Google has announced a handful of mobile enhancements for its Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps that are active now or will be rolling out on iOS soon.
First up, Google has completed the rollout of dynamic email in the Gmail iOS app. Google says dynamic email brings the richness and interactivity of AMP to mobile devices, allowing users to take action directly within a message. So instead of receiving individual email notifications when a user is mentioned in a comment in Docs, Sheets, or Slides, they'll now see an up-to-date comment thread in Gmail, and be able to reply or resolve the comment, directly within the message.
Earlier this year, Google launched Smart Compose in Docs on the web to help users write documents faster and reduce the chance of spelling and grammatical errors. Now its bringing the power of Smart Compose to mobile, with the aim of making it even faster and easier to write documents on the go. Smart Compose will roll out to G Suite customers on iOS over the next few weeks.
Google says it's improving the user interface for comments and action items in Docs, Sheets, and Slides on mobile. The larger, clearer commenting UI should make it easier to scroll through and respond to comments, while a quick access button to reply and @mention others aims to enable more focused discussions. These updates will be rolling out to iOS in the coming months.
Office editing was introduced on the web last year, and is designed to make it easy to edit, comment, and collaborate on Microsoft Office files using Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Google is rolling out Office editing to its Docs, Sheets, and Slides mobile apps on Android in the coming weeks, with iOS to follow later this year.
Elsewhere, a new viewing experience is coming to Slides, with a vertically scrollable stream of slides that users can pinch-to-zoom. Google says this new view helps review slides faster, and users can easily switch to editing or presenting content. The feature will roll out on iOS in the coming months.
Lastly, Docs, Sheets, and Slides will be getting a Dark mode on iOS in the coming months, to make it easier for users to work in low-light environments and keep their iPhone battery alive for longer.
Apple's latest 27-inch iMac comes with an optional nano-texture glass, which is etched at the nanometer level to cut down on reflectivity and glare for a matte look.
The nano-texture glass is available on the 27-inch iMac as a $500 upgrade option, and like Apple's Pro Display XDR with nano-texture screen (a $1,000 option), Apple has very specific cleaning instructions that it wants iMac owners to follow.
A support document updated overnight advises that those who purchase the iMac model with nano-texture glass must use the polishing cloth that Apple provides. No water or liquids should be used to clean the glass either. iMac owners can at most moisten the cloth with a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solution to deal with hard-to-remove smudges.
Apple warns that iMac owners should never use any other cloths to clean the glass, and if the included dry polishing cloth is lost, Apple Support should be contacted so another cloth can be ordered. Apple told MacRumors it charges $9 for replacement cleaning cloths.
Apple also has specific instructions for washing the polishing cloth, which includes using dish soap and water, rinsing thoroughly, and then letting it air dry for at least 24 hours.
The standard iMac glass can be cleaned with a regular microfiber cloth and a small amount of water, while the casing can be cleaned using a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth.
Nano-texture glass was first seen on the Pro XDR Display, which was the butt of multiple jokes because Apple charges $4,999 for the display, and an extra $999 for the stand. The need for a specific Apple-designed cleaning cloth was seen by some as, well, typically Apple.
Apple says its nano-texture finish on the new iMac "maintains contrast while scattering light to reduce glare to the barest minimum." Currently, 27-inch iMac orders with standard glass ship in 1 business day, while the 27-iMac with nano-texture glass ships in 1 to 2 weeks.
Apple today shared a new video in its ongoing "Shot on iPhone" series, this time highlighting a short film that was captured by director Damien Chazelle, known for films like "La La Land" and "Whiplash."
The nine minute short film was shot with an iPhone 11 Pro and all of the footage was captured in a vertical aspect ratio. Apple also included a behind the scenes look at how the film was shot.
When shooting the video, Chazelle used iPhone features like extended dynamic range, video stabilization, the ultra wide-angle lens, and more.
Apple has shared several prior videos and photographs in the "Shot on iPhone" series, but this marks one of the first vertical videos that Apple has uploaded in the "Shot on iPhone" saga.
The fourth beta of macOS Big Sur, released yesterday, adds a new toggle in System Preferences that's designed to disable the wallpaper tinting feature that's meant to make windows blend in with the desktop wallpaper.
For those who have Dark Mode enabled, turning off wallpaper tinting can make windows on the Mac noticeably darker, especially when a lighter color background is in use.
