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Ed Hardy - page 174

Apple explores crazy ways to add touch to MacBooks

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A touch sensitive area could make a MacBook trackpad movable.
A future MacBook might let you put the trackpad anywhere you want.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Far from resting on its laurels, Apple continues to look for innovative features to build into MacBooks. A patent awarded Tuesday shows the company is considering making the trackpad virtual, so it can be positioned wherever the user likes.

And a second patent goes even further, making the keyboard and the area around it touch-sensitive.

Samsung T7 tiny USB-C SSD stores up to 2TB

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Samsung T7 connects easily to a variety of computers.
The Samsung T7 is ultraportable and can be used with Mac or iPad Pro.
Photo: Samsung

The Samsung T7 isn’t much bigger than a business card, but the portable Solid State Drive (SSD) is available in sizes up to 2TB. And USB-C brings compatibility with a wide variety of Apple computers, as well as other devices.

Designed to be used on the go, a solid aluminum cases makes it shock resistant from drops up to 2 meters.

OtterBox updates sleek, transparent folio case to fit 2020 iPad Pro

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OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 for 2020 iPad Pro
The OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 both protects the 2020 iPad Pro and acts as a stand.
Photo: OtterBox

The latest iteration of the OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 Folio Case got a design tweak for the 2020 iPad Pro. This case offers a clear, scratch-resistant design as well as drop protection.

The updated version takes into account the significant camera enhancements in the latest iPad Pro.

Take a peek at Gobi, the shopping-oriented AR app coming in iOS 14

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LEGO AR Studio
Augmented reality is already being used to sell products, and Apple is supposedly embracing that with Gobi in iOS 14.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

More details of the augmented-reality application supposedly coming in iOS 14 leaked out Monday. This goes under the code-name Gobi, and what’s come to light shows an emphasis on businesses and products, rather than games.

In addition, this leak reveals additional details on how the next iOS version will use AR to help users find lost items.

Xfinity Mobile adds free 5G to phone plans

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Xfinity Mobile 5G is here
When the 5G iPhone arrives, you can connect it to Xfinity Mobile for no extra cost.
Photo: Xfinity Mobile

Xfinity Mobile subscribers can now add 5G service to their wireless phone service at no extra cost. This includes every plan offered by the telecom, not just pricy unlimited plans.

This company resells Verizon services, and that carrier now has 5G in parts of 34 major cities.

watchOS 6.2.5 brings new Pride Apple Watch faces, expands ECG features to Saudi Arabia

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This Apple Watch Pride face debuted in watchOS 6.2.5
This Apple Watch Pride face debuted in watchOS 6.2.5. And this band also launched today.
Photo: Apple

Monday’s release of watchOS 6.2.5 includes a trio of new faces in the Pride series. It was timed with the debut of new matching Watch bands in the Apple Store.

In addition, Apple Watch wearers in Saudi Arabia just got access to the ECG features of Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 5.

iOS 13.5 golden master means COVID-19 exposure notifications are almost here

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iOS 13.5 golden master is available only to developers.
The iOS 13.5 golden master gives developers an early look at a number of features related to COVID-19.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Starting Monday, iOS 13.5 golden master and the iPad equivalent are available for developers to test. The general public is likely to get access to them in a week or so.

This might be known as the COVID-19 update. It includes a number of new features, almost all focused on the current crisis. That includes the coronavirus contact-tracing tool Apple is developing in cooperation with Google.

Aukey USB-C hub packs a whopping 12 ports [Review]

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Aukey CB-C78 works with Mac, MacBook and iPad Pro.
The Aukey CB-C78 12-in-1 USB-C Hub includes points for multiple monitors plus several USB accessories, and that’s just scratching the surface.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Aukey CB-C78 USB-C hub connects your Mac to two HDMI monitors, four USB-A accessories, Ethernet and much more… all at once. With no less than a dozen ports, you can be confident that you’ll be able to connect to anything and everything you need.

I extensively tested the Aukey CB-C78 12-in-1 Hub to be sure it lived up to the promises.

Mythic Quest: Quarantine turns lockdown into laughs on Apple TV+

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Mythic Quest: Quarantine“ is coming to Apple TV+.
The Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest airs a quarantine-themed episode next week.
Photo: Apple TV+

The characters of Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet are quarantined at home like the rest of us, and it’s not going well. Their dysfunctional video chats are the subject of a special episode of this Apple TV+ show.

It’ll hit Apple’s streaming video service a week from today. But you can watch the trailer now:

China prepares to retaliate against Apple for US sanctions on Huawei

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iPhone sales
Apple could be caught in the middle of the trade war between the U.S. and China.
Illustration: Cult of Mac

The Trump administration on Friday announced a new rule aimed at blocking Huawei from getting the processors it needs to make phones, networking equipment and more. The Chinese government reportedly threatened to retaliate against Apple and other American companies.

