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<ul><li>Apple has announced the 45 apps and game finalists for the <keyword id="24169738" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="2024-App-Store-Awards" source="keywords">2024 App Store Awards</keyword>.</li><li>The 2024 App Store Awards also introduced a new category for <keyword id="24169739" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Apple-Vision-Pro-apps" source="keywords">Apple Vision Pro apps</keyword>.</li><li>The winners of the 2024 App Store Awards will be announced later this year.</li></ul> Cupertino tech giant Apple on Tuesday announced the 45 finalists for the 2024 App Store Awards. The finalists were selected by Apple's global App Store editorial team for their exceptional quality, innovation, and impact on users' lives.<br /><br />The App Store Awards, an annual tradition, honour the developers who push the boundaries, offering users novel ways to explore, create, and connect.<br /><br />The 2024 awards introduce a new category dedicated to Apple Vision Pro apps, recognising experiences designed for Apple's spatial computing platform. The finalists also include apps and games for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch.<br /><br /><strong><keyword id="24169741" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iPhone-App-of-the-Year" source="keywords">iPhone App of the Year</keyword>:</strong> Apps like Kino for its professional video recording capabilities, Runna for customised running plans, and Tripsy for travel organisations have been recognised for enhancing everyday experiences.<br /><br /><strong>iPhone Game of the Year:</strong> Titles such as AFK Journey, The WereCleaner, and Zenless Zone Zero have captivated players with their rich narratives and compelling gameplay.<br /><br /><strong>iPad App of the Year:</strong> Bluey: Let’s Play, Moises and Procreate Dreams have been celebrated for fostering creativity and family fun, providing tools for music practice and animation storytelling.<br /><br /><strong><keyword id="24165437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="iPad-Game-of-the-Year" source="keywords">iPad Game of the Year</keyword>:</strong> Games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Disney Speedstorm, and Squad Busters offer players dynamic worlds and competitive play.<br /><br /><strong>Apple Arcade Game of the Year:</strong> Balatro+ stands out for its innovative card game, while Outlanders 2 and Sonic Dream Team refresh classic gaming with new adventures.<br /><br /><strong>Mac App of the Year:</strong> Adobe Lightroom, OmniFocus 4, and Shapr3D are finalists for their powerful project management and design tools.<br /><br /><strong>Mac Game of the Year:</strong> Frostpunk 2, Stray, and Thank Goodness You’re Here! bring unique storytelling and visual aesthetics to Mac users.<br /><br /><strong>Apple Watch App of the Year:</strong> LookUp, Lumy, and Watch to 5K provide immediate access to vocabulary improvement, natural rhythms, and fitness tracking.<br /><br /><strong>Apple Vision Pro App of the Year:</strong> JigSpace, NBA, and What If…? An Immersive Story is at the forefront of spatial computing, redefining how users interact with digital content.<br /><br /><strong>Apple Vision Pro Game of the Year:</strong> Loóna, THRASHER, and Vacation Simulator have introduced relaxing gameplay and novel control schemes.<br /><br /><strong>Apple TV App of the Year:</strong> DROPOUT, F1 TV, and Zoom offer entertainment and connectivity on the big screen.<br /><br />The winners of the 2024 App Store Awards will be announced later this year, recognizing apps that have set new standards in creativity, innovation, and technical achievement.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/realme-gt-7-pro-with-snapdragon-8-elite-chipset-launched-starting-at-59999/articleshow/115689685.cms">Realme GT 7 Pro with Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset launched starting at ₹59,999</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/microsofts-ai-powered-recall-feature-is-now-rolling-out-to-copilot-pcs/articleshow/115654136.cms">Microsoft’s AI-powered Recall feature is now rolling out to Copilot+ PCs</a><br /><br /></strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/jio-airtel-and-vi-lost-nearly-11-million-subscribers-in-september-2024/articleshow/115565541.cms"><strong>Jio, Airtel and Vi lost nearly 11 million subscribers in September 2024</strong></a><br />

Apple unveils 45 app and game finalists for the 2024 App Store Awards

The App Store <keyword id="24" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="award" source="Orion">Award</keyword> winners were selected from nearly 40 finalists for delivering exceptional technical innovation, user experience, and design. "It's inspiring to see the ways <keyword id="6357020" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="developers" source="Orion">developers</keyword> continue to build incredible apps and <keyword id="6374108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="games" source="Orion">games</keyword> that are redefining the world around us," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.<br /><br />"This year's winners represent the limitless potential of developers to bring their visions to life, creating apps and games with remarkable ingenuity, exceptional quality, and purpose-driven missions," he added.<br /><br />While the AllTrails app nurtures community through comprehensive trail guides and outdoor exploration for everyone, Pret-a-Makeup offers a true-to-life makeup sketchpad on iPad for professional artists and casual users, while fostering inclusivity and self-expression.<br /><br />Photomator's machine learning-powered tools make advanced editing tasks streamlined and seamless. MUBI curates exceptional indie films and international documentaries with a human touch, and SmartGym shines on Apple Watch with its comprehensive library of exercises, routines, and robust fitness reporting, said Apple.<br /><br />In the gaming category, Honkai: Star Rail takes players through a narrative full of complex characters and tactically rich combat on iPhone, while Lost in Play invites players to tap into a charming, childlike imagination during an epic point-and-click adventure.<br /><br />Lies of P presents players with an exquisitely crafted dark fantasy world, and Apple Arcade's Hello Kitty Island Adventure delivers an immersive gaming world with its main goal being as sweet as can be: making friends. Currently home to 1.8 million apps and visited by over 650 million average weekly visitors across 175 countries, the App Store facilitated $1.1 trillion in developer billings and sales in 2022.<br />

Apple announces 14 best apps, games on App Store in 2023

<p>Hi, I'm Matt Turner, the editor in chief of business at Insider. Welcome back to Insider Weekly, a roundup of some of our top stories. </p><h3><strong>On the agenda today:</strong></h3><ul><li>Goldman Sachs insiders are concerned about CEO David Solomon's <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-david-solomon-dj-brand-plane-2022-9">push to build his personal brand</a>.</li><li>Wall Street's biggest investors fear an economic nightmare is coming. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-investors-fear-economic-inflation-stock-market-nightmare-2022-9">They may be right.</a></li><li>Some companies are posting "ghost jobs" but don't actually plan <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ghost-jobs-why-some-companies-dont-respond-to-applications-2022-9">to hire you — or anyone</a>.</li><li>Amazon has created a new team to help address <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-created-a-new-builder-experience-team-to-fix-developer-culture-2022-9">concerns raised by frustrated engineers</a>. </li></ul><p><strong>But first: </strong>This week, Insider launched its inaugural <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-action-30-top-global-leaders-working-toward-climate-solutions-2022">Climate Action 30</a>, a prestigious list of leaders working toward climate solutions. Lily Katzman, an associate editor on our Special Projects team, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the project. </p><p><em>If this was forwarded to you, </em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter/insider-weekly"><em>sign up here.</em></a><em>  Download Insider's app </em><a href="https://www.insider.com/app"><em>here.</em></a></p><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-action-30-top-global-leaders-working-toward-climate-solutions-2022"><strong>Meet 30 global leaders tackling the climate crisis </strong></a></h3><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-action-30-top-global-leaders-working-toward-climate-solutions-2022"></a></p><p>When we say climate heroes, the usual suspects — think Greta Thunberg and Al Gore — come to mind. While they're certainly doing notable work, we wanted to shift attention to others who are making important contributions to tackling the climate crisis,<strong><em> associate editor Lily Katzman writes.</em></strong> </p><p>That's where Insider's Climate Action 30 comes into play.</p><p>Our <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-action-30-top-global-leaders-working-toward-climate-solutions-2022">inaugural list of 30 top global leaders</a> features activists, influencers, scientists, execs, entrepreneurs, and public-sector and nonprofit leaders, among others, who are working to address the climate crisis. Here's what the project includes:</p><ul><li>30 unique write-ups describing each finalist's work and why it's important.</li><li>30 calls to action from each finalist to tell global leaders — and our readers — what they should do, stop doing, or understand to drive change. </li><li>Original (and stunning) photography commissioned by our team of photographers.</li></ul><p>While we won't spoil it all, finalists include government leaders like Francia Márquez, the first Black vice president of Colombia; entrepreneurs like Jan Wurzbacher, who founded a company that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in the ground; and activists like Autumn Peltier, who advocates for clean drinking water in Indigenous communities. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/climate-action-30-top-global-leaders-working-toward-climate-solutions-2022"><strong>Check out the full project here. </strong></a></p><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-david-solomon-dj-brand-plane-2022-9"><strong>Goldman Sachs insiders fume about CEO's personal brand</strong></a></h3><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-david-solomon-dj-brand-plane-2022-9"></a></p><div type="image" title="David Solomon, DJ D-Sol" height="1501" width="2001" msid="94502234" hostid="261" sizebytes="110462"></div><p>David Solomon, Goldman Sachs' CEO, moonlights as an electronic-music DJ, playing high-profile gigs like the Lollapalooza music festival and Tomorrowland, a Belgian music festival. </p><p>Solomon has been working on the side hustle for years. But some insiders are baffled by the amount of time and attention he's committed to his hobby and his use of private jets to promote his DJ work. Some say they're worried Solomon is putting his own interests ahead of the firm's.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-david-solomon-dj-brand-plane-2022-9"><strong>Here's what else insiders told us. </strong></a></p><p>Plus, check out:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apollo-global-josh-harris-family-office-tensions-2022-9"><strong>Inside billionaire Josh Harris' final years at Apollo, where former employees said his personal investments caused tensions</strong></a></li></ul><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-investors-fear-economic-inflation-stock-market-nightmare-2022-9"><strong>An economic nightmare could be looming</strong></a></h3><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-investors-fear-economic-inflation-stock-market-nightmare-2022-9"></a></p><div type="image" title="The charging bull with a worried expression and sweating with a red background" height="900" width="1200" msid="94502236" hostid="261" sizebytes="223134"></div><p>Wall Street can't shake a nightmare about the US economy. </p><p>Some of the market's biggest investors are worried there will be no hard or soft landing for the economy. Instead, we'll just get <em>stuck</em>: Inflation comes down a bit from its scalding-hot level, but stays persistently higher; the Federal Reserve keeps hiking interest rates, but can't get a handle on prices. And Americans will end up with uncomfortably high interest rates, higher unemployment, <em>and</em> higher prices.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wall-street-investors-fear-economic-inflation-stock-market-nightmare-2022-9"><strong>What happens if our economy gets stuck.</strong></a></p><p>Also read:</p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/layoffs-unemployment-outlook-federal-reserve-rate-hikes-recession-risk-2022-9">The Fed just confirmed that its self-induced 'growth recession' could put more than a million Americans out of work</a></strong></li></ul><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ghost-jobs-why-some-companies-dont-respond-to-applications-2022-9"><strong>Beware: That's not a real job opening</strong></a></h3><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ghost-jobs-why-some-companies-dont-respond-to-applications-2022-9"></a></p><div type="image" title="ghost job applicant" height="2260" width="3014" msid="94502238" hostid="261" sizebytes="219462"></div><p>In today's remarkably tight labor market, a new trend is puzzling applicants: While many employers can't find enough workers, some qualified candidates are applying to open jobs and aren't hearing anything back.</p><p>The phenomenon is raising questions about whether a company's job postings are reflective of actual open positions, or if they're "ghost jobs" — listings that employers are no longer actively hiring or recruiting for. </p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ghost-jobs-why-some-companies-dont-respond-to-applications-2022-9"><strong>Everything to know about "ghost jobs."</strong></a></p><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-created-a-new-builder-experience-team-to-fix-developer-culture-2022-9"><strong>Amazon is trying to fix its crumbling engineering culture</strong></a></h3><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-created-a-new-builder-experience-team-to-fix-developer-culture-2022-9"></a></p><div type="image" title="Kara Swisher and Amazon President and CEO Andy Jassy speak onstage during Vox Media's 2022 Code Conference." height="4888" width="6518" msid="94502240" hostid="261" sizebytes="1125872"></div><p>Following developers' complaints about a slowing engineering culture, Amazon has created a new team called "Amazon Software Builder Experience," leaked documents show. </p><p>Amazon formed the group earlier this year with the goal of turning the internet giant into "Earth's best employer for software builders." Since launching, ASBX has grown to more than 400 employees, working on code automation, improved developer tools, and enhanced tutorials and safety infrastructure.