Month: July 2023

Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge

Sometimes an app’s icon just doesn’t look right on your homescreen. For example, let’s say — just for the sake of argument — that the icon for a social networking app was switched from a pretty blue bird to a rather stark “X.” Could you change that icon?
The answer is yes — it’s doable using Apple’s built-in Shortcuts app. You actually won’t be replacing the app’s official icon. Rather, you’ll be creating a separate shortcut that leads to the app. It’s a tedious and time-consuming process, but in the end, you can have a fully customized iPhone homescreen.
Here’s how you do it:

Before you begin, it’s a good idea to find an icon for your new shortcut. There are a bunch of icon sources online (Flaticon, for example), or if you’re artistic and / or ambitious, you can create your own. Whether you use someone else’s or your own, it’s easiest to save the image to Photos.
Okay, let’s begin. Find and tap on the Shortcuts app. It’s pre-installed; if you can’t see it immediately on your homescreen, swipe left until you’re at the App Library and start typing “Shortcuts” into the top search bar.
Once you’re in the app, tap on the plus sign in the upper-right corner.
On the top of the screen, you’ll see that your new shortcut will be named something like “New Shortcut 1.” If you’d rather have your own name, tap on the arrow next to it and select Rename.

Shortcuts can help you create new bookmarks for your apps.

You can name your shortcut whatever you wish.

Once you’ve got your shortcut named, tap on the Add Action button below the name.
You’ll find yourself on a page that, at first glance, may seem a bit confusing. Basically, you’re looking at all the various things that you can do with Shortcuts. While it would be worth it to spend some time here and try out some customizations, right now, what we want to do is change your app icon.

Type Add Action to start the creating your shortcut.

The number of actions available can be confusing.

Type Open app in the search bar and then tap on the Open App link that will show up.
Tap on the word App that appears (rather faintly) next to the word Open in the search bar.

Start typing “Open app” to find the right action.

Click on the light blue word to choose which app you’re using for the shortcut.

You’ll see a list of your phone’s apps; pick the one you want to customize. The name of the app will now be next to the word Open.
If you are using iOS 16, tap Done in the upper-right corner. You’ll be taken back to your shortcut page. (If you’re using the iOS 17 public beta, you can go directly to the next step.)
Select the information icon (an “i” in a circle) at the bottom of the screen.
Tap Add to Home Screen.

After you’ve chosen the app you’re making a shortcut for, the name will appear next to “Open.”

Now you can add it to the homescreen.

You’ll now see a preview of the icon (which will be a standard, uninteresting icon that Shortcuts automatically adds). Don’t worry — we’re going to make it better.
Tap on the icon under Home Screen Name and Icon. You’ll have the choice of either taking a photo, choosing a photo, or choosing a file. Assuming you’ve already saved an image in Photo, tap on Choose Photo and select the photo you want to use.
If you’ve chosen an existing photo, a highlighted area will indicate what part of the photo will appear as an icon; you can move the photo around until you’re happy with the section indicated. Tap Choose in the lower-right corner.

Don’t like the standard icon? Change it.

The app shows you how much of the photo you can use for your icon.

Now, you’ll see your new icon. If you haven’t added a name for your new shortcut, you can still do it here by typing the name next to the icon.
All ready? Tap Add in the upper right corner.
You should see your new customized icon on your homescreen. Congrats!

You’ll now see what the icon will finally look like.

And here’s your new icon on your homepage.

You can also hide the original app icon so you’ll just have the new one visible. (You don’t want to delete it completely, of course; that would delete the app.)

Long-press on your wallpaper until all your icons start wiggling. Tap on the minus sign of the app you want to hide.
On the pop-up menu, tap Remove from Home Screen. The original icon won’t be deleted, just hidden; you can always find it in the App Library.

Long-press on the background to reveal the minus signs.

Tap on the minus sign and select “Remove from Home Screen.”

One note: when you use your new icon to go to the app, you will occasionally get a small drop-down notice that tells you what the original app is called and reminds you of the fact that it is a shortcut. But the drop-down will only last for a second or two, so it shouldn’t be much of a bother.
Update July 31st, 2023, 3:02PM ET: This article was originally published on June 13th, 2021; it has been updated to accommodate changes in iOS 16 and the iOS 17 public beta.

Illustration by Samar Haddad / The Verge

Sometimes an app’s icon just doesn’t look right on your homescreen. For example, let’s say — just for the sake of argument — that the icon for a social networking app was switched from a pretty blue bird to a rather stark “X.” Could you change that icon?

The answer is yes — it’s doable using Apple’s built-in Shortcuts app. You actually won’t be replacing the app’s official icon. Rather, you’ll be creating a separate shortcut that leads to the app. It’s a tedious and time-consuming process, but in the end, you can have a fully customized iPhone homescreen.

Here’s how you do it:

Before you begin, it’s a good idea to find an icon for your new shortcut. There are a bunch of icon sources online (Flaticon, for example), or if you’re artistic and / or ambitious, you can create your own. Whether you use someone else’s or your own, it’s easiest to save the image to Photos.
Okay, let’s begin. Find and tap on the Shortcuts app. It’s pre-installed; if you can’t see it immediately on your homescreen, swipe left until you’re at the App Library and start typing “Shortcuts” into the top search bar.
Once you’re in the app, tap on the plus sign in the upper-right corner.
On the top of the screen, you’ll see that your new shortcut will be named something like “New Shortcut 1.” If you’d rather have your own name, tap on the arrow next to it and select Rename.

Once you’ve got your shortcut named, tap on the Add Action button below the name.
You’ll find yourself on a page that, at first glance, may seem a bit confusing. Basically, you’re looking at all the various things that you can do with Shortcuts. While it would be worth it to spend some time here and try out some customizations, right now, what we want to do is change your app icon.

Type Open app in the search bar and then tap on the Open App link that will show up.
Tap on the word App that appears (rather faintly) next to the word Open in the search bar.

You’ll see a list of your phone’s apps; pick the one you want to customize. The name of the app will now be next to the word Open.
If you are using iOS 16, tap Done in the upper-right corner. You’ll be taken back to your shortcut page. (If you’re using the iOS 17 public beta, you can go directly to the next step.)
Select the information icon (an “i” in a circle) at the bottom of the screen.
Tap Add to Home Screen.

You’ll now see a preview of the icon (which will be a standard, uninteresting icon that Shortcuts automatically adds). Don’t worry — we’re going to make it better.
Tap on the icon under Home Screen Name and Icon. You’ll have the choice of either taking a photo, choosing a photo, or choosing a file. Assuming you’ve already saved an image in Photo, tap on Choose Photo and select the photo you want to use.
If you’ve chosen an existing photo, a highlighted area will indicate what part of the photo will appear as an icon; you can move the photo around until you’re happy with the section indicated. Tap Choose in the lower-right corner.

Now, you’ll see your new icon. If you haven’t added a name for your new shortcut, you can still do it here by typing the name next to the icon.
All ready? Tap Add in the upper right corner.
You should see your new customized icon on your homescreen. Congrats!

You can also hide the original app icon so you’ll just have the new one visible. (You don’t want to delete it completely, of course; that would delete the app.)

Long-press on your wallpaper until all your icons start wiggling. Tap on the minus sign of the app you want to hide.
On the pop-up menu, tap Remove from Home Screen. The original icon won’t be deleted, just hidden; you can always find it in the App Library.

One note: when you use your new icon to go to the app, you will occasionally get a small drop-down notice that tells you what the original app is called and reminds you of the fact that it is a shortcut. But the drop-down will only last for a second or two, so it shouldn’t be much of a bother.

Update July 31st, 2023, 3:02PM ET: This article was originally published on June 13th, 2021; it has been updated to accommodate changes in iOS 16 and the iOS 17 public beta.

Read More 

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

For the last six years, there have been only three things you can count on: death, taxes, and rumors of a new Nintendo console. Now, a new rumor from VGC suggests Nintendo’s eyeing a 2024 release for its next-gen console.
According to sources who spoke to VGC, the new console could feature a cheaper LCD screen instead of a higher-end display like the OLED Switch and continue to include a cartridge slot for loading games. Nintendo executives also hope that the 2024 release window will ensure the console won’t have inventory issues like the ones that plagued the launch of the Xbox Series S / X and PlayStation 5.
Switch sales have been cooling lately, reflecting the console’s age and stiffening competition with the more powerful Xbox, PlayStation, and Valve Steam Deck. Bloomberg reported that Nintendo was working on a 4K console in 2020, but the company denied those claims. Nintendo released the OLED Switch in 2021, but outside of improvements to the screen, there were no other hardware or software upgrades, making it simply a shinier, brighter Switch.
According to VGC sources, development kits for the new Nintendo console are already with developers, with Nikkei Asia reporting that development on the new console has been “progressing well,” but there’s no word on whether this console will include 4K resolution or any upgrades to storage space or processing power.
Though the new Nintendo console rumor mill spins reliably every year only for the console to fail to materialize, we really are due something new. 2023 makes seven years since the Switch’s launch, already longer than the six years between the Wii and the Wii U — and longer than the five years between the Wii U and the Switch.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

For the last six years, there have been only three things you can count on: death, taxes, and rumors of a new Nintendo console. Now, a new rumor from VGC suggests Nintendo’s eyeing a 2024 release for its next-gen console.

