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News - page 635

Take flight with a Captain Marvel iPhone case from OtterBox

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Go Higher Further Faster with a Captain Marvel iPhone case.
Go Higher Further Faster with a Captain Marvel iPhone case.
Photo: OtterBox

Captain Marvel can defend your iPhone with a case that just launched from OtterBox. This superhero-themed hardcase is available for a range of Apple’s devices going back years.

It’s part of this company’s Marvel Avengers line, which offers designs with favorite heroes… and a villain or two.

Hackers good and bad depend on stolen iPhone prototypes

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iPhone 8 prototype
Dev-fused iPhone units are a mainstay of the hacking community.
Photo: Benjamin Geskin

Anyone who wants to do serious research into hacking iPhones needs to get their hands on a “dev-fused” unit — a prototype that can be used to ferret out iOS secrets.

These are used by both malicious hackers and security researchers alike.

Captain Marvel star signs TV series deal with Apple

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Brie Larson
Brie Larson will suit up for the CIA in the new TV show.
Photo: Marvel Studios

Brie Larson has scored a sweet new TV deal with Apple the day before her new movie, Captain Marvel, is set to light the box office on fire.

Larson will both star and executive produce a new TV drama series for Apple under the new deal. The TV show will be based on an intriguing spy novel that hasn’t even been published yet.

Apple plans to hire 1,200 for San Diego engineering hub

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Kevin Faulconer
San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer announcing Apple's expansion plans.
Photo: Kevin Faulconer/Twitter

Apple is beefing up its plans for expansion into San Diego and revealed today that it plans to hire 1,200 people for its tech hub in the SoCal city.

After revealing late last year that it planned to open a site in San Diego, Apple gave new details on what it says will be a principle engineering hub. The move will put Apple directly in rival Qualcomm’s backyard, but Tim Cook isn’t worried about attracting talent to Apple’s offices.

iPhone crushes Androids on resale value

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Ex-student sentenced to 3 years in prison for massive iPhone scam
iPhones cost a bit more to buy but they are worth a lot more later on.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Although Apple makes some of the most expensive smartphones, these devices also depreciate in value far less than their rivals.

In other words, iPhones cost more to buy but much less to use.

This company sells gorgeous custom iPhones for less than Apple

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Remade iPhone
They look even better in real life.
Photo: Remade

Buying a refurbished iPhone is a great way to save a pretty penny, and now there’s another reason why you should consider avoiding the Apple Store.

One French company is selling rebuilt models that have been painted in pretty colors as part of its “Better Then Refurbished” program. They’re gorgeous, and they cost a lot less.

Riffr is like getting voicemails from strangers

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Riffr has some good audio tools built in.V
Riffr has some good audio tools built in.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Riffr is yet another social network, this one based around audio snippets. And maybe it’ll actually take off, despite its awful design. It’s as if the makers took the confusion that is late-stage Instagram as a starting point, and then made things worse from there.

That said, Riffr could be quite useful.

The most interesting factoids from Apple’s 13th annual supplier report

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Apple gives supply chain workers access to coding classes.
Apple gives supply chain workers access to coding classes.
Photo: Apple

Apple came out with its 13th annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, giving an inside glimpse at some of the biggest issues it’s been battling.

The 66-page report is stuffed with interesting little facts, like how many gallons of water suppliers have saved and the amount of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Apple admits it still has a lot of work to do, but the progress the company has made is pretty impressive. One of the biggest areas Apple emphasizes in its report is the people that work in the supply chain and the educational opportunities Apple is giving them.

Pixar just posted a dream job for Mac nerds

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Toy Story
Do you have what it takes to join Pixar's posse?
Photo: Pixar

Pixar is looking for a good Mac nerd to join its support team.

If you’ve ever dreamed of working for one of the most iconic animation companies in the world, but don’t have any actual animation skills, this might be your best chance.

Amazing concept video shows why you’d love a folding iPad

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Forget a folding iPhone. The iPad U is a proposed folding iPad.
Forget a folding iPhone. The iPad U is a proposed folding iPad.
Photo: Dongjae "Krystofer" Kim

Folding phones are getting lots of attention, but flexible screens can benefit tablets as well. A new concept video proposes a full-size iPad that can expand into a display larger than all but the biggest laptops.

Watch the video now:

Bauhaus Apple logo looks like the Death Star

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Bauhaus Apple logo
The Apple logo with a Bauhaus bite.
Illustration: Vladimir Nickolic

A company has to be nimble enough to change with the times. It can turnover leadership, recreate its work culture and overhaul its line of products. Just don’t mess with a brand’s logo.

