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Paprika makes your iPad a kitchen sidekick [50 Essential iOS Apps #31]

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Paprika on iPad with kitchen items around
Following recipes is easy and convenient with Paprika.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

50 Essential iOS Apps: PaprikaHave you ever decided to make dinner, only to find the recipe has gone missing. Sometimes it’s a misplaced notecard, other times, a saved (or pinned) link that is now dead. With Paprika, your favorite recipes are stored digitally, and you’re in control. As someone who cooks nearly every day, Paprika is the best recipe app for chefs of any skill level.

Foxconn scores generous benefits package for first U.S. factory

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iPhone sales drive Apple’s biggest supplier to big profits
Wisconsin is offering a super generous package to attract Foxconn.
Photo: CBS

Wisconsin will be the site of a new display factory built by Apple manufacturer Foxconn — but local residents will be paying for it.

According to a new report, Wisconsin residents will be coughing up an extra $1 billion on top of the existing $3 billion package of subsidies to attract Foxconn to the area. This “sweetener” will come out of public funds, and will leave the state “on the hook” for 40 percent of the public bonds which finance local expenses should the project flop.

Future-proof your iPad keyboard case with ZAGG Nomad Book

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ZAGG Nomad Book
The ZAGG Nomad Book is a keyboard case that fits a range of tablets, including the 10.5- and 9.7-inch iPads.
Photo: ZAGG

The ZAGG Nomad Book is a keyboard case designed to fit around range of tablets 10.5 inches or smaller. That means it can be used with every iPad released for the past several years except the very largest.

ZAGG also just introduced the Messenger Folio. This has many of the benefits of the Nomad Book but was created specifically for the iPad Pro 10.5.

Huge Fortnite update adds Playground, Final Fight, dual pistols

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Dual pistols are live in Battle Royale.
Dual pistols are live in Battle Royale.
Photo: Epic Games

Clear your schedule for the evening because this week’s Fortnite update is a big one!

Epic has given us two new game modes to enjoy — including the long-awaited Playground mode — plus Battle Royale’s first dual pistols. It has also made a whole host of big improvements and tweaks to gameplay and performance.

Pokémon Quest takes you on a free, cube-shaped adventure

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Pokémon Quest iOS
Pokémon Quest is available now on Android and iOS.
Photo: The Pokémon Company

Polish off those Poké Balls and prepare yourself for battle because Pokémon Quest is finally available on Android and iOS.

The new free-to-play game from The Pokémon Company takes us on an all-new adventure across Tumblecube Island with a fresh spin on filling up your Pokédex.

Wi-Fi is about to get way more secure

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smart-gadgets-are-getting-their-own-wi-fi-standard-in-2018-2-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201409150272362_95f26266a2_b-jpg
After the changes being implemented in WPA3, you might feel less nervous about public Wi-Fi.

Part of the reason public Wi-Fi is so risky to use is that the security built into this short-range wireless networking standard hasn’t had a significant upgrade since 2004. But that’s about to change.

The Wi-Fi Alliance introduced Wi-Fi CERTIFIED WPA3, the next generation of Wi-Fi security. This adds new features to simplify Wi-Fi security and enable more robust authentication. The enterprise version offers increased cryptographic strength.

Popular YouTuber helps Apple develop in-car VR entertainment

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Mark Rober
Apple has some fascinating (if dangerous) research projects underway.
Photo: Mark Rober

Apple has recruited popular science YouTuber Mark Rober to work as part of its top secret special projects group, developing a VR on-board entertainment system for self-driving cars.

Rober has been working with Apple for the past several years, although he has kept news of Apple’s identity secret. In a Reddit AmA, he described it as a “large tech company in the Bay Area.” His name was revealed as part of several patent applications Apple has recently filed.

What’s new in iOS 12 beta 2?

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There are lots of welcome tweaks in iOS 12 beta 2.
There are lots of welcome tweaks in iOS 12 beta 2.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Two weeks after the initial — and surprisingly solid — beta of iOS 12, comes the second update. iOS 12 beta 2 has tweaked the operating system in several places, mostly in Screen Time, which was quite sparse in the first round. Let’s take a look at what’s changed.

This tiny cable can charge both iPhones and Android devices

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Incharge cable
One cable to rule them all.
Photo: InCharge

Keeping enough cables around to keep your iPhone and Android-toting friends charged up can be a big tangled pain, but there’s now one cable to rule them all.

inCharge debuted its new tiny charging cable today. Not only does it pack a Lightning connector that also works with Micro-USB ports, but you can also clip on a USB-C port too, making it the most versatile charging cord we’ve ever seen.

Apple’s Tim Cook has no time for short-term investors

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Tim Cook is going to BoxWorks.
CEO Tim Cook says short-term investors aren't needed at Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple stock price has dropped steadily throughout June. That likely bothers short-term investors, but not Tim Cook. Apple’s CEO thinks long-term, and says planning no farther than the next quarterly earnings report is a recipe for disaster.

“If you’re making a decision based on the short term investors, you’re going to be guaranteed to be making terrible decisions,” Cook said yesterday.

How to install iOS 12 public beta on your iPhone or iPad

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The iOS 12 public beta could render your iPhone almost useless.
The iOS 12 public beta could render your iPhone almost useless.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The iOS 12 public beta is available to download and install on any of your compatible devices. The public beta is essentially the same as the developer beta, only each build is released around a week after the developer version. So far, the develoer beta has been surprisingly stable, but its definitely not ready for regular day-to-day use (more on that in a moment). But if you’re feeling brave, or if you have a spare device you’d like to use to see what all the fuss is about, then installing the beta is easy.

Instagram adds group video chat and redesigned explore tab

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Instagram comment threads
Instagram is becoming a full blown communication platform.
Photo: Instagram

Communicating with your friends on Instagram just got a lot more fun with a new update today that brings group video chat to the photo-sharