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Luke Dormehl - page 38

Andy Samberg sci-fi comedy coming to Apple TV+

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Palm Springs movie
Andy Samberg re-teams with the Palm Springs writer for a new Apple TV+ sci-fi project.
Photo: Limelight Productions/Hulu

A new sci-fi comedy/drama starring the hilarious Andy Samberg is reportedly coming to Apple TV+.

The as-yet-untitled project is based on an idea by BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg. And it’s being penned by Andy Siara, who wrote the script for Samberg’s hit Hulu movie, Palm Springs.

Apple Watch research study will monitor for possible cognitive decline

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The Elkson Apple Watch bumper case solved a problem that drove me crazy, and it looks good too!
Your Apple Watch can check your heart health. How about your cognitive health too?
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Whether it’s heart health or exercise routines, there are plenty of biometrics Apple Watch can keep tabs on. But could it also be used to monitor cognitive performance and possible decline?

That’s the basis of a new, multi-year observational research study announced Monday. A collaboration between Apple and neuroscience company Biogen, the aim is to assess the role the Apple wearable and the iPhone could play in measuring cognitive health.

You can trust us: Apple debuts 2 privacy themed ads at CES

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Face ID
Apple keeps all your Face ID data private.
Photo: Apple

CES 2021 bug Apple has launched a couple of eye-catching ads to coincide with the first day of the virtual CES. Both ads focus on Apple’s privacy oriented stance to technologies like Face ID and Apple Pay. This includes carrying out processing on the device and not sharing information with Apple.

The short ads feature some neat Saul Bass-style typographic animation in an effort to make the topic of user privacy and not sharing data compelling and digestible. Check them out below.

Voiceitt is an iOS app that will make Alexa easier for people with atypical speech

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Voiceitt
This could be a game-changer for those who need it.
Photo: Voiceitt

CES 2021 bug For people with non-standard speech — such as those who have experienced strokes, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, or developmental disorders — communicating with an AI assistant like Amazon’s Alexa isn’t quite as seamless as it is for many.

With that in mind, a speech recognition startup for atypical speech, called Voiceitt, has developed an accessibility app for iOS that improves Alexa. Here’s how it works.

Upcoming iOS app will use Face ID for head- and eye-tracking

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Eyeware Beam
Coming soon to iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Eyeware Beam

CES 2021 bug Eyeware Beam, an iOS app that uses the iPhone’s TrueDepth camera setup as a peripheral for eye-tracking or head-tracking on the PC, is among the offerings at this year’s CES.

The annual tech convention, which runs today through Thursday, is a virtual event this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That won’t stop startups and big electronics companies from showing off some seriously impressive tech, however.

Apple and Hyundai rumored to build first Apple Car ‘beta’ next year

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Making a car could produce a massive windfall for Apple.
Production will reportedly start in 2024.
Photo: Possessed Photography/Unsplash CC

More details have emerged about Apple and Hyundai’s reported partnership to build an autonomous electric car. A Sunday article published by Korea IT News, via Reuters, claims the two companies will sign a deal by March. They will then start production around 2024 in the United States — with a trial before then.

Hyundai last week said that it had been in conversations with Apple. The reports send Hyundai shares skyrocketing by close to 20%.

Today in Apple history: iTunes rips its way onto Mac

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Rip Mix Burn
Do you remember the first iTunes slogan?
Photo: Apple

January 9 Today in Apple historyJanuary 9, 2001: Steve Jobs introduces customers to iTunes at Macworld.

In a world before the iPod or the iTunes Store, iTunes is simply described by Apple as, “the world’s best and easiest to use jukebox software that lets users create and manage their own music library on their Mac.” Even the biggest Apple fanboy can’t imagine just how significant a step this will be for Apple.

Roku acquires ill-fated Quibi’s back catalog of shows [Updated]

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Power players Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman apparently couldn't save Quibi.
Power players Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman ran Quibi.
Photo: Fortune Brainstorm Tech/Flickr CC

Update: The New York Times says the deal has been completed. Quibi’s 75 shows and documentaries will appear from free on the Roku Channel through 2021. The deal last for seven years.

