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INSIDE: HOW TO CHANGE AN AIRTAG’S BATTERY

ISSUE 171

AWESOME iPHONE

TIPS & TRICKS

CONTENTS

21

NEWS 4 6 8

10

12

14 Apple will soon scan all iCloud Photos images for child abuse Pegasus spyware: iOS 14.7.1 plugs security hole AirPower prototype reveals mysteries behind Apple’s failed charging mat Apple introduces a new RQOLQHbVKRSIURQW DQG WKHUHşV DbORW WR VHH *RRJOH 0DSV ʐQDOO\ KDVbGDUN PRGH DQG KRPHbVFUHHQbZLGJHWV

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$SSOHşV ʐJKW DJDLQVW OHDNHUVbKDV D VXUSULVLQJ PRWLYH bFDVHV

NEWS ANALYSIS 16

Apple’s child abuse photo scanning: What it is and ZK\bSHRSOH DUH ZRUULHG

iPHONE 21 26

7KHVH WLSV DQG WULFNV ZLOO turn you into an iPhone pro L3KRQH DQG 3UR %X\bQRZ or wait?

54

Credit: Getty Images/AsiaVision

43

29

33

How the iPhone 13 and 3L[HOb bZLOO VKDSH WKH IXWXUHbRIbWKH VPDUWSKRQH $SSOH LV WDNLQJ DZD\ WKHVH bXVHIXO 6LUL LQWHJUDWLRQV iniOS 15

AIRTAG 52

How to change an $LU7DJşVbEDWWHU\

APPLE ARCADE 54

Best Apple Arcade games

AIRPODS

HOW TO

36

94

40

The next AirPods: 5HGHVLJQHGbHDUEXGV GXHbWRbDUULYH LQ DXWXPQ AirPods Pro: Buy now or wait?

98 101

APPLE WATCH 43 47

SSOH :DWFK QHZ $ PRGHOVbPD\ EH RQ WKH ZD\ ,I \RXU L3KRQH FDQşW XQORFN your Apple Watch in iOS 14.7, D ʐ[ LV RQ WKH ZD\

104

Erase your iPhone and iPad remotely after a theft Remotely control your L3KRQHşVbFDPHUD Remove location data in photos you want to share 8VH )DFH7LPH OLQNV WR FDOO Android or Windows users

98

APPLE TV 49

Apple TV 4K: Buy now or wait?

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 3

NEWS

Apple will soon scan all iCloud Photos images IRUbFKLOG DEXVH Using a new on-device technology, Apple will detect illegal images while protecting user privacy. Jason Cross reports

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HFK&UXQFK KDV FRQʐUPHG that Apple will soon roll out a new technology to scan photos uploaded to iCloud for child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The roll-out will happen later this

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year, initially in the US, as part of a collection of technologies meant WR PDNH LWV SURGXFWV DQG VHUYLFHV VDIHUbIRU FKLOGUHQ WR XVH Most cloud services already scan images for material that violates its

terms of service or the law, including CSAM. They can do this because, ZKLOHbWKH LPDJHV PD\ EH VWRUHG encrypted, the companies have WKH HQFU\SWLRQ NH\ $SSOH HQFU\SWV SKRWRVbLQ WUDQVLW DQG VWRUHV WKHP encrypted, but has the decryption NH\ WR GHFU\SW WKHP LI QHFHVVDU\ Ŝ WR serve data stored in iCloud under VXESRHQD RU WR PDNH \RXU L&ORXG photos available in a web browser.

To help preserve user privacy, the company is relying on a new technology called NeuralHash that will FKHFN LPDJHV DV WKH\ DUH XSORDGHG WR L&ORXG 3KRWRV ORRNLQJ IRU PDWFKHV WR D NQRZQ GDWDEDVH RI FKLOG DEXVH LPDJHU\ ,W ZRUNV HQWLUHO\ RQ \RXU iPhone, iPad or Mac by converting photos into a unique string of letters and numbers (a ‘hash’). Normally, any slight change to a photo would UHVXOW LQ D GLʏHUHQW KDVK EXW $SSOHşV technology is said to be such that VPDOO DOWHUDWLRQV OLNH D FURS ZLOO VWLOObUHVXOW LQ WKH VDPH KDVK These hashes are matched ondevice to a database of hashes for images of child sexual abuse. The hashes can be matched invisibly, ZLWKRXW NQRZLQJ ZKDW WKH XQGHUO\LQJ image is or alerting the user in any way. The results of the matches are uploaded to Apple if a certain

threshold is met. Only then can Apple decrypt the matching images, manually verify the contents, and disable a user’s account. Apple will then report the imagery to the US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which then SDVVHVbLW WR ODZ HQIRUFHPHQW In other words, it’s extremely XQOLNHO\ WKDW $SSOH ZLOO KDYH WKH DELOLW\ WR UDQGRPO\ ORRN DW ZKDWHYHU images they want to on your iPhone.

According to TechCrunch, Apple says there is a one in one trillion chance of a false positive, and there will be an appeals process in place for anyone ZKR WKLQNV WKHLU DFFRXQW ZDV ʑDJJHG E\ PLVWDNH 7KH WHFKQRORJ\ LV RQO\ sort of optional: you don’t have to use iCloud Photos, but if you do, you will not be able to disable the feature.

Apple has published a technical paper detailing this NeuralHash technology. This new technology will roll out as part of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey this autumn.

For further details see our feature RQ SDJH

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 5

NEWS

Pegasus spyware: iOS 14.7.1 plugs security hole $SSOH KDV OLNHO\ ʐ[HG WKH KROH WKDW DOORZHG WKH 3HJDVXV VS\ZDUH LQʐOWUDWLRQ Michael Simon reports

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f you’re concerned about recent reports of the Pegasus spyware reportedly installed by the Israeli 162 *URXS WR KDFN MRXUQDOLVWV and world leaders, there’s a tool to FKHFNbLI LWşV KLGGHQ RQ \RXU L3KRQH (fave.co/3yCN0W4). But you probably have nothing to worry about.

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According to a report in the Washington Post LQ FRQMXQFWLRQ ZLWK QRQ SURʐW JURXSV )RUELGGHQ 6WRULHV and Amnesty International and several others, military-grade spyware GHYHORSHG E\ DQ ,VUDHOL ʐUP ZDV XVHG WR KDFN VRPH VPDUWSKRQHV šEHORQJLQJ WR MRXUQDOLVWV KXPDQ

rights activists, business executives and two women close to murdered 6DXGL MRXUQDOLVW -DPDO .KDVKRJJLŢ The phones appeared on a list of more than 50,000 phone numbers, according to the Post. NSO has GHQLHGbWKH DOOHJDWLRQV There’s a good chance your L3KRQHbLVQşW RQ WKDW OLVW :KLOH WKH legality of the operation may be in question, reports say the NSO seemingly targeted high-level SROLWLFLDQV JRYHUQPHQW RʒFLDOV DQG MRXUQDOLVWV LQ WKH RSHUDWLRQ DQG ZHUHbRQO\ VXFFHVVIXO OHVV WKDQ half the time. For example, Amnesty ,QWHUQDWLRQDO H[DPLQHG SKRQHV and found that “23 were successfully infected and 14 showed signs of DWWHPSWHG SHQHWUDWLRQŢ 2I WKRVH nearly all were iPhones, according WRbWKH LQYHVWLJDWLRQ $SSOH KDV UHSRUWHGO\ ʐ[HG WKH vulnerability in iOS 14.7.1. The VHFXULW\ QRWHV GRQşW VSHFLʐFDOO\ mention Pegasus, but they refer to šDbPHPRU\ FRUUXSWLRQ LVVXHŢ WKDW šPD\bKDYH EHHQ DFWLYHO\ H[SORLWHGŢ If you’re still concerned, there’s a way to test whether your iPhone has been targeted. It’s not an easy test, mind you, but if you’re using D 0DF RU /LQX[ 3& DQG KDYH EDFNHG up your iPhone using it, Amnesty

,QWHUQDWLRQDOşV 0RELOH 9HULʐFDWLRQ 7RRONLW IDYH FR 8 \,1: ZLOO EH DEOH to detect whether your phone has the Pegasus spyware installed on it. The WRRO ZKLFK 7HFK&UXQFK WHVWHG ZRUNV using the macOS Terminal app and VHDUFKHV \RXU ODWHVW L3KRQH EDFNXS RQ \RXU 0DF šLV QRW D UHʐQHG DQG polished user experience and requires VRPH EDVLF NQRZOHGJH RI KRZ WR QDYLJDWH WKH WHUPLQDOŢ <RXşOO QHHG WR install libusb as well as Python 3 using +RPHEUHZ <RX FDQ OHDUQ PRUH DERXW WKH LQVWDOODWLRQ DW IDYH FR 9. W X

7HFK&UXQFK VD\V WKH FKHFN RQO\ WDNHV šDERXW D PLQXWH RU WZR WR UXQŢ RQFH it’s been set up.

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 7

NEWS

AirPower prototype reveals mysteries behind Apple’s failed charging mat ,WDOLDQ FROOHFWRU VKRZV Rʏ LQQHU ZRUNLQJV ŞEHDXWLIXOş GHVLJQ Michael Simon reports

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irPower has been something of a mythical beast since $SSOH ʐUVW WHDVHG LWV existence at the iPhone X launch event in September 2017.

Even after Apple cancelled the

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innovative tri-charging mat in March UXPRXUV KDYH SHUVLVWHG RI LWV ongoing development at Apple, with Bloomberg reporting as recently as -XQH WKDW $SSOH KDVQşW DEDQGRQHG WKHbSURMHFW

1RZ ZH PD\ KDYH RXU ʐUVW ORRN at the AirPower in the wild. Italian Twitter user Giulio Zompetti has posted a video of the charging mat in action (see fave.co/3xyfeQw) after securing a prototype from a Chinese e-waste supplier. The unit is far from D ʐQDO SURGXFW DQG =RPSHWWL WROG 7KH 9HUJH WKDW LW šODFNV DOO RI LWV H[WHULRU KRXVLQJŢ +RZHYHU KH VD\V WKH GHDUWK RI UHʐQHPHQW VKRZV Rʏ WKH šEHDXWLIXO DQG KHDY\ VWDLQOHVV VWHHO FKDVVLVŢ $IWHU VRPH ʐGGOLQJ =RPSHWWL ZDV DEOH WR JHW LW LQ ZRUNLQJ RUGHU EXW LW only charged other prototype devices.

As he explains, it’s an engineering prototype, so “not meant for plug DQG SOD\Ţ OLNH $SSOHşV RWKHU GHYLFHV As Zompetti told The Verge, “When I connected my serial lightning cable to it, I could see some chars on the ORJ VR RQFH , ʐ[HG WKH %$8' UDWH , was able to read a comprehensible ORJ Ţ )URP WKHUH KH ZDV DEOH WR JHW two prototype devices to change simultaneously, complete with $SSOHşVbFKDUJLQJ DQLPDWLRQ Apple cancelled the AirPower FKDUJLQJ PDW LQ DIWHU EHLQJ unable to ‘achieve our high standards’ with its development. Rumours suggested that Apple struggled to solve heating issues with close proximity of the device’s charging

coils. For what it’s worth, Zompetti said he “wasn’t able to reproduce WKHbLVVXHŢ ZLWK RYHUKHDWLQJ Apple has since released the magnetic MagSafe charging mechanism for the iPhone 12, but has \HW WR GHYHORS WHFKQRORJ\ OLNH ZKDW was promised in AirPower. Apple’s main selling point was ‘a generous active charging area’ that let you SODFHbQXPHURXV GHYLFHV DQ\ZKHUH on a mat to charge them. Other manufacturers have made pseudocopycat charging pads that can charge three devices at once, but none are able to charge the Apple Watch, as AirPower was supposed to do.

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 9

NEWS

Apple introduces a new online shopfront and WKHUHşVbD ORWbWR VHH Apple returns the ‘Store’ tab after six years. Michael Simon reports

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e may have seen the last Ş%H 5LJKW %DFNş PHVVDJH on the Apple Store. After inexplicably going down for about an hour late last month, the online Apple Store returned with a

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QHZ WDE D QHZ ORRN DQG D ZKROH ORW of new puns.

While Apple has been selling products online for years, it hasn’t had a true storefront that encouraged browsing since the last redesign in

2015. With this new ORRN SURGXFWV VWLOO KDYH WR EX\bOLQNV that go to dedicated sections of the store, but you no ORQJHU QHHG WR MXPS through hoops or VHDUFK IRU D VSHFLʐF product to browse the digital shelves.

The leftmost tab next to the Apple logo now says ‘Store’ as it Will Apple still need to shut down the entire store to add did six years ago, and something new?

FOLFNLQJ LW EULQJV \RX to what Apple describes as: “The best HDVLHU WR ʐQGbZLWK GHGLFDWHG FDUGV LQ ZD\ WR EX\ WKHbSURGXFWVb\RXbORYH Ţ WKH FHQWUHbRI WKH SDJH It certainly is a better experience 7KH ORRN LV IDLUO\ EXV\ ZLWK and is much closer to the iOS and QXPHURXV URZV RI FDUGV DQG FOLFNDEOH iPadOS apps. The front page of the elements, but overall it’s a letter VWRUH LV ʐOOHG ZLWK OLQNV WR $SSOHşV experience. And it’s possible that family of products as well as a series $SSOH PLJKW QRW QHHG WR WDNH WKH VWRUH RI FDUGV DGYHUWLVLQJ WKH ODWHVW VWXʏ down for hours every time it needs ZLWK FOHYHU VORJDQV OLNH Ş6WLFN 2XWş WR DGG D QHZ SURGXFW D VWUDQJH TXLUN (MagSafe), ‘Blast Past Fast’ (iPhone 12), that has is endearing to Apple fans DQG Ş$ ZRUOG RI ZLQQLQJ ORRNVş $SSOH DQG FRQIRXQGLQJ WR DQ\RQH ORRNLQJ WR :DWFK ,QWHUQDWLRQDO &ROOHFWLRQbEDQGV buy a product during shutdown times. <RX FDQ VWLOO ʐQG SURGXFWV WKH ROG Apple hasn’t announced anything ZD\ EXW WKH QHZ GHVLJQ LV PRUH OLNHO\ DERXW EDFN HQG FKDQJHV WR WKH VWRUH to encourage impulse buying. For DQG VLQFH LW DOVR WRRN GRZQ WKH $SSOH example, the AirTag is spotlighted as Store app when updating Apple.com well as the HomePod mini. Shopping it’s entirely possible the practice assistance and tech support is also could continue.

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 11

NEWS

*RRJOH 0DSV ʐQDOO\ KDVbGDUN PRGH DQG KRPHbVFUHHQbZLGJHWV Google gets on board with iOS 13. Michael Simon reports

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LWK MXVW ZHHNV WR JR before iOS 15 arrives, *RRJOH LV ʐQDOO\ JHWWLQJ on board with some of the best features of iOS 13 and iOS 14. The company has announced it is

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EULQJLQJ GDUN PRGH DQG KRPH VFUHHQ ZLGJHWV WR WKHb*RRJOH 0DSV DSS 'DUN PRGH LV EDVLFDOO\ ZKDW \RX expect it to be: dressing the entire DSS LQ DQ RSWLRQDO EODFN ZUDSSHU <RX FDQ FKRRVH ZKHWKHU WR WXUQ GDUN

PRGH RQbLQ WKH VHWWLQJV DQG LW ZLOO presumably follow the system-wide options as well.

Also new are a pair of widgets that can be added to the home screen. The 1HDUE\ 7UDʒF ZLGJHW LV D VPDOO WZR by-two widget that shows an updated YLHZ RI WKH WUDʒF FRQGLWLRQV DURXQG your current location. The second is a large four-by-four Search widget that lets you ‘search for your favourite places or navigate to your frequent GHVWLQDWLRQV ZLWK MXVW D TXLFN WDSş Along with the new colour and widgets, Google is also expanding LWVbLQWHJUDWLRQ ZLWK 0HVVDJHV L3KRQHbXVHUV ZLOO EH DEOH WR WDS RQ WKHb*RRJOH 0DSV 0HVVDJHV DSS DQG share their location for up to three days with friends. There will also be a stop button in the message to instantly disable it.

Google says the update will be DYDLODEOH šLQ WKH FRPLQJ ZHHNVŢ EXW the Messages app is already available to try out by tapping the App Store icon in Messages and scrolling until you see the Google Maps logo.

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 13

NEWS

$SSOHşV ʐJKW DJDLQVW OHDNHUVbKDV D VXUSULVLQJ motive: cases $SSOHşV &KLQD ODZ ʐUP VHQGV FHDVH DQG GHVLVW OHWWHUV WR VRFLDO PHGLD OHDNHUV Michael Simon reports

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ver the past few months, $SSOH KDV VHHPLQJO\ WDNHQ D much harder stance against RQOLQH OHDNHUV VHQGLQJ out cease-and-desist letters to social

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media accounts that post assorted UXPRXUV WKDW TXLFNO\ VSUHDG DURXQG the web. Now Apple has a message to go along with it: you’re not harming us, you’re harming the cases. In a

cease-and-desist letter obtained E\ 0RWKHUERDUG $SSOHşV ODZ ʐUP LQ &KLQD ZHQW DIWHU D OHDNHU ZKR KDG ‘advertised stolen iPhone prototypes on social media’. In the letter, Apple VDLG WKH OHDNHU KDV šGLVFORVHG without authorization a large amount of information related to Apple’s unreleased and rumoured products, which has constituted a deliberate LQIULQJHPHQW RI $SSOHşV WUDGH VHFUHWVŢ According to Motherboard, Apple ZURWH WKDW OHDNV KDUP FXVWRPHUV E\ WDNLQJ DZD\ WKH HOHPHQW RI surprise, but also have an adverse HʏHFW RQ FDVH PDNHUV DQG EX\HUV $SSOH WROG WKH OHDNHU WKDW šWKLUG SDUW\ DFFHVVRU\bPDQXIDFWXUHUV PD\ GHYHORSbDQG VHOO PRELOH SKRQH cases and other accessories that are not actually compatible with WKHbXQUHOHDVHG SURGXFWVŢ 7KDWşV D QHZ DYHQXH LQ WKH ʐJKW DJDLQVW OHDNHUV :KLOH RWKHU SKRQH PDNHUV ZRUN FORVHO\ ZLWK ELJ QDPH FDVH PDNHUV WR HQVXUH DYDLODELOLW\ DW launch, Apple doesn’t often supply specs until after launch, leaving case PDNHUV LQ D WLJKW VSRW 7KDWşV ZK\ many of them follow rumours as FORVHO\ DV ZH GR DQG PDNH SURWRW\SHV and actual shipping units based on OHDNV :HşYH VHHQ QXPHURXV FDVH PDNHUV RYHU WKH \HDUV WURW RXW L3KRQH

FDVHV ZHHNV DQG PRQWKV EHIRUH WKH\ DUULYH RQ WKH PDUNHW 2FFDVLRQDOO\ WKH ʐUVW EDWFK GRHVQşW TXLWH ʐW WKH DFWXDO product or has the wrong name on the outside, and Apple wants to stop that in the interest of quality control. Since Apple can’t actually prevent a case PDNHU IURP ODXQFKLQJ D QHZ SURGXFW EDVHG RQ D OHDN LWşV DSSHDOLQJ WR WKH source to stop spreading information.

“It is obvious that when the unpublished information about the design and performance of Apple’s SURGXFWV LV NHSW FRQʐGHQWLDO LW KDV actual and potential commercial YDOXH Ţ $SSOH ZURWH 2I FRXUVH WKH UXPRXU PDUNHW LV UREXVW IRU JLDQW FRPSDQLHV OLNH $SSOH DQG 6DPVXQJ DQG LWşV XQOLNHO\ WKDW WKHVH HʏRUWV ZLOO KDYH D PDMRU LPSDFW on the reporting and dissemination of rumours anytime soon. But if you buy an iPhone 13 case that doesn’t quite ʐW ZKHQ \RX SRS \RXU L3KRQH LQWR LW GRQşW EODPH $SSOH %ODPH WKH OHDNHUV

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 15

Credit: Getty Images/Olemedia

NEWS ANALYSIS

Apple’s child abuse photo scanning: What it is and ZK\bSHRSOH DUH ZRUULHG Apple has announced new technologies to detect child abuse LPDJHV +HUHşV ZKDW \RX QHHG WR NQRZ Michael Simon reports

A

pple has announced that it will begin scanning all photos uploaded to iCloud for potential child sexual abuse material (CSAM). It’s come

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under a great deal of scrutiny and generated some outrage, so here’s ZKDW \RX QHHG WR NQRZ DERXW WKH QHZbWHFKQRORJ\ EHIRUH LW UROOV RXW initially in the US, later this year.

