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Luke Dormehl - page 151

Love Notes to Newton tells story of Apple’s most important failure [Review]

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Love Notes to Newton
Both the MessagePad 120 and eMate devices grew out of the Newton project.
Photo: Love Notes to Newton

The Newton MessagePad is simultaneously one of Apple’s biggest flops and one of the company’s most underrated products.

A series of PDA devices available during the 1990s, today Newtons are much-sought-after relics among a group of enthusiastic Apple fans. These collectors recognize the devices for the forward-looking gadgets they truly were. The Newton product line is now the subject of a new feature-length documentary, titled Love Notes to Newton. Can it do justice to its beloved subject matter?

Apple Watch could fall victim to trade war with China

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Apple Watch
Apple has until fall to plead its case.
Photo: Apple

Apple might have been reassured at the news that tariffs in the U.S.’s trade war with China wouldn’t hurt the iPhone and the iPad — but apparently nobody said anything about the Apple Watch.

According to a new report, the latest round of U.S. tariffs on approximately $200 billion goods imported from China could hit Apple’s wearable device.

iPhone could get shut out of India altogether

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Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Apple is facing the prospect of zero working iPhones in India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India could require mobile operators in the country to stop supporting the iPhone if Apple doesn’t allow a mobile app that lets users report unwanted calls and messages.

Apple has been going back and forth with officials in India over the government-approved anti-spam mobile app, which Apple has suggested violates user privacy.

Apple switches designs for new Oz store, but some are still unhappy

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New design vs. old design
Apple's new design (left) vs. its original design (right).
Photo: Federation Square

Normally, the addition of a new Apple Store is met with positivity, on account of the prestige and increased foot traffic that it brings to an area. That’s not exactly proving to be the case for Apple’s proposed “global flagship” Apple Store in Melbourne, Australia, however.

Revised drawings for the new store were published on Friday, after Apple scrapped original designs which apparently reminded locals of a toasted sandwich.

Fortnite rakes in a staggering $1 billion from in-game purchases

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Fortnite
People have too much disposable cash.
Photo: Epic Games

Whether you like it or hate it, mutli-platform battle royal game Fortnite isn’t going away any time soon. In fact, it’s headed in just one direction: up.

According to a new report from market research firm SuperData Research, the insanely popular game has now sold more than $1 billion in in-game purchases alone. For anyone bemoaning the increasing reliance of games on pushing in-game purchases, this is why we can’t have nice things!

Avanti Air headphones combine retro cool with wireless future [Review]

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Moshi headphones
Pricey, but worth every cent.
Photo: Luke Dormehl/Cult of Mac

When a “premium accessories maker” known for its battery packs and dongles sets out to make wireless headphones, you might fear for your ears. But the only thing in danger from Moshi’s Avanti Air Bluetooth headphones is your wallet.

With a price tag of $299.95, these headphones certainly fit the “premium” bill. Happily, they’re beautifully designed and will please your ears as well as your eyes.

Your Apple device could one day warn you against spending too long in the sun

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Apple Watch tan line
There's a difference between a healthy tan and sunburn. Your Apple device might soon know it.
Photo: Jjprojects/Flickr CC

Your iPhone can track your number of steps, and your Apple Watch can advise you if you have an erratic heart rate you might want to get checked out by a doctor. Could your friendly neighborhood Apple device also one day let you know if you need to put on more sunscreen, too?

That’s the basis for a new patent application published today. And rather than just being in response to sunny days on Apple’s Weather app, it’s actually pretty darn smart technology. Here’s how it might operate.

Amazon is closing in on Apple to hit $1 trillion valuation

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Apple is worth more than the entire US energy sector combined
Apple's position as first $1 trillion valuation is no longer guaranteed.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

As the first company in history to pass the $700, $800, and $900 billion marks, Apple has long looked set to become the world’s first ever $1 trillion company. But Amazon is rapidly closing in on it.

This week, Amazon’s stock market value reached $900 billion for the first time. That puts it within spitting distance of the Cupertino tech giant’s current $935 billion. In 2018, Apple’s shares have risen 12 percent, while Amazon’s have shot up dramatically to the tune of 57 percent.

Siri’s last remaining co-founder retires from Apple

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HomePod siri
The last of the three Siri co-founders who brought the AI assistant to Apple has quit.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Tom Gruber, the last Siri co-founder to have been employed at Apple, has left the company. Gruber was previously head of Siri’s Advanced Development group, but has now retired to focus on his interests in photography and ocean conservation.

His fellow Siri co-creators Dag Kittlaus and Adam Cheyer left Apple a long time ago. They created Siri as an independent app before selling it to Apple in 2010.

Attaching a tablet to your steering wheel is world’s most idiotic hack

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iPad steering wheel
This isn't smart.
Photo: TheDailyTelegraph.au

The great thing about mobile devices is that you can take them anywhere. The bad things about mobile devices is that you can take them anywhere.

That has the potential to lead to plenty of dangerous situations, as a new photo which has popped up online makes clear. It shows an iPad (or is it another type of tablet?) seemingly attached to the steering wheel of a user in Australia. We guess that’s “thinking different,” alright. Just not in a way Steve Jobs would have ever wanted!

Chinese iCloud data now controlled by state-owned company

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Apple Store
Tim Cook has said that China is Apple's future biggest market.
Photo: Apple

When Apple moved iCloud data for Chinese customers over to Apple partner Guizhou-Cloud Big Data Industry earlier this year, a lot of privacy advocates were worried about the implications.

