Monthly Archives: February 2024

Apple confirms home screen web apps will no longer work on European iOS devices

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Apple has explained why it's disabling progressive web apps (PWAs) in the EU, it wrote in updated developer notes seen by TechCrunch. The news follows users noticing that web apps were no longer functional in Europe with recent iOS 17.4 beta releases. Apple said it's blocking the feature in the region due to new rules around browsers in Europe's Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Web apps behave much like native apps, allowing dedicated windowing, notifications, long-term local storage and more. European users tapping web app icons will see a message asking if they wish to open them in Safari instead or cancel. That means they act more like web shortcuts, creating issues like data loss and broken notifications, according to comments from users seen by MacRumors.

The problem, according to Apple, is a new DMA requirement that it allow browsers that don't use its WebKit architecture. "Addressing the complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps using alternative browser engines would require building an entirely new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS and was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA and the very low user adoption of Home Screen web apps," the company wrote.

However, the Open Web Advocacy organization disagrees, as it writes in its latest blog: 

Some defend Apple's decision to remove Web Apps as a necessary response to the DMA, but this is misguided.

Apple has had 15 years to facilitate true browser competition worldwide, and nearly two years since the DMA’s final text. It could have used that time to share functionality it historically self-preferenced to Safari with other browsers. Inaction and silence speaks volumes.

The complete absence of Web Apps in Apple's DMA compliance proposal, combined with the omission of this major change from Safari beta release notes, indicates to us a strategy of deliberate obfuscation. Even if Apple were just starting to internalize its responsibilities under the DMA, this behaviour is unacceptable. A concrete proposal with clear timelines, outlining how third party browsers could install and power Web Apps using their own engines, could prevent formal proceedings, but this looks increasingly unlikely. Nothing in the DMA compels Apple to break developers' Web Apps, and doing so through ineptitude is no excuse.

The change, spotted earlier by researcher Tommy Mysk, arrived with the second iOS 17.4 beta, but many observers first thought it was a bug. "The EU asked for alternative app stores and Apple took down web apps. Looks like the EU is going to rue the day they have asked Apple to comply with the #DMA rules," he posted on X.

According to Apple's App Store Guidelines, web apps are supposed to be an alternative to the App Store model. Considering that that the EU's DMA is designed to break the App Store monopoly, the move to disable them altogether is bound to cause friction. The EU, Japan, Australia and the UK have previously criticized the requirement for WebKit to run PWAs, according to the Open Web Advocacy (OWA). 

Apple said it regrets any impact to the change, but said it was required "as part of the work to comply with the DMA." The company has already been accused by developers of malicious compliance with the DMA over fees for developers to bypass the App Store, with Spotify CEO Daniel Ek describing it as "extortion.". 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-confirms-home-screen-web-apps-will-no-longer-work-on-european-ios-devices-112527560.html?src=rss

Apple HomePod with a Screen is coming to revive a forgotten smart home category

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Although they look and seem like they’re made just for playing music, smart speakers are, of course, a lot more capable than simple wireless speakers. In fact, they were born to showcase the power of AI-powered smart assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple Siri, which is also why the speaker quality of the first generation of speakers left much to be desired. While controlling your devices and appliances using your voice felt almost magical, it also became quite tiring quickly, especially when you could do things faster using an app on your phone. That’s the reason why smart speakers with displays, a.k.a. smart displays, were born, and that design might finally be coming to Apple’s ecosystem, potentially bringing life back to stagnant waters.

Designer: Apple (via MacWorld)

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new smart display coming from the major brands. The latest Amazon Echo Show last year is actually just an upgraded Echo Show 5. Google launched the 2nd-generation Nest Hub in 2021, though some might argue that the Google Pixel Tablet and its speaker dock actually fall under this category. After all, most of these smart displays do look like smart speakers with a tablet stuck on top of them.

Amazon Echo Show 10

Amazon Echo Show 10

That design might be coming to Apple’s smart home device category, thanks to clues found in the latest beta testing of tvOS 17.4. There is no direct evidence, of course, just a new device codenamed “Z314” that just happens to share some internal hardware with the iPad mini 6. The HomePod was actually discovered to already be running tvOS, which would have been weird if it didn’t eventually get some visual capabilities. Again, much of these are based on speculation, but the hints seem to be building up and pointing toward a spring 2024 reveal.

Google Nest Hub 2

Google Nest Hub 2

A HomePod with a touch screen, even just a 7-inch one as indicated by rumors, will offer a significant upgrade to people’s user experience. Although the HomePod already offers physical controls for quickly controlling music, anything else has to be done either through Siri or through a connected iPhone or iPad. The latter scenario, however, can cause additional battery drain to mobile devices, so a dedicated display will go a long way in making it more convenient to access Apple Home settings, media controls, and more. Of course, sticking a tablet on top of a HomePod isn’t the only possible design option available, as our very own Sarang Sheth explored in a piece that envisioned an aesthetic that matched Apple’s style more closely.

