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News - page 706

iOS 12 accidentally removes select Apple Watch Activity badges

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Activity badges for Apple Watch challenges
iOS 12's collection of "limited edition" Activity challenge badges is missing a few awards.
Screenshot: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

With the release of iOS 12 earlier this week, Apple made broad sweeping improvements to the OS. Unfortunately, the update also came with a small bug for fitness zealots sporting a cabinet full of limited edition Activity challenge badges. If that just described your Apple Watch badge collection, you can cool your cycling shorts, everything will be ok.

iPhone XS camera design proves even more impressive than we thought

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iPhone Xs cameras
Apple's new iPhone cameras.
Photo: Apple

The new camera sensors on the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max could be worth a $1000 upgrade all their own.

Early reviews of the new cameras are overwhelmingly positive. Even though we already knew Apple made the pixels larger and the sensor bigger, we now have a better idea of the crazy engineering that went into making it the best iPhone camera ever.

Google Maps finally works with CarPlay

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CarPlay Google Maps
CarPlay allows Google Maps navigation with iOS 12.
Photo: Apple

Apple Maps is no longer the only option for navigation through Apple’s CarPlay system now that iOS 12 is out.

With an update released today for Google Maps, CarPlay users can now choose between Google Maps and Apple Maps. And more third-party apps are on the way.

iPhone’s controversial notch may get smaller next year

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Can you spot the change in the 2019 iPhone models?
Can you spot the change in the 2019 iPhone models?
Photo: Ben Geskin

The 2018 iPhones aren’t even out yet and we already have our first rumor about next year’s models. If you’re hoping for big changes in the 2019 iPhones, better temper your expectations. It seems the next-generation of Apple handsets will include displays the same size size as this year’s iPhone XS and XS Max.

But there reportedly will be one significant difference. One that many people will like.

5 essential apps that work beautifully with iOS 12

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Halide can now add custom background blurs in iOS 12.
Halide can now add custom background blurs in iOS 12.
Photo: Halide

iOS 12 gives your favorite apps access to some amazing new abilities. One is integration with the brand-new Siri Shortcuts, which lets you automate your apps, or to interact with them by talking to Siri. But that’s not all. Camera apps now have access to the the depth information from Portrait Mode, so they can do some pretty special effects.

Safari’s password autofill has also been opened up, so apps like Dashlane and 1Password are now available with a single tap. Let’s take a look at the best new iOS 12-ready apps already available.

Dead batteries won’t kill NFC on iPhone XS and XR

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iPhone 6 with a dead battery
A dead battery used to be a big problem. It's slightly less of an issue with the iPhone XS.
Photo: Apple

It’s irritating when your iPhone runs out of battery. But it can actually be life threatening if you depend on your phone’s NFC feature to get into your dorm room or onto a train. 

That’s why the iPhone XS and the other 2018 models still offer some NFC transactions even when down to the power reserve.

The first iOS 12.1 beta is already here

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iOS 12
iOS 12 just got a new beta.
Photo: Apple

Apple is not wasting any time making improvements to the huge iOS 12 update that was just released to the public yesterday.

Developers received the first beta for iOS 12.1 this morning along with new betas for watchOS 5 and tvOS 12, bring a host of changes to the software update that already made iOS devices faster and more efficient.

This is the proper way to type the new iPhone names

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Apple
Apple busted out three new iPhones at its keynote.
Photo: Apple

The official way to type the names of the 2018 iPhone lineup have finally been confirmed by Apple nearly a week after the company revealed the phones at its Gather Round keynote.

All three of the new iPhones have a letter suffix attached to an X which has been downright confusing for most fans. In some instances, it seemed like all uppercase letters were called for, while some people were only using lower case suffixes. The confusion has been cleared up though and the names are actually pretty simple.

Apple’s famous hyperbole factory works overtime

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Apple keynotes
The iPhones may change but the words describing remain the same.
Screenshot: James Brown/YouTube

When you compare the iPhone 4 to the iPhone XS, virtually everything has changed. All except the script Apple uses when introducing its new handsets to the public.

