At last, iPhones and iPads will be able to play Xbox games via a web browser

Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

Microsoft promised late last year that its cloud-based game streaming service – previously known as Project xCloud – will make its way to iPhones and iPads via a web browser in Spring season. In case you’re unfamiliar, Apple initially blocked services such as xCloud and Google’s Stadia from being listed on the App Store for policy violation, as Apple wanted to review each game offered by these subscription-based services individually, which was not deemed acceptable by Microsoft. True to its word, the software giant has now announced that it will start sending beta testing invites for its cloud-based game streaming service to select iPhone and iPad users starting tomorrow.

Chrome, Edge, and Safari will help you access over 100 Xbox titles

Of course, you’ll need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to enjoy games on your iPhone and iPad once you get the invite. But do keep in mind that this is not a wide rollout. Instead, the Xbox team is taking a cautious approach here and is sending out invites to players in all 22 supported regions in a phased manner as a beta, ensuring that bugs can be taken care of and performance tuning can be done.

Those who have been invited to try out the cloud-based game streaming service on their iPhone and iPad can visit the xbox.com/play to enjoy over 100 Xbox games on their Apple phone or tablet. Additionally, you can pick between a compatible controller (wired or Bluetooth) and touch-screen controls that are now available for over 50 games. As for the browser that you choose to enjoy games, you can pick between Edge, Google, Chrome, and Safari.

Microsoft's game streaming service is ready for Windows 10 PCs too via a browser

In addition to iPhones and iPads, Microsoft is also extending its cloud-based game streaming service to Windows 10 PCs. What this means is even if you don’t have a fire-breathing gaming PC, you will still be able to have a smooth experience of playing games on your business laptop without having to worry about your machine choking. That is because Microsoft is offloading all graphics processing duties to server blades that employ Xbox hardware, which means all you need is a Windows 10 machine and a stable internet connection to tear through some monsters in Doom Eternal.

View Xbox Game Pass UIltimate membership at Best Buy
 View iPhone 12 Pro at Amazon
 View iPad Pro at Amazon

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Apple is reportedly NOT adopting USB-C for iPhones anytime soon

Posted on by Nadeem Sarwar

Love it, or hate it, but it looks like the proprietary Lightning connector is here to stay on the iPhones. And as per the latest research note (via AppleInsider) by TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is not going to ditch the Lightning connector in favor of a USB Type-C standard on iPhones anytime soon. And the decision to do so apparently has a lot to do two key reasons – profits and longevity.

“We believe that USB-C is detrimental to the MFi business’s profitability, and its waterproof specification is lower than Lightning and MagSafe. Therefore, if the iPhone abandons Lightning in the future, it may directly adopt the portless design with MagSafe support instead of using a USB-C port”
READ MORE: iPhone SE refresh arrives in 2022 with a faster chip and 5G support: Report

Apple wants to milk more money from licensing instead of going USB-C way

In case you’re wondering, MFi stands for Apple’s Made for iPhone (MFi) program, which allows Apple to license the proprietary technology to other brands for making compatible accessories. In addition to iPhones, it also covers accessories for iPads, iPods, and the Apple Watch (both wired and wireless accessories). Naturally, Apple makes a lot of money from its Lightning and MagSafe program and wouldn’t want to get rid of its cash cow.  

Additionally, it also appears that the open-end design of Type-C connectors might not be as resistant to water-related damage as the Lightning connector and the wireless MagSafe chargers. While that might be true, Apple’s own charging cables have been plagued with fraying issues for a while now, and not much has changed over the years, but things might improve in the near future if new Apple patents are anything to go by.

READ MORE: Apple will go for a hole-punch on ‘some iPhones’ in 2022: Kuo

MagSafe might be a hurdle for USB-C on iPhones

iPhones will go portless before adopting USB-C standard

Another reason for the Lightning port to stick for a few more years, as per Kuo, is that the MagSafe ecosystem is not mature enough. While third-party MagSafe accessories are yet to be widely adopted, the revived wireless charging standard also happens to be quite slow. It can only deliver up to 15W power, while rivals on the Android ecosystem already offer 30W wireless charging support (and even higher. Maybe, Apple will wait a few more years to speed up MagSafe?

