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Apple steps up smart home fight against Amazon and Google

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The HomePod -- a beautiful body with the brain of an idiot.
Apple wants to make a bigger mark on your home.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple is ramping up its smart home efforts in a bid to better compete against Amazon and Google, according to a new report.

Cupertino is said to be hiring for a team that will be focused on revamping HomeKit software and devices. It also wants to encourage more third-party manufacturers to support its platform.

Early review calls Apple TV+’s The Morning Show a ‘painful belly flop’

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Early review calls The Morning Show ‘a painful bellyflop’
This was the first show Apple commissioned for Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

Remember that story about how the logo for The Morning Show, one of Apple TV+’s flagship shows, looked suspiciously like the logo for Elon Musk’s The Boring Company? It turns out that may have been a bad omen.

Ahead of Apple TV+’s November 1 launch, the first reviews are out for its star-studded newsroom drama/comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell. And, well, they’re far from the blockbuster reviews Apple likely hoped for from its show that costs more than Game of Thrones.

iOS 13 Mail tweak is causing people to accidentally delete messages

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Tweet regading iOS 13 tweak that moved trash can
The trash can is an icon that deserves to be returned to its rightful place.
Screenshot: John Roberts/Twitter

Why did Apple change its Mail app by placing the trash can icon where the reply arrow used to be?

Several iPhone users who updated to iOS 13 have asked that same question, taking to Twitter to vent and find a growing community of people who have accidentally deleted emails.

Spotify is adding 2x as many monthly subscribers as Apple Music

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Spotify is adding 2x as many monthly subscribers as Apple Music
Spotify reported some great fiscal quarterly earnings.
Photo: Spotify

Spotify’s third fiscal quarter figures show that it is growing considerably faster than Apple Music.

“We continue to feel very good about our competitive position in the market,” the streaming giant noted in a statement. “Relative to Apple, the publicly available data shows that we are adding roughly twice as many subscribers per month as they are. Additionally, we believe that our monthly engagement is roughly 2x as high and our churn is at half the rate.”

2020 iPhone will boast Apple’s fastest, best-looking display yet

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Apple supplier will start building crucial iPhone component in India
New iPhone will borrow tech which debuted with the 2017 iPad Pro.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The 2020 iPhone will reportedly take a page out of the iPad Pro’s playbook, adopting a 120Hz display that will allow for more fluid scrolling, greater responsiveness and smoother motion content.

Apple introduced the 120Hz ProMotion iPad Pro back in 2017. It now seems that the same technology could find its way to the iPhone, doubling the display refresh rate from its current 60Hz.

Apple’s software VP offers advice to up-and-coming coders

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Apple's Software Engineering VP offers advice to up-and-coming coders
Craig Federighi shared some of his career lessons with a would-be employee.
Photo: Apple

One of the cool things about Apple is how accessible its senior execs are. Steve Jobs started the practice of making his email address public knowledge, and would often respond to users’ comments. Tim Cook continued that philosophy, and has said he spends hours responding to people’s emails.

Over the weekend, an email posted to Reddit featured Craig Federighi’s message to a young fan wanting to pursue coding. Here’s what Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering had to say.

Former Apple designer responds to Trump’s iPhone critique

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Apple shares suffer biggest decline since August
Trump: Not a fan of Apple's decision to ditch the Home button, apparently.
Photo: White House

As an iPhone UI designer, you need to have a thick skin. First, you have to defend your idea internally at Apple. Then members of the public endlessly critique your work upon its release. The one thing you probably don’t expect, though? For the president of the United States to slam your painstaking creation.

That’s exactly what happened to former Apple user interface prototyping team member Linda Dong. In a Sunday tweet, she commented on President Donald Trump’s recent declaration about the iPhone X interface.

AirPods Pro might offer all the new features we’re asking for

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ESR AirPods Pro case
This ESR case is designed to protect the redesigned case for AirPods Pro.
Photo: ESR

UPDATE: The wait wasn’t long: Apple’s new AirPods Pro with noise cancellation are already here.

 

Apple is reportedly about to take its wireless earbuds professional. Get ready for AirPods Pro with noise cancellation and a range of color options.

But they’ll also supposedly cost dramatically more than Apple’s current in-ear headphones.

Apple’s 2020 vision: Whole lotta hardware [Cult of Mac Magazine 320]

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Apple's 2020 vision: Whole lotta hardware
Next year looks like it's going to be a blockbuster.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

If the rumors prove true, next year will bring a wave of new Apple hardware. We’re talking a major iPhone revamp, new Macs and Apple Watches, and even (possibly) augmented reality glasses.

Read all about the latest Apple hardware rumors and predictions in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it free from the iOS App Store. The latest issue also explains why we’re hooked on Apple Arcade, along with reviews of several tasty bits of gear. Plus, as usual, you’ll find how-tos for iPhone, Apple Watch and other Apple products.

Bonus: Enter our Apple giveaways

Enter our latest giveaways for your shot at winning some awesome Apple gear. First, we’re giving away a great prize consisting of an iPhone 11, AirPods and a custom Belkin charging pad. And second, our Apple Watch Series 5 giveaway ends next week. Enter both giveaways now!

Beautiful drone shots in Apple’s new privacy ad will creep you out

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privacy
Apple's camera man killed it on this ad.
Photo: Apple

Apple just posted a new video advertisement on Youtube, as the company does from time to time.

The ad is about privacy on iPhone which has been one of the company’s biggest talking points over the last few years. Honestly, I don’t think a single word from the ad actually entered my ears. I was too blown away with the creepy beautiful FPV drone shots that transport you from being a distant observer to an intimate guest in someone’s life.

Check it out:

United Airlines teams up with Apple for SFO makeover

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United
Apple spends a lot of money on United Airlines tickets.
Photo: United Airlines

San Francisco International Airport could soon get some serious tech upgrades thanks to Apple. The iPhone-maker is reportedly in discussions with United Airlines about giving the carrier’s SFO terminal a much-needed makeover.

Swordfight with terrorists or wash pigs in new Apple Arcade games

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Apple Arcade adds Fallen Knight, Hogwash, and more
Additions to Apple Arcade let you run around a barnyard as a muddy pig, or clobber legends of Slavic myth.
Photo: Apple

Five newly released Apple Arcade games run the gamut from a side-scroller starring Lancelot wielding a laser sword all the way to a farmhand chasing down muddy pigs.

With these varied additions, Apple has almost reached the goal of 100 titles in its recently launched subscription gaming service.

Apple starts shooting second season of For All Mankind next month

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Apple starts shooting second season of For All Mankind next month
'For All Mankind' answers the question, what if the Soviets have reached the moon first?
Photo: Apple

Apple is apparently very confident of success for its Apple TV+ series For All Mankind. With a week still to go before Apple launches its streaming TV service, it is gearing up to shoot a second season of the big budget space race show.

Actor Joel Kinnaman revealed that he will be filming the second series simultaneously with the sequel to Suicide Squad. Shooting will commence in a couple of weeks.

Apple removes 17 malware apps that secretly clicked on ads

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Apple pays $467k for doing business with blacklisted app developer
Apple has given malware apps the boot.
Photo: Apple

Apple quietly removed 17 sketchy apps from the App Store for delivering malware. All made by one developer based in India, the apps secretly generated money by clicking ad links and opening background windows without users’ knowledge.

Although less malicious than some other malware, the apps still threatened to slow down devices or drain batteries.

Mouse support on iPad could be ‘perfect distruption’ to PC gaming

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iPad Pro as your desktop computer
There's just one problem — and that's Apple.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Better mouse support on iPad could be the “perfect disruption” to PC gaming, one analyst believes.

Apple has already added the ability to control iPhone and iPad with a mouse in its latest software updates. Future enhancements could help it become a more compelling notebook computer replacement.

But will Apple ever give us full mouse support in iPadOS?

16-inch MacBook Pro leaks! We talk about them, on The CultCast

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CultCast #411
A new leak shows the 16-inch MacBook Pro isn't quite what we expected...
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: The new 16-inch MacBook Pro just leaked, but its “new design” leaves a lot of people disappointed. Plus, we’ll tell you why 2020 could deliver Apple’s most impressive hardware in years. And stick around for our favorite new router, mouse, keyboard and iPhone 11 case in an all-new Under Review!

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Apple awarded prize for ‘environmental leadership’ in China

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Apple awarded prize for 'environmental leadership' in China
Apple has pushed its supply chain to shape-up on environmental issues.
Photo: Apple

Apple has scooped up a first-of-its-kind prize for its environmental work in China.

The company was awarded the Green Supply Chain CITI Outstanding Brand title for “environmental leadership” across its entire supply chain. It’s a recognition of all the work Apple has done in the country.

Gmail finally goes dark for iOS 13

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Gmail iOS iPhone X
Get the latest update today.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Gmail is the latest to pick up a brand-new dark mode for iOS 13.

Google started making the feature available to a small number of users back in September — but now all should be able to take advantage of it. And it looks particularly good on OLED displays.

Woz: I don’t think true self-driving cars will arrive in my lifetime

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Woz: I don’t think true self-driving cars will arrive in my lifetime
Woz isn't convinced the technology will arrive any time soon.
Photo: Nichollas Harrison/Wikimedia Commons CC

Apple is working hard on a self-driving car project, but company co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak seemingly isn’t convinced that autonomous vehicles will be ruling the roads anytime soon.

At a recent auto conference, Woz pulled back his predictions about when self-driving cars will take over; saying that there are too many challenges in Level 5 autonomous vehicles.