MacRumors

It's been another busy week in the world of iOS gaming, so let's hop right into it: As usual, we've had our eyes closely on the "Updates" page of the App Store looking for 32-bit favorites to reemerge as 64-bit titles. The Mikey Shorts Trilogy, the majority of the Radiangames library, and Dragon Fantasy all finally made their way to 64-bit.

Any of these games are effortless recommendations, particularly as they're from the good ol' days of the App Store before freemium shenanigans took over. Dragon Fantasy is particularly good if you're looking for a modern spin on retro RPGs. It hit the App Store back in 2011 and since has been ported to Vita, 3DS, Android, and PC.

The most unexpected surprise of the week, without question, was Annapurna dropping Flower onto the App Store. It's by Thatgamecompany, who is also responsible for the upcoming game Sky that was teased back at the iPhone reveal keynote. One of the main reasons we're super excited for Flower to hit the App Store is what it means for speculating on what other games of theirs might come in the future as it seems like the sky is the limit. I'd love it if Journey eventually made its way to iOS.

Modern Combat Versus also hit the App Store, which thematically speaking is the complete polar opposite of blowing petals around on the wind in Flower. Versus is an online team-based multiplayer shooter, set in a futuristic and gritty military environment.

Gameplay is sort of similar to titles like Overwatch or Team Fortress 2, but it's on your iPhone. It has a Clash Royale-ish chest unlocking system to divvy out loot, and we're really curious to get deeper into the game to see how much or how little these freemium shenanigans impact overall balance if you don't empty your wallet.

Super Mario Run got a huge update, which not only comes packed with loads of new content, but the whole game unlock is on sale for $4.99, down from its original $9.99. Super Mario Run was pretty controversial in the TouchArcade community when it was first released as it wasn't seen as a "real" Mario game, but given the constraints of virtual controls I think it's definitely worth trying out if you still haven't yet, regardless of whether or not you end up paying for it.

This week Blizard released the Blizzard Battle.net app, which basically just serves as a chat client for Battle.net. One thing I hadn't realized which came out when we published this story is just how many people had Hearthstone on their phones specifically to communicate to their Blizzard game friends, even if they don't play Hearthstone. If that describes you, well, you can now save gigs of space on your phone by deleting Hearthstone. (But, really, Hearthstone is great and you should really play it instead of deleting it.)

In other Blizzard news, rumors are flying surrounding a new mobile game that Blizzard is working on. A job posting recently appeared (which is now removed) where Blizzard was searching for a Unity mobile engineer to work on a unannounced "MMO RTS project." Whether this is going to be an adaptation of their existing IP, or like Overwatch, a totally new Blizzard IP is totally up in the air. Given how well Hearthstone has done, it seems supremely inevitable that Blizzard will release something else on mobile though, whatever it turns out to be.

Limbo has been on the App Store for ages now, but Playdead just announced plans to bring its PC and console game Inside to both iOS and Switch. There isn't a ton to go off of here aside from a vague announcement, but both Limbo and Inside have massive fan followings so we're going to be watching this one closely.

Last, but not least, is a teaser for an upcoming puzzle game called Campfire Cooking. I absolutely love how developers on the App Store continue to find new ways to reinvent grid-based puzzles, and in this one you're moving food around a grid that represents a campfire. Check out the trailer — it's super clever, as "fire and food management" isn't something I think I'd ever thought of for a puzzle game.

Those are the big stories this week, but as usual, if you're into these sort of things be sure to head over to TouchArcade where we post this kind of stuff day in and day out.

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with MyMe Unity to give MacRumors readers a chance to win one of the company's Unity case systems with a Unity Case for your iPhone, a Cradle to use as an accompanying stand, and a matching cable for charging.

The Unity Case offers dual-layer protection with an inner silicone case and an outer shell, for superior impact resistance. It comes in a range of stylish two-tone color options, has a raised bezel for screen and camera protection, and it ships with a screen protector for the display for complete device safety.

A strong magnet is built into the center of the Unity Case's outer shell, allowing it to attach to metal surfaces like a refrigerator. It ships with two Metal Mounting Plates that can be placed anywhere in your house or car to mount your phone for hands-free access.

The Unity Case is priced at $25 and is available for the iPhone 5 and later, and the cases for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus also work with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. It's not clear, though, if these interfere with wireless charging.

In addition to attaching to anything metal, the Unity Case pairs with the Unity Smart Cradle, which attaches to the case with a metal ball joint that allows the case to be positioned in any orientation and at several angles.

The Cradle, priced at $12-$24, comes in a range of colors and styles to match the cases and it can be placed on flat surfaces or surfaces like car windshields and mirrors. There are also Cradle and Unity Case bundles available for $35, a discounted bundle price.

MyMe Unity also offers a $20 5-ft tangle-free magnetic Lightning cable that goes along with the whole Unity setup. It has a magnet at the top to allow it to attach to the cradle when not in use, keeping it within reach at all times.