That said, it also isn’t certain how far Apple will go in what features it will provide on that screen. The likes of the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub offer video capabilities, though that has also been a thorny subject as far as YouTube is concerned. Apple is traditionally even more conservative in what it allows on its devices, so we can probably expect functionality limited to smart home control, FaceTime, and, of course, its own library of tunes and videos.

Google Pixel Tablet

Google Pixel Tablet

Google Pixel Tablet

Google Pixel Tablet

The post Apple HomePod with a Screen is coming to revive a forgotten smart home category first appeared on Yanko Design.

Porsche GT4 e-Performance has 1,008 PS

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Porsche GT4 e-Performance

Porsche has revealed some more details and performance figures about the Porsche GT4 e-Performance, the car comes with an impressive 1,008 PS (994 HP) and a 0 to 200 km/h time of just 5.6 seconds. The Porsche GT4 e-Performance is an all-electric version of the Porsche Cayman 718 GT4, we previously saw some videos of […]

The post Porsche GT4 e-Performance has 1,008 PS appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Alan Wake 2 is Remedy’s fastest-selling game ever

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If you've enjoyed playing Alan Wake 2 over the last few months, you're far from alone. Remedy Entertainment announced that Alan Wake 2 had sold 1.3 million units since its October 2023 release — making it the developer's fastest-selling game. Alan Wake 2 sold three times as many digital copies over its first two months as fellow Remedy game Control did during its first four months. 

The high sales have been a big coup for Remedy's continued expansion. "The successful launch of Alan Wake 2 has supported our other game projects: Condor, Control 2 and Max Payne 1 and 2 remake have all increased development pace thanks to the personnel released from Alan Wake 2, and we expect these projects to reach their next development stages during the first half of 2024," Remedy CEO Tero Virtala stated. 

Despite the early success, the sequel has yet to turn a profit for the company: "the game has already recouped a significant part of the development and marketing expenses," Virtala noted. However, the Remedy chief expects it will "generate excellent long tail sales" like Control, which has topped 4 million units since it went on sale in August 2019.

For anyone who hasn’t played it yet, Alan Wake 2 follows the 2010 original and delves deeper into Remedy’s Connected Universe. Players encounter monsters, ghosts, demonic possession, shifting realities, rock operas and paranormal murder. The story will continue with Remedy adding two paid DLCs to Alan Wake 2 in the near future.

Control 2 will likely extend that universe further, giving Remedy fans a whole lot of paranormal, inter-connected content to enjoy in the coming months and years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alan-wake-2-is-remedys-fastest-selling-game-ever-105034266.html?src=rss

Alan Wake 2 is Remedy’s fastest-selling game ever

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If you've enjoyed playing Alan Wake 2 over the last few months, you're far from alone. Remedy Entertainment announced that Alan Wake 2 had sold 1.3 million units since its October 2023 release — making it the developer's fastest-selling game. Alan Wake 2 sold three times as many digital copies over its first two months as fellow Remedy game Control did during its first four months. 

The high sales have been a big coup for Remedy's continued expansion. "The successful launch of Alan Wake 2 has supported our other game projects: Condor, Control 2 and Max Payne 1 and 2 remake have all increased development pace thanks to the personnel released from Alan Wake 2, and we expect these projects to reach their next development stages during the first half of 2024," Remedy CEO Tero Virtala stated. 

Despite the early success, the sequel has yet to turn a profit for the company: "the game has already recouped a significant part of the development and marketing expenses," Virtala noted. However, the Remedy chief expects it will "generate excellent long tail sales" like Control, which has topped 4 million units since it went on sale in August 2019.

For anyone who hasn’t played it yet, Alan Wake 2 follows the 2010 original and delves deeper into Remedy’s Connected Universe. Players encounter monsters, ghosts, demonic possession, shifting realities, rock operas and paranormal murder. The story will continue with Remedy adding two paid DLCs to Alan Wake 2 in the near future.

Control 2 will likely extend that universe further, giving Remedy fans a whole lot of paranormal, inter-connected content to enjoy in the coming months and years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/alan-wake-2-is-remedys-fastest-selling-game-ever-105034266.html?src=rss

Google launches new Remix Feature for YouTube Shorts

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YouTube Shorts

Google has announced that it is launching a new tool for YouTube Shorts that allows you to remix music videos into your YouTube Shorts videos, you will be able to incorporate sounds from the videos and use them as a background for your Short and more. Picture this… it’s Friday morning and you wake up […]

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A piracy app outranked Netflix on the App Store before Apple pulled it

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Over the past week, an app called Kimi curiously outranked well-known streaming services, such as Netflix and Prime Video, in the App Store's list of top free entertainment apps. Now, Apple has pulled the application... most likely because it gave users access to pirated movies. As Wired reports, Kimi was disguised as an app that tests your eyesight by making you play spot the difference in similar photos. In reality, it was nothing of the sort and instead contained bootlegged shows and movies, including recent blockbusters and award-winning films. 

