It includes new guided edits and more.

What you need to know

New features are coming to Adobe’s Elements software.
Both Photoshop and Premiere are getting updates for 2022.
They include new animated overlays and guided edits.

Adobe has today announced new features for Adobe Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements for their 2022 iterations.

In a blog post the company stated:

Today, the Elements team is thrilled to announce the release of Photoshop Elements 2022 and Premiere Elements 2022. This year’s releases offer new Adobe Sensei AI-powered features to take your photos and videos to new creative heights.

Highlights include new automated features that come powered by Adobe Sensei AI technology, which “turn photos into art” with just one click.

Photoshop Elements now features new artistic effects and animated overlays, and a new tool to warp photos into new shapes. There are also new guided edits, one for pet photos and one for extended backgrounds. New slideshow styles let you show off your photos, and GIFs in the Organizer now play whilst you’re looking at them. There’s also a new tool that will now automatically update Photoshop Elements 2022 with no dialog boxes to speak of.

Over on Premiere Elements 2022, there’s a new auto-reframing tool, as well as new aspect ratios for creating videos for social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. There are two more new guided edits, new animated overlays, and new tools to adjust shadows and highlights in videos. Slideshows can now be exported, and you can compress video files so they can be uploaded to places like Facebook more easily, or quickly shared with friends. GIF playback and automatic updates are also now available for Premiere.

Updates in tow

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022 & Premiere Elements 2022

$150 for PC disc at Amazon
$150 for PC code at Amazon

The perfect package

Touch up your videos and your photos with this bundle. You’ll have access to the latest software so you can improve captures of your favorite moments.

What you need to know

Braxley Bands are Apple Watch bands that come in all the different colors and patterns you never knew you wanted.
Each band is made from ‘Relastic Fabric’ and is washable, comfortable, and stretchy.

Want a watch band that reminds you of a pina colada? You got it.

With the impending Apple Watch Series 7 release everyone is already planning which bands they’re going to wear when their new purchase arrives. Apple sells some of the best Apple Watch bands around, but they can be a bit … boring. That’s very much not the case with Braxley Bands.

Created from something called Relastic Fabric, I’m told the bands are stretchy and comfortable while also giving wearers a snug fit. Three different band sizes are offered to ensure that’s the case with a size guide provided so you can make sure you pick the one that’s best for you.

While the fit sounds great, where things get really interesting is the sheer number of colors and patterns on offer. Way, way more than any other band I’ve seen. Just look at them all!

Priced at $32 each these bands aren’t likely to break the bank and reviews appear to be stellar to say the least. What’s more, these bands have a superpower — they can plant trees!

Every watch band sold results in a tree being planted thanks to a partnership with Trees for the Future. It just keeps getting better!

If you’re picking up a new Apple Watch and don’t know which band to get, I suggest getting any old band and checking these folks out instead!

Only Apple could do it properly, at least.

Just as it promised earlier this year, via its June WWDC event, Apple has now brought true Find My support to AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, and it changes the game completely. We might not get quite the same level of location tracking as we would by slapping an AirTag into those things, but it’s fairly close. And it could reunite some people with lost earbuds and headphones, which is pretty great.

With new software updates installed, AirPods Pro — still the best wireless earbuds in my opinion — and AirPods Max will appear in the Find My app, with accurate location data, even when outside of Bluetooth range. When I say accurate, note that it’s more accurate than normal, but still not quite AirTag levels of hotness. You won’t be able to follow an on-screen arrow that takes you to your Apple Music-makers, but you’ll at least be told when you’re closer to them than you were.

One big improvement will be the new Lost mode, giving users the chance to set a phone number or other contact details that will be displayed should someone come within touching distance of them. But, of course, at that point, we’re left hoping that those same people are the salt of the Earth and that they will do the right thing. Fingers crossed that they will!

Another benefit of this change is a feature that will notify people when they leave their AirPods behind, just like any AirTag. That’s a biggie, especially if you’re one of those people always leaving their AirPods behind when heading out the door!

While all of this is cool, the big thing here is that this is yet another example of what makes Apple’s hardware and software integration so important. Anyone living inside the Apple ecosystem – or using something blessed by Apple – has access to these kinds of features that aren’t available to other manufacturers. It might drive some in the business crazy, but it’s what allows Apple to add features that not only make for a good bullet point on a spec sheet but change the way people use these things.

And hey, let’s be real here – anyone who gets their AirPods Max back after leaving them at a park because of these kinds of features is going to be very happy they exist.

What you need to know

There have been rumors of a HomePod with a screen before and this concept imagines what that could be.
The gorgeous concept shows a large Retina screen atop a HomePod.

You’d buy this, wouldn’t you?

The idea of a HomePod with a screen isn’t even remotely new, but it’s something that crops up every now and again. And each time it does, I’m reminded what a great idea it would be. Turns out, I wasn’t alone.

Designer Eric Huismann has been hard at work creating concepts based on a few things, but it’s the HomePod Show I’m most interested in. Because the thought of having a HomePod that can show me things instead of throw results to my iPhone is absolutely something I’m here for.

