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Ed Hardy - page 185

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?

Adonit Note-UVC stylus sterilizes your iPad then writes on it

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Adonit Note-UVC kills germs. And maybe viruses?
The ultraviolet lamp in the Adonit Note-UVC can disinfect your iPad.
Photo: Adonit

Adonit took its iPad stylus and added a feature perfect for a disease-conscious world: an ultraviolet light. The Adonit Note-UVC can kill the germs and bacteria on your tablet screen, then allow you to take handwritten notes or draw on the iPad.

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.

5 MacBooks hit Apple’s dreaded ‘vintage and obsolete’ list

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The new MacBook Air has more graphics power than it appears at first. Photo: Apple
Remember the 11-inch MacBook Air? That was a long time ago.
Photo: Apple

MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models that launched in 2013 and 2014 moved onto Apple’s list of “vintage and obsolete products” at the beginning of May.

Despite what the name implies, this doesn’t mean these devices just became useless. It might be harder to get them serviced, though.

iOS 15 concept goes minimalist with the Home screen

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iOS concept thinks simple, not more complex.
An iOS 15 concept design simplifies the Home screen... and looks familiar.
Concept: Roland Mészáros

When concept designers imagine the future of iOS, they often pack in new features. A new design goes the opposite route, simplifying the look of the iPhone to “keep you focused,” in the words of the artist.

Still, it finds space for some Home screen widgets, which are supposed to debut in iOS 14.

Easily take notes on your iPad with inexpensive Meco Stylus Pen [Review]

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Meco Stylus Pen review
Meco Stylus Pen costs far less than many rivals, and might be the only stylus you need for your iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Meco Stylus Pen is an affordable alternative to Apple Pencil. It’s well suited for taking handwritten notes on a range of iPad models, and offers palm rejection. And while it doesn’t have the features artists need, it offers a long battery life and is simple to connect to your iPad.

I tested this budget active stylus by taking notes and sketching out ideas. Here’s how it stood up to real-world use.

HyperDrive Duo brings 4K60Hz HDMI plus 6 other ports to MacBooks

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The 2020 HyperDrive Duo offers 4K video at 60Hz.
HyperDrive Duo connects a MacBook to a 4K display, iPhone, memory cards and more.. all at once.
Photo: Sanho

The redesigned Sanho HyperDrive Duo 7 hub, which launched Monday, attaches more securely to the side of the MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. The second-generation clip-on adds 60Hz, 4K video support through its HDMI port.

Funny documentary Dads hits Apple TV+ just in time for Father’s Day

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“Dads” on Apple TV+ is funny, heartwarming, and also revealing.
Bryce Dallas Howard’s documentary Dads stars her father Ron Howard as well as other funny fathers.
Photo: Toronto Film Festival

Dads, a humorous documentary about modern fatherhood directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, daughter of Ron Howard, is headed for Apple TV+ next month.

Dads includes funny stories from Will Smith, Jimmy Fallon, Neil Patrick Harris and others.

Microsoft Office for iPad finally offers full support for Split View [Updated]

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Microsoft Office for iPad now has Split View
You can now open two Word documents side-by-side with Microsoft Office for iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Almost a year ago, Microsoft promised to add Split View to its Office for iPad suite of applications. The feature is available now, at long last. This allows users to work with two Word or Powerpoint documents side-by-side.

Update: Excel does not yet support this feature.

Over-ear headphones dubbed ‘AirPods Studio’ might debut in June

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Apple headphones concept
This artists concept for over-ear AirPods headphones brings in design aspects from HomePods.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Apple is allegedly prepping a set of over-ear wireless headphones that will be part of the AirPods line.

Currently, the company offers headphones in this style under its Beats label. But the upcoming model supposedly reflects a change in strategy. If you’re looking for high-quality alternatives, you might want to check out the Sennheiser website for premium audio options like the Sennheiser HD 550 open-back headphones.

Apple starts gradual reopening of its US stores next week

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Apple Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall will reopen in mid-May.
This Apple Store in Anchorage, Alaska, will be one of the first to open its doors.
Photo: Apple

The long wait is almost over. Apple said Friday it will open the doors of a few of its U.S. retail locations next week. The majority of Apple Stores globally closed almost two months ago as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. More stores will reopen when the company deems it safe.

