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Ed Hardy - page 60

iPhone keeps on dominating US smartphone market

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iPhone 14 in purple
More people in the U.S. unboxed an iPhone than an Android last quarter.
Photo: Unsplash

iPhone shipments made up 55% of the U.S. smartphone market in the second quarter of 2023, according to a market-analysis firm. That’s the third quarter to a row that Apple handsets have made up more than half of the market.

iPhone shipments actually declined slightly in the April-though-June period, but not as much as some Android-makers — Samsung shipments dropped almost 40%.

Super-cute Hello Kitty Island Adventure is latest Apple Arcade exclusive

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Supercute ‘Hello Kitty Island Adventure’ is latest Apple Arcade exclusive
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a life simulation game where players will build friendships.
Image: Sunblink/Apple Arcade

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a charming life sim game starring the world-famous feline, and it just joined the Apple Arcade roster.

With her adorable friends, Kitty White explores a beautiful island and the magical underwater world near it.

Apple cracks down on apps that use device fingerprinting to track users

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iPhone Device Fingerprinting
Just like you have fingerprints, your iPhone can have a device fingerprint.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple warned all App Store developers that it’s starting a crackdown on using device fingerprinting for user tracking.

As a means of preventing this invasive tracking, Apple will soon require devs to justify the inclusion of all APIs in software submitted to the App Store.

Lionel Messi brings surge of viewers to Apple soccer streaming service

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Want to watch Lionel Messi? Check out the Leagues Cup on MLS Season Pass.
Want to watch Lionel Messi? Check out the Leagues Cup on MLS Season Pass.
Image: Apple

Apple pinned its hopes on soccer superstar Lionel Messi boosting interest in its MLS Season Pass, and the gamble is apparently paying off. After the legend joined Inter Miami CF, Apple reports that its soccer streaming service just had its best week ever.

And that’s after Messi playing only two matches on the service.

Android’s Find My clone hits a snag, and Google blames Apple

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Androids will soon warn of AirTags used by stalkers
Google’s Find My Device system, a copy of Apple’s, won‘t arrive for months.
Photo: Google

Google thinks Apple’s Find My network is so clever it’s “borrowing” the idea. But the upcoming extension of Android’s Find My Device network to tracking tags has been delayed — and Google says it’s all because of Apple.

The snafu supposedly stems from the companies working together on a scheme to prevent stalkers from misusing tracking tags made for the two rival platforms.

iPhone 15 Pro Max price might increase $200

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iPhone 15 Pro Max price might increase
The iPhone 15 Pro models might cost noticeably more than the two basic ones.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The top-tier model in Apple’s upcoming 2023 line could be in for a considerable price jump. The iPhone 15 Pro Max could go up by as much as $200, according to an industry analyst.

While the iPhone 15 Pro will allegedly get its own price increase, the two “standard” ones will not.

Apple pours $2.5 billion into fixing housing crisis in California

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Apple pours $2.5 billion into fixing housing crisis in California
The Kelsey in San Francisco is one of the developments Apple is funding in collaboration with Housing Trust Silicon Valley.
Photo: Apple

There are more than 170,000 homeless people in California, and Apple is doing its part to remedy the problem. That includes a $2.5 billion commitment to address the housing crisis in its home state.

More than 40,000 Californians currently receive housing support through the projects and programs Apple funds.

Apple’s 48MP camera heads for more affordable iPhone 15 models

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iPhone 14 Pro's camera module
The amazing iPhone 14 Pro camera could be in the “standard” iPhone 15.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The 48 megapixel camera that debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro models is making its way to the “standard” iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, according to a trusted analyst.

If true, the change will appreciably improve the quality of the pictures the two lower-cost handsets can take.

Best travel accessories for Apple users to take on vacation

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MacBook on vacation
Here are some of the best travel accessories for MacBook, iPhone or iPad, even if you’re going way off the grid.
Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

Whether you vacation at the beach, in the mountains or anywhere in between, you’ll surely bring your iPhone, Apple Watch and maybe an iPad or even a MacBook with you. We have suggestions for accessories to simplify keeping your gear charged and organized. Plus some to make the trip more fun.

We’ve tested all these gadgets so we know they do what they promise.

Apple supposedly still investigating folding iPad options

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AI rendering of a folding iPad.
Apple's working on a folding iPad and it could look like this rendering from Midjourney.
Render: Midjourney/Lewis Wallace

Apple has its eye on a folding iPad, according to a new report coming out of Asia. This might be the flexible tablet that a reliable tipster predicted was coming in 2024.

Or it could only be a sign that Apple is simply doing basic research on this policy category.

Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn documentary tells amazing story of the millionaire fugitive

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‘Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn’ documentary tells amazing story of the millionaire fugitive
Find out how the former CEO of Nissan ended of fleeing Japan hidden in a box.
Image: Apple TV+

After the chairman of Nissan was arrested for a variety of financial crimes, he fled custody with the aid of a former Green Beret — and was smuggled out in a box. He’s still a fugitive today. These amazing events are the subject of Wanted: The Escape of Carlos Ghosn, a documentary series premiering on Apple TV+ in August.

A trailer for the four-part docuseries debuted Tuesday, offering a glimpse at the bizarre story.

Trailer takes first trip to Apple’s whimsical Strange Planet comedy series

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Trailer takes first trip to Apple’s whimsical ‘Strange Planet’ comedy series
Strange Planet will debut globally on Apple TV+ in early August.
Image: Apple TV+

Anyone eagerly awaiting the Apple TV+ adaptation of Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet graphic novels should be thrilled by the trailer released Tuesday. The upcoming animated series captures the gentle mockery of human foibles from the books.

The series will premiere on Apple’s streaming service in two weeks.

This clever MagSafe iPhone stand holds a sleek power bank [Review] ★★★★☆

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Pitaka MagEz Slider 2 review★★★★☆
The Pitaka MagEz Slider 2 is both a MagSafe iPhone stand and MagSafe power bank.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

The Pitaka MagEz Slider 2 combines a desktop stand for your iPhone with a MagSafe power bank, so your handset can get juiced up wherever you go. Just slide the external battery out and take it with you. As a bonus, the swiveling stand also includes an AirPods charger.

It originally launched in 2022, and there’s second-generation version out with an improved design. I put the updated charging stand on my desk to test it out in everyday use. Here’s what I found.

Apple lends Vision Pro AR headset to devs on a very short leash

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The Apple Developer Program has some very strict demands for anyone lucky enough to get a Vision Pro loaner.
The Apple Developer Program has some very strict demands for anyone lucky enough to get a Vision Pro loaner.
Image: Apple

A fortunate few will soon get their hands on the Apple Vision Pro. Developers can now apply to get a prerelease loaner unit with which to test the applications they’re creating for the upcoming AR headset.

But don’t expect to see people walking the street with a Vision Pro anytime soon. Apple’s rules for the loaner units are extremely restrictive.

iOS 16.6 and macOS 13.5 arrive to squash some bugs

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iOS 16.6
iOS 16.6 is here, along with five other Apple OS updates.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iPhone and Mac users can now install iOS 16.6 and macOS Ventura 13.5. These are mostly bug-fix updates with only a few tweaks, but are still worth installing.

Apple also launched iPadOS 16.6, watchOS 9.6 and tvOS 16.6.

iPhone 14 Crash Detection saves man after car plummets 400 feet

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iPhone 14 Crash Detection saves man after car plummets 400 feet
iPhone 14 Crash Detection couldn’t have the car, but it could save the driver.
Composite Photo: Mike Leum

The iPhone 14’s ability to tell when it’s been a car crash saved the life of a California man after he drove off a cliff and fell 400 feet. The Crash Detection feature automatically called for emergency assistance.

One of the rescuers says the man probably would have died without the quick aid made possible by the iPhone.

Spotify price increase means it’s no longer cheaper than Apple Music

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Spotify logo on iPhone
It just got more expensive to listen to music on Spotify.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The streaming music service Spotify just increased its prices across the board. The costs of most subscription options are now the same as the prices of its arch rival, Apple Music price increase 2024.

These increases are occurring in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and many other countries around the globe.

Apple wants to eliminate iPhone screen bezels altogether

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Apple wants to eliminate iPhone screen bezels altogether
Future iPhone models could have virtually no dead space between the display and the case.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The shrinking screen bezel supposedly coming to the iPhone 15 Pro models are apparently only the start. Apple asked makers of OLED panels for iPhone to develop ones that have no bezels at all, according to a report coming out of Asia.

If true, it will enable Apple to put larger displays into future iPhones models without increasing the overall size of the device.

Don’t expect M3 Mac mini before late 2024

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Mac mini sitting on desk alongside LG display, LaCie hard drive, Model F keyboard and Magic Trackpad
Seems Mac mini with M2 Pro will be the fastest option for a long time.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

A version of the inexpensive Mac mini desktop upgraded with a faster Apple M3 processor will not be on the market for over a year, according to a reliable source.

However, there are other Macs with the M3 chip expected before the end of 2023.

Apple’s ‘Think Different’ campaign gets updated for a new generation by AI

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AI updates Apple’s ‘Think Different’ campaign for a new generation
The wall of apples in this AI-generated Think Different ad with Lady Gaga is brilliant.
Photo: Business.com/Midjourney

Apple ended its famous “Think different” ad campaign more than 20 years ago, so perhaps it’s time for a reboot. Business.com challenged a generative AI to create new ads for the classic campaign featuring more current entertainment icons. The images produced for the AI-powered “Think Different” update look surprisingly good.

See for yourself.

Sleek 4-in-1 iPhone charging stand packs bright bonus [Review] ★★★★☆

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SwitchEasy MagPower 4-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand review★★★★☆
Get rid of cable clutter with the SwitchEasy MagPower multidevice charger.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

The SwitchEasy MagPower 4-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand can wirelessly power up a MagSafe iPhone while also juicing up an Apple Watch, AirPods and more. And it even has a nightlight as a bonus.

I’ve had the stand either on my desk or beside my bed for a couple weeks now. Here’s what it’s like in real-world use.

Note: This stand is currently on sale in the Cult of Mac Store’s SwitchEasy flash sale.

Apple TV+ drama La Maison goes behind the scenes of French haute couture

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Fashion design
Expect some backstabbing in La Maison, a fashion-themed drama coming to Apple TV+.
Photo: Los Muertos Crew/Pexels

La Maison is a one-hour drama set within a contemporary French fashion house. It focuses on the lives of powerful families involved in the world of fashion, aspirational French elegance and luxury.

The upcoming Apple TV+ series stars a who’s who of French actors, including Lambert Wilson and Amira Casar.

Apple chipmaker TSMC can’t find enough workers to build Arizona factory

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TSMC chip production
TSMC won‘t start making processors in the United States as soon as had been hoped.
Photo: TSMC

TSMC reportedly can’t get enough skilled workers to build its processor factory in Arizona. The company’s CEO warns that this means the start of chip manufacture in the United States won’t begin as soon as had been earlier projected.

That’s not good news for Apple, which has committed to sourcing processors from the plant.

Beloved farming RPG Stardew Valley+ debuts on Apple Arcade

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‘Stardew Valley+’ is only one of the games coming soon to Apple Arcade.
You can farm in “Stardew Valley+” or fight monsters. Or get married.
Image: ConcernedApe

Popular farming simulator Stardew Valley+ is now playable via Apple Arcade. The game promises many hours of entertainment, with farming, ranching, fighting monsters and even getting married.

It’s one of a number of classic titles to hit Apple’s gaming subscription service in recent weeks.

Hestia merges telescope with iPhone for easy celestial photography

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Hestia merges telescope with iPhone for easy celestial photography
You can take Instagram-worthy pictures of the night sky with the Vaonis Hestia.
Photo: Vaonis

The Vaonis Hestia gives users a closer look at the moon, sun and stars, but it’s far from a traditional telescope. It’s designed to let beginners use their iPhone to view the heavens, easily find the celestial objects they want to see, and then photograph them.

It’s also quite portable. It’s ready to go with you to escape light pollution.