Technology News

Welcome to our weekly collection of all the Apple news you missed this week, in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. iOS 16 and the dangers of feature creep Lots of fun speculation this week about iOS 16, the major iPhone software update set to be unveiled at WWDC in a few weeks. The latest report says iOS 16 will feature “major changes across the system” and “fresh Apple apps,” while here at Macworld we think Apple itself may have just spilled a bunch of details on iOS 16. All of this is exciting to write and read about, and we’re as interested as anyone to see what Apple has come up with. (Keep up with the latest developments with our iOS 16 superguide.) But it’s hard to escape the feeling that Apple is just adding features for the sake of having something to talk about. When was the last time a new iOS feature actually enhanced your life? I bet it’s harder to remember than the last time you tried a new feature and thought, “That cool,” and then never used it again. Take those “fresh” apps, for instance. (We’re assuming that this means new Apple apps, rather than refreshed versions of existing ones, which would be a bit anticlimactic.) That sounds good, right? Who doesn’t want brand new apps on their iPhone? Well, let’s think about the new apps we’ve got in recent iOS updates. We got Files in iOS 11 (sporadically useful but hasn’t lived up to its potential), Measure in iOS 12 (haven’t used it in years), and Translate in iOS 14 (far worse than Google Translate). Was it worth adding those new apps, or would the time have been better spent ironing out bugs, optimizing performance, and reducing the burden on the hardware so battery life improves? Translate is a particularly interesting case study, because it’s a great example of iOS, for no clear reason, swallowing up a function that a third party already does extremely well. If a user wants great real-time translation they can download Google Translate. Why does that function need to be added to iOS? For that matter, why do half of the functions in iOS need to be there? Somewhere along the line Apple–although I suspect it isn’t alone in this–forgot what an operating system is for. It’s the framework that the rest of the software works around. It’s supposed to do the basics and keep out of the way. And if you start baking in features that would be better served by optional standalone apps created by specialists, you increase the size of the download and waste the time of your in-house software team. And annoy your put-upon developer partners, presumably. Apple’s relationship with app developers has been distinctly rocky for years now, with devs angry about high fees, heavy-handed rules, and what some see as monopolistic behavior. It’s time to make amends. And the company could start by making WWDC actually about developers and what they can offer to users, rather than trying to do everything itself. Trending: Top stories of the week We round up three Google features Apple should borrow for its next big thing. Headphone hypocrites: You can’t have it both ways, scolds the Macalope. Apple has given app developers permission to increase the price of subscriptions without asking. We’ve rounded up 5 overdue Apple Watch features we hope to see in watchOS 9. Despite a contentious court battle that shows no signs of being resolved, iPhone users can once again play Fortnite on their iPhones. Enjoy a complete history of Apple’s pro Macs (and Mac Pros). These incredible CT scans will make you fall in love with the iPod all over again. The rumor mill Apple’s AR/VR headset has taken a huge step toward becoming a reality. The scrapped ‘flat’ Apple Watch redesign may finally arrive on the Series 8. The road to Apple’s next big things could be paved with E Ink, reckons Jason Snell, following news that Apple plans to take a page from the Kindle for its foldable iPhone design. AirPods Pro 2 could be the sleeper hit of Apple’s iPhone 14 event. A new iMac Pro is still coming, but not soon. Podcast of the week WWDC is only three weeks away! Apple will reveal its latest iPhone operating system, but will it have the features that you want? We talk about iOS 16 features on your wish list in this episode of the Macworld Podcast. You can catch every episode of the Macworld Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site. Software updates, bugs & other issues A scary new bug could send malware to your iPhone even when it’s turned off. And a ‘nasty’ iPhone 13 bug is causing FaceTime and iMessage to deactivate. macOS Monterey 12.4 fixes 54 security flaws. These are the highest risk. iOS 15.5 is here, bringing dozens of security fixes alongside Wallet and Podcasts updates. And the first iOS 15.6 beta is already here too! Apple has released iTunes 12.12.4 for Windows to plug security holes. That’s right: iTunes still exists. And with that, we’re done for this week. If you’d like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters. You can also follow us on Twitter for breaking news stories. See you next Saturday, enjoy your weekend, and stay Appley! Apple

