Apple has unveiled the winners of the 2024 App Store Awards. The company has honored 17 apps and games that have made a significant impact on users’ lives and global culture. These winners have been chosen from 45 finalists by App Store Editors.
Apps That Transform Everyday Moments
The winning apps reflect the diversity of experiences available across Apple devices:
iPhone App of the Year:Kino by Lux Optics Inc. helps users create cinematic content with film-inspired filters and advanced controls.
iPad App of the Year:Moises by Moises Systems Inc. empowers musicians with AI-driven tools to refine their craft.
Mac App of the Year:Adobe Lightroom by Adobe Inc. transforms photo editing on Mac with professional-grade features.
Apple Vision Pro App of the Year:What If…? An Immersive Story by Marvel Studios, ILM Immersive, and Disney+ redefines spatial computing with captivating experiences in the Marvel Universe.
Apple Watch App of the Year:Lumy by Raja V. enhances daily life by helping users embrace the rhythms of the sun.
Apple TV App of the Year:F1 TV by Formula One Digital Media Limited brings racing action to fans with immersive home-viewing experiences.
Games That Inspire and Entertain
Apple’s gaming honorees showcase creativity and innovation:
iPhone Game of the Year:AFK Journey by Farlight Games delivers tactical adventures and engaging storylines.
iPad Game of the Year:Squad Busters by Supercell combines competitive multiplayer gameplay with family-friendly fun.
Mac Game of the Year:Thank Goodness You’re Here! by Panic, Inc. offers endless laughter through quirky narratives.
Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year:THRASHER: Arcade Odyssey by Puddle, LLC immerses players in vibrant cosmic worlds.
Apple Arcade Game of the Year:Balatro+ by Playstack Ltd. reinvents traditional card games with unique mechanics.
Cultural Impact Awards
In addition to celebrating apps and games, Apple recognized six developers for their Cultural Impact, honoring apps that foster inclusivity, intellectual curiosity, and connection:
Oko by AYES BV: Assists users with visual impairments in navigating city streets.
EF Hello by Signum International AG: AI-powered language learning for users at all levels.
DailyArt by Zuzanna Stanska: Connects users to centuries of exceptional artwork.
NYT Games by The New York Times Company: Brings families together through engaging daily puzzles.
The Wreck by The Pixel Hunt: Explores emotional resilience through an interactive narrative.
Do You Really Want to Know 2 by Gamtropy Co., Ltd.: Educates users about HIV, offering valuable resources for open conversations.
On today’s episode of You Asked: Is there a way to force Dolby Vision onto the PlayStation 5? Do you need an internet connection to use newer Sony TVs? When will Samsung’s Tizen update finally happen? And what is the best dark-room TV?
Does my TV need the internet?
Digital Trends
Jay Luis Martinez writes: I am thinking of the Bravia 9 but I heard (read in the comment section below a YouTube video) that you cannot use new Sony TVs (since 2023 or 2024) in offline mode. Is this true?
I can’t speak to Sony TVs distributed in the EU, but in the U.S. you can use a Sony TV without an internet connection. And, frankly, I’d be shocked if that wasn’t also the case in Europe — the EU has stricter consumer protection laws than the U.S.
It would be extremely unwise for any TV brand — especially one as large as Sony — to make its TVs unusable without an internet connection. In fact, in the U.S., I don’t think you could call it a TV if the tuner required an internet connection for basic use. Also, here in the U.S., that limitation would need to be explicitly and obviously disclosed on the product packaging.
Folks say all kinds of stuff in forums and comment sections. Sometimes it can be helpful, other times it is just flat-out false. So, I’m glad you asked to get accurate information.
PS5 Pro games in Dolby Vision mode?
Giovanni Colantonio / Digital Trends
Luigi writes: Remember how you used to be able to force upscaling to 4K if you routed a PS4 or PS5 through an Xbox One X or S’s (not Series X or S) pass-through before getting to the TV? Is it possible to do tricks like that and get your PS5 or PS5 Pro to be tricked into doing Dolby Vision or upscale from lower resolutions? Playing Xbox Series X games on my 2023 LG C3 in Dolby Vision makes such a beautiful difference. I wish there was a way to play games from the PS5 Pro in Dolby Vision mode. I always switch to my Series X for Disney, Netflix, or any movie experience. I just wish there was a way to play Sony’s first-party games in Dolby Vision. Is there any pass-through or other solutions to achieve this?
