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News - page 135

Here’s how Apple is changing the next Swift Student Challenge

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Swift Student Challenge 2024
A new category in Apple’s February 2024 Swift Student Challenge will recognize 50 Distinguished Winners.
Photo: Apple

Not only did Apple announce next year’s Swift Student Challenge early to give coders more time to prepare — it put the word out Wednesday for the February 2024 competition — it also added a new “Distinguished Winners” category and a raft of new coding resources in “Everyone Can Code Projects.”

iPhone 15 Pro Max costs Apple 8% more to make

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iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the first smartphones to include Thread mesh networking. But why?
The iPhone 15 Pro Max's new camera system is 34% more expensive.
Photo: Apple

A bill of materials (BoM) analysis of the iPhone 15 Pro Max provides insight into the prices of the individual components and how they have changed over the previous year.

Apple is charging $100 more for its flagship iPhone this year. And yet, the device only costs the company an additional $37.7 to manufacture over the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Backbone One USB-C game controller updated for iPhone 15

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BackBone One USB-C version 2
The BackBone One game controller is ready for your iPhone 15.
Photo: Backbone

Backbone updated the USB-C version of its popular game controller just in time for the iPhone 15 series, Apple’s first handsets with a USB-C port.

Like earlier versions, this wraps around an iOS or Android handset to put a collection of buttons, sticks and triggers on either side of the landscape screen.

Resident Evil 4 bleeds onto iPhone and iPad in December

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Capcom Resident Evil 4 for iPhone and iPad
Resident Evil 4 helped define the horror game genre.
Screenshot: Capcom

The classic horror game Resident Evil 4 will make its iPhone and iPad debut on December 20. It’s a demonstration of the gaming capabilities of Apple’s most powerful mobile devices.

This is one of multiple console titles being ported to Apple handsets and tablets thanks to their highly capable processors.

Ted Lasso star belts out classics in Home for Christmas trailer

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It really looks like a song-and-dance extravaganza, if that's your thing.
It really looks like a song-and-dance extravaganza, if that's your thing.
Photo: Apple TV+

Any fan of old-school song-and-dance numbers has a lot to look forward to this Yuletide season, judging by the trailer Apple TV+ dropped Wednesday for its upcoming special, Hannah Waddingham: Home for Christmas.

The big, star-studded show debuts November 22, along with a companion album on all music streaming platforms, Apple said.

Taylor Swift named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year

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Taylor Swift named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year
This seems inevitable.
Image: Apple

Apple Music joined the ranks of the Swifties. Taylor Swift was picked to be Apple Music’s Artist of the Year for 2023.

“I am so honored to be Apple Music’s Artist of the Year,” said Swift. “Thank you to every single one of you for making this year the most incredible, joyful, celebratory year ever. From streaming the music nonstop to screaming it together in real life at the shows, dancing chaotically in movie theaters, none of this would have been possible without you. Thank you so much.”

Stunning Mac mini streaming rig took 2 years to perfect [Setups]

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Setups RetroGameCollector-Reddit
Check the links list below to explore all the gear here.
Photo: [email protected]

It might seem unlikely that a computer setup could take 2 years to build and idealize — until you see just how loaded and beautiful it is. Today’s M2 Pro Mac mini went through many iterations in the past couple of years, its user said, and now they’re finally happy with it.

And they should be. The setup rips through gaming and streaming tasks using an awesome lineup of gear. Read more below and check out that gear list.

Carterjett nylon Apple Watch bands rise to all occasions with comfort

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For beach combing, a workout, the workday, a hot date -- Carterjett nylon Apple Watch bands fit in everywhere.
For beach combing, a workout, the workday, a hot date -- Carterjett nylon Apple Watch bands fit in everywhere.
Photo: Carterjett

Many people associate leather and stainless steel with watch bands for both analog and smart watches, but nylon seems to be on the rise for a lot of good reasons. Straps like the Carterjett Nylon Apple Watch Band offer lightweight comfort, flexibility and waterproof durability that looks good in a lot of situations.

And you can get the Carterjett Nylon Apple Watch Bands in 11 color choices from just $32.99 in the Cult of Mac Store.

Fresh iOS, watchOS and macOS patches launch to squash bugs

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iOS 17.1.1
iOS 17.1.1 is one of four bug fix patches Apple released on Tuesday.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple just introduced iOS 17.1.1 to patch a nasty glitch with BMW cars. And there’s watchOS 10.1.1, a promised fix for a battery bug affecting many Apple Watch users.

Plus Mac users can now install macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 with its own bug patches. And don’t overlook iPadOS 17.1.1.

Apple gets ready to make much better batteries

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iPhone and other Apple devices may have much better batteries within a couple of years.
iPhone and other Apple devices may have much better batteries within a couple of years.
Photo: PBKreviews

Apple is developing greatly improved batteries for its future devices, according to a new report. It appears the iPhone-maker wants to create a custom process in-house and own it — rather than outsourcing — just like it did with Apple silicon chips.

Cat-based cyberpunk adventure Stray about to pounce onto Mac

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'Stray
Stray is an award-winning game coming soon to Mac.
Image: Annapurna Interactive/BlueTwelve Studio

Mac gamers can soon enjoy Stray. Players become a cat wandering through a cyberpunk city in this very popular and award winning title. It’ll debut for macOS in only a few weeks.

The macOS release is well timed to fit with Apple’s new push for Mac gaming.

Commandos kidnap one of Gary Oldman’s Slow Horses in season 3 trailer

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Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb in Slow Horses
Gary Oldman's Jackson Lamb has seen better days. And better spies.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is cranking up the action in espionage-thriller series Slow Horses, if the season 3 trailer it dropped Tuesday is any indication.

Dissipated Cold War-era spy Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman) sees his Slough House crew of remedial MI5 agents come under major attack, and one of them is kidnapped by an elite military unit. Is it an inside job? Per previous seasons, the Slow Horses tend to get in trouble with their more-accomplished MI5 colleagues.

iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: 5x telephoto shootout

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iPhone 15 Pro Max vs. Google Pixel 8 Pro: 5x zoom comparison
Just how good is the iPhone's new 5x zoom?
Graphics: Rajesh

The iPhone 15 Pro Max utilizes Apple’s most impressive photographic tech yet, but it’s not the first smartphone with a 5x telephoto camera. In the Android world, you will find several phones with 5x to 10x optical zoom.

Only Samsung’s and Google’s devices deliver image quality capable of competing with Apple’s best. Only Google’s Pixel lineup directly competes with the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x optical shooter. (Samsung is ahead of the competition with its 10x periscope lens.)

So which 5x zoom is the best? See our side-by-side comparison shots to see how the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x tetraprism zoom stacks up against the Google Pixel 8 Pro.

Nice-guy dad remembers how to kill in The Family Plan trailer

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The Family Plan trailer
New action comedy “The Family Plan,” with Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan, comes to Apple TV+ December 15.
Photo:

Nice-guy dad. Loving wife. Eye-rolling teens. Cute and happy baby. The trailer Apple TV+ dropped Monday for action-comedy film The Family Plan really has it all — including tons and tons of killing.

Mark Wahlberg stars as assassin-turned-straight-arrow husband and dad whose past rushes back in a hail of bullets, even as he still tries to hide everything from wife Michelle Monaghan and the kids. The movie premieres December 15 on Apple TV+.

Apple makes editing video easier with Final Cut Pro update

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Apple makes editing video easier with Final Cut Pro update
Updates to Final Cut Pro video-editing software for Mac or iPad offer new features that help streamline workflows.
Image: Apple

The upcoming Final Cut Pro version 10.7 brings in improvements to timeline navigation and organization, as well as new changes that Apple says will simplify complex edits.

And Final Cut Pro for iPad 1.3 includes new features intended to enhance using the professional-grade video-editing application on a touchscreen.

Apple’s new M3 iMac and MacBook Pros hit store shelves

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The top two new MacBook Pro models now come in a space black aluminum finish.
You can now get your hands on the M3 MacBook Pro or iMac.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new M3 iMac and MacBook Pros are now officially on sale in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and select other countries. If you live in one of those locations, you can pick up the latest iMac or M3-powered MacBook Pro from your nearest Apple Store.

The new M3 Max MacBook Pro will go on sale later in November.

Football Manager 2024 Touch now playing on Apple Arcade’s pitch

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'Football Manager 2024 Touch' on iPad
Show you have what it takes to manage a club in Football Manager 2024 Touch.
Photo: Apple

Players can create a soccer club dynasty in Football Manager 2024 Touch. The newest version of the team management simulation game from Sega & Sports Interactive challenges players to be the boss of one of the world’s best clubs.

It launched Monday on Apple Arcade, where its playable on a range of devices, including iPhone and Mac.

Logic Pro gains powerful music tools for Mac and iPad

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Apple enhanced the musical user experience in Logic Pro for Mac and iPad.
Apple enhanced the musical user experience in Logic Pro for Mac and iPad.
Photo: Apple

Apple said Monday it updated its Logic Pro music software to help spark users’ creativity and let them produce pro-level tracks.

New features for Mac include Mastering Assistant, 32-bit recording, Sample Alchemy and Beat Breaker. And Quick Sampler Recorder adds to the slate of iPad features.

Don’t hold your breath for a new 27-inch iMac

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Three kids huddle in front of a red iMac powered by Apple's M3 chip.
Apple apparently thinks a 24-inch iMac is plenty big enough.
Photo: Apple

If you’ve been holding your breath waiting for a new 27-inch iMac, it’s time to inhale: Apple reportedly has no plans to produce such a computer.

The news, which doubtless will disappoint fans of all-in-one Apple computers hoping for a bigger screen, comes straight from Apple itself.

AirTag 4-pack nears all-time low in pre-Black Friday deal

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AirTag
Save big on AirTag 4-pack.
Photo: Mark Chan/Unsplash

If you keep misplacing important items in your daily life, AirTags should be an indispensable item in your kit. One AirTag might not be enough, so you should consider buying Apple’s discounted AirTag four-pack. And if you take advantage of Amazon’s latest deal, you can score a decent 12% discount off the regular price of $99.

Right now, you can get an AirTag four-pack for $86.88. That’s just $21.72 apiece.