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Unread by Golden Hill Software has long been an excellent and elegant RSS client for iOS and iPadOS. Today, it arrives on macOS with version 4.0. While I have been exploring new ways to keep up with my favorite feeds as the web enters its federated era, using Unread on the Mac hasn’t felt like a step backwards. Unread 4.0 is a fully native, fully-featured app built using AppKit and SwiftUI that feels modern and performs incredibly quickly.
Let’s check it out.
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, Sigmund is joined by guest co-host Christopher Lawley to highlight the debut of Time Bandits and talk about Apple’s upcoming slate of immersive video releases.
This week, Niléane reviews the AirPods Max, Matt got a new GPU, and Chris keeps things non-controversial by bringing up The Acolyte. Then we get into using the Vision Pro for something new and Niléane challenges us to bring some old tech back to life.
Yesterday, AltStore co-creator Riley Testut posted on Mastodon that the ‘cat’s out of the bag.’ That cat was the announcement from Epic Games that their hugely popular game ‘Fortnite’ would be coming to AltStore PAL in the EU.
Epic had previously announced they would be launching the Epic Games Store in the EU on iOS and worldwide on Android ‘soon’ with what they called ‘great terms’ for developers. However, this announcement of their most popular title coming to an alternate App Store was somewhat of a surprise.
In the statement, Epic also said they plan to bring their games — including Fortnite — to other mobile stores, though AltStore PAL was the only one confirmed.
This being Epic Games, the statement didn’t forget to take some shots at the larger App Store owners. In addition to mentioning the recent legal battles Apple and Google have faced in Europe, the statement also reminded everyone of Epic’s win against Google in the US before making one final announcement.
In what Epic Games called a ‘protest of Samsung’s anticompetitive decision to block side-loading by default on Samsung Android devices,’ the company announced it would be withdrawing Fortnite and their other games from the Samsung Galaxy Store.
While it was only one sentence in another spicy statement from Epic Games, the announcement of Fortnite on AltStore PAL is a testament to the hard work Riley Testut and Shane Gill have put into the store. It’s also the realization of a joke Riley made way back in 2020.
Today, Apple has launched Apple Maps on the web in a surprise announcement. This beta version of Apple Maps on the web is accessible via the url beta.maps.apple.com, and is said by the company to be compatible with Google Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge on Windows. Additionally, developers will now be able to link out to Apple Maps on the web using MapKit JS.
Apple Maps on the web seems to be rather limited so far. The web app supports panning and zooming on the map, searching and tapping on locations, looking up directions, and browsing curated guides. However, it isn’t currently possible to tilt the map to view 3D building models or terrain elevation, and directions are limited to Driving and Walking. Look Around (Apple’s equivalent to Google Street View) is not available on the web either, but Apple says the feature will arrive in the coming months.
The web UI itself is reminiscent of Apple Maps on macOS and iPadOS. Recent locations can be found in a sidebar, and buttons to navigate the map are located in the top-right and bottom-right-hand corners of the page.
In my testing, performance across Apple Maps on the web isn’t stellar in Safari. I’m observing stutters in transition animations, as well as when panning the map. In Google Chrome, however, the web app feels significantly smoother. If you attempt to access Apple Maps from Firefox, the app will not load and redirect you to Apple’s (short) list of supported browsers. The same message is displayed if you access the URL from Safari on iOS.
Apple Maps on the web is a welcome addition. Google Maps has always been available on the web for all to use, and I’m glad to finally see Apple try and compete beyond its native apps on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. Hopefully more languages and features are coming to the web version soon.
Even though we have a podcast together, I promise I did not talk to my friend Brendon about something I started doing myself last month: using EarPods – yes, the old wired ones – as my “universal earbuds” that can connect to just about anything these days. In any case, Brendon came to the same conclusion:
At the death of my most recent pair of Beats Fit Pro — the left earbud started to emit a loud electrical sound every so often or just disconnect entirely — I decided to give up on them for the time being. I instead bought some wired Apple EarPods which I haven’t used since the final days of the iPod. It’s hard to overstate how much I’ve loved having them with me for the past month.
And:
I’m not about to wax poetic about all of the ways using wired headphones in 2024 “changes everything” like a clickbaity YouTube video, but I will say that the proliferation of USB-C on pretty much every device is slowly returning the EarPods to their once-ubiquitous days of the 3.5mm jack. Yes I’m using them on my iPhone when I’m commuting, doing chores around the house, meditating, and what-have-you — but being able to plug them into my gaming devices, laptop, and tablet does in some ways feel like a return to form when it comes to ease of use.
