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News - page 438

Apple could stop bundling EarPods with iPhones this year

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AirPods-Pro-vs-AirPods
Apple is reportedly looking for a way to boost AirPods sales.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 12 box may be a little bit lighter than you’re expecting — as Apple stops packaging its smartphones with wired EarPods to try and push sales of the AirPods.

That’s according to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, in a note sent to clients Wednesday. Kuo also thinks that Apple could offer big discounts and promotions related to the AirPods this holiday season. That would coincide with the arrival of Apple’s next-gen iPhones — minus free packaged earbuds.

Mario Kart Tour adds Dixie and Funky Kong for new Jungle Tour

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Jungle Tour Mario Kart 1
And a couple of new characters, too.
Photo: Nintendo

Touring the world ain’t exactly easy right now — which is why it’s good that Mario Kart Tour is there to fulfill your globe-hopping needs. The hit Nintendo kart racing game has already taken players to New York, Tokyo, Paris, London, and other exotic locales. Now it’s headed for the tropical Jungle in its latest tour.

Check out the trailer for the Jungle Tour below.

Former contractor wants Apple investigated for Siri’s ‘massive’ data collection

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HomePod siri
Ex-contractor's job was to transcribe Siri conversations.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

A former Apple contractor says that Apple and other tech giants continue to ignore and violate “fundamental rights” with their “massive collection of data.” And he wants them investigated for it.

Thomas le Bonniec is one of the ex-Apple contractors whose job involved listening to users’ Siri recordings. News of the practice broke last year, but this is the first time le Bonniec has gone public.

Apple explores crazy ways to add touch to MacBooks

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A touch sensitive area could make a MacBook trackpad movable.
A future MacBook might let you put the trackpad anywhere you want.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Far from resting on its laurels, Apple continues to look for innovative features to build into MacBooks. A patent awarded Tuesday shows the company is considering making the trackpad virtual, so it can be positioned wherever the user likes.

And a second patent goes even further, making the keyboard and the area around it touch-sensitive.

Samsung T7 tiny USB-C SSD stores up to 2TB

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Samsung T7 connects easily to a variety of computers.
The Samsung T7 is ultraportable and can be used with Mac or iPad Pro.
Photo: Samsung

The Samsung T7 isn’t much bigger than a business card, but the portable Solid State Drive (SSD) is available in sizes up to 2TB. And USB-C brings compatibility with a wide variety of Apple computers, as well as other devices.

Designed to be used on the go, a solid aluminum cases makes it shock resistant from drops up to 2 meters.

OtterBox updates sleek, transparent folio case to fit 2020 iPad Pro

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OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 for 2020 iPad Pro
The OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 both protects the 2020 iPad Pro and acts as a stand.
Photo: OtterBox

The latest iteration of the OtterBox Symmetry Series 360 Folio Case got a design tweak for the 2020 iPad Pro. This case offers a clear, scratch-resistant design as well as drop protection.

The updated version takes into account the significant camera enhancements in the latest iPad Pro.

Apple TV+ pays $70 million to premiere Tom Hanks WWII movie Greyhound

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Tom Hanks' World War II movie Greyhound will debut on Apple TV+.
Tom Hanks' World War II movie Greyhound will debut on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ reportedly secured the rights to upcoming World War II film Greyhound, written by and starring Tom Hanks. The film was originally scheduled to debut in theaters, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a shift in strategy.

The deal, which will see the movie premiere on Apple TV+ at an undisclosed date, shows just how serious Cupertino is about its streaming service.

It took 3 years to build this awesome setup [Setups]

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The ultrawide curved monitor is in a class of its own
The ultrawide curved monitor is eye-popping.
Photo: Carlos Azaustre

An ultrawide curved monitor takes any setup to the next level, and Cesar Azaustre’s MacBook-powered rig is no exception. It took a three-year span for the Spanish front-end engineer to assemble this setup — and it does not disappoint.

To control things on his massive $800 screen, he uses the Apple Magic Keyboard and the Logitech MX Anywhere wireless mouse. For Zoom meetings, he leans on a Logitech Pro Stream Camera and a Røde microphone, both top-of-the-line products.

Adobe unleashes massive updates for Photoshop for iPad, Fresco, Premiere Pro, more

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Photoshop May 2020
If you do anything creative on your computer, this will matter to you.
Photo: Adobe

Adobe has updated several of its applications for iPadOS and macOS, the company announced Tuesday. Apps getting new features and overhauls include Photoshop for iPad, drawing and painting tool Fresco, and assorted Creative Cloud video and audio apps.

If you’re someone who carries out any kind of creative task on your computer, chances are that at least one of these is going to be of interest to you. And probably a lot more.

iPhones retain lead in US smartphone satisfaction rankings

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Apple_keynote-event_guests-iphone-11_091019
The iPhone continues to be a satisfying hit with U.S. consumers.

For the sixth straight year, iPhones rank as the smartphone with the highest customer satisfaction score among U.S. consumers, according to new data released Monday.

T-Mobile remains the undisputed network operator for the fourth straight year, according to the survey from the American Customer Satisfaction Index, an economic analytics group.

Gesture-controlled ‘Apple Glass’ could debut this year for $499

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Apple Glass
Don't expect them to ship for a while, though.
Image: Jon Prosser/Front Page Tech

Renowned Apple leaker Jon Prosser unloaded a shedload of information Tuesday about Apple’s rumored augmented reality glasses, which he claims will be called Apple Glass. In a packed new video, Prosser says Apple plans to show off the AR specs as a “one more thing” reveal at a keynote as soon as late 2020.

The glasses will cost $499 (plus prescription if needed), will display info on the inside of both lenses, and will operate via gesture controls, Prosser says. He also claims to have seen a prototype of the long-rumored device.

HTC’s upcoming wireless earbuds look like total AirPods ripoffs

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HTC AirPods
Spot the difference?
Photo: HTC/Android Police

HTC has plans to release some wireless earbuds in the near future. And there are absolutely no prizes on offer for guessing which company’s existing earbuds they look like.

Android Police found evidence of the forthcoming U Ear AirPods earbuds Monday. The images were discovered through regulatory agency filings in the U.S. and Taiwan. Boasting a similar shape and glossy plastic design to Apple’s ultra-successful AirPods, the U Ear buds differ most significantly in HTC’s choice of black as a color option.

Then again, there’s nothing to stop it from releasing the product in a variety of different shades!

Apple TV+ might add reruns to bolster its 10 million subscribers

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Appletvpluslogo
Apple TV+ is big. Just nowhere near as big as some of its rivals.
Photo: Apple

After hitting 10 million monthly subscribers, Apple TV+ might add older TV shows and movies to boost its numbers, Bloomberg reported Tuesday.

Apple actually passed the milestone in February, between three and four months after the service’s early November launch, the publication said. However, while those numbers might seem impressive, they are still paltry compared to Disney+’s reported 50 million subscribers. Disney’s streaming service added 10 million within its first day.

Apple Watch Series 6 concept does away with bezels for truly edge-to-edge screen

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Apple Watch Series 6 concept
Coming soon to a wrist near you?
Photo: Apple Watch Series 6

We’re still several months away from September’s likely unveiling of the next-gen Apple Watch. But a new concept video from the YouTube channel ConceptsiPhone provides a compelling glimpse at what a new Apple Watch could possibly be.

While it’s not dramatically different from the Apple Watch we’ve got currently, it does feature a stunning edge-to-edge display that brings it more in line with the newer iPhones and iPads. Besides, it’s got a cool video with dramatic music to get you psyched up for September. Check it out below:

Former Apple SVP Scott Forstall will give free coding lesson for Code.org’s Code Break

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Forstall
Scott Forstall was a key figure at Apple for many years.
Photo: Apple

Scott Forstall, the former Apple executive some people once speculated would take over from Steve Jobs as CEO, is making a rare appearance this week as part of Code.org’s free Code Break event.

Code Break is described as the “world’s largest live interactive classroom.” It features weekly computer science challenges for students of all abilities, hosted by founder Hadi Partovi alongside special guests. In addition to Forstall, this Wednesday’s Code Break will feature rapper Macklemore.

Take a peek at Gobi, the shopping-oriented AR app coming in iOS 14

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LEGO AR Studio
Augmented reality is already being used to sell products, and Apple is supposedly embracing that with Gobi in iOS 14.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

More details of the augmented-reality application supposedly coming in iOS 14 leaked out Monday. This goes under the code-name Gobi, and what’s come to light shows an emphasis on businesses and products, rather than games.

In addition, this leak reveals additional details on how the next iOS version will use AR to help users find lost items.

FBI attacks Apple for ‘no help’ unlocking Florida attacker’s iPhone; Apple rejects ‘false’ claims

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A good password manager gives you some peace of mind after a security breach.
Accusations fly between Apple and FBI on unlocking iPhones.
Photo: Ervins Strauhmanis/Flickr CC

FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General William Barr criticized Apple Monday for “effectively no help” in unlocking iPhones belonging to the shooter behind December’s attack at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida that killed eight people. Apple responded saying the accusations were “false claims” and an “excuse” by the Justice Department to weaken mobile phone encryption and privacy.

Xfinity Mobile adds free 5G to phone plans

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Xfinity Mobile 5G is here
When the 5G iPhone arrives, you can connect it to Xfinity Mobile for no extra cost.
Photo: Xfinity Mobile

Xfinity Mobile subscribers can now add 5G service to their wireless phone service at no extra cost. This includes every plan offered by the telecom, not just pricy unlimited plans.

This company resells Verizon services, and that carrier now has 5G in parts of 34 major cities.

watchOS 6.2.5 brings new Pride Apple Watch faces, expands ECG features to Saudi Arabia

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This Apple Watch Pride face debuted in watchOS 6.2.5
This Apple Watch Pride face debuted in watchOS 6.2.5. And this band also launched today.
Photo: Apple

Monday’s release of watchOS 6.2.5 includes a trio of new faces in the Pride series. It was timed with the debut of new matching Watch bands in the Apple Store.

In addition, Apple Watch wearers in Saudi Arabia just got access to the ECG features of Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 5.

iOS 13.5 golden master means COVID-19 exposure notifications are almost here

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iOS 13.5 golden master is available only to developers.
The iOS 13.5 golden master gives developers an early look at a number of features related to COVID-19.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Starting Monday, iOS 13.5 golden master and the iPad equivalent are available for developers to test. The general public is likely to get access to them in a week or so.

This might be known as the COVID-19 update. It includes a number of new features, almost all focused on the current crisis. That includes the coronavirus contact-tracing tool Apple is developing in cooperation with Google.

More signs point to a new HomePod in our future

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HomePod speaker
HomePod discounts give clear sign of a new model.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

From Best Buy discounting the HomePod to Apple employees now able to buy up to 10 of the smart speakers at a discount, there are clear signs Cupertino is trying to clear out its warehouses before a rumored new model this year.

At $100 off retail, Best Buy began selling HomePod for $200 Monday for a limited time. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman tweeted Monday that Apple employees can now buy up to 10 of the speakers at employee discount, commenting, “These things are clearly on the way out.”