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Target employees leak inventory listings for new AirPods, Apple TV, iPod touch and more

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Target inventory photos
Are these soon-to-be-released Apple products, supposedly uncovered by Target employees?
Photo: 9to5Mac

Unnamed Target retail store employees are sharing details of what some believe are soon-to-be-released Apple updates using purported images of product listings from the companies retail inventory system.

The supposed new products include Apple AirPods X Generation, a 10.5-inch iPad, a new generation Apple TV, a new iPod touch and a series of new Apple Watch bands. 

New iOS 14 multitasking system revealed in leaked images

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iOS 14 multitasking system borrows from iPadOS
Look familiar? iPhones allegedly are borrowing iPad’s multitasking layout.
Photo: Ben Geskin/91mobiles

iPhones running iOS 14 will borrow the multitasking layout currently used by iPads, according to a reliable leaker.

This is apparently the first major leak about the next iPhone operating system, which is expected to be unveiled this June.

Is this the bold new look for iOS 14? [Cult of Mac Magazine 337]

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Neumorphism might fix some current iOS problems.
Neumorphism might fix some current iOS problems.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Before iOS 7, skeumorphism’s cartoon realism ruled. Then things swung too far in the opposite direction, with flat white pages, skinny text and occasionally confusing visual cues. An emerging design trend called neumorphism could bridge the gap in iOS 14, according to Cult of Mac’s Charlie Sorrel. With subtle shading and helpful hints, neumorphism could influence the evolution of Apple’s mobile UI.

Read all about this hot emerging design trend in this week’s free issue of our iOS magazine. It also includes the week’s top Apple news stories, along with a passel of how-tos and product reviews.

NBCUniversal eyes buying Walmart’s Vudu streaming service

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Vudu Apple TV
The peacock network might buy Vudu.
Photo: Vudu

Walmart is allegedly looking to sell its video-streaming service Vudu right as the streaming wars are starting to heat up.

NBCUniversal is reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Vudu from Walmart, which could give the company another valuable asset as it prepares to launch the Peacock streaming network in a couple of months.

Pro-grade and portable, this strobe brings a studio look to iPhone photos

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PiXLIGHT speedlight for photography, including iPhone
Sets up in a flash.
Photo: PiXLIGHT

A speedlight set up creating a buzz in the photography community for its portability syncs with any camera system, including the iPhone.

The PiXLIGHT is the latest strobe accessory for iPhone photographers. Several companies like Lume Cube and Profoto have Bluetooth enabled flashes dedicated to smartphone shooters.

Quibi preps for streaming wars battle with App Store pre-orders

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Quibi
Quibi is taking a different approach with streaming.
Photo: Quibi

iPhone and iPad users can already sign up to download Quibi, the mobile-only streaming service created by former Walt Disney Studios chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Quibi was quietly posted to the App Store at the end of last month. News that it’s available for pre-order just surfaced today. You won’t be able to start streaming Quibi shows until April, but if you want to make sure you don’t miss the launch you can pre-order it now.

Apple Maps brings brilliant Look Around to Boston, Philadelphia, Washington

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Look-Around-NYC
Look Around in action in New York City.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple Maps’ brilliant Look Around feature (its own version of Street View) is now live for Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

The expansion comes less than a month after Apple rolled out major Maps improvements to all users in the United States. It means Look Around now supports a total of nine locations, with more likely to come in 2020.

Congress might give law enforcement a ‘backdoor’ into encrypted messages

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Know how to hard-lock your iPhone in a hurry.
Congress might use child abuse as an excuse to weaken the encryption in Apple Messages and similar apps.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

No one could protest legislation aimed at curbing child sex abuse, but a bill that reportedly will be introduced soon in the US Congress could have much wider consequences. One result might be a legally mandated requirement that messaging services have a “backdoor” so that law enforcement can read all encrypted messages.

Low-end AirPods rumor gains traction yet remains ‘lite’ on credible details

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They AirPods Pro fit in their case like nothing ever happened.
These AirPods Pro are full-strength.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Tossed into the swirl of rumors and reports about coronavirus and its impact on Apple production is an alleged new entry to the AirPods lineup called “AirPods Pro Lite.”

The quotes bookending the product name are because no one is sure what to make of what is essentially a rumor first reported by a Chinese website with a mixed record for accuracy.

In the last few days, reports have surfaced in DigiTimes of a second “lite” version supplier, giving further credence to the various reports.

New iPads Pros, new AirPods and AirTags are incoming! We discuss, on The CultCast

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CultCast 428
Apple's got some new goodies on the way...
Photo: @YSR50

This week on The CultCast: New iPads Pro, new AirPods and AirTags are incoming, but Apple warns coronavirus could mean big manufacturing delays. Plus: From cut and paste, to Newton, and more — we remember the inventions of tech folk hero Larry Tesler.

And stick around for an all new What We’re Into, where Leander pitches some of the most bizarre shows on TV.

Our thanks to LinkedIn for supporting this episode. A business is only as strong as its people, and every hire matters … head to LinkedIn.com/cultcast and get a $50 credit toward your first job post.

Conquer the world for $5 with Civilization VI’s biggest ever iOS discount

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Get the latest and greatest installments of the classic Civilization strategy game.
And there goes your entire weekend.
Photo: Aspyr Media

Approaching a year-and-a-half after it marched onto iPhone, I’m still amazed that Sid Meier’s epic Civilization VI has somehow been squeezed onto a device that fits in your pocket.

Now there’s a new reason to be amazed, too. That’s because the turn-based 4X game (that’s “eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate” for all you newbies) has been discounted to its cheapest price yet. Instead of the $59.99 regular price, it’s currently just $4.99.

How can you go wrong?

Rare Apple PowerBook laptop signed by Steve Jobs up for auction

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Steve Jobs laptop signed
It could be yours. For a whole bunch of cash.
Photo: RR Auction/Apple Insider

Steve Jobs’ autograph is rare because a) he was Steve Jobs and b) because he reportedly hated signing autographs. That makes any opportunity to get your hands on the John Hancock of Apple’s late CEO and co-founder pretty exciting.

An upcoming auction promises one of the more interesting Jobs autographs I’ve seen. RR Auctions is auctioning off a mid-1990s PowerBook 190cs, signed by Jobs in black felt tip. Its starting price? A mere $1,000 — although you can expect it to sell for many, many times that figure.

Leak reveals new 13-inch MacBook Pro could pack Intel Ice Lake chips

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13-inch MacBook Pro from 2019
It's about time!
Photo: Apple

Leaked benchmarks believed to be from the next-generation 13-inch MacBook Pro reveal the machine could be powered by Intel’s latest Ice Lake processors.

The chips, which haven’t been used in a Mac before, will provide Apple’s newest notebook with a sizable boost in speed and graphics performance. They won’t be the only reason to buy a new 13-inch MacBook Pro, though.

Apple chipmaker in South Korea sends 800 workers home due to coronavirus fears

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Coronavirus-related shutdowns continue to disrupt Chinese factories.
Supply chain has been hit hard by coronavirus spread.
Photo: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr CC

SK Hynix, the world’s second largest memory chipmaker, which counts Apple as one of its biggest clients, sent 800 workers home Thursday amidst coronavirus fears.

The 800 workers quarantined themselves as a precautionary measure after a single trainee had close contact with a coronavirus patient. While most of the coronavirus virus-related supply chain disruption centers on China, this incident took place in South Korea, where a small outbreak recently took place in the city of Daegu.

Streisand effect drives book Apple tried to halt to no. 1 on Amazon

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App Store Confidential
Who would've thought publicity would've helped?
Screenshot: Amazon

Call it the Streisand effect if you want, but the book written by a former App Store manager that Apple attempted to ban has risen to the number one spot on Amazon’s book charts in the writer’s native country.

Apple lawyers have tried to lean on the publishers to destroy all copies of the book. They claim that it contains inside secrets.

Unsurprisingly, this has sparked a whole lot of interest in a book that — by its own admission — shares only publicly available details about how Apple approves third-party apps in Germany.

T-Mobile and Sprint rejig terms of their megamerger

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T-Mobile/Sprint
The $26 billion deal has been years in the making.
Photo: T-Mobile/Sprint

T-Mobile and Sprint have finalized their deal terms as their all-stock “New T-Mobile” merger continues to head toward completion. They’re hoping that the megamerger could be officially approved as early as April 1.

Originally, Sprint owner SoftBank was scheduled to trade 9.75 shares for each T-Mobile share. According to the new agreement, it will trade 11 shares per T-Mobile share. Sprint’s other shareholders will get the original exchange ratio.

Tim Cook’s alleged stalker tried to give Apple CEO flowers, champagne

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TimCook
Tim Cook allegedly faced threats and harassment from a San Francisco man.
Photo: Salesforce

A San Francisco man accused of stalking Tim Cook allegedly trespassed at the Apple CEO’s home twice in the last three months and threatened various Apple employees, according to court documents obtained by Cult of Mac.

Rakesh “Rocky” Sharma, 42, also purportedly posted sexual imagery to his Twitter account, tagging Cook, and engaged in other inappropriate acts.

As a result, Apple received a temporary restraining order earlier this month mandating that Sharma stay at least 200 yards away from Cook as well as Apple security officer William Burns and other Apple employees.

Apple spitballs iPhone with wraparound display

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Every bit of this concept iPhone is covered in wraparound display.
Apple’s own designers dreamed up this iPhone with a completely wraparound display.
Photo: Apple

Apple designed an iPhone that’s all touchscreen. Front, back, top, bottom and sides — every bit of the exposed surface is a wraparound display.

And the description shows engineers put quite a bit of thought into the proposal.

Upgraded Apple Maps backpack rig uses iPhone 11 Pro for image capture

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Have you seen one of these guys walking around your city with an upgraded Apple Maps backpack with iPhone 11 Pros?
Have you seen one of these guys walking around your city?
Photo: Cult of Mac

Cult of Mac spotted an Apple employee wearing an updated data-gathering backpack powered by iPhone 11 Pros on Thursday in Silicon Valley. The wearable rig, presumably used to collect images and data for Apple Maps, looks similar to one seen in 2018. But it features a new hardshell cover — and at least three of Apple’s latest iPhones, apparently used to capture images from the backpack’s sides.

Take a look at how it compares to the old setup:

Twitter considers orange color as fake news warning

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A Twitter posts with fake news gets a big warning sign.
Warning messages like this one could soon appear on Twitter posts with fake news.
Photo: Twitter/Cult of Mac

Twitter is looking for ways to notify its readers when posts by politicians are judged to be factually untrue. The social-networking service is considering attaching large, orange “harmfully misleading” warnings to posts that are fake news.

Most Americans say they won’t buy a folding smartphone

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Xiaomi foldable phone
We're not exactly clamoring for one.
Photo: Lin Bin/Xioami

Someone thinks a foldable smartphone is a good idea. That person, for now, is not the consumer.

In a survey of 11,374 Americans, a whopping 82 percent of the respondents said they have no plans to purchase a foldable smartphone. That doesn’t mean companies need to shut the lid on the idea.