MacBook Pro ‘Flexgate’ flaw fuels demands from angry owners

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These cables can wear out and cause your MacBook Pro’s display to fail.
These “delicate” cables can wear out and cause your 2016 MacBook Pro’s display to fail.
Photo: iFixit

A law firm accuses Apple of forcing customers to fix the malfunctioning displays in the 15-inch MacBook Pro that launched in 2016 even though the failure is a result of a design flaw. The problem is common enough that it has a name: Flexgate.

The Parris Law Firm is hoping to force Apple to fix all affected computers, and refund the cost to anyone who already had this problem repaired.

Apple TV+ is still a long way from winning viewers’ hearts

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Apple TV+ is free to everyone who buys a new iPhone, Mac or iPad.
Although people generally like Apple TV+, they like rival streaming services more.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ won an accolade no one wants: it’s the streaming video service viewers are most likely to cancel once it stops being free.

Still, satisfaction with Apple’s offering is fairly high, according to survey results revealed on Friday. But people like almost all its competitors more.

The Otherside unleashes scary good fun on Apple Arcade

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Apple Arcade’s “The Otherside” blends video games with board games.
No matter what it looks like, you play The Otherside on your TV, tablet or phone.
Photo: The Label/Apple

Investigate the shadows plaguing a small town in The Otherside, which debuted Friday on Apple Arcade. This is a simulated board game and RPG with a horror theme.

CBS All Access app adds 100+ Paramount movies to keep you entertained

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CBS All Access now has Star Trek movies to go with its Star Trek shows
CBS All Access now offers a selection of classic dramas, comedies and action flicks from Paramount.
Photo: CBS

The CBS All Access streaming service expanded Thursday, adding dozens of classic movies made by Paramount. Newly added titles include classic films like The Godfather series,Spider-Man and Roman Holiday.

Also appearing today are several Star Trek movies to go with the multiple Star Trek shows that are the highlights of CBS All Access. All of this content can be watched on iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV.

Zoom buys startup to bring end-to-end encryption to video calls

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Zoom promises to work harder to protect user privacy.
Zoom calls are already encrypted, and the company committed today to step up to end-to-end encryption.
Photo: Zoom

Zoom on Thursday acquired Keybase for its experience with encryption and security.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought millions of new users to Zoom, but also criticism for weak security. Its stated goal in purchasing the smaller company, which developed its own messaging and file-sharing service, is to bring end-to-end encryption to Zoom meetings.

Gorgeous iPhone 12 renders could spill new camera secrets

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Render shows iPhone 12 camera with three lenses
The basic iPhone 12 might have three camera lenses, just as the current iPhone Pro models do.
Photo: Pigtou/xleaks7

The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 will jump from dual to triple camera lenses, if an unconfirmed report is correct. New renders supposedly showing other details this handset came to light as well.

If the basic 2020 iPhone gets a big camera upgrade, this would further blur the line between the iPhone 12 and the more expensive iPhone 12 Pro models. Previous leaks indicate that every iOS device coming this fall will have 5G and an OLED screen.

This is how Superman sees iPad Pro’s Magic Keyboard

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iPad Pro Magic Keyboard in X-ray
There’s no need to teardown an iPad Pro Magic Keyboard when you can discover its secrets with X-rays.
Photo: iFixit

Apple’s Magic Keyboard add-on for the iPad Pro looks amazing. And it appears even more spectacular when iFixit X-rayed this accessory to see the inner details of the scissor-switch keys, the trackpad and the hinges that make an iPad seem to float.

Apple Watch still dominates rapidly growing smartwatch market

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Apple Watch Series 5 info graph face with little alien
Apple Watch makes up more than half of the total smartwatch market, which is expanding strongly.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch made up a whopping 55.5% of global smartwatch shipments in the first three months of the year, according to a report released Wednesday by a market-research firm.

Apple shipments grew significantly, and so did those of its top competitors. Still, the COVID-19 epidemic is hurting smartwatch sales, and is expected to continue to do so.

Sonos Arc is more than a premium soundbar, thanks to AirPlay 2

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Sonos Arc is a smart soundbar.
Sonos Arc goes beyond home theater, and can also be your smart speaker.
Photo: Sonos

Sonic loaded its newest soundbar with high-end features, including Dolby Atmos. But the Sonos Arc is intended for more than home theater. It includes Apple AirPlay 2 so it can handle music, podcasts and radio when the TV is off.