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News - page 686

Apple Pay could land in Belgium next month

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doxo Apple Pay
Apple Pay is gradually expanding its reach.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay is coming to Belgium in November, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reports. It will supposedly be available initially as an exclusive for customers of BNP Paribas Fortis, Belgium’s most popular major bank.

The country already has widespread usage of contactless payments, and has been using Android Pay since early 2017.

Apple pulls new watchOS 5.1 update

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watchOS 5 Face
Is your Apple Watch still running with watchOS 5.1?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has pulled the watchOS 5.1 update just hours after making it available to the public.

The move came after reports that the release was “bricking” Apple Watch Series 4 units. Apple has advised those who are experiencing a constant boot loop to contact AppleCare.

Why Apple is Facebook’s ‘biggest competitor by far’

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Face ID
iMessage gives Apple a big advantage.
Photo: Apple

Mark Zuckerberg says that, when it comes to messaging apps, Apple is Facebook’s “biggest competitor by far.”

That’s because, while apps like Facebook Messenger and the Facebook-owned WhatsApp have to be purposely installed, iMessage comes pre-installed on every iOS device. And that’s not good news for Facebook.

New iPad Pro reminds us how far tech has advanced in 8.5 years

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Photoshop on iPad
It's amazing what 8.5 years will do!
Photo: Adobe/YouTube

Visually, the new iPad Pro brings back some of the design elements of the original 2010 iPad, especially noticeable with the flattened edges for the device. But how does it stack up in terms of computing power?

Frankly, it blows the original iPad out of the water — which is exactly what you’d expect from 8.5 years of Moore’s Law and engineering prowess. But some of the stats are pretty mind-boggling. Here’s how the 2018 iPad Pro measures up to the O.G. iPad:

Top-tier 2018 iPad Pro might get more RAM

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The 2018 iPad Pro might have more RAM than its predecessor, but only if you buy one of the most expensive versions.
The 2018 iPad Pro might have more RAM than its predecessor, but only if you buy one of the most expensive versions.
Photo: Apple

Apple has reportedly pegged the amount of RAM in the new iPad Pro to the amount of storage capacity. If this is true, it will be a significant departure for the company. Even on the pricy MacBook Pro line, RAM is consistent between versions of the same model, no matter how much storage is included.

If this report isn’t true, than every version of the 2018 iPad Pro will have 50 percent more RAM that the tablet Apple released last year.

All the ways the 2018 iPad Pro blows away its predecessors

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Apple compared the size of last year's 12.9-inch iPad Pro to the new, smaller model.
During its October press event, Apple compared the size of last year's 12.9-inch iPad Pro to the new, more portable model.
Photo: Apple

Since the first iPad was unveiled back in 2010, each successive model has looked nearly that same as all its predecessors, with most changes coming from faster processors and more storage.

Not any more. The iPad Pro just revealed includes several dramatic improvements, any one of which would be a game changer.

Don’t miss our comprehensive comparison of this tablet with the 2017 version.

New iPad Pro repair costs make AppleCare+ a no-brainer

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Don't break your 2018 iPad Pro.
Don't break your new iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

No matter what you plan to do with your beautiful new iPad Pro, make sure you never break it. Or if you do, you better buy AppleCare+.

Apple published the pricing for replacing a broken iPad Pro on its website today and the out-of-warranty costs are so high you could nearly buy an entirely new iPad Pro.

macOS Mojave 10.14.1 makes Group FaceTime available to all

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Group FaceTime Mac
With macOS 10.14.1 you can make Group FaceTime calls with dozens of people.
Photo: Apple

Apple has introduced a fairly significant update for macOS Mojave. This isn’t just some bug fix tweak — version 10.14.1 brings fun new features.

The most significant of these is Group FaceTime. Updates released today for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch also support this group-calling feature for the first time.

MacBook smackdown: Which laptop is right for you?

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MacBook Air 2018
If you need a new laptop, you won't want to miss this deal.
Photo: Apple

Apple finally dusted off the MacBook Air. The 2018 model sports a brand new design, a gorgeous Retina display, and powerful upgraded internals. All of sudden, Apple’s most affordable notebook is up there with its best.

In fact, the new ultraportable is so good, you would be crazy to buy a 12-inch MacBook right now. So, how does the new MacBook Air stack up against the rest of Apple’s laptop lineup? Which model best suits your needs, and which delivers the best bang for the buck?

Find out right here in our comprehensive MacBook comparison.

New MacBook Air’s T2 chip protects your mic from hackers

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T2 chip
Apple's most secure laptop yet.
Photo: Apple

Tapping into a Mac’s microphone is about to get a lot harder for hackers thanks to Apple’s new T2 chip.

Apple didn’t dedicate much time to its new T2 chip during today’s ‘More in the Making’ keynote, but the company’s newest security guide gives an in-depth look at the chip. Not only is it designed to prevent MacBook Air users from getting malware but it also makes it physically impossible for hackers to access your microphone when you’re most vulnerable.

New line of free Apple seminars will make your brain bulge

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Today at Apple
Apples Stores will sell you the iPads and Apple Pencils. "Today at Apple" will show how to use them.
Photo: Apple

More than 60 new sessions to teach Apple users how to get the most creatively from their apps and devices will be added to the “Today at Apple” program, the company announced in New York today.

Held at Apple Stores around the world, the sessions offer primers on essential hardware and software in the Apple ecosystem. Each workshop is headed by local creative professionals teaching coding, digital drawing, photography, video and making music.

