News - page 488

This week we pay more for our calendars, shoot with both iPhone cameras simultaneously, share six-second videos like it’s 2015, and save some bookmarks. Take a look at the week’s best iOS apps, both new and updates.

Apple will close all its offices, 42 retail stores and contact centers across the Chinese mainland through February 9 as the outbreak of the new coronavirus has sickened more than 14,500 and killed more than 300 people.

Apple took a proverbial sledgehammer to the Unofficial Apple Archive, an online collection of more than 15,000 classic Apple ads and assorted other materials, last weekend. Cupertino’s legal team issued a slew of takedown notices to Vimeo and the Unofficial Apple Archive’s host provider, Squarespace, resulting in thousands of vintage Apple ads vanishing in the blink of an eye.

While I understand the reason for the takedowns, I really, really wish Apple hadn’t tried to wipe the ads off the internet. Fortunately, Apple could set things straight — by embracing both its past and its most ardent fans.

When the iPad came out 10 years ago, some people dismissed it as nothing but a super-sized iPhone. In reality, Apple’s tablet changed mobile computing forever.

We pay tribute to the iPad in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine cover story. We’ve also featuring a rundown on Apple’s blow-out earnings call as well as the usual tips for Mac and iOS users. Plus, some sweet product reviews and recommendations.

Download your free issue now — and read it on a revolutionary iPad — or hit the links below.

Some cheeky designer wondered what our AirPods might look like in the mouth of a baby shark or stuffed in a pineapple.

How about adorable? The company has made two cutesy case covers and they are now on sale in the Cult of Mac store.

Apple’s TV series adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s science fiction novel trilogy, Foundation, is set to become the largest studio production in the history of Ireland.

During a press conference today, Screen Ireland revealed that Apple will create more than 500 jobs when it begins production on Foundation later this year. With its gigantic budget and epic world-building plot, Apple clearly thinks Foundation could be its answer to Game of Thrones, which was also shot in Ireland.

Apple today rolled out 11 new screensavers for Apple TV. All have an underwater theme, showcasing marine life in oceans around the world. The update takes the total number of scenes to more than 80.

Secret Oops! is an innovative augmented-reality game that asks players to save the world’s dumbest spy. Guide Special Agent Charles through an AR landscape, with multiple players using an iPhone or iPad to see the same virtual board in the real world.

It debuted today on Apple Arcade.

Apple’s primary mobile chip supplier insists the coronavirus epidemic will not affect production.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) this week said it is on track to deliver orders as usual, according to one report. But Apple certainly isn’t out of woods yet.

Beleaguered Apple display-maker Japan Display revealed Friday that it has agreed a $918.87 million bailout deal that will throw it a major lifeline as it attempts to claw its way back to profitability.

The money comes for Japanese investment fund, Ichigo Asset Management. Ichigo’s CEO will become Japan Display’s new chairman, while the deal will make Ichigo the company’s largest shareholder.

Apple is already in trial production of a budget-friendly iPhone with mass production set to begin in a couple of weeks, according to supply-chain insiders.

Rumors of either an iPhone SE2 or iPhone 9 have been swirling for months with an unveiling likely in March.

The tax rules need rewriting for the digital age, and finally the world’s governments are doing something about it. On Friday, the Organization for Economic Cooperation announced that 137 governments around the world have agreed to launch a rewrite of tax rules for multinational companies the digital age.

Tax officials from the countries in question have agreed to meet in Paris for negotiations about how this might work. The aim is to crack down on the kind of tax avoidance that can happen when multinationals shuttle their profits around to different countries.

Popular battle royale game Apex Legends is still on its way to mobile, EA confirmed this week.

The company has been quiet about the title’s development since it was first confirmed last May, leaving fans to wondering whether the port had been shelved. But its latest update brings good news.

For the second week in a row, Apple TV+ has had a quiet Friday — with zero new content uploaded to the streaming service.

By comparison, this week Netflix debuted seven new series including Next in Fashion, Ragnarok and a sixth season of BoJack Horseman. Disney+, meanwhile, delivered new episodes of Diary of a Future President and Marvel Hero Project, exclusive short Lamp Life and the 2019 Lion King remake.

Apple’s two-factor verifications have greatly increased security for users. Now Apple wants to make the process more streamlined by standardizing the format of SMS messages which contain one-time passcodes.

Apple WebKit engineers explained the proposal on online code repository GitHub. Alongside Apple, the project also has the support of Google Chromium engineers. Mozilla’s Firefox has yet to get on board.

Treat yourself to some awesome new Apple Watch and iPhone accessories with up to 77% off Just Mobile products in the Cult of Mac Store.

You’ll find iPhone cases and screen protectors, Apple Watch charging stands, and portable battery packs all reduced to some of their lowest prices to date. Prices start at just $7.95!

But be quick — this sale must end tomorrow, January 31.

Saturday Night Live’s Cecily Strong is bringing her comedy chops to Apple TV+ for a musical series about a couple who discover a strange town while backpacking.

Apple is reportedly nearing a series order for the comedy, created by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, writers known for the Despicable Me franchise.

The grand unveiling of the iPhone 12 (or whatever Apple calls it) is still over half a year away, but you can already get a pretty good idea of what to expect thanks to a new concept video.

Most iPhone concept videos we see throw in a bunch of unrealistic features. Instead of focusing on what could be, the Hacker 34’s new concept video brings to life all the reliable rumors we’ve heard so far. The concept won’t wow you with promises of a holographic display and instead focuses on the iterative changes we’re likely to see in 2020.

This is about as close to the 2020 iPhone commercial you’re going to see right now:

In a move that seems squarely aimed at killing Apple’s Lightning port, a large majority of the European Parliament voted in favor of establishing a common charger standard for mobile devices.

This is only a step in a process that is likely to see the Lightning connector banned from devices sold in Europe, but it’s a significant one.

Apple has a real hit on its hands with the 10.2-inch iPad it launched last fall. It helped push Apple to a 22.7% year-over-year increase in tablet shipments last quarter, according to a market-research firm.

iPadOS devices continue to vastly outsell all their rivals, and Apple increased its lead in the final three months of 2019.

Carmi Zlotnik, the former Starz president of programming, is teaming up with Apple TV+.

Zlotnik has reportedly inked an exclusive producer deal with Apple just days after it was revealed that he’s stepping down from Starz’s top role.

Apple today rolled out its major Maps redesign to all users in the United States. It packs big improvements, including better road and pedestrian data, more precise addresses, and more detailed land coverage. It also offers Look Around, Apple’s answer to Google Maps’ Street View, in select locations.

Millennials don’t just love Apple for the iPhone. Turns out AAPL is also their favorite stock.

A recent survey of over 734,000 portfolios from US-based investors with an average age of 31 found that Apple and Amazon are the two most popular stocks with young investors by a long shot.

A free year of Apple TV+ goes to everyone who buys a new iPhone, Mac or iPad. But time to sign up for this deal is running out for those who made their purchase just before the launch of Apple’s streaming video service.

Music fans won’t even need to tune into Super Bowl LIV to catch a glimpse of Jennifer Lopez and Shakira’s joint halftime show.

The NFL revealed today that all musical performances at this year’s big game will be released as a visual album on Apple Music. Along with the J. Lo/Shakira set, you’ll also be able to stream the National Anthem with Demi Lovato and America the Beautiful with Yolanda Adams.