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News - page 859

Chinese devs sue Apple for removing apps without explanation

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China iPhone sales
Things haven't always been easy for Apple in China.
Photo: Apple

Apple is being sued by 28 developers in China for allegedly breaching antitrust regulations. According to the complaint, Apple charged excessive fees and removed apps from the App Store without a proper explanation.

In the past, Cupertino said its guidelines for allowable apps are consistent across countries. The lawsuit comes as Apple expands its developer relations team in China.

iPhone 8’s Face ID will support Apple Pay, third-party apps

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face tracking
You're going to have to get used to life without Touch ID.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone 8’s new facial recognition functionality will be just as versatile as Touch ID, giving users the ability to authorize Apple Pay transactions, unlock third-party apps, and more.

Apple’s code suggests “Face ID” will even support multiple faces for different users.

Carpool Karaoke episode with Linkin Park frontman may not run

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Linkin Park
Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington passed away at the age of 41.
Photo: Stefan Brending/Wikipedia CC

Apple’s new Carpool Karaoke series may not have found favor with critics, but it’s still stuffed full of musical celebrities — ranging from Metallica to Ariana Grande to Will Smith.

One name you might not find among them, however, is Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington — who recorded an episode of the show last month, just six days before his untimely death at the age of 41. However, according to Apple it might not run.

Facebook ups its focus on video with new Watch service

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Facebook Watch
Will you be watching?
Photo: Facebook

Facebook is expanding its focus on video by introducing a new service called Watch, which will see the company enter the world of original content for the first time.

Available for desktop, mobile and TV apps, the new Watch tab will appear on users’ newsfeeds. It will include links to a variety of shows — including comedy, reality TV and live sport — some of which will be created by Facebook. The move puts Facebook into more direct competition with services like YouTube, as well as Netflix, Amazon, and Apple.

Carpool Karaoke reviews highlight what’s wrong with Apple’s original shows

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carpool karaoke ad
Carpool Karaoke hasn't been the smash hit Apple may have hoped for.
Photo: Apple Music

Apple is 0-2 when it comes to critical acclaim for its original series, after early reviews for its Carpool Karaoke spinoff show have been largely negative. The show debuted this week for Apple Music subscribers.

While it’s still early days for Apple’s original content, between this and Planet of the Apps, things aren’t exactly looking good!

Apple code reveals iPhone 8’s virtual Home button secrets

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iPhone 8 concept
Don't expect this kind of functionality.
Photo: iDropNews

Bidding goodbye to the iPhone’s physical Home button won’t be easy, but there are some advantages to going virtual for iPhone 8.

Not only will it allow for a larger edge-to-edge display, but it also means you’ll be able customize the virtual button. Apple code suggests we’ll have the option to resize it and hide it away if we don’t want it to be displayed on screen at all times.

PSX fave RayCrisis blasts its way into the App Store

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RayCrisis
A fun arcade blaster with a tech theme.
Photo: Taito

Nineteen years after it arrived on the first-generation PlayStation console, RayCrisis, a.k.a. the final installment in Taito’s 1990s trilogy of awesome scrolling shooters, has landed on iOS.

The first two installments of the series, RayForce and RayStorm actually arrived in the App Store waaaaay back in 2012, but RayCrisis has been mysteriously missing in action. Now, finally, it’s possible to get the whole threesome on your iOS device!

Component sales soar as iPhone 8 enters mass-production

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iPhone 6s teardown
Pegatron will team up with an Indonesian manufacturer..
Photo: iFixit

Component suppliers enjoyed stronger sales throughout July as Apple ramps up production of its next-generation iPhones.

Supply chain sources say all three models that will be unveiled in September have now entered mass-production, but shortages are still expected for iPhone 8.

Apple’s R&D spending hints at something spectacular

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R&D
One of Apple's many R&D centers. (This one's in Japan!)
Photo: Apple

This year marks ten years since the launch of the original iPhone and, appropriately enough, Apple has ramped up its R&D spending as a percentage of its total revenue to the level it was during the development of its debut handset.

In other words, something big is coming!

iPhone 8 could silence notifications when you’re looking at it

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iphone
Sounds won't, well, sound when you're paying attention.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 8 might use its 3D facial recognition sensor to silence notifications when you’re looking at the device.