5 things we didn’t get at Apple’s ‘More in the Making’ event

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The new iPads and Macs that have been in so many rumors will apparently be unveiled in less than two weeks.
While the Apple's October press event wasn't disappointing, not everything people had hoped for showed up.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s press event this morning was jam packed with new devices, including redesigned iPad Pros, an updated MacBook Air, and a faster Mac mini. But we still didn’t get everything we were expecting.

There were some notable absences from the ‘More in the Making’ event, and at least one glaring omission.

No, watchOS 5.1 doesn’t add ECG to Apple Watch Series 4

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Apple Watch ECG
Apple says the ECG app is still "coming later this year" to Apple Watch Series 4.
Photo: Apple

Apple just released watchOS 5.1, an update that brings new features to this wearable. But one of these is not the software needed for Apple Watch Series 4 users to take an electrocardiogram. Other sites are incorrectly reporting that the ECG app is part of this update.

New MacBook Pros with updated graphics are coming next month

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macbook pro
The new graphics will be a big boost the video editors.
Photo: Apple

Apple didn’t totally leave out the MacBook Pro from receiving some new features today, even though the company didn’t give its most powerful notebook any stage time at today’s event.

While the MacBook Air, Mac mini and iPad Pro were the stars of today’s keynote in New York, Apple quietly revealed on its website that the MacBook Pro is getting a spec bump too.

What’s new in iOS 12.1

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iOS 12.1 brings live depth control preview to the camera app.
iOS 12.1 brings live depth control preview to the camera app.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

iOS 12.1 is now available to download, and it brings a surprising number of neat new features to iPhones and iPads.

We get to enjoy Group FaceTime, live Depth Control when we’re taking photos — and the essential bagel emoji.

Burn your credit card before watching these new Mac and iPad Pro vids

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apple keynote
Apple dives into its recycled aluminum process in a new video.
Photo: Apple

Didn’t have time this morning to watch the full keynote video from Apple’s ‘There’s More in the Making’ keynote this morning in New York? Well, you can now catch all the highlights by watching the new videos Apple produced to go with the products.

Apple just uploaded six new videos to its YouTube channel showing off all the new features on the MacBook Air, Mac mini and iPad Pro. We’ve gathered them together here so you can catch up on all the new goodies.

Check it out:

The biggest takeaways from Apple’s ‘More in the Making’ event

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Tim Cook and Co. bring the hardware heat at The Brooklyn Academy of Music during the
Tim Cook wants TV shows to be family-friendly.
Photo: Apple

Apple finally gave its Mac and iPad Pro lineups some much-needed love today during its big ‘There’s More in the Making’ event in New York.

Tim Cook and company brought out some new faces to introduce some gorgeous new products for the company’s last event of the year. Even though we already had a solid idea of what to expect, the company still managed to throw in some surprises and blow away our expectations.

These are the biggest takeaways from the More in the Making keynote:

New Apple Pencil 2 erases original’s most annoying flaws

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Apple Pencil 2
Charging and storage now a snap.
Photo: Apple

Apple redesigned its Apple Pencil with new features that would’ve made a believer out of late company co-founder and stylus-hater Steve Jobs.

OK, maybe not. But creatives who took to the first Apple Pencil despite its design flaws are going to appreciate the new version launched today in Brooklyn, New York.

iPad Pro bids farewell to the 3.5mm headphone jack

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Lightning headphone adapter
Apple ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack for the iPhone a few years back.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The amazing new iPad Pro comes with a redesigned form factor and USB-C. But it’s lacking one feature that’ll surely upset a few fans: the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Apple first dropped the legacy port on the iPhone back in 2016 with the iPhone 7. With Apple now no longer making the iPhone 6s and SE, you can’t get a new iPhone with the headphone jack any more. And now it’s gone from the new iPad as well.

New iPad Pro says goodbye to bezels, hello to USB-C

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Apple's old 12.9-inch tablet next to the 2018 iPad Pro.
Apple's old 12.9-inch tablet next to the 2018 iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

Apple just unveiled the biggest change to its iPad line since Steve Jobs showed off the first iOS tablet in 2010. The display bezels have been stripped away, essentially giving the iPad Pro an all-screen design.

Equally as important, this is the first iOS device ever with a USB-C port in place of the Lightning port. This will allow the iPad Pro to connect to external monitors and other hardware.

Retina MacBook Air may be Apple’s most beautiful laptop ever

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MacBook Air
Apple's new Retina MacBook Air is a stunner.
Photo: Apple

Ten years after launching the game-changing MacBook Air, Apple took the wraps off the latest iteration of its ultra-thin, affordable laptop. And, boy, does it look great!

Boasting a considerably smaller bezel, a Retina display, a Touch ID sensor and an overall slimmer design, this is the MacBook many will have been waiting for.

The Mac mini is back and better than ever

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Apple Mac mini 2018
Save on the new Mac mini while you still can.
Photo: Apple

After being forgotten for four years, the Mac mini is back with an upgrade that was well worth waiting for.

Apple’s most affordable desktop, which is still small enough to stick anywhere, is vastly more powerful than it’s ever been before. You now get quad-core processors as standard, significantly faster graphics, all the memory you can shake at stick at, and so much more.

It also comes in gorgeous space gray.

Live blog: Apple unveils new iPads and Macs in Brooklyn

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Apple Maps just got a New York update.
Apple Maps just got a New York update.
Photo: Apple

The last major Apple event of 2018 is just hours away. And if the rumor mill is right, it could be the most action-packed keynote Apple has had in years.

New iPads, Macs, AirPods and more are expected to be revealed when Tim Cook and company take the stage at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York. The show kicks off at 10 a.m. Eastern. Apple will live-stream it worldwide, but we will kick off our live blog a bit before that.

Come on in and join the fun!