Apple is rumored to be set to use OLED screens on some iPads starting next year.
The next iPad Air is likely the main candidate for a new screen.
The next iPad Air is expected to be the first recipient of OLED.
Apple might have only just switched to a Micro-LED screen in the gorgeous new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but it's already looking at moving at least one tablet to OLED. That's according to a new report by Korea's ET News.
That report notes that Apple has decided to bring OLED to at least one iPad because the OLED market is expecting a new phase of growth – caused by Apple orders.
According to the industry on the 31st, Apple decided to apply OLED instead of Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) from some iPad models in 2022. It is reported that Apple and display companies have agreed on production and delivery.
The specific switch from LCD to OLED might suggest that iPad Air will be the tablet to get the new hotness and that's something analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier this year that iPad Air would go OLED next year, adding further fuel to the ET News fire.
Kuo also said that Apple will keep Micro-LED as an iPad Pro exclusive for the time being. Both it and OLED offer similarly impressive contrast and brightness, although OLED does suffer from screen burn, or image retention, which could be a problem for those who use their iPads as business tools. Static images can cause longevity issues on OLED displays in particular.
The new Mini-LED screen used in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is generally thought to be excellent and potentially worth the upgrade from an older version of Apple's highest of high-end tablets. Anyone planning to take the plunge should probably check out our list of the best iPad Pro deals before they do, too.
An eBay listing appears to be selling some unreleased AirTag accessories.
AirTag Loop and AirTag Leather Key Rings are available in new colors, assuming the listing is legit.
Pink and Blue AirTag Loops and California Poppy AirTag Leather Key Rings look great.
Apple's AirTag has been on sale for a couple of weeks not and the same can be said for Apple's accessories as well. Both the AirTag Loop and AirTag Leather Key Ring have proven popular already, but a new eBay listing appears to not only out some unreleased colors but also make them available to purchase, too.
First spotted by 9to5Mac, the auction includes accessories that will ship from China, so it's possible these are items that were manufactured ahead of launch but were ultimately decided against, for whatever reason. 9to5Mac reports that this seller does have a history of selling unreleased Apple products – so the belief is that these things are legit.
Right now you can order a pretty stunning California Poppy Leather Key Ring as well as Blue and Pink AirTag Loops. The Leather Key Ring will set you back $39 while the Loops are selling for $29. A matching California Poppy Leather Loop can be had for $39 as well.
It's a shame these colors never sold because I'd buy anything in California Poppy. It's unlikely we'll see these colors arrive any time soon though – Apple's accessory colors tend to follow a seasonal cadence, after all. Maybe we'll get to buy them next year, though.
Don't fancy ordering from a Chinese eBay store? These are some of the best accessories for AirTags that you can buy from more conventional stores like Amazon and Apple itself, too.
Mega Lopunny is coming back for the first week of June
Mega Lopunny is returning to Pokémon Go Mega Raids for one week. Not too much has changed since the Rabbit Pokémon was in Mega Raids, but there are a few changes in our counters with rebalances and new Pokémon being introduced. Additionally, beginning June 1, 2021, there will only be a single Mega Raid available at a time, starting with Mega Lopunny. Fortunately, we here at iMore have everything you need to know to prepare for the fight and be sure to check out our best Pokémon Go accessories to prepare yourself for battle.
Who is Mega Lopunny in Pokémon Go?
Originally encounters in the Sinnoh region of Generation IV, the Rabbit Pokémon Lopunny is the evolution Buneary. Lopunny starts off as a Normal type Pokémon, but with Mega Evolution, it becomes a Fighting and Normal type, and it's got solid stats as well. Eventually, other Fighting type Mega Evolved Pokémon such as Mega Lucario, Mega Heracross, Mega Medicham, Mega Blaziken, Mega Gallade, and of course, Mega Mewtwo X will push Mega Lopunny out of the spot light, but for now, the boost it provides to Fighting type Pokémon on the field makes Mega Lopunny invaluable.
What are the best counters for Mega Lopunny in Pokémon Go
As a Normal and Fighting type, Mega Lopunny can deal Normal, Fighting, and Fire type damage. It's vulnerable to Fairy, Fighting, Flying, and Psychic type attacks, providing a couple solid strategies.
