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Killian Bell - page 160

iPhone 7 finally loses in speed test against Android rival

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iPhone 7 in hand
iPhone 7 isn't top dog anymore.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Thanks to Apple’s engineering magic, the iPhone has long outpaced its Android-powered rivals.

In real-world speed tests, the iPhone can blaze past high-end competitors from the likes of Google, Samsung and LG, despite slower processors and less RAM. But not anymore. We finally have an Android device that packs more power than the iPhone 7 — and that’s the OnePlus 5.

China’s black market can build an iPhone from scratch

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iPhone black market China
China's black market looks like "an iPhone factory has thrown up all over itself."
Photo: Brian Merchant/Wired

iPhone-turns-10-1You don’t have to visit a Foxconn factory to see an iPhone built from scratch.

Visit China’s black market and you’ll meet traders with the components, tools, and know-how to build you a working handset for a fraction of the price you would pay Apple. The whole process is complete by the time you’ve finished your coffee.

Buy a refurbished Apple Pencil to save a few bucks

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iPad Pro drawing Apple Pencil
Apple Pencil can't beat a mouse at many things.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has begun selling refurbished models of the Apple Pencil at a discount. iPad Pro owners in the United States can save a pretty penny when picking up the best stylus available for their tablet — but it’s still not the most affordable.

10 times Apple learned from massive iPhone mistakes

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iPhone 7 red
iPhone 8 rumors haven't had an impact yet, either.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone turns 10 It might be the most successful smartphone on the planet, but the iPhone didn’t become what it is today without some failures along the way.

Even before the device made its much-anticipated debut in 2007, Apple overcame big missteps and mistakes. It tried putting iTunes on other phones. It believed we didn’t need native apps. It entered into embarrassing partnerships with big bands.

As Cult of Mac looks back over the iPhone’s history to celebrate the device’s 10th anniversary, in collaboration with Wired UK, 10 big failures stick out like a sore thumb.

First ‘Assembled in India’ iPhones go on sale

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iPhone assembled in India
Coming soon with a 2?
Photo: Indian Express

Apple’s first iPhone SE units manufactured in India are now on sale in the country.

“Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in India,” reads the tagline on the back. Despite being made locally, the devices cost exactly the same as those shipped from China.

Samsung lures iPhone users with revamped Smart Switch

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Samsung Smart Switch
Smart Switch makes it easy to jump platforms.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung is hoping to attract iPhone owners to its new Galaxy S8 lineup with a revamped Smart Switch website.

The company highlights just how easy it can be to swap iOS for Android and take all of your data with you in just a few steps.

Leaked dummy unit provides new look at iPhone 8

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iPhone 8 dummy
Is this our best look yet at the iPhone 8?
Photo: Benjamin Geskin

An iPhone 8 “dummy unit” made from leaked parts give us an early glimpse at what Apple’s next big upgrade might look like.

Its form is similar to that of recent handsets like the iPhone 7, but with a larger edge-to-edge display that will help it compete with rivals like the Galaxy S8.

Google will stop scanning your Gmails for ad personalization

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Gmail iOS
View all your messages individually if you prefer.
Photo: Google

Google is going to stop scanning your Gmail messages for ad personlization, it has confirmed today.

You will still see ads when you use Gmail on your phone or in a web browser, but they will no longer be based on information Google has pulled from your emails.

WhatsApp adds capability to share any file type

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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

Everyone’s using WhatsApp these days, which makes it an ideal platform for quickly sharing files with friends and colleagues. And it just got even better at doing that, because you can now use WhatsApp to share any file type.

Mac malware grows significantly in early 2017

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Mac-malware-Jun-17
Mac's malware rise isn't a fluke.
Photo: McAfee Labs

As the Mac user base continues to grow, so does the malware threat.

McAfee Labs’ latest quarterly Threats Report was issued this week, revealing new macOS malware rose 53 percent during early 2017.

Sling TV brings cloud DVR feature to iOS

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Sling TV cloud DVR
Save movies and TV shows to watch later with cloud DVR.
Photo: Sling TV

Sling TV’s awesome cloud DVR feature, which lets you record shows and movies to watch later, is finally available on iOS.

The service costs an extra $5 a month, for which you get 50 hours of storage, but there’s still no option to save your recordings offline.

Instagram Stories blasts past Snapchat in popularity

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Stories is already seeing more users than Snapchat.
Stories is already seeing more users than Snapchat.
Photo: Instagram

You have to feel for Snapchat. Not only are its best features constantly ripped off by the competition, but they’re sometimes even more popular on rival platforms.

Take Stories, for example. Less than a year after being copied, the feature is already more popular on Instagram than the entire Snapchat service.

Swift creator seeks new job 6 months after swapping Apple for Tesla

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Chris Lattner
Lattner was VP of Autopilot Software for just 6 months.
Photo: Chris Lattner

Chris Lattner, the man who helped create the Swift programming language before leaving Apple for Tesla, has departed his new role just six months later.

Lattner confirmed the move on Twitter, saying Tesla wasn’t “a good fit.” He’s now looking for new lead engineering roles.

Apple Pay adds banks (and lets you tip your Uber driver)

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Apple Pay iPhone
Yet another reason to use Apple Pay.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay has expanded its reach to support a long list of new banks and financial institutions in the United States.

Uber has also updated its own app to offer Apple Pay tipping on rides and UberEATS deliveries.

iPhone ‘melts’ during U.K. heat wave

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iPhone hot temperature warning
Don't leave your iPhone in the sun!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If you’re enjoying the rare sunshine gracing the U.K. this week, it might be best to leave your iPhone indoors.

Leaving it in the heat while you catch some rays could cause its internals to melt, as one unlucky owner discovered in Cornwall.

Armani is latest designer brand to take on Apple Watch

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Armani Connected Watch
One of Armani's upcoming Connected watches.
Photo: Emporio Armani

Emorio Armani is the latest designer fashion brand that fancies its chances against the Apple Watch.

The Italian company unveiled its first smartwatch collection, powered by Google’s Android Wear platform, at Milan Fashion Week over the weekend — but neglected to mention any prices.

Apple asks court to block Qualcomm double-dipping

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Qualcomm patents
Apple doesn't want to pay twice for Qualcomm chips.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s ongoing legal battle with Qualcomm just got even more interesting after the iPhone-maker branded its partner’s license agreements invalid.

Cupertino is fighting to prevent Qualcomm from taking a cut of every iPhone sold, and to prevent the chipmaker’s alleged double-dipping to maximize revenue it earns from its modem chips.

Steve Jobs demanded Android-style back button for iPhone

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iPhone could have looked a lot different had Steve Jobs had his way.
iPhone could have looked a lot different had Steve Jobs had his way.
Photo: Apple

Since it made its debut in 2007, the iPhone has relied on just one physical button for returning to the Home screen. But if Steve Jobs had his way, it would have had two.

The Apple co-founder and former CEO tried to convince other executives that the iPhone also needed an Android-style back button for navigation.

Apple Watch now available from Sport Chek stores in Canada

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Apple Watch Sport Chek
It's even easier to get your hands on Apple Watch in Canada.
Photo: Sport Chek

Sport Chek, the largest sports retailer in Canada, now stocks multiple models of Apple Watch.

Its selection isn’t quite as big as the Apple’s but its prices are the same, and it’s more convenient for those who don’t live near an official Apple store.