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State antitrust probes of Google and Facebook don’t include Apple… yet

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Anti-robocall bill is one step closer to being passed into law
States have launched investigations into Facebook and Google but not Apple.
Photo: rawpixel.com/Pexels CC

Separate groups of US state attorneys general are investigating Facebook and Google for antitrust violations. So far, there has been no word of AGs probing Apple.

However, that doesn’t mean the iPhone maker has escaped probes by other government bodies, both in the US and Europe.

US orders Apple to identify users of rifle scope app

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random riflescope
Justice officials have their sights set on a lot of private data.
Photo: Captaindan/Wikimedia CC

The Department of Justice has ordered Apple and Google to turn over names, phone numbers and IP addresses for users of a gun scope app that allows gun owners to calibrate scopes and capture video.

Data privacy activists say the government’s ask would set a “dangerous precedent,” giving officials access to data on thousands of innocent people.

Apple’s self-driving car sports sleek new sensor array

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Apple car
Apple's self-driving car looks really good.
Photo: The Last Driver License Holder.

Apple made a big update to the design of the sensor array that powers the autonomous functions on its self-driving fleet of cars.

Some eagle-eyed observers in the Cupertino area spotted the new array a couple of times over the last month or so. Instead of having LiDAR and camera sensors mounted on a rack around the car, Apple’s gearheads created a system that’s entirely enclosed. And it looks like they’ve ditched LiDAR in the process.

Watch Apple’s whip drive down the streets of Cupertino.

Siri will one day discuss your health problems with you

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Spanish Siri labels Bolivian president a ‘dictator’
Less "What are you doing" and more "How are you doing?"
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The ability to have back-and-forth conversations about users’ health problems is one of several new abilities planned for Siri in “fall 2021,” a new report claims.

Based on leaked documents, The Guardian says that Apple is planning a host of new features for its AI assistant. These will include built-in machine translation and, intriguingly, support for a new, unspecified piece of Siri hardware.

This is the start of a whole new era for Apple augmented reality

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Apple Park ARKit
Apple's augmented reality journey is just getting started.
Photo: Nobuyuki Hiyashi

When Apple introduced ARKit in 2017, the augmented reality platform was hailed as a game-changer. Two years later, Apple’s AR push looks ready to deliver the type of experience that gets CEO Tim Cook so excited he wants to scream.

Thanks to a trio of new augmented reality tools for iOS 13, and the very real possibility of an Apple AR headset on the horizon, 2019 promises to be the start of something truly special for Apple’s augmented reality efforts.

Applier supplier Foxconn sales hit new record high

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iPhone sales drive Apple’s biggest supplier to big profits
Foxconn is Apple's biggest contract manufacturer.
Photo: CBS

Life is good if you’re Apple’s biggest contract manufacturer! Foxconn, a.k.a. Hon Hai Precision Industry, has reported its highest-ever August sales in the company’s 45-year history.

Foxconn sales hit $12.76 billion for August. That’s up 0.2% from one month earlier. This is the sixth consecutive month in which Foxconn has registered month-on-month increases. While it can’t necessarily all be chalked up to Cupertino, Apple represents more than 40% of Foxconn’s total sales.

Thieves rob Apple Store in San Mateo, escape with 40 items

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Apple Store San Mateo
A (somewhat retro) picture of the Apple Store in San Mateo.
Photo: Apple

An Apple Store in San Mateo’s Hillsdale Shopping Center was targeted by a trio of thieves Thursday night. They escaped from the San Mateo robbery with 40 Apple products.

The San Mateo robbery was reported at 9.01pm Thursday. Cops arrived within two minutes, but the thieves had already escaped. A high-speed pursuit then took place. However, the thieves got away.

iPhone 11 Pro and … one more thing? We talk Apple event leaks on The CultCast

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CultCast 404
According to a noted Apple leaker, a One More Thing is coming our way.
Image: The CultCast

This week on The CultCast: A noted leaker says the September 10 Apple event will include a mythical “one more thing.” Plus: More leaks shine a light on next week’s iPhone announcements; a new turbocharged Apple TV is on the way; and Apple Watch will finally get a long-awaited feature.

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 TV Events app updated ahead of Sept. 10 keynote

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Apple Events app
Apple will unveil new iPhones next week.
Photo: Apple

With Apple’s next keynote event just days away, Apple has updated its Apple Events app for Apple TV. If you own an Apple TV and want to watch Tuesday’s event from the comfort of your couch, this is the app you need.

The September 10 “By innovation only” event kicks off at 10am Pacific/1pm Eastern. A new wallpaper hints at the event’s theme, which many are predicting refers to the new color options for the iPhone 11.

Southwest Airlines customers can now pay with Apple Pay

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Southwest Airlines app
Another way to make your journey a bit easier.
Photo: Southwest Airlines

Apple Pay users flying Southwest Airlines can now use Apple’s mobile payments service for their travels. Customers can use Apple Pay to pay for tickets as well as ancillary services, such as meals, during flights.

“Providing modern digital payment solutions to our Customers is critical,” said Christopher Priebe of Southwest Airlines. “The launch of Apple Pay enhances our ability to sell flights, as well as ancillary products using one of the most widely-used digital wallets in North America.”

Build your own Apple I replica with this handy kit

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SmartyKit Apple-1 replica
This Apple-1 replica can be assembled in a few hours.
Photo: SmartyKit

An original Apple-I unit recently sold for $471,000 but you can assemble your own replica for much, much less.

Steve Wozniak designed and hand-built the original back in 1976. Anyone who wants to assemble their own today can buy the parts and instructions from SmartyKit.

This cute, rubberized keyboard packs proper piano-style keys

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Arturia MicroLab
Looks small, feels big.
Photo: Arturia

This is the new MicroLab from Arturia. It’s a USB MIDI keyboard you can hook up to your Mac, your iPad or your iPhone. It’s tiny — but how does it differ from the zillion other portable MIDI keyboards littering the pages of Amazon? Two ways.

One is that it has a bunch of clever design features that make it great for travel or small desktop setups. The other is that it has big, proper, velocity-sensitive keys, instead of the stupid junky keys on almost every similar MIDI keyboard.

Samsung cancels all Galaxy Fold preorders ahead of launch

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GalaxyFold
The Fold launch as been a total fiasco.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung finally revealed the new launch date for the Galaxy Fold this morning, but if you already pre-ordered, you’ll have to get back in line.

Emails were sent out by Samsung to all customers that pre-ordered the Fold to notify them that their pre-order has been canceled so the company can “rethink the entire customer experience.”

Apple fans can’t wait to pay big bucks for a 5G iPhone

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2020 could be Apple's greatest year so far
Some people are willing to pay a lot for a 5G iPhone.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There’s growing interest in a 5G iPhone, according to survey done by a market-analysis firm. Almost a quarter of current users of Apple handsets would be willing to pay more for an iPhone with a higher-speed wireless connection than the cost of the company’s top-tier device today.

Sonos goes on the Move with its first portable speaker

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Sonos Move
The Move goes where no Sonos speaker ever has before: away from Wi-Fi networks.
Photo: Sonos

The Sonos Move is the first speaker from this company that can be used outside of the home. To make that possible, it’s also the first time Sonos has made a Bluetooth speaker.

It offers Apple’s AirPlay 2 and multiple voice assistants, but not Siri.

This case makes newest iPad Air and iPad mini waterproof

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Catalyst-iPad-Air-mini
Catalyst won't let water ruin your iPad.
Photo: Catalyst

Summer might be almost over, but Apple’s newest iPads are ready for the beach — thanks to the ultra-rugged Catalyst case.

Now available for the most recent iPad Air and iPad mini, Catalyst makes your tablet completely waterproof, and keeps out unwanted debris like sand and dust. It can also handle accidental drops.

Apple sees ‘long-term potential’ in cryptocurrencies

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Antana/Flickr CC
An Apple Coin? Don't rule it out.
Photo: Antana/Flickr CC

Could an Apple cryptocurrency be coming? While it doesn’t sound like it’s on the immediate horizon, Apple Pay VP Jennifer Bailey recently suggested it’s not totally off the table.

It would fit with Apple’s growing embrace of financial services. The company got into mobile payments with Apple Pay in 2014 and released the Apple Card this year. Now, Cupertino appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach on cryptocurrencies.

Apple adman who created iconic commercials sues his former agency

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Apple
Duncan Milner left TBWA earlier this year.
Photo: Apple

A former Apple advertising creative lead, who worked on some of its biggest ad campaigns, has sued his former agency, TBWA. Duncan Milner claims wrongful termination based on age discrimination.

Following the retirement of TBWA boss (and Steve Jobs friend) Lee Clow this year, Milner was told that the company “couldn’t carry his salary anymore.”

iPhone 11’s gorgeous new color options spilled by case-maker

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iPhone-11-Pro-aura
The best one reminds us of another new smartphone.
Photo: Olixar/MobileFun

Stunning new color options for iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro are today revealed in new images from case-maker Olixar.

One supposed finish — which mixes light pastel pink, green and yellow — is similar to the stunning Aura color options available for Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 10.