Mobile menu toggle

News - page 261

Apple down another $5.7 million for refusing to abide by App Store rules

By

App Store
Apple just won't comply with the ACM.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple was today fined yet another $5.7 million, its fifth so far, for an ongoing refusal to abide by new App Store regulation in the Netherlands.

Regulators last year ruled that dating app developers should be able to accept third-party payments. But as far as the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) is concerned, Apple has “refused to put forward any serious proposals.”

MacBook with 20-inch folding screen sounds like a dream machine

By

Astro HQ’s MacBook concept has a flexible touchscreen in place of the keyboard and trackpad.
A MacBook with a 20-inch screen might look a lot like this cool concept.
Photo: Astro HQ

Apple is reportedly working on a notebook with a display that dwarfs the 16-inch screen in the latest MacBook Pro. And the whole device won’t be gargantuan — because it’ll fold in half.

But don’t grab your credit card just yet. The product is supposedly still years away.

Drool-worthy gear: Former PC gamer goes all-in on Mac conversion [Setups]

By

You don't see two Pro Display XDRs in one setup very often.
You don't see two Pro Display XDRs in one setup very often.
Photo: [email protected]

When a software engineering manager who works from home decided to leave PC gaming behind, he went all-in on his Mac conversion. In part he did it for work. He slings a lot of native code for macOS in building HR recruitment software. But, working and playing from home full time, in part he did it for himself.

So why wouldn’t he buy a super-tricked out 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro, not one but two Apple Pro Display XDRs and pretty much top-shelf everything else?

Kanye West snubs Apple Music, allegedly declines $100 million deal

By

Kanye West
How could you be so heartless?
Photo: Super 45

Kanye West’s upcoming Donda 2 album will not be available on Apple Music — or any other streaming service. The rapper claims he turned down a $100 million deal with Apple because it doesn’t pay artists enough.

“No one can pay me to be disrespected,” read one of a number of Instagram posts that have since been removed. Donda 2 will now be exclusive to West’s own platform, the $200 Stem Player that allows listeners to “customize” songs.

iPhone 14 enters trial production right on time

By

Apple plans iPhone features 3 years ahead
Mass-production is likely to begin this summer.
Photo: ConceptsiPhone

iPhone 14 reportedly entered trial production this week ahead of its official debut this fall. The move indicates that Apple has finalized the lineup’s design and is now ready to identify problems that might arise during manufacturing.

Foxconn, Apple’s largest manufacturing partner, reportedly will build the flagship iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. And Apple will task Luxshare, which makes some iPhone 13 Pro units, with manufacturing two more-affordable models.

Which Macs will pop out of Apple’s magic pipeline next? [The CultCast]

By

The CultCast: We thought the Touch Bar was going the way of the dodo, but maybe not.
We thought the Touch Bar was going the way of the dodo, but maybe not.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Thanks to regulatory filings, we know that new MacBooks are coming soon. Now, the only question is … just exactly what Macs should we expect at Apple’s rumored March event? (We know what we want.)

Also on The CultCast:

  • Maybe MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar isn’t a goner after all.
  • There’s new hope for ancient Macs, from a very unlikely company.
  • Sony’s weird new earbuds look oddly intriguing.
  • Another great giveaway that you have an excellent chance of winning.
  • And a Steve Jobs-era Apple mystery — solved at last!

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.

Apple TV+ will screen indie hit CODA in theaters for free

By

CODA will show for free in theaters from Friday, February 25 through 27.
CODA will show for free in theaters from Friday, February 25 through 27.
Photo: Apple TV+

In celebration of CODA‘s Oscar nomination for Best Picture, Apple TV+ said Friday it will celebrate by re-releasing the indie hit in theaters next weekend. And you’ll be able to watch it for free.

You can see the film for free in theaters from Friday, February 25 to Sunday, February 27.

Create your best witchy life with Wylde Flowers on Apple Arcade

By

Create your best witchy life with ‘Wylde Flowers on Apple Arcade
Help a witch grow plants, tend animals, make friends and maybe even fall in love in Wylde Flowers.
Screenshot: Studio Drydock

Help a young witch grow the family farm in Wylde Flowers, a magical sim game that debuted Friday on Apple Arcade. You’ll also need to increase your spell skills if you want to help your local coven solve a mystery.

The enchanting game is available now for a range of Apple computers.

