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Apple regains No. 3 spot in this year’s Fortune 500 ranking

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European Commission could get even tougher on tech in 2020
Apple is worth a whole heap of cash.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple comes in third on this year’s Fortune 500 list, a ranking of companies based on revenue.

Apple lagged behind Walmart and ExxonMobil in terms of revenue. However, it massively outperforms both in terms of profitability. Interestingly, No. 4 on the list — Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway firm — is also one of Apple’s biggest investors.

First 5G modem made by Apple won’t arrive until 2025

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This Intel modem will likely power the first 5G iPhone.
Intel pulled the plug on its 5G modems.
Photo: Intel

Apple’s custom-built smartphone modems likely won’t make their way into iPhones and iPads until 2025 at the earliest, according to a new report from The Information.

Intel’s strained relationship with Apple is on full display in the beefy report that reveals Apple had problems with Intel long before 5G modems became an issue. Back in early 2017, Intel struggled to supply Apple with an LTE modem destined for the 2018 iPhone lineup. Despite overhauling the modem four times, Intel nearly missed the deadline.

How to subscribe to a podcast from the beginning

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Rewind lets you listen to a podcast from the very beginning.
Rewind lets you listen to a podcast from the very beginning.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

With a podcast like the CultCast, you can drop in and start listening at any time. News-based podcasts are meant to be listened to, and then discarded. Another one will be along soon. But what about more structured podcasts? Podcasts that work episodically, like a TV series? With those, you want to listen from episode one, and listen in order — episodes 2, 3, 4, etc.

But podcast apps don’t let you do this. They’re geared towards disposable, periodically-updated podcasts. They may show you a list of previous episodes, so you can tap to download them manually, but then it’s no longer a podcast.

What you need is a service that takes any podcast feed and rejigs it, serving you a new episode each week as if the series had just started.

Factory makes other iPad synths look like toys

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Factory sounds great, and looks ok.
Factory sounds great, and looks ok.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Factory is an aptly-named new iPad synthesizer from SugarBytes. In fact, calling it a synth is underselling it — kind of like calling GarageBand a “tape recorder”. Factory does synthesize sounds, but it also has built-in effects, a sequencer, an arpeggiator, and a totally wild DJ-style crossfader, which lets you morph between presets.

The app is ultra-flexible, as capable of finely-crafted sound design as it is of sonic mayhem.

iOS 12.4 beta 1 arrives with Apple Card support

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Apple Card
By design, Apple Card helps customers understand and track their spending.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s work on iOS 12 isn’t quite done just yet.

Even though WWDC 2019 and the debut of iOS 13 is less than a month away, Apple is out with its first beta of iOS 12.4 today. The new beta comes less than a week after Apple released iOS 12.3 to the public, bringing the new Apple TV app to the masses along with tons of bug fixes and performance improvements for iPhone and iPad.

Sneaky iPhone accessory gains users a health insurance discount

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Hill running will make you a better runner
The old-fashioned way to show how fit you are.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

The moment smartphones gained the ability to track the number of steps people took every day, insurance companies were ready to find ways to use that data to offer people cheaper premiums.

The moment that happened, enterprising (and slightly underhanded) entrepreneurs were ready to give lazy people a workaround to make it look like they were walking much further than they really were.

What kind of workaround, you ask? Well, something along the lines of this:

Apple’s biggest supplier suffers disappointing Q1 profits

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iPhone sales drive Apple’s biggest supplier to big profits
Foxconn was down 17.7% from the same quarter one year ago.
Photo: CBS

Foxconn is Apple’s biggest supplier, and the world’s largest contract manufacturer. However, that wasn’t enough to stop it from underperforming in its latest quarterly earnings.

The company, whose official title is Hon Hai Precision Industry, reported net profits of T$19.82 billion ($637.26 million) for the first three months of 2019. That might sound good, but it’s down 17.7% from the year-ago quarter.

How to use Apple Pay for App Store and iTunes purchases

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Apple Pay iPhone
Apple Pay finally an option for digital purchases.
Photo: Apple

Apple has finally given us the ability to pay for App Store, iTunes, and Books purchases with Apple Pay.

The company’s own mobile payments system can also be used for Apple Music and iCloud storage subscriptions. Here’s how to set it up.

Leaked photos reveal new 2019 iPhone XR colors

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IPhone Xr
Say goodbye to coral and blue.
Photo: Apple

The 2019 version of the iPhone XR will likely come in two new color options.

Leaked details of the new colors surfaced last week revealing that Apple will opt for Green and Lavender instead of coral and blue. Today we’ve got our first glimpse of what the new colors will look like thanks to some photos of leaked colored glass pieces for the rear casings.

The green one looks especially great:

Trump’s tariffs may increase iPhone prices by 14%

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Apple shares suffer biggest decline since August
Apple shares suffer biggest decline since August
Photo: White House

Apple may soon be forced to raise iPhone prices if Donald Trump’s latest round of proposed tariffs on Chinese imports goes into effect.

Trump wants to slap tariffs on the remaining $300 billion worth of Chinese goods. The Office of U.S. Trade Representative began the approval process this week. Those tariffs could go into effect by June 24 and if that happens, some analysts predict Apple will raise iPhone prices by 14% or more to offset the costs.

Pride comes in new faces with watchOS update

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Pride Apple Watch faces
Pride has its range of styles.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch wearers now have a couple of style options on how to show LGBTQ Pride, including a new face with thicker threads of color and a choice of analog watch hands.

The Pride face options became available this morning when Apple released watchOS 5.2.1.

Why app subscriptions are taking over (and how to cope) [Video]

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You can subscribe to just about anything these days ... but why?
You can subscribe to just about anything these days ... but why?
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Over the last couple years, tons of iOS apps switched from one-time purchases to monthly or annual subscriptions. As a user, this can seem frustrating — or annoying even — but it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

The rise of app subscriptions brings benefits to users, developers and the app ecosystem as a whole. Whether you’re subscribing to your favorite weather app, task manager or podcast player, the subscription model offers perks that never existed in the one-time-purchase world of apps.

Apple’s new TV app arrives with iOS 12.3

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The Apple TV app gets a raft of new features in iOS 12.3.
The Apple TV app gets a raft of new features in iOS 12.3.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s updated TV app is finally ready for the public to dive into.

iOS 12.3 was released to the public today, adding the new Apple TV app to iPhones and iPads as Apple prepares to launch its streaming TV service this fall. The update also adds AirPlay 2.0 and Apple TV support to compatible Samsung smart TVs.

Supreme Court sides against Apple in big antitrust case

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Apple removes 17 malware apps which secretly clicked on ads
Lawsuit could change Apple's relationship with App Store customers.
Photo: Apple

A lawsuit targeting Apple and the App Store will be allowed to proceed, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided.

The case involves whether or customers technically buy apps from Apple, or whether Apple is a middleman connecting app developers with consumers. The Supreme Court ruled against Apple on Monday by 5 votes to 4.

New 2019 iPhone leak hints at extra camera lenses (again)

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2019 iPhone molds
This year’s iPhones will snap even better photos.
Photo: Mark Gurman

Leaked molds of this year’s iPhone lineup again hint at big camera upgrades for all three models. The molds reaffirm renders recently published by a number of tipsters.

Here’s what they tell us about Apple’s next-generation smartphones.

Pro-level keyboard case nearly turns iPad Pro into a touchscreen MacBook [Review]

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Brydge Pro review
Make your iPad Pro into a tablet/laptop with the Brydge Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Since the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the tablet is serious competition for Apple’s notebooks. Its design offers many advantages over a notebook, but most people demand a physical keyboard for their primary computer. Of all the options for this, the Brydge Pro comes the closest to transforming a 2018 iPad Pro into a convertible touchscreen MacBook.

Read our hands-on review to see how well this premium keyboard case performs in the real world.

