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Apple Inc. - page 25

European court rules Apple and other tech companies are violating privacy

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The European Court of Justice just handed down a disruptive ruling.
The European Court of Justice just handed down a disruptive ruling.
Photo: Cédric Puisney/FlickrCC

In a landmark decision Tuesday, the European Court of Justice ruled that European Union regulators can override the Safe Harbor agreement, a 15-year-old accord that has — until now — allowed Apple, Google, Facebook, and about 4,500 other U.S. companies to transfer data from European users to the U.S.

The court believes that the current agreement violates European citizens’ right to privacy by exposing their private data to the U.S. government through the American companies’ cooperation with U.S. intelligence agencies.

How Microsoft’s ambitious new Lumia 950 phones compare to rivals

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Windows 10 Mobile
Windows phones could be about to make a comeback.
Photo: Microsoft
Could you fall in love with a Lumia? Photo: Microsoft
Could you fall in love with a Lumia? Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft’s new Lumia 950 and Lumia 950 XL have arrived, with high-end specifications, iris recognition technology, and the latest Windows 10 software. But do they have what it takes to persuade you to give up Android or iOS?

Find out in our in-depth comparison below.

Check out the new Microsoft Windows logo designed by Apple

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Notice something different about the Windows logo?
Notice something different about the Windows logo?
Photo: Apple

It looks like Apple hated Microsoft’s new Windows logo so much that it got redesigned for an iCloud support page.

Apple updated its article on how to get help using iCloud Calendar recently and added a custom Windows logo that looks like a literal window with a little windowsill underneath. It’s more like clip art than something master designer Jony Ive would approve of, which makes it kind of mysterious why it’s there when the official logo would suffice.

Here’s the official logo for comparison:

Young app developer has caught the eye of Apple

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Connor Chung
Connor Chung, 14, of Bethlehem, NY, at the WWDC 2015.
Photo: Connor Chung

Few things could excuse a kid from skipping his middle school graduation. Connor Chung had a note from Apple.

It explained he would be needed in San Francisco for the WWDC. Once there, he would meet important people like Tim Cook, take part in brainstorming sessions with developers and engineers and lay the groundwork for an Apple Watch app that would be among the first in iTunes on the day OS 2 launched.

You can’t help but be attracted to this magnetic Lightning cable

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The MagCable works with an adapter tip and magnetic cable.
The MagCable works with an adapter tip and magnetic cable.
Photo: aMagic

From the 1st century to today, you could say the magnet is one component of technology that has stuck around.

With that bad pun out of the way (two if you count the headline), a Hong Kong company is using the simple magnet to make the charging of our smartphones easier and faster. The MagCable is a USB cable with a magnetic end that snaps into place thanks to an adapter tip that plugs into your charging port.

There is even a Lightning magnet adapter for iPhone and charging can be sped up by a button on the cable that shuts off data sync.

XTRON power bank is futureproof thanks to USB-C

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The XTRON from Maximas has a USB-C port and is capable of charging multiple devices.
The XTRON from Maximas has a USB-C port and is capable of charging multiple devices.
Photo: Maximas

It may look like a flask, but the contents of the XTRON pack more of a punch than your favorite bourbon.

It’s a portable power bank from Maximas with a whopping 13400mAh. Its best feature is the USB-C port, the up-and-coming USB standard, and it is capable of charging any laptop with this port, especially the newest MacBook.

How Google’s new Nexus phones stack up against the competition

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how-googles-new-nexus-phones-stack-up-against-the-competition-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509nexus-6p-front-jpg
Should the Nexus 6P be your next smartphone? Photo: Google
Should the Nexus 6P be your next smartphone? Photo: Google

Following their big unveiling in San Francisco this morning, Google’s new Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are now available for pre-order. But should you buy one, or is your hard-earned cash better spent elsewhere?

To help you decide, here’s a handy comparison that shows you how Google’s latest devices stack up against the competition from Apple, Samsung, LG, Motorola, and more.

Marvel at these marble-ous Apple skins and cases

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This protective skin from UNIQFIND has the look of marble in white and black.
This protective skin from UNIQFIND has the look of marble in white and black.
Photo: UNIQFIND

Sometimes purchasing an Apple device can feel like you are shelling out for Italian marble. So it might as well look like it.

Design company UNIQFIND has developed skins and cases for MacBooks, iPads and iPhones that have the look of black or white marble.

Third-party service claims to be offering Apple Music for Android beta

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third-party-claims-to-be-offering-apple-music-for-android-beta-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads2015092015-09-28-153611-1-jpg
Apple Music should be available on Android soon. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Apple Music should be available on Android soon. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

We’ve heard very little about the official Apple Music app for Android since the service was announced back in June, but now a third-party company claims to be running a new beta program on Apple’s behalf.

