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News - page 557

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.

Babies run amok in latest Dr. Mario World update

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Dr. Mario
Dr. Mario landed on iOS this summer.
Photo: Nintendo

Dr. Mario World, the latest Nintendo title to land in the App Store, just got a new update — adding 4 new doctors and 20 additional stages.

New doctors include Doctors Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, and Baby Daisy. While I’d quibble about the realism of someone being able to complete a 7-year+ medical course while remaining a baby, I don’t think that’s entirely the point.

Apple Music releases ‘Up Next Live’ EPs of summer Apple Store concerts

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Bad Bunny
Concerts were designed to promote up-and-coming artists like Bad Bunny.
Photo: Apple

Over the summer, Apple Music hosted a series of seven exclusive concerts at global Apple Stores. The concerts featured artists Bad Bunny, Omar Apollo, Khalid, King Princess, Daniel Caesar, Ashley McBryde, and Lewis Capaldi.

Anyone who missed them can now check out these rising stars in concert, courtesy of Apple’s “Up Next Live” EPs. Now streaming on Apple Music.

2020’s iPhone SE upgrade won’t bring edge-to-edge display

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Watch a iPhone SE 2 TV ad
No, the new iPhone SE won't look like this.
Screencap: Creative Concepts

A reliable source today echos claims that Apple is developing an iPhone SE upgrade for early next year.

The new low-cost handset will feature Touch ID, just as expected — but it won’t be the new in-display Touch ID technology that Apple could bring to other handsets in 2020.

That means there’s no hope of an edge-to-edge display.

The spectacular windows at Apple’s new Tokyo store look like giant iPhones

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Apple new store in Japan
Check out those beautiful rounded windows.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s opening its latest Tokyo Japanese Apple Store this weekend. To mark the occasion, it’s offering would-be shoppers a sneak peak.

In keeping with Apple’s love of embracing local culture, the new store makes use of in-store bamboo plants. There are also impressive two-story vitrine windows made from specially cast aluminum to create three-dimensional rounded corners. Resembling giant iPhones, these are the first of their kind at any Apple Store.

Check out more pictures below.

iPhone displays could offer built-in Touch ID by 2020

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Touch ID
But don't worry — Face ID isn't going anywhere.
Photo: Apple

Apple really is working to integrate Touch ID into future iPhone displays, according to a new report.

The company’s in-screen fingerprint-scanning technology could debut as early as 2020. It is expected work alongside Face ID on flagship handsets, giving users a choice between unlock options.

Apple TV+ is coming to Samsung Smart TVs

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Apple TV+ could have 26 million paying subs by 2025; 2.6 million currently
Apple TV+ could have 26 million paying subs by 2025; 2.6 million currently
Photo: Apple

You’ll need a subscription to enjoy to Apple TV+ when it lands later this year, but you may not need to purchase an Apple TV. The new video streaming service is also coming to Samsung Smart TVs.

Samsung’s Galaxy Fold finally launches on its home turf this week

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Apple invents a unique, no-crease folding iPhone screen
And it only took an extra five months!
Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s long-delayed Galaxy Fold folding smartphone will finally go on sale on September 6. This comes five months after it was originally made available for preorder.

The troubled handset, which has undergone a major redesign, will launch in South Korea this week. it will be followed by select countries including France, Germany, Singapore, U.K., U.S. in the near future.

USB4 enables hubs with multiple USB-C ports

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A Thunderbolt 3 cable is also a USB4 cable.
If the specs for USB4 are familiar, that’s because they’re built on the Thunderbolt 3 standard already in most Macs.
Photo: Caldigit

Today’s USB-C hubs include multiple USB-A ports, but can’t add additional USB-C ports. This will change when USB4 gets widely implemented, which just took a big step forward with the specifications for this standard being finalized.

And users should welcome an increase to 40Gbps data transfer speeds, too.

Apple raises cash in the bond market

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International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC

Apple intends to borrow money by issuing corporate bonds. It filed a partial prospectus for these today with the SEC. Though what it intends to spend the money on is a bit of a mystery.

The iPhone maker hasn’t needed to run up any debt since early 2018, when it brought home about $250 billion it had socked away overseas.

Facebook left huge database of users’ phone numbers exposed

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Facebook owns 4 of the top 10 apps of the past decade
Oh look! Another Facebook data leak.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A Facebook server containing hundreds of millions of users’ phone numbers was left completely exposed to potential attackers, according to a new report.

The data linked each phone number to a user’s unique Facebook ID, potentially exposing personal information that could be used against victims. Some of the records also contained the person’s name, gender and country.

Latest canceled Apple TV+ show might be bad omen [Opinion]

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Apple TV+ could have 26 million paying subs by 2025; 2.6 million currently
Tim Cook reportedly wants to make Apple TV+ shows aspirational in tone.
Photo: Apple

Cupertino’s costly decision to cancel an Apple TV+ series starring Richard Gere due to the show’s darker tone is the latest bit of evidence that Apple wants only family-friendly fare for its upcoming streaming video service.

A diet of uplifting, positive messages is certainly laudable. But that sort of high-minded approach could pose a major challenge for Apple. Should fans be worried?

Security researchers are flooding the market with iOS exploits

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Zerodium
Here's how much you can make selling certain exploit chains.
Photo: Zerodium

One of the biggest buyers of iOS zero-day exploits says the market is flooded with new iPhone bugs due to weakened security components in Safari and iMessage.

Zerodium, which pays $2 million for iOS exploits, recently announced it’s increasing its payout for Android exploits to $2.5 million. iOS used to be the most locked-down mobile operating system, but the company says Android’s security has improved with every new OS release while iOS has been slacking, leading to a glut of new exploits.

Apple seeds new iOS 13.1 beta, leaves iOS 13 out in the cold

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iOS 13
Apple has clearly shifted its focus from iOS 13 to version 13.1.
Screen capture: Apple

The beta process for iOS 13.1 continues, with the second developer-only beta just going out now.

But there hasn’t been a new iOS 13 beta in two weeks. Apple really seems to have finished work on it, even though it hasn’t been released and isn’t even expected until later this month.

Faster Apple TV hardware might turbocharge Apple Arcade

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apple tv upgrade
Apple TV does more than just stream video. It will also be tied into Apple Arcade.
Photo: Apple

The first new Apple TV set-top box in two years is reportedly coming soon. The updated tvOS player supposedly will be powered by the same chip that’s in the iPhone XS series, potentially making it a better way to play Apple Arcade games than its predecessors.

Gmail for iOS can now prevent remote image tracking

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

The official Gmail app on iOS can now prevent tracking via external images.

A new update to the app brings the ability to disable automatic image loading. This makes it harder for message senders to establish whether you actually opened an email.

US attorneys general prep antitrust investigation into Google

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Google
Will Google be the first of the tech giants to face an investigation?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

More than half of U.S. state attorneys general are preparing an antitrust investigation into Google.

This will mark a major ramp-up in the battle between U.S. regulators and Silicon Valley tech giants. The investigation is likely to be announced Monday. Other tech giants also may face antitrust scrutiny.