Twitter starts rolling out podcasts to Blue subscribers

Twitter has begun rolling out its redesigned Spaces tab. Starting today, Twitter Blue members on iOS can check out the new interface element through the subscription’s early access Labs feature. The tab brings together live and recorded Spaces, and eve…

Google’s iOS 16 lock screen widgets include a shortcut to Chrome’s Dino game

Apple released iOS 16 earlier today, and one of the more notable features the update introduces is a redesigned lock screen experience. For the first time, Apple is letting you customize the typeface and accent color of on-screen elements like the date…

watchOS 9 is now available

Alongside iOS 16, Apple has released watchOS 9. To install the update on your smartwatch, you’ll first need to download iOS 16 on your iPhone. You can do that by opening the Settings app and then tapping “General,” followed by “Software” and lastly “Update.” If you own an Apple Watch Series 3, you won’t get access to the software as Apple is dropping support for its 2017 wearable. It’s also worth noting that not every watchOS 9 feature will be available on every Apple Watch and in every region.  

As with past updates, fitness is a major focus of watchOS 9. You’ll now see your heart rate zones when working out and reviewing your sleep patterns. There’s also support for multisport workouts and a way to monitor your personal best performances. Additionally, you can set up to the software to remind you to take your medications. Other new features include a redesigned interface for Siri, Quick actions and a handful of new watch faces.

iOS 16 is now available

The wait is over. Apple has released iOS 16 to the public. You can download the latest version of the company’s mobile operating system by opening the Settings app on your iPhone and tapping on “General,” followed by “Software” and then “Update.” The software is available on the iPhone 8 and later. 

The theme of iOS 16 is personalization. Apple redesigned the iPhone’s lock screen to give you more control over the interface. You can now tweak the typeface and accent color of the on-screen clock and date to more closely match your wallpaper. Additionally, you can add widgets to your home screen and change the information that’s displayed toward the top of the screen. It’s now also possible to create multiple lock screens and tie them to specific focus modes. Complementing those changes are redesigned notifications that support a feature called Live Activities that makes it easier to track things like scores and Uber rides.         

Other notable new features include the ability to edit and unsend messages in iMessage. You can also mark texts as unread to remind you to read them later. On the iPhone XS and later, you can use the Photos app to copy an object from an image and paste it somewhere else without a background. Apple has also added support for passkeys to add an extra layer of security to your online credentials. Passkeys will work with non-Apple products and they’re available through your iCloud Keychain.

One thing to note about today’s update is that iPadOS 16 will arrive at a later date to give Apple more time to polish the software’s Stage Manager feature. 

The ‘Elden Ring’ soundtrack is now available on music streaming services

In addition to being one of the best games of the year, FromSoftware’s Elden Ring features an absolute treat of a soundtrack. Tsukasa Saitoh, Shoi Miyazawa, Yuka Kitamura, Yoshimi Kudo and Tai Tomisawa crafted an orchestral score that pays homage to the studio’s past while offering something new, and now you can listen to their work without booting up the game.

Publisher Bandai Namco has uploaded Elden Ring’s entire 67-track score to nearly every streaming service out there. Among other platforms, you can listen to the soundtrack on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, Tidal and YouTube Music. If you still buy albums, it’s also available through iTunes.  

As is so often the case with From’s games, the songs that play during boss battles are among the most memorable. I had to stop myself from gritting my teeth after Malenia’s theme came on. Thankfully, the more ambient tracks, including “Limgrave,” are there to balance things out. Bandai Namco also released an all-too-short behind-the-scenes video showcasing the Budapest Film Orchestra recording some of the music you can hear in-game and online. You can watch it below.

Codename Red will take the Assassin’s Creed franchise to feudal Japan

The game Assassin’s Creed fans have been asking for years is finally on its way. During its Ubisoft Forward event on Saturday, the publisher revealed Codename Red, a new entry in the series that will be set in feudal Japan. Franchise head Marc-Alexis Côté called Red the “next premium title” in Ubisoft’s open world series and said Ubisoft Quebec was leading work on the project, suggesting it will hew closer to Odyssey than next year’s Mirage.

Côté also shared a teaser for Codename Hexe and called it “a very different type of Assassin’s Creed game.” Ubisoft Montreal, the studio that first created the series is leading development on the project, with Clint Hocking involved as creative director. Hocking may not be a household name, but he’s probably among the most influential designers at Ubisoft, with credits that include Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and Far Cry 2. According to a recent report from Bloomberg’s Jason Scheier, the game is set during the latter stages of the Holy Roman Empire.

Neither game has a release date yet, but Ubisoft said they would both integrate with Infinity, a service Côté called “not a game per se, but a single entry point into the series.” Ubisoft was cryptic about what Infinity would involve but Côté said the company was exploring the possibility of creating standalone multiplayer experiences within the hub.