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Ed Hardy - page 52

Google admits Chrome Incognito mode does almost nothing

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The Google Chrome logo with the caption:
Google is finally having to make it clear that Chrome's Incognito mode does almost nothing.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The description of Chrome’s Incognito mode will soon be changed to make it clear that Google tracks people who use the web browser. It also will warn users that websites can gather data about them as well.

This means the only people blocked from knowing your browsing history when using Incognito mode are family/friends who use the same computer.

Apple offers to open iPhone tap-to-pay to other payment systems in the EU

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Apple Pay Tap-to-Pay
Those in the EU may soon be making "tap and go" payments with something besides Apple Pay.
Photo: Apple

The days of the iPhone’s NFC capabilities being limited to just Apple Pay are coming to an end. Apple is open to allowing rivals to use the iPhone wireless tap-to-pay system. But only in the European Union.

The change is the result of antitrust charges brought by the EU.

Apple Vision Pro with max storage and accessories costs $6,257

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Apple Vision Pro with max storage and accessories costs $6,257
$3,499 is only the starting price for Apple Vision Pro.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

There were gasps when Apple first revealed that the Vision Pro headset costs $3,499, but shoppers who load the spatial-computing device up with additional storage and Apple’s recommended add-ons pay almost twice as much.

But to put that price in perspective, an earlier ground-breaking Apple product — one that changed computers forever — cost even more than that when it launched decades ago.

Why you should expect Apple Vision Pro to quickly sell out

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Apple Vision Pro
This can soon be yours, if you order quickly enough on Friday morning.
Photo: Apple

Friday morning ushers in Apple’s era of spatial computing when the Vision Pro goes on sale, and the cutting-edge headset is likely to sell out almost immediately.

But that won’t be a sure indication of huge demand for the new product — Apple has reportedly produced a relatively small number of the $3,499 headsets.

Apple Watch sales ban is back, but there’s a fallback option

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Apple Watch Blood Oxygen app
The Apple Watch Blood Oxygen app is at the heart of a sales ban for the wearable.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple lost a court appeal Wednesday, which means Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 might once again get pulled from U.S. store shelves. The court agrees with previous rulings that the wearables are in violation of a patent held by a medical-device company.

But Apple has a workaround: it’s almost certainly going to remove the application at the center of the patent dispute.

iOS 17.3 with new iPhone Stolen Device Protection is only a week away

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Stolen Device Protection in iOS 17.3 beta
Your iPhone can better protect itself from data thieves with a new iOS 17.3 feature.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple revealed Wednesday that iOS 17.3 will be out “next week.” The major feature is Stolen Device Protection, a new system for protecting the personal information of users.

It’s likely new versions of iPadOS, macOS and watchOS will also debut at the same time.

Supreme Court decision means major iPhone app change is on the way

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App Store
A court-ordered change to iPhone apps is about to hit Apple in the pocketbook.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The U.S. Supreme Court effectively upheld a lower court’s ruling that Apple must allow third-party iPhone app developers to point customers to their websites when making purchases. This means the company is forced to drop its “anti-steering” rule for such applications — a major change.

It’s the primary result of Apple’s long-running legal battle with Epic Games.

Never leave your iPhone behind again with this handy keychain gadget [Review] ★★★★☆

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Prox PRD review -- Phone Reminder Device★★★★☆
You won't forget your iPhone again with the Prox PRD.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Put a Prox PRD on your keychain or in your purse and you’ll always be alerted when start to leave without your iPhone.

It’s not an AirTag or a tracker, and doesn’t collect any info about you. The device simply makes sure you don’t walk off without your handset.

I’ve tested the Prox PRD for weeks. Here’s why I’m satisfied with it.

OLED iPad Pro might launch later than expected

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OLED iPad mockup
OLED screens are on the way to the 2024 iPad Pro line. But when?
Photo: Cult of Mac

The first iPad Pro with a OLED display is reportedly on track to launch in April. While that’s generally good news, previous leaks predicted a release in March.

The next generation of iPad Pro is also expected to have other enhancements, like an Apple M3 processor.

Apple ready to delete Apple Watch blood oximeter app to skirt sales ban [Updated]

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Apple Watch Shock
Apple's quick fix to evade the Apple Watch sales ban is a surprising one.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s solution to evading a sales and import ban on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 is apparently a simple one: It is reportedly prepared to delete the application at the heart of the patent dispute that caused the ban.

But this will only be necessary if Apple loses its next legal appeal, which will be made soon.

Pro Max variant dominates iPhone 15 shipments

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iPhone 15 Pro Max
You're not the only one who rocking an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Not by a long shot.
Photo: Apple

The top-of-the line iPhone 15 Pro Max makes up close to half of shipments of the iPhone 15 series, according to a trusted market analyst.

This continues a trend from last year in which Apple’s most expensive model was also its most popular.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season finale wraps up with a kaiju battle [Apple TV+ recap]

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'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' episode 10 -- Godzilla
Look who is back! And ready to fight.
Photo: Apple TV

TV+ ReviewThe Monarch: Legacy of Monsters season finale reunites old friends and also gives us the kaiju fight people wanted all along.

Read our review/recap for Godzilla-size spoilers about episode ten, plus loads of speculation about the show’s second season.

Save a welcome 24% on new Samsung T9 external SSD

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Samsung T9 portable SSD
The Samsung T9 SSD is small but holds terabytes of data. And it's on sale!
Photo: Samsung

The Samsung T9 external SSD just hit store shelves in October and it’s already available at a hefty discount. Amazon knocked up to 24% off the regular cost of the speedy solid state drive.

It comes in capacities up to 4TB, and plugs easily into Mac, iPad and even the most recent iPhone models.

Apple CEO meets with EU competition chief to talk sideloading iPhone apps

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European Union's commissioner for competition Margrethe Vestager and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Margrethe Vestager and Tim Cook had an in-person meeting with some weighty issues on the table.
Photo: Margrethe Vestager

Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s commissioner for competition, met with Apple CEO Tim Cook on Thursday to discuss the upcoming EU requirement that iPhone users be able to install applications from outside the App Store, aka sideloading.

Vestager also says the two discussed the EU’s investigation into whether Apple Music is anticompetitive.

Terrible Mac sales in 2023 help explain why Apple rushed out M3 processor

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New super-size MacBook Air is 'world's thinnest 15-inch laptop'
Even the launch of the first 15-inch MacBook Air wasn't enough to spur 2023 Mac shipments.
Screenshot: Apple

Shipments of Macs plunged 22.4% in 2023, according to a market research firm. While every PC maker also had a weak year, Apple did a bit worse than its rivals.

The drop in macOS demand probably explains why Apple launched the M3 family of processors in the fall, less than a year after the release of their predecessors.

Kensington hub uses Thunderbolt 5 to transfer files at an amazing 120Gbps

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Kensington SD5000T5 Thunderbolt 5 Dock
Thunderbolt 5 means this upcoming Kensington multiport dock offers transfers at up to 120Gbps.
Photo: Kensington

Kensington on Monday unveiled one of the first docks using Thunderbolt 5, a new version of the networking standard that’s up to three times the speed of its predecessor. The SD5000T5 will sport an array of ports, and support dual 8K displays.

Also at CES 2024, the accessory-maker took the wraps off a trio of USB-C docks.

How to use long-overdue improvements to the Files app in iPadOS 17

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How to use long-overdue improvements to the Files app in iPadOS 17
There are new features in the iPad/iPhone Files app when accessing thumbdrives and SSDs.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Managing files on iPad has finally got a lot easier with new tools added to the Files app in iPadOS 17. It’s especially good for working with external drives, including basic capabilities like seeing see how much space remains on a thumb drive. And iPhone users can access them, too.

Here’s how to access all the new features in Apple’s Files app.

The Dynasty documentary tackles the many victories and controversies of New England Patriots

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'The Dynasty: New England Patriots' sports documentary hits Apple TV+ February 16.
The Dynasty: New England Patriots sports documentary hits Apple TV+ February 16.
Photo: Apple TV+

Football fans can look forward to the February premiere of The Dynasty: New England Patriots, an Apple TV+ sports documentary that interviews Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and many others about the team’s six Super Bowl wins between 2001 and 2019 — and the team’s many scandals.

The trailer for the upcoming documentary dropped Tuesday. Watch it now.

First Vision Pro ad harks back to classic iPhone Hello advert

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Get Ready | Apple Vision Pro video ad
Put on your goggles ... here comes Vision Pro.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s fun new Get Ready video for the upcoming Vision Pro headset is clearly intended to ratchet up the hype for the spatial computing device scheduled for release in early February.

The new advert shows a wide range of celebrities putting on visors in iconic film roles. That makes it strongly reminiscent of a 2007 ad released before the launch of the original iPhone.

This slim, wireless mechanical keyboard connects to four devices

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Satechi SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard
Satechi's first mechanical keyboard won't take up much room on your desk.
Photo: Satechi

The Satechi SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard offers a 75% layout with low-profile brown switches. It can connect with up to four computers, whether Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, etc.

The wired/wireless keyboard debuted at CES 2024, and is available now.

Chipolo Card Spot wallet finder goes ‘Perfectly Imperfect’

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Chipolo Card Spot Perfectly Imperfect wallet tracker
The special edition of Chipolo's Find My-compatible wallet tracker is Perfectly Imperfect.
Photo: Chipolo

Chipolo introduced the “Perfectly Imperfect” limited edition collection of its Card Spot wallet tracker. Although slightly flawed in appearance, each unit is fully functional — like so many of us.

The tracker uses Apple’s Find My network, which means iPhone, Mac and iPad users can locate it without having to install any software from Chipolo.

iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall from Alaska Airlines jet

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An Alaska Airlines flight lost a door plug in mid-air.
The iPhone went out this hole in the fuselage.
Photo: National Transportation Safety Board

An iPhone found beside a road in Portland reportedly dropped from an Alaska Airlines jet after part of the fuselage detached in flight, immediately depressurizing the cabin. The iPhone is undamaged despite a 16,000-foot plunge.

Is that tough enough for you?

Clip terabytes of video storage to iPhone 15 Pro with MagSafe SSD enclosure

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HyperDrive Next Snap-On USB-C SSD Enclosure
With this accessory, an iPhone 15 can store terabytes of data while staying ready to be a video camera.
Photo: Hyper

The HyperDrive Next Snap-On USB-C SSD Enclosure lets iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max users easily record terabytes of high-resolution video.

It’s one of many accessories Hyper just unveiled at CES 2024, including some with the new Qi2 wireless charging standard.