Mewtwo
Gen I's Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo is the best counter for Mega Lopunny, save for Shadow Mewtwo. As a Psychic type, it takes reduced damage from Lopunny's Fighting attacks and has no weaknesses the Rabbit Pokémon can exploit. It's been available a number of times, including in EX Raids, Legendary Raids, and as Giovanni's first Shadow Legendary Pokémon, so most players have had the chance to catch at least a couple already. Any Mewtwo coming to this Raid should know Confusion and Psystrike; however, if you don't have the Legacy move or the Elite TM to spare, Psychic can work in place of Psystrike.
Mega Pidgeot
Mega Pidgeot is a great choice for this Mega Raid and the best Mega Evolved Pokémon you can bring. A Normal and Flying Pokémon, Mega Pidgeot brings no notable weaknesses nor resistances to this fight and it will boost all your Flying type counters. Gust and Brave Bird are the ideal moveset.
Latios
Part of the Eon Duo, Latios is an excellent counter for Mega Lopunny. Latios is a Psychic and Dragon type, giving it resistance to Fighting and Fire type moves. It's also been available several times in Raids, as a Research Breakthrough Reward encounter, and even as a Pokémon Go Battle League reward enounter, so most players have had many opportunities to add this little jet plane to their roster. Zen Headbutt and Psychic are the moves you'll want you Latios to know for this fight.
Moltres
The mascot of Team Valor, Moltres is an excellent choice for this Mega Raid. Its Fire and Flying typing give it resistance to Fighting and Fire type attacks and, despite being a Legendary Pokémon, it's been available so many times and in so many ways that there's just no good reason not to have one yet. The best moveset is Wing Attack and Sky Attack; however, Sky Attack requires an Elite TM if you didn't catch Moltres during limited events.
Conkeldurr
Originally encountered in the Unova region, Conkeldurr performs very well in this Mega Raid. As a pure Fighting type, it has no weaknesses the Rabbit Pokémon can exploit, but it doesn't bring any resistances either. Although it is expensive to evolve, Conkeldurr benefits from Trade Evolution, leaving lots of Candy for powering up, and its first stage, Timburr has been featured in a number of events. You'll want your Conkeldurr to know Counter and Dynamic Punch.
Metagross
Even though its Mega Evolution hasn't been introduced in Pokémon Go yet, Metagross is a fantastic choice for this Mega Raid. It's resistant to Mega Lopunny's Normal attacks and it has no weaknesses relevant to this fight. Best of all, its first stage, Beldum has been featured in many events, including Community Day and the recent Steel and Psychic Incense Day so most players have a few. Zen Headbut and Psychic is the best moveset for this Raid, however, if you have Meteor Mash, don't TM it!!! Meteor Mash is a Legacy move and one of the best moves in the game.
Mega Charizard Y
While not nearly as good a fit as Mega Pidgeot, Mega Charizard Y performs well against Mega Lopunny. As a Fire and Flying type, it resists Fire and Fighting attacks and it will boost other Flying types on the field. Unfortunately, it doesn't have much in the way of Flying type attacks, with Air Slash outperforming Wing Attack. Blast Burn is the best option for a charged attack, but will not deal super effective damage against Lopunny
Lucario
Originally encountered in the Sinnoh region of Gen IV, Lucario is an excellent counter for Mega Lopunny. Lucario will take double damage from Fire and Fighting type attacks, so it won't last terribly long in this fight, but it will do a lot of damage while it's kicking. Another downside is that Lucario is still pretty difficult to get and power up. Its first stage, Riolu is a relatively rare hatch from Eggs (10KM Eggs at that) so many players don't have one yet. Still, if you're bringing Lucario along, you'll Counter and Aura Sphere for the moveset.
Gardevoir
One of two final evolutions of Ralts, Gardevoir works well in this fight. The Psychic and Fairy Pokémon will take reduced damage from Lopunny's Fighting attacks and it has no relevant weaknesses. Given how common Ralts is and that it's the cheaper of the two evolutions, most players have had plenty of opportunities to add Gardevoir to their roster. Confusion and Psychic are the moves you'll want your Gardevoir to know for this Mega Raid.
