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News - page 787

Chinese smugglers use drones to deliver iPhones

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DJI Phantom 4
The smugglers used a DJI Phantom 4 to fly iPhones over the border.
Photo: DJI

Criminals in China have discovered a brilliant new use for drones: smuggling valuable iPhones.

Authorities in China arrested 26 suspects that were found using drones to smuggle $80 million worth of iPhones between Hong Kong and the mainland in what is reportedly the first case of drones being used in cross-border smuggling crimes in China.

Bassgate: Did software update sap HomePod audio?

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Don't take a chance on a bricked HomePod.
HomePod isn't as bass-heavy as it once was.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s software update released yesterday for the new HomePod may have altered the sound quality on its smart speaker.

Many angry HomePod owners that installed the update yesterday have taken to Twitter and Reddit claiming Apple’s fine-tuning of the speaker with the update has totally ruined how some songs sound.

macOS 10.13.4 lands with eGPU support and business chat in iMessage

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iMac
A new update is out for the Mac.
Photo: Apple

Mac owners can finally use an external GPU to boost their computing power now that Apple has released macOS 10.13.4 to the public.

The software update has been in beta testing with developers for months and is now available to everyone for the first time. macOS 10.13.4 brings a number of improvements to the Mac, including some updates to iMessages, Safari and more.

The new iPad excites us! It’s true, and we’ll tell you why on The CultCast

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CultCast iPad
Apple's new iPad is powerful, cheap, and a great deal.
Photo: @YSR50

This week on The CultCast: Apple has powered up the new iPad so much, it’s hard to resist! We’ll tell you why we’re so excited. Plus: What you need to know about iOS 11.3; everything Apple revealed at its “field trip” event; a reliable report says Apple Watch Plus is incoming; and you asked, we answer — from the best Home apps, to our Mac mini predictions, to Commando versus Predator, we answer your most burning questions.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace.com website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10 percent off any hosting plan.

Juuk’s three-link Velo Apple Watch bands are tapered to fit perfectly [Watch Store]

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juuk
The Velo by Juuk — an aluminum, three-link band shown here in Obsidian.
Photo: Juuk

Juuk’s precision-made aluminum Apple Watch bands are always on point. The Velo is the latest style in Juuk’s lineup of amazing steel bands — the Locarno, the Revo, the Ligero and the Vitero — and is decidedly different in design from its predecessors. Redesigned and reengineered from the ground up, the Velo Apple Watch band features a three-row link design.

This beautiful band comes in three different finishes — MidnightSilver and Ruby. Obsidian and Cosmic Grey are currently in production. Check out Juuk’s latest lineup below!

You can soon see (and delete) everything Apple knows about you

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Apple takes privacy seriously
A pop-up in iOS 11.3 gives Apple's commitment to privacy.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple will soon let you download all the information it has stored about you, modify it, or even delete it. The privacy change is required by a new European law, but is also in-line with Apple’s policy to not spy on its customers. This sets it apart from rivals like Google and Facebook.

HomePod gets first (disappointing) update

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refurbished HomePod
audioOS 11.3 doesn't bring any cool new features to Apple's HomePod.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The software update Apple just released for the HomePod doesn’t include AirPlay 2, the most anticipated new feature. In fact, this new version doesn’t seem to have any enhancements, though maybe that’s to be expected from a smart speaker that just launched last month.

iPhone app turns your annoying table-drumming into awesome music

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Objeq drums
Nothing is as annoying as really drums. Apart from children, I guess.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Are you a table drummer? Then here’s a fantastic way to annoy your family and friends this weekend. It’s a iPad and iPhone app called AAS Objeq, which uses the iPad’s microphones to listen to your ceaseless, OCD tappety-tapping, and transforms it into more drumlike sounds. That it, the sound of you whacking the table becomes a bass drum, a chopstick on a water glass can become a hi-hat, and so on. The possibilities for irritating those around you are almost endless.

How Facebook data scandal could boost Apple

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Facebook employees
Facebook is one of many tech giants that builds is business on user data.
Photo: Facebook

Thanks to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, a backlash is brewing against the way tech giants like Facebook monetize data. This could result in government regulation, which has the potential to upend the business models of some of the world’s biggest companies.

Luckily, Apple is practically immune. Here’s why 2018’s biggest tech scandal could actually help the world’s biggest tech company.

Apple beefs up Safari security with iOS 11.3

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IOS 11.3 Safari
iOS 11.3 Safari doesn't automatically fill in user names and passwords.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The just-released iOS 11.3 requires Safari users to tap in web pages to AutoFill their user names and passwords. This means extra work for you, but it’s also more secure.

