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News - page 1022

Apple is presenting Microsoft Office 365 as an iPad Pro add-on

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Screen_Shot_2016-03-24_at_8.03.31_AM.0
Apple clearly believes offering Microsoft Office 365 will help sell more iPad Pros.
Photo: Apple

Apple has been clear about its belief that the super-charged iPad Pro is designed as a replacement for notebooks and desktops for a large number of users.

With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the company is giving buyers of the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro the option of picking up a subscription to Microsoft Office 365 as part of their pre-order.

Apple Watch apps kinda suck, but Cupertino hopes you won’t notice

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watch bands march 21 apple event
Apple Watch apps were conspicuous in their absence at this week's Apple event.
Photo: Apple

At this week’s “Let us loop you in” keynote, Apple revealed a major shift in its smartwatch strategy. Tim Cook tried to dress it up by announcing new Apple Watch bands and a price drop, but the most significant aspect was what he did not say: There was no mention of third-party Watch apps.

After Monday’s keynote, Apple updated its website with a new marketing proposition that represents a tacit acknowledgment that, right now, Apple Watch is only good for three things: notifications, fitness and health.

What happened to the idea that there is an app for everything?

Pre-order your iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro now

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se_and_ipad_pro
Have you ordered Apple's new devices?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac/Apple

Are you excited about Apple’s newly-announced 4-inch iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro? Well, the time for talking is through, and the time for pre-ordering is here!

Available to ship next Thursday, March 31st, the iPhone SE is available in 16GB and 64GB configurations. Prices start at $399, or $13.30 a month with carrier financing. The new iPad Pro, meanwhile, is available in 32GB, 128GB and — for the first time ever — 256GB configurations, with prices starting at $599.

Both devices are available in silver, gold, rose gold and space gray options.

Google Maps’ iOS app just got Uber useful

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Google-Maps-Uber
Google Maps has some nice new tricks on iOS.
Photo: Google/Uber

Google has finally updated its iOS app to include the Uber connectivity that Android users have had for like a week now.

It’s not just Uber, but that’s definitely the biggest ride-sharing company to get support in the new version. Users in Brazil, India, the UK, Spain, and Germany can also use their local call-a-car service of choice.

Smaller iPad Pro is even bigger on features

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iPad Pro prices
Prices aren't the only major difference between iPad Pros.
Photo: Apple

Size isn’t the only thing that counts when you’re weighing your iPad Pro options.

Sure, it’s a major consideration. The 9.7-inch iPad Pro that Apple showed off earlier this week has the same dimensions of the less sprawling iPad Air 2, and it weighs just under a pound. That’s about two-thirds the weight of the original Pro, and people trading up from an iPad Air won’t need to look at new cases or bags to carry the thing around in.

But that’s all surface stuff, and the two iPad Pros have a lot of differences behind — and even inside — their screens.

Apple Pay is expanding to mobile websites

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Apple Pay
Apple Pay is everywhere.
Photo: Apple

Using Apple Pay to buy items has been limited to physical retail stores and apps, but Apple is reportedly planning to rollout the service soon to mobile websites, putting it in closer competition with PayPal and other platforms.

The mobile website version of Apple Pay will allegedly be ready in time for the 2016 holiday shopping season. Once launched, the mobile version will allow shoppers to complete purchases using their fingerprint rather than entering credit card info on websites.

Apple’s full iPhone SE keynote is now on YouTube

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Size does matter, says Phil Schiller.
Size does matter, says Phil Schiller.
Photo: Apple

If you didn’t have time to catch up pn Apple’s event on Monday, you can relive all the glory anytime you want, now that the company has posted the entire iPhone SE keynote on YouTube.

The 63 minute event contains everything from yak-friendly solar farms in China to all the details on the smaller iPad Pro that isn’t quite as fast as its bigger sibling. Apple’s recent event wasn’t as exciting as previous product unveiling, but it will probably be the last one ever hosted at the company’s Cupertino campus.