Union! Apple retail employees move to unionize

By

Union! Apple retail employees move to unionize
While these Apple Store employees are clearly happy, some don’t feel they are being paid as much as they could. So they’re unionizing.
Photo: Apple

Workers at some Apple Stores are reportedly planning to unionize. Employees are two stores are close to filing paperwork with the National Labor Relations Board and more are moving in that direction.

They say their goal is a larger share of Apple’s huge profits.

Wearable smart camera understands silent voice commands

By

The wearable infrared camera can see what you're saying.
The wearable infrared camera can see what you're saying.
Photo: Cheng Zhang@Cornell University

Ever been in a situation where your hands aren’t free but you can’t speak out loud to Siri voice assistant, either? There could be a camera coming that understands your voice commands even if you’re not making a sound.

Two Cornell University researchers created a wearable infrared smart camera that detects voice commands not by sound, but by measuring movements in the neck and face from under the chin.

See a stunning afterlife in Park Chan-wook’s ‘Shot on iPhone 13 Pro’ short

By

Dead warriors like this one are fierce and playful in Park Chan-wook's short.
Dead warriors like this one are fierce and playful in Park Chan-wook's short.
Photo: Apple

Most people use the awesome filmmaking potential of iPhone 13’s Cinematic Mode to shoot vids of their cats. But not South Korean director Park Chan-wook. In the latest in Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” series, he takes you into afterlife in a short film packed with martial arts wizardry and dream-like sequences. It’s called Life is But a Dream, and it’s shot entirely on an iPhone 13 Pro.

Even if you and your cat had a famous director’s resources — the cast, the sets, the costumes, the rich folklore — you still probably couldn’t come up with anything like this. But thanks to the technology in your iPhone, you can try.

Displays: To stack or not to stack? [Setups]

By

Would you put a 28-inch 4K monitor on top of this 35-inch display, or next to it?
Would you put a 28-inch 4K monitor on top of this 35-inch display, or next to it?
Photo: [email protected]

When you see a computer setup with two monitors stacked on top of each other, what do you think? Maybe something like … doesn’t the person have to crane their neck to look at the top one? Isn’t it uncomfortable? Where does the webcam go? What’s wrong with side-by-side, maybe with one in portrait (vertical) mode instead of landscape?

The person behind today’s featured setup is confronting those very questions on the way to deciding a common multi-display conundrum: to stack or not to stack? That is the question.

iOS 15.4 lets some iPhone users download software updates over 4G

By

If your iOS 15 update gets stuck on the Apple logo, try Tenorshare ReiBoot for Mac.
It's about time.
Photo: Tenorshare

iOS 15.4 gives some iPhone owners the ability to download software updates over a 4G LTE data connection for the first time.

It was previously possible to use 5G to get the latest over-the-air releases on iPhone 12 and iPhone 13. But Apple is now expanding that functionality by giving users in certain territories the ability to use 4G LTE as well.

Verizon makes Apple Arcade a permanent fixture of its Unlimited plans

By

Verizon makes Apple Arcade a permanent perk
Or you can choose a Google Play Pass instead.
Image: Verizon/Apple/Cult of Mac

Verizon this week made Apple Arcade a permanent perk for those who subscribe to one of its Unlimited 5G plans. The carrier last year began offering Apple Arcade for six to 12 months. Now it’s a fixture for eligible customers.

That’s a pretty generous bonus — especially now that Apple’s own Arcade trial is just a month long. And it’s in addition to other Verizon entertainment perks, like access to Hulu, Disney+, ESPN+ and Apple Music.

Berkshire Hathaway calls Apple ‘ungodly well-managed’

By

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway remains bullish on Apple.
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway remains bullish on Apple.
Photo: Kevin Dooley/Flickr CC

Charlie Munger, investment company Berkshire Hathaway’s vice chairman, laid out high praise for Apple during an interview with Yahoo! Finance on Thursday. He called the Cupertino juggernaut “ungodly well-managed.”

He also described Apple as “one of the strong companies” and said he expects it to remain so.

Limited-edition PowerBeats Pro mark NBA’s 75th anniversary

By

Would you pay $50 - $75 more for that NBA logo?
Would you pay $50 - $75 more for that NBA logo?
Photo: Beats by Dre

Apple subsidiary Beats by Dre said Thursday its new, limited-edition PowerBeats Pro earbuds will celebrate the NBA’s 75th anniversary, marked through the 2021-2022 season.