Betabound is giving Android users the opportunity to register their interest in Apple Music for a chance to get early access — but we’re not totally sure it can be trusted.

Cult of Mac Magazine Special Edition: iPhone 6s Super Guide

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All that you need to know about Apple's greatest iPhone yet.
All that you need to know about Apple's greatest iPhone yet.
Cover Deign: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

We’re excited! This week marks the launch of our brand-new Cult of Mac Magazine app, version 2.0!

We’ve redesigned it to make it even easier to get all of the best Cult of Mac content in a version that’s optimized for touchscreen displays. Just zoom in with your finger and thumb to pull up a story. When you get to the end, it will automatically bring up the next one.

We’ve created a special issue for you this week, as well, as we bring you our iPhone 6s Super Guide, chock-full of handy info on setting up that brand new shiny iPhone 6s or 6s Plus, along with a ton of great tips on using Apple’s latest iOS 9 like a crazy bossman.

Download the brand new Cult of Mac Magazine app from iTunes right now, and you’ll get all this, and more, absolutely free.

Here’s the rundown of our top stories this week:

Must have the iPhone 6s? These are your must-have accessories

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A lens attachment with case by Moment is a good compliment to the 12-megapixel camera in the new iPhone 6s.
A lens attachment with case by Moment is a good compliment to the 12-megapixel camera in the new iPhone 6s.
Photo: Moment

Your personal hero now has an S on its chest and, behind it, are some new superpowers. Behold, the iPhone 6s.

But wait: There’s still some money to be spent on a new suit of armor and some other accessories to exploit the talents of the latest hardware out of Cupertino.

Cult of Mac has drawn up a shopping list for you. You could probably squeeze the 6s into the same case and carry on with your current set of headphones, but hey — a new iPhone only comes around once a year.

Architects behind Apple’s spaceship campus set their sights on Mars

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Foster + Partners want to take on Mars.
Foster + Partners want to take on Mars.
Photo: Foster + Partners

Foster + Partners is currently making a name for itself by designing Apple’s new spaceship campus and flagship stores, but once it’s done taking over Earth, the London-based architecture firm wants to help NASA create human colonies on Mars.

Norman Foster’s firm revealed its plans for a 93-square meter habitat that would be 3D printed from the loose soil and rocks on the the martian surface. The firm’s designs were shortlisted as a finalist for the 3D Printed Habitat Challenge hosted by NASA and America Makes.

This is the same architecture firm that designed Apple’s spaceship in Cupertino as well as most of the flagship Apple Store. While the structures presented in the Mars plan are vastly different from what Apple uses, it shows the kind of crazy ideas that go into modern architecture, some of which can be implemented in one way or another here on Earth.

Here’s how the firm says it would put 4 astronauts on the red planet:

Samsung tries to sell its Galaxy S6 edge to iPhone 6s buyers in London

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Really, Samsung?
Photo: Carly Page/The Inquirer
Really, Samsung? Photo: Carly Page/The Inquirer
Really, Samsung? Photo: Carly Page/The Inquirer

When you’re lining up for a brand new iPhone on launch day, the last thing you expect to see outside the Apple Store is a whole team of people from Samsung. But that’s exactly what iPhone 6s buyers in London were greeted by this morning.

Samsung sent a flock of people to gatecrash the iPhone 6s launch at the Apple Store on Regent Street to promote the Galaxy S6 edge and S6 edge+, and to hand out free goodies bearing Samsung’s “#NextisNew” slogan.

HTC’s iPhone clone leaks out again with giant bezels, six color options

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htcs-iphone-clone-leaks-out-again-with-giant-bezels-six-color-options-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509HTC-One-A9-colors-jpg
One A9's six color options.
Photo: Evan Blass
One A9's six color options. Photo: Evan Blass
One A9’s six color options. Photo: Evan Blass

HTC’s upcoming iPhone clone, the One A9, has leaked out again ahead of its official unveiling.

A new press image confirms the device will be available in six colors, with gigantic bezels above and beneath its display that somewhat spoil its otherwise attractive look.

10 native apps that give Apple Watch some independence

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Native apps, like Dark Sky, take advantage of the new OS for Apple Watch.
Native apps, like Dark Sky, take advantage of the new OS for Apple Watch.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The future of computing may be sitting on your wrist, but it’s still tethered to something a little old-fashioned. But as of Monday, the Apple Watch’s new operating system allows it to cut a few of the cords that connect it to the iPhone.

Apple’s watchOS 2 debuted, giving the watch new superpowers but also allowing native apps to run independently of the iPhone.

