FedericoCortana Microsoft’s digital assistant has received a fresh coat of paint in version 2.0, which also includes a redesigned experience for calling, texting, and saving reminders. In addition, the new design has brought faster transitions between pages and immersive full-screen answers that put the spotlight on Cortana’s abilities. Supersonic An experiment of Google’s Area...
Rename iMessage Conversations
This tip comes courtesy of of Myke Hurley who reminded me of it this week when he renamed an iMessage thread between us and Federico where we’ve been talking about the new Nintendo Switch and Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which we love. Now, instead of being titled ‘Federico & Myke,’ when I open...
Album
Stickershift These new car-themed stickers by Tapbots’ Mark Jardine are perfect for any auto enthusiast. There are parts and gears, tools, and even signs and symbols. 12 stickers are included for free, but you can unlock over 60 more with a $1.99 In-App Purchase. As always, I love Mark’s style and attention to detail....
Game Day: Cosmic Express
The first game review I ever wrote on MacStories was for a delightful puzzle game called A Good Snowman is Hard to Build. The team behind Snowman is back with a new game called Cosmic Express that brings toy-like charm to this challenging puzzle game through playful animation, bright colors, and sound design that perfectly complements the artwork.
Game Day: Euclidean Lands
Every so often the mashup of familiar game styles results in something unexpected and delightful, which is precisely what Vienna-based Miro Straka and kunabi brother have created with Euclidean Lands. The game has been compared favorably to Monument Valley and Square Enix’s Hitman GO from a design and gameplay perspective. The comparison is apt but doesn’t capture the uniqueness of Euclidean Lands.
Spark for macOS Adds Email Management Features
The hallmark feature of Readdle’s Spark email client for macOS is its Smart Inbox, which is designed to surface important email messages intelligently. That feature, along with a unified inbox and swipe gestures for common actions, goes a long way to simplifying email management. Nonetheless, email is one of those areas where personal preferences matter a lot. People are particular about how their email is organized, an area that was underserved by Spark. With version 1.2 for macOS, Readdle has begun to tackle email organization, which should make Spark a more attractive option for people who like Spark’s approach to email but want a little more control over how their messages are managed.
Apple Promotes Sticker Packs with New Video
Apple released another installment in its iPhone 7 ‘practically magic’ video series today that celebrates stickers. The spot, called ‘Sticker Fight’ pulls sticker packs out of the Messages app and into the physical world. Set to a single by The Monks called ‘Boys are Boys and Girls are Choice,’ which has a fantastic 60s-style beat, the video features a sticker fight that breaks out across a city with people slapping stickers on each other and practically everything else in the landscape.
Game Day: Link Twin
Link Twin is an atmospheric puzzle game from Bucharest-based indie development studio Lorraine that follows the story of Lily and Tom, twins in search of their lost parents. The constraint that defines the way each puzzle works is that Lily and Tom can only move through their world in tandem - moving one character forward necessitates moving both forward. It’s a simple mechanic that’s beautifully implemented through great art and sound direction combined with challenging puzzles that evolve over the course of the game to keep it intriguing.
Alternatives to Apple’s Music App
Picky Picky, which I reviewed recently, works exceptionally well with large music collections. One way to rediscover old music is with iTunes’ Smart Playlists, which let you filter music based on a long list of criteria. Smart Playlists cannot be created on iOS, though. The best alternative I’ve found is Picky, which lets...