WHAT ARE THE TECHNOLOGIES APPLE IS ROLLING OUT? Apple will be rolling out new antiCSAM features in three areas: Messages, iCloud Photos, and Siri and Search. Here’s how each of them will be implemented, according to Apple.

Messages: The Messages app will XVHbRQ GHYLFH PDFKLQH OHDUQLQJ WR warn children and parents about sensitive content. iCloud Photos: Before an image is stored in iCloud Photos, an RQ GHYLFHbPDWFKLQJ SURFHVV LV SHUIRUPHGbIRU WKDW LPDJH DJDLQVW WKHbNQRZQ &6$0 KDVKHV Siri and Search: Siri and Search will provide additional resources to help children and parents stay safe online and get help with unsafe situations.

release, but will presumably arrive later this year as well.

DOES THIS MEAN APPLE WILL %(b$%/( 72 6(( 0< 3+2726" Not exactly. Here’s how Apple explains the technology: instead of scanning images in the cloud, the system performs on-device PDWFKLQJ XVLQJ D GDWDEDVH RI NQRZQ CSAM image hashes provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other child safety organizations. Apple further transforms this database into an unreadable set of hashes that is securely stored on users’ devices.

BUT APPLE IS SCANNING PHOTOS ON MY DEVICE, RIGHT? It is. However, Apple says the system GRHV QRW ZRUN IRU XVHUV ZKR KDYH iCloud Photos disabled.

WHEN WILL THE NEW TECHNOLOGIES ARRIVE?

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE SYSTEM DETECTS CSAM IMAGES?

Apple says the Messages and Siri and Search features will arrive in iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey.

To be clear, Apple doesn’t say the technologies will arrive when iOS 15 lands, so it could come in a follow-up update. The iCloud Photos scanning GRHVQşW KDYH D VSHFLʐF GDWH IRU

For one, it shouldn’t. Since the system RQO\ ZRUNV ZLWK &6$0 LPDJH KDVKHV provided by NCMEC, it will only UHSRUW SKRWRV WKDW DUH NQRZQ &6$0 LQ iCloud Photos. If it does detect CSAM, Apple will then conduct a human review before deciding whether to PDNH D UHSRUW WR 1&0(& $SSOH VD\V ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 17

NEWS ANALYSIS

there is no automated reporting to the police, though it will UHSRUW DQ\bLQVWDQFHV WR WKH DSSURSULDWHbDXWKRULWLHV

COULD THE SYSTEM MISTAKE AN ACTUAL PHOTO OF MY CHILD AS CSAM? ,WşV QRW OLNHO\ $SSOH VD\V WKH OLNHOLKRRG WKDW WKH V\VWHP ZRXOGbLQFRUUHFWO\ ʑDJ DQ\ given account is less than one in one trillion per year. And if it does happen, a human UHYLHZ ZRXOGbFDWFK LW EHIRUH LW HVFDODWHGbWR WKH DXWKRULWLHV

The new CSAM detection tools will arrive with the new operating systems later this year.

CAN I OPT OUT OF THE iCLOUD PHOTOS CSAM SCANNING? No, but you can disable iCloud 3KRWRVbWR SUHYHQW $SSOH IURP scanning images.

IS APPLE SCANNING ALL OF MY PHOTOS IN MESSAGES TOO? Not exactly. Apple’s safety measures in Messages are designed to SURWHFWbFKLOGUHQ DQG DUH RQO\ DYDLODEOH bIRU FKLOG DFFRXQWV VHW XSbDVbIDPLOLHV LQ L&ORXG

SO HOW DOES IT WORK? Communication safety in Messages is GLʏHUHQW WKDQ &6$0 VFDQQLQJ 5DWKHU 18 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

than using image hashes to compare DJDLQVW NQRZQ LPDJHV LW DQDO\VHV images on the device for sexually explicit content. Image are not shared with Apple or any other agency, including NCMEC.

CAN PARENTS OPT-OUT? 3DUHQWV QHHG WR VSHFLʐFDOO\ RSW LQ to use the new Messages image scanning.

WILL IMESSAGES STILL END-TO-END ENCRYPTED? Apple says communication safety in Messages doesn’t change the SULYDF\ IHDWXUHV EDNHG LQWR PHVVDJHV and Apple never gains access to communications. Furthermore,

none of the communications, image evaluation, interventions, or QRWLʐFDWLRQV DUH DYDLODEOH WR $SSOH

harmful and problematic and provide resources from partners to get help with this issue.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGE ,6b',6&29(5('"

CAN THE CSAM SYSTEM BE 86('b72 6&$1 )25 27+(5 IMAGE TYPES?

When a child aged 13 to 17 sends or receives sexually explicit images, the photo will be blurred and the child will be warned, presented with UHVRXUFHV DQG UHDVVXUHG LW LV RND\ if they do not want to view or send the photo. For accounts of children DJH bDQG XQGHU SDUHQWV FDQ VHW XS SDUHQWDO QRWLʐFDWLRQV WKDW ZLOO EH VHQW LI WKH FKLOG FRQʐUPV DQG VHQGV or views an image that has been determined to be sexually explicit.

Not presently. Apple says the system is only designed to scan for CSAM images. However, Apple could WKHRUHWLFDOO\ WZHDN WKH SDUDPHWHUV WR ORRN IRU LPDJHV UHODWHG WR RWKHU things, such as LGBTQ+ content.

WHAT’S NEW IN SIRI & SEARCH?

DO OTHER COMPANIES 6&$1b)25 &6$0 ,0$*(6"

Apple is enhancing Siri and Search WR KHOS SHRSOH ʐQG UHVRXUFHV IRU reporting CSAM and expanding guidance in Siri and Search by providing additional resources to KHOSbFKLOGUHQ DQG SDUHQWV VWD\ VDIH online and get help with unsafe situations. Apple is also updating Siri and Search to intervene when users perform searches for queries related to CSAM. Apple says the LQWHUYHQWLRQVbZLOO LQFOXGH H[SODLQLQJ to users that interest in this topic is

WHAT IF A GOVERNMENT FORCES APPLE TO SCAN )25b27+(5 ,0$*(6" Apple says it will refuse such demands.

<HV PRVW FORXG VHUYLFHV LQFOXGLQJ 'URSER[ *RRJOH DQG 0LFURVRIW DV ZHOO DV )DFHERRN DOVR KDYH V\VWHPV LQbSODFH WR GHWHFW &6$0 LPDJHV

SO WHY ARE PEOPLE UPSET? While most people agree that Apple’s system is appropriately limited in scope, experts, watchdogs, and privacy advocates are concerned about the potential for abuse. For example, Edward Snowden, who exposed global ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 19

NEWS ANALYSIS

surveillance programs by the NSA and is living in exile, tweeted: “No matter how well-intentioned, Apple is rolling out mass surveillance to the entire ZRUOG ZLWK WKLV 0DNH QR PLVWDNH LI WKH\ FDQ VFDQbIRU NLGGLH SRUQ WRGD\ WKH\ FDQ VFDQ IRU DQ\WKLQJ WRPRUURZ Ţ Additionally, the Electronic Frontier Foundation criticized the system and Matthew Green, a cryptography SURIHVVRU DW -RKQV +RSNLQV H[SODLQHG the potential for misuse with the system Apple is using.

People are also concerned that $SSOH LV VDFULʐFLQJ WKH SULYDF\ EXLOW into the iPhone by using the device to scan for CSAM images. While many other services scan for CSAM images, Apple’s system is unique in that it uses on-device matching rather than images uploaded to the cloud.

COULD APPLE BE BLOCKED FROM IMPLEMENTING ITS &6$0b'(7(&7,21 6<67(0" ,WşV KDUG WR VD\ EXW LWşV OLNHO\ WKDW WKHUHbZLOO EH OHJDO EDWWOHV ERWK EHIRUHbDQG DIWHU WKH QHZ WHFKQRORJLHVbDUH LPSOHPHQWHG

20 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

7KHVH WLSV DQG WULFNV ZLOO turn you into an iPhone pro 7ZHDNV WR WXUQ \RX LQWR DQ L3KRQH SUR Tamara Palmer reports

I

f you happen to be the type of L3KRQH RZQHU ZKR MXVW ZDQWV WR power it on and start downloading DSSV RU DFWXDOO\ PDNH FDOOV ZH totally get it. However, you may be short-changing yourself when it comes to harnessing the power that’s ULJKW LQ \RXU SRFNHW +HUH DUH VRPH

KHOSIXO WULFNV WKDW ZLOO WXUQ \RX LQWR D power user overnight.

1. ASSIGN A FREQUENT TASK TO BACK TAP L26 şV %DFN 7DS HQDEOHV \RX WR DVVLJQ DQ DFWLRQ WKDW WDNHV SODFH when you either double or triple ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 21

iPHONE

PLQL WUDFNSDG <RX UHDG WKDW ULJKW Ŝ WKH NH\V will disappear and you can move your ʐQJHU DURXQG WKH NH\ERDUG to move the insertion point OLNH D FXUVRU RUbVHOHFW WH[W MXVW OLNH RQ your Mac.

1.

WDS WKH EDFN RI \RXU SKRQH )RU LQVWDQFH b\RXbFDQ GRXEOH EDFN WDS \RXU SKRQH WR TXLFNO\ DFFHVV the Control Centre, show the App 6ZLWFKHU RU PXWH WKH VRXQG 7R ʐQG WKH VHWWLQJ DQG PDNH \RXU FXVWRP action assignment, go to Settings, tap on Accessibility, then VHOHFWb7RXFK DQG FKRRVHb%DFN 7DS

2. TURN YOUR KEYBOARD INTO $b75$&.3$' When you’re using your iPhone Keyboard, long-press the Space bar to transform it into a 22 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

3.

3. MAKE YOUR KEYBOARD 21(b+$1' )5,(1'/,(5 6SHDNLQJ RI WKH YHUVDWLOLW\ RI WKH L26 NH\ERDUG WKHUHşV D KLGGHQ IHDWXUH LQVLGH WKH HPRML PHQX :KHQ \RXşUH XVLQJ WKH NH\ERDUG WDS DQG KROG

WKH HPRML (or globe) icon in the bottom left and \RXşOO ʐQG a settings menu. At the bottom you’ll see three options: left, centre 4. and right.

If you tap WKH OHIW RU ULJKW EXWWRQV LWşOO VKULQN DQG VKLIW WKH NH\ERDUG WR WKH VHOHFWHG side so it’s a little easier to reach the IDU NH\V ZLWK \RXU WKXPE :KHQ \RX ZDQWbWR JR EDFN WR IXOO VFUHHQ MXVW press the arrow button.

4. CONTROL YOUR CAMERA WITH YOUR VOICE If you set up Voice Control to remotely FRQWURO \RXU L3KRQH \RX FDQ WULFN LW into snapping a picture, which really comes in handy if you’re trying to get a shot of a super drippy hamburger. To HPSRZHU \RXU YRLFH WR PDNH LPDJHV go to Settings, select Accessibility and activate Voice Control. Once you’re UHDG\ WR WDNH D KDQGV IUHH SLFWXUH LQ your Camera app, simply say “Turn

XS WKH YROXPHŢ RU š7XUQ GRZQ WKH YROXPHŢ DQG WKH SK\VLFDO DFWLRQV WKDW normally engage the camera shutter will be performed without having to touch the volume buttons.

5. SET UP MEDICAL ID Let’s start with a potentially lifeVDYLQJ WULFN LI \RX VHW XS 0HGLFDO ,' RQ \RXU L3KRQH D ʐUVW UHVSRQGHU LQ an emergency situation can access vital information that you opt to share, such as your medical conditions, age and blood type. To set it up, go to the +HDOWK DSS WDS RQ \RXU SURʐOH SLFWXUH DQG VHOHFW 0HGLFDO ,' LQ RUGHU WR DGG WKH GHWDLOV WKDW \RX ZDQW <RX FDQ DOVR decide if this information can be read HYHQ LI \RXU SKRQH LV ORFNHG ZKLFK LV ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 23

iPHONE

5. a good idea if something physically catastrophic happens to you.

6. TURN OFF THE &$0(5$b6+877(5 7KDW OLWWOH FDPHUD FOLFNLQJ VRXQG FDQ EH IXQ DW ʐUVW EXW LW FDQ TXLFNO\ become an annoyance. Oddly, there LVQşW D GLUHFW RQ Rʏ VZLWFK EXW WKHUH DUH DFWXDOO\ D IHZ GLʏHUHQW ZD\V \RX can disable the camera shutter sound on your iPhone or iPad, the easiest being the little mute switch on the side of your iPhone.

7. UNLOCK A PHONE WITH )$&(b,' :+,/( 0$6.(' We’re still not sure when the pandemic will truly be over, so 24 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

if you’re struggling to XQORFN \RXU iPhone with )DFH ,' ZKHQ ZHDULQJ D PDVN Apple has a VROXWLRQ Ŝ EXW you’ll need an Apple Watch.

With both GHYLFHV )DFH ,' will recognize when you’re ZHDULQJ D PDVN and send a ping to your Apple Watch WR VDIHO\ XQORFN \RXU L3KRQH +HDG RYHU WR 6HWWLQJV!)DFH ,' 3DVVFRGH to turn it on and read our guide for VSHFLʐF LQVWUXFWLRQV

8. TAKE A FULL-PAGE SCREENSHOT There are many occasions when it is useful to have a screenshot, and LWşV UHDOO\ HDV\ WR JUDE RQH Ŝ 3RZHU Volume Up on an iPhone X or later or Power + the Home Button on Touch ,' SKRQHV %XW \RX FDQ DOVR UHFRUG what you can’t see on your screen. $IWHU \RX WDNH \RXU VFUHHQVKRW WDS the small icon in the bottom left corner and then tap the Full Page tab. <RXşOO WKHQ VHH DOO RI WKH UHVW RI \RXU

8. screenshot, which you can edit, crop, or save in its entirety.

PLJKW QRW NQRZ that you can actually move more than one at a time. Hold down an app until it wiggles then use one of your other ʐQJHUV WR tap as many apps as you want to move and they’ll be added to WKH RULJLQDO VWDFN 7KHQ MXVW PRYH the whole group to where you want WKHPbWR JR

9. CHANGE SIRI’S VOICE 6LUL XVHUV ZKR ZDQW WR VKDNH LW XS D ELW can change the voice of your virtual assistant. Perhaps you’d fancy hearing D %ULWLVK DFFHQW LQVWHDG" <RX FDQ VKRUWFXW WKLV SURFHVV E\ DVNLQJ 6LUL WR change its voice, which will bring up D EXWWRQ WKDW ZLOO WDNH \RX WR WKH 6LUL & Search tab in Settings. Then tap Siri Voice and try out a new one.

10. MOVE MULTIPLE APPS AT ONCE <RX DOUHDG\ NQRZ KRZ WR PRYH DSSV DURXQG \RXU KRPH VFUHHQ Ŝ SUHVV DQG KROG XQWLO WKH\ VWDUW MLJJOLQJ Ŝ EXW \RX ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 25

iPHONE

iPhone 12 and 12 Pro: %X\bQRZ RU ZDLW" $SSOHşV ʑDJVKLS L3KRQH ZDV ODVW XSGDWHG LQ 2FWREHU Jason Cross reports

I

s this a good time to buy the latest iPhone? It’s a common question that’s usually easy to answer. If you need a new phone right now, then you’ll probably be happy with the latest iPhone for a few years. If you FDQ DʏRUG WR ZDLW D OLWWOH ELW WKHQ WKH

26 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

rule is: Apple typically releases new iPhones in September. If that’s right around the corner, wait.

Apple typically prices the new iPhone models similarly to their predecessors, so you’ll get a newer, more capable iPhone for the same

price. Carrier deals typically spring up around iPhone launches, so you might be able to save more money, especially if you’re willing to switch providers. Even if the new model doesn’t impress you, Apple continues to sell the prior year’s model at a reduced price. Here’s our advice DERXWbZKHQ WR SXOO RXW WKH FUHGLW FDUGbIRU D QHZ L3KRQH PLQL b3UR RU 3UR 0D[

PRICING AND SPECS Released: October 2020 Apple almost always releases new iPhones in September, a couple of ZHHNV DIWHU LW KROGV D ELJ HYHQW WR DQQRXQFH WKHP 'XH WR WKH &29,' pandemic, the release was a month later than usual in 2020. We’re not sure if the same will hold true in 2021 for the iPhone 13 line-up, though we’ve heard rumours that it will return to its usual slot in September.

The iPhone 12 comes in four YDULHWLHV L3KRQH e PLQL e 3UR e DQG 3UR 0D[ e 7KH\ DOO IHDWXUH WKH VDPH SURFHVVRUV DQG 2/(' GLVSOD\V DQG the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are the same size. But the Pro models have stainless steel enclosures, an additional telephoto camera, and a /L'$5 VFDQQHU

Apple typically releases the main iPhone series models all ZLWKLQ D IHZbZHHNV RI HDFK RWKHU LQb6HSWHPEHU 2FWREHU DQG WKH L3KRQHb6( LI DQ\ LQ WKH VSULQJ

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY If you need a new iPhone, you need a new iPhone. And while we expect the iPhone 13 to be better, you’re still going to be happy with your iPhone 12 for the next few years. There’s nothing wrong with buying one now, LWşV MXVW QRW WKH EHVW VWUDWHJ\ IRU WKRVHbZKR FDQ DʏRUG WR ZDLW The other reason to buy the iPhone 12 now instead of waiting would be if you assume that the iPhone 13 mini or 13 Pro Max to be more expensive and you’d rather have the iPhone 12 versions. While Apple will probably continue to sell the iPhone 12 after WKH KLWV WKH PDUNHW ZH H[SHFW LW will only sell the regular iPhone 12, not the mini or Pro/Max models.

iPHONE 12: WHY YOU SHOULD WAIT We expect Apple to announce the iPhone 13 line-up in September, and release the models through late September and early October.

It is expected to be available in four models, the same as the iPhone 12.

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 27

iPHONE

If the rumours are true, it will have a better camera, a faster A15 processor, a bigger battery and an always-on display capable of +]b DW OHDVW LQ WKH 3UR PRGHOV

There is some disagreement about whether it will have a smaller QRWFKbIRU WKH 7UXH'HSWK FDPHUD RU QRW RU ZKHWKHUbDOO IRXU PRGHOV ZLOObKDYH /L'$5 VHQVRUV Even if it costs more, and you ZRXOG UDWKHU MXVW KDYH WKH L3KRQH 12, waiting is a good idea. Apple will OLNHO\ GURS WKH SULFH RQ WKH L3KRQH bZKHQ WKH L3KRQH LV UHOHDVHG giving you the opportunity to save a bit of money.

iPAD & iPHONE USER 5(&200(1'6 bWAIT *HQHUDOO\ VSHDNLQJ RQFH \RX JHW LQWR -XO\ LWşV KDUG WR MXVWLI\ EX\LQJ D QHZ L3KRQH ZKHQ \RX NQRZ D EHWWHU PRGHObLV MXVW WZR WR WKUHH PRQWKV away and will probably come at a similar price. And August is the WH[WERRN ŞGRQşW EX\ D QHZ L3KRQH LI \RX GRQşW KDYH WRş PRQWK 7KLQN RI LW OLNH WKLV ,I \RX VHH WKH L3KRQH DQG decide you don’t want it, the iPhone 12 is basically guaranteed to be cheaper than it is now.

28 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

How the iPhone 13 and 3L[HO ZLOO VKDSH WKH IXWXUHbRI WKH VPDUWSKRQH Screens, chips and cameras are about to change. Dan Moren reports

E

DUOLHU WKLV PRQWK *RRJOH WRRN WKH ZUDSV Rʏ LWV XSFRPLQJ 3L[HO OLQH RI VPDUWSKRQHV Ŝ though, in very Google fashion, it didn’t spill all the details about the GHYLFHV MXVW GURSSHG HQRXJK WR WHDVH

consumers, with a promise that more would be shared this autumn. %XW HYHQ WKDW EULHI ORRN FOXHV us in a little bit about the state of smartphones in 2021. Google may QRW WKXV IDU EH D PDNHU RI WRS WLHU ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 29

iPHONE

ʑDJVKLS VPDUWSKRQHV D PDUNHW LWşV ODUJHO\ FHGHG WR GHYLFH PDNHUV OLNH Samsung), but as the steward of the Android platform, it obviously has a vested interest in its success, so it’s QR VXUSULVH WKDW *RRJOHşV SOD\ERRN LV WDNLQJ QRWHV IURP $SSOH Ŝ WKRXJK LWşV certainly not a one-way street.

Google is probably hoping to steal some thunder from Apple with its Pixel announcement, given that the annual announcement of the latest L3KRQH LV OLNHO\ GXH QH[W PRQWK :KLOH WKDW VWUDWHJ\ PD\ RU PD\ QRW SD\ Rʏ LW does mean that we can probably start WR SLQSRLQW ZKHUH WKHVH WZR PDMRU players have decided to put their energy and resources, which in turn JLYHV XV D SHHN DW ZKHUH WKH IXWXUH RI WKH VPDUWSKRQH PDUNHW LV KHDGHG

CAMERA UNOBSCURA

Cameras are among the most integral pieces of hardware on a smartphone.

Aside from the processor, there’s little else that gets the same year-afteryear attention from Apple or most RI LWV FRPSHWLWRUV 5HDOO\ LWşV NLQG RI ridiculous that we still call the device a ‘phone’, given that people probably PDNH SKRQH FDOOV RQ LW IDU OHVV WKDQ WKH\ XVH LW WR WDNH SLFWXUHV *LYHQ WKDW VPDUWSKRQH PDNHUV DUH all constantly aiming to outperform the others on cameras, and Google LV QR H[FHSWLRQ :LWK WKH 3L[HO LWşV GULYLQJ VWDNHV LQWR WKH JURXQG LQ D couple of notable places: in particular, with its inclusion of a 4x ‘folded’ WHOHSKRWR OHQV LQ WKH 3L[HO 3UR outpacing the 2x telephoto in the iPhone 12 Pro line.

If patents are any indication, Apple’s been investigating folded lenses of its own, and while it’s unclear if a feature along those lines will PDNH LW LQWR WKH L3KRQH LW VHHPV OLNHO\ WKDW a camera of that type will show up in a future Apple smartphone The camera bump on the Pixel 6 is a major design element. eventually.

30 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

*RRJOH KDV DOVR WDNHQ the camera bump to the next level, embracing it by turning it into a bar that spans the width of the phone. I wouldn’t expect the iPhone 13 to follow suit in that department, but as the camera advancements probably won’t slow down anytime soon, maybe it’s WLPH WR FRQVLGHU D WKLFNHU phone? Not only would that allow Apple to potentially UHGXFH Ŝ RU HOLPLQDWH Ŝ WKH The Pixel 6 Pro’s display will reportedly be 120Hz. camera bump, but it also might allow the company to provide LW ERDVWHG RI QRW MXVW WKH VPRRWKHU more of that always-in-demand movement, but also the ability to resource: battery life.

DGMXVW WKH UHIUHVK UDWH WR PDWFK content, potentially saving energy.

HERTZ, DOESN’T IT? If that spec sounds familiar, it’s Apple has long prided itself on being because Apple rolled out its own the best of the best when it comes to 120Hz displays, dubbed ProMotion, in GHYLFH GLVSOD\V EXW WKH 3L[HO 3URşV WKH L3DG 3UR EDFN LQ $W WKH WLPH GLVSOD\ ORRNV WR RQH XS WKH FXUUHQW LW ERDVWHG RI QRW MXVW WKH VPRRWKHU iPhone line in one place: refresh rate. movement, but also the ability to Google’s top-of-the-line phone will DGMXVW WKH UHIUHVK UDWH WR PDWFK sport a display with a 120Hz refresh content, potentially saving energy. rate, a feature that can provide Since then, ProMotion has been smoother motion and animations. one of those technologies that has If that spec sounds familiar, it’s SHUHQQLDOO\ EHHQ H[SHFWHG WR PDNH because Apple rolled out its own WKH MXPS WR WKH L3KRQH FRXOG 120Hz displays, dubbed ProMotion, in ʐQDOO\ EH WKDW \HDU WKRXJK LW ZRXOGQşW WKH L3DG 3UR EDFN LQ $W WKH WLPH EH VKRFNLQJ WR VHH WKH WHFKQRORJ\ ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 31

iPHONE

only appear on Apple’s Pro-level smartphones. (Similarly, Google’s version won’t be available on the VWDQGDUG 3L[HO MXVW WKH 3L[HO 3UR

FUTURE TENSOR 2QH SODFH WKDW *RRJOH WRRN D FXH IURP $SSOH LQ WKH 3L[HO LV DOVR arguably the biggest news of the announcement: the Tensor system on a chip that Google has helped build. It’s unclear exactly what parts of that SoC Google was responsible for creating, but what is evident, EDVHG RQ *RRJOHşV VWRFN LQ WUDGH Ŝ DQG WKH 6R&şV QDPH ZKLFK LW ERUURZHG IURPbLWV 7HQVRU 3URFHVVLQJ 8QLW FORXG EDVHG QHXUDO QHWZRUN V\VWHP Ŝ LV WKDWbWKH NH\ IRFXVHV RI WKHbWHFKQRORJ\bDUH PDFKLQH OHDUQLQJbDQG DUWLʐFLDO LQWHOOLJHQFH The Tensor SoC seems to be Google’s answer to Apple’s own QHXUDO HQJLQH ʐUVW LQFOXGHG LQ WKH $ %LRQLF FKLS *RRJOH VSHFLʐFDOO\ VD\V WKDW 7HQVRU ZLOO EHQHʐW LWV šFRPSXWDWLRQDO SKRWRJUDSK\ PRGHOVŢ and most of the examples shown to those who were able to preview the device were photo and video related.

Zoom out to the bigger picture (if you’ll pardon the expression), it suggests that Google is tacitly admitting that if you want to get 32 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

ahead in the smartphone business, the old adage of famed computer scientist Alan Kay still holds true, that “people who are really serious about software VKRXOG PDNH WKHLU RZQ KDUGZDUHŢ 7KLV SRWHQWLDOO\ WDNHV WKH smartphone arms race to a whole QHZbOHYHO 7KH JRRG QHZV LV WKDW it means Apple and Google’s competition is shaping up to be ʐHUFHUbWKDQ HYHU DQG WKDWşV VRPHWKLQJ WKDW VWDQGV WR EHQHʐW DOO XVHUV QR matter which platform they use.

$SSOH LV WDNLQJ DZD\ WKHVHb XVHIXO 6LUL integrations in iOS 15 Say goodbye to ride hailing and payments. Michael Simon reports

I

n a quiet move that could cause D ORXG EDFNODVK IURP XVHUV DQG developers, Apple has announced that numerous Siri interactions with both Apple and third-party apps will no longer be supported “in all QHZ DQG H[LVWLQJ 26 UHOHDVHVŢ RQFH

iOS 15 lands this autumn. This list is fairly extensive and includes common DFWLRQV VXFK DV ERRN D ULGH WKURXJK Uber and searching for photos.

As spotted by Macrumours, Apple has posted a new support page called Ş'HSUHFDWHG 6LUL.LW ,QWHQW 'RPDLQVş ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 33

iPHONE

(see fave. co/3Atw3Ox) that informs developers that once iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, and ZDWFK26 bDUH released this autumn, “some SiriKit intent domains will be CarPlay is losing a number of Siri integrations.

GHSUHFDWHGŢ $V $SSOH H[SODLQV ZKHQ D XVHU PDNHV D • 6HW 'HIURVWHU 6HWWLQJV LQ &DU request that is no longer supported, • Set Seat Settings in Car Siri will reply that it can’t support • 6DYH 3URʐOH LQ &DU WKHbUHTXHVW • 6HW 3URʐOH LQ &DU 7KHUH LVQşW DQ\ ZRUN WKH GHYHORSHUV • Set Radio Station need to do to update their apps, WKRXJK $SSOH FDXWLRQV DSS PDNHUV LISTS AND NOTES to “update any promotional activities • Append to Note WKDW KLJKOLJKW WKH IXQFWLRQDOLW\Ţ • &UHDWH 7DVN /LVW However, the changes will undoubtedly • 'HOHWH D 7DVN DʏHFW ERWK XVHUV DQG GHYHORSHUV who rely on Siri to enhance the PAYMENTS functionality of their app. For • Pay a Bill example, the ability to interact with • Search for Bills a car’s radio, climate control and seat • 7UDQVIHU 0RQH\ EHWZHHQ DFFRXQWV N settings using CarPlay have all been removed in iOS 15. Here’s the full list: VISUAL CODES • Get Visual Code

CARPLAY • Set Audio Source in Car • Set Climate Settings in Car 34 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

VOIP CALLING • Search Call History

RIDE BOOKING • List Ride Options • Request a Ride • Get the Ride Status • Cancel Ride • 6HQG 5LGH )HHGEDFN

PHOTOS • Search for Photos • Start Photo Playbace It’s not clear why Apple is removing the functionality that was introduced in iOS 13. Some of the deprecated interactions will be frustrating and confounding for users. For example, \RX FDQ QR ORQJHU GHOHWH D WDVN IURP D WDVN OLVW EXW \RX FDQ DGG RQH $SSOH does note that ride-hailing in Maps will continue to be supported.

This limited functionality presumably won’t apply to Apple’s own Reminders app, but we’ll have to test it. Apple added several new Siri enhancements in iOS 15, including RʓLQH VXSSRUW IDVW RQ GHYLFH processing, and on-screen context, but none of the new features seem to directly impact any of the interactions being deprecated.

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 35

AIRPODS

The next AirPods: Redesigned earbuds GXHbWRbDUULYH LQ DXWXPQ +HUH DUH WKH PDMRU IHDWXUHV WKDW KDYH EHHQ UXPRXUHG IRU WKH QH[W AirPods. Roman Loyola reports

A

irPods are popular because they exemplify what Apple is all about: high-quality products with great features WKDW ZRUN ZLWKRXW IXVV $QG ZKLOH \RX PD\ QRW WKLQN RI HDUEXGV DQG 36 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

headphones as the types of products that would be updated with new features on a regular basis, Apple GRHV D JUHDW MRE RI LQWHJUDWLQJ WKHP into its ecosystem, and new versions bring more functionality.

2021 AIRPODS 5'b*(1(5$7,21

Availability: Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in March that the new third-gen AirPods are not scheduled to go into mass production until the third quarter of this year, which OLNHO\ VLJQDOV D DXWXPQ UHOHDVH .XRşV VWDWHPHQW ZDV EDFNHG XS E\ Weibo poster l0vetodream, who has SUHYLRXVO\ FRUUHFWO\ OHDNHG $SSOH LQIR ,Q ODWH -XO\ 1LNNHL $VLD UHSRUWHG that the third-gen AirPods will start production in August.

Design: /HDNV$SSOH3UR WZHHWHG photos of the purported AirPods 3, which have shorter stems and earbuds WKDW ORRN OLNH WKRVH RQ WKH $LU3RGV Pro, but without the silicone ear tips.

The Chinese website 52audio posted SKRWRV RI $LU3RGV WKDW ORRN VLPLODU WR ZKDW /HDNV$SSOH3UR SRVWHG DQG Bloomberg also reported that the next AirPods will have shorter stems.

The AirPods could also have a new case that’s similar to the AirPods Pro case, but 52audio and Bloomberg did QRW VD\ LI $SSOH ZLOO FRQWLQXH WR RʏHU both wired and wireless options.

Features: Several reports state that the next AirPods will have the same H1 chip and features as the current

AirPods, such as fast device pairing and switching, optical sensors, and motion and speech-detecting accelerometers. However, even though WKH $LU3RGV PD\ ORRN OLNH $LU3RGV 3UR WKH\ OLNHO\ ZRQşW KDYH DFWLYH QRLVH cancellation.

Price: 52audio reported that the AirPods could be priced at £150, but they did not indicate the type of case.

2022 AIRPODS PRO 1'b*(1(5$7,21

Availability: Apparently, Apple had planned on shipping the secondgeneration AirPods Pro this year, but Bloomberg reported in May 2021 WKDWbLW ZRQşW VKLS XQWLO 0LQJ &KL Kuo echoed that timeline in a note to LQYHVWRUV LQ ODWH -XQH Design: Bloomberg reported that the next AirPods Pro will not have DQ\ VWHPV DQG FRXOG ORRN D ORW OLNH WKH QHZ %HDWV 6WXGLR %XGV WKDW ZHUHbUHFHQWO\ XQYHLOHG ZLWK D GHVLJQbWKDW VLWV ʑXVK ZLWK WKH HDU Features: According to AirPods rumours, Apple will continue to GLʏHUHQWLDWH WKH $LU3RGV 3UR ZLWK noise cancellation. According to Bloomberg, the next AirPods Pro will ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 37

AIRPODS

updates, though Apple could release new colours to refresh the product mid-cycle.

APPLE MUSIC Apple launched Lossless Audio and Lossless High-Res Audio for Apple Music LQ -XQH EXW GXH WR the limitations of Bluetooth and the The next AirPods Pro could take design cues from the Beats Studio Buds.

AAC codec, none of the current crop of IRFXV PRUH RQ ʐWQHVV WUDFNLQJ DQG AirPods are able to stream the higherhave updated motion sensors.

TXDOLW\ WUDFNV +RZHYHU -RQ 3URVVHU UHSRUWHG WKDW $SSOH LV ZRUNLQJ RQ D Price: No reports of price have been new audio codec that would allow PDGH 7KH FXUUHQW PRGHO LV e EXW lossless streaming over AirPods, they are frequently on sale. The new ZKLFKbFRXOG JHW DQ LQWURGXFWLRQ %HDWV 6WXGLR %XGV DUH e VR LWşV alongside the new models. It’s unclear possible Apple could do a small price whether such a new feature would be reduction, though that’s not Apple’s limited to new AirPods, but if Apple typical move. opts to use Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2 to enable Lossless audio, that would 2021 AIRPODS MAX require new hardware.

1' *(1(5$7,21

The AirPods Max were released in late VR LWşV XQOLNHO\ WKDW D QHZ PRGHO will launch this year, based on Apple’s AirPods cadence. However, Bloomberg reported in May that Apple is not ZRUNLQJ RQ DQ\ GHVLJQ RU IHDWXUH 38 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

iOS 15 $SSOH XQYHLOHG L26 DW ::'& and it includes several features that will come to the AirPods, including expanded support for the Find My QHWZRUN &RQYHUVDWLRQ %RRVW IRU

AirPods Pro, and spatial audio on Apple TV and M1 Macs. All of these IHDWXUHV ZLOO OLNHO\ VKLS ZLWK WKH QHZ AirPods models, which could signal DQbDXWXPQ UHOHDVH

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 39

AIRPODS

AirPods Pro: Buy now or wait?

Apple’s noise-cancelling earbuds were last updated in October Jason Cross reports

A

irPods are some of Apple’s most successful products of all time. Though Apple GRHVQşW UHSRUW VDOHV ʐJXUHV it has been estimated that sales of AirPods brought in revenue of $12 billion in 2020. That’s a Fortune 40 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

500 company on its own, and more UHYHQXH WKDQ 1YLGLD $0' 6SRWLI\ RUb7ZLWWHU 7KH PLGGOH FKLOG RI WKH line-up is now the AirPods Pro, ZKLFKbVLWV EHWZHHQ WKH VWDQGDUG AirPods and AirPods Max in price DQGbSHUIRUPDQFH

Is this the right time to buy AirPods Pro, or will you be disappointed when D QHZ PRGHO LV UHOHDVHG LQ MXVW D IHZ ZHHNV" +HUHşV ZKDW ZH NQRZ DQG what we recommend.

PRICING AND SPECS Last update: October 2019 $SSOH ʐUVW UHOHDVHG WKH $LU3RGV 3UR LQ 2FWREHU RI DW D SULFH RI e 7KHUH KDYH EHHQ QR XSGDWHG YHUVLRQVbRI WKH KDUGZDUH DQG QR change in the price since then.

In our AirPods Pro review, we found them to be an exceptional product, ZLWK D EHWWHU GHVLJQ DQG ʐW WKDQ WKH standard AirPods, slightly better sound quality, and excellent active noise cancellation. In iOS 14, Apple added Spatial Audio for supported video types, and then expanded the feature WR $SSOH 0XVLF LQ L26 WKRXJK that is supported by all headphones, QRW MXVW $LU3RGV 3UR While AirPods Pro have not dropped in price, they are frequently on sale for less than £200. AirPods Pro ZHUH KDUG WR ʐQG DW ʐUVW DQG EDFN RUGHUHG IRU ZHHNV EXW DUH UHDGLO\ available today.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY AirPods Pro are a big step up from regular AirPods. The shorter stems

and rubberized tips produce a PRUH FRPIRUWDEOH ʐW DQG FUHDWH a better seal that improves sound quality (especially at the low end).

7KH QRLVHbFDQFHOOLQJ LV H[FHSWLRQDO for such tiny earbuds, and the transparency mode is among the EHVWb\RXşOO ʐQG DQ\ZKHUH Many of iOS’s best AirPods features ZRUN RQO\ ZLWK $LU3RGV 3UR 6SDWLDO $XGLR LQ $SSOH 0XVLF ZRUNV RQ DOO headphones, but enabling the sound in video requires AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. With iOS 15, you’ll get expanded Find My support, along with Spatial Audio on Apple TV or M1-based Macs. Since they can now be found under £200 quite easily, it’s very easy to recommend them.

WHY YOU SHOULD WAIT The only reason not to get AirPods Pro right now would be if something truly better is right around the corner.

The most recent rumours say that the AirPods Pro aren’t due for an update until 2022. Reports say the next-generation earbuds could be GUDPDWLFDOO\ GLʏHUHQW ZLWK D GHVLJQ WKDW VLWV ʑXVK LQ WKH HDU DQG EULQJV QHZ KHDOWK DQG ʐWQHVV IHDWXUHV Regular AirPods are due for a sooner update; we’ve heard rumours of a ‘3rd-generation’ AirPods for over ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 41

AIRPODS

a year. Every time we hear they’re going to be announced, they aren’t.

The latest rumours say that these new AirPods may arrive before the end of 2021 and should come in a shorter, wider case and have shorter stems, along with redesigned ‘buds’, broadly PLPLFNLQJ WKH $LU3RGV 3UR

iPAD & iPHONE USER RECOMMENDS: BUY :H WKLQN LI \RX ZDQW D SDLU RI $LU3RGV the AirPods Pro are the best buy right now. The new 3rd-generation AirPods, if they happen to be released near WKH HQG RI ZLOO OLNHO\ QRW KDYH all the features of the AirPods Pro, including noise-cancellation. And with an anticipated price of at least e DQG OLNHO\ FRQVWUDLQHG VDOHV IRU WKH ʐUVW IHZ PRQWKV \RXşUH QRW UHDOO\ paying much more to go ahead and get the AirPods Pro now.

42 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

$SSOH :DWFK QHZ PRGHOVbPD\ EH RQ WKH ZD\ The next Apple Watch could be a massive change. iPad & iPhone 8VHU VWDlj report

I

WşV EHHQ VL[ \HDUV VLQFH WKH ʐUVW $SSOH :DWFK KLW WKH PDUNHW DQG WKH device has seen some important changes in its time with cellular, larger displays, and more powerful sensors. Lately, however, it seems as if we’ve hit the part in a product’s life

where the upgrades are incremental, but that could change this year with the Series 7.

