Apple's wireless AirPlay streaming tech for music and videos is coming to hotels. At the WWDC 2023 keynote, Apple announced that it has partnered with a select number of hotels (with more to come) to integrate AirPlay into their TV operating systems, allowing you to stream video and audio directly to your hotel TV.
The new feature will be available through QR codes, which will bypass the extra steps that you currently have to take to use AirPlay. All you'll have to do is simply scan the QR code with your iPhone's camera and it will automatically connect your iPhone to the TV.
Apple promises smooth integration and claims that you’ll be able to carry on watching a video from exactly where you left off. Don’t expect to see this feature right away though: Apple has said that you can expect the new feature at the end of the year in hotels from a few partners.
Never be without a big screen
It looks like the rumors were true about Apple reportedly being in discussions with hotels to improve the shared TV experience, and we like the sound of it. Instead of ignoring the TV in your room on a business trip because you don't want to deal with local channels, you can just beam the best Netflix shows over to the TV. But this functionality has the potential to be rolled out to more than just hotels.
In fact, anywhere that offers a shared space could utilise this new AirPlay feature. For instance, co-working spaces that host conferences often will get a lot of use out of being able to seamlessly connect to one of the best TVs for a presentation.
It's not as if you can't already connect your iPhone to a TV in a hotel room – if you're wondering how, here's our guide on how to connect an iPhone to your TV. But the process can be tricky if the TV doesn't have AirPlay and who wants to pack an extra HDMI adapter and cable while on holiday?
Several new renders of the Nothing Phone (2) have leaked online showcasing what the upcoming mid-range smartphone may look like at launch.
The images come from industry insider OnLeaks who then shared his findings with news site Smartprix. According to the breakdown, the Nothing Phone (2) will look similar to the first model with some slight changes to make it more ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing. The front and back of the phone are said to have a slight curve to them. Paired up with a rounder frame, the redesign is claimed to provide “a more comfortable grip” as well as adding a “touch of elegance to the overall look of the device.”
(Image credit: Stephen H. McFly/Smartprix)
The more notable changes, however, are on the back. The signature Nothing glyph is now segmented into six individual pieces instead of a continuous line. Smartprix claims this configuration will allow users to “create custom lighting… around the wireless charging area” for a personalized touch.
Additionally, the LED camera flash has been upgraded to a dual setup, enabling “improved lighting capabilities”. In our review of the Nothing Phone (1), we found the cameras “serve up nice quality shots [when it’s bright out] but the system struggles in the dark”. So the Phone (2) may sport better low-light photography – at least, that's the hope.
The design shown in the leak is “based on live pictures of a testing stage unit”, meaning that the final product may look a little different. For example, the SIM tray is on the right edge of the phone instead of on the bottom as seen on the Phone (1). The renders show the bottom edge only housing a USB Type-C port and a speaker grille; there's no 3.5mm headphone jack though, as is par for the course with Nothing.
(Image credit: Stephen H. McFly/Smartprix)
Falling in line
Looking at the leaks in their entirety, they all do seem plausible with what we know about the Nothing Phone (2).
The company recently confirmed the display will measure 6.7 inches, up 0.15 inches from the older model. A bigger size means more weight, which can result in hand fatigue after repeated usage. This could also explain why the developers are making ergonomic design changes as a way to mitigate this problem. The pill-like video indicator shown in the leaks was actually first revealed in early May on Nothing’s official Twitter account.
As with any other leaks, take this information with a grain of salt. Apart from a few other minor things, not much else is known about the Nothing Phone (2). We’ll just have to wait until the model releases later this summer to learn more. The launch date will probably be around July to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Nothing Phone (1).
Until then, be sure to check out TechRadar's coverage of the Nothing Phone (2) such as the recent confirmation that the smartphone will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 mobile platform.
Has Apple just announced a smart display? Not quite, but with iOS 17’s new StandBy feature the iPhone can be turned into a rival to the likes of the Amazon Echo Show and Nest Hub.
Demonstrated during the opening keynote for Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference 2023, StandBy is an all-new feature of iOS 17, which is available as a beta for developers now and will be available to the public later in the year.
We think one of the most popular features of StandBy will be smart home control. The new interface includes a widget that shows buttons for controlling your smart home devices and Apple HomeKit devices .
It may only have been brief, but the demonstration during WWDC on Monday showed how an iPhone running StandBy can control devices like smart light bulbs, door locks and a garden sprinkler system.
