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News - page 712

True Surf for iOS puts realistic surfing sim in the pocket

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True Surf
The game boasts a nifty physics engine.
Photo: True Axis

Okay, so the new iPhones are more waterproof than ever, but if you don’t fancy taking your Apple handset for a dip, the next best thing is a new game that landed in the App Store today.

Called True Surf, it’s a surf sim which claims to be the most authentic surfing experience you’ll find on a mobile device. Check out the trailer below.

Feds test nationwide emergency alert system today

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FEMA and the FCC will send Americans a pair of emergency alerts today.
FEMA and the FCC will send Americans a pair of emergency alerts today.
Photo: FEMA

Your iPhone could send out a pair of alerts this afternoon, but they aren’t ones you’ve set yourself. Instead, they’re from the U.S. government, and both are test messages.

The goal is to try out a pair of systems set up to notify the public of emergencies. Again, these are only tests.

Samsung hands out free phones to Appel fans

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Samsung-Appel 1
You mean Apple? Nope.
Photo: Samsung

The Appel community is all over Samsung these days. And, no, before you accuse us of failing to properly proofread these articles, we’re talking about Appel, a hamlet in the Netherlands with a population of just a few hundred residents.

In an effort to drum up a bit of publicity, Samsung recently handed out free Galaxy S9 handsets to people living in Appel as a marketing stunt. Because, you know, getting people who live in a town with a kinda similar name to that of your competition is totally the kind of thing that keeps Tim Cook up at night!

Microsoft scarcely tweaked the design of its iPad Pro competitor

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One of the major changes in the Surface Pro 6 is it comes in black. Woo.
One of the major changes in the Surface Pro 6 is it comes in black. Woo.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft today unveiled a new generation of its Surface Pro 2-in-1. This has a faster processor than its predecessor but other than that remains practically unchanged. The long hoped for USB-C port is still missing.

The improvements are so marginal that Microsoft is left emphasizing that the Surface Pro 6 is available in a new color.

Tim Cook talks privacy, Alex Jones and China in new interview

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tim cook
Tim Cook says companies don't need access to your data.
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook went on the offensive toward competing companies like Amazon and Google in a new interview tonight on privacy.

Appearing on Vice News Tonight on HBO, the Apple CEO was asked if his company’s stance on privacy is stopping Siri from becoming more competitive with Alexa. Cook pushed back saying any company that says it needs all your data to make its service better is telling you a “bunch of bunk.”

Tile Bluetooth tracker finally adds replaceable batteries

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Tile will speak out against Apple in Congress antitrust hearing
Tile will speak out against Apple in Congress antitrust hearing
Photo: Tile

Tile offers some of the most popular Bluetooth trackers, but these had a significant drawback: non-replaceable batteries. Getting a fresh battery required buying a whole new tracker. That finally changed today.

The latest Tile Mate and Tile Pro also offer longer range and louder volumes. 

Apple Watch Series 4’s processing power will blow you away

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S4
The S4 chip is a beast.
Photo: Apple

The new S4 chip in the Apple Watch Series 4 is an absolute beast when it comes to processing power.

Apple didn’t brag too much about the S4 during its September keynote other than saying the chip is two times faster than last year’s model. There aren’t any benchmark scores for it. However, a developer recently put the S4 through some serious tests — and the results are insanely impressive

Fresh iOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS betas head to developers

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FaceTime group calls iOS 12
With updates now in beta, iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.will all support Group FaceTime.
Photo: Apple

Apple is plugging away at updates for all its operating systems, and just came out with no less than four new betas exclusively for developers. These are the second pre-release versions of iOS 12.1, macOS 10.14.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1.

In a somewhat unusual circumstance, the highlight of three of these disparate updates is the same feature: Group FaceTime.  

Power up Apple Watch & iPhone with this all-in-one charging stand

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twelve south
It looks good anywhere.
Photo: Twelve South

Instead of waiting for the yet-to-be-determined release date of Apple’s AirPower charging mat to fire up your iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously, consider the HiRise Duet charging stand.

This luxury charging stand is fully compatible with all versions of Apple Watch (including Series 4) and all of the latest iPhones including XS, XS Max and XR. Best yet, this gorgeous stand is on sale in Cult of Mac’s Watch Store.

Check out the 70 new emoji coming soon to your iPhone

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New Apple emoji offer more hair options, including the ever-popular no hair option.
New Apple emoji offer more hair options, including the ever-popular no hair option.
Graphic: Apple

A fresh batch of new emoji are coming soon to your Mac, iPhone and iPad.

This morning, Apple posted a teaser of over 70 new emoji that are being included in iOS 12.1 once it launches to the public. Some of the new characters include new smiley faces, a raccoon, llama, swan and new sports equipment.

Take a look at what to expect:

NightOwl switches on Mojave’s Dark Mode at sundown

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NightOwl dark mode
NightOwl dark mode.
Photo: NightOwl

If you’re running macOS Mojave (and you really should be), probably one of the first things you did after installing it was to test Dark Mode. The new theme darkens the Mac interface and makes everything look cooler — apart from text, which is just harder to read.