DESIGN AND COLOURS -RQ 3URVVHU RI )URQW 3DJH 7HFK reported that the Apple Watch Series ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 43

APPLE WATCH

7 could feature a new design, one that KDV ʑDW HGJHV OLNH the iPhone 12 and iPad Pro. Prosser created renders of the watch based on the information he has seen. Analyst Ming&KL .XR VDLG EDFN LQ November 2020 that the Series 7 watch will feature an “improved IRUP IDFWRUŢ ZKLOH 0DUN *XUPDQ recently reported that the Apple Watch could have thinner bezels and a slightly The Apple Watch Series 7 could come in new colours.

WKLFNHUbFDVH Prosser also said that Apple is French site Consomac reports that experimenting with colours and the $SSOH KDV ʐOHG IRU VL[ QHZ $SSOH Series 7 may come in a variety of Watch models with the Eurasian FRORXUV OLNH WKH LQ L0DF ,WşV QRW Economic Commission (A2473, A2474, clear if the current blue and red $ $ $ DQG $

FRORXUV ZRXOG EH VWLFNLQJ DURXQG two fewer than last year.

In his August 1 Power On QHZVOHWWHU 0DUN *XUPDQ UHSRUWV WKDW DISPLAY Apple may drop the “pricier Edition 7KH $SSOH :DWFK 6HULHV ZLOO OLNHO\ PDWHULDOŢ WKLV \HDU $SSOH KDV RʏHUHG KDYH D GLʏHUHQW GLVSOD\ $FFRUGLQJ WR its Apple Watch in a variety of highGurman, Apple “has tested thinner HQG ʐQLVKHV RYHU WKH \HDUV LQFOXGLQJ display borders and a new lamination solid gold, ceramic, and most recently, technique that brings the display WLWDQLXP 3RVVLEO\ EDFNLQJ WKDW XS FORVHU WR WKH IURQW FRYHUŢ ZKLFK FRXOG 44 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

mean a slightly larger display. Apple last increased the display from 38mm and 42mm to 40mm and 44mm with the Series 4. It’s possible that Apple could increase the screen size gain by trimming the bezels further and adding a millimetre or two.

HEALTH AND FITNESS FEATURES A recent report by The Telegraph said that Apple is a customer of a company that specializes in next-gen health sensors, fuelling speculation that the next Apple Watch will have blood pressure, glucose and alcohol level monitoring. However, Bloomberg UHSRUWHG WKDW ZKLOH $SSOH LV ZRUNLQJ on such functionality, it won’t be ready for the Series 7 and made not EH UHDG\ šIRU VHYHUDO PRUH \HDUVŢ $OVR RQ WKH EDFN EXUQHU LV D ERG\ temperature sensor. According to Bloomberg, Apple wanted to put this feature into the Series 7 watch EXW KDV GHFLGHG WR SXVK LW EDFN until at least 2022. Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that the Series 7 ZDWFK FRXOG KDYH QHZ VZLP WUDFNLQJ features, but details of these features were not provided. The Apple Watch already measures distance, laps, and splits, but Apple could implement VWURNH GHWHFWLRQ DQG RWKHU KLJKHU HQG WUDFNLQJ IHDWXUHV

EXTREME ATHLETES 0DUN *XUPDQ RI %ORRPEHUJ UHSRUWHG that Apple could release an Apple :DWFK ZLWK D šUXJJHG FDVLQJŢ ZKLFK could appeal to users who participate in extreme events and sports. Such a watch could have an exterior that’s more scratch- and impact-resistant to better compete with Casio and Luminox rugged watches. Gurman initially said that Apple could decide to cancel or delay the plans for the rugged watch and more recently UHSRUWHG WKDW SODQV ZHUH OLNHO\ SXVKHGbWR

PROCESSOR AND SPECS Reports of the processor in the Series 7 watch have not come up, but based RQ WKH 6 V\VWHP LQ SDFNDJH LQ WKH FXUUHQW $SSOH :DWFK 6HULHV ZH FDQ H[SHFW WR ʐQG DQ 6 LQ WKH QH[W ZDWFK 7KH 6 LQ WKH 6HULHV LV XS WR 20 percent faster than the S5 SiP, so VLPLODU JDLQV DUH OLNHO\ IRU WKH 6 ,WşV DOVR SRVVLEOH WKDW JUHDWHU HʒFLHQF\ brings better battery life.

Bloomberg also reported that the Series 7 watch could bring updated ultra-wideband functionality. Apple ʐUVW LQWURGXFHG WKH XOWUD ZLGH EDQG U1 chip with the Apple Watch Series DQG VLQFH KDV H[SDQGHG WKH WHFKşV XVHIXOQHVV ZLWK $LU7DJ WUDFNHUV DQG ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 45

APPLE WATCH

GLJLWDO NH\V LQ :DOOHW ,WşV QRW FOHDU how Apple would upgrade the tech in the Apple Watch Series 7, but it will OLNHO\ PHDQ D 8 FKLS $ 'LJL7LPHV UHSRUW FODLPV WKDW Apple will use a new double-sided FKLS SDFNDJLQJ SURFHVV WR IXUWKHU VKULQN WKH VL]H RI WKH 6 FKLS ZKLFK could allow room for more battery RU RWKHU FRPSRQHQWV RU WR VKULQN WKH RYHUDOO WKLFNQHVV RI WKH ZDWFK $ follow-up report from the Economic 'DLO\ QHZV RXW RI &KLQD VXJJHVWV WKDW $SSOH LV IUHHLQJ XS VSDFH WR PDNH room for a larger capacity battery.

The Apple Watch has historically had a battery around 300mAh, so a boost to 350mAh or 400mAh could dramatically extend the duration.

BANDS Apple has supported all previous bands with each model of the Apple Watch, but a new design could mean WKDW QHZHU EDQGV DUHQşW EDFNZDUG compatible. Of note, the Solo Loop bands aren’t compatible with any model before the Apple Watch 6HULHVb ZKHQ $SSOH LQWURGXFHG WKH larger display models.

WATCHOS 8 Apple announced watchOS 8 at ::'& ZKLFK KDV VHYHUDO QHZ 46 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

IHDWXUHV LQFOXGLQJ GLJLWDO NH\V D QHZ Mindfulness app and a Portraits face.

All of these features will be available on the Apple Watch Series 7 as well as DQ\ QHZ IHDWXUHV WKDW DUH VSHFLʐF WR the new device.

,I \RXU L3KRQH FDQşW XQORFN your Apple Watch in iOS D ʐ[ LV RQ WKH ZD\ $SSOH VD\V WR MXVW W\SH WKH QXPEHUV Michael Simon reports

E

ver since the Apple Watch launched in 2015, there has been a handy feature that lets \RX XQORFN LW ZLWK \RXU L3KRQH instead of tapping your passcode LQWR WKH WLQ\ QXPEHU NH\V ZLWK \RXU

ʐQJHU ,I WKDW VWRSSHG ZRUNLQJ DIWHU upgrading to iOS 14.7, Apple says a ʐ[bLV RQ WKH ZD\ In a support document, Apple says the issue is limited to iPhones with 7RXFK ,' DQG WKH RQO\ VROXWLRQ LV WR ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 47

APPLE WATCH

type in the passcode on your Apple Watch. As long as it remains on your wrist, Apple only requires users to enter the passcode once a day, so it’s a relatively minor inconvenience.

If you don’t remember your 4-digit code, however, it could be PRUH RI D KDVVOH $SSOH GRHVQşW RʏHU a way to retrieve the code via text RU HPDLO VRb\RXşOO QHHG WR IDFWRU\ reset your Apple Watch, restore from D EDFNXS bDQG VWDUW IUHVK 2U \RX can wait until Apple pushes out a ʐ[ ZKLFK ŞZLOO EH DGGUHVVHG LQ DQ upcoming software update’.

48 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

Apple TV 4K: Buy now or wait?

Apple’s high-def streaming box was last updated in April 2021.

Jason Cross reports

T

he Apple TV 4K streaming media box is maybe the best one you can buy (especially for those already in the Apple ecosystem), but it’s also one of the most expensive. It’s faster and more responsive than nearly all

competitors, with excellent support IRU +'5 DQG VXUURXQG VRXQG LQFOXGLQJ 'ROE\ 9LVLRQ DQG 'ROE\ $WPRV %XW DW D VWDUWLQJ SULFH RI e it’s also two or three times as much as other 4K streaming boxes. If you do a lot of streaming, the better ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 49

APPLE TV

experience is probably worth it, but WKH ODVW WKLQJb\RX ZDQW WR GR LV EX\ one right before a new model comes RXW +HUHşVbRXU UHFRPPHQGDWLRQ DERXWbZKHWKHU WKLV LV D JRRG WLPH WR buy the Apple TV 4K or not.

PRICING AND SPECS Last update: May 2021 Apple has been selling streaming TV PHGLD ER[HV VLQFH Ŝ EHIRUH WKH L3KRQH HYHQ 7KH ʐUVW $SSOH 79 . was released in 2017, and a secondgeneration version landed very recently, in May 2021.

The new Apple TV 4K has the VDPH SULFH e IRU *% e IRU *% DQG WKH VDPH GHVLJQ DV WKH previous model. But it upgrades the

A10X processor for an A12, allowing LW WR SOD\ EDFN . +'5 YLGHR DW XS WR ISV ,W DOVR VXSSRUWV $5& DQG H$5& 3HUKDSV WKH PRVW VLJQLʐFDQW XSJUDGH LV WKH QHZ 6LUL 5HPRWH ZKLFKbZHQW from being one of the worst Apple products to a nice and functional way to control the Apple TV. Apple TV 4K comes in both 32GB DQG *% YHUVLRQV EXW PRVW SHRSOH ZLOO KDYH QR QHHG IRU WKH *% PRGHO Most streaming apps don’t use much space, so we recommend most users QRW VSHQG H[WUD IRU *%

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY

Apple usually waits a long time between Apple TV hardware releases. *LYHQ WKDW ZH MXVW JRW QHZ KDUGZDUH in April 2021, we don’t expect a new box until at least 2023, and it wouldn’t surprise us if it was a year or two longer.

The newest update added an A12 Bionic processor, KLJK IUDPH UDWH +'5 DQG 'ROE\ 9LVLRQ DQG D QHZ 6LUL Remote The main reason not to buy would be if you thought a big sale was coming up. That doesn’t happen very often, so The new Apple TV 4K has the same price and the same design as the previous model.

PLJKWbDV ZHOO EX\ QRZ 50 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

WHY YOU SHOULD WAIT $SSOHşV UHDOO\ WU\LQJ WR PDNH LWşV $SSOHb79 VHUYLFH D ELJ WKLQJ :HşYH heard rumours that it might combine the hardware with a HomePod to PDNHbD NLQG RI $SSOH 79 VRXQG EDU (YHQ WKDW UXPRXU LV VRUW RI VNHWFK\ DQG OLNHO\ D ORQJ ZD\ RXW The only good reason to wait is if \RX H[SHFW VRPH VRUW RI LQFHQWLYHV Ŝ Apple TV hardware has come free for new subscribers to some streaming TV services, for example. We haven’t KHDUG RI DQ\WKLQJ OLNH WKDW RQ WKH ZD\ $QG ZKLOH $SSOH GHʐQLWHO\ should drop the price of the Apple 79bKDUGZDUH WKH FRPSDQ\ KDV VKRZQ no signs that it intends to do so.

iPAD & iPHONE USER RECOMMENDS: BUY 7KH QHZ $SSOH 79 . MXVW FDPH RXW this spring, and it will probably be years before it’s replaced. Rumours of new TV streaming hardware from Apple are distant and unreliable, and $SSOH LVQşW OLNHO\ WR GURS WKH SULFH RI this one any time soon.

This is as good a time to buy as \RXşOO OLNHO\ ʐQG -XVW GRQşW ERWKHU ZLWK WKH *% PRGHO

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 51

AIRTAG

How to change an AirTag’s battery 7KH $SSOH $LU7DJ WUDFNLQJ GHYLFH LV RQO\ JRRG LI LW KDV SRZHU Roman Loyola reports

A

pple says the AirTag battery will last about a year. When that time comes, it’s really easy to change the battery.

AirTag uses a CR2032 battery, the NLQG RI EDWWHU\ RIWHQ IRXQG LQ UHPRWH FRQWUROV DQG RWKHU KDQG\ GHYLFHV <RX 52 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

FDQ ʐQG WKHP LQ PRVW VWRUHV WKDW VHOO batteries and they cost a couple of pounds each.

Note that Apple has posted a support document (see fave.

FR 9* M 9 WKDW SRLQWV RXW WKDW CR2032 batteries with bitterant

FRDWLQJ PD\ QRW ZRUN ZLWK $LU7DJ (Bitterant is added to some CR2032 batteries to discourage small FKLOGUHQbIURP KDQGOLQJ WKHP

&KHFNbWKH EDWWHU\şV SDFNDJHV EHIRUHb\RX PDNH D SXUFKDVH Here’s how to change the battery: 1. Open the AirTag by placing the

white base facing downward. The Apple logo should face you.

2. 8VH WZR ʐQJHUV SUHVV GRZQ RQ WZR points beside the logo.

3. 7XUQ WKH FDS FRXQWHU FORFNZLVH $IWHU WKH FDS WXUQV \RX FDQ WDNH LW Rʏ DQG FKDQJH WKH EDWWHU\ 4. 3XW WKH FDS EDFN RQ DQG WXUQ WKH cap in the opposite direction to VHDObLW

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 53

Credit: Getty Images/AsiaVision

APPLE ARCADE

Best Apple Arcade games The second part of our guide to Apple Arcade. David Price reports

L

ast month we published the ʐUVW SDUW RI RXU JXLGH WR $SSOH Arcade. This issue we continue revealing our favourite games.

We test primarily on iPhone. We also strongly recommend that you get a hardware controller, given how PDQ\ RI WKH JDPHV EHQHʐW IURP RQH we test with an Xbox controller and a Rotor Riot wired controller to see LI WKLV ZRUNV DQG KRZ ZHOO LW VXLWV

54 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

the gameplay. Many games support Bluetooth controllers despite not mentioning this fact in their App 6WRUHbGHVFULSWLRQ

61. NEXT STOP NOWHERE In classic noir ‘wrong guy in the wrong place’ traditions, you’re a humble but good-hearted space courier who stumbles into danger and mystery E\ DFFLGHQW <RXU MRE LQ 1H[W 6WRS

and when playing with touchscreen controls your thumb gets in the way.

61.

Nowhere is to untangle the mystery, HVFDSH WKH GDQJHU DQG NHHS YDULRXV violent elements onside.

7KH OLNHDEOH LPSHUIHFW FKDUDFWHUV LQ WKLV SRLQW DQG FOLFN DGYHQWXUH JDPH feel a lot more real than the cartoon graphics would lead you to expect.

The dialogue is well written and witty and the voice acting top-notch, even if sound and on-screen text don’t always match up, confusingly.

Aside from pleasant but unchallenging exploration and dialogue-choice sections, there are ELWV ZKHUH \RX ʑ\ a spaceship and try to avoid obstacles.

These are more GLʒFXOW PDLQO\ because the camera view is unhelpful: sometimes a gap ORRNV ELJ HQRXJK WR 62. ʐW WKURXJK EXW LVQşW

Adventure • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controller

62. NUTS: A SURVEILLANCE MYSTERY I get the pun, but that’s still an odd choice of name for such a sedate and laborious game. When I am told that something is nuts, I expect and GHPDQG ZDFNLQHVV KRUVHSOD\ DQG ]DQ\ KLMLQNV QRW PHWKRGLFDO QDWXUH UHVHDUFK 7KH DLP RI WKH JDPH LV WR WUDFN squirrels to and from their homes GUH\V Ŝ DW OHDVW ,şYH OHDUQHG something) by setting up cameras and ZDWFKLQJ EDFN WKH WDSHV <RXşOO QRWLFH that the little guy enters the frame

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 55

APPLE ARCADE

WKURXJK D FUDFN LQ WKH URFN VR WKH QH[W night you put a camera on the other VLGH RI WKH FUDFN Ŝ DQG VR RQ DQG VR RQ XQWLO \RX ʐQG WKH VHFUHW GHQ RU stash of nuts.

1XWV ORRNV WHUULʐF LWV UHVWIXO IRUHVW MD]]HG XS ZLWK SV\FKHGHOLF FRORXUV and features a fresh structure and an intriguing central mystery. But it all IHHOV D ELW WRR PXFK OLNH KDUG ZRUN IRUbP\ WDVWH Adventure/Exploration • $JH • Single player only • Supports KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

63. SLASH QUEST! 7KLV MROO\ SX]]OH 53* KDV WDQN controls, the rotational system you may remember from early Resident Evil games. In Resident Evil I always assumed this was intended to increase the sense of panic when a zombie DSSHDUHG DOWKRXJK VRPH DUJXH WDQN

63.

56 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

FRQWUROV DUH VXSHULRU IRU ʐ[HG FDPHUD scenarios); here, perhaps because the view is clearer and the enemies FRQVLGHUDEO\ OHVV GDQJHURXV LW MXVW IHHOV IUHVK Ŝ D EUHDN IURP PRELOH convention.

And the game in general is a ORW RI IXQ <RXşUH UXQQLQJ DURXQG with an intelligent sword chopping up vegetation (which produces a GHOLJKWIXO )UXLW 1LQMD DQLPDWLRQ DQG PRQVWHUV ZKLFK PDNHV WKH VZRUG ELJJHU Ŝ HYHQWXDOO\ WR D SUHSRVWHURXV extent). Amusingly even the puzzles are sword-based, with you carrying ʐUH DQG ERPEV DURXQG RQ LWV EODGH XVLQJ LW WR VKXQW EORFNV RU VWLFNLQJ it in various machines in order to be ZKLVNHG WR D QHZ DUHD There are normal levels, in which you have to solve puzzles and collect orbs, various challenges and mini games, and a wide range of FROOHFWLEOHV RXWʐWV DQG VR RQ ,WşV not massively challenging, but great for short sessions.

RPG • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controller

64.

64. OVER THE ALPS š%HWWHU ZLWK VRXQGŢ WKLV JDPH proclaims at the start, and the audio department clearly have talent. It’s a slight shame there isn’t more music in normal gameplay, but what there is to be had is excellent.

This is a wartime adventure spy story in which your path is based on dialogue and map choices: there’s no combat, or even any animation of your character. The things you decide to VD\ RU WKH URXWHV \RX GHFLGH WR WDNH have consequences, in terms of the SROLFH WUDFNLQJ \RX down or events MXVW XQIROGLQJ GLʏHUHQWO\ Atmospherewise Over the Alps is top-notch, and the story is HQMR\DEO\ WZLVW\ 65. and confusing. It

occasionally feels OLNH \RXşUH EHLQJ railroaded into PDNLQJ VSHFLʐF choices, but there’s clearly a lot of content here: no matter what situation you get into, there will EH PXOWLSOH ZLWW\ UHPDUNV IRU \RX WR choose from.

Adventure • Age 12+ • Single player only • 6XSSRUWV KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

65. NECROBARISTA A cafe in a bad part of town welcomes patrons from the really wrong side RI WKH WUDFNV DQG WKH FRQYHUVDWLRQ gets existential. That’s the setting and pretty much the entire gameplay of 1HFUREDULVWD DQ LQWHUDFWLYH FRPLF ERRN ZLWK ZLWW\ ZULWLQJ DQG D JUHDW ORRN ,

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 57

APPLE ARCADE

say interactive, but you’re required to do very little: most of the time you’re MXVW WDSSLQJ WR activate the next line of dialogue.

Still, you may be 66. surprised how compelling it all is, WKDQNV WR WKH P\VWHULRXV SUHPLVH DQG believable characters.

