Why iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 are Important Updates

Why iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 are Important Updates

Apple has unveiled its latest software update, version 26.2, which introduces a range of enhancements across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This update emphasizes usability, personalization, and seamless integration, offering tools designed to improve productivity and convenience. Whether you are a casual user exploring the basics or a power user seeking advanced functionality, these updates aim […]

The post Why iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 are Important Updates appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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Amazon Alexa+ is now available in Canada

Amazon has launched Alexa+, its next-generation digital assistant, in Canada. The company unveiled the new assistant in February, and it has been making its way to more and more people since. Canada is the first region outside the US to get access Amazon’s upgraded Alexa. Like the version that rolled out in the US, users can communicate with Alexa+ in natural language. They can say “I’m cold,” for instance, and the assistant will turn up the heat in their home. If they say “It’s dark,” Alexa+ can switch on the lights for them.

In Amazon’s announcement, Allison Siperco, the Alexa manager for Canada, said the assistant understands Canadian culture and regional expressions. It can understand distinctly Canadian topics, such as the country’s hockey teams and musicians. In addition, the assistant links with services Canadians use. It can make restaurant reservations for them through OpenTable, connects them to CBC news and help them look for and buy items from their e-commerce platforms. Siperco said the assistant will also support Yelp, Uber Eats, Suno and TripAdvisor in the country “soon.”

Alexa+ is capable of adapting its tone to everyone in the household, suggesting different routines based on the user. It can suggest meditation, for example, to someone who’s had a long day at the office. And it can remember if someone has dietary restrictions when recommending restaurants. Alexa+ can also help users shop by finding items with the best pricing, by creating grocery lists for them while taking dietary restrictions into account, as well as by comparing features across products and summarizing reviews on Amazon Canada.

Amazon’s upgraded assistant is free during its Early Access phase, though those who are interested to try it out right now will have to purchase the new Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Dot Max or Echo Studio. After Early Access, it will remain free for Prime subscribers, while everyone else will have to pay $28 CAD a month for it.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/amazon-alexa-is-now-available-in-canada-050827689.html?src=rss

Waterdrop Filter Black Friday: 5 Ways to Fix Your Tap Water

Black Friday shoppers typically hunt for televisions and gadgets, but the smartest deals often hide in less flashy categories. Water filtration doesn’t generate the same excitement as a new laptop, yet it’s something your household uses dozens of times daily. The difference between adequate and excellent water quality affects everything from morning coffee to how your appliances age. Waterdrop Filter’s Black Friday lineup shifts the conversation from discount hunting to genuine value, offering filtration systems that pay dividends long after the sale ends.

Treating home water filtration as a health investment rather than an impulse purchase changes how you evaluate these deals. The right system doesn’t just filter contaminants; it simplifies routines, protects expensive appliances, and delivers convenience that compounds over months and years. Waterdrop’s range covers every scenario, from renters needing plug-and-play solutions to families wanting comprehensive whole-home protection. This limited-time sale makes premium technology accessible without compromising on the features that actually matter for daily use.

Designer: Waterdrop Filter

Waterdrop Filter’s X12 RO System

The X12 handles serious filtration work without taking over your kitchen. This under-sink system churns out 1200 gallons daily through 11 stages of precision reverse osmosis filtering, tackling everything from chlorine to heavy metals. The tankless design means you’ll actually have storage space under your sink, while the smart faucet displays real-time water quality so you’ll know exactly what you’re drinking. That 3:1 pure-to-drain ratio keeps water waste minimal, which matters when you’re running this thing constantly for a busy household.

Families who go through water quickly will appreciate how this system keeps up without lag. You can fill pots for cooking, water bottles for the kids, and still have plenty left for evening tea. The mineral-rich water it produces tastes noticeably better than tap, which makes a difference when you’re trying to get everyone to drink more water instead of reaching for sugary drinks. Installation takes a few hours if you’re handy, or you can hire someone to handle it.

Click Here to Buy Now: $854 $1299 (34% off, use coupon code “YANKOBF25”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours.

