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New iPhone display causes problems for Apple suppliers

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2018 iPhone screen protectors
A look at the screen sizes for this year's new iPhones.
Photo: Benjamin Geskin

Mass production is gearing up for Apple’s 2018-era iPhone refresh, but as per usual it’s not without its problems. According to a new report, the 6.1-inch LCD handset is causing Apple particular trouble with an LED backlight leakage. The issue has pushed back manufacturing by one month.

The claim is from Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty, who cites sources in Apple’s supply chain. But don’t worry: Apple’s apparently got the problem covered.

Yet another grab-and-run theft hits Apple Store

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Apple Store robbery
The thieves accosted an off-duty officer outside the store.
Photo: Mesa Police Department

The recent spate of Apple Store robberies has continued, as five men stole iPhones and iPads valued at $29,000 from an Apple Store in Southern California this week.

The robbery took place on Monday night, when the hoodie-wearing men walked into the store at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, Orange County. They quickly began ripping display items out of the display tables, before fleeing the location.

Bluetooth security flaw requires updating to recent iOS, macOS versions

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It's necessary to update your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook to remove a Bluetooth security flaw.
No more procrastinating. It's necessary to update your iPhone, iPad, or MacBook to remove a Bluetooth security flaw.
Photo: Apple

Many people are slow about updating the operating system on their phone or laptop, sometimes from fear of bugs. But a security flaw in Bluetooth requires updating to recent versions of iOS or macOS to fix.

This flaw could allow a hacker to access information exchanged over Bluetooth. And it affects recent and older iPhones and MacBooks.

These are the six colors rumored for this year’s LCD iPhone

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iphone5c
Color was a big selling point for the iPhone 5c.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s 6.1-inch LCD iPhone is likely to be the least exciting of the company’s 2018-era handsets from a features and hardware perspective. However, it’s also bound to be the cheapest of Apple’s new iPhones and, if you believe the rumors, will feature one other big selling point: color.

Like the bright iPhone 5c which launched in 2013, the 6.1-inch LCD handset will reportedly come in various bright colors. The question is which colors will it come in? A new report possibly sheds some light.

Twelve South first to put Apple Watch on your arm

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actionsleeve
Made of neoprene and silicone for comfort and durability, ActionSleeve from Twelve South puts Apple Watch on your arm.
Photo: Benjamin McKay/Cult of Mac

Note: Twelve South does not ship outside of the United States. 

The Apple Watch is an ideal workout partner, but it’s not a good idea to have things around your wrist during certain activities. An Apple Watch armband would be perfect.

Now you can wear your Apple Watch on your arm with ActionSleeve from Twelve South. It’s the world’s first armband for Apple Watch, and it is now available in our Watch Store.

iPhone sales expected to remain strong throughout 2018

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Apple could be a $2 trillion company by end of 2021
iPhone sales could give Apple's Q3 earnings a big boost.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple might be about to post another better-than-expected earnings report next week driven by strong iPhones sales and Apple’s booming services business.

With Apple’s earnings call for the third fiscal quarter of 2018 slated for July 31, Guggenheim Partners analyst Robert Cihra predicts Apple will have another solid quarter of growth with 43 million iPhone units sold.

Learn to code like a wizard with this Harry Potter wand kit

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Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit teaches muggles to code
Progammus Swiftus: Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit teaches muggles to code
Photo: Kano

You can’t go to Hogwarts to learn magic, but the Harry Potter Kano Coding Kit teaches programming as if you’re in the Wizarding World.

It comes with a wireless wand, and you flick and swish through the basic concepts of real-world programming. Professor Flitwick would be so proud.

AT&T’s 5G coverage dominates competition (for now)

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AT&T store2
Verizon is behind arch-rival AT&T in deploying mobile 5G. Sprint and T-Mobile are trailing.
Photo: Steve Rhodes/Flickr CC

Verizon just reveled that Houston will be the third city getting its super-speedy 5G service before the end of this year. But there’s huge caveat: this is fixed service, only for homes and businesses.

In contrast, AT&T will launch mobile 5G service in six cities this year. This shows how far ahead it is than the competition.

Stop your boss from reading your private Slack chats with Shhlack

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Slacking off? Then hide your private chats from your boss with Shhlack.
Slacking off? Then hide your private chats from your boss with Shhlack.
Photo: Giorgio Minguzzi/Flickr CC

Did you know that your boss can read your private Slack chats? That’s right — whenever you switch to a direct messaging session to avoid Slack’s public chat thread, you might think you are chatting away from your boss’s prying ears, the virtual equivalent of a quick word in the stairwell.

However, that’s not the case. The boss can drop in and spy on your “private” chats at any time. Luckily, there’s a way to fix that, using a tool called Shhlack.

Huge PUBG Mobile update adds War mode and lots more

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PUBG Mobile 0.5.0
PUBG Mobile is bigger and better.
Photo: PlayerUnknown

PUBG’s mission to fight back against Fortnite continues today with a massive update that brings a whole host of awesome new content to mobile.

Players can enjoy a fast-paced War mode and a brand new sniper rifle, join clans, chat with friends, earn new achievements, and lots more.

The future of high-speed broadband is in your iPhone X

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VCSEL
The laser in the iPhone X's Face ID could one day transform the speed of broadband.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

That nifty little laser in the iPhone X that scans your face to create a custom animated emoji could also connect cities with ultra high-speed broadband.