There are a few ways to handle your image editing and other content creation issues. Throw hundreds of dollars at a license for the Adobe Creative Cloud and untangle its maze of interconnected apps, dashboards, and functions. Or pick up a handy collection like this Media Mac Bundle to take care of a bunch of those image creation needs quickly and easily – and for a lot less cash. This bundle features 4 apps created to tackle some of the most popular and most necessary image editing functions around, all with just a few simple clicks. The collection starts with GlueMotion, which helps users create gorgeous time-lapse images from virtually any image format you can throw at it: JPEG, PNG, and even most raw formats. SnapMotion turns video into brilliant still images, letting users extract and edit images from a video; while MetaImage handles the gruntwork of organizing your work, allowing full editing of EXIF, IPTC and XMP tags as well as MakerNotes, all in a simple, streamlined interface. Finally, PhotosRevive uses cutting-edge artificial intelligence to do the impossible, turning your old black and white pictures into vibrant full color. Each app in The Media Mac Bundle usually sells for between $8.99 and $18.99, but as part of this collection, all four are available now at about $5 each, only $19.99 for unlimited lifetime access.  The Media Mac Bundle – $19.99 See Deal Prices subject to change. Mac

It’s never been easy to upgrade the storage in Macs, so it’s always a good idea to buy an external drive to provide extra storage for all your work files, photos, videos and games. And, of course, you should always have an external drive available for making Time Machine back-ups in case anything ever goes wrong. Modern solid-state drives (SSD) are the best option as they’re really fast, reliable and compact. However, SSDs are still relatively expensive, with 1TB drives costing around $100/£150, whereas that same amount of money can get you a 4TB basic desktop hard drive with a USB interface (drives with high-speed Thunderbolt ports tend to be more expensive) Hard drives are slower than SSDs, but if you need lots of storage for your important files and back-ups then a good old-fashioned hard drive is still the most affordable option. (If it’s an SSD you are after, read Best external SSD for Mac.) There are plenty of choices, too, with compact, portable hard drives designed for use with laptops, and desktop drives with very larger capacities if you really need a lot of storage. Some hard drives also provide additional features, such as built-in docks with lots of Thunderbolt and USB ports, or perhaps allowing you to open up the casing of the drive and insert a new drive for an instant upgrade. Below are the reviews we’ve got along with general buying advice that explains what you should be looking for. LaCie Mobile Drive – Best for travelers and best overall MSRP: $79.99 (1TB); $109.99 (2TB); $149.99 (4TB); $169.99 (5TB) Best Prices Today: $74.99 at Amazon | $144.95 at Apple LaCie’s range of Mobile Drives provide a much wider range of options, as well as a “diamond cut” design. Rather than the neon-orange rubber bumper of its Rugged drives, the new Mobile Drives are wrapped in smart aluminum. They’re available in two colors: Moon Silver and Space Gray that is intended to match the Mac. The “diamond cut” design simply refers to the exaggerated angular edges and corners; looks aside, the aluminum casing feels really sturdy. The Mobile Drives that are 4TB or more are 4.9×3.6×0.8 inches (124×91.2×20 millimeters) and weigh 0.9 pounds (400 grams) and they could give someone a serious concussion if you whacked them over the head with it. Drives that are 2TB or less are physically smaller, measuring 4.8×3.5×0.4 inches (121.6×87.8×10 millimeters and weigh a more modest 0.5 pounds (200 grams). The Mobile Drive has a single USB-C port on the back, but LaCie includes cables for both USB-C and the older USB 3.0, so you can use the drive with any Mac or PC. The drives can be used with Time Machine for Mac backups, but LaCie offers a ToolKit app that allows you to ‘mirror’ individual folders. This is a good option if you use your Mac at work, and have individual projects organized in their own folders. Any folder that is mirrored is automatically backed up and updated as soon as you make any changes to any file within that folder. This ensures that your backups are always up to date with the most recent versions of your files–Time Machine has a one-hour gap between backups. Our only complaint here is that LaCie’s skimpy manual doesn’t provide much information about the ToolKit app, or the various formatting options for the drive, simply leaving you to wade through a bunch of FAQ files on its website. The Mobile Drive provides good performance, with write and read speeds both averaging out at 132MBps in our tests (almost identical to the Rugged Secure drives). Backing up a 5GB batch of iTunes songs took exactly one minute.–Cliff Joseph Seagate Ultra Touch – Best for MacBook owners MSRP: $89.99 (1TB); $109.99 (2TB) Best Prices Today: $64.99 at Amazon The Seagate Ultra Touch is available with either 1TB or 2TB storage. It has a stylish design that makes it a good companion for your MacBook, and also offers encryption to provide extra security for your important files and data. The Ultra Touch measures 4.5×3.1×0.5 inches (115x78x12 millimeters) and weighs 0.3 pounds (151 grams), so you can easily slip it into a jacket pocket or a bag when you’re traveling. It’s available in either black or white and finished off with a smart woven fabric that makes a nice change from the dull monochrome colors of most hard drives. Seagate includes a standard USB 3.0 port on the back of the drive, and a USB 3.0 cable that will work with any Mac or PC, and Seagate also includes a USB-C adapter. The Ultra Touch