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News - page 513

It’s Friday: 4 new episodes of Apple Originals land on Apple TV+

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Truth Be Told on Apple TV+
Well, that's your weekend viewing sorted!
Photo: Apple

It’s Friday, which means Apple just unleashed new episodes of Apple TV+ shows. Apple today debuted new installments of The Morning Show, For All Mankind, Truth Be Told and Servant. That should be enough to keep you entertained over the weekend.

Here’s what this week’s new Apple TV+ episodes have in store.

PewDiePie’s newest game is too disgusting for the App Store

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Poopdie
Poopdie is an Android exclusive for now.
Photo: Bulbware

YouTube’s biggest star just dropped a brand-new game for mobile devices, but you won’t be playing it on iPhone. Poopdie is a “poopcrafting adventure” from PewDiePie that’s too disgusting for the App Store.

Its developers this week confirmed the title was rejected by Apple for “crude imagery” — despite its cartoon visuals aimed at kids.

Apple Watch finally gets cellular support in New Zealand

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Apple Watch Series 5 California Face
It could be one of many new faces.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch users in New Zealand can now take advantage of cellular connectivity on compatible devices.

Local carrier Spark has become the first to roll out eSIM support and a new plan aimed specifically at wearables. It only serves Apple Watch Series 5 for now — but support for other devices will come later.

Apple Arcade gets a star-studded sports franchise with Ultimate Rivals

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Ultimate Rivals on Apple Arcade
This isn't your everyday sports franchise.
Photo: Apple/Bit Fry Game Studios

Apple Arcade is getting a sports franchise — and it sounds all kinds of intriguing. Ultimate Rivals brings together all-star athletes from different pro sports eras and leagues, including the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, WNBA and US Women’s National Soccer Team.

Boasting a cartoony style, the game series will let you pit athletes from different sports against one another. The first game in the series? A two-on-two hockey game called Ultimate Rivals: The Rink.

Check out the trailer below:

Apple scoops up UK startup that could boost iPhone camera’s powers

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iphone11promax
The iPhone 11 Pro's excellent camera is about to get even better.
Photo: Apple

Future iPhone cameras could get some big upgrades thanks to the latest company Apple purchased in the U.K.

Spectral Edge, a start-up that combines image processing with machine learning to create sharper smartphone photos, has quietly been acquired by Apple, giving the iPhone a potentially huge advantage over its competitors.

Crazy-popular AirPods match ‘peak iPod’ sales

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AirPods-Pro-vs-AirPods
Don’t underrate AirPods. They are as iconic as the iPod ever was.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

AirPods contribute as much to Apple’s bottom line as the iconic iPod did at its peak, according to an industry analyst. And Apple Watch long since passed that milestone.

Combined, Apple’s Wearables and Home products are expected to far outsell Mac and iPad this quarter.

Latest iOS update gives older iPhones longer battery life, better performance

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iPhone
The iPhone 8 and other Apple handsets see real benefits from iOS 13.3.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

There are sometimes concerns that new iOS versions will cut the battery life of older iPhone models, or slow down performance. Tests on a variety of Apple handsets with the just-released iOS 13.3 show just the opposite — this update not only speeds up these devices, it increases the time between charges.

Which buttons should Apple bring back next?

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Buttons. Who doesn't love them? What buttons should Apple add to its products going forward?
Buttons. Who doesn't love them?
Photo: Diomari/Unsplash CC

It may have nothing to do with Jony Ive leaving the company, but Apple has been adding buttons back to its devices. It’s a slow start, but hopefully it’s the beginning of a trend. The new 16-inch MacBook Pro added an Escape key, and a separate power button (you can press the Touch ID button). Plus, the recently introduced iPhone 11 battery case added a dedicated camera button.

After what seems like decades of removing useful hardware features, is Apple finally seeing the error of its ways? And, if so, what buttons would we like to see next? Let’s take a look at the current lay of the land.

Little America gets second season deal for Apple TV+

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Kumail Nanjiani
Kumail Nanjiani speaking at Apple's big media event in March 2019.
Photo: Apple

Apple is so confident in one of its upcoming TV shows that it’s already been greenlit for a second season before the first season has even debuted on Apple TV+.

Season one of Little America, an anthology series about the lives of American immigrants, is set to air on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. Created by The Big Sick writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, along with Lee Eisenberg, the season is comprised of eight 30-minute long episodes and Apple just shared snippets on what each one is about.

Orangetheory Fitness launches workout tracker for Apple Watch

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Orangetheory Fitness rower
The Orangetheory Fitness franchise has created a small accessory that attaches to an Apple Watch band to track your heart rate during exercise.
Photo: Orangetheory Fitness

The nation’s 13th-largest health club chain, Orangetheory Fitness, will begin supporting Apple Watch in its 1,300 franchise studios by March, the company said Thursday. That will make it the first fitness brand to officially partner with Apple on a fitness studio solution.

The fitness franchise created a small accessory, called the OTbeat Link, that attaches to an Apple Watch band to track the heart rate of customers during exercise classes.

Apple starts shipping first Mac Pro orders

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Mac Pro cheese grater
You might be better off with iMac Pro instead.
Photo: Apple

You will soon have something to show for that $5,999+ you just handed over to Apple. The first Mac Pro orders have today started shipping out to customers. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this Friday, December 13.

Apple wants to put a holographic display right next to your eyeballs

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Apple glasses
These concept Apple augmented reality glasses might have just taken a step closer to reality.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Rumors that Apple is hard at work on augmented reality glasses got some solid proof today. The company received a patent on a near-eye display design intended for just such an accessory.

And there’s an interesting mention of a “holographic optical element.”

Analyst claims iPhone shipments collapsed 35% in China last month

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
But is it accurate?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhone shipments in China reportedly had a rough time in November. According to Credit Suisse analyst Matt Cabral, iPhone shipments declined “meaningfully” last month — to the tune of approximately 35.4% year-on-year.

If true, that’s lagging far behind the rest of the Chinese smartphone market, which increased 0.2% year-on-year.

Opera GX is the world’s first ‘gaming browser’ for Mac

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Opera-GX-Mac
Try Opera GX on Mac today.
Photo: Opera

There’s a brand-new version of the Opera web browser aimed at gamers — and it’s out today on Mac in early access. Opera GX offers a unique set of tools designed to enhance your desktop gaming experience.

The browser lets you free up important resources that you need while gaming. It can also put your favorite Twitch streams right on top of your games, so you can watch while you play.

Apple’s support helps Japan Display nail down an extra $830 million bailout

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International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
Japan Display is getting some help from Japanese asset manager Ichigo Asset Management.
Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC

Struggling Apple display maker Japan Display claims it has nailed down an extra $830 million in bailout financial support from Japanese asset manager Ichigo Asset Management.

Ichigo joins Apple and Apple contract manufacturer Wistron in the effort to save the beleaguered business. And it wouldn’t have done it without Cupertino’s support.

The Last Remnant Remastered gets a surprise release in the App Store

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The Last Remnant Remastered gets a surprise release in the App Store
From the company that brought you the Final Fantasy games.
Photo: Square Enix

The Last Remnant Remastered, an updated version of Square Enix’s 2008 RPG for Xbox 360, has received a surprise release on iOS.

The game depicts a world divided into multiple city-states, inhabited by four different species. The player controls Rush Sykes, a human who is searching for his sister during a war between the different groups, who are battling over magical artifacts. It was developed by many of the team members who worked on the SaGa and Final Fantasy games.

Check out a teaser trailer below.

Apple requests DMCA removal of iPhone security tweet, then changes its mind

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Apple requests DMCA removal of iPhone security tweet. Then changes its mind
Apple has a complex relationship with security researchers.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple recently filed a DMCA takedown request relating to information posted by an independent iPhone security researcher. The researcher, Siguza, posted a tweet featuring a possible encryption key for the iPhone’s Secure Enclave Processor.

Apple later backtracked and allowed the tweet to be reposted. Even so, security researchers are accusing Apple of abusing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

NYC commuters can now use Apple Pay at busy Penn Station

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Glitch causes some Apple Pay Express Transit users to be overcharged
The northbound local platform at Penn Station.
Photo: Gryffindor/Wikipedia CC

Commuters can now use Apple Pay, along with other contactless payments systems, to pay for their travel at New York’s Penn Station.

That’s because the subway station has adopted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s OMNY contactless fare payment system. The 34th Street-Penn Station is one of the busiest transport hubs in North America. This should help make travel from there a little bit more bearable.

2019 Mac Pro isn’t the most expensive Mac ever. Not by a long shot.

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2019 Mac Pro and original Macintosh 128K: Which cost more.
One of these two cost a lot more than the other. Which one might surprise you.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

There has been much handwaving over the $5,999 price tag on the 2019 Mac Pro. It’s often been criticized for being Apple’s expensive computer ever.

But it’s not. And it’s not even close, if you factor in inflation. Many of the early Macs cost much more than $6,000 in today’s dollars.