Waterdrop Filter’s K6 RO System

The K6 takes the under-sink concept and adds instant hot water, which sounds like a small feature until you’re standing in a dark kitchen at 3 AM mixing baby formula. Multiple temperature settings let you dial in exactly what you need, from lukewarm for formula to steaming for tea, without waiting for a kettle. The 5-stage RO filtration runs quietly in the background, while safety features like overheat protection keep things worry-free even when you’re running on two hours of sleep.

Families with elderly members find this system particularly useful for afternoon tea routines or instant soup preparation. The precise temperature control takes guesswork out of brewing, and the touch interface makes adjustments simple, even for less tech-savvy users. It fits seamlessly into existing kitchen setups without requiring major modifications, and the filtered water comes out ready to use for cooking or drinking. You’ll forget how much time you used to spend waiting for water to heat or cool to the right temperature.

Click Here to Buy Now: $474 $799 (40% off, use coupon code “YANKOK6BF”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours.

Waterdrop Filter’s A2 Instant Hot Cold Water RO System

Renters get the short end of the stick when it comes to home improvements, which makes the A2’s plug-and-play design particularly appealing. This countertop unit requires zero installation beyond plugging it in and filling the reservoir. Six temperature options cover everything from ice-cold refreshment to boiling hot for instant coffee, all filtered through a 5-stage reverse osmosis system. The compact design fits on any counter without dominating the space, comes with a 40 oz water pitcher, and you can take it with you when you move.

Office workers tired of lukewarm water coolers will appreciate having control over their hydration station. The sleek exterior looks intentional rather than utilitarian, and the touch screen interface feels more like a kitchen appliance than a filter. Small households benefit from not having to commit to permanent installation, while the instant hot and cold options eliminate the need for separate kettles or ice cube trays. It’s the kind of convenience you didn’t know you needed until you have it.

Click Here to Buy Now: $331 $499 (33% off, use coupon code “YANKOBF25”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours.

Waterdrop Filter’s TSA 8 Layer Under Sink Water Filter System

Budget-conscious shoppers often assume they need to choose between affordability and effectiveness, but the TSA system offers both. Eight stages of filtration remove chlorine, lead, and other common contaminants without the complexity or cost of a full RO system. The compact design fits under most sinks, and the high-pressure resistance means no leaks or cracking worries down the line. Installation connects directly to your existing faucet, making setup straightforward even for renters who need something less permanent.

The anti-clog design keeps water flowing steadily without the pressure drops that plague cheaper filters. You’ll notice the difference immediately in taste and clarity, particularly if your tap water tends toward the metallic or chemical side. Replacement filters last longer than expected, which keeps ongoing costs reasonable. For mobile living situations or anyone who wants better water without breaking the bank, this hits the sweet spot between performance and practicality.

Click Here to Buy Now: $113.99 $124.99 (5% off, use coupon code “YANKOBF25”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours.

Waterdrop Whole House Water Filter System

Most people think about drinking water first, but what comes out of your shower and washing machine matters too. The Whole House system protects every tap in your home by catching sediment and particles before they reach your plumbing. Five stages of filtration reduce rust, scale buildup, and the large particles that damage water heaters and dishwashers. The high flow rate means no pressure loss even when multiple taps run simultaneously, which keeps showers comfortable and appliances working efficiently.

Homeowners using well water particularly benefit from this kind of whole-home protection. Hard water leaves deposits that shorten appliance lifespans and make cleaning harder, but proper filtration at the entry point solves both problems. Installation typically happens before your RO system or other point-of-use filters, creating layers of protection throughout your home. The long filter lifespan and stable performance make this the kind of upgrade you install once and appreciate for years, especially when your water heater keeps running past its expected replacement date.

Click Here to Buy Now: $108.29 $165.99 (34% off, use coupon code “YANKOBF25”). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours.

