trailer Ideas” for Balatro on Mobile, including “Announcing Balatro is now a Soulslike,” “Romanceable Jimbo Reveal,” and “It’s like that apocalypse movie with the meteor but instead Jimbo is in the sky.”

Playstack

Even more Balatro content is coming

The mobile version of Balatro is one of three updates LocalThunk has planned for 2025. A gameplay update is still due to arrive sometime this year, one that will be completely free for game owners. It won’t feel like a different game, or even a 1.5 version, LocalThunk told Polygon last month, but “extending that vision to, I think, its logical bounds instead of shifting directions … [M]ore about filling out the design space that currently exists, and then extending that design space in interesting directions that I think people are going to love.”

What else is coming? Perhaps “Friends of Jimbo,” teased today on Balatro’s X (formerly Twitter) account, tells us something. Notably, LocalThunk says that he developed the mobile ports himself.

As we noted in our attempt to explain the ongoing popularity of roguelike deckbuilders, Balatro is LocalThunk’s first properly released game. He claims to have not played any such games before making Balatro but was fascinated by streams of Luck Be a Landlord, a game about “using a slot machine to earn rent money and defeat capitalism.” That game, plus influences of Cantonese game Big Two and the basics of poker (another game LocalThunk says he didn’t actually play), brought about the time-melting game as we know it.

Balatro, in turn, took off with streamers, who would break the game with seeds, hit scores of 30 quintillion, or just keep coming back with everything they’ve learned.

A number of Ars writers have kept coming back to Balatro, time and again, since its release. It’s such a compelling game, especially for its indie-scale price, that none of us could really think of a way to write a stand-alone “review” of it. With its imminent arrival on iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, we’re due to re-educate ourselves on how much time is really in each day and which kinds of achievements our families and communities need to see from us.

Maybe the game won’t sync across platforms, and the impedance of having to start all over will be enough to prevent notable devolution. Maybe.

Balatro arrives on phones Sept. 26, so plan your “sick” days accordingly Read More »

novel-technique-allows-malicious-apps-to-escape-ios-and-android-guardrails

Novel technique allows malicious apps to escape iOS and Android guardrails

android, Biz & IT, iOS, malicious apps, malware, phishing, Security / /

NOW YOU KNOW —

Web-based apps escape iOS “Walled Garden” and Android side-loading protections.

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An image illustrating a phone infected with malware

Getty Images

Phishers are using a novel technique to trick iOS and Android users into installing malicious apps that bypass safety guardrails built by both Apple and Google to prevent unauthorized apps.

Both mobile operating systems employ mechanisms designed to help users steer clear of apps that steal their personal information, passwords, or other sensitive data. iOS bars the installation of all apps other than those available in its App Store, an approach widely known as the Walled Garden. Android, meanwhile, is set by default to allow only apps available in Google Play. Sideloading—or the installation of apps from other markets—must be manually allowed, something Google warns against.

When native apps aren’t

Phishing campaigns making the rounds over the past nine months are using previously unseen ways to workaround these protections. The objective is to trick targets into installing a malicious app that masquerades as an official one from the targets’ bank. Once installed, the malicious app steals account credentials and sends them to the attacker in real time over Telegram.

“This technique is noteworthy because it installs a phishing application from a third-party website without the user having to allow third-party app installation,” Jakub Osmani, an analyst with security firm ESET, wrote Tuesday. “For iOS users, such an action might break any ‘walled garden’ assumptions about security. On Android, this could result in the silent installation of a special kind of APK, which on further inspection even appears to be installed from the Google Play store.”

The novel method involves enticing targets to install a special type of app known as a Progressive Web App. These apps rely solely on Web standards to render functionalities that have the feel and behavior of a native app, without the restrictions that come with them. The reliance on Web standards means PWAs, as they’re abbreviated, will in theory work on any platform running a standards-compliant browser, making them work equally well on iOS and Android. Once installed, users can add PWAs to their home screen, giving them a striking similarity to native apps.

While PWAs can apply to both iOS and Android, Osmani’s post uses PWA to apply to iOS apps and WebAPK to Android apps.

Installed phishing PWA (left) and real banking app (right).

Enlarge / Installed phishing PWA (left) and real banking app (right).

ESET

Comparison between an installed phishing WebAPK (left) and real banking app (right).

Enlarge / Comparison between an installed phishing WebAPK (left) and real banking app (right).

ESET

The attack begins with a message sent either by text message, automated call, or through a malicious ad on Facebook or Instagram. When targets click on the link in the scam message, they open a page that looks similar to the App Store or Google Play.

Example of a malicious advertisement used in these campaigns.

Example of a malicious advertisement used in these campaigns.

ESET

Phishing landing page imitating Google Play.

Phishing landing page imitating Google Play.

ESET

ESET’s Osmani continued:

From here victims are asked to install a “new version” of the banking application; an example of this can be seen in Figure 2. Depending on the campaign, clicking on the install/update button launches the installation of a malicious application from the website, directly on the victim’s phone, either in the form of a WebAPK (for Android users only), or as a PWA for iOS and Android users (if the campaign is not WebAPK based). This crucial installation step bypasses traditional browser warnings of “installing unknown apps”: this is the default behavior of Chrome’s WebAPK technology, which is abused by the attackers.

