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2019 iPhone might charge Apple Watch wirelessly

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Charging your Apple Watch could become as simple as placing it on your iPhone.
Charging your Apple Watch could become as simple as placing it on your iPhone.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The iPhone coming this fall will of course be able to receive power wirelessly, but it won’t stop there: it’ll also reportedly transmit it. This would allow an Apple Watch to be charged just by placing its on iOS handset.

This upcoming device will also reportedly get one of the benefits of USB-C while still holding onto the Lightning connector.

Apple’s unorthodox PR blitz is a total genius move [Cult of Mac Magazine No. 289]

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Apple's PR blitz for new AirPods, iPads and iMacs was more than just surprising - it was brilliant!
Apple's PR blitz was more than just surprising - it was brilliant!
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

So. Many. New. Products. Who would have guessed Apple would roll out multiple hardware upgrades in the week prior to a big media event? Here’s why that was a total genius move!

Read all about the new iPads, iMacs and AirPods in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine for iOS. Plus, you’ll find our latest how-tos and products reviews to help make your tech life easier.

Grab the mag now. Or go old-school and get all the posts in the links below.

Even Apple’s partners don’t know what its streaming TV service will cost

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AirPlay 2
You’ll be able to subscribe to HBO through the Apple TV service but HBO doesn’t know what it’ll cost.
Photo: Apple

If you’re curious about the cost of the Apple TV service set to debut on Monday, you’re in good company: apparently, the media companies that will provide much of the content are almost equally in the dark. 

Still, they think they might know something about Apple’s plans, and it’s good news for users of iPhone, iPad or Mac.

AT&T’s ‘5G E’ speeds are slower than LTE on other networks

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No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says “5G E” is 4G.
No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says “5G E” is 4G.
Photo: Cult of Mac/@Siddavarapu

Customers on AT&T’s ‘5G E’ networks aren’t getting the huge speed gains promised by one of the nation’s largest carriers.

In an attempt to get a headstart on the 5G wave, AT&T has renamed a large portion of its 4G network to ‘5G E.’ The carrier calls it 5G Evolution and says its the first step towards the 20Gbps speeds promised by 5G, but a recent study found that AT&T’s 5G E network is actually slower than LTE Advanced speeds on other carriers.

Look at how mediocre AT&T’s speeds are:

Beats’ version of AirPods rumored to arrive in April

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powerbeats wireless
Bag Powerbeats3 for half the usual price.
Photo: Beats

Apple-owned Beats is about to unleash its wire-free earbuds that will be like a more sporty version of AirPods.

The Beats headphone lineup hasn’t seen a lot of design changes over the last few years but it sounds like fans might finally get a fresh look this spring. According to a new report, the new sport earbuds will be a redesign of the PowerBeats wireless earphones and will be announced in April.

Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell reunite on set of Apple TV series

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stars of the Morning Show
Apple is paying for top talent, like Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell, to make The Morning Show a hit.
Photo: Pikachu/Mega

Former Bruce Almighty co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell were spotted reuniting on the set of their new Apple TV series about a morning TV show news crew.

The show started principal photography back at the end of October 31 but this is the first time we’ve seen photos of the two actors on set. Both Aniston and Carell are making their returns to TV after launching successful movie careers following Freinds and The Office.

Japan Display still owes Apple for $1.5 billion factory

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iPhone XR was India’s no. 1 ‘ultra premium’ smartphone in 2019
The LCD iPhone hasn't been the hit some hoped for.
Photo: Apple

Struggling display maker Japan Display reportedly still owes Apple a whole lot of cash for one of its factories.

Apple paid a large chunk of the $1.5 billion in costs to build an LCD factory in 2015. In return, Japan Display would pay Apple a percentage of screen sales. Unfortunately, things have gone south since then — and Japan Display’s factory is running at only half capacity. Due to the way the deal is structured, the company reportedly owes Apple “a majority of the construction cost.”

AirPower could finally arrive in late March

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AirPower image Australia
Hurry up already, AirPower!
Photo: Apple

The lengthy wait for AirPower is almost over — but not yet.

A new report, citing industry sources, claims Apple’s new charging pad will arrive in late March. If the information is accurate, that means the long-awaited launch is right around the corner.

Will we see it during Apple’s March 25 event?

New Macs! New iPads! New AirPods! We break down this week’s releases, on The CultCast

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CultCast 380 MacBook Pro
Apple spent the whole week releasing new hardware.

This week on The CultCast: Apple just released so much new hardware, they had to do it over 3 full days. We’ll break it all down, and react to all the new gear. Plus, the saga of MoviePass continues with yet another new wild announcement… but is their new unlimited plan too good to be true?

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain..

Apple within striking distance of reclaiming $1 trillion crown

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European Commission could get even tougher on tech in 2020
Apple could once again recapture its $1 trillion valuation.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

As excitement builds around Apple’s Monday event, the company is edging closer to reclaiming its $1 trillion market cap.

Apple stock enjoyed its biggest rally since January on Thursday. It closed at $195.09 per share, making its ninth positive day in the past 10 trading days. Having added $33 billion to its market cap on Thursday alone, Apple is currently valued at $919.9 billion.