The short answer is no, you cannot pull a trick using any consumer device — that I’m aware of — to force the TV into Dolby Vision. And even if something like that did exist, I’m not sure it would make things better.
The signal needs to have a Dolby Vision flag and metadata for the Dolby Vision chip in your TV to work off — that’s best coming from the source and for material that was made to use Dolby Vision. The Apple TV 4K can force everything into Dolby Vision if you want it to, but I suggest disabling that feature.
(I actually don’t remember the trick where you could run a signal through an Xbox and it would come out the other end upscaled, but it’s hard to imagine that being useful, especially today.)
If your TV is 4K — or more accurate, Ultra HD — then it is upscaling everything to 4K. A 4K TV in a 16:9 aspect ratio has 8,249,400 pixels and it has to fill all of them all the time, without exception. This includes letterbox or pillarbox bars — they’re in the signal and each pixel is accounted for.
Unless your TV’s upscaler is rather poor, and your source’s upscaler is super good, there is rarely a good reason to upscale your signal before it gets to the TV — the TV usually does a better job.
Where’s the Samsung update?
Digital Trends
Roderick Strong writes: I remember hearing at the beginning of the year that Samsung TVs from the last 5 years will be getting a UI update that is going to use the new Tizen update. Since I currently have the 82-inch Q90R from 2019, my TV would be included in the upgrade. Have you heard any news on this, and if so, what can you share about this?
The update started to roll out about a week and a half ago for some Samsung TVs, but it seems to have halted — at least for some owners. John Higgins, our A/V senior editor, says his TV prompted him for the update at one point, in line with some press information about the update launching. However, that prompt has since disappeared.
I have not seen any published rollout schedule from Samsung, which doesn’t surprise me. And while I’m hopeful it won’t be too much longer, I have to think there may have been some deployment hiccups. For now, hold tight — it should be coming along soon.
Best TV for a super-dark room
Zeke Jones / Digital Trends
Tom Rice writes that he is looking to get a new TV for a totally dark room. He wants to know if it matters how bright the TV can get if it will never fight with any other light source. He’s looking at 83-inch versions of the LG B4 and C4, as well as the 77-inch version of the G4 and admits to being tempted by the 100-inch Hisense U8.
When you’re viewing in a completely dark room, the need for high average picture level — or just overall brightness — goes down a bit, while your need for excellent backlight control goes up.
When you are in a blacked-out room, the irises in your eyes open wide to allow as much light in as possible. This is going to make you more sensitive to light levels both at the low and high ends of the spectrum.
On the low end, you are going to be more sensitive to blooming or halo — the effect of the backlight in an LCD-based TV bleeding through areas of the screen where it shouldn’t. This is why I prefer OLED TVs for dark rooms: blacks are black because there is no backlight bleedthrough.
However, if you want an LCD-based TV, I suggest a high-end mini-LED TV to cut down on those backlight effects. The Hisense U8 has very good backlight control, but it’s not going to be perfect like OLED.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have heightened sensitivity to bright light. This means that when watching SDR content, the brightness doesn’t need to be turned up very high. For HDR content, the specular highlights don’t have to be as intensely bright to get a lot of HDR pop to the picture.
So, yes, you can get along just fine with a TV that doesn’t hit 1,000 nits for HDR. The LG B4 will hit just shy of 700 nits for HDR highlights, and that will probably be plenty dazzling.
However, while the brightness of the LG B4 may be sufficient, one other consideration is processing.
See, when we spend more for a TV, we aren’t just getting better backlight control and higher brightness. We’re also — often enough, anyway — getting superior picture processing, which determines a bunch of other picture-quality factors like clarity, sharpness, detail, color accuracy, and more.
The LG C4, Bravia 8, and Samsung S90D are great TVs for dark rooms because they have great processing to go along with all their other performance attributes. And the C4 is the only one that gets up above the 80-inch level. The LG B4 would likely be a huge upgrade, but if it were my money, I’d be getting the C4.
However, when looking at a 100-inch TV, we have to have that talk about picture size versus picture quality. With a set budget, you will have to give up some picture quality as you move up in size, provided the price is staying the same. And that, my friends, is a very personal choice.
If you were to just say “tell me what TV to get,” I’d say get the LG C4.