Example copycat installation page.

Example copycat installation page.

ESET

The process is a little different for iOS users, as an animated pop-up instructs victims how to add the phishing PWA to their home screen (see Figure 3). The pop-up copies the look of native iOS prompts. In the end, even iOS users are not warned about adding a potentially harmful app to their phone.

Figure 3 iOS pop-up instructions after clicking

Figure 3 iOS pop-up instructions after clicking “Install” (credit: Michal Bláha)

ESET

After installation, victims are prompted to submit their Internet banking credentials to access their account via the new mobile banking app. All submitted information is sent to the attackers’ C&C servers.

The technique is made all the more effective because application information associated with the WebAPKs will show they were installed from Google Play and have been assigned no system privileges.

WebAPK info menu—notice the

WebAPK info menu—notice the “No Permissions” at the top and “App details in store” section at the bottom.

ESET

So far, ESET is aware of the technique being used against customers of banks mostly in Czechia and less so in Hungary and Georgia. The attacks used two distinct command-and-control infrastructures, an indication that two different threat groups are using the technique.

“We expect more copycat applications to be created and distributed, since after installation it is difficult to separate the legitimate apps from the phishing ones,” Osmani said.

Novel technique allows malicious apps to escape iOS and Android guardrails Read More »

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Epic Games Store and Fortnite arrive on EU iPhones

Apple, dma, epic games, epic games store, EU, fortnite, gaming, iOS, IPhone, Tech / /

It’s still a mess —

Epic also launched its store on Android.

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Artist's conception of Epic dodging harm from Apple's decisions (and perhaps its own).

Enlarge / Artist’s conception of Epic dodging harm from Apple’s decisions (and perhaps its own).

It’s been four years since Fortnite, one of the world’s most popular games, was pulled from the Apple App Store in a blaze of controversy and finger-pointing. Today, it’s returning to the iPhone—but only in the European Union.

Today marks the launch of the Epic Games Store on Android and iOS—iOS just in Europe, Android worldwide. Right now, it just has three games: Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. And you’ll have to be in Europe to access it on your iPhone.

The Epic Games Store is run by Epic Games, the same company that develops and publishes Fortnite. Most folks who have been paying attention to either Epic or Apple in recent years knows the story at this point, but here’s the quick summary and analysis.

Opinion: Users are still the losers after four years

At the direction of CEO Tim Sweeney, Epic knowingly made changes to Fortnite related to digital payments that violated Apple’s terms for developers on the platform. Apple removed Fortnite accordingly, and a long, ugly PR and legal battle ensued between the two companies in multiple countries and regions.

In the US, a judge’s decision granted some small wins to Epic and other developers seeking to loosen Apple’s grip on the platform, but it kept the status quo for the most part.

Things went a little differently in Europe. EU legislators and regulators enacted the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which had far-reaching implications for how Apple and Google run their app stores. Among other things, the new law required Apple to allow third-party, alternative app stores (basically, sideloading) on the iPhone.

Apple’s compliance was far from enthusiastic (the company cited security and privacy concerns for users, which is valid, but the elephant in the room is, of course, its confident grip on app revenues on its platforms), and it was criticized for trying to put up barriers. Additionally, Apple rejected Epic’s attempts to launch its app store multiple times for a few arcane reasons amid a flurry of almost comically over-the-top tweets from Sweeney criticizing the company.

Despite Apple’s foot-dragging, Epic has finally reached the point where it could launch its app store. Epic had already launched a relatively successful App Store on PC, where Valve’s Steam holds a strong grip on users. The new iPhone app store doesn’t offer nearly as many options or perks as the PC version, but Epic says it’s working on wrangling developers onto its store.

It also says it will release its games on other alternative app stores on iOS and Android, such as AltStore PAL.

It’s been a long, winding, angry path to get to this point. In the battle between Epic and Apple, there remains some debate about who really has won up to this point. But there isn’t much dispute that, whether you want to blame Apple or Epic or both, users sure haven’t been the winners.

Epic Games Store and Fortnite arrive on EU iPhones Read More »

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Apple stealthily adds minor features in iOS 17.6, macOS 14.6 releases

Apple, iOS, iOS 17, iOS 17.6, iPadOS, iPadOS 17, iPadOS 17.6, macOS, macos sonoma, macOS Sonoma 14.6, software updates, Tech, tvos, tvOS 17, tvOS 17.6, watchos, watchOS 10, watchOS 10.6 / /

Catch Up —

The M3 MacBook Pro now supports multiple external monitors.

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An iPhone lies on a wood surface, showing the Software Update panel on its screen

Enlarge / iOS 17.6 installing on an iPhone 13 Pro.

Samuel Axon

Apple has some minor updates for all its operating systems, and the releases include iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, tvOS 17.6, watchOS 10.6, and macOS Sonoma 14.6.

