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News - page 1055

Tim Cook: White House should be against software ‘backdoors’

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Tim Cook
Tim Cook thinks the government needs to be strong in its pro-encryption message.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook reportedly hit out during a meeting of White House officials with tech leaders in San Jose last week, slating the White House for its lack of leadership and insisting that the Obama administration should issue a strong public statement defending anti-encryption software.

Steve Jobs’ former college to offer undergrad computer science degree

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The Two Steves team up to create the Apple-1. Photo: Turner Network Television
Liberal arts training with a computer science degree? That's like the ultimate Jobs/Wozniak mix.
Photo: Pirates of Silicon Valley/Turner Network Television

There’s no shortage of people in Silicon Valley wanting to connect themselves in some way to Steve Jobs, whether it’s driving the same type of car as Apple’s late CEO, or rocking the same John Lennon glasses.

Now Reed College, the liberal arts school Jobs famously dropped out of, is planning to offer its first undergraduate degree program in computer science — courtesy of a special grant from … Microsoft?

iOS 9 adoption rate continues to pick up steam

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iOS 9 is on a huge number of Apple's mobile devices.
iOS 9 is on a huge number of Apple's mobile devices.
Photo: Rob LeFebvre/Cult of Mac

Apple’s iOS 9 has been adopted by users at a pretty rapid rate, one that’s faster than even iOS 8 enjoyed.

Apple just updated its developer information page, claiming that iOS 9 is now on 75 percent of all iOS devices out there. This is four percent more than it was just a month ago, showing steady, if slower, growth than the first few weeks after the iOS 9 release.

Check out Siri’s mad beatboxing skills

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Siri beatbox
Your iPhone or iPad won't put up the actual transcription of Siri's beatbox skills. You'd die.
Screenshot: Evan Killham/Cult of Mac

We think Siri’s been holding out on us. It turns out that Apple’s digital assistant has been quietly working on a skill that we only recently discovered.

It’s not very useful, but it should give you a smile: A simple request will make Siri beatbox for you.

Apple assumes you’ll own more than one Apple Watch

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Apple-Watch-models watchos 2.2 ios 9.3 smartwatch hack
It seems that Apple doesn't think you should have to choose which single Apple Watch is right for you.
Photo: Apple

We were a little skeptical (and sarcastic) when we heard that Apple was trying out a feature in iOS 9.3 and watchOS 2.2 that will let Apple Watch owners pair multiple devices to one iPhone, but some new details have us rethinking our position.

The feature, reportedly called “Auto Switch,” does exactly that, and based on what we’ve heard, it could very well not just be for developers.

‘Play any video’ app VLC comes to Apple TV

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VLC AirPlay
VLC will make it easy to stream to Apple TV from anywhere.
Photo: VideoLAN

Finally, the play any video everywhere convenience of super-video app VLC is coming to your new Apple TV.

As the go-to video player app on OS X and iOS, it’s about time we see it on the big screen, considering it was planned last September.

Once you search for and download VLC on your Apple TV, you’ll be set to play any videos you can possibly throw at it, whether stored locally, on a local media server, or even right from your browser.

This attaché is ready to serve your iPad Pro

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Creative types will find the Staad Attaché a good fit for the iPad Pro and all its accessories.
Creative types will find the Staad Attaché a good fit for the iPad Pro and all its accessories.
Photo: WaterField Designs

Companies have designed shoulder bags exclusively for iPads, but let’s face it — most of us just toss them in whatever bag we have. Sure, we’ll spend on a hard cover or even a protective sleeve, but the iPad’s size and sleekness don’t demand that we dedicate a separate bag.

But the iPad Pro changes things a bit. It’s larger, is best utilized with an attachable keyboard and, if you live the creative life, you need a place to stow that Apple Pencil.

Spotify’s new ‘Behind the Lyrics’ playlists decipher your favorite songs

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Rap Genius is partnering with Spotify.
Rap Genius is partnering with Spotify.
Photo: Spotify

Understanding what your favorite rapper is saying is finally going to get a lot easer, if you’re a Spotify user.

Spotify revealed a new feature going out to users, starting today, that allows you to look a song’s lyrics, as well as the meaning behind them. Songs will be compiled into a weekly ‘Behind the Lyris’ playlist that utilizes Genius’ collection of rhyme translations.

What notifications look like when you’re famous on Instagram

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Instagram
Instagram's user base just keeps growing.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Ever wonder what life would be like if you were Instafamous with millions of followers blasting your pics with likes?

Seeing your feed blow up with thousands of likes moments after posting is usually reserved for people named Kardashian, but that’s just another day in the office for the creator of the Instagram profile 433. The football feed has amassed over 8 million followers thanks to its fantastic curation of the most epic football content on the web.

Demy de Zeeuw uploaded a video showing what an iPhone’s push notifications look like when you have that many eyeballs eager to double-tap your pics right after posting.

Watch the push notifications pile up:

Periscope now streams inside Twitter for iOS

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Periscope-for-Twitter-iOS
Twitter just found a way to take up even more of your time.
Photo: Periscope

Twitter is using its subsidiary streaming service, Periscope, for a direct assault on your attention. That’s the only conclusion we can reach, anyway, as the social-media giant’s mobile app now supports both live streams and replays of content from Periscope.

And it’s hitting iOS first, with the feature rolling out today.

Romantic thief will steal your heart and Apple Watch

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Apple Watch
You'd better Watch out!
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

We’re used to hearing about iPhone thefts to the point that one method for measuring interest in Apple launches is to see whether or not there’s an appropriately-timed spike in muggings around launch day.

But with the Apple Watch still finding its way in the world, we haven’t yet heard too many stories about thefts of Apple’s debut wearable device. Until now, that is!

