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News - page 771

Malicious Siri voice commands can hide in regular music

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Siri Alexa in voice report
Instead of helping you, Siri could be obeying voice commands concealed in the song you're playing.
Photo: Apple

Suppose you’re listening to some music, then glance over an realize your iPhone has loaded a porn site all on its own. That’s the nightmare scenario researchers say is possible after they proved voice commands can be concealed in songs.

It’s also possible to get Siri to recognize commands given at frequencies outside the range of human hearing.

So long, aluminum! Why the iMac needs a total redesign.

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Will the iMac design ever be this exciting again? The original iMac G3.
Will the iMac ever be this exciting again?
Photo: Apple

When the first iMac debuted 20 years ago, it shook the tech world with its completely unorthodox appearance. The blobby, curvaceous and colorful computer looked, in Steve Jobs’ words, good enough to lick.

It was a statement computer, both for those who owned it and for those who made it.

However, with the iMac not having had a substantial redesign since 2012, Apple’s all-in-one desktop is getting a bit long in the tooth. It’s time for Apple to give it an overhaul with a new iMac design that would get the world excited about Macs again — and prove Apple remains committed to innovative computing.

iPhone SE 2 could steal iPhone X’s edge-to-edge display (and notch)

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iPhone SE 2 with edge-to-edge display and notch
Is a dream iPhone SE upgrade on the way?
Photo: Olixar

Apple’s new iPhone SE, expected to make its debut this month, may not be a clone of its predecessors after all.

One popular accessory-maker, which has already started producing screen protectors for the device, expects the iPhone SE 2 to feature an edge-to-edge display with a notch — just like iPhone X.

Apple will adopt LG G7 display tech for 2018 LCD iPhone

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LG G7 ThinQ with MLCD+ display
The LG G7 ThinQ’s MLCD+ display is brighter and more color accurate.
Photo: LG

Apple is expected adopt new LCD technology from the LG G7 ThinQ for one of three iPhone models set for release later this year.

The MLCD+ display will deliver increased brightness to what will surely be Apple’s most affordable smartphone to go on sale this fall. It will also offer a wider color gamut to match the iPhone X.

Don’t expect the iPhone to get cheaper in 2018

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iphone x
Apple's $1,000+ iPhone price tags aren't going anywhere.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is set to continue its high price tag strategy for the next generation of iPhones launching later this year, a new report suggests.

While no exact prices are given, the news may be disappointing for anyone who thought that Apple would slash the $1,000+ cost of the iPhone X for its follow-up phones. Then again, coming off a record-breaking quarter and a bestselling handset, was anyone really expecting anything different?

Steam Link lets you play PC games on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV

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Steam Link iPhone iPad Apple TV
Steam Link’s first big update is great for controller users.
Photo: Valve

You can now play your PC game library anywhere around your home without being weighed down by a chunky gaming laptop. The official Steam Link app lets you enjoy your favorite Steam games on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

You’ll be able to play with a Steam Controller, MFi controller, or a range of other gamepads supported by Steam.

Apple drops plans to build Irish data center after three years of delays

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Politicians receive frightening threats about cancelled Apple data center
The data center that will never come to be!
Photo: Apple

Fed up of waiting for the necessary permission to proceed, Apple has ditched its plans to build an 850 million euro ($960 million) data center in Athenry, County Galway in Ireland.

“Several years ago we applied to build a data centre at Athenry,” Apple said in a statement. “Despite our best efforts, delays in the approval process have forced us to make other plans and we will not be able to move forward with the data centre.” It will continue with a second data center in Denmark.

Apple gets permission to use drones to improve Apple Maps

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Drones and HD cameras are affordable, giving everyone a chance to make beautiful, cinematic video.
Apple was one of the companies given permission to carry out drone experiments.
Photo: DJI

Apple Maps was a laughingstock when it launched, but it’s come a long way since then. Now Apple has been given approval to further improve the service using drones.

As part of the U.S. Transportation’s new drone program, Apple is allowed to capture images of North Carolina using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This will allow it to enhance its mapping services with more detailed images.

Processor update might make Google’s Wear OS a better Apple Watch competitor

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Qualcomm's upcoming processor might make Google's Wear OS more competitive.
Qualcomm's upcoming processor might make Google's Wear OS more competitive.
Photo: Google

One of the reasons Apple Watch has no problems fending off competition running Google’s Wear OS is that they all use a two-year-old processor. Qualcomm is finally readying a new smartwatch chip for release this fall.

In addition, the next version of Watch OS will make greater use of Google Assistant, the company’s artificial intelligence powered system for voice control.

Make your own WWDC 2018 3D model

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Buy a 3D printed version of the WWDC2018 logo
The WWDC2018 logo looks 3D. How about a 3D model of it?
Photo: Martin Hajek

Martin Hajek is best known for producing beautiful renders of rumored iPhones, but he came up with something different today: a 3D model of the logo for Apple’s upcoming developer conference. Not a render — an actual model that can be held in your hands.

