Killian Bell - page 14

Apple swiftly reacted to shameful clones of popular online game Wordle by booting them from the App Store.

Josh Wardle’s original version of the word game, available to play for free in a web browser, went viral in recent weeks. Some developers saw an opportunity to capitalize on that by charging for knockoff versions on iPhone and iPad.

Many of the clones, which quickly rose to the top of the App Store’s charts, used exactly the same name as Wardle’s game — and charged players as much as $30 per year in subscription fees. But they didn’t last long.

It seems it’s not that difficult to make millions of dollars on the App Store if you’re willing to charge people for a “free” service and you have money to spend on blatantly fake but seemingly effective reviews.

That’s how one developer, which offers an app that claims to make your music louder, has collected a cool $13 million — and somehow been featured by Apple multiple times in various countries — in under four years.

The first trailer for Suspicion, a new Apple TV+ thriller starring Uma Thurman, sets up the series’ intriguing storyline.

After the son of a prominent American businesswoman, played by Thurman, is kidnapped from a New York hotel, four seemingly ordinary British citizens who just happened to be there that night find themselves caught up in an investigation.

Apple has discontinued the Beats Pill+ wireless speaker — one of the first brand-new products it launched after acquiring Beats in 2014. It was the only speaker available under the Beats brand, and there is no replacement.

You can still buy a Pill+ from third-party retailers while stocks last. However, you won’t find one in the Apple Store.

Apple’s first mixed-reality headset will ship with the same 96W power adapter that you get with some 14-inch MacBook Pro models, according to an analyst, who says that’s proof the device will pack plenty of computing power.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also expects Apple’s “metaverse headset” to be around two to three years ahead of competing products. And he says it could sell as many as 3 million units during its first full year of availability, rising to 20 million units in 2025.

Apple has confirmed that it will allow developers to offer third-party payment systems for app purchases in South Korea, according to a new report.

The move comes after Korean regulators last August ruled that smartphone makers, including, could not force users to make purchases through their own app marketplaces exclusively. But Apple won’t give up its cut of revenues.

Why wear Apple Watch on your wrist like a filthy commoner when you can carry it like a pocket watch? Bucardo’s new Pinstripe collection takes the smartwatch back to the 16th century in the coolest, flashiest way possible.

Get yours in gold, silver or black and join the Apple Watch aristocracy.

Google is once again calling on Apple to adopt a more open text messaging standard after accusing Cupertino of benefitting from bullying.

It comes after a report highlighted the struggle some teens face when using an Android device, which results in broken group chats and green bubbles — as opposed to blue ones — when texting peers who own an iPhone.

A former iMessage manager explained the reasoning behind the differences in Apple’s defense. But some might (rightly) say the arguments hold no value today, with text messaging in a better place than it was when iMessage landed.

European are joining forces in a bid to block iCloud Private Relay — a feature Apple introduced in iOS and iPadOS 15 to bolster its privacy protections. It seems some have already begun disabling it on cellular plans.

A group, which include Vodafone and T-Mobile, has signed an open letter that says Private Relay prevents them from obtaining “vital network data,” and will impact their ability to “efficiently manage telecommunication networks.”

iPhone SE could go without a significant design upgrade until 2024, according to one tipster. This year’s refresh is expected to add 5G connectivity and beefier internals, but it probably won’t look any different to the last iPhone SE.

When Apple does finally get around to giving its most affordable smartphone a lick of paint, it is expected to look a lot like iPhone XR or iPhone 11, but with “a slightly smaller screen.”

Apple Fitness+ is getting a number of upgrades that will help users who have vowed to get fitter and healthier in 2022. Starting next week, new Collections and Time to Run features will roll out for the first time, with more to come later.

Collections is a curated series of workouts and meditations designed to help users reach a certain goal — like running their first 5K or improving their sleep. Apple describes Time to Run as a new “audio running experience.”

Apple suppliers have began preparing shipments of second-generation AirPods Pro ahead of their introduction later this year, according to a new report.

AirPods Pro 2 are expected to come with a revised design that does away with stems, as well as improved audio quality — including support for lossless Apple Music tracks. They could also be a lot easier to find when they go missing.