</p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-created-a-new-builder-experience-team-to-fix-developer-culture-2022-9"><strong>Inside the Amazon Software Builder Experience group. </strong></a></p><p>For more on Amazon:</p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-promotion-raises-compensation-bug-2022-9">Leaked email reveals that Amazon is walking back employees' raises after an internal bug miscalculated their compensation</a></strong></li></ul><h3><strong>This week's quote:</strong></h3><p>"That's $30,000 a year you could be putting into a retirement fund."</p><ul><li>Andrew Lokenauth, who said he was paying $30,000 in taxes annually before moving to Tampa, Florida. He's one of several high earners who shared <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/save-income-tax-moving-california-florida-new-york-2022-9">what happened after moving to states with no or low taxes</a>. </li></ul><h3><strong>More of this week's top reads:</strong></h3><ul><li>Toxic managers are creating <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/toxic-bosses-managers-companies-work-life-balance-employees-burnout-2022-9">a burnout crisis</a>. </li><li>There's a thriving underground market <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-fraud-reporting-marketplace-identity-theft-2022-9">for used Amazon seller accounts</a>. </li><li>A woman who makes $7,000 a month on TaskRabbit <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-earn-5-star-reviews-taskrabbit-make-7000-month-2022-9">shares her tips for success</a>. </li><li>Tech headhunters are flocking to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-layoffs-recruiting-facebook-meta-netflix-tiktok-amazon-2022-9">laid-off Snap employees</a>. </li><li>Two creators share how much they earn through an online course <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-creators-make-course-teaching-how-to-fix-rv-2022-7">teaching people how to repair their own RVs</a>.</li><li>Meet Dylan Field, the 30-year-old college dropout <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/figma-ceo-dylan-field-adobe-20-billion-bid-design-software-2022-9">who built Figma</a>.</li><li>Josh Harris, the owner of the 76ers and Devils, upset Apollo insiders <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apollo-global-josh-harris-family-office-tensions-2022-9">with the time he spent on personal investments</a>.</li></ul><p><strong>Event invite: </strong>Many small-business owners may think they can't invest in talent acquisition. But <a href="https://events.insider.com/small-business-talent-strategy?utm_source=Newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=2022-9-27_Talent_Indeed">innovative talent strategies may be their superpower.</a> </p><p>Join us Tuesday, September 27, at noon ET for an editorial boot camp, in partnership with Indeed, covering how small businesses are developing these strategies. <a href="https://events.insider.com/small-business-talent-strategy?utm_source=Newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=2022-9-27_Talent_Indeed">Sign up here.</a></p><p><strong>Plus: </strong>Stay up to date with the latest business news throughout your weekdays by checking out <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/therefresh">The Refresh from Insider</a>, a dynamic audio news brief from the Insider newsroom. <a href="https://link.chtbl.com/therefresh"><strong>Listen here tomorrow</strong>.</a></p><p><em>Curated by Matt Turner. Edited by Jordan Parker Erb and Lisa Ryan. </em><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/newsletter"><em>Sign up for more Insider newsletters here.</em></a></p>

Goldman Sachs insiders are concerned about CEO David Solomon's push to build his personal brand

<p><div></div></p><p>Every year since 2006, Doritos has held the <a href="https://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/">Crash the Super Bowl</a> contest, which gives filmmakers the chance to win $1 million and air time during the biggest day in US <keyword id="35666" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="advertising">advertising</keyword>.</p><p>This is the last year of the competition and the finalists have just been announced.</p><p>All three will watch the game from a private suite at the Super Bowl, but only one will win the $1 million grand prize and have their ad aired on TV.</p><p>Probably the most creepy is Peter Carstairs' "Ultrasound," which shows expecting parents watching a live ultrasound scan, when the father starts teasing the fetus with his Doritos.</p><p>The fetus is so uncontrollably drawn to the spicy chips that, when its mother throws them away in annoyance, it leaps&#xa0;out of its mom's womb to grab them.</p><p>Another finalist is "Swipe for Doritos" by&#xa0;Los Angeles' David Rudy. The clip shows a man using an app that looks a lot like Tinder in front of real women, eventually settling on a partner with a large bag of Doritos, played by 90-year-old Doris Roberts - most famous for her role in&#xa0;"Everybody Loves Raymond."