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News - page 748

HTC is falling to pieces thanks to Apple

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HTC Dream was the first Android phone.
HTC Dream was the first Android phone. But now its maker could be out of business in a year.
Photo: T-Mobile

HTC, once among Apple’s top rivals in the smartphone market, is laying off a quarter of its workforce. This is just the latest step in the slow collapse of the Taiwanese company.

This isn’t the result of some terrible misstep. There just doesn’t appear to be room in the current phone market for anyone but Apple, Samsung, and China-based phone-makers.

Comcast throttles Xfinity Mobile customers

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Xfinity Mobile is getting throttled.
Videos played over Xfinity Mobile will appear at a lower resolution, and tethering is getting slowed down.

Comcast put a limit on video resolution for its Xfinity Mobile subscribers. Going forward, the maximum will be 480p. 

In addition, subscribers to its unlimited data plan get throttled to 3G speeds when acting as a hotspot for another device.

Amazon may beat Apple to become first $1 trillion company

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$1 trillion value
Apple is heading toward a $1 trillion market cap. But could Amazon get there first?
Photo: Pierre Marcel/Flickr CC

Apple’s market value will eventually top $1 trillion, but Amazon is evolving more and more as if it will get there first.

The gap has rapidly narrowed between the two company’s market values. Apple, always believed to be the first company to reach $1 trillion, started out the year with stock valued 50 percent higher than Amazon’s. For a closer look at Apple’s financial journey, check out this detailed report on apple valuation over the years.

That gap is now just 10 percent.

iOS concept brings Touch Bar to the iPhone

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TouchBar concept
TouchBar on iOS doesn't make much sense.
Photo: Eyad Murshid

Apple’s Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro hasn’t been as big a hit as the company would have wished for, but it could make a comeback at an unlikely location: the iPhone.

A concept artist has imagined what it would look like if Apple brought the Touch Bar to iOS and while it may seem like an odd fit at first, it actually might be pretty useful.

Check it out:

iOS 11.4.1 and macOS 10.13.6 are nearly ready for release

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iOS 11
There are fresh beta versions of iOS and macOS. But they probably aren't the ones you're waiting for.
Photo: Apple

The wait is nearing the end for the next iPhone and Mac operating systems. However, these aren’t the big upgrades announced last month. Instead, iOS 11.4.1 and macOS 10.13.6 will fix bugs in the current versions.

Apple just released the fifth beta version of each of these. The full release can’t be far behind.

Fortnite’s Playground should return this week, but maybe not

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Fortnite shopping cart
Did you get a chance to try Playground mode?
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Fortnite’s long-awaited Playground mode made its official debut last week, but it didn’t last long. Almost immediately after Playground went live, Epic Games was forced to close it down due to a host of technical problems.

Epic has promised that Playground will return this week, and in a new update published today, it says “recent tests look promising.” But we probably shouldn’t get our hopes up just yet.

2018 iPhone getting a big RAM boost

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2018 iPhone rumors 3D mockups
Benchmark scores for a prototype 2018 iPhone X Plus reveal the amount of RAM and the processor speed, plus an early look at the performance.
Photo: Mac Otakara

Someone testing a 2018 iPhone prototype inadvertently uploaded benchmark results for this device. Among the other details revealed is an indication that this will be the first iPhone with 4GB of RAM.

Naturally, the Geekbench results also include the performance. However, with the model still months away, scores are a bit underwhelming.

Waiting for a triple-lens iPhone? This smartphone reportedly packs 9.

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multi-camera smartphones
Take a picture or nine with this smartphone prototype from Light.
Photo: Light via Photo Rumors

An iPhone with a third lens is in the pipeline, rumor has it. But why just three, when you can have a smartphone with nine lenses?

Light, maker of a futuristic camera with 16 lenses, reportedly plans to introduce a smartphone with five to nine lenses by the end of 2018.

Apple’s new USB-C fast charger for iPhone leaks out early

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iPhone 18W fast charger
Choose your iPhone fast charger carefully.
Photo: Chongdiantou

Pictures of Apple’s rumored USB-C iPhone fast charger have leaked out ahead of its official debut.

The images claim to show a prototype version of the 18-watt power adapter, which is expected to ship with Apple’s next-generation iPhone lineup later this year. Apple likely will include the USB-C charger with new iPads as well.

Apple could snub Qualcomm with new iPhone modem supplier

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Apple Watch
You’ll want this year’s iPhone for its cameras.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is considering a new iPhone modem supplier as it looks to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm.

The company is yet to decide whether it will add MediaTek to its supply chain for its next-generation iPhone lineup. But Apple is keen to limit its dealings with Qualcomm after a recent legal spat in which the latter attempted to ban iPhone imports into the United States.

Apple’s CarPlay is less distracting than your car’s built-in infotainment system

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BMW cancels its ridiculous CarPlay subscription fee
BMW cancels its ridiculous CarPlay subscription fee
Photo: Apple

Many new cars come with in-dash navigation and entertainment systems created by automobile makers. For safer, less-distracted driving, they should use Apple CarPlay instead.