The whole Case, Cradle, and Cable setup costs about $60, making it more affordable than some standalone case and mount options. We have 10 Case, Cradle, and Cable bundles to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner and send the prize. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (September 29) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on October 6. The winners will be chosen randomly on October 6 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Nanoleaf, the company behind the HomeKit-enabled Aurora smart modular lighting system, recently introduced a $49 accessory that allows the Aurora lights to respond to music, adding a whole new sound-based dimension to an already great product.

Called the Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm, the add-on module is a small three-triangle accessory that snaps right in to an existing Nanoleaf setup using the same plastic connector tabs that connect the Aurora lights together.

It can be plugged in to any of the triangle-shaped lights in an Aurora setup, because all of them are able to provide power to the accessory. Setting up the Rhythm is as simple as attaching it to an Aurora setup -- there are no other steps involved.

➜ Click here to read more...

Best Buy today launched a new two day sale that will run through tomorrow, September 30, and grants customers free shipping on orders $35 and over as well as fast one-hour in-store pickup on most items. As usual, Best Buy has a variety of Apple products discounted, including iMacs and iPad Pros from late 2015, and the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Below we'll list all of the Apple devices with markdowns in Best Buy's sale, as well as some notable deals on other products.

iMacs From Late 2015

• 21.5-inch, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD - $949.99, down from $1,299
• 21.5-inch 4K, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD - $1,099.99, down from $1,499.99
• 27-inch 5K, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD - $1,299.99, down from $1,799.99
• 27-inch 5K, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion Drive - $1,499.99, down from $1,999.99
• 27-inch 5K, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 2TB Fusion Drive - $1,749.99, down from $2,299.99

The only iPad models on sale are the 32GB models of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro from late 2015, which is available for $549.99, down from $799.99. The sale is for Wi-Fi only models available in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold. For the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus deal, you can get $150 off Apple's smartphones from 2016 when buying and activating either device on a monthly installment plan. Only the (PRODUCT)RED color is available in 128GB.

Best Buy's sale also has deals on numerous TVs, including a few 4K sets that will work with the new Apple TV 4K. There are three Samsung sets on sale, starting with the company's 55-inch LED Curved 4K Ultra HD Smart TV for $749.99, down from $899.99, then rising to the 65-inch LED Curved 4K Ultra HD Smart TV with High Dynamic Range for $1,599.99, down from $2,399.99. Brands like Sharp, Vizio, and LG all have 4K TV sets on sale today and tomorrow as well, with screen dimensions increasing to 75 inches.

Discounts ending tomorrow also encompass Bragi's The Dash headphones, Bluetooth speakers from Sony and harmon/kardon, and more, so be sure to check out our Deals Roundup for more information before the two day sale finishes.

In other deals-related reminders, Rogue Amoeba's 15th anniversary sale ends tomorrow, September 30; MacRumors readers can continue to get 15 percent off RAVPower's Qi Wireless Charger on Amazon through October 15; and our exclusive $308 discount off SOUND FORGE Pro Mac 3 continues through October 13. You also still have a few hours to enter our weekly giveaway for a Pad & Quill leather case for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X, ending today at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy and may earn commissions on purchases made through these links.

Apple today shared an iPhone X environmental report, detailing the smartphone's environmental performance as it relates to climate change, energy efficiency, material efficiency, and restricted substances.

The report reveals that the base model iPhone X generates an equivalent of 79 kilograms of carbon dioxide over its life cycle, which is the highest estimated greenhouse gas emissions of any Apple smartphone since the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. 80 percent of the emissions come from production of the device.

A comparison of Apple's estimated greenhouse gas emissions for each iPhone model:

• iPhone X: 79kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 8: 57kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 8 Plus: 68kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 7: 56kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 7 Plus: 67kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 6s: 54kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 6s Plus: 63kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 6: 95kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 6 Plus: 110kg CO2e
  

• iPhone 5s: 65kg CO2e

Apple said the iPhone X's U.S. retail packaging contains 55 percent recycled content. 100 percent of the fiber in the device's box is sourced either from recycled content, bamboo, waste sugarcane, or responsibly managed forests.

Like other models, the iPhone X has a mercury-free display made with arsenic-free glass, and it's also free of BFR, PVC, and beryllium.

iPhone X received a highest-possible gold rating from EPEAT, a program that ranks mobile phones based on environmental attributes in accordance with UL 110. All models since the iPhone SE have also achieved gold ratings.

Uber has rolled out an update to its iOS app that enables riders to learn basic sign language on the go so they can communicate better with deaf and hard-of-hearing drivers.

Uber announced the new feature in a post on its website, where it said the ride-hailing service had "thousands" of deaf drivers in the United States alone, and that the update was in support of National Deaf Awareness Month.

Riders will see a special card in the Uber feed. Once they tap it, they'll be taken to a page where they can select the basics, like "Hello" and "Thank You," or spell out their name. They'll then be given a GIF with the word(s) in ASL. That way, they can better communicate with their Deaf or Hard of Hearing driver, because signing "Thank You" or "Hello" in ASL can go a long way.

