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News - page 710

Redesigned MacBook Air is coming, just not tomorrow

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Get a MacBook Air for $200 off
Don't give up hope for an improved 2018 MacBook Air. But don't expect it too soon, either.
Photo: Apple

Apple is about to refresh much of its product line, with new iPhones, iPad Pros, and Watches anticipated. However, an updated MacBook Air announcement tomorrow isn’t likely.

The company is expected to introduce an improved version of this budget laptop, but not until later in the year.

How Apple Watch apps’ death spiral nearly killed my iPhone app

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Developing watch apps ain't easy
Developing watch apps ain't easy
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Two years ago, my partner and I launched an Apple Watch app to complement our iPhone fitness app. Little did we know that our embrace of Apple’s smartwatch would threaten the very existence of the gym app we’d been developing since 2012.

Each year since we launched Reps & Sets, we updated it to keep up-to-speed with all the cool new features Apple rolled out at its Worldwide Developers Conference. That all changed last year, though. That’s when we discovered that, by adding support for Apple Watch, we had inadvertently taken a poison pill that could effectively kill our iPhone app.

It doesn’t have to be this way. With a few key changes, Apple could turns things around and reinvigorate the Apple Watch app ecosystem.

Apple’s self-driving car fleet lags behind Waymo and GM

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Apple Car
Apple's first self-driving Lexus.
Photo: Bloomberg

Apple’s fleet of self-driving cars is expanding at an astonishing pace after starting with just three vehicles a year ago.

New records posted by the California Department of Motor Vehicles reveals that Apple currently has the third largest number of autonomous cars in the state, but it’s closing the gap on the Google’s self-driving car project that holds the number two spot.

Why iPhone XS is a brilliant name for Apple’s new phone

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iPhone X
Turns out iPhone XS shouldn't be pronounced "iPhone 10 S."
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

You might be pronouncing the name of Apple’s next smartphone incorrectly. And this goes beyond the confusion resulting from people not calling the iPhone X the “iPhone 10”. But it’s related.

It turns out the “S” in the iPhone XS doesn’t mean what you think it means.

Don’t expect new Beats headphones at Apple’s iPhone event

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Beats
2018 Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons with his Beats.
Photo: Beats by Dre

Apple’s huge iPhone keynote tomorrow won’t give any stage time to the company’s Beats-branded headphones.

Despite being the largest headphone brand in the world and inking a sweet new deal with the NBA, new Beats headphones aren’t planned to be revealed at Apple’s biggest event of the year.

Leaked iPhone Xr SIM card trays reveal new color options

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6.1-inch iPhone color options
This could be an early glimpse of the iPhone 9.
Photo: Slashleaks

The 2018 iPhone lineup is shaping up to be the most colorful Apple ever put out, based on new leaked images of alleged SIM card trays destined for the iPhone 9 (or iPhone Xr or Xc — whatever Apple calls it).

Photos of the SIM card trays surfaced on Twitter this morning. It’s hard to tell if they’re legit. But if they are indeed destined for Apple’s cheaper 6.1-inch iPhone model, there will be at least five color options to choose from. Including brown!

Take a look:

California Apple Store is robbed twice in less than 24 hours

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Apple adds 5 new vice presidents to its executive lineup
Maybe time to hire some extra security!
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

The Apple Store crime spree continues in California.

While another Apple Store robbery in the state may not be a shock, the number of times this particular store has been robbed certainly is. Monday’s robbery of the Apple Store in Roseville marked the fourth time in 20 days that the outlet has been burglarized — and the second in just 24 hours!

Instagram tests user tagging feature in videos

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Instagram lawsuit
Hopefully it won't be long before it rolls out for all users.
Photo: Pixabay

Instagram is testing a new feature which lets users tag their friends in video posts, instead of simply still photos. The feature is currently being trialled with a small number of users, although hopefully it won’t be too long before it rolls out to everyone.

The feature works in a similar way to tagging photos, only that instead of overlaying tags on top of the content, there is a page titled “People in this Video” that shows everyone in a video.

iPhone X and iPad Pro imports risk being banned in South Korea

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Ex-student sentenced to 3 years in prison for massive iPhone scam
Apple is accused of violating a patent belonging to one of South Korea's top research institutes.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A number of Apple devices, including the iPhone X and iPad Pro, run the risk of being banned from South Korea, the home of Apple’s long-time frenemy Samsung.

