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Apple TV+ shows are about ‘quality,’ not demographics

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New episodes of The Morning Show, See, and For All Mankind are up
Apple is taking a different approach to commissioning than Netflix.
Photo: Apple

Apple isn’t just taking on Netflix’s business with Apple TV+; it’s also challenging its philosophy for commissioning shows.

In a new article for Wired, Apple TV+ boss Zack Van Amburg says that the company is going on gut instinct for its new shows. That’s vastly different to Netflix’s famously data-driven approach to commissioning.

How iOS’s brilliant Security Code AutoFill came to be

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How iOS's brilliant Security Code AutoFill came to be
Who didn't smile when they saw this feature in action for the first time?
Photo: Apple

iOS’s Security Code AutoFill is one of those useful features that just delights you whenever you see it in operation. Autofilling security code verification boxes with the codes you receive in texts from places like banks, it’s a brilliantly innovative concept.

This weekend, an Apple engineer took to Twitter to share some information on its origins.

Apple AR is here. Did you notice? [Cult of Mac Magazine 319]

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Apple AR is here: Cult of Mac Magazine 319
The era of Apple augmented reality already dawned. Are you ready for what's next?
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Who needs Apple AR glasses? The era of Apple augmented reality is already here. You just might not have noticed it. Here’s a look at where we are — and where we might be headed.

Get that glimpse of the present/future, along with Apple how-tos and product reviews (including our take on one of the best metal Apple Watch bands yet), in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Grab your free download from the iOS App Store. Or hit the links below to read this week’s best Apple news, reviews and how-tos in your browser.

Plus, don’t miss your chance to enter our Apple Watch Series 5 giveaway. It ends soon!

This virtually unbreakable 3-in-1 charging hub does it all

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Elago-charging-hub
Lightweight, portable, and virtually unbreakable.
Photo: Elago

If you need a charging hub that you can take with you everywhere, you want one that’s going to survive every trip. And you want one that charges all your devices simultaneously.

What you really want is the Elago 3-in-1 charging hub. It tops up your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods — and it’s virtually unbreakable. It’s also a steal at just $30 with free shipping.

Apple takes heat from all sides after pulling Hong Kong map app

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apple keynote
Tim Cook is feeling heat for Apple's decision to pull Hong Kong map app.
Photo: Apple

U.S. lawmakers from both sides of the aisle united to strongly criticize Apple over last week’s decision to pull a live map app used by protestors in Hong Kong.

The bipartisan group, which included Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, wrote a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook voicing “strong concern” over Apple’s decision to remove HKmap.live from the App Store.

iPhone 11 Pro pix of Northern Lights will blow you away

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zach honig's photo of northern lights shot on iphone
Zach Honig's photo of the Aurora Borealis will make iPhone 11 owners flock to the Arctic Circle.
Photo: Zach Honig/The Points Guy

Travel blogger Zach Honig hiked into a remote part of Alaska with a tripod and Sony camera to capture the Northern Lights.

But his best photos came from his new iPhone 11 Pro Max – without a tripod.

Apple signs Fargo writer for multiyear TV+ deal

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Apple spent more than $20 million advertising Apple TV+ last month
Here’s what’s on Apple TV+ right now
Photo: Apple

Apple signed Fargo writer and producer Monica Beletsky to a multiyear Apple TV+ deal. She reportedly will develop a new series exclusively for the upcoming streaming service.

Beletsky is also working on two films for Hello Sunshine, the production company owned by Reese Witherspoon, who stars in Apple’s exclusive news-biz drama The Morning Show.

Here’s your first glimpse of that 16-inch MacBook Pro. Or not.

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beta icon of MacBook Pro
A French blog is reporting this image as proof that Apple is about to roll out a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Screenshot: MacGeneration

Behold, the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro. Now, here’s your grain of salt.

A French blog this morning published what it called a rendering for a new Mac laptop that was discovered hidden in a macOS Catalina beta.

Skeptics, from Twitter to tech news sites, quickly tamped down any excitement by pointing out the icon’s similarities to the current 15-inch model.

Apple AR is already here, and you’re probably wearing it right now [Opinion]

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Apple AR already surrounds us.
Apple’s AR already surrounds us.
Photo: Drew Graham/Unsplash

“Apple is all-in on augmented reality. But where will it lead?” That’s a pretty standard view of Apple’s experiments with visual AR, aka overlaying virtual objects onto the real world, via the iPhone’s camera and screen.

But Apple is already providing a fully immersive AR overlay onto the real world, to millions of users — only it isn’t using a screen. AirPods are augmented reality. They are also a part of a new computing paradigm that Apple snuck into the world without telling anybody. This paradigm currently consists of AirPods, iPhone, Apple Watch and the HomePod. And it is as discreet and low-key as it is important.

Tim Cook meets with China’s chief regulator after map app flap

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Activist shareholders push Apple on why it booted Hong Kong protest app
Activist shareholders push Apple on why it booted Hong Kong protest app
Photo: Fredrik Rubensson/Flickr CC

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with China’s chief market regulator Thursday, a trip likely to attract the tech giant more criticism as tensions fester between the mainland and Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.

Cook’s meeting in Beijing comes one week after it removed a live map app from the App Store that was being used by protestors. Cook said the app, HKmap.live, was pulled after Hong Kong officials presented “credible information” the app was used to target individuals and property with violence where no police were present.

‘AirPods Pro’ with noise cancellation could debut this month

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AirPods 2 pairing with iPhone
I've spent MANY hours with these in my ears.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple is expected to deliver pricier “AirPods Pro” with noise cancellation later this month, according to a new report.

Images of the buds were leaked by Apple in an iOS 13.2 beta earlier this month. They are expected to offer multiple listening modes and could cost around $100 more than the regular models.

iPhone SE 2 is getting BIG upgrades… We fill you in, on The CultCast

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CultCast 410
According a reliable analyst, iPhone SE 2's specs and price will be shockingly good.
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: iPhone SE 2 is almost here! And its specs and price are surprisingly good… Plus: finally! Long awaited camera upgrades are coming to iOS 13; Apple TV+ finally lays out the details of their launch shows; and AMC’s new movie streaming is going to take on Apple Movies with a genius feature Apple can’t possibly match.

Our thanks to Belkin for supporting this episode. Belkin Cables are built to last and supported with a 5-year warranty. If you’re tired of broken burnt out cables, switch to Belkin, and save 30% off your order with code CultCast at checkout.

Apple TV+ original Dickinson premieres in New York

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Dickinson-cast-Apple-TV
The cast of Dickinson at its Brooklyn premiere.
Photo: Apple

Apple this week premiered Dickinson, an original show coming to Apple TV+, at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York.

The half-hour comedy series based on rebellious young poet Emily Dickinson will be available November 1. It is the second show Apple has premiered this week following For All Mankind.

Share the misery by reporting traffic problems to Google Maps

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Report traffic problems with Google Maps
Warn your fellow Google Maps users of crashes, speed traps and other traffic slowdowns.
Photo: Google/Cult of Mac

Google Maps already alerts drivers about crashes and other traffic slowdowns, but the app is just now allowing users to report these incidents on their iPhone.

This has long been a feature of Waze, Google’s other iOS navigation app.

Fitbit hopes to copy Apple Watch’s ECG

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Fitbit Ionic takes on Apple Watch
Fitbit’s offerings have become more sophisticated as they try to catch up to Apple Watch.
Photo: Fitbit

A highlight of the Apple Watch is the ability to tell if the wearer has a heart problem called atrial fibrillation, and rival wearable-maker Fitbit is working to add AFib detection to its smart watches.

macOS 10.15.1 beta 2 brings fresh bug fixes to Mac

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macOS Catalina is here. But proceed from Mojave with caution.
A few new features, a few bug fixes ...
Photo: Apple

Apple is making quick progress on the development of macOS 10.15.1, publishing its second beta build this morning.

macOS 10.15.1 beta 2 arrived for developers today, less than a week after the first beta dropped. The latest dev seed brings a host of bug fixes as Apple tries to patch up some of the holes in macOS Catalina, which launched earlier this month.

Heads up: Apple Arcade free trial subscriptions expire soon

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Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade is a great deal, but it might be time to drop out if it’s not right for you.
Photo: Apple

Everyone who signed up for a free trial of Apple Arcade when this gaming service launched is about to be charged for their first month. The 80+ titles currently available give plenty of options, but anyone who hasn’t warmed up to it should drop out before they get their first bill.

Fortunately, iOS makes this a snap.

Emily Dickinson faces Death in latest Apple TV+ trailer

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Death kindly stops by Dickinson
Death kindly stops to visit Emily Dickinson.
Photo: Apple

Emily Dickinson’s poems often dealt with death and immortality, and that’s reflected in the second trailer for Apple TV+’s Dickinson. She finds herself facing the personification of Death, as well as struggling to make her poetry immortal in a world of men.

Watch it now:

Photoshop for iPad will ship without some key features

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Photoshop-iPad
As the great D:Ream once sang, things can only get better.
Photo: Apple

Adobe is finally close to bringing real Photoshop to iPad. But before you get too excited, you should know that the first version of the app will ship without some key features.

Early testers have described the current state of Photoshop as “rudimentary,” according to a new report. It seems it won’t be replacing its desktop counterpart anytime soon.

iOS 13 reaches more than half of all iPhones in first month

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ios13
Users can't wait to get their hands on iOS 13.
Photo: Apple

iOS 13 is now running on an impressive 55% of all iPhone models introduced in the last four years. It has taken less than a month for adoption to reach that figure. And it puts iOS 13 on par with iOS 12.

iPadOS, now its very own operating system, has reached 41% of all iPads introduced during the same time period.