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Luke Dormehl - page 108

iOS 13 uses ARKit to solve one of the biggest FaceTime complaints

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2018 iPad Pro Animoji
The eye-line problem is finally fixed. If you own an iPhone XS or XS Max, that is!
Photo: Apple

There’s something weirdly off-putting about the eye-contact problem with video calling services like FaceTime and Skype.

It happens because users must choose either to look directly at the camera lens, and miss what’s happening on screen, or look at the screen and appear to be staring at the listener’s neck.

That’s not ideal for a tool that’s meant to make it seem like you’re having a face-to-face conversation. Fortunately, Apple fixes this shortcoming in iOS 13.

Laurene Powell Jobs battles climate change with Leonardo DiCaprio

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Laurene Powell Jobs (center) at the Female Founders Conference 2016 in San Francisco.
Laurene Powell Jobs (center) at the Female Founders Conference 2016 in San Francisco.
Photo: Y Combinator/Flickr CC

Philanthropist Laurene Powell Job, the widow of Steve Jobs, has teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio to help save the planet.

Their new non-profit environmental organization is called the Earth Alliance. It will “work globally to protect ecosystems and wildlife, ensure climate justice, support renewable energy and secure indigenous rights to the benefit of all life on Earth.”

‘Close Your Rings’ videos show how Apple Watch users get their exercise

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Close Rings
Here's how Apple Watch users close their rings.
Photo: Apple

Apple has updated its “Close Your Rings” Apple Watch website with short videos and stories detailing how different Apple Watch wearers complete their fitness goals each day.

“Close Your Rings” is Apple’s slogan describing an Apple Watch UI element. It pushes users to move, exercise and stand up by presenting this data as a series of rings to be closed each day.

Samsung completes its Galaxy Fold redesign

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Apple invents a unique, no-crease folding iPhone screen
We still don't know the release date, though.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung has reportedly completed a two-month redesign of its folding Galaxy Fold handset, after screen defects caused the company to delay its release.

While undoubtedly embarrassing, this will at least allow Samsung to get its next-gen smartphone on the market before the holiday season.

Jony Ive is leaving Apple at a time it’s pivoting to Services

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Apple services
Services is based on software, not hardware.
Photo: Apple

There’s a plenty of court intrigue about the reasons for Jony Ive leaving Apple.

John Arlidge, who interviewed Ive for the U.K.’s Sunday Times in 2013 and 2014, has an interesting take. In an article for Wired, Arlidge points out that Ive’s split from Apple comes at a time when it’s pivoting away from hardware.

Rally or not? Apple stock is at a ‘key technical juncture’

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AAPL stock
Should you be excited about Apple stock? This chart could tell you.
Image: CNBC

Apple shares increased 2% on Monday, buoyed by the news that the burgeoning trade war between China and the U.S. could be over.

In all, AAPL is up almost 30% for the year. But according to an equity strategist, what happens next could be crucially important. It’s either very good news for Apple, or very bad.

You can now enjoy Spotify Stations on the road with CarPlay

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CaPlay 1
Spotify Stations is like your own personal radio station.
Image: Spotify

Spotify has updated its Spotify Stations app with support for CarPlay. The app is intended to provide a radio station-like experience, which customizes itself to your tastes.

With its latest update, you no longer need to use your iPhone to access the app. If you’re a CarPlay user, you can do it right from your dash.

Apple still struggling to make a sound in Europe’s smart speaker market

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Apple debuts HomePod in India at its cheapest price yet
Google and Amazon continue to lead.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

There’s a new challenger to the smart speaker throne — and, no, it’s not Apple’s HomePod.

According to the latest data from IDC, in Europe Google has overtaken Amazon as the market leader in smart speakers. Google Home devices accounted for 45.1% of shipped smart speakers in the region in Q1. That beats Amazon’s 41.8%. Apple’s HomePod doesn’t even even get a mention.

iOS 13 beta and HomePod lets you ask Siri to play radio

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iPhone FM radio chips
"Hey Siri, play BBC Radio One."
Photo: Alan Levine/Flickr CC

The ability to use Siri to listen to live radio stations is up and running for HomePod users, along with people running the latest iOS 13 beta.

Apple announced the feature at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, boasting support for iHeartRadio, TuneIn and Radio.com streaming radio. That means users can access more than 100,000 different stations using Apple’s AI assistant.

Apple could be the victor of successful G20 trade talks

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Activist shareholders push Apple on why it booted Hong Kong protest app
Could the trade war with China be over?
Photo: Fredrik Rubensson/Flickr CC

Apple is the big winner of global trade talks at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan.

That’s according to Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives. Ives notes that Apple has become the “poster child” for the U.S. vs. China trade war. As a result, the news that trade talks will resume between President Donald Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping is a winner for Apple.

