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Ed Hardy - page 187

OtterBox Defender protects your iPad Pro like a tank [Review]

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OtterBox Defender for 2020 iPad Pro review
If you use your tablet outside more than in an office, you really need to consider the OtterBox Defender for 2020 iPad Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPad Pros used in the field require hard-core protection, and there’s no better option than the OtterBox Defender. The case wraps the tablet in layer upon layer of plastic to cushion it from serious accidents. There’s even a built-in screen protector.

I encased my 2020 iPad Pro in the latest version of the OtterBox Defender to do some real-world testing. Here’s what I found out.

Apple Support app gets step-by-step troubleshooting guides

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Apple Support 4.0 runs on iPhone but covers all Apple products and services.
Apple Support 4.0 has a new, customized user interface to highlight info about products you own.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The official Apple Support iOS app got a facelift, including adding step-by-step guides to fixing common problems. And Dark Mode, too.

The app runs on iPhone or iPad, but offers information on Mac, AirPods and many other Apple products and services.

Apple explores flexible batteries for folding iPhones and iPads

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This is an early concept drawing from Apple for a folding iPhone.
This is an early concept drawing from Apple for a folding iPhone.
Photo: Apple

It would be easier to make a foldable iPhone or iPad if it could include a flexible battery. Apple is investigating these as a power source, and was granted a patent on the technology on Tuesday.

In recent years, the company received many patents related to computers built around folding displays. They’re proof that Apple is actively exploring using these in future products.

iPhone SE uses software trick to give photos beautiful bokeh

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The iPhone SE bokeh effect is do we entirely with software.
The iPhone SE can take a 2D image and make it into a Portrait Mode picture with the bokeh effect.
Photo: Apple

The 2020 iPhone SE is the first Apple smartphone to offer Portrait Mode photos created entirely with software techniques rather than hardware. That’s not true of any previous iOS device, not even the one you think it is.

Lux Optics, maker of Halide, examined how Apple’s new budget phone adds the bokeh effect to 2D pictures.

Verizon, Comcast and T-Mobile won’t cut off nonpaying customers before June 30

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Comcast, Verizon and T-Mobile will cut you some slack during the COVID-19 crisis.
Your Mac and iPhone will continue to get service from Comcast, Verizon or T-Mobile if you’re laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: Pexels CC

Verizon or T-Mobile won’t disconnect your iPhone if you can’t pay your bill because COVID-19 cost you your job. And Comcast won’t cut your Mac off from the internet either.

The companies committed on Monday to not terminate service or charge late fees through June 30.

Aqara HomeKit-enabled smart wall switches more likely to work in your home

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Aqara HomeKit-enabled smart switches work in older homes.
The new Aqara smart switches with HomeKit don’t require a neutral wire. That’s critical for many homes.
Photo: Aqara

There are quite a few wall switches that support Apple’s HomeKit home-automation system, but Aqara on Tuesday unveiled two that should catch the eye of anyone with an older home. Unlike virtually all competitors, these don’t require a neutral wire, something that exists primarily in newer buildings.

These switches make any ceiling fixture smart. They can be controlled via an iPhone or Siri commands from anywhere.

UK rejects Apple/Google COVID-19 contact-tracing system

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nhs.x.contact.tracing.app.logo
The UK's National Health Service won’t use Apple/Google tech to warn users if they've recently been in contact with someone infected with coronavirus.
Photo: NHS

The U.K. reportedly decided to go with a coronavirus contact-tracing application different from the system Apple and Google are creating jointly. The National Health Service built an app that creates a central database of people who have tested positive for COVID-19. The Apple and Google solution uses a decentralized system for privacy reasons.

How Defending Jacob turns a bestseller into an Apple TV+ thriller

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William Landay wrote “Defending Jacob,” the bestseller that’s the basis for an Apple TV+ series.
The author of Defending Jacob is excited about bringing his novel to Apple TV+.
Screenshot: Apple

Before it was an Apple TV+ series, Defending Jacob was a bestselling novel. In a new Apple video, author William Landay talks about seeing his book adapted for the small screen.