Perhaps we could quibble with WKH ODFN RI DQ RSWLRQ WR LQYHUW WKH < D[LV DQG QRWH WKDW WKH RQ VFUHHQ controls are a shade oversensitive, but these controls are used so little that it’s not much of a hindrance. The UHDO GHFLGLQJbIDFWRU LV \RXU FDSDFLW\ WR VLWbEDFN DQG OLVWHQ WR D IDVFLQDWLQJ story; if that sounds appealing, this is the game for you.

Adventure • Age 12+ • Single player only • 6XSSRUWV KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

66. FLEDGLING HEROES 6LQJOH EXWWRQ ' SODWIRUPHU LQ WKH Flappy Bird vein, bolstered by varied level design and lots of collectibles.

There are six birds with disparate SOD\ VW\OHV Ŝ D SDUURW ʑLHV DV \RX WDS a penguin swims, a partridge runs DQG MXPSV Ŝ DQG D VXUSULVLQJ DPRXQW 58 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

of depth, with dozens of levels split across three big worlds. An ingenious addition to this is a level editor, ZKLFK DOORZV \RX WR FUHDWH ʐHQGLVK challenges of your own, and play those devised by others (which are IUHTXHQWO\ OXGLFURXVO\ GLʒFXOW

It says a lot about Fledgling Heroes that I found it frustrating to play, yet persisted far beyond the time necessary to write up a fair review: it’s undeniably moreish. I haven’t got every VLQJOH DFKLHYHPHQW \HW Ŝ VRPH DUH H[WUHPHO\ WULFN\ Ŝ EXW MXVW FDQşW VWRS trying.

Platformer • $JH • 1-2 players • 6XSSRUWV KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

67. DOOMSDAY VAULT There’s something very restful about this robotic eco-puzzler. <RX ZDQGHU DURXQG WKH ZUHFNDJH of an ominously familiar fallen

67. civilization, Wall-E style (although \RX ORRN PRUH OLNH KLV FR VWDU (YH

collecting endangered plants and the nutrients required to sustain them.

There are walls to climb, buttons to press, pressure pads to weigh down with boxes and obstacles that need to be blown or powered up by tools you acquire over the course of the game.

7KHUHşV OLWWOH MHRSDUG\ LQ DOO this, with no time pressure and comparatively little chance of failure (without the puzzles ever becoming boringly straightforward), and the whole thing, from WKH ORRN DQG OHYHO design to the excellent music, is very lovely.

My only quibble LV 'RRPVGD\ Vault’s occasional tendency to 68. boot you out

of a session with the loss of recent progress: this VHHPVbPRVW FRPPRQ when you go from Rʏ WR RQOLQHbSOD\ DQG YLFHbYHUVD DQG DGGVbDQ incongruously stressful element to an otherwise soul-soothing game.

Puzzle/Adventure • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

68. CHARRUA SOCCER 7KH ʐUVW WKLQJ \RX QRWLFH DERXW Charrua is that it’s fast: you zip DURXQG WKH ʐHOG DQG WKH EDOO VWLFNV WR \RXU IHHW <RX FDQ OLWHUDOO\ UXQ ULQJV DURXQGbWKH GHIHQGHUV XQWLO \RXU SOD\HUbJHWV WLUHG DQG \RX KDYH WR SDVVbRU JHW WDFNOHG

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 59

APPLE ARCADE

And the way you pass and shoot is weird too: the longer you hold the EXWWRQ WKH KDUGHU \RX NLFN LW <RXU JX\ literally pauses to charge up, which gives the other team a chance to get in WKHUH ZLWK D WDFNOH 2GGO\ WKLV PHFKDQLF hurts defenders most, because you rarely have time to wind up for the FODVVLF 7RQ\ $GDPV KRRI XSʐHOG ,Q REMHFWLYH WHUPV WKLV LVQşW D JUHDW game. An update seems to have ironed RXW WKH EDODQFH LVVXHV Ŝ WKH GD\V RI YLFWRULHV DSSHDU WR EH JRQH Ŝ EXW issues remain with the AI, which is still SURQH WR HFFHQWULF NLFN RʏV GHIHQVLYH howlers and similar. Nevertheless it’s TXLUN\ DQG JRRG ORRNLQJ DQG PDVVHV RI fun, so it’s a recommendation.

Sport • Age 4+ • 1-2 players • Supports KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

69.

60 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

69. BEYOND A STEEL SKY Quite a coup, this: Apple managed to get the long-awaited sequel to the FODVVLF %HQHDWK $ 6WHHO 6N\ WR ODXQFK ʐUVW RQ $UFDGH ZLWK WKH 6WHDP release delayed until the following PRQWK 7KLV WRR LV D SRLQW DQG FOLFN adventure game set in a dystopian near-future Australia, and there’s much WR OLNH 7KH GLVWLQFWLYH FDUWRRQLVK graphics are vividly lovely and the voice acting is excellent; the puzzles DUH WULFN\ EXW KLJKO\ UHZDUGLQJ ZKHQ \RX FUDFN WKHP DQG WKH JDPH KDV UHDO substance to it. It’s pretty funny, too. :KHQ LW ʐUVW FDPH RXW , ZDUQHG WKDW BASS contained a worrying number of bugs and other imperfections, some of WKHP JDPH EUHDNLQJ %XW WKH PDNHUV KDYH WDNHQ WKH FULWLFLVP RQ ERDUG DQG things seem to be much improved.

Adventure • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

70. BLEK+ Minimalist, brainpummelling puzzler 70. in which you create little line animations WKDW WKHQ UHSHDW WKHPVHOYHV XQWLO Ŝ KRSHIXOO\ Ŝ WKH\şYH WRXFKHG DOO RI WKH targets on the level while avoiding the obstacles.

There’s quite a lot of trial and error, DQG WKH WRWDO ODFN RI H[SODQDWLRQ FDQ EH GDXQWLQJ DW WLPHV %XW LWşV XQOLNH anything else on Arcade, and maybe even on the App Store.

Puzzle • Age 4+ • Single player only • No controller support

71. OCEANHORN: CHRONOS DUNGEON The App Store listing calls this a co-op adventure, which is odd given that it doesn’t support multiplayer. It’s got D GHʐQLWH *DXQWOHW vibe going on and

having four of you zipping around at RQFH ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ MR\RXV %OXH wizard needs food!

In the absence of multiplayer you’re OHIW ZLWK D YHU\ GLʏHUHQW NLQG RI FR RS action game: one where a single player cycles between the four characters as and when their various strengths are appropriate. In reality you don’t need WR VZDS DOO WKDW PXFK Ŝ LWşV DOO FRPEDW with a touch of dungeon exploration rather than actual puzzles requiring VSHFLDO DELOLWLHV Ŝ DQG , WHQGHG WR MXVW play my favourite mage character

71.

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unless and until he died (which is rare because he’s so great).

Conceptually, then, this isn’t JURXQGEUHDNLQJ VWXʏ %XW WKH JDPH VXFFHHGV E\ RʏHULQJ QRVWDOJLF evocative graphics, great music and addictive gameplay.

RPG • $JH • 1-2 players • Supports KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU UHFRPPHQGHG

simple. There’s something about that WLJKW ʐUVW SHUVRQ YLHZ \RXşUH ULJKW there with the marble, pelting along DWbWRS VSHHG IROORZLQJ LW GRZQ LQWR WKHbYRLG HYHU\ WLPH \RX PLVV D MXPS ,bORYH LW Sadly, however, the on-screen FRQWUROV DUH DZNZDUG DQG D KDUGZDUH controller is virtually required, even though Marble It Up occasionally got confused about button labelling.

72. MARBLE IT UP: MAYHEM! Games tend to get more complicated as they go on. Marble It Up is a case LQ SRLQW WKH ʐUVW IHZ OHYHOV MXVW JHW \RX WR ]RRP DURXQG D WUDFN DV IDVW DQG DV UHFNOHVVO\ DV SRVVLEOH EXW LW ODWHU adds power-ups, moving platforms, gems that need to be collected and an overall requirement that you slow things down and be a bit more patient.

It’s all good fun, and I understand the need for variety, but the game is PRVW FRPSHOOLQJ ZKHQ LW NHHSV WKLQJV

72.

62 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

Arcade • Age 4+ • 1-10 players • 6XSSRUWV KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

73. SPEED DEMONS 6LPSOH ORRNLQJ EXW NLFNDVV WRS GRZQ UDFLQJ JDPH WKDWşV WHUULʐF DW FUHDWLQJ D sense of speed and danger. The music is exciting, there’s a huge variety of PLVVLRQV Ŝ VRPHWLPHV \RXşUH WU\LQJ WR PDNH FKHFNSRLQWV VRPHWLPHV \RXşUH GHOLEHUDWHO\ ZUHFNLQJ WDUJHWV sometimes you’re running away from EDGGLHV Ŝ DQG weaving through a particularly mad WUDʒF MDP IHHOV great.

One potential ZHDN VSRW however, concerns the controls.

Acceleration is

74. EXIT THE GUNGEON

73.

DXWRPDWLF VR \RX MXVW QHHG WR KDQGOH the steering by swiping left or right; but the tight portrait layout and a natural tendency for your thumb to creep upwards means you often end up obscuring the vehicle. A hardware FRQWUROOHU PDNHV WKLQJV HDVLHU 'ULYLQJ • Age 4+ • 1-10 players • 6XSSRUWV KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHU

)LHQGLVKO\ GLʒFXOW bullet-hell shooter with OR ʐ JUDSKLFV DQG D JUHDW VHQVH RIbKXPRXU <RXşUH WU\LQJ WR HVFDSH from the ‘Gungeon’ by ascending through levels infested with gun- and pun-toting bad guys.

Fortunately you have a gun of your own (which continually changes form, HQDEOLQJ \RX WR VKRRW VNXOOV EXEEOHV and musical notes as well as the more traditional bullets) and the ability to evade danger with dodge rolls.

Early runs will end in swift death, EXW VWLFN ZLWK LW WKH JDPH UHZDUGV SHUVHYHUDQFH ,I \RX OLNHG 6XSHU &UDWHb%R[ Ŝ DQG ZKR GLGQşW" Ŝ WKHQ you’ll love this.

Shooter • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controller

75.

SHOCKRODS 74.

Exhilarating shooter in which ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 63

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75. \RX GULYH DURXQG DQ DUHQD SLFN XS ZHDSRQV DQG WU\ WR NLOO \RXU RSSRQHQWV TXLFNHU WKDQ WKH\ FDQ NLOO \RX 4XDNH Arena in cars, pretty much.

The game proclaims controller support in its App Store description (which many compatible games don’t bother to tell you), but then forces you to use a cursor in the menus. At several times I was annoyed to see on-screen controls, or references to on-screen controls, despite there being a hardware controller plugged in. It’s not very compatible with hardware FRQWUROOHUV Ŝ \HW the game itself is much easier when you use one.

The cars handle OLNH SHRSOH and can travel sideways and GRXEOH MXPS 76. in the air for no 64 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

explained reason WKH MXPSLQJ WKLQJ is expected since WKH DGYHQW RI 5RFNHW League, I appreciate).

But despite these foibles the game is great fun; there’s a cool range of weapons and the VRXQGWUDFN KDV D WDUQLVKHG V FKDUP 'ULYLQJ 6KRRWHU • Age 4+ • 1-12 players • Supports hardware FRQWUROOHUV DQG GHVSLWH VRPH TXLUNV , strongly recommend that you use one)

76. MINI MOTORWAYS :HşYH DOO EHHQ VWXFN LQ WUDʒF DQG exclaimed to our passengers that we could devise a better road system than the local council. Mini Motorways lets \RX SXW WKDW FODLP WR WKH WHVW WDVNLQJ you with developing an ever-growing

road and motorway QHWZRUN IRU EXV\ cities around the world with the aim of getting busy residents from SRLQWb$ WR % It’s a challenge 77.

DW ʐUVW JLYLQJ you a new-found appreciation for those muchPDOLJQHGbPXQLFLSDO SODQQHUV EXW DV \RX OHDUQ WKH QXDQFHV \RXU FRQʐGHQFH Ŝ DQG WKH FRPSOH[LW\ RI \RXU URDG V\VWHPV Ŝ ZLOO LQFUHDVH Strategy • Age 4+ • Single player • 1RbFRQWUROOHU VXSSRUW

77. SURVIVAL Z <RXşUH D FURVVERZ ZLHOGLQJ VXUYLYRU RI WKH ]RPELH DSRFDO\SVH <RXU MRE LV WR repel waves of brain-gobblers while ʐQGLQJ DQG SURWHFWLQJ IHOORZ KXPDQV and upgrading your weaponry.

The game’s structure is pure FTL, as you plot a path through the various levels. Some involve straightforward combat, others a protection or escort mission, a multiple-choice decision or a helpful medic.

The combat isn’t the biggest FKDOOHQJH LQ WKH ZRUOG Ŝ \RXşUH PDLQO\ MXVW WU\LQJ WR NHHS RXW RI HYHU\RQHşV

way long enough for your autoWDUJHWHG FURVVERZ WR WDNH WKHP DOO GRZQ Ŝ EXW WKHUHşV D IXQ WRZHU GHIHQFH element where you can prepare for a wave by setting up sandbags and gun turrets. Not to mention the eternal SOHDVXUH RI VWDFNLQJ XSJUDGHV DQG ending up with an overpowered gun WKDW VKRRWV PXOWLSOH ʑDPLQJ EROWV DW every conceivable angle.

Shooter • $JH • Single player • Supports hardware controllers (strongly recommended)

78. UFO ON TAPE: ),567b&217$&7 Finding yourself fortuitously present DWbD VHULHV RI DOLHQ HQFRXQWHUV \RXU MRE LV WR FDSWXUH SKRWRJUDSKLF SURRI This is a really interesting premise ZLWKbEDJV RI YLVXDO SDQDFKH EXW D IHZ RGG GHFLVLRQV PDNH LW IHHO OLNH D missed opportunity.

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Adventure/Explorer • $JH • Single player • Supports hardware controllers (imperfectly)

78.

Atmosphere-wise it starts out scary but this isn’t sustained, and bizarrely in the later levels points are awarded IRU VKRRWLQJ WRXULVW ODQGPDUNV DQG UDQGRP KLGGHQ REMHFWV UDWKHU WKDQ the UFOs themselves. The controls WRR DUH D PL[HG EDJ Ŝ WRXFKVFUHHQ is clumsy and you can’t invert the < D[LV RQ D KDUGZDUH FRQWUROOHU so we’d recommend the decent PRWLRQbFRQWUROV The whole thing is very brief, and I wish they could have made it more frightening: a bit more X-Files and a bit less Where’s Wally. But it’s not XQHQMR\DEOH DQG WKH second I hear that a sixth level has been added in an update, ,şOO EH EDFN LQ WKH DSS TXLFNHU WKDQ \RX can say: “The truth is 79.

RXW WKHUH Ţ 66 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

79. SUPER IMPOSSIBLE ROAD Created by the minds behind the original Impossible Road, Super Impossible 5RDG WDNHV WKH EDOO UROOLQJ H[SHULHQFH to a whole new level, adding a career mode and online multiplayer so you can showcase your death-defying leaps and beat your buddies at the same time. <RXşUH WU\LQJ WR EDODQFH ULVN DQG UHZDUG OHDUQLQJ ZKHQ WR NHHS WKH EDOO RQ WKH URDG Ŝ ZKLFK LV GLʒFXOW HQRXJK Ŝ DQG ZKHQ WR OHDS WKURXJK VSDFH LQ search of a time-saving shortcut. This PDNHV IRU D IDVW DQG WKULOOLQJ FKDOOHQJH although it feels a little mean (and

against the spirit of the thing) that \RXU MXPSV KDYH DQ apparent time limit; plummet for too long and the screen will IDGH WR EODFN HYHQ if you’re headed for 80. a nice safe patch of WUDFN It’s not a game you’ll spend hours RQ DW D WLPH EXW LWşV D JUHDW WLPH NLOOHU LI \RXşYH JRW D VSDUH ʐYH PLQXWHV 2K Ŝ DQG , VWURQJO\ UHFRPPHQG FKDQJLQJ the view in the settings, since the GHIDXOW RQH PDNHV LW KDUG WR VHH ZKHUH you’re going. Lewis Painter Arcade • Age 4+ • 1-8 players • No controller support

80. COLLAGE ATLAS 7KH ʐUVW WKLQJ \RX QRWLFH DERXW WKLV KDQG GUDZQ ʐUVW SHUVRQ SX]]OHU LV LWV EHDXW\ ,W LV WUXO\ D ORYHO\ ORRNLQJ WKLQJ DOO EXWWHUʑLHV DQG VZD\LQJ WUHHV DQG ʐOLJUHH LURQZRUN The second thing is how gentle it all is, as you explore the world, EXPSLQJ LQWR ʑRDWLQJ OHWWHUV VR WKH\ spell out philosophical/inspirational SKUDVHV DQG WUDFNLQJ GRZQ NH\V DQG MDUV DQG RWKHU ZKLPVLFDO REMHFWLYHV Much of the time there doesn’t seem

to be a realistic way to fail, although occasionally you’ll encounter a puzzle that’s more confounding. If you’re ORRNLQJ IRU KHOOUDLVLQJ H[FLWHPHQW this clearly isn’t for you, but it has a meditative charm of its own.

Puzzle/Exploration • Age 4+ • Single player • Supports hardware controller

81. SONGPOP PARTY This is a music quiz, but in a very VSHFLʐF DQG QDUURZ VHQVH HYHU\ VLQJOH question requires you to identify WKH VRQJ WKDWşV SOD\LQJ DV TXLFNO\ DV possible. (With only the slight variation that sometimes you have to name the WUDFN DQG VRPHWLPHV WKH DUWLVW

This proves to be an appealing and enduring concept, however, with PDVVHV RI XQORFNDEOH FRQWHQW DQG ORQJ WHUP SOD\DELOLW\ <RX FKRRVH WKH HUD JHQUH DQG VRPHWLPHV HYHQ VSHFLʐF artist you want to be tested on, as well ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 67

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81.

DV WKH GLʒFXOW\ OHYHO DQG IRUPDW Ŝ WDNLQJ RQ $, ERWV IULHQGV LQ 3DUW\ PRGH or strangers in Arena.

It’s fun and surprisingly exciting, with the bonus of being totally GLʏHUHQW IURP WKH RWKHU RʏHULQJV on Arcade, as Apple continues its admirable drive to provide something for everyone.

Casual • Age 4+ • 1-8 players • Supports hardware controllers

82. GAME OF THRONES: TALE OF CROWS The seventh and eight series of GoT were so clumsily written that for many formerly passionate fans the universe DV D ZKROH Ŝ DQG 68 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

82.

VHHNLQJ WKH DQVZHUV to the mysteries thrown up by its rich EDFNJURXQGbŜ KDV lost its appeal. Tale RI &URZV ʐQGV D clever solution to this problem, which is to ignore the present storylines and go ZD\ EDFN WR WKH RULJLQV RI WKH 1LJKWşV Watch, where it puts you in the shoes RI WKH YHU\ ʐUVW /RUG &RPPDQGHU As far as gameplay goes, it’s a simple and largely text-based adventure. Questlines will gradually open up; you decide which ones to pursue and which of your men will WDFNOH WKHP DQG WKHQ UHVSRQG WR UDYHQV VHHNLQJ IXUWKHU LQVWUXFWLRQ ,I

things go entirely wight-shaped you needn’t worry too much as time will pass and a new Lord Commander will be elected, and you will control him as well.

83.

The graphics DUH ORYHO\ Ŝ OLWWOH LVRPHWULF FKXQNV RI QRUWKHUQ wilderness dotted with passing FORXGV DQG UDYHQV Ŝ DQG WKH PXVLF though sparse, adds much to the atmosphere. But be warned that it’s one of those games that involves a lot of waiting, and it doesn’t really IHHO OLNH LWşV JRLQJ DQ\ZKHUH WKUHH and a half Lords Commander in, I’ve WDNHQ WR GHOLEHUDWHO\ PDNLQJ XQZLVH FKRLFHV LQ RUGHU WR ʐQG TXHVWV WKDW DUHbPRUHbLQWHUHVWLQJ WKDQ FXWWLQJ GRZQbWUHHV \HW DJDLQ Adventure• Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

83. BEYOND BLUE Achingly beautiful ocean explorer that is marred by a few technical GLʒFXOWLHV <RX SOD\ DV 0LUDL D GLYHU PDULQH biologist and passionate advocate for ZKDOH ZHOO EHLQJ ZKDOH EHLQJ" <RXU

MRE LV WR LQYHVWLJDWH VRXQG UHDGLQJV IRU animal or occasionally human activity, DQG FRPSOHWLVWV ZLOO HQMR\ WKH ZLGH array of creatures to be spotted, tagged and added to your catalogue.

