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News - page 566

New York City is going to be seeing a lot more of Apple

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Apple Maps just got a New York update.
Apple loves the Big Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple is on the hunt for big new offices in Manhattan, aiming to increase its footprint in the New York City area.

According to a new report, Apple is searching for up to 750,000 square feet of office space. It has already looked at some of the most prestigious locations in the area. As of now, however, it’s not yet locked anything down.

Corning screen protector makes iPhone easier to use in sunlight

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OtterBox Amplify screen protector by Corning
Corning and OtterBox say their screen protector is 5x more scratch resistant than their rivals’.
Photo: Corning/OtterBox

Amplify screen protectors use scratch resistance technology developed by Corning, and the latest version also has this company’s proprietary DX tech to make an iPhone easier to see in bright sunlight.

It’s made by Corning and marketed by OtterBox.

Twist-O-Flex Apple Watch band a brilliant blast from the past

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speidel
Speidel's Twist-O-Flex stretches up to 5 inches, making it easy to get on and off your wrist. Perfect for him or her!
Photo: Speidel

Vintage watch enthusiasts, take heed. The classic Speidel Twist-O-Flex that was all the rage mid-century is now available for Apple Watch.

The twisty, stretchy stainless steel bands you remember dad wearing are now adapted for 21st-century smartwatch wearers — and they’re better than ever.

Check out this modern take on a classic favorite in our Watch Store.

See iOS 13’s best unannounced features [Video]

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iOS 13 on an iPhone X
Have you upgraded yet?
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

After spending time playing with the iPadOS 13 developer beta and iOS 13 beta , it’s clear there are tons of nice changes coming to Apple’s mobile platforms this fall.

Cupertino highlighted the biggest ones at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference. However, there’s a bunch of smaller stuff they didn’t tell us about. While there are hundreds of “under the hood” changes, these are the best iOS 13 features Apple didn’t announce.

Best unannounced iOS 13 features

Apple claims scary iPhone battery warning is for customer safety

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iPhone batteries
Be careful on who you let replace your iPhone battery.
Photo: iFixIt

Apple confirmed it added a new “feature” to iPhones last year that displays an ominous warning when users get their battery replaced by an unauthorized service provider.

The iPhone-maker drew heavy criticism from right-to-repair advocates last week when the news of the new battery warnings surfaced. Facing claims that it is trying to funnel customers toward more expensive battery repairs, Apple has finally come out with a statement insisting that the change was made with the safety of customers in mind, but not everyone’s buying it.

AT&T and T-Mobile join forces to fight robocalls and scammers

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spam-call
Suck it, spammers!
Photo: Icons8/Unsplash

AT&T and T-Mobile today confirmed an unlikely partnership for a wonderful cause. The rival carriers are joining forces to fight robocalls and scammers.

Both will deliver the FCC-recommended STIR/SHAKEN standards to digitally validate calls across their networks. It will make it easier for customers to filter out unwanted calls.

Breaking up tech giants could get ‘messy,’ warns FTC boss

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Anti-robocall bill is one step closer to being passed into law
But that's not to say it won't happen!
Photo: Pexels

The chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission isn’t opposed to the breakup of America’s tech giants. However, he acknowledges it would be very, very challenging.

“If you have to, you do it,” Joe Simons told Bloomberg. “It’s not ideal because it’s very messy. But if you have to you have to.”

2019 could be the year Apple fixes iPhone naming

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The camera bump is about to get bumpier in the iPhone XI.
We may about to wake up from Apple's iPhone naming nightmare.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Earlier this year, I complained that Apple’s iPhone naming strategy was broken. Now, thanks to a popular case maker, we may know Apple’s naming choice for the 2019 iPhones: the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

And you know what? If it’s accurate, Apple has remedied one of the most unnecessarily complex aspects of its most popular product line.

A US university is teaching a course in iPad music-making

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iPad for extra credit? Yes, please! The University of Nebraska-Lincoln teaches a course on making music with iPad.
iPad for extra credit? Yes please!
Screenshot: Michael Reinmiller

The iPad is great for playing around and making music, but can it be a serious music tool as well? According to a course at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, it sure can.

The university’s “Creating with the iPad MUSC 198” course covers digital music production with a particular focus on Apple’s tablet. Because you don’t win friends with salad you can’t make music with a Surface, obvs! Check out a video preview of the course.

Apparent Foxconn insider spills big iPhone 11 secrets

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iPhone 11 R and 11 Max on colorful background
iPhone 11 could look very familiar, but with some nice improvements.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Some huge new details about this year’s iPhone 11 refresh have been spilled by an apparent Foxconn insider.

In a leaked email, the employee claims Apple will add a brand new color option to its smartphone lineup this fall. They also say that the back of this year’s devices will get a new, not-so-slippery finish.

Trump’s iPhone tariff reprieve is great news for Apple investors

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Samsung wants to follow Apple in building a giant services business
Apple stock had a great day this week.
Photo: Mathieu Turle/Unsplash CC

Apple and its suppliers soared on the news that the iPhone would not be hit by tariffs in President Trump’s ongoing trade skirmish with China.

AAPL reached as high as $209.90 Tuesday. It started the day hovering around $200. That’s an increase of around 4.2%. Meanwhile, suppliers in Japan enjoyed a good trading day Wednesday. Some stocks jumped as up 6%.

Thieves steal 16 iPhones at Bay Area Apple Store

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Apple Store Broadway Plaza
The robbery took place on Sunday.
Photo: Apple

An Apple Store in the Bay Area has been targeted in a snatch-and-grab robbery in which 16 iPhones were stolen.

Police in Walnut Creek, California say that three females entered the Broadway Plaza Apple Store on August 11. They grabbed multiple handsets and then ran out, fleeing in a silver Honda Civic driven by a male suspect.

Apple Card and wireless charging don’t play well together

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Apple Card with iPhone
A wireless charger can’t send power to this iPhone through an Apple Card.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The end might be near for iPhone cases with slots to hold credit cards now that the Apple Card is starting to roll out. Not because this new credit card will make them unnecessary, but because tests by Cult of Mac show that putting an Apple Card in one of these wallet cases blocks the iPhone inside from wireless charging.

Fans of this type of case will need to decide how much they want Apple’s new credit card, or if they‘re willing to give up on wireless charging.

Apple Watch in-car charging stand a must-have for road warriors

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Elago-W-Stand
For topping up Apple Watch on the road, nothing beats the W Stand.
Photo: Elago

This innovative Apple Watch stand looks incredible with its cylindrical aluminum shell, but it wasn’t designed that way for looks alone. Its size and shape means you can slip it into your car’s built-in cup holder and top up your Apple Watch while on the road.

It’s a must-have for road warriors who are forever behind the wheel — and its price tag is a pleasant surprise.

Bluetooth box bridges gap between iPhone and studio monitor speakers

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The Kali Bluetooth Input Module
The Kali Bluetooth Input Module puts a big knob on your desk.
Photo: Kali Audio

Problem: You have a kick-ass stereo, or a pair of excellent studio monitor speakers, and you want to hook up your iPhone to listen to some music. Only you don’t want to dig out the headphone dongle and plug in a cable.

Solution: The Kali Audio Bluetooth Module. It hooks up to your speakers via cable, adding a Bluetooth receiver that lets you get the music out of your iPhone or iPad. It seems simple, and it is. But it’s also super-duper handy.

AirPods won’t escape Trump’s tariffs this time

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Bluetooth in iOS 11
Apple will have to pay import taxes on AirPods starting next month.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Not all Apple devices will escape the taxes being levied next month on goods imported from China. The Trump Administration decided to delay tariffs on iPhone, iPad and Mac, but other popular products will still get slapped with a 10% import tax, including Apple Watch, AirPods and HomePod

Spotify might finally get Siri support with iOS 13

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Spotify Premium update October 2018
Apple and Spotify might declare a truce.
Photo: Spotify

Apple might be ready to agree to a truce with Spotify that would allow iOS users to control the rival music streaming service with Siri.

iPhone users have been unable to use Siri and Spotify together even though you can do it with Apple Music. Reports of the negotiations come as Apple is facing more intense scrutiny for anti-trust practices, with Spotify being one of the loudest dissenting voices.

Microsoft Edge on iOS can now read your favorite websites aloud

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Microsoft-Edge-read-aloud
Get the latest update today.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Bedtimes stories don’t get much better than the latest stories from all your favorite writers at Cult of Mac. And now Microsoft Edge for iOS can read them to you.

The new feature, added in the browser’s latest update, improves accessibility for the visually impaired and those who find it difficult to interact with iPhone and iPad.

Trump delays tariffs on iPhone, Mac and iPad

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iPad and iPhone tariffs aren't happening. Yet.
You won’t have to pay extra for an iPad imported from China next month.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Shares of Apple jumped over 4% after iPhones were removed from the list of items that will be hit with import taxes at the beginning of September.

However, tariffs could still go into effect for phones, Macs, and other Apple products in mid December.

Snap’s Spectacles 3 are an ugly reminder why smart glasses aren’t ready

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Snap 3 glasses
This is as good as Spectacles 3 are ever going to look. For better or worse.
Photo: Snap

Despite Apple’s focus on ARKit and augmented reality, it’s yet to release the AR headset it is supposedly working on.

Tim Cook has previously said Apple will only do it when it can do so in “a quality way.” Snapchat’s newly unveiled Spectacles 3 may be a reminder as to why Apple is hanging back.

Apple teams with Resolve for responsible gold sourcing

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Salmon-Gold
Salmon Gold will enter Apple's supply chain this fall.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to use more responsible gold in future products after teaming up with environmental group Resolve.

Salmon Gold sourced from placer mining operations in Alaska will enter Apple’s supply chain this fall, and will be traceable from mine to refiner using blockchain technology.