Designed in partnership with Canada-based brand and retailer Better, the new Powerbeats Pro are off-white and sport red and blue ear tips. The Beats logo goes head-to-head with the NBA logo on one bud and with the Better logo on the other.

Compass Pro is a strong and versatile iPad stand that’s great on the road

By

Compass Pro stand for iPad
A foldable stand that's fit for anything.
Photo: Twelve South

If you find yourself lugging around your iPad on a regular basis, you probably need a stand that’s as mobile as it is effective. Compass Pro perfectly fits the bill with its durable, folding design that’s ready when you need it.

Built by the brilliant minds at Twelve South, the Compass Pro is made from ultra-tough metal and can be adjusted for everything you might want to do with your iPad — including drawing, typing, and watching movies.

True-crime fans: Apple TV+ cracks The Big Conn plus companion podcast

By

AppleTV+ logo
AppleTV+ is Apple's streaming service launched in November 2019.
Photo: Apple TV+

A good crime story is hard to resist, and it looks like Apple TV+ has one. A new series and companion podcast called The Big Conn will tell the larger-than-life tale of a Kentucky attorney’s exploits. He defrauded the U.S. government out of $500 billion — the biggest Social Security scam in history.

Apple TV+ premieres the series’ first two episodes at the SXSW Film Festival in March. All four episodes and the podcast launch on May 5 on Apple TV+ and Apple Podcasts, respectively.

Firefox and Chrome may start breaking websites soon

By

Websites may have issues with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox when each one hits version 100.
Websites may have issues with Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox when each one hits version 100.
Photo: Google/Apple

Google, which makes Chrome, and Mozilla, which makes Firefox, warn that those web browsers are about to reach version 100. And that could mean major websites stop working properly with them.

Why? Coded to recognize two-digit version numbers, websites may have trouble identifying browsers with three-digit numbers.

WhatsApp now continues to play voice messages while you do other things

By

WhatsApp logo
WhatsApp embraces iOS 15.
Image: WhatsApp

WhatsApp for iPhone just got a big improvement to voice messaging that means you no longer have to put other replies on hold. The app now continues to play a voice message you’ve already started even if you jump into another chat.

It’s part of a bunch of improvements WhatsApp plans for audio notes, which also include the ability to replay a message you’ve recorded before sending it.

Forensics finally prove who wrote those mysterious Apple 1 serial numbers

By

Some old Apple-1 circuit boards have a handwritten serial number and some don't
Some old Apple-1 circuit boards have a handwritten serial number and some don't
Photo: Achim Baqué, Apple-1 Registry

From time to time you hear about Apple’s first computer, the Apple 1, selling to collectors at auction for big bucks. But did you know some of those surviving antiques carry an enduring mystery? For decades, no one could figure out who wrote the serial numbers on their circuit boards. Until now.

iPhone 14 Pro could be set for a major RAM upgrade

By

iPhone 14 Pro with pill-shaped camera
A 48-megapixel camera needs more RAM.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iPhone 14 Pro could be the first to match iPad Pro (and Samsung’s new Galaxy S22) in RAM capacity. A new rumor claims Apple’s next flagship is set for an upgrade to 8GB — up from the 6GB packed into last year’s iPhone 13 Pro.

The memory bump may be necessary to accommodate iPhone 14 Pro’s new cameras, which are expected to include its largest rear-facing sensor to date.

OtterBox will replace OtterSpot batteries for free due to potential swelling

By

OtterBox OtterSpot
If you have an affected unit, you should stop using it immediately.
Photo: OtterBox

OtterBox this week launched a replacement program for its unique OtterSpot batteries after confirming that some are susceptible to swelling.

Earlier versions of the battery, which are designed to stack so that multiple units can be charged simultaneously, will be swapped at no cost for those who contact OtterBox support.

Apple investors urged to fight Tim Cook’s $99 million pay package

By

Tim Cook at Unleashed event
Apple's "Unleashed" event focused on music and Macs.
Photo: Apple

A shareholder advisory group is urging Apple investors to vote against a $99 million compensation package awarded to CEO Tim Cook last year.

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) said it has “significant concerns” over the “design and magnitude” of the package — which is up $14.8 million from the year before. But it is Apple’s board, not investors, that make the final decision.