I’m still using AirPods when I want to listen to music or podcasts without bothering my girlfriend at home or when I’m taking the dogs for a walk (although the Meta Ray-Bans have replaced a lot of my AirPods usage outdoors – something I plan to write about soon). A few weeks ago, however, fed up with limitations of Bluetooth multipoint-enabled earbuds, I thought: maybe I should just get Apple’s $20 USB-C EarPods and stop worrying about which wireless earbuds I use with my Apple devices and various gaming handhelds.
I’m here to tell you, like Brendon, that those $20 earbuds still rule. The ubiquity of USB-C means I can use them with my iPhone, iPad, Legion Go, Steam Deck, and even more novel devices such as the RG Cube and ROG Ally X (stay tuned for my thoughts on these on a future episode of NPC). I don’t have to worry about battery life, pairing, or latency. Sure, there’s a wire, and there’s no noise cancelling when using them – but these are my “downtime earbuds” anyway, so I don’t care.
Wireless earbuds – and specifically AirPods – are amazing. But if, like me, you often find yourself playing around with non-Apple devices and wishing you didn’t have to buy separate wireless earbuds for them…Apple’s EarPods are still great, and they’re better than ever thanks to USB-C.
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week, John tours the highlights of the macOS Sequoia public beta.
This week, Robb located some pizza snacks, John visited a QuikTrip, and they both have some mild takes.
Enjoy the latest episodes from MacStories’ family of podcasts:
This week on Magic Rays of Light, Devon is joined by guest co-host Jonathan Reed to discuss Jonathan’s first impressions of Apple Vision Pro, new Apple Original documentary series Omnivore, 72 Emmy Awards nominations for Apple Originals, and Devon’s experience seeing Fly Me to the Moon in theaters.
This week, Chris can finally talk about iPadOS 18, Niléane goes on a quest for great dynamic wallpapers, and Matt brought a tea kettle for some reason. Then they all say nice things about new browsers and Chris has a “visionary” new challenge.
This week, John decides to take the iPad-only travel plunge, and Federico advises on which gaming handhelds to bring on a trip.
Beginning today, Apple says it will begin releasing a series of films, documentaries, music, sports, travel, and other video content for the Vision Pro.
First up is ‘Hot Air Balloons,’ which will be available beginning at 6 PM Pacific today, and is part of a series dubbed Boundless. That will be followed in August by a new installment of Wild Life, and a new travel series called Elevated in September. Later this year, Apple will release an immersive concert experience with The Weeknd, a scripted short film called Submerged by director Edward Berger, a behind-the-scenes and court-side look at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, and Big-Wave Surfing, part of a new sports series with Red Bull.
According to Tor Myhren, Apple’s vice president of Marketing Communications:
Apple Immersive Video is a groundbreaking leap forward for storytelling, offering Apple Vision Pro users remarkable experiences with an unparalleled sense of realism and immersion. From soaring over volcanoes in Hawaii and surfing huge waves in Tahiti, to enjoying performances by the world’s biggest artists and athletes from all-new perspectives, Apple Immersive Video revolutionizes the way people experience places, stories, sports, and more by making viewers feel like they’re truly there. It’s the next generation of visual storytelling, and we’re excited to bring it to more people around the world.
I’m really looking forward to these new immersive videos. There’s been a real dearth of content produced for the Vision Pro since its release, but with the device available in more countries, it’s great to see new content available for the growing audience.
Smart Script and Math Notes are two of the most notable features coming to iPadOS this fall. Both take advantage of the Apple Pencil and the iPad’s computer power to do a lot of complex work under the hood, which makes taking good-looking notes and working with numbers and equations feel natural.
Chris Lawley, co-host of Comfort Zone, sat down for an exclusive interview with Jenny Chen, an Apple engineering manager for input experiences, and Ty Jordan, an Apple system experiences product manager, to talk about both features in-depth for his YouTube channel. It’s an excellent interview full of little details you may have missed from the WWDC keynote:
When the new iPad Pros were released, I debated whether to buy an Apple Pencil Pro. I’ve never been a heavy user of the Apple Pencil, but I’m glad I bought one in the end. With features like Smart Script and Math Notes added to Quick Notes and the other Pencil features, my use has slowly crept up to the point where I’m now looking to find places where I can do even more with it.