Zomato-owned quick commerce platform Blinkit has entered the ultra-fast food delivery market with the launch of a standalone app, Bistro. Bistro promises to deliver snacks, meals, desserts, and beverages in just 10 minutes. The app is currently operational in select areas of Gurugram and will be available in more cities if it gets enough consumer interest.
It is worth noting that the concept of ultra-fast food delivery isn’t entirely new for Zomato. Zomato treated a 10-minute food delivery service in Gurugram back in 2022 but later shelved the project. The company also introduced Zomato Everyday to offer home-style meals prepared in centralized kitchens for quicker deliveries. Bistro is the latest attempt by Zomato to re-enter in ultra-fast food delivery space.
Bistro will be competing with major players like Swiggy and Zepto. Swiggy’s Bolt service already operates in over 400 cities. Zepto’s Cafe delivers tea, coffee, pastries, and snacks in under 10 minutes. Zepto is also planning to launch a standalone app for Cafe. Swish is also operating in the same space and raised $2 million last month. Swish uses cloud kitchens to deliver meals, snacks, and beverages across select neighborhoods.
Bistro app is currently available only on the Play Store for Android devices. The company has yet to launch the app for iOS.
Ultra-fast food delivery services has already made a considerable user base. Zepto claims its Cafe business is doing 30,000 orders per day. Swiggy also says that 5 percent go all food orders on Swiggy came via Bolt. This is the reason Zomato do not want to be late in leveraging the potential of this new market.
Although it’s been off the air for more than 20 years now, Buffy the Vampire Slayer continues to gain new fans who discover the series through streaming services. And, while star Sarah Michelle Gellar had previously been reluctant to join any potential reboot of the show, it now seems like she’s changed her tune.
In an interview on The Drew Barrymore Show (via Variety), Gellar said that she had been rethinking her stance on revisiting the character.
“I always used to say no because it’s in its bubble, and it’s so perfect,” she explained. “But watching [And Just Like That…] and seeing [internal-link post_id=”3705319″ sponsored=”false” taxonomy=”false” ]Dexter: Original Sin[/internal-link], and realizing there are ways to do it, definitely does get your mind thinking, ‘Well, maybe.’”
Please enable Javascript to view this content
Gellar added that she thought there were several different narrative options a new show could pursue and that the series wouldn’t have to be a prequel.
“It could be anything,” she said. “It’s a universe. It makes you realize that in this world, we need those heroes, I think, more so than ever.”
As she alluded to in that answer, Gellar had previously been reluctant to express any interest in revisiting her most iconic character. In 2023, she told SFX Magazine (via Indiewire) that she thought Buffy’s story was over. “I am very proud of the show that we created, and it doesn’t need to be done,” Gellar said. “We wrapped that up.”
The show originally ran for seven seasons from 1997 to 2003 and followed a teenage girl who discovers that she is The Slayer, a once-in-a-generation chosen one who is tasked with battling vampires and various other demonic forces.
Google has announced Android XR, a new operating system designed to power the next generation of extended reality (XR) devices, like VR headsets and AR glasses. With this new operating system, Google wants to leverage advancements in AI, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) to create more natural and conversational interactions with technology.
Google collaborated with Samsung to develop Android XR. The platform supports a wide range of tools, including ARCore, Android Studio, Jetpack Compose, Unity, and OpenXR. It will make it easy for developers to create apps and games for XR devices. Android XR also has a deep integration of Gemini to enable users to interact with content, plan tasks, perform research, and more.
Google has also reimagined its apps like YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Photos for immersive XR environments. For instance, users can watch YouTube on a virtual big screen, explore cities and landmarks in 3D with Google Maps, or relive cherished memories in 3D with Google Photos. Android XR will also support multitasking through virtual screens in Chrome.
Samsung is already working on an Android XR device, codenamed Project Moohan. This is a headset set to launch next year. The headset promises to transform how users interact with digital content. It will offer the ability to switch seamlessly between virtual environments and the real world.
Android XR will also power future smart glasses. These smart glasses will provide real-time assistance, such as navigation, translation, and notifications, directly in the user’s line of sight or through voice commands. Google has already begun real-world testing of prototype glasses with a small group of users.
Android XR is an open and unified platform for XR devices. It also offers developers an opportunity to create innovative experiences using familiar Android tools. Google has partnered with Qualcomm, Lynx, Sony, XREAL, and Magic Leap to develop a diverse ecosystem of XR devices for both personal and professional use. Google is now inviting developers, device makers, and creators to help Google shape the future of XR.