Mega Lopunny
Although Mega Lopunny doesn't last nearly as long as Mega Charizard Y or Mega Pidgeot, it does present the opportunity for a solid Fighting type offensive. The boost it provides to other Fighting types is well worth the added cost in Revives and Potions, but thanks to its Normal typing, it will take increased damage if the Mega Lopunny you're up against has Fighting type attacks. If you are bringing Mega Lopunny to this Mega Raid, you'll want it to know Low Kick and Focus Blast.
Back ups?
Although most players will be able to make a team of the best counters, if you're finding a gap in your team, there are plenty of back ups who work well in larger groups. Just make sure you're dodging and any of the following could be a decent back up:
The rebalance of Shadow Pokémon rescued from Team GO Rocket make them excellent glass cannons. Not only are their stats boosted, but during special events or with Elite TMs, it's possible to change their moves. If you happen to have any of the following Pokémon with the right moveset, they will work very well in this Raid:
Note: Shadow Mewtwo outperforms every other Pokémon in the best counters list. Shadow Metagross, Shadow Moltres, and Shadow Alakazam also perform on par with the other best counters.
How many players does it take to beat Mega Lopunny in Pokémon Go?
It's always better to have as big a party as possible for Mega raids so be sure to invite plenty of friends; however, Lopunny's not particularly hard to beat. If you're high level and have the top counters, you should be able to take it down with just three players.
Cloudy weather will boost Mega Lopunny's Fighting type attacks as well as your Fighting and Fairy type counters.
Partially Cloudy weather will boost Mega Lopunny's Normal type attacks.
Sunny/Clear weather will boost Mega Lopunny's Fire attack.
Windy conditions will boost your Flying and Psychic counters.
Questions about taking on Mega Lopunny in Pokémon Go?
Do you have any questions about tackling this Mega Raid? Got any tips for your fellow Trainers? Drop them in the comments below, and be sure to check out our Complete Pokédex, so you can be the very best like no one ever was!
These are some of the top titles in the service's collection of more than 80 retro games.
A subscription to Nintendo Switch Online is necessary if you want to take full advantage of the multiplayer functions in some of the best Nintendo Switch games, but the service also provides plenty of other perks. Along with letting you keep your save data safe with cloud backups, it provides access to more than 80 NES and SNES games. The selection has been regularly updated since the service launched with 20 NES titles. If you want to make the most out of your membership, these are the best NES and SNES games on Nintendo Switch Online.
Membership has its privileges
Nintendo Switch Online 12-Month Individual Membership
The subscription service gives you access to more than 80 NES and SNES games, plus the ability to play competitive and cooperative games remotely and peace of mind from having your save data backed up in the cloud. You'll also get access to special deals and exclusive products.
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong was Mario's nemesis in the arcade classic, but he gets to be the hero in this excellent platformer that was one of the bestselling SNES games. Recover Kong's bananas from King K. Rool and defeat his Kremling minions across 40 levels.
The game has plenty of hidden rewards and items to collect. The best are Kong's animal buddies, who will help make even the most challenging sections fun and easy. You can sail through the water while stabbing enemies on the back of Enguarde the swordfish or charge through foes with Rambi the rhinoceros.
You'll want to play with sound on to enjoy the game's excellent music. While it's fun to play solo, it's even better with a friend taking on the role of Donkey Kong's agile nephew Diddy Kong. You can play completely cooperatively in tag team mode or race to see who can complete a level the fastest.
Super Mario Bros. 3
One of the greatest video games of all time, Super Mario Bros. 3, built on the mechanics of the previous games in the franchise by giving Mario a wide variety of suits to grant him special powers like flying, ground pounding, and the ability to chuck hammers. The game also added the ability to slide down slopes, climb vines, and chuck blocks, establishing many of the elements found in more modern entries in the franchise.
Play as either Mario or Luigi, or take turns if you're teaming up with a friend. Regardless, you'll be traveling through the Mushroom World fighting Bowser's children to recover stolen wands and rescue Princess Toadstool. Every world features an exciting boss fight on an airship.
Each zone has fun themes like a desert world full of quicksand and Sky Land, where you'll run along the clouds. There's also plenty of mini-games and bonuses to unlock to earn extra lives and power-ups. Just don't dawdle too long since the levels have time limits.
