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Buster Hein - page 32

Instagram goes to war against fake follows and likes

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Instagram lawsuit
Instagram is fixing its fake likes problem.
Photo: Pixabay

Using a third-party app to gain followers and likes on Instagram are about to become a lot less effective at artificially growing audiences.

Instagram revealed today that it is going to war against fake follows and likes by using AI to identify accounts that engage in the practice. Starting today, Instagram says it will remove inauthentic likes, follows and comments from accounts that use third-party apps to boost their popularity.

This is the message you’ll see if you’re guilty:

Google Photos can now adjust background blur on Portrait Mode pics

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Google Photos library backup on iPhone X
Google Photos is the photo and video backup app we all wish Apple would give us.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

You no longer need to buy the iPhone XS or XS Max to take advantage of one of the best features on the new devices’ camera.

Google Photos pushed out an update this morning that allows any iPhone owner with a Portrait Mode camera to adjust the background blur after a photo has been taken.

Brilliant Pod Case concept turns Apple Watch into iPod

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Podcase
This needs to be a thing.
Photo: Joyce Kang

iPod lovers have been waiting years for Apple to resurrect its portable music player, but a brilliant new concept case could give us the next best thing.

Designer Joyce Kang created a brilliant mockup of a case for Apple Watch that transforms it into a music player reminiscent of the original iPod. The tiny case even comes with a working click wheel — and still gives you access to Apple Watch’s best features!

Apple inks movie deal with Oscar-winning indie studio

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mid90s cast
The cast of A24's latest movie, mid90s
Photo: A24

One of the hottest indie movie studios in Hollywood is joining forces with Apple to make a series of movies.

A24, the studio behind the Oscar-winning film Moonlight, has inked a multi-year deal to produce a slate of films, in what is the first major movie deal for Apple.

10 reasons I chose iPhone XR over iPhone XS Max

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The CultCast host Erfon Elijah loves the iPhone XR.
The CultCast host Erfon Elijah loves the iPhone XR.
Photo: Erfon Elijah/Cult of Mac

The iPhone XS and XS Max are undeniably the most gorgeous phones ever created. But when it comes time to actually shell out your own hard-earned cash for an iPhone in the year 2018, there’s one clear winner: the iPhone XR.

Even though it doesn’t have the same amazing OLED display as the iPhone XS Max, there’s a lot to love about the iPhone XR. And we’re not just talking about the price tag. The CultCast host Erfon Elijah breaks down why you should consider going all-in on the colorful iPhone XR.

Apple is poaching engineers in Qualcomm’s backyard

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Qualcomm patents
A jury sided with Qualcomm over claims Apple stole patents for the iPhone.
Photo: Qualcomm

One of Apple’s oldest wireless chip suppliers is now facing a huge threat of having employees poached by the iPhone-maker.

For the first time ever, Apple has started advertising engineering jobs in Qualcomm’s backyard, San Diego, California. The move comes as the two companies have been feuding for two years regarding royalty payments and Apple’s hiring spree could deepen the riff.

New iPad Pro doubles as display for new Mac mini

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Processed with VSCO with 4 preset
This might be our dream computer.
Photo: Luna Display

Having a hard time deciding between whether to buy the new Mac mini or the new iPad Pro?

Why not get both and merge them into one workstation?

Luma Display revealed that its iPad app can be used with the new iPad Pro to turn it into a display for the new Mac mini. The end result is a workstation that gives you the best of both worlds for iOS and macOS.

Check out this brilliant setup:

Netflix begins testing cheaper mobile-only subscription plan

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75% of Netflix users have no plans to jump ship to Apple TV+ (right away)
Cheaper plans could help Netflix add a ton of subscribers.
Photo: Stock Catalog/Flickr CC

Binging your favorite Netflix shows might be about to get a lot cheaper.

Netflix is currently testing a new mobile-only subscription plan that costs about half the price of the next-cheapest package. The option is currently only available in Malaysia but it’s coming to more markets soon.

Apple is now selling refurbished HomePods

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The HomePod -- a beautiful body with the brain of an idiot.
Apple wants to make a bigger mark on your home.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Getting your hands on Apple’s HomePod smart speaker just got a little bit more affordable.

Apple’s online store is now selling refurbished HomePod units for $299. This is the first time the HomePod has been added to the refurbished store since the speaker first went on sale in February.

Amazon gets green light to sell more Apple products

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iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR
You'll be able to scoop an iPhone from Amazon real soon.
Photo: Apple

Amazon shoppers are about to see a whole lot more Apple products on the retailer’s online storefront.

Apple and Amazon have reportedly inked a deal that allows Amazon to sell Apple’s newest iPhones and other products. The deal gives Apple a huge new sales channel but there’s one product Amazon doesn’t want to sell for Apple.

Blind surfer shows how iPhone’s VoiceOver feature is a game-changer

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Scott Leason
Blind veteran Scott Laeson paddling out to surf.
Photo: Apple

Apple gave fans a heartwarming glimpse at how the iPhone and Apple Watch have helped a blind veteran gain more independence on his path to becoming a competition-winning surfer.

In a new post on its website, Apple shared a story about longboard surfer Scott Leason. After his time serving as a signalman in the U.S. Navy, Leason lost both of his eyes to a robber’s bullet in 1993. Getting used to his new life without sight took getting used to, but when Leason got his first iPhone in 2012, it was a gamechanger.

Look inside Apple’s first store in Thailand

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Apple store bangkok
The outside of the new Bangkok store.
Photo: Apple

One of the most popular countries in South East Asia for American tourists is finally getting its first Apple store.

Apple is set to open the doors of its Bangkok store in Thailand on Saturday, offering Apple’s first-ever official sales channel in the country for the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and the Apple Watch Series 4. Ahead of the launch, Apple shared a few shots of the interior and it looks both simple and grand.

70-year-old man uses 11-phone rig to dominate Pokémon Go

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Pokemon go guy
Chen San-yuan is training to be the very best.
Photo: Muumi5x15/Twitter

Turns out the world’s most dedicated Pokémon Go player probably isn’t a pimple-faced teen ditching school but is actually a 70-year-old grandpa in Taiwan.

Chen San-yuan recently became an online sensation for his love for Pokémon Go, which led him to create an insane rig of 11 phones mounted to his bike or waist. You know your Pokémon Go addiction is bad when you’re spending $1,000 a month on new phones and lures.

Take a look at his impressive rig:

Clips adds new Selfie Scenes, stickers and more

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Clips
Apple just added some big updates to Clips
Photo: Apple

Apple’s quick video editing app, Clips, just got a big update today that adds new features that take advantage of the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone XS, XS Max, XR and iPad Pros.

The new update brings new Selfie Scenes, stickers, soundtracks more, making it even easier for iPhone and iPad users to create fun videos on-the-go.

No settlement in sight for Apple vs Qualcomm legal battle

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Qualcomm patents
Qualcomm has become Apple's biggest legal foe.
Photo: Qualcomm

Apple is making zero effort to reach a settlement in its wide-ranging legal battle with Qualcomm.

The iPhone-maker used Qualcomm wireless chips in its devices for years, but the two sides recently started butting heads over how much Apple owes in royalties. Qualcomm alleges that Apple should pay it an additional $7 billion and it looks like it will have to go to war for every cent.

The first folding smartphone is already here

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smartphone
Royale's new FlexPai folding tablet.
Photo: Royale

The future’s promise to give us folding smartphone-tablet hybrids like the ones found on Westworld has already arrived.

Apple fans will have to wait until 2020 at the earliest for a folding iPhone, but an Android manufacturer called Royole just debuted its folding smartphone and while it doesn’t look that incredible, it’s an amazing sign that the sci-fi tech might finally be ready for mass-market devices.

Take a look:

Foxconn denies US plant will be staffed with Chinese engineers

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Foxconn Wisconsin
Foxconn is moving to the U.S.
Photo: Foxconn

Apple’s top manufacturing partner Foxconn is denying a recent report from the Wall Street Journal that the company is looking to staff its new Wisconsin plant with employees from China.