Apple introduced the wallpaper tinting feature in an earlier version of macOS, and some Mac users who prefer Dark Mode have been hoping for a toggle to disable it. Prior to now, there was a method for turning it off, but it involved enabling the graphite accent color.
With wallpaper tint on
As 9to5mac points out, being forced to choose graphite was not ideal because it eliminated many of the colored elements of the operating system. With macOS Big Sur, wallpaper tinting can be disabled while leaving the rest of the interface untouched.
With wallpaper tint off
Disabling wallpaper tinting will only make a difference to those who use Dark Mode, as it does not change the way that windows look in Light Mode. It's small but subtle change that some Dark Mode users will appreciate, and it only applies to windows, and not other elements of the interface like side bars.
The feature can be accessed by opening System Preferences, selecting General, and then clicking on the toggle that says "Allow wallpaper tinting in windows."
Google this week launched its newest smartphone, the $349 Pixel 4a, a low-cost device that's designed to compete with other affordable devices like Apple's iPhone SE.
We picked up one of the new Pixel 4a smartphones and thought we'd check it out to see how it measures up to the iPhone SE, given that the two devices have such similar price points.
Both the Pixel 4a and the iPhone SE are "budget" phones that lack some of the features available in more expensive smartphones available from the two companies, but both are capable devices that offer similar performance.
The Pixel 4a feature a 5.81-inch OLED panel, which is larger than the iPhone's 4.7-inch LCD display. It has a pinhole camera cutout but is otherwise all screen, which gives it a more modern look and more viewable display area. The iPhone SE continues to feature thick top and bottom bezels that cut down on screen viewing area.
When it comes to a straight display quality comparison, you might think the Pixel 4a would be leagues better with the OLED panel, but both are close in quality (see video for comparison). The 4a wins out with OLED, but the iPhone SE's LCD panel still looks good.
The iPhone SE has a Touch ID Home Button in the bottom bezel, and the Pixel 4a also uses a fingerprint sensor, but it's located at the rear of the device. Touch ID beats out most other fingerprint sensors when it comes to accuracy and phone unlocking time, and there's no exception here. Google's fingerprint sensor is fine, but Touch ID is more accurate and less prone to failure.
To keep costs low, Google built the Pixel 4a out of plastic, so when it comes quality, the iPhone SE's glass and aluminum design wins out. It looks and feels like a more premium smartphone than the Pixel 4a, but the glass has more potential to break.
The iPhone SE is equipped with Apple's latest A13 chip, which is blazing fast. It puts the iPhone SE on par with Apple's flagship iPhones when it comes to performance, a factor that makes the iPhone SE's $399 price a good deal for those who are more focused on performance.
The Pixel 4a has an Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 processor, but it doesn't perform at the level of the A13. You may not notice a significant difference in every day usage, but there are some tasks where the iPhone SE will outshine the 4a, which is just a bit laggier and less smooth.
When it comes to battery life, the Pixel 4a has a 3,140mAh battery while the iPhone SE has a 1,821mAh battery, and MacRumors videographer Dan felt that the Pixel 4a had noticeably better battery life in his testing. The Pixel 4a also sports 6GB RAM and 128GB base storage, while the iPhone SE has 3GB RAM and 64GB base storage, so you're getting more storage for a lower price point with the Pixel.
While the iPhone SE offers a Lightning port and wireless charging, the Pixel 4a has no wireless charging and a USB-C port, which is a consideration for those who prefer wireless charging or USB-C port access.
The iPhone SE has an older camera that was first used in the iPhone 8, and it's a 12-megapixel single-lens setup. The Pixel 4a also has a single-lens 12.2-megapixel camera, but it has some of Google's computational photography and image processing features, so photos on the 4a look better.
iPhone SE photos feature a more natural color palette while the Pixel 4a's photos are cooler in tone, but the Pixel 4a images are sharper and crisper, even when lighting is poor. Google gave the Pixel 4a Night Sight, but Apple's iPhone SE doesn't support the Night Mode feature available in more expensive iPhones.
Apple does win out when it comes to video quality, though, because the iPhone SE supports 4K 60fps video and it has much better image stabilization than the Pixel 4a.
The iPhone SE runs iOS and the Pixel 4a runs Android, and since most of us are locked in to one ecosystem or another, operating system is one of the biggest factors when it comes to choosing a smartphone. Someone who has always used iPhones is likely going to opt for the iPhone SE, and the same goes for Android and the Pixel 4a.