Another change in the latest version of iOS adds warnings when entering private information onto non-encrypted web pages.

iOS 11.3 arrives with new battery features and more

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Animoji
iOS 11.3 comes with four new Animoji.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The first major iOS update of 2018 has finally arrived, bringing a host of new features and improvements to the iPhone and iPad.

Apple initially released iOS 11.3 yesterday just for the only available to download on the new 9.7-inch iPad Apple. Now the software update is finally available to all users worldwide.

Week’s best Apple deals: Get the new iPad at discount!

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Save on the new iPad. You can use the money you save to buy an Apple Pencil!
You can use the money you save to buy an Apple Pencil!
Photo: Apple

An iPad sale? Already?!? If you want to save on the new iPad that Apple unveiled this week, you’re in luck. Best Buy is offering the tablet at the best price with a store gift card.

Plus, save on AirPods at Costco. Or choose from a wide selection of refurbished phones, accessories and more at the TechRabbit March Mobile Madness Sale.

iOS 11.3 could be missing two big features when it goes public

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iOS 11.3 Beta 1
What happened to Messages on iCloud?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iOS 11.3 could be missing two big features when it finally makes its public debut this spring.

Messages on iCloud and AirPlay 2 are notably missing from early release notes. Both features, which were initially expected to come with iOS 11 last fall, have been hit by several days. Who knows when they will appear again.

Curated ‘Music Videos’ section debuts in Apple Music app

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Music Video
Apple is highlighting music videos in Apple Music.
Image: Apple

Apple Music subscribers have started spotting a “Music Videos” section in their Apple Music app, which can be found by looking in the “Browse” tab.

While music videos have been available in Apple Music since the start, the dedicated section shows that Apple is keen to showcase them as a big part of its $9.99 per month service. The curated section features both new videos and also artist and region-specific highlights.

ARKit apps have been downloaded 13 million times so far

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Sensor Tower
Things certainly seem to be heading in the right direction.
Photo: Sensor Tower

iOS users have installed upwards of 13 million augmented reality apps since Apple debuted ARKit back in September, a new report from Sensor Tower Store Intelligence suggests.

That’s up from 3 million worldwide one month after iOS 11 was launched. Apps which established themselves early on, including Ikea Place, Giphy World, The Machines, and My Very Hungry Caterpillar AR, continue to be top-performers in terms of downloads.

Apple lays out its powerful vision for the classroom of the future

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2018 iPad and Apple Pencil
Apple's new entry-level iPad is just the tip of the educational iceberg.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

CHICAGO — Apple’s vision for the future of the classroom is clear: Students armed with iPads and quality apps, and instructors leveraging creative teaching methods. Laying the groundwork for a combination of interactive group projects, immersive audio and video experiences, and some gamification, Apple thinks students will find greater success in schools through the use technology.

With yesterday’s big educational event behind us, we know a lot more about Apple’s vision for the classroom of the future.

iPhone is made in America, Tim Cook insists

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Tim Cook says iPhone is an American product
Workers in Texas produce components for the iPhone X. Many parts for Apple's products are made in this country.
Photo: Apple

It clearly makes Tim Cook angry that people think the iPhone is made in China. “It’s not true that iPhone isn’t built in the United States,” Apple’s CEO said today.

The design work definitely happens in the United States. However, Cook points out that Apple suppliers produce many components in this country as well.

Tim Cook disses Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook privacy

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WWDC 2019
Tim Cook just roasted Facebook's CEO.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook threw some major shade at Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg during an interview this morning discussing Apple’s stances on education and user privacy.

Facebook has come under fire over the last few days after it was discovered that data for millions of users was leaked to Cambridge Analytica. In his interview this morning, Tim Cook said that Facebook should have regulated its self, but its too late for that now.

iPad vs. iPad Pro: Which is right for you?

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2018 iPad and Apple Pencil
Is the new iPad right for you?
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple’s most affordable iPad is now even greater. With a faster A10 processor and support for Apple Pencil, it’s closer to the iPad Pro than it’s ever been. And yet, it’s less than half the price — and even more affordable if you’re a student.

So, what’s the difference between them? Is the iPad Pro still worth the extra cash?

Choosing between the two doesn’t have to be difficult. Our helpful comparison will help you decide which iPad is right for you.

Facebook delays smart speaker as privacy scandal grows

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the Facebook logo on an iPhone 6 Plus
Facebook's smart speaker is on the back burner.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Embroiled in controversy, Facebook has delayed the release of its smart speaker. Caught leaking data on millions of its users, the company apparently decided this would be the wrong time to introduce a product designed to gather even more such information.