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More iPhones are made in India than you might think

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More iPhones are made in India than you might think
China isn't the only country where iPhone is assembled.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Everyone knows iPhone is made in China, right? Well, yes and no. A new report indicates that as many as 14% of Apple handsets are actually produced in India.

It’s part of Apple’s plan to diversify where its products are assembled to reduce its dependence on China.

TSMC on track toward 2nm and 1.4nm processors for Apple devices

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TSMC looks ahead to super-speedy 2nm processors
2nm processors made by TSMC will be faster while using less power than today's 3nm iPhone and Mac chips.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Progress is reportedly going well at Apple’s chipmaker TSMC on development of the 2nm and later 1.4nm processors to power the 2025 through 2027 Mac and iPhone models.

Getting these chips into production is a critical part of keeping Apple at the forefront of technology.

Apple robots might invade your home [The CultCast]

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A humanoid robot, plus the CultCast logo and episode 641 label.
Just how far will Apple go with robotics?
Photo: Owen Beard/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After pulling the plug on an ambitious project — creating a self-driving car — Apple sets its sights on making … home robots?!? Say it ain’t so, Tim!

Also on The CultCast:

  • New iPhone 16 dummy units bring the rumors to life. But as for those long-predicted fancy new iPads, we’re still waiting. Get used to it!
  • The next-gen Apple processor could give Macs a serious performance boost. Erfon talks specs and speculation.
  • Vision Pro’s new Spatial Personas aren’t creepy at all … 👻
  • Griffin serves up some tips on how to take a proper photo during the upcoming total solar eclipse.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Solar eclipse-inspired iPhone cases look stellar

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Solar eclipse iPhone cases by Carved
These iPhone cases are truly one of a kind.
Photo: Carved

A collection of 100 wild-looking smartphone cases inspired by the upcoming solar eclipse is selling out fast. The one-of-a-kind solar eclipse iPhone cases, made by the craftspeople at Carved, will give your handset an out-of-this-world look.

“We’ve been working hard to capture the essence of this coming 2024 eclipse,” the company said Friday on its Facebook page. “In all the excitement we’ve made a very limited run of eclipse designs just for you!”

How to take solar eclipse photos with iPhone

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How to photograph the solar eclipse with iPhone
Here’s how to take the best solar eclipse photos with an iPhone.
Photo: Good Free Photos/Unsplash License/Cult of Mac

There are lots of questions about how to take solar eclipse photos with your iPhone. Firstly, can a solar eclipse harm your iPhone’s camera or lenses? Won’t the sun’s rays damage the camera?

Not according to Apple. Cupertino says it’s safe to photograph a total solar eclipse with your iPhone; but be sure to protect your eyes.

However, photographing the solar eclipse is hard without the right tools. To get a good picture of the solar eclipse with your iPhone, you’re going to need a 12-18x telephoto lens attachment, a solar filter and a tripod. Make sure you have everything you need before the big event on Monday.

Here’s how you can get prepared. Watch our new video or keep reading below.

iPhone 16 ‘dummy’ units give us glimpse of upcoming changes

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iPhone 16 dummy units
The iPhone 16 series might well look like these mockups.
Photo: Sonny Dickson

Images of iPhone 16 “dummy” units have been published by a tipster with an established record. They show the redesigned camera hump reportedly coming to the two non-Pro models and other changes.

The pictures are the best look yet at the handsets Apple is expected to launch in autumn 2024.

WWDC24 is the name, and Apple AI is the game! [The CultCast]

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CultCast episode 640 promo image of sci-fi brain and circuit board and caption,
We have a date for WWDC24, and we know what's on the agenda!
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Now that Apple set a date for WWDC24, it’s time for the speculation to begin. Artificial intelligence undoubtedly will be on the agenda. But what will Apple’s AI push look like?

Join us for a whirlwind discussion.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Sounds like iOS 18 will give iPhone owners even more control over their Home Screens.
  • A flaw in Apple’s M-series processors sounds downright disturbing.
  • Apple’s got a trick up its sleeve to keep you from annoying iPhone upgrades.
  • And the Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple makes some truly ludicrous claims.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Who called me from this phone number? 10 best ways to find out.

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Apple iPhone 15 showing Dynamic Island with an incoming call.
Find out who called you from any phone number.
Photo: Apple

Receiving calls from unknown numbers is a recurring theme that can often be quite aggravating to deal with, especially since most of them tend to be from pranksters and telemarketers. However, the fact remains that some calls may be important, which raises the question, how can you truly distinguish the real from the fake?

iPhone 12 got Qi2 wireless charging support on the down-low

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Apple’s MagSafe fuels new Qi2 wireless charging standard
Your iPhone 12 just got better -- it can use Qi2 accessories.
Photo: WPC/Cult of Mac

Add the iPhone 12 to the list of handsets that support the new Qi2 cross-platform wireless charging standard that’s based on MagSafe. Apparently, Apple gave the older phones support for the newest chargers without mentioning it.

