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Luke Dormehl - page 175

Beware the App Store’s Cuphead scam

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Cuphead
News of this game's arrival on iOS was too good to be true.
Photo: Studio MDHR

Retro-style run-and-gun game Cuphead has landed in the App Store. Unfortunately, it’s not legit!

One of the Xbox’s best games, the retro-inspired Cuphead arrived on consoles back in September, and immediately became a massive hit — thanks to its combination of addictive gameplay and vintage 1930s-style graphics. Sadly, you’ll have to wait to play the real thing on iOS.

Apple ramps up prices in India following import tax hike

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apple earnings
iPhones just got more expensive in India.
Photo: Steve Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has raised the price of many iPhone handsets in India, following last week’s increase in import duties on the new handset.

In new rules announced last week, the cost of importing smartphones to India was raised from 10 to 15 percent. As we noted at the time, Apple’s choices were to either raise the price of iPhones in India, or to eat some of the cost itself in order to keep pricing competitive. It seems that Apple did some combination of the two — since prices have been increased an average of 3.5 percent.

You control this new iPhone X game by wiggling your eyebrows

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Rainbow
I'd love to have seen Roger Moore play this game.
Photo: Nathan Gitter

When it comes to the iPhone X, facial recognition is most associated with the Face ID biometric security system, but there are other ways to use the front-facing camera on your device.

In a new game, titled Rainbrow, Washington University computer science graduate Nathan Gitter has created an innovative new game mechanic using Apple’s TrueDepth camera system — requiring players to control an on-screen character by raising or lowering their eyebrows. Yes, seriously!

Sold out AirPods won’t be shipping in time for Christmas

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AirPods
Sadly AirPods won't be home for the holidays.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If you’re planning to pick up some last minute AirPods as a Christmas gift, sadly you may have left it a little bit too late — because both Apple’s website, and those belonging to other retailers we checked, are all showing that the next-gen earbuds are sold out.

Apple is now quoting the first or second week of January for delivery, having previously got shipping down to just 3-5 days.

Selfissimo!, Life is Strange, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend, everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A unique selfie app, created by Google, that summons up your inner supermodel is just of one of the picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps” roundup.

In addition, we’ve got part one of an excellent episodic adventure finally available on iOS, a sound-matching app for any guitar players out there, and an augmented reality-focused update to Facebook Messenger. Check out our picks below.

Foxconn could soon use AI to help identify faulty iPhone parts

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Foxconn Wisconsin
New technology was designed by former Google AI expert.
Photo: Foxconn

Apple manufacturer Foxconn is planning to adopt artificial intelligence image recognition systems for quality control in its factories, a new report claims.

The tech could help identify faulty circuit boards or other components, thereby improving Foxconn’s efficiency when it comes to assembling devices. The AI system was developed by Andrew Ng, a machine learning expert who has previously headed up major projects for both Google and Baidu.

Import taxes could make iPhone even more expensive in India

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Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Apple faces an uphill battle to get the iPhone into customers' hands in India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple may be keen to grow its business in India, but it’s certainly not getting any favors from the government.

In a new ruling, it’s been announced that the import tax paid on smartphones is being raised from 10 to 15 percent in a decision that will hurt Apple’s business in the country. Unless Apple absorbs the cost itself, this will make its iPhones more expensive at a time when it is desperate to get more handsets into customers’ hands.

Samsung’s first Bixby speaker will take on HomePod in early 2018

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HomePod
Apple's smart speaker will arrived early next year.
Photo: Apple

Samsung wants to take on Apple’s HomePod with its own smart speaker, which could arrive as soon as the first half of 2018, a new report claims.

Like Apple, the Samsung smart speaker will reportedly focus on high-end audio quality, as well as functioning as a hub for controlling smart home devices. The smart speaker will reportedly be based around Bixby, the Samsung AI assistant introduced this year for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ handsets.