All the big Apple analysts are predicting iPhone sales decline

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iPhone 6s
Ain't that just the way that sales go down, down, down, down.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple has never reported a decline in iPhone sales. That may be about to change, however, with seven top Apple analysts all predicting that the company is either experiencing — or on the verge of experiencing — a drop in the number of iPhones being bought.

Apple TV devs just stopped being second-class citizens

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tvOS devs can now use App Analytics.
tvOS devs can now use App Analytics.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s analytics tools are invaluable to developers who want to gain better insight into who is downloading their apps and how well they’ll be monetized. They’ve previously been available to iOS and Mac developers, but tvOS devs were second-class citizens, with no analytics tools to draw on.

Now Apple is finally making its App Analytics dashboard available to Apple TV devs as well.

iOS 9.3 brings all-new 3D Touch shortcuts

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iphone-6s-3d-touch-780x414
3D Touch is becoming more indispensable.
Photo: Apple

3D Touch gets a big boost in iOS 9.3, the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system.

On top of the various other “what to expect” features we’ve told you about, the iOS update, which arrived yesterday, also adds a host of new shortcuts you can use from the home screen for all standard pre-installed apps. Check out our list below.

Yep, iOS 9.3 has already been jailbroken

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ios-9-3-notes
IOS 9.3.2 beta 2 is here.
Photo: Apple

The last version of iOS 9 that was successfully jailbroken was iOS 9.0.2. Now, we’re up to iOS 9.2, and now Apple says iOS 9.3 will be coming soon. So when will the jailbreakers catch up?

Unknown, but it shouldn’t be too far away, with a prominent jailbreak hacker showing off video of an iOS 9.3 jailbreak exploit today.

Apple starts construction on its first Singapore retail store

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Apple-Singapore-store-1-1024x768
Apple's Singapore store is coming along nicely.
Photo: iPhonehacks/Stan

Photos have surfaced online showing work underway on Apple’s first retail store in Singapore.

The photos show that Apple is taking its regular security measures by covering the windows in order to keep the work inside a secret, ahead of the grand opening later in 2016.

Apple’s India enterprise boss quits to sell Android phones

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apples-india-enterprise-boss-quits-to-sell-android-phones-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201601iphone_india001-780x614-780x614-jpg
Apple has focused heavily on its India business
Photo: Apple
Apple has focused heavily on its India business. Photo: Apple
Apple has focused heavily on its India business. Photo: Apple

Apple’s enterprise mobility head for the India region has quit to set up a new Indian smartphone company, selling Android devices.

Sharad Mehrotra joined Apple in October 2007, the year that Apple launched the iPhone. Since then he has worked to build Apple’s brand in India, which the company has been particularly keen on pushing over the past several years.

Now we know exactly which cars have CarPlay

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VW's 2016 lineup is rolling deep with CarPlay.
Yes. Every Volkswagen.
Photo: VW

Apple’s finally getting specific about how well adoption of its CarPlay protocol is going.

A list appeared on the company’s website today confirming that over half of the manufacturers it has partnered with have announced specific models of vehicles that will receive the functionality.

If you’re wondering which cars have CarPlay, you have over a hundred to choose from. Here’s what we know so far.

Free Apple TV app lets you mainline weird video

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20151023_Apple_TV_4_gen_ - 7
Oh, come on. Anyone can watch good movies on their Apple TV.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

A new Apple TV app promises to give you all the insane, free content you can handle, and it delivers.

Rewinder is a free download in the Apple TV App Store, and it’s crammed full of the educational films, classic-TV anthologies, and questionable B-movies you didn’t know you had to see. If you’re a fan of shows like Mystery Science Theater 3000, which delight in the overly earnest and misguided, it’s exactly what’s been missing from your weekend viewing parties.

Chromebook schools Apple in key market segment

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Many schools say the Google Chromebook is a more affordable way to bring technology to the classroom.
Many schools say the Google Chromebook is a more affordable way to bring technology to the classroom.
Photo: FCPS Media Network/YouTube

The Google Chromebook has moved past Apple to the head of the class for sales of tech products in the K-12 market.

Chromebook sales surpassed 51 percent, up from 40 percent, for the first time, according to third quarter figures for 2015.

Apple shoots down rumor of ‘Switch to Android’ app

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iOS 15 makes it easier for Android users to switch
Switching to Android? Apple won't make it easy
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple is planning to make it easier to switch from iOS to Android anytime soon.

Despite a report from the Telegraph this morning claiming Apple software engineers are working on an Android app that’s similar to Move To iOS only for Android, an Apple spokesperson has flatly denied the company has any such project in the works.

The great features tvOS 9.2 will bring to Apple TV

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20151023_Apple_TV_4_gen_ - 2
It sounds like tvOS 9.2 is going to make Apple's streaming box even cooler.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

We know it isn’t a contest, but if we had to put the features revealed in Apple’s massive beta dump today up against each other, tvOS 9.2 would be the definite winner.

Don’t get us wrong; it’s cool to see the future of our favorite iStuff all laid out in front of us like a gleaming future-buffet. But Apple TV’s list of updates has us the most excited about what we’ll get to do with that device when the update comes to the rest of us.

Here’s what we have to look forward to in tvOS 9.2.

David Bowie predicted the Apple Music future in 2003

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David Bowie's futuristic vision didn't stop with sci-fi lyrics.
David Bowie's futuristic vision didn't stop with sci-fi lyrics.
Photo: Sonia Golemme/Flickr CC

David Bowie’s uncanny vision of the future didn’t stop with songs about holographic TVs or astronauts adrift in space.

More than a decade ago, the dynamic entertainer — who died Sunday at age 69 after an 18-month battle with cancer — predicted the music biz would look a lot like it does in the time of Apple Music.