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News - page 645

Nintendo RPG Dragalia Lost blasts into new markets

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Dragalia Lost
Are you playing Dragalia Lost yet?
Photo: Nintendo

Nintendo action RPG Dragalia Lost has finally expanded its reach to a bunch of new markets, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

The free-to-play game, which debuted in the United States and other countries last September, runs on Android and iOS. With this wider rollout, even more people can enjoy the hit game’s fast-paced action.

Apple developing its own sleep-tracking tech for Apple Watch

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
Your Apple Watch could soon track the number of Zs you catch each night.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch could soon add sleep-tracking tech that makes it an even more capable health monitor.

Apple has been testing the new sleep-tracking technology at secret sites around Cupertino, a new report claims. And if it lives up to its promise, it could ship as part of the Apple Watch by 2020.

Apple supplier profits hit by big drop in orders

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Apple display maker exec fired for embezzling millions of dollars
AAC Technologies made acoustic and haptic components for iOS devices.
Photo: Kristal Chan/Cult of Mac

Being an Apple supplier can be an unpredictable business. Suppliers whose earnings rely on Apple can take a major tumble if they suddenly fall out of favor.

That’s what happened this week with AAC Technologies Holdings. The acoustic component maker’s shares fell dramatically on Tuesday after it announced a 75 percent decline in orders.

Apple Music coming to Google Home devices [Updated]

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Save $30 on the Google Home smart speaker.
Coming soon to a Google speaker near you.
Photo: Google

Updated: Google  says this was the result of a bug, and it has “nothing to announce regarding updates to Google Home.”

 

Apple Music is on its way to Google Home devices. In the Google Home app for iOS devices, Apple Music is listed as a listening option. However, as of now, it can’t be linked with a Google Home device.

Apple’s streaming music service previously arrived on Amazon Echo devices in December. Between them, Google and Amazon make up the overwhelming majority of smart speakers.

Mophie’s iPhone battery case is a great alternative to Apple’s

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Mophie Juice Pack Access iPhone battery pack comes in a variety of colors.
Mophie Juice Pack Access iPhone battery pack comes in a variety of colors.
Photo: Mophie

The wait is over for the Mophie Juice Pack Access. This series of cases extends the battery life of the 2018 iPhone models while still allowing the Lightning port to be used. And the iPhone can be wirelessly charged while in this battery case.

Mophie unveiled this product last month, and it just became available today.

iOS 12 adoption rate hits 80% on all iOS devices

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iOS 12.2 public beta 1 is more than just a collection of bug fixes.
iOS 12.2 adds even more goodies for iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 12 is proving to be Apple’s most widely adopted software updates for iPhone and iPad in years.

Apple published its latest adoption percentages for iOS 12 today revealing that 80% of all iOS devices in the world are now running iOS 12, far outpacing iOS 11’s adoption last year.

iPhone should steal these hands-free gestures from LG

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LG G8ThinQ
The LG G8ThinQ totally ā€œborrowedā€ its look from the iPhone. The iPhone should borrow its gesture control system.
Photo: LG

The just-announced LG G8 ThinQ packs a forward-facing sensor that allows users to control some of the phone’s functions with hand gestures, with no need to touch the screen.

The sensors used by the iPhone for Face ID should be able to duplicate this functionality. And that, in turn could simplify use of the device.

iOS 13 concept gives iPad the features it desperately needs

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iOS 13
Apple, please steal this.
Photo: LƩo Vallet

There are less than 100 days until WWDC 2019 and new iPad features are looming large on the mind of Apple fans.

In a new iOS 13 mockup, concept designer Léo Valle suggests some simple, yet groundbreaking features that would make the iPad a true Mac replacement. Some of these features probably won’t make the cut on iOS 13 this year, but even if one makes it’d be a game-changer.

Epic teases exciting changes for Fortnite season 8

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Fortnite season 8
Are you ready for Fortnite season 8?
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite season eight will finally land later this week, and it’s going to bring massive changes to Battle Royale.

Epic Games has already published two teasers that give little away, but a number of exciting details have now been confirmed. Fans can look forward to the removal of planes and improved team communication.

T-Mobile falls behind rivals in super-fast 5G

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T-Mobile 5G service
T-Mobile will start offering 5G service only after its biggest rivals do.
Photo: T-Mobile

Bad news for T-Mobile USA customers: this carrier has delayed the rollout of its faster 5G data service until some time after June of this year.

That’s going to put it behind its US rivals even as the first 5G phones are starting to appear.

Ejector makes your Mac’s eject key useful again

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Make eject great again.
Make eject great again.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Take a look at the top right corner of your keyboard. Unless you’re using a recent MacBook, you’ll see a vestigial Eject key. It used to be used to eject CDs, DVDs and even floppy disks back in the olden days. Now it sits there doing nothing1.

I wonder how many eject keys are manufactured each year? How much plastic is wasted? Truly, we humans do not deserve this Earth.

Sorry, back to the point: Ejector is a Mac app that reclaims this useless plastic square, turning it into a way to eject USB drives and more.

App Store devs can offer discounts to win back subscribers

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App Store subscriptions
There are three new subscription options to choose from.
Photo: Apple

Apple is giving iOS, macOS, and tvOS developers the ability to offer discounted subscriptions in an effort to win back past subscribers.

A new article posted to App Store Connect details the change and explains the three options developers will have to choose from — including a free trial period like those offered to new customers.

Is iPhone in danger of losing its photography crown? [Opinion]

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iPhone camera
The Nokia 9 PureView has five main cameras.
Photo: Nokia

On Sunday, Nokia quietly launched a first-of-its-kind smartphone called PureView with an array of five main cameras on its backplate.

Apple set a high bar just two years ago with the dual-camera iPhone 7 Plus. In a year where iPhone users are waiting for Apple to release its first model with a third camera, it’s hard not to feel like Apple has fallen behind in the mobile photography space it defined and owned.

Apple credit card may not be a massive hit for company

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Tim Cook earnings apple
Apple could launch a co-branded credit card as soon as this spring.
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s rumored credit card with Goldman Sachs may be attention-grabbing news, but it may not have a huge impact on the company’s bottom line.

In a note to investors, analysts at Bernstein write that the launch of an Apple-branded business card would be “likely immaterial.”

Warren Buffett isn’t rushing to stock up on Apple shares

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Buffett
Warren Buffett has been a massive Apple cheerleader.
Photo: CNBC

Warren Buffett has been one of Apple’s biggest investor cheerleaders. However, the 88-year-old super investor says that he’s not going to be adding to his holdings unless prices go down.

“If it were cheaper, we’d be buying it. We aren’t buying it here,” Buffett told CNBC‘s “Squawk Box.”Apple: I don’t see myself selling – the lower it goes, the better, I like it, obviously.”

Apple’s privacy beliefs may be hitting publishers in the wallet

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Apple News
Apple is gearing up to launch its subscription news service.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Some publishers are not impressed by the ad revenue they’re receiving from Apple News. Ad rates from the platform can reportedly be shockingly low — with one publication earning “low five-figures” per month, and another making less than $1,000 each month.

One big reason for this may be Apple’s privacy stance. This makes it hard for advertisers wanting to get hold of user data. That’s because Apple News doesn’t allow certain types of data gathering or user targeting.

Apple is ā€˜very aware’ of concerns over high iPhone prices

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Which new iPhone is for you? It really comes down to size.
Apple knows the iPhone is getting too expensive.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple COO Jeff Williams says the company is “very aware” of concerns over the rising cost of the iPhone and Mac computers.

Williams, who delivered a brief speech at Elon University in North Carolina on Friday, also disputes analysts’ estimates of component costs for Apple’s products. (Results of a recent teardown suggested a 256GB iPhone XS Max can be manufactured for just $443.)

Yes, Tim Cook does read your ā€˜Dear Tim’ emails

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Tim Cook and Ivanka Trump
Your email might even help dictate Apple's future moves.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s CEO Tim Cook reads what customers say in their emails to him — and sometimes their suggestions do trigger actual change in products.

That’s according to a new report which notes that these “Dear Tim” emails are often read by an assistant. The most relevant ones are then forwarded onto Cook. Where necessary, they are then pushed to employees in other departments.

Handsome co-worker gets bokeh’d in Apple’s latest ad

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Depth control 2
Well, that's one way to do it!
Photo: Apple

Apple continued its run of bokeh-related iPhone ads over the weekend. In its new “Depth Control” ad, a jealous partner blurs a handsome male co-worker out of a photo of his girlfriend/wife, using the depth of field function.

Come to think of it, that sounds a lot less funny in writing than it comes across on screen. As a slice of everyday iPhone use, though, it certainly raised a smile. Check it out below.

$2,600 Huawei folding phone makes Samsung’s look cheap

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The Huawei Mate X folding phone
The wait for the Mate X continues.
Photo: Huawei

When jaws dropped at the $1,980 price of Samsung’s first folding phone, Huawei said “Hold my beer.” The Chinese company just took the wraps of its own flexible handset that will go for a mind-blowing €2,299 (roughly $2,600).

Of course, the Mate X is loaded  with truly cutting-edge features, especially a 6.6-inch screen that opens to 8 inches. There’s also 5G. 

If nothing else, these two models should cut down on the criticism of the price of the iPhone XS Max, which looks relatively cheap at a mere $1,099.

Don’t give up hope for a 5G iPhone this fall

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No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says ā€œ5G Eā€ is 4G.
It’s not impossible that a 5G iPhone will launch this fall. Right now, there’s just AT&T’s fake ā€œ5G E.ā€
Photo: Cult of Mac/@Siddavarapu

Intel says its 5G modem won’t be used in any phones until next year. This is Apple’s preferred modem maker but not it’s only option. 

The company is reportedly considering other sources to provide the necessary modem for a 5G iPhone possibly coming this fall.

How gesture controls could bring multi-touch to Mac [Cult of Mac Magazine No. 285]

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Gesture controls could replace 3D Touch and bring multi-touch to the Mac (finally!).
Gesture controls could replace 3D Touch and bring multi-touch to the Mac (finally!).
Cover: Graham Bower and Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

With gesture controls apparently about to become a thing, it’s time to look at how they could work on future iPhones and Macs. In this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine, we show how gesture controls could take the place of the dying 3D Touch. And, even better, how they could bring multi-touch to the Mac at long last.

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