Plenty of iPhone replacement batteries finally available

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A device that might need an iPhone replacement battery
Here's a device that might need an iPhone replacement battery.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The wait for an iPhone replacement battery has reportedly shrunk to little or nothing. This is good news for anyone with an older model who wants to take up Apple’s offer of a new battery at a discount price.

The company will swap out an aging battery for just $29, less than half what it used to cost, as an apology for surreptitiously throttling some devices.

This leather, button-stud Apple Watch band will fit any wrist size

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form function form
The adjustable length Button-Stud Apple Watch band fits virtually all wrist sizes — from the fleshiest to thinnest!
Photo: Courtesy of Form Function Form

Best List: Button-Stud Apple Watch Band by Form Function Form

Making Apple’s “most personal device ever” personal to you is super-serious business for one Florida purveyor of handmade leather goods.

Echoing the individuality of Apple Watch, Form Function Form takes customization to new levels in the design of its one-of-a-kind Button-Stud Apple Watch Band. This ingenious leather strap has 21 different size options, one of which is sure to fit even the thinnest or fleshiest of wrists. If it doesn’t, the company provides free size adjustments for the entirety of your life.

We’ve added seven new leather colors to the Watch Store lineup! Read on for my review:

Signal for Mac messages set to disappear don’t always go away

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macOS Notification Center is a security flaw for Signal for Mac
The Notification Center copies and stores messages from Signal for Mac, even if the text is set to disappear.
Screenshot: Patrick Wardle

One of the most appreciated features of Signal for Mac is that messages sent by this communication app can be set to automatically erase themselves. However, security researchers have found a flaw in the system.

The problem comes from the notifications macOS provides for incoming Signal messages.

Apple ‘cash machine’ puts profits ahead of innovation

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Apple cash machine
Chamath Palihapitiya is impressed with the Apple "cash machine."
Photo: CNBC

Apple to many seems to have lost its mojo for innovation. But it knows how to build a pile of cash.

This is the impression of Silicon Valley venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, who told CNBC Wednesday the very thing that feeds the frustrations of Apple fans – innovation in Cupertino is slipping.

Apple wants official permission to test new drone program

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Apple drone
Who wouldn't want their new iPhone delivered via drone?
Photo: Eric Huisman

Apple is one of a number of big companies seeking permission to be part of a new U.S. drone testing program, launched by President Donald Trump last year.

With the government now opening up applications for the new program, Apple has joined other tech giants including Amazon, Intel and Qualcomm in applying. It’s not yet clear what Apple is interested in achieving with its drone ambitions, although companies such as Amazon have been outspoken about their desire to pursue drone deliveries.

Apple opens developer center in world’s fourth most populous country

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Jakarta developer Center
Apple's new Jakarta developer center is its first in Indonesia.
Photo: Apple

Apple has opened its first developer academy on the outskirts of Jakarta, Indonesia.

The move is to comply with new government regulation regarding local content requirements. Laws state that 30 percent of content for 4G devices sold in Indonesia must be produced locally. While that’s somewhat difficult to work out with a multinational company like Apple, the laws note that this percentage can cover manufacturing, software, and “innovation.”

‘Black dot of death’ Unicode bug crashes iOS Messages app

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Black dot of death
This text message will crash your iPhone.
Photo: EverythingApplePro

Another Unicode text bug has been discovered in iOS, which will repeatedly crash Apple’s Messages app by overloading its memory.

The “black dot” message contains an emoji like ⚫, although it’s not actually the emoji which causes the message to crash the app. The bug affects iOS 11.3 and the current iOS 11.4 beta seeds. A similar message recently did the rounds on Android. As of yet, Apple has yet to release a fix.

Apple is ‘re-evaluating’ previously approved apps which allow location tracking

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Apple pays $467k for doing business with blacklisted app developer
Apple's cracking down on apps which track their users.
Photo: Apple

In the fallout from Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal, Apple has begun cracking down on apps which share user location data with third-parties. Apple has started sending out emails to developers who infringe on these guidelines, saying that “upon re-evaluation” of their apps they have been found to break App Store rules.

In particular, Apple refers to the clause in the App Store guidelines which notes that Apple can turn down apps which transmit, “user location data to third parties without explicit consent from the user and for unapproved purposes.”

Google borrows iPhone X navigation system for Android

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Android P has a similar swipe-based navigation system as the iPhone X, and it supports screen cutouts.
Android P has a similar swipe-based navigation system as the iPhone X, and it supports screen cutouts.
Graphic: Google

Anyone who’s used an iPhone X already knows how to navigate around in the next version of Google’s mobile operating system. The company showed off Android P at its developer conference today, and it includes a touch bar at the bottom of the screen, just like Apple’s flagship phone.

Android P also natively supports screen cutouts, so device makers will be able to easily produce iPhone X clones.