What we’re most excited about from E3 2017.
On last week’s Remaster, we shared our thoughts on the three big keynotes from E3 2017, the games that were announced, and more. You can listen here.
Sponsored by:
Niantic announced a major update to Pokémon GO today, including new gym gameplay mechanics and a feature called Raid Battle. Gym gameplay has been modified with a focus on how gyms are defended by controlling teams. Each gym will have six permanent slots, each of which must be populated by a different Pokémon.
Niantic is adding a new motivation system too. Over time and the course of battles, Pokémon will lose motivation, making them easier to defeat by rival trainers. Pokémon that lose all of their motivation will leave the gym and be returned to their trainers the next time they are defeated in battle. To maintain motivation, teams that control a gym can feed their Pokémon Berries, which should increase player interaction with the game.
Screens by Edovia makes it easy to control any computer from a Mac or iOS device no matter where you are in the world. Whether you left an important file on your home computer that you need while you’re at work, or have a relative thousands of miles away who needs tech support, Edovia’s Screens app for Mac and iOS has you covered.
Screens is as secure, fast, and reliable as it is easy to set up and use. Not only is the connection to your remote computer secured end-to-end, but Screens includes Curtain Mode, which obscures the screen of your remote computer so no one walking by it while you’re connected can see what’s on your screen. Screens can also handle multiple displays attached to your remote computer, showing them all at once or just the ones you choose to view. If you provide tech support for friends and family, Screens makes that process simpler too by offering a free download that anyone you are helping can use so you can take control of their computer as you troubleshoot their problems.
Edovia has a great limited-time deal for MacStories readers. Use the coupon code MACSTORIES at checkout to save 20% off on the macOS version of Screens. You can also go to http://edovia.com/macstories to have the coupon code automatically applied to your purchase.
Our thanks to Edovia for sponsoring MacStories this week.
In 2014, Melbourne-based Loveshack released Framed, a comic book-style puzzle game that requires manipulation of panels to guide the main character through a noir spy story. The game struck a chord for its novel combination of puzzles, narrative, and hip, silhouetted spy style. This week, Loveshack released Framed 2, an excellent prequel to Framed that delivers more of what made the original version a hit, but as part of a deeper and more refined experience.
Apple has announced that Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg are joining the company to lead the company’s worldwide video programming efforts as part of Eddie Cue’s team:
“Jamie and Zack are two of the most talented TV executives in the world and have been instrumental in making this the golden age of television,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We have exciting plans in store for customers and can’t wait for them to bring their expertise to Apple — there is much more to come.”
Erlicht and Van Amburg were responsible for hits such as Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Crown, Rescue Me, and more while at Sony Pictures Television. Apple has been ramping up its video production efforts for quite some time now and if there was any remaining doubt that the company is serious about getting into original content creation, the hiring of Erlicht and Van Amberg should put those doubts to rest.
Announced in a blog post earlier today, Twitter has a major update to its iOS app and other platforms rolling out to all users starting today.
The new design is inspired by Twitter’s Android client – and while that detail scared me at first, using the updated iOS app for a few minutes allayed all my fears. This is a clean, beautiful redesign that brings few drastic alterations, and instead focuses on lots of nice polishing touches.
The most significant change to the iOS app is the existence of a new sidebar menu that pops out from the left side of the screen. This menu provides a quick way to switch between different accounts, and also lists your Following and Follower counts, navigation buttons to access your Profile, Lists, created Moments, and Settings, as well as a handy toggle to switch Night Mode on and off. Everything in the sidebar is clear and well organized, with plenty of breathing room; my initial impression of this new menu is entirely positive.
Outside of the sidebar menu, the rest of the app feels very familiar, but with a variety of small tweaks that improve the overall experience.
There’s more to explore, but that covers the bulk of changes.
Overall, I am a big fan of this redesign. The changes add up to a freshly improved, yet still familiar Twitter app, and my fear that it would too strongly resemble an Android app were unfounded. It may closely resemble Twitter for Android, but this still feels very much like an app that belongs on iOS.
Twitter says the changes are rolling out over the next several days, so it’s possible you may not see them yet. Twitter for iOS is available on the App Store.
The Apple world may be talking about the HomePod a lot in the wake of WWDC, but it’s not the first time Apple has tried to reinvent home audio.
In 2006 — just a year before the iPhone appeared — a slightly-under-the-weather Steve Jobs introduced the $349 iPod Hi-Fi.
On this week’s episode of AppStories, we consider the pros and cons of competing with, and what it takes to succeed against, Apple’s free, built-in system apps and highlight some of their favorite alternatives.
Sponsored by:
Recovering from San Jose, the boys wade through an ocean of follow up, then talk about the new iPads and review Planet of the Apps.
On this week’s Connected, a lot of WWDC follow-up and more about Apple’s new iPad Pros. You can listen here.
Sponsored by:
