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News - page 1099

Apple Pencil is faster on the draw than Microsoft’s rival stylus

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iPad Pro and Apple Pencil keep designers happy and eraser dust-free.
Apple claims its Pencil stylus has “virtually no lag.”
Photo: Apple

The iPad Pro has received lukewarm reviews, but one thing no reviewer’s failed to be amazed by is the Apple Pencil stylus — which Cupertino has advertised as a “highly responsive” input method with “virtually no lag.”

But exactly how responsive is the Pencil compared to rival products like the stylus for Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 4? Journalist and photographer Angel Jimenez de Luis decided to test out both with a head-to-head comparison, recorded in close-up at 120fps slow-motion.

Check it out below.

Apple has a crazy invention for self-drying iPhones

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Letting water in? There's an app a patent for that. Photo: TechSmartt
Apple is working to make its future iPhones more waterproof.
Photo: TechSmartt

Apple has been taking steps to make the iPhone more water resistant than it has been previously. However, a newly-published patent application suggests the company may go even further — by using cutting-edge electrode technology to actively expel water that has become trapped in the device, rather than just fighting to keep it out.

Here’s how it could conceivably work.

You can finally use Mozilla’s Firefox web browser on iOS

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Firefox has finally made it to iOS.
Finally iPhone users can take advantage of Firefox.
Photo: Mozilla

As promised, Mozilla has finally brought Firefox to iOS devices around the world, after first appearing on Android more than three years ago.

The browser sports a private browsing mode, along with Google Chrome-style predictive searches and, of course, support for existing Firefox users — meaning that it’s easy to import your existing Firefox bookmarks, saved tabs, passwords, and web history over from your other devices.

Apple PR springs into action following Cook’s Microsoft diss

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apple-1984-runner
The Ministry of Truth has spoken.
Photo: Apple

Apple PR has sprung into “damage control” mode after Tim Cook uncharacteristically fired verbal shots at Microsoft yesterday — reportedly telling a crowd in Ireland that Microsoft’s attempts to create “hybrid” laptops is, “deluded.”

What is being claimed is that Cook didn’t mean to say “deluded” at all, but instead “diluted” — which is still a diss, but without the insinuations that the good folks at Microsoft are a few sandwiches short of a picnic if they think the Surface will ever be a hit.

First impressions with the big and beautiful iPad Pro

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Big and hot: the iPad Pro is the BBW of tablets.
Big and hot: the iPad Pro is the BBW of tablets.
Photo: Leander Kahney / Cult of Mac

I ordered the iPad Pro online at first light this morning and picked it up at the Apple Store in Stonestown, San Francisco, just as the store opened. Aside from the sticker shock — more than $1,326.49 for the iPad, Pencil and Smart Keyboard — I was surprised at how readily it is available. Seems like there’s plenty in stock, despite reports of short supply.

The iPad Pro is getting lukewarm reviews, but isn’t that what we always get from the professional reviewers? The same-old measured response that’s neither wildly enthusiastic nor harshly critical? It was the same with the iPhone 6s-es, the new MacBook, and the 6 Plus before that. “They’re not for everyone!” the reviews tended to say.

Well, bollocks! I’m excited about the iPad Pro. I’m as excited as I was about the first big-screen iPhone a couple of years ago. I think size does matter, and the bigger screen on these devices makes a huge difference.

But we’ll see. I just got my hands on it. Check out the video to see what’s in the box and my initial impressions.

WTF?! Study finds Android is actually safer than iOS

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The Apple brand is the big difference.
The Apple brand is the big difference.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Your iPhone isn't as safe as you think it is. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android
Your iPhone isn’t as safe as you think it is. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Android

Are iPhones really more secure than Androids? Google’s platform certainly gets more stick thanks to high-profile vulnerabilities like Stagefright, but according to a new study, Android is still safer and more secure than iOS.

Google could build its own iPhone rival

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google-could-build-its-own-iphone-rival-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201509nexus-6p-2-jpg
Can Google do better than this? Photo: Google
Can Google do better than this? Photo: Google

After working with third-party smartphone vendors on the Nexus lineup for years, Google is finally toying with the idea of building its own handset, according to some employees. It’s thought the search giant is keen to have a stab at taking on the iPhone all by itself.

