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Ed Hardy - page 214

Early test shows the promise and perils of 5G

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5G
The first 5G devices are wicked fast, but not very practical yet.
Photo: Samsung

The first steps of the move from 4G LTE to 5G NR are underway. And tests with one of the first two handsets capable of connecting to Verizon’s version of this faster network show 5G offers amazing speeds but very, very limited range.

Sleek wireless charger looks great while powering up iPhone and AirPods [Review]

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Satechi Wireless Charger V2
A wireless charging mat should look as good as it works, and Satechi’s does.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Wireless charging is so much easier than the daily hassle of plugging and unplugging your iPhone. And the new AirPods wireless charging case makes giving up Lightning cables even more logical. Satechi just introduced a Apple-compatible wireless charger that’s not only functional, it’s also great looking.

We fully tested this accessory out, so don’t miss our hands-on review.

Pro-level keyboard case nearly turns iPad Pro into a touchscreen MacBook [Review]

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Brydge Pro review
Make your iPad Pro into a tablet/laptop with the Brydge Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Since the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the tablet is serious competition for Apple’s notebooks. Its design offers many advantages over a notebook, but most people demand a physical keyboard for their primary computer. Of all the options for this, the Brydge Pro comes the closest to transforming a 2018 iPad Pro into a convertible touchscreen MacBook.

Read our hands-on review to see how well this premium keyboard case performs in the real world.

2020 iPhone should get a boost from TSMC’s cutting-edge 5nm processors

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Gather_Round_A12Bionic 2
The Apple A12 Bionic processor is powerful but the the A13 is coming soon and the A14 is already on the horizon.
Photo: Apple

The company that makes all Apple’s chips is nearly ready to make 5 nanometer processors, down from the 7nm ones it’s manufacturing now. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s innovation reportedly will bring notable performance gains to next year’s iPhone and iPad.

The 2021 models should get a boost as well. And it’s even possible these chips will appear in future Macs.

iPhone might escape Trump’s tariffs, but Apple will suffer

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iPad and iPhone tariffs aren't happening. Yet.
You still don’t have to pay extra taxes for buying an iPad or iPhone made in China, but that could change.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

No Apple products are included in the additional tariffs on Chinese products that went into effect this morning but Apple is still feeling some pain. The company’s shares have dropped significantly as trade tensions heated up between the U.S. and China.

And future import taxes on iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch are likely, according to Pres. Trump.

New USB-C hub gives iPad Pro the ports it needs

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Hyper's iPad Pro USB-C hub boasts no less than 6 ports.
Hyper's iPad Pro USB-C hub boasts no less than 6 ports.
Photo: Hyper

A six-port USB-C hub from Hyper was specially designed to clip to the side of the 2018 iPad Pro. It allows every type of wired accessory supported by Apple’s newest pro tablet to be accessed.

After a successful Kickstarter campaign, the HyperDrive 6-in-1 USB-C Hub launched today.

Editor’s Note: Be sure to read our hands-on HyperDrive iPad Pro review to learn more about this brilliant add-on.

Production begins on iPhone 11’s A13 processor

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iPhone XS teardown
It’s a safe assumption that the A13 processor will be faster than the A12 one in the iPhone XS.
Photo: iFixit

One of the most vital components of the 2019 iPhone is already being fabricated. The A13 chip is now in trial production by TSMC, the Taiwanese company that has produced every iPhone and iPad chip for years.

Watch an adorable beluga whale rescue a phone from the ocean

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Beluga whale
Belugas are intelligent and sometimes friendly. They don’t often rescue people’s phones, though.
Photo: Wikipedia

A phone dropped in the sea is usually gone forever, but not when a friendly whale retrieves from the ocean floor. Video of exactly this happening in Norway has to be seen to be believed.

Even better, the beluga starring in the video is thought by some to be the Russian spy whale who made headlines last week.

With smartphone sales in free fall, iPhone still dominates

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iPhone XR battery life is the best of any iPhone on the market.
iPhone XR dominates N. American phone sales.
Photo: Kristal Chan/Cult of Mac

Apple’s most affordable 2018 handset is a real hit in N. America. There were more than twice as many iPhone XR units shipped during the first three months of this year in this region as its next nearest competitor.

Even so, Apple and the entire phone business had a very weak first quarter.

FCC bans China Mobile from US

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The FCC is currently shut down.
The FCC put a big stop sign in front of a Chinese telecommunications giant.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

China Mobile is blocked from offering phone service in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission just unanimously voted to prevent this company, which is owned by the Chinese government, from expanding to the U.S.

Phones beat out consoles and PCs with gamers old and young

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The Elder Scrolls: Blades promises top-tier gaming on iOS.
The quality of iPhone gaming has improved dramatically in recent years. Consider The Elder Scrolls: Blades, for example.
Photo: Bethesda Softworks

More people play games on their phones than on any other type of computer, according to a new survey. And the number is much higher for women.

The survey breaks out where people prefer to play games by age and gender. And there’s a much wider spread of ages than many might guess.

