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Free-to-play Forza Street finally races onto iPhone and iPad

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Forza-Street-iPad
Play today to earn a bonus Ford GT.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Microsoft’s insanely popular Forza racing series has finally landed on iPhone and iPad. The free-to-play Forza Street, which first debuted on Windows two years ago, is available to download now from the App Store.

The game promises gorgeous visuals, fast-paced racing action, and iconic cars any racing fan will be familiar with. There are also some sweet bonuses for those who play within the first 30 days of the game’s release.

Apple’s virtual Worldwide Developers Conference to begin June 22

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Following cancellation of its face-to-face conference, Apple is going online with WWDC, starting June 22.
Photo: Apple

Apple announced Tuesday it will host its 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference virtually, beginning June 22. It will be available to view using the Apple Developer app, streamed on the Apple Developer website and free for all registered developers.

Apple did not give any details of a keynote event to announce various products, but is expected to hold one on the conferences opening day.

France threatens Apple in standoff over COVID-19 contract-tracing privacy

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Any of the new iPhones can handle the worst rainstorm.
France plans to go it alone on COVID-19 contact tracing for mobile phones.
Photo: Apple

A French official accused Apple on Tuesday of hampering the effectiveness of the country’s COVID-19 contract-tracing platform by blocking access to data via Bluetooth.

France minister for digital technology Cedric O told BFM Business TV that Apple “could have helped us make the application work even better on the iPhone. They have not wished to do so.”

Apple questions U.S. government interference in Corellium copyright suit

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iOS Apps Main
A copyright case between Apple and Corellium is now of great interest to the DOJ. But why?
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Apple is disputing the interference of the U.S. Justice Department in a copyright suit against software maker Corellium as questions arise as to why the federal government is now involved in the case.

The Department of Justice has now intervened in the case asking Apple to delay its request for a deposition of Corellium cofounder Chris Wade, and inquiring to what evidence Apple is planning on presenting before its lawyers question Wade.

Failure to adopt Apple and Google’s contact-tracing tool could make travel difficult

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A short primer on contact-tracing.
Photo: Apple/Google

The UK’s National Health Service has launched its contact-tracing app — but experts quoted by the Daily Mail Tuesday claim that its non-privacy focused approach to tracking the spread of coronavirus could make it illegal.

They also claim its incompatibility with Apple and Google’s contact-tracing API may cause chaos for traveling Brits.

Microsoft Outlook for iOS makes it easier to ignore those company-wide email threads

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Outlook's new Ignore Conversation feature could come in handy.
Permanently banish those pesky email threads with everyone commenting.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft Outlook for iPad and iPhone now makes it easier to stop your inbox getting clogged up with massive multi-reply email threads copying in large numbers of people.

The “Ignore Conversation” feature is a handy new feature added for version 4.36.0 of the app. Here’s what you need to know.

Apple’s T2 security chip makes life tough for independent repair shops, electronics recyclers

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The Apple T2 chip could be the source of mysterious crashes afflicting two of Apple's newest computers.
Many repairers and recyclers aren't too fond of this chip.
Photo: IFIXIT

Apple’s built-in laptop security safeguards, introduced with the 2018 MacBook Pros, are hitting independent repair shops and electronics recyclers hard, a report by Motherboard claims.

The system combines software security locks, various diagnostic requirements and Apple’s T2 security chip. Together, they mean that Macs stop working if they’re operated on by someone not using Apple’s proprietary repair tools.

Majority of Apple Stores in Australia will reopen Thursday, May 7

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Apple Stores will be open again to take your money this week. All except one, that is.
Photo: Cult of Mac / Picturesofmoney

All Apple Stores except one will reopen in Australia on Thursday, May 7, claim the official Apple webpages for 21 of 22 brick and mortar stores.

Australian Apple Stores, like all others outside China, have been closed since March 14. This is due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Apple’s hated butterfly keyboard is officially extinct

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Taking it out on your problematic MacBook butterfly keyboard will only make things worse.
The MacBook butterfly keyboard could be horribly frustrating. But now it’s gone. Mostly.
Photo illustration: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

MacBook buyers, your long nightmare is over. It’s now safe to buy a new Apple laptop without having to worry that someday the butterfly keyboard will jam up, rendering your computer useless without a significant repair. Monday’s release of a redesigned 13-inch MacBook Pro means every new laptop available through the Apple Store includes the more-reliable Magic Keyboard.

Still, Apple held onto the flawed design for too long. Anybody with a MacBook that uses the older design must live in fear of potentially jammed butterfly keys for years to come.

Slap on a Strapa band for the ultimate Apple Watch upgrade

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Apple Watch looks even better with a Strapa band.
Photo: Strapa

There’s no better way to upgrade your Apple Watch than by adding some of the finest leather money can buy. That’s why you should check out these wonderful Strapa straps.

They’re beautifully made from only the finest materials, and come in a range of gorgeous color options. They’re also compatible with all generations of Apple Watch.

Apple is one step closer to turning iPhone into a car key

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A Tesla Watch app concept.
With Apple embracing digital keys, this Tesla Watch app concept shows what might soon be a standard feature.
Photo: Eleks Labs

Apple is a charter member of the Car Connectivity Consortium, which on Monday unveiled a new version of its system to enable phones to act as digital keys.

This meshes with an unconfirmed report from February that Apple plans to add this feature to iOS 14.

Apple and Google’s contract-tracing system to ban Location Services access

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New guidelines are meant to help developers create easy-to-understand contact tracing apps.
Photo: Apple/Google

Apple and Google released additional details about their coronavirus contact-tracing system Monday, informing public health officials that they will not be able to use Location Services to track people. The companies also said they will limit use of the contact-tracing API to one per country.

Both companies also showed off what an app might look like on people’s smartphones — and shared sample pieces of code local governments could use in their own mobile apps.

Adhesive sensor might spot coronavirus symptoms using an iPad

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Monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms this device is iPad-ready to collect data.
Photo: Northwestern University

An adhesive sensor much like a Band-Aid has been developed by Northwestern University to monitor for early signs of COVID-19 infection when connected wirelessly to an iPad.

Announced Monday, the device sticks to the throat and looks for coughing and various onset symptoms of COVID-19 to aid treatment of patients with the deadly virus.

Apple to reopen first retail store in Europe May 5 since pandemic shutdown

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Vienna becomes first Apple store to reopen in Europe following COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo: Eric Weber for Cult of Mac

Apple will reopen its store in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday, as its retail operations slowly emerge from a worldwide shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Vienna store is Apple’s first outside of China and South Korea to reopen after the company shuttered its brick-and-mortar locations in March.

According to Austria’s Heute newspaper, the only store in Austria will reopen with additional security precautions, including social distance and adjusted opening hours. Customers will be required to wear a protective mask and will be checked for a fever.

Jaw-dropping AR demo shows off the future of copy and paste

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Not excited about augmented reality? You will be!
Not excited about augmented reality? You will be!
Photo: Cyril Diagne

An amazing new augmented reality demo shows how the future of cut, copy and paste might work.

Created by Cyril Diagne, a 34-year-old artist, designer and programmer currently in residence at the Google Arts & Culture Lab in Paris, the demo shows images of objects being dragged from the real world and dropped into Photoshop on a Mac. That’s an AR application that any designer could get on board with!

Tim Cook tells grads to ‘build a better future’ in virtual commencement speech

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Tim Cook called for Ohio State University grads to embrace hope in a fearful time during his virtual commencement address.
Tim Cook called for Ohio State University grads to embrace hope in a fearful time.
Photo: Ohio State University

In a virtual commencement address to Ohio State University grads Sunday, Apple CEO Tim Cook talked about challenges the world faces in the time of COVID-19 and implored the outgoing students to “build a better future than the one you thought was certain.”

Cook, by now a seasoned commencement speaker, also discussed what he’s been doing during the coronavirus lockdown and mentioned his experiences working with Steve Jobs. You can check out his full commencement speech below.

Level Lock is an ‘invisible’ HomeKit lock with Apple in its DNA

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A new invisible HomeKit lock called Level Lock works with your existing deadbolt.
Level Lock takes a stealth approach to HomeKit.
Photo: Level Home

A new “invisible” HomeKit-compatible lock means you won’t need to sacrifice fancy door hardware to get smart lock functionality. Level Lock replaces your existing deadbolt’s guts, hiding seamlessly inside your door.

It’s an innovative approach to smart lock design. That’s not too surprising, though, considering Level Home was founded by a couple of ex-Apple employees.

Truly magical: New Magic Keyboard transforms iPad Pro again [Cult of Mac Magazine 347]

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Magic Keyboard review: Truly magical iPad Pro accessory!
This week's issue will look great on your iPad Pro. Trust us.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

We love the new Magic Keyboard, which adds a trackpad and lets an iPad Pro float almost magically. Read the full Magic Keyboard review and find out everything we like (and a couple things that could be better).

In this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine, you’ll also find an essay on all the ways a 2008 MacBook proves better than a modern Apple laptop. And a bit of trash talk about lazy new Apple TV+ comedy Trying.

Plus, we’ve got even more reviews, the week’s top Apple news, and a bunch of great how-tos and pro tips. Download the free iOS mag now or get the links below.