Technology - Google News

Apple names the best iPhone, iPad, and Mac games and apps of 2020 - SlashGear

Posted: 02 Dec 2020 08:07 AM PST

This week Apple revealed their picks for best apps of the year 2020. This is what Apple calls their "App Store Best of 2020" and, unlike Google's very similar list, they've siphoned down the list to "15 of the amazing apps and games that inspired the world in 2020." Apple's list requires that apps and games are notable for their "positive cultural impact, helpfulness, and importance."

It would appear that Apple's list of best apps and games are less of a popularity contest and more of an awards ceremony based on moral merit. Not that either method of selection is better than the other – they're both important! And they've both found their way to including the Disney+ streaming video platform, Zoom video chat, Legends of Runterra, and Genshin Impact as winners.

The best iPhone App of the Year was Wakeout! That's an exercise app for busy people. It works for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Apple's App of the Year for iPad was Zoom for video chat.

The Apple TV app of the year was Disney+, and the Mac App of the Year was Fantastical, developed by Flexibits. That's a calendar app that works across devices, including MacOS, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. If you're looking for Apple's choice for best Apple Watch App of the Year, look no further than the relaxing app Endel.

Genshin Impact won best Game of the Year for both Google and Apple this year. That basically means that the world is living that gacha life. Apple named it the iPhone game of the Year, while Google just named it the game of the year for all of Android. The iPad game of the year was Legends of Runterra.

The Apple TV Game of the Year as named by Apple was Dandara Trials of Fear. Apple named the game Disco Elysium as Game of the Year for Mac. Apple also named an Apple Arcade Game of the Year this year – Sneaky Sasquatch!

Apple also called out the apps Shine, Explain Everything Whiteboard, and Caribu as culturally impactful for mobile platforms. They once again noted how Pokemon GO made a big impact, this year because of its successful transition from outdoor social game to a mixed-use game with at-home experiences aplenty. Apple also made a point to note the United Nations World Food Programme's ShareTheMeal app was not only culturally impactful, but literally made a difference in the lives of others, "with more than 87 million meals shared to date."

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Sonos launches microphone-free Arc SL soundbar exclusively at Costco - The Verge

Posted: 02 Dec 2020 06:38 AM PST

Sonos is releasing a microphone-free version of its premium Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Sonos Arc. It shares the same "SL" branding as the no-mic Sonos One speakers, but unlike those, this version of the Arc — $50 cheaper than the regular model — is available exclusively at Costco in the US and Canada beginning today. As noted by Android Central, it had already been spotted on Costco shelves and posted to the Sonos subreddit before the company confirmed its existence.

The Sonos Arc SL comes in a "shadow edition" color, but the standard Arc is also black, so it's not immediately clear to me if there's any difference between the two; if anything, the SL might be more gray.

Everything else about the Arc SL, including audio performance, should be exactly the same as the regular hardware that has built-in mics for Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands. The Arc sounds fantastic, and Sonos has been improving upon the Arc since its release with firmware updates; the company recently added support for multichannel LPCM surround sound over an eARC HDMI connection.

With the $50 price reduction, you're looking at spending $749 compared to the usual $799. Not enormous savings, but at least there's now a microphone-free selection for Sonos' excellent soundbar for those who prefer the option. Should you later decide you want some level of voice control, you can always link Sonos equipment to an Amazon Echo or Google Assistant speaker or put a Sonos One somewhere in the house.

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