</p><p><div></div></p><p>The last ad with a shot at the prize is screenwriter&#xa0;Jacob Chase's Doritos Dogs," in which a diverse pack of hounds attempts to get into a convenience store to buy (you guessed it) a packet of Doritos.</p><p><div></div></p><p>This year, there were&#xa0;4,500 submissions from 28 countries, <a href="http://www.adweek.com/agencyspy/doritos-names-crash-the-super-bowl-finalists-2/99858">according to AgencySpy</a>, where we first spotted the videos.</p><p>The winner will be announced on the day of the Superbowl, but all is not lost for second and third place, who will both receive <a href="http://www.magicbulletmedia.com/MNR/crashthesuperbowl/documents/press_release_finalist.pdf">$100,000 and creative work</a> with Doritos.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/kosher-certification-symbol-on-food-2015-12">What this symbol that's on nearly half of your food actually means</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="FhdmxjeDpVrP4LCaMcibCHcigGocUkdZ" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

An ad showing a fetus leaping out from its mom's womb might air during the Super Bowl

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p><p class="caption">Apple CarPlay is the big winner!</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/apple">Apple</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/carplay">CarPlay</a> is the winner of Business Insider's 2018 Infotainment System of the Year.</li><li><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/aapl-stock">Apple</a> CarPlay beat out four other systems, from <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/audi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Audi</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/audi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fiat Chrysler Automobiles</a>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/gm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">General Motors</a>, and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/tesla" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tesla</a>.</li><li>CarPlay is unique in that it can be used in different vehicles from different manufacturers, overriding the quirks of proprietary infotainment systems.</li></ul><p>Several years ago, the <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="transportation">transportation</keyword> team at Business Insider decided that in-vehicle infotainment systems were turning into a huge selling point for consumers.</p><p>Our interest neatly coincided with automakers seriously amping up their offerings, ranging from 4G LTE WiFi connectivity and over-the-air software updates to suites of apps that allow various types of e-commerce from the comfort of a car.</p><p>So we created the Infotainment System of the Year award. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/audi-business-insiders-2016-infotainment-system-of-the-year-2016-12">Audi took the prize in 2016 and 2017</a>, and, if anything, the competition has stiffened since. Consumers are more demanding than ever of the technology and connectivity features in their vehicles.</p><p>As we said last year, if you aren't aiming for state-of-the-art, particularly in the luxury realm, you're falling behind. A really great infotainment system makes car ownership a pleasure; a poor system makes it a chore.</p><h2>Safety first</h2><p>Car companies have to tread carefully with how they control the use of connectivity in vehicles. Both <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-us-brands-falter-in-consumer-reports-auto-reliability-survey-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Reports</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/infotainment-technology-is-driving-car-owners-crazy-2018-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JD Power</a> have recounted frequent owner complaints about balky systems.</p><p>Our methodology for choosing an Infotainment System of the Year hasn't changed since 2016. We consider a great system to be one that performs all its functions relatively seamlessly and with as much of an intuitive interface as possible.</p><p>Right now, voice-recognition technologies are still at an early stage, but we certainly appreciate when a manufacturer's setup works as advertised and isn't clunkier than the more dangerous manual-entry-of-info modes. We also appreciate it if an infotainment system is part of a carmaker's business case for its vehicles and its technology.</p><p>Reliability, ease of use, precision (especially when it comes to navigation), and the ability of a system to be operated while driving without endangering anyone were top criteria for our choice - which involved debate and discussion all year long among senior correspondent Matt DeBord, senior transportation reporter Ben Zhang, and deputy executive editor Cadie Thompson.</p><p>This year's finalists were:</p><ul><li>Apple CarPlay</li><li>Audi MMI-Virtual Cockpit</li><li>FCA Uconnect</li><li>General Motors MyLink/IntelliLink/Cue plus OnStar</li><li>Tesla Infotainment System</li></ul><h2>The big winner</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Daimler</span></p><p class="caption">CarPlay integrates with infotainment systems from numerous automakers.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Apple CarPlay is our Infotainment System of the Year winner for 2018!</p><p>You might consider this an odd choice, given than CarPlay isn't a stand-alone infotainment but rather an iPhone software interface for cars. It typically has to integrate with an automaker's in-vehicle system by being plugged into a USB port.</p><p>But the truth is we now routinely use CarPlay to benchmark proprietary infotainment systems, especially when it comes to ease of use. And CarPlay is portable; it can be used in multiple vehicles from different manufacturers. We often found CarPlay to be a handy tool when we encounter a poor user interface. Plug in CarPlay, and it's smooth sailing from there.</p><p>Siri is better than the majority of voice-recognition setups we test, and being able to use Apple Maps or Google Maps through a smartphone is often more effective than relying on the in-dash navigation software.</p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: <strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/acura-els-studio-3d-best-car-audio-system-award-winner-2018-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Acura ELS Studio 3D is Business Insider's Car Audio System of the Year</a></strong></em></p><p>Accessing your media, stored on your iPhone or streamed, is also easier through CarPlay. And best of all, if you like aspects of your vehicle's infotainment system but prefer some CarPlay functions, you can toggle back and forth.</p><p>What really gave CarPlay the crown this year, though, was an observation that both Matt and Ben have made about younger drivers. They genuinely don't like it when CarPlay isn't available - that is, no matter how good an automaker's own system is, if CarPlay isn't on the menu, they're disappointed - and they might consider that a deal breaker.</p><p>Ben is younger than Matt, who isn't as infotainment-centric, and Ben considers it a negative if an automaker doesn't provide CarPlay integration. Other, younger staffers who've reviewed vehicles for Business Insider have been even less tolerant of a no-CarPlay situation.</p><p>In fact, this has become such a thing that we're now adding Android Auto testing to our reviewing process, to be fair to the other major technology actor in this space.</p><p>Beyond the degree to which CarPlay lets motorists use their iPhones more safely, the technology suggests to us that Apple will become more deeply involved in the user interface of automobiles going forward. What CarPlay currently does is fairly modest, but in the coming years Apple could remake the entire dashboard. We're looking forward to what the company comes up with.</p><h2>The runner-up</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p><p class="caption">Audi's MMI-Virtual Cockpit remains a force to be reckoned with.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>We certainly can't overlook Audi's MMI system. As we said last year when it took the prize, it's the gift that keeps on giving. It does everything well, from managing audio to providing superb and accurate navigation powered by Google Maps. It also has Bluetooth integration along with Audi Connect 4G LTE connectivity and a cluster of apps.</p><p>And it does all this without being a touchscreen system! A central infotainment screen emerges from the dashboard, but you use a knob, buttons, and a touchpad to access the menus and features. In practice, it works flawlessly, and thanks to the way it's organized, you won't be taking your eyes off the road as often as with touchscreen-style systems.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Hollis Johnson</span></p><p class="caption">Audi MMI running Apple CarPlay.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>What puts MMI into "hard-to-catch" territory is the Virtual Cockpit feature, available on most Audi models. Virtual Cockpit impressively transforms the main instrument cluster into a customizable digital screen.</p><p>It can, for example, display the navigation map and send the traditional gauges to the corners of the screen. This means a driver's eyes are front and center much of the time, rather than darting between the road ahead, the infotainment screen, and the instruments (as well as the rearview and side-view mirrors).</p><p>Audi's MMI-Virtual Cockpit system is a remarkable setup that has helped Audi rise to the top tier of the US luxury market, previously ruled by the big three luxury automakers: Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus.</p><p>For the record, the other three infotainment systems we considered this year are also quite excellent. Of particular note is Uconnect, which is often overlooked and somewhat underrated for how effective it is.</p><p class="tagline">Get the latest Tesla stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/TSLA-Quote"> <strong>here.</strong></a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-event-ipad-pro-macbook-air-mini-2018-10">Watch Apple's October 2018 event in 8 minutes</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Apple CarPlay is Business Insider's 2018 Infotainment System of the Year

<p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>John Dill, MaiTai Global</span></p><p class="caption">An entrepreneur tries kiteboarding during last year's Xtreme Tech Challenge on Necker Island.</p></div><p></p></div></div><a href="http://www.maitaiglobal.org/">MaiTai Global</a> isn't your typical entrepreneur network. </span></p><p><span>Combining a passion for innovation with extreme sports, MaiTai hosts a number of meet-ups in exotic locations like the Dominican Republic, Australia, and Necker Island over the course of the year. </span></p><p><span>The organization was started by venture capitalist Bill Tai and professional kiteboarder Susi Mai. </span></p><p>MaiTai has announced its second annual "Extreme Tech Challenge," a startup competition hosted in conjunction with Virgin Group billionaire Richard Branson and the Consumer Electronics Show.</p><p><span></span><span>"We're looking for a killer founding team that has an edge, with a product that could disrupt or define a big market," Tai told Business Insider. "We add accelerant to a team and product that will be winners anyway, but get them there faster by stepping up their visibility and providing resources that help them scale at low cost." </span></p><p>Applications <a href="http://extremetechchallenge.com/">are being accepted</a> until September 30. The top 10 startups will present to contest judges during CES in January. The final three then get to go on to present at Necker Island, Branson's 74-acre Carribbean retreat.</p><p>Judges include Branson, Consumer Electronics Association CEO Gary Shapiro, Google Maps creator Lars Rasmussen, tech blogger Robert Scoble, and venture capitalists Tim Draper and Veronica Serra. </p><p>While an investment isn't guaranteed, the contest's organizers say the exposure to influential members of the tech community can be invaluable. This year, the challenge team has partnered with wearable tech-focused accelerator <a href="http://wearableworld.co/">Wearable World</a> to help competing Internet-of-things startups get on a fast track to success.</p><p><span>"<span>What truly sets this competition apart from any other goes beyond on the infrastructure we provide to help companies scale. It's truly about community," executive director Kym McNicholas said. "<span>I love cultivating a community where entrepreneurs feel like they have support every step of the way, well beyond their two minutes on the stage."</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span>They'll have some fun, too. Any event with MaiTai is bound to include kiteboarding and other water sports, and Branson's island was basically designed for a good time.</span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of John Dill, MaiTai Global</span></p></div><p></p></div></div><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Courtesy of John Dill, MaiTai Global</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></span></span></p><p><span><span><span>Last year's finalists included <span>smartphone breathalyzer company </span><a href="https://www.breathometer.com/">Breathometer</a><span>, medical app </span><a href="http://www.doctorondemand.com/">Doctor on Demand</a><span>, and bus travel search site </span><a href="http://www.wanderu.com/">Wanderu</a><span>. </span></span></span></span></p><p>Breathometer, a platform that can analyze your health by the scent of your breath, had won a $1.6 million investment on "Shark Tank" prior to its participation in the Extreme Tech Challenge. It also graduated from StartX, the Stanford-affiliated startup incubator, in 2014. </p><p>Doctor on Demand was founded by daytime TV personality Dr. Philip McGraw ("Dr. Phil"), his son Jay McGraw, and entrepreneur Adam Jackson. In July, <a href="https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/doctor-on-demand">the startup closed</a> a $62.7 million Series B round that included contributions from Branson, 23andMe, Rock Health, Qualcomm Ventures, Dignity Health, and Shasta Ventures, among others.</p><p>Wanderu shot to the top of the iTunes Store charts the week of its launch. It <a href="https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/wanderu">has raised</a> $8.1 million in funding to date. </p><p>"It was the most incredible experience I've ever had," Wanderu cofounder and CEO Polina <span>Raygorodskaya <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-to-pitch-richard-branson-on-necker-island-2015-2">told Business Insider</a> in February. <span>"We definitely built some important connections." </span></span> </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-necker-island-water-2014-7">How Richard Branson gets fresh water on his private island</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="x4a2MzNjqxnaDciCyAXi2sUVdgB4W9we" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

A group of extreme sports-loving entrepreneurs is hosting a startup contest, and the finals will be on Richard Branson's private island

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container float_right"><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/platour">Linkedin/Pierre Olivier Latour</a></p></div><p></p></div>Photo sharing startup Everpix has closed its doors, the founders <a href="https://www.everpix.com/landing.html#adieu">sadly announced on its website. </a></p>
<p>The two-year old startup raised $1.8 million in angel and seed rounds, and took on $625,000 in debt, <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/everpix">according to its Crunchbase profile</a>.</p>
<p>But it ran out of money, in part because it racked up a good-sized bill every month from <keyword id="18635" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Amazon">Amazon</keyword>, CEO Pierre-Olivier Latour <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/5/5039216/everpix-life-and-death-inside-the-worlds-best-photo-startup">told The Verge's Casey Newton</a>.</p>
<p>In the early days, Everpix had all the earmarks of a success. Latour is a 34-year-old French entrepreneur who sold his first company to Apple in 2003 (a tech called "PixelShox" which was renamed "Quartz Composer"). His co-founder Kevin Quennesson was from Apple, too, and held several patents.</p>
<p>Everpix landed in the <a href="http://500.co/startup-profiles/everpix/">500 Startups </a>accelerator program and was a <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/19/cloud-photos-service-everpix-raises-1-million-from-index-ventures-500-startups-others-prepares-its-public-debut/">TechCrunch Disrupt 2011 finalist</a>. When launched, <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/8/29/4560364/best-cloud-storage-photo-apps">Everpix earned great reviews</a> for a service that stored and automatically organized stockpiles of photos. It could understand the content of the photos, like people, or animals or beach scenes.</p>
<p>The startup grabbed 55,000 users including 6,800 paid subscribers and stored their 400 million photos on Amazon's cloud storage service.</p>
<p>But subscriptions tapered off and the income wasn't enough to cover its bills. Venture capatalists weren't biting when Latour tried to raise another $5 million. The startup's seven employees were working for minimum wage with hope that Latour could sell the service, and it's automatic sorting technology, as an acqu-hire. Latour wanted Path to buy it, but that deal fell through, Newton reports.</p>
<p>The final straw was a looming $35,000 bill from Amazon. "Our AWS bill is going to be due on the third. We're not going to be able to pay," Latour told Newton.</p>
<p>In the face of that, the founders had no choice but to close shop.</p>
<p>Here's the sad good-bye note that Everpix posted on its website.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We gave it our all…</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">It is with a heavy heart we announce that Everpix will be shutting down in the coming weeks.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We started this company two years ago with the goals of solving the photo mess and designing better ways for people to enjoy their memories. We are very proud of the work we've done-from the cutting-edge semantic analysis and syncing technology, right down to every pixel on our website and mobile apps.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We are grateful to our investors for giving us the opportunity to grow this project. But more importantly, we are so very thankful to the folks who supported us with subscriptions and feedback. You guys are the best.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">It's frustrating (to say the least) that we cannot continue to work on Everpix. We were unable to secure sufficient funding in order to properly scale the business, and our endeavors to find a new home for Everpix did not come to pass. At this point, we have no other options but to discontinue the service.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We will email everyone soon in regards to refunds and exporting photos from Everpix-your memories are very important to us, and you can rest assured everyone on the team is working hard to ensure a simple and painless process.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Please read this document which explains the situation in more detail. Please don't hesitate to reach out with questions or thoughts. Email us atfeedback@everpix.com or tweet @everpix.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Thank you, again. We'll miss you.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The Everpix Team</p><p class="tagline">Disclosure: Jeff Bezos is an investor in Business Insider through his
personal investment company Bezos Expeditions.</p>

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