Apple’s notes for these updates simply say they include bug fixes, security updates, or optimizations. However, there are a few hidden features.

macOS 14.6 reportedly enables multi-display support in clamshell mode on the M3 MacBook Pro, allowing users of that device to use two external displays at once. That was already possible on the M3 Pro and M3 Max variations. Apple had previously released a similar update to bring that functionality to the M3 MacBook Air.

iOS 17.6 and iPadOS 17.6 have added a feature called Catch Up, which is targeted at sports fans who use Apple’s TV app.

The feature allows users to watch a quick sequence of highlights that have been produced so far from an in-progress Major League Soccer game before joining the live feed.

That’s about it, though. These are minor updates, and they are likely the final ones other than security hotfixes until Apple begins rolling out its annual updates, such as iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia 15, later this fall.

Those updates are expected to include several new features, though the biggest—Apple Intelligence, a suite of generative AI features—will not arrive until iOS 18.1, which was just released as a developer beta for the first time.

iOS 17.6, iPadOS 17.6, tvOS 17.6, watchOS 10.6, and macOS Sonoma 14.6 are available to download and install on all supported devices now.

Apple stealthily adds minor features in iOS 17.6, macOS 14.6 releases Read More »

ios-18.1-developer-beta-brings-apple-intelligence-into-the-wild-for-the-first-time

iOS 18.1 developer beta brings Apple Intelligence into the wild for the first time

AI, Apple, apple intelligence, Apple Mail, iOS, ios 18, iOS 18.1, macOS, macOS 15, macOS 15.1, Siri, Tech / /

AI —

Some features will be included, and others won’t.

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Craig Federighi stands in front of a screen with the words

Enlarge / Apple Intelligence was unveiled at WWDC 2024.

Apple

As was just rumored, the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 developer betas are rolling out today, and they include the first opportunity to try out Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of generative AI features.

Initially announced for iOS 18, Apple Intelligence is expected to launch for the public this fall. Typically, Apple also releases a public beta (the developer one requires a developer account) for new OS updates, but it hasn’t announced any specifics about that just yet.

Not all the Apple Intelligence features will be part of this beta. It will include writing tools, like the ability to rewrite, proofread, or summarize text throughout the OS in first-party and most third-party apps. It will also include new Siri improvements, such as moving seamlessly between voice and typing, the ability to follow when you stumble over your words, and maintaining context from one request to the next. (It will not, however, include ChatGPT integration; Apple says that’s coming later.)

New natural language search features, support for creating memory movies, transcription summaries, and several new Mail features will also be available.

Developers who download the beta will be able to request access to Apple Intelligence features by navigating to the Settings app, tapping Apple Intelligence & Siri, and then tapping “Join the Apple Intelligence waitlist.” The waitlist is in place because some features are demanding on Apple’s servers, and staggering access is meant to stave off any server issues when developers are first trying it out.

iOS 18.1 developer beta brings Apple Intelligence into the wild for the first time Read More »

apple-releases-public-betas-of-all-next-gen-os-updates,-except-for-visionos

Apple releases public betas of all next-gen OS updates, except for VisionOS

Apple, iOS, iPadOS, Tech, tvos, visionOS, watchos / /

beta believe it —

Apple’s public betas are usually stable enough for daily use, but be careful.

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Apple releases public betas of all next-gen OS updates, except for VisionOS

Apple

Apple’s next-generation operating systems are taking their next step toward release today: Apple is issuing the first public beta builds of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 Sequoia, tvOS 18, and HomePod Software 18 today. Sign up for Apple’s public beta program with your Apple ID, and you’ll be able to select the public beta builds from Software Update in the Settings app.

We covered the highlights of most of these releases when they were announced during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June, including more home screen customization in iOS and iPadOS, window tiling and iPhone mirroring in macOS, RCS text messaging support across all of Apple’s platforms, and more. But Apple still isn’t ready to show off a preview of its Apple Intelligence AI features, including the text and image generation features and a revamped Siri. Many of these features are still slated for “later this summer” and will presumably be available in some form in the final releases this fall.

Most devices that can run iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS 14 Sonoma will be able to update to the new versions, including owners of the last couple generations of Intel Macs. But a handful of older phones and tablets and the 2018 MacBook Air are being dropped by the new releases. The watchOS 11 update is also dropping the Series 4 and Series 5 models as well as the first-generation Apple Watch SE.

Apple is also not releasing a public beta build of VisionOS 2, the first major update to the Apple Vision Pro’s operating system. Users who want to try out new Vision Pro features ahead of time will still need to opt into the developer beta, at least for now.

Beta best practices

The first public betas are similar—if not identical—to the third developer beta builds that were released last week. Apple usually releases new developer betas of next-gen OS releases every two weeks, so we’d expect to see a fourth developer beta early next week and a second near-identical public beta build released shortly after.

Apple’s developer and public beta builds used to be more clearly delineated, with a $99-per-year developer account paywall put up between general users and the earliest, roughest preview builds. That changed last year when Apple made basic developer accounts (and beta software access) free for anyone who wanted to sign up.

