MacworldWith the Digital Markets Act adopted in 2022, the European Union has identified Apples iOS (as well as other companies products) as Gatekeepers that have such a stranglehold on the market that they should be required to comply with certain rules about interoperability and openness to competing software and services.Users in Europe have already seen some results of this. Compared to iPhones in the rest of the world, iOS in Europe offers unique capabilities: EU users can sideload apps and use alternative app stores, access different payment processors with Apple Pay, use apps Apple doesnt allow elsewhere such as BitTorrent clients and clipboard managers, and can set default applications for a variety of common phone tasks.Apple has always insisted that these changes will compromise their users privacy and security, harm the user experience, and hinder Apples ability to make great products. So far, the changes dont appear to have had such a deleterious effect, but the EU says Apple is not fully in compliance with the Digital Markets Act and ordered Apple to make new specific changes to comply with its interoperability directives.There are two new directives (case DMA.100203 and DMA.100204). One specifies ways in which Apple must create better interoperability with third-party apps, services, and devices. The other details how Apple must communicate and administer its interoperability functions to developers.The new EU rules may force Apple to open up Bluetooth and NFC features to third-party developers.FoundryHere is how the European Commission has described the feature changes Apple must make to enhance interoperability:iOS notifications:Allows connected devices, such as smartwatches, to show and react to iOS notifications.Background execution: Executes certain actions with respect to connected physical devices in the background, i.e. without the user looking directly at the app. For example, the iPhone can fetch the latest weather information and synchronize it to a smartwatch, without the need for active user interaction.Automatic audio switching:Allows users to switch between two devices, for example between a smartphone and a computer, when listening to audio with supported headphones.High-bandwidth peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connections: Establishes a high-bandwidth Wi-Fi connection between an iOS device and connected physical devices. This high-speed connection can be used to share large files between two devices, or to cast on an iPhone what can be seen onvirtualreality glasses.Close-range wireless file transfers:Allows devices to access the same iOS-controlled features as Apples services in third-party file-sharing apps, creating, for example, alternatives to AirDrop.Media casting:Allows developers to develop an alternative media casting solution to AirPlay by granting them access to required software features in a non-discriminatory way to AirPlay.NFC controllers:Allows apps on an iPhone to communicate with connected devices, such as rings or bracelets, to provide them with information such as a users payment card details. The end user can then use the ring or bracelet in a shop to perform payment transactions like with a payment card without the presence of the iPhone. Moreover, physical smart cards can easily be read for instance to activate or secure mobile banking.Proximity-triggered pairing:Allows connected physical devices to pair with an iOS device through a simplified procedure. For example, when the user brings a new headset near the iPhone it should be able to pair immediately through a simple and streamlined procedure, independently of whether the headset is an Apple product or a third-party brand.Automatic Wi-Fi connection:Allows devicesto access information about local Wi-Fi networks saved on the iPhone and connected physical devices to seamlessly join these networks.In other words, third-party headphones have to be able to provide the same easy proximity-pairing and automatic audio switching as AirPods do. Non-Apple devices have to be able to show and react to notifications the way Apple products do (this is a big one for third-party watches, such as the new Pebble). Developers have to be allowed to develop and publish alternatives to AirDrop and AirPlay that arent hamstrung compared to Apples solutions. And Apple has to fully open up its NFC implementation.The EU further specifies that Apple has to enable interoperability features through complete, free, and well-documented APIs, that they have to be equally effective as the solutions Apple uses (no more Apple can use functions nobody else can stuff), and Apple has to make new functionality within these interoperability categories available to third parties at the same time they are available to Apple.If youre excited about the prospect of third-party hardware that works better with your iPhone, you should know that these features are only required on iPhones sold within the European Union. Already, iOS has access and openness within the EU that it doesnt in other locations. Apple may make some of these changes globally, but thus far its DMA compliance measures have been exclusive to iOS users within the EU.Apples responseNaturally, Apple isnt happy about this. Whenever a court or government tells Apple what it has to do, the company pushes back hard, claiming that compliance will cause irreparable harm to users. In a statement to several media sites, Apple said: Todays decisions wrap us in red tape, slowing down Apples ability to innovate for users in Europe and forcing us to give away our new features for free to companies who dont have to play by the same rules. Its bad for our products and for our European users. We will continue to work with the European Commission to help them understand our concerns on behalf of our users.

