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Luke Dormehl - page 98

Apple’s leadership structure could cause headaches in the future

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Tim Cook delivers the goods at Apple's iPhone 11 event.
Tim Cook has continued a leadership structure established by Steve Jobs.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s always been a relatively flat company in terms of corporate structure. But that may be posing a challenge, as a new report on the company’s leadership suggests.

As a result of Apple’s employee growth and changes in the leadership team, many executives now have large numbers of people reporting directly to them. According to a former Apple exec, that structure may not be “particularly effective.”

Apple Online Store goes down ahead of iPhone 11 pre-orders

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Apple Store goes down
When it comes back, expect new iPhones!
Photo: Apple

Apple’s Online Apple Store has gone down ahead of the iPhone 11 pre-orders in the early hours of this morning at 5am PST.

When it comes back, customers will be free to order one of Apple’s new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, or iPhone 11 Pro Max handsets for delivery on September 20. Well, so long as you’re quick, that is!

iPhone 11 Pro allegedly triggers an unusual phobia

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Lotus seed holes
Forget Bendgate and Antennagate! There's a new "-gate" in town!
Photo: Alien Pods

Does the above picture of a lotus seed pod freak you out? If so, there’s a chance you suffer from trypophobia, the fear of small holes in certain configurations.

You know what else apparently could trigger your trypophobia? The new iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Plus with its cluster of three lenses. And according to the doctor who published the first study of the phobia in 2013, that’s totally plausible.

There’s a secret message in Apple’s iPhone 11 event supercut

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Apple 2019 Fall press event invitation
Apple included a binary code in its two-minute keynote supercut.
Photo: Apple

Apple isn’t into Easter Eggs in the way that it once was. But in its two-minute supercut rundown of this week’s iPhone 11 event, it includes an amusing one.

On six frames of the video, there’s a flashed image that suspiciously resembles Microsoft’s dreaded “Blue Screen of Death.” But while a swipe at Microsoft would be enough to make many long-time Apple fans nostalgic, there’s also a hidden message written in binary.

Apple stops signing iOS 12.4 after patching jailbreak exploit

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Stop the madness
There's no turning back!
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple has stopped signing iOS 12.4 following the release of iOS 12.4.1. That means that it’s no longer possible to downgrade again from the latest version of iOS if you’ve already upgraded.

iOS 12.4.1 fixed a security flaw which allowed an iOS jailbreak to be created for the first time in ages. It’s no wonder Apple doesn’t want you turning back!

Apple TV+’s $5 pricing lays the smackdown on Netflix and Disney [Opinion]

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Apple TV+
Apple fires a $4.99 shot across the bow of rival streaming companies.
Photo: Apple

It’s rare that the take-home message from an Apple keynote is, “Wow, that’s far more affordable than I expected.” But that’s exactly the reaction Apple prompted when it revealed the $5-a-month price tag for its new Apple TV+ streaming service.

In one fell swoop, Apple just threw down the gauntlet to its streaming rivals. Your move, Netflix!

HomePod will get smarter (and more chill) this fall

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HomePod speaker
HomePod is getting some nifty new features.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple didn’t mention HomePod during yesterday’s iPhone 11 event — but it certainly didn’t forget about it, either.

Following the keynote, Apple quietly updated HomePod’s webpage. In doing so, it added exciting details about improvements being lined up for Apple’s smart speaker this fall.

Elizabeth Warren blasts Apple for having ‘too much power’

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Elizabeth Warren chimes in on allegedly discriminatory Apple Card algorithm
Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has taken shots at Apple in the past.
Photo: elizabethwarren.com

Senator and presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren thinks Apple exerts “too much power” through its operation of the App Store, and uses this to stifle competition.

Warren tweeted the message Tuesday, complete with the hashtag #BreakUpBigTech. That’s probably not great news for Apple!

Immediate reaction to iPhone 11 muted in India and China

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iPhone 11 launch
iPhone 11 may not be the handsets which turn things around for Apple in China and India.
Photo: Apple

Immediate reactions to the iPhone 11 in China and India have been somewhat muted, initial analyst and social media comments suggest.

While the handsets have yet to go on sale, it hints that this year’s refresh may not be game-changers in the world’s two most populated markets.

AppleCare+ now offers monthly rolling subscription

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2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and AppleCare
You can now pay by the month.
Photo: Apple

Apple has updated AppleCare+ so that it can be paid for on an indefinite rolling monthly basis.

Customers can now continue to receive AppleCare+ coverage for as long as they’re willing to keep paying. (Or, presumably, until Apple is unable to repair your device.) This is in contrast to the previous upfront fixed term customers could buy for Apple devices.

Apple TV+ series See looks brilliant — or brilliantly awful

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Jason Momoa
See is going to be a true Apple Original.
Photo: Apple

What do you get when you put the epic scope of Game of Thrones, the sight-challenged hook of Bird Box, the environmentalism-as-blockbuster ambitions of box office bomb Waterworld and the costume design of Battlefield Earth in a jar, then shake it up?