Apple still issues separate developer/public beta builds, but these days it’s more of a statement about who the betas are ready for than an actual technical barrier. Developer betas are rougher and visibly unfinished, but developers likely have the extra patience and technical chops needed to deal with these issues; public betas are still unfinished and unstable, but you can at least expect most basic functionality to work fine.

Regardless of how stable these betas may or may not be, the standard warnings apply: Make a good backup of your device before updating in case you need to restore the older, more stable operating system, and don’t install beta software on mission-critical hardware that you absolutely need to work correctly in your day-to-day life. For iPhones and iPads that connect to iCloud, connecting the devices to a PC or Mac and performing a local backup (preferably an encrypted one) can be a more surefire way to make sure you keep a pre-upgrade backup around than relying on continuous iCloud backups.

Apple releases public betas of all next-gen OS updates, except for VisionOS Read More »

apple-rejects-pc-emulators-on-the-ios-app-store

Apple rejects PC emulators on the iOS App Store

Apple, DOS, Emulation, gaming, iOS / /

I need my portable Number Munchers fix —

New iOS emulation rules only apply to “retro game consoles,” not retro computers.

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Don't get your hopes up—this iOS version of <em>Doom</em> was <a href=ported from open source code, not run via a classic PC emulator.” src=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/doomios-800×703.jpg”>

Enlarge / Don’t get your hopes up—this iOS version of Doom was ported from open source code, not run via a classic PC emulator.

Earlier this year, Apple started officially allowing “retro game emulators” on the iOS App Store without the need for cumbersome jailbreaking or sideloading. But if you want to emulate retro PC games on your iOS device, you are apparently still out of luck.

In a recent blog update, iDOS developer Chaoji Li said that the latest version of the DOSBox-based MS-DOS emulator was finally rejected from the iOS App Store this month after a lengthy, two-month review process:

They have decided that iDOS is not a retro game console, so the new rule is not applicable. They suggested I make changes and resubmit for review, but when I asked what changes I should make to be compliant, they had no idea, nor when I asked what a retro game console is. It’s still the same old unreasonable answer along the line of “we know it when we see it.”

The developer of iOS Virtual Machine app UTM told a similar tale of App Store rejection on social media. The reported two-month review process for the UTM app ended with “the App Store review board determin[ing] that ‘PC is not a console’ regardless of the fact that there are retro Windows/DOS games fo[r] the PC that UTM SE can be useful in running,” the developer said.

The April revision of Rule 4.7 in Apple’s App Review Guidelines is very specifically worded so that “retro game console emulator apps can offer to download games [emphasis added].” Emulating a more generalized PC operating system falls outside the letter of this regulation, even for users interested in emulating retro PC games using these apps.

Since that narrow exception doesn’t apply to classic PC emulators, they end up falling afoul of Apple’s Rule 2.5.2, which states that iOS Apps may not “download, install, or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality of the app, including other apps.” That rule also applies to third-party iOS App Stores that were recently allowed under new European Union rules, meaning even so-called “alternative app marketplaces” don’t offer a useful alternative in this case.

What’s the difference?

While the specific language of Apple’s App Review Guidelines is clear enough, the reasoning behind the distinction here is a bit more mystifying. Why does Apple treat the idea of a DOSBox-style emulator running an ancient copy of Microsoft Excel differently than the idea of Delta running a copy of NES Tetris on the same device? Is loading the Windows 95 Version of KidPix Studio Deluxe on your iPhone really all that different from playing an emulated copy of Mario Paint on that same iPhone?

Mario Paint on iOS, why would I buy Photoshop?” height=”498″ src=”https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mariopaint-640×498.jpg” width=”640″>

Enlarge / Now that I can emulate Mario Paint on iOS, why would I buy Photoshop?

A virtual machine or emulator running a modern PC operating system under iOS could theoretically offer some generalized competition for the apps Apple offers in its official App Store. But surely there’s a limit to how much that applies when we’re talking about emulating older computing environments and defunct operating systems. Just as Apple’s iOS game emulation rules only apply to “retro” game consoles, a rule for PC emulation could easily be limited to “retro” operating systems (say, those that are no longer officially supported by their original developers, as a rule of thumb).

Alas, iOS users and App makers are currently stuck abiding by this distinction without a difference when it comes to PC game emulation on iOS. Those looking for a workaround could potentially use an iOS Remote Desktop App to access games running on a physical desktop PC they actually own. The Internet Archive’s collection of thousands of MS-DOS games will also run in an iOS web browser, though you may have to struggle a bit to get controls and sound working correctly.

Apple rejects PC emulators on the iOS App Store Read More »

report:-apple-isn’t-paying-openai-for-chatgpt-integration-into-oses

Report: Apple isn’t paying OpenAI for ChatGPT integration into OSes

AI, AI assitants, Apple, apple intelligence, Biz & IT, chatgpt, chatgtp, GPT-4, iOS, ios 18, iPadOS, iPadOS 18, IPhone, large language models, machine learning, macOS, macos sequoia, openai, sam altman / /

in the pocket —

Apple thinks pushing OpenAI’s brand to hundreds of millions is worth more than money.

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The OpenAI and Apple logos together.

