Hasta La Gadget!

Bluetooth speakers are pretty common and pretty much any smartphone, regardless of their platform, can connect to them. However, Apple does have its own wireless protocol in the form of AirPlay, with AirPlay 2 being the latest iteration, and there are some Apple users who actually prefer it over Bluetooth.

For those who own Sennheiser’s AMBEO Soundbar, you might be happy to hear that in the latest firmware update to the speakers, the company has actually introduced support for AirPlay 2.

According to Sennheiser, “With AMBEO|OS, which is available for all AMBEO Soundbars, listeners now have even more ways to enjoy incredibly immersive sound. The update supports Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect, providing even more options for high-quality listening.”

For those unfamiliar with the differences between AirPlay and Bluetooth, the former relies on WiFi for connectivity while Bluetooth connects directly from device to device, meaning that in some instances, Bluetooth might be more convenient. However, if you’re home, then AirPlay 2 might actually be better.

AirPlay also supports both audio and video, giving users more flexibility in what they are streaming, plus it also offers wider coverage which is basically limited to how far your WiFi stretches. While neither is necessarily “better” than the other, AirPlay might be more useful for those who own a lot of Apple products.

Sennheiser’s AMBEO Soundbar Updated With AirPlay 2 Support

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

The peaceful, zen-like puzzle gameplay of Unpacking (the real game, that is) will soon be available to the PlayStation crowd. As Polygonsays, Witch Beam and Humble Games have announced that Unpacking will be available on PS4 and PS5 this spring. It’s launching alongside physical releases from Limited Run Games for the PS4, PS5 and Switch versions.

The game is already available in digital form on Macs, Switch, Windows PCs and Xbox consoles.

Unpacking was considered one of the stand-out games of 2021 precisely because it served as an antidote to the chaos and noise of the real world (and, we’d add, many other video games). All you do is unpack items as you settle into a new home — and, ultimately, a new life. The audio and visuals are relaxing by themselves, but the mechanics also encourage patience and curiosity. Throw in a subtle, near-wordless approach to storytelling and you might return just to give yourself a break.

Due to iPhones holding their resale value pretty well, it’s not surprising that iPhones are a popular item to be stolen. Now, Apple has baked in certain security measures so that iPhone owners can remotely disable a lost or stolen iPhone, but it looks like Apple is going one step further to dissuade thieves.

According to a report from MacRumors, they have gotten their hands on an internal memo sent to Apple Store employees which basically instructs them not to provide repair services for iPhones that have been marked as lost or stolen in the GSMA Device Registry.

For those who might be unfamiliar, the GSMA Device Registry is basically an international database of sorts where smartphone owners can report and register instances where their phones might have been lost or stolen. Since these reports rely on a device’s IMEI which is unique to each handset, it allows companies like Apple to check for these types of reports when a phone is brought in for repair.

Apple had previously rejected iPhones that were lost or stolen but only if it had the Find My feature enabled, so by expanding their coverage to the GSMA Device Registry, it allows them to also include devices that might not have the Find My feature enabled.

Apple Will No Longer Repair iPhones Reported As Stolen Or Lost

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

A Dutch foundation has hit Apple with a lawsuit over the App Store’s developer fees, seeking €5.5 billion euro in damages for what it alleges is monopolistic behavior. In a press release, the Dutch Consumer Competition Claims Foundation stated it was filing a “collective claim” for damages, on behalf of any iPhone or iPad owners in the EU who have downloaded a paid app or made purchases within an app.

Suing Apple for its app store policies on behalf of consumers— instead of developers — might seem like an unusual move on the Dutch foundation’s part. Most of the scrutiny over the tech giant’s so-called “Apple tax” has focused on its deleterious impact on the profits of developers. Just this past January, Apple agreed to settle a class-action settlement by US developers for $100 million.

The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation alleges that Apple’s developer fees were passed on to consumers, in the form of higher prices. “App developers are forced to pass on to consumers the increased costs caused by Apple’s monopolistic practices and unfair terms,” wrote the foundation in its press release.

The foundation is asking EU consumers who purchased an app in Apple’s App Store or made an in-app purchase since September 2009 to join its complaint. The lawsuit is set to be filed in the Amsterdam District Court.

This isn’t the first time Apple is taking heat from Dutch authorities. Apple has yet to comply with a January order from Dutch regulators that requires the company to offer third-party payment options for dating app customers. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is fining Apple €5 million for every week it doesn’t follow through with the order. Dutch regulators have already fined Apple more than €50 million and counting. 

But according to TechCrunch, there’s a sign of a potential compromise. Apple is working on an amended proposal of its dating app policy, which will be reviewed by ACM. But even if the two parties reach a consensus, Apple will soon have much larger battles to fight in the EU. The EU is working on finalizing the Digital Markets Act, which will (among a number of other anti-competitive measures) require companies like Apple and Google to allow alternatives for in-app payments.

The rescue dog who appeared on stage with Curtis at the Academy Awards now has a glamorous new home.