Jony Ive’s absence from Apple caused iPhone X headaches

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iPhone X Product Red Wallpaper
The iPhone X had a "rough development cycle."
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Jony Ive began to drift away from Apple shortly after the Apple Watch launched, a new report claims. The Apple design chief’s waning enthusiasm caused problems during development of the iPhone X and other products.

Following news that Ive is finished at Apple (at least as a full-time employee), this account backs up earlier reports stating that he had had one foot out the door for a while. In some cases, Ive’s long goodbye made things difficult for his co-workers.

Eddy Cue insists Apple’s TV streaming service isn’t too late

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Eddy Cue
Eddy Cue is the boss of Apple's Services division.
Photo: CNBC

Apple has some big designs on television with its Apple TV+ service. But Eddy Cue, SVP of Internet Software and Services, admits the company didn’t have much expertise on the subject of TV when it started its latest project.

That’s now changed, Cue says, and Apple is focused on “creating the best” content possible. And he doesn’t think it’s left it too late, either.

Today in Apple history: iPad surpasses 100,000 exclusive apps

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iPad
The iPad got developers excited from day one!
Photo: Apple

June 30: Today in Apple history: iPad surpasses 100,000 exclusive apps June 30, 2011: A little more than a year after the iPad goes on sale, the number of iPad-exclusive apps in the App Store passes 100,000.

The milestone caps a brilliant first year for Apple’s long-awaited tablet. And the amazing breadth of iPad-only apps proves the device is much more than just a bigger iPhone.

Trump administration weighs banning end-to-end encryption

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Proposed bill could hold tech giants more accountable for child exploitation
Encryption could be the next big conflict between Apple and the White House.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has banged heads with the Trump administration before, but its biggest clash could be yet to come.

According to a new report, senior White House officials met this week to discuss banning end-to-end encryption. This would affect a number of tech companies — including Apple, which has long touted its focus on user privacy.

Apple’s second Singapore store will open next month

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Apple's new Singapore store isn't going to be short of possible customers.
Apple's new store isn't going to suffer from a lack of footfall.
Photo: Apple

Apple is gearing up to open its second retail store in Singapore. The new store will be located at Jewel Changi Airport, the entertainment and retail complex adjoining Changi Airport.

Located in one of Asia’s largest transport hubs, Apple Jewel Changi Airport isn’t exactly going to suffer for lack of traffic.

Stylish ‘Bounce’ ad depicts the wireless joy of using AirPods

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Bounce ad for AirPods1
One of Apple's more stylish recent ads.
Photo: Apple

Apple has debuted a slick, black-and-white ad showcasing its massively popular AirPods.

Titled “Bounce,” the ad shows an AirPods wearer springing through the streets. It’s intended to show off the unencumbered, wireless freedom of the iconic earbuds. (Including the new AirPods’ wireless charging capabilities.) And you know what? It’s pretty darn great.

Jony Ive’s departure hardly dented Apple stock

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Jony Ive
Jony Ive designed many of Apple's most iconic products.
Photo: Vanity Fair/YouTube

With the exception of Tim Cook, Jony Ive is almost certainly the most famous person associated with the modern era of Apple.

As the iconic Brit designer known to millions for waxing lyrical in front of a white backdrop on Apple keynotes (and, you know, designing a whole bunch of insanely great products), he’s an Apple icon.

So what kind of impact did his newly announced departure have on Apple’s stock price? Maybe not as much as you might think.

Apple’s latest machine learning breakthrough could help train better AI

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Apple's secret AI sauce gets a new ingredient
Apple is working hard to improve its AI technology.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Having lagged behind in artificial intelligence for several years, Apple is eager to prove that it’s catching up.

In a new paper, published in Apple’s own Machine Learning Journal, it describes an approach to “unsupervised domain adaptation.” It claims that this can help improve the performance of “deep learning” models in certain scenarios.

Bootleg tracks for rapper Playboi Carti pop up on Apple Music

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Playboi_Carti 1
Rapper Playboi Carti's debut album, Die Lit, launched last year.
Photo: The Come Up Show/Wikipedia CC

Apple Music is a great place for listening to official albums. It also turns out that it’s not a bad place to find unauthorized leaked tracks.

According to a new report, a series of leaked tracks belonging to the rapper Playboi Carti have turned up on the streaming music service. They were allegedly uploaded by a person unconnected with the artist.

Thieves rob California Apple Store at gunpoint

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Apple Valencia Town Center
The Apple store targeted in the robbery.
Photo: Apple

Thieves robbed the Apple Store in Valencia, California, at gunpoint Wednesday morning.

As customers shopped shortly before 11 a.m., three male suspects entered Apple Valencia Town Center and “began grabbing merchandise,” including iPhones and Apple Watches, police said. One of the suspects brandished a firearm before the gang fled.