More recent iPhone models already can use Qi2 accessories.

Sleek power bank is your iPhone’s backup battery [Review] ★★★★

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Torras Ostand Power Bank attached to iPhone 13 Pro★★★★
Torras Ostand Power Bank serves as a stand and wireless charger for iPhone.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The compact and slim Torras Ostand Power Bank is a second battery for your iPhone, providing 15-watt fast charging whenever and wherever you need it. It also serves as an iPhone stand and can charge other devices, like iPad, too.

Torras sent me a 5000mAh Ostand Power Bank to try. And it did not disappoint. Doing exactly what it claims to do, the device offers good value — especially while it’s discounted for the Amazon Big Spring Sale (see below).

How to tweak your iPhone’s Home Screen

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Edit Your Home Screen
It's easy to customize your iPhone's look by adding widgets and removing app icons you don’t want to see.
Image: Kristin Hardwick/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Your iPhone doesn’t need to look like it came from 2012. You can easily swap out wallpapers and/or customize iPhone Home Screen layouts by adding widgets and folders (and by hiding unwanted apps from your view).

This guide will help set up your iPhone screen so it looks exactly how you want it to.

‘See what you’re missing’ with Apple’s new iPhone comparison tool

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‘See what you’re missing’ with Apple’s new iPhone comparison tool
Apple wants you to know all the ways iPhone 15 is better than your current handset.
Screenshot: Apple/Cult of Mac

The new “Why Upgrade” page on Apple’s website shows users of some older iOS models what features they’d get if they traded up to the latest iPhone 15 series.

The tool says “See what you’re missing“ in hopes of convincing shoppers that it’s time to move on from handsets introduced in 2019 or 2020.

‘Presto,’ your new iPhone comes out of box with fresh software update

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Presto iOS updates
The Presto system will update new iPhones right through the packaging in the store.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The next time you buy a new iPhone, it could come out of the box with a fresh iOS software update, according to a new report. A new proprietary system called “Presto” will update it right in the packaging before you buy it at an Apple Store.

Normally, updating iOS is one of the first orders of business for new iPhone purchases. Now it won’t be necessary unless a new update comes out right after their purchase.

iOS 18 could introduce more customizable iPhone Home Screen

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iOS 18 concept video
iOS 18 could finally let you create a blank Home Screen row.
Concept: Kevin Kall

Apple will allow for greater iPhone Home Screen customization in iOS 18, including the ability to place app icons anywhere on the screen, according to a new report.

iPhone owners also supposedly will gain the flexibility to create blank rows and columns, though the icons will still snap to a grid.

Good news for AirPods, bad news for Apple [The CultCast]

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The CultCast episode 639: AirPods rumors for 2024.
Even the latest AirPods rumors can't cheer us up this week.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors indicate 2024 will bring big changes to the AirPods lineup. In fact, Apple’s ramping up for “the biggest AirPods launch to date.”

But even this fantastic news can’t cheer us up after the Department of Justice files a wide-ranging antitrust lawsuit against Apple. We recorded this episode of The CultCast right after news of the DOJ’s suit broke, and some of us are fuming!

Also on The CultCast:

  • So … Apple might lean on Google Gemini to power iOS 18 features? Good luck with that.
  • iPhone 17 could bring a major upgrade in the display department.
  • The next-gen Vision Pro headset might drop the price to something much more approachable.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Why the DOJ’s antitrust lawsuit against Apple is weak

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Flanked by colleagues, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland lays out the Justice Department's antitrust case against Apple.
Flanked by colleagues, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland lays out the Justice Department's antitrust case against Apple.
Image: Department of Justice

The Department of Justice’s monumental Apple antitrust case appears weak.

Still, the civil lawsuit, filed Thursday, represents the biggest legal challenge to Apple’s power in the company’s 47-year history. If successful, the lawsuit could force Apple to fundamentally change the way it makes products and conducts business. A similar action against Microsoft in the 1990s significantly curtailed that company’s reach and power.

But the DOJ’s lawsuit against Apple appears to be based on old and outdated information, and Apple has already — or is about to — address most of the major concerns.

