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Luke Dormehl - page 88

Siri corrects weatherman during a live broadcast

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Siri corrects weatherman during a live broadcast
"Not now, Siri!"
Photo: BBC

The great thing about having Siri built into your Apple Watch is that it’s always there when you need it. The bad thing about it is that it’s there when you don’t need it, too.

BBC Weather meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker recently ran into an embarrassing mishap on live TV when describing snow in the US Midwest. At that point, Siri kicked in to correct him, saying there was actually no snow forecast.

Apple could sell 3 million AirPods over Black Friday and Cyber Monday

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Apple’s wearables business will explode through 2023
AirPods are worth their weight in gold to Apple.
Photo: Caviar

Apple could sell upward of 3 million AirPods units during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping holidays, claims Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.

Ives bases his guesstimate on Apple Store checks, inventory levels at a number of retailers, and more. Overall, Ives thinks Apple will sell more than 65 million AirPods units this year — and even more will follow in 2020.

Apple has raised $220 million to fight AIDS-related deaths in Africa

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Apple has raised $220 million to fight AIDS-related deaths in Africa
Apple raised money through Bono's Project (RED) charity.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Over the past 13 years, Apple has contributed $220 million to help fight the spread of AIDS-related deaths in Africa. Tim Cook made the announcement on Twitter Sunday, marking World AIDS Day.

“AIDS-related deaths have fallen by more than half since 2004,” he wrote. “Together we can achieve an AIDS-free generation.”

Apple will take ‘deeper look’ at how it handles disputed borders after Crimea controversy

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European MPs want Apple Maps correction over Crimea controversy
Apple recently changed Apple Maps and Weather to show Crimea belonging to Russia.
Photo: Andrew Butko/Wikimedia CC

Apple says that it is going to take a “deeper look at how we handle disputed borders” after recent controversy about the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Last week, Apple agreed to depict the disputed peninsula as belonging to Russia on Apple Maps and Apple Weather. The changes only showed when viewed inside Russia. In the backlash that ensued, Ukranian foreign minister Vadym Prystaiko said that Apple should stick to “high-tech and entertainment”.

Apple supplier is Asia’s best-performing stock of 2019 thanks to AirPods

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AirPods supplier confident of booming business through 2021
AirPods have been a bigger hit than maybe even Apple expected.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple suppliers frequently benefit when Cupertino has a mega-sized hit — and that’s exactly what has happened with the makers of the AirPods. Supplier Luxshare Precision Industry, which manufactures the AirPods for Apple, has seen its stock price triple this year.

In the process it has outperformed every other major stock traded in the Asia-Pacific region. And it’s only going to rely more on the AirPods going forward.

M. Night Shyamalan’s Servant is unsettlingly good fun [Review]

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Apple TV+ series Servant accused of ripping off Sundance movie
There's nothing creepy about a nanny cradling a fake baby, right?
Photo: Apple

A spooky nanny. A creepy baby. And a whole bunch of crazy plot twists. It can only be Servant, M. Night Shyamalan and Tony Basgallop’s psychological horror series for Apple TV+.

The series debuted on Thanksgiving, and I’ve already hungrily snarfed down the first 30-minute episode. While I’m not yet sure if it’s enjoyable junk food or a balanced, healthy meal, I liked it a whole lot. Check out my episode one Servant review.

See featurette asks how Apple TV+ show crafted a world without sight

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See featurette asks how Apple TV+ show crafted a world without sight
See depicts a world in which humanity has lost its sight.
Photo: Apple

Are you a fan of See, Apple TV+’s post-apocalyptic fantasy show starring Jason Momoa as Baba Voss? Want to know more about how the show came to be?

If so, you’re in luck — since Apple just debuted a nifty featurette in which the cast and crew share their behind-the-scenes stories.

Check it out.

New Apple TV+ episodes of See, The Morning Show, and For All Mankind

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New episodes of The Morning Show, See, and For All Mankind are up
Here's your Friday viewing sorted!
Photo: Apple

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, which means you’re possibly looking forward to a day of lounging around, digesting yesterday’s enormous dinner, and watching some good TV shows — courtesy of the latest new episodes on Apple TV+.

Here’s what you can expect from the new instalments of The Morning Show, See, and For All Mankind.

Retro app concept transforms iPhone into an iPod Classic

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Retro app concept transforms iPhone into an iPod Classic
Remember when you could only hold 1,000 songs in your pocket?
Screenshot: Elvin Hu

The iPod’s click wheel was once one of the most iconic UI elements in consumer electronics. Today, it’s gone to the great user interface retirement home in the sky. Or has it? A new app suggests maybe not.

An iOS developer has unveiled a nifty app concept which aims to transform your iPhone into an iPod Classic by incorporating a virtual click wheel. Check it out.

Demand could far exceed supply for AirPods this holidays

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Demand could far exceed supply for AirPods this holidays
Apple has a massive hit on its hands.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

‘Tis the season to run around in a fruitless battle to find AirPods in time for the holidays, notes Wedbush analyst Dan Ives in a message to clients.