Feds might ban loot boxes and pay-to-win games

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Hogwarts Mystery cost
A bill headed to the Senate would block in-app purchases from being necessary to win a game.
Photo: Jam City

Some of the methods developers use to get players to pay for “free” games would be outlawed by legislation proposed today in the U.S. Senate.

The act would ban games played by children from offering items only as in-app purchases that are actually required to win.

Apple Watch Series 4 wins Display of the Year award

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
An industry trade group dedicated to displays says the Apple Watch Series 4 has an outstanding one.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The Society for Information Display (SID) gave the most recent Apple Watch its highest honor, naming it one of several Displays of the Year.

This award is given to “products with the most significant technological advances and/or outstanding features.”

All Apple’s app stores are partially down [Updated]

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Coronavirus could have a surprisingly positive impact on App Store revenue
An ongoing problem mans you might not be able to complete your purchase on any of Apple’s software stores.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The official System Status page for all Apple’s services  shows that three of the most important ones are having problems The iOS App Store, the Mac App Store and the iTunes Store are all affected.

Update: Full service has been restored.

Google remains cautious about making a folding Pixel

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The Huawei Mate X folding phone
Google has probably prototyped a Pixel similar to the upcoming Huawei Mate X.
Photo: Huawei

Add Google’s name to the list of companies investigating flexible-screen phones. The head of development for the Pixel line says his team is at the prototype stage.

Apple is also experimenting with this tech, while companies like Samsung and Huawei are moving ahead with production models. Or at least they are trying to.

Apple offers 10% bonus on cash added to your Apple ID

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Apple will add to the funds you put in your Apple ID account this week.
Apple will add to the funds you put in your Apple ID account this week.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

For the rest of this week, Apple will chip in an extra 10 percent to funds added to App Store accounts. This is essentially free money for those willing to commit some cash to buying apps or other services at some point in the future.

Melodramatic Apple video urges iPhone trade-ins

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Apple’s new video positions trading in your old iPhone as a moral decision, not a financial one.
Apple’s new video positions trading in your old iPhone as a moral decision, not a financial one.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s latest video takes trading in your old iPhone from a simple transaction to more of an emotional journey. Even so, trade-ins have become an important tool this company is using to spur sales.

Watch the new video now:

iOS 13 concept shows how iPad file management ought to work

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iOS 13 files app iPad mount an external drive
Having an iPad mount an external drive isn’t asking for too much, is it?
Photo: Daniel Korpai

A new concept video imagines Apple’s tablet without the limitations on file management that frustrate so many iPad users. In it, the designer combines his re-imagined iOS Files app with earlier work improving multitasking.

Watch his video now:

New Apple Music app might steal the show with macOS 10.15

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Podcasts and Apple TV are among the applications expected to make the jump from iOS to macOS 10.15.
With original content being developed for television, Apple is reportedly looking to create podcasts.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s ongoing project to make it relatively simple for developers to port iPad software to macOS is apparently on schedule. This will reportedly be a highlight of next month’s developers conference.

In addition, Apple executives will unveil several of their own iOS apps ported to macOS 10.15, as well as a Mac version of the Music app.

iOS 13 could be Apple’s biggest iPad-focused upgrade ever

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Apple Smart Keyboard Folio turns the 2018 iPad Pro into a notebook.
Details leaking out ahead of next month’s iOS 13 announcement indicate it will offer plenty for iPad, but iPhone won‘t be overlooked.
Photo: Apple

The unveiling of iOS 13 is expected in less than a month, and a new report spills details on many of the improvements supposedly coming. For iPhone users, iOS 13 is bringing refinements to already existing features. iPad users, on the other hand, are supposedly getting plenty of new capabilities.

Apple Watch might get its own App Store

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It’s time to cut the cable and set Apple Watch free
Apple Watches running watchOS 6 could be significantly more independent from iPhone than their predecessors.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch is reportedly going to become less tied to iPhone this fall. An unconfirmed report indicates that watchOS 6 will have its own App Store, allowing wearers to download software directly.

And this is just one of the changes supposedly in store for Apple’s popular wearable.

5 reasons Apple should dump Intel processors [Opinion]

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Intel processors have overstayed their welcome in Macs of all types, but especially MacBooks.
Intel processors have overstayed their welcome in Macs of all types, but especially MacBooks.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

It’s past time Macs stopped depending on Intel processors. There’s new evidence to show they’ve outlived their usefulness. A switch to Apple-designed chips will make macOS devices better for a variety of reasons, including increased speed and battery life.

iPads and iPhones already use processors designed by Apple. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the company is pushing forward with plans to ditch Intel’s processors in Macs, too. The first MacBook or iMac with an Apple processor could be out as soon as 2020.

Logitech Crayon is a more affordable Apple Pencil alternative [Updated review]

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Save big by getting a Logitech Crayon for your iPad Pro instead of an Apple Pencil 2.
The Logitech Crayon costs less than the Apple Pencil, and it now works with the 2018 iPad Pro and other recent iOS tablets.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPad is a great educational tool, no matter the age of the student. But some children are too young for a keyboard. That’s where the Logitech Crayon comes in. It’s a digital pencil designed for students to write and draw on a variety of iPad and iPad Pro models.

We put this educational accessory to the test.