Both of these phones offer solid value for the price point, so it really comes down to ecosystem. Apple guarantees iOS updates for years to come, so the iPhone SE should be supported until at least 2024. Android smartphones don't often get as many updates, but Google is better about providing new software for Pixel phones and has pledged to provide updates for the Pixel 4a for at least three years.
In the future, we may actually see an Apple-designed lower-cost smartphone that more closely mirrors the design of the Pixel 4a because Apple's rumored to be working on a new version of the iPhone SE called the iPhone SE Plus. It allegedly features an all-display design with a fingerprint sensor built into the power button, but it's not coming out until 2021.
One of the biggest new features of iOS 14 is Home Screen widgets, which provide information from apps at a glance. The widgets can be pinned to the Home Screen in various spots and sizes, allowing for many different layouts.
When the iOS 14 beta was first released in June, widgets were limited to Apple's own apps like Calendar and Weather, but several third-party developers have begun to test the feature for their own apps. As shown in our screenshots below, this includes:
TestFlight slots are limited, so some apps may be full.
Keep in mind that Home Screen widgets are fairly limited in scope. This is because Apple only allows the widgets to present read-only information, with interactive elements such as scrolling elements or switches not allowed, presumably due to battery life considerations. Tapping on a widget opens the corresponding app.
Also be aware that, as of the fourth developer beta of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, Apple says that all widgets must be rebuilt using the latest SDK and will not run on previous beta versions. This has temporarily broken some widgets, such as the Aviary widget, which is currently displaying new tweets on a very delayed basis.
Users interested in trying out these widgets can download Apple's free TestFlight app, tap on the TestFlight links above using an iPhone or iPad, and download a beta version of each app. Not all of the widgets are fully polished yet, so expect some glitches.
Apple this week updated its "Jobs at Apple" website with a new Benefits section that's designed to explain to potential employees the perks that Apple offers to its workforce.
The Benefits part of the site is organized into different sections highlighting various perks of working for Apple, such as:
Flexible medical plans
Coverage for physical and mental healthcare
Free counseling
Family medical plans
Paid parental leave
Onsite doctors and nurses for those working on campus
Fitness centers on campus
Fitness-related financial help for those not on campus
Equal pay for men and women
Eligibility for stock grants and discounts for stock purchases
401(k) matching
Apple University learning opportunities
Some tuition reimbursement
One-for-one donation matching
Deals on Apple products and accessories
Apple says that its benefit programs vary by country and are subject to eligibility requirements. Those who want to learn more about Apple's benefits can check out the Jobs at Apple website.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Apple has given a straight to series order for a detective drama series executive produced by Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey's Team Downey production company, reports Variety.
The show is based on co-producer Michael Lista's Toronto Life article "The Sting," which follows a Canadian detective who reopens a decades-old cold case with the aim of winning a confession and becoming a hero.
The case spirals out of control when the detective launches an elaborate sting with playacting cops, taxpayer resources, and an unexpected friendship with the target of the investigation.
The Downeys, Amanda Burrell, and Michael Lista will executive produce, while Adam Perlman will write the series and serve as an executive producer. Downey may also have a supporting role in the series.
Downey's production company currently produces HBO Drama "Perry Mason" and is working on Netflix series "Sweet Tooth."
macOS users could be targeted with malicious attacks using Microsoft Office files that have macros embedded, according to details on the now-fixed exploit shared today by security researcher Patrick Wardle, who also spoke to Motherboard.
Hackers have long used Office files with macros embedded in them as a way to get access to Windows computers, but the exploit is also possible on macOS. According to Wardle, a Mac user could potentially be infected just by opening a Microsoft Office file that has a bad macro in it.
Wardle shared a blog post on the exploit that he found for manipulating Office files to impact Macs, which he's highlighting during today's online Black Hat security conference.
Apple fixed the exploit that Wardle used in macOS 10.15.3, so that particular vulnerability is no longer available for hackers to use, but it offers an interesting look at an emerging method of attack that we could see more of in the future.
Wardle's hack was complicated and involved multiple steps, so those interested in full details should read his blog, but basically he used an Office file with an old .slk format to run macros on macOS without informing the user.
"Security researchers love these ancient file formats because they were created at a time when no one was thinking about security," Wardle told Motherboard.
