Latest news with #AppleNews
India Today
2 days ago
- India Today
iOS 26 beta 4 drops major clue about Apple's first HomePod with a display
Apple has long been rumoured to be working on a HomePod with a screen. This highly anticipated Apple device is said to function as a smart home hub, controlling accessories, facilitating communication via FaceTime and Intercom, and even operating as a security system. While Apple has yet to officially confirm the launch of a HomePod with a display, the latest iOS 26 beta strongly hints on its existence and suggests that the long-rumoured HomePod with a built-in screen is finally on the recently released iOS 26 beta 4, introducing the new Liquid Glass aesthetic, fresh CarPlay wallpapers, and performance improvements. However, buried in the code is a particularly telling piece of language that further suggests Apple is indeed planning a new device for the future of the smart home. As reported by MacRumors' Juli Clover, one setting in the iOS 26 beta refers to HomePod behaviour when location access is turned off. The wording in this setting seems somewhat out of place, unless you're thinking about unreleased hardware. The setting reads: 'Your HomePod won't be able to show you the local weather, time, or respond to Siri requests about your area.'Now, the current HomePod models, including the standard HomePod and the HomePod mini, do not feature a screen and therefore cannot 'show' anything. They can respond via audio, but not visually. So, Apple's mention of a device with the ability to display information suggests that the company is indeed planning a future HomePod with display capabilities, something that's been rumoured for years but has yet to officially materialise. Over the past few years, several reports have circulated about a HomePod with an iPad-like interface but in a more compact, square form factor. With Siri integration at its core, the device is expected to act as a central hub for HomeKit and Matter smart home other rumors also suggest that this new HomePod with a display will offer more than just smart speaker functionality. It is expected to feature a 6-to-7-inch touchscreen and run lightweight versions of Apple's core apps such as Weather, Calendar, Apple Music, Photos, and Apple News. It would also likely provide visual feedback for Siri queries and serve as an interactive control panel for home automation, media playback, and daily there have been several reports mentioning the delay in the launch. According to reports, Apple has been pushing back the release of HomePod with display multiple times, primarily due to challenges with the Apple Intelligence platform and Siri's readiness to support a visual interface effectively. These software-related setbacks have reportedly shifted the expected launch from the originally speculated 2025 timeline to a more likely window in early 2026.- Ends
Phone Arena
2 days ago
- Phone Arena
Apple quietly revives controversial news summaries in iOS 26 beta 4
iOS 26 Notification summaries for news are back in the fourth beta of iOS 26 . | Images credit — PhoneArena Receive the latest iOS news Subscribe By subscribing you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy The past mistakes were notable. In late 2024, the BBC flagged several of Apple's summaries for misrepresenting headlines, which all turned out to be inaccurate due to the system combining unrelated articles or removing important context. So far, there's no confirmation that Apple has retrained the summarization system or introduced new safeguards. But the reappearance of the feature suggests Apple wants to give it another chance, perhaps with more transparency about the risks. Alongside the return of headline summarization, iOS 26 beta 4 also introduces a few other small changes. The Liquid Glass interface continues to evolve, with subtle changes to translucency. A new Dynamic wallpaper has also been added, which gradually shifts color based on the time of day. And Call Screening now includes an option to silence unknown callers, which had briefly disappeared in earlier betas. Recommended Stories But Apple isn't pretending the issues are fixed. A red warning under the News & Entertainment option reads: "Summarization may change the meaning of the original headlines. Verify information." That's a strong signal that Apple is aware of past problems and isn't ready to guarantee that the feature works as past mistakes were notable. In late 2024, the BBC flagged several of Apple's summaries for misrepresenting headlines, which all turned out to be inaccurate due to the system combining unrelated articles or removing important far, there's no confirmation that Apple has retrained the summarization system or introduced new safeguards. But the reappearance of the feature suggests Apple wants to give it another chance, perhaps with more transparency about the the return of headline summarization,beta 4 also introduces a few other small changes. The Liquid Glass interface continues to evolve, with subtle changes to translucency. A new Dynamic wallpaper has also been added, which gradually shifts color based on the time of day. And Call Screening now includes an option to silence unknown callers, which had briefly disappeared in earlier Apple Intelligence continues to expand across the OS, features like notification summaries will need to strike a careful balance between convenience and accuracy — even while it still considered under beta, and especially when dealing with real-world news. Get a Motorola Razr 2025 for just $199.99! Switch to a 2-month Total 5G or 5G+ plan with Total Wireless and score this foldable deal. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer After being pulled earlier this year, Apple's notification summaries for news apps are back in the latest iOS 26 developer beta, which just launched today. However, questions remain about how reliable the feature will be this time iOS 18 , Apple introduced notification summaries that used AI to condense multiple alerts into one. While that worked well for app updates and social messages, problems started when the system tried to summarize breaking news headlines. Some notifications changed the context entirely, resulting in major factual errors. After backlash from publishers, Apple quietly removed the feature from news apps in inbeta 4, the feature is returning. After updating, developers are prompted to choose which types of alerts they want summarized. One of the new categories is "News & Entertainment," which now includes summaries from popular news apps.