Dropbox has finally begun testing a brand-new Mac app that runs natively on Apple silicon chipsets. It comes after the company originally said it had no plans to support M1 chips, which was met with backlash from irritated users.

The new app is available to only a small number of people for now, but Dropbox reportedly plans to offer a beta to all Mac users by the end of this month.

Apple’s bid to do away with the notch could lead to a pill-shaped camera cutout in its display, as well as hidden Face ID sensors, according to a tipster.

Recent rumors suggested that iPhone 14 will be the first to feature a “punch hole” camera cutout in its screen rather than current models’ notch. And though we initially assumed that would be circular — like those on Android devices — that may not be the case.

Make your belongings much easier to find when they go missing by attaching an AirTag using Elago’s affordable Silicone Pad. This little accessory features a reusable adhesive that allows it to be stuck to almost any flat surface.

You can get yours in one of three color options — including one that glows in the dark — from the Cult of Mac Store. Enjoy 15% off for a limited time!

Some iPhone and iPad users are being plagued by a Messages bug that causes read receipts to be sent even when they are disabled. The problem seems to affect devices running iOS 15 or later.

There is no permanent fix for the issue yet, but there is one thing you can do that may eliminate the problem for a short time.

A U.S. district judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit filed against Apple by Cydia creator Jay Freeman . Filed last year, the complaint alleges that Apple maintains an illegal monopoly over app distribution on iOS.

Cydia, which launched in 2008, became the first App Store alternative for iPhone and iPad, providing access to thousands of unauthorized downloads. However, you can only access it if you have a jailbroken device.

iPhone’s built-in Calendar app has an ongoing bug that prevents 2022 holidays from appearing in a number of countries, including the United Kingdom.

The problem first cropped up in mid-2021, but iPhone owners assumed the holidays would appear as the new year drew closer. Almost a week into 2022, a large number of users remain unable to see them.

Google plans to make its latest Pixel and Wear OS devices more compelling alternatives to iPhone and Apple Watch by ripping off some of Cupertino’s most popular software features — including spatial audio and AirDrop.

The Android-maker revealed the long list of improvements, which will span all of Google’s software platforms as well as Windows, this week at the CES trade show in Las Vegas. Here’s what you can expect if you plan to ditch your Apple devices and swap sides.

Remember when transparent watch bands were some of the coolest things you could slap on your wrist? Elago does, which is why it is bringing them back with its Clear band for Apple Watch.

Made from a sturdy TPU that’s almost indestructible, the Clear band is ideal in any situation. It’s also a steal at just $11.04 with 15% off. Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store.

Photos purporting to show an Apple MagSafe Battery Pack prototype surfaced Wednesday, revealing an earlier design with a glossy finish and a repositioned charging LED. The device also features internal identification markings.

The device looks genuine, but it’s very different from Apple’s final product, which went on sale last July at $99.

A future WhatsApp update will bring contact photos to your notifications on iPhone. The feature, which requires iOS 15 or later, is already being tested among beta users in version 2.22.1.1 of the app.

This is just one of many improvements WhatsApp has started working on for its iPhone app. Others include revamped contact pages, and a Community feature that gives admins more control over their groups.

Google’s deal with Apple, which ensures that it remains the default search engine in Safari across all Apple devices, is the subject of a new class-action lawsuit against both companies and their CEOs, Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook.

A lawsuit filed in California this week alleges that the two Silicon Valley giants have a non-compete agreement in internet search that violates U.S. antitrust laws and prevents Apple from launching a search engine of its own.

Apple’s first mixed reality headset will feature “pancake” lenses that allow for a lighter, more compact design, according to a new report. The device is still on track to make its debut in late 2022, despite early production delays.

However, it is believed the headset — which is expected to offer both augmented and virtual reality experiences — will be in short supply initially. Availability is set to increase substantially in early 2023.

Apple TV’s slim and subtle design means that it looks incredibly clean no matter where you keep it, but my goodness, isn’t it boring? Transform and protect yours with this awesome T4 silicone skin from Elago.

Priced at under $22 while it’s on sale, the skin makes your Apple TV look like a classic Super Nintendo Entertainment System. And you can get a Siri Remote skin inspired by a SNES controller to go with it.