After using the antiquated file format to get macOS to run a macro in Microsoft Office without letting the user know, he used another flaw that let a hacker escape the Microsoft Office Sandbox with a file that uses a $ sign. The file was a .zip file, which macOS didn't check against the notarization protections that prevent users from opening files not from known developers.
A demonstration of a downloaded Microsoft Office file with a macro being used to open up Calculator.
The exploit required the targeted person to log in to their Mac on two separate occasions as logins trigger different steps in the exploit chain, which makes it less likely to happen, but as Wardle says, only one person needs to fall for it.
Microsoft told Wardle that it has found that "any application, even when sandboxed, is vulnerable to misuse of these APIs," and that it is in contact with Apple to identify and fix issues as they arise. The vulnerabilities that Wardle used to demonstrate how macros can be abused have long since been patched by Apple, but there's always a chance that a similar exploit could pop up later.
Mac users are not invulnerable to viruses and should exercise caution when downloading and opening files from unknown sources, and sometimes, even known sources. It's best to stay away from suspicious Office files and other files that have shady origins, even with the protections that Apple has built into macOS.
Longtime Mac developer Rogue Amoeba today announced the launch of SoundSource 5, the next-generation version of its software utility that gives you much greater control over audio on your Mac.
For those unfamiliar with SoundSource, it lives right in the menu bar and gives you quick access to volume levels and input/output devices, as well as the ability to adjust volume levels and output devices on a per-app basis. Audio effects like equalizers can also be applied on a per-app basis.
SoundSource 5 brings a revamped interface with a streamlined main window that can optionally be made even slimmer with a Compact view, and there's a new menu bar icon that displays a rough gauge of the current volume level of your default output device.
With per-app audio controls, SoundSource 5 now automatically manages the apps displayed in the list, adding them whenever they are producing audio and removing them when they stop. Favorited apps will remain in the list permanently.
The new update also adds support for multiple menu meters, letting you optionally see activity for default input and output devices, as well as active apps. The meters also provide one-click access for quickly muting any of the sources.
Updates for audio effects include an optimized Magic Boost that uses less CPU to provide richer sound, a simplified default view for the pinnable 10-band equalizer, and more.
SoundSource 5 is available as a free full-featured trial, which degrades the quality of its audio adjustments after 20 minutes per launch. A full license is normally priced at $39, but there's a discounted $29 rate available through the end of the month. Owners of SoundSource 4 can upgrade for $19, or a complimentary upgrade if you purchased SoundSource 4 on or after May 1.
For those currently running the macOS Big Sur beta, it's important to note that SoundSource 5 is not yet compatible with the upcoming version of macOS. An update for SoundSource will be available prior to the public launch of Big Sur. SoundSource 5 is fully compatible macOS Catalina, Mojave, and High Sierra.
Lady Gaga is the latest artist to launch an Apple Music weekly show, and with "Gaga Radio" she'll chat with dance and music stars and debut exclusive DJ mixes.
The inspiration for Lady Gaga's hyperactive 2020 album Chromatica came from one magical place: the dance floor. A joyride of glittery synths and let-your-hair-down hooks, it captures the singular, soul-cleansing euphoria found from sweating under a disco ball.
Every Friday on GAGA RADIO, she honors dance music by speaking with the DJs, divas, and producers who inspired her and helped bring Chromatica to life. Each episode will also include an exclusive DJ mix from one of Gaga's guests. It's a celebration of dance music when we need it most.
The interviews will focus on the team who helped Gaga bring her 2020 album "Chromatica" to life. The show will be available on Apple Music every Friday at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, starting this Friday.
Samsung today held a virtual Galaxy Unpacked event where it unveiled its next-generation smartphones that will compete with Apple's 2020 iPhone lineup, set to come out in the fall.
Samsung announced the launch of the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the two newest devices in the Note lineup, and, more notably, the Galaxy Z Fold 2, Samsung's latest foldable smartphone.
The Galaxy Z Fold 2 features a 7.6-inch screen that uses thin glass instead of plastic to protect the display. When folded, the front display measures in at 6.2 inches. It's equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor, 12GB RAM, and 512GB storage, plus there's a new camera that uses a hole punch design instead of a notch.
Samsung aimed to make the Z Fold 2 a significant improvement over the original Galaxy Fold in terms of durability and functionality. Samsung says the hinge has been improved and the overall structure has been reinforced so it's not as delicate as it was before. Pricing hasn't been announced yet, but it's expected to come out in September, which is also when we'll learn more about it.
