Technologies
iOS 16.4: New Emoji, More Just Landed on Your iPhone
You can download the latest iOS update now.
iOS 16.4 is here and available to download now. The update comes with a handful of bug and security fixes, as well as new features, like fresh emoji and Voice Isolation for phone calls.


Below are some of the biggest additions to your iPhone with iOS 16.4. And here’s what you need to know before installing the update to help avoid running into issues with the download.
31 new emoji
The iOS 16.4 update brings 31 new emoji to your iOS device. The new emoji include a new smiley; new animals, like a moose and a goose; and new heart colors, including pink and light blue.


Some of the new emoji released in iOS 16.4.
Patrick Holland/CNETThe new emoji all come from Unicode’s September 2022 recommendation list, Emoji 15.0.
Voice Isolation comes to cellular calls
Voice Isolation was introduced with iOS 15 in 2021, and at the time it worked only on FaceTime calls. Now with iOS 16.4, you can use the feature on your cellular calls too.
When enabled, Voice Isolation can help the person you’re on a call with hear you more clearly by muffling background sounds, like kids playing in the other room or construction outside your window. It could therefore cut back on the number of times you have to repeat yourself in a phone call because the other person can’t hear you.
Easily find photo duplicates across shared albums
In iOS 16.4, you can easily find duplicate photos in shared albums in Photos. If you share photos with family or friends via iCloud, iOS 16.4 will show you all the duplicates across albums. You can also Merge these duplicate photos.
Support for PlayStation 5 controller
According to MacRumors, iOS 16.4 adds support for the PlayStation 5 DualSense Edge Wireless Controller. You can use the controller to play controller-enabled games from services like Apple Arcade — a CNET Editors’ Choice award pick — on your iPhone.
Apple Books update
The page-turn curl animation is back in Apple Books with iOS 16.4, after it was removed in a previous iOS update. Before, when you turned a page in an ebook on your iPhone, the page would slide to one side of your screen or it would vanish and be replaced by the next page. You can still choose these other page-turn animations in addition to the curl animation.
Music app changes


A small banner appears at the bottom of the screen when you choose to play a song next in Apple Music in iOS 16.4.
Zach McAuliffe/CNETThe Music interface has been slightly modified in iOS 16.4. When you add a song to your queue, a small banner appears near the bottom of your screen instead of a full-screen pop-up like in previous iOS versions.
Also, if you go into your Library in Music, you can organize your Library by Artist and tap into an artist, across the top of your page you will see an icon for that artist. A search bar used to be at the top of this page. Tap the artist’s icon and you will be taken to that artist’s Music page.
Apple Podcasts updates
Apple Podcasts also gets an update with iOS 16.4. Now you can access a Channels tab in your Library, which shows you different networks you follow. Tap into each channel and you can see the shows you subscribe to and other shows that channel produces.
See who and what is covered under AppleCare
With iOS 16.4, you can go to Settings > General > About > Coverage to check who and what devices are covered on your AppleCare plan. That way, if your AirPods break, you can easily check whether they’re covered. You can manage your coverage from here too.
Focus Mode filters added
If you have an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, iOS 16.4 lets you enable or disable the always-on display option with certain Focus Modes. When creating a new filter, scroll down to the bottom of the edit page, tap Focus Filter, then tap Always-On Display to enable or disable the display for that Focus Mode.
New Apple Wallet features
You can add three new order-tracking widgets for Apple Wallet to your home screen with iOS 16.4. Each widget displays your tracking information on active orders, but the widgets are different sizes: small, medium and large.


The medium-size Apple Wallet order tracking widget takes up two rows on your iPhone’s screen.
Zach McAuliffe/CNETMore accessibility options
The update also adds new accessibility options. One new option is called Dim Flashing Lights, and it can be found in the Motion menu in Settings. The option’s description says video content that depicts repeated flashing or strobing lights will automatically be dimmed. Video timelines will also show when flashing lights will occur. VoiceOver support has also been expanded to the maps and Weather apps.
Apple ID and beta software updates


