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News - page 446

Apple AI experts work to solve big speech-translation problems

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Translation Unsplash
Machine translation isn't easy. But Apple's working to solve it.
Photo: Romain Vignes/Unsplash

Apple is seemingly looking to step up its work in speech translation, showing one more way that Cupertino is looking to incorporate cutting-edge approaches to artificial intelligence into what it does.

In a recent paper, published to the pre-print server arXiv, two Apple research scientists describe the challenges in the field, carrying out a fundamental survey of the problems with current speech translation.

No, they don’t have a magical solution. But the fact that Apple gave them such a task suggests the company takes seriously the need to hone its tools in this area.

Magic Keyboard heavier than iPad Pro; hands-on videos provide first look

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iPad-Pro-Magic-Keyboard
A 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard is heavier than a MacBook Air.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s amazing new Magic Keyboard might be a must-have accessory for some iPad Pro owners, but it comes with one big tradeoff. The combined weight of both devices makes the package heavier than a MacBook Air.

That’s something you’ll want to bear in mind if you use an iPad Pro for its portability. If it doesn’t put you off, however, you’ll want to check out the early hands-on videos that show the Magic Keyboard in action.

Get equipped for remote digital project management [Deals]

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CoM - Remtoe Project Management
Make the most of your remote work setup with lifetime access to digital project management how-to guides, resources, eBooks, and community support.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Project managers are used to working directly with their teams. But work life is changing for everybody, so this bundle includes everything you need for doing digital project management from a distance.

Next iPad Air could boast Mini LED display and under-glass Touch ID

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iPad Air
New iPad Air could have an all-display screen.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The new iPad Air will boast a Mini LED display and display-based Touch ID instead of Face ID, an Apple leaker claims.

Twitter user @L0vetodream, who has previously correctly shared details about forthcoming Apple devices, said that the iPad will therefore feature a full screen display with no notch. Last year’s iPad Air refresh sported a physical Home button.

Apple could be developing its own game controller for iOS, Apple TV

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Fortnite on iPad with SteelSeries Nimbus
Coming this year or next?
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple is developing its own game controller for Apple TV and iOS devices that will launch this year or next, according to claims from one tipster, published on Monday. It is said to be part of a big push to improve Apple Arcade.

The information comes from the same source who accurately predicted Apple’s plans for the 2020 iPad Pro refresh and the second-generation iPhone SE.

iPhone 12 notch may be considerably smaller than its predecessor

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iPhone notch 12
Is this the new notch?
Photo: Jon Prosser/Twitter

If you’re hoping for a smaller notch on the iPhone 12 than previous models you may be in luck, according to an image tweeted by Apple leaker Jon Prosser Sunday.

The image appears to be a CAD diagram. It shows a labeled version of what Prosser claims is the new notch for Apple’s next-gen iPhone. Compared to the ones seen on the last three generations of iPhones — dating back to the iPhone X — it looks substantially smaller.

Apple AirPower replacement might come in large and small sizes

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AirPower
Apple might be prepping a smaller wireless charger to go with the rumored multi-device version.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple will release a single-device wireless charging pad in addition to the larger, multi-device mat rumored to be much like the doomed AirPower, according to an unconfirmed report Sunday.

The latest rumors come a year after Apple canceled the AirPower wireless charger the company announced in 2017 without ever releasing it.

Fun new GarageBand tutorial shows how to make house music in your house

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The latest Today at Apple at Home is a GarageBand Tutorial
Learn to sample sounds in a free GarageBand tutorial from Apple.
Screenshot: Apple

An Apple employee teaches the basics of the free GarageBand music-creation software in an new video tutorial from Today at Apple. It covers sampling sounds from your kitchen to make house music.

Normally, these free educational sessions are held in Apple Stores, but with these all closed during the COVID-19 crisis, they’ve gone online. There are already training videos for drawing and taking better pictures.

The new iPhone SE: Fast, fun, cheap and perfect [Cult of Mac Magazine 345]

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2020 iPhone SE: Fast, fun, cheap and perfect
Apple threads the needle with its new budget iPhone.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

With screaming-fast internals, key flagship-level features and a budget price tag, the new iPhone SE ticks all the boxes in these uncertain times. Apple cut a few smart corners to make the magic happen.

Read all about the 2020 iPhone SE in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Grab yours today and get to reading. (Alternatively, hit the links below for the week’s top Apple news, reviews and how-tos.)

Apple Music chief takes over Beats headphones

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Apple Beats PowerBeats in red
There’s a new boss of Beats, an Apple product line of top-tier headphones, some aimed at runners.
Photo: Apple

The head of Apple Music is apparently assuming an additional role. Oliver Schusser is reportedly going to take charge of the company’s Beats line of high-end headphones, while also remaining at the helm of Apple’s music-streaming service.

Apple also took the opportunity to refute a recent unconfirmed report that it’s phasing out Beats.

Chris Evans is a tour guide to the dark ride that is Defending Jacob

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Chris Evan plays the lead character in “Defending Jacob.”
Defending Jacob star Chris Evans talks about portraying every parent’s nightmare.
Photo: Apple

Chris Evans’s first big role after playing Captain America is a district attorney whose 14-year-old son is accused of murder in Defending Jacob on Apple TV+. He and other cast members talk about their characters from this upcoming show in a “First Look”video released Friday.

Watch it now:

Leaked ad evokes the joy of unwrapping 2020 iPhone SE

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Apple “The Opening” online ad for 2020 iPhone SE
A short and wacky ad from Apple takes an unusual look at opening a 2020 iPhone SE.
Photo: Apple

Every iPhone buyer knows the excitement they feel when they first pull the protective plastic wrapper off their new device. Apple is supposedly about to release an ad for the 2020 iPhone SE that plays on the excitement users feel in that exact moment.

Watch it now:

ACLU wants COVID-19 tracking program loaded with privacy safeguards

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contact-tracing
Privacy groups want to make sure contact tracing technology keeps your data safe.
Photo: MIT Lincoln Lab

The American Civil Liberties Union said Friday it is cautiously encouraged by a commitment to privacy by Apple and Google as they develop Bluetooth-based contact-tracing technology to track the spread of COVID-19.

But the civil liberties group says the two tech giants must resolve “certain important privacy-related questions” key to winning trust from a public growing wary about who sees their data.

New Radeon Pro W5700X GPU is Mac Pro’s most affordable yet

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Mac-Pro-W5700X
Order yours today for $1,000.
Photo: Apple

Those looking to improve the graphics performance of their 2019 Mac Pro can now pick up the Radeon Pro W5700X MPX Module from the Apple Online Store.

For exactly $1,000, the new GPU offers up to 9.4 teraflops of compute performance and 16GB of GDDR6 memory. It uses AMD’s latest RDNA architecture, and it’s now the most affordable GPU module Apple sells.

2020 iPhone SE availability already slips to next month

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iphone.se.image.1
You’ll have to wait a bit if you didn’t already order the 2020 iPhone SE.
Photo: Apple

Apple began taking pre-orders for the second-generation iPhone SE on Friday, and in the U.S. already ran out out of its stock for release on launch day.

Orders placed placed earlier today will arrive on April 24. But the official Apple Store website indicates that orders for the new $399 iPhone placed now won’t arrive until May.

A 49-inch ultrawide monitor dominates this sweet WFH battlestation [Setups]

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An LG UltraWide monitor (and a second screen on top) take this battlestation to the next level.
An ultrawide monitor (and a second screen on top) take this battlestation to the next level.
Photo: iSetups/Instagram

An amazing 49-inch LG UltraWide monitor dominates the sweet work-from-home setup of front-end developer Justin Chua from San Jose, California. A second 32-inch Dell monitor floats above, adding even more screen real estate to this eye-blasting battlestation.

And check out his sweet, custom-made mechanical keyboard!

Explore the mysteries of the ocean in Beyond Blue on Apple Arcade

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Dive to the briny depths in “Beyond Blue” on Apple Arcade
Experience fascinating sea life in E-Line Media’s Beyond Blue.
Photo: E-Line Media/Apple

Anyone missing the ocean can dive into E-Line Media’s Beyond Blue. Playing as a scientist, the goal of the iPhone or Apple TV game is to explore and uncover the secrets of the Earth’s last uncharted frontier.

It debuted Friday on Apple Arcade, the company’s subscription gaming service.

WhatsApp may increase group call limit to help keep us connected

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WhatsApp group calls
WhatsApp currently allows just four people in a single group call.
Photo: WhatsApp

Seeing friends and family in person just isn’t possible during a global pandemic, so WhatsApp could be making some changes to ensure that we can still have face-to-face contact (via a screen) without leaving our homes.

Changes in the app’s latest beta release suggest the limit for group audio and video calls will soon increase. It currently allows for just four participants at any one time, while others — like Facebook Messenger — can support up to 50.

Goldman Sachs thinks Apple is massively overvalued right now

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International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
Apple might not be worth as much as some investors think.
Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC

Goldman Sachs may be Apple’s partner in Apple Card, but that doesn’t mean that its equity research division is a cheerleader for Apple in everything it does. In fact, the firm just cut its price target on Apple from $250 down to $233, and recommends that clients sell their Apple shares.

This is the third time that Goldman has downgraded its Apple earnings estimate since February 17. Analysts led by Goldman tech analyst Rod Hall think that Apple is headed for a reduction in iPhone demand this year. That’s likely to be followed by a shallower recovery headed into 2021.

iPhone 12 design secrets supposedly spilled in new drawings

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iphone 12 cad design
Comparing the iPhone 12 with the iPhone 11.
Photo: EverythingApplePro

Want a glimpse at the (possible) new iPhone 12 Pro Max? YouTube channel EverythingApplePro and Max Weinbach have posted what they claim is a leaked design for the new handset, based on supposed CAD drawings.

As expected, they suggest that the new iPhone will borrow design cues from the squared-off, boxier iPad Pro redesign. It also looks set to sport a slightly thinner profile, just 7.4mm thick next to the 8.1mm of the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Oh, and notch-haters might be pleased by the smaller notch on the device.

Check out the video below.

Preorder the 2020 iPhone SE now ahead of its April 24 debut

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2020-iPhone-SE-lineup-hero
Don't miss out on launch day delivery.
Photo: Apple

Apple is now taking preorders for the 2020 iPhone SE ahead of its official debut on April 24. Prices start at just $399 for a 64GB model, making this one of the company’s most affordable smartphones to date.

Go claim yours before those shipping dates slip — and don’t miss some of the preorder deals being offered by some third-party retailers.