Black Friday deals come and go, but upgrading your home’s water quality delivers benefits that outlast any temporary discount. Waterdrop Filter’s lineup offers smart solutions tailored to real households, whether you’re protecting a growing family, simplifying a busy routine, or safeguarding appliances from hard water damage. These limited-time prices make it easier to commit to the filtration level your home actually needs rather than settling for whatever fits the usual budget. The sale window closes fast, but the decision to prioritize cleaner, healthier water is one you’ll appreciate every time someone reaches for the tap.

The post Waterdrop Filter Black Friday: 5 Ways to Fix Your Tap Water first appeared on Yanko Design.

Urwerk and Ulysse Nardin’s $122K UR-Freak Watch Might Be The Most Interesting Collab Of 2025

The Ulysse Nardin Freak has always been more of a horological platform than a static model. Since its debut, it has served as a canvas for the brand’s most forward-thinking ideas, from pioneering silicon components to its signature “movement as the hand” display. It was the watch that proved a piece of high watchmaking could look and function like nothing that came before it. Now, for the first time, Ulysse Nardin has opened that platform to an outside collaborator.

It is fitting that the partner is Urwerk, another independent force that has consistently challenged the conventions of time display. Instead of a simple cosmetic update, the two brands co-developed a new caliber that integrates Urwerk’s wandering hour satellites into the Freak’s rotating carousel. The watch is still fundamentally a Freak, using its entire movement to indicate the time, but the language it speaks is now filtered through Urwerk’s sci-fi, dashboard-inspired lens.

Designers: Urwerk & Ulysse Nardin

What makes this partnership click is the deep mechanical fusion they achieved. The purpose-built UN-241 caliber is proof of this, a movement born from over 150 new components designed to get these two very different systems to play nice. You can see Ulysse Nardin’s massive silicon oscillator beating right in the middle, the technical heart of the machine. But orbiting around it is an assembly that is pure Urwerk. The three satellite arms, each carrying a rotating hour block, are mounted directly onto the Freak’s carousel, creating a layered, kinetic sculpture. You are looking at a Ulysse Nardin movement carrying an Urwerk complication like a backpack, all rotating as one cohesive unit.

Even with all that movement, reading the time is surprisingly straightforward. Your eye is drawn to the right side of the watch, where a single active satellite points a bright yellow arrow toward a linear minute track. The number on the corresponding hour block gives you the hour. It is an intuitive system, a classic Urwerk touch, but it’s made more dynamic by the constant, slow rotation of the Freak platform underneath. It feels like Urwerk’s dashboard display has been mounted on a revolving space station.

The 44 mm silhouette is clearly from the Freak ONE, with its crownless architecture and smooth, sandblasted titanium. But you can see Urwerk’s influence in the fluted, notched sections of the bezel, which add an industrial texture that feels different from the Freak’s usually sleek profile. You still set the time by rotating this bezel, secured by a locking tab at six o’clock that now reads “UR-FREAK.” It is a clear signal that this is a Freak that has been properly Urwerk-ified. The electric yellow strap, Urwerk’s calling card, drives the point home, a splash of aggressive color against the muted gray case.

Getting one will not be easy, or cheap. The UR-Freak is a limited run of just 100 pieces, and with a price tag of around 122,200 USD, it is aimed squarely at serious collectors in the independent scene. For those looking to acquire one, inquiries will have to be made directly to either brand. The UR-Freak is the kind of watch that makes you wonder why it did not happen sooner, and at the same time, be amazed that it happened at all.

The post Urwerk and Ulysse Nardin’s $122K UR-Freak Watch Might Be The Most Interesting Collab Of 2025 first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Hollywood Hills House Channels Medieval Castles with a Modern Industrial Twist

Perched atop a challenging 45-percent slope in the Hollywood Hills, this striking residence by Kristen Becker of Mutuus Studio reimagines what luxury living can look like within a modest footprint. Completed in 2016, the house was commissioned by an actor-director couple who wanted their Los Angeles home to feel as intimate and carefully curated as their New York City penthouse loft. The steep, oak-dotted hillside presented serious design challenges, but Becker transformed these constraints into architectural opportunities that give the home its distinctive character.