How to use iPhone’s awesome new text-to-speech feature

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Text-to-Speech From Your Phone
Your iPhone has a text-to-speech feature built-in. You don’t need to download an app.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

In iOS 17, the iPhone got a built-in text-to-speech feature called Live Speech. You can even use Live Speech with a digital version of your own voice called Personal Voice.

Apple devised Personal Voice for users “at risk of losing their ability to speak — such as those with a recent diagnosis of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) or other conditions that can progressively impact speaking ability.” It was the subject of a touching and heartfelt video Apple made called “The Lost Voice.”

Here’s how to set up and use Live Speech.

iPhone 17’s display could get a big anti-reflective upgrade

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iPhone 15 in hand
You might be able to ditch the screen protector with the iPhone 17 in 2025.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple could give the iPhone 17’s display a big anti-reflective update. A new rumor says the 2025 iPhone might feature a “super-hard anti-reflective layer,” which is also more scratch-resistant.

Seemingly, Apple will use a new layer of coating on the glass to reduce the reflection and increase scratch resistance.

Folding iPhone could be 2 years away

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Folding iPhone is here! Too bad there's only one.
This one-off folding iPhone mod could be a glimpse of the future.
Photo: KJMX

Apple may have decided that 2026 is the right year to launch a folding iPhone.

Cupertino has been tinkering with prototype handsets with foldable displays for a long time. An analyst predicted Thursday that the company will finally have something to offer in a couple of years.

Google beefs up Chrome browser security for Mac and iOS devices

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Google Safe Browsing update in Chrome for macOS and iOS
These security updates come to macOS and iOS users first and to Android users later in the month.
Photo: Google

Privacy-preserving URL protection and beefed-up password protection are coming to Google Safe Browsing for the popular Chrome browser for macOS and iOS, Google said Thursday. The Chrome security update comes to Macs, iPhones and iPads first. Android devices will see them later in March.

Brilliant mod makes iPhone 15 Pro Max match Vision Pro

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Caviar's iPhone 15 Pro mod that borrows design elements from the Apple Vision Pro headset
This unusual but gorgeous iPhone 15 Pro mod borrows design elements from the Apple Vision Pro headset.
Photo: Caviar

iPhone 15 Pro Max Vision is a version of Apple’s premier handset modified so it matches the look of the Vision Pro AR headset. It’s from Dubai-based Caviar, and is actually a beautiful option for someone who uses both devices.

But buyers will need deep pockets. The modification adds tremendously to the cost of the iPhone.

And you have to see Caviar’s crazy mod that turns a Samsung S24 Ultra into a Tesla Cybertruck. Both creations are part of Caviar’s Future collection, designed to reflect “the most prominent futuristic hits,” according to the company.

No App Store needed: EU iPhone users can install apps directly from websites

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No App Store needed: EU iPhone users can install apps directly from websites
iPhone sideloading just got much closer to actual sideloading.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

EU developers can forgo the App Store entirely and distribute their apps directly to iPhone users from their own websites, Apple said Tuesday. This is a significant reversal from Apple’s original rules, which required devs that wanted to skip the official App Store to place iPhone software in third-party software marketplaces.

In another major change, Apple also will allow EU developers to create app marketplaces that sell only their own software.

Classic action manga Midnight brought to life in ‘Shot on iPhone’ film

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Classic action Manga 'Midnight' becomes 'Shot on iPhone' film
Midnight is a film adaptation of a classic by the Father of Manga.
Photo: Apple

Osamu Tezuka’s Midnight manga gets adapted to live action in the latest “Shot on iPhone” project. It’s an action film about a mysterious late-night taxi driver.

Apple also released a “making of” video to show how the movie was produced with an iPhone 15 Pro.

Apple removes big financial barrier for new app stores

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Apple App Store NOT
Apple made opening a rival to the iPhone App Store less of a financial burden.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple just removed a significant barrier for opening a rival iPhone app store in the European Union. Submitting a million-euro letter of credit is no longer required. There are still plenty of other requirements, though.

Rival app marketplaces are coming to the European Union — and nowhere else — because of landmark legislation that forced Apple to broaden the options for installing iPhone apps.

Try these exciting iOS 17.4 features on your iPhone now

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iOS 17.4 release notes
iOS 17.4 is here with several major changes and features.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple just dropped iOS 17.4, bringing a plethora of new features — some of which fundamentally change how the iPhone works.

The biggest point update to iOS 17, iOS 17.4 comes almost six months after the operating system’s initial release. It enables support for third-party app stores, browsers and payment apps on the iPhone. The bummer? These major changes are only coming to the European Union. Still, there are a lot of new iOS 17.4 features that will enhance the experience of every iPhone user.