Apple CarPlay gets icon boost, EV charging upgrade in iOS 18.4

Image: MacRumors

Apple's recent iOS 18.4 update quietly introduced notable enhancements to CarPlay, offering users with larger infotainment screens an expanded icon layout and improved electric vehicle routing.

MacRumors discovered that iOS 18.4 now displays three rows of app icons on CarPlay for vehicles with larger displays, up from the standard two. This allows for quicker access to more apps, reducing driver distraction. However, this feature appears limited to cars with larger screens, such as the 14-inch display found in the Toyota Tundra and is not visible on smaller displays like the 9-inch screen in a Honda Civic.

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Niantic offloads 'Pokémon Go,' game division to Scopely in US$3.5 billion deal

Image: Niantic

Niantic, the developer behind Pokémon Go, has sold its gaming division to Scopely, a mobile game company owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, for US$3.5 billion. The acquisition includes popular titles like Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. This move signals a significant shift for Niantic, which will now concentrate on its geospatial technology and artificial intelligence mapping initiatives under the newly formed Niantic Spatial.  

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Roomba maker warns of potential closure amid financial woes

Photo: iRobot

iRobot, the company behind the iconic Roomba vacuum cleaner, has issued a dire warning to investors, stating it may cease operations within the next 12 months. The announcement follows the collapse of a planned acquisition by Amazon due to regulatory hurdles and comes amidst intense competition from Chinese manufacturers. The company has since undergone significant restructuring, including substantial layoffs and a sharp expense reduction. iRobot's stock plummeted roughly 36% following the news, reflecting investor concerns about the company's future viability.

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Apple unveils Metallica immersive concert experience for Vision Pro

Photo: Apple

Apple is launching an immersive concert experience featuring Metallica, exclusively for the Apple Vision Pro, on Friday, March 14. This format, captured in Apple Immersive Video, places viewers directly within the band's sold-out Mexico City performance from their M72 World Tour. The experience features iconic Metallica tracks like Whiplash, One, and Enter Sandman, presented in ultra-high-resolution 180-degree video and Spatial Audio.

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