Mobile menu toggle

California Apple Store is robbed twice in less than 24 hours

By

Apple adds 5 new vice presidents to its executive lineup
Maybe time to hire some extra security!
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

The Apple Store crime spree continues in California.

While another Apple Store robbery in the state may not be a shock, the number of times this particular store has been robbed certainly is. Monday’s robbery of the Apple Store in Roseville marked the fourth time in 20 days that the outlet has been burglarized — and the second in just 24 hours!

Instagram tests user tagging feature in videos

By

Instagram lawsuit
Hopefully it won't be long before it rolls out for all users.
Photo: Pixabay

Instagram is testing a new feature which lets users tag their friends in video posts, instead of simply still photos. The feature is currently being trialled with a small number of users, although hopefully it won’t be too long before it rolls out to everyone.

The feature works in a similar way to tagging photos, only that instead of overlaying tags on top of the content, there is a page titled “People in this Video” that shows everyone in a video.

How to watch Apple’s big ‘Gather Round’ keynote live on Sept. 12

By

WWDC 2019
Apple CEO Tim Cook on stage for WWDC 2018.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s biggest event of 2018 is just a day away. We’re expecting a long list of exciting announcements, including a new iPhone lineup, upgrades for the iPad Pro, and an Apple Watch Series 4. Apple could have other surprises up its sleeve, too.

If you’re an Apple fan, you certainly won’t want to miss it. And you don’t have to! Apple is streaming the entire keynote live from 10 a.m. PT on September 12, so you can watch it unfold from the comfort of your couch.

Here’s how to tune in on whatever device you’re using.

iPhone X and iPad Pro imports risk being banned in South Korea

By

Ex-student sentenced to 3 years in prison for massive iPhone scam
Apple is accused of violating a patent belonging to one of South Korea's top research institutes.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A number of Apple devices, including the iPhone X and iPad Pro, run the risk of being banned from South Korea, the home of Apple’s long-time frenemy Samsung.

The Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy is currently investigating allegations that Apple has infringed on a patent belonging to KAIST, a public research university based in South Korea. The investigation period has already been extended twice, and BusinessKorea suggests that the regulatory commission is likely to make its “final determination” in favor of KAIST.

Apple video continues to push devs to use app subscriptions

By

App Store
Apple apps no longer dominate App Store search results.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s efforts to encourage developers to use in-app subscriptions continued this week with a new video published to its developer portal.

“Developer Insights” highlights the benefits of a subscription model with reoccurring payments, and features testimonials from app makers who are already enjoying a subscription model. Apple has already held meetings with developers to warn them that one-time purchases are dying.

Apple Pay now accepted at 7-Eleven stores across the U.S.

By

7-Eleven Apple Pay
Shopping at 7-Eleven just got even easier.
Photo: 7-Eleven

You can now use Apple Pay (and Google Pay) at 7-Eleven stores across the United States.

“Most stores” will be accepting Apple’s mobile payments service by the end of this month, the retailer says. Gurmeet Singh, CDO and CIO of the company, says it’s one more reason why you should shop at 7-Eleven.

Facebook’s ban of Alex Jones was prompted by Apple

By

Alex Jones at a rally of people claiming the 9/11 terror attacks were carried out by the U.S. government.
Alex Jones at a rally of people claiming the 9/11 terror attacks were carried out by the U.S. government.
Photo: 911conspiracy/Flickr CC

Apple’s decision to boot five of far-right conspiracy theory website InfoWars’ podcasts off its platform was the trigger for Facebook doing the same with several of host Alex Jones’ pages on the social network.

The factoid was revealed in a new profile of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, published in the New Yorker. Apple has since banned Jones from the App Store permanently.

Apple’s big and bougie store on Paris’ Champs-Élysées opens in November

By

The Champs-Élysées location doesn't get away with the giant glass doors found on other recent flagship Apple Stores.
The Champs-Élysées location doesn't get away with the giant glass doors found on other recent flagship Apple Stores.
Photo: Apple

There are few streets more ritzy than the Champs-Élysées. That’s likely why an Apple Store is opening there this fall.

At the same time, the company is closing its location in the Carrousel du Louvre, underneath the pyramid in front of this world-famous museum.

New chip gives Google smartwatches a battery boost

By

Qualcomm's upcoming processor might make Google's Wear OS more competitive.
Apple Watch doesn't face much real competition, but a new Qualcomm processor will improve one of its rivals.
Photo: Google

After teasing it for months, Qualcomm today unveiled its processor designed for Wear OS smartwatches. The Snapdragon Wear 3100 is intended to put Google’s smartwatch platform on the map, instead of a distant third place.

The highlight of the new chip is improved battery life. Qualcomm is promising 4 to 12 extra hours of use, depending on the tasks the wearable is asked to perform.

Stop waiting for iOS 12

By

iOS 12 features
iOS 12 has a lot to offer. Why are you waiting?
Photo: Apple

The full release of iOS 12 is right around the corner. If you just can’t wait, it turns out you don’t have to. The last beta version Apple introduced is extremely stable. And it’s available now.

You could be among the first to play around with all the new iOS 12 features. You could be the first to send a Meemoji message to your friends. There’re some nice benefits to not waiting, though admittedly it’s mostly bragging rights.

Why AT&T customers could have a first shot at a 5G iPhone

By

AT&T logo
AT&T is way, way ahead of the competition in rolling out mobile 5G.
Photo: Luismt94/Wikipedia CC

Anyone eagerly awaiting a 5G iPhone probably should be an AT&T subscriber. This wireless service provider will have mobile 5G service in a dozen cities before any of its rivals have it in even one.

Still, rival Verizon hit a milestone today by making the world’s first 5G NR call from a smartphone-size device.

Smark translation device feels strangely retro in iPhone age [Review]

By

Translator
Can Smark do anything our iPhone can't do?
Photo: Luke Dormehl/Cult of Mac

The Smark modular translator is something like Star Trek’s universal translator, a device able to instantly convert spoken words from one language to another.

In the 1960s, this was pure sci-fi. But here in 2018, translation apps on our smartphones can handle the task with ease and accuracy. At this point, is there any reason for a standalone translation device? Smark offers some features that might make it appealing to travelers.

Trump tariffs may jack up Apple Watch prices by 20%

By

Yeah, we're pretty incredulous about your ideas, too, Mr. Trump.
Thanks Donald!
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Trump’s latest round of proposed tariffs will negatively impact Apple’s revenues but according to some numbers crunched by an Apple analyst, investors shouldn’t worry about the company’s profits being hit too hard.

Apple revealed last week that some of the proposed tariffs would hurt the profitability of Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod and Apple Pencil. Price increases would be passed on to consumers, however, it probably won’t be more than a 20% jump.

iPhone XS Max is the iPhone fans lust after most

By

This could be the iPhone XS Plus and iPhone XS, Apple's 2018 iPhone models.
Get ready for iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.
Photo: Lee Gunho

The iPhone XS Max is set to be the biggest phone Apple’s ever made once it officially debuts this week. It’s also poised to be the most expensive iPhone you could ever buy, but that apparently isn’t going to deter fans from gobbling up stock as soon as it hits stores.

In a recent poll asking Cult of Mac readers which 2108 iPhone they plan to buy, the pricey iPhone XS Max had more interest than the other two new iPhones and it wasn’t even close.

Check out the results:

How Apple Watch Series 4 will raise the bar for wearables [UPDATED]

By

Apple Watch Series 4
Somehow, this official photo of Apple Watch Series 4 leaked out early.
Photo: 9to5Mac

Apple’s biggest keynote of the year is just days away and while the iPhone XS will be the main attraction of the event, Apple Watch Series 4 could steal the show with a bevy of new features.

Rumors about the Apple Watch Series 4 have been heating up leading up to next week’s event. Leaked images of the new wearable have already surfaced online, but there’s still a bit of mystery surrounding the new gadget.

Here’s everything we know about Apple Watch Series 4:

Reliable analyst says iPad Pro will have a USB-C port

By

The 2018 iPad Pro has every change we hoped for. And some of the ones we feared.
The mystery port on the 2018 iPad Pro models could be USB-C.
Photo: MySmartPrice

This report would probably be dismissed out of hand if it came from anyone else, but when Ming-Chi Kuo says the 2018 iPad Pro will have a USB-C port it has to be taken seriously.

This analyst has a long history of reliable predictions, so its possible Apple is finally going to make a change to its professional tablets that many people have been requesting for years.