Super Metroid
The third installment of the Metroid series takes Samus Aran back to the planet Zebes, where she must rescue a Metroid larva stolen by Space Pirates. To do that, she'll need to explore the large, open world, searching for power-ups, and then backtrack to access areas previously blocked off. It's a classic in its own right, but particularly worth playing to understand the origins of the Metroidvania genre.
Samus will need to enhance her armor and weapons and collect special abilities like planting bombs or running so fast she can smash through enemies and barriers. You can also fire in all directions to defeat enemies, including shooting while moonwalking backward.
Super Metroid's graphics and sound were state-of-the-art when it was released in 1994, using 16-bit versions of music from previous games. It's a popular choice for speedrunning since you get the best of three possible endings if you can complete it in under three hours.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The third game in The Legend of Zelda series is considered one of the best games of all time and has been ported across numerous Nintendo platforms starting with the Game Boy Advance. Link must rescue Princess Zelda from an evil wizard trying to release his dark master.
The game is a prequel to The Legend of Zelda and establishes the idea of parallel worlds that became a trademark of the action-adventure series. It ditches the side-scrolling style of Zelda II to return to a top-down perspective while allowing Link to walk diagonally and swing his sword sideways instead of just forward.
Link must rescue descendants of the Seven Sages from dungeons in the Dark World, a dying version of Hyrule created by Ganon's corruption. He'll use a Magic Mirror to travel to them from corresponding versions in the Light World, solving puzzles that let him get to areas that he otherwise couldn't access.
Kirby's Adventure
Devour your enemies and steal their abilities in one of the best NES games. The sequel to Kirby's Dream Land has the titular character trying to repair the Star Rod by recovering pieces from the minions of King Dedede, which are scattered across seven worlds.
The game has 41 levels plus minigames that let you collect extra lives, special powers, bonus health, and the ability to mimic boss abilities. Its cute graphics and relatively easy mechanics make it perfect for kids, though there's still some strategy to when to use your special abilities like inflating yourself to fly and exhaling to defeat enemies and smash blocks.
This is also the first game that actually showed Kirby as pink since he originally appeared in black and white on Game Boy. If you've ever enjoyed eating your opponents in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, you should take advantage of the chance to play through Kirby's story.
Star Fox
Lead an elite crew of mercenaries in a battle of good versus evil in this rail shooter that kicked off the Star Fox franchise. You'll play Fox McCloud, an anthropomorphic fox accompanied by a crew of other animal people who will help you fight enemies but will also ask you for help. Bailing them out will improve your score, but if you ignore them, they can be shot down, and you won't see them for the rest of the game.
Star Wars fans will recognize your ship, an Arwing, is based on an X-Wing. You'll use rockets and thrusters to control your speed as you try to avoid enemies and obstacles. Taking damage will erode your shield and could eventually result in your craft being destroyed.
Star Fox has a high amount of replay value since the difficulty isn't just chosen at the start of each game. Instead, you can choose between three routes with their own levels with different challenges.
Dr. Mario
Mario's a man of many talents, and while he normally works as a plumber, he's a doctor dispensing medicine to cure viruses in this Tetris-like puzzle game. Dr. Mario is so popular and loved that a version of it has appeared on every Nintendo system since the NES.
Complete levels by flipping capsules to align with viruses of the same color to clear them from the board. If the pieces overflow to the bottle's neck, you'll lose. The amount of viruses you need to clear is determined by the level and game speed. You can also choose your musical accompaniment from the game's great soundtrack.
You can compete against another player on two separate game fields, racing to see who can clear their viruses first. If you chain together enough viruses, you'll dump additional capsules on their board. If you're a fan of Tetris 99, it's worth checking out Dr. Mario to see how the genre has evolved.
Super Mario Kart
If you love Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you should check out where the franchise began. The SNES game lets you play one of eight characters from the Mario series, each with their own special ability. You can race against AI opponents or take on other players. Try to get the best time or mess with your opponents by using power-ups.
The game's 20 tracks and the obstacles on them are inspired by Super Mario World, as are the power-ups such as coins that increase your speed and shells you can throw at your enemies. It will test your reflexes and situational awareness as you zip around tight turns trying to maintain your speed.