The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy is currently investigating allegations that Apple has infringed on a patent belonging to KAIST, a public research university based in South Korea. The investigation period has already been extended twice, and BusinessKorea suggests that the regulatory commission is likely to make its “final determination” in favor of KAIST.

Apple video continues to push devs to use app subscriptions

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App Store
Apple apps no longer dominate App Store search results.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s efforts to encourage developers to use in-app subscriptions continued this week with a new video published to its developer portal.

“Developer Insights” highlights the benefits of a subscription model with reoccurring payments, and features testimonials from app makers who are already enjoying a subscription model. Apple has already held meetings with developers to warn them that one-time purchases are dying.

Apple Pay now accepted at 7-Eleven stores across the U.S.

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7-Eleven Apple Pay
Shopping at 7-Eleven just got even easier.
Photo: 7-Eleven

You can now use Apple Pay (and Google Pay) at 7-Eleven stores across the United States.

“Most stores” will be accepting Apple’s mobile payments service by the end of this month, the retailer says. Gurmeet Singh, CDO and CIO of the company, says it’s one more reason why you should shop at 7-Eleven.

Facebook’s ban of Alex Jones was prompted by Apple

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Alex Jones at a rally of people claiming the 9/11 terror attacks were carried out by the U.S. government.
Alex Jones at a rally of people claiming the 9/11 terror attacks were carried out by the U.S. government.
Photo: 911conspiracy/Flickr CC

Apple’s decision to boot five of far-right conspiracy theory website InfoWars’ podcasts off its platform was the trigger for Facebook doing the same with several of host Alex Jones’ pages on the social network.

The factoid was revealed in a new profile of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, published in the New Yorker. Apple has since banned Jones from the App Store permanently.

Apple’s big and bougie store on Paris’ Champs-Élysées opens in November

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The Champs-Élysées location doesn't get away with the giant glass doors found on other recent flagship Apple Stores.
The Champs-Élysées location doesn't get away with the giant glass doors found on other recent flagship Apple Stores.
Photo: Apple

There are few streets more ritzy than the Champs-Élysées. That’s likely why an Apple Store is opening there this fall.

At the same time, the company is closing its location in the Carrousel du Louvre, underneath the pyramid in front of this world-famous museum.

New chip gives Google smartwatches a battery boost

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Qualcomm's upcoming processor might make Google's Wear OS more competitive.
Apple Watch doesn't face much real competition, but a new Qualcomm processor will improve one of its rivals.
Photo: Google

After teasing it for months, Qualcomm today unveiled its processor designed for Wear OS smartwatches. The Snapdragon Wear 3100 is intended to put Google’s smartwatch platform on the map, instead of a distant third place.

The highlight of the new chip is improved battery life. Qualcomm is promising 4 to 12 extra hours of use, depending on the tasks the wearable is asked to perform.

Stop waiting for iOS 12

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iOS 12 features
iOS 12 has a lot to offer. Why are you waiting?
Photo: Apple

The full release of iOS 12 is right around the corner. If you just can’t wait, it turns out you don’t have to. The last beta version Apple introduced is extremely stable. And it’s available now.

You could be among the first to play around with all the new iOS 12 features. You could be the first to send a Meemoji message to your friends. There’re some nice benefits to not waiting, though admittedly it’s mostly bragging rights.

Why AT&T customers could have a first shot at a 5G iPhone

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AT&T logo
AT&T is way, way ahead of the competition in rolling out mobile 5G.
Photo: Luismt94/Wikipedia CC

Anyone eagerly awaiting a 5G iPhone probably should be an AT&T subscriber. This wireless service provider will have mobile 5G service in a dozen cities before any of its rivals have it in even one.

Still, rival Verizon hit a milestone today by making the world’s first 5G NR call from a smartphone-size device.

Trump tariffs may jack up Apple Watch prices by 20%

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Yeah, we're pretty incredulous about your ideas, too, Mr. Trump.
Thanks Donald!
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Trump’s latest round of proposed tariffs will negatively impact Apple’s revenues but according to some numbers crunched by an Apple analyst, investors shouldn’t worry about the company’s profits being hit too hard.