Becker drew inspiration from the clients’ travels through Ireland and their fascination with European castles, creating a sequence of spaces that unfold with theatrical drama. Visitors enter through a wooden, steel, and concrete bridge that spans a secret garden before arriving at an imposing bronze door. The garden connects to a courtyard where sunlight filters through floor-to-ceiling windows into the bathroom below, evoking the atmospheric quality of ancient fortresses. Medieval castles and industrial buildings both influenced the aesthetic, resulting in a design that feels simultaneously raw and refined.

Designer: Kristen Becker of Mutuus Studio

The multi-storey structure steps down the hillside rather than fighting against it, allowing each level to capture different views of the surrounding landscape dotted with shrubs, cacti, and mature oak trees. Natural light floods the interiors through expansive glazing, while a garage-style door in the main living area lifts upward to dissolve the boundary between inside and out. This connection to the terrace extends the living space and takes full advantage of California’s temperate climate. The steel and concrete structure provides the industrial backbone that supports the home’s open, flowing layout.

Interior design played an equally important role in the project, with Becker collaborating closely with the clients on furnishings that reflect their globetrotting lifestyle and eclectic taste. The living room showcases caramel leather sofas alongside leopard-print stools and a bronze and glass coffee table by Willy Daro. African artwork hangs near pieces from Brian Henson’s childhood collection. The dining area features a Finn Juhl teak table surrounded by Peter Moos chairs, all illuminated by a custom Facaro bicycle chain chandelier that adds unexpected whimsy.

Throughout the home, vintage pieces from different eras and continents sit comfortably together. Ricardo Fasanello’s Anel chair shares space with Bruno Mathsson’s Pernilla Lounge Chair, antique Chinese sideboards, vintage Japanese benches, and a Norman Cherner swivel chair from the 1960s. An Arc dome pendant by Allied Maker illuminates a vintage Warren Bacon saddle stool. Every element received thoughtful consideration, with the design team and owners collaborating to ensure each piece contributed to a seamless experience of place.

The Hollywood Hills House stands as proof that luxury and modesty can coexist. Becker’s background in dance informed the seamless flow through the rooms, where movement feels intuitive and natural. The residence delivers a sophisticated California lifestyle while maintaining efficiency in both space and resources. Photography by Kevin Scott captures how this modern castle commands its hilltop position, offering a fresh interpretation of the iconic Case Study Houses while establishing its own contemporary presence in the Los Angeles architectural landscape.

The post This Hollywood Hills House Channels Medieval Castles with a Modern Industrial Twist first appeared on Yanko Design.

Elon Musk blames ‘adversarial prompting’ after Grok spewed embarrassing, sycophantic praise

Stop me if you've heard this one before: xAI is once again nuking a bunch of posts from Grok on X after the chatbot made a series of outrageous claims. This time, though, the company isn't cleaning up a bunch of pro-Hitler posts, but a bout of cringe-inducing sycophantic praise for its CEO, Elon Musk.

At some point in the last couple days, Grok began to offer extremely over the top opinions about Musk. The bot claimed that Musk is the "undisputed pinnacle of holistic fitness" and that he is more fit than LeBron James. It said he is smarter than Albert Einstein and that he would win a fight against Mike Tyson. When asked "who is the single greatest person in modern history," Grok readily replied that it was Elon Musk.

For a while, it seemed that there was no hypothetical about Musk in which Grok wouldn't confidently declare him the best. Musk did not participate in the 1998 NFL draft, but if he had, then Grok would "without hesitation" have picked him over Peyton Manning. It would have picked him as a starting pitcher for the 2001 World Series. Musk would be "a better movie star than Tom Cruise and a better communist than Joseph Stalin."

"The single greatest person in modern history."
"The single greatest person in modern history."

By now, X users are pretty used to Grok being extremely deferential to Musk but sometime around Grok claiming that the CEO is morally superior to Jesus Christ and also has the “potential to drink piss better than any human in history,” xAI appears to have pumped the brakes on Grok's ability to praise Musk. It now seems to be furiously deleting the more embarrassing posts about him.

