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Luke Dormehl - page 183

Apple is now selling its latest MacBook Pro at a discount

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MacBook
Online Apple store is now selling refurbished 2017 MacBook Pros.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has updated its online Apple store to start offering refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar, marking the first time this year’s Touch Bar-equipped models have been available to buy refurbished. The laptops were first launched back in June.

The great lengths Apple goes to for eco-friendly packaging

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EarPods
Apple's EarPods packaging is some of its most environmentally friendly.
Photo: Apple

Apple has taken big steps toward making its products more sustainable. As part of that mission, it just released a new “Paper and Packaging Strategy” white paper, which lays out the various measures the company is taking to lower the environmental impact its packaging has on the world.

Tim Cook: Don’t expect a standalone AR headset anytime soon

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Tim Cook
ARKit is as big as the App Store and Multitouch, Tim Cook says.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple’s augmented technology platform ARKit is going to be as big as the App Store and multitouch, but the technology’s not yet there to make a standalone AR headset.

Those are the biggest takeaways from a wide-ranging interview Apple CEO Tim Cook gave to the U.K.’s Independent newspaper as part of his trip to Europe this week. The interview also covered his love of the military, and why Apple shouldn’t stay silent on issues it disagrees with.

Almost two-thirds of Americans own an Apple product

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Apple adds 5 new vice presidents to its executive lineup
Breaking news: People sure do love Apple.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

64 percent of Americans own Apple products, with the average U.S. household owning more than two, a new poll claims.

The survey, carried out by CNBC, suggests that Apple ownership is a trait shared by every income group, age demographic, race, sex, and region of the United States, although the ownership rate falls below 50 percent for those on incomes under $30,000, retirees, and women over the age of 50.

Trump tax policy could make Apple a $1 trillion company

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What’s it like to have your startup bought by Apple? Stressful
Apple could soon be the world's first $1 trillion company.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook may not always have seen eye to eye with President Donald Trump, but if a Trump policy could help push Apple toward a trillion dollar market cap that would surely help undo some of the bad blood.

This is exactly the scenario presented by analysts at RBC Capital Markets, who claim that Apple would stand to gain in a big way from the Trump administration’s planned U.S. tax changes — particularly tax deduction caps for interest expenses, tax rates on foreign profits, and a lowered repatriation tax.

Apple is working to fix annoying Reachability bug on iOS 11

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iPhone 7
Craig Federighi says a fix is on the way.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

An iOS 11 bug involving the iPhone’s Reachability feature will be fixed in a future software update, Craig Federighi has said.

The bug means that the new iOS 11 Cover Screen with Notifications isn’t accessible from the middle part of the screen, thereby removing one of the most useful features a person might want to use while employing the Reachability mode.

Tim Cook talked taxes, supporting startups with French president

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Tim Cook still hid a few surprises up his sleeve for the iPhone X event.
This was Tim Cook's first meeting with the French president.
Photo: Apple

Yesterday’s first ever meeting between Apple CEO and French President Emmanuel Macron involved discussion of Apple’s support for local startups and French economic reforms — which could result in Apple having to pay more in the countries where it operates.

Macron is one of many European leaders wanting to reform tax structures to make it more difficult for companies, including Apple, to avoid taxes by using complex shell company structures. He has previously accused tech giants of failing to contribute to a common good.

Steven Soderbergh’s Mosaic iOS app is a new type of storytelling experience

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Mosaic
It's like a "pick your own adventure" experience.
Photo: HBO

An innovative new “branching narrative” TV app is being launched by HBO and Academy Award-winning movie director Steven Soderbergh, which will let audiences make active decisions that will help shape the story’s outcome.

A linear version of the show, Mosaic, is set to debut on TV in January 2018. However, the app version isn’t just a bit of advance promo, but a fully-fledged part of the experience, which reportedly took three years to develop.

Apple’s new Irish data center gets support from 300+ person rally

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Ireland
A mock up of Apple's proposed data center in Ireland.
Photo: Apple

Over the weekend, more than 300 people in Ireland staged a rally in support of Apple’s proposed 850 million ($960 million) euro data center in Athenry, County Galway.

The new data center was officially given the go-ahead over two years ago, although construction on it has been delayed by continuing legal issues. If built, the data center will help power Apple Music, the App Store, iMessages, Maps and Siri — while providing plenty of jobs to locals.

Strike one! MLB coach fined for using his Apple Watch in the dugout

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apple watch 1
Remember to take off your Apple wearable in the dugout.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Major League Baseball might be all in on incorporating Apple technology wherever possible, but it has its limits.

During last week’s NL Wild Card game on Wednesday, game cameras caught Diamondbacks coach Ariel Prieto wearing an “illegal electronic device” in the dugout, which transpired to be an Apple Watch. Although the wearable was reportedly left on in error, and wasn’t being used for anything related to the game, Prieto has been fined for the incident.

Tim Cook meeting with France’s President Macron

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Tim Cook takes home $125 million for Apple’s best year since 2009
It is likely the duo will discuss Apple's tax battles with the E.U.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook is currently in France, where he making a variety of visits — including meeting with President Emmanuel Macron.

Cook will meet with President Macron, who assumed power in this year’s May election, later today. He has also made a number of stops, including meeting with one of Apple’s suppliers and paying his respects at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, which honors American troops who died in Europe during World War II.