Apple Watch Series 4 set to get ceramic back and electrocardiogram

By

Apple Watch's heart rate monitor
Apple Watch's heart rate monitor is set to get a big upgrade.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

New details about the upcoming Apple Watch Series 4 have been revealed just days before Apple is set to unveil the upgraded wearable.

One of the most respected Apple analysts in the business just put out a new report that claims the metal back of the Apple Watch will change to a ceramic design. Even better, the watches will come with a new health sensor.

6.1-inch LCD iPhone might be in short supply this fall

By

6.5- and 6.1-inch 2018 iPhone models
Complications could keep us waiting for Apple’s more affordable iPhone.
Photo: OnLeaks

If you’ve been itching to get yours hands on iPhone X but don’t want to spend $1,000 on a phone, Apple’s rumored 6.1-inch LCD handset could be exactly what you’ve been waiting for.

But good luck getting one this fall. A new report, citing sources familiar with Apple’s plans, claims the device will suffer supply shortages at launch as a result of “minor complications” with its new display.

What’s more, some of the other products you we were hoping to see this week may not be announced until later.

Bigger iPhones could explain Apple’s booming Services business

By

iphone mockups
The biggest iPhone lineup Apple's ever made.
Photo: Macotakara

Is Apple’s push to release ever-larger iPhones anything to do with the growing success of its Services division? That’s the theory put forward by the Wall Street Journal.

Drawing on Kantar data, the report notes how larger screens are linked with greater usage of everything from apps to watching videos. It would also explain why Apple is seemingly in no rush to upgrade its 4-inch iPhone SE, despite the fact that some users love it.

Carpool Karaoke lands Apple a big win at Emmy Awards

By

Carpool Karaoke
Carpool Karaoke was a winner at Sunday's Creative Arts Emmy Awards.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s foray into original television programming has paid off with an Emmy Award.

Carpool Karaoke, a series spinoff of a segment done by James Corden on the Late Late Show, beat out Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show and the Tonight Show, to win the Emmy in the category of short-form variety series.

The Emmy was awarded Sunday night at the Creative Arts Emmys.

World’s largest carrier spills big 2018 iPhone secret

By

iPhone X home screen
iOS 14's Home screen could be very different.
Photo: Apple

The world’s largest carrier just confirmed one big rumor about the 2018 iPhone lineup.

China Mobile has published an image that all but confirms a new Apple smartphone capable of supporting two SIM cards simultaneously. A separate teaser from rival China Telecom also hints at dual-SIM functionality for a next-generation iPhone.

Classic puzzler Professor Layton and the Curious Village coming to iOS

By

Professor Layton
Coming soon to an App Store near you.
Photo: Level-5

According to a post on the official App Store Twitter account, the celebrated puzzle adventure game Professor Layton and the Curious Village is on its way to iOS.

Released for the Nintendo DS in Japan back in 2007, and in North America the year after, Curious Village is the first title in the immensely popular Professor Layton series. It was ported to mobile for the Japanese market in June this year, but this is the first time we’ve heard about an English language version for iOS. And we couldn’t be happier!

Apple acquires feature-length documentary and animated movie

By

apple tv
Apple's original content catalog is getting even better.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple has acquired the rights to two feature-length films as part of its original content efforts. The first is a feature documentary, titled The Elephant Queen of Athena, while the second is an animated film called Wolfwakers.

The Elephant Queen of Athena was opened up to buyers earlier this year at the European Film Market in Berlin, Germany. Following the story of an elephant matriarch who leads her family on journey across Africa in search of food and water, it’s been likened to 2005’s highly successful March of the Penguins.

Apple removes Mac apps which are stealing user data

By

The CIA has a team of more than 5,000 hackers.
Problematic apps were stealing user data and sending it to remote servers.
Photo: Brian Klug/Flickr CC

Apple has removed a series of apps from the Mac App Store after they were found to be accessing users’ private data and sending it to remote servers. The apps in question include Adware Doctor, Open Any Files: RAR Support, Dr. Antivirus, and Dr. Cleaner.

The apps duped users into giving them access to their macOS home directories by promising to perform functions such as scanning for viruses or clearing caches. By accessing the home directory, they were then able to gain access to information about users’ browsing history, and more.