OpenAI / Apple / Benj Edwards

On Monday, Apple announced it would be integrating OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI assistant into upcoming versions of its iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems. It paves the way for future third-party AI model integrations, but given Google’s multi-billion-dollar deal with Apple for preferential web search, the OpenAI announcement inspired speculation about who is paying whom. According to a Bloomberg report published Wednesday, Apple considers ChatGPT’s placement on its devices as compensation enough.

“Apple isn’t paying OpenAI as part of the partnership,” writes Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, citing people familiar with the matter who wish to remain anonymous. “Instead, Apple believes pushing OpenAI’s brand and technology to hundreds of millions of its devices is of equal or greater value than monetary payments.”

The Bloomberg report states that neither company expects the agreement to generate meaningful revenue in the short term, and in fact, the partnership could burn extra money for OpenAI, because it pays Microsoft to host ChatGPT’s capabilities on its Azure cloud. However, OpenAI could benefit by converting free users to paid subscriptions, and Apple potentially benefits by providing easy, built-in access to ChatGPT during a time when its own in-house LLMs are still catching up.

And there’s another angle at play. Currently, OpenAI offers subscriptions (ChatGPT Plus, Enterprise, Team) that unlock additional features. If users subscribe to OpenAI through the ChatGPT app on an Apple device, the process will reportedly use Apple’s payment platform, which may give Apple a significant cut of the revenue. According to the report, Apple hopes to negotiate additional revenue-sharing deals with AI vendors in the future.

Why OpenAI

The rise of ChatGPT in the public eye over the past 18 months has made OpenAI a power player in the tech industry, allowing it to strike deals with publishers for AI training content—and ensure continued support from Microsoft in the form of investments that trade vital funding and compute for access to OpenAI’s large language model (LLM) technology like GPT-4.

Still, Apple’s choice of ChatGPT as Apple’s first external AI integration has led to widespread misunderstanding, especially since Apple buried the lede about its own in-house LLM technology that powers its new “Apple Intelligence” platform.

On Apple’s part, CEO Tim Cook told The Washington Post that it chose OpenAI as its first third-party AI partner because he thinks the company controls the leading LLM technology at the moment: “I think they’re a pioneer in the area, and today they have the best model,” he said. “We’re integrating with other people as well. But they’re first, and I think today it’s because they’re best.”

Apple’s choice also brings risk. OpenAI’s record isn’t spotless, racking up a string of public controversies over the past month that include an accusation from actress Scarlett Johansson that the company intentionally imitated her voice, resignations from a key scientist and safety personnel, the revelation of a restrictive NDA for ex-employees that prevented public criticism, and accusations against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman of “psychological abuse” related by a former member of the OpenAI board.

Meanwhile, critics of privacy issues related to gathering data for training AI models—including OpenAI foe Elon Musk, who took to X on Monday to spread misconceptions about how the ChatGPT integration might work—also worried that the Apple-OpenAI deal might expose personal data to the AI company, although both companies strongly deny that will be the case.

Looking ahead, Apple’s deal with OpenAI is not exclusive, and the company is already in talks to offer Google’s Gemini chatbot as an additional option later this year. Apple has also reportedly held talks with Anthropic (maker of Claude 3) as a potential chatbot partner, signaling its intention to provide users with a range of AI services, much like how the company offers various search engine options in Safari.

Report: Apple isn’t paying OpenAI for ChatGPT integration into OSes Read More »

ios-18-adds-apple-intelligence,-customizations,-and-makes-android-sms-nicer

iOS 18 adds Apple Intelligence, customizations, and makes Android SMS nicer

AI, Apple, iOS, ios 18, ipad, IPhone, rcs, Siri, Tech / /

Apple WWDC 2024 —

Mail gets categories, Messages gets more tapbacks, and apps can now be locked.

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Hands manipulating the Conrol Center on an iPhone

Apple

The biggest feature in iOS 18, the one that affects the most people, was a single item in a comma-stuffed sentence by Apple software boss Craig Federighi: “Support for RCS.”

As we noted when Apple announced its support for “RCS Universal Profile,” a kind of minimum viable cross-device rich messaging, iPhone users getting RCS means SMS chains with Android users “will be slightly less awful.” SMS messages will soon have read receipts, higher-quality media sending, and typing indicators, along with better security. And RCS messages can go over Wi-Fi when you don’t have a cellular signal. Apple is certainly downplaying a major cross-platform compatibility upgrade, but it’s a notable quality-of-life boost.

  • Prioritized notifications through Apple Intelligence

  • Sending a friend an AI-generated image of them holding a birthday cake, which is not exactly the future we all envisioned for 2024, but here we are.

    Apple

  • Example of a query that a supposedly now context-aware Siri can tackle.

  • Asking Siri “When is my mom’s flight landing,” followed by “What is our lunch plan?” can pull in data from multiple apps for an answer.

Apple Intelligence, the new Siri, and the iPhone

iOS 18 is one of the major beneficiaries of Apple’s AI rollout, dubbed “Apple Intelligence.” Apple Intelligence promises to help iPhone users create and understand language and images, with the proper context from your phone’s apps: photos, calendar, email, messages, and more.

