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Killian Bell - page 28

Last chance: Save on amazing Monowear bands, accessories for Apple Watch

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Monowear-collection
Prices start at just $17.60.
Photo: Monowear

It’s your last chance to enjoy 20% off all Monowear bands and accessories for AirPods and Apple Watch in the Cult of Mac Store’s Labor Day sale.

You’ll find comfortable nylon, sturdy stainless steel, and luscious leather options to choose from, with prices starting at just $25.60. You can also pick up AirPods cases and travel accessories for even less.

Apple TV+ is the only streaming service that takes your privacy seriously

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Spatial audio for Apple TV in tvOS 15
Most streaming services are watching you while you watch them.
Photo: Apple

Almost every video streaming service except Apple TV+ is selling your data to third-party companies and tracking your viewing habits for targeted ads. A new report from Common Sense Media exposes the loose privacy policies employed by most streaming providers, including Amazon and Netflix.

“Many viewers know that free streaming apps are most likely selling their personal information, but most viewers may not know that most paid sub‐ scription streaming apps are also selling users’ data,” warns the report.

iPad stocks left to dwindle ahead of next week’s Apple event

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iPad stocks dwindle
Making way for a new model.
Photo: Apple

Availability of the eighth-generation iPad is becoming scarce ahead of next week’s big Apple event. The 10.2-inch device is “currently unavailable” in some markets, while others face shipping delays of three to six weeks.

Apple is expected to introduce a new ninth-generation iPad, with a slimmer chassis and more powerful processor, this fall.

Logi Dock packs plenty of ports, pretty lights and a built-in speakerphone

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Logi Dock hub with speakerphone
An all-in-one hub that hopes to make working from home easier.
Photo: Logitech

The new Logi Dock from Logitech is an all-in-one hub that’s designed to make working from home — and all the dreaded online meetings that come with it — a little more bearable. It packs almost all the ports you’ll ever need, one-touch meeting controls, and a built-in speakerphone.

It also features pretty lights that will let you know when a meeting is about to start. What more could you want?

Twitter tests new edge-to-edge interface for images and video on iOS

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Twitter tests new interface on iOS
A little inspiration from Instagram?
Photo: Twitter

Twitter looks set to finally take full advantage of the larger displays packed into modern smartphones. It is currently testing a new edge-to-edge interface that gives you a better look at images and videos in your timeline.

A new teaser video posted by Twitter on Twitter, and embedded below for your enjoyment, offers an early glimpse at what’s to come.

Grab an Apple TV 4K for the lowest price we’ve seen

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Apple TV Siri Remote
Bag yours before they're all gone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Update your home entertainment experience with an Apple TV 4K at its lowest-ever price. OWC is offering brand-new previous-generation units for just $109 for a limited time only.

That price is a whopping $70 off the hardware’s original price, and well below the previous low of $119. Act fast — you can buy up to three while inventory lasts.

Last chance: Save 20% on the Button Remote for Apple TV and more from Function101

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Function 101 Apple TV button remote
Bag yours for under $24.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Function101 is now offering 20% off select products purchased through the Cult of Mac Store.

Save on the brilliant Button Remote for Apple TV, which we just gave a glowing review, as well as the excellent BentoStack and Cable Blocks. The discount ends later today, so enjoy it while you can.

WhatsApp’s promise of end-to-end encryption may be a complete lie

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WhatsApp encryption message
WhatsApp says no one — not even WhatsApp — can read your messages.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp promises to protect every one of its 2 billion users with end-to-end encryption that ensures their messages cannot be seen by anyone outside of the original conversation. But does it live up to that promise?

A new report alleges that the Facebook-owned messaging platform uses artificial intelligence and more than 1,000 contract workers to examine “millions of pieces of users’ content” using “special Facebook software.”

That’s despite Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg telling the U.S. Senate in 2018 that “we don’t see any of the content in WhatsApp.”

