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Luke Dormehl - page 66

Apple TV+ kids’ shows rack up 17 nominations for Daytime Emmy awards

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FireWire lands Apple its first Emmy.
Apple will surely be happy with this slew of nominations.
Image: The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple TV+ has racked up 17 nominations for the 2020 Daytime Emmy awards. That’s more than established names including Hulu, HBO, and fellow tech newcomers like YouTube Originals and FaceBook Watch.

Kids’ series Ghostwriter got eight nominations. Preschool show Helpsters picked up five. Snoopy in Space and Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 also received their share of awards.

Ireland’s data protection boss questions Apple over Siri privacy

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Siri Lights
How private are your conversations with Siri?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission is questioning Apple over privacy concerns raised by an ex-contractor who transcribed users’ Siri requests in an effort to improve the voice assistant’s functionality.

Former Apple contractor Thomas le Bonniec this week said Apple should be “urgently investigated” over Siri data collection. It seems that the EU’s data protection authorities are listening.

PSA: Brand new episode of Defending Jacob and Mythic Quest debuts on Apple TV+

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Defending Jacob
Defending Jacob is starting to wrap up.
Photo: Apple

Friday means new content on Apple TV+ — and this week that takes the form of the penultimate episode of Defending Jacob and a new quarantine episode of comedy Mythic Quest.

The preview for the Defending Jacob episode reads: “As the trial begins, Jacob’s fate hangs in the balance.” Meanwhile, the special quarantine edition episode of Raven’s Quest is described like this: “As the MQ staff works from home, Poppy struggles with solitude, while Brad and David start a charitable competition.”

Stunning iMac concept is the refresh we want for 2020

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Next-gen iMac design
Hello again, circa 2020.
Photo: Kevin Kal/Hacker 34

Apple hasn’t changed the physical design of its regular iMac in years — but that’s not enough to stop Apple fans dreaming up drool-inducing concepts.

The latest is from Kevin Kal, a 20-year-old engineering student in Paris, France. (Who, by my count, would have been in middle school the last time Apple changed up the iMac design.) His concept for the iMac boasts a slimmer bezel and chin, Face ID camera, and a next-gen trackpad that also charges your iPhone. Check it out below.

Apple TV+ will profile LeBron James, Tom Brady, Usain Bolt and others in new series

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LeBron
LeBron has previously featured on an Apple ad for the Beats brand.
Photo: Apple

Hot off the heels of Netflix and ESPN’s smash hit The Last Dance documentary, Apple TV+ has announced a new sports documentary series of its own. Called Greatness Code, the series will, according to Apple, spotlight “untold stories from the greatest athletes in the world.”

The first slate of elite athletes is set to include an all-star cast of NBA star LeBron James, Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady, Olympic gold medalist soccer star Alex Morgan, Olympic runner Usain Bolt, Olympian swimmer Katie Ledecky, and champion surfer Kelly Slater. Each will get their own episode.

What exactly does coronavirus tracking in iOS 13.5 do? Clearing up the confusion

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contact.tracing.5
Contact tracing could help slow spread of coronavirus.
Photo: World Health Organization

iOS 13.5 dropped Wednesday, introducing a slew of upgrades — including, most notably, the API for Apple’s coronavirus contact-tracing tool, developed in conjunction with Google.

But, despite what you might hear online, this is neither an “app” or an update that means downloaders are being tracked without their knowledge. Let’s correct a few popular misconceptions.

Mobile app downloads surge during coronavirus lockdown

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Mask download
Stuck home? There's an App Store for that.
Photo: Engin Akyurt/Unsplash

Few areas are booming right now like mobile apps, which have experienced massive growth during coronavirus lockdown. According to a new report from app analytics platform Sensor Tower, data used by mobile app downloads has surged during lockdown.

In a post published Wednesday, the firm said data usage for first-time installs of the top 250 mobile apps worldwide was up 34% from the same quarter last year. Based on an average of the last three years, it is up a whopping 52% — hitting an unfathomable 391 petabytes in Q1 2020. (A petabyte equals roughly 1,000 terabytes.)

Leaked photo spills Powerbeats Pro’s pretty new color options

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Feast your eyes on these fresh new color options for the upcoming second-gen PowerBeats Pro.
Feast your eyes on these stunning color options.
Photo: WinFuture

German website WinFuture posted pictures of what it claims are the new Powerbeats Pro colors. The colors — Glacier Blue, Spring Yellow, Cloud Pink and Lava Red — were previously leaked, although this is the first time we’ve seen the purported shades.