Siri could soon whisper back when you need quiet

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whisper pic
"Psssst, Siri!"
Photo: Evan Long/Flickr CC

Apple is exploring new ways to make Siri smarter — and one of them involves letting Siri know when you want to keep the noise level low by whispering.

According to a patent application published this week, Apple is interested in, “a digital assistant that is capable of detecting a whispered speech input and providing a whispered speech response.” That could be useful in scenarios such as protecting your privacy, while still letting you use its speech capabilities, or settings where high volume levels are prohibited.

Maxed-out iMac Pro will make your eyes water and your wallet empty

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iMac Pro
What a beautiful, beautiful, expensive machine.
Photo: Apple/Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s celebrated iMac Pro is finally available to buy, but it’s gonna cost you! The “basic” model will set you back only $4,999. But if you decide to shell out for the top-of-the-line version, your wallet is going to feel a whole lot lighter.

How much lighter? Checking all the boxes to upgrade the machine to its full potential brings the total iMac Pro price to a massive $13,926.98.

iMac Pro is available to buy right now

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The new iMac Pro brings awesome firepower to the desktop this December.
This is Apple's most powerful Mac ever.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s eagerly-anticipaed iMac Pro is finally available to buy, six months after Apple first showcased the new computer at WWDC.

The “most powerful Mac ever” can be purchased today in 8-core and 10-core variations, while 14- and 18-core models can be pre-ordered for shipping in 6-8 weeks. Prices start at $4,999.

Apple offering free next-day shipping in time for the holidays

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shipping
Apple is the perfect company to buy your last-minute gifts from. Tim Cook would probably say.
Photo: Apple

If you’re planning on buying any Apple products for Christmas (whether that’s for friends and family or a sneaky Yuletide gift for yourself), Apple’s just announced a bit of good news.

For any in-stock items ordered up until 3pm local time on December 22 in the United States, Apple will guarantee next day delivery free of charge. Perfect for those last minute presents!

Apple just made it a lot harder for rivals to compete on AR

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iPhone 8 Plus
Tim Cook thinks AR is going to be the next big thing in tech.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Expecting Android device makers to rip off Apple’s augmented reality technology any time soon? Not so fast, a new report claims.

Apple’s $390 million payday to TrueDepth sensor maker Finisar this week will reportedly help lock out rival companies like Samsung and Huawei from competing with its augmented reality ambitions, by giving Apple first dibs on the necessary components.

These are the malls and airports Apple provides indoor maps for

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airport2
Apple started offering indoor mapping with iOS 11
Photo: A.Savin/Wikipedia CC

One of the iOS 11 features you may not know about is that Apple now offers indoor mapping support for a growing number of international airports and malls.

While the number of airports and malls covered is still relatively small — with 34 airports, mostly based in the U.S., and a handful of shopping malls — Apple has published a list of where these are located.

Apple is ready to invest far more than $1 billion on U.S. manufacturing

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Apple could be a $2 trillion company by end of 2021
Apple wants to help grow the manufacturing sector in the U.S.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Fund to help U.S. manufacturing isn’t capped at $1 billion, according to chief operating office Jeff Williams.

The $1 billion investment was announced in May this year. At the time, Tim Cook said it was Apple’s “initial” investment, suggesting that there could be more money should things work out well. Clearly Apple has been impressed by the results because in a new interview with CNBC, Jeff Williams said the sum is “absolutely not” Apple’s final threshold.

Nintendo doesn’t want to keep iOS users waiting for new games

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Super Mario Run
Nintendo is adding more mobile developers to speed up its rate of production.
Photo: Apple

Nintendo might be delivering on its promise to bring original titles like Super Mario Run and Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp to iOS, but it’s also concerned about the timetable it is able to deliver these on. Or not deliver them on, as may be the case.

According to a new report, Nintendo is looking to team up with new smartphone game developers after its partnership with current mobile dev DeNA “fell behind schedule.”

iPhone was very nearly the world’s top Google search this year

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iPhone X
iPhone X and iPhone 8 were two of the top Google searches in 2017.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Given how much time we spend Googling things, analyzing the world’s top searches provides a pretty good insight into the people, ideas, products, and news we could consider to be important.