The calm of the undersea world is matched by tranquil gameplay that lets \RX WDNH WKLQJV DW \RXU RZQ SDFH DQG rarely threatens failure. But the save system seems wobbly (whole dives got lost more than once) and it’s annoying how frequently you have to remind the JDPH WKDW \RX ZDQW WKH < D[LV LQYHUWHG Adventure/Exploration • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

84. THE PINBALL WIZARD What if the song Pinball Wizard was about an actual... wizard? So, presumably, ran the thought processes of the developers responsible for this adorably silly number, in which you ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 69

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84.

FOLPE D WRZHU ZKRVH ʑRRUV WDNH WKH IRUP RI LQFUHDVLQJO\ GLʒFXOW SLQEDOO tables and your little magic user acts as WKH SURMHFWLOH I love the idea that a game was created on the strength of a single ʑLPV\ SXQ EXW 3LQEDOO :L]DUG LV D GHFHQW RʏHULQJ LQ LWV RZQ ULJKW WKH RPG elements give it replay value and the whole thing is perfectly suited to bite-sized gaming sessions.

Arcade • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

85. DOWN IN BERMUDA Someone’s been playing Monument Valley. Which isn’t a bad thing, necessarily; if you’re going to imitate, imitate the best.

70 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

/LNH LWV LQVSLUDWLRQ 'RZQ LQ Bermuda is an attractive, tactile SX]]OHbJDPH LQ ZKLFK \RX PDQLSXODWH levers, buttons and stone structures with taps and swipes. These puzzles DUH ERWK WULFN\ DQG VDWLVI\LQJ WR VROYH Ŝ EXW WKH\ DUH RQO\ KDOI WKH FKDOOHQJH <RX DOVR KDYH WR ʐQG WKH little stars scattered across each level, and this has more than a hint of ‘tap HYHU\ZKHUH XQWLO \RX ʐQG WKH ODVW RQHbE\ DFFLGHQWş At launch I found the game weirdly short, with only two full islands of puzzles plus the tutorial. But a third and fourth island have since been added in updates, and these are welcome; they bring fresh puzzles WKRVH RQ 6KLSZUHFN ,VODQG DUH SUREDEO\ WKH EHVW RI WKH ORW NH\V WR

85.

XQORFN QHZ VWXʏ LQ WKH ROG LVODQGV DQG further glimpses of the story.

Puzzle • $JH • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

86. COZY GROVE Mining deeper into that cute/sinister vibe already explored in Nightmare )DUP DQG 7KH /DVW &DPSʐUH &R]\ Grove is about solving problems for JKRVWV Ŝ WKH JKRVWV RI IULHQGO\ EHDUV WR EH H[DFW <RX VWUROO DURXQG D OLWWOH LVODQG DQG DVN WKH LQKDELWDQWV ZKDW

they need. Usually the answer is something you can collect by searching nearby, or by visiting the shop.

If you can’t spot the required item, it’s possible to buy a hint, VR \RX ZRQşW EH VWXFN IRU ORQJ Ŝ DOWKRXJK for reasons I can’t quite fathom, there DUH OLPLWHG WDVNV DYDLODEOH HDFK GD\ and at a certain point you’ll be told to FRPH EDFN WRPRUURZ I found it frustrating hitting that GDLO\ WDVN FHLOLQJ EXW WKHUH DUH RWKHU DFWLYLWLHV WRR ʐVKLQJ H[SDQGLQJ \RXU item collection, crafting furniture and earning badges. It’s a wonderfulORRNLQJ JDPH DQG ZKLOH LW PD\ EH slight, it has a nicely relaxing quality.

Casual/Exploration • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

87. AGENT INTERCEPT

86.

=LSS\ JRRG ORRNLQJ racer in which you chase down a target boss in your muscle car (which can transform into ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 71

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87. a speedboat for water sections) while destroying and evading lesser baddies. $W ʐUVW LW VHHPV OLPLWHG VLQFH WKHUHşV only one mission on the main menu, EXW ORRN GHHSHU DQG \RXşOO ʐQG WKHUHşV more than enough here to be going along with.

For a start, each Current Crisis mission is accompanied by separate FKDOOHQJHV RQ WKH VDPH WUDFN ʐYH RI LQFUHDVLQJ GLʒFXOW\ ZKHUH \RXşUH DLPLQJ IRU D WLPH DQG ʐYH ZKHUH you’re chasing points by shooting targets. I actually preferred these, in fact, since they reward boldness; the main missions largely revolve around your ability to preserve health, which cannot be replenished, and therefore incentivise caution.

And at noon each day (UK time), the mission changes over and there’s a new course and set of challenges to face. It’s an unusual structure, but a fun one, since it encourages you to 72 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

properly binge and master a mission before it disappears, and a teaser image creates a bit of anticipation over what’s coming next Ŝ DOWKRXJK , PXVW add the caveat that the total number of missions currently in rotation is still quite low. Nevertheless, Agent Intercept is a simple, polished game that uses creative presentation to become more than the sum of its parts.

'ULYLQJ • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

88. WORLD’S END CLUB A dozen supposedly primary-age children (including one who, in the ʐQHVW RI FLQHPDWLF WUDGLWLRQV KDV WKH VWDWXUH DQG YRLFH RI D \HDU ROG ʐQG themselves stranded in an underwater WKHPH SDUN DQG IRUFHG WR ʐJKW HDFK RWKHU IRU WKH RQO\ NH\ WR HVFDSH 7KH ZRUOG PHDQZKLOH LV UDFNHG E\ VWUDQJH and apocalyptic events.

WEC’s gameplay is an unusual PL[WXUH RI SX]]OHV ' SODWIRUPLQJ DQG tapping through lengthy dialogue. The underwater section has some nicely intricate plotting (each character has

88.

D XQLTXH WDVN DQG WKHVH LQWHUDFW LQ neat ways), and the characters are memorable if slightly overwrought.

Be warned that the voice acting (and most of the environmental VLJQDJH LV LQ -DSDQHVH DOEHLW ZLWK mostly well-translated subtitles.

Adventure • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

as they blunder from left to right. I’ve made this sound simple but there’s a surprising amount of strategy involved in balancing a team that has the right blend of ranged, PHOHH RʏHQVLYH magic and healing to beat a particular opponent. The game starts easy but the unexplained FRPSOH[LW\ VXFK DV WKH HʏHFWV RI D VWDW RQ D FKDUDFWHUşV HʏHFWLYHQHVV TXLFNO\ becomes a little overwhelming.

7KH DUW VW\OH LV YLEUDQW Ŝ , OLNH WKH little chibi bobble-head versions of \RXU FKDUDFWHUV WKDW \RX VHH LQ ʐJKWV Ŝ DQG WKH PXVLF HQMR\DEO\ VWLUULQJ There’s maybe a bit too much chat in story mode, however.

89. KING’S LEAGUE II Addictive strategy combat game with KHDY\ 53* HOHPHQWV <RX UHFUXLW WUDLQ and equip a team of XS WR ʐYH ʐJKWHUV archers, wizards etc, and then supervise their performance in battle, occasionally pitching in to get someone to do a VSHFLDO DWWDFN EXW 89.

PRVWO\ MXVW ZDWFKLQJ

Fighting/Strategy • $JH • Single player only • Supports hardware

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controllers (but you have to enable this in the settings)

90. BATTLESKY BRIGADE: HARPOONER $QRWKHU IRU WKH OLVW RI JDPHV , OLNH DJDLQVW P\ EHWWHU MXGJHPHQW ,WşV basically Ridiculous Fishing with less charm and more grinding, but as uninspiring as that sounds, it’s astonishingly addictive. %DWWOH6N\ LV D YHUWLFDOO\ VFUROOLQJ bullet-hell shooter, and you have to JHW DV IDU DV SRVVLEOH EHIRUH WDNLQJ WRR much damage or simply running out of URSH Ŝ GLG , PHQWLRQ WKDW \RXU DLUFUDIW is attached to a line? At this point you JHW UHHOHG EDFN LQ DQG KDYH WR JDWKHU up all the loot that was dropped by your slain foes.

90.

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:KDW PDNHV LW VR FRPSXOVLYH LV WKDWbWKHUHşV DOZD\V VRPHWKLQJ WR aim for: another achievement, a gun upgrade, a longer rope or a bigger QHW 7KH UHVXOW LV WKDW \RX NHHS WHOOLQJ \RXUVHOI šMXVW RQH PRUH JRŢ DQG suddenly it’s midnight and you’ve JRWbZRUN LQ WKH PRUQLQJ Shooter • $JH • Single player only • No controller support

91. A MONSTER’S EXPEDITION 7KLV FXWH SX]]OHU WDNHV SODFH RQ a series of islands; each contains a handful of (fellable) trees and LPPRYDEOH URFNV DQG \RXU MRE LV WR ʐQG WKH ULJKW ZD\ WR QDYLJDWH DQG interact with these elements to reach the next island. ,W ORRNV JUHDW and the writing is delightfully witty: every few islands you get a museum ‘exhibit’ curated by a monster who has comically misunderstood some aspect of human civilization. But the on-screen controls are DZNZDUG Ŝ GLUHFWLQJ the monster behind DQ REMHFW UDUHO\ ZRUNV

91. ʐUVW WLPH Ŝ DQG , IRXQG WKH SX]]OHV frustrating rather than pleasantly mind-stretching.

Bear in mind, however, that I’m YHU\bPXFK LQ WKH PLQRULW\ RQ WKLV RQH 0RVW RI WKH $UFDGH DʐFLRQDGRV RXW there love it.

Puzzle • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

92. REDOUT: SPACE ASSAULT Fast and occasionally stressful spaceship shooter with a distinct

92.

Starfox vibe, down WR WKH WDONDWLYH ZLQJ ZR PDQ Ŝ QRW D IURJ LQ WKLV FDVH Ŝ and shoulder-button barrel rolls.

It’s a little more free-roaming and far more spacey than its notoriously on-rails and ground-based predecessor, but HDFK OHYHO KDV D GHʐQLWH VWUXFWXUH there’s not much room for exploration.

This leaves you free to concentrate on GRGJLQJ URFNHWV DQG SLFNLQJ Rʏ ERJH\V to your heart’s content.

Shooter • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

93. DEAD END JOB 7ZLQ VWLFN VKRRWHU LQ ZKLFK \RX FOHDU out ghosts in the time-honoured PDQQHU VKRRW ZLWK ODVHU WKHQ VXFN up with a vacuum cleaner).

The guns have a satisfying IHHO DQG WKH V cartoon graphics are pleasingly JURWHVTXH 0\ ʐUVW choice from this genre would be ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 75

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93.

No Way Home, but this is a very solid alternative.

Shooter • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers (and pretty much requires one)

There are also adaptive AIs, which have a starting rating but push their standard up or down depending on how well you’re doing. I UHFNRQ WKHVH FRXOG use a little toning GRZQ Ŝ RQH ZKR KDG been thrashing me suddenly started EOXQGHULQJ DZD\ KLV PDMRU SLHFHV DQG PLVVLQJ RSSRUWXQLWLHV WR WDNH PLQH Ŝ EXW RYHUDOO WKH JDPH KDV VXFK DQ impressive range of bot opponents that you could quite happily never go near the multiplayer mode.

94. CHESS – PLAY & LEARN+ $ VOLFN DQG ZHOO GHVLJQHG FKHVV DSS that lets you play against fellow humans online, or an exceptional selection of tailored AI bot players. Each AI has D UDWLQJ VR \RX FDQ ʐQG your approximate level and WKHQ ZRUN \RXU ZD\ XS but they have personality and habits too: some are aggressive or defensive, love to push pawns for SURPRWLRQ RU VDFULʐFH pieces, or even emulate WKH VW\OH RI D VSHFLʐF 94. real-world player.

76 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

Strategy • Age 4+ • Single player only (although there’s an online multiplayer) • No controller support

95.

95. WHERE CARDS FALL 2GG KRZ ZURQJ ʐUVW LPSUHVVLRQV FDQ be. Based on its appearance at the Apple Arcade announcement I assumed :&) ZDV D QDUUDWLYH JDPH Ŝ SHUKDSV an arty, semi-realistic RPG. But it’s a puzzle game, with the cute story bits FRQʐQHG WR EHWZHHQ OHYHOV FXW VFHQHV The puzzle mechanism is simple.

Little houses can be disassembled into VWDFNV RI FDUGV PRYHG DURXQG DQG WXUQHG EDFN LQWR KRXVHV LQ QHZ SODFHV the amount of space available in any given location dictates the size of the house. By clambering over the houses you must get from point A to point B. It’s a neat if somewhat limited mechanism, and the whole thing would be rather forgettable if it wasn’t for the quality of the non-puzzle

elements: those touching cut scenes, mainly, as well as the lovely music and FKDUDFWHUIXO ORRN 0D\EH LWşV D QDUUDWLYH game after all.

Puzzle • Age 12+ • Single player only • No controller support

96. MANIFOLD GARDEN %UDLQ PHOWLQJ ʐUVW SHUVRQ JUDYLW\ puzzler with something of Portal’s LQJHQXLW\ Ŝ DOWKRXJK WKDW JDPHşV ZLWW\ EDFN VWRU\ LV UHSODFHG KHUH E\ TXLHW abstraction. Approach a wall and you’ll see a circle in a matching colour; tap WKLV WR PDNH WKDW ZDOO ŞJURXQGş DQG everything else rotate to match. It WDNHV D ZKLOH WR JUDVS WKH QDYLJDWLRQDO possibilities this opens up, but the JDPHşV EUHDWKWDNLQJ VHQVH RI VFDOH ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 77

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96. hits the second you step outside the ʐUVW EXLOGLQJ 2QH TXLEEOH \RX FDQ LQYHUW WKH < D[LV EXW IRU VRPH UHDVRQ this option didn’t carry across to my hardware controller, which is annoying.

Puzzle • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

97. WINDING WORLDS Short, simple and sweet puzzle game with attractive visuals, nice dialogue

and a winning sense of humour.

Each level revolves around a small circular planetoid on ZKLFK \RX ZLOO ʐQG a person in distress.

By swiping left/ right and up/down \RX FDQ ZDON DURXQG the planet, manipulate tools, and XOWLPDWHO\ ZRUN RXW Ŝ DQG ʐ[ Ŝ ZKDWşV bothering them.

The message, if that’s not too simplistic a term, is an unusual mixture RI NLQGQHVV DQG GDUNQHVV DQG WKHUHşV D pleasing subversion of the game’s own mechanics in the last level. But it’s all a bit too easy for serious puzzle-heads, and you’ll be done with it in not much more than an hour.

Puzzle • $JH • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

98. RAYMAN MINI

97.

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(YHQ E\ WKH VWDQGDUGV RI V platform protagonists, Rayman DOZD\V VWUXFN PH DV KDOI DVVHG DQG KLV ŞFRRO GXGHş ORRNV DQG ZRRKRR VRXQG HʏHFWV remain unlovable in this latest iteration. Fortunately, the game

99. JENNY LECLUE – DETECTIVU

98. itself is far more impressive.

It’s an auto-run platformer in the vein of Super Mario Run, and while it can’t quite match that title’s peerless level design it also avoids its greatest ʑDZ 5D\PDQ 0LQL ZRUNV SHUIHFWO\ RʓLQH $QG WKH PXVLF LV H[FHOOHQW adding to the sense of headlong MHRSDUG\ WKDW LV VR HVVHQWLDO WR JDPHV of this type.

Platformer • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers (and the use of one is recommended)

99.

/LNHDEOH SOD\HU friendly adventure game about a crimesolving prodigy who ORYHV WDFNOLQJ FDVHV whether they involve gruesome murders or lost glasses.

Spotting the clues is rarely an enormous challenge (there are JLYHDZD\ JUDSKLF HʏHFWV ZKHQ \RX need to employ your magnifying glass, for example), but the story is funny and whimsical and the whole thing WKRURXJKO\ HQMR\DEOH 'HWHFWLYH $GYHQWXUH • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHUV

100. PAINTY MOB The idea behind Painty Mob is a simple RQH <RX WDNH RQ the role of weird, EORE OLNH FKDUDFWHUV (of which there are PDQ\ WR XQORFN DV you splash vibrant paint across your dreary world and score points in the process. There’s ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 79

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100. a catch, though: the residents aren’t happy being covered in paint and respond by forming a mob, chasing you around to stop your paintʑLQJLQJbHVFDSDGHV As you cover your environment and its residents in paint you’ll start chaining together colourful combos, speeding up gameplay and upping the DQWH Ŝ LW RQO\ WDNHV RQH ZURQJ VWHS to fall prey to the angry mob chasing \RX <RX SURJUHVV WKURXJK D YDULHW\ of themed levels, with some even IHDWXULQJ ROG VFKRRO ERVV ʐJKWV EXW you’ll start from the beginning once you’ve been caught (and presumably turfed out of WKHbJURXS

It’s essentially an endless runner with themed levels, 101. but that’s no bad 80 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

thing; as long as you’re content with progression in the form of new characters and environments, you’ll ʐQG D ORW WR ORYH about Painty Mob. Shooter • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHUV

101. FALLEN KNIGHT Pleasingly hectic Metroidvania-type 'bEHDW ŞHP XS LQ ZKLFK \RX OHDS about the place slashing bad guys to pieces with your sword.

The combat is great fun and feels harder than it is, in a good way. Less happily the game commits the cardinal sin of forcing you to sit through the tiresome introductory bit every time \RX UHVWDUW D ERVV ʐJKW DQG WKHVH

DFWXDOO\ DUH GLʒFXOW I must have watched WKH ʐUVW JX\ ʑH[ DQG WKUHDWHQ WR NLOO PH times.

Finally, note that it’s much easier WRbKDQGOH WKH VSHHG\ 102. combat when using a hardware controller, but this appears to be imperfectly implemented; on some menus I FRXOGQşW ʐQG D EXWWRQ IRU ŞFRQʐUPş and had to resort to a tap. Indeed, the tutorial assumed I was using on-screen FRQWUROV ZKLFK PDNHV PH ZRQGHU LI WKLV LV RʒFLDOO\ VXSSRUWHG Fighting • $JH • Single player only • Mostly supports hardware controllers Ŝ DQG EHQHʐWV IURP WKHP Ŝ EXW occasionally you have to tap on-screen

compelling that it enters your dreams.

The standard mode involves careful planning and execution but multiplayer games (and occasional challenge levels in single-player) are FRPSOHWHO\ GLʏHUHQW UHTXLULQJ \RX WR SODFH DUURZV RQ WKH ʑ\ DQG XQGHU huge pressure. This is a lot of fun too, although I had trouble persuading the servers to set up a multiplayer contest with real people and contented myself with being thrashed by an AI.

102. CHUCHU 52&.(7 b81,9(56(

Puzzle • Age 4+ • 1-4 players • Supports hardware controllers

/LNH DOO WKH EHVW SX]]OH JDPHV &KX&KX VWDUWV ZLWK D VLPSOH FRQFHSW Ŝ WKH SODFLQJ RI DUURZ PDUNHUV WR UHGLUHFW scurrying mice, Lemmings-style, away IURP KD]DUGV DQG WRZDUGV D WDUJHW Ŝ EXW WKHQ UDPSV XS WKH GLʒFXOW\ ZLWK an array of complications. The graphics have a pleasing old-school cheesiness, and the central mechanic is so

103. REIGNS: BEYOND Reigns made its name with a superVLPSOH 7LQGHU HVTXH LQWHUIDFH Ŝ VZLSH OHIW IRU QR VZLSH ULJKW IRU \HV Ŝ DQG D EOHDN ZLWW\ WDNH RQ WKH SHULOV RI dynastic rule. Following two relatively VHQVLEOH WKHPHG VSLQ RʏV WKH franchise arrives on Arcade in the form ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 81

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information; and theme-wise it doesn’t quite hang together. , OLNH LW EXW ,şP QRW LQ GDQJHU of becoming obsessed.