Ives thinks that a surge of demand means there will be a shortage of AirPods headphones this holiday season. In total, he thinks Apple could ship a total of 65 million AirPods in 2019 — and things will only ramp up in 2020.

Apple Stores start turning red for World AIDS Day

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Apple Stores start turning red for World AIDS Day
Apple Stores have been going red since 2012.
Photo: Benson0718/Instagram

Apple Store logos around the world have started turning red to highlight Apple’s commitment to raising awareness of World AIDS Day. Red is the color associated with World AIDS Day, dating back to the introduction of its red ribbons introduced in 1991.

World AIDS Day officially takes place this Sunday, December 1. However, Apple Stores are making the symbolic change a few days early.

Politician lashes out at Apple over Apple Maps’ Crimea alteration

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European MPs want Apple Maps correction over Crimea controversy
Apple Maps shows Crimea as belonging to Russia.
Photo: Andrew Butko/Wikimedia CC

Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs has lashed out at Apple over its decision to depict the disputed peninsula of Crimea as belonging to Russia — when Apple Maps is viewed by users in Russia.

In a tweet, Vadym Prystaiko said that Apple should stick to “high-tech and entertainment. Global politics is not your strong side”.

Twitter has changed its mind on deleting inactive user accounts (for now)

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Twitter has changed its mind on deleting inactive user accounts (for now)
Twitter is rolling back its recent announcement.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Twitter’s decision to remove accounts which had been inactive for six months or more sounded good in theory. It would free up a bunch of user names and, in theory, make Twitter more transparent by showing only information (such as follower count) that reflected current active users.

In theory. Soon after Twitter revealed the new policy this week, people raised concerns about what this would mean for users who had passed away. Why does this matter? There’s a very good reason.

10 Apple books every fan should read [Gift Guide 2019]

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Books-Gift-Guide-2019
These books offer rare insights into an incredibly secretive company.
Image: Killian Bell

Gift-Guide-2019-bugWhether you’re buying for yourself or a friend or family member, there’s no shortage of great books about Apple. But with so many millions of words written about the Cupertino company over the years, which books most deserve your time?

Allow Cult of Mac‘s gift guide to fill you in on the 10 Apple books that deserve space on your shelf.

Apple display-maker will revisit past earnings after embezzlement case

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Apple may buy factory belonging to struggling Apple display-maker
Japan Display makes Apple's LCD displays.
Photo: Apple

There’s more bad news for struggling Apple display-maker Japan Display. After news of a former executive embezzling funds, the company has announced that it will be reviewing its past earnings.

That’s a major headache at a time when the ailing business is trying to raise 50 billion yen ($460 million) from Apple and other investors.

Apple TV+ series Shantaram seeks film incentives in India

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Apple TV+ series Shantaram seeking incentives in India
Coming to Apple TV+ soon.
Photo: St. Martin's Griffin

When India launches an incentive program to lure production companies to make movies in the country, Apple apparently wants in. According to a new report, upcoming Apple TV+ series Shantaram might become “one of the first major foreign productions to tap into the country’s impending film incentives scheme.”

Lawmakers investigate claims that Apple uses privacy as a ‘shield’

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Apple exec turned up at CES to talk about the importance of privacy
Apple's privacy stance is good. But is there a
Photo: Apple

Most people seem to agree that Apple’s stance on user privacy is a good one. However, U.S. lawmakers suggest it could be a cover for something else: anti-competitive behavior.

According to a new report, some legislators think Apple might be using privacy as a “shield” to get away with behavior that lets it strengthen its own position, while hurting rivals.

Here’s how Apple Car might eliminate blind spots

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Here's how Apple Car might eliminate blind spots
Apple's got some fascinating ideas for Apple Car.
Photo: Aristomenis Tsirbas/Freelancer

Currently, drivers only have the rearview and side mirrors of a car to let them know what’s going on behind them. But a new Apple invention describes an upgrade — that may eliminate blind spots by projecting mirrored images of the surrounding environment onto the window or windshield.

This could give the driver more contextual information about their surroundings, depending on where they are.

Harvard gets out of Apple stock, doubles down on Facebook

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Harvard gets out of Apple stock, doubles down on Facebook
Harvard has sold its $100 million+ worth of AAPL.
Photo: Paul Geffen/Flickr CC

Apple stock may have risen fairly consistently through 2019, but that hasn’t been enough to stop Harvard dumping the stock.

Harvard Management Company, the Harvard-owned investment company which is the largest academic endowment in the world, has sold all of its Apple stock. At the end of the second quarter of 2019, it owned more than $100 million of AAPL.

Apple takes second spot in list of UK’s best employers

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Apple takes second spot in list of UK's best employers
People sure want to work for Apple. But not as much as they want to kill rats, apparently.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Those dirty rats! A pest control company knocked Apple out of first place on a list of best U.K. employers.

Global pest control company Rentokil Initial rose to No. 1 on the list, compiled using employee reviews on jobseeker site Indeed. Apple fell to second place — but it’s still the only non-U.K. company to make the top five.