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News - page 497

Apple may ramp up iPhone production amidst coronavirus concerns

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Apple boots smelter and refiners in crackdown on conflict minerals
Apple could increase iPhone manufacturing by 10% in first six months of the year.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly wants its suppliers to manufacture more than 80 million iPhones in the first half of 2020, a new report from Nikkei claims. If those figures are accurate, it would mean ramping up iPhone production by more than 10% compared to last year.

These units would mostly be Apple’s current-gen iPhone 11 series units. However, there would reportedly also be up to 15 million of the new iPhone SE 2 low-cost device Apple will supposedly introduce in March.

A decade ago, iPad blindsided Windows team

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Steve Jobs with the original iPad
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad 10 years ago today. It wasn‘t good news for Microsoft.
Photo: Apple

Steven Sinofsky has an unusual perspective on the iPad. On the the 10th anniversary of Apple unveiling this tablet computer, the former president of the Windows Division at Microsoft looks back at his reaction to this breakthrough computer.

5 big questions heading into Apple’s first earnings report of 2020

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Earnings call
Apple's Q1 2020 earnings report will probably break some records.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple’s first earnings report of the decade is barely 24 hours away, and Wall Street is praying for another historic quarter.

After defying gravity for the last 12 months, Apple’s soaring stock price suffered its biggest single-day loss in more than six months today. Tuesday’s Q1 2020 earnings, which will cover sales from the 2019 holiday season, could provide the jolt AAPL shares need to start jumping up the charts again. However, certain hot topics — and what Apple says about them — could signal a downturn ahead.

Buying MGM could prove crucial to Apple TV+ growth

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Apple TV+ could acquire MGM, including James Bond.
Apple TV+ could become the new home of James Bond.
Photo: MGM/Cult of Mac

Everything on Apple TV+ today was released in the past few months. But Apple is reportedly in talks to buy MGM, which would bring a catalogue of classic and modern movies to the iPhone maker’s streaming video service.

10 years on: How the iPad changed mobile computing

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IPad Pro one week review
The iPad changed mobile computing forever.
Photo: Andrea Nepori

There were tablet computers before the iPad, but they were thick plastic laptops with the screens reversed, with awful, bendy TFT screens. The first iPad seems thick and clunky now, compared to the latest ultra-thin iPads Pro, but at the time it felt like a slice of the future.

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad a decade ago today, some critics wrote it off as “just a big iPhone.” The only thing was, a lot of people really wanted a big iPhone. And ultimately, the iPad changed mobile computing as we know it.

Uconnect 5 brings CarPlay to all Fiat Chrysler vehicles in USA

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uconnect
The new Uconnect 5 home screen.
Photo: FCA

Apple’s CarPlay infotainment system is finally coming to all of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in North America thanks to a little help from Android.

Fiat Chrysler revealed its new Uconnect 5 platform for cars today that is five times faster than the previous version. FCA says Uconnect 5 was built with future growth in mind and comes with support for CarPlay along with Android Auto and Alexa. It’s basically the Swiss-army knife of in-dash infotainment systems.

Apple, Microsoft join effort to simplify health data access

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Health
Apple could help bring health records into the 21st century.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple will be among the companies represented at a meeting today, hosted by a group that’s supporting the Department of Health and Human Services’ efforts to make it easier for patients to access and share their health data.

The organizers are nonpartisan group Carin Alliance. More than 40 people representing some of the biggest companies in the industry will attend in-person or on the phone. Apple’s representative is Ricky Bloomfield, a doctor with expertise in HealthKit and ResearchKit, who joined Apple in 2016.

Apple teases Beastie Boys Story ahead of April debut

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Beastie-Boys-Story
'Here's a little story they're about to tell...'
Photo: Apple

Apple just dropped a brand-new trailer for its original live documentary on the Beastie Boys.

Beastie Boys Story is scheduled to hit Apple TV+ on April 24. It will feature stage shows with Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz, and is directed by Spike Jonze, who first collaborated with the band on the music video for Sabotage.

Pro snowboarders hit the slopes in latest ‘Shot on iPhone’ ad

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Exclusive: Videographer behind latest Apple ad talks shooting snowboarding on iPhone
It's pretty amazing what you can do on an iPhone these days.
Photo: Apple

Apple has debuted a new snowboarding “Shot on iPhone” video and, well, it’s pretty darn impressive. Photographed by sports videographer Joe Carlino, the ad depicts four snowboarders as they do their thing in British Columbia, Canada.

“Follow past and present Winter X Games snowboarding competitors Red Gerard, Danny Davis, Kimmy Fasani, and Ben Ferguson as they explore untouched powder in the backcountry of the British Columbia Interior at the legendary Baldface Lodge,” the description reads. Check out the video below. You won’t regret it.

Imagination’s newest CEO made it a priority to make up with Apple

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Apple patches things up with mobile GPU maker Imagination
The CEO who helped bring Touch ID tech to the iPhone helped patch up damaged relationship with mobile GPU maker.
Photo: Apple

An Apple-friendly CEO may be the reason Apple patched up its relationship with mobile GPU maker Imagination Technologies, a new report from the Telegraph newspaper suggests.

The publication features an interview with CEO Ron Black. Black took over as CEO and President of Imagination in 2018, one year after Apple and the chipmaker fell out, causing shares to plummet.

‘I admired his humanity’: Tim Cook tweets condolences on death of Kobe Bryant

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Tim Cook tweets condolences on death of Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant pictured at the free-throw line in 2005.
Photo: JoeJohnson2/Wikipedia CC

Tim Cook shared a tribute to Kobe Bryant Sunday after the NBA legend’s death at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also killed in the crash, alongside seven others.

“Devastated and heartbroken by the passing of Kobe Bryant,” Cook wrote. “I admired his athletic prowess from afar and his humanity close up. He was an original. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fans. RIP.”

2020 is the year Apple gets serious about augmented reality

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Apple augmented reality has business potential
Hardware changes in the 2020 iPad and iPhone could noticeably improve augmented reality’s usefulness.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook called augmented reality “the next big thing” this week. But he kept quiet about his company’s specific plans for this emerging technology. So Cult of Mac reached out to industry analysts, who predict that this year’s iPhone and iPad will come with AR equipment built in. And, for the future, they’re optimistic about Apple’s rumored AR glasses.

Good news about iOS 14 compatibility leaks out

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iOS 14 will reportedly run on many older iPhone models
Older models like the iPhone 6S Plus will reportedly get an iOS 14 upgrade.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS 14 almost certainly won’t be unveiled before June, but information leaking out of Apple indicates this next version will offer very wide compatibility for current devices.

News about iPadOS 14 compatibility isn’t quite as good.

Apple donates to coronavirus relief efforts

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Mac attacks are on the up!
Apple is doing what it can to help those affected by the Wuhan coronavirus epidemic.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Thousands of people in China contracted the Wuhan coronavirus, and several cities are been locked down in attempts to keep it from spreading during the Lunar New Year. Apple CEO Tim Cook promises his company will donate to relief efforts in China.

Music tips from guy who made Steve Jobs dance [Cult of Mac Magazine 333]

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After writing tons of Apple tunes, Jonathan Mann launches a podcast.
After writing tons of Apple tunes, Jonathan Mann launches a podcast.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

After finding fame for getting Steve Jobs to dance to his Antennagate song, Jonathan Mann went on to write tons more tunes (many about Apple). Now Mann, aka the Song a Day Guy, has a new podcast that delves into his creative process. He gave Cult of Mac some insight into the gear he uses to power his musical empire.

Read all about it in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. We’ve also got hot tips for Mac, iPod and AirPods owners, plus a couple of juicy product reviews and recommendations. It’s all yours for free in our weekly iOS mag (or you can get the links below).

Apple dreams up curvy iMac concept

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Patent reveals Apple iMac concept
This could be a sneak peek at the 2020 iMac.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The design of the iMac hasn’t changed much in over a decade, but Apple is considering a radical facelift. A proposed future model would consist of a pane of glass that surrounds the display, then curves forward to hold a keyboard and a pair of trackpads.

Take a look at the secret app Apple uses to test iPhone hardware

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iQT
The iQT app is for Apple Technicians only.
Photo: Holt's iPhone Help

Ever visit the Apple store for an iPhone repair and notice the Genius Bar uses special diagnostic apps you’ve never seen before?

Apple keeps its internal-use apps on tight lockdown, but thanks to a forgetful iPhone technician, Apple nerds just got an in-depth look at a secret app called iQT that’s used to make sure every single feature on your iPhone is working properly.

Apple Arcade’s Butter Royale is a Fortnite-like food fight

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Butter Royale on Apple Arcade is a multi-player food fight
Mix food fights with Fortnite to get Butter Royale.
Photo: Mighty Bear Games

Plenty of games drop players into an arena to battle friends or rivals over the internet, but Butter Royale takes a much lighter tone than most. It’s a food fight, not a desperate struggle for survival.

This game for players age 9 and up debuted today on Apple Arcade.

Apple TV+ subscriber numbers could be stronger than many think

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Apple TV+ could have 26 million paying subs by 2025; 2.6 million currently
Apple TV+ is off to a roaring start, it seems.
Photo: Apple

A new analyst report suggests 33.6 million customers were ready and waiting to subscribe to Apple TV+ before its November launch and estimates that number could grow to 40 million subscribers by the end of this year.

If accurate, the numbers from TV industry market analyst Ampere Analysis would put Apple TV+ ahead of Hulu and Disney+, and already at more than 50% of Netflix in the United States.

Trojan using fake Flash updates infects 1 in 10 Macs

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shlayer
The Shlayer Trojan hides in fake Flash update pages like this.
Photo: Kaspersky

A dangerous piece of Mac malware that hides as a fake Flash warning is a growing security threat to Mac users with one in 10 Macs infected, according to the security firm, Kaspersky.

The Shlayer Trojan has been active since early 2018 and so far it shows no signs of going away quietly. Shlayer has had an enormous amount of success attacking Macs, even though it’s a rather normal piece of malware.

Palm-size pillows will have you dreaming about that first Mac

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new Pocket Pillows from
Robert Hoyos has developed new software.
Photo: Throwboy

On this day in 1984, the first Macintosh computers started shipping. Who could have imagined that 36 years later to the day, this iconic machine would be commemorated with a tiny plush pillow that fits in your hand?

Only one person possesses this kind of vision – Roberto Hoyos. His Throwboy brand is launching a crowdfunding campaign today for two new plush Mac toys.

Broadcom lands $15 billion deal with Apple to sell it iPhone components

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Broadcom.logo.on.building
Broadcom has multiple chip deals with Apple. Two new ones increase its partnership value to $15 billion.
Photo: Brad Gibson/Cult of Mac

Chipmaker Broadcom has inked two multi-year deals with Apple to sell it some $15 billion in wireless components for its iPhone product line, the company announced in an SEC filing on Thursday.

The announcement did not specify which components Broadcom would provide to the iPhone maker. The deals apply to “Apple products launched during the three and a half year period beginning in January 2020,” the chipmaker said.

Why everyone’s upset about AirPods Pro, and Tim Cook’s favorite shower tech, this week on The CultCast

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CulCast 424
Finally, you too can shower like Tim Cook. We'll tell you how.
Photo: YSR50

This week on The CultCast: It’s not your imagination — Apple changed AirPods Pro and made them worse! We’ll tell you what’s going on. Plus: A new report says Apple caved to FBI pressure to keep your iCloud backups less safe. And stay tuned to hear about about Tim Cook’s favorite new … shower tech? Rub-a-dub-dub, my friends.

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