(Image credit: Apple)
We’re interested to see just how powerful StandBy can be, and whether it can show live footage from a security camera or video doorbell, for example, or if parents could check in on their baby monitor with a glance at their iPhone, instead of opening a dedicated app.
Away from smart home control, StandBy with iOS 17 can also be used to show the time and date, as well as calendar and weather widgets. Standby is designed to work best with an iPhone in landscape orientation, and Apple says how the system takes advantage of the always-on display of the iPhone 14 Pro.
This isn’t quite a fully-fledged smart display to replace your Echo Show or Nest Hub, but it’s a nice extra that turns the iPhone into a useful secondary display when connected to a charger. It also turns the iPhone into a handy bedside alarm clock, with the interface dimming to a red colour palette when you turn out the lights.
This being Apple, we suspect StandBy will evolve gradually into a more useful smart display experience over time. But for now we like how the feature usefully puts smart home controls on the screen of an inactive iPhone, accessible without the need to first open an app or swipe to the Control Centre.
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WWDC 2023, Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference, is just hours away and the rumors suggest it could be one of the most momentous (and maybe longest) ones we've seen for years.
This year, the hype machine is driven by rumors that Apple will finally reveal the Apple VR headset at WWDC 2023. But even in the unlikely event that the mixed-reality headset doesn't arrive, and the Apple xrOS platform is also absent, there will still be a lot for Apple fans to get excited about – with other announcements including a new Mac Pro and a 15-inch MacBook Air (2023) also possible.
The bread-and-butter of WWDC is software announcements across Apple's entire range, including iPhone, Macs, iPad, and Watch. Expect to see and hear a lot more about iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17.
If you own any Apple tech, then, it'll definitely be worth tuning in. The keynote will start today (June 5) at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST, which works out as June 6, 3am ACT. That's the time to set a reminder for – and we'll be on the ground at Apple Park in Cupertino to cover it all as it happens.
Our WWDC 2023 live blog is now up and running, so head over there for all the last-minute rumors ahead of the event, and all the big announcements once it gets going. We also have a full guide to how to watch the WWDC 2023 keynote.
Cut to the chase
What is it? Apple's annual developer conference
When is it? June 5 - 9, 2023. The keynote is on June 5 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST, which is June 6, 3am ACT.
How can I register or watch? Space for the in-person event is limited but you can request to attend on Apple's Developer site. The online version will be free for everyone to watch.
May 24: Apple has sent out WWDC 2023 invites and many have gone to VR specialists, suggesting it'll have some VR or AR announcements at the event.
May 17:Apple reveals the full schedule for WWDC 2023, including another visual hint about its mixed-reality headset and the timings for its keynote presentation on June 5 (10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST / June 6, 3am ACT).
May 15: A new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that we won't be seeing MacBook Pros with new M3 chips at WWDC 2023, and that hardware will instead be coming sometime next year. We are, however, expecting to see a new 15-inch MacBook Air with the M2 chip.
March 30: Rumors from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggest that some delays to production of the Apple AR/VR headset have created "uncertainty" around the device appearing at WWDC 2023.
March 29: Apple announces the dates for the WWDC 2023, which will start on June 5 and run through to June 9. The keynote, which historically contains all of the big news, will take place on June 5.
WWDC 2023 dates
Apple has announced that its developer conference will take place Monday, June 5 through Friday, June 9 - so it starts today.
Apple regularly schedules its annual five-day conference for June, so it wasn't a surprise to expect to see WWDC around this time again.
If you're mainly interested in the big announcements, the WWDC 2023 keynote will take place today at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST / June 6, 3am ACT.
Latest WWDC 2023 rumors
The hardware rumors
Likely: Apple Reality Pro
(Image credit: Ian Zelbo)
Rumors about an Apple VR headset have been growing steadily this year – and the WWDC 2023 invite appears to hint at the lenses used in some VR goggles.
Right now, its appearance alongside a new Apple xrOS operating system at WWDC looks increasingly likely, but there's a chance it could be a developer preview ahead of a full launch later this year. Given it's been rumored for years, that would be fine by us.
Last year, hopes were high for a new Mac Pro at WWDC 2022, which is traditionally an industry conference more than a consumer product event.
A Mac Pro, which is an industry-grade workstation costing a gajillion dollars (ok, not literally), is perfectly suited for a debut before all the developers who might reasonably be working on one or at least developing with that workstation in mind.
It's also the last major Apple product that hasn't switched over to Apple's in-house silicon, so it makes sense to finally cut ties with Intel and put out a new Mac Pro 2023 workstation PC.