Some of the suggested AI offerings include:

  • Auto-prioritizing notifications
  • Generating an AI image of people when you wish them a happy birthday.
  • Using Maps, Calendar, and an email with a meeting update to figure out if a work meeting change will make Federighi miss his daughter’s recital.

Many of the models needed to respond to your requests can be run on the device, Apple claims. For queries that need to go to remote servers, Apple relies on “Private Cloud Compute.” Apple has built its own servers, running on Apple Silicon, to handle requests that need more computational power. Your phone only sends the data necessary, is never stored, and independent researchers can verify the software on Apple’s servers, the company claims.

Siri is getting AI-powered upgrades across all platforms, including iOS. Apple says that Siri now understands more context in your questions to it. It will have awareness of what’s on your screen, so you could say “Add this address to his contact card” while messaging. You could ask it to “take a light-trail effect photo” from the camera. And “personal context” was repeatedly highlighted, including requests to find things people sent you, add your license number to a form (from an old ID picture), or ask “When is my mom’s flight landing?”

The non-AI things coming in iOS 18

A whole bunch of little boosts to iOS 18 announced by Apple.

A whole bunch of little boosts to iOS 18 announced by Apple.

On the iPhone itself, iOS 18 icons will change their look when in dark mode, and you can customize the look of compatible icons. Control Center, the pull-down menu in the top-right corner, now has multiple swipe-accessible controls, accessed through a strange-until-you’re-used-to-it long continuous swipe from the top. Developers are also getting access to the Control Center, so they can add their own apps’ controls. The lock screen will also get more customization, letting you swap out the standard flashlight and camera buttons for other items you prefer.

Privacy got some attention, too. Apps can be locked, such that Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode is necessary to open them. Apps can also be hidden and have their data prevented from showing up in notifications, searches, or other streams. New controls also limit the access you may grant to apps for contacts, network, and devices.

Messages will have “a huge year,” according to Apple. Tapbacks (instant reactions) can now include any emoji on the phone. Messages can be scheduled for later sending, text can be formatted, and there are “text effects” that do things like zoom in on the word “MAJOR” or make “Blown away” explode off the screen. And “Messages via satellite” is now available for phones that have satellite access, with end-to-end encryption.

Here's a Messages upgrade that is absolutely going to surprise everybody when they forget about it in four months and then it shows up in a weird message.

Here’s a Messages upgrade that is absolutely going to surprise everybody when they forget about it in four months and then it shows up in a weird message.

The Mail app gets on-device categorization with Gmail-like labels like “Primary,” “Transactions,” “Updates,” and “Promotions.” Mail can also show you all the emails you get from certain businesses, such as receipts and tickets.

The Maps app is getting trail routes for US National Parks. Wallet now lets you “Tap to Cash,” sending money between phones in close proximity. Journal can now log your state of mind, track your goals, track streaks, and log “other fun stats.”

Photo libraries are getting navigation upgrades, with screenshots, receipts, and other banal photos automatically filtered out from gallery scrolls. There’s some automatic categorization of trips, days, and events. And, keeping with the theme of iOS 18, you can customize and reorder the collections and features Photos shows you when you browse through it.

This is a developing story and this post will be updated with new information.

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What to expect at WWDC 24: Big iOS changes, more Vision Pro, and so much AI

Apple, iOS, ios 18, iPadOS, iPadOS 18, macOS, macOS 15, Tech, vision pro, visionOS, WWDC 2024, WWDC24 / /

WWDC 2024 —

There might not be new hardware, but Apple could make up for it with software.

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A colorful logo that says

Enlarge / The logo for WWDC24.

Apple

Apple’s annual developer conference, WWDC, kicks off in Cupertino, California, next week. As always, it will start with a livestream keynote on Monday morning at 10 am Pacific, 1 pm Eastern. We’ll be in attendance reporting on the event, so let’s take a moment to take stock of what we expect to see next week.

But first, let’s note something we don’t think we’ll see: Due to some peculiarities about Apple’s upgrade cycles, as well as a push toward the M4, we’re not actually expecting any major hardware announcements at WWDC this year.

That’s OK, though, because it looks like it’s going to be a big one for software news. iOS has seen relatively modest updates in the past couple of years, but that’s about to change.

AI in the spotlight

Most of the rumors leading up to WWDC have been about Apple making plans to announce tons of generative AI features for its platforms. Part of that is because AI is the hot topic right now, so anything about that is bound to get some coverage. However, according to leaks reported on by Bloomberg, The Information, and others, it looks like Apple is going to make a conscious effort to reposition itself as a leader in AI.

Apple was already doing neat things with machine learning in iOS and elsewhere, like features that make image editing easier, smart recommendations, and more. But there have been major new developments in models lately that allow for many new options, as we’ve seen from others like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.

We don’t know many details about exactly what Apple will do here beyond it being a focus. The company has published several papers related to new large-language model chatbots, major Siri improvements, image generation, and more, but it’s hard to tell what will become user-facing features.