This is the tongue-in-cheek observation of James Brown, a YouTuber and Reddit user who posted a video comparing the use of adjectives from Steve Jobs in 2010 with Apple executives talking about the iPhones XS and XS Max at last week’s new product showcase.

First iPhone XS and XS Max reviews: Great phone, but not revolutionary

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iPhone Xs Max
This is what we've been waiting for.
Photo: Apple

Early reviews for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max have already come in and while most of the people that have tested the new device are impresssed, this years models aren’t as big a leap as the iPhone X.

Testers are raving about the camera, A12 processor, big display and faster LTE. The new phones are truly impressive, but if you have an iPhone that came out in the last two years, you might want to see what the experts are saying first.

You’ll never guess what’s inside the iPhone XS boxes [Unboxing videos]

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quotes on Apple
Just one has a staggering amount of computing power compared to the Apollo 11 computer.
Screenshot: Jonathan Morrison

The average joe won’t get their hands on the new iPhone XS until Friday, but a fortunate few got early access. That’s led to the first unboxing videos of Apple’s new flagship smartphone.

These offer quick, hands-on overviews of the iPhone XS Max and the smaller iPhone XS for people who just can’t wait until they get one themselves.

No really … iPhone XS is a total steal, says Tim Cook

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Tim Cook on Good Morning America
iPhone XS Max is just “a dollar a day.”
Photo: ABC

Apple’s latest iPhone lineup is its most expensive yet, with prices starting at $999 for the iPhone XS and $1,099 for the iPhone XS Max. But Apple CEO Tim Cook doesn’t see a problem with that.

In an interview with Good Morning America this week, Cook again defended Apple’s price tags, talked about Apple Watch Series 4, and explained why some devices have avoided price hikes amidst America’s trade war with China.

Twitter brings back the chronological timeline

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Twitter
Will Facebook and Instagram follow suit?
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Twitter’s chronological timeline is back.

The algorithmic timeline that was first introduced in 2016 remains the default, but users can now revert to the non-algorithm sorting method that Twitter originally offered for years.

Today in Apple history: NeXT customers get early taste of OS X

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NeXTstep
NeXTStep was an operating system ahead of its time.
Image: NeXT

September 18: Today in Apple history: NeXTStep gives NeXT customers an early taste of OS X September 18, 1989: Steve Jobs’ company NeXT Inc. ships version 1.0 of NeXTStep, its object-oriented, multitasking operating system.

Incredibly advanced for its time, NeXTStep is described by The New York Times as “Macintosh on steroids.” In an ironic twist, the operating system Jobs plans to use to compete with Cupertino turns out to be one of the things that saves Apple a decade later.

Benchmarks prove iOS 12 is Apple’s fastest yet

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iOS 12
Apple promised a speed increase from iOS 12. How well did it deliver?
Photo: Apple

Since the day Apple first unveiled iOS 12 back in June the company has been saying that this new version of its mobile operating system be faster than any of its predecessors. Now that it’s out, we can test that promise.

We put a iPhone X running iOS 12 through benchmark tests and compared the results to this device running iOS 11. Spoiler: you’re going to like the results.

Hands on with the hot new Apple Watch faces in watchOS 5

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watchOS 5 Face
watchOS 5's animated faces bring new life to the Apple Watch
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If you watched last week’s Apple Watch Series 4 unveiling and are dying for those new animated watch faces — but don’t want to buy a new watch — you’ll be happy to know that watchOS 5 brings the best of them to Apple Watch Series 1 and up.

They’re not quite as nice as what you’ll get with the new larger Series 4 watches coming Friday, but they’re still pretty great. Here’s a hands-on look at the new Apple Watch faces.

Instagram wants to be your favorite place to shop

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Instagram lawsuit
Instagram wants you to shop more.
Photo: Pixabay

Shopping is about to become an even biggest focus on Instagram with a new update coming out today that makes it easier to find what your favorite accounts are peddling.