According to sources who spoke to VGC, the new console could feature a cheaper LCD screen instead of a higher-end display like the OLED Switch and continue to include a cartridge slot for loading games. Nintendo executives also hope that the 2024 release window will ensure the console won’t have inventory issues like the ones that plagued the launch of the Xbox Series S / X and PlayStation 5.

Switch sales have been cooling lately, reflecting the console’s age and stiffening competition with the more powerful Xbox, PlayStation, and Valve Steam Deck. Bloomberg reported that Nintendo was working on a 4K console in 2020, but the company denied those claims. Nintendo released the OLED Switch in 2021, but outside of improvements to the screen, there were no other hardware or software upgrades, making it simply a shinier, brighter Switch.

According to VGC sources, development kits for the new Nintendo console are already with developers, with Nikkei Asia reporting that development on the new console has been “progressing well,” but there’s no word on whether this console will include 4K resolution or any upgrades to storage space or processing power.

Though the new Nintendo console rumor mill spins reliably every year only for the console to fail to materialize, we really are due something new. 2023 makes seven years since the Switch’s launch, already longer than the six years between the Wii and the Wii U — and longer than the five years between the Wii U and the Switch.

Read More 

Amazon’s new Echo Pop comes in a unique semi-circular form yet sounds good for its size. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Since Prime Day was an Amazon event, a lot of the best Prime Day deals we saw earlier this month naturally landed on Amazon’s smart speakers and displays. While Amazon’s deals have since long gone, other retailers are jumping in to give you a second chance if you missed out. Right now, for example, you can buy the latest Echo Dot for $22.99 ($27 off) from Best Buy and The Home Depot. If you prefer a smart display, the latest Echo Show 8 is also on sale at Best Buy for $59.99 ($70 off).
Perhaps one of the most notable deals, though, is this one on the new Echo Pop. At the moment, Amazon’s newest smart speaker is just $17.99 ($22 off) at Best Buy and The Home Depot. The new speaker stands out from others in the lineup thanks to its semi-circular form and diverse color options. It’s not as capable as the latest Echo Dot, but it’s still a good speaker with solid audio quality for its size. Plus, it comes with all the standard Alexa smarts, so you can use it to control other smart home devices, set alarms, schedule reminders, and even use it as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our Echo Pop review.

Amazon’s new Echo Pop comes in a unique semi-circular form yet sounds good for its size. | Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Since Prime Day was an Amazon event, a lot of the best Prime Day deals we saw earlier this month naturally landed on Amazon’s smart speakers and displays. While Amazon’s deals have since long gone, other retailers are jumping in to give you a second chance if you missed out. Right now, for example, you can buy the latest Echo Dot for $22.99 ($27 off) from Best Buy and The Home Depot. If you prefer a smart display, the latest Echo Show 8 is also on sale at Best Buy for $59.99 ($70 off).

Perhaps one of the most notable deals, though, is this one on the new Echo Pop. At the moment, Amazon’s newest smart speaker is just $17.99 ($22 off) at Best Buy and The Home Depot. The new speaker stands out from others in the lineup thanks to its semi-circular form and diverse color options. It’s not as capable as the latest Echo Dot, but it’s still a good speaker with solid audio quality for its size. Plus, it comes with all the standard Alexa smarts, so you can use it to control other smart home devices, set alarms, schedule reminders, and even use it as an Eero mesh Wi-Fi extender. Read our Echo Pop review.