The latest iOS update lets you sign into another Apple ID to access other beta software.
Zach McAuliffe/CNETWith iOS 16.4, developers and beta testers can check whether their Apple ID is associated with the developer beta, public beta or both. If you have a different Apple ID, like one for your job, that has access to beta updates, iOS 16.4 also lets you switch to that account from your device.
New keyboards, Siri voices and language updates
This iOS 16.4 update also adds keyboards for the Choctaw and Chickasaw languages, and there are new Siri voices for Arabic and Hebrew. Language updates have also come to Korean, Ukrainian, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu.
Here are Apple’s release notes for iOS 16.4.
This update includes the following enhancements and bug fixes:
• 21 new emoji including animals, hand gestures, and objects are now available in emoji keyboard.
• Notifications for web apps added to the Home Screen.
. • Voice Isolation for cellular calls prioritizes your voice and blocks out ambient noise around you.
• Duplicates album in Photos expands support to detect duplicate photos and videos in an iCloud Shared Photo Library.
• VoiceOver support for maps in the Weather app.
• Accessibility setting to automatically dim video when flashes of light or strobe effects are detected.
• Fixes an issue where Ask to Buy requests from children may fail to appear on the parent’s device.
• Addresses issues where Matter-compatible thermostats could become unresponsive when paired to Apple Home.
• Crash Detection optimizations on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models.
For more, check out how to enable Voice Isolation in phone calls, what might be coming to your iPhone with iOS 16.5 and what was included in iOS 16.3.1.
Technologies
I Love Super Mario Bros Wonder and It’s at a New All-Time Low, but Only for Today
One of the most inventive Switch games made is down to just $40 right now.
The holidays are nearly here, and that means it’s time to lock in and sort out the gifts you need to get. If you’re looking to buy something the whole family can enjoy, then looking to the best gaming gifts makes perfect sense. There are some amazing deals on right now, and if you’re buying for someone with a Switch, this one is a must-have.
Woot has a deal that knocks the amazing Super Mario Bros Wonder down to $40, which is the lowest price it’s ever been. This is a whimsical and wonderful platform game that’s going to have you all laughing out loud in each level, but the deal is only on until the end of the day. So, if you want it, don’t wait around.
Super Mario Bros Wonder takes the classic platformer and puts an incredible twist on it in every single level. The story has you following Bowser as he causes chaos in a new kingdom, but with Wonder Seeds all over the place, reality itself often ends up changing. It’s a fun and intensely silly affair, and you can even play it with up to four players, making it the perfect game for the holiday season.
This being the lowest price we’ve seen for this amazing game easily makes it one of the best Nintendo Switch deals. It’s going to end tonight, though, so if you want it, get it quickly.
Why this deal matters
Super Mario Bros Wonder is undoubtedly one of the coolest Mario games we’ve had in a very long time, and one of the best games released for the Nintendo Switch. It’s rare to see first-party Nintendo games go on sale with this much off, so this is a very rare chance.
Technologies
Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, Dec. 12
Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Dec. 12.
Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword
Let’s get to those Mini Crossword clues and answers.
Mini across clues and answers
1A clue: Bullet ___ (insect known for its painful sting)
Answer: ANT
4A clue: Setting for the children’s book «Good Night, Gorilla»
Answer: ZOO
5A clue: Mixed-breed dogs
Answer: MUTTS
7A clue: Language that gave us the words «democracy» and «philosophy»
Answer: GREEK
8A clue: Untidy
Answer: MESSY
Mini down clues and answers
1D clue: Brilliant shade of blue
Answer: AZURE
2D clue: Classroom jottings
Answer: NOTES
3D clue: «100%,» in slang
Answer: TOTES
5D clue: Longtime movie studio now owned by Amazon
Answer: MGM
6D clue: Chicago W.N.B.A. team
Answer: SKY
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Technologies
Speed Across the Galaxy Next Year in Star Wars: Galactic Racer
Step aside, Skywalker. This is more than just pod racing.
After a surprise reveal of Star Wars: The Fate of the Old Republic to start The Game Awards on Thursday, another Star Wars game made its debut. But this one has no Jedi, no lightsabers, just people racing through treacherous terrain.
Galactic Racer is developed by Fuse Games, a studio created in 2023 and made up of former Burnout and Need for Speed developers. In the game’s description, races are run-based, meaning that once your vehicle is blown up, your race is over.
Galactic Racer will be released in 2026 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
When does Star Wars: Galactic Racer take place?
According to the Galactic Racer Steam page, the game takes place after the Empire is gone, when the galaxy is rebuilding. The Galactic League has formed in the Outer Rim, and underground races will lead to fame and fortune for those racers fast enough to survive.
The trailer introduces Shade, «a lone racer with a dream of glory and revenge,» Fuse Games co-founder Matt Webster told StarWars.com.
«Your aim is to survive long enough to earn your shot at becoming an elite racing pilot,» he said. «Our races are high-stakes competitions where racers do everything they can to get to the front in the solo campaign and in our awesome multiplayer gameplay.»
What kind of vehicles will be available to ride in Star Wars: Galactic Racer?
The game’s trailer was short, but Star Wars fans will recognize a couple of landspeeders, skim speeders and speederbikes. Each vehicle type will have its unique handling and feel, with some able to squeeze through tight spaces and hug corners at top speed.
As the players progress, they will be able to upgrade their vehicles to their preferred style of play. By continuing to win, the better the vehicle can be made and the more races across different worlds will be available to race in.
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