includes the same ToolKit app that is used with the LaCie Mobile Drive. The drive can be used for automatic Time Machine backups on your Mac, but you can also use the mirror option in the ToolKit app to automatically back up individual folders so that they’re always right up-to-date (and don’t have to wait for Time Machine’s hourly backups). The ToolKit app also handles the encryption process for the Ultra Touch, although we found Seagate’s manual–or lack thereof–to be rather unhelpful, leaving us to look around for FAQs and information about this encryption and other features on the company’s website. Performance is respectable enough, although the Ultra Plus won’t win any awards for high-speed backups. It recorded write and read speeds of 125MBps and 130MBps respectively in our tests, and took 110 seconds to back up a 5GB batch of iTunes music files. Even so, that performance will be fine for routine backups, and the encryption option will be really useful if you want to make sure that your private data stays private even if the drive is lost or stolen.–Cliff Joseph G-Drive ArmorATD – Best rugged portable drive MSRP: 1TB ($89.99) 2TB ($109.99), 4TB ($149.99), 5TB ($179.99) Best Prices Today: $99.99 at Adorama | $99.99 at Best Buy | $109.95 at Apple The ArmorATD is an enclosure with a 2.5-inch hard drive inside that’s shock-mounted, and the rugged aluminum case is surrounded by a silicon sock for extra protection. It will withstand minor abuse, more when off than on and the disks are spinning, but your best bet with any hard drive is not to treat it like a hockey puck. The connection is USB-C with a speed rating of 5Gbps (USB 3.1/Gen 1)–plenty fast enough for any hard drive. The drive warranty is for three years. You’ll get around 120MBps writing and 127MBps reading maximum (with large files) from the ArmorATD on your Mac. Good stuff. The Armor ATD arrives formatted to exFAT so you’re good to go out of the box under both Windows and macOS. However, exFAT will extract a 5 percent max penalty, so Mac users will want to reformat the drive.–Jon L. Jacobi Read our full G-Drive ArmorATD review WD My Passport – Best budget portable MSRP: 1TB – $59.99, 2TB – $79.99, 4TB – $119.99, 5TB – $149.99 Best Prices Today: $49.97 at Amazon | $59.99 at Western Digital Western Digital’s My Passport drive provides plenty of portable storage at a competitive price. The My Passport starts at just $79.99/£49.99 for 1TB storage, going up to $189/£119.99 for 5TB, so it’s a really affordable backup option if you’re on a tight budget. The physical size of the drive depends on the amount of storage you choose. The 4TB drive we tested measured a chunky 4.2×3.0x0.8 inches (107x76x19 millimeters) but the 1TB and 2TB models are just 0.43 inches) (11mm) thick. The 4TB drive is still small enough to slip into jacket pocket with no trouble at all. It’s very solidly built too, so we’d be happy to use it in outdoor locations with our MacBook. However, the drive is showing its age a little, using ye olde USB 3.0 interface, so you’ll need an adaptor if your Mac only has USB-C. Its read and write speeds of 108MBps and 100MBps respectively aren’t going to win any awards either, but the My Passport will still be fine for the occasional Time Machine back-up when you’re on the move with your laptop. There’s also a model called My Passport For Mac that includes extra cables for both USB 3.0 and USB-C, and is pre-formatted in Apple’s HFS+ format, but that’s slightly more expensive so it’s not essential unless you’ve got a bit of extra cash to spare.–Cliff Joseph LaCie 1big Dock – Best for pro and creative users MSRP: $369 (4TB); $469 (8TB); $519 (10TB); $679 (16TB); $789 (18TB) Best Prices Today: $354.00 at Amazon | $369 at LaCie As the name suggests, LaCie’s 1big Dock is more than just a straightforward hard drive. It starts at $369/£349.99 for a drive with 4TB storage, going up to $889/£869.99 for 18TB, and its 7,200rpm IronWolf Pro hard drive provides strong performance with read and write speeds of 235MBps via its Thunderbolt 3 port. That makes it a good option for anyone that needs a fast drive for large video, photos, and audio files. The primary Thunderbolt port also provides power for charging a MacBook laptop as well. You even have the option of popping open the front panel to swap out the standard hard drive and insert a new drive to provide an instant upgrade. But the thing that really makes the 1big Dock stand out from most of its hard drive rivals is its built-in hub and connectivity features. There’s a second Thunderbolt port that will allow you to connect additional Thunderbolt and USB-C devices, and a DisplayPort 1.4 interface for an external monitor. The front of the drive also provides a standard USB 3.0 port and slots for both SD and CompactFlash (CF) memory cards, making it a great option for creative users who need to import files from cameras and other devices. There’s also a version of the 1big Dock available that uses faster solid-state storage too–of course, it’s quite a bit more expensive.–Cliff Joseph Seagate FireCuda Gaming Hard Drive – Best for desktop storage and connectivity MSRP: $79.99 (1TB); $109.99 (2TB); $179.99 (5TB) Best Prices Today: $92.49 at Seagate | $107.86 at Amazon Seagate’s FireCuda Gaming Hub is an impressive all-in-one device that combines a speedy desktop hard drive with a versatile Thunderbolt dock. But all those extra features mean that it’s big and heavy–and also pretty expensive. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative option that still has a bit of gaming eye-candy then the FireCuda Gaming Hard Drive should fit the bill. It’s not just for gaming, of course, and it’s available with 1TB, 2TB or 5TB of storage, so it provides plenty of room for all your music, photos, videos, and work files. The drive only has a standard USB-A interface (USB 3.2) though, so owners of newer Mac models that only have USB-C will need an adapter (not included). The USB port provides power to the drive, too, so you can use the FireCuda either as a desktop drive or as a portable drive with your laptop if you want to.  The drive works with Time Machine, as you’d expect, but Seagate’s ToolKit app provides additional options for creating sync plans that back-up specific folders. It even allows you to customize the lighting and colors emitted from the drive’s front panel. The drive’s performance is similar to that of other compact hard drives that we’ve seen, recording read and write speeds of 133MBps and 130MBps respectively. And, with its competitive pricing and handy ToolKit app, the Gaming Drive deserves to attract a wider audience than just the gaming market.–Cliff Joseph G-Tech G-Drive USB-C – Best for massive media files MSRP: 4TB – $179.95; 6TB – $249.95; 10TB – $399.95; 14TB – $479.95; 18TB – $549.95 Best Prices Today: $179.95 at Western Digital | $395.00 at Amazon G-Tech has always focused on providing high-performance storage devices for creative users who work with lots of photos, video, and audio files, and the G-Drive USB-C is an affordable desktop drive that provides good performance and bucket-loads of storage space. The G-Drive is neatly designed with a smart, sturdy aluminum casing, and it starts with a minimum of 4TB storage, going right up to 18TB, which should be enough even for professional users working with 8K video. The drive’s high capacity means that it requires an external power supply, but the USB-C port on the back of the drive also provides 45W pass-through power, so you can use it to charge a laptop without needing a separate power supply for the laptop as well. USB-C and USB-A cables are included in the box, so it’ll work with older Macs that don’t have USB-C without needing an adapter. Performance is good too, with the 4TB model recording read and write speeds of 170MBps with the BlackMagic Disk Test. There’s also a version of the G-Drive that has both USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports, but that’s a lot more expensive, so this USB-C model is the best option if you simply want lots of hard drive storage at an affordable price.–Cliff Joseph WD_Black D10 – Best budget performer MSRP: 8TB – £259.99 Best Prices Today: $254.84 at Amazon Western Digital’s WD_Black drives are primarily aimed at gamers who want a fast drive to boost loading times for their games, which explains why the menacing black design of this D10 desktop drive looks like a piece of heavyweight munitions from the Call Of Duty games. But a fast drive will also appeal to anyone that has a lot of photo, video, and audio files that they want to store on their Mac, and the D10 has other features that can come in handy too. Some aspects of the design are a little odd. There’s only one version available, with 8TB storage, although its $240/£199.99 price tag on Amazon is still competitive for a fast drive such as this. It’s equipped with only an old USB A interface (even though it is USB 3.2) perhaps to provide compatibility with older games consoles, so you’ll need an adapter if your Mac only has USB-C. Its 7,200-rpm drive provides very good performance, reaching read and write speeds of 245MBps and 240MBps, respectively. The D10 requires an external power supply, so it’s very much designed for desktop use, but it also has two additional USB 3.2 ports on the back of the drive that can provide power to other devices, such as an iPhone or iPad. These ports are only for charging, though, so you can’t use the D10 as a dock for connecting peripherals such as a printer or memory stick.–Cliff Joseph How to choose the right Mac hard drive We’ve rounded up the best Mac hard drives above, but before making a buying decision you need to think about how you’ll be using the device. To find the best hard drive for your needs, you need to answer a few questions. How much storage do I need? Hard drive storage is relatively cheap. Unless you are really out to save your pennies, the smallest size of hard drive we’d recommend is 1TB. Upgrades to 2TB, 3TB, and even 4TB are also cost-effective–the price per megabyte goes down the higher the capacity, so making the bump up to the next model is a good idea. Each terabyte can store around 11,000 music albums at 192kbps quality, but such storage doesn’t seem so grand when you start archiving 4K video. Portable or desktop? If you think you’ll be happy with a 1TB to 4TB hard drive, you can buy a portable drive. These use small 2.5-inch disks, and they fit happily into a coat pocket. Portable drives are usually bus-powered, too. This means you just need to plug them into your desktop or laptop, no separate power supply is required. There’s just one cable, and the drive will barely take up any space. If only an ultra-high capacity hard drive will do, consider a desktop unit. These use larger 3.5-inch drives and tend to cover capacities from 4TB to 18TB. They’ll need to be plugged in for power; that’s fine if it stay home all of the time, or moves