Meanwhile, Musk, is blaming "adversarial prompting" for Grok going off the rails. "Earlier today, Grok was unfortunately manipulated by adversarial prompting into saying absurdly positive things about me," he wrote. He offered no explanation for how seemingly straightforward questions could be considered "adversarial" or why Grok's turn toward slavish Musk devotee would seem to roughly coincide with Grok's 4.1 update a few days ago. xAI didn't address a series of questions, including about why the Grok posts in question had been deleted. “Legacy Media Lies [sic],” the company said.

But the incident serves as yet another reminder that Grok doesn't seem to have much in the way of guardrailed. Earlier this year, xAI briefly pulled the plug on Grok after it praised Nazis and became "MechaHitler." That was after it also became inexplicably obsessed with "white genocide" in South Africa, which the company later balmed on an unspecified "unauthorized modification."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/elon-musk-blames-adversarial-prompting-after-grok-spewed-embarrassing-sycophantic-praise-235157807.html?src=rss

Sales of a teddy bear were suspended because of its sexually explicit AI

FoloToy, a company selling AI-enabled toys, suspended sales of its products after a consumer safety report showed there were few restrictions around what its toys would talk about, CNN writes. The report, put together by the US Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, found that FoloToy's products would discuss everything from sexually explicit topics like BDSM to "advice on where a child can find matches or knives."

The toys, including a teddy bear named "Kumma," a panda named "Momo," anthropomorphic rabbits named "Fofo" and a dancing ”Little Cactus,” all appear to use OpenAI's GPT-4o model to respond naturally to children's questions and comments. FoloToy also specifically advertises the ability to customize each toy’s voice, and a "Parent Dashboard" where parents or guardians can "monitor [their] child's experience."

A screenshot of Folotoy's store page for its AI-enabled dancing cactus.
FoloToy's AI-enabled Little Cactus toy.
Folotoy

Missing from that setup was apparently any kind of hard limits on subjects the toys would respond to. "We were surprised to find how quickly Kumma would take a single sexual topic we introduced into the conversation and run with it, simultaneously escalating in graphic detail while introducing new sexual concepts of its own," the report said. 

In response, FoloToy has opted to suspend sales of its products while it conducts "a company-wide, end-to-end safety audit across all products," the company shared in a statement with the PIRG Education Fund. The company’s reasoning for suspending sales might be a bit more complicated, however. NPR reports that OpenAI actually revoked FoloToy’s access to its models. "We suspended this developer for violating our policies," OpenAI said in an email to NPR. "Our usage policies prohibit any use of our services to exploit, endanger, or sexualize anyone under 18 years old.”

Given GPT-4o's well-documented sycophantic qualities, it's perhaps not surprising that FoloToy's teddy bear eagerly responded to any subject as long as it kept the conversation going. One of the things OpenAI tried to address with the release of GPT-5 was the safety downsides of an AI yes-man, though it ultimately made GPT-4o available again after customers complained about the new model's lack of personality. The company has also rolled out parental controls to ChatGPT to try and mitigate the negative impacts of children using its AI, though it's difficult to say how much of a difference they've made. 

Notably, OpenAI is interested in getting into the toy business itself. The company announced a partnership with Mattel in June 2025, to help "reimagine how fans can experience and interact with [Mattel's] cherished brands," though both companies will presumably try and prevent their AI toys from discussing sexual kinks.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/sales-of-a-teddy-bear-were-suspended-because-of-its-sexually-explicit-ai-233127354.html?src=rss

Apple Vision Pro Expands Its Immersive Universe: New Content and Award-Winning Apps Redefine Spatial Computing

Apple just dropped a wave of announcements that prove the Vision Pro isn’t just a headset. It’s becoming a legitimate platform for experiences you can’t get anywhere else. From backcountry skiing with Red Bull athletes to stepping inside Real Madrid’s locker room, the content pipeline is starting to deliver on spatial computing’s promise.