The Galaxy Note 20 and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra are Samsung's new flagship Note smartphones. The $1,000 Note 20 features a 6.7-inch 60Hz AMOLED display with a hole punch camera, a Snapdragon 865+ processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 4,300mAh battery, and a three camera setup with a 12-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 64-megapixel telephoto camera.
Samsung's higher-end Galaxy Ultra also comes with a 6.9-inch AMOLED display, but the high end model supports up to 120Hz refresh rates. There's a Snapdragon 865+ processor, 12GB RAM, 128GB or 512GB storage, microSD slot, and a 4,500mAh battery.
The Ultra version of the Note has an impressive camera setup with a 12-megapixel telephoto lens that supports 5x optical zoom and 50x hybrid zoom, along with a 108-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, plus an autofocus system that works with a laser.
Both Galaxy 20 Note phones are compatible with 5G networks, come with S Pens, and have fingerprint sensors and facial recognition for biometric protection. They support wireless charging and feature IP68 water and dust resistance.
Samsung also unveiled the $170 Galaxy Buds Live with Active Noise Cancellation, which are more affordable than Apple's AirPods Pro with the same noise canceling features. Galaxy Buds come in black, white, and bronze.
There's also a new tablet, the Galaxy Tab S7, and a new Galaxy Watch 3 with sleep tracking, ECG support, and blood pressure readings.
Samsung's event can still be watched on YouTube for those who are interested in a full rundown on all the features in the new devices.
The Galaxy Buds Live, Samsung's new Note devices, and the other Samsung devices with the exception of the Fold 2 will go on sale on August 6. Pre-ordering the Note 20 or the Note 20 Ultra will provide Samsung users with a credit that can be used on the Samsung website or the Shop Samsung app.
Samsung's new devices will directly compete with the iPhone 12 lineup, which Apple is expected to unveil in September and release starting in October.
Apple has four smartphones in the works, including 5.4 and 6.1-inch affordable devices and higher-end 6.1 and 6.7-inch devices that will rival the Galaxy Note 20 smartphones, but Apple has no foldable iPhone technology at this time to match the Galaxy Z Fold 2, and it's not clear if or when the Cupertino company will release a foldable iPhone.
It's been 10 years since the launch of the Apple Store app, and to celebrate, Apple has a little hidden easter egg that you can find if you search for "10 years" in the Apple Store app.
As noted by Michael Steeber, who found the hidden feature, typing in "10 years" sends two blue balloons soaring up from the bottom of the screen.
The balloons will bounce around for a few moments, and if you tap them, you can pop them. Otherwise, if you leave them alone, they'll simply float away.
You can re-summon the balloons by typing in the phrase again. Make sure to use the Apple Store app, where you make Apple device purchases and view orders, to try the trick.
The new listings are available on the "See All Games" list at the bottom of the Apple Arcade tab in the App Store on iOS 14, but are not currently visible on iOS 13 devices. The four upcoming games include:
Next Stop Nowhere: A "road trip adventure story set in a colorful, cutthroat vision of outer space," the title will be an Apple Arcade exclusive.
Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time: A single-player action platformer based on the Adult Swim series, the title is also coming to consoles and PCs. It takes place during the show's season finale and involves an alternate timeline where Jack travels through multiple levels on a new quest to eventually defeat his nemesis Aku.
The Last Campfire: An adventure story about a lost ember trapped in a puzzling place, the new title from Hello Games, creators of No Man's Sky, is also coming to PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One.
World's End Club: A 2D side-scroller about a dozen 12-year-old oddball kids headed on a 1,200-kilometer journey after they are involved in a bus accident on a class trip and find that "extraordinary powers begin to awaken within them."
All of the new games will be available to Apple Arcade subscribers on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, as well as in the Mac App Store. Apple Arcade provides iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac users with access to over 100 games with no in-app purchases or ads for $4.99 per month after a free one-month trial.
Instagram has today officially launched "Reels," a new short-form video service set to rival TikTok, in over 50 countries, including the U.S., India, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, and the U.K. Reels is part of the Instagram camera of the existing Instagram app.
