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Killian Bell - page 157

Apple makes a Siri ‘movie’ with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

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Siri movie
The Rock is the start of Apple's first Siri "movie."
Photo: Apple

Apple has teamed up with Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, to make its first Siri “movie.”

It’s called The Rock x Siri: Dominate the Day, and it’s pretty hilarious. Johnson plays an exaggerated version of himself who uses Siri to fulfill crazy dreams. But it’s certainly not a movie.

Can facial recognition replace Touch ID? [Friday Night Fights]

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iPhone facial recognition
Unlocking your iPhone could be as easy as looking at it.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Recent iPhone 8 rumors have left the future of Touch ID unclear. Some indicate it will remain, but in a new position, while others warn that Apple plans to replace it with iris scanning and facial recognition.

Friday Night Fights bugThese aren’t entirely new technologies; other manufacturers have been offering them for years with mixed results. But can Apple deliver a solution that’s simple, fast, and secure enough to replace the fingerprint scanner?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether the iPhone can bid farewell to Touch ID.

A faulty first-gen Apple Watch could get you a free upgrade

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Apple Watch
Apple Watch Series 3 will look exactly the same as its predecessors.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

If you have a first-generation Apple Watch that’s faulty, you could bag a free upgrade when you take it to the Apple store.

Employees and Authorized Service Providers in some countries have been given authorization to replace original models with Apple Watch Series 1 units, but only certain variants are eligible.

iPhone 8’s Touch ID returns to the back in new leak

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iPhone 8 chassis
Touch ID moves again.
Photo: Baidu

The positioning of Touch ID has changed yet again in the latest iPhone 8 leak.

A machined rear panel for Apple’s upcoming device suggests the company still has plans to put a fingerprint scanner on its back — as indicated by earlier leaks. But it won’t be a pain to reach like the Galaxy S8’s.

New Apple data center will boost iCloud in China

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Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple will help launch a new data center in the Guizhou province of China to boost iCloud services locally.

A new report claims the company has signed a cooperation agreement with the government to invest $1 billion in the facility, which will be maintained by a third-party.

Super-smart rings, secure GPS trackers and more [Crowdfund Roundup]

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ORII smart ring
ORII is a smart ring that's actually smart.
Photo: ORII

Crowdfund Roundup bugMaybe smartwatches aren’t your thing, but what about an impressive smart ring that lets you take calls, interact with virtual assistants, and more without being too intrusive?

It’s just one of the awesome ideas in this week’s Crowdfund Roundup. We also have the world’s first graphene headphones, a fidget spinner that you can connect to your smartphone for ultra-cool LED effects, and more!

Apple stops giving Nokia the stink eye

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Nokia digital health
Nokia’s health devices could return to Withings.
Photo: Nokia

Apple is again selling Nokia devices after settling a legal battle over patent infringement.

Nokia health accessories, which are compatible with iPhone and iPad, returned to the Apple online store on Wednesday almost two months after the two companies reached an agreement.

Maybe Apple hasn’t given up on iPhone SE just yet

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iPhone SE camera
Apple is expected to launch a new iPhone SE in May.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple hasn’t given up on its smallest, most affordable iPhone just yet.

A new report claims the 4-inch iPhone SE is due for a refresh soon, and that it will get its very own event this August. What’s more, the new model will be even cheaper than the one Apple sells today.

Samsung has no interest in taking on HomePod

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HomePod
Samsung doesn't want to fight HomePod... yet.
Photo: Apple

Samsung currently has no plans to take on HomePod with a smart speaker of its own.

Recent rumors have claimed the South Korean company is working on a standalone Bixby device, but a source familiar with its plans says the market is too small to be profitable.

Why Apple investors should quit worrying about iPhone 8 delay

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iPhone 8 mockup
Here's how Apple will make iPhone 8 feel less expensive.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple investors have been urged to “quit worrying” by one analyst, who insists the “short-lived” iPhone 8 delay won’t impact stock price.

Robert Cihra from Guggenheim doesn’t deny that iPhone 8 will launch late, but he’s confident fans will wait, rather than jump ship.

WhatsApp will let you watch YouTube videos within chats

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Facebook messaging apps
Coming soon to an iPhone near you?
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp is working to add inline YouTube support to its app, allowing users to enjoy videos within their conversations. The feature will take advantage of the Picture in Picture feature in recent versions of iOS to prevent pulling you away from your conversation.

Apple has no plans to refresh the iPhone SE

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iPhone SE
Two new iPhone SE models for 2020?
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

If you’re yet to adjust to a larger iPhone, it seems you’re going to get left behind. A new report claims Apple has no plans to refresh the iPhone SE, its smallest and most affordable handset, which hasn’t been properly updated since last March.

iPhone 8 will show up late but totally rock the party

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iphone 8 display
iPhone 8 could arrive on time after all.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Yet another analyst is warning that this year’s big iPhone 8 upgrade will launch late, but they promise it will be worth the wait.

Morgan Stanley’s Katy Huberty has told investors that the device won’t be available until October, rather than September, but it will bring “the most meaningful feature and technology upgrades in iPhone’s history.”

Android creator’s Essential Phone will fight iPhone worldwide

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Essential Phone
Essential Phone will expand its reach to new markets.
Photo: Essential

The Essential Phone, built by Android creator Andy Rubin, will do battle against the iPhone in new markets around the world.

For now, the device is only available to those in the U.S. — but Essential is already in talks with carriers in the U.K., Europe, and Japan as it looks to expand its reach.

WhatsApp brings expanded file sharing, chat pinning to iPhone

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WhatsApp
You’ll need a new iPhone if you can’t update to iOS 8 or later.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp just rolled out a big update on iPhone that makes the world’s most popular messaging service even more useful.

Users can now pin chats to the top of their conversation list to make them easier to find, and share files of any kind with their friends and colleagues.

iPhone 8 won’t enter mass-production until months after launch

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iPhone 8 facial recognition
We could be waiting a long time for iPhone 8.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Want to be one of the first to get your hands on Apple’s big iPhone 8 upgrade this fall? Prepare yourself for disappointment.

According to a new report, the device won’t enter mass-production until months after its official unveiling, and only small quantities will be available at first.