Australia’s biggest department store will stop selling Apple products

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Australia money
Apple products had become unprofitable, the store said.
Photo: Cult of Mac / Picturesofmoney

Australian biggest department store Myer has said that it will stop selling Apple products. The retail giant, founded more than a century ago, claims Apple products have become unprofitable for it.

The news that it will stop selling Apple devices was announced by the company today. It will apply to both the company’s physical and online stores.

Apple will have a hard time signing New York Times

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Apple News
The NYT's CEO has a warning about Apple News-style services.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The New York Times has yet to sign up to Apple’s news subscription service — and it’s got a warning for those publishers who do.

Mark Thompson, chief executive of the NYT warns publishers that third-party distribution could mean losing control of their product. The New York Times is the biggest U.S. newspaper, as measured by its approximately 4 million subscribers.

How Apple’s TV service can stand out in a crowded market

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The Apple TV app is expected to be the hub of this company’s streaming video service.
The Apple TV app is expected to be the hub of this company’s streaming video service.
Photo: Apple

Apple is undoubtedly going to throw its hat into the streaming TV markets during a big press event on Monday, where its service will have to compete against dozens of rivals, some household names.

Although the announcement is still a few days away, we already know quite a bit about how Apple will try to make its offering stand out.

Elizabeth Holmes failed to copy Steve Jobs in one critical way

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Elizabeth Holmes
Now showing on HBO.
Screenshot: HBO/YouTube

Disgraced tech entrepreneur Elizabeth Holmes was known to worship the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and she wore a black turtle neck every day to show it.

How could someone who tried to emulate Jobs become a fraud that puts her in the company of Bernie Madoff?

Alex Gibney gave a thoughtful response to that question this week when his documentary The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley debuted on HBO.

Facebook admits hundreds of millions of passwords were exposed

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Facebook owns 4 of the top 10 apps of the past decade
The issues keep piling up for Facebook.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

It’s time to change your Facebook and Instagram passwords again.

Facebook revealed today that it unknowingly stored hundreds of millions of passwords in a readable format on its internal storage systems. There’s no information yet that the passwords were accessed by any nefarious people, but you should probably update yours, just in case.

Apple acquires Italian startup that specializes in backend automation

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stamplay
The Stamplay team.
Photo: Il Sol 24 Ore

Apple recently acquired a startup that could soon help the iPhone-maker deliver better backend tools to iOS and macOS developers.

Stamplay, an Italian startup that specialized in building a “low code workflow automation” platform, was reportedly purchased by Apple for about $5.6 million. The acquisition hasn’t been confirmed by Apple but there are some telltale signs that Stamplay’s tech has found a new home.

Are AirPods 2 worth the price of an upgrade?

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AirPods 2. AirPods S, more like.
The second-gen AirPods are like an "S" upgrade.
Photo: Apple

Will you buy Apple’s new AirPods? They look fantastic. They offer longer battery life, quicker connections, “Hey Siri” support, and there’s even an optional wireless charging case. But are all those extras enough to make you upgrade if you already own first-gen AirPods?

New AirPower image discovered on Apple’s website

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AirPower image Australia
This time it's coming... seriously!
Photo: Apple

A new image of Apple’s MIA AirPower charger, alongside an iPhone XS and the new AirPods wireless charging case, has been spotted online.

The image was discovered on Apple’s Australian website, apparently buried in source code. While it doesn’t 100 percent confirm that AirPower may finally be set to launch, it does add another bit of evidence to the case.

Bill-paying service doxo adopts Apple Pay

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Doxo, an online bill-paying service for more 2.5 million people announced today its users can now pay bills Apple Pay.

Most of its users pay bills with a mobile device using the company’s app. More than half, according to a written statement, use an iOS device.

Find My iPhone tracks down possible armed mugger

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Find My iPhone
Scourge of thieves everywhere.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

iPhones’ high market price makes them tantalizing to thieves. Unfortunately (for criminals, at least) Apple also provides ways for these devices to be tracked down if they’re lost or displaced.

James Antonio Pradia learned this lesson the hard way this week. On Wednesday, the 27-year-old was indicted for robbing a wallet and iPhone at gunpoint. It seems that he didn’t know about the “Find my iPhone” feature.

iPad Air 2019 review roundup: Middle child done good

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The new 2019 iPad Air, with its 10.5-inch screen, works with Apple's existing Smart Keyboard.
The new iPad Air sounds like a winner.
Photo: Apple

The new iPad Air might not be quite as beautiful or cutting edge as its Pro counterpart, but it’s still a gorgeous piece of tech — and a potential “Back to School” winner.

That’s according to the first reviews of the new tablet published. We’ll update this meta review with other opinions as they become available, but here are the first impressions so far.

Wall Street Journal reportedly signs on for Apple News subscription service

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Apple News
The Wall Street Journal would be a great launch partner for the service.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The Wall Street Journal has reportedly agreed to participate in Apple’s paid news subscription service. Apple should offer details on the new service during the “It’s show time” media event.

News of the WSJ’s participation comes shortly after reports that The New York Times and Washington Post both opted out.