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News - page 492

Apple TV+ could hit 26 million paying subs by 2025; likely 2.6 million currently

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Apple TV+ could have 26 million paying subs by 2025; 2.6 million currently
Apple TV+ debuted back in November.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ will have almost 26 million paying subscribers by 2025, a new report claims. That’s just a fraction of the 126 million subs that rival streaming service Disney+ is likely to have at that point in time.

Both services launched within two weeks of each other in November 2019. While Apple hasn’t revealed any TV+ subscription numbers, Disney CEO Bob Iger says Disney+ already has 28.6 million subs. That’s more than Digital TV Research thinks Apple TV+ will have five years from now.

Tumble Wrestling wants to lay the smackdown on other iOS games

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Tumble Wrestling wants to lay the smackdown on other iOS games
If you smell what the, err, Block Solid is cooking.
Photo: Tumble Wrestling

There’s a new challenger hoping to seize the title of best wrestling game on iOS — a quirky, physics-based fighting game called Tumble Wrestling.

Part retro flashback to pro wrestling games on the NES and part Super Smash Bros., the game lets players compete to knock opponents out of the ring with a barrage of grappling moves.

One carrier is already accepting ‘iPhone 9’ preorders

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iPhone-9-KT-preorders
But does it mean anything?
Photo: MySmartPrice

At least one carrier in South Korea has already started accepted preorders for the rumored “iPhone 9.”

Korea Telecom (KT) has plastered posters and banners all over one store that suggest a new Apple handset will arrive immenently. But the picture it is using to depict the device looks awfully familiar.

Coronavirus could have a surprisingly positive impact on App Store revenue

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Coronavirus could have a surprisingly positive impact on App Store revenue
At least, according to one Morgan Stanley analyst.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The spread of the new coronavirus is bad news, but a particularly bullish analyst thinks there’s an upside — for Apple’s bottom line.

In a note to clients, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty suggests that the spread of coronavirus within China will give people more time to buy apps from the App Store.

FBI director says Feds still can’t unlock iPhone in Pensacola shooting case

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FBI director says Feds still can't unlock iPhone in Pensacola shooting case
FBI wants Apple to help it unlock handset.
Photo: Dave Newman/Flickr CC

FBI director Christopher Wray says that the Feds are still unable to access the encrypted data on an iPhone belonging to the shooter responsible for killing three Americans at a Pensacola, Florida naval base in late 2019.

The FBI says that it has reconstructed the phone after it was damaged. But it still can’t access the information on the handset itself.

Health records firm Epic worried policy supported by Apple will hurt patients

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Health records firm worried policy supported by Apple will hurt patients
Apple has supported efforts to streamline health records.
Photo: Apple

Health records company Epic Systems and around 60 hospital chains are pushing back against proposed government policy making it easier for patients to share medical records data with apps. Apple has supported the policy.

Epic sent a letter of opposition, signed by its supporters, to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. Epic’s letter argues the health records sharing push will be “overly burdensome” and “will endanger patient privacy.”

NYC police upgrading from paper notepads to an iPhone app

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The NYPD already issues police officers iPhones.
The NYPD developed its own iPhone app to let officers write activity logs while on duty.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

New York City police officers will soon use an iPhone application to record their daily activities. The officers previously used paper memo pads for these notes, going back to around 1900.

The NYPD’s switch to an iPhone app for taking notes is yet another step in the force’s modernization using Apple devices.

CarKey feature buried in iOS beta might let iPhones replace car keys

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A Tesla Watch app concept.
A concept design for an Apple Watch app designed to communicate with a Tesla.
Photo: Eleks Labs

Apple reportedly added code to iPhone and Apple Watch to let these devices function as car keys, giving users one less thing to constantly carry around.

The company began work on such a feature years ago, and supposedly how has finally reached the point where it’s building the feature into iOS and watchOS.

Apple’s universal purchases will change how you buy and use apps

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app-store
Universal Purchases are coming soon to iOS and Mac apps.
Photo: Apple

Apple is laying the groundwork to make it easier for developers to distribute their apps across all of Apple’s platforms.

Included in Wednesday’s big batch of beta updates, Apple introduced a new option in Xcode 11.4 beta 1 for developers to build and test apps using a single bundle ID. Starting in March, iPhone users will be able to download an app via the iOS App Store and then (if the developer supports it) download it on other Apple platforms with ease.

This simple change might seem like an obvious added convenience for users, but it also sets up the App Store for some colossal changes over the next few years. It will force Apple developers to make some big decisions about their businesses.

Samplr, a groundbreaking iPad music app, gets first update in 5 years

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samplr
Samplr -- almost too good.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Samplr is one of the best-loved iPad music apps. You load up a sample, and then you can play it and manipulate it with your fingers. It’s simple to learn, but capable of incredibly complex and beautiful results. Unfortunately, the developer landed a job at Apple, and Samplr development ceased.

Until now. The groundbreaking iPad music app just received its first update in five (5!) years.

Apple’s new beta updates usher in iCloud folder sharing, universal purchases

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First iPadOS 13.4 Developer beta includes iCloud folder sharing
Developers can install iPadOS 13.4 to test out iCloud folder sharing. The same goes for iOS 13.4 and macOS 10.15.4.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The first pre-release versions of updates for all Apple computers include significant new features. iCloud folder sharing makes its delayed debut. And the ability to buy the iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS versions of third-party software as a single purchase is coming too.

These features appear in the initial developer betas of iOS 13.4, macOS 10.15.4, iPadOS 13.4, tvOS 13.4 and watchOS 6.2.

Apple TV+ basketball series forced to sub out lead actor

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O'Shea Jackson Jr. is bringing his swagger to Apple TV+ basketball show,
O'Shea Jackson Jr. is bringing his swagger to Apple TV+.
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Apple’s upcoming TV series about the life of young basketball players, Swagger, is making a late substitution with its leading actor.

O’Shea Jackson Jr. has been tapped to fill in as the leading actor for Duke Winston who had to drop out of the project. Winston was named as the star of the show back in October but reportedly suffered a serious injury on set, forcing the show to find a new lead.

Spotify paid subscribers outgrow Apple Music

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Spotify app now playing screen
Spotify and Apple Music are competitors, but both play on iPhone.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Spotify enjoys strong growth, with the number of paid subscribers to this streaming music service up 29% year over year. At last report, rival Apple Music wasn’t growing so strongly.

Mode sombre: Google Translate app finally gets Dark Mode option

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Mode sombre: Google Translate app finally gets Dark Mode option
Five months after Dark Mode debuted on iOS 13.
Photo: Google

Google has finally given its Translate app for iPhone and iPad a Dark Mode overhaul, adding a stylish graphical overhaul that’s also easier on your eyes (and, theoretically, your battery life.)

The update comes five months after Apple officially joined the dark side by adding a much anticipated Dark Mode feature for iOS 13.

Foxconn to quarantine iPhone workers amidst coronavirus fears

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Foxconn employees accused of $43 million iPhone scam
HonHai/Foxconn to quarantine some workers at its main iPhone production plant for 14 days.
Photo: Apple

iPhone manufacturer HonHai/Foxconn Technology Group plans to re-open its main factory in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou on February 10, but quarantine its returning workers for 14 days in an abundance of caution as the number of cases of the coronavirus grows.

iPhone XR was India’s no. 1 ‘ultra premium’ smartphone in 2019

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iPhone XR was India’s no. 1 ‘ultra premium’ smartphone in 2019
The iPhone XR was a big hit in India last year. Relatively speaking.
Photo: Apple

Apple was reportedly the fastest growing premium smartphone brand in India last year — with a massive 41% growth year-over-year. The iPhone XR wound up being the country’s most popular “ultra premium” handset, claims Counterpoint Research. This was followed by Samsung’s Galaxy S10 Plus and OnePlus 7 Pro.

That’s great news for Apple. But there’s still a long way to go.

Woz: Steve Jobs was driven by a desire to be important

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Wozniak: Steve Jobs was driven by a desire to be important
Don't they look young? Jobs and Wozniak in the 1970s.
Photo: Apple

Steve Jobs was driven by money and the desire to be important. That’s according to Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak on the latest episode of former Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast.

Woz just wanted to have fun, but Jobs was propelled by something else, Wozniak said on the podcast. “[He] was always looking for little ways to make a next step in money, [and] he wanted to be that important person in life,” Woz told Kawasaki.

30% of tablet shipments last quarter were iPads

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30% of tablets sold last quarter were iPads
Apple dominated tablet shipments last quarter.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

A total of 43.23 million tablets shipped in the last calendar quarter of 2019, a new report from DigiTimes Research claims. Of these, Apple was the number one vendor, responsible for just under one-third of all tablets shipped.

In particular, Apple’s biggest hit was the 10.2-inch iPad, which hit stores in late September 2019.

Apple and Genius team up to bring Verified episodes to Apple Music

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Apple and Genius team up to bring Verified episodes on Apple Music
Artists like Billie Eilish have dissected their own lyrics on previous episodes of Verified.
Photo: Apple

Digital media and lyrics company Genius (previously Rap Genius) has teamed up with Apple to show its popular video series Verified on Apple Music.

Genius has produced more than 800 episodes of the show since 2016. The show features popular artists breaking down the lyrics to their own songs. Artists who have appeared include Billie Eilish, Sting, and Chance the Rapper.

Head of Apple News+ leaves after lackluster start

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Liz Schimel was Apple’s Head of News Business.
Liz Schimel handled the business side of Apple News+, but apparently not any more.
Photo: Condé Nast

Liz Schimel joined Apple’s news division in 2018, and was on board during the launch of News+. But the subscription service hasn’t seen much success, and now Schimel has left the company according to a published report on Tuesday.

Buggy app causes Iowa caucuses voting chaos

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Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg addresses the crowd at a rally in Iowa.
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg addresses the crowd at a rally in Iowa.
Photo: Phil Roeder/Flickr CC

The first U.S. presidential primary of 2020 has been a complete disaster. And it looks like a buggy app is to blame.

Organizers of the 2020 Iowa Democratic Party caucuses used a new app created by developer Shadow Inc. The app was supposed to enable Iowa caucus-goers to securely report the voting results in their precincts. But when it came time for the app to shine, a coding error threw the election into chaos by reporting incorrect data.