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Watch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct: New Characters, DLC, Mode, And More
Apple, please move us all to USB-C across the board with the 2019 iPhone
Here are the top features of the iPhone XR

Watch Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct: New Characters, DLC, Mode, And More

Posted: 01 Nov 2018 07:56 AM PDT

Update: The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Direct is now over, and as expected, it was jam-packed with news. You can rewatch the entire broadcast below, but the highlights included new characters (Ken and Incineroar, as well as a pre-order bonus in Piranha Plant) and a new Spirits mode. Stay tuned for a full breakdown of the stream; in the meantime, look at the full starting character lineup. The original story follows.

The biggest Nintendo Switch game of the year, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, is just over a month away, releasing this December. But you won't have to wait until then to get a fresh look at it, as Nintendo plans to give fans one final in-depth look at the star-studded brawler with a special Super Smash Bros.-focused Nintendo Direct. The broadcast airs today, November 1, in less than 20 minutes at the time of this writing--it begins at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET / 2 PM GMT. It will feature a ton of new details about the game--new characters, modes, and other details and news are potentially going to be shared--so you won't want to miss it.

The presentation will be streamed on Nintendo's website, YouTube, and Twitch channels. You'll also be able to watch it right here on GameSpot via the embed below, so you can bookmark this page and come back when the presentation begins. Immediately following the Direct, Nintendo will also broadcast a Treehouse livestream that will feature additional gameplay footage of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, as well as other upcoming Nintendo Switch games like Diablo III: Eternal Edition, Yoshi's Crafted World, and Pokemon: Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee.

As usual, Nintendo hasn't divulged any concrete details on what fans will see during the Smash broadcast, but it certainly seems like it'll be a big one. The Direct is scheduled to run for approximately 40 minutes--nearly twice as long as the Smash Bros. Direct that aired back in August--and will reveal "new information" about the upcoming fighting game. What that will be is anyone's guess, but it presumably includes the game's final few playable characters, who director Masahiro Sakurai had previously teased would all be unveiled before its release. We'll also likely learn more about the title's mysterious final mode.

The last time Nintendo aired a presentation devoted to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the company unveiled five new playable characters: Simon and Richter Belmont from Castlevania; the new Echo Fighters Chrom and Dark Samus; and the oft-requested King K. Rool from Donkey Kong Country. The following month during its September Direct presentation, Nintendo revealed that Animal Crossing's Isabelle is also joining the Smash roster. It's unclear just how many more playable character remain, but more than 70 have been announced to date. You can see everyone that's playable in our full Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster list.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate launches for Switch on December 7. Ahead of then, Nintendo is releasing a Smash Bros. Ultimate Switch bundle on November 2. It includes a digital copy of the game (which won't be playable until its release date) along with a Smash Bros.-themed dock and Joy-Cons. You can read more about the title in our roundup of everything we know about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

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Apple, please move us all to USB-C across the board with the 2019 iPhone

Posted: 01 Nov 2018 05:54 AM PDT

Specifically, Apple should adopt USB 3.1 type C or Thunderbolt 3 on every device it sells and let us put this mess behind us. AppleInsider examines just how it could be down to Apple to make this a success for everyone.

Using USB-C on iPad Pro to charge an iPhone

For at least 18 months now, there have been rumors that Apple would move away from Lightning connectors and adopt USB-C for everything. Now that the new iPad Pro models have done exactly that, you have to think it's happening. You have to think that Apple is steadily moving to this apparently glorious standard.

USB-C doesn't mean anything, beyond the shape of the connector

Maybe they are. Certainly they should, as the current situation is a mess. It's not that you may need an adapter to plug your older gear into a newer Mac, it's that you have to carry different cables and then also check exactly which version of USB-C you've got.

Back of an iMac Pro showing Thunderbolt 3 detail

Every USB-C cable looks the same, it physically connects into the same USB-C port. On the MacBook Pro, iMac Pro, iMac, plus now the Mac mini and MacBook Air, Apple uses Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt 3 uses the same physical USB-C connector to push a lot more data down the cable a lot faster.

Only, since Thunderbolt 3 uses the same physical USB-C connector, and can contain a USB 3.1 signal, an Apple Thunderbolt 3 port is compatible with what is properly known as USB 3.1 type C. That sounds like a difference that makes no difference, yet right now you this is how precise you have to be when you're figuring out what to buy.

Diagram of the benefits from Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C

This isn't new, though. Users have been dealing with this kind of branding for a while, just marketed better. Your networking cable is probably a RJ-45 connector —which is branded as Ethernet —which says nothing about the speed of the connection, or the capability of the cable.

That RJ-45 connector is branded as 10/100, Gigabit, or 10-gig Ethernet, all with explicit speeds right there in the name.

Makes you miss Lightning

Compare this to Lightning. There are just two sorts of Lightning cable, one with the regular rectangular USB-A on the end and the other with USB-C, even if Apple sells them in different lengths and firms like Amazon sell cheaper versions of the USB-A one. If you have a Lightning cable and a Lightning port, there's not a great deal to think about.

Plus Lightning is consistent. It's always the same, right down to how every single Apple Lightning cable you own is probably frayed at the end.

Lightning is an Apple-controlled standard. It looks like the rest of the industry is doing a slow lurch towards using various forms of USB-C. Clearly, then, there's pressure by Apple that basically launched the effort on a large scale beyond some initial probes by other companies to do the same, so that its devices can connect to other companies' monitors and peripherals.

Using USB-C to drive an external monitor from an iPad Pro

It's not as if this is Apple having to take on a completely new idea, though. Apple was part of the many firms who jointly designed USB-C, it's just that reportedly the key word there is "many." Apple is said to have got the same feeling we all do in committees, the sense of just wishing somebody would actually do something instead of talking about it, so they branched off and created Lightning for themselves a long time prior to the USB-C rollout.

All sorted

This group of many firms did come up with a decision about what USB-C should look like. It is absolutely written into the standard what type of connector and port constitutes USB-C.

What's frustratingly less clear is what the cable actually does. To be called USB-C, it just has to have the right connector at the end and be able to plug into the right port. There is nothing to say what any other aspect of all this must be.

So there are USB-C cables that are slower than others and there are some that allow more features than the rest.

When you're looking for a USB-C cable or you're trying to assess what Apple is or isn't providing in its new devices, the one thing to aim for, for maximum compatibility and speed is USB 3.1 type C.

If your USB-C cable and connector and port are in fact USB 3.1 type C then you're halfway there for the best cable possible for the most devices. This can send data at 10 gigabits per second, but you also have to look for the maximum wattage the cable can handle. This goes as low as 5W, and as high as 100W. Be sure to check before you buy.

The same cable can in theory run up to an 5K resolution monitor at 60Hz in what is called "alternate mode" but in reality is a contained DisplayPort signal. The same alternate mode —which is transparent to the user —means you can get USB-C cables with DVI or HDMI on the other end too. So, in most cases it's not as easy as "here's a monitor, here's a USB 3.1 type C cable, off you go."

You can get adapters, but don't. Just get the USB-C cable with the right heads that you need for video.

Detail from how Apple presents the MacBook Air's ports

You have to check. You can't just switch everything over to USB-C and forget about it. First you have to know that you've got to check, then you have to actually check what your monitor or other peripheral needs, what adaptor you need if any, and what your Apple device can handle.

You may even need to check the length of the cable.

This is all about as far away from Apple's preferred "it just works" as you can get, but it's where we are today.

Also, we really suggest that you label your own cables based on capability. There is only an optional labeling standard for USB-C cables, so it's a bit of the Wild West right now as far as easy identification goes.

The future

It needn't be quite where we are tomorrow. Apple could adopt USB-C across all its devices and it could do so with this specific USB 3.1 type C. That wouldn't remove the issues over what your monitor can cope with, but at least you could take the Mac or iPad Pro for granted.

In theory, that ubiquity is what Lightning gave Apple: the ability for us to just know that this cable does everything. You knew you could charge your iPhone and any type of iPad that had this connector. You knew you could travel with one cable if needed or that in an emergency, you would only absolutely have to buy one replacement cable.

Yet as handy as this all was, it's also always been nonsense. You couldn't ever pull the Lightning cable out of your iPhone and use it to charge up your MacBook. Even before MacBooks adopted USB-C, you couldn't use one cable to rule them all.

Now it's possible that the same USB 3.1 type C cable that powers up your iPad can go power up your MacBook. It's possible to use the same cable to run a 5K monitor from either machine.

That's what we want —and we want it for iPhones too. One type of cable, preferably more robust that Lightning ones, and moreover the certainty that this one cable will drive monitors, sync data and charge devices.

What we'd really like is for that to be a standard. You know, the kind of thing that standards committees are supposed to come up with, the kind of thing where they think about us as users first.

What Apple can do next

Apple can effectively make USB 3.1 type C a standard within its own ecosystem —yes, iPhone, were' looking at you —and that would simplify matters for those of us who chiefly use this company's products. That same unification would also make it easier for peripherals companies and manufacturers to make the devices and the cables we want.

An array of USB-C cables with different capabilities

Apple didn't solely invent USB-C in any of its different forms. It hasn't so far pushed it on us the way it has with many technologies before. We haven't yet seen Lightning be abandoned the way the 30-pin dock connector was. Or the floppy drive. Or the optical drive.

It could, though. Come next year's iPhone release, Apple could move every device to USB 3.1 type C and be done with it. We'd really like to see that.

Of course, Apple already has Thunderbolt 3 which is four times faster than USB 3.1 type C. It would be good to have that speed of data throughput across the board, but we know that's a pipe dream. We'll take the slower USB 3.1 type C as it is fast enough and it would let us plug our machines into more devices with less cable hassle after everybody gets on board.

Weather it

There was a storm when Apple ditched serial ports in the iMac, another when it moved to Lightning versus 30-pin, and there would be at least a squall if it now moved entirely to USB-C.

With the Lightning shift, needing to change your docks, cables and devices like music speakers just because you changed your iPhone was an issue. With the USB shift in the iMac, there was much drama about that as well.

We got through both more easily than we expected, though, and we would say that it'd be the same today with a move to USB-C but it should be easier.

Using Apple's AirPower to charge iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods

We now have iPhones that will charge wirelessly and you can be certain that's how Apple sees the future, given that the iPad Pro now lacks a headphone jack for no discernible reason we can spot. We'd be more certain if Apple would just release its promised AirPower charging mat, but still it's the future.

Let's just get there by moving first to USB-C connectors across the board and being done with it. Frankly, it should have been this year, though.

Keep up with AppleInsider by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.

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Here are the top features of the iPhone XR

Posted: 01 Nov 2018 07:52 AM PDT

Apple's newly released iPhone XR is the most budget-friendly flagship iPhone. AppleInsider breaks down the top nine features of this colorful handset to show why it is worth your consideration.

Blue iPhone XR

Liquid Retina display

Apple has included the all-new Liquid Retina LCD as the display on the iPhone XR. It may be an LCD rather than the OLED display found on the XS/XS Max, but it is still a beautiful display.

Colors pop, as it supports the P3 wide color gamut, and Apple claims it is the most color accurate LCD on the market.

It is also impressively large for Apple's entry-level iPhone, a whole 6.1 inches in size, larger than the iPhone XS and the largest LCD Apple has ever included on an iPhone. It still comes in a tad shy of the 6.5-inch OLED on the XS Max, but it is still a great sized screen.

iPhone XR Liquid Retina LCD display

The Liquid Retina display is also the first LCD Apple has made to include Tap to Wake functionality. Last but not least, it even supports True Tone for subtle adjustments based on the environments ambient light.

Single-lens Portrait mode

Portrait mode photos have taken off, being one of the most used features of the iPhone X and its dual camera system.

iPhone XR Camera

For the iPhone XR, Apple is only including a single lens assembly, but they are still able to replicate the Portrait mode effect via software and their upgraded Neural Engine.

With just a single camera, the iPhone XR can detect a person's face then separate them from the background, applying a subtle bokeh effect to everything but the subject. It can even be adjusted after the fact with Apple's depth control feature for fine-tuning the amount of blur and bokeh.

Symmetrical speaker ports

Talk about little touches, but the iPhone XR has symmetrical ports on the bottom of the device. Each side of the Lightning port six circles either used for the speaker or the microphone.

On the iPhone XS/XS Max, there are four circles to the left of the Lightning port and seven on the right.

iPhone XR speaker and microphone ports

This doesn't have any change in functionality, but it brings a good balance to the phone.

Colorful finishes

In a similar vein to the iPhone 5C, Apple released the iPhone XR with a smattering of color options. Both the glass back and the metal frame are brightly colored for a fun pop.

(PRODUCT)RED iPhone XR

The glass uses an in-depth seven-layer color process to achieve the rich finish and the Apple-exclusive aluminum alloy is anodized to match.

Color options include white, black, blue, yellow, coral, and (PRODUCT)RED.

Lightweight aluminum frame

Buyers of the iPhone X, XS, and XS Max will know the hefty stainless steel frame that their phone is built on.

Aluminum iPhone XR frame

For the XR, Apple opted for an aircraft-grade custom aluminum alloy with a matte finish instead. It keeps the phone exceptionally lightweight and durable, while still able to show off those vivid colorful finishes.

Exclusive wallpapers

Each of the new iPhone XR color options come pre-loaded with custom wallpapers that are color matched with their exterior.

Exclusive iPhone XR colorful wallpapers

Our blue model, for example, features a bright blue wallpaper background. These wallpapers look great and only come with the XR. Good news is that each iPhone XR comes with all color variations of the two primary wallpaper designs for a total of 12 wallpapers no other iPhone ships with.

Haptic Touch

Instead of 3D Touch, the iPhone XR replicates the experience using what Apple calls "Haptic Touch". Instead of having a 3D sensing display, a long press simulates the effect. Whenever you long touch on an applicable element, it will perform a similar 3D Touch action and the phone will provide feedback in form of a slight vibration.

There are certainly limitations, for instance, you can't Haptic Touch Home screen icons to view widgets and actions, but you can still get into widgets within Control Center.

Haptic Touch in Control Center

Apple says this functionality will expand over time, showing in other places 3D Touch used to exist, such as the aforementioned widgets and previewing links.

Battery life

Of all the iPhones Apple sells, the iPhone XR boasts the most impressive battery performance. Apple says it can achieve up to 25 hours of wireless talk time, 15 hours of internet browsing, and 16 hours of video playback.

These stats put the XR above both the iPhone XS and XS Max in terms of battery longevity.

Price

Our last top feature of the iPhone XR, is price. This is our category for pointing out how many iPhone XS features made it to the iPhone XR for significantly less money.

Still has a 12-MP camera, the True Depth camera system with Face ID, Memoji/Animoji, wireless charging, A12 Bionic with Neural Engine, water resistance (though slightly less), True Tone, P3 wide color gamut, Haptic Touch over 3D Touch, dual SIM support, excellent battery life, Bluetooth 5, and the latest improvements in LTE.

That makes the iPhone XR an absolute bargain of an iPhone. There are trade-offs certainly, but if you don't care about 3D Touch, the OLED display, the dual camera system, and the stainless steel body, the iPhone XR is a great iPhone.

Deals on the iPhone XR

If you haven't already ordered Apple's iPhone XR, wireless carriers are incentivizing the purchase. Want to get your hands on a new device asap? eBay sellers are also shipping units now.

Carrier deals:

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