Watch the full event below:

Google Photos now smartly sorts your snaps automatically

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Your vacation snaps can now be viewed on the big screen.
Smarter albums now available in Google Photos.
Photo: Google
Google Photos smart albums
Smarter albums now available in Google Photos. Photo: Google

Taking lots of photos when you’re doing some fun is great, but sorting them when you go home is not. But now you don’t have to.

Use Google Photos and it takes care of organization for you, with smart albums that are made up of your best images from every event.

Apple Music partners with Vice for music documentary series

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Vice is diving deep into Reservation Rap.
Vice is diving deep into Reservation Rap.
Photo: Vice

Apple is teaming up with Vice for a new six-part documentary that will stream exclusively on Apple Music.

The Score will spotlight music scenes from around the world that are lot more diverse and rich than your typical five-day outdoor EDM rave. The first episode called “Reservation Rap” debuts this week and covers Minnesota Red Lake Reservation’s unique hip-hop style created by the Ojibwa tribe.

Watch members of the third largest indigenous tribe in North America spit some bars:

FBI teams up with Israeli firm to hack San Bernardino iPhone

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Your iPhone will always need to be recharged everyday.
The FBI finally found someone who can unlock the iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The mysterious party that is assisting the FBI in its quest to unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone 5c may have finally been revealed today, and contrary to previous theories, it’s not the NSA.

Cellebrite, an Israeli tech firm specializing in mobile forensic software, has reportedly offered to help the FBI unlock the iPhone. Citing industry sources, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper says if Cellebrite succeeds, the FBI will no longer need Apple’s help with the case.

Android Pay takes its battle against Apple Pay to the U.K.

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android-pay-takes-its-battle-against-apple-pay-to-the-u-k-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509Android-Pay-png
Android Pay is expanding its reach.
Photo: Google
Android Pay is expanding its reach. Photo: Google
Android Pay is expanding its reach. Photo: Google

Android Pay, Google’s answer to Apple Pay, is finally expanding to new markets.

Google has announced that the service will be making its debut in the United Kingdom “in the next few months,” and it will launch with support from a long list of banks and retailers.

Your guide to all the latest iOS, tvOS and watchOS features

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Apple tv, iPhone and Apple Watch
See all of Apple's latest software in action
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Along with the iPhone SE and new 9.7-inch iPad Pro, Apple unleashed a slew of new software updates this week, bringing all-new features to your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV.

Find out what’s awaiting you in the new Apple updates, as well as how to update all your Apple devices, in a series of Cult of Mac videos you can watch below.

Apple debuts eco-friendly iOS wallpapers to promote its recycling mission

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One of Apple's funky new iOS 9 wallpapers.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

To help promote Apple’s ongoing Renew program — which encourages users to recycle their old Apple devices — Cupertino today released three new iOS 9 wallpapers to promote its mission.

Designed by graphic artist Anthony Burrill, the wallpapers are entitled “Nature in Balance,” “Nature in Harmony,” and “Nature in Us,” and are available to download in sizes customized for iPad mini, iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPhone.

Gorgeous puzzler Mekorama could be this year’s Monument Valley

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I cannot wait for this to arrive on iOS.
Photo: Martin Magni

As anyone who has read my coverage of the superb iOS game Monument Valley will know, I’m a huge sucker for beautiful puzzle games.

Well, it seems that 2016’s going to be a good year for me (and plenty of likeminded gamers), since a new trailer showing off an upcoming iOS game called Mekorama, built by the developer behind the very engaging Odd Bot Out, has just been released. And, boy, does it look great!

Check it out below.

Have you entered the 2016 iPhone Photography Awards yet?

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Screen Shot 2016-03-23 at 09.46.02
Better get snapping!
Photo: IPPAwards

Are you a budding photographer, who owns (or has access to) an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch? If so, you may be interested in entering this year’s IPPAwards, a.k.a. The iPhone Photography Awards.

Entrants are competing for the prestigious IPPA Photographer of the Year Award title, along with a assortment of other prizes.

John McAfee: Apple won’t like FBI’s iPhone ‘universal master key’

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John McAfee has previously offered to help decrypt information on the San Bernardino iPhone.
Photo: CNBC

Cybersecurity legend John McAfee has denied suggestions that he’s helping the FBI to crack the iPhone at the center of the San Bernardino shooting case, but hinted that he knows which party is involved. And, according to McAfee, it’s not good news for Apple.