While much has been written throughout the years about Apple's cellular modem and how it would stack up versus Qualcomm, Apple's C1 modem in the iPhone 16e is no slouch when it comes to actual internet speeds.Apple's C1 modem image credit: AppleThe iPhone 16e is the first of Apple's phones to employ its in-house, custom C1 modem. Previously, Apple had employed chips created by Qualcomm, including those in the iPhone 16 line.Ookla, a company known for measuring internet performance metrics, has offered up some data that shows how Apple's iPhone 16e is fairing against its higher-end brethren. In most real-world cases, Apple's modem is on top. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Amazon has slashed the price of the Apple Studio Display to $1,249, the lowest price on record. Pair it with the company's Mac deals, which start at just $529, for an updated setup at a fraction of the retail cost.Save $350 on the Apple Studio Display.Expanding your screen real estate just got a little cheaper thanks to Amazon's latest price cut on the Apple Studio Display that discounts the 27-inch 5K monitor by $350. Pair it with hefty savings on MacBooks and desktop Macs to revamp your Apple setup all while saving hundreds of dollars. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

CHYBIK+KRISTOFhas debuted a new mass timber design for the headquarters of the Czech Republics National Forestry office.The 12,000-square-meter (around 130,000 square feet) design is marketed to be the future largest wood structure in the region and will serve as a blueprint for the use of low-carbon materials in construction.Image courtesy PlompThe Forestry in the Forest concept stages the design, which is located outside the city of Hradec Kralove, to embrace the woodlands surrounding its site, reaching outward to the tree line with five decoupled volumes containing the National Forestrys respective departments connected by a central main hall.Image courtesy CHYBIK+KRISTOF ARCHITECTS (CH+K)Image courtesy CHYBIK+KRISTOF ARCHITECTS (CH+K)Offices are distributed surrounding deeper interior communal spaces to establish a dynamic "learning landscape." Outside, landscape courtyards provide additional space for workers in between each wing. Overall, this will be a very eco-frien...

When you play a post-nuclear game like Fallout 4 or even S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, one of the first eye-catching things is the map. Some of the dialogue and annoying responses in the former might be one, while the utterly gorgeous visuals and relentless hounds of the latter may be another. But when you open that map, theres a moment of awe at the sheer size and scale of the world, especially as you discover landmarks and start to fill it out.The same goes for many open-world titles, even if the map is mostly shrouded in the unknown, like Ghost of Tsushima. Theres just something that tickles the brain when you see the entire scale of the world encapsulated at once. Of course, some may go the opposite route, overwhelmed and even threatened at the sheer amount of stuff, potentially paralyzed at the sheer amount of choice.Which is why Atomfall is such an interesting deviation from the norm (in this and many other ways). As Rebellion Developments latest upcoming title, deviating from its usual array of Sniper Elite games, its several shades of different genres. Theres a dash of survival crafting but none of the hunger and thirst meters to micromanage. The dialogue systems immediately call first-person role-playing games to mind, except youre not seeking someones approval so much as wading through a sea of emotions, choosing the most appropriate for the situation.Guns are a thing, though the sporadic nature of bullets often makes stealth and melee combat more inviting options. Quests exist in anything but name and are known as leads. Follow them if youd like. Kill everyone if you dont. Theres some conclusion that hopefully ends with you outside of the quarantine zone.But what impressed me most was you guessed it the world design. Set in Northern England several years after the Windscale fire, youre an individual with no memories who explores the countryside, trying to make sense of it all. The Windscale nuclear site was emitting some kind of strange skybeam, which hung over the proceedings like a specter, even if I was nowhere near enough to gauge what it meant.Starting roughly a few hours in, my one lead was to find Jago at the Old Mine in Casterfell Woods. Open the map and two icons are notable the Old Mine and what seems to be an abandoned dam. Very little else and certainly nothing telling me what takes priority. Even the lead felt more like a suggestion, offering little to no assurance that I would even find Jago, much less live to tell about it. But there were no icons. No question marks begging me to investigate and shoot some rocks to activate some nodes, clear a monster nest, engage in a treasure hunt or dip in a hot spring.Though this was only one