Foxconn allegedly plans to bring engineers to fill a gap in prospective talent due to a tight labor market, the Journal claims. The plant has already been scaled back in size. Adding Chinese laborers instead of creating American jobs would certainly cause even more controversy.

Not so fast: Maybe new AirPods are coming soon!

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AirPods supplier confident of booming business through 2021
We're dying for updated AirPods.
Photo: Ste Smith/CultofMac

There’s still a slight chance Apple could release updated AirPods before the end of the 2018 holiday season.

A newly granted Bluetooth SIG certification indicates that new wireless earpods are in the pipeline. Tim Cook recently bragged that Apple has the best product lineup ever going into the holidays, but there may not be enough time to add AirPods 2.0 to the roster.

watchOS 5.1.1 is out with crucial fix for Apple Watch

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Man’s brand new Apple Watch turns out to be toilet plunger
A new fix is out for Apple Watch.
Photo: Ste Smith/CultofMac

Apple Watch owners can finally take advantage of the 70 new emoji Apple already added to iPhone, iPad and Mac last week.

After pulling watchOS 5.1 last week because it bricked some watches, Apple has come out with a new watchOS 5.1.1 update that contains all of the goodies from watchOS 5.1, plus a crucial fix for the bug that made some watches inoperable.

iPhone XR speed test makes Note 9 look slow and overpriced

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iPhone XR vs. Galaxy Note 9 Phone test
Samsung should be embarrassed
Photo: PhoneBuff

Apple’s cheapest iPhone of 2018 is just as fast as Samsung’s most expensive smartphone.

Despite packing less than half the RAM and $500 cheaper price tag, the iPhone XR matched Samsung’s Note 9 in a recent speed test by PhoneBuff. The new iPhone was even leading the Note 9 during some parts of the speed test, which shows how quickly the devices can open some of the biggest apps on iOS and Android.

Watch the battle:

Everything you need to know about Apple’s Q4 2018 earnings call

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Apple is worth more than the entire US energy sector combined
Apple is worth more than the entire US energy sector combined
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple just had its best September quarter of all-time and CEO Tim Cook couldn’t have sounded happier when he got on the phone with investors today. The company is heading into the holiday season with its best lineup ever and expects to set more records next quarter.

Investors did not seem to be too impressed with the results though. Apple’s stock price dropped from $222.22 to as low as $206 in after-hours training. Despite Wall Street’s worries about Apple, there was plenty of achievements for Tim Cook and Luca Maestri to boast about on today’s call.

There were the biggest revelations from today’s call:

Apple posts record-breaking Q4 2018 earnings

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apple
Q4 is another record-breaker.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple just posted its Q4 2018 earnings report and, per usual, it was another record-breaking quarter for the iPhone-maker.

Revenue and iPhone sales came in slightly higher than Wall Street’s expectations, while Services revenue hit an all-time high of $10 billion. Another record-breaking quarter looks like it’s on the horizon, too. Apple CEO Tim says the company is heading into the holiday season with its strongest lineup ever.

Live blog: Apple gives investors first look at iPhone XS sales

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Apple earnings
Apple's Q2 earnings are expected to be a bit of a downer.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s last earnings call of 2018 kicks off in an hour, and it’s shaping up to be the company’s biggest Q4 report ever.

Shares of Apple stock have been on an upward trend the last few days as investors eagerly await their first glimpse at iPhone XS sales figures. Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are set to get on the phone with investors at 2 p.m. Pacific this afternoon. We’ll be right here live-blogging all the action with as much witty analysis as we can must.

Come join the fun!

Apple joins opposition to Trump transgender policy

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President Trump: Apple encryption could protect ‘criminal minds’
Trump wants transgenders to be redefined out of existence.
Photo: Bloomberg

Some of the biggest company’s in the country have come out in open opposition to transgender policy changes proposed by US president Donald Trump.

Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google are among 50 companies that signed a letter condemning Trump’s alleged plans to limit the definition of gender to birth anatomy. The companies — representing over $2.4 trillion in annual revenue — say that what harms transgender people harms their companies.