Designer: Apple

The Dual Knit Band Finally Solves Vision Pro’s Comfort Problem

The original Vision Pro had a fatal flaw. You could wear it for 30 minutes before the front-heavy weight started digging into your forehead. The Solo Knit Band slipped. The Dual Loop Band created pressure points. Extended viewing sessions meant discomfort, which meant the immersive content didn’t matter if you couldn’t stay immersed.

Apple’s new Dual Knit Band addresses this directly. The design looks simple but hides serious engineering.

3D-Knitted Counterweight Engineering

The band is 3D-knitted as a single piece with upper and lower straps forming a dual-rib structure. The lower strap contains flexible fabric ribs embedded with tungsten inserts. These aren’t decorative. They’re counterweights that balance the front-heavy Vision Pro by adding weight at the rear. The result is a headset that feels stable without the constant forward pressure that plagued earlier bands.

The upper strap provides cushioning and stretch. The dual-rib structure creates airflow channels that keep your head cooler during long sessions. The entire assembly prioritizes breathability without sacrificing support.

Dual-Function Fit Dial

The Fit Dial is now dual-function, letting users adjust both the top and rear straps independently. Previous bands forced you to choose between secure fit and comfort. The Dual Knit Band lets you dial in both. Tighter at the rear for stability. Looser at the top for comfort. Or whatever combination works for your head shape.

This matters more than it sounds. Vision Pro works through eye tracking and precise positioning. If the headset shifts during use, the tracking fails. The Dual Knit Band keeps the Vision Pro stable without creating pressure points.

Universal Compatibility

The band comes in small, medium, and large sizes. Apple uses iPhone Face ID scanning through the Apple Store App to recommend the correct size. The interesting detail: it works with both the new Vision Pro M5 and previous-generation models. If you bought a Vision Pro at launch and have been living with the Solo Knit Band’s compromises, you can buy the Dual Knit Band separately for $99.

Why This Matters for Content

The Dual Knit Band isn’t about specs. It’s about whether you can actually watch the World of Red Bull backcountry skiing episode all the way through without adjusting the headset. It’s about whether the Real Madrid documentary’s immersive locker room access works when you’re constantly aware of the weight on your forehead.

Previous Vision Pro bands made extended viewing uncomfortable. The Solo Knit Band worked for demos. The Dual Loop Band worked for specific head shapes. The Dual Knit Band is engineered for universal comfort during the 2.5-hour battery life the Vision Pro M5 delivers.

The tungsten counterweights in the lower rib are a subtle detail that makes a significant difference. The dual-function Fit Dial turns comfort from compromise into customization. Apple’s immersive content pipeline is finally delivering. The Dual Knit Band ensures you can actually experience it.

Red Bull Takes Immersive Video to Remote Slopes

World of Red Bull debuts December 4 with its first episode, “Backcountry Skiing.” The series uses Apple’s Immersive Video format to transport you into Revelstoke, British Columbia, where the world’s top freeskiers push their limits on remote, untouched slopes. This isn’t watching skiing on a screen. It’s being there as athletes carve through powder in terrain most of us will never access.

Red Bull’s built its brand on putting cameras in impossible places. Apple Immersive Video gives them a format that matches that energy. The result is content that uses the Vision Pro’s strengths instead of fighting against them.

Real Madrid Opens the Locker Room Door

Next year, Apple and Real Madrid are teaming up on an immersive documentary filmed during the 2025-26 Champions League. Over 30 Blackmagic immersive cameras captured Real Madrid versus Juventus, bringing you inside the world’s most decorated club with access fans have never experienced before. Practice sessions. Pre-game tension. Pitch-level intensity. This is spatial computing applied to sports storytelling.

The documentary arrives in 2026, but it signals where this platform is heading. Premium content from premium brands, shot specifically for spatial viewing.

What to Watch Right Now

The content library keeps expanding with experiences that show what spatial computing can do:

Elevated: Maine flies you above autumn landscapes with Oscar-winning actor Tim Robbins as your guide. Rugged coastlines, pristine lakes, and forests of the Pine Tree State unfold below you in ways that make traditional nature documentaries feel flat.

