Apple Arcade makes a power play

April 10, 2021

Adding dozens of new games is great and all, but embracing the past might be the smartest move Apple Arcade made this month.

Now Apple's subscription gaming service includes two new categories -- Timeless Classics and App Store Greats -- that showcase just how fantastically fun mobile gaming can be.

The expansion is a real boon for casual gamers who might be more into sudoku than an arty indie game they've never heard of. And it makes that $4.99-a-month subscription look like an unbeatable deal.

If you haven't tried Apple Arcade, now might be the time to take the plunge. And if you haven't checked out Apple One subscription bundles -- all of which include Apple Arcade -- you might be missing out on some real savings.

Lewis Wallace, managing editor and penny pincher

News and opinion

Hey, iPhone gamer, save yourself some money: Subscribe to Apple Arcade. A recent study showed that the average American spends way more on games every year than the annual cost of Apple’s $4.99-a-month gaming service. Plus, the deal just got a lot better.

The next-gen iPhone could adopt LTPO backplane technology to enable a 120Hz refresh rate.

Plus, more rumors and possibilities:

This week's move allows iPhones, Macs and iPads to locate lost items produced by third-party accessory makers. The first supported products come from Belkin, Chipolo and VanMoof.

The setup showcased in a recent Reddit post consists of just a MacBook Air, an iPad, an iPhone and some accessories, but it brings up a puzzling conundrum: Should you use both a MacBook and an iPad, even though their functionality overlaps to a great extent?

Steve Jobs didn’t turn off his phone often. But if he did, it probably meant that he was in Jony Ive’s Industrial Design department, where Jobs relaxed by looking at possible future Apple products.

Cleaning AirPods is kind of a disgusting job, but Cardlax has a solution. It’s an itty-bitty washing machine to clean the crud off your earbuds in a couple of minutes.

How-tos

New app HomePaper for HomeKit lets you quickly customize the look of Apple’s notoriously bland-looking Home app — with zero hassles. With the app, you simply select a photo from your iPhone or iPad camera or take a new one. Then you can quickly adjust the color(s) and make your own customized wallpaper.

Broken one of the physical buttons on your iPhone or iPad? Don't let that prevent you from shutting it down completely.

You’ve probably noticed that your iPhone stops playing music as soon as you switch to Video mode inside its Camera app, which prevents you from easily adding a soundtrack to your recordings. This simple trick changes that.

Deals

The more we use our phones, the more we need to charge them. And if you want to keep your iPhone battery full on the go, you'll need a reliable charger that can easily fit in your backpack or purse. That's where the BackPack Magnetic 5,000mAh Power Bank comes in.

Plus, more deals on great chargers:

SwitchEasy thinks a selfie stick should be fashionable, functional and versatile. This lightweight selfie stick/tripod hybrid is made of high-strength aluminum alloy, and it works with various cameras as well as your iPhone. Grab one now for just $35.99.

Cult of Mac is giving away two snazzy iPhone 12 cases from our friends at Mujjo. You get a chance to win either a leather wallet case or a slim profile case in your choice of color.

Wireless plans tend to be filled with sneaky fees that run up your monthly bill. Why not get the coverage you need at a much lower price paid upfront, with no hidden charges to worry about?

Reviews

Say goodbye to plugging in Lightning cables with the Aircore 15W. Touch this wireless charger to the back of an iPhone 12 and it’ll cling there, juicing up the battery. However, it's not as fast as Apple's MagSafe charger.

In this week’s episode, the alternate-history space show finally gets to the big, violent “what if?” it’s been building to all season.