Stranger Things: The Game and other awesome apps of the week

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

A fun, appropriately retro game retelling of the first season of Netflix hit Stranger Things is just of one of the picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week.”

In addition, we’ve got a great action-packed top-down blaster, a superb upgrade to a popular iOS camera app, and… YouTube? Check out our picks below.

Another iPhone 8 Plus swollen battery incident reported in China

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iPhone 8 Plus image
Around 7 reports of iPhone 8 Plus handsets with swollen batteries have now been reported.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Another iPhone 8 Plus handset with an allegedly swollen battery has been discovered in China, following multiple reports of similar instances.

Chinese state media is reporting that an iPhone buyer named Liu received a newly purchased iPhone 8 Plus in the mail, which arrived cracked open on October 5. The iPhone reportedly had no signs of scorching or an explosion, and Liu says he did not charge the handset.

Carpool Karaoke episode with Chester Bennington airs next week

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Linkin Park
Linkin Park frontman passed away in July.
Photo: Stefan Brending/Wikipedia CC

The episode of Carpool Karaoke: The Series featuring the late Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington will be made available next week.

While Carpool Karaoke is normally available only to paying Apple Music subscribers, this episode will be available for free on Facebook. Initially there was some question as to whether it would ever air, due to the tragic nature of Bennington’s untimely death.

Apple moves a step closer to retail stores in India

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Apple's first Indian Apple Store will be located in Mumbai mall
India's current Apple stores.
Photo: Lawrence Sinclair/Flickr CC

It’s been a long time coming, but the chances of an official Apple store in India may have just gotten a whole lot better.

That’s based on the fact that India has just given Chinese smartphone maker Oppo the necessary permission to open its own single brand retail stores. Oppo is the first smartphone brand to be given this opportunity in the world’s third-largest smartphone market. It bodes well for Apple’s chances!

Android won’t be ripping off iPhone’s 3D sensors anytime soon

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iPhone X
Apple's not the only one struggling with low yield rates for its 3D depth-sensing camera tech.
Photo: Apple

Producing sufficient quantities of its 3D depth sensing camera has reportedly been a big pain point when it comes to iPhone X production, but possibly not as much of a pain as it’s likely to be for Android makers.

According to a new report, low yield rates during production for Apple’s 3D sensing modules have caused Android-based smartphone brands to delay their own plans for new smartphone models with 3D sensors.

It’s too late to turn back if you’ve upgraded to iOS 11

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Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in iOS 11 control center
Apple has stopped signing iOS 10.3.3.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Downloaded iOS 11 but found that you don’t like it for whatever reason? Well, too bad — because Apple has officially done away with the ability to let you downgrade back to iOS 10.

As it usually does following the release of refreshed versions of iOS, Apple’s stopped signing iOS 10.3.3, last year’s final version of Apple’s iPad and iPhone operating system. While Apple always gives a brief window to let you downgrade to the previous version should you want, that window has now closed for iOS 10.

New ResearchKit app helps cancer patients cope with stress of diagnosis

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ResearchKit
ResearchKit is as useful for monitoring mental health as physical health.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s ResearchKit platform isn’t just about physical wellbeing, it’s also being used to help track mental health.

With that in mind, Duke Institute for Health Innovation has launched a new HomeKit-compatible app designed to help cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers manage the stress accompanying a cancer diagnosis. The app is profiled on Apple’s official ResearchKit blog.

Europe sues Ireland over unpaid Apple taxes

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What’s it like to have your startup bought by Apple? Stressful
The E.C. is continuing its battle with Silicon Valley.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The European Commission is continuing its battle with Silicon Valley tech giants by taking Ireland to court, demanding that it reclaim a $17.6 billion tax payment it is owed by Apple.

In addition, it is demanding that Amazon pay it 250 million euros ($294 million) on the grounds that is has enjoyed an illegal “sweetheart deal” in Luxembourg.

Game of Thrones: Conquest lands on iOS later this month

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GameofThrones
Your chance to capture the Iron Throne!
Photo: Turbine

With no sign of the next George R.R. Martin book on the horizon, and the end in sight for the acclaimed TV show adaptation, Game of Thrones need to get their songs of fire and ice wherever they can.

Fortunately, Warner Brothers has delivered in this area by finally announcing a release date for the upcoming mobile game Game of Thrones: Conquest. Developed by Turbine, Conquest is an MMO strategy game, set to land in the App Store later this month. Check out the trailer below.

Parker, the world’s first AR teddy bear, arrives in Apple stores

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Parker
Parker? More like "pARker," right? Oh, we get it!
Photo: Seedling

Apple stores probably aren’t your first port of call when it comes to picking up toys, but it’s the only place you’ll be able to purchase one particular new toy made by the manufacturer Seedling.

Seedling’s brand new Parker the bear is described as the world’s first augmented reality teddy bear. Intended for kids three years and up, the bear serves as both a cuddly companion and an all-important child-friendly introduction to the world of ARKit.

Microsoft throws in the towel on its Apple Music rival

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Microsoft Spotify
Alas, poor Groove Music -- we barely knew you!
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft is throwing in the towel when it comes to music streaming and downloads by announcing the closure of Groove Music.

The service will continue running through 31 December, after which customers will no longer be able to download or stream music. In the meantime, Microsoft is encouraging subscribers to migrate their music collection over to Spotify, while Groove Music Pass subscribers will receive a 60-day free trial of Spotify’s premium tier in order to entice them.