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News - page 573

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.

Sky Squadron may be the closest we get to Star Fox on iOS

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Sky Squadron is now available in open beta.
Now available in open beta.
Photo: Sky Squadron

Until Nintendo gets around to releasing classic game Star Fox on iOS, fans of the franchise may want to check out Sky Squadron. An upcoming vehicle-based blaster, it’s set to land in the App Store in early 2020.

If you can’t wait that long, however, its developer has just opened it up for an open beta. This is the perfect opportunity for early adopters to take it for a spin.

Updated Apple Maps rolls out to Northeast U.S.

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Updated Apple Maps rolls out in Pacific Northwest and Midwest
Apple wants to banish those terrible early memories of Apple Maps.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple is rolling out its revamped Apple Maps app in the Northeast, covering Washington, D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts and Maine.

The refreshed Apple Maps continues to expand across the United States. Last week, it debuted in Texas, Louisiana and the southern half of Mississippi.

Apple will introduce all three iPhone 11 models in September

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iPhone 11 R and 11 Max on fence post
Are you excited about this year's iPhone refresh?
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple will release all three of its new iPhone 11 models in September, Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives claims in a note to investors.

That would mark a change from last year, when Apple paced its iPhone launch. In 2018, the iPhone XS and XS Max shipped in September. However, fans waiting for the iPhone XR had to hold on until October.

Apple sued for alleged lack of transparency over iCloud data

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iCloud
Apple isn't completely clear about where your data ends up.
Photo: Apple

A class-action lawsuit filed this week takes aim at Apple for storing some iCloud data on third-party servers.

The company is accused of breaching consumer trust to sell iCloud subscriptions. It states iCloud data will be “stored by Apple,” but offloads some of it to Amazon and other companies.

Run Windows on Mac faster than ever with Parallels Desktop 15

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When one operating system just isn't enough, you can run Windows on Mac with Parallels for Mac.
When one operating system just isn't enough.
Screenshot: Parallels

Parallels Desktop 15 lets you run Windows on a Mac faster than ever, thanks to a performance-enhancing switch to Apple’s Metal framework. Today’s update to the popular virtualization app brings loads of other feature enhancements, including support for DirectX 11.

The increased efficiency means some Windows apps that would not even launch in Parallels Desktop 14 work properly in the new version.

“We want you to do whatever you want,” said John Uppendahl, Parallels’ VP of communications, during a demo of the new software at the Cult of Mac office in San Francisco.

Patterning’s new shortcuts transform iPad keyboard into drum kit

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Street drummer with buckets
This guy makes better music with buckets than I can manage with any app.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Patterning is probably the best drum machine app on the iPad, and one of the best iOS music apps, period. Which makes it criminal that we’ve never written a dedicated post about it. That can change today, because the developer, Olympia Noise Co., just added keyboard shortcuts.

Wait, come back! These aren’t just any keyboard shortcuts. These shortcuts let you use your iPad’s Smart Folio Keyboard, or any Bluetooth keyboard, to fingerdrum on the iPad.

‘Dogfishing’ gets potential dates barking up the wrong tree

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Bumble
Georgia might go out with Michael because he has a cute dog, but the date is over when she finds out Rex belongs to a neighbor.
Photo: Bumble

Showing an adorable puppy in your online dating profile is an easy way to make yourself seem likable and kind. Unfortunately, many of the people who use this method seem to think there’s no reason to put up with a smelly, dirty mutt when they can just lie about it.

Samsung steps up its battle against iPhone in Europe

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Canalys
Samsung dominated Apple's European market share last quarter.
Photo: Canalys

Apple had a disappointing last quarter in Europe, where iPhone market share fell by a significant 17%. Into the space previously held by Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi made the biggest gains.

Samsung grew its market presence by 20% versus this time last year. In doing so, it’s almost tripling Apple’s market share. Xiaomi, meanwhile, increased 48%, although it still lags behind Apple.