Roku is negotiating to buy the content catalog of ill-fated short form streaming video service Quibi, the Wall Street Journal claims.

Quibi, which made short, episodic shows for watching on your phone, launched in April 2020 and shut down in October, giving it a shelf-life as short as the shows it produced.

Pandemic boom drives App Store to record-breaking year in 2020

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App Store
App Store pulled in $64 billion last year.
Photo: James Yarema/Unsplash CC

The App Store grossed upward of $64 billion in 2020, according to a CNBC report.

Provided that number is correct, it’s a big jump from the relatively stable $48.5 billion and $50 billion respectively the App Store grossed in 2018 and 2019. It shows how, in contrast to many other businesses, the digital app economy boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apple stops iOS 14.3 downgrades as upgrade numbers soar

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iOS 14 adoption. It’s a good thing.
iOS 14 adoption has climbed past 82%.
Photo: Apple

Apple stopped signing iOS 14.2 and iOS 14.2.1 this week, meaning users who upgraded to iOS 14.3 can no longer go back again. The same goes for iPadOS 14.3 and those who installed it.

iOS/iPadOS 14.3 added support for Apple Fitness+ and AirPods Max. For users with an iPhone 12 Pro, it also allowed them to take photos in the Apple ProRAW format. In addition, the updates included new privacy information and an assortment of bug fixes.

High-end iPhone camera lens won’t get a major upgrade in 2021 or 2022

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iPhone 12 Pro Max review: The industrial design will leave you breathless.
iPhone got a big camera lens upgrade last year. But don't expect another this year.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple won’t upgrade the seven-element primary lens assembly seen in the iPhone 12 until at least 2023, claims reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The analyst revealed this in a Friday note to investors, stating that Apple isn’t planning on upgrading the lens system for the iPhone for either of the next two big handset upgrades. The seven-element lens was introduced with the iPhone 12, featuring a wider ƒ/1.6 aperture. This results in better low-light images.

Hyundai confirms it talked with Apple about car projects

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An Apple Car is supposedly in development, though it probably won‘t look anything like this.
Apple Car could be a collaboration between Apple and another carmaker.
Graphic: hatzfeld/Pixabay CC/Cult of Mac

Hyundai confirmed Thursday that it engaged in talks with Apple, lending more credibility to the possibility of an Apple Car co-developed with an established automotive company.

A spokesperson for Hyundai Motors provided the confirmation (which also mentioned Apple speaking with a “variety of global automakers”) to CNBC. The statement followed a report from Korean website Hankyung that claimed Apple was working with Hyundai on both the car and battery technology to power it.

US unhappy about international tax laws that go after companies like Apple

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International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
Apple's tax practices have raised the ire of some countries around the world.
Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office is not happy about certain international digital tax laws, which it claims is unfair to American tech giants.

According to Reuters, taxes on digital services imposed by France, India, Italy and Turkey are “inconsistent” with international tax principles. They could, in turn, result in retaliatory tariffs being put in place by the United States.

Apple Car would only need 2% of mobility market to equal iPhone revenue

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Making a car could produce a massive windfall for Apple.
Making a car could produce a massive windfall for Apple.
Photo: Possessed Photography/Unsplash CC

Apple would only need to capture 2% of the mobility market with a possible Apple Car to equal the revenue that it currently gets from the iPhone, according to Morgan Stanley researchers.

While that’s certainly easier said than done, it’s an interesting observation when considering Apple’s chances of turning its automotive plans into a potential financial windfall.

iPhone 12 costs Apple a premium compared to last year’s handset

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Apple ProRAW is one of benefits of the iPhone 12 Pro series.
Counterpoint Research says the iPhone 12 cost 21% more than the iPhone 11.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 12 reportedly costs at least 21% more to manufacture than the iPhone 11, Counterpoint Research claims.

In a recent post, the publication totted up what it believes are the materials cost for the 128GB iPhone 12 and found them to add up to around $415. That’s due not only to the 5G components, but also other new components for the 2020 device versus the previous year’s model.