Card • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

104. NIGHTMARE FARM 103.

RI D ZDFN\ VSDFH DGYHQWXUH 7KH PDNHUV KDYH WULHG JDPHO\ WR ʐW WKH LQFRQJUXRXV QHZ WKHPH WR WKH gameplay; instead of your heir you WDNH FRQWURO RI D FORQH ZKHQ \RX GLH and you accept or decline advice from crew/band members instead of courtly advisors. The pilot might propose ʑ\LQJ WKURXJK DQ DVWHURLG ʐHOG WR HVFDSH SLUDWHV IRU example, and your sole contribution is yay or nay.

The writing is as droll and the graphics as charmingly characterful as ever. But it also retains the occasional sense that some choices are either lose-lose, or could not reasonably be predicted 104. with the available 82 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

Animal Crossing for Tim Burton fans. Could also be called ‘The Waiting Game’.

Get through the wordless intro videos and tutorials (which create rather than dispel confusion) and you’ll ʐQG \RXUVHOI LQ FKDUJH RI D VPDOO IDUP with space for eight plants and seven miscellaneous items. Plant an apple and you’ll grow two; put down a plate of biscuits and a dog will reward you

with some pieces of wood; go to the shop and you can barter lower-level items for more interesting VWXʏ WKDW \RX FDQ then plant or give to your animal/monster 105. friends.

7KLQJV VWDUW Rʏ TXLFN LW WDNHV MXVW D PLQXWH WR JURZ DQ apple) but before long you’re waiting 10 minutes for a mushroom, 40 for a clam and so on. And at this point it becomes the mobile cliché: a game WKDW \RX FRPSXOVLYHO\ FKHFN LQWR IURP time to time but then ignore while all the timers run down.

Casual • $JH • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

105. WARP DRIVE 7KLV OXULG WXUER FKDUJHG UDFHU WLFNV DOO the aesthetic boxes, including thrilling spaceship-style engine sounds and D VHQVH RI UHFNOHVV VSHHG %XW WKH handling is an acquired taste.

I must have done 10,000 power slides in various versions of Mario Kart over the years, but the way Warp 'ULYH KDQGOHV GULIW Ŝ ZKLFK OLNH LQ Mario, produces a speed boost if held ORQJ HQRXJK Ŝ ZDV HQWLUHO\ DOLHQ WR

PH $SSO\LQJ WKH EUDNH GRHVQşW WKURZ RXW WKH EDFN HQG WKH ZD\ , H[SHFWHG and my instinct to apply immediate RSSRVLWH ORFN SXW PH LQ WKH EDUULHUV time and time again.

Given a couple dozen practice races I got the rough hang of it, and LWşV SRVVLEOH WKDW YHWHUDQV RI QRQ NDUW racing sims will grasp it more readily; EXW WKLV GULYLQJ JDPH GRHV QRW VWULNH me as welcoming to beginners. Still, all the more reason to put the time in, because it’s a lot of fun once you UHDOLVH KRZ LW ZRUNV 'ULYLQJ • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

106. NEVERSONG ,W IHHOV OLNH 1HYHUVRQJ ZDV SUREDEO\ rushed out, because it had lots of issues at launch: crashes, malfunctioning double subtitles, a SDXVH EXWWRQ WKDW GLGQşW ZRUN SURSHUO\ ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 83

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106. and then disappeared so you had to restart. It’s annoying that paying FXVWRPHUV ZHUH WUHDWHG OLNH EHWD testers, but the problems have at least EHHQ ʐ[HG QRZ $QG WKH JDPH Ŝ RQFH \RX JHW SDVW WKH XQSURPLVLQJ LQWUR Ŝ LV VROLG ,WşV a puzzle platformer, very much in the Limbo vein; as well as general mechanics it shares that game’s gloomy visual sensibility, oldschool fairytale cruelty and, fortunately, sense of humour. The puzzles and boss ʐJKWV DUH IXQ DQG the voice acting is 107. excellent.

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Puzzle/Platformer • $JH • 6LQJOHbSOD\HU RQO\ • Supports KDUGZDUHbFRQWUROOHUV

107. ROUNDGUARD Continuing the noble tradition of games from other genres pretending to be fantasy RPGs, Roundguard is D 3HJJOH VW\OH SDFKLQNR JDPH ZLWK a tenuous theme about exploring a

dungeon. As in all SDFKLQNR JDPHV you’re aiming a ball into a set of pegs and hoping to hit as many as possible EHIRUH LW GURSV Rʏ WKH bottom. But the ball 108. is really an unusually spherical fantasy hero, and the pegs are monsters to VOD\ JROG WR ORRW DQG SRWLRQV WR TXDʏ ,WşV SOHDVDQW HQRXJK Ŝ QRW OHDVW EHFDXVH SDFKLQNR JDPHV RQ L26 WHQG to have intrusive freemium elements, REYLRXVO\ QRW SUHVHQW KHUH Ŝ DQG WKH between-level banter is quite witty. I recommend the rogue character, whose GRXEOH MXPS VNLOO JLYHV \RX D ELW PRUH sense of agency.

Arcade • $JH • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

108. CAT QUEST II Those who can handle the paw/woof/ meow puns will get a lot out of this two-player RPG. (It can also be played solo, in which case you’ll be able to alternate between controlling the cat and dog main characters.)

There are tons of missions and all the usual reptile-brain pleasures of collecting spells, weapons and armour,

DQG OHYHOOLQJ XS \RXU FKDUDFWHU Ŝ HYHQ if levelling up is not massively exciting here because it happens automatically, ZLWK QR ŞVNLOO SRLQWVş WR GLVWULEXWH RU VLPLODU 8OWLPDWHO\ WKLV LVbSUREDEO\ aimed at a slightly younger/more whimsical audience than us, and I found the relentless parade of FXWH FDUWRRQ FDWV DQG GRJV DbOLWWOH ZHDULQJbDIWHU D ZKLOH %XW WKHUHşV D good-quality mobile RPG here, under WKH IXU DQG ZKLVNHUV RGP • $JH • 1-2 players • No controller support

109. THINGS THAT GO BUMP 3HFXOLDU PXOWLSOD\HU ʐJKWLQJ JDPH in which ghosts possess inanimate REMHFWV DQG XVH WKHP WR EXLOG ʐJKWLQJ PDFKLQHV ,Q WKH NLWFKHQ OHYHO IRU instance, your roaming spirit could grab a cheese grater for a body, wheels, JRRJO\ H\HV DQG D FDUYLQJ NQLIH Ŝ WKHQ ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 85

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Supports hardware controllers

110. STRANDED SAILS

109. swap these for alternatives when the IDQF\ RU DQRWKHU VSLULW VWULNHV \RX This description possibly oversells the degree of customisability in the game as it currently stands, and it XQVXUSULVLQJO\ GRHVQşW VHHP WR PDNH DQ\ QRQ DHVWKHWLF GLʏHUHQFH ZKHWKHU \RXU FRUH REMHFW LV D WRDVWHU RU DQ LURQ <RXU FKRLFH RI ZHDSRQ LV PRUH VLJQLʐFDQW PRVW RI WKHVH DUH TXLWH slow, so you’ll want to grab the speedy spatula as soon as possible.

It’s all pretty fun, on the whole, but a little limited, particularly in single player. And use a controller if you can; the on-screen controls are hard to hit accurately DQG TXLFNO\ XQGHU pressure.

Fighting • Age 4+ • 1-4 players •

110.

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Spoiler alert: you get VKLSZUHFNHG DERXW ʐYH PLQXWHV LQWR WKLV nautical RPG, and from then on your duties are more to do with building VKDFNV DQG JURZLQJ FURSV WKDQ VDLOLQJ WKH VHYHQ VHDV ,WşV PRUH 'RQşW 6WDUYH than Oceanhorn.

The graphics aren’t great: water HʏHFWV ORRN EDVLF DQG \RXU VSULWH ORSHV DURXQG OLNH D SXSSHW 7H[W RFFDVLRQDOO\ IHHOV OLNH LWşV EHHQ WUDQVODWHG E\ someone unfamiliar with English.

And the controls are mixed, with the WRXFKVFUHHQ ŞMR\SDGş KDUG WR XVH EXW D PDUNHG ODFN RI DVVLVWDQFH ʐQGLQJ the right button if you resort (as you should) to a hardware controller.

All this against it, but dammit, Stranded Sails is fun! The JDPH KDV WKH NQDFN RI RʏHULQJ FRQVWDQW and essentially unchallenging progress (although 111. there’s some gentle ŞSXVK \RXU OXFNş MHRSDUG\ ZKHQ WU\LQJ QRW WR UXQ RXW RI IRRG ZKHQ H[SORULQJ DQG IUDQNO\ , couldn’t get enough of it. A begrudging recommendation, perhaps, but a recommendation nonetheless.

RPG • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers (and is much better with one, despite RFFDVLRQDO GLʒFXOWLHV ORFDWLQJ WKH correct button)

111. HYPERBRAWL TOURNAMENT 0HVV\ EXW OLNHDEOH VSRUW ʐJKWHU D VRUW of futuristic Mad Max handball. It’s two on two, and you have to throw the ball into your opponents’ goal while HQMR\LQJ D ELW RI WKH ROG XOWUD YLROHQFH When not in possession I tended to hammer the punch button, forgetting the subtleties of energy and weapons; ZKHQ , JRW WKH EDOO , VKRW DW WKH ʐUVW opportunity. The whole thing is rather

frantic. The neon, Fortnitey graphics are charming (inevitably, there are GR]HQV RI VNLQV WR XQORFN IRU \RXU character). The grating and repetitive commentary is somewhat less so.

Sport/Fighting • $JH • 1-4 players • Supports hardware controllers (recommended)

112. THE SURVIVALISTS This is Arcade’s equivalent of the ZRQGHUIXO 'RQşW 6WDUYH DOWKRXJK LWşV a lot less merciless. As in all survival games you have no idea what you’re doing at the start, but instead of getting eaten by wolves or, well, VWDUYLQJ \RXşUH PRUH OLNHO\ WR MXVW JHWbDbELW IUXVWUDWHG In fact the clueless phase probably lasts a bit longer than in most games EHFDXVH LWşV UDWKHU KDUG <RXşUH FDVW adrift on a desert island and have to forage, craft and build until you have ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 87

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Adventure/ Exploration • Age • 1-4 players • Supports hardware controllers

113. RED REIGN 112.

WKH PHDQV RI VXUYLYDO Ŝ EXW \RX FDQşW FUDIW WKLQJV XQWLO \RXşYH XQORFNHG WKH recipe and gathered and/or crafted the UHTXLVLWH UHVRXUFHV DQG LW DOO WDNHV D ORW RI ERWK ZRUN DQG ZRUNLQJ RXW :KHUH LW JHWV UHDOO\ WULFN\ LV ZKHQ PRQNH\V JHW LQYROYHG 0RQNH\V wander around and can be recruited easily (if you bribe them with items); WKH\ FDQ WKHQ EH JLYHQ WDVNV DOWKRXJK this is less easy. And if you do happen to die, be warned that there’s no auto VDYH Ŝ DOWKRXJK GHDWK LWVHOI LV PRUH RI an inconvenience than a disaster.

113.

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Slower turn-based titles do all right (as demonstrated by Civilization VI) but it’s hard to imagine UHDO WLPH VWUDWHJ\ PDNLQJ VHQVH RQ iOS devices or Apple TV: all that fast, ʐGGO\ PLFURPDQDJHPHQW FULHV RXW IRU D PRXVH DQG NH\ERDUG KRWNH\V Red Reign gets around this by drastically simplifying unit control to the extent that you can tell them to do SUHFLVHO\ WZR WKLQJV FKDUJH Rʏ GRZQ one of the lanes leading to the enemy EDVH HDFK ODQH KDV LWV RZQ FKXQN\ button) or stay put and guard yours.

They’re pretty self-reliant, so you can then concentrate on upgrading your base, producing more units or KROGLQJb\RXU ʐQJHU GRZQ RQ trees or your gold mine so you generate resources PRUHbTXLFNO\ A weirdly VLPSOH WDNH RQ

the RTS genre, then, but one that’s perfectly suited to smaller screens.

And the visuals are lovely, seemingly blended from equal parts Kingdom Rush and old-school Warcraft.

Strategy • $JH • 1-2 players • Supports hardware controllers

114. KINGS OF THE CASTLE -ROO\ EXW VOLJKW ʐUVW SHUVRQ SODWIRUPHU in which you (a princess) have to dash around an island collecting gems to ransom a prince. This gender-switch premise is a nice touch, albeit a VXSHUʐFLDO RQH VLQFH \RX QHYHU VHH either the prince or the princess in normal single-player gameplay.

The action itself is a lot of HQHUJHWLFbIXQ SURSHOOHG E\ D PDUYHOORXVO\ ERLVWHURXV VRXQGWUDFN 7KH PDNHUV DUH HYLGHQWO\ IRQG RI WKH ROG ŞVSLNH\ PRQVWHU NQRFNV \RX LQWR the water’ routine, and failure can

114.

EH IUXVWUDWLQJ EXW WKLV PDNHV WKH successes feel more valuable.

Following an update (which also DGGHG WKH RSWLRQ WR LQYHUW WKH < D[LV Ŝ KRRUD\ ZHşUH QRZ XS WR WKUHH courses, each of which plays host to a handful of time trial challenges as well as the main ‘quest’. There’s still not a huge amount of variety, however, and this game is probably best suited to brief trysts rather than long-term commitment.

Platformer • Age 4+ • 1-4 players • Supports hardware controllers

115. STAR FETCHED 8WWHUO\ JRUJHRXV ' SODWIRUPHU ZLWK hints of tower defence at times, and a bunch of fun weapons and equipment to craft and collect.

3ODWIRUPHUV DUH DOO DERXW WKH MXPS mechanism, however, and I found this D OLWWOH DZNZDUG 0HWURLGYDQLD VW\OH you get double MXPSV DV VWDQGDUG and the ability to slide down and/or VSULQJ XSZDUGV Rʏ vertical surfaces, but it’s one of the WULFNLHU H[DPSOHV of the genre ,şYHbWULHG ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 89

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115.

Overall it’s pretty fun, although the writing is occasionally a touch slapdash and a controller is very much UHFRPPHQGHG Ŝ JR LQWR WKH VHWWLQJV and select the directional arrows RSWLRQ ZKLFK PDNHV WKH RQ VFUHHQ buttons disappear.

Fighting • $JH • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

116. LUMEN I swear I’ve played this JDPH EHIRUH Ŝ RU DW OHDVW something very similar. It’s the classic mobile puzzle IRUPXOD RI UHʑHFWLQJ beams around a board to hit various targets while trying to collect three VWDUV JLYHQ WKH VXSHUʐFLDO Arcade sheen of a pleasing V LVK" DHVWKHWLF DQG a photo storyline about a 90 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

116.

Scottish inventor. It’s all gently diverting, but my main issue is WKDW LW MXVW GRHVQşW JHW KDUG HQRXJK TXLFNO\ enough: I got to level 37 before feeling at all challenged, and WR OHYHO EHIRUH feeling stumped.

That’s not a boast; I’m terrible at WKHVHbVRUWV RI JDPHV Puzzle • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

117. MONOMALS 7KH PHFKDQLFDO FRQFHSW KHUH HYRNHV the mighty Ridiculous Fishing, in that you spend the game controlling the descending business end of a

117. ʐVKLQJ URG DV LW VHHNV RXW SUH\ LQ WKH watery depths. This similarity is only VNLQ GHHS KRZHYHU DQG \RXU FRQWURO of the rod is so unrestricted that it LV HVVHQWLDOO\ MXVW D IUHH URDPLQJ underwater action game.

As such things go the gameplay is pretty solid, however: each level involves combat, puzzle elements, hidden coins and a concluding boss ʐJKW 7KH ŞʐVKş \RX VHHN DUH UHDOO\ HOHFWURQLF GHYLFHV FDSDEOH RI PDNLQJ DbVSHFLʐF PXVLFDO VRXQG DQG WKH sounds thus gathered can be used to compose tunes in a compositional subgame. Graphically Monomals is hugely winning, with the primarycolour exuberance of classic SEGA WLWOHV DQGbRYHUDOO WKLV LV D WKRURXJKO\ FKHHUIXO HʏRUW

Sport/Platformer • $JH • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers

118. LIFELIKE: CHAPTER ONE <RXşUH D EDOO RI OLJKW ULJKW Ŝ VWD\ ZLWK PH KHUH Ŝ VXUURXQGHG E\ SDUWLFOHV 7KHUHşV VRPH NLQG RI ELROXPLQHVFHQW VKDSH PRYLQJ WRZDUGV \RX ,WşV OLNH you’re watching and interacting with microscopic organisms in the ocean... but not quite. /LIHOLNH ORRNV DQG VRXQGV LQFUHGLEOH and induces a sense of genuine FKLOGOLNH ZRQGHU IRU WKH ʐUVW IHZ OHYHOV But in sheer gameplay terms there’s not a huge amount going on: what you’re trying to do, most of the time, LV SHUVXDGH DQ REMHFW WKDW \RX GRQşW control to move the screen towards ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 91

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it’s nothing new and b) it’s hopelessly addictive and you’ll probably spend all your time on this instead of playing WKHbJDPHV KLJKHU XSbWKH OLVW

118.

DQ XQNQRZQ JRDO 7KHUH DUH FOXHV EXW there’s also a lot of trial and error. ,WşV ʑDZHG DQG VRPHZKDW OLPLWHG DV D JDPH WKHQ %XW JR ZLWK WKH ʑRZ DQG \RXşOO HQMR\ LW IRU WKH VWUDQJH FDOPLQJ trippy experience that it is.

Puzzle • Age 4+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers, DOWKRXJK LWşV HDVLHU WR PDNH VPDOO movements via touchscreen

119. SOLITAIRE BY MOBILITYWARE+ A very serviceable rendition of solitaire, with touch-optimized controls and daily challenges WR NHHS WKLQJV fresh. But it’s VWLOO MXVW VROLWDLUH which means a)

119.

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Card • Age 4+ • Single player only • No controller support

120. SAMURAI JACK )DLUO\ VWDQGDUG LVVXH ' DFWLRQ DGYHQWXUH WKDW PD\ OLNH WKH 6WHYHQ Universe and Loud House titles lower down the list, land better if you’re familiar with the cartoon source material. The story isn’t well explained and characters are introduced as if \RXşUH VXSSRVHG WR NQRZ ZKR WKH\ DUH Ŝ ZKLFK , GLGQşW $V WKH HSRQ\PRXV bushido warrior you roam the ODQGVFDSH XQWLO \RX ʐQG VRPH EDG

120.

JX\V WKHQ KDPPHU WKH DWWDFN EXWWRQ until they disappear. At least, that’s how I did it, but there’s plenty of depth to the combat if you choose to ORRN VWURQJ DQG ZHDN DWWDFNV GRGJHV EORFNV DQG SDUULHV QXPHURXV GLʏHUHQW weapons with separate abilities to level up. To be honest, there’s probably too much freedom thrown at you, and since you can get away with a simple approach, it’s tempting to use one.

