Cult of Mac Magazine: HomePod leaks new ‘SmartCamera’ for iPhone, More iPhone 8 details, and more!

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HomePod’s software contains mentions of facial recognition. Previous rumors also claimed Apple would add facial scanning to the iPhone 8 as a replacement to Touch ID.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac Magazine

HomePod software appears to reference an unannounced “SmartCamera” feature built into iOS 11 or the yet-to-be-released 2017 iPhone. And it could totally change the way we snap photos.

In this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine, you’ll find that story and more. Get more juicy details on iPhone 8. And check out one of our favorite custom-fit bands for Apple Watch now available in seven new leather colors. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Cult of Mac Magazine, Issue 204

face trackingHomePod software leaks new ‘SmartCamera’ feature for iPhone
Apple’s HomePod might have revealed another huge new iPhone feature after developers did some more digging into the beta software for the upcoming smart speaker.

HomeKit compatibility will turn the HomePod into a smart home hub.HomePod hardware uncovered in latest software leak
There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the HomePod speaker Apple announced at WWDC last month.

Apple's new HomePod smart speaker is ready to rock your house.Leaked audio files reveal HomePod’s cool UI sounds
After details on the speaker’s screen got discovered, another developer unearthed the UI sounds that will be used on HomePod. Listen for yourself:

Sleuths discover an iPhone 8 icon in HomePod firmware.More juicy details about iPhone 8 discovered in Apple code
Yet more information about the iPhone 8 has been discovered in Apple’s HomePod firmware.

Steve T-S iPhone 8 might drop Touch ID for 3-D face scanner
Code confirming the existence of Apple’s infrared facial recognition technology has been discovered by intrepid developer-turned-iOS sleuth Steve Troughton-Smith.

iphone 5 tips to fix an unresponsive iPhone screen
If you’ve been having problems with your iPhone or iPad screen not acting quite as responsive as usual, don’t panic: You can try out plenty of quick and easy tricks before heading to your closest Genius Bar.

iphone proiPhone 8’s radical redesign could bring awesome UI change
Here’s how iOS could change to take advantage of it with a sweet new user interface.

form function formCustom-fit Apple Watch band takes style to next level
The adjustable length Button-Stud Apple Watch band fits virtually all wrist sizes — from the fleshiest to thinnest!

icloud keychainHow to use iCloud Keychain to sync passwords across Apple devices
If you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem, it might be a good idea to start using this handy feature. Before we dive in to use it, let’s have a look at all the features of iCloud Keychain.

watchosHow to load and play podcasts offline on Apple Watch
A lot of people who enjoy listening to podcasts or music while jogging will agree that it’s inconvenient to carry an iPhone. While music lovers can sync playlists from their iPhone to their Apple Watch, Apple’s Podcast app doesn’t do the same for podcasts.

1voiceBluetooth earbuds include a convenient charging case
Wireless Bluetooth earbuds are basically the ultimate in convenience for listening to music. Unfortunately, their one weak point is the constant need for recharging. Even with improving battery lives, running out of juice is a problem worth avoiding.

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