“Apple and Tim Cook are not going to be happy with what the FBI has come up with,” he told CNBC in an interview. “It’s not worse than a universal master key, but it’s much much easier to get into a phone with it.”

Apple’s handled its PR wrong in FBI standoff, says Steve Jobs’ ex-publicist

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Silicon Valley PR vet Andy Cunningham honed her skills at Apple.
Andy Cunningham played a key role in Steve Jobs' life for many years.
Photo: Andy Cunningham

Apple hasn’t done enough to publicly present its side of the current privacy standoff with the FBI, concerning whether or not it should build an iPhone backdoor, claims Andrea “Andy” Cunningham, Steve Jobs’ former publicist.

“I think [Steve] would’ve spent more time framing the issue for the [public] than I think [Apple under Tim Cook has] done so far,” Cunningham says.

For Google’s iPhone keyboard, search will be key

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iPad keyboard
That's great and all, but couldn't it be swipier?
Screenshot: Evan Killham/Cult of Mac

The world’s biggest search engine is planning a new way to get its software onto Apple products, The Verge is reporting. It’s a Google iPhone keyboard that developers hope will trump the stock iOS one.

Third-party keyboards are nothing new, but very few actually have a shot at replacing Apple’s as the go-to typing tool either because of pointless features or shoddy design. But we think that if anyone’s going to give it a running start, it’s Google.

YouTube adds iPad multitasking so you can get less done

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YouTube Split View Slide Over
Oh, this can't be good for our productivity.
Screenshot: Evan Killham/Cult of Mac

This is either bad news for your workload or great news for your procrastination, but as of today, YouTube’s iOS app has full support for two of the iPad’s multitasking features.

Now, you can run the video app alongside other, probably more useful things. You can even control YouTube while you’re working on other stuff without having to close either program. It’s a brilliant way to not get anything done, ever.

Here’s how it works.

Where is Android’s answer to iPhone SE?

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where-is-androids-answer-to-iphone-se-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201603iPhone-SE-png
With iPhone SE, Apple delivers something Android doesn't.
Photo: Apple

Die-hard Android fans probably had little interest in Apple’s keynote Monday, but believe it or not, plenty will be interested in the new iPhone SE.

With high-end specifications and a 4-inch display, it’s a compact smartphone for those who want the latest features without a supersized screen — and there’s nothing like it on Android.

Will you buy the new iPhone SE? [Reader Poll]

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Scalpers will give you a discount on the iPhone SE.
The iPhone SE comes with a low, low price.
Photo: Apple

I was wrong. I can admit that now.

When I first wrote about the rumors that Apple would launch a new, improved 4-inch iPhone way back in 2014, I was skeptical that there was enough of a market to make Apple rush back to the 4-inch form factor so soon after abandoning it with the 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Readers immediately wrote to correct me: They (or, often, their wives, girlfriends or children) wanted nothing more than a small iPhone they could easily clutch in the palm of their hands. Well, we got exactly that!

So, now that the iPhone SE has been announced, how do you feel about it?

New iPad Pro is slower than 12.9-inch model

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Size does matter, says Phil Schiller.
Size does matter, says Phil Schiller.
Photo: Apple

The new iPad Pro packs Apple’s fastest chip ever, but it turns out the tablet is actually slower than the 12.9-inch version.

Both iPad Pros use the A9x processor. However, when Phil Schiller was gushing about the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro’s “grunt” during Monday’s iPhone SE keynote, he didn’t mention that Apple underclocked the new processor and reduced its horsepower.

Can Samsung’s new Galaxy S7 convert a hardcore iPhone fan?

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iOS and Android are killing off the competition.
Two giants going head to head.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Two giants going head to head. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Android
Two giants going head to head. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Android

After unboxing and filming the review for the Samsung Galaxy S7, I realized that I had never used Android as a daily driver. I had always sided with iOS in any “fanboy” debates, and I had never given the little green robot a chance.

To change this, I set myself the challenge of using Android and the S7 for a week as my primary smartphone. Check out the video down below to see how it worked out.