Uber has actually included interface features for its hard of hearing drivers for the last couple of years, such as flashing screens for ride requests instead of audible notifications, and allowing drivers to receive texts rather than calls. But the latest feature, which currently only works in the U.S., will surely come as a welcome addition.

The Uber app is a free download for iPhone available on the App Store. [Direct Link]

Google is working on a tabletop smart screen for video calling and more that will go up against Amazon's Echo Show, according to sources who spoke to TechCrunch.

The Google device is internally codenamed "Manhattan" and will have a screen size similar to the 7-inch Echo Show, said two sources, one of whom reportedly received information directly from a Google employee. The device is said to run a version of Android, meaning it could be capable of running third-party apps, with Netflix being mooted as a possibility.

Both sources claim the device will offer access to Google Assistant, Google Photos, and YouTube – which goes some ways to explaining why the latter video service was unceremoniously pulled from Amazon's Echo Show on Tuesday.

Google's device will also reportedly work as a smart hub for controlling other connected smart home gadgets and appliances, similar to Amazon's new Echo Plus speaker unveiled earlier this week.

According to TechCrunch's sources, the original target launch date for the Manhattan device was mid-2018, but Google is apparently under intense pressure to get the product out the door before the end of this year, given that the Echo Show is already on the market. Google has a hardware event scheduled for October 4, but it's unclear if the device will make an appearance.

Other rumors floating about suggest the tech giant is readying an upmarket version of its Google Home smart speaker to rival Apple's upcoming $350 HomePod. Known internally as "Google Home Max", the "premium" device is said to feature stereo speakers housed in a high-quality design.

Thanks to leaks, we already know that Google will announce a mini version of its Google Home speaker at its hardware event, alongside new Pixel smartphones and a rebranded Google Pixelbook. But there's also talk of $159 Google-branded Bluetooth earbuds on the way with Google Assistant built-in.

Whatever the exact line-up of products the company drops on October 4, stay tuned to MacRumors for a full summary immediately following the event next week.

Popular PlayStation game Flower, created by thatgamecompany, made its way to iOS devices in a surprise release this morning. Flower, first released in 2009, was published on iOS by Annapurna Interactive.

In Flower, gameplay consists of controlling gusts of wind with the aim of blowing a flower petal around the world and picking up additional flower petals as you go. As flower petals swirl and gust through the game, the world experiences small changes, like a windmill activating or a field of dead flowers coming to life.

As our sister site TouchArcade points out, Flower is meant to be a casual, relaxing "experience" game that's almost more like art. There is no text or dialogue in Flower, and the sole aim of the game is to make players happy while they play it.

The company behind Flower, thatgamecompany, was recently seen on stage at Apple's September 2017 event to show off its most recent title, Sky. Sky is a romantic multi-player flying game where players soar through the world and work together to uncover new areas to explore. It's coming soon to iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

Flower is available today and can be downloaded from the App Store for $4.99. [Direct Link]

Following a series of natural disasters that have impacted tens of thousands of people in the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean, Apple employees and customers have raised more than $13 million to provide shelter, food, and clean water in areas devastated by earthquakes and hurricanes.

Apple shared the update in a news post released this morning. Funds have been raised in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, which impacted Texas and Louisiana, Hurricane Irma, which hit the Gulf Coast, Florida Keys, and several Caribbean Islands, Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico, and earthquakes that hit Mexico.

Along with raising money, many Apple employees stepped up to volunteer for recovery efforts, running food drives, opening their homes, transporting clean water, and more.

Apple is continuing to raise money for relief efforts in Puerto Rico and other U.S. communities by accepting donations to the American Red Cross and the Hand in Hand hurricane relief benefit, with customers already having raised more than $2 million.

Employee donations to the American Red Cross, Hand in Hand, GlobalGiving, and UNICEF are being matched two-to-one by Apple, and the company says that it donated $1 million to the American Red Cross and UNICEF for Hurricane Maria relief and $1 million to GlobalGiving for earthquake recovery efforts in Mexico.

These donations are on top of several other donations Apple has made over the course of the last month. Apple donated $5 million to the Hand in Hand benefit for hurricane relief efforts, and another $2 million to help Hurricane Harvey victims.

iTunes and App Store customers can easily donate by clicking on the American Red Cross banner in the respective stores and choosing an amount to donate.

Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 11.1 update to its public beta testing group, one day after seeding the tvOS 11.1 update to developers and a little over a week after releasing tvOS 11 to the public.

The tvOS 11.1 public beta can be obtained by going to the Settings app on the Apple TV and navigating to the Software Updates section under "System." "Get Public Beta Updates" will need to be toggled on, and once it is, the Apple TV will download the beta software.

No new features were discovered in the first developer beta of tvOS 11.1, so the update seems to focus primarily on bug fixes, performance improvements, and security fixes.

The latest version of the tvOS operating system, tvOS 11 brings features like automatic switching between light and dark mode based on local time, Home screen syncing options designed to keep multiple Apple TVs in a single household in sync, and new background modes and notification support.