UK carrier hints at September 14 launch for iPhone 13

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Sky Mobile iPhone 13 teaser
Are you ready?
Photo: Sky Mobile

iPhone 13 could make its much-anticipated debut on September 14, according to teasers from one U.K. carrier.

Sky Mobile is already giving customers the opportunity to pre-register for “all the info on the upcoming big announcement.” Those who do will get access to an exclusive offer on the “next generation” device.

iOS 15 asks for your permission to show personalized ads in Apple apps

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Personalized ads popup in iOS 15
This is what you'll see when you open the App Store.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple will ask iPhone and iPad users for their permission to show personalized ads within its own apps in iOS and iPadOS 15.

A new popup appears when opening the App Store for the first time after installing one of Apple’s latest betas. It says personalized ads “help you discover apps, products and services that are relevant to you.”

Apple devices could get more expensive with chip prices set to skyrocket

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Apple chip prices to rise in 2022
TSMC is planning its biggest price hike in over a decade.
Photo: TSMC

Apple’s most popular devices could get even more expensive next year, with chip-maker TSMC said to be planning its biggest price increase in more than a decade. The move could also affect companies like Nvidia and Qualcomm.

Sources are blaming the price hike on a number of factors, including higher material costs and the ongoing chip shortage, which has encouraged some device vendors to buy up more components than they actually need.

Germany wants Apple to repair and update iPhone for 7 years

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Right to Repair
It is calling on the European Commission to enforce stricter rules.
Photo: iFixit

Germany is calling on the European Union to force smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung to repair and update their devices for at least seven years. It also wants manufacturers to offer spare parts at reasonable prices.

The European Commission has already proposed stricter rules for mobile device vendors. It’s all part of an effort to reduce waste by ensuring smartphones and tablets can remain in use for longer.

EFF urges Apple to completely abandon delayed child safety features

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Apple urged to abandon child safety features
'Delays aren't good enough.'
Photo: Wiyre Media CC

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has called on Apple to completely abandon its child safety features after their rollout was delayed.

The group says it is “pleased” Apple’s move is on hold for now. But it calls the plans, which include scanning user images for child abuse material (CSAM), “a decrease in privacy for all iCloud Photos users.”

The EFF’s petition against Apple’s original announcement now contains more than 25,000 signatures. Another, started by groups like Fight for the Future and OpenMedia, contains more than 50,000.

Drake’s new album breaks Apple Music record just set by Kanye

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Drake Certified Lover Boy
More than 60 million streams in just 12 hours.
Photo: Drake

Certified Lover Boy, the newest album from Drake, has broken the Apple Music streaming record set by Kanye West just a few days ago.

In just 12 hours after the album’s release at midnight EST on Friday, September 3, it become 2021 most-streamed album and surpassed the 60 million streams that Donda racked up during its first 24 hours of availability.

Apple delays plan to scan user photos for child abuse material

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Learn the financial lingo to get the most out of earnings call chatter.
Apple will take time to "collect input and make improvements."
Photo: Kevin Dooley/Flickr CC

Apple on Friday confirmed it has delayed controversial plans to start scanning user photos for child sexual abuse material, aka CSAM.

The feature was originally scheduled to roll out later this year. Apple now says it will take time to “collect input and make improvements” before deploying the changes. However, the feature is far from canceled altogether.

Apple Watch 7 may not be compatible with bands you already own

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Elago Sport band for Apple Watch
Or will it?
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch Series 7 is expected to be the biggest yet, with new screens that measure 41mm and 45mm. It’s rumored Apple will increase case sizes to accommodate those larger panels — and that could be bad news for your bands.

One tipster, citing Apple Store employees, says Apple is allowing existing band stocks to dwindle because its next-generation Watch models won’t be compatible with them.

WhatsApp patches security hole that could expose sensitive user data

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Facebook messaging apps
Keep your app up to date to stay safe.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp recently patched a serious security vulnerability that could expose sensitive user data. Security researchers discovered the hole, which could be exploited by opening an attachment that contained a malicious image file.

More recent versions of WhatsApp now check the integrity of image that has been edited with filters to keep users safe.