This Apple News+ word game is better than Wordle, Connections, and Strands
Macworld Back when News+ launched in 2019, the value was somewhat debatable. While the $9.99 service offered access to hundreds of magazines as well as “premium online publications,” it paled in comparison to the New York Times’ All-Access subscription’s array of content, including recipes, sports, podcasts, and, most importantly, games. Over time, that began to change. iOS 16.5 added a dedicated Sports tab for scores, standings, and related coverage, and later that year, Apple began offering daily crossword and crossword mini puzzles with iOS 17, and introduced News+ Food with restaurant reviews and recipes earlier this year. In late 2023, Apple hiked the price from $9.99 to $12.99 a year, but it’s still a better value than when it launched for 30 percent less. It’s a little Google News, a little Zinio, and a little ESPN all rolled into one. I’m an Apple One subscriber, but even if I dropped that, I’d still subscribe to Apple News+. But the reason isn’t the news. It’s the games. Apple News+ includes five puzzles that subscribers can play each day: Crossword and Crossword Mini, Quartiles, Sudoku, and Emoji Game. The crosswords and sudoku games are self-explanatory, and Quartiles is a fun Boggle-esque word game that challenges you to create compound words from a set of 20 fragments. Apple’s Emoji Game is a perfect mix of fun, challenging, and addicting.Apple They’re all fun, but ever since Emoji Game arrived on July 17 to mark World Emoji Day, I’ve been hooked. It’s as addictive as Wordle, more challenging than Strands, and as clever as Connections. The concept is simple. Each day, there are three short phrases with blanks corresponding to an emoji-based word. Each phrase has a clue that is only partially revealed, so the challenge is two-fold: figure out the phrase with only a part of a clue, and then figure out which emoji sequence fills in the missing letter. A perfect score is 6, and each wrong answer or clue reveal adds a point to the score. Some emoji clues replace full words, others are parts of words or span two words. For example, Wednesday’s first puzzle showed “Intelligent birds…” under a 7-letter word broken down into one three-word and one four-word blank. Tapping the clue revealed “Intelligent birds in the crow family,” and the answers were MAG (an emoji of an open magazine) and PIES (two pie emojis). It’s harder than it looks and requires a specific way of reasoning to figure out. Sometimes you need to figure out the phrase first, other times, recognizing one of the emoji clues will help make sense of a phrase. It’s fun, challenging, and clever, and only takes a couple of games to get completely hooked. It’s the first thing I do in the morning now, even before Wordle and Connections. You’ll need to be an Apple News+ subscriber to play ($12.99 per month, free one-month trial), however, and it’s not so easy to find if you haven’t played before. To get to the games tab on an iPhone, launch the News app, then tap the search icon at the bottom right of the menu bar, and then navigate to Puzzles. There you’ll find the Emoji Game with today’s games spotlighted along with a full archive going back to July. If you can’t stop playing, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

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Dynamic Island Could Be Coming on the iPhone 17e
Digital Chat Station, a leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, reports that the iPhone 17e could be receiving the Dynamic Island feature. Information was shared in the comments section of a post that talks about the company’s plan to give the iPhone 18 Pro a variable-aperture lens system. Dynamic Island is an interactive […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iPhone 18 Pro Could Be Receiving A Variable Aperture Camera
A Chinese leaker with alleged Apple supply chain-sourced information reveals that the iPhone 18 models are anticipated to have lens with variable aperture. Digital Chat Station, an account on Weibo, reports that the variable-aperture system will be seen on the 48MP Fusion camera for both models of the iPhone 18 Pro. This would be a […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Ghost Posts Coming To Threads App
Threads will be receiving support for disappearing posts called Ghost posts, as recently announced by Meta. These pieces of text will be archived automatically after 24 hours, and any replies from the ghost post will be sent to the user’s inbox as direct messages. They appear in the form of chat bubbles with a background […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Apple releases Pico-Banana-400K dataset to AI research community
If nothing else, Apple is participating in the artificial intelligence community. On Wednesday, the company released Pico-Banana-400K, a highly curated 400,000-image research dataset which was built using Google’s Gemini-2.5 models. The research team, which published a study entitled “Pico-Banana-400K: A Large-Scale Dataset for Text-Guided Image Editing,” released the full 400,000-image dataset under a non-commercial research […] Source

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Apple distributes iOS 26.1 Release Candidate to both the developer and public beta tester communities
Apple’s first major update to iOS 26 is en route in the form of iOS 26.1, and on October 28th, the Release Candidate went out the door to the developer community with a public release expected sometime next week. Here’s what can be expected from the update at this point: The betas can be installed […] Source

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Macworld Podcast: iPhone 18 and what we know (so far)
Macworld Apple has big plans for the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026. We discuss the latest reports in this episode of the Macworld Podcast. This is episode 957 with Michael Simon, Jason Cross,  and Roman Loyola.  Watch episode 957 on YouTube Listen to episode 957 on Apple Podcasts

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Apple eases App Store review rules for developers
Developers now get more flexibility with the App Store review process, as they can upload new materials while an app is still under review. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Sony noise-cancelling headphones that normally cost $449.99 just marked down to $329.99
Macworld TL;DR: Get a pair of Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Headphones on sale for $329.99 (reg. $449.99). Good headphones should sound clear, feel comfortable, and block distractions without constant adjustment. These Sony WH-1000XM6 hit that balance with powerful active noise canceling, clear audio, and long battery life, and you can pick up a pair for only $329.99 (reg. $449.99). These over-ear headphones use Sony’s QN3 processor to adapt to your environment in real time, reducing airplane noise, traffic, and background chatter. If you need to hear what’s happening around you, you can switch to Ambient Sound mode or lower the volume automatically by speaking. Audio quality is detailed and balanced, with support for high-resolution playback and LDAC for wireless streaming. Sony’s DSEE Extreme processing restores clarity in compressed tracks, and the beamforming microphones make calls sound clean even in busy spaces. The design is comfortable with soft ear cushions, an adjustable headband, and a foldable frame for travel. Battery life lasts up to 30 hours with noise canceling on, and a three-minute charge adds hours of playback. This open-box model comes verified in new condition with all accessories and a one-year warranty. Right now, it’s only $329.99 to get a pair of Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Headphones, but it won’t stay that way. Sony WH-1000XM6 Best Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones (Open Box)See Deal StackSocial prices subject to change.

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The AirPods Max USB-C is $49 Off
Amazon has the AirPods Max marked $49 off. If you are looking for over-ear headphones to give you an immersive listening experience and give you your money’s worth, look no further. The AirPods Max features personalized spatial audio and dynamic head tracking, and is powered by the H1 chip and has a custom acoustic design […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Swift SDK Coming To Android
A sneak peek for the release of Swift SDK for Android was uploaded this week. SDK allows android apps to be developed in Swift with the use of tooling that are officially supported. It aids developers in building Android apps using Swift, making coding on Android and iOS easier with official toolings. The Swift Programming […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Two Day Developer Program by Apple Held During the M5 Vision Pro Launch Week
The M5 Vision Pro launch week was used by Apple to have a program called “Meet with Apple” for developers where they focus on developing interactive apps and immersive media for the visionOS 26. Developers were invited by Apple to Cupertino where their Developer Center is located. The company held lectures on how to use […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Vapor Chamber May Be Coming To The M6 iPad Pro for Improved Cooling Performance
Mark Gurman from Bloomberg reports that they plan to give the iPad Pro a vapor chamber similar to the iPhone 17. Since the devices are getting powerful chips, they will need a stronger system to help cool down the iPad Pro. This could come as early as the next generation for the iPad Pro, the […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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How to use Reduce Interruptions on iOS 26 and what it does
The Reduce Interruptions Focus Mode aims to use Apple Intelligence to prioritize notifications to cut them down, yet not have you miss anything important. Here's how to use it.The Reduce Notifications Focus ModeA strength of Apple Intelligence is that rather than some separate ChatGPT-like app, its features are woven into all aspects of the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. But that also makes it confusing when Apple promotes some feature but doesn't say where it fits."For example," said Craig Federighi at the WWDC 2024 launch, "your iPhone can prioritize your notifications to minimize unnecessary distractions while ensuring you don't miss something important." Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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TerraMaster D9-320 review: Nine drives, one Mac
If you have a lot of hard drives to connect to your Mac, the TerraMaster D9-320 will get you there, with good price to performance.TerraMaster D9-320Cloud storage has done something funny to local storage. All the tech giants are happy to sell you Internet based storage relatively inexpensively, which has led to Apple's hardware having smaller internal storage now than it did in the shift to SSD as a main storage medium about a decade ago.Even now, though, some jobs just need dozens of terabytes accessible at decent speeds, cost-effectively. There is exactly one Mac tower these days that can hold hard drives internally, and doing it with the Mac Pro is not easy like it was with the first five Intel Mac Pro towers, nor is it inexpensive. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple adds new App Store submission and marketing features, will phase out promo codes in 2026
Apple is rolling out a round of enhancements that will make it easier for developers to submit, manage, and market their apps on the App Store. Here’s what’s new. more…

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Crazy price drop: Upgrade to Windows 11 Pro for just $9.97
Why pay list price for Microsoft software? This Windows 11 sale allows you to upgrade your PC to Windows 11 Pro for less than $10. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Emma Thompson stars in ‘Down Cemetery Road,’ a thrilling ‘Slow Horses’ spin-off on Apple TV
In "Down Cemetery Road," Apple TV's new thriller series, Zoë and Sarah suddenly find themselves in a complex conspiracy that reveals… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple hits $4 trillion market valuation, joins the ranks of Nvidia and Microsoft
Because $4 trillion is a lot of money. Per MacRumors, Apple’s market capitalization briefly eclipsed $4 trillion just after opening on Tuesday, making it the third public company to reach this goal. Nvidia reached the $4 trillion mark back in July and is heading towards $5, while Microsoft also hit $4 trillion that same month […] Source

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Instagram to let select users tune the Reels algorithm in new test
Instagram is rolling out a new test that lets select users fine-tune what they’d like to see in their Reels and Explore feeds. Here’s what it looks like. more…

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Apple shares hit new all-time intraday and closing highs
In Nasdaq trading today, shares of Apple Inc. (AAPL) rose $3.24, or 1.25%, to $262.82, a new all-time closing high. Apple’s intraday high… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Track your online orders the easy way — in your iPhone’s Wallet app
You can use the built-in iPhone Wallet app for some basic order tracking with classic Apple ease-of-use. No fiddling with tracking numbers. (via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

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Apple stock gets $320 target from Bank of America ahead of Q4 earnings
In an new investor note, Bank of America maintained its “Buy” rating on Apple and raised its price target, citing strong iPhone 17 sales and long-term AI potential. Here are the details. more…

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iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 16 Pro: Here’s everything new
Apple’s flagship iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max seem to be proving popular in early sales, but how do they stack up in terms of new features? Here’s everything new iPhone 17 Pro offers compared to last year’s 16 Pro. more…

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Apple could solve my biggest problem with the iPad mini
The iPad mini has always been an awkward member of the iPad family. Its form factor and price have made it hard to recommend. It’s also gone through periods of apparent neglect by Apple. In 2021, however, the iPad mini entered a new era with a fresh design and a bigger 8.3-inch screen. Now, it looks like the iPad mini is about to enter its next era … and Apple could fix its biggest problem. more…

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9to5Mac Daily: October 29, 2025 – Apple Wallet IDs, OLED rumors
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card. more…

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M5 MacBook Pro’s most under-the-radar change performs better than Apple said
The new M5 MacBook Pro is pretty light on changes beyond the chip, but one of its only other new features—faster SSD performance—seems to be a bigger upgrade than Apple let on. more…

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What can I plug into my iPhone 17 USB-C port?
iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air feature a USB-C port at the bottom of the phone. If you are upgrading from an older phone, this means your old Lightning accessories won’t work anymore. But the USB-C port is much more capable overall. With a USB-C cable and new charger, you can charge your iPhone from zero to 100% faster than ever before. You can also connect external displays, external storage, camera peripherals and more. Here’s what you can do with your new iPhone and its shiny new port … more…

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Apple likely to provide favorable guide for holiday quarter growth – Gene Munster
Apple's stock is poised for a lift as longtime Apple analyst Gene Munster anticipates a robust December quarter guide that could underscore… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Apple fends off part of AirPods Pro defect lawsuit, judge narrows scope
Apple dodged part of a class-action lawsuit accusing it of hiding sound issues in the first AirPods Pro, but the fight over crackling audio isn't over yet.Apple deals with an AirPods Pro lawsuitOn October 29, U.S. District Judge Noel Wise in San Jose agreed with Apple on some claims and threw out others. The judge said the people suing didn't give enough detail to back up certain parts of their case.Judge Wise dropped the claim that Apple made unfair profits but let the rest of the case move forward. Customers can still argue that Apple kept quiet about sound issues in the first AirPods Pro. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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