section of the overall map, with the rest shrouded in fog, its scale didnt really prove to be overwhelming. Casterfell felt like a hop, skip, and jump away, considering the sheer odysseys undertaken in other open-world games (like, say, Assassins Creed Odyssey). However, the map didnt say everything about the world, and therein lay the charm.I discovered a crashed helicopter site beneath a ruined bridge en route to the mine and didnt really stop to investigate. I somehow ended up en route to the old dam and after running into druids, began venturing into their camp (which, as you might imagine, they didnt take kindly to).Failing to assault their castle, I doubled back to the northeast and somehow found a radio tower that required reactivating power supplies to function. A recording from Joyce Tanner was nice enough to tell me this while also providing coordinates to her secure bunker.Again, no waypoint or marker telling me where she was. Just reading the map, guesstimating the coordinates, and keeping an eye out. While she didnt trust me, I managed to learn about the mysterious Interchange, which could be the key to restoring power.Underground, the Interchange is a separate convoluted array of leads that spread across different areas, never mind the broken down sectors that needed repairing or the Outlaws scavenging for supplies (and none too happy to see me). At some point, I wandered into the remains of a town where Protocol soldiers were patrolling. After accidentally wandering into their watch tower and getting shot up, I decided not to meet them face-to-face. Would the response have differed if I ventured into the main town and perhaps met with their leadership?I also learned to be careful when approaching Feral, the mutated humans of the region, since their melee attacks hurt. They also allow The Voice to communicate with me, much like entering a room of spores in the Interchange did. This same Voice is apparently heard by the Druids, and Jago is seemingly involved in some respect. Dont even get me started on that other voice on the telephone who really wants Oberon to die.Amid all these different points of interest, leads, plotlines, and characters again, for this one section of the entire map I was impressed at the natural proximity of everything. A large open world is impressive, sure, but theres some merit in exploring a smaller space with more content tightly packed together.Atomfall strikes a decent balance in that regard nothing felt too far that random encounters had to fill the gap, and yet, it felt like there were interesting things to discover at a consistent clip. The fact that Northern England as a setting is so unique as a setting also helps. As desolate as the post-nuclear disaster has made it, the world feels lived-in and organic (Rebellion examining the real-life version to capture all the nuances also helps).Speaking to IGN, art director Ryan Greene revealed that an average playthrough might be about 25-ish hours while adding that completionists can go a long way towards extending that. The Q&A with Rebellion after my hands-on time offered up other numbers 15, 20, and 25 hours, with one team member revealing that they were 20 hours in and still hadnt spoken to half the cast. It all makes sense when Greene describes the experience as a spider web of connected story.You can kill anyone or everyone if you choose. Thats fine. We have multiple finishes to the game, so some of those would shut down if you were supposed to work with them throughout, but youll find multiple other routes to finish the game and achieve a result. Even if one lead is a dead end due to some good old ultraviolence, Greene says, You can usually find another thread that leads you back to the overall mystery.Atomfall excites me because even if you resolve the main story thread, theres still so much to return to. Design head Ben Fisher says players can experience a single meaningful narrative in their playthrough, but on a repeat, they may discover something completely different. Will that aid your understanding of the main plot? Uncover more stories? I cant say for sure, and while Rebellion is worried that some things may work and others not, Im eager to dive in and see what awaits.Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Heart Machine continues to improve early access title Hyper Light Breaker. However, it also has Possessor(s), a new 2D side-scrolling action title out this year for PC. Add PlayStation 5 to the list as well, as announced by Devolver Digital on the PlayStation Blog.Possessor(s) occurs in the futuristic Sanzu City, now in ruins after an outbreak of demons (linked to megacorp Agradyne) that transformed humanity into monsters. The protagonist is Luca, a former high school student possessed by the demon Rhem who seeks to return home.As they explore Sanzu and learn about Agradynes excesses, Luca will utilize various melee weapons, from knives and hockey sticks to a guitar and even a PC mouse (with different buttons