Along with establishing the kart-racing genre, Super Mario Kart also was the first non-platformer Mario game. While the series has added new mechanics and characters over time, all of the core elements are here.
F-Zero
Travel to the year 2560 and take on the role of a hovercar driver racing to the finish line while avoiding land mines, magnets, and other hazards. Inspired by Formula One races, the SNES launch title is often listed among the best video games ever because it helped define the entire racing game genre.
The game has 15 tracks and four difficulty levels, so you'll need plenty of practice to master them. You'll need to complete five laps at increasing speeds, grabbing speed boosts and launching yourself into the air to improve your time. While there's no multiplayer mode, you can choose from Grand Prix, where you'll race against AI vehicles in your league, or Practice mode, which will just let you get to know the tracks with less pressure.
Membership has its privileges
Nintendo Switch Online 12-Month Individual Membership
The subscription service gives you access to more than 80 NES and SNES games, plus the ability to play competitive and cooperative games remotely and peace of mind from having your save data backed up in the cloud. You'll also get access to special deals and exclusive products.
What are your favorite Nintendo Switch online games?
Let us know the best NES and SNES games you've played using your membership and keep checking back with iMore and the service as Nintendo continues to add even more great games from its extensive library of early classics.
Best Answer: Depending on the game, up to eight Nintendo Switch consoles can play together over a local wireless network. This is an ad-hoc network created by the consoles themselves, so no Wi-Fi is needed. This results in less latency and lag unless the consoles are too far apart. However, each console needs a copy of the game to play.
No Internet? No problem!
With the Nintendo Switch, you and up to seven other people can play a game together wirelessly, without needing an Internet connection. However, you'll need to pick a game that supports local wireless multiplayer, like one of the best racing games for the Nintendo Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and everyone will need to have their own copy of the game to join a local wireless game.
Since playing over local wireless is all done through an ad-hoc wireless network (non-discoverable by other non-Switch devices), you don't need a Wi-Fi connection to play. The result is a more lag-free experience since this mesh network is created just by the consoles themselves. However, the only downside is that all consoles need to be relatively close to each other (about 10 feet) to keep the local wireless connection.
How do you set up a local wireless game?
First things first, you need to pick a game that supports local wireless multiplayer. Some games may only support online multiplayer, like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. In contrast, others, like Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, only support local wireless multiplayer.
There will be a "Local Wireless" option in the game menu if it's available in whatever game you are playing. You can host a room and wait for other players to join or join any available rooms nearby. If you are the host, you can create some rules for joining parties. Different games also have different limits on how many players can join.
For example, in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the player who hosts the room can select the race rules. Up to seven other players can join in the local wireless room. Each player votes for their track preference and the game randomly chooses one of those chosen tracks for each race.
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, up to four players can play together with local wireless. One person needs to host a room by selecting the Local Wireless option, and then up to three other people can join by selecting that person's room under Local Wireless. Everyone picks a stage they want to battle on, and the game picks from those at random. Pick your fighters, then start the battle.
Short on consoles?
Sometimes, a game can support up to two people per Switch on each linked local wireless console. This is the case with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, so technically, you can have eight people playing together with just four Switch consoles and four copies of the game.
With two people on a single Switch, games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be in a split-screen view, allowing both players to see their own character in each half. Just use each half of a Joy-Con pair as controllers if you are low on extras.
Game versions out of sync?
Games usually have patches and updates that come out now and then. When playing a game through local wireless, everyone will need to have the same game downloaded or have the physical game card in their Switch console. But if you haven't had a chance to update your game yet, don't worry.
Whoever has the latest version of a game should set up the lobby through a wireless LAN multiplayer. This allows everyone else that joins their lobby to download the most recent game patch via an ad-hoc wireless network.
The original Switch works in Docked mode with your TV or handheld on-the-go. It will play any Switch game without a problem, and the larger screen is good for split-screen view.
The Switch Lite is smaller and more compact than the original, making it perfect for handheld-only gamers. However, it cannot be docked to play on a TV and won't be able to play all games without extra controllers.
If you've just bought a new HomePod, there's plenty to learn. Here's everything you need to know to set up and start using it.
