Releases · Top stories
iOS 27 Introduces Natural Language Event Creation to Apple Calendar App
Apple's Calendar app in iOS 27 will include natural language support for creating and editing events. This feature allows users to type event details conversationally, and the app will automatically parse information like time, location, and invitees, improving event creation efficiency.
Ubisoft Greenlights New Far Cry Game Codenamed Kodiak, Cancels Another
Ubisoft has approved a new Far Cry game, codenamed Kodiak, which will be an open-world FPS, while simultaneously canceling another Far Cry title, codenamed Maverick, that was rumored to be an extraction shooter. This development indicates a shift in focus for the franchise's upcoming releases, with Kodiak expected to be ambitious and several years away.
Aviate Flight Tracking App Launches on Android After Alpha Testing
Aviate, a new flight tracking application, is now available on the Google Play Store for Android users after a limited alpha testing phase. The app aims to provide a comprehensive flight tracking experience, similar to the iOS-exclusive Flighty, with a focus on Android's Material 3 Expressive design principles.
Nike and Hyperice Release Hyperslide Recovery Footwear with Heat and Vibration
Nike and Hyperice have launched the Air Zoom Hyperslide, a new recovery slide that provides heat and vibration to the feet. This product is designed to aid post-workout recovery and will be available for purchase on September 29.
Haex is an upcoming co-op open-world adventure game featuring player-shaped worlds
Dead Astronauts, a studio co-founded by former Ubisoft Massive developer Tobias Nyman, is developing Haex, an online co-operative open-world adventure game. The game features procedurally generated worlds that players can transform using "Seeds," which alter topography, vegetation, and narrative elements.
Lidl Germany Integrates European Payment Method Wero into Online Shop
Lidl has integrated Wero, a new European payment method from the European Payments Initiative (EPI), into its German online shop, Lidl.de. This makes Lidl the first food retailer in Germany to offer Wero, providing customers with direct, real-time account-to-account payments.
Reverse Minesweeper Introduces New Difficulty Levels Based on Deduction Techniques
Reverse Minesweeper has implemented new difficulty settings, ranging from Easy to Insane, which are determined by the complexity of the logical deduction techniques required to solve each grid. This system ensures that puzzles are categorized based on the specific reasoning methods a player must employ, such as subset comparisons or hypothetical 'what-if' scenarios.
W4ME Station 1.0.0 enables WASM-4 games on Java ME phones
W4ME Station 1.0.0 has been released, allowing WebAssembly (WASM-4) games to run on older Java ME-compatible feature phones, including those from the mid-2000s. This release makes modern retro-style games accessible on legacy mobile hardware without modification.
SpinWin macOS Menu Bar App Visually Rotates Windows Using ScreenCaptureKit
SpinWin is a new macOS menu bar utility that visually rotates any selected window by hiding the original and displaying a rotated live capture in an overlay. This tool provides a visual effect for window manipulation, which could be useful for specific presentation or aesthetic purposes.
YouTube introduces new thumbnail creation tools for Shorts, including custom uploads and AI generation
YouTube has rolled out new features for creators to manage thumbnails on Shorts, including the ability for YouTube Partner Program members to upload custom images and for all desktop users to select from suggested frames. Additionally, YouTube's internal AI tool, Ask Studio, can now generate thumbnails based on video themes and creator style. These updates aim to provide more control and automation for thumbnail creation on the platform.
Game Compressor Utility Updated to Leverage Windows LZX Compression for Game Storage Savings
The Game Compressor utility has been updated to help users save disk space by transparently compressing installed games using Windows' built-in LZX compression. This tool addresses the rising cost of SSDs and the increasing size of game installations, offering a way to fit more games on existing storage.
New Indie Game Releases Include Dinoblade, a Spinosaurus Action RPG
This week's indie game roundup highlights new releases, including "Dinoblade," an action RPG where players control a sword-wielding Spinosaurus. The article also notes the Video Game History Foundation's release of E3 archival materials, including footage of the Sega Saturn and original PlayStation reveals.
Tapbots releases Pastebot 3 for Mac with new organization and automation features
Tapbots has launched Pastebot 3, a significant update to its Mac clipboard manager, nearly ten years after its predecessor. The new version introduces improved organization tools like Custom and Smart Pastebins, along with enhanced automation capabilities through filters and stack creation, requiring macOS 26 Tahoe or later.
