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Ed Hardy - page 223

Facebook Assistant is taking on Siri and Alexa [Updated]

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Facebook Portal
The Facebook Portal smart display is getting a digital assistant with artificial intelligence.
Photo: Facebook

Facebook is going into the voice-driven digital assistant race. Its AI tech will go into the line of Facebook Messenger-driven smart displays this social networking/advertising company launched last fall, as well as other future devices.

Revamped Find My iPhone app may get Tile-like item tracker

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Tile will speak out against Apple in Congress antitrust hearing
A Tile tracking tag can be used find lost items. Apple is reportedly designing a rival.
Photo: Tile

Find My iPhone and Find My Friends are currently separate applications, but Apple is reportedly going to merge them in future versions of iOS and mac OS, and add useful features.

In addition, the company is supposedly developing its own tracker tag that will apparently compete with Tile.

5G iPhone now virtually certain in 2020 [Opinion]

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2020 could be Apple's greatest year so far
While a 5G iPhone won’t come as soon as we might hope, the wait won‘t be as long as we might fear.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Most people probably shrugged their shoulders at the news Apple and Qualcomm ended their long, bitter legal war. But this is actually going to benefit every iPhone user.

It means that Apple is almost guaranteed to introduce a handset with super-fast 5G next year. Before now, there was some question about whether that was possible.

MacBook Air display mysteriously brightens after macOS update

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MacBook Air 2018
If your MacBook Air seems a little brighter recently, you’re not imagining it.
Photo: Apple

Installing the latest macOS version on a 2018 MacBook Air increases the maximum screen brightness.

Apple’s own description of this notebook indicates that the highest potential brightness level is now 400 nits. That’s much higher than with this laptop launched.

Apple might turn iPads into second Mac screens

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Luna DIsplay is great for people who travel with a Mac and an iPad.
macOS 10.15 might have a feature that’s already available from Luna Display.
Photo: Astro HQ

Turning a tablet into an external display for a laptop isn’t a new idea, but Apple is reportedly going “all in” by building this feature into the next version of macOS.

The iPad will supposedly  function as a touchscreen for Mac software, which should catch the eye of digital artists.

iPad 2 heads for Apple’s obsolete list

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iPad 2 is so old it doesn’t have a Lightning port. And it has a single speaker.
iPad 2 is so old it doesn’t have a Lightning port. And it includes just a single speaker.
Photo: Apple

An early Apple tablet is about to be put out to pasture. The second-generation iPad is reportedly going on the “vintage and obsolete products” list at the end of this month.

Most people might be surprised to hear that this device, released in 2011, isn’t already listed as obsolete.

‘Shot on iPhone’ mini-documentary goes under the sea

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A “Shot on iPhone” film about wildlife conservationists visits a watery realm.
A “Shot on iPhone” film about wildlife conservationists visits a watery realm.
Photo: Apple

A short documentary about the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme is the latest entry in the “Shot on iPhone XS” campaign, which shows what’s possible with the the advanced cameras in Apple handsets.

The 8-minute video is a full of crystal-clear video taken beneath the waves. Watch it now:

Apple TV+ hires new head of documentaries

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Molly Thompson brings decades of experience to the Apple TV+ management team.
Molly Thompson brings decades of experience to the Apple TV+ management team.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming streaming video service now has someone in charge of documentaries. Molly Thompson previously held a similar role at A&E Networks.

Action and comedy shows have so far grabbed the most attention at Apple TV+, but clearly educational programming will play a big part too.

Smart speaker installed base could top 200 million this year

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HomePod Volume Controls
Perhaps a rising tide of smart speaker sales will help HomePod.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The number of smart speakers like Amazon’s Echo and Apple’s HomePod in use around the world is expected to keep growing strongly for years to come. It could pass 200 million in 2019, and pass 500 million in 2023.

Analysts from Canalys indicate the installed base of these devices is now surpassing the number of smartwatches in use. And smart speakers could even outnumber tablets before the end of 2021, they say.

Microsoft Surface Buds could rival AirPods

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These Surface-branded headphones could soon be joined by Surface Buds.
These Surface-branded headphones could soon be joined by smaller, in-ear ones.
Photo: Microsoft

Another of Apple’s rivals have apparently noticed what a huge success AirPods have turned into. Microsoft is supposedly developing its own earbuds.

These will have to face competition from Samsung Galaxy Buds as well as some possible earbuds coming from Amazon. And AirPods too, of course.

Apple could invest $500 million in Apple Arcade

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Apple Arcade is something of a loot box for Apple.
Apple Arcade is something of an expensive loot box for Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s upcoming game service could be getting some major seed money. A new report indicates the iPhone maker might be spending over $500 million to build its stable of games.

And analysts from HSBC predict Apple Arcade will bring in more revenue than Apple TV+, this company’s streaming video service.

Republican lawmakers flame Apple for censorship in China

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China’s population of 1.4 billion makes it a huge potential market for Apple.
China’s population of 1.4 billion makes it a huge potential market for Apple.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A pair of GOP congresspeople have strongly criticized the decision to remove songs from artists critical of the Chinese Communist Party from Apple’s streaming music service in that country.

The move highlights the compromises the iPhone maker has to make in order to offer its products in a very lucrative market.

