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News - page 561

Former Apple retail boss on track to revolutionize tech shopping again

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Ron Johnson when he was with Apple
Ron Johnson, with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs at the grand opening of an Apple Store.
Photo: Richard Agullar

In a former life, Ron Johnson changed how people buy Apple products.

The retail chief who helped launch the Apple Store continues to tweak how we shop for our gadgets. Johnson’s Enjoy Technology Inc. brings online device delivery to your front door with a person to help you set it up.

If you haven’t heard of Enjoy Technology, that may change thanks to a new round of investment that will help Johnson’s company reach beyond its 50 markets in the U.S.

Apple stock could be in for a massive boost

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AAPL shakes trade fears
Apple stock has been trending upward throughout 2019.
Photo: CNBC

Apple stock could be about to make some impressive gains. Having been depressed as a result of concerns about possible China tariffs, analysts think it might be about to experience a big value increase.

Analysts for MKM Partners and Rockefeller Capital point out that Apple has weathered the 2019 storm impressively well. Gradually trending upward, if it’s able to maintain it’s momentum we could be in line for some big share price jumps.

First Apple TV+ Dickinson trailer serves up costume drama with social issues

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Dickinson screenshot
Throw up those devil horns!
Photo: Apple

Gender politics is on full display in Apple’s first trailer for Dickinson. The original Apple TV+ series offers a reimagining of the life of American poet Emily Dickinson.

With its hip 21st century take on a historical drama, Dickinson reminds me of Sofia Coppola’s 2006 movie Marie Antoinette. Coming shortly after Apple’s #MeToo-era trailer for The Morning Show, it suggests that Apple TV+ will embrace social issues in a big way.

Tim Cook makes massive donation to charity

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Tim Cook talks diversity, sustainability, and coming out as gay
"Don't worry, guys, I found my wallet!"
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook has donated more than $5 million worth of Apple shares to a charity, as revealed by a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing posted this week.

Cook’s decision to give away 23,700 shares of AAPL stock comes one year after he made a similarly sized donation to charity. Apple’s CEO has said that he plans to give away his entire fortune, currently valued at around $625 million.

Mario Kart Tour is coming to the App Store next month

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Mario Kart Tour
You've got another month to impatiently rev your engines.
Photo: Nintendo

After being announced way back in January 2018, Nintendo will finally release Mario Kart Tour on the iPhone next month. The gaming giant revealed the game’s September 25 launch date on Twitter.

That’s just in time for the most enthusiastic of Apple fans to be able to play it on their brand new iPhone 11 handsets!

France will let Apple, other tech giants deduct digital tax

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Apple France tax
Apple's tax bill in France will be deductible.
Illustration: Cult of Mac

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.

Chip-maker’s lawsuit could block iPhone imports to the US

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TSMC 7nm processor
TSMC microprocessors like these are the subject of a massive lawsuit brought by a US chipmaker.
Photo: TSMC

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.

iOS 12.4.1 locks out iPhone jailbreakers

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iOS 12 jailbreak
iOS 12.4 really can be jailbroken, but Apple apparently just removed the necessary security hole.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

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.

Drop test shows Samsung’s Note 10+ is slightly tougher than iPhone XS Max

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Galaxy Note 10+ vs. iPhone XS Max
The Galaxy Note 10+ survived a series of drop tests just a bit better than an iPhone XS Max.
Photo: PhoneBuff

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.

Zens’ 16-coil wireless charger fills the AirPower gap

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Zens Liberty
Place iPhone and Androids anywhere on the Zens Liberty to wirelessly charge them.
Photo: Zens

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.

New clues about iPhone 11 [Cult of Mac Magazine 311]

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Get the week's best Apple product leaks and rumors in this week's issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.
Get the week's best Apple product leaks and rumors in this week's free issue.

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.

Why Face ID for MacBooks is long overdue [Opinion]

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Face ID on MacBook
Face ID on a MacBook is an even better fit than with iPhone or iPad.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

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.

Today in Apple history: Unique Apple-1 computer sells for big money

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Steve Wozniak shows off a
Steve Wozniak shows off a "Celebration" model Apple-1, the rarest version of Apple's rarest computer.
Photo: Charitybuzz

August 25: Today in Apple history: Rare Celebration Apple-1 computer sells for big money 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.

What to expect from next month’s iPhone 11 refresh

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what-to-expect-iPhone-11
Here are all the things we think Apple has up its sleeve.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

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.

Bento Stack keeps your essentials neatly organized on the go

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bento
Bento Stack is a must-have for any traveler.
Photo: Wiplabs

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 will rake in cash from Disney+ too

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The Mandalorian on Disney+
Watching The Mandalorian on Disney+ will probably make Apple money.
Photo: Disney/Cult of Mac

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.

Apple laying the groundwork for a 5G Apple Watch

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watchOS 5 Breath face
It’s only a matter of time before there’s an Apple Watch 5G.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

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.

The Morning Show logo may seem Boring to Elon Musk

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similar logos for Boring Co. and Morning Show
"O" my!
Graphic: The Boring Company/Apple

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 terminates contracts of people hired to listen to Siri recordings

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HomePod siri
Contractors listened to around 1,000 Siri recordings each shift.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

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.