Possibilities include auto-generated summaries in apps like Mail, new ways to block ads or interact with websites in Safari, GitHub Copilot-like code editing assistance in Xcode, clip art generation for iWork documents, more conversational and larger-scope answers from Siri, new image editing features, expanded accessibility features, new transcription capabilities, and more.

Apple has reportedly been in talks with companies like OpenAI and Google (it even sounds like a deal has already been reached with OpenAI) about augmenting Siri and other parts of the iOS or macOS experience with an external AI chatbot. Apple has reportedly experimented with its own chatbot, but it’s unlikely that one would be far enough along to be a strong alternative to the likes of ChatGPT. At a minimum, expect Apple to partner with at least one company (probably OpenAI) as a provider for out-of-scope answers to queries asked of Siri or in Spotlight.

There have been rumblings that Apple could offer users a choice of multiple AI providers or launch an AI App Store, but we don’t know for sure how it will all take shape.

iOS and iPadOS 18

iOS 18 (and its close sibling, iPadOS 18) will roll out later this year alongside new iPhones, likely in September or October. But WWDC is the first time we’ll get a look at the major features Apple has planned.

Typically, Apple announces most new iOS features during the upcoming keynote, but it might save a couple that are are related to as-yet unannounced iPhone hardware for later.

The rumor mill this year points to an overhaul of both Control Center and Settings, plus the aforementioned inclusion of numerous new machine learning, LLM, or image generation features. One rumored example of how AI could be used in iOS described a new home screen that allows users to quickly recolor app icons to create a consistent color palette across their phone. Apple might even allow users to place icons wherever they want, addressing the irritating “wobble mode” home screen management that we’ve criticized in our iOS reviews for years.

Expect big new features for Messages, too, like new text effects and formatting options. There’s also a strong possibility that Apple will go into detail about RCS support in iOS. Generative AI could allow users to create custom emojis or stickers, too.

There were also a few rumors that Apple will make some visual changes to iOS, borrowing a bit from the visual language we saw in visionOS this spring.

Oh, and one more thing: iPadOS is finally getting a calculator app. We’re not sure why that took so long, but there it is.

What to expect at WWDC 24: Big iOS changes, more Vision Pro, and so much AI Read More »

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Apple will update iPhones for at least 5 years in rare public commitment

Apple, iOS, iOS 17, iPhone 15 Pro, Security Updates, Tech / /

finally, something in writing —

UK regulation requires companies to say how long they plan to provide support.

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Apple will update iPhones for at least 5 years in rare public commitment

Apple

Apple has taken a rare step and publicly committed to a software support timeline for one of its products, as pointed out by MacRumors. A public regulatory filing for the iPhone 15 Pro (PDF) confirms that Apple will support the device with new software updates for at least five years from its “first supply date” of September 22, 2023, which would guarantee support until at least 2028.

Apple published the filing to comply with new Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) regulations from the UK that went into effect in late April. As this plain-language explainer from the Center for Cybersecurity Policy and Law summarizes, the PSTI regulations (among other things) don’t mandate a specific support window for manufacturers of Internet-connected devices, but they do require companies to publish a concrete support window and contact information for someone at the company who can be contacted with bug reports.

As publications like Android Authority have pointed out, five years is less than some Android phone makers like Google and Samsung have publicly committed to; both companies have said they’ll support their latest devices for seven years. But in reality, Apple usually hits or exceeds this seven-year timeline for updates—and does so for iPhones released nearly a decade ago and not just its newest products.

2017’s iPhone 8 and iPhone X, for example, are still receiving iOS 16 security updates. 2015’s iPhone 6S and 2016’s iPhone 7 were receiving iOS 15 updates as recently as March 2024, though these appear to have dried up in recent months. Each of these iPhones also received six or seven years’ worth of new major iOS releases, though not every phone that gets an iOS update supports every feature that newer devices get.

So Apple’s five-year pledge is notable less because it’s an improvement on or departure from the norm but more because Apple virtually never commits to software support timelines in writing.

Take those iOS 15 updates—Apple provided them for nearly a year and a half for iPhones and iPads that didn’t meet the requirements for iOS 16 or 17 but then abruptly (apparently) stopped releasing them. There was never a public commitment to continue releasing iOS 15 updates after iOS 16 came out, nor has there been any statement about iOS 15 updates being discontinued; we can only assume based on the fact that multiple iOS 16 and 17 updates have been released since March with no corresponding update for iOS 15.

The situation with the Mac is the same. Apple’s longstanding practice for decades has been to support the current version of macOS plus the two preceding versions, but that policy is not written down anywhere.

Contrast this with Microsoft, which generally commits to 10-year support timelines for new versions of Windows and publishes specific end-of-support dates years in advance; when Microsoft makes changes, it’s usually to extend the availability of updates in some way. Google has been making similar commitments for Chromebooks and officially certified ChromeOS Flex devices. These public timelines may tie a company’s hands, but they also make it easier for individuals, businesses, and schools to plan technology purchases and upgrades, and make it easier to know exactly how much support you can expect for a hand-me-down used or refurbished system.