But what if an icon like the Apple logo was reimagined with another iconic style?

Meizu’s port-free phone was nothing more than a marketing stunt

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Meizu Zero
The Zero’s future now looks bleak.
Photo: Meizu

Meizu has revealed its futuristic port-free smartphone was nothing more than a marketing stunt.

The so-called “Zero” handset was announced just over a month ago before being made available to preorder through a failed crowdfunding campaign. But Meizu founder and CEO Jack Wong says the project “was just the marketing team messing about.”

AirPods, Apple Watch give Apple lion’s share of wearables market

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This is the original color of the Nomad Apple Watch Modern Strap and AirPods Rugged Case.
Apple Watch and AirPods dominated the world market for smartwatches and ear-worn smart devices in 2018.
Photo: Nomad

Last year, Apple Watch and AirPods combined to give Apple almost a quarter of the world’s wearable shipments. The total was nearly double the next closest rival.

Shipments of these Apple products grew tremendously in 2018, outpacing the wearables market as a whole.

Apple video service might force Disney CEO out of board seat

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Bob Iger
Disney Chairman and CEO, Robert A. Iger.
Photo: (Disney/ABC/ Heidi Gutman)

Disney CEO Bob Iger’s seat on Apple’s board of directors might be at risk as both companies pursue video streaming services.

Apple hasn’t asked Iger to step down yet, but a new report shines light on what could soon become a very conflicted relationship. Disney and Apple have enjoyed close ties ever since Disney bought Pixar from Steve Jobs. Now it looks like the two companies are about to become close rivals.

Siri sounds better in Britain after voice improvements

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has quietly updated the female British voice for Siri. The improvements can be heard today on HomePod and iOS devices.

The update comes just a few weeks after Apple updated the male British voice. It is believed the company could be working on improvements for many of Siri’s international voices.

NSA stops spying on everyone’s phone. Maybe

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nsa-hijacked-google-play-to-install-spyware-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201505130606191546-nsa-logo-story-top-jpg
The U.S. government has reportedly ceased tracking all our phone calls and text messages.
Photo: NSA

A controversial system tracking the calls and texts of all Americans has supposedly stopped being used by the National Security Agency (NSA). 

This agency reportedly quit employing it months ago, and might not ask that it be reauthorized later this year.

Leaked images of second-gen Google Glass reveal USB-C upgrade

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technoblog
Say hello to the new Google Glass.
Photo: Tecnoblog

Google Glass is set to get an upgrade later this year for enterprise users and it looks like USB-C charging will be one of the big new features.

Leaked images of the second-generation Google Glass for enterprise surfaced on the web today. The images show that Google is ditching its magnetic cable charging system in favor of a single quick-charging port.

Take a closer look:

GameClub will bring forgotten iOS games back from the dead

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GameClub
Look out, Apple Arcade!
Photo: GameClub

Remember the games you used to enjoy on your iPhone and iPad in the early days of the App Store? The chances are few of them are still supported and available for download today, but the best could soon be making a comeback.

GameClub is a developer that plans to resurrect forgotten iOS games. The first title on its roster is Hook Champ, a game from Rocketcat that first hit the App Store in 2009, and you can play it today by signing up for early access.

Apple will finally repair iPhones with unofficial batteries

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iPhone batteries
Battery brand no longer complicates an iPhone repair job.
Photo: iFixIt

An iPhone powered with a third-party battery can get repaired at all Apple Store Genius Bars, according to a directive issued by Apple.

This is a surprising reverse course for Apple, which strictly forbade Genius Bars and authorized service providers from fixing iPhones with off-brand batteries.

Apple acquires trove of AI security camera patents

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Lighthouse
Is Apple planning to make cameras of its own?
Photo: Lighthouse

Lighthouse, a smart security camera maker that specialized in AI recognition, officially died at the end of 2018 but its tech is about to get a second chance thanks to Apple.

Apple recently acquired a big batch of patents from the failed startup. Lighthouse launched its security camera a year ago making it easier for users to sort through footage thanks to 3D depth sensing and AI features connected to an iOS app. Now it looks like Apple might incorporate some of those patents into Face ID.

Why Apple’s 5G modem options could be a big problem

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2020 could be Apple's greatest year so far
Making a 5G iPhone is going to be tough.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

With Apple and chip-maker Qualcomm back in court this week, the iPhone maker needs to find another source for 5G modems. There are additional possibilities — Intel, Samsung, Huawei and MediaTek — but  “none of which is ideal” according to analysts with market-research firm Cowen.