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News - page 279

Labor Department investigates whistleblower complaint against Apple

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Groups oppose Apple photo scanning
Ashley Gjovik is one of a number of employees speaking out against Apple.
Photo: Benjamin Balázs

The Department of Labor is investigating Apple over claims the company repeatedly retaliated against employees who raised concerns about alleged mistreatment.

Ashley Gjovik, a former Apple engineering manager who spoke out about what she deems an unsafe and hostile work environment, confirmed that she filed a whistleblower complaint in an effort to seek justice and protect other Apple employees. And in a letter sent to Gjovik, the Labor Department confirmed it launched a formal investigation.

SpotCam Pano 2 AI security camera offers free, continuous cloud recording

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The SpotCam Pano 2 AI security camera offers full-time continuous cloud recording -- forever.
The SpotCam Pano 2 AI security camera offers full-time continuous cloud recording -- forever.
Photo: SpotCam

SpotCam recently unveiled its new SpotCam Pano 2, a smart, 5-megapixel cloud security AI camera with free, full-time, continuous cloud recording to make sure you always have your footage. The company, founded in Taiwan in 2013, said it’s the only camera brand to offer that.

UK says Apple, Google have ‘vice-like grip’ on smartphones and millions are losing out

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Sell your old iPhone today
Yet another regulator isn't pleased.
Photo: Aaron Yoo

The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says Apple and Google have unfairly “developed a vice-like grip” on how we use our smartphones and that “millions of people” are losing out.

In addition to dominating the smartphone market, Apple and Google also “set all the rules,” the CMA said in a report published Tuesday. The two companies are accused of limiting innovation and choice, and driving up smartphone prices.

WhatsApp now hides your ‘last seen’ status from unknown numbers

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WhatsApp group notifications
Suck it, stalkers.
Photo: WhatsApp

WhatsApp is stepping up your privacy by automatically hiding your “last seen” status from unknown numbers. The move automatically prevents other people from seeing when you were last active until you add them as a contact.

WhatsApp says the change doesn’t affect your privacy settings for friends, family, and businesses you have saved or interacted with in the past.

iPhone 14 Pro could pack 48-megapixel camera and 8GB of RAM

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This iPhone 13 case is only about as thick as a business card.
For 8K video recording and improvement augmented reality.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Camera updates could again be a big reason to upgrade to the newest iPhone lineup next year, with Apple expected to pack new 48-megapixel sensors — by far its biggest to date — into iPhone 14 Pro.

The sensors would enable 8K video recording on iPhone for the first time, as well as provide greater augmented reality experiences. iPhone 14 Pro will also pack up to 8GB of RAM, according to one analyst.

Adobe bundles easy-to-use photo and video tools in Creative Cloud Express

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Adobe's new Creative Cloud Express app aims to make content creation easier for all.
Adobe's new Creative Cloud Express app aims to make content creation easier for all.
Photo: Adobe

With its launch Monday of the Creative Cloud Express mobile and web app, Adobe bundles tools from its Creative Cloud Suite and Acrobat PDF into a simple platform amateurs can use to create a variety of projects. The app means to make it simple to make social media posts, promotional posters, invitations, videos and more.

Apple TV+ scores 11 prestigious Golden Globe nominations

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Emilia Jones won a Gotham Award for her role as Ruby in the Apple TV+ film CODA.
“Coda” is one of the Apple TV+ films or series garnering Golden Globe nominations.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ received almost a dozen Golden Globe nominations on Monday. That includes the film CODA, which is up for best drama. And the The Morning Show was nominated for best drama series while Ted Lasso got a nom for best comedy series.

Plus, Jennifer Aniston and Denzel Washingon were nominated by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for their roles on Apple TV+ shows. And there are plenty more.

Apple’s Tracker Detect app helps Android users spot AirTag spies

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Apple Tracker Detect for Android
Worried AirTags are spying on you? Find them with Tracker Detect.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple on Monday rolled out a brand-new Android app that allows users to identify unexpected AirTags nearby. Tracker Detect can also recognize other Find My-compatible devices from third-party companies.

The app also makes it possible for those who do not own an iPhone or iPad to scan a tracker they have discovered and learn more about it — or disable it so that it can no longer report their location.

Mac gets SharePlay in macOS 12.1 but Universal Control delayed again

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Mac gets SharePlay in macOS 12.1 but Universal Control still missing
Easily watch videos with friends thanks to SharePlay in macOS 12.1.
Photo: Apple

macOS 12.1, the first major update to Monterey, went out Monday. The major new feature is SharePlay, but there are some other enhancements. But it does not include the much-anticipated Universal Control.

It comes on the same day as the release of iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 and watchOS 8.3.

iOS 15.2 brings new privacy features, Apple Music Voice Plan

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Apple tests Legacy Contacts to allow loved ones access your data after you pass on
Legacy Contacts are among the features debuting in iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2.
Photo: Cult of Mac

iPhone users can now upgrade to iOS 15.2. The update adds a cheaper Apple Music option, plus there’s a new App Privacy Report, and parents will be alerted if their children send or receive nudes.

iPadOS 15.2 is also available with these same updates. And there’s overlap with the just-released watchOS 8.3 and macOS Monterey 12.1.