Jony Ive explains why Apple Pencil is unlike any other stylus

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Jony Ive
Jony Ive wants to blur the lines between Apple's Pencil and a real one.
Photo: AP

In what seems to be less of a rare occurrence these days, Chief Design Officer of Apple Jony Ive gave an interview  about the iPad Pro for launch day. Specifically, he talks about the infamous optional accessory called the Apple Pencil. Being that most people at first glance will see this as an overpriced, $100 stylus, it’s fair that Ive wanted to state his case.

Why Apple missed a trick with the iPad Pro

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Tim ditched his Mac for the iPad Pro.
Tim Cook certainly seems to be an iPad Pro fan. As you'd expect.
Photo: Olivier Hess/The Independent

Given that today is iPad Pro launch day, it’s no surprise that Tim Cook gave the customary Apple derisory snort to Microsoft’s rival Surface Book tablet hybrid — referring to it as a “product that tries too hard to do too much,” and calling Microsoft’s belief in it, “sort of deluded.”

It’s exactly the kind of Microsoft bashing I’ve enjoyed from Apple for years, and would normally have me rushing to roll out my best “blue screen of death” jabs at the expense of those in Redmond, WA.

The only problem is, I think the Surface Book looks much more exciting than the iPad Pro.

Apple-approved piano teaches you to play the smart way

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The ONE Smart Piano can help rescue a beginner bored with their private lessons.
The ONE Smart Piano can help rescue a beginner bored with their private lessons.
Photo: The ONE Music Group

Ben Ye knew what could happen as he watched his son chafe and grow bored during private piano lessons. But to keep his son’s interest in music, Ye felt he’d have to do the seemingly impossible: build a new kind of piano and reinvent the way it is taught.

Ye did both and what started as an effort to keep alive an interest in music for his son became available this week in the United States. The ONE Smart Piano, the first Apple MFi-certified smart piano, combines a full-sized piano and a dedicated iOS app that can show a beginner how to play a favorite song in as little as 10 minutes or less.

Cheap iPad Air turns out to be piece of tin with Apple sticker

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Get one of these bad boys, and then some free gift card money to boot!
This is what a real iPad Air 2 looks like. Needless to say, this isn't what was being sold.
Photo: Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A video has gone viral online showing a man complaining after ordering a cheap iPad Air 2 online for $100 — only to discover that it is actually an overpriced piece of tin, complete with a printed iPad home screen on the front, and Apple sticker on the reverse.

What is it that they say about offers which appear too good to be true? You can check out the video below.

Apple announces 1,000 new jobs in Ireland

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Apple's Hollyhill, Cork factory is the only Apple-run manufacturing facility in the world.
Apple's Hollyhill, Cork factory is the only Apple-run manufacturing facility in the world.
Photo: Irish Examiner

Apple has announced plans to hire an extra 1,000 employees in Ireland — as the deadline draws closer concerning the European Union announcing their decision about whether or not Apple dodged taxes thanks to the Irish government.

Apple will add 1,000 staff to its offices in Cork by mid-2017, where it currently operates the only Apple-owned manufacturing facility in the world, building Mac computers.

iPad Pro is fast, powerful, but no laptop replacement

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The Apple Pencil makes drawing on an iPad Pro incredibly precise.
The iPad Pro is big, powerful, but not a replacement for your Mac.
Photo: Apple

The iPad Pro is out today and, like clockwork, the first batch of reviews have started to circulate.

The consensus? That the iPad Pro is gorgeous, powerful, and its (added extra) Apple Pencil stylus is great — but the add-on keyboard is disappointing, multitasking can be problematic, and it’s not quite ready to take over from the Mac in every situation as Tim Cook has suggested.

Out of that mixed bag of pros and cons, we’ve picked out a few of the most interesting comments for our big meta-review below.

You can already pick up the iPad Pro at some Apple Stores

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iPad-Pro-in-store-pickup
Roll up! Roll up! Get your iPad Pro today!
Photo: App Advice

Everything we’d previously heard (including Apple’s own official statement on the matter) suggested that the iPad Pro would be available for ordering today, but that customers would only be able to physically get their hands on one later this week.

Well, taking a page out of the “under promise, over deliver” playbook, it turns out that a number of Apple Stores are offering in-store pickups for its new super-sized tablet — starting today!

PSA: Here’s how to order your iPad Pro outside the U.S. (Updated)

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Here's how you'll need to order your iPad Pro (for now) if you live outside the U.S.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Update: The iPad Pro website has now been updated in the U.K. Let us know if you have any issues ordering in other non-U.S. countries. If so, it’s worth trying the mobile Apple Store app.

The iPad Pro went on sale today in more than 40 countries, but things aren’t quite so straightforward if you don’t live in the good old U.S. of A.

For some strange reason, Apple’s website is still showing the iPad Pro as “Available in November” in places like the U.K., meaning that customers can’t place orders. So how do you do it? Cult of Mac has the answer.

You can now order an iPad Pro

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ipad-pro
Apple Pencils up: The iPad Pro is now available for sale.

Get ready to empty that rainy-day fund and smash every piggy bank you can find: iPad Pros are now for sale.

After a brief production delay, Apple’s latest hardware is live online (in the United States, anyway), and the company says it will hit stores later this week. Those wanting to get in on the latest and greatest — i.e. biggest — iOS device just need to head over to Apple’s site and start clicking.

Prepare yourself — iPad Pro goes on sale tonight

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The iPad Pro goes on sale November 11th.
The iPad Pro is casting its impressive shadow on a
Photo: Apple

The wait is almost over for the biggest tablet Apple has ever made: Pre-orders for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro go live sometime tonight.

We don’t expect iPhone-level day-one sales for the massive new hardware, but if you’ve been champing at the bit to pick up the new shiny thing, here’s how you can get it.

Adele may say goodbye to Spotify, hello to Apple Music

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Adele won't say
Adele won't say "Hello" to Apple Music.

Spotify’s freemium service is about cause the company to lose out on another superstar album, according to a new rumor claiming Adele may remove her upcoming album, 25, from the Apple Music rival.

Beyonce and Taylor Swift also famously shunned the music service when they released their most recent albums.  The Verge reports that Adele’s team is eyeing a similar move after pushing Spotify to limit access to only paid subscribers but meeting resistance from the streaming giant.

Apple TV Tech Talks are coming soon to a city near you

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Apple is giving developers the lowdown on tvOS.
Apple is giving developers the lowdown on tvOS.
Photo: Apple

Developers didn’t get any in-depth coding knowledge for tvOS at WWDC this year, but Apple is making up for it by launching the Apple TV Tech Talks tour that will bring technical information on building and designing great Apple TV apps to developers around the globe.

Registration for the Apple TV Tech Talks opened today with the first event scheduled for December 7th in Toronto, with other events taking place across the globe until February 3rd 2016.

Here’s the full list of locations:

iPhone won’t get an AMOLED screen any year soon

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The iPhone isn't ditching LCD screens.
The iPhone isn't ditching LCD screens.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple soothsayer Ming Chi-Kuo told investors today that despite recent rumors that the next iPhone will feature an AMOLED display, the reality is Apple isn’t likely to adopt the technology anytime soon.

The Apple Watch was the first device out of Cupertino to feature an AMOLED screen which led some to believe the iPhone would get one next. According to the respected Apple analyst though, the iPhone will continue to use TFT-LCD display technology for at least the next three years.

Fullscreen iPhone 7 concept runs iOS 10

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iPhone 6s
Could future iPhones get rid of the bezel?
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

We’re around seven months away from the first glimpse of iOS 10 and almost one year from the launch of the iPhone 7, but since when has that been enough to stop forward-looking Apple fans?

With that in mind, designers at DeepMind (not the AI company Google acquired last year) have put together a nifty concept video showing a next-gen Apple handset, running a future version of iOS, optimized for a bezel-less iPhone.

Check it out below.