Its offerings, however, varied in quality in a way that's familiar to those who used to look for shows and movies online before the advent of streaming services. Kimi's copy of the Emma Stone-starrer Poor Things was apparently grainy and pixelated, while other movies available in high-quality copies had ads blocking the view across the top of the screen. The app was incredibly easy to use: Viewers simply had to download it and fire it up to start watching. It was similar to the now-defunct service Popcorn Time, in that it made pirating movies as easy as watching Netflix. Popcorn Time shut down for good in 2022. 

The company told us that Kimi presented itself as a vision testing platform during the review process. It removed the app from its store, as well as the developer from the Apple Developer program, after discovering its bait-and-switch tactics, a spokesperson told us. They added that Apple has no tolerance for scam apps and applications with hidden or undocumented features. 

Apple prides itself on privacy and safety and on making sure the apps it makes available for download are on the up and up. When it revealed how it would comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), for instance, it said any alternative app store that makes its way to the company's platforms will need to have stringent rules and moderation tools comparable to its own. Apple itself may have to start keeping an even closer eye on its App Store, though. Viewers have been expressing their discontent online on having to pay for too many streaming services to be able to watch what they want to, and it seems like more and more people are turning to piracy again. 

Update, February 16, 2024, 5:08AM ET: This story has been updated to add the information Apple shared with Engadget.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/a-piracy-app-outranked-netflix-on-the-app-store-before-apple-pulled-it-132013246.html?src=rss

Awesome iPhone Apps to Increase Your Productivity

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Awesome iPhone Apps

In this article, we cover a range of iPhone apps that can help you with your productivity. Maximizing productivity and efficiently managing both personal and business tasks can be challenging. However, with the right set of tools, you can streamline your workflow and significantly enhance your day-to-day operations. If you’re an iPhone user looking to […]

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World’s smallest humanoid robot is more than a toy – it walks, dances and even kicks a ball

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School students from Hong Kong have shined in the world sphere with an entry in the Guinness World Records. They have, in the school robotics laboratory, built what is now recognized as the smallest humanoid in the world by the ace record keeper. To reach the feat, they had to do better than just build a miniature bot. A robot to be billed a record holder must be capable of bipedal movement and able to articulate its knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders.

The four-member team of Aaron Ho Yat Fung, Isaac Zachary To, Justin Wang Tou Duong, and Ngo Hei Leung, with their bot which does not have a moniker yet, has broken the record for the smallest robot held by Pakistan’s Zain Ahmad Qureshi. For reference, the humanoid from Diocesan Boys’ School students is “shorter than a standard ballpoint pen.”

Designer: Diocesan Boys’ School, Hong Kong

According to the information shared by Guinness World Records, the new smallest humanoid measures 141 mm tall. For the record, it is estimated 11.3 mm shorter than the previous record-holding robot by Qureshi. Even though the underlying intention of such a miniature robot was to break the Guinness Record; the brains behind it believe, the bot can be a “small, low cost, rechargeable, and programmable” platform for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics) education. The small size also leaves the possibility of mass-producing such a robot at a lower cost.

The robot itself was first designed in CAD and then its acrylic panels and 3D-printed components were produced and assembled in the school’s robotics lab. Students thereafter reached out to a servo motors manufacturer. Putting the servos together on a 16-channel control board, installed at the back of the robot, students were able to control their bot using onboard buttons and via a mobile device.

In addition to moving its legs and arms, the robot, as seen in the video above, can be programmed to dance, do kung fu, and even kick a football. These moves are powered by a built-in 7.4V lithium-ion battery. The Diocesan Boys’ School robotics team wants to make the design and code of their tiny robot open source, which would further their idea of making STEAM education workshops interesting and economically viable.

The post World’s smallest humanoid robot is more than a toy – it walks, dances and even kicks a ball first appeared on Yanko Design.

Google Gemini on Android in Action (Video)

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Google Gemini

In the rapidly evolving world of digital assistants, Google has taken a significant leap forward with the introduction of Gemini, a sophisticated platform designed to elevate the user experience to new heights. This article delves into the essence of Google Gemini, previously known to many as Google Assistant with Bard, showcasing its integration capabilities, installation […]

The post Google Gemini on Android in Action (Video) appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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