Answer: See, one of the first shows coming to Apple TV+ when the subscription video service launches this fall. Apple showed the first full See trailer today during the iPhone 11 event. Some of us can’t unsee it.

Buy a new Apple device and you’ll get 1 year free Apple TV+

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Apple TV+
Tim Cook showing off some of the titles Apple TV+ will bring to users.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple TV+ is coming to screens on November 1, with a surprisingly low price of just $4.99.

While only a few shows will be available on launch, more will be added every month. There’s also some great Apple TV+ pricing news for anyone thinking of buying a new Apple device in the future.

Apple Arcade launches September 19, priced $4.99 per month

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Apple Arcade
Just some of the 100 games Apple Arcade will launch with.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s gaming subscription service Apple Arcade will cost $4.99 per month and launch September 19.

Apple showed off three launch games from its gaming service at today’s “By Innovation Only” event. It also gave a glimpse of the interface users can expect, alongside sharing other neat details. And, yes, it comes with a one-month free trial.

Apple chipmaker hits record revenue highs in August

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Gather_Round_A12Bionic 2
The A12 Bionic chip was a massive hit for TSMC.
Photo: Apple

Long-time Apple chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has reported new record revenue for the month of August. This follows shortly after leading Apple manufacturer Foxconn announced similar records.

TSMC’s August revenues hit a record high of $3.4 billion for the month. That’s a 25.2% increase sequentially and 16.5% on year.

Apple Online Store goes down ahead of iPhone 11 event

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Be right back Apple Store
Be right back.
Photo: Apple

The Apple Online Store has gone down hours ahead of today’s special event. “Be right back,” reads a notice on the site. “We’re making updates to the Apple Store. Check back soon.”

When the Online Store returns after the conclusion of today’s “By Innovation Only” event, we expect to see information about new iPhones, a refreshed Apple Watch, and more.

Facebook reveals how its iOS apps track user location

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Facebook owns 4 of the top 10 apps of the past decade
Facebook may be trying to get on top of potential negative publicity.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Facebook has clarified how its apps collect and uses location data, ahead of the release of iOS 13.

While this data gathering is nothing new, iOS 13 will make it more obvious to users by calling out apps which behave in this way. It therefore looks like Facebook is trying to get out ahead of any potential negative publicity.

Refreshed Fifth Avenue store is as multicolored as the classic Apple logo

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Apple Store glass
The Fifth Avenue Apple Store just got a splash of (every) color.
Photo: c.paniagua.art/Instagram

Apple’s Fifth Avenue Apple Store refurb has being going on since 2017 — and it looks like it’ll be worth the wait.

According to new images, the iconic glass cube is getting a slightly psychedelic upgrade, with an iridescent coating that reflects every color under the sun. It’s a neat, attention-grabbing nod to the classic Apple rainbow logo which disappeared 20 years ago last month.

Former Mac boss thinks App Store antitrust complaints are off-target

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Apple removes 17 malware apps which secretly clicked on ads
Former Apple boss doesn't buy all the antitrust complaints.
Photo: Apple

With the looming shadow of antitrust, plenty of folks are talking about whether or not Apple is abusing its position. Specifically, they claim that Apple has a conflict of interests by running the App Store and also creating its own software tools.

Former Macintosh division boss Jean-Louis Gassée is now wading into the argument. Gassée says that people calling antitrust on Apple haven’t considered the number of jobs Apple has created through the App Store.

Man miraculously catches falling iPhone X on roller coaster ride

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Rollercoaster iPhone catch 1
What a catch!
Screenshot: sirsammy 15/YouTube

Nothing ruins a day out at a theme park quite like dropping your pricey $1,000 phone while riding a roller coaster.

Unless there’s a guy like Samuel Kempf sitting behind you, that is. Kempf recently shared a video showing how he snatched a dropped iPhone X out of mid-air — all while riding a roller coaster at speeds of 130 kilometers per hour. Check it out.

Apple responds to complaint that Foxconn factory broke labor laws

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iPhone sales drive Apple’s biggest supplier to big profits
Apple says too many temporary workers were employed in Foxconn factory.
Photo: CBS

Apple says that it is working to fix a problem in which too many temporary workers were found illegally working on the iPhone line at a Foxconn factory.

Over the weekend, New York-based watchdog China Labor Watch published a report about alleged violations. These supposedly took place at the biggest iPhone factory in Zhengzhou, China.

However, while Apple acknowledges the group’s point about temporary workers, it maintains the other findings are inaccurate.

Siri will one day discuss your health problems with you

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Spanish Siri labels Bolivian president a ‘dictator’
Less "What are you doing" and more "How are you doing?"
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The ability to have back-and-forth conversations about users’ health problems is one of several new abilities planned for Siri in “fall 2021,” a new report claims.

Based on leaked documents, The Guardian says that Apple is planning a host of new features for its AI assistant. These will include built-in machine translation and, intriguingly, support for a new, unspecified piece of Siri hardware.