Facebook tells businesses new iOS 14 privacy feature will cause major harm

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By running anti-Apple ads in major newspapers, Facebook's taking its battle with Apple to the next level.
A new iOS feature could hurt Facebook and the companies that use the social network for advertising.
Photo: Thought Catalog/Unsplash CC

Facebook sent out a message to businesses recently pointing out how Apple’s new privacy features could hurt them by clamping down on targeted advertising.

It also claims that personalized ads that utilize user data to target individuals can coexist with user privacy online.

Tim Cook says US must complete transition to Biden administration

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Apple CEO Tim Cook talked Mac Pro with President Trump
Trump speaking with Tim Cook at Apple's Mac Pro factory.
Screenshot: White House

Apple CEO Tim Cook decried the shocking scenes that took place Wednesday in Washington, D.C., as supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building.

“Today marks a sad and shameful chapter in our nation’s history,” Cook wrote on Twitter. “Those responsible for this insurrection should be held to account, and we must complete the transition to President-elect Biden’s administration. It’s especially when they are challenged that our ideals matter most.”

Customers spend $540 million in the App Store on New Year’s Day

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Apple services
Services are big business for Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple customers spent a record $540 million-plus in a single day on digital goods and services on New Year’s Day, Apple said Wednesday.

This followed a monster holiday season in which App Store customers splurged $1.8 billion in the App Store between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Users spent much of this astonishing amount of money on games.

Devs could resort to workarounds to avoid iOS 14 anti-tracking feature

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privacy WWDC
Privacy is a big theme for Apple.
Photo: Apple

One of the big new features of iOS 14 is a privacy focused one that lets users know which apps are tracking them. But while it’s starting to roll out to beta users, developers are trying to find ways to continue tracking users without them necessarily being clued in.

According to a Wednesday report for the Financial Times, some devs are so concerned about the possible financial impact of Apple’s new feature that they will try and find ways around restrictions — even though being caught could result in them being booted off the App Store.

Apple Glass AR glasses reportedly enter second phase of testing

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Apple Glass
Coming soon to a face near you?
Image: Jon Prosser/Front Page Tech

Prototype “Apple Glass” augmented reality glasses are reportedly set to enter the second phase of testing, Digitimes reported Wednesday.

The paywalled report cites “industry sources” but doesn’t reveal how many phases are involved in Apple’s testing of its AR glasses. However, since Digitimes’ sources are seemingly located predominantly in the supply chain, rather than inside Apple, this suggests that the long-rumored AR specs have moved beyond Cupertino’s initial internal mockups.

TikTok is top-grossing iOS app for December

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U.S. investigations of TikTok gather steam.
TikTok had a very strong 2020.
Photo: Kon Karampelas/Unsplash CC

TikTok, the ultra-popular short-form video app, finished 2020 on a high note as December’s top-grossing non-gaming app. According to app analytics platform Sensor Tower, TikTok pulled in $142 million that month across iOS and Android.

That’s 3.3 times the revenue TikTok produced in December 2019. The overwhelming majority of this money (86%) came from China, where TikTok is known as Douyin. The United States ranked second for TikTok spending, accounting for 7% of revenue.

Tim Cook’s pay package hits $14.8 million in 2020

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CEO Tim Cook photo via Fox Business
Tim Cook had reason to smile last year.
Photo: Fox Business

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s pay rose by a massive 28% in the company’s fiscal 2020, a regulatory filing reveals.

Cook took home the same $3 million basic salary he earned in 2018 and 2019. However, his non-equity incentive plan compensation increased from $7.7 million last year to $10.7 million. That brought his earnings for the year to $14.8 million — on the back of a spectacular year for Apple.

Users spent massive $73.4 billion in the App Store last year

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iPhone 12 Pro parts cost shockingly little
The App Store was quite the money-maker for Apple last year.
Photo: Cult of Mac

What pandemic? According to a new report from app analytics firm Sensor Tower, global spending on mobile apps across both iOS and Android hit an astonishing $111 billion in 2020. That’s a massive 30% growth from 2019.

The overwhelming spend — $72.3 billion — was on iOS, despite the larger number of Android devices. Google Play revenue, meanwhile, came in at $38.6 billion. Both app stores showed approximately the same level of growth over the year.