Wiggle through Winding Worlds on Apple Arcade

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Winding Worlds is a more grownup Apple Arcade game.
Solve puzzles and help a mysterious cast of characters in Winding Worlds.
Photo: KO_OP/Apple

Winding Worlds promises to be a “world-wiggling puzzle journey.”

The latest addition to Apple Arcade is in the same genre as the classic Monument Valley, where players solve puzzles to work their way through a story. KO_OP  describes its creation as “a heartwarming tale of grief, love, truth, and acceptance.”

Facebook Messenger Rooms can handle calls with up to 50 people in US

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facebook.messenger.rooms
Facebook Messenger Rooms allows users to host video calls of up to 50 people free of charge.
Photo: Facebook

Facebook took on Zoom and FaceTime Thursday by enabling its new video-calling service, Messenger Rooms, to make free calls between as many as 50 people.

The feature was announced last month, and is available now is the US and Canada. It’ll be rolled out globally next week, according to CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Mophie’s latest mobile power bank recharges iPhones wirelessly or via USB-C

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Mophie Powerstation Wireless XL
Mophie Powerstation Wireless XL wirelessly charges an iPhone, and can itself be wirelessly charged.
Photo: Zagg/Mophie

The Mophie Powerstation Wireless XL juices up iPhones with wireless charging or through a USB-C fast charge. And there are even more options to replenish this 10,000mAh power bank, as it receives power through a Lightning port, USB-C or wireless charging.

The product launched Thursday, and Apple likes it enough to add the product to its online store.

How the 2020 Amazon Fire HD 8 stacks up against the iPad mini

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Amazon Fire HD 8 takes on Apple iPad mini 5
The Amazon Fire HD 8 certainly costs less than iPad mini 5, but has other advantages too.
Photo: Amazon/Apple

Amazon significantly upped the specs of the latest Fire 8 tablet, with a faster processor, more storage, USB-C and even wireless charging. But how does this inexpensive 8-inch slate stack up against the 7.9-inch iPad mini 5 released in 2019?

Apple signs first-option deal with famed Alien director Ridley Scott

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Ridley Scott and his brother are the heads of Scott Free.
A new deal might lead to Ridley Scott and his brother Tony Scott making TV shows for Apple.
Photo: Scott Free/Cult of Mac

Ridley Scott directed the famous “1984” Mac ad plus many movies, and a new deal might lead to him creating shows for Apple TV+. His production company reportedly signed a first-look deal with the iPhone maker. This means Apple gets the right of first refusal for all projects the prolific director dreams up.

Unreal Engine 5 promises mind-blowing graphics for Mac and iPhone games

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Unreal Engine 5 is a quantum leap in game graphics.
Games built with Unreal Engine 5 can render movie-quality effects in real time.
Photo: Epic Games

Epic Games on Wednesday gave a first look at Unreal Engine 5, the next generation of its tool for creating 3D games. The goal is “photorealism on par with movie CG and real life,” according to the company. And a video demo shows what’ll be possible in future titles for macOS, iOS and other platforms.

Shop in the inky shadows of Apple Store’s new Dark Mode

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Apple Store’s new Dark Mode
Look for a new Mac or Apple Watch while in a darkened room without being blinded with the latest version of the Apple Store app.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Any developer taking flack for not yet adding Dark Mode to their software can take solace in the fact that the Apple Store app for iOS only now adopted this alternate look.

Shop for a new device or look for Today at Apple sessions in the dark more easily, thanks to this new version.

iPhone 12 Flip concept makes iOS handsets pocketable again

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The foldable iPhone 12 Flip concept could someday be a reality.
Apple is exploring technologies needed to make this foldable iPhone concept a reality.
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

The iPhone 12 Flip is the foldable iOS device many are hoping for. This proposed concept fits a large screen into a tiny package.

While currently only a dream, Apple is hard at work on technologies that could eventually make it real.

Watch a video of the iPhone 12 Flip concept now:

$700 Mac Pro wheels really suck for skateboarding

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Mac Pro wheels don’t make a great skateboard.
Mac Pro wheels mounted on a skateboard don’t make for a safe ride.
Photo: Braille Skateboarding

For a mere $699, you can add a set of wheels to the Mac Pro. Or, for the same stunning amount of money, you can attach those wheels to a skateboard.

Braille Skateboarding did just that. Watch the ridiculous video they created.

AirPods users hope firmware update lets them use replacement buds

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Airpods 2
An AirPods 2 firmware update benefits everyone who uses these earbuds, but some people should be extra happy.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple on Tuesday introduced the first firmware update for second-generation AirPods since late last year.

This should benefit those who received a replacement AirPods bud last month with unreleased firmware. They can now update both to the same firmware version so they’re usable again.