Read More 

SAG-AFTRA’s striking logo. | Image: SAG-AFTRA

When the Screen Actors Guild began giving independently produced projects clearance to continue production during Hollywood’s two ongoing labor strikes earlier this month, there was a sizable amount of confusion about how the process worked and why the union was doing it, given that it had called for an industrywide work stoppage just days earlier. Now, as more people have begun to question the logic behind the interim agreements being granted, SAG-AFTRA says they’re very much a part of its plan to help its members survive a strike that’s already taken some particularly ugly and telling turns.
On Sunday evening, SAG-AFTRA posted a lengthy statement to its website explaining what its interim agreements are and how they’re being handed out to over 100 different indie projects, like The Chosen, is not at odds with the strike because those productions aren’t directly associated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In addition to stressing that it’s still very much striking against the AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA also insisted that the interim agreements aren’t “waivers” but rather legally binding contracts that adhere to the very same labor terms the union is pushing the studios to agree upon.
“It behooves us to make this strategic move,” the union said. “The Interim Agreement gives many of our journeyman performers and crews the opportunity to pay their rent and feed their families. This approach maintains our strength, solidarity and upper hand with the AMPTP until they yield to the deal we deserve.”
For independent projects to successfully secure one of SAG-AFTRA’s interim agreements during the strike, the production outfits behind them cannot be a part of the AMPTP — the trade association that represents essentially all of the entertainment industry’s big studios. Additionally, productions that receive interim agreements must automatically agree to all of the demands SAG-AFTRA is making of the AMPTP, including significant increases to salary minimums and cutting actors in on 2 percent of the streaming revenue for projects that ultimately end up on services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Interestingly, Amazon Prime’s role as the distributor of studio MRC’s G20 from director Patricia Riggen seems to have been one of the bigger contributing factors to actress / producer Viola Davis’ recent decision to step away from the film despite it entering an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA. Like Davis, a number of other performers, including Bob Odenkirk, Tobias Menzies, and Sarah Silverman, have been similarly voicing concern about the number (and the optics) of productions being given the go-ahead to resume as both SAG and the Writers Guild of America’s strikes continue.
In its statement, SAG-AFTRA acknowledged the concern that its interim agreements could “produce content for struck companies to distribute” but expressed confidence that provisions like the new revenue sharing model “will make distribution of these projects through AMPTP platforms unfeasible.”
“Some have suggested that the Interim Agreement might prolong the strike, but we disagree,” the union said. “We believe the leverage created by increasing competitive pressure on the AMPTP and denying them what they want most will force them back to the table and help bring this strike to an end.”

SAG-AFTRA’s striking logo. | Image: SAG-AFTRA

When the Screen Actors Guild began giving independently produced projects clearance to continue production during Hollywood’s two ongoing labor strikes earlier this month, there was a sizable amount of confusion about how the process worked and why the union was doing it, given that it had called for an industrywide work stoppage just days earlier. Now, as more people have begun to question the logic behind the interim agreements being granted, SAG-AFTRA says they’re very much a part of its plan to help its members survive a strike that’s already taken some particularly ugly and telling turns.

On Sunday evening, SAG-AFTRA posted a lengthy statement to its website explaining what its interim agreements are and how they’re being handed out to over 100 different indie projects, like The Chosen, is not at odds with the strike because those productions aren’t directly associated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In addition to stressing that it’s still very much striking against the AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA also insisted that the interim agreements aren’t “waivers” but rather legally binding contracts that adhere to the very same labor terms the union is pushing the studios to agree upon.

“It behooves us to make this strategic move,” the union said. “The Interim Agreement gives many of our journeyman performers and crews the opportunity to pay their rent and feed their families. This approach maintains our strength, solidarity and upper hand with the AMPTP until they yield to the deal we deserve.”

For independent projects to successfully secure one of SAG-AFTRA’s interim agreements during the strike, the production outfits behind them cannot be a part of the AMPTP — the trade association that represents essentially all of the entertainment industry’s big studios. Additionally, productions that receive interim agreements must automatically agree to all of the demands SAG-AFTRA is making of the AMPTP, including significant increases to salary minimums and cutting actors in on 2 percent of the streaming revenue for projects that ultimately end up on services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Interestingly, Amazon Prime’s role as the distributor of studio MRC’s G20 from director Patricia Riggen seems to have been one of the bigger contributing factors to actress / producer Viola Davis’ recent decision to step away from the film despite it entering an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA. Like Davis, a number of other performers, including Bob Odenkirk, Tobias Menzies, and Sarah Silverman, have been similarly voicing concern about the number (and the optics) of productions being given the go-ahead to resume as both SAG and the Writers Guild of America’s strikes continue.

In its statement, SAG-AFTRA acknowledged the concern that its interim agreements could “produce content for struck companies to distribute” but expressed confidence that provisions like the new revenue sharing model “will make distribution of these projects through AMPTP platforms unfeasible.”

“Some have suggested that the Interim Agreement might prolong the strike, but we disagree,” the union said. “We believe the leverage created by increasing competitive pressure on the AMPTP and denying them what they want most will force them back to the table and help bring this strike to an end.”

Read More