from office to office. Rugged drives for travel Some portable drives offer ruggedization. Shock protection is the most important kind for a hard drive, as unlike an SSD they have moving parts that can be permanently damaged following a drop. Rugged drives usually have some form of rubber coating that soaks up impact forces, and a toughened enclosure that won’t dent, crack or collapse under any normal amount of pressure. A few also have water resistance. While few are rated IP68 like an iPhone 11 Pro, meaning they can be submerged in water without damage, several can handle rain or water jets/splashes. What extra features do you need? Buy a larger drive, though, and you’re more likely to get other features. Desktop units may have a built-in “hub”, letting you plug-in memory cards or peripherals using USB ports. These are particularly useful if your current setup has limited connectivity, or the USBs you do have just aren’t that handy. Which connector do you need? Matching the hard drive’s connector to those of your laptop or desktop is also essential. You’ll get a cable in the box, but it will either terminate with a USB-A or USB-C shaped plug, as seen here: USB-A (left) and USB-C. Unless you have an old Mac or MacBook that only offers the old USB-A port, you’ll will want the newer USB-C connector, which also doubles up as Thunderbolt. Every Mac sold by Apple in the past few years features a USB-C style connector, although some Mac desktops still offer the older USB standard as well.  Not all USB-Cs are the same, though. The USB-C port on Macs also supports Thunderbolt 3 and in some cases Thunderbolt 4. USB-C is based on USB 3.1 and offers up to 10Gbps. Thunderbolt 3 offers up to 40Gbps. Thunderbolt 4 also offers 40Gbps, but has a few other advantages, including a 32Gbps data rate, which will be a benefit to anyone who needs to transfer large video files to from the drive to their desktop for editing. There’s also a new USB 4 standard that offers between 20Gbps and 40Gbps bandwidth that you will see alongside the newer Thunderbolt 4 standard, but note that USB 4 doesn’t offer all the features of Thunderbolt. It’s clear that Thunderbolt is a better option than USB if you are looking for the best interface for your hard drive, but Thunderbolt options are likely to be more expensive than their USB counterparts. Wireless and NAS Not every hard drive needs to be plugged in: you can also opt for a network-attached storage (NAS) drive which enables to to wirelessly transfer files and backups. These network-attached storage drives connect to your home Wi-Fi to share their data with other devices in your home. That might be a smart TV, Apple TV, a tablet or laptop. A NAS is particularly useful if you want to set up a media server at home. This is like a wireless jukebox you can fill with videos, photos and music. Read our  best NAS drives feature for more. Computer Accessories, Computer Storage Devices, Mac

The iPod may be gone, but we’ll never forget how incredible Apple’s portable music player was. To mark its incredible run, the team at Lumafield has put the iPod under its Neptune scanner to show off just how remarkable and revolutionary it was–and how it evolved over the years. Lumafield chose three models for scanning: the first-gen iPod, the sixth-gen iPod Classic, and the original iPod nano. The results are mesmerizing and show how Tony Fadell and iPod team was able to engineer the iPod for maximum space and thinness. In fact, Fadell joined Lumafield to examine the scans and reminisce about the complexity and precision that went into designing each player. As product lead Jon Bruner explains: We chose these iPod models because they illustrated a few major milestones. The first one, of course, was a landmark in product design, but it’s also the only one with a mechanical wheel. You can see the ball bearing in the scan, and Tony talks about how hard it was to develop a mechanical wheel that wouldn’t rock side to side when it was being used. The 6th Generation iPod Classic was the mature version of that product line, with a solid-state wheel, more modern connectors, and much less empty space inside. The Nano Gen 1 predated the 6th Gen iPod Classic and represents an enormous amount of progress in miniaturization. We’ve created a gallery of our favorite images below, but head over to Lumafield’s iPod CT Scan site to check out the full video and 360-degree scans. iPod (1st generation)Lumafield iPod (1st generation)Lumafield iPod Click WheelLumafield iPod (6th generation)Lumafield iPod (6th generation)Lumafield iPod (30-pin connector)Lumafield iPod nano (1st generation)Lumafield iPod nano (1st generation)Lumafield iPod

Gaming subscription services are all the rage now, but Apple Arcade isn’t quite like Google Stadia or Xbox Game Pass. So if you’ve got questions about it, we’ve got plenty of answers. Updated 05/13/22: Warped Kart Racers is now available. What is Apple Arcade? Apple Arcade is a gaming subscription service for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AppleTV that features more than 150 games. The games are a mix of genres and styles, and include original games you’ll only find on the service and others that can be found on the regular App Store or even other platforms. Apple Arcade isn’t a streaming service like Google Stadia. Games must be downloaded onto your device in order to be played. What do I need to run it? Apple Arcade is available as part of iOS 13, iPad OS 13, tvOS 13, and macOS Catalina or later. Some of the more visually-intensive games may only run well on newer hardware, though, and some Mac games require macOS 11 (Big Sur). How much does Apple Arcade cost? Apple Arcade costs $4.99 per month, and you’ll also get a one-month free trial. You can also sign up for the annual plan, which is $49.99. If you’re currently on the $4.99 month-to-month plan and want to switch to the annual plan, you can do so on your iPhone or iPad. Open the App Store app, then tap your account icon in the upper right. Tap Subscriptions, then tap the entry for Apple Arcade. Here, you can switch to the annual plan. Apple Arcade is also included in the Apple One subscription bundles, which range from $10 a month to $30 a month. How do I sign up for Apple Arcade? There isn’t an Apple Arcade app—it’s built into the App Store. On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac open the App Store and look for the Apple Arcade tab at the bottom of the screen (or in the left column on macOS). A sign-up screen with a Try It Free button will appear. After the trial you’ll be charged either the monthly or annual fee, depending on your selection. When subscribing, you’ll need to enter your Apple ID password or use Touch ID or Face ID to sign in, and you’ll have to confirm your subscription purchase a few times. Once you’re done with the sign up, the Arcade section of the App Store shows what games are available to you. To access a game, tap on it in the App Store, then tap the Get button. When the game is done installing on your device, the Get button turns into a Play button, and you can tap it to launch the game. The game app icon will also appear on your device’s Home page. On the Apple TV, there actually is an Arcade app. Open that to see the sign-up offer. You’ll also find an Arcade tab within the App Store. Does my subscription include family sharing? Yes. One $4.99 per month subscription can be shared between up to six people (including you). How do I cancel Apple Arcade? First off, keep in mind that if you cancel Apple Arcade (either before your free trial is up or after subscribing), you won’t be able to keep playing the games unless you re-subscribe. If you’re okay with that, you can use the same process you use to cancel any other subscription service. Here’s the easiest way to do it on the iPhone and iPad: Open the App Store app and tap on your profile photo in the upper right. In the screen that pops up, press Subscriptions near the top of the page. You’ll then see a list of active subscriptions, and Apple Arcade should be listed there. Tap it. You’ll either see Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription toward the middle of the page that appears. Tap whatever option is available, then Confirm Cancellation.And here’s how to cancel Apple Arcade on the Mac: Open the App Store app and then press the icon with your profile photo in the lower left. The Account window will appear, and you should then click View Information at the top of the window. Enter your password when/if prompted.When your Account Information appears, scroll down to the Manage section and click the Manage link to the right of Subscriptions. When the list of your active subscriptions appears, click Edit to the right of Apple Arcade. Toward the middle of the page that appears, you’ll see a button that says either Cancel Free Trial or Cancel Subscription. Click it, then click Confirm Cancellation and Confirm.How do I access Apple Arcade games? Apple Arcade is its own tab in the App Store. You can find games to download there, and grab anything you like without fear of being charged, seeing ads, or having to later buy in-app purchases. Once downloaded, Apple Arcade games are found just like any other app on your device. You’ll find this tab on the Mac, too. Does Apple curate the games on Apple Arcade? Yes. Apple says it is “handpicking the games in Apple Arcade” and that it curates them “based on originality, quality, creativity, fun, and their appeal to players of all ages.” Do Apple Arcade games have in-app purchases? No. In Apple’s words, “since every game includes access to the full experience, including all game features, content, and future updates, no additional purchases will be required.” Even games that have in-app purchases on the App Store won’t have any in Apple Arcade. Do Apple Arcade games have ads? Also no. On a related note, Apple says Apple Arcade has no ad tracking. Is Apple Arcade a game streaming service like Google’s Stadia or Xbox Game Streaming? No. All Apple Arcade are downloaded. Are Apple Arcade games available on other systems? Apple Arcade games were originally exclusive to Apple Arcade—not in the regular App Store nor on any other mobile platform. Some would appear on PC or consoles, but never in a subscription service. Apple has since relaxed that policy somewhat, and you can find games in Apple Arcade that also exist in the regular App Store or on Android. They are usually denoted by a “+” at the end, to differentiate the Apple Arcade version (free to download with your subscription, and free from ads or in-app purchases) from the App Store version. For example Mini Metro (App Store) vs. Mini Metro+ (Apple Arcade). Will I still be able to buy games on the App Store without an Apple Arcade subscription? Yes. There’s no sign that the existing games model will be going away, as it works fine for freemium games like Idle Heroes or Toon Blast. Apple is focusing