Likely: 15-inch MacBook Air (2023)
(Image credit: Jon Prosser / Future)
After initially dismissing rumors about a 15-inch MacBook Air as an unlikely WWDC 2023 launch, we've started to change our mind – a larger version of our number one pick for the title of best laptop now looks on the cards, according to the latest rumors.
This speculation, picked up by MacRumors, suggests that Apple is building up stock of a new MacBook, with a 15-inch MacBook Air being the most likely candidate. It'll likely feature the same M2 chip as the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) and, of course, a larger screen that could be ideal for those like to edit videos and photos on the go.
Of course, these are just rumors and there's a chance the new Air might not appear until later this year, but right now the rumor mill sounds convinced – so we've put it in the 'likely' column.
Likely: Apple M2 Ultra
(Image credit: Future)
In addition to the new Mac Pro, we expect that an M2 Ultra SoC will also be shown off at WWDC 2023. Apple has already revealed the M2, M2 Pro, and M2 Max chips, with an M2 Ultra the last remaining tier of silicon to debut.
If it's anything like the M1 Ultra, it will be two M2 Max chips interconnected to effectively double the power of that chip, which makes it appropriate for a workstation PC like the high-end Mac Studio. The latter device uses the M1 Ultra, but it's not clear that this kind of chip is powerful enough for the kind of thing that industrial users need.
The 2019 Mac Pro had a max capacity of 1.5TB of memory. The M-series chips use unified memory and if the M2 Ultra is two M2 Max chips fused together, then its max unified memory would only be 256GB. That's not nearly enough to edit a major Hollywood film or score an orchestral piece with hundreds of samples, all of which require a lot of memory.
Still, if the M2 Ultra is going to appear, WWDC 2023 makes the most sense.
Possible: A new iMac
(Image credit: Future)
Finally, on the computing side, there really is just the iMac.
The iMac (24-inch) debuted two years ago powered by the then-new M1 chip, so it's definitely due for an upgrade. Its bold color options definitely made it a hit, especially with me, but that color trend seems to have all but vanished ever since.
We would love to see a purple iMac (M2), but this one is less likely than a Mac Pro in our book.
The software rumors
iOS 17
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple will almost certainly be introducing iOS 17 at WWDC 2023, which will be the next leap in the iPhone's operating system.
Exactly what those are remains to be see, but expect to see some significant updates to existing iPhone staples, like CarPlay, Siri and Messages. For some deeper analysis of how you're iPhone might soon change, check out our seven wishes for iOS 17 guide.
macOS 14
macOS 13 Ventura (above) arrived last year with a new Stage Manager tool.(Image credit: Future)
Every year for the last decade, Apple has announced a new version of the software that powers its Macs – and we expect it to be a similar story at WWDC 2023.
While macOS often lags behind iOS when it comes to new features, that does mean we have some hints of what might be coming to Apple's desktop OS. This could include more versatile desktop widgets that are allowed to break free from the Notification Center, or maybe even a version of the Dynamic Island for Apple laptops.
It's still early days for macOS 14 rumors, but we're expecting to hear more as we get closer to WWDC 2023 and the operating system's likely full release date in October or November 2023.
xrOS
The Sightful Spacetop (above) gives us a glimpse of how the Apple AR/VR headset could work us a virtual Mac display.(Image credit: Sightful)
You can't have an Apple mixed-reality headset without a brand new operating system to power it – and the rumors suggest Apple has settled on the name 'xrOS' for its next big software platform.
The arrival of a new Apple OS would be a huge deal and WWDC 2023 is a good place as any to introduce it, given it'll be packed to the rafters with excited app developers. The xrOS platform will likely be designed to take advantage of the huge array of chips, cameras and sensors that Apple's apparently packed into the Reality Pro (the rumored name for its headset).
Expect to see familiar apps (like Freeform, FaceTime, Apple TV Plus and more) reinvented for a mixed-reality experience.
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Apple's World Wide Developers Conference officially kicks off today at 10am PT in Cupertino, California, when its smiling CEO Tim Cook saunters on stage and says, "Welcome to WWDC 2023!" (That's 6pm BST / 1pm ET and 3am ACT (on June 6) for those of you not in California.)
As for what else he might say, well, we think we know quite a lot. Cook will briefly touch on all of Apple's major and critical platforms, including iOS 17, macOS 14, tvOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10. This being a developers' conference, he'll also mention Swift and Xcode.
