Killian Bell - page 4

WhatsApp tests major increase to file size limits

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WhatsApp on iPad
It's still in the early beta stages for now.
Photo: WhatsApp/Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp could soon let mobile users send significantly larger files by message. The platform’s current file size limit is a meager 100MB, but some beta testers have seen that limit increase to a generous 2GB.

Only a limited number of users can take advantage of the change for now. But the hope is that WhatsApp will eventually make the new limit available to all.

Apple is already slashing iPhone SE 3 production due to weak demand

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The new iPhone SE is available is available in the same colors as before, but it's much-improved on the inside.
It's not looking good for iPhone SE.
Photo: Apple

Apple is reportedly making big cuts to iPhone SE 3 production less than two weeks after the device made its official debut. Two separate sources claim Cupertino is seeing weaker-than-expected demand for the entry-level device.

One analyst points to the fact that the third-generation is still “in stock” — without any delays in shipping — as proof that it is not selling as Apple anticipated. Shipment estimates have been cut by 10 million units as a result.

iPhone 14 Pro’s camera upgrade could mean an even fatter hump

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iPhone 13 Pro's new Ultrawide camera enables impressive-looking macro photography.
So much for those camera lenses disappearing into iPhone 14's housing.
Photo: Apple

Apple is expected to give iPhone 14 Pro a rather significant camera upgrade that could include a 48-megapixel wide angle sensor. It will mean sharper iPhone photos than ever before — but a much bigger camera bump.

According to one analyst, it will be “larger and more prominent” than the humps on previous iPhone models. That’s despite some rumors claiming that iPhone 14 itself would become thicker so that its cameras could sit flush with its shell.

CODA helps Apple TV+ become first streaming service to bag an Oscar for Best Picture

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CODA wins big at the Oscars
CODA was a big hit at the Academy Awards on Sunday.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ became the first streaming service to bag an Oscar for Best Picture, thanks to CODA‘s strong showing Sunday night at the Academy Awards. The movie won a trio of the prestigious awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.

Troy Kotsur, who nabbed the latter of the three, also made history by becoming the first deaf man to pick up an Academy Award.

Apple’s upcoming 15-inch MacBook Air may come with a different name

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15-inch MacBook Air may get a new name
Will it be just "MacBook?"
Photo: Apple

Apple is rumored to be working on a 15-inch version of the MacBook Air — something many of its notebook users have long been asking for. But according to one analyst, the new machine may launch under a different name.

Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities, who has reliably predicted Apple’s moves many times in the past, predicts mass production of a larger laptop will begin in late 2023, and that it “might not be called MacBook Air.”

Apple Maps gets a major upgrade in Canada

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Apple Maps gets a major upgrade in Canada
Enjoy a more detailed city experience, with 3D buildings and landmarks.
Images: Apple

Apple Maps users in Canada can now enjoy a more detailed mapping experience, as well as enhanced navigation, in several big cities.

Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver are the latest to get Apple’s most recent Maps upgrades — which first debuted in London, Los Angeles, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area in iOS 15 last September.

EU plans to force iMessage to work with WhatsApp, other messaging apps

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iMessage messaging
iMessage may not be an Apple exclusive for much longer.
Photo: Cee Ayes/Unsplash

The European Union plans to break down the barriers between mobile messaging services. With its Digital Markets Act, it plans to force services like iMessage, WhatsApp, and smaller messaging platforms to play nicely together.

The move would be a major blow to Apple, which has long used iMessage — which it refuses to bring to Android — as a big selling point of iPhone.

Google lets Android devs test third-party payment options (unlike Apple)

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Google tests third-party payments on Android
Spotify will be first to offer its own billing method.
Image: Google

Google on Thursday confirmed that it will give “a small number of participating developers” the ability to implement third-party payment methods in their Android apps as part of a pilot program called User Choice Billing.

Spotify, first to take advantage of the change, will offer Google Play’s billing system as well as its own. The move puts even more pressure on Apple, which has been fighting hard to block third-party payment systems on iOS.

macOS 12.3 Monterey users fight external monitor, game controller issues

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Monitor cinema display
How is macOS Monterey 12.3 holding up for you?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A growing number of Mac users are reporting issues with external monitors and game controllers after updating to macOS Monterey 12.3.

Some say their Mac no longer detects connected displays at all, while others are frustrated that their Xbox, PlayStation, and other third-party gamepads are not functioning over Bluetooth — even when the controller is connected.

iPod Hi-Fi hack adds support for … Nintendo 3DS?

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iPod Hi-Fi meets Nintendo 3DS
A surprisingly cool combo.
Photo: Will It Work?

If, like none of us, you often sit around wishing you could combine your old iPod Hi-Fi with a Nintendo 3DS, today is your lucky day. One YouTube video shows it is possible connect both gadgets — and they work surprisingly well together.

The hack is super-simple, requiring nothing more than a few basic adapters for iPod Hi-Fi’s ancient 30-pin connector, so there’s no need to pull anything apart. And it even allows the Nintendo 3DS to be controlled by an iPod Hi-Fi remote.

iFixit takes a peek at Mac Studio’s amazing insides

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Mac Studio teardown
Mac Studio's X-ray is oddly terrifying.
Photo: Creative Electron/iFixit

The gadget butchers at iFixit have finally gotten their hands on Mac Studio. After many hours on the operating table, Apple’s newest desktop has been pulled apart to give us a detailed look at its compact yet powerful insides.

You may be surprised to learn that many of Mac Studio’s components — including its SSDs and connectivity ports — are modular, which means they can be replaced if things go wrong. But user upgrades are out of the question.

Bargain silicone band makes Apple Watch ultra-comfortable, ready for anything

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BluShark silicone band for Apple Watch
Get yours today for just $10!
Photo: BluShark

If you like to wear your Apple Watch to the gym as well as the office, you need a band that’s ready for anything. And you won’t find better than the brilliant (and insanely affordable) silicone band from BluShark.

Available in a bunch of great color options — as well as smooth and textured finishes — the BluShark band is wonderfully comfortable no matter what. It’s also surprisingly tough and easy to clean. Bag yours today for just $10.

Apple Wallet’s digital driver’s licenses and IDs go live in Arizona

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Apple Wallet digital IDs
A whole bunch of other states will also add support.
Image: Apple

Apple on Wednesday confirmed that digital driver’s licenses and IDs are now available inside the Wallet app in Arizona. Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, and the territory of Puerto Rico have also pledged their support.

Cupertino first announced its latest Wallet upgrade at WWDC 2021 last June. This is the first time it has been made available to iPhone users.

iPhone 15 Pro could hide Face ID sensors beneath its screen

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iPhone 15 Pro could have hidden Face ID sensors
Samsung is already hiding cameras on its Z Fold3.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iPhone 15 Pro, which is expected to make its debut in 2023, could be Apple’s first handset with Face ID sensors hidden beneath its screen. This would reduce the amount of display space the front-facing sensors require.

A new report claims Apple will use technology currently being developed by Samsung to make the upgrade possible. In the meantime, Cupertino is gearing up to replace iPhone’s notch with a number of smaller, more subtle cutouts.

Apple snaps up UK credit company, sparking Apple Card expansion rumors

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Apple acquires Credit Kudos
Credit Kudos is now an Apple subsidiary.
Image: Credit Kudos/Apple

Apple this week acquired Credit Kudos, a credit checking startup based in the United Kingdom, according to sources familiar with the matter. An update to the Credit Kudos website confirms it is now an Apple subsidiary.

The move has ignited rumors of an upcoming Apple Card expansion into the U.K. Apple fans on the other side of the pond have been eagerly anticipating its arrival since Apple Card first made its debut in the U.S. in 2019.

MacPaw’s SpyBuster helps you weed out Mac apps reporting to Russia

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SpyBuster stops apps reporting to Russia
It's completely free to use.
Image: MacPaw

Ukrainian developer MacPaw today released SpyBuster, a new (and completely free!) Mac app that identifies software built by and reporting to “undesirable countries of origin” — such as Russia and Belarus.

SpyBuster also lets you block those connections so that you can prevent additional data being sent to overseas servers, where it may not be protected by the same privacy laws that we’re accustomed to in other countries.

Studio Display adds ‘Hey Siri’ to older Mac models, has 64GB of storage

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Apple Studio Display
That seems like a lot of storage space for a monitor.
Photo: Apple

Studio Display’s surprisingly powerful internals allow it to enable “Hey Siri” on a number of older Mac models that don’t usually support the feature — including the 2019 Mac Pro and several Mac mini variants.

Users also discovered that Studio Display has a surprisingly large (64GB) amount of internal storage. We already knew that it runs the same version of iOS 15.4 as iPhone, but still, all that space seems pretty overkill.

Nintendo ditches yet another of its mobile games

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Nintendo ditches Dragalia Lost
The game will get its last campaign update in July.
Image: Nintendo

Nintendo today confirmed plans to shut down Dragalia Lost, the free-to-play action RPG built exclusively for mobile devices. The game will get its final campaign update in July before service ceases sometime later.

Dragalia Lost joins a growing list of mobile games that Nintendo has given up on. The Japanese firm closed down Dr. Mario World last year, and threw in the towel on Miitomo and Pokémon Rumble Rush before that.

Apple opens free Learning Coach program for educators in the US

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Apple Learning Coach
Apple Education Community is also on the way this fall.
Photo: Apple

Apple just launched a new coaching program for teachers that’s designed to help educators make the most of Apple tech in the classroom. The free Apple Learning Coach program, slated to begin this fall, began accepting applications Tuesday.

Cupertino also promises a hub for Apple learning resources and a space for educators to connect and share ideas. The company also plans to integrate Apple IDs with Google Workspace, making it easier for users to keep accounts in sync.

Apple can change Studio Display stands after purchase

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Apple can change Studio Display stands
Apple can also remove its power cable with a special tool.
Photo: Apple

If you purchase an Apple Studio Display and decide you want a different stand later, you can get it upgraded at the Apple Store, according to a new report. That’s despite Cupertino warning that they’re “not interchangeable.”

Pricing varies depending on the stand or mount you want and your region. It is believed the upgrade kits are only available to Apple technicians and Authorized Service Providers, so you cannot carry out the swap yourself.

Apple TV app blocks purchases and rentals on Android TV and Google TV

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Sony TV with Apple TV+
And they probably won't be coming back.
Photo: Sony

It’s no longer possible to purchase or rent new content through the Apple TV app on Android TV and Google TV. The block comes less than a year after Apple’s service made the leap to Google’s big screen platforms.

It is believed Apple removed purchasing after failing to strike a deal with Google over in-app commission rates. You can still use the Apple TV app to watch content you’ve already purchased.

Mac Studio storage is removable but Apple blocks user upgrades

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Mac Studio storage is removable
Why, Apple?!
Photo: Luke Miani

Breaking open the new Mac Studio reveals that its solid-state storage modules are easily removable, but you can forget trying to upgrade them. Not only does Apple use a proprietary connector, but it also blocks user swaps in macOS.

YouTuber Luke Miani pulled apart two Mac Studio machines and discovered that even if you take an original SSD out of one and put it in another, it will simply refuse to boot up.

Apple Watch Series 3 could finally get the boot this year

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Apple Watch Music
It's about time.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple might discontinue the Apple Watch Series 3 later this year, according to a new report.

The device stuck around this long — five years after its 2017 introduction — as a more-affordable alternative to newer Apple Watch models. But in recent years, performance and storage constraints caused all kinds of frustrations for Apple Watch Series 3 owners.

Apple could keep us waiting for MacBook Air’s big redesign

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A MacBook Air without a Touch Bar might be in the offing for later in 2021.
The new model is expected to look a little something like this.
Concept: Ian Zelbo

MacBook Air fans may have to wait longer than expected for the ultraportable’s next big redesign. It was predicted to come early this year, but a new report claims it won’t be ready until sometime during the second half of 2022.

There’s also bad news for MacBook Pro fans. It seems updates to the 14- and 16-inch models, which could bring next-generation “M2 Pro” and “M2 Max” chipsets, won’t appear until 2023.