on “handpicked” games for Apple Arcade, so there’s little doubt that the library will be much smaller than the thousands of games available in the App Store. Are there demos for Apple Arcade games? No, and they’re not really necessary. Like App Store apps, games download quickly and can easily be removed if you don’t want to keep it anymore. Apple partly envisions Apple Arcade as a way of letting players try out games with more freedom than the App Store currently allows (which is basically none). In Apple’s words, “rather than pay upfront for each game, a subscription to Apple Arcade will give players the opportunity to try any game in the service without risk.” The service has a free trial, though, as we’ve seen with both Apple Music and Apple News+. Am I able to keep playing Apple Arcade games if I cancel my subscription? No. As with most subscription services, you only have access while you’re a subscriber. Can I use controllers with Apple Arcade games? Yes. In additional to traditional MFi (Made for iOS) controllers, you can pair some specific Bluetooth controllers for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with either your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV. Since many Apple Arcade games are playable on Mac and Apple TV (where controller support is more common), many games will support them. Some games, especially those that are also available in the broader App Store and only for iPhone or iPad, have no controller support. Recently Apple relaxed the requirements for MFi controller certification, which may have grown out of the Apple Arcade negotiations. How often are new games released? Games are typically released on Fridays, but not every Friday. The release schedule is sporadic—some Fridays there are no new games released, some see one game released, some more than one. Sometimes there will be no new game release, but existing games will get a big update with new content and features. On average, new games are released at a rate of about one every 2-3 weeks, though this may improve as Apple has loosened the rules around Apple Arcade exclusivity. What games have been released so far? There are over 150 games available for Apple Arcade, and the list grows all the time. TitlePublisherRelease DateA Fold ApartLightning Rod Games04/17/20A Monster’s ExpeditionDraknek Limited09/10/20Agent InterceptProdigy Design09/19/19Alba: A Wildlife Adventureustwo12/11/20All of YouAlike Studio11/06/20Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost CityTeam Alto / Snowman07/16/21Alto’s Adventure—RemasteredTeam Alto / Snowman03/25/22Angry Birds ReloadedRovio07/16/21Asphalt 8: Airborne+Gameloft08/27/21Assemble With Careustwo09/19/19ATONE: Heart of the Elder TreeWildboy Studios09/19/19Badland PartyHypeHype Oy05/06/22Baldo: The Guardian OwlsNaps Team08/27/21Ballistic BaseballGameloft10/18/19BattleSky Brigade: HarpoonerBattleBrew Productions09/19/19Beyond a Steel SkyRevolution Software06/26/20Beyond BlueE-Line Media04/17/20Big Time SportsFrosty Pop Games09/19/19Bleak SwordDevolver Digital09/19/19Bridge Constructor+Headup GmbH02/04/22Butter RoyaleMighty Bear Games01/24/20Card of DarknessPendleton Ward09/19/19CardpocalypseVersus Evil09/19/19Castlevania: Grimoire of SoulsKonami09/17/21Cat Quest IIThe Gentlebros.09/19/19Charrua SoccerBatovi Games02/07/20ChuChu Rocket! UniverseSega09/19/19Clap Hanz GolfClaphanz04/02/21Construction Simulator 2+Astragon Entertainment04/15/22Cozy GroveSpry Fox03/18/21Crashlands+Butterscotch Shenanigans, Inc.01/14/21Crayola Create and Play+Red Games Co.10/29/21CreaksAmanita Design07/10/20Cricket Through the AgesDevolver Digital09/19/19Crossy Road+Hipster Whale10/08/21Crossy Road CastleHipster Whale02/28/20Cut the Rope RemasteredPaladin Studios04/02/21Dandara: Trials of Fear+Raw Fury12/03/21Dead End JobHeadup GmbH, Ant Workshop09/19/19Dear ReaderLocal No. 1209/19/19DecoherenceEfecto Estudios10/11/19Detonation RacingElectric Square07/30/21DiscoloredShifty Eye Games & Jason Godbey11/08/19Disney Melee ManiaMighty Bear Games12/17/21Dodo PeakMoving Pieces Interactive09/19/19Don’t Bug Me!Frosty Pop Games09/19/19Doodle God UniverseJoyBits07/16/21Doomsday VaultFlightless01/03/20Down in BermudaYak & Co09/19/19Dread NauticalZen Studios09/19/19EarthNightCleaversoft09/19/19Exit the GungeonDevolver Digital09/19/19ExplottensWRP Pvt.09/19/19Fallen KnightFairPlay Studios10/25/19FantasianMistwalker04/01/21Farm It!Tummy Games03/26/21Fledgling HeroesSubtle Boom09/19/19Frenzic: OvertimeThe Iconfactory06/18/21Frogger in Toy TownKonami09/19/19Galaga Wars+Bandai Namco11/12/21Game Dev Story+Kairosoft Co., Ltd06/18/21Game of Thrones: Tale of CrowsDevolver Digital08/07/20Gear.Club StradaleEden Games04/08/22Gibbon: Beyond the TreesBroken Rules02/25/22Goat Simulator+Coffee Stain Publishing05/13/22GrindstoneCapybara Games09/19/19GuildlingsSirvo Studios, Inc.11/08/19Hearts: Card Game+MobilityWare01/07/22Hexaflip: The Action PuzzlerRogue Games, Inc.09/19/19Hidden Folks+Adriaan de Jongh01/28/22HitchHikerVersus Evil03/26/21HogwashBossa Studios10/25/19Hot LavaKlei Entertainment09/19/19HyperBrawl TournamentMilkey Tea Limited09/19/19INKS.