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Apple ‘rolling the dice’ on its upcoming products

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Tim Cook takes home $125 million for Apple’s best year since 2009
Tim Cook said today he’s “never been more optimistic” about the direction Apple is going.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook is very upbeat about where his company is going. He told investors today that upcoming Apple products will “blow you away.”

Cook also indicated that Apple’s magic pipeline isn’t just brining more of the same. Cupertino is branching out.

Guilty iCloud hacker sent to slammer

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Celebgate hack
Christopher Brannan gets a prison sentence for his part in the crime.
Illustration: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

A judge sentenced a former high school teacher to 34 months in prison Friday after the man pleaded guilty to his role in the “Celebgate” hack of iCloud and other accounts.

Of those convicted for the high-profile hack, Christopher Brannan, 31, received the harshest sentence for breaching accounts. The attack led to the circulation of nude photos and videos of model Kate Upton, actress Jennifer Lawrence and others.

Shareholders easily vote down attempt to make Apple more conservative

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steve jobs theater
A proposal made to Apple shareholders today in the Steve Jobs Theater would require board members reveal their “ideological perspective.”
Photo: Apple

A handful of Apple shareholders argued today that the company’s board of directors needs more conservative voices.

CEO Tim Cook responded that Apple has policies, not political beliefs. And a vote on the conservative proposal found very little support.

Apple reverses course on episode numbers in podcast titles

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Learn the equipment and skills it takes to create compelling podcast content.
Don’t worry, your favorite podcast can keep episode numbers in the titles.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple is walking back yesterday’s warning to podcast producers that putting episode numbers in titles risked the podcast getting kicked out of Apple’s service.

It’s likely complaints from users brought about the change in this policy.

Why Apple’s recent hiring spree makes us optimistic

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apple jobs
Software jobs far outnumber hardware jobs at Apple.
Photo: Thinknum

Apple appears to be doubling-down on software over hardware when it comes to hiring new employees right now.

For the first time in years, Apple now has more software job opening than hardware. According to a new report that analyzed Apple’s job listings, Software Engineers became the most in-demand employees at Apple starting in Q3 and the trend is still holding strong.

There’s more to iPhone in Apple’s latest set of videos

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iPhone
There are a lot of reasons to switch to iPhone.
Photo: Apple

Apple is expanding its “There’s More to iPhone” marketing campaign to more countries in Europe after launching it last year in Germany.

New pages have been created on Apple’s websites for France and the United Kingdom detailing how the iPhone is “more than the device in your hand.” Security, recycling and privacy are some of the topics covered by little blurbs that tout the iPhone’s superiority. There are also three new videos to go along with it.

You can’t watch these on Apple’s U.S. YouTube channel though:

We dare you to put down your iPhone for 24 hours

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iphone x
Can you bring yourself to do it?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

As much as I love my smartphone, there’s no doubt that they raise some problematic questions. From concerns about social media’s impact on mental health to the very real chance of being so glued to our devices that we miss what’s happening around us, the abundance of connected gadgets has caused plenty of problems.

Can you put down your iPhone, iPad, and other devices for 24 hours? This weekend’s National Day of Unplugging challenges you to do just that. From sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, it’s intended as a 24-hour global respite from technology. Can you bring yourself to take part?

Foxconn workers bear brunt of falling iPhone sales

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iPhone sales drive Apple’s biggest supplier to big profits
One of Foxconn's many factories, where it builds iPhones for Apple.
Photo: CBS

Reduced iPhone demand in China has hit Foxconn employees’ salaries and benefits, according to a new report.

A number of workers say that their salaries were reduced at the end of last year, due to a smaller number of working hours available. There has also not been the usual Foxconn recruitment drive, which was previously an expected part of the iPhone manufacturing process.

8 details Apple better get right on new 16-inch MacBook Pro

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00B716CC-0F4A-4469-80F3-03BD2E44B4A0
CultCast host Erfon Elijah dishes up some sage advice for Apple.

Creative Pros across the web are salivating after a recent rumors claimed Apple is preparing to launch a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Details about the machine are scarce, but it could be the most amazing new Apple releases in 2019. It could also be a disaster.

CultCast host Erfon Elijah is out with a hilarious and informative new video that takes Apple to task for precious missteps on the MacBook Pro line. He also warns Apple that there are 8 things MacBook Pro-lovers are especially anxious about.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro could be a disappointment if it messes up these features:

Apple Watch’s GPS helps track down burglars

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
Crime doesn't pay. At least, not if the person owns an Apple Watch.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The GPS function on a stolen Apple Watch helped retrieve the device for its rightful owner, says a report from The Sacramento Bee.

After arriving back home to find her house had been burgled, the 25-year-old rightful owner contacted the police. They tracked the Apple Watch down to a local Walmart, where two suspects were arrested. It turns out that it’s never a good look to deny a crime while carrying a stolen watch in back pocket!

Here’s how Apple plans to stop your foldable iPhone from breaking

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Folding iPhone 2
Be sure to keep it warm!
Photo: Foldable News

With foldable smartphones becoming the hot new trend for 2019, iPhone fans are wondering when we’ll see something from Apple. It’s likely to be a while before a foldable iPhone hits the market, but there’s no question Apple is looking into it.

The company’s latest patent application details how it might prevent a foldable smartphone from breaking in cold weather.

New AirPods could arrive on March 29

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AirPods 2 might look something like this artist’s concept.
Are you ready for the follow-up to Apple's AirPods?
Photo: Caviar/Cult of Mac

Apple’s AirPods 2 are coming March 29 — at least, if a slightly sketchy new report is to be believed.

The report comes from Spanish Apple rumor site Applesfera. It claims that it has received data from “several different” sources saying that Apple’s new AirPods will land on shelves at the end of this month.

EFF pushes Apple to ‘fix’ iCloud encryption

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Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
Your iCloud data isn’t truly secure because Apple can always access it.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

In a campaign called “Fix it Already!,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is urging tech giants to remedy nine security and privacy problems in their products. 

In Apple’s case, it wants the iPhone maker to encrypt iCloud backups so that only users can access them. 

Just Mobile lets you get your hands on real power [Watch Store]

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AluBase-charger
AluBase is a wireless charger that actually looks good.
Photo: Just Mobile

The Cult of Mac Watch Store loves the Apple Watch, yes, but what we really desire is power. While we might never get the power to do whatever we want, there is plenty of power that we can acquire for a reasonable cost. Yes, we’re talking about chargers and electricity here, not dominion over all things.

The store recently added some slick ways to keep your devices full of juice from our friends at Just Mobile. See those below, and be sure to check out all our other power options.

This amazing shoulder bag is just big enough to empty your pockets into

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Who needs pockets when you have the Sutter Sling?
Who needs pockets when you have the Sutter Sling Pouch?
Photo: SF Bags

Only in the United States do men try to carry all their essential out-of-home possessions in their pockets. Wallet, keys, phone, spare battery, AirPods, Leatherman. So wedded are men to this principal that they ridicule small bags by calling them “murses.” Either that, or they use things like cellphone holsters or fanny packs, which are pretty much social death.

In Europe (but not in the U.K.), men just carry small bags. And they call them “bags,” or whatever the local name is. Whatever, it’s definitely not el murse. Now, men in the U.S. can catch up to the the rest of the world with WaterField Designs’ Sutter Sling Pouch, a gentleman’s handbag that’s just big enough for you to empty your pockets into.

Qualcomm might miss out on 5G iPhone

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Qualcomm headquarters
Analysts recommend Qualcomm make up with Apple soon.
Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm needs to settle its lawsuits with Apple soon if it wants to be in the first 5G iPhone. Time is running out on this chip maker to supply 5G modems for Apple’s 2020 offering, according to an industry analyst.

And that would hurt Qualcomm more than Apple.

Brilliant iPhone camera app takes long exposures without tripod

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Capturing the path of light and motion with Spectre Camera.
Ex-Spectre the unexpected.
Photo: Spectre

Halide, an iOS camera app that entered a flooded photo app category in 2017, quickly rose above most of the others as a must-have tool for serious iPhone photographers.

The creators, wanting manual camera settings and a RAW shooting option, rolled out a new app this week bringing ease to the otherwise complicated task of light and motion painting with long exposures.

The new app, Spectre, requires no technical skill – or even a tripod – to bring the streams of light to urban scenics shot on iPhone.

Apple warns podcasters not to use numbers in episode titles

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Apple's podcasts app is deeper than you might imagine.
Apple has contacted podcasters with guidelines.
Photo: Incase/Flickr CC

Apple is contacting podcast producers requesting that they optimize the metadata for their shows — or risk having them removed from Apple’s podcast service.

The cautionary email mostly concerns guidelines on including detailed, nonredundant written descriptions of episodes. However, the Apple Podcasts email contains a few surprising directives — like the fact that titles should not include numbers. Provided that’s read as intended, this could cause a few problems!

Slam Mania brings 1980s wrasslin’ action to the App Store

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Slam Masters
Get your retro wrestle on!
Photo: Easy 8 Software

I’m an unabashed fan of pro wrestling — and pro wrestling games, too. As much as I can enjoy the highly polished WWE 2K19, however, my heart belongs to the 2D grapplers of days past.

If you also have fond memories of pumping quarter after quarter into the WWF WrestleFest cabinet at your local arcade, a new iOS game is sure to have you tearing off your America-loving t-shirt in elation. Check out the trailer for Slam Mania below.

iPhone hacking tools sell for as little as $100 on eBay

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Cekkebrite
One of Cellebrite's hacking devices.
Photo: Tryc2/ebay

The Cellebrite hacking tool used by law enforcers for pulling data off locked iPhones costs $6,000 new. However, used units now show up on eBay for as little as $100.

That’s a big discount from the full price. And it seems that Cellebrite, a security firm based in Israel, isn’t too happy about the situation — with very good reason.

Worst could be over for iPhone sales in China

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
iPhone sales have had a tough time in China.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Slowing iPhone sales in China was a major concern for Apple. However, things may be back on the upswing, claims UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri.

According to Arcuri’s latest note to investors, Apple is clearing inventory in the country. This is partially thanks to price reductions. While it would be foolish to suggest that there won’t be more struggles, it seems that the worst could be behind Apple.

Fortnite season 8 blasts into action with cannons and volcanos

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Fortnite season 8
Drop into today to enjoy all the new content.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite season eight has landed, bringing new locations, new weapons, and explosive changes. Players can launch themselves across the map using the new cannon, explore the scorching volcano, and more.

There’s also a brand new Battle Pass with 100 levels, and more than 100 new rewards.

Apple Watch continues to be the biggest player in smartwatches

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
More than half of holiday smartwatch sales were Apple Watches.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

A record 18 million smartwatches sold in the final three months of 2018 — and Apple Watch made up more than half of them.

That’s according to the latest global sales research figures from Strategy Analytics. The firm suggests that Apple Watch represented 51 percent of global smartwatch sales. Samsung took second place, followed by Fitbit, and Garman.