Max Studio Tools Releases C++ DSP Modules for Max/MSP and Ableton Live
Max Studio Tools has released a suite of C++ DSP externals for Max/MSP and Ableton Live, offering emulations of studio equalizers and compressors. This release provides audio developers and producers with new tools for digital audio processing within these platforms.
Pebblebee releases new battery-free QR code ID tags for bags and pets
Pebblebee has launched two new battery-free ID tags, the "Link Bag Tag" and "Collar ID," which use QR codes to help recover lost items and pets. These tags function as alternatives or companions to active trackers, providing a communication method between finders and owners.
watchOS 27 Introduces Proactive Battery Extension Notifications to Improve Apple Watch Battery Life
watchOS 27 will include a new feature called 'proactive battery extension notifications' that automatically disables unused features to conserve battery life. This update aims to extend the operational time of Apple Watch devices by managing background processes associated with features like gestures and Siri's Raise to Speak.
New Avatar animated series, Seven Havens, to premiere October 9 on Paramount+
The animated series "Avatar: Seven Havens" will premiere on October 9 via Paramount+, set after the events of "The Legend of Korra." The series introduces a new Earthbender Avatar, Pavi, in a post-apocalyptic world where Avatar Korra is blamed for a past calamity.
Lola launches Miffy-themed digital camera with 8MP photos and 4K video
Lola released a new digital camera, the Lola x Miffy, which is a redesign of its compact camera featuring Miffy cartoon branding. This release caters to a growing consumer interest in retro-themed single-purpose gadgets.
EA announces FC 27 with a $149.99 Ultimate Plus Edition, drawing player criticism
EA has announced FC 27, the latest installment in its annual soccer franchise, which includes a $149.99 Ultimate Plus Edition. This pricing has generated significant backlash from players, who compare it unfavorably to other game releases and question the value of annual updates. The controversy highlights ongoing player concerns about the pricing and value proposition of yearly sports game releases.
Amazon Luna to launch new Batman game, "Batman: Caped Crusader - Chronicles," on July 31
Amazon Luna will release "Batman: Caped Crusader - Chronicles" on July 31, a co-op detective game tied to the second season of the Prime Video animated series. This launch coincides with Luna game streaming integration into the Prime Video app on Fire TV devices in the UK and US, allowing direct access to the game from the streaming service.
Half-Life 2 now runs natively on HaikuOS, with DisplayPort support in development
The classic game Half-Life 2 can now run natively on HaikuOS, compiled from the Source Engine, with users reporting good performance on compatible hardware. This development enhances HaikuOS's appeal as a usable operating system, and DisplayPort support is also nearing release.
Bad Magpie Game Trailer Reveals Melancholy Narrative and Gameplay Focus
Milktooth Games released a debut trailer for its upcoming game, Bad Magpie, which features a wounded corvid protagonist and a narrative exploring themes of abandonment and distraction. The game is designed as a collectathon, with gameplay involving causing havoc and collecting shiny objects.
Jotai v2.20 Released with Reworked Internal Store Building Blocks for Performance
Jotai, a React state management library, released version 2.20.0, which focuses on improving performance in high-throughput scenarios by reworking its internal store building blocks. This update addresses a performance regression introduced in earlier versions and prepares the library for a future v3 release.
Opera One browser adds optional vertical tabs and expanded Google Lens integration
Opera One has introduced optional vertical tabs, allowing users to view full tab titles in a resizable side panel. The browser also expanded its Google Lens integration, enabling image searches directly from the homepage search bar and from local files or clipboard content.
Google expands Gemini for Home context memory to 15 minutes, rolls out Nest Cam updates
Google has updated Gemini for Home to include a 15-minute conversational memory and brought Gemini Live to additional devices. The Google Home app also received automation and smart lock improvements, alongside bug fixes and a new Nest Camera software update for improved connectivity and setup.
Galaxy Z Flip 8 expands cover screen app support and functionality
The Galaxy Z Flip 8 introduces an expanded cover screen app drawer and a "Labs" section, officially supporting 50 applications, alongside a redesigned homescreen. This update addresses previous limitations of the cover display, making it more functional for users who desire full app access.
