Top Stories: Nintendo Emulators on App Store, Two New iOS 17 Features, and More

[MacRumors]

It was a big week for retro gaming fans, as iPhone users are starting to reap the rewards of Apple's recent change to allow retro game emulators on the App Store.

This week also saw a new iOS 17.5 beta that will support web-based app distribution in the EU, the debut of the first hotels to allow for direct AirPlay streaming to room TVs, a fresh rumor about the impending iPad Air update, and more details on the sequence of Apple's M4-based Mac updates starting later this year, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more!

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

A few weeks after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to allow retro game console emulator apps, the popular Nintendo emulator Delta is now available in the App Store. Delta can emulate games released for many older Nintendo consoles, including the NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, and all Game Boy models.

We published an article explaining key facts about emulators in the App Store and the legality of downloading games.

New iOS 17.5 Beta Lets EU iPhone Users Download Apps Directly From Websites

Starting with the second beta of iOS 17.5, released this week, large developers in the EU can now distribute apps directly on the web instead of through the App Store or an alternative app marketplace.

To be eligible for this new Web Distribution feature, Apple says a developer must meet several requirements, including having an app that had more than one million annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year.

iOS 17's New AirPlay Feature for Hotel Room TVs Begins Rolling Out

Apple has announced that AirPlay is now available at around 60 hotels operated by IHG Hotels & Resorts in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

At hotels that offer the feature, guests can scan a unique QR code on their room's TV to establish an AirPlay connection, allowing them to wirelessly stream content from their iPhone or iPad. For example, they could stream Apple TV+ or Netflix shows, listen to music on Apple Music or Spotify, play games on Apple Arcade, or work out with Apple Fitness+.

iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: 30 Rumored Upgrades Compared

While the iPhone 16 lineup is still months away from being announced, there are already many rumors about the four devices that have been circulating for months.

If you own an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max model, and will be considering upgrading to the iPhone 16 Pro family, check out our new comparison chart that outlines over 30 rumored new features and changes for the iPhone 16 Pro models, and if you're an iPhone 15 or 15 Plus user, we're tracking over 15 changes expected for the iPhone 16 models.

12.9-Inch iPad Air Now Rumored to Feature Mini-LED Display

The rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air that is expected to be announced in May will be equipped with a mini-LED display like the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to info shared this week by Ross Young, CEO of research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants.

The existing 10.9-inch iPad Air is equipped with a standard LCD panel, and the move to mini-LED technology for the 12.9-inch model would provide increased brightness for HDR content, deeper blacks, and more.

M4 Macs Are Expected to Launch in This Order Starting Later This Year

In his Power On newsletter this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman outlined the order in which he expects Macs with the M4 family of chips to be released.

Gurman said the entire Mac lineup will be updated with the M4 chip or higher-end variants, starting with the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini between late 2024 and early 2025, followed by the MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro between the spring and end of 2025.

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Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Article Link: Top Stories: Nintendo Emulators on App Store, Two New iOS 17 Features, and More

 

[xmarcuswildx]

I just need a delta version for iPad mini 6 screen ratio now… was so sad they didn’t have.

 

[DigitalAR]

I just need a delta version for iPad mini 6 screen ratio now… was so sad they didn’t have.

I connected a PS4 controller to Delta on my iPad 12.9 and it was amazing.

 

[jlc1978]

D/L Delta to give it a try. An ATV version would be nice, especailly if it could load ROMs from a NAS. Retrocade/RaspberryPI is nice but on the ATV it would be a lot easier to setup.

Now if Delta supports my xArcade TankStick and StarWars Yoke...

 

[xmarcuswildx]

I connected a PS4 controller to Delta on my iPad 12.9 and it was amazing.

But it’s just the iPhone app in the iPad screen. It’s not a full screen app.

 

[Realityck]

The rumored 12.9-inch iPad Air that is expected to be announced in May will be equipped with a mini-LED display like the current 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to info shared this week by Ross Young, CEO of research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants.

See these at WWDC probably. The rumor spinsters predicted coming March, then late March or April, now guessing to be May due to delays when May is usually a dead time before WWDC.

Fun fact -the only iPads ever to come out in May was the 2021 iPad Pros since 2010.

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

The DS emulation on Delta is amazing.

 

[ackmondual]

Weren't iOS users jailbreaking their devices prior to this change of events to play emulator games anyways? Of course, not having to jailbreak your iDevice now means the barrier to entry is much lower, but I figured those who really wanted to play emus on the go would've already found an alternative by now (including but not limited having an Android, or Steam Deck).

 

[ppdix]

So sad... Samsung and even freaking Motorola has foldable flip phones and tablets and apple has a new button and 0.1mm thinner bezels. Put an iPhone 12,13,14,15 and 16 side by side an they are almost identical...
iPhone 20 will look the same for sure...