Give your Apple Watch a facelift with watchOS 2

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Apple Watch is a killer device, even without a
Apple Watch is a killer device, even without a "killer app."
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

I was so excited to have a color screen on my Apple Watch when I picked the Sport up this past April.

When I went through all the watch faces, though, I was rather underwhelmed; really, you have a bright, high-resolution monitor on your wrist and all you can do is put a moving moth or Mickey Mouse on it? Ugh.

Luckily, with watchOS 2, Apple’s made things just a little brighter and a little more animated. Here’s how to get these snappy new watch faces on your own Apple Watch.

Protect yourself from massive iOS security breach

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False versions of Xcode may have gotten into your apps; here's how to fix the problem.
False versions of Xcode may have gotten into your apps; here's how to fix the problem.
Photo: Apple

Apple has now been affected by the worst security snafu in iOS history when it found that hundreds of apps, mostly in the Chinese App Store, have malicious code in them, called “XcodeGhost.”

Apple’s pulled the affected apps from the App Store to contain the security breach, but you’ll still need to take a few more steps to make sure your iOS devices aren’t affected. Here’s what you need to do.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Why you need iOS 9 right now

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More iOS 9 news and reviews than you can handle!
More iOS 9 news and reviews than you can handle!
Cover: Stephen Smith/Cult of Mac

We’re excited about all the cool new “whiz-bang” features in iOS 9 as well as the hundreds of tiny little improvements that will make your iPhone and iPad much better to use.

This week, we’re sharing that joy with you as we take a deep dive into iOS 9’s killer new features, how to upgrade the right way, an abundance of tiny tricks you need to know, and some of the best apps already rocking iOS 9.

Take a look at Cult of Mac Magazine to fill your head with all this great content.

Android vs. iOS: Do adoption figures mean anything?

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Is it fair to compare (adoption rates)?
Is it fair to compare (adoption rates)?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS 9 has been out for two days, and it’s already running on more than 20 percent of compatible devices, according to the latest data. In comparison, Google’s latest Android release, version 5.1 Lollipop, is running on just 5.1 percent of devices ten months after it made its public debut.

Friday-Night-Fights-bug-2These figures highlight the staggering difference between updates on Android and iOS. But is it fair to compare adoption figures between these two platforms, and do users really care?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight between Cult of Android and Cult of Mac as we battle it out over this very topic!

How to use Notes in iOS 9 like a boss

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Notes-app
Keep your dirty words out of the Notes app.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The busier my life gets, the more disorganized I become. I fumble for a notepad when I’m out and want to get someone’s phone number. I think of get short story ideas when I’m in the shower, and I have tons of books and movies I want to get (usually when I’m broke). Don’t get me started on shopping lists. Who has time to write those out?

My digital life is just as disorganized. There are web links to save, photos of stuff I want to share with friends, and notes I need to refer to while writing articles on the web. They’re each in their own separate apps or websites, making pulling everything together a pain.

Notes in iOS 9 solves this dilemma by allowing us all to keep all our photos, notes, shopping lists in the one place we’re most likely to find it: on our iPhones.

Better yet, you can dictate an idea for your next screenplay right out of the shower, then pick up your iPad when you get to work and resume it right there.

Here’s how to get the most out of your new Notes app, and never be disorganized again.

Apple cloned another Android app for Move to iOS

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apple-cloned-another-android-app-for-move-to-ios-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509Move-to-iOS1-jpg
Move to iOS wasn't made by Apple. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Move to iOS wasn’t made by Apple. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Apple brought its first Android app to the Play Store earlier this week, making it easy to transfer all of your data to an iPhone should you choose to switch. But it turns out the app isn’t really Apple’s; it’s actually a rebranded version of an existing Android app.

Judge orders Samsung to stop ripping off Apple

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judge-orders-samsung-to-stop-ripping-off-apple-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509Samsung-Galaxy-S6-Edge-and-Note-5-jpg
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge and Note 5
Be careful how you unlock these Samsung devices; Apple might sue you.

Samsung might soon be legally forbidden from continuing to rip off Apple.

In a 2-1 decision today, a federal appeals court ruled that the monetary damages another court ordered the South Korean company to pay Apple last year wasn’t enough; it also had to stop using those design elements that infringe upon Cupertino’s patents.

Apple snaps up company to improve its Maps

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iOS 9 transit maps
Now live in France, Germany, Spain, and more.
Photo: Apple

A new acquisition from Apple suggests that the iPhone maker might be getting into the map-making business.

The company paid as much as $30 million for a 12-person San Francisco startup that specializes in parsing location data into visualizations, according to reports.