If Apple plans to boost the charging speed on iPhones, it will likely stick with the good’ol wired solution, and preferably, the moneymaking Lightning port instead of USB Type-C standard. In fact, Kuo boldly predicts that Apple will likely go portless before it adopts the USB-C standard for iPhones.

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5G iPhone XI with Huawei modem? New iPad display leaks & more – Pocketnow Daily

Posted on by Samuel Martinez
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Watch today’s Pocketnow Daily as we talk about the possibility of Huawei helping Apple to give us the first 5G iPhone, new screens for Apple products & more

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Project Ara, Pixel 4 and neither the twain shall meet | #PNWeekly 345

Posted on by Jules Wang

We discuss the overhyping of patents, AT&T's overhyping of its 5G network and content providers not buying Apple's single-stream hype on the show!

The post Project Ara, Pixel 4 and neither the twain shall meet | #PNWeekly 345 appeared first on Pocketnow.

This year’s new iPhone models may surpass iPhone 6 record sales

Posted on by Samuel Martinez

These year's iPhone model lineup may surpass the record sales that were established back in 2014 with the iPhone 6, or that's what supply chains think

The post This year’s new iPhone models may surpass iPhone 6 record sales appeared first on Pocketnow.

Note 9, Unbreakable | #PNWeekly 315

Posted on by Jules Wang

The Galaxy Note 9 apparently will get Fortnite as a launch exclusive, but will that really help sales out? Will tariffs ruin everything? It's all on our show today!

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Here’s how, when and where you can watch Apple’s WWDC 2018 opening keynote

Posted on by Adrian Diaconescu

Apple is expected to focus exclusively on software announcements at its WWDC 2018 opening event in San Jose, California, and you can follow all the action live online starting at 10 a.m. PDT.

The post Here’s how, when and where you can watch Apple’s WWDC 2018 opening keynote appeared first on Pocketnow.

Here’s how, when and where you can watch Apple’s WWDC 2018 opening keynote

Posted on by Adrian Diaconescu

Apple is expected to focus exclusively on software announcements at its WWDC 2018 opening event in San Jose, California, and you can follow all the action live online starting at 10 a.m. PDT.

The post Here’s how, when and where you can watch Apple’s WWDC 2018 opening keynote appeared first on Pocketnow.

Apple’s WWDC 2018 to be entirely software-focused, no new iPads or MacBooks in store

Posted on by Adrian Diaconescu

No iPhone SE 2, no iPad Pros with Face ID, no refreshed MacBooks, and certainly no Apple Watch Series 4. Still, there's plenty of exciting software stuff reportedly slated for WWDC 2018 announcements.

The post Apple’s WWDC 2018 to be entirely software-focused, no new iPads or MacBooks in store appeared first on Pocketnow.

All three 2019 iPhones could go with OLED screens, according to ‘multiple’ inside sources

Posted on by Adrian Diaconescu

Last year's iPhone X was clearly only the beginning of Apple's transition to OLED display technology, with two 2018 upgrades likely to be followed by three 2019 iPhones snubbing the LCD tradition.

The post All three 2019 iPhones could go with OLED screens, according to ‘multiple’ inside sources appeared first on Pocketnow.

Confusion surrounds Apple’s ‘Star’ project, aka N84, which could be a hybrid computer… or not

Posted on by Adrian Diaconescu

Is Apple working on an ARM-based touchscreen Mac running some sort of an iOS derivative or is N84 merely the codename of a 2018 iPhone model?

The post Confusion surrounds Apple’s ‘Star’ project, aka N84, which could be a hybrid computer… or not appeared first on Pocketnow.

iPhones could get ‘touchless control’ and drastic curves in ‘as little as two to three years’

Posted on by Adrian Diaconescu

Apple reportedly sees the iPhones of the (distant) future as curved "gradually from top to bottom", while supporting various non-touch gesture controls.

The post iPhones could get ‘touchless control’ and drastic curves in ‘as little as two to three years’ appeared first on Pocketnow.

iOS 11.3 arrives for all eligible iPhones and iPads, including new Animoji and battery health info

Posted on by Adrian Diaconescu

Mere hours after releasing it exclusively for early adopters of the new 9.7-inch iPad, Apple has started seeding the official iOS 11.3 update for everyone else.

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