CNET
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Apple's Emoji Game for News Plus Subscribers Could Be Your Latest Puzzle Obsession
Do we 💖 this? Just in time for World Emoji Day, Apple News Plus has launched Emoji Game in another indication that we will never have enough digital toys to entertain and divert us. In the new game -- available in English for News Plus subscribers in the US and Canada -- players will try to fill in the blanks of three short phrases using a selection of emoji and genmoji using as few moves as possible. For example, if the phrase is "- - - - - of my - - - ("Apple of my eye"), then you would use the apple and eyes emoji to fill in those blanked-out words. There will be clues for each of the three phrases, but if the player chooses to reveal any of the clues, that will count as a move. Game Center leaderboards will track results, and players can share their accomplishments with friends and family on messages, email and social media. "Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that's approachable and fun," said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News in a press release. Emoji Game will appear daily in the Puzzles section of the Apple News app, and Apple News+ subscribers can also play the puzzle in the Apple Games app, which will launch later this year and will host Emoji Game as well as crossword, crossword mini, Quartiles, and sudoku. Only hours after the announcement, the r/apple Subreddit was already popping with reactions: "I wish we had that in my country. I love the nyt games Id like to try apple ones" "I just tried it, it's pretty fun" "Looks like fun!" For now the game is available in English for Apple News Plus subscribers in the U.S. and Canada and for iPhone, iPad and Mac running iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4 or later.
Digital Trends
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Apple News+ launches a new Worldle competetor using emojis
Apple News+ has just rolled out a new puzzle game to test your critical thinking skills, but with a unique twist that sets it apart from games like Wordle. Emoji Game is out now for Apple News+ subscribers, which tasks players with decoding a phrase based on a series of emojis. Starting today, July 17, anyone with an Apple News+ subscription will find Emjoi Game added to the suite of other word and puzzle games on the service. Games will feature three phrases that players will need to decode based on a selection of emojis that represent each part of the phrase by dragging them to the correct spots to fill in the blanks. For example, you might be given the beginning of a word as PINE and the emoji of an apple. By dragging the apple into the space, you create PINEAPPLE. You only have six turns to solve the puzzle, but you can also use a built-in hint feature if you're feeling stuck. Recommended Videos Besides just the standard emojis you will already be familiar with, Apple News+ is integrating Genmoji to create new and dynamic emojis to add more variety and complexity to the game. Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News, says, 'Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that's approachable and fun.' After the phenomenon that was, and still is, Wordle, many other competitors have attempted to recapture that magic to varying degrees of success. Emoji Game has all the same trappings of that hit game, including stats, daily puzzles, and ways to compete with friends, but is doing something unique by utilizing emojis. This will certainly be a new way to stretch your brain muscles, but only time will tell if it manages to catch on as well as Wordle. Emoji Game joins Apple News+'s own daily crossword, Sudoku, and Quartiles games, as well as access to content from over 400 top publications. Emoji Game is available now on iOS inside the Apple News+ app for subscribers, with new puzzles added each day so you can add to your daily routine alongside Connections, Strands, and the other NTY word games.
Tom's Guide
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Apple just launched its answer to Wordle — this could be your new daily obsession
Wordle is one of the biggest things on the internet. Every day, millions of players flock to the NYT to solve the word puzzle, and Apple wants a piece of that daily attention. To combat Wordle, Apple has launched Emoji Game, a daily word puzzle that involves slotting emoji into a puzzle to fill the blanks in various words and phrases. 'Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that's approachable and fun,' said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News in a press release. It's not just the standard emoji, as Apple is also including Genmoji, created using Apple Intelligence, into the game. This enables the company to create puzzles that are beyond the reach of the existing emoji library. Like Wordle, Apple News+ members go on each day to play the game. I'm not an Apple News+ subscriber, and I tested the game today, so it appears Apple is offering a sample of the game to get people hooked (or, like Wordle, you can play the game daily, but the archives are limited to News+ members). Considering other games, such as the mini crossword, don't let you play them without a subscription, I'm thinking it's just that Apple is letting the first one out for free. Either way, you must have iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or macOS Sequoia 15.4 or later if you want to play the game. I do think it's worth updating for, as I enjoyed playing it today and might consider signing up for Apple News+ to continue. In the future, Apple says Apple News+ subscribers will also be able to access Emoji Game this fall through the Apple Games app, which is a sensible place for it to live. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Apple News+ is free for the first month for new subscribers, and then $12.99 per month thereafter. It offers a lot, though, with magazines, news articles and the games we mentioned earlier. You can sign up and find Emoji Game on the Apple News+ website or through the app.