They might have even more cause for concern now, as Apple’s iCloud data in the country — including users’ emails and text messages — is now being stored by a division of the state-owned China Telecom. Apple confirmed the change late on Tuesday.

Google slapped with $5 billion fine for Android tactics

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Android P has a similar swipe-based navigation system as the iPhone X, and it supports screen cutouts.
Google's been sneaky, the EU claims.
Photo: Google

Update: The European Commission has confirmed the fine, while also ordering Google make changes to rectify the problem.

Google is bracing itself to be hit with a 4.3 billion euro ($5 billion) fine as a result of its Android operating system strategy, the BBC reports.

The European Commission’s action will mark the conclusion of a three-year investigation into Android’s strategy, which unfairly strengths Google’s dominance as a search engine. The fine will be formally announced later today.

Samsung predictably takes shots at iPhone X in latest Galaxy S9 ad

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Galaxy S9
Seriously, get a new ad strategy!
Photo: Samsung

Apple is known for strikingly original ads which have changed the course of advertising history, and are studied by creatives decades after they first aired. Samsung is known for ads that rip on Apple.

Its latest spot, which pokes fun at the supposedly slow download speeds of the iPhone X, is just the latest example. Check it out below.

Dedicated Apple fan creates needlework Mac masterpieces

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Glenda Adams
And you thought your old Macs loaded slowly!
Photo: Glenda Adams

So you’ve got your perfect Apple geek room: Steve Jobs biographies on the bookshelves, iMac Pro on your desk, and maybe a couple of rare vintage Macs locked in a display cabinet.

Looking for something for the wall? Look no further than the work of Glenda Adams. A long-time Apple fan, she’s been busy creating miniature needlework masterpieces modeled after classic Apple interfaces. And, man, are they awesome!

Ex-employee accused of stealing Apple Car plans pleads not guilty

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Apple Car might be coming, but will it be special?
Xiaolang Zhang is being charged with stealing trade secrets.
Photo: Aristomenis Tsirbas/Freelancer

The former Apple employee arrested for allegedly stealing plans for the Apple Car has pleaded not guilty to his charge.

Xiaolang Zhang was indicted on one single charge of trade secret theft. He’s accused of stealing a 25-page blueprint for a circuit board for Apple’s autonomous vehicle.

You can now listen to an opera about Steve Jobs on Apple Music

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Steve Jobs Revolution
Now available wherever fine music is sold or streamed.
Photo: Pentatone

If you’ve ever wanted to listen to an opera based on the life of Steve Jobs, now’s your chance!

Called The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, the 95-minute production comprises 19 different scenes from Jobs’ life, taking him from childhood through the founding of Apple with Steve Wozniak to his departure and eventual return to the company he helped create. Here’s how you can listen.

Apple has a surprising amount of unsold iPhone X inventory

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iPhone X wireless charging
Did Apple misjudge its iPhone X predictions?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is sitting on a massive stockpile of unsold iPhone X devices, a new report claims. The backlog reportedly equals almost three times the number of the high-end handsets already shipped.

If correct, this would be unusual for Apple. The company normally proves very good at forecasting the number of units it should manufacture. The rumor suggests that, even nine months after the iPhone X went on sale, Apple is still trying to get to grips with the exact demand for the device.

Apple struggles big-time to sell iPhones in India

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Foxconn moving additional iPhone production to India as coronavirus disrupts work
Three members of Apple's India team have left the company as a result.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Three members of Apple’s executive team in India have departed, due to the company’s ongoing struggle to boost iPhones sales in the world’s fastest-growing major smartphone market.

The execs include Apple’s national sales and distribution chief, the head of its commercial channels and mid-market business, and the head of telecom carrier sales. Apple’s Indian sales team is now restructuring as a result.

Apple Music’s Carpool Karaoke is up for an Emmy

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Carpool Karaoke
The star-studded series seems to have done well for Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple Music’s Carpool Karaoke spinoff has been nominated for an Emmy in the “Shortform Variety” category.

It will compete with digital shorts made by the likes of The Daily Show and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. The awards will be part of the Creative Arts Emmys handed out on September 8 and 9. It looks like Apple’s original content efforts are headed in the right direction!

A full version of Photoshop is coming to iPad in 2019

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iPad 2018
The iPad is going to get a powerful new graphics tool.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

There are some great graphics apps available for iPad. One which has been largely absent up until now? The proper full version of Adobe Photoshop.

Fortunately, that looks like it will change this year as Adobe Systems plans to launch the full version of the iconic photo-editing app for iPad. The move is part of a new strategy designed to boost subscription sales by focusing on mobile apps.

Apple joins $300 million fund to push clean energy in China

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China clean energy
A photovoltaic facility in Sichuan province that contributes to Apple's clean energy push.
Photo: Apple

Apple has leant its name — and, more importantly, its cold, hard cash — to a new initiative investing around $300 million to push energy use in China.

The fund will invest in and develop clean energy projects, capable of powering the equivalent of nearly 1 million homes.

Apple-owned magazine subscription service simplifies its fees

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Texture will stop working on Windows soon
Texture is dropping $5 off its Premium tier.
Photo: Apple

Texture, the digital magazine subscription service Apple acquired back in March, is simplifying its fee structure. Previously, Texture offered a $9.99 Unlimited Basic Plan and a $14.99 Unlimited Premium Plan, with the difference between the two being the addition of weekly magazines.

Now Texture has lowered the price for the Premium Plan to $9.99. In essence, this means that all customers should now have access to the widest possible range of publications for just ten bucks a month!