With that in mind, Apple’s got to be pretty happy at the news that iPhone X and iPhone 8 were two of the top three most popular search terms of the year, with the top search being for Hurricane Irma. Fourth and fifth places were taken by Matt Lauer and Meghan Markle.

Layton’s Mystery Journey a gets a big festive discount

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laytonsgame
The latest instalment in this acclaimed series.
Photo: Level-5

With Christmas coming, it’s probably not the time of year to be spending a whole lot of money on yourself — knowing that there’s plenty of other things you may need to splash your cash on.

Which is why it’s great news that Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy, one of my previously recommended best games of the year, has slashed its $15.99 price tag for the holidays.

iPhone still dominates global smartphone sales

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iPhone X laying down
Yeah! Apple is number one!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

It’s tempting to look at the smartphone wars in terms of Apple vs. Android, but that’s really not telling anywhere close to the true story. The real competition is between the companies who actually build the smartphones — and those stats show that Apple is very clearly crushing it!

In a recent report from researchers at Counterpoint, the individual handset model sales are broken down for the month of October 2017, just before the iPhone X arrived. Even before Apple’s most anticipated smartphone of the year was released, they highlight just how far ahead of its rivals Apple is.

Facebook brings augmented reality to its Messenger app

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Messenger
Who will know you love your dog if you don't add a giant digital heart over its head?
Photo: Facebook

It’s not just Apple that’s excited about the possibilities of augmented reality! In its latest Snapchat-inspired update, Facebook has added new AR features to its Messenger app.

Called “World Effects,” the feature lets you place emoji-style 3D objects in three-dimensional space via your iPhone’s rear camera. Objects added include a heart, an arrow, and a robot — along with word bubbles with messages like “love,” “heart,” “miss you,” and — making us feel old — ““bae.”

‘Everyone Can Code’ will teach Swift to 500,000 Chicago kids

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Everyone can code
Apple wants to bring Swift education to as many folks as possible.
Photo: Apple

Apple is expanding its “Everyone Can Code” initiative to 500,000 students in Chicago public schools and city colleges.

The program provides the necessary tools to teach people Apple’s Swift programming language for a place in the so-called “app economy.” The rollout will take place in spring 2018.

Apple Pay could arrive in Brazil next

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Brazil would bring the number of supported Apple Pay markets around the world to 26.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay could be about to launch in Brazil, based on sources familiar with the matter, and terms and conditions issued by one of the country’s major banks.

Users of iOS devices who attempt to add a Visa Platinum Personnalité card from Itaú Unibanco to their Apple Wallet receive a service agreement concerning the use of the card in a digital wallet. Previously, attempts to add this card resulted in a message saying that it was not supported — which is still the case for other bank cards in the country.

Steve Jobs’ ‘Blue Box’ will go on display in Michigan

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blue box 1
Building and selling Blue Boxes was one of the first collaborations between Steve Jobs and Wozniak.
Photo: Bonham's

If you want to check out Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak’s first ever product, book your travel to Michigan now!

That’s because The Henry Ford museum in Dearborn has acquired a rare 1972 Blue Box in an auction in New York City, and will be displaying it soon. The illicit device, which pre-dates the Apple-1 by four years, allowed users to make free long-distance phone calls by reproducing specific dial tones.

New battery speeds up old iPhone (and rekindles Apple conspiracy theory)

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battery1
Can't afford to upgrade to a faster iPhone? Maybe just buy a new battery!
Photo: Apple

Swapping out the battery in a slow old iPhone could drastically improve the device’s performance.

That claim comes from a Reddit user who says he almost doubled the clock rates of his lagging iPhone 6s simply by popping in a new battery. His theory that Apple intentionally slows down old phones sparked a furious debate online.