+State of Play Games06/25/21INMOSTChucklefish Limited10/11/19Jenny LeClueMografi09/19/19Jetpack Joyride+Halfbrick Studios07/23/21Jumper JonOgre Pixel11/01/19King’s League IIKurechi Sdn. Bhd.09/19/19Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD+Ironhide Irl11/12/21Kings of the CastleFrosty Pop01/17/20Layton’s Mystery Journey+Level-5 Inc.09/03/21Legend of the Skyfish 2Crescent Moon Games04/03/20Legends of Kingdom RushIronhide Game Studio06/11/21LEGO BrawlsThe Lego Group09/19/19LEGO Builder’s JourneyThe Lego Group12/19/19LEGO Star Wars BattlesTT Games09/24/21LEGO Star Wars: CastawaysGameloft11/19/21Leo’s Fortune+1337 & Senri LLC06/25/21Lifelikekunabi brother10/25/19LifeslideDreamteck09/19/19Little OrpheusSumo Digital06/12/20LumenLykkegaard International02/05/21Manifold GardenWilliam Chyr Studio10/18/19Marble It Up: Mayhem!Marble it up11/08/19Marble KnightsWayForward09/18/20MasterChef: Let’s Cook!Tilting Point09/03/21Mind SymphonyRogue Games, Inc.10/11/19Mini MotorwaysDinosaur Polo Club09/19/19MonomalsPicomy11/01/19Monster Hunter Stories+Capcom08/06/21Monument Valley 2+ustwo games03/11/22Moonshot – A Journey HomeNoodlecake04/22/22Murder Mystery MachineBlazing Griffin09/19/19MutazioneDie Gute Fabrik09/19/19NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition2K Sports04/02/21NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition2K Sports10/19/21NecrobaristaRoute 5907/17/20Neo CabChance Agency09/19/19NeversongSerenity Forge05/01/20Next Stop NowhereNight School Studio08/14/20Nickelodeon Extreme TennisViacom International01/21/22Nightmare FarmHit-Point Co., Ltd.10/05/19No Way HomeSMG Studio01/10/20NUTSNoodlecake Studios01/22/21Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost RealmCornfox & Bros.09/19/19Oceanhorn: Chronos DungeonCornfox & Bros.01/08/21Oddmar+Mobje Ltd.12/03/21Operator 41Shifty Eye Games09/19/19OutlandersPomelo Games09/19/19Over the AlpsStave Studios09/19/19OverlandFinji09/19/19PAC-MAN Party RoyaleBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment10/18/19Painty MobDevolver Digital09/19/19PatternedBorderLeap09/19/19PilgrimsAmanita Design10/05/19Pocket Build+MoonBear LTD04/01/22Populus RunFIFTYTWO01/29/21PossessionsNoodlecake Studios09/19/19Pro Snooker & Pool 2022+iWare Designs Ltd.04/15/22Projection: First LightBlowfish Studios09/19/19Prune+Joel McDonald04/29/22Punch PlanetSector-K Games09/19/19Rayman MiniUbisoft09/19/19Red ReignNinja Kiwi Limited09/19/19Redout: Space Assault34BigThings10/05/19Reigns: BeyondDevolver Digital11/06/20Rosie’s RealityRosieReality11/15/19RoundguardWonderbelly Games03/13/20Samurai Jack: Battle Through TimeCartoon Network08/21/20Sayonara Wild HeartsAnnapurna Interactive09/19/19ScrappersQ-Games04/10/20Secret Oops!Mixedbag01/31/20Shadow Blade+Crescent Moon Games03/04/22Shantae and the Seven SirensWayForward09/19/19Shinsekai: Into the DepthsCapcom09/19/19ShockRodsStainless Games10/11/19Simon’s Cat – Story TimeTactile Games Limited04/02/21Skate CitySnowman09/19/19Slash QuestNoodlecake Studios10/01/20Sneaky SasquatchRAC709/19/19Sociable SoccerRogue Games, Inc.11/08/19Solitaire StoriesRed Games Co.07/02/21SongPop PartyGameloft04/02/21Sonic Dash+Sega04/08/22Sonic RacingSega09/19/19South of the CircleState of Play10/30/20Sp!ngSMG Studio03/05/21SpacelandTortuga Games09/19/19Spades: Card Game+MobilityWare01/07/22Speed DemonsRadiangames09/19/19SpekRAC7 Games09/19/19SpelldrifterFree Range Games09/19/19SpidersaursWayForward09/19/19Spire BlastOrbital Knight sp.01/22/21Splitter Critters+RAC7 Games12/10/21Spongebob SquarePants: Patty PursuitNickelodeon05/28/20SpyderSumo_Digital03/20/20Star FetchedCrescent Moon Games11/01/19Star Trek: LegendsTilting Point LLC04/02/21StelaSkyBox Labs10/11/19Stellar CommandersBlindflug Studios09/19/19Steven Universe: Unleash the LightCartoon Network11/27/19Stranded SailsShifty Eye Games09/19/19Super Leap DayNitrome08/06/21Super Impossible RoadRogue Games, Inc.09/19/19Super Mega Mini PartyRed Games Co, LLC11/01/19Super Stickman Golf 3+Noodlecake08/06/21Survival ZEmber Entertainment02/19/21Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap BeatBANDAI NAMCO Entertainment04/02/21Takeshi and HiroshiOink Games Inc.11/08/19Tales of MemoTendays Studio10/25/19Tangle TowerSFB Games09/19/19Temple Run: Puzzle AdventureScopely, Inc.09/17/21Tetris BeatN3twork Inc.08/20/21The Bradwell ConspiracyBossa Studios10/05/19The Collage AtlasRobot House Games Ltd10/16/20The Enchanted WorldNoodlecake Studios09/19/19The Get Out KidsFrosty Pop Games09/19/19The Last CampfireHello Games08/27/20The Loud House: Outta ControlNickelodeon02/14/20The Lullaby of Life1 Simple Game07/24/20The MosaicRaw Fury11/01/19The Oregon TrailGameloft04/02/21The OthersideThe Label05/08/20The PathlessAnnapurna Interactive11/12/20The Pinball WizardFrosty Pop Games09/19/19The SurvivalistsTeam1710/08/20Things That Go BumpTinybop Inc.10/18/19Thumper: Pocket Edition+Drool LLC10/01/21tint.Lykkegaard International09/19/19Tiny Wings+Andreas Illiger10/15/21Transformers Tactical ArenaRed Games Co11/05/21Towaga: Among ShadowsNoodlecake Studios09/19/19Towers of EverlandCobra Mobile Limited05/22/20UFO on Tape: First ContactRevolutionary Concepts11/08/19Ultimate Rivals: The CourtBit Fry Games07/09/21Ultimate Rivals: The RinkBit Fry Games12/12/19Various DaylifeSquare Enix09/19/19Warp DriveSupergonk11/27/20Warped Kart RacersElectric Square05/20/22Way of the TurtleIllusion Labs09/19/19What the GolfFig09/19/19Where Cards FallSnowman09/19/19Winding WorldsKO_OP05/15/20Wonderbox: The Adventure MakerAquiris04/01/21Word Lacesminimega09/19/19World of DemonsPlatinumGames04/02/21World’s End ClubIzanagiGames09/04/20WurdwebAran & Adriaan08/13/21Wylde FlowersStudio Drydock02/22/22YagaVersus Evil10/25/19Zen Pinball PartyZEN Studios09/03/21Zombie Rollerz: Pinball HeroesFirefly Games12/04/20Zookeeper WorldKiteretsu Inc.09/10/21 Gaming