But there’s no built-in way to have Dark Mode switch on automatically at sundown. That’s where NightOwl comes in. The free app switches your Mac between Dark Mode and the traditional lighter look automatically.

Google is bringing high-end games to Chrome this week

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Google Project Stream
This game is being played in a web browser!
Photo: Google

Google is making it possible to play high-end games on even the cheapest computers.

Project Stream is a new service that will bring the most demanding PC titles to Chrome this week, starting with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. You’ll need a speedy internet connection, but expensive processors and graphics cards aren’t required.  

Apple’s Business Chat platform goes international

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Apple Business Chat example
A number of companies are already using Apple's Business Chat.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has rolled out its Business Chat platform in new countries, including Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Singapore, the U.K., and Hong Kong.

The platform is designed to make it easy to exchange messages with companies — whether that is for making purchases, scheduling appointments, or simply asking questions.

Hands on with Nyloon’s Moai band for Apple Watch Series 4

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NYLOON
Shop Nyloon's colorfully cool collection of NATO nylon bands for Apple Watch.
Photo: Nyloon

Nyloon makes one of the best nylon NATO Apple Watch bands out there, and now offers a brand-new unboxing experience. Your shiny new Series 4 deserves a band made with really high-grade materials and hardware — Nyloon is that band.

First impressions are so crucial, especially when cold hard cash is involved. That’s why I love that Nyloon has such sleek and streamlined packaging, a nod to the high-quality Apple Watch band nestled inside. Cult of Mac takes a look inside the box for the Moai — Nyloon’s best-selling band. Let’s check it out.

Apple Wallet can now be used for campus ID at 3 U.S. universities

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Apple Wallet
Students no longer need to take their physical campus ID cards with them.
Photo: Apple

Starting today, students at three U.S. universities — including Tim Cook’s alma mater, Duke University — can use their Apple Watch or iPhone for their campus ID.

The feature, also available at the Universities of Alabama and Oklahoma, lets students add their ID cards to their Apple Wallet app. This can then be used by campus ID holders to pay for laundry, lunch, book supplies and more, along with accessing dorms, the gym, or the school library.

Ka-ching! Apple Pay Cash could arrive in Europe soon

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Apple Pay
Sending money from your iPhone is about to get a lot easier in Europe.
Photo: Apple

Apple Pay Cash could be ready to make its debut in Europe.

Screens invited users to set up Apple’s peer-to-peer payments service have started popping up on devices on the other side of the Atlantic this week. Apple has also started publishing Apple Pay Cash support pages in European countries.

Opera Touch is a speedy browser built with iPhone XS in mind

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Opera Touch iOS
Opera Touch is easy to use with one hand.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The fast and simple mobile browser from Opera is now available on iOS.

Opera Touch was built with gesture-based devices like the iPhone X and iPhone XS in mind, and it’s optimized for one-handed use on larger screens. It boasts a number of useful features, including Flow, which lets you share content with Opera on your desktop.

Apple faces new challenges in India

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Foxconn moving additional iPhone production to India as coronavirus disrupts work
Apple's struggling to grow its brand in India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

There’s more bad news for Apple’s fortunes in India. According to a new report, the iPhone XS and XS Max have seen lower sales in the Indian market than previous devices after the first weekend.

What’s more, they could be about to face new government-imposed challenges, too.

Fun concept re-imagines the retro iMac for 2018

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iMac G3 2018 3 1
A loving tribute to one of the most iconic Macs.
Photo: Antonio De Rosa

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Apple’s colorful iMac G3, the computer Steve Jobs said looked good enough to lick. While Apple has long since moved away from this fun design in favor of the sleekly minimalist iMac of today, Apple fans still remember the G3 fondly. One of those fans, talented designer Antonio De Rosa, recently paid homage to Apple’s first-gen iMac by putting together some retro iMac concept art for what a new iMac in the same style might look like.

Check out De Rosa’s designs below and ask yourself: Would you buy one?

See Ullu’s colorful leather cases for iPhone XS and XS Max

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Ullu's Hand-Colored leather Piggyback Case in Tangerine.
Ullu's Hand-Colored leather Piggyback Case in Tangerine.
Photo: Ullu

We know and love Ullu’s leather straps for Apple Watch, so much so that they are best-sellers in Cult of Mac’s Watch Store. The company’s bread and butter, however, is its popular iPhone cases.

Check out any of Ullu’s social media and you’ll witness tons of A-listers toting around their various iPhones in Ullu’s luxurious cases. From wallet and strappy to Ullu’s famous SnapOn and dual-iPhone cases, there’s a chic option for everyone.

Galaxy Note 9’s speedy LTE barely beats iPhone XS

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Open the iPhone XS Max and you'll see just $443 worth of components.
A new Intel modem buried in the iPhone XS Max brings 4G LTE performance that rivals, but doesn't beat, its top competitor's.
Photo: TechInsights

Last year, Samsung’s smartphones offered significantly faster cellular-data speeds than Apple’s, but a new study shows that the iPhone XS LTE performance almost catches up with its rivals’.

Apple’s latest flagship handsets include some long-overdue technologies that give them noticeably quicker LTE connections.