If you just picked up a new HomePod or HomePod mini speaker, we've got a ton of information to share with you to make your listening experience even better. Setting up your HomePod is simple, and we've made it even easier: Here's a comprehensive guide to help give you everything you need to get started with your HomePod.
What is HomePod?
In short: It's Apple's answer to the Amazon Echo line of speakers. It's a dedicated speaker that supports Siri for access to Apple Music and HomeKit smart home accessories.
To be more specific, the original HomePod is a premium sound system packed into a 7-inch tall package. It has a specially engineered audio design to produce quality sound throughout your entire room — even if it's in a corner. The HomePod is simply one of the best smart speakers that you can buy today, so if the sound is a priority, then it should be at the top of your list.
The HomePod mini — while significantly smaller, still focuses on delivering great sound. Apple's compact speaker is surprisingly powerful, providing room-filling sound for smaller areas like bedrooms. The tiny size also makes it easier to fit into areas like kitchens or even bathrooms.
Both HomePods have Siri baked-in, so no matter which one you choose, you can use them to play tunes through Apple Music, send messages, make phone calls, and control your HomeKit-enabled devices. For more details on the differences between the two HomePod models, then check out our full breakdown — HomePod vs HomePod mini.
How to switch to HomePod from Amazon Echo, Google Home, or Sonos
If you've already been using a smart speaker around the house but have decided that you'd rather be all-in with the Apple ecosystem, it's time to make the switch. We've got all the information you need to make the transition easy in our guide, how to switch to HomePod, which covers all the critical questions to consider before making the switch.
How to set up your HomePod
Once your HomePod is out of the box, you're going to want to start using it right away. Outside of getting it connected to your home's Wi-Fi network, there are a couple of other things you'll need to do to get set up — but don't worry, we got you covered with our walkthrough, how to set up your HomePod.
To enhance your listening sessions, you can take advantage of the ability to use the HomePod in Stereo-Pairs. By creating a stereo pair with your HomePods, your tunes will playback in specific channels creating an immersive surround sound-like experience.
Through HomeKit and the Home app, you can even use your HomePod or HomePod mini as an intercom. The intercom feature means that you can broadcast voice messages throughout all of the HomePods in your home and directly to the iOS devices of all of your family members on-demand.
Another trick up the HomePod's sleeve is the ability to work as speakers for the Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K. Apple's streaming boxes can AirPlay all the onscreen action directly to either model of HomePod just like you would with music from your iPhone or iPad.
If you have the original HomePod, you can use it as the default speaker on the Apple TV 4K. By setting the HomePod as the default, you won't have to remember to switch your speakers every movie night, making it much more convenient.
HomePod and privacy
Since the HomePod links to one person's iCloud account, you may have some questions about how Siri works with such features as setting reminders. Not to worry, you don't have to let everyone set reminders. You can keep those private and still share the HomePod with everyone in your home if you turn off Personal Requests.
By default, the HomePod also allows others to cast audio to your smart speaker through AirPlay. You can secure AirPlay on your HomePod with just a few taps in the Home app by limiting access to friends and family only or to only those on your Wi-Fi network.
Finally, since both HomePods feature microphones and are always listening, you should know how to turn off and customize 'Hey Siri' if you have privacy concerns. If you want to take things to the extreme, you can always control your HomePod with your iPhone or iPad, but of course, this does take one of the smart speaker's most significant selling points.
HomePod and accessibility
Apple always has accessibility at the front of its list of features to implement into any device, and the HomePod is no exception. You can enable VoiceOver and Touch Accommodations by turning on accessibility features for your HomePod. Even better — if those features are in use on your iPhone, they'll be automatically set up on your HomePod.
How to troubleshoot HomePod
No matter how perfectly you follow the steps to set up and use your HomePod, there's likely going to be a few things that will go wrong during its tenure in your home. Maybe AirPlay won't connect, or you can't get your iPhone to pair with it. We cover all this and more in our how to troubleshoot HomePod guide.
Apple's HomePod and HomePod mini are incredibly easy to set up and use, thanks to deep iOS integration and Siri voice controls. If you still need some help getting started with your HomePod or want to share how you are using it in your home, let us know in the comments below!