The photo-sharing app revealed that it is rolling out its Shopping in Stories feature to businesses in 46 countries today, allowing users to tap on an item to quickly learn about it and possibly purchase it through the business’ website.

This is what it will look like:

China’s reaction to Trump’s tariffs could be ‘serious problem’ for Apple

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tariffs
Apple CEO Tim Cook has urged President Donald Trump to avoid tariffs with China.
Photos: White House/Apple

The Trump administration is expected to spare three Apple products from the next round of tariffs, but escalating conflicts with China could still be a costly problem for the tech giant should a full-blown trade war ensue.

Bloomberg news, siting five unidentified sources, said a product code that covers the Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod smart speaker, is not listed among some $200 billion in Chinese products subject to a new 10 percent tariff expected to be announced later this week.

Grab Safari 12 today for safer, better browsing

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Get Safari 12 today, even if you're not running macOS Mojave.
You can upgrade to Safari 12 right now, even if you're not running macOS Mojave.
Photo: Apple

Turns out you don’t have to upgrade to macOS Mojave to enjoy the benefits of Safari 12. Apple just released it for two earlier versions: High Sierra and Sierra.

This browser update works hard to protect your privacy, and offers plenty of other improvements too.

Handy Shortcuts app launches alongside iOS 12

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Shortcuts app from iOS 12
Apple's new Shortcuts automation app has to be downloaded separately from iOS 12.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The full version of iOS 12 is now available for everyone. One of its cool new features is Siri Shortcuts, but those who want to automate functions on their iPhone also need to download a separate application from the App Store.

The new utility lets people create scripts that collect several actions together, then launch them with a voice command. The idea is to let you automate actions that you perform regularly.

See every new iOS 12 feature in action

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iPhone X iOS 12
iOS 12 is packed full of speed improvements and new features, see them all in action!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

After months of testing, Apple finally release iOS 12 to the public this morning.

See all the cool new iOS 12 features in the video below.

iPhone XS preorder volume fails to impress analysts

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iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
iPhone XS sales were probably lower than Apple hoped. Still, the likely reason is another iPhone model.
Photo: Apple

Apple started taking pre-orders for both iPhone XS series models on Friday. One analyst says sales of these new models weren’t as strong as the first weekend of the iPhone X.

It seems that interest in the more affordable iPhone XR is cutting into demand for Apple’s new flagship smartphones.

watchOS 5 and tvOS 12 can now be installed by everyone

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watchOS 5
watchOS 5 turns Apple Watch into a walkie-talkie
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple TV and Apple Watch owners received some new software goodies this morning in the form of tvOS 12 and watchOS 5, coinciding with the public launch of iOS 12.

While tvOS 12 only contains a couple of changes with new screensavers and Dolby Atmos support, watchOS 5 packs some big updates that make wearing an Apple Watch even more useful by turning it into a walkie-talkie, letting you compete with friends and more.

Check out some of the new features:

Download iOS 12 now to make your iPhone and iPad faster

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iOS 12
iOS 12 launched on September 17.
Photo: Apple

The biggest iOS update of 2018 is finally here.

After months of beta testing, Apple finally released iOS 12 to the public, making it available as an over-the-air update. The new iPhone and iPad operating system comes with tons of new features and performance improvements that will make even older devices faster than ever. Best of all, if you have a device that can run iOS 11, iOS 12 will work on it — no problem.

Here’s how to download it.

iPhone XS camera put to the test by globe-trotting photog

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Austin Mann
Travel photographer Austin Mann tests the iPhone XS in Zanzibar
Flickr Screenshot: Photos by Austin Mann for PetaPixel

Austin Mann is one of those lucky photographers who gets a new iPhone before the rest of us. Apple knows he will take it to some colorful location and make the kind of pictures that show off the camera’s upgrades.

Mann doesn’t disappoint with the iPhone XS, which he put to the test while on a recent assignment in Zanzibar.