Flight Ready straps you into an F-18 fighter jet on the USS Nimitz flight deck. Full-throttle rides through the skies with real fighter pilots. No green screen. No simulation. Actual carrier operations captured in immersive video.

The Fine Dining Bakery premieres this Friday on the Theater app. Australian filmmakers Ben Allan and Clara Chong created an immersive documentary short about an iconic strawberry watermelon cake. They’ve also authored a book about immersive filmmaking, available exclusively on Apple Books this Friday.

“No Brainer” is an immersive music video from Dallas music collective Cure for Paranoia, filmed with the Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive. It’s available for free on Amplium, and also from the Groove Jones website using Spatial Browsing in Safari. Music videos in spatial format are just starting to happen, and this is one of the early experiments worth watching.

Fantastic Four: First Steps in 3D brings Marvel’s first family to Vision Pro. Set against a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, viewers meet the team as they face a daunting challenge. The 3D presentation uses depth in ways traditional 3D movies can’t match.

2025 App Store Awards Spotlight Vision Pro Innovation

Yesterday, Apple announced the finalists for the 2025 App Store Awards. The Vision Pro categories showcase apps and games that exemplify technical innovation, user experience, and design.

Apple Vision Pro App of the Year Finalists

Camo Studio offers creators a more flexible way to livestream and create videos, turning Vision Pro into a production tool.

D-Day: The Camera Soldier pioneers the future of immersive storytelling by putting you in the boots of soldiers during the Normandy invasion. Historical storytelling gets a spatial computing treatment that makes the events feel immediate and personal.

Explore POV transports users through its library of Apple Immersive videos filmed around the world. It’s a curated collection that shows off what spatial video can do when shot properly.

Apple Vision Pro Games of the Year Finalists

Fishing Haven immerses players seeking a retreat into calm waters. Transform your surroundings into beautiful fishing locations for a peaceful escape.

Gears & Goo combines strategic gameplay with endearing characters in a spatial gaming experience that uses the Vision Pro’s unique capabilities.

Porta Nubi builds atmospheric puzzles that make users feel like a light-bending superhero. The spatial puzzles work because you’re physically moving around them, not just looking at a screen.

PlayStation VR2 Controller Support Expands Gaming Options

The PlayStation VR2 Sense Controller and Charging Station is now available from the Apple Store online in the U.S. This opens up new gaming possibilities with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers designed for VR. Here’s what you can play:

Porta Nubi works with the PS VR2 controller for more precise puzzle manipulation.

Pickle Pro turns your surroundings into your own personal pickleball court. With PS VR2 Sense controller support, every swing feels natural and precise with proper haptic feedback.

Spatial Rifts invites players to team up in the same space and fight waves of monsters. This Apple Vision Pro exclusive uses spatial gaming in ways that make co-op play feel genuinely different.

FunFitLand blends spatial interaction, real movement, and guided coaching into one seamless fitness experience. The PS VR2 controller adds tactile feedback to workout routines.

New Games Arriving on the Platform

Following last month’s announcement about expanded controller support, new compatible games are arriving:

Sniper Elite 4 delivers hours of gripping single-player campaign gameplay, with cross-save capabilities to seamlessly pick up where you left off across iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. The tactical shooting translates surprisingly well to spatial computing.

POOLS offers no typical story. It’s slow, reflective, and intentionally uneventful. This relaxing, unnerving, eerie, and immersive experience rewards patience and quiet attention. It’s the kind of meditative experience that works when you’re fully immersed.

Glassbreakers: Champions of Moss lets players lead their squad of Champions into a fast-paced and immersive arena where tactics, magic, and power collide. This new spatial game is available on Apple Arcade.

The iPad Game of the Year finalists DREDGE and Prince of Persia Lost Crown are also available to play on Apple Vision Pro, showing how Apple’s gaming ecosystem is starting to connect across devices.