The concept imagines a square HomePod-type affair with a screen slapped on the top. Not just any old how, though. The screen is slanted so that it’s at the right angle for you to see without looming over your speaker all the time. And boy does this make me wish Apple would give us all a HomePod with a display!

The only issue I can see with this design is that you’re unlikely to watch an episode of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+ while making dinner thanks to this square display. Lengthen it out a bit and you might be onto a winner.

Whether Apple will ever do anything like this, only the company knows. For now, we’ll just have to hope and dream. Or just buy an Echo Show instead — that’s probably the best smart speaker for anyone who wants to watch content as well as ask what the weather’s like.

Play your battle arena sessions much more comfortably.

It took a few months after the initial Nintendo Switch release, but Pokémon Unite has finally come to iPhones, iPads, and Android phones. This is a highly competitive game, so it makes sense that you’d want to give yourself an edge. Generally speaking, the best iPhone game controller usually gives you better, well, control and can make playing for long stretches easier on mobile. That’s why it’s so upsetting that the game currently does not offer controller support.

Can you use a controller in Pokémon Unite on iPhone and iPad?

As ridiculous as it sounds, Pokémon Unite on mobile did not launch with controller support for either the iOS or Android versions. This seems somewhat silly considering how well the game did when it initially launched only on Nintendo Switch and how well it continues to do with added iOS and Android players.

Will Pokémon Unite get controller support on iOS?

iPhone SE in a GameSir X2 Lightning controller.

Obviously, this is something many players have been requesting and talking about online. However, neither The Pokémon Company nor TiMi Studio Group have stated whether or not controller support is coming to the game’s mobile versions. So we’ll have to wait and see if they make an announcement in the near future.

With how successful Pokémon Unite has been, we wouldn’t be surprised to see controller support coming in the near future. However, if we’ve learned anything, it’s that popular mobile games don’t always work with controllers, like with how the ridiculously lucrative Genshin Impact still doesn’t have controller support.

Is Pokémon Unite better on Nintendo Switch or phone?

As it currently stands, Nintendo Switch players have the edge over mobile players since they do have those built-in controllers. The game essentially operates the same way otherwise, but Switch owners don’t have to worry about their fingers smudging up the screen or getting in the way of the action. Additionally, controllers do allow Switch players to more easily access their different attacks.

Pokémon Unite

Free at App Store

Team up for 5-on-5 battles where you play as a Pokemon, defeating opponents and attempting to score goals. Each Pokemon has different abilities that can be used to your advantage in the arena.

What you need to know

Popular at-home workout app Wakeout is slashing prices by 75% to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month.
Wakeout has tons of workouts that people can do from anywhere, even their desks.

Get access to more than 1,800 movements and pay 25% of the normal price.

The popular at-home workout app Wakeout is slashing prices by 75% to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, with the offer coming to a close October 31.

Available from the App Store for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, Wakeout is designed to help people get moving no matter where they are — no need for accessories or huge spaces.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. During October, we bring awareness to the impact that mental health can have on individuals, families and communities.

Get Wakeout at 75% off and instantly get access to over 1,800 movements that energize, provide relief and enhance your mood. One subscription activates Wakeout on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.

Wakeout includes more than 1,800 different ways to move in more than 35 different kinds of situations. You don’t need to be at a gym to work out! If Wakeout helps just one person stay fit, and improves their mental health along the way, it’ll be worth every penny. Having tried Wakeout myself and spoken to the founders I’d have to say it’s one of the best iPhone apps around for getting people moving — even when they don’t think they can.

You can download Wakeout from the App Store right now. The download itself is free with in-app purchases unlocking the subscriptions — all with 75% off right now.

What you need to know

Planet Buddies’ new wireless headphones are volume-limited to protect kids’ ears.
Three colors are available, all with different characters on them.
Planet Buddies hopes to raise awareness of endangered animals through headphones and more.

The wireless headphones are available now for $44.99.

Planet Buddies, a company that hopes to raise awareness of endangered animals, has announced some new wireless headphones designed for kids. Available in three colors and with different animals on the earcups, the new headphones are volume-limited to help protect little ears.

Available from Amazon for $44.99, the new headphones are limited to 85 decibels and are designed for use with phones and tablets while kids play and learn. Each charge gets around 38 hours of battery life and the headphones charge to 100% in two hours.

“Planet Buddies was born out of a dedication for raising awareness, specifically for endangered animals. We want to educate children on what they can do to help all these wonderful species,” said Michael Bartlett, Planet Buddies via email. “Our new Bluetooth wireless headphones bring to life great characters while allowing kids to listen to their favorite videos and music safely with a child-safe volume limit. We are excited to share this new product with all animal fans!”

The full list of features reads:

Child-safe limited to 85db volume limited audio
Wireless compatible with iOS/Android
Up to 38 hours total playtime (2 hours charging time)
Built-in microphone
Extra line-out jack for music sharing
Strong, adjustable design for comfort and durability
Foldable, portable design with carry pouch included
100% recyclable packaging with zero plastic

Potentially some of the best headphones for kids right now, these also come with a USB-C cable in the box for charging as well as a 1.5m AUX cable, too.