Watch it now:

RavPower’s massive power bank pushes the limit with AC outlet [Review]

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RAVPower RP-PB055 AC Power Bank review
It’s a bit bulky, but the RAVPower RP-PB055 can recharge an iPhone 11 more than 5 times.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Power banks designed for phones don’t do much for laptops and tablets. But the RavPower RP-PB055 AC Power Bank packs a whopping 30,000mAh, and more than doubles a MacBook’s time between recharges. Even better, it includes a standard wall socket so it can run DVD players, lamps, fans … whatever you need.

I tested it not only with Apple products but with other electronics, too. Read on to see how this uber-size power bank held up.

First Apple Watch concept drawing reveals brilliance of original designs

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Apple Watch concept
Imran Chaudhri drew this Apple Watch concept sketch long before the release of this wearable.
Photo: Imran Chaudhri

Imran Chaudhri, who played a pivotal role in the Apple Watch’s creation, offered an inside look into the device’s design process Friday, showing off an early concept drawing of the smartwatch’s home screen.

His sketch, shared on the 5-year anniversary of the Apple Watch launch, looks amazingly close to what is in use now. He also showed off a video of the very first Apple Watch band and talked about the history of some Watch faces.

Tim Cook tells Trump the US will quickly bounce back from COVID-19 pandemic

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Trump’s China deal may stop Apple hiking prices of iPhones and iPads
Apple’s CEO reportedly believes the U.S. economy will have a swift recovery from the novel coronavirus.
Photo: White House

Apple CEO Tim Cook sounds truly optimistic about how quickly the U.S. economy will recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. He reportedly told President Donald Trump on Friday that he expects the economy to undergo a V-shaped recovery.

Sorry! Order an iPhone SE today and you’ll wait till mid-May

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The iPhone SE backordered around the world.
You can’t buy an iPhone SE from the German Apple Store without a lengthy wait. Or in the U.S., the U.K, and many more countries.
Screenshot: Apple

Those who pre-ordered an iPhone SE last week started receiving their handsets today, but Apple sold out of its supply. Orders placed Friday for this $399 handset won’t arrive for over two weeks.

The latest iOS handset is backordered in the U.S. and in countries around the world.

Tim Cook drops in on UK’s The Big Night In fundraiser

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“The Big Night In” was raising funds for charity, and Tim Cook dropped by the help.
Tim Cook appeared on The Big Night In to announce a sizable donation from Apple to the cause.
Photo: BBC TV

Apple CEO Tim Cook appeared on Thursday’s The Big Night In event on BBC One in Great Britain. He announced his company is making a “significant donation” to this fundraiser, which is raising money for Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need.

The Shrink Next Door starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd heads for Apple TV+

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“The Shrink Next Door” will star Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell
Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell appeared in the Anchorman movies, and now these brilliant comedians are headed for Apple TV+.
Photo: DreamWorks Pictures

Apple TV+ picked up a comedy starring a couple of household names on Thursday. Apple gave a straight-to-series order to The Shrink Next Door, a new, eight-episode limited series starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd.

OWC ThunderBlade external SSD offers 16TB of super-fast storage

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OWC ThunderBlade uses Thunderbolt 3 and can be part of a RAID.
With up to 16TB of capacity, the OWC ThunderBlade hold almost an entire day of 4K RAW footage.
Photo: OWC

Creative professionals working with 4K or 8K video, or anyone who just wants an enormous amount of portable storage, can turn to the OWC ThunderBlade.  Starting Thursday, this SSD now offers up to a whopping 16TB in capacity, and can transfer data at 2800MB/s.

OWC also updated its Envoy Pro EX line with 4TB version. And the Accelsior 4M2 internal SSD now also offers up to 16TB of capacity.

FCC boosts Wi-Fi speeds by opening 6 GHz spectrum

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6 GHz Wi-Fi is coming to many devices. Eventually.
Lots of computers in a small space is a scenario where 6 GHz Wi-Fi is expected to shine.
Photo: Pixels CC

The FCC on Thursday approved an expansion of Wi-Fi to the 6GHz band. This adds almost five times the bandwidth to the short-range wireless networking standard. It should bring Wi-Fi connections that are up to 2.5 times faster, with less interference from nearby computers.

Thursday’s FCC vote on this expansion was unanimous, and the change has strong industry support.