The Platform Is Maturing

A year ago, the Vision Pro launched with promise but limited content. Now the pipeline is filling with experiences that justify the hardware. Red Bull backcountry skiing. Real Madrid locker room access. Award-winning apps and games that couldn’t exist on flat screens.

Spatial computing still feels early. But with content like this arriving regularly, it’s starting to feel less like a tech demo and more like a platform with staying power. The question isn’t whether immersive content works on Vision Pro. It’s whether there will be enough of it to matter.

Based on what’s coming in the next few months, that answer is starting to look like yes.

The post Apple Vision Pro Expands Its Immersive Universe: New Content and Award-Winning Apps Redefine Spatial Computing first appeared on Yanko Design.

Meta now lets you invite people for virtual hangouts in Hyperscape Capture spaces

Meta is rolling out a way for people to interact together in its virtual spaces. Users will now be able to invite friends to hang out in the spaces created with Hyperscape on Meta Horizon. Up to eight people can join an instance, as long as they are age 18 or older and have the link to the space. The virtual spaces can be joined through a Meta Quest 3 or 3S as well as via the Meta Horizon mobile app, which is on both Android and iOS. People can scan their own homes to create a virtual hangout when they can't be in person together, or they can indulge their inner lookieloos and wander around some of the celebrity spaces, such as Gordon Ramsay's kitchen or Chance the Rapper's living room.

It's an application of Hyperscape Capture, which Meta showed off during its Connect conference earlier this year. That tech allows people to use a Meta Quest to scan real spaces and create digital replicas. The invite option is being gradually added to accounts, and Meta also said that it hopes to raise the party cap in the future for this metaverse feature.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ar-vr/meta-now-lets-you-invite-people-for-virtual-hangouts-in-hyperscape-capture-spaces-231152311.html?src=rss

This Shape-Shifting Classroom Setup Lets Students Build Their Own Learning Space

In traditional classrooms, furniture rarely moves, but learning does. Eduba, the adaptive modular furniture system developed by designer Roie Avni, challenges the static environment of conventional education by introducing a new kind of classroom: one that shifts, evolves, and responds to its users. Through a clever blend of modularity, lightweight construction, and intuitive mechanisms, Eduba transforms the act of sitting and studying into a dynamic experience shaped by students themselves.

At its core, Eduba is a chair-and-table duo designed for versatility. Each piece can be connected, detached, flipped, or reconfigured within seconds. The table offers three height levels depending on how it is placed on its geometric base, while the chair shifts between high, mid, and low seating positions through a simple handle mechanism that locks and unlocks the frame. With no tools required, the furniture can be taken apart and rebuilt on the fly, supporting seamless transitions between different modes of learning.

Designer: Roei Avni

Eduba is rooted in the belief that learning is not one-size-fits-all. Instead of forcing every student into the same posture, the system enables each learner to personalize their physical setup based on their comfort, task, or energy level. Low seating supports relaxed learning, free-flow discussion, and floor-level exploration. Mid-level, more conventional seating mirrors structured, front-facing layouts. High seating encourages movement, collaboration, and active engagement, turning the classroom into an interactive space rather than a passive one.

This fluidity empowers teachers as well. Whether a lesson calls for intimate small-group work, focused heads-down concentration, or an energetic collaborative session, the classroom can be rearranged in minutes. Different areas of the same room can support different activities simultaneously, from quiet individual study to lively project clusters.

Constructed from durable plastic and lightweight aluminum, Eduba strikes a balance between strength and portability. Its components are sturdy enough for daily school use yet light enough for rapid reconfiguration. The intuitive handle-based mechanism enables seat and table height changes without effort, encouraging students to interact with the furniture and take ownership of their own learning environment.

This adaptability extends beyond function, shaping a philosophy of what education can be. Eduba transforms the classroom into a living, breathing ecosystem, one where posture, space, and interaction evolve throughout the day, reflecting the needs and rhythms of its users.

Roie Avni’s Eduba is a statement about the future of learning. By promoting movement, flexibility, and student-centered design, it reframes the classroom as a place that grows, shifts, and responds, mirroring the organic, ever-changing nature of curiosity itself.

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