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iPadOS arrives with the killer iPad features we’ve been craving

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iPadOS launch date
Beta testing is over. iPadOS 13.1 can be installed on any recent Apple tablet.
Photo: Apple

iPadOS 13.1 is now available, ready to be installed on a wide variety of iPad models. It brings features Apple tablet users have long been asking for: allowing applications to open multiple windows, support for mice, full access to USB drives, and much more.

This new version was announced in June and has been in beta testing all summer so there are no surprises. But the time for testing is over. Almost everyone with an iOS tablet made in the past five years can install iPadOS.

iPhone 11 Pro Max battery beats Galaxy Note 10+ by hours

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iPhone 11 Pro Max battery outlasts four recently-released smartphones
iPhone 11 Pro Max outlasted four recently-released marquee smartphones in a battery showdown.
Photo: Mr. Whosetheboss

In a head-to-head “torture test” challenge, the iPhone 11 Pro Max battery not only lasted longer than the ones in Apple’s other 2019 handsets — it beat Samsung’s new flagship model by a wide margin.

Apple put its largest battery ever in the new 6.5-inch iOS device, and it’s clearly paying off.

iPadOS shuts up all those ‘not a real computer’ claims [Opinion]

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With iPadOS, you're one step closer to replacing your Mac with an iPad.
With iPadOS, you're one step closer to replacing your Mac with an iPad.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

iOS 13 is pretty great on the iPhone, but the real deal is iPadOS 13. With the new operating system, Apple split its tablet and phone platforms for the first time since the launch of the original iPad, and the tablet went in a whole new direction. iPadOS is still iOS, but now there are contextual menus, multiple windows for apps, a home screen that isn’t just a blown-up iPhone home screen, and a proper web browser. You can even plug in mice and USB hard drives.

Apple managed a fine balancing act here. If you update to iPadOS 13 and don’t really think about it, then everything (mostly) works the same, with just extra speed and polish. But if you want to dig in, you will find a whole new computer just below the surface.

5G iPhone could be a lot bigger than Wall Street thinks

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2020 could be Apple's greatest year so far
Multiple 5G iPhones are expected to arrive in September 2020.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Jefferies equity analyst Kyle McNealy thinks that the arrival of a 5G iPhone is going to be much bigger for Apple than Wall Street realizes.

The first 5G iPhones are set to arrive toward the end of 2020. McNealy thinks that in the following year, 2021, Apple will sell 208 million iPhones. That’s well above the 190 million total handset sales Wall Street estimates are predicting.

olloclip inventor creates clever clip to carry AirPods

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AirPods clip accessory The Anchor
The Anchor with its titanium carabiner next to a pretty titanium Apple Watch.
Photo: Patrick O'Neill

Patrick O’Neill created the olloclip, a clip-on lens system for the iPhone camera that sold millions and is now featured on the Apple web page for accessory designers as an example of compatible design.

Now O’Neill brings his clip-sense design to AirPods with an attachment solution for the charging case.

Apple-backed Clean Energy Fund invests in 3 wind farms in China

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Apple Clean Energy Fund is investing in wind farms.
One of the new wind farms being backed by Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple-backed China Clean Energy Fund is backing three wind farms in China. Each farm is capable of generating 48 megawatts of clean energy.

All the companies involved in the fund are Apple suppliers (plus Apple.) Together, they will invest $300 million by 2022. These projects will ultimately generate a whopping 1 gigawatt of renewable energy.

Apple TV+ has a major advantage in the streaming wars

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Apple spent more than $20 million advertising Apple TV+ last month
Apple is the company to beat in this space. Well, and Amazon, too.
Photo: Apple

Apple may be a relative latecomer to the streaming video arena but media consultant Michael J. Wolf of Activate Consulting thinks that it’s got a big advantage. Along with Amazon, that is.

In an interview with CNBC‘s “Squawk Box,” Wolf laid out reason why. And it’s a twist on the old Alan Kay saying that a company serious about software should build its own hardware, too.

Apple will hype TV+ shows in upcoming creative sessions at Fifth Avenue store

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Apple will show off Apple TV+ at its Fifth Avenue Apple Store.
Apple recently reopened its Fifth Avenue Apple Store.
Photo: Apple

Apple is using its Apple Store “Today at Apple” creative sessions to showcase Apple TV+ content. As part of upcoming events at its newly reopened Fifth Avenue Apple Store, Apple will focus on promoting films and TV shows from its streaming video service.

In one case this will involve an appearance from the crew behind the production.

Why Fortnite’s big matchmaking changes are good for everyone

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Fortnite iOS 14
Everyone should welcome skill-based matchmaking.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Epic Games has confirmed major matchmaking changes are coming to Fortnite in this week’s 10.40 update.

The changes are designed to make Battle Royale a little easier and therefore more enjoyable for inexperienced players. But here’s why it could be good news for every Fortnite fan.

App Store prices climb in Japan as tax increases

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iOS 11 iPad Pro
Look out for the changes next month.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple will raise App Store pricing in Japan next month in line with an update to Japan Consumption Tax (JCT).

The increase will affect sales and in-app purchases, but not auto-renewable subscriptions. Only the most affordable tier priced at ¥120 will avoid the change.

Apple Music introduces new ‘Lyrics to Live By’ video series

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Apple just launched its Lyrics to Live By video series
Apple is shining a spotlight on lyrics.
Photo: Apple

Apple has launched a new “Lyrics to Live By” video series. The video series features artists explaining the meaning of some of their best known lines.

It accompanies iOS 13’s new real-time lyrics feature which turns Apple Music into a karaoke experience. It lets users view scrolling song lyrics for the music they listen to.

iPhone 11 ultra-wide camera disappoints RAW shooters

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the three view of the iPhone 11 Pro
The three views from the iPhone 11 Pro's three rear-facing cameras.
Photo: Apple

What makes the iPhone 11 Pro a Pro smartphone? It’s definitely not the ultra-wide camera.

According to Ben Sandofsky, co-developer of the photo app Halide, the ultra-wide camera does not support RAW capture of images or allow photographers to manually focus the camera.

Nixed bilateral charging could have been iPhone 11 Pro exclusive

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iPhone 11 teardown disassembled
Taking an iPhone 11 to pieces finds no sign of one rumored feature, but hints Apple Tags could still be on the way.
Photo: iFixit

A teardown of the iPhone 11 finds Apple’s less-expensive handset lacks any sign of inverse wireless charging. iFixit did discover hardware possibly related to this rumored feature in the iPhone 11 Pro series, however.

An X-ray of the iPhone 11 does turn up evidence of ultra-wideband support, however. That will prove important if Apple launches the item-tracking tags that also showed up in many rumors.

Amazon plans to launch cheaper AirPods alternative

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AirPods supplier confident of booming business through 2021
AirPods are getting some fresh compeition.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Amazon is gearing up to take on Apple with its own set of wireless earbuds that pack some features AirPods can’t match.

Apple’s HomePod speaker could get some tougher competition from Amazon too as the company is also reportedly working on a bigger Echo smart speaker that will have better sound quality.

Galaxy Fold debacle nears its end with US launch coming Friday

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Galaxy Fold specs
Despite its problems, the Galaxy Fold is likely a harbinger of many folding phones to come.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s demonstration on the dangers of letting one’s reach exceed one’s grasp is almost over. The Galaxy Fold, the first mass-market phone with a foldable display, will reach US customers’ hands on Friday, many months after first scheduled.

Despite well-publicized problems, this company is already hard at work on a more affordable version. And rivals, including Apple, are also considering flexible screen handsets.

iPhone 11 is first phone to survive this brutal torture test

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Apple has raised $220 million to fight AIDS-related deaths in Africa
Apple has raised $220 million to fight AIDS-related deaths in Africa
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

We know Apple’s new iPhone 11 lineup is its toughest yet. And a number of rudimentary drop tests have already proven that. But what do more scientific torture tests tell us about its strength?

SquareTrade used a series of punishments to simulate real-world incidents that could damage your pricey new phone. It says iPhone 11 is the only handset to survive its brutal tumble test.

iPhone 11 Pro Max wins highest-ever A+ score from DisplayMate

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iPhone 11 Pro Max display specs
The OLED display in the iPhone 11 Pro Max has some impressive specs.
Photo: Apple

The experts at DisplayMate positively gushed about the quality of the iPhone 11 Pro Max display. They call the screen “almost certainly considerably better than your existing Smartphone, 4K UHD TV, Tablet, Laptop and computer monitor.”

The crisp OLED screen in Apple’s newest flagship handset met or exceeded the test lab’s records in color accuracy, brightness, reflectance and more.

Apple will make the new Mac Pro in Texas

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Mac-Pro-manufacturing-US
Mac Pro manufacturing isn't going anywhere.
Photo: Apple

Apple today confirmed that its brand new Mac Pro will be manufactured in Austin, Texas. It will soon enter production at the same facility where the last Mac Pro was assembled.

The move is part of Apple’s commitment to U.S. economic growth, it says. It is currently on track to invest $350 billion into its home country by 2023.

Got a new Apple Watch? Now get the best price for your old one

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watchOS 5
Avoid selling your old Apple Watch to Apple.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Now that you have your shiny new Apple Watch Series 5, it’s time to make back some of the money you just spent by selling your old model. But don’t take it to the Apple Store.

Apple will offer you just a fraction of what your old Apple Watch is really worth. Make a lot more by selling yours to Cult of Mac instead.

Price of iPhone 11 with space history is out of this world

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Gargarin space craft, Titanic iPhones from Caviar
Caviar's customized iPhone 11 Pro models have fragments of historic ships, Yuri Gargarin's Vostok 1, left, and the Titanic.
Photo: Caviar

Caviar is a Russian jeweler that routinely applies precious gems and gold-plating to iPhones to sell to the rich.

Now it is working with new materials – pieces of the Titanic and the first manned spaced craft.

Drop test confirms iPhone 11 is a tank

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iphone11
The iPhone 11 can take a licking and keep on ticking.
Photo: Apple

Apple advertised the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro’s toughness as one of the new devices’ big selling points. But just how durable are Apple’s latest handsets?

Reviewers seemed unwilling to test this out, lest they damage their highly coveted review units. But now that the iPhone 11 is available for sale, an early drop test reveals just how tough the new phones are.

Apple chipmaker may start volume production of 5nm chips in March

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Apple chipmaker racing ahead with its next next-gen nanometer process
Could next year's iPhone chip be made using a cutting-edge 5-nanometer process?
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro is just making its way into customers’ hands. But work is already underway for next year’s handset refresh.

According to a new report, Apple chipmaker TSMC is gearing up to carry out volume production of its next-gen chips as early as March. And they could offer a major boost over this year’s A13 Bionic chips!