Qobuz music player updated with real-time lyrics, redesigned interface, and Siri integration
Qobuz updated its music player, adding real-time lyrics, a redesigned interface, an "Explore" section, and Siri integration for iOS and Android users. These changes introduce features common in other streaming services and enhance content discovery and control within the application.
Palmier Pro, an open-source macOS video editor with AI integration, is now available
Palmier Pro, a new open-source video editor for macOS 26 (Tahoe) on Apple Silicon, has been released. It integrates AI features for video and image generation directly within the timeline, aiming to combine traditional editing with AI workflows.
New Resident Evil movie trailer released, featuring game references and September 18 release date
A new trailer for the upcoming Resident Evil movie, directed by Zach Cregger, has been released, showcasing an original story with nods to the video games. The film is set to premiere on September 18. This release provides fans with a further look at the movie's tone and its connection to the game series.
Apple TV+ announces new dating documentary series 'The Last Person on Earth'
Apple TV+ is launching "The Last Person on Earth," an 8-part dating documentary series featuring couples therapist Esther Perel. This marks Apple TV+'s first entry into the dating show genre, expanding its content beyond its usual sci-fi, comedy, and thriller offerings.
MeBeMe App Launches to Counter Doomscrolling with Identity-Based Missions
MeBeMe, a new iOS app, has launched to help users reduce doomscrolling by providing small, identity-aligned tasks. The app aims to encourage real-world habits by nudging users towards meaningful actions rather than blocking access to other apps.
Amazon integrates Luna cloud gaming into Prime Video app, eyes console-free future
Amazon is integrating its Luna cloud gaming service directly into the Prime Video app on Fire TVs in the US and UK. Jeff Gattis, Amazon's head of gaming, predicts that rising hardware costs will lead more players to adopt cloud gaming over dedicated consoles, despite past failures in the cloud gaming market.
Friday Sundae develops "There Are No Ghosts at the Grand," a British ghost story video game
Independent developer Friday Sundae is creating "There Are No Ghosts at the Grand," a video game blending renovation mechanics with a British ghost story narrative. The game features a young American renovating a dilapidated hotel, encountering talking tools, local slang, musical numbers, and ghosts, drawing inspiration from UK stately homes and culture.
SmartGym iPhone app update adds inline logging, new keyboard, and redesigned Smart Action Button
SmartGym updated its iPhone application to include an inline logging interface, a new keyboard for exercise input, and an improved Smart Action Button. These changes aim to streamline the process of adjusting and logging workout sets directly within the app.
Ultrahuman updates app with simplified layout, on-device analysis, and Ultrasphere AI
Ultrahuman has released a major update to its app, codenamed Emerald, which simplifies the user interface and moves all data analysis to on-device processing. The update also introduces Ultrasphere, an AI-powered "decision engine" that provides health recommendations based on user vital signs and contextual data.
Google Wallet for Android in US adds built-in order tracking via Gmail
Google Wallet for Android users in the US now features built-in order tracking, displaying detailed receipts, tracking numbers, and shipping statuses for online purchases. This integration, powered by Gmail, centralizes purchase information directly within the Wallet app, simplifying management of online orders.
Apple Updates macOS 28 Guidance for Direct Encrypted HFS+ to APFS Conversion
Apple revised its macOS 28 migration guidance, now allowing direct conversion of encrypted HFS+ volumes to encrypted APFS without prior decryption. This change simplifies the upgrade process for users with encrypted legacy Mac-formatted drives, removing a previously required step.
Django 6.1 Release Candidate 1 Now Available for Testing
Django 6.1 Release Candidate 1 is now available, introducing new features and usability improvements. This release marks the string freeze and is the final opportunity for community testing before the planned August 5 final release.
Mobile game Poinpy, previously Netflix exclusive, now free on iOS and Android
Poinpy, a mobile game previously exclusive to Netflix, is now available for free on iOS and Android after being unavailable for over a year. This re-release makes the roguelite platformer accessible to a wider audience without cost or microtransactions.
Google integrates enhanced iPhone to Android data transfer into Android 17
Google introduced a new migration experience built into Android 17, enabling wireless transfer of more data types from iPhones without needing a separate app. This feature simplifies the process for users switching from iOS to Android, aiming to lower ecosystem barriers.