Hugo Barra, probably the most famous Xiaomi executive to stateside audiences, has left the Chinese smartphone maker — apparently prompted by an incredibly disappointing quarter for Xiaomi.
Having once used its strategy of producing low-end iPhone clones to become the world’s most valuable startup, Xiaomi has had something of a fall from grace lately. Having dropped out of the top five smartphone makers in China last year, Barra’s departure is the latest piece of bad news for the company.
Galaxy fans who are clinging onto their wallets in anticipation of Samsung’s answer to the iPhone 7 will have to wait a little longer.
The South Korean company was expected to announce the Galaxy S8 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next month. It’s thought the launch was delayed so that Samsung can carry out additional battery checks to avoid another Galaxy Note 7 disaster.
Samsung has pinned the blame on its exploding Galaxy Note 7 phones on two separate problems with the handsets’ lithum-ion batteries — one problem affecting the first units the company released, and a second issue affecting the replacement units Samsung rushed out.
A new U.S.-based Apple and Foxconn factory could create 30,000 to 50,000 American jobs, claims Foxconn chairman Terry Gou.
Foxconn and Apple may team up to build a new $7 billion facility in the United States, dedicated to manufacturing displays for future iOS devices, according to Gou.
Rainer Hersch is a British conductor, actor, writer and comedian, best known for comic takes on classical music. One of his most notable recent creations? A symphony-worthy compilation of iPhone-inspired — ranging from orchestral takes on its iconic default ringtone to its standard alert sounds.
Hersch plays the xylophone in his video, while being supported by an orchestra playing the clarinet, horn, two violins, viola, cello and percussion.
Check it out below:
Apple and Qualcomm seem to be headed toward a head-on collision, with Apple suing the the wireless chipmaking company for apparently overcharging for use of its patents.
“For many years Qualcomm has unfairly insisted on charging royalties for technologies they have nothing to do with,” Apple said in a statement. “The more Apple innovates with unique features such as TouchID, advanced displays, and cameras, to name just a few, the more money Qualcomm collects for no reason and the more expensive it becomes for Apple to fund these innovations.”
iOS 11 will finally give users the ability to hold FaceTime group calls with multiple friends, according to a new report.
Sources familiar with Apple’s plans claim the feature will support up to five participants, and that users will be able to initiate video calling from within iMessage group chats.
Happy weekend everyone! Depending on where you are in the world, your weekend is either halfway through or coming to an end, but there’s always time to catch up on some of the week’s best apps.
That’s where we come in. We’ve combed through the App Store to highlight what we feel are the best, most important, or otherwise noteworthy apps and app updates of the past 7 days.
Check out our list below. You won’t be disappointed!
If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, checking prices could give you a serious case of sticker shock. Both the iPhone 7 and Google’s Pixel start at $649 and go up from there, with a top-of-the-line iPhone 7 Plus selling for $969.
If you’re OK with having something that’s a little less than the latest model, going with a used phone can save you a bundle. The downside? Getting a good deal — and a phone that works — takes more effort than buying a new phone off the store shelf. If you’re willing to put in some legwork to save cash, here’s what you need to know about buying a used cell phone — and seven questions to ask before doing so.
This week on The CultCast: 2017 might bring the super-charged MacBook Pro you’ve been waiting for — yes, another update! Then, a former employee says Tim Cook’s making Apple boring. Is it true? Plus: We get more evidence Apple will be making TV shows and movies; and iPhone 8 may be packing friggin’ lasers and facial recognition.
In case you hadn’t noticed, the United States has a new leader — and President Donald Trump has a bone to pick with Apple. Several, actually.
Will Trump’s “America first” stance and pro-business policies help Apple or give Tim Cook a series of premium headaches? Cult of Mac editors Leander Kahney and Lewis Wallace come out swinging in this week’s edition of “Friday Night Fights.”
A photography app that has become incredibly popular in recent weeks after adding an anime makeover feature has been sending user data back to its developer in China.
Meitu carries out checks to establish if an iOS device is jailbroken and collects information about its carrier before passing it onto Xiamen Meitu Technology. It’s thought the company could be selling the information to marketing agencies for targeted ads.
Foxconn is planning to build a new prototyping facility right alongside Apple’s upcoming research and development center in Shenzhen, China.
The move will “better help Apple create prototypes” of products in the development process, and could mean a lot fewer leaks for curious fans.
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ uncompromising demands and brutal assessments of products in development paint a picture of a CEO who cared little about his colleagues’ feelings.
That’s because he was obsessed with yours.
A report published this week points to this and shows what is arguably the most brilliant and enduring part of his legacy.
Apple is currently weighing up the possibility of building new manufacturing facilities in India. Its decision rests on whether it can strike a deal over perks with the Indian government. Here are some of the things the company is requesting.
BlackRock, a.k.a. the world’s largest asset manager, has just made a massive investment in Apple, according to its latest Securities and Exchange Commission filing.
The firm upped its investment in Apple to a whopping 322 million shares, meaning that now owns the equivalent of 6.1 percent of Apple’s outstanding shares — with a current monetary value of $38.4 billion.
Simply Mac, the GameStop-owned Apple Authorized Reseller, is closing a number of its stores around the United States.
The list of stores affected hasn’t been released as of yet, but outlets in North Carolina, North Dakota, Montana, Texas and Illinois will all be affected.
Donald Trump has been forced to give up his beloved Android smartphone as he steps into the White House.
He has now been issued a “secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service,” alongside a new phone number that only a few people will posses.
Netflix makes some darn good drama shows, but it’s the company’s forthcoming documentary series that really has us interested. Called Abstract: The Art of Design, it’s an 8-part series about visionary designers, set to arrive on February 10.
Despite not featuring Apple (at least, based on what we’ve seen in the trailer), it certainly looks the kind of factual programming that would be of interest to Cult of Mac readers.
Check out the trailer below.
In a perfect world, the next Mac Pro would be better, smarter, faster… and also bigger.
At least that’s how Mac fan and brilliant graphic designer Pascal Eggert envisions the long-ignored high-end Apple desktop. Check out his concept designs below.
The U.S. government has always had a hard time getting techies to work for it, but with a little help from Steve Jobs, the White House’s Digital Service team is hoping that will change.
President Barack Obama created the U.S. Digital Service as a “startup” within the White House in 2014 to help improve and expand the government’s online services. The service just launched a new marketing campaign this week that features Jobs giving inspirational advice to people who want to change the world.
See Uncle Steve posthumously recruit government tech workers in the ad below.
Terrified you’re going to lose your awesome new AirPods? Give yourself peace of mind with PodStraps, a $15 shoelace that hangs your AirPods around your neck and prevents them from bouncing around on the floor when they fall out of your ears.
S Voice, Samsung’s answer to Siri, has been a poor excuse for a virtual assistant for the last four years. But the South Korean company is working on a brand new version for the Galaxy S8 — and it will have features that blow its competitors out of the water.
Amazon’s Alexa devices were some of the most exciting tech products of 2016, and immediately there were rumors that Apple was planning to follow suit with a standalone Siri — possibly even with the addition of facial recognition tech.
A new report, however, claims that despite its popularity, Alexa has been a massive money drain on Amazon so far. In 2016 alone, it lost Amazon $330 million, and this figure is set to rise to $600 million-plus this year.
Applying a screen protector to your iPhone might prevent it from getting scratched, but it won’t keep it from shattering. That’s why InvisibleShield protectors are now available with a coverage plan that pays you $100 towards your repair bill if your display gets broken.