Where did you get that wonderful wallpaper? Here are 11 sources. [Setups]

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Fine setup, but where did you get that wallpaper?
Fine setup, but where did you get that wallpaper?
Photo: [email protected]

One of the questions you see most in the comments sections of posts about computer setups on social media is: Where did you get that wallpaper? To many folks, the setup may be fine and dandy, but what they really care about is not so much the fancy hardware, but the imagery on the display that they might easily get for themselves.

Today’s setup is a prime example. It made us look back at 10 great wallpaper sources we’ve come across, below. That’s 11, actually, including today’s subject.

Apple chip-maker eyes new production facility in Germany

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Apple chip prices to rise in 2022
TSMC is working hard (and spending big) to boost its output.
Photo: TSMC

Future Apple devices could be powered by chipsets manufactured in Germany, with the company’s primary silicon supplier in talks over a new production facility in western Europe, according to a new report.

Negotiations are said to be in the early stages for now, so it’s far from a done deal. TSMC SVP Lora Ho said a number of factors will play a part in its decisions, including government subsidies and the availability of local talent.

PlayStation Now was on its way to iPhone before Sony changed its mind

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PlayStation Now
Sony changed its mind.
Photo: Sony

PlayStation Now, the streaming service that gives players access to more than 500 PlayStation 3 and 4 games, was on its way to iPhone and iPad back in 2017, according to documents that have surfaced as part of the Epic vs. Apple trial.

Apple had inside knowledge of Sony’s plans back in 2017, before PlayStation Now made its official debut. But for reasons currently unknown, the Japanese company never followed through on support for mobile devices.

What Apple’s got up its sleeve for 2022 [The CultCast]

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What Apple's got up its sleeve for 2022 [The CultCast]
This is where Apple's puck is going next year. Probably.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: It sounds like Apple has some really big plans for 2022. We’re psyched about some things, skeptical about others, but definitely shining up our Apple Cards.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Snap Spectacles, as modeled by Alex E. Heath.
  • Anxiously awaiting the end of the “notch.”
  • AppleCare+ getting a fear-based boost?
  • More of our Gear of the Year picks.

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.

Surfside Girls graphic novels get adapted into Apple TV+ mystery series

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‘Surfside Girls’ is coming to Apple TV+
YaYa Gosselin and Miya Cech will star in Surfside Girls for Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ will produce Surfside Girls, a 10-episode live-action kids and family series. It’ll tell the story of two friends who solve a mystery about pirate ghosts.

The series will be based on the the best-selling graphic novel series of the same name by author Kim Dwinell.

Would you go without an external keyboard and mouse? [Setups]

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Would you make do with neither an external keyboard nor a mouse?
Would you make do with neither an external keyboard nor a mouse?
Photo: [email protected]

With the new M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro models selling like hotcakes, a lot of people are wondering how to incorporate their new laptops into their computer setups. Is it enough just to use the laptop, or should it be used with an external keyboard, mouse or trackpad, as well as an external monitor? If you’re setting up your Mac and find that Bluetooth is off, you may need to know how to turn Bluetooth on Mac without mouse or keyboard.

This awesome X-ray wallpaper lets you see inside your Apple Watch

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Apple Watch X-ray wallpaper
One of the coolest ways to use the Photos face.
Photo: iFixit

Your Apple Watch is surprisingly pretty on the inside. Take a peek behind the screen with this awesome wallpaper from the fine folks over at iFixit.

The photo is a real X-ray image of Apple Watch Series 7. It clearly shows off a number of important components, including its Taptic Engine, intricate chipset, and the wireless charging coil. And it works great as a watch face.

Apple Watch owners sue for injuries caused by swollen batteries

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Apple Watch battery repair
Apple didn't leave enough space for expansion, plaintiffs claim.
Photo: iFixit

Apple faces a class action lawsuit from Apple Watch wearers who claim to have been injured by their device after its battery swelled and cracked its screen.

The plaintiffs say Apple, in its efforts to make Apple Watch as thin as possible, doesn’t provide enough space for potential battery expansion. So, when this happens, the display pops out and can leave “razor-sharp edges” exposed.

Microsoft was open to bringing Xbox exclusives to iPhone, Apple wouldn’t play ball

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Microsoft wanted to bring Xbox exclusive to the App Store
Halo Infinite could have hit the App Store.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft told Apple that it was willing to turn big Xbox exclusives into iPhone and iPad games before negotiations over bringing its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to the App Store broke down earlier this year, internal emails show.

Microsoft was also open to releasing individual apps for each of the titles available in its streaming catalog to comply with App Store rules. It changed course when it became apparent that appeasing Apple was just too difficult.