We can expect the first Android XR device next year.
The unthinkable might finally happen. Apple could finally fix the Magic Mouse and its terrible charging port location. As per Bloomberg, a new Magic Mouse is in the works, and it will likely revise the location of the charging port.
“The current Magic Mouse is nearing the end of its life, and Apple is working on a full overhaul,” says the report. Earlier this year, Apple switched the mouse to a USB-C charging interface, ditching the proprietary Lightning port.
However, the company hasn’t fixed its biggest problem, which is the underside positioning of the Magic Mouse. That means it is still unusable when charging and has to lie awkwardly on the surface when the cable is plugged in.
I mean, just look at it.Wikimedia / Creative Commons
Now, a new Magic Mouse with a fresh look will take its own sweet time to take shape, or anywhere between 12 to 18 months, as per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. When exactly it hits the shelves, however, remains a mystery.
Engineering, prototyping, and quality analysis at Apple are a long-drawn-out exercise. Then there’s the production cycle, and coupled with Apple’s scale situation, it would take a while before we get a redesigned Magic Mouse.
It’s pretty surprising that a crucial computing accessory that was introduced over a decade ago hasn’t received a meaningful upgrade. That’s especially perplexing in the case of the Magic Mouse, which has been criticized for its poor ergonomics and awkward charging port location.
But a poor port location isn’t the only Magic Mouse woe. Digital Trends’ review of the Magic Mouse labeled it as “terribly uncomfortable.” Here are a few nuggets from the review that sum up its design flubs and functional challenges:
“It feels unnatural, and no amount of practice seemed to make it any more comfortable.”
“For sheer practicality, any money spent on one is really a waste.”
“Not only is this nearly impossible to achieve with a standard mouse-holding position, it’s [also] downright tiring and takes forever.”
“We would prefer to work with the cheapo freebie mice that come bundled with all-in-one desktops than a Magic Mouse.”
The situation is so bad that DIY enthusiasts have come up with ingenious ideas to fix the uncomfortable grip and the port situation. Let’s hope Apple’s engineers can fix both aspects of the next Magic Mouse while retaining its signature gesture fluidity and responsiveness.
Bohemia Interactive has released open-world multiplayer first-person shooter Arma Reforger for PlayStation 5. The game is now available via PlayStation Store for $39.99.
Arma Reforger is already available for the Xbox Series and PC via Steam. The game was launched in Early Access back in May 2022, followed by a full release in November 2023.
Arma Reforger is also the first ever Arma installment on PlayStation. Developer has confirmed that Arma Reforger will have full crossplay ability across platforms.
The game takes players to two meticulously crafted islands: Everon and Arland. The game introduces a mix of multiplayer and creative modes to cater to both tactical and creative players. These game modes are Conflict, Game Master, Combat Ops, and Capture and Hold. With its debut on PlayStation, Arma Reforger redefines the military simulation (mil-sim) genre.
Netflix is bringing the heat to close out 2024. Squid Game season 2 makes its triumphant debut one day after Christmas. Nothing screams holiday cheer more than a show about game contestants dying in the most brutal ways possible. For something with more thrills, check out Black Doves, the excellent espionage drama starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw.
Beyond the high-profile titles, Netflix has thousands of programs to watch, so much so that you can waste precious time scrolling instead of streaming. To save time, this guide recommends three underrated shows available to stream right now. The picks include a mystery involving a missing airplane, an invigorating thriller about a prison break, and an interesting teen soap.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Manifest (2018-2023)
NBC/Netflix
If Manifest hadoriginated on Netflix instead of NBC, who knows how much bigger an audience it could have reached? As soon as the show hit Netflix, Manifest instantly became one of the most popular shows on the streamer. This surge in fandom led to Netflix renewing the show for a fourth and final season.
Manifest’s excellent premise follows the passengers and crew of Montego Air Flight 828 from Jamaica to New York City. After some brief turbulence, the flight is rerouted to upstate New York. Upon arrival, those aboard the plane are shocked to learn that over five and a half years have passed during their flight. How is that remotely possible? That’s where the mystery begins in this addictive supernatural thriller.
Watch Manifest on Netflix.