Apple revealed last week that some of the proposed tariffs would hurt the profitability of Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod and Apple Pencil. Price increases would be passed on to consumers, however, it probably won’t be more than a 20% jump.

iPhone XS Max is the iPhone fans lust after most

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This could be the iPhone XS Plus and iPhone XS, Apple's 2018 iPhone models.
Get ready for iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.
Photo: Lee Gunho

The iPhone XS Max is set to be the biggest phone Apple’s ever made once it officially debuts this week. It’s also poised to be the most expensive iPhone you could ever buy, but that apparently isn’t going to deter fans from gobbling up stock as soon as it hits stores.

In a recent poll asking Cult of Mac readers which 2108 iPhone they plan to buy, the pricey iPhone XS Max had more interest than the other two new iPhones and it wasn’t even close.

Check out the results:

How Apple Watch Series 4 will raise the bar for wearables [UPDATED]

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Apple Watch Series 4
Somehow, this official photo of Apple Watch Series 4 leaked out early.
Photo: 9to5Mac

Apple’s biggest keynote of the year is just days away and while the iPhone XS will be the main attraction of the event, Apple Watch Series 4 could steal the show with a bevy of new features.

Rumors about the Apple Watch Series 4 have been heating up leading up to next week’s event. Leaked images of the new wearable have already surfaced online, but there’s still a bit of mystery surrounding the new gadget.

Here’s everything we know about Apple Watch Series 4:

Reliable analyst says iPad Pro will have a USB-C port

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The 2018 iPad Pro has every change we hoped for. And some of the ones we feared.
The mystery port on the 2018 iPad Pro models could be USB-C.
Photo: MySmartPrice

This report would probably be dismissed out of hand if it came from anyone else, but when Ming-Chi Kuo says the 2018 iPad Pro will have a USB-C port it has to be taken seriously.

This analyst has a long history of reliable predictions, so its possible Apple is finally going to make a change to its professional tablets that many people have been requesting for years.

Apple Watch Series 4 set to get ceramic back and electrocardiogram

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Apple Watch's heart rate monitor
Apple Watch's heart rate monitor is set to get a big upgrade.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

New details about the upcoming Apple Watch Series 4 have been revealed just days before Apple is set to unveil the upgraded wearable.

One of the most respected Apple analysts in the business just put out a new report that claims the metal back of the Apple Watch will change to a ceramic design. Even better, the watches will come with a new health sensor.

6.1-inch LCD iPhone might be in short supply this fall

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6.5- and 6.1-inch 2018 iPhone models
Complications could keep us waiting for Apple’s more affordable iPhone.
Photo: OnLeaks

If you’ve been itching to get yours hands on iPhone X but don’t want to spend $1,000 on a phone, Apple’s rumored 6.1-inch LCD handset could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

But good luck getting one this fall. A new report, citing sources familiar with Apple’s plans, claims the device will suffer supply shortages at launch as a result of “minor complications” with its new display.

What’s more, some of the other products you we were hoping to see this week may not be announced until later.

Bigger iPhones could explain Apple’s booming Services business

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iphone mockups
The biggest iPhone lineup Apple's ever made.
Photo: Macotakara

Is Apple’s push to release ever-larger iPhones anything to do with the growing success of its Services division? That’s the theory put forward by the Wall Street Journal.

Drawing on Kantar data, the report notes how larger screens are linked with greater usage of everything from apps to watching videos. It would also explain why Apple is seemingly in no rush to upgrade its 4-inch iPhone SE, despite the fact that some users love it.

Carpool Karaoke lands Apple a big win at Emmy Awards

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Carpool Karaoke
Carpool Karaoke was a winner at Sunday's Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s foray into original television programming has paid off with an Emmy Award.

Carpool Karaoke, a series spinoff of a segment done by James Corden on the Late Late Show, beat out Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show and the Tonight Show, to win the Emmy in the category of short-form variety series.

The Emmy was awarded Sunday night at the Creative Arts Emmys.

World’s largest carrier spills big 2018 iPhone secret

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iPhone X home screen
iOS 14's Home screen could be very different.
Photo: Apple

The world’s largest carrier just confirmed one big rumor about the 2018 iPhone lineup.

China Mobile has published an image that all but confirms a new Apple smartphone capable of supporting two SIM cards simultaneously. A separate teaser from rival China Telecom also hints at dual-SIM functionality for a next-generation iPhone.