CarPlay Ultra Is Finally Here

May 15, 2025
Something that Apple initially demoed in 2022 has finally made its way in 2025, and I think it looks really cool. The biggest question I had about this next-gen CarPlay in 2022 was whether the carmakers would be on board. Will they want another third party (even one as great as Apple) to come in and essentially take over the UI on the car? This wasn't as simple as taking over the UI on the secondary screen or the centre console on the car, but the whole UI including the clusters on the dashboard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQlLjVraA9g I just watched this almost…

Apple Unveils New Accessibility Features Coming to Its Platforms

May 13, 2025
Set aside the issues about Apple Intelligence or the ongoing antitrust battles. These kind of updates stand out because they go beyond the bare minimum. They’re the kind of features you build when you truly care about creating meaningful and inclusive experiences for everyone, not just checking a box that satisfies "accessibility". The Whole list of features are here, my single favourite one is the new Braille experience, Apple says: Braille Access is an all-new experience that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro into a full-featured braille note taker that’s deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. With a…

An Opportunity for Apple to Reset Their Developer Relationships

May 13, 2025
David Smith, writing on his blog: WWDC is just four weeks away. I’ve had the privilege of attending every WWDC since 2009, and I suspect this year will feel very different from others. This is an opportunity for Apple to reset their developer relationships and make announcements that clearly show a desire for our mutual benefit. I hope to shelve this distraction and get back to work, building wonderful products for this wonderful platform. We’ll see if Apple agrees. Enough said, but the whole article encapsulates how developers feel about this ordeal. I am linking it again and the full…

The Future of Gaming: A PlayStation Perspective on Xbox’s Relevance

May 12, 2025
Alexander Cope, writing for Windows Central: The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, Minecraft, and Forza Horizon 5, some of Xbox Series X|S's most popular titles, have been topping the sales charts on its competitor, the PlayStation 5. This news comes from Sony itself, which has announced that the top three best-selling games for the PlayStation 5 during April were Oblivion Remastered at No.1, Minecraft at No.2, and Forza Horizon 5 at No.3 in the US. Meanwhile, in Europe, Forza Horizon 5 is at No.1, Oblivion Remastered is at No.2, and Minecraft is at No.3 on the PlayStation 5 games sales chart. I'm not surprised…

WWDC 2025 and the Road to Rebuilding Trust

May 9, 2025
Every year before WWDC, there's a bit of excitement, and I personally look forward to the new software updates that will come to Apple devices in the next year. There's always a lot of speculation about what might come and how it will be presented. The WWDC 2025 keynote is exactly a month from today, and my excitement towards this day and the next year of Apple's software release is marred by what has been happening lately. Rumoured Design Changes This year, the main rumour is that all of Apple's operating systems will be getting a new design. This new…

Battery Health on iPhones : My Experience with the iPhone 16 Pro Max

May 8, 2025
Ever since Apple started showing battery health on iPhones, people have been obsessed with tracking this number. I didn't really care about the health of my batteries but since the iPhone 14, I have been keeping an eye on this, although not obsessively. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, which I've been using since launch day, has easily been the healthiest battery I have. I do not know if this is purely based on luck or if Apple made improvements to the battery on the iPhone 16 Pro Max to enhance battery longevity or health. If you look online, people love…

Thoughts on the Backbone Pro Controller

May 6, 2025
I have a Backbone game controller that I sometimes use with my iPhone. I have the second-gen version of their PlayStation edition USB-C controller that works okay, but I am never really satisfied with it.I’ve played a bit of Dead Cells, and it’s a much better experience than using touch controls for a fast-paced game. I also tried playing Cyberpunk 2077 via PS Remote Play. While I didn’t do any main or side missions—preferring to experience those on my big TV rather than a 6.9” iPhone—I did use the Backbone for grinding towards the platinum trophy. It worked okay for…

Rumour : Apple to Introduce Staggered iPhone Release Schedule Starting in 2026

May 3, 2025
Juli Clover, writing for MacRumors based on a report from The Information: Starting in 2026, Apple plans to change the release cycle for its flagship iPhone lineup, according to The Information. Apple will release the more expensive ‌iPhone‌ 18 Pro models in the fall, delaying the release of the standard ‌iPhone‌ 18 until the spring. Shifting the release schedule will make it easier for Apple to manage an ‌iPhone‌ lineup that has six devices instead of five, as The Information suggests that a staggered launch would cut down on the number of manufacturing workers that Apple needs to employ at one…

Xbox Consoles and Games are Going Up in Price

May 2, 2025
Rebekah Valentine writing for IGN: In an announcement today, the company said it will be raising prices on Xbox consoles, controllers, headsets, and some games. The price hike for consoles and accessories kicks in today, May 1, and while game prices will stay the same for now, we should expect to see Xbox charging $79.99 for new, first-party games around the holiday season. Going forward, here are the expected prices on various Xbox consoles and accessories in the U.S.: Xbox Series S 512 - $379.99 (up from $299.99) Xbox Series S 1TB - $429.99 (up from $349.99) Xbox Series X Digital…