Though the PSTI regulations only technically apply in the UK, it’s unlikely that Apple would go to the trouble of releasing iOS security updates in some countries without releasing those updates in all of them. But because a five-year support timeline is so much shorter than what Apple normally provides, it probably won’t matter that much. If Apple exceeds its stated support timeline, the PSTI law requires it to publish a new timeline “as soon as is practicable,” but for now, that date is far off.

Apple will update iPhones for at least 5 years in rare public commitment Read More »

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The Apple TV is coming for the Raspberry Pi’s retro emulation box crown

Apple, Apple TV, Emulation, gaming, iOS, retroarch, tvos / /

watch out, raspberry pi —

Apple’s restrictions will still hold it back, but there’s a lot of possibility.

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The RetroArch app installed in tvOS.

Enlarge / The RetroArch app installed in tvOS.

Andrew Cunningham

Apple’s initial pitch for the tvOS and the Apple TV as it currently exists was centered around apps. No longer a mere streaming box, the Apple TV would also be a destination for general-purpose software and games, piggybacking off of the iPhone’s vibrant app and game library.

That never really panned out, and the Apple TV is still mostly a box for streaming TV shows and movies. But the same App Store rule change that recently allowed Delta, PPSSPP, and other retro console emulators onto the iPhone and iPad could also make the Apple TV appeal to people who want a small, efficient, no-fuss console emulator for their TVs.

So far, few of the emulators that have made it to the iPhone have been ported to the Apple TV. But earlier this week, the streaming box got an official port of RetroArch, the sprawling collection of emulators that runs on everything from the PlayStation Portable to the Raspberry Pi. RetroArch could be sideloaded onto iOS and tvOS before this, but only using awkward workarounds that took a lot more work and know-how than downloading an app from the App Store.

Downloading and using RetroArch on the Apple TV is a lot like using it on any other platform it supports, for better or worse. ROM files can be uploaded using a browser connected to the Apple TV’s IP address or hostname, which will pop up the first time you launch the RetroArch app. From there, you’re only really limited by the list of emulators that the Apple TV version of the app supports.

The main benefit of using the Apple TV hardware for emulation is that even older models have substantially better CPU and GPU performance than any Raspberry Pi; the first-gen Apple TV 4K and its Apple A10X chip date back to 2017 and still do better than a Pi 5 released in 2023. Even these older models should be more than fast enough to support advanced video filters, like Run Ahead, to reduce wireless controller latency and higher-than-native-resolution rendering to make 3D games look a bit more modern.

Beyond the hardware, tvOS is also a surprisingly capable gaming platform. Apple has done a good job adding and maintaining support for new Bluetooth gamepads in recent releases, and even Nintendo’s official Switch Online controllers for the NES, SNES, and N64 are all officially supported as of late 2022. Apple may have added this gamepad support primarily to help support its Apple Arcade service, but all of those gamepads work equally well with RetroArch.

At the risk of stating the obvious, another upside of using the Apple TV for retro gaming is that you can also still use it as a modern 4K video streaming box when you’re finished playing your games. It has well-supported apps from just about every streaming provider, and it supports all the DRM that these providers insist on when you’re trying to stream high-quality 4K video with modern codecs. Most Pi gaming distributions offer the Kodi streaming software, but it’s frankly outside the scope of this article to talk about the long list of caveats and add-ons you’d need to use to attempt using the same streaming services the Apple TV can access.

Obviously, there are trade-offs. Pis have been running retro games for a decade, and the Apple TV is just starting to be able to do it now. Even with the loosened App Store restrictions, Apple still has other emulation limitations relative to a Raspberry Pi or a PC.

The biggest one is that emulators on Apple’s platforms can’t use just-in-time (JIT) code compilation, needed for 3D console emulators like Dolphin. These restrictions make the Apple TV a less-than-ideal option for emulating newer consoles—the Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, Sony PlayStation, PlayStation Portable, and Sega Saturn are the newest consoles RetroArch supports on the Apple TV, cutting out newer things like the GameCube and Wii, Dreamcast, and PlayStation 2 that are all well within the capabilities of Apple’s chips. Apple also insists nebulously that emulators must be for “retro” consoles rather than modern ones, which could limit the types of emulators that are available.

With respect to RetroArch specifically, there are other limitations. Though RetroArch describes itself as a front-end for emulators, its user interface is tricky to navigate, and cluttered with tons of overlapping settings that make it easy to break things if you don’t know what you’re doing. Most Raspberry Pi gaming distros use RetroArch, but with a front-end-for-a-front-end like EmulationStation installed to make RetroArch a bit more accessible and easy to learn. A developer could release an app that included RetroArch plus a separate front-end, but Apple’s sandboxing restrictions would likely prevent anyone from releasing an app that just served as a more user-friendly front-end for the RetroArch app.

Regardless, it’s still pretty cool to be able to play retro games on an Apple TV’s more advanced hardware. As more emulators make their way to the App Store, the Apple TV’s less-fussy software and the power of its hardware could make it a compelling alternative to a more effort-intensive Raspberry Pi setup.

The Apple TV is coming for the Raspberry Pi’s retro emulation box crown Read More »