Save 25 percent with exclusive offer on AluBase Wireless charger [Watch Store]

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You know you want this Just Mobile AluBase Wireless Charger and maybe a Gum Slim Hybrid Battery, too.
You know you want this sweet new wireless charger.
Photo: Just Mobile

If you’ve been waiting for a deal on a great wireless charger, your patience has paid off! Our friends at Just Mobile have set up an exclusive offer for Cult of Mac Watch Store customers on the AluBase Wireless charger.

You’ll save 25 percent on the AluBase with this special pricing. Normally $39.95, you can get the AluBase Wireless for $30. Add the optional fast charge power adapter for just $5 more. But don’t delay too long! This deal is only good while supplies last. Read on to learn more about AluBase Wireless.

Mac’s new Music app won’t be ported from iOS

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iTunes on Mac
iTunes ain’t dead yet.
Photo: Apple

The Mac’s next-generation Music app will be based on iTunes, not ported over from iOS.

Some sources previously stated that the app would be made using Marzipan, which lets developers easily port iPad apps to the desktop. But new information reveals that won’t be the case.

Pay tribute to mom with these Apple Watch gift ideas [Watch Store]

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Rilee & Lo spices up your Apple Watch with sexy, sleek stainless steel watch bands.
A stainless steel stretch-link band for just $40?
Photo: Rilee & Lo

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, so how about gifting a little something for her Apple Watch?

Cult of Mac has rounded up a beautiful collection of Apple Watch bands, chargers and stands specifically picked for Mom in our Mother’s Day Gift Guide.

If you mother is a nerd, a Luddite, a traveler or style maven, we’ve got the goods for her. There’s a unique gift for every Apple Watch-loving momma out there.

2-in-1 cleaning stick gives you a weapon against on-screen germs [Review]

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Häns Swipe-Clean can handle your gross screens.
Häns Swipe-Clean can handle your gross screens.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

We live on our screens. So do germs, bacteria and a buildup of skin oils.

I will spare you the details and, instead, recommend the Häns Swipe-Clean, a wet-dry tool that wipes away the gross microbial life thriving on your iPhone, iPad and Mac screens.

WWDC 2019, revealed! This week on The CultCast

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CultCast 387
WWDC is right around the corner....

This week on The CultCast: WWDC 2019 is right around the corner, and a new report sheds light on everything Apple’s prepping to reveal. We discuss! Plus: The magic of Corning glass, and how making your iPhone just slightly thicker would make it indestructible. And we reveal how (and why) Jony Ive created the massive mystery rainbow stage now present at the heart of Apple Park.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain..

Apple Lisa documentary will tell the story of Cupertino’s most important ‘flop’

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Apple prototypes
In retrospect, the Lisa was pretty darn important for Apple.
Photo: CNBC

A new documentary called Before Macintosh: The Apple Lisa promises to tell the story of one of Apple’s most important flops.

Directed by computer historian (and Apple collector) David Greelish, the movie will feature interviews with key players in the machine’s development. It also will place the Lisa in its proper context — as one of the most influential computers of all time.

Watch an adorable beluga whale rescue a phone from the ocean

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Beluga whale
Belugas are intelligent and sometimes friendly. They don’t often rescue people’s phones, though.
Photo: Wikipedia

A phone dropped in the sea is usually gone forever, but not when a friendly whale retrieves from the ocean floor. Video of exactly this happening in Norway has to be seen to be believed.

Even better, the beluga starring in the video is thought by some to be the Russian spy whale who made headlines last week.

How (and why) Jony Ive built the mysterious rainbow Apple Stage

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The colorful Apple Stage really pops in the center of Apple Park.
The colorful Apple Stage really pops in the center of Apple Park's massive "spaceship" building.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

The mysterious, rainbow-colored stage erected inside Apple Park bears all the hallmarks of the company’s meticulous design, according to an Apple document provided to Cult of Mac.

It’s the latest creation by Jony Ive’s team — and it’s just as thoughtfully and intricately designed as you might imagine.

An article explaining the project to Apple employees sheds light on just how much thought, time and intense effort went into building the rainbow Apple Stage. And Jony Ive’s ruminations on the project show he and his collaborators put a lot of thought into it.