Verizon again gives customers 15GB of free wireless data to stay connected during lockdown

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Verizon
Verizon offers free wireless data to help its customers be productive from home or keep entertained.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

In May, Verizon Wireless customers get an additional 15GB of mobile data for free for a second month of the COVID-19 crisis.

Many people under stay-at-home orders during the pandemic depend on their iPhone, Android or mobile hotspot to connect to the internet, and hence the world.

Quirky Apple ad takes a minimalist look at iPhone SE unboxing

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This short iPhone SE ad is supposedly intended for use online.
An iPhone SE ad offers the least elaborate device unboxing ever.
Photo: Apple/TheApplePost

Some people make a big production out of unboxing their new iPhone. What’s supposedly an upcoming iPhone SE ad takes the opposite approach with Apple’s just-released budget handset.

Watch it now:

Brilliant iOS 14 concept packs tons of cutting-edge features

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New iOS 14 concept video includes home screen widgets
Home screen widgets are rumored for iOS 14. A concept video shows what they might look like.
Photo: The Hacker 34

An iOS 14 concept video shows how an iPhone might look if it gains home screen widgets, as has been rumored.

Plus, it envisions several features currently available for iPad jumping to iPhone, like Split Screen multitasking, a floating Dock, and more.

Watch it now:

Zoom 5.0 aims to stamp out Zoombombing

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Zoom 5.0 brings much-needed security enhancements hoping to end Zoombombing.
When you’re having a Zoom meeting and Satan drops in unexpectedly? That’s Zoombombing.
Photo: Zoom/Cult of Mac

Zoom on Wednesday committed to upgrading the encryption in its video-chatting app. And Zoom 5.0, which will be out within the week, will include additional security controls for meeting hosts, like the ability to report disruptive users.

Use of this platform rose enormously since people around the world went into self quarantine. And criticism of Zoom’s security and privacy controls also increased dramatically as Zoombombing became a thing.

Sorry, FaceTime, no Zoom boom for you

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Group FaceTime is a great way to stay in touch with your family and friends during coronavirus quarantine.
Group FaceTime use apparently exists mainly in Apple publicity pictures.
Photo: Apple

Americans love Apple’s video chatting app FaceTime, according to the results of a survey released Wednesday. But they don’t use it for group chats. As a result, use of FaceTime hasn’t increased at all while millions of people around the world self quarantine.

Instead, rival Zoom has enormously increased in popularity in recent weeks.

AppleCare+ for iPad Pro includes coverage for new Magic Keyboard

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AppleCare+ accidental damage coverage can apply to keyboards under the right circumstances.
An iPad’s AppleCare+ accidental damage coverage plan protects these keyboards too.
Photo: Apple

The just-released iPad Pro Magic Keyboard costs more than some iPads, and it’s possible to get AppleCare+ repair insurance for it. Just not directly.

Purchasing AppleCare+ adds accidental damage coverage to an iPad, as well as some Apple-branded accessories. That includes keyboards, like the very expensive one that debuted last week.

Marvelous iPhone 12 concept makes that smaller notch look totally hot

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This iPhone 12 concept reflects all the latest rumors.
Note the substantially smaller notch in this iPhone 12 concept.
Photo: svetapple.sk

A set of concept 3D renders released Tuesday depict all the latest iPhone 12 rumors, including a recent report that this upcoming handset will have a substantially smaller screen cutout.

The images also include other features widely expected to be part of the autumn 2020 iPhone, like a LiDAR scanner.

Save big: Refurbished Apple Watch Series 5 hits Apple Store

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Refurbished Apple Watch Series 5 units are available now
A refurbished Apple Watch Series 5 is up to 15% less than a new one.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

One way to score a deal on the the latest Apple Watch Series 5 is buy a unit that someone purchased then returned to Apple. These get rigorously refurbished, then are offered to the public at up to 15% off the regular price.

Tuesday is the first day Series 5 units have been available refurbished.

Apple preps 11-inch iPad Air, 23-inch iMac for 2020

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The new iPad Air adds support for Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard.
The 2020 iPad Air could sport a larger display than this 2019 model.
Photo: Apple

Apple is going to increase the sizes of the displays in the 2020 iPad Air and an iMac model also coming later this year, according to an unconfirmed report coming out of Asia.

But neither of these will be MiniLED screens, as Apple will reportedly not have any computer using this type of display until 2021.