corresponding to separate weapons). Continually attacking enemies will stagger them, but you can also juggle them and use Rhems whip to grapple them. The whip also comes in handy while platforming.Sanzu is an interconnected world with various districts, and youll have to face demons possessing all kinds of objects. Additional abilities and weapon mods become available as you progress.Possessor(s) doesnt have a release date yet. Check out some new brief new gameplay below.Excited to announce that Possessor(s) from @HeartMachineHQ is coming to @PlayStation 5 later this year!Head on over to the PlayStation Blog to get the details on the dark and stylish world of @PossessorsGame: https://t.co/LGhMSoVYND pic.twitter.com/5mQuoT2BIm Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) March 19, 2025

Nvidia releases Cosmos-Transfer1, a groundbreaking AI model that generates photorealistic simulations for training robots and autonomous vehicles by bridging the gap between virtual and real-world environments.Read More

Netflix Games did a panel on the inspirations behind big-effort games at Netflix and the shows they're based on.Read More

This deal caught my eye last night. Google is knocking $200 off its flagship Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL, which means the smaller model now starts at $799, or the same price as the regular Pixel 9. Thats a no-brainer right there. Or, you can head to Best Buy where it starts at $749 ($250 off), an all-time low. You pick.Google Pixel 9 Pro (128GB)$749$99925% off$749The Pixel 9 Pro is available in a smaller size than Googles previous pro-grade phones. It has the latest Tensor processor, a 6.3-inch OLED screen, a triple-camera setup like previous models, and a new 42-megapixel front camera.$749 at Best Buy$799 at GoogleThe Pixel 9 Pro starts with the same-size 6.3-inch screen as the Pixel 9 but has a sharper and brighter screen, a nicer polished metal frame, and more RAM, which helps allow things to feel smooth and may even futureproof you a little bit with memory-hungry Gemini AI. It also has an added 48-megapixel telephoto lens with 5x zoom and up to 30x digital zoom, compared to the 8x digital zoom on the Pixel 9. Thats a bit of a spec drop on you but the gist is this: its a nicer and better phone for the same price, and its the one you should buy. But wait! you say. What about the new Pixel 9A Google just announced? Yeah, thats appealing, but it isnt for sale yet because Google says its fixing a hardware issue that recently cropped up. We havent had a chance to review it yet, but my quick take is the extra $300 is worth it for the better screen, camera, and extra RAM.Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (128GB)$899$109918% off$899The Pixel 9 Pro XL, the largest slab version of the new Pixel, features a larger 6.8-inch OLED display than the Pixel 8 Pro its replacing. Otherwise, its similar to the smaller Pixel 9 Pro, only with the addition of faster 45W wired charging.Amazons eero Pro 6E mesh Wi-Fi system is 27% off, down to $399.99. Mesh Wi-Fi systems are great if you live in a big house and cant get a signal in certain dead zones. Or, conversely, if youre like me and live in a really old house with plaster walls that make it hard for signals to travel through. I place one on each level and the signal carries well through the wood floors to give me full-house coverage. This is the exact system I use and it seems to work well.You might need a case if youre buying the Pixel 9 Pro above. Casetify is offering 20 percent off if you buy two products and use promo code SpringSale25 before March 26th. I dont think anyone needs two cases but maybe get one for yourself and hang on to one for Mothers Day (thats on May 11th, thank me later.) Or buy a case for something else, like your MacBook, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, or Samsung Galaxy Buds. There are a lot of cool designs to pick from, but know this: the deal doesnt apply to anything newly released or licensed accessories from brand partners.The Dreame X30 Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is on sale for $799 (for Prime members), down from its $1,099.98 starting price. The current Dreame X40 Ultra is our top pick for best robot vacuum and mop hybrid, replacing the version thats on sale. Our robot reviewer says its a great buy if you can get it on sale and that it does everything the X40 Ultra does, just with lower suction power (8,300Pa) and no flexi-arm. Who needs arms, anyway?See More:

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is moving the companys HR chief, Kathleen Hogan, into a new role focused on corporate strategy. Announced in an internal memo to Microsoft employees this morning, Hogan will report directly to Nadella and be responsible for strategy and transformation.Hogan has been at Microsoft for more than 20 years and spent the past decade as the companys chief people officer. She helped usher in a new work culture at Microsoft and took on the head of HR role shortly after Nadella became CEO in 2014. Now, Hogan has to steer strategy through the rapid changes of Microsofts AI era.Microsoft hasnt had someone in charge of corporate strategy for quite some time, so this is an interesting change. Id have to think back to the Mark Penn and Steve Ballmer days to find a role thats somewhat similar to what Hogan is taking on. Penn was responsible for strategy across Microsofts consumer-facing businesses, and he was behind the companys anti-Google Scroogled effort before departing in 2015. I dont think were going to see anything similar from Hogan, though.[Hogan] is recognized externally as a consequential HR leader transforming culture and the world of work, says Nadella in his memo. Kathleen will work across the senior leadership team as we chart this next phase of our transformation, which requires both interpreting the outside and redefining the inside.Im assuming interpreting the outside refers to technological change that AI is having on Microsoft, alongside some of the political winds that are sweeping across the US right now. Hogan already had her work cut out for her managing Microsofts various cultural changes over the past 10 years, alongside the companys priority changes and many rounds of layoffs.Those layoffs have been particularly painful recently, as Microsoft has been enacting more performance-based cuts under Hogans watch. Microsoft employees that Ive spoken to in recent weeks have expressed concerns that the cuts seem to be happening regularly and without the transparency youd normally see with Microsofts typical approach to layoffs.It doesnt look like Hogan has been sidelined here, though. Kathleen and I have been discussing this transition and succession planning for some time, says Nadella. Amy Coleman has been overseeing HR operations for multiple parts of Microsoft over the past four years, and shes now being promoted to chief people officer. Coleman will also join Microsofts senior leadership team and report directly to Nadella. With Chris Young, head of business development, strategy, and Microsofts M12 fund leaving at the end of the month, Colemans promotion will fill the senior leadership team spot thats opening up. Microsoft isnt sharing anything more about Hogans new role today, but as the software giant gets bigger and faces more complicated choices, Im certain Hogans experience will be key to making sure people are in the right roles as the company gets ready to celebrate its 50th anniversary and looks ahead to its next 50 years.Microsofts new Xbox Copilot will act as an AI gaming coachMicrosoft is getting ready to launch an AI-powered Copilot for Gaming next month, as the company increasingly focuses on bringing AI experiences to Xbox. Announced last week, the Copilot for Gaming feature will be part of the Xbox mobile app at first and is designed to be a second screen assistant or companion.During a press briefing ahead of Microsofts announcement, the company demonstrated some prototype ways this Copilot for Gaming could operate, like helping you select an Overwatch 2 hero that assists your team or guiding you through crafting in Minecraft. But the demos felt very much like concepts instead of reality. Im not entirely sure what Microsoft will actually have ready in the Xbox mobile app in April, but I suspect its probably a lot more limited than being able to coach you during a game.Microsoft is going to be iterating based on feedback, but I think its going to be a while before we see Copilot meaningfully show up on Xbox as an AI gaming coach that guides you through games and helps you avoid making mistakes.Microsoft is also at the Game Developers Conference this week talking about its AI efforts for Xbox and gaming in general. There are a bunch of interesting sessions, and it feels like Microsoft is getting a lot more comfortable talking about how its going to use AI across Xbox following its reveal of the Muse model that can generate gameplay. I wouldnt be surprised if we see a steady flow of AI-related Xbox announcements in the months ahead.The pad:Microsoft accidentally wipes out Copilot in its latest Windows 11 update. Microsoft introduced a bug (or a feature, depending on your stance on AI) with a Windows 11 update this week that has been uninstalling Copilot from PCs. While the bug lasted a few days, Microsoft was quick to fix it earlier today, and affected devices are being returned to their original state. Happy Copiloting.Xbox 360 consoles can now be hacked with just a USB key. If you still have an Xbox 360 lying around, you can now use a USB key to get homebrew apps and games running on the console. A new software-only exploit known as BadUpdate lets you bypass Microsofts Hypervisor protections to run unsigned code and games without having to open up an Xbox 360 and mod it. There are some limitations, and youll need to run it every time you boot your console, but its a surprise mod that just requires some time and patience.AI summaries are coming to Notepad (the app!). Microsoft has gradually been adding more and more AI features to Notepad, and the latest its testing is AI-powered summaries. Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev channels can now highlight a chunk of text in Notepad and right-click to summarize it. Im not sure what Id use this for myself, but if it handles summarizing log files well, it could be a useful addition. Personally, Id like to see Notepad remain as lightweight as possible, and the day it takes more than a second to load is the day I switch to something else.WinRing0: why Windows is flagging your PC monitoring and fan control apps as a threat. If youve been noticing Windows Defender flagging fan control apps or other bespoke PC software lately, then its probably down to an old and vulnerable WinRing0 driver. My colleague Sean Hollister has spoken to a bunch of app developers about the complicated situation, after Microsoft briefly blocked the WinRing0 driver that so many apps rely on.1,000 Xbox Play Anywhere games. Originally launched in 2016, Xbox Play Anywhere lets you purchase an Xbox game once and play it across consoles and PCs. There are now more than 1,000 Xbox Play Anywhere titles, and this feature will be a key part of Microsofts merging of Xbox and Windows. VP of next gen Jason Ronald says many many more Play Anywhere titles are on the way.Fortnite is coming to Windows on Arm. Ive covered the poor gaming situation on Qualcomm-powered Copilot Plus PCs multiple times in Notepad in the past, but it looks like there are signs of hope for better compatibility. Fortnite is coming to Windows on Arm devices later this year, and Epic Games is even teaming up with Qualcomm to add support for Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) on Arm-based laptops. EAC is used by a variety of games, so that might help them run emulated on Qualcomms devices. Theres still going to be a big question about the performance of games on Arm, though.Windows 11 now lets you easily type with an Xbox controller. A new gamepad keyboard is starting to roll out to Windows 11 users. It improves the onscreen keyboard in Windows 11, making it a lot easier to navigate with an Xbox controller and type into text fields throughout the operating system. Its part of a number of Microsoft efforts to make Windows more handheld-friendly, ahead of the Project Kennan device later this year.The Surface Pro 11 no longer ships with a charger in some markets. Microsoft has stopped including its Surface Pro power supply in markets across Europe to comply with EU initiatives to reduce e-waste. Because the Surface Pro is sold without a keyboard, its technically a tablet under EU rules, so youll now have to buy a charger separately. Laptops are currently exempt from the EUs USB-C charging mandate until next year, but this Surface Pro 11 change has also meant the company has slimmed down its packaging after removing the charger.Microsofts Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available. Microsoft is now selling a $29.99 Xbox Adaptive Joystick exclusively through its online store that is designed to meet the unique needs of gamers with limited mobility. The joystick has customizable buttons and optional 3D-printable accessories that can make its controls easier to use.Adobe has new Microsoft 365 Copilot AI agents. Microsofts paid Copilot has been in the headlines in recent months as CTOs debate the value of the AI assistant. Now, Adobe is backing Microsofts big Copilot focus with its own AI agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot. It includes an Adobe marketing agent that will run inside Teams, PowerPoint, and Word.Windows 11 will soon let you know why your PC hardware sucks. Microsoft is working on a new feature in Windows 11 that will help explain how less RAM or a weaker GPU might affect your PC performance. While its not the score-based system of the Windows Vista era, a new FAQ section in Windows 11 aims to provide users with answers related to GPU memory, system RAM, and even OS versions.The FTC is reportedly moving ahead with a Microsoft antitrust probe. Microsoft only got done with the FTCs investigation into its Activision Blizzard acquisition less than two years ago, and now its facing a big antitrust probe. Bloomberg reports that a probe opened in the final days of the Biden administration is moving ahead under President Donald Trump. The FTC appears to be focused on Microsofts AI work and licensing practices that have seen it face similar regulatory oversight elsewhere.Im always keen to hear from readers, so please drop a comment here, or you can always reach me at notepad@theverge.com if you want to discuss anything else. If youve heard about any of Microsofts secret projects, you can reach me via email at notepad@theverge.com or speak to me confidentially on the Signal messaging app, where Im tomwarren.01. Im also tomwarren on Telegram, if youd prefer to chat there.Thanks for subscribing to Notepad.See More: