An odd-ball scheme to let iPhone users talk to each other directly, device-to-device has reportedly been shelved.
This walkie-talkie feature would have required special hardware, and been used when cellular-networks aren‘t available.
An agreement between the United States and France will take some of the sting out of a French digital tax on wealthy tech companies like Apple, according to an announcement today that closed the G7 Summit.
In July, France enacted a 3% tax on revenues earned on digital services in the country. The tax hits any foreign company making more than $25 million in digital revenue in France. This prompted President Donald Trump to threaten the U.S. ally with tariffs on French wine.
US-based Globalfoundries filed multiple patent-infringement lawsuits against TSMC, the Taiwanese company that manufactures the processors used in all iPhone and iPad models. It also sued Apple, Google and others that make products with TSMC chips.
The lawsuits seek the block the import into the US and Germany of all semiconductors made with what Globalfoundries claims is its intellectual property.
Apple just introduced an update to iOS 12.4 that likely fixes a security flaw that allowed a jailbreak to be created for this version — the first in years.
There don’t appear to be any other changes in iOS 12.4.1.
The extra-large Galaxy Note 10+ survived a series of drop tests just a bit better than the iPhone XS Max.
Neither device came out unscathed from being dropped 1 meter onto cement as both are sheathed in glass. The question is whether the screen and back are shattered or just cracked.
The Zens Liberty is designed to overcome one of wireless charging’s hassles: it won’t be necessary to carefully arrange the handset on this pad thanks to its 16 charging coils.
This was one of the promises of Apple’s AirPower, but packing too many coiled into a small pad reportedly caused such such problems with excess heat that this product was eventually cancelled.
Even more leaked details give us our best picture yet of all the new features coming to iPhone 11 this fall. Plus, we might get a smaller Apple Pencil this year, and new HomePods and AirPods in 2020.
Get the latest on Apple’s upcoming smartphone (and other big products in the pipeline) in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.
We’re also serving up tips and how-tos — including one on accessing super-secret Mac settings — as well as new gear reviews and recommendations. Prefer to read in your browser? Get all the week’s best links below.
Apple’s facial-recognition system debuted on the iPhone and later expanded to the iPad. It’s high time Apple brought Face ID to the MacBook line, too.
There are people who aren‘t fans of Face ID because they’ve only used it on on iPhone. Don’t fall into that trap. It’s genuinely a better fit for the iPad and even more suited for a MacBook.
This week we rock out with Queens’ Brian May, unsend email with Fastmail, read the news later with Feedbin, and way more.
August 25, 2016: An ultra-rare Apple-1 computer raises $815,000 in a charity auction, one of the highest prices ever paid for one of the machines. Bidding actually reaches $1.2 million in the auction’s final minutes. However, that bid gets pulled seconds before a winner is announced.
The reason for the super-high price? This “Celebration” Apple-1 boasts a feature that did not appear on any production models of the computer.
The 2019 iPhone lineup is just weeks away from getting its grand unveiling. And according to recent rumors, it could be a lot more exciting than we first anticipated.
Faster chips and an extra camera sensor may not be the only reasons to upgrade this year. Two-way wireless charging, improved Face ID, and Apple Pencil support could also be on Apple’s list.
Here’s everything we expect from next month’s iPhone refresh.
Carrying essential accessories with you wherever you go can be a nightmare. Your wires can get tangled, your AirPods can get lost, and your Apple Pencil can end up in more than one piece. That’s why you need the Bento Stack.
This compact, multi-compartment storage solution keeps more than 10 must-have accessories neatly organized when you’re on the road. It’s a must-have if you’re a frequent traveler.
Apple and Disney are launching streaming video services this fall. Despite these being rivals, Apple will make money off both. There will be Disney+ apps for iOS and Apple TV, and consumers will be able to subscribe with in-app purchases, which means Apple gets a hefty cut of the revenue.
Plus, Star Wars fans can be assured they’ll be able to watch The Mandalorian when it debuts Nov. 12 with their iPad or other Apple computer.
The first Apple Watch with 4G cellular-wireless networking came out years ago, and design work for a 5G version is already going on.
Such a wearable will offer faster data transfer speeds, as well as quicker connections.
Use the image of an apple in a logo and the tech company Apple calls its patent attorneys.
Now Apple finds itself on the other side of a design patent question with the logo for the upcoming series The Morning Show, which looks strikingly similar to the logo for Elon Musk’s The Boring Company.
Apple has laid off the contractors whose job it was to listen to Siri recordings to improve the quality of Apple’s voice assistant.
Contractors in Ireland had their fixed term contracts “abruptly terminated” this week. This followed Apple suspending the practice last month. During each shift, employees supposedly listened to 1,000 Siri recordings.
HomePod is now on sale in Japan and Taiwan for the first time.
The smart speaker can be purchased from Apple Stores, the Apple Online Store, and from select cellphone retailers.
Apple is developing rooftop solar arrays with a company best known for making soy sauce, a new report claims.
The Cupertino company has supposedly teamed up with Taiwan’s Wan Ja Shan Brewery Co. as part of its continued push to use renewable energy.
The Fortnite B.R.U.T.E. almost every player hates finally saw massive nerfs this week.
The mech now fires fewer rockets, deals less damage, and takes longer to cool down after boosting. Epic Games has also made it so that materials are no longer granted to B.R.U.T.E. riders.
Tim Cook has tweeted his condolences following the death of EU data protection regulator Giovanni Buttarelli. Buttarelli passed away on August 20 at the age of 62.
In a recent tweet, Cook described himself as “heartbroken by the loss of my friend.” He credited Buttarelli with advancing “the cause of privacy in Europe and around the world.”
A photo of what might be Apple Watch Series 5 appeared on Instagram this week.
The device looks just like a current model at first glance. But the model number displayed on its screen suggests it is actually Apple’s next-generation wearable.
Apple has launched a new beta version of its iCloud web portal. It includes a new background, revamped Reminders app, and new launch screen.
The change ditches the bubble-filled blue backdrop the iCloud web portal had before. Instead, there’s now a simple minimalist white background.
The average iPhone has been active for 18 months, a new report from Strategy Analytics suggests. That compares to 16.5 months for Samsung handsets.
Overall, it seems that people are upgrading their phones at a slower rate. That’s reportedly as a result of “diminishing innovation,” which provides less of a reason to do so. It also likely has a whole lot to do with increased prices.
The just-announced Bose Portable Home Speaker isn’t an everyday Bluetooth device. It also has Wi-Fi and, even better, supports AirPlay 2, making it cooperate much more closely with Apple devices.
This speaker offers 360 degree sound, and is designed for portability, with a built-in handle.
Using your phone during a break from work doesn’t give your brain a chance to rest and recoup, according to a new study. It’s like not taking a break at all.
The experiment’s results don’t indicate people should stay off computers when they want a quick rest. Just phones, as these are “more cognitively taxing than expected.”