Glacier Blue, Spring Yellow and Cloud Pink are all softer pastel colors, while Lava Red is a brighter color like Apple’s (PRODUCT)RED variants. According to the report, the wireless earphones will come in a black case.

Hide UI is sneaky spyware law enforcement can use to steal iPhone passcodes

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iPhone passcode limit can be bypassed with a keyboard
Spyware could help law enforcement figure out passcodes.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Grayshift, a company which creates iPhone-cracking tech for use by law enforcement, has reportedly developed software that can be used to break into suspects’ iPhones.

Described in a recent article by NBC News, the Hide UI spyware works not by cracking the code needed to unlock an iPhone, but rather logging it when the user accesses their device. Here’s how it works.

China won’t punish Apple over US sanctions on Huawei, experts claim

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Chinese company Huawei wants the media buzz that would come with releasing the world's first foldable phone.
Chinese state media has suggested U.S. companies like Apple could face sanctions.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

Despite concerns being raised, Apple is unlikely to face any blowback from China over the United State’s current standoff with Huawei, experts told CNBC in a report published Tuesday.

Chinese state media recently suggested that U.S. firms including Apple could have their success in China hampered by “rounds of endless investigations” after the White House imposed sanctions on Chinese smartphone maker Huawei. But expert voices suggest China’s bark may be worse than its bite in this case.

Apple could stop bundling EarPods with iPhones this year

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AirPods-Pro-vs-AirPods
Apple is reportedly looking for a way to boost AirPods sales.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 12 box may be a little bit lighter than you’re expecting — as Apple stops packaging its smartphones with wired EarPods to try and push sales of the AirPods.

That’s according to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, in a note sent to clients Wednesday. Kuo also thinks that Apple could offer big discounts and promotions related to the AirPods this holiday season. That would coincide with the arrival of Apple’s next-gen iPhones — minus free packaged earbuds.

Mario Kart Tour adds Dixie and Funky Kong for new Jungle Tour

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Jungle Tour Mario Kart 1
And a couple of new characters, too.
Photo: Nintendo

Touring the world ain’t exactly easy right now — which is why it’s good that Mario Kart Tour is there to fulfill your globe-hopping needs. The hit Nintendo kart racing game has already taken players to New York, Tokyo, Paris, London, and other exotic locales. Now it’s headed for the tropical Jungle in its latest tour.

Check out the trailer for the Jungle Tour below.

Former contractor wants Apple investigated for Siri’s ‘massive’ data collection

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HomePod siri
Ex-contractor's job was to transcribe Siri conversations.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

A former Apple contractor says that Apple and other tech giants continue to ignore and violate “fundamental rights” with their “massive collection of data.” And he wants them investigated for it.

Thomas le Bonniec is one of the ex-Apple contractors whose job involved listening to users’ Siri recordings. News of the practice broke last year, but this is the first time le Bonniec has gone public.

Adobe unleashes massive updates for Photoshop for iPad, Fresco, Premiere Pro, more

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Photoshop May 2020
If you do anything creative on your computer, this will matter to you.
Photo: Adobe

Adobe has updated several of its applications for iPadOS and macOS, the company announced Tuesday. Apps getting new features and overhauls include Photoshop for iPad, drawing and painting tool Fresco, and assorted Creative Cloud video and audio apps.

If you’re someone who carries out any kind of creative task on your computer, chances are that at least one of these is going to be of interest to you. And probably a lot more.

Gesture-controlled ‘Apple Glass’ could debut this year for $499

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Apple Glass
Don't expect them to ship for a while, though.
Image: Jon Prosser/Front Page Tech

Renowned Apple leaker Jon Prosser unloaded a shedload of information Tuesday about Apple’s rumored augmented reality glasses, which he claims will be called Apple Glass. In a packed new video, Prosser says Apple plans to show off the AR specs as a “one more thing” reveal at a keynote as soon as late 2020.

The glasses will cost $499 (plus prescription if needed), will display info on the inside of both lenses, and will operate via gesture controls, Prosser says. He also claims to have seen a prototype of the long-rumored device.

HTC’s upcoming wireless earbuds look like total AirPods ripoffs

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HTC AirPods
Spot the difference?
Photo: HTC/Android Police

HTC has plans to release some wireless earbuds in the near future. And there are absolutely no prizes on offer for guessing which company’s existing earbuds they look like.

Android Police found evidence of the forthcoming U Ear AirPods earbuds Monday. The images were discovered through regulatory agency filings in the U.S. and Taiwan. Boasting a similar shape and glossy plastic design to Apple’s ultra-successful AirPods, the U Ear buds differ most significantly in HTC’s choice of black as a color option.

Then again, there’s nothing to stop it from releasing the product in a variety of different shades!

Apple TV+ might add reruns to bolster its 10 million subscribers

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Appletvpluslogo
Apple TV+ is big. Just nowhere near as big as some of its rivals.
Photo: Apple

After hitting 10 million monthly subscribers, Apple TV+ might add older TV shows and movies to boost its numbers, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Apple actually passed the milestone in February, between three and four months after the service’s early November launch, the publication said. However, while those numbers might seem impressive, they are still paltry compared to Disney+’s reported 50 million subscribers. Disney’s streaming service added 10 million within its first day.

Apple Watch Series 6 concept does away with bezels for truly edge-to-edge screen

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Apple Watch Series 6 concept
Coming soon to a wrist near you?
Photo: Apple Watch Series 6

We’re still several months away from September’s likely unveiling of the next-gen Apple Watch. But a new concept video from the YouTube channel ConceptsiPhone provides a compelling glimpse at what a new Apple Watch could possibly be.

While it’s not dramatically different from the Apple Watch we’ve got currently, it does feature a stunning edge-to-edge display that brings it more in line with the newer iPhones and iPads. Besides, it’s got a cool video with dramatic music to get you psyched up for September. Check it out below:

Former Apple SVP Scott Forstall will give free coding lesson for Code.org’s Code Break

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Forstall
Scott Forstall was a key figure at Apple for many years.
Photo: Apple

Scott Forstall, the former Apple executive some people once speculated would take over from Steve Jobs as CEO, is making a rare appearance this week as part of Code.org’s free Code Break event.

Code Break is described as the “world’s largest live interactive classroom.” It features weekly computer science challenges for students of all abilities, hosted by founder Hadi Partovi alongside special guests. In addition to Forstall, this Wednesday’s Code Break will feature rapper Macklemore.

Second- and third-gen Apple TVs can no longer play HBO Now

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apple tv
Users can no longer access HBO Now in this way.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

HBO discontinued support for its HBO Now app on second- and third-generation Apple TV models. The app allows HBO subscribers to access on-demand content from the cable channel’s library of original movies and shows.

The discontinuation means the HBO Now app will no longer be updated on these older devices. It will be removed entirely — so that it’s not possible to access the content anymore from those Apple TV models.

Apple Watch’s colorful new Pride bands show support for LGBTQ community

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Two new Apple Watch Pride bands show Cupertino's support of LGBTQ community.
Two new Apple Watch bands show Cupertino's support of Pride.
Photo: Apple

Apple unveiled two new Apple Watch bands and matching faces Monday, celebrating Apple and Nike’s commitment to Pride and LGBTQ representation.

The new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Band boasts a distinctive vertical-stripe rainbow design. Meanwhile, a second new band — the Apple Watch Nike Sport Band — has also been reimagined for Pride.

Ubisoft sues Apple for hosting a game it claims is a massive Rainbox Six: Siege ripoff

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Area F2
Too close to be coincidental, Ubisoft claims.
Photo: Ejoy

Ubisoft is none too happy about a mobile game it claims is way too similar to one of its own games, Rainbox Six: Siege. It says that the game, called Area F2, borrows “virtually every aspect” of Ubisoft’s own title.

While the alleged ripoff title is made by Alibaba’s Ejoy and Qookka Games, Ubisoft is suing Apple and Google for hosting it on their respective app store platforms, says a Bloomberg article published over the weekend.

Trump’s war with Huawei could result in ‘endless investigations’ of Apple in China

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Chinese company Huawei wants the media buzz that would come with releasing the world's first foldable phone.
Trump's war with Huawei could hurt Apple.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

President Donald Trump’s Huawei sanctions could result in the Chinese government hitting American companies, including Apple hard, new reports claim.

Fresh reports by the Washington Post, Global Times and Daily Mail say China could launch “rounds of endless investigations” on U.S. firms operating in China. These will have the effect of “[dampening] investors’ confidence” and squeezing the income of these firms in the China market.

Apple Stores reopening in the US; here are the safety measures Apple’s putting in place

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Apple Store reopening
From masks to temperature checks, Apple Stores will have some changes when they open their doors again.
Photo: Apple

How will your Apple Store be different when it reopens after the coronavirus closures? In an open letter published Sunday, Apple retail chief Deidre O’Brien shared more details about Apple’s approach to reopening its stores — and the measures it’s implementing.

These include free face masks, temperature checks, social distancing strategies, and more. Apple will also this week begin reopening stores across the U.S.