Instagram says that Reels are "a new way to create and discover short, entertaining videos." The service features the ability to record and edit 15-second multi-clip videos with music from the Instagram library, AR effects, and various new creative editing tools. Reels can be shared with followers on "Feed", or for public accounts, made available to all users worldwide via a new space in "Explore." Reels' most significant difference from TikTok is supposedly its tie-ins to the overarching Instagram ecosystem.
Last month, it was reported that Instagram was offering significant cash incentives to TikTok creators to persuade them to move to Reels. Incentive payments for some were claimed to be in the "hundreds of thousands of dollars," with the highest payouts for creators who commit to posting their videos exclusively to Reels. The move was a clear indication that Instagram views Reels as a direct competitor to TikTok. In April, YouTube announced "Shorts," a new service that will also replicate the short video format to compete with TikTok.
"I think TikTok deserves a ton of credit for popularizing formats in this space, and it's just great work,” Instagram's product director, Robby Stein, told The Verge. "But at the end of the day, no two products are exactly alike, and ours are not either."
The company's line on similarity with TikTok is similar to the approach taken with "Stories," launched in 2016 as a competitor to Snapchat. Instagram Stories soon had more active daily users than Snapchat itself.
The launch of Reels comes as TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, faces immense scrutiny in the United States, and Microsoft negotiates a purchase of the service.
Apple today quietly released a new version of its 30W USB-C power adapter with the model number MY1W2AM/A. The outward design of the adapter has not changed, so if any tweaks have been made, they are likely internal. The previous model MR2A2LL/A is no longer available for purchase from Apple.
The power adapter remains compatible with any USB‑C–enabled device, with Apple continuing to recommend that it be paired with the 13-inch MacBook Air with a Retina display. The adapter can also be used to fast charge compatible iPhone and iPad Pro models. The new version remains priced at $49 on Apple's online store and ships within a few days.
Apple made a similar move in June 2018, when it quietly replaced its 29W power adapter with the original 30W version that was sold until this week.
The COVIDWISE app allows you to be notified if someone you have been near later tests positive for COVID-19, so long as that other person confirms their positive test in the app. The system relies on the exchange of anonymous Bluetooth tokens between devices, with no location data or personal information collected or shared.
iPhone users must be running iOS 13.5 or later in order for exposure notification apps using the Apple/Google API to function, and the opt-in feature must be enabled first in the Settings app. Users who have upgraded to iOS 14 should note that exposure notification apps are only functional as of the fourth developer beta.
A growing list of countries have released apps based on the Apple/Google API, most recently including Canada's COVID Alert.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Microsoft's upcoming "Project xCloud" game streaming service is set to launch on September 15th, exclusively on Android devices. Despite extensive testing via TestFlight on iOS, xCloud's launch on iOS seems to have been postponed indefinitely.
Project xCloud is Microsoft's "vision for game-streaming technology that will complement our console hardware and give gamers more choices in how and where they play." xCloud will be bundled as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $14.99 per month, with more than 100 games available.
App Store guidelines ban services that rely on streaming games from the cloud. Cloud gaming services, where users stream games live via an internet connection, are growing in popularity.
Although Microsoft has been trialing xCloud on iOS with a closed public preview of 10,000 testers, the company previously stated that testing was limited due to Apple's App Store policies. Unlike the Android version, the app was limited to streaming games from the cloud only, excluding the ability to stream games from an Xbox console.
"To comply with App Store policies, the preview experience on iOS may look and feel different for those who have been testing on Android," Microsoft warned ahead of launching the preview.
Only one title, "Halo: The Master Chief Collection," was available on the TestFlight app. This is because App Store rules state that "games offered in a game subscription must be owned or exclusively licensed by the developer."
"It's our ambition to scale cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass available on all devices, but we have nothing further to share at this time regarding iOS," a Microsoft spokesperson told The Verge.
Apple initially rejected Valve's Steam Link app due to "business conflicts," and it took almost a year to eventually be approved. Steam Link and Sony's PS4 Remote Play was approved only because the App Store allows remote desktop technology, but it is limited to devices on the same network.
Similar game streaming services Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now are still unavailable on iOS. A spokesperson for Nvidia, when asked about the challenge of reaching iOS users with GeForce Now, told Bloomberg, "Ask Apple."
The TestFlight preview of xCloud has ended today and will no longer function. This is due to Apple's automatic expiry date on all TestFlight apps, indicating that it has been 90 days since the preview was updated. The future of xCloud on iOS now seems to be uncertain, and it is unknown whether development will continue.
