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News - page 384

Apple may have underestimated the popularity of iPhone 12 Pro

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iphone12
iPhone 12 Pro could be a lot more popular than even Apple expected.
Photo: Donel Bagrov

Apple was seemingly banking on the iPhone 12 being its most popular new handset this year. But it appears the company may have underestimated just how popular the new iPhone 12 Pro is with users.

According to Digitimes, Apple is ramping up orders for the LiDAR Scanner exclusive to the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max models.

Joke unboxing shows just how ‘mini’ the iPhone 12 mini could have been

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iPhone 12 mini unboxing
Apple's new iPhone 12 mini is small. But not quite this small.
Photo: Weibo

The iPhone 12 mini won’t ship until November 13, but a video doing the rounds on Chinese social media shows an unboxing of Apple’s new miniature iPhone. Well, kind of.

The joke video shows the unboxing of an impressively accurate, shrunk-down copy of Apple’s iPhone mini. It’s reminiscent of the tiny cellphone in 2001’s Ben Stiller comedy Zoolander. And it’s kind of awesome.

Apple temporarily shutters Philadelphia store during protests

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Apple Store temporarily closed.
Store will be closed through November 4.
Photo: Apple

Apple temporarily shuttered its Apple Walnut Street retail store in Philadelphia as the city is rocked by protests and riots following the killing of a black man, Walter Wallace Jr., by police.

According to Apple’s website, the store is closed from now through at least November 4. An asterisk on the page lists this as “special store hours.”

Apple could introduce 1TB iPhone storage option

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iPhone 12 Pro in Pacific blue
You can never have enough storage!
Photo: Apple

According to Apple leaker Jon Prosser, Apple could almost double the storage of its current top-of-the-range iPhone — by introducing the first 1TB iPhone.

At present, Apple’s maximum iPhone storage option tops out at 512GB. The storage for Apple’s top iPhones has been capped at this figure for the past three years since the iPhone XS and XS Max. This year, the base option of the iPhone 12 Pro was doubled to 128GB from the minimum 64GB of the iPhone 11 Pro.

Apple earnings: Can iPad and Mac pick up the iPhone slack again?

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Apple earnings Q4 2020 will likely come down to iPad and Mac demand.
iPhone sales were likely weak last quarter so Apple earnings will depend a lot on Mac and iPad.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Weak iPhone sales likely pulled down Apple earnings in its last financial quarter. But the COVID-19 pandemic almost certainly pushed up demand for iPad and Mac. Still, total revenue is expected to be down slightly.

We’ll find out for sure Thursday when Cupertino announces its financial results from the July-through-September period.

Apple’s Clips app gets a massive upgrade aimed at influencers

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Apple Clips offers a simple way to combine video and images.
Clips 3.0 makes Apple’s free video creation app for iPhone and iPad easier to use.
Photo: Apple

Apple Clips 3.0, released on Wednesday, includes an improved user interface to make it easier to record video and then add effects to it. There are enhancements for both iPhone and iPad users.

This free software helps users combine video clips, photos and music into fun videos. It’s aimed at producing eye-catching content for TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and more.

Apple TV+ picks up lovable sports comedy Ted Lasso for surprise third season

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Jason Sudeikis plays a clueless college football coach in the Apple TV+ comedy series
Jason Sudeikis plays a clueless college football coach in the comedy series.
Photo: Apple TV+

AFC Richmond gets to keep its coach for years to come. Apple TV+ revealed Wednesday that it renewed its sports comedy Ted Lasso all the way through a third season.

The first season recently wrapped up, and received high marks from critics and audiences. And there’s plenty more to come

iPhone 12 ‘scratchgate’ is a figment of the imagination

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An iPhone 12 scratch test is no big deal.
iPhone 12 display won‘t get scratched any more than other phones.
Screenshot: JerryRigEverything

The iPhone 12 display is no more likely to get scratched than its predecessors or competitors. A rigorous test disproves an early report that Apple’s latest is easily susceptible to this type of damage.

This should head off anyone declaring “scratchgate” in the spirit of the iPhone 6’s actually real Bendgate and the MacBook’s Flexgate.

Antitrust complaint claims Apple’s crackdown on user tracking is unfair

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privacy WWDC
Apple is all about privacy.
Photo: Apple

A French antitrust complaint against Apple targets an iOS 14 feature that makes it tougher for companies to indiscriminately use tracking technology for mobile advertising.

The anti-tracking feature previously faced criticism, unsurprisingly, from companies that work in mobile advertising. However, this is the one of the first legal actions taken against Apple due to the feature.

Despite strong iPhone 12 preorders in India, Apple remains a bit player

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The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 price is now the same for all the top US telecoms.
Despite no 5G, the iPhone 12 is selling well in India.
Photo: Apple

Preorders for the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro are “super high” in India, largely thanks to authorized resellers offering good trade-in deals and monthly installment payments, according to a report published Wednesday.

Apple doesn’t reveal iPhone sales figures anymore. That means Apple watchers must be on the lookout for other early signs to indicate how well new iPhones are doing. In India, at least, that appears to be pretty darn well for iPhone 12.

Apple stops signing iOS 14.0.1 as iOS 14 adoption nears 50%

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iOS 14.1 is almost here.
There's no turning back!
Photo: Cult of Mac

Upgraded from iOS 14.0.1 to iOS 14.1 and now having buyer’s remorse? Well, too bad: You can no longer downgrade.

To be clear, there’s no reason why anyone would want to go back after upgrading to the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system. But now that Apple’s stopped signing the iOS 14.0.1 code, it’s no longer possible to go back even if you wanted to.

Apple snaps up AI company which could help make videos searchable in Photos app

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ADAM Elements iKlips C -2
Making videos smarter and more easily searchable.
Photo: ADAM Elements

Apple earlier this year snapped up an AI video company, Bloomberg reports. The Barcelona-based Vilynx uses AI technology to help analyze videos to understand what it shows by looking at text, visuals, and audio. This can be used to make the videos more easily searchable.

According to the report, Apple could use this tech to make its Photos app better by allowing users to search videos for people and objects the same way they currently can search photos. It could also help make Siri smarter or improve recommendations in the TV app and more.

Apple battles rocky relationship with biggest manufacturing partner

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Apple's relationship with Foxconn on the rocks
Apple's partnership with Foxconn isn't as rosy as it seems.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s partnership with Foxconn, its largest manufacturing partner, is “eroding” as a result of the supposedly shady tactics that Foxconn is using in an effort to boost profits, according to a new report.

It is claimed that Foxconn has exaggerated hiring counts, used Apple equipment to produce orders for other companies, and cut corners on component and product testing.

Jon Stewart returns to airwaves on Apple TV+

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Jon Steward headed to Apple TV+
The untitled show is expected to land next year.
Photo: The White House

Jon Stewart, former star of The Daily Show, has signed a deal to host a current affairs series for Apple TV+, a new report claims.

The show is said to center on “the national conversation and [Stewart’s] own advocacy work,” and will run for multiple seasons. Stewart will produce it through his own company, Busboy Productions.

Mophie redesigns Juice Pack iPhone battery case to make it universal

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The Mophie Juice Pack Connect
A revamped Mophie Juice Pack Connect charges your phone with a removable battery.
Photo: Zagg/Mophie

There’s no longer a need to buy a new Mophie Juice Pack battery case when upgrading your iPhone. A version launched Tuesday adds 5,000mAh of power to any handset that supports wireless charging, both iOS and Android.

In addition, Juice Pack Connect includes a phone grip that’s also a stand for the phone.

Samsung rumored to drop earbuds and charger from next phone after mocking Apple

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Samsung ad
But for how much longer?
Photo: Samsung

Samsung immediately mocked Apple when the company elected not to include EarPods and a charger with the iPhone 12. So of course rumors now suggest Samsung may follow suit by ditching a charger and earphones from its forthcoming Galaxy S21 box.

Samsung has not confirmed that this will be the case. But according to SamMobile, some observers think Samsung will leave out a charger and earbuds from its new handset. Others think Samsung might get rid of only the earphones.

New ‘A14T’ chip could power first Apple Silicon iMac

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Apple Silicon
Apple announced the transition to Apple Silicon at this year's WWDC.
Photo: Apple

A version of the A14 processor in the new iPhone 12 handsets and iPad Air 4 could power the upcoming Apple Silicon iMac, a report published Tuesday claims.

The so-called A14T chip is reportedly code-named “Mt. Jade.” Like Apple’s other A14 processors, it will be made using the 5-nanometer process. Apple is also developing its own self-contained GPU, which is known inside the company as “Lifuka.”

Phone operators in the UK won’t be allowed to sell locked handsets from 2021

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Know how to hard-lock your iPhone in a hurry.
Locking phones to one carrier made it tougher for customers to switch.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Mobile phone operators in the United Kingdom will be banned from selling locked handsets from December 2021. This will stop companies from selling phones or other devices that are locked to one network and can only be unlocked for a fee.

Telecoms regular Ofcom first suggested the ban in December 2019, although it has only been made official today. This should make it easier for customers to switch networks if they wish.

Crash Bandicoot: On The Run comes to iOS in early 2021

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Crash Bandicoot
Coming soon to an App Store near you. Well, relatively soon.
Photo: King/Activision

Crash Bandicoot’s first game on iOS in a decade will arrive on the App Store on March 25, 2021, the game’s developers have revealed.

The game, which is an endless runner entitled, appropriately, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run, is available to pre-order in the App Store now.

AirPower is apparently dead. Again.

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AirPower cancelled.
The Apple AirPower charger, which reportedly was brought back to life, is now allegedly dead again.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Development has reportedly once again halted on Apple’s own multi-device wireless charger. This is part of the complicated saga of AirPower, which was publicly announced, publicly canceled, allegedly resumed, and is now allegedly canceled yet again.

Microsoft Office embraces trackpad for iPad users

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Microsoft Powerpoint for iPad has a new home screen.
The iPad versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint are getting facelifts.
Photo: Microsoft

Updates to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iPad bring greater support for trackpads and mice. The new versions, which began rolling on Monday, also includes updated start screen and a new ribbon of feature menus.

Young robot learns about being human in Doug Unplugs on Apple TV+

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‘Doug Unplugs’ is an upcoming show based on ‘Doug Unplugged.’
Doug Unplugs shows children there’s more to life than what one gets from computers.
Photo: Apple

Preschoolers will soon be able to learn about life in a computer-animated Doug Unplugs show on Apple TV+. It’s based on a popular book series about a robot boy and his human friends, and makes the jump to TV in mid-November.

A trailer released Monday gives kids and their parents a peek at what to expect from this series developed by DreamWorks Animation.