Beautiful iPhone XII concept kills the notch and buttons

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Check out a proposed iPhone XII with a screen that curves around all four edges.
Check out a proposed iPhone XII with a screen that curves around all four edges.
Photo: Kevin Noki/ConceptsiPhone

One way to make the iPhone’s screen larger without increasing the size of the device itself is wrap it around all four edges. An artist‘s video imagines how such an iOS handset would look, with no physical buttons and an under-screen camera.

Watch his concept video now:

macOS concept proposes dumping free-floating windows

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Perhaps the MacBook should adopt split-screen multitasking instead of floating windows.
Perhaps the MacBook should adopt split-screen multitasking instead of floating windows.
Photo: Thomas Weinreich

Many people want their iPad to work more like a MacBook. A concept video proposes the opposite: having macOS function more like iOS on a tablet. That means no more free-floating windows.

Watch the video to see the idea in action:

Pre-orders for Samsung’s crazy expensive folding phone start tomorrow

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Galaxy-Fold-inside
The Samsung Galaxy Fold could be a harbinger of what all phones will look like in the future.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s very experimental and pricey Galaxy Fold takes a big step toward its launch tomorrow. This will be the first wide release of a folding phone in the U.S.

In addition, Samsung promised the Galaxy S10 5G will debut in the U.S in May.

Apple’s share of global computer market grows

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Phil Schiller: Nope, Apple still isn’t planning to make a touchscreen Mac
Sales of Macs didn’t have a stellar quarter.
Photo: Apple

Global shipments of laptops and desktops were on the decline in the first three months of this year, and Apple also saw a drop in Mac shipments. But there is a silver lining: the company did better than some of its rivals so its share of the global PC market actually increased.

The same was true for Mac sales in the United States.

YouTube TV costs App Store subscribers extra

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YouTube
YouTube TV has new content but also a higher price. Especially for those who subscribe through the App Store.
Photo: YouTube

The monthly YouTube TV subscription fee is going up to $49.99. And it will be even higher for those who pay for this streaming video service via the Apple App Store.

This is apparently YouTube’s way of partially offsetting the cut Apple takes from all subscription fees. And it’s something other companies might emulate.

Flaunt your MacBook Air in UAG’s translucent case

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You don’t have to hide your MacBook Air to protect it with the UAG Plyo.
You don’t have to hide your MacBook Air to protect it with the UAG Plyo.
Photo: Urban Armor Gear

Part of the appeal of owning a MacBook is showing it off, especially if you’ve personalized it. The Urban Armor Gear Plyo is a protective case made of translucent plastic so the exterior of this svelte notebook can still be seen.

iOS 12.3 beta 2 enhances Apple TV app

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The Apple TV app gets a raft of new features in iOS 12.3.
The Apple TV app gets a raft of new features in iOS 12.3.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Both the general public and developers can now download the second beta of iOS 12.3. When the final version is available, it will bring significant improvements to the Apple TV app. The latest beta continues to add features.

A second public beta of macOS Mojave 10.14.5 also just debuted. This is a bug-fix release.

iPhone sales finally show signs of life in China

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China iPhone sales
Apple CEO Tim Cook meets with Apple Store employees in China.
Photo: Apple

The latest round of iPhone price cuts on China have accomplished their goal, according to an analyst with Wedbush. Demand for Apple handsets has increased in that country.

That’s very good news for the company, as CEO TIm Cook said early this year that slow sales in China were the entire reason Apple saw a revenue decease at the end of 2018.

Stephen King bringing haunting Lisey’s Story to Apple TV+

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Julianne Moore will star in a series of love and horror on Apple TV+.
Julianne Moore will star in a series of love and horror on Apple TV+.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Horror master Stephen King will adapt his favorite novel, Lisey’s Story, into a TV series staring Oscar-winner Julianne Moore. This will be presented on the recently unveiled Apple TV+ service.

Lisey’s Story combines romance and psychological horror, and earned King a nomination for the World Fantasy Award in 2007.

Huawei ready to provide modems for a 5G iPhone

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Huawei launched the Balong 5000 5G modem in January.
Huawei launched the Balong 5000 5G modem in January.
Photo: Huawei

Apple apparently has another option for 5G modems. Huawei reportedly is willing to provide future iPhones with these chips.

If true, this significantly improves the chances that a 5G iPhone will launch in 2020. Still, there are reasons to question the wisdom of any such deal.

Biggest MacBook in years could debut in 2021

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The days when you could get a 17-inch MacBook Pro like this one could be returning.
The days when you could get a 17-inch MacBook Pro like this one could be returning.
Photo: Apple

A trusted analyst says Apple is working on a MacBook Pro that’s bigger than any released in years. The downside is this model won’t be out until 2021.

This device, as well as a new iPad and an external display, will all supposedly use a new type of display: microLED.

iOS 13 concept proposes Split View for iPhone 11

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An iOS 13 concept suggests working with two apps at once on an iPhone screen.
An iOS 13 concept suggests working with two apps at once on an iPhone screen.
Photo: Gunho Lee/ConceptsiPhone

An artist dreaming up ideas for Apple’s next handset suggests bringing side-by-side multitasking from the iPad to the iPhone. He also proposes Apple create a super-slim wireless clip-on battery.

Watch his video previewing these features and more: