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News - page 309

Pegasus spyware is avoiding Apple’s security protections on iPhone

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Pegasus text message sent to iPhone
A Pegasus text message sent to one Bahraini activist.
Screenshot: Citizen Lab

The Pegasus spyware, developed by Israeli firm NSO Group, has successfully been avoiding security new measures built into iPhone to block such attacks.

One version of the “zero-click” exploit was installed on an iPhone 12 Pro belonging to a Bahraini human rights activist, despite the fact that the device was running recent versions of iOS 14 with Apple’s “BlastDoor” protection.

14-inch MacBook Pro could be just as fast, almost as pricey as 16-inch model

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Full-screen works great on a MacBook.
A lot faster and a lot more expensive.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The next-generation 14-inch MacBook Pro will be nearly identical to the 16-inch model that launches alongside it in terms of performance, according to a tipster. Both machines are expected to feature the same M1X chip.

That’s great news for those who want a capable machine that’s small enough to take anywhere — but there is a downside. The leaker also claims that the 14-inch MacBook Pro will be close to the 16-inch model in price.

Apple Maps crowd-sourced business ratings reach the US

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Apple Maps crowd-sourced business ratings reach the US
You can help out others by rating businesses in Apple Maps. And post pictures to.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Maps now lets users in the United States give a thumbs up to businesses. They can also submit a photo. The Ratings and Photo feature has been around for a while, but is just now expanding to the U.S.

Early iPhone 13 case shows design changes to cameras, notch and buttons

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Early iPhone 13 case shows design changes to cameras, notch and buttons
One iPhone 13 feature is supposedly getting bigger. Another is getting smaller. A third is just moving.
Photo: svetapple.sk

The iPhone 13 will have a much larger camera hump, according to what’s supposedly a case for the handset that leaked out early.

The case also shows that the next iOS device wil be slightly thicker, with a smaller notch and relocated buttons.

iPhone X survives 11,000-foot fall from an airplane

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An iPhone X fell about 11,000 feet from a Diamond DA40 aircraft -- and survived!
An iPhone X fell about 11,000 feet from a Diamond DA40 aircraft -- and survived!
Photo: Diamond Aircraft

You know how technology publications do “drop tests” on gadgets like smartphones, just to see if the thing is likely to survive if and when you knock yours off the kitchen counter? Well, an iPhone X recently passed an accidental drop test from 11,000 feet. From an airplane.

Apple is already scanning your emails for child abuse material

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iCloud Passwords land on Windows
iCloud Mail accounts are banned for sharing CSAM.
Photo: Apple

Many Apple fans are upset about the company’s plan to start scanning for child abuse material (CSAM) in iCloud Photos uploads later this year. But did you know that Cupertino has already been scanning for CSAM in your emails?

Apple has confirmed that it started detecting CSAM using image matching technology in iCloud Mail back in 2019. It says that accounts with CSAM content violate its terms and conditions and will be disabled.

WhatsApp for Mac gets new public beta ahead of multi-device upgrade

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WhatsApp has debuted its official OS X native app.
Try out new WhatsApp features early on Mac and Windows.
Photo: WhatsApp

WhatsApp now allows anyone to beta test its desktop app for Mac and Windows. You can enroll in its new public beta program today to get your hands on the newest updates early — and you won’t want to miss it.

By gaining access to the beta, you’ll be one of the first to try out WhatsApp’s incoming multi-device overhaul when it finally starts rolling out.

Apple’s under-display Touch ID tech won’t feature in iPhone 13

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2020-iPhone-Touch-ID
Touch ID may never return to high-end iPhone models.
Concept: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple won’t bring Touch ID back with iPhone 13 this year, despite testing new technology that would allow the fingerprint scanner to be hidden away under an iPhone’s screen, according to one reliable reporter.

Earlier reports have claimed Apple is working to bring Touch ID back to iPhone as an alternative to Face ID for those who want it. But the feature “won’t make the cut” for Apple’s big smartphone refresh this fall.

One of Apple Arcade’s best games, a great notes app, and the best Twitter client [Awesome Apps of the Week]

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Awesome app icons fading into distance
There’s plenty to love in this week’s installment of Awesome Apps!
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Whether you’re a gamer, a social media junkie, a productivity geek, or just love adding personality to your device, this week’s Awesome Apps of the Week offer something for just about everyone.

For those of you that don’t feel like any of those describe you, some of this weeks apps may still check a box or two for you.

Design concept dreams of ‘HomePod TV’ and ‘HomePod Show’

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The HomePod TV would pair great audio with great TV.
The HomePod TV concept would pair great audio with great TV.
Photo: www.handy.abovergleich.ch designed by Eric Huismann

Apple’s original HomePod, the big smart speaker that predated the HomePod mini, lasted less than three years on the market. It never became a hit for the Cupertino tech giant. But a new design concept from a Swiss outfit imagines it coming back in two new forms.

Apple launches invite-only app to make Siri smarter

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Siri
Siri may be in for new voice lessons soon.
Photo: Apple

Apple quietly introduced a new app to the App Store earlier this month. It’s called Siri Speech Study. It allows participants — by invitation from Apple — to opt in and share voice requests and other data to help improve the voice-activated digital assistant’s performance.

Going from a tricked-out 27-inch iMac to an M1 MacBook Air [Setups]

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What happens when you go from a 2017 27-inch iMac to a 2020 M1 MacBook Air?
What happens when you go from a 2017 27-inch iMac to a 2020 M1 MacBook Air?
Photo: [email protected]

Redditor 1st_thing_on_my_mind posted about replacing the main machine in his computer setup. He swapped out a 2017 27-inch iMac stacked with 64GB of RAM in favor of a 2020 MacBook Air flexing 16GB of integrated memory. “THATS A DOWNGRADE” hollered one commenter.

And yet the switch pretty much worked out for 1st_thing.

Puzzle to the rhythm of new Tetris Beat

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ā€˜Tetris Beat’ is coming soon to Apple Arcade
Take ā€œTetrisā€ and give it some rhythm and you get ā€œTetris Beat.ā€
Photo: Apple Arcade

This isn’t your parents’ Tetris. N3TNetwork updated the classic puzzle game to give it some rhythm — the result is Tetris Beat.

It launched today on the gaming service Apple Arcade.