Granted, Cook's job is not to dive deep into anything. He'll leave that to, in large part, Craig Federighi, Apple's SVP of Software Engineering, and a host of other development leads. By the way, if Apple follows the script from the last few years, even though this is an in-person event, much of the presentation may be pre-recorded.
No one is expecting sea changes across any of these platforms. watchOS with widgets is not a major deal. iOS 17 is about maintenance and spiffing up the entire iPhone OS without fundamentally altering it. macOS 14 might have even fewer changes.
Let's be frank, the real excitement here will be around the likely reveal of the Apple VR headset and the new xrOS. Cook will almost certainly unveil both during the keynote and may even don the headgear during the event. Okay, maybe he won't put on a vision-occluding VR headset and accidentally walk off stage (no one wants that). What's more likely is we get a glimpse of the new VR product on stage and then there'll be an opportunity for photos and maybe even hands-on in the ample space above Steve Jobs Theater.
WWDC has also been the launchpad for Apple Silicon and updates related to the company's own CPUs. Some expect the introduction of an M3 chip, and if Apple does that, there will be hardware. Maybe a new Mac Pro (the last Mac still running on Intel silicon). Others are anticipating a new big-screen 15-inch MacBook Air (likely on M2) and a new iMac (also M2).
Granted, until Cook starts speaking, this is all guesswork. Buckle in folks, I will share all I can from my seat in the audience.
Good morning and welcome to our WWDC 2023 live blog. We'll be sharing all the last-minute rumors and news around all things Apple ahead of the event, then bringing you every announcement as it happens from 10am PT today.
What will Apple tell us?
Here's a little secret: in the run-up to the big event, Apple will send invites to a series of post-keynote briefings. While Apple doesn't reveal the subject matter for any of those meetings prior to the end of what is expected to be a 90-minute keynote, we do use the number of meetings to glean potential topics.
Rarely do we have one meeting. In fact, three-to-five briefings are typical, with one usually per platform. What I'll be watching for are any extra meetings, ones that don't seem to align with macOS, iOS, or iPadOS (typical briefing candidates).
I also pay attention to the length of these background briefings. Long ones are usually for the big platforms (iOS). Short ones are for the second-tier players (maybe tvOS). Will I have a meeting about xrOS?
I have no idea. Sadly, even once I know, I can't really tell you anything about them. But what I learn in those meetings will inform my reporting on all things WWDC 2023.
(Image credit: Ian Zelbo)
So, let's talk about what Apple is expected to unveil today.
The big story is likely to be around the company's first proper foray into virtual reality. We don't know for sure what the Apple VR headset will be called, but the name Apple Reality Pro has been widely shared. And we also have quite a bit of info about what it might be like.
For instance, the rumors suggest it will be expensive - maybe as much as $3,000 (£2,200 / AU$4,400) – and that it will support both VR and mixed reality. We also think it may ship without controllers, that it could have super-high-res displays and that it could well run on an Apple M2 chip of some kind.
We've pulled together everything we know about it so far in our Apple VR headset hub.
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It's time for your daily dose of Quordle hints - now with added Daily Sequence answers!
Yes, that's right: the makers of Quordle have a new game, which sees you complete four Wordle puzzles consecutively. The twist is that the letters you've already used on the first game are repeated on the second and so on.
It's good fun, but also difficult - so if you already find yourself searching for Wordle hints, you'll probably need some for Quordle and the Daily Sequence too.
I'm a Quordle and Wordle fanatic who's been playing since December 2021, so I can definitely help you solve Quordle today and improve your game for tomorrow. Read on for my Quordle hints to game #497 and the answers to the Daily Sequence.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.
Quordle today (game #497) - hint #1 - Vowels
How many different vowels are in Quordle today?
• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.
* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).
Quordle today (game #497) - hint #2 - total vowels
What is the total number of vowels in Quordle today?
• The total number of vowels across today's Quordle answers is 7.
Quordle today (game #497) - hint #3 - repeated letters
Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?
• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 0.
Quordle today (game #497) - hint #4 - total letters
How many different letters are used in Quordle today?
• The total number of different letters used in Quordle today is 14.
Quordle today (game #497) - hint #5 - uncommon letters
Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?
• Yes. One of Q, Z, X or J appears among today's Quordle answers.
Where Wordle challenges you to guess a new five-letter word each day, Quordle presents you with four puzzles to solve. And rather than complete them in turn, you do so simultaneously. You get nine guesses, rather than the six for Wordle, but the rules are otherwise very similar.
