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News - page 1317

World Of Tanks blasts its way into the App Store

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If you like a bit (a lot!) of wanton carnage in your iOS games, you may want to check out World of Tanks Blitz, which has finally rolled into App Stores around the world.

Based on the massively popular World of Tanks game for PC and Xbox, World of Tanks Blitz is a free-to-play mobile massively multiplayer online game, which lets you battle it out in explosive 7v7 PvP battles, using 90 iconic tanks from Germany, the US, and Soviet Russia.

Large-screen iPhone 6 may get double the storage of its small-screen sibling

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Possibly coming with a $100 premium, Apple is going to need some extra reasons to get users to stump up for a 5.5-inch iPhone 6, and according to a new report they may have found them.

While it’s been reported that the 4.7-inch iPhone will be arriving in both 32 GB and 64 GB variants, a rumor from the Chinese website Wei Feng suggests that Apple may introduce a 128 GB version of the phone in the 5.5-inch form factor only.

This would allow users to get the full “phablet” experience from their device, since it would provide plenty of storage space to save various documents and data. It would also blur the line between Apple’s iPad and iPhone models, since iPads currently allow for up to 128 GB of storage, whereas current generation iPhones only allow a maximum of 64 GB of in-built storage.

Apple manufacturer Foxconn announces record $131.8 billion earnings

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Foxconn workers in Shenzhen will not report next week until further notice.
Photo: Foxconn

Having reportedly snagged the bulk of iPhone 6 orders from Apple, Taiwanese manufacturer Hon Hai Precision Industry, a.k.a. Foxconn, has every reason to be happy.

Earlier today it announced record breaking consolidated revenues of $131.82 billion for last year, while company chairman Terry Gou commented that he expects this year’s earnings to be even better.

Interestingly, Gou had some choice words to say about wearables, however — which is slightly surprising given how closely the company’s success is tied to Apple, which is expected to enter the wearables market with its forthcoming iWatch, supposedly coming this October.

See how third-party keyboards will ease typing in iOS 8

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iOS 8 introduces many convenient features and enhancements designed to make your iPhone even easier to use. Among these is keyboard update QuickType and support for installing third-party keyboards on iPhones, iPads and iPod touches. In today’s video, we’ll show you exactly how third-party keyboards work — and how they will change your interactions with your device for the better.

Subscribe to Cult of Mac TV on YouTube to catch all our latest videos.

Google reveals its real face: unfocused, unoriginal and a little bit evil

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Photo: Roberto Baldwin/The Next Web
Wednesday's Google I/O keynote offers a window into the search giant's world. Photo: Roberto Baldwin/The Next Web

Google’s keynote presentation at its I/O developer’s conference today offered a revealing picture of the company itself: meandering, unfocused, copycat and just a little bit evil.

The two-hours-plus keynote had a lot of everything, from a new version of Android to new phones, smartwatches, TVs, cars, Chromebooks and big data — but much of it was deja vu from Apple’s WWDC two weeks ago.

Copy this please: 9 things Apple can teach Google about keynotes

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Photo: Roberto Baldwin/The Next Web
Photo: Roberto Baldwin/The Next Web

Siri: “How long should a keynote last?”

As anyone who watched Wednesday’s nearly three-hour livestream of the Google I/O kickoff, the answer to that question should be 90 minutes or less.

As the event dragged on, the tone on Twitter went from restrained interest about Google’s somewhat underwhelming announcements to reports of sleeping reporters and jabs at the ponderous presentation’s length. “Apple just launched a keynote shortener,” tweeted Dave Pell.

Creep yourself out with Hunger Games: Mockingjay trailer

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Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 is coming to theaters this November, and the propaganda public relations machinery is getting in its first swing.

In a new trailer posted on YouTube Wednesday and embedded below, you’ll get to see Donald Sutherland as President Snow, the creepy dictator-like leader of Panem, the totalitarian state that runs the teens-killing-teens Hunger Games as a way to control the means of production via fear and sweeping promises of security.

It’s a creepy trailer that looks like a propaganda film, with President Snow mouthing platitudes and a brainwashed Peeta Mellark, played by Josh Hutcherson, standing at Snow’s right hand, staring up into the sky (or ceiling).

Itseez3D gives your iPad camera 3-D imaging superpowers

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3-D scanning is set to get a whole lot more user-friendly, thanks to a new app from visual technology company Itseez.

Called Itseez3D, the just-launched free iPad app works with the $499 Occipital Structure sensor, which launched on Kickstarter in the fall of 2013 and went on to raise more than $1.2 million. Using the app and sensor, you can scan an object simply by circling it with your iPad — and then send this scan directly to SketchFab, a browser-based 3D design viewer and online portfolio.

EU regulators examining Beats deal for potential antitrust issues

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Is Apple’s $3 billion acquisition of Beats Music a potential antitrust case? European Union antitrust regulators announced this morning that it will rule on whether or not to clear Apple’s Beats music bid by July 30.

It is hoped that the deal will help Apple gain the lead in the rapidly-growing and lucrative music streaming business. The European Commission has the power to either clear the Beats deal unconditionally, or else demand concessions if it sees competition issues.

Plants vs. Zombies 2 goes to the Dark Ages, gets its ‘shrooms back

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When it was released in August last year as a free-to-play game, Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time shipped with three distinct worlds and countless new plants and zombies.

But for lovers of the first game, all of the new levels, plants and enemies in Plants vs. Zombies 2 didn’t make it a total improvement over its predecessor. Notably, many of the plants from the first game — including all of the nocturnal plants — were missing.

Luckily, Plants vs. Zombies 2 is being constantly updated, and the latest update adds the nocturnal plants back to the game in a new world, appropriately called the Dark Ages.

Get iOS 8’s Notification Center on iOS 7 with this slick jailbreak tweak

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iOS 7’s Notification Center is useful, but Apple’s made a number of improvements in iOS 8. For one thing, they dropped the ‘Missed’ tab, which was always next to useless. There’s also support for third-party widgets in Today View, as well as interactive notifications and the ability to individually dismiss notifications that are no longer applicable.

They are all good changes, but unfortunately, you need to wait until September to make use of them… that is, unless you have a jailbroken phone, in which case, a simple tweak is all you need to get an iOS 8-style Notification Center today.

These geeky T-shirts put nerd pride on your chest

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Bat Signal

Glenn Jones didn’t set out to build a one-man T-shirt empire. The Aukland, New Zealand-based designer and illustrator started emblazoning tees with his visual witticisms on Threadless in 2004 and then hit the virtual shelves with his own store featuring just six designs in 2008.

He now sells more than 100 designs at Glennz Tees — you may remember his Melting Rubik’s Cube worn by Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory — all of which look as home at South by Southwest as they do at your favorite watering hole.

Manufacturing problems could make the iPhone 6 hard to find at launch

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With a much larger screen size, the iPhone 6 may be the most radical redesign of Apple’s smartphone ever. But with such a major redesign in the works, there’s a lot that can go wrong, and it looks like something already has: according to reports, defects in the iPhone 6’s metal chassis could lead to short supply of enough devices to go around when it launches in September.

SNK’s The Rhythm of Fighters puts the beat in ‘beat ’em up’

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I recently wrote about an upcoming game that re-imagines SNK Playmore’s The King of Fighters as an, um, music-based beat-em-up, called The Rhythm of Fighters. As a huge fan of the franchise (and the proud owner of a 4 CD compilation of the series’ various soundtracks) I was intrigued by the idea — even if it is a major departure from what we’re used to.

Jump forward a week and the game has now landed in the App Store, priced $0.99.

Road testing San Francisco’s ‘predatory’ parking apps

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MonkeyParking is under fire by the city of San Francisco. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
San Francisco is going after apps like MonkeyParking that let drivers cash in when they move their cars. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

SAN FRANCISCO — In a city obsessed with parking, app developers who came up with disruptive ideas to turn vacant spots into cash found their apps targeted by local officials. But the crackdown might be unnecessary: So far, the sharing economy seems to stall when it comes to auctioning off parking spots.

Cult of Mac offices are in the Mission District, epicenter of the parking crunch, so we took MonkeyParking and Sweetch — two of the “predatory” apps named in a cease-and-desist letter from San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera — for a spin.

12 weeks to go: Here’s the iPhone 6’s rumored release date and retail price

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Common sense would dictate that Apple should release the iPhone 6 right around the time that iPhone 5 early adopters’ two-year phone contracts run out — which would mean a mid-September launch.

For the second time in two months, a source has come forward claiming to know the release date Apple has its eye on, and it “reconfirms” the date given by Deutsche Telekom’s support representatives back in May.

Apple reopens floodgate for spammy video ads

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The App Store just keeps getting bigger. Photo: Apple
The App Store just keeps getting bigger. Photo: Apple

Apple’s constantly evolving set of Apple Store policies cracked down on apps earlier this month that incentivize users to watch crappy video ads for certain rewards. Two weeks later and Apple has already reversed course.

Developers who monetize their apps by offering rewards for sharing to social sites or viewing videos ads were sent packing by Apple’s Review Team, but according to a report from TechCrunch, Apple had a change of heart and is allowing those apps back in the App Store, but there’s a catch.

Road-ready iPad case turns backseat into front row

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There’s nothing more boring than going on a road trip without entertainment for the ride. While the iPad is good for storing all your favorite movies and television shows, when squeezed into your car there’s no convenient way to hold the tablet for hours on end. In today’s video, we review Speck Products’ Showfolio case for the iPad mini, the perfect remedy to this common problem. Simply snap your iPad into the case and hook it onto your car’s headrest: Your mobile movie theater is set to go.

Subscribe to Cult of Mac TV on YouTube to catch all our latest videos.

Head of Android says iOS is like a $100k Mercedes-Benz

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Tim Cook and Craig Federighi took a few swipes at Android during WWDC’s keynote, but now that Google is readying its hype machine for Google I/O tomorrow, Sundar Pichai, the head of Android, tossed a few jabs Apple’s way in an interview with Bloomberg this morning.

Pichai noted that all the data points to people adopting Android faster than any other operating system, but the dude’s so gosh darn nice, he couldn’t insult Apple without flattering them in the same breath.

Addressing Tim Cook’s comments that Android is a “toxic hell stew of vulnerabilities,” Pichai said it’s difficult to compare the two, because iOS is like the $100,000 Mercedes Benz of mobile platforms, and Android is like your cheap ass Honda Civic, taking over the world one delicious dessert fueled update at a time.

Best apps for World Cup fans

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With the World Cup in full swing, our latest video takes a look at apps that will help you get the most out of 2014’s biggest sporting event. Score these top apps and you’ll get everything from games to news.

Subscribe to Cult of Mac TV on YouTube to catch all our latest videos.

Save big bucks on games so good you’ll stay inside all summer

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Hotline Miami

With summertime here in the northern hemisphere, it’s definitely time to get outdoors and sample all that the world has to offer.

Of course, if Steam or GoG.com have anything to say about it, you’ll stay inside working on your pasty complexion playing all these amazing games for very little money.

Both gaming digital distribution platforms have their respective summer sales on right now, and you can grab some amazing games without emptying your wallet. All of the games below are playable on Mac or PC, so pick your poison.

Just lay off the sunscreen, ok?

‘Stay in your lane’ and other transition tips from Apple’s new retail chief

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Apple's new head of retail has some tips on transitioning to a new job

Assimilating into the mothership’s culture isn’t easy (just ask John Browett) but Angela Ahrendts looks well on her way to becoming one of the regulars at Apple HQ.

The recently hired retail chief has only been at Apple for two months, but in a recent blog post, the former Burberry CEO says she’s learned a few tips transitioning from London and the fashion industry to Silicon Valley’s tech scene, and she’s ready to divulge her wisdom to anyone disoriented during the first 90 days of a new job.

Here are three tips she has on how to assimilate and thrive during a transition:

Shiny new toys for the two-wheeled set

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PARK CITY, Utah — It’s now officially summer (although you couldn't tell it by the snow here last week). That means it’s time to talk about our favorite warm-weather tech obsession: bikes. We recently flew to Utah to check out the newest offerings from several of the most important bike companies. What follows in the gallery above are the items we’re most excited about. There’s everything from battery-powered, full-suspension mountain bikes to ultra-aerodynamic wheels and jackets that glow in the dark. Time to step away from your computer, put down your phone, turn off your tablet and get outside.
PARK CITY, Utah — It’s now officially summer (although you couldn't tell it by the snow here last week). That means it’s time to talk about our favorite warm-weather tech obsession: bikes. We recently flew to Utah to check out the newest offerings from several of the most important bike companies. What follows in the gallery above are the items we’re most excited about. There’s everything from battery-powered, full-suspension mountain bikes to ultra-aerodynamic wheels and jackets that glow in the dark. Time to step away from your computer, put down your phone, turn off your tablet and get outside.


Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple TV scores new channels for ABC News, PBS Kids, AOL and Willow

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ABC News has landed on Apple TV this morning as a stand alone app, but unlike other channels on the set-top box, ABC is giving away all its content for free. Starting today Apple TV customers can watch on-demand content from ABC News along with access to four live stream video sources and a dash of exclusive content.

Along with the added ABC News channel, Apple TV also added new channels for AOL, PBS Kids, and a channel dedicated to to the sport of cricket, called Willow.