That’s the result of a study done by AAA that compared CarPlay to Google’s Android Auto and the native infotainment systems found in five 2017/2018 vehicles.

Supreme Court deals a blow to Apple Pay

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Apple Pay
When you use Apple Pay, you save the merchant money, But that's not something retailers can tell American Express users.
Photo: Apple

The Supreme Court handed down a number of high-profile rulings this week. One that didn’t get much attention will have a negative effect on Apple Pay.

The SCOTUS decided that retail store owners who accept American Express can not suggest to customers who bring out this card that they use another method of payment. That includes Apple Pay, even though this iPhone payment system would save the merchant money.

Magical Hogwarts Mystery rakes in $40 million and counting

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Harry Potter
Technically, Hogwarts Mystery is free, but in-app purchases have generated millions for its developer.
Photo: Jam City, Inc.

An RPG set in the Harry Potter universe is a huge hit. Hogwarts Mystery only debuted two months ago and has already made its developers $40 million.

There are a couple of reasons for this success. The obvious one is it’s Harry Potter. Duh. But the other is that this game so frequently requests in-app purchases that it’s garnered heavy criticism.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Everything you need to know about the iOS 12 beta, and more!

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ios 12
Watch out. The iOS 12 public beta may lave you in need of a public telephone.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

In this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine: The public beta of iOS 12 is out now, so anyone can download it and install it on their device. But what does the new version of iOS actually do? Apple introduced Screen Time, the great new Do Not Disturb, and the powerful Siri Shortcuts at the WWDC 2018 keynote in June. But until you dig into them, you won’t have an idea how great these new features are, along with many more.

You’ll find that story and more in this issue. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Get $100 for using this iPhone-only bank account

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The Finn by Chase app helps track spending.
The Finn by Chase iOS app helps track spending. You can even rate your purchases.
Photo: JPMorgan CHase

JPMorgan Chase now offers an all-digital bank account. Finn by Chase is for people who prefer to do everything on a phone, as this checking and saving account is only accessible on an iPhone or iPad.

To grab people’s attention, the bank will give $100 to new customers who complete at least 10 qualifying transactions within 60 days of opening the account.

Massive explosions predicted during Fortnite event tomorrow

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Fortnite event happening Saturday
Fortnite could pop a big rocket on Saturday.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Something is going to happen in the Fortnite game tomorrow. What that will be is a bit of a mystery, but it’s causing a lot of buzz.

Whatever the deal is, it’s happening at 1:30 pm Eastern Time on Saturday. In-game TV screens are showing a countdown clock, and that’s when it hits the zero hour.

New Seattle Apple Store focuses on education rather than products

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Seattle Apple Store has a giant screen
A giant screen for Today at Apple classes is the focus of the Seattle Apple Store.
Photo: Steve Ringman/The Seattle Times

You can still buy MacBooks and iPads at new Apple Store in Seattle, but that’s not the main emphasis. Instead, this retail location is built around a giant screen that’s used for educational events.

Of course, these educational events are all product related, like how to take better pictures with an iPhone. Or run a small business with an iPad.

Microsoft plans to take on iPhone with folding dual screen Surface

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Microsoft Andromeda
Microsoft's pocketable device might look something like this.
Photo: David Breyer

The iPhone might be about to get some fresh competition from Apple’s oldest rival in the tech scene.

Microsoft has reportedly been working on a mysterious new Surface device codenamed Andromeda. The device has supposedly been in development for the last two years and features a dual-display design that can fold to fit into your pocket.

Apple Park sparks huge rise in property values

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Apple Park
Apple's new "Spaceship" campus is contributing to soaring property values.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

Innovation is great but having it as a neighbor can be a mixed blessing.

Silicon Valley counties are reporting soaring property values thanks to a tech sector boom led by Apple and Google, who have spent the last few years buying huge swaths of land to build new headquarters.

Apple Maps getting revamped to suck less

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Apple Maps
After going from terrible to mediocre, Apple Maps is set to become good.
Photo: Apple

Apple has begun gathering its own data about the U.S. road network, rather than buying this information from other companies. The goal is to significantly improve Apple Maps.

This app was a disaster when it launched 6 years ago, and although there have been significant improvements, it has been the butt of jokes ever since. Apple wants to change that.

2018 iPhone lineup will boast embedded Apple SIM technology

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Apple SIM
You’ll be able to juggle two lines at once.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new iPhone lineup will feature embedded Apple SIM technology alongside an additional SIM card slot, according to a new report.

Users will be able to take advantage of both to juggle two lines simultaneously. In certain markets where Apple SIM is not supported, Apple will offer a device with two SIM card slots.

Gloo is half wireless charger, half quirky ambient smart light

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Gloo
Looking for an unusual charger? Gloo is your hookup!
Photo: Gloo

Apple’s AirPower charging pad is still M.I.A., but if you’re looking for an innovative and awe-inspiring wireless charging option, look no further than a new Kickstarter campaign.

Called Gloo, it’s a sleek bottle-shaped wireless charging station that doubles up as a multicolored ambient light source you control with your iPhone.