Developer Guilherme Rambo discovered the possible UI element buried inside code accidentally released as part of Apple’s HomePod firmware. Coders digging into the software discovered numerous other details about upcoming Apple devices.

Carpool Karaoke is now available for Apple Music subscribers

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Carpool Karaoke
Ever wanted to see Metallica and Billy Eichner riding together? It's your lucky day!
Photo: Apple

Carpool Karaoke, Apple’s second television series, is now available for Apple Music subscribers. Building on the Late Late Show format established by James Corden, the show features a variety of celebrities driving in a car, singing hit songs.

iPhone 8 may only come in 3 color options

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face tracking
Facial scanning may be the iPhone's next big feature.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult fo Mac

Despite rumors of production holdups, the next-generation iPhone won’t face a delayed launch, according to the latest report out of Asia. The new iPhone 8 will allegedly come in only three color options, with manufacturing hitting full swing next month.

Still, getting your hands on one might not be so easy.

Zoom’s Livetrak mixing desk turns your iPad into a music studio

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Zoom livetrak l-12
Zoom’s wonder-box has real knobs and faders, just like a proper music studio.
Photo: Zoom

Zoom’s new Livetrak L-12 could be the only box you need to turn your iPad into a mobile music studio. In one unit, the L-12 combines a mixer, a 12-track recorder, and an interface that lets you hook up all your musical instruments and gadgets to your iPad. And that’s just the beginning.

Universal gamepads, ultimate car mounts and more [Crowdfund Roundup]

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ALL Controller
ALL Controller lets you game on anything.
Photo: Digital Depth

Crowdfund Roundup bugMany of us own more than one console, which makes finding and replacing the right controllers a real pain. But not if you have ALL Controller, the gamepad that’s compatible with almost any system — and fully customizable.

It’s just one of the awesome ideas in this week’s Crowdfund Roundup. We also have the ultimate smartphone car mount, a top that warms you up on cold winter mornings, and more!

Download the latest iOS 11 public beta now

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iPhone 7 iOS 11
A redesigned Control Center is one of many changes to look forward to in iOS 11.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Just one day after developers received the fifth beta build of iOS 11, Apple has released the same beta update to public testers, bringing a number of UI changes and bug fixes with it.

iOS 11 public beta 4 and macOS High Sierra public beta 4 are now available to download for all members of Apple’s public beta software testing program. You can also download the new software directly to your Mac, iPhone or iPad if you have the previous public beta installed.

Spark email for Mac gets new Smart Search features

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Spark is now available on Mac.
Spark's latest update for Mac makes searching for emails a lot easier.
Photo: Readdle

An update to Spark, a powerful Mac email app from Readdle, brings a serious boost to the software’s Smart Search functionality. The Spark 1.3 update also comes with a lot of under-the-hood changes and performance improvements, making a great Mac email app even better.

India’s telecom regulator isn’t happy with Apple

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Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Not everyone is happy about Apple in India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple might be desperate to make inroads into India, but not everyone in the country is quite as supportive as Apple might like.

In particular, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has accused Apple of carrying out “data colonization” in the country, while also being “anti-consumer” in its behavior. The strong language suggests an attempt to paint Apple as the bad guy among the general public.

Facebook shuts down the Snapchat clone you never heard of

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Lifestage iPhone
Remember Lifestage? Me neither!
Photo: Facebook

Facebook has shut down Lifestage, a Snapchat clone designed to entice teens into using it for casual photo sharing.

The Lifestage app for iOS disappeared from the App Store earlier this week, less than a year after making its debut, and the social network has confirmed it is no more.

iPhone 8 helps boost demand for OLED displays

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iPhone 8 concept
The OLED revolution has begun.
Photo: Concept

Demand for OLED smartphone displays will continue to rise “at a rapid pace” thanks to the upcoming launch of the iPhone 8 and other flagship devices.

It’s thought Apple’s new handset will kickstart an OLED display revolution as rival manufacturers fight to keep up and compete with the iPhone.

Like wrecks over racing? Carmageddon: Crashers is for you

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Carmageddon: Crashers crashing
It's a mobile game of chicken. Kind of!
Photo: Carmageddon: Crashers

If you’ve ever found yourself enjoying the crashing sections of racing games more than, you know, the racing bits, Carmageddon: Crashers may be for you.

It’s essentially a version of the game chicken, in which two cars drive at one another, with one swerving out of the way at the last minute. Except that in this version, no-one swerves!