That’s what a team of researchers in Europe have discovered by combining the laser with silicon photonics to create long-wavelength, high-capacity communications. If implemented, it could make data logjams a thing of the past.

Kase ultrathin iPhone cases and Lightning cables prove simplicity is sexy

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These Kase ultrathin iPhone X cases live up to the sleek simplicity of Apple design philosophy.
These ultrathin iPhone X cases live up to the sleek simplicity of Apple design philosophy.
Photo: Kase

This post is presented by Kase.

One of the main reasons to get an iPhone is the sleek, minimalist design. But plenty of the other necessaries — protective cases, replacement charging cables, etc. — look like afterthoughts or add-ons. Apple puts plenty of time and care into creating devices that prove pleasing to the eyes and hands, and we all pay plenty of money to enjoy them.

Anyone looking for Apple-worthy design and durability can dig this line of cases and cables from Kase.

Apple issues thermal throttling fix for 2018 MacBook Pros

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2018 MacBook Pro
Apple just released a fix that will speed up every 2018 MacBook Pro, no matter the processor or screen size.
Photo: Apple

Ever since the debut of the 2018 MacBook Pro, there’s been controversy about the top-tier version suffering thermal throttling. Apple today apologized for this problem, and released a fix.

It also seems every version of the new Apple laptop will down-clock itself to prevent overheating. The slowdowns occur even when it’s not totally necessary to stop the machines from being damaged.

Watch this itsy-bitsy spider get stuck inside an iMac screen

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iMac
Yes, that's a real spider stuck behind the screen.
Photo: Timothy Buchanan

Apple’s iMac computers make a surprisingly good home for spiders. Or at least one really tiny spider that found its way in between one shocked owner’s LCD panel and front glass.

The spider can be seen crawling around inside the iMac on a video posted to YouTube. At first, the owner thought it was a digital prank. But when he starts moving different app windows over it and the spider starts running around, he realizes this is no joke.

If you have arachnophobia you might not want to watch:

Future iPhones may pack moving camera sensors for external lenses

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Moment lens on iPhone
Don't retire that wide-angle lens attachment just yet.
Photo: Moment

A lens attachment can extend the view of your native iPhone camera. It can also botch an otherwise nice image if not attached properly.

Apple is suggesting hardware and software changes to the iPhone and iPad camera systems that can reduce operator error and aid an extra lens in delivering that promised DSLR quality.

Trump may not spare iPhone from trade war

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Apple waives developer fees for nonprofits, others in 8 additional countries
iPhones could get caught in crossfire of U.S-China trade war
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook was reportedly assured that the iPhone wouldn’t been among the items to be hit with an import tariff as part of the United States’ burgeoning trade war with China.

However, according to a new report, it may wind up being hit with two sets of charges: one on iPhones imported from China, and another tax levied in China itself. Ouch!

Foxconn is hiring to ramp up production for iPhone refresh

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iPhone sales drive Apple’s biggest supplier to big profits
Foxconn is one of Apple's oldest suppliers.
Photo: CBS

This year’s iPhone refresh could be the super cycle Apple’s been waiting for — and manufacturer Foxconn is taking steps accordingly.

As per a new report, the manufacturing giant, which employs around 1 million people in China alone, is ramping up its hiring for people willing to work on the iPhone production line. And it’s offering incentives to help with the recruitment drive!

Jump into a comprehensive crash course in Excel [Deals]

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Score a comprehensive education and certification in Microsoft Excel.
Score a comprehensive education and certification in Microsoft Excel.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Microsoft Excel is well worth learning for professionals of all kinds. But it also goes deep, with many uses and possibilities that make learning it intimidating. So this massively discounted bundle of Excel courses is great place for anyone to start.

WhatsApp is bringing media previews to iOS notifications

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WhatsApp on iOS
WhatsApp users have been waiting for better notifications.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp notifications on iOS are about to get a lot more useful.

The popular messaging service is now testing media previews that let users view images and even animated GIFs before opening a message. Today’s update has also added the ability to use Siri to send messages to groups.

eBay promises Apple Pay support in 2018

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Antitrust investigators want to know if retailers were compelled to use Apple Pay
It’ll take years to roll out to everyone.
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

eBay is giving shoppers the ability to purchase items with Apple Pay this fall.

The service will become a primary payment option on the eBay website and in the mobile app. A small group of Marketplace customers will get the chance to try it before it rolls out to everyone in a few years.

Chinese users reportedly being bombarded with iMessage spam

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iMessage
Apparently carriers can do nothing to stop it.
Photo: Weibo

iPhone users in China are reportedly being bombarded with iMessage spam, many of them promoting illegal gambling.

Much of the iMessage spam in question links to WeChat account or gambling websites. Gambling is illegal in China, with the exception of two state-sanctioned lotteries.

Apple’s stunning new Milan store is an elemental masterpiece

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Milan
Apple's most attractive Apple Store yet?
Photo: Apple

Apple is set to add another architectural marvel to its roster of stunning Apple Stores when it opens its new location in Milan, Italy next week.

To celebrate the occasion, Apple has released some attractive pictures of the Apple Piazza Liberty — which includes a gorgeous above-ground fountain, leading down to a fully-stocked underground store. Kind of like the company’s iconic Fifth Avenue venue in New York, with an extra sheen of high fashion chic.