Aesthetically it’s sort of nice but VOLJKWO\ URXJK ORRNLQJ LQ SODFHV D characteristic issue with cartoon adaptations: computer graphics never ORRN TXLWH DV VPRRWK DV 79 DQLPDWLRQ But it’s quite fun, provided you get D MR\SDG 7KH RQ VFUHHQ FRQWUROV DUH desperately hard to use under pressure Ŝ WKHUH DUH VLPSO\ WRR PDQ\ EXWWRQV

Fighter • Age 12+ • Single player only • Supports hardware controllers (strongly recommended)

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 93

HOW TO

Erase your iPhone and iPad remotely after a theft <RX FDQ HQVXUH \RXU GDWD UHPDLQV VDIH WKURXJK HUDVXUH Glenn Fleishman reports

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ne of the most powerful features added years ago to macOS and iOS was Find My L3KRQH Ŝ DQG L3DG DQG 0DF The iCloud-connected service lets you WUDFN DQ DFFLGHQWDOO\ PLVSODFHG LWHP and potentially recover a stolen one.

94 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

With the service active on a device, you can use Find My for macOS, iOS or iPadOS or via iCloud.com to erase your computer, phone,or tablet or to queue an erasure signal for the next time the device is on the Internet. iPhones and iPads with a Secure Enclave and

Macs with FileVault enabled simply GHOHWH WKH HQFU\SWLRQ NH\V IRU VWRUDJH This renders the data irretrievable. ,W GRHVQşW DʏHFW \RXU ORFDO RU L&ORXG EDFNXSV VR GRQşW ZRUU\ 2Q D 0DF with a T2 Security Chip or M1 Apple VLOLFRQ GLVN HQFU\SWLRQ LV DOZD\V enabled even if FileVault isn’t, allowing Secure Enclave to destroy WKHbGLVN HQFU\SWLRQ NH\V LQVWDQWO\ even with FileVault disabled.

Pre-Secure Enclave iPhones and iPads and Macs that pre-date the T2 Security chip and have FileVault GLVDEOHG WDNH ORQJHU WR GHOHWH ʐOHV DV HDFK E\WH RI GDWD KDV WR EHbRYHUZULWWHQ If you’re not sure whether your iPhone, iPad or Intel Mac has a Secure Enclave, consult the list Apple SURYLGHV DW IDYH FR I9Q27W <RX FDQ determine if FileVault is enabled by going to the Security & Privacy preference pane’s FileVault tab.

HOW TO ERASE A DEVICE $SSOHşV WZHDNHG WKH SURFHVV VOLJKWO\ for its native apps but left iCloud.com virtually untouched for years.

In macOS, iOS, or iPadOS, launch WKH )LQG 0\ DSS 7DS WKH 'HYLFHV WDE and then tap your hardware. (If you have Family Sharing enabled, you can also see the devices of family

members.) On an iPhone or iPad, WDS (UDVH 7KLV 'HYLFH DQG IROORZ WKH SURPSWV 2Q D 0DF ULJKW FOLFN WKH GHYLFH DQG VHOHFW (UDVH 7KLV 'HYLFH With iCloud.com, log in to your DFFRXQW DQG FOLFN WKH )LQG L3KRQH OLQNbŜ QR Ş0\ş LQ WKHUH (QWHU \RXU iCloud password again if prompted. &OLFN WKH $OO 'HYLFHV PHQX DQG VHOHFW your hardware: • )RU D 0DF FOLFN (UDVH 0DF DQG IROORZbSURPSWV \RXşOO QRWH WKH WH[W VD\V LW ŞPD\ WDNH XS WR D GD\ WR complete’, the worst-case example for a hard-drive-equipped Mac without FileVault enabled and neither a T2 nor M1 chip.

• )RU DQ L3KRQH RU L3DG MXVW FOLFN (UDVHbL3KRQH RU (UDVH L3DG If the device is connected to the Internet via whatever method it has at LWV GLVSRVDO Ŝ :L )L FHOOXODU WHWKHULQJ DŧGLDO XS PRGHP Ŝ HUDVXUH EHJLQV immediately after the Mac receives the signal relayed via Apple’s servers.

In the cases noted above, the drive RU ʑDVK VWRUDJH DOPRVW LQVWDQWO\ becomes irretrievable.

The erase command is queued by $SSOH VR LI WKH GHYLFH HYHU LV EULHʑ\ EDFN RQ WKH ,QWHUQHW LW HUDVHV LWVHOI Once your device starts wiping its ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 95

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GDWD ʐQGLQJ LWV ORFDWLRQ YLD )LQG 0\ LV no longer possible.

For devices that ne’er-do-wells KDYH WDNHQ RʓLQH RU SXW LQ D PHWDO box, they may never return online to receive an erase command. But for iPhones, iPads, and Macs with a Secure Enclave, the stored data can’t be interacted with unless someone also obtained the password. (For a UXQQLQJ 0DF WKHUH PLJKW EH FUDFNV WKDW ZRUN EXW LWşV XQOLNHO\ LI SRZHUHG down and FileVault is enabled, HʏHFWLYHO\ LPSRVVLEOH

It can be wiped, which securely UHPRYHV \RXU GDWD Ŝ DQG WKHQ $FWLYDWLRQ /RFN NLFNV D SDUW RI )LQG My. (Macs have a few additional UHTXLUHPHQWV $FWLYDWLRQ /RFN prevents an erased device from being VHW XS DJDLQ ZLWKRXW NQRZLQJ WKH iCloud password associated with the account that turned on Find My on it.

Criminal groups have apparently ʐJXUHG RXW ZD\V WR E\SDVV $FWLYDWLRQ /RFN LQ DW OHDVW VRPH FDVHV EXW those methods still require erasing the device, so your data remains inaccessible.

$ )8785( 2) 5(027(b(5$685(" I can imagine a future in which the )LQG 0\ 1HWZRUN FRXOG EH XVHG WR trigger erasure, too. Right now, the 96 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

An iPhone that spots an unknown AirTag travelling with it over time can send a signal to prompt an action on the AirTag.

system is used entirely as a passive UHOD\ DQ $LU7DJ WUDFNHU DQG PRVW Apple devices can broadcast their position over Bluetooth in a carefully encrypted manner. Nearby Macs, iPhones, and iPads with Find My 1HWZRUN HQDEOHG UHOD\ WKLV GDWD YLD Apple so you can get updates about location without the party relaying LWbNQRZLQJ ZKR \RX DUH RU ZKLFK device is transmitting.

But AirTags point the way to a potential two-way process. If Apple determines an AirTag has been travelling with you and you’re not the

owner of it, you’re presented with a dialog on an iPhone or iPad that lets you play a sound. That command is passed via Bluetooth.

7KH &29,' H[SRVXUH QRWLʐFDWLRQ V\VWHP SRLQWV WR D PRUH complicated system that preserves privacy and yet could be turned to device erasure, too. In Apple and *RRJOHşV MRLQW QRWLʐFDWLRQ V\VWHP your smartphone recorded all specially formatted Bluetooth signals around you and retained for those a period of time; this is quite similar to the signals emitted for the Find My 1HWZRUN E\ $SSOH GHYLFHV If someone who had been near you UHFHLYHV D &29,' GLDJQRVLV DQG HQWHUV a code into their smartphone provided by their healthcare provider, the HQFU\SWHG %OXHWRRWK ,'V DVVRFLDWHG would then be uploaded to a database that all devices in your region or country regularly downloaded and FRPSDUHG WR VWRUHG ,'V Now, consider this: what if you could report your device as stolen and that you wanted it erased. That signal would then be distributed in encrypted form across all Apple hardware in your area or an expanded UHJLRQ ,I DQ\ RI WKRVH GHYLFHV SLFNHG up an encrypted Bluetooth signal that matched, they could transmit

a similarly encrypted erasure instruction. Thieves try to disable all the wireless on a device, but %OXHWRRWK LV RIWHQ KDUGHU WR EORFN than Wi-Fi or cellular.

The safeguards around this ZRXOGbKDYH WR EH VWURQJ EXW LWşV QRWbIDU IHWFKHG Ŝ MXVW IDU UHDFKLQJ

ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 97

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Remotely control your iPhone’s camera 7DNH D SKRWR ZLWKRXW WRXFKLQJ \RXU SKRQH Lance Whitney reports

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here are several reasons why you might not want to hold \RXU L3KRQH ZKLOH WDNLQJ D SLFWXUH <RX QHHG WR VQDS the perfect still photo while your iPhone is on a tripod and don’t want WR VSRLO WKH VKRW E\ MRVWOLQJ LW <RXşUH WDNLQJ D JURXS SKRWR EXW DOVR ZDQW WR EH LQ LW <RXşUH WRR OD]\ WR OLIW \RXU

98 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

ʐQJHU :KDWHYHU WKH UHDVRQ LWşV QRW a problem. There are actually a few GLʏHUHQW ZD\V WR UHPRWHO\ WULJJHU WKH shutter button on an iPhone.

1. USE AN APPLE WATCH $SSOH :DWFK RZQHUV FDQ WDNH D picture on their iPhone remotely using the watch’s Camera app, complete

with options to control the WLPHU ʑDVK /LYH 3KRWR DQG +'5 +HUHşV KRZ LW ZRUNV Position your phone. Open WKH &DPHUDbDSS RQ \RXU ZDWFK KLQW WKH LFRQ ORRNV OLNH SDUW RI DQ 6/5 7DS WKH shutter button. By default, the shot uses a self-timer WR JR Rʏ LQ WKUHH VHFRQGV but you can change that and other settings. Tap the threedot ellipsis icon. Here, you FDQ WXUQ Rʏ WKH WLPHU VZLWFK between the front and rear FDPHUD WXUQ WKH ʑDVK RQ RU Rʏ b RU WR $XWR WXUQ /LYH 3KRWR RQ RU Rʏ RU WR $XWR

DQG WXUQ +'5 RQ RU Rʏ

1.

2. USE VOICE CONTROL With the Camera app open on your iPhone, you can press the Volume Up or Volume 'RZQ EXWWRQ to trip the shutter,

2.

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which could be a better option than tapping the screen. But that still requires you to touch your phone.

7KHbWULFN LQVWHDG LV to activate one of the volume buttons remotely, which you can do by voice.

On your phone, 3. go to Settings and then Accessibility and then Voice Control. Turn on the VZLWFKbIRU 9RLFH &RQWURO 7KHQ RSHQ the Camera app and line up your VKRW 6D\ š7XUQ XS WKH YROXPHŢ RU š7XUQ GRZQ WKH YROXPHŢ DQG WKH VKXWWHU ZLOO EH WULJJHUHG LQVWHDG -XVW UHPHPEHU WR WXUQ Rʏ 9RLFH &RQWURO when you’re done.

3. ENLIST SIRI Finally, you can enlist Siri’s aid to snap a photo remotely. Telling Siri to WDNH D SKRWR RSHQV WKH &DPHUD DSS but doesn’t actually snap the shutter.

Instead, you can turn to a built-in Siri shortcut called ‘Say Cheese’. Open the Shortcuts app on your phone and go WR *DOOHU\ ,Q WKH 6HDUFK ʐHOG W\SH WKH name ‘Say Cheese’. Tap the shortcut to open it and then tap the Add Shortcut 100 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

EXWWRQ 7KH ʐUVW WLPH \RX WU\ WR UXQ WKH VKRUWFXW 6LUL ZLOO DVN \RX WR JLYH LW permission to access your camera and your photos. Tap OK. From then on, VD\ š+H\ 6LUL VD\ &KHHVH Ţ DQG 6LUL ZLOO WDNH \RXU SKRWR IRU \RX WKRXJK \RXşOO VWLOO KDYH WR WHOO \RXU VXEMHFW WR VPLOH

4. USE A CAMERA 6+877(5b5(027( Another option is to use a camera shutter remote, which communicates ZLWK \RXU L3KRQH YLD %OXHWRRWK <RXşOO ʐQG D YDULHW\ RI UHPRWHV RQ RQOLQH many under £10. After pairing the remote with your iPhone, tap its button when ready, and the picture LVbDXWRPDWLFDOO\ WDNHQ

Remove location data in photos you want to share <RX PD\ RIWHQ ZDQW WR VKDUH D SLFWXUH ZLWKRXW *36 FRRUGLQDWHV attached. Glenn Fleishman reports

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n the naive early days of smartphone photography on devices with GPS or Wi-Fi-based approximate positioning, Apple DQG RWKHU RSHUDWLQJ V\VWHP PDNHUV GLGQşW WKLQN DERXW WKH LPSOLFDWLRQ of embedding coordinates in the PHWDGDWD RI WKH ʐOHV ZKHQ LW FDPH WRbVKDULQJ WKHP

%DFN LQ Mythbusters’ and Tested.com’s Adam Savage posted a picture of his car to Twitter, which at the time didn’t scrub geolocation information. Suddenly, people could ʐQG RXW H[DFWO\ ZKHUH KH OLYHG Ŝ DQG he wasn’t technically unsophisticated.

7ZLWWHU DQG RWKHU VRFLDO QHWZRUNV got savvier after that and removed ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 101

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coordinates from photos along with additional identifying metadata, reserving geolocation as something that could be chosen and was FOHDUO\ LGHQWLʐHG But when you VKDUH DQ LPDJH WDNHQ by the Camera app or other hardware or software that geotags images and videos via iOS, iPadOS, or The small Options link lets you remove location information before sharing through any means. macOS, you may inadvertently share that location even if you prefer not to. the Include label. Tap it to disable Here’s how to avoid that. sending coordinates embedded in WKH SKRWR RU SKRWRV <RX FDQ DOVR PHOTOS FOR iOS AND iPADOS HQDEOH $OO 3KRWRV 'DWD WR VHQG QRW Apple added a way to remove MXVW PHWDGDWD EXW WKH HQWLUH KLVWRU\ ORFDWLRQbZKLOH VKDULQJ LPDJHV DQG RI HGLWLQJ DQG PRGLʐFDWLRQV VWRUHG videos two years ago, even though it’s for the image, enabling another a little hard to spot: Photos user to see and modify previous changes.

1. Open Photos.

5. 7DS 'RQH DQG WKHQ WDS \RXU VKDULQJ 2. Select one or more images and tap method. the Share button.

3. At the top of the sheet that appears, In iOS/iPadoS 13 and 14, Location Apple shows in quite tiny text the under Include is enabled by default; number of images selected and in current beta versions of iOS/iPadOS ‘Options >’. Tap that target.

LWşV WXUQHG Rʏ 4. 7KH /RFDWLRQ ʐHOG LV HQDEOHG XQGHU 102 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

8VH )DFH7LPH OLQNV WR FDOO Android or Windows users $SSOH KDV ʐQDOO\ RSHQHG XS )DFH7LPH WR RWKHU SODWIRUPV 6RUW RI Jason Cross reports

W

KHQ 6WHYH -REV VWRRG RQ VWDJH DW WKH ::'& in 2010 and introduced iOS 4 (renamed from iPhone OS!), one of the marquee IHDWXUHV ZDV )DFH7LPH -REV KDG JUDQG ambitions for this to be the video calling standard. “We’re going to the

standards bodies starting tomorrow. $QG ZHşUH JRLQJ WR PDNH )DFH7LPH DQ RSHQ LQGXVWU\ VWDQGDUG Ţ KH VDLG $V ZH NQRZ LW GLGQşW H[DFWO\ ZRUN out that way. FaceTime remained an Apple-only technology for over a decade, but iOS 15 (and iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey) changes ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 103

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DOO WKDW )RU WKH ʐUVW WLPH HYHU \RXşOO EH DEOHbWRbKDYH )DFH7LPH FRQYHUVDWLRQVbZLWK WKRVH RQ :LQGRZVb3&V RU $QGURLG SKRQHV $SSOHşV QRW PDNLQJ WKH )DFH7LPH app available to them, though. No, instead you’ll be able to create a OLQN WR D )DFH7LPH FDOO ZKLFK \RX FDQ WKHQbDWWDFK WR IXWXUH FDOHQGDU HYHQWV VKDUH LQ 6ODFN RU YLD WH[W or whatever you want to do with LW $Q\RQH UXQQLQJbD :LQGRZV 3& or Android phone (or Linux box or ZKDWHYHU ZLOObRSHQ WKH FDOO LQ WKHLU ZHE EURZVHU bDQG WKH OLQN FUHDWRU KDV WR DOORZ WKHP WR MRLQ WKH FDOO So, an Apple device is still necessary to create a FaceTime call

and must serve as the ‘host’ of sorts to allow others in, but you can at least chat between devices. Here’s how the QHZ )DFH7LPH OLQNV IHDWXUH ZRUNV

CREATING A FACETIME LINK Before you can chat with someone using Windows or Android, you need WR PDNH D OLQN IRU WKHP WR MRLQ 1. Open the FaceTime app on your

iPhone or iPad 2. 7DS &UHDWH /LQN 3. 7KH VKDUH VKHHW ZLOO RSHQ <RX FDQ WDS &RS\ WR FRS\ WKH OLQN DQG SDVWH LW ZKHUHYHU \RX OLNH RU FKRRVH DQ app or person to share it with.

4. When you’re done, you’ll see the )DFH7LPH /LQN FDOO LQ WKH main history list under ‘Upcoming’ calls.

Create a FaceTime link and your friends can join from an Android phone or Windows PC. 104 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

The call hasn’t started yet, and it won’t until you tap that upcoming Ş)DFH7LPH /LQNş FDOO DQG WKHQ WDS Ş-RLQş LQ WKH XSSHUbULJKW Tap the info button (i) on the call if you need to VKDUH WKH OLQN DJDLQ RU LI you want to delete it. The OLQN VKRXOG UHPDLQ DFWLYH until it’s manually removed,

ORQJHU ZRUN IRU DQ\RQH you’ve sent it to. Tap 'HOHWH /LQN WR FRQʐUP

CHATTING WITH ANDROID OR WINDOWS USERS $Q\RQH MRLQLQJ IURP an Android phone or Windows PC will be directed to their default browser, where they ZLOO MRLQ D )DFH7LPH progressive web app in their browser window. It You can swipe left on a FaceTime Link to delete it, or tap the Info button (i) and choose Delete Link.

ZRUNV SUHWW\ ZHOO EXW LW is of course with limited so you can add it to a calendar event options and features. a month away or schedule a FaceTime :KHQ WKRVH XVHUV MRLQ WKH FDOO FDOO IRU QH[W \HDUşV 0RWKHUşV 'D\ WKH\şOO ʐUVW KDYH WR W\SH D QDPH WR XVH during the call. Importantly, they do REMOVING A FACETIME LINK QRW QHHG DQ $SSOH ,' 7KRVH )DFH7LPH /LQN FDOOV VWLFN DURXQG After the Windows/Android user until you delete them, which isn’t enters their name, the Apple user who such a bad thing, really. It allows you FUHDWHG WKH OLQN ZLOO JHW D QRWLʐFDWLRQ to create a call for a future date, even that the person is waiting to be let in. if it’s only going to be used by Apple While they wait for them to tap the devices. To delete a future FaceTime button to admit you, they won’t see /LQN FDOO MXVW the contents of the call, only a ‘waiting to be let in’ message with their own 1. Swipe left on the event. live video.

2. 7DS 'HOHWH Once you let the person in, you’ll 3. $ FRQʐUPDWLRQ PHVVDJH SRSV XS FKDW OLNH D UHJXODU YLGHR FDOO WKRXJK ZDUQLQJ \RX WKDW WKH OLQN ZLOO QR the Windows/Android users won’t ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER 105

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)DFH7LPH RQ $QGURLG LV GHNJQLWHO\ QRW DV UREXVW DV WKH QDWLYH DSS RQ L3KRQH EXW LW GRHV ZRUN DQG RljHUV PDQ\ of the standard call options.

KDYH QHDUO\ DV PDQ\ RSWLRQV <RX FDQbVZLWFK FDPHUDV DQG XVH DQ external microphone or earbuds, or change the view if more than one SHUVRQ LV RQ WKH FDOO <RXşOO DOVR EH DEOH WR VKDUH WKH OLQN ZLWK DQ\RQH HOVHb\RXşG OLNH WR LQYLWH When you’re done with call, you can press End or the person on the other end can tap Leave.

106 ISSUE 171 • iPAD & iPHONE USER

INSIDE: WHY A BIGGER iPAD PRO COULD BE A BIG MISTAKE

ISSUE 170

APPLE ARCADE

THE 60 HOTTEST GAMES OF 2021 PLUS: HOW iOS 15 SPEEDS UP THE DEATH OF THE iPHONE