Prison Break (2005-2017)
Prison Break – Season 1 Trailer
Prison Breakis a show where its fans refuse to let it die. The crime drama aired from 2005 to 2009, spanning four seasons and a TV movie. The series’ audience grew on streaming, leading Fox to revive it for a nine-episode fifth season in 2017. Fast forward to this month, and Hulu picked up a pilot for a new chapter of Prison Break. This is now a sign to see what all the hype’s about.
After being wrongly convicted of killing the vice president’s brother, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is sentenced to death. Convinced of his innocence, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), Lincoln’s brother, plans to use his knowledge as a structural engineer to break him out of prison. For Michael, the only way out is through. To execute the breakout, he must do the unthinkable: commit a crime and get sent to Lincoln’s prison.
Watch Prison Break on Netflix.
Riverdale (2017-2023)
The CW
By the end of its run, Riverdalefully embraced the supernatural by executing a time jump to mixed results. The series strayed too far away from the original premise of an eerie high school mystery. The first half of Riverdale is far superior to the back half, and it’s been so long that the initial seasons are somewhat forgotten.
With the show off the air, now’s the time to revisit what made it so fun. Based on the long-running Archie Comics series, Riverdale begins with the tragic death of a local teen that shakes the town to its core. High school students Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes), Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), and Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse) try to live normal lives, but the town’s enigmatic dark secrets threaten to tear the community apart.
Gujarat Shocker: Woman plots murder, gets husband killed 4 days after wedding because she loves…
A man was killed just four days after marrying a girl who loved her cousin in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.
Gujarat Shocker: Woman plots murder, gets husband killed 4 days after wedding because she loves…
Gandhinagar: A shocking and terrifying incident has come to light from Gujarat where marital bliss turned fatal for an innocent man. The man was brutally killed just four days after his marriage. The deceased’s new wife, who loved her cousin, plotted the killing of her husband. According to police, Bhavik, who hails from Ahmedabad, tied the knot with Payal from Gandhinagar. He was kidnapped and killed four days after his marriage by three men. When police initiated the probe, they were shocked to know that Payal herself had plotted her husband’s murder along with her cousin Kalpesh. Payal was in love with Kalpesh before her marriage.
How the Crime Unfolded
Bhavik visited Payal’s parents on Saturday to pick her up. When he did not arrived at his bride’s house on time. Payal’s father called up his family and informed them that Bhavik had not reached their place. Bhavik’s father told him that he left to pick Payal’s long ago. After the call, Payal’s family started searching for Bhavik.
While searching for Bhavik, the family members spotted a two-wheeler lying on road. the vehicle supposedly belonged to the man. While inquiring people, some eyewitnesses told the family members that he was by three men. As per eyewitnesses, the kidnappers first hit the victim’s vehicle with their SUV from behind and then they kidnapped him.
Family Approached Police
Following the shocking incident, Payal’s family immediately reached out to the police. Catching wind of Bhavik’s disappearance just four days after he tied the knot set alarm bells ringing for law enforcement. Throughout the course of their exhaustive probe, they continually questioned Payal. Eventually crumbling under the relentless pressure, she confessed to her chilling role in plotting Bhavik’s kidnap and murder.
The Arrest And Confession
Following Payal’s tip-off, the cops managed to hunt down and nab the trio involved in a heinous crime. The trio was then subjected to inquiry. It was during this questioning that Kalpesh, one of the trio, spilt the beans. He admitted to his and his accomplices’ crime of kidnapping Bhavik. They then strangled him in SUV, and later discarded his body in a canal flowing into the Narmada River. Cops said that Bhavik was actually en route to Payal’s parents’ place when she rang him up to confirm his exact location. The precise whereabouts shared by Bhavik were then passed on to Kalpesh by Payal.
The Bride’s Plan To Kill Her Husband
Payal confessed her love for Kalpesh, yet her parents forced her to marry Bhavik. This pushed her to plot the murder of her husband. Currently, she’s confined under police custody, and the main three suspects are already behind bars.
Charges of murder, complicity in carrying out murder, and abduction have been levelled against them under the relevant parts of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
The Game Awards 2024, held on December 12, was a grand celebration of the best in gaming The award show honoured the most exceptional titles and talents of the year. Winners were announced during the live stream on the official YouTube channel and Twitch. The night’s biggest award, Game of the Year, went to Astro Bot, which beat strong contenders like Balatro, Black Myth: Wukong, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Here’s the complete list of winners across all categories.