As with Wordle, the answers are the same for every player each day, meaning that you're competing against the rest of the world. And also as with Wordle, the puzzle resets at midnight so you have a fresh challenge each day.
The website also includes a practice mode - which I definitely recommend using before attempting the game proper! - and there are daily stats including a streak count. You also get Quordle Achievements - specific badges for winning a game in a certain number of turns, playing lots of times, or guessing particularly hard words.
Oh, and it's difficult. Really difficult.
What are the Quordle rules?
The rules of Quordle are almost identical to those of Wordle.
1. Letters that are in the answer and in the right place turn green.
2. Letters that are in the answer but in the wrong place turn yellow.
3. Letters that are not in the answer turn gray…
4. …BUT the word you guess appears in all quadrants of the puzzle at the same time, so an A could turn green in one square, yellow in another and gray in the final two.
5. Answers are never plural.
6. Letters can appear more than once. So if your guess includes two of one letter, they may both turn yellow, both turn green, or one could be yellow and the other green.
7. Each guess must be a valid word in Quordle's dictionary. You can't guess ABCDE, for instance.
8. You do not have to include correct letters in subsequent guesses and there is no equivalent of Wordle's Hard mode.
9. You have nine guesses to find the Quordle answers.
10. You must complete the daily Quordle before midnight in your timezone.
What is a good Quordle strategy?
Quordle needs to be approached in a different way to Wordle. With four puzzles to solve in nine guesses, you can't blindly throw letters at it and expect to win - you'll stand a far better chance if you think strategically.
That's the case in Wordle too, of course, but it's even more important in Quordle.
There are two key things to remember.
1. Use several starting words
Firstly, you won't want just a single starting word, but almost certainly two or three starting words.
The first of these should probably be one of the best Wordle starting words, because the same things that make them work well will apply here too. But after that, you should select another word or possibly two that use up lots more of the most common consonants and that include any remaining vowels.
For instance, I currently use STARE > DOILY > PUNCH. Between them, these three words use 15 of the 26 letters in the alphabet including all five vowels, Y, and nine of the most common consonants (S, T, R, D, L, P, N, C and H). There are plenty of other options - you might want to get an M, B, F or G in there instead of the H, maybe - but something like that should do the trick.
If all goes well, that will give you a good lead on what one or sometimes two of the answers might be. If not, well good luck!
2. Narrow things down
Secondly, if you're faced with a word where the answer might easily be one of several options - for instance -ATCH, where it could be MATCH, BATCH, LATCH, CATCH, WATCH, HATCH or PATCH - you'll definitely want to guess a word that would narrow down those options.
In Wordle, you can instead try several of those in succession and hope one is right, assuming you have enough guesses left. It's risky, but will sometimes work. Plus, it's the only option in Hard mode. But in Quordle, this will almost certainly result in a failure - you simply don't have enough guesses.
In the scenario above, CLAMP would be a great guess, as it could point the way to four of the seven words in one go.
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Apple's annual developer conference could mark the debut of a brand-new mixed reality platform, several new Mac computers and a look at the future for iOS and MacOS.
Diablo 4 players with early access are struggling to log in due to ongoing issues with Blizzard's authentication servers.
The problem first came to light on Diablo 4's subreddit, with players reporting problems with accessing the server. It seems that after selecting their character, players are told "queued for game – start game pending"... and then nothing happens. At all.
In the last half hour, Blizzard has acknowledged the issue on its social media channels, stating: "Diablo 4: We're currently investigating an issue affecting our authentication servers, which may result in failed or slow login attempts."
[#Diablo4] We're currently investigating an issue affecting our authentication servers, which may result in failed or slow login attempts.June 3, 2023
See more
As yet there's been no further update, but at least we know that Blizzard is on the case, eh?
For the most part, it looks like Diablo 4 has gotten off to a refreshingly smooth early access launch period across most platforms… well, unless you're playing on PS5, that is.
Some players reported that, despite having purchased Diablo 4's Deluxe or Ultimate editions, they were struggling to get past the login phase for the four-day early access period.
We awarded the action RPG an impressive five out of five stars, calling it "a meticulously crafted action RPG [that] sets a new standard for isometric, open-world adventures".
"Perhaps Diablo 4’s most adventurous quality is the move towards an open world in the 'modern' sense," we wrote in our Diablo 4 review.
"What could have been a featureless, bland expanse is, instead, a delight. Brimming with intrigue and danger, the open world of Sanctuary fits the Diablo formula like a glove, providing the space in which the game’s macabre aesthetic and bold mechanical design cohere beautifully."
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