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News - page 654

iOS 12.2 beta 3 brings changes to Apple News, TV remote app and Group FaceTime fix [Updated]

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animoji
The new animoji of iOS 12.2.
Photo: Apple

Update: The latest beta of iOS 12.2 is now available to the public, not just developers.

Apple just released the third beta build of iOS 12.2 to developers this morning, bringing a bunch of fixes and new features to the iPhone and iPad.

iOS 12.2 beta 3 arrived just over two weeks after developers received the last build. There are also new betas out for tvOS 12.2 and watchOS 5.2 to go with the macOS 10.4.4 beta that came out yesterday.

Apple may finally preview a revamped Mac Pro at WWDC 2019

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Mac Pro
The new Mac Pro will be modular again, just like this one.
Photo: Apple

Apple may finally give fans a first look at its revamped Mac Pro at WWDC 2019.

The company promised in the spring of 2017 that it would “rethink” its high-end desktop following feedback from professional users. The new model is expected to come with a more modular design that can be easily upgraded, but we’re still waiting for an update on Apple’s progress.

Rap T-shirt designer gives Steve Jobs the hip-hop fashion treatment

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Marino Morwood 2
Marino Morwood's designs have been worn by some crazy popular rappers.
Photo: Marino Morwood

Steve Jobs may have been referenced in a hip-hop track or two, but Apple’s co-founder and urban fashion aren’t exactly things you’d expect to find together.

That did not stop rap T-shirt designer Marino Morwood from picking Jobs as the subject of his latest creation. Having focused stars like Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. for his previous designs, his Steve Jobs T-shirt could bring Apple’s late CEO to a whole new audience!

Qualcomm renews efforts to block certain iPhone imports in U.S.

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Qualcomm headquarters
Certain iPhone models could potentially be blocked from sale in the U.S.
Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm has ramped up its efforts against Apple as part of the long-running battle between the two tech companies.

The chip maker has asked U.S. trade regulators to reverse a previous judge’s ruling. This would allow it to block the import of certain iPhone models into the United States.

Student faces lengthy prison spell for drug-dealing iOS app

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Mascot 2
The app was named after UC Santa Cruz's banana slug mascot.
Photo: Mike Fernwood/Flickr CC

Drugs on a college campus? To paraphrase an old Apple slogan, it turns out there’s an app for that.

Created by 18-year-old University of California, Santa Cruz student Collin Riley Howard, the Banana Plug app allegedly allowed customers to place orders for drugs — including cocaine, “Molly” and “shrooms” — from the comfort of their iOS devices. Howard then communicated with buyers via Snapchat to set up the sale, authorities say.

Apple’s latest ad will make believe an Apple Watch can fly

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Flight 2
Apple's best commercial of 2019 so far.
Photo: Apple

The latest Apple Watch ad likens the Apple Watch Series 4’s cellular capabilities to the power of flight.

It features 29-year-old Finnish-American athlete Inka Tiitto, best known to U.S. audiences for her appearance in America’s Got Talent. It depicts Tiitto running through woods and mountainsides, before eventually being hurled upward into the sky for a dazzling skydiving display.

Check it out below.

Apple plans to merge iOS and macOS apps by 2021

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Office Mac App Store
Your favorite apps could soon be available on any Apple device.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to make it easy for developers to merge iOS and macOS apps into one by 2021, according to a new report.

The project, dubbed “Marzipan,” hopes to encourage development and boost App Store revenue. It will start with a new software development kit that will let developers port their iPad apps to Mac later this year.

HomePod sold 1.6 million units over the holidays

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The HomePod is a lot smarter than you might think. Just take a look at these tips!
HomePod is Apple's take on the smart speaker.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s HomePod smart speaker experienced 45 percent growth in the holiday quarter, according to new figures. Strategy Analytics’ report suggests that Apple sold 1.6 million HomePod speakers over the three month period.

Those numbers still put it firmly behind market leaders like Amazon and Google. Nonetheless, they show that Apple is continuing to benefit from the explosion of interest in smart speakers.

iPhones are about to get interesting again [Opinion]

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TCL folding phone designs
These are just some of the possible designs a folding iPhone might use.
Photo: TCL/Cnet

Apple picked a design for the iPhone more than a decade ago and has gradually improved it with each successive model. But that‘s all over and done. We have no idea what the 2020 iPhone will look like. Literally no clue

That’s because the era of foldable displays is about to kick off, and they are going to bring profound changes to phones of all types.

iPhone discounts ease Apple’s pain in China only briefly

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China iPhone sales
Apple CEO Tim Cook meets with Apple Store employees in China.
Photo: Apple

Temporary price cuts in China offered only a temporary boost in iPhone sales, according to industry analysts watching how Apple would follow up dismal year-end figures in the depressed Chinese smartphone market.

To start 2019, Apple revealed unexpected revenue shortfalls, blaming it mostly on a sharp drop in demand for iPhones in China.

iPhone SE returns — grab one before they disappear

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iPhone SE
Two new iPhone SE models for 2020?
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

The iPhone SE is making a rare appearance on Apple’s clearance page. This discontinued model was already inexpensive, and it’s available now for $100 or $150 less than the usual price, depending on the model.

But don’t dither; it’s likely to sell out again quickly.

Control devices with a wave of your hand using this sci-fi ring

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Litho
Litho is an input device for the real world.
Photo: Litho

Ever wish you could control your smart home devices without reaching for your iPhone? A new finger-worn controller is trying to make that a reality and it could be a total gamechanger for ARKit apps.

Litho, a small controller you wear on two fingers, gives wearers the ability to control iPhone connected devices by pointing, swiping and taping. It also doubles as a controller for AR apps so you don’t have to keep tapping on the screen.

Prepare to be amazed:

Media mogul says Apple is foolish to challenge might of Netflix

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Barry Diller
Barry Diller doesn't see the competition catching up to Netflix.
Photo: J.D. Lasica/Wikimedia CC

Apple can try to compete with Netflix for video streaming subscribers, but Barry Diller says Apple and others are “fools” to chase Netflix.

Diller, a studio executive turned tech entrepreneur, does not see any company gaining the number of subscribers as Netflix, which began building a base by sending DVDs of choice movies by mail.

Fortnite goes high plain driftin’ with the new Driftboard

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Fortnite 2
The day has finally arrived.
Photo: Epic

Bored of traveling around on foot in Fortnite? There’s some good news: Epic has finally introduced the new, eagerly awaited Drifboard” into the game. It allows players to catch some air and pull a few tricks while they’re going about their running and gunning business.

The Driftboard allows you zoom past your fellow players and competitors with impressive speed. You can even loot and revive allies without having to set foot off the board. Check it out in action below.

Don’t expect a major redesign for this year’s iPad mini 5

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iPad mini
The new iPad mini could just just like the old one.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

The iPad mini hasn’t gotten a sequel since 2015. However, if you’re expecting this year’s rumored refresh to be a massive leap forward, you might want to think again.

At least that’s the take based on an alleged CAD render seen by noted leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer, aka @OnLeaks. While he did not share the image, he suggests the supposed leak indicates the next-gen iPad mini will not see any major external design changes. iPad mini lovers — brace yourself for a simple spec bump.

Today in Apple history: Mac creator complains about Steve Jobs

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Jobs
Young Steve Jobs wasn't exactly easy to work with!
Photo: Esther Dyson/Flickr CC

February 19 Today in Apple history: Mac creator Jef Raskin complains about Steve Jobs February 19, 1981: Jef Raskin, creator of the Macintosh project, sends a memo to Apple CEO Mike Scott, listing his many complaints about working with Steve Jobs.

He claims that Jobs, who joined the Mac team the previous month, is tardy, shows bad judgment, interrupts people, doesn’t listen and is a bad manager.

Huawei spies reportedly tried to get their hands on Apple secrets

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Chinese company Huawei wants the media buzz that would come with releasing the world's first foldable phone.
Report claims that Huawei tried to get information from Apple suppliers.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

Huawei may have overtaken Apple in terms of overall smartphone sales, but it apparently believes it’s still got a lot to learn from the Cupertino giant.

According to a new report, Huawei tried to glean information about future Apple products from supply chain sources. This information included details about the Apple Watch’s heart rate-tracking tech and MacBook Pro connector cables.

Apple hits pause on some projects to ‘reassess priorities’

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Apple adds 5 new vice presidents to its executive lineup
Times are a-changin'.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple is currently undergoing an executive team shakeup, a new report from the Wall Street Journal claims. As a result of the reorganization and personnel changes, several projects have had the pause button hit.

This is reportedly so that managers can “reassess priorities.” While no specific projects are named, some workers are supposedly “rattled” by the changes.

Apple Pay launches in Saudi Arabia and the Czech Republic

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Apple Pay continues its rollout around the world.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay has rolled out in Saudi Arabia and the Czech Republic, marking its 33rd and 34th markets.

In Saudi Arabia, Apple Pay is supported by the Saudi Payments Network (MADA), Alinma Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, Bank Aljazira, the National Commercial Bank, and Riyad Bank.

In the Czech Republic, it is supported by Air Bank, Ceska sporitelna, MONETA Money Bank and Twisto.

Gorgeous MacBook Pro concept borrows iPhone’s best features

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A proposed MacBook Pro concept boasts an edge-edge-screen, Face ID and other features from the iPhone.
A proposed MacBook Pro concept boasts an edge-edge-screen, Face ID and other features from the iPhone.
Photo: Viktor Kádár

Take the MacBook Pro and stir in some of the best features of the iPhone and you’d get a small notebook with a big screen, facial recognition and a processor made by Apple.

Watch a video of this proposed uber-sleek device:

Apple ‘fixes’ Group FaceTime bug by hobbling the app

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2018 iPad Pro Animoji
Apple took the easy way of removing a problem in FaceTime: it yanked out the affected feature.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s hasty fix for the serious Group FaceTime bug that was discovered last month apparently just disables the feature in this video-chatting software that was causing the problem.

We’ve reached out to Apple to see if they’re in the process of restoring full functionality.

General-purpose computers are terrible for creativity [Opinion]

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Computers are great for lots of things, but not everything.
Computers are great for lots of things, but not everything.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Computers — the iPad, the Mac and anything else where a screen is the main form of interaction — are creativity killers. They distract, frustrate and get in the way of the flow that is essential to any creative work.

That’s not to say they don’t play an important part in art, music, photography or writing. It’s just that a lot of the time, there are much better tools for the job — and they’re getting more popular all the time.

Gold-plated iPhones are a pricey way to observe Presidents Day

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Presidents Day iPhones
Happy Presidents Day. That will be $5,000.
Screenshot: Caviar

Luxury tech jeweler Caviar can help proud Americans – at least the rich ones – celebrate Presidents Day with a line of gold-plated iPhones celebrating four of our more recognized commanders in chief.

Inspired by Mount Rushmore, Caviar designers created relief mugs of presidents George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.