U.K.

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on U.K.:

The real reason Brits don’t watch Ted Lasso

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Not many Brits watch
Not many Brits watch "Ted Lasso," but it's not necessarily for reasons of taste.
Photo: Apple TV+

The smash-hit Apple TV+ comedy Ted Lasso is set in greater London. It’s about the unlikely coach of a fictional team in England’s (and the world’s) top soccer league, which is England’s (and the world’s) favorite sport. So why don’t Brits actually watch the show?

No, it’s not some disconnect between American and British humor. The real reason has more to do with adoption of the streaming service itself. And some people blame Apple TV+ for that.

Apple.com displays government COVID-19 advice in U.K. and France

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Official videos from the NHS and Santé public can now be seen on Apple's website.
Screenshot: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s websites for the U.K. and France were on Thursday updated to display COVID-19 advice from the government.

Large featured sections on their homepages remind visitors of the official advice related to the coronavirus pandemic. In the U.K., this includes the same National Health Service (NHS) video that can be found in the App Store.

iOS 13 will read NFC tags in ID cards and passports in Germany

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It’s already possible if you use Android.
Photo: Bundesministerium des Innern, für Bau und Heimat

iPhone users will be able to scan German ID cards, passports, and more when iOS 13 rolls out this fall, according to local authorities.

The functionality will allow digital versions of those documents to be carried on an iOS device so that they are always accessible. Recent reports have confirmed users in Japan will be able to do the same with national ID cards.

Android creator’s Essential Phone will fight iPhone worldwide

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Essential Phone
Essential Phone will expand its reach to new markets.
Photo: Essential

The Essential Phone, built by Android creator Andy Rubin, will do battle against the iPhone in new markets around the world.

For now, the device is only available to those in the U.S. — but Essential is already in talks with carriers in the U.K., Europe, and Japan as it looks to expand its reach.

iOS grows as iPhone 7 remains a top seller

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iOS and Android are killing off the competition.
iOS and Android are killing off the competition.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS saw continued growth in almost every market around the world last quarter, according to the latest data, while iPhone 7 remains a top seller in key countries.

Android also achieved market share increases in every region but the U.S., while BlackBerry, Windows, and other mobile operating systems continue to die out.

Tim Cook warns that world needs to fix ‘fake news’

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Apple's Q2 earnings weren't that impressive.
Apple wants to tamp down on fake news.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Alternative facts and fake news have become so pervasive in the the we consume lately that Apple CEO Tim Cook says it’s “one of today’s chief problems.”

During an interview this week in the U.K., Cook talked about the challenges tech companies face on how to combat stories that perpetuate false information without hurting the free flow of ideas on the internet.

Apple is hiking up App Store prices in the U.K.

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Mac App Store
Prepare to pay more for iOS and macOS apps.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple will hike App Store prices for users in the U.K. due to fluctuating exchange rates and taxation changes.

U.K. prices will go up by at least 25 percent within the next seven days, and Turkey, India and other countries can also expect to see increases, Apple said.

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar now shipping in the U.K. and Europe

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macbook pro
Is yours on its way yet?
Photo: Apple

Apple has started shipping out the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar to customers in the U.K. and the rest of Europe.

Those who places an order before shipping dates slipped started to see their order status change to “preparing for shipment” on Monday, and many are reporting their new machine has now shipped this morning.

Apple Pay transaction limit rises in the U.K.

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Apple Pay is coming to the U.K. this fall.
Apple Pay just got a bit better for U.K. customers.
Photo: Apple

There’s no logical reason why Apple Pay transaction costs should be limited, but in the U.K. users have been stuck with a limit of £20 ($30) since the service first debuted in July.

Thanks to the rise of people using both Apple Pay and contactless cards in general, however, that number has now been increased by 50 percent to £30 ($46).

The New iPhones Will Support All Four Of The U.K.’s 4G Carriers, Despite What Apple Says

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When Apple updated its website on Tuesday and added the new iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c to its online store, we were surprised to see that it was only advertising support for two of the U.K.’s four 4G carriers — EE and Vodafone. But don’t worry, both Three and O2 have confirmed that the devices will support their new LTE networks, too.

Three U.K. Confirms 4G Rollout Is On Track For Q4, Will Not Cost Any Extra

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Now that EE is already providing 4G LTE services in the U.K., and Vodafone and O2 are scheduled to launch their own 4G networks at the end of this month, Three was the only major carrier yet to announce its rollout plans.

But the company has today confirmed that it is on track to launch 4G during the fourth quarter of this year, and that it will come at no extra cost to consumers.

O2 U.K. Announces 4G Price Plans & Launch Date

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EE has been the United Kingdom’s only 4G provider for around nine months now, but at the end of this month, it’ll finally see some competition. O2 has today announced that its own 4G network will launch on August 29, with prices starting at £26 per month. The service will reach three cities initially, with ten more scheduled to be added by the end of the year.

O2 Becomes Latest To Offer Free Wi-Fi On The London Underground

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O2, one of the U.K.’s largest cellular operators, has announced the launch of its free London Underground Wi-Fi connectivity for its mobile subscribers. Like both EE and Vodafone, O2 has entered into a partnership with Virgin Media – which has Wi-Fi hotspots at more than 120 tube stations across central London – to provide the new service to its customers.

Samsung Hires U.K. Judge Who Forced Apple To Apologize To Them Publicly

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Samsung-sign

Remember that one time that a U.K. judge told Apple that they have to publish a public apology to Samsung on their homepage? It was a really weird punishment that made a lot of us scratch our heads, but Apple handled it pretty well.

Well it turns out that that same U.K. judge who was pro-Samsung now has a really good reason for wanting Samsung to win against Apple – he just got a new job with Samsung!

Apple Hires Rolls Royce Director To Bolster Corporate Communications Overseas [Rumor]

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You can keep the Phantom, Apple.
You can keep the Phantom, Apple.

As Apple continues to expand its presence internationally, the company has reportedly created a new executive position for handling business affairs in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. An unverified report claims that Josh Rosenstock, former Director of External Communications for luxury car maker Rolls Royce, has been hired to fill the spot.