Kind Words 2 (lofi city pop), a game where you send real letters to real people and then wander around a cozy town, is due to hit Steam on October 7.
It’s the sequel to Kind Words (lo-fi chill beats to write to), an award-winning 2019 game from independent Boston studio Popcannibal. Players in the original game had a single bedroom where, backdropped by a sweet lo-fi soundtrack, they wrote and responded to letters from other players. There were small bits of room customization and sticker collection in the game, but it was truly just about connecting with strangers in a warm and nice way. This was a prescient idea: Just six months after Kind Words came out, the coronavirus pandemic locked down the globe. Connecting with people safely and from a distance suddenly became a top priority, and Kind Words carried this responsibility well. In the five years since launch, hundreds of thousands of players have sent more than 6 million messages in-game.
Kind Words 2 imports your letters, room changes and stickers from the first game, and it allows you to leave the bedroom and explore a small town of shops, cafes and parks. On top of the standard letter-writing loop, you can customize your avatar with new clothes, scream (in written form) into the void, wish on a star, perform poetry and interact with other players in public spaces. The endlessly chill soundtrack comes from Slay the Spire and Kind Words composer Clark Aboud. It all looks — and sounds — incredibly adorable.
In terms of game design, Popcannibal faces a unique and impossible-sounding challenge with the Kind Words series. Instead of having to build innovative environments or ultra-responsive controls, developers have to create a world that encourages anonymous online strangers to be nice to each other. The original game excelled in this regard, using visuals, mechanics, mood and music to foster friendly conversations among thousands of anonymous players worldwide. Kind Words 2 is bigger, but the vibe seems just as snuggly, and this time around Popcannibal has years of experience moderating and vibe-curating under its belt. If anyone can create a troll-free anonymous social network, it’s these folks.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/kind-words-2-takes-cozy-letter-writing-to-the-city-on-october-7-215127953.html?src=rss
Two models of AirPods were largely expected at today's iPhone 16 event, one of which would add active noise cancellation (ANC) to the "regular" AirPods for the first time. There are other upgrades for the $179 version, but after a brief demo of the ANC setup on the AirPods 4, I wager the noise-blocking tools will be the key selling point for most people.
Apple is using this version of the AirPods 4 to bridge the gap between the AirPods and the AirPods Pro. As such, this model has some features that were previously exclusive to the company's priciest buds. Those include Siri interactions that allow you to accept or reject calls with a head nod, Adaptive Audio, Voice Isolation and more — all thanks to the H2 chip that powers the Pro model. All of these will be welcome improvements for people who prefer the open fit of the AirPods 4, but the ANC is the most impressive addition in my book.
I got a brief demo of the AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation in the chaotic hands-on area at Apple Park. Honestly, it's a perfect place to test ANC. Once I had the AirPods 4 in my ears and I got some music going, I activated noise cancelling to silence the room. And it nearly did. I was blown away by how effective the ANC is on these earbuds that don't completely seal off your ears. Most open-type designs with ANC barely put a dent in ambient distractions, but do affect battery life. Here, I might as well have been in a room on my own, and I was only aware of the environmental noise when transparency mode jolted me back to reality.
Billy Steele for Engadget
Apple updated the design for the AirPods 4, calling them "the best-fitting AirPods ever." This refined shape, in addition to some software tricks and acoustic performance, helps boost passive noise isolation while keeping your ears open for that default audio mode. ANC is yet another place Apple is able to flex the muscle of the H2 chip, and the AirPods 4 performance in that regard is a testament to the component's abilities.
I will note that transparency mode on the AirPods 4 didn't sound as natural as it does on the AirPods Pro. That's mostly due to the fact that I didn't feel like the earbuds were piping in as much of my own voice as that pricier model. In fact, I felt like it hardly did so at all. An Apple rep explained that the difference could be attributed to a number of factors, including the fact that my ears weren't completely closed off.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-airpods-4-hands-on-seriously-impressive-anc-performance-211526269.html?src=rss
At its big iPhone 16 event, which also included a new Apple Watch and AirPods, the company snuck in a new MagSafe charging cable. Although there’s nothing to see here if you’re standing pat with an older handset, the new magnetic accessory will boost charging speeds for iPhone 16 owners.
9to5Macspotted that the new MagSafe charger supports maximum charging speeds of 25W when paired with an iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro and a 30W (or higher) wall charger. The OG MagSafe charger only offers speeds of up to 15W, the same max speed the new accessory will give you when used with an iPhone 15 or older. So, other than future-proofing, there’s no reason to get the new charger if you have an older handset and already own the original MagSafe charger.
The new MagSafe accessory comes in two variants: One with a 1m (3.3 ft) cable and another with a 2m (6.6 ft) cable. The shorter cable costs $39 (the same as the original), while the longer one will set you back $49.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-new-magsafe-charger-will-juice-up-the-iphone-16-faster-than-the-old-accessory-can-203435004.html?src=rss
Apple unveiled a quartet of iPhones on Monday, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. As expected, the updates are largely iterative. The standard models now have the programmable Action button from last year's Pro series, slightly improved battery life and an updated camera module that's stacked vertically instead of diagonally.
The Pro phones, meanwhile, feature bigger displays with slimmer bezels, improved battery life and a handful of camera upgrades, including a 5x optical zoom for the smaller Pro and a sharper ultrawide camera. The standard models run on Apple's new A18 silicon, while the Pro models, fittingly, use a faster and more efficient chip called the A18 Pro.
The most notable hardware change across the board might be a new touch-sensitive "Camera Control" button that makes capturing photos and video a little more DSLR-like. Mostly, though, these phones don't look to be massive departures from the iPhone 15s before them. Much of Apple's sales pitch will come down to how helpful its "Apple Intelligence" AI tools are out in the wild.
We already have a hands-on preview for the iPhone 16 Pro up on the site, and we'll have full reviews for the entire iPhone 16 lineup in the near future. But if you're thinking about pre-ordering right away, we've broken down how the new iPhone 16 Pro compares to two of its most prominent rivals in the $1,000 price bracket, the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24+, on the spec sheet. Per usual, raw specs won't tell the full story — you'd probably buy an iPhone because you want iOS and an Android phone because you prefer Android — but if you're wondering what a $1,000 smartphone gets you in 2024, here's how Apple's latest handset stacks up.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-iphone-16-pro-vs-the-competition-bigger-with-more-buttons-194622608.html?src=rss
Apple's latest attempt to slightly differentiate the iPhone 16 series is... a faux button it's calling Camera Control. But unlike last year's new button, this one doesn't actually physically depress, and uses a mix of sensors and haptic feedback to simulate the sensation of movement. And in my brief hands-on right after Apple's iPhone 16 launch event, I have to say I actually thought it was a real button.
Editors' Note: After some investigation, it turns out that at least part of the camera control is a real, depressable button. You'll feel the actual movement when you push all the way down, but the half-press is what's simulated by the iPhone 16's haptic feedback. It does a remarkably good job of simulating a two-stage button.
I got a quick look at the iPhone 16 Pro here in Apple Park, and got a deep walkthrough of the new camera control and its corresponding interface. When I first picked up the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I felt like it looked sleeker and thinner than my iPhone 15 Pro Max, which was nice. My fingers were then drawn to the new "button," which has a groove that surrounds it, which helps with identification by touch.
From the home screen, I pressed down on the camera control and the camera app quickly opened. The Apple rep guarding these phones encouraged me to push the camera control with varying pressures, as a lighter touch changed the dial that popped up onscreen next to where the button sat. I dragged my finger on this surface, and the digital knob moved along with me, although I at first found the direction of the movement slightly counterintuitive. I am, however, one of those gamers that needs to flip the direction of my controllers when looking around and navigating any environment though, so that might be just me.
There is no way to change the direction of camera control's direction when you're swiping, but you can tweak the settings to adjust pressure sensitivity. When the Apple rep asked me to push harder on the control, I was shocked at what felt like a real button moving below my fingertip. I confirmed again with the Apple rep that this was not a mechanical button that actually moves, and was met with reassuring nods. Next to me, fellow reviewer Brian Tong echoed my sentiment that the camera control feels remarkably like an actual button.
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
Aside from marveling at the physical sensation on the iPhone 16 Pro, I also took a closer look at the changes to the interface. When I first light-pushed on the camera control, a selection of options came up, allowing me to select Exposure, Zoom, Camera, Styles and Tone. Pressing harder down on each of these locked those modes and a different dial with more markings came up, and swiping on the sensor would move the wheel. In the Camera mode, I was able to quickly switch between the ultrawide, main and zoom options, similar to how the viewfinder currently operates. If you prefer to use the existing interface to switch cameras, you can still do so.
When you pick the Styles option, you'll swipe between the new Photographic Styles that Apple introduced this year. In each of these, you can tap an icon on the top right of the app to edit them with the new touchpad-ish interface. Dragging your finger around this square at the bottom will adjust color temperature and hue settings. You can also make changes to the Photographic Style in your picture after it's been taken, so you don't have to worry too much about not liking the way something looks.
Cherlynn Low for Engadget
I also got to hold the iPhone 16 Pro Max in portrait mode and take a selfie. At first, my thumb was placed too high on the device's edge, and pressing down did nothing. I shifted the phone in my hand slightly, which felt a little precarious, then found the camera control and quickly took a shot. I'm not sure of the position here just yet, but it feels like something I'll figure out in time.
Some of the camera improvements on the iPhone 16 Pro are new video editing features, but I didn't quite get to recording 4K120 footage yet. I did get to peek at the updated video-editing interface, which has a tab on the side for Audio Mix, which lets you isolate the voices of people on camera or make the shot sound like it was recorded inside a studio. It's all so very cinematic. I don't know that I believe people can shoot IMAX-friendly films on any iPhone ever, but the idea that you can is certainly intriguing.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max vs the iPhone 15 Pro Max display
Part of the reason I found the iPhone 16 Pro slightly sleeker than its predecessor is likely to do with its display. It's 6.9 inches large now, compared to its predecessor's 6.7-inch screen. However, Apple has managed to keep the handset at the same size as before, shaving the bezels down even further to do so. It's not something you'll notice without putting the two devices side by side and really scrutinizing the borders, but it makes a small difference in making this year's Pro Max feel new.
Whether that makes a meaningful difference in maneuvering the phone or reading more content at once is something I'll wait till I can scroll Reddit for hours on my couch before judging. I'd also need more time to see if Apple Intelligence and the new A18 Pro chip will improve the iPhone 16 Pro experience and battery life. I know I'm super stoked for the update to the Voice Memo app and will be loudly singing into my iPhone 16 Pro whenever I get the chance. If you want the most comprehensive review from an aspiring singer, definitely come back to check out our full impressions soon. If not, well, you have been warned.
Update, September 09 2024, 8:04PM ET: This story has been updated to clarify that there is a real button in Camera Control, and that the half-step is what's simulated by haptic feedback.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-16-pro-hands-on-how-does-a-faux-camera-control-button-feel-so-real-191406863.html?src=rss
Hey, there were good intentions! The FineWoven case was pitched, just about a year ago, as a leather substitute. Instead of the environmentally-unfriendly animal byproduct, Apple wanted us to buy cases made from 68 percent post-consumer recycled content.
The material looked a little similar to leather in press shots, but the reality was a material that was smooth and scratchy at the same time, a surface that was easily marred by the exact sorts of objects it might share space with in a bag. In short: a fantastic opportunity for third-party iPhone case manufacturers.
When leather gets old, it gets... nicer? There's a patina. When Finewoven cases got even a few days old, it got scratched and blotchy. It's not a huge surprise, then, that there are no new FineWoven colorways, or any iPhone 16-compatible FineWoven cases, period. They're gone.
It isn't the end of FineWoven completely. The material will live on in a MagSafe wallet, available in four different colors, and more Apple Watch straps. If you are looking for a new (but official) iPhone look, how about, randomly, these Beats-themed iPhone 16 cases? They're not microtwill; they're hard plastic.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-quietly-kills-its-terrible-finewoven-iphone-cases-191345213.html?src=rss
Apple has introduced a new feature called Visual Intelligence with the iPhone 16, which appears to be the company's answer to Google Lens. Unveiled during its September 2024 event, Visual Intelligence aims to help users interact with the world around them in smarter ways.
The new feature is activated by a new touch-sensitive button on the right side of the device called Camera Control. With a click, Visual Intelligence can identify objects, provide information, and offer actions based on what you point it at. For instance, aiming it at a restaurant will pull up menus, hours, or ratings, while snapping a flyer for an event can add it directly to your calendar. Point it at a dog to quickly identify the breed, or click a product to search for where you can buy it online.
Later this year, Camera Control will also serve as a gateway into third-party tools with specific domain expertise, according to Apple's press release. For instance, users will be able to leverage Google for product searches or tap into ChatGPT for problem-solving, all while maintaining control over when and how these tools are accessed and what information is shared. Apple emphasized that the feature is designed with privacy in mind, meaning the company doesn’t have access to the specifics of what users are identifying or searching.
Apple claims that Visual Intelligence maintains user privacy by processing data on the device itself, ensuring that the company does not know what you clicked on.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/apple-invents-its-own-version-of-google-lens-called-visual-intelligence-180647182.html?src=rss
Before announcing new handsets during the It's Glowtime iPhone 16 launch event in Cupertino, Apple execs talked up the company's latest suite of smartwatches. Rumors suggested we could get an Apple Watch X instead of the Apple Watch Series 10, if the company were to borrow the naming scheme from its 2017 iPhone. But that didn't happen, it's indeed the Apple Watch Series 10.
In addition to the flagship wearable, we also saw the announcement of a new finish for the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Unfortunately, after a two-year wait, the Apple Watch SE has not been updated to a third generation. Here's how you can pre-order the new Apple Watch Series 10, which should start shipping on Sept 20.
A new Apple Watch SE was not announced during the event, though it remains part of the official lineup. Last year’s Apple Watch Ultra 2 is still the company’s most recent high-end wearable, only getting an additional shiny black colorway instead of a new model.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-pre-order-the-new-apple-watch-series-10-173004323.html?src=rss
Apple gave its AirPods lineup a makeover on Monday, introducing two different pairs of wireless earbuds dubbed the AirPods 4, a minor refresh for the over-ear AirPods Max and some new features for the existing AirPods Pro. Both models of the fourth-generation AirPods look like slightly smaller versions of the third-gen model from afar, though Apple says the shape has been refined to improve overall comfort. They also feature Apple's H2 chip, smaller charging cases with USB-C and promised improvements to sound quality.
The higher-end version of the two AirPods comes with active noise cancellation (ANC), which was previously limited to the AirPods Pro and Max. Its case also supports wireless charging and has a speaker that should make the whole thing easier to find if it's ever misplaced.
The revised AirPods Max, meanwhile, now charge over USB-C and come in a few new colors. Finally, while there aren't all-new AirPods Pro, Apple says the current model will receive new software features centered on hearing health, including the ability to function as a "clinical-grade" hearing aid.
Of course, the best way to figure out how much these updates matter is to actually listen to the new headphones. Unsealed earbuds like the AirPods 4 tend to naturally let in lots of outside noise, for instance, so we'll be eager to see how well its ANC feature works over time. We have some early impressions of the new AirPods 4 up now, but we'll have full reviews in the coming days. If you're already dead-set on upgrading in some fashion, however, we've put together a quick and dirty breakdown of how the updated AirPods lineup stacks up.
AirPods 4
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
AirPods Pro (2nd gen)
AirPods Max
Pricing (MSRP)
$129
$179
$249
$549
Design type
Earbud (unsealed)
Earbud (unsealed)
In-ear (sealed)
Over-ear
Active noise canceling
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Transparency mode
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Adaptive Audio
No
Yes
Yes
No
Multipoint connectivity
No
Automatic device switching with Apple devices only
No
Automatic device switching with Apple devices only
No
Automatic device switching with Apple devices only
No
Automatic device switching with Apple devices only
Battery life (rated)
Up to 5 hours
Up to 5 hours (with ANC off; up to 4 hours with ANC enabled)
Up to 6 hours
Up to 20 hours
Total battery life with case (rated)
Up to 30 hours
Up to 30 hours
Up to 30 hours
N/A
Wired charging
USB-C (cable not included)
USB-C (cable not included)
USB-C (cable included)
5 mins in case = around 1 hour of listening time
USB-C (cable included)
5 mins charge = around 1.5 hours of listening time
Wireless charging
No
Yes
Yes
No
Water and dust resistance
IP54
IP54
IP54
No
Size and weight
1.19 x 0.72 x 0.71 inches
0.15 ounces
1.19 x 0.72 x 0.71 inches
0.15 ounces
1.22 x 0.86 x 0.94 inches
0.19 ounces
7.37 x 6.64 x 3.28 inches
13.6 ounces
Case size and weight
1.82 x 1.97 x 0.83 inches
1.14 ounces
1.82 x 1.97 x 0.83 inches
1.22 ounces
1.78 x 2.39 x 0.85 inches
1.79 ounces
4.74 ounces
Chip(s)
Apple H2
Apple H2
Apple H2
Apple U1 in charging case
Apple H1
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth codecs
AAC, SBC
AAC, SBC
AAC, SBC
AAC, SBC
Spatial audio
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Control type
Touch controls with force sensor
Touch controls with force sensor
Touch controls with force sensor and swipes
Digital Crown dial + Noise control button
Mics and sensors
Dual beamforming microphones
Inward-facing microphone
Optical in-ear sensor
Motion-detecting accelerometer
Speech-detecting accelerometer
Dual beamforming microphones
Inward-facing microphone
Optical in-ear sensor
Motion-detecting accelerometer
Speech-detecting accelerometer
Dual beamforming microphones
Inward-facing microphone
Skin-detect sensor
Motion-detecting accelerometer
Speech-detecting accelerometer
Nine microphones total: eight ANC mics, three mics for voice pickup (two shared for ANC)
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/heres-how-the-new-airpods-4-compare-to-the-rest-of-apples-headphone-lineup-190150611.html?src=rss
If you were hoping for three new Apple Watches today, you might be disappointed. However, Apple did reveal the largest Apple Watch display ever on the Series 10 wearable. The device is also thinner, delivering the bigger-but-slimmer update the company loves to give new devices. It's lighter too, so all three of the design changes should make the wearable more comfy to... wear. And of course, the new display will be a key selling point for this updated model.
That display is the standout update to me. The panel is said to be 40 percent brighter when viewed at an angles, which will make it so much easier to see Watch info at a glance. I tried on the Series 10 in the demo area here at Apple Park in both the 46mm and 42mm sizes. The larger of the two isn't that much of burden for me as I'm rocking a 45mm Series 7 on the daily. Still, the OLED display is a massive upgrade over what I'm used to, and it will offer better performance over recent Apple Watches too. I also got a look at that screen update feature, which lets you see time and other info even when the display is in ambient mode.
Billy Steele for Engadget
In addition to the new display, both it and the Apple Watch case have more rounded angles. Combine that with new finishes (hello, jet black!) and you've got the biggest update to Apple's wearable since the Series 4 in terms of design. There are also a host of new features we weren't able to test in the demo area, like the depth gauge and water temperature sensor, but we did get a brief look at the upcoming sleep apnea tool in Apple Health.
Here, Apple Watch will monitor your sleep for breathing disturbances. Like other sleep metrics, you'll see data for the current month, path six months and previous year, so you'll be aware of any changes over time. Of course, the app will alert you if you might need to see a doctor, and it will offer all of the logged data for you to share when you do. Millions of people suffer from sleep apnea, so being able to detect the signs of the condition without time-consuming sleep testing will certainly be a welcome addition to Apple's suite of health-tracking tools with Watch Series 10.
Billy Steele for Engadget
The main aesthetic update to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a new black color option. And while there's isn't a ton to say there, I will note that it looks very nice. Plus, it provides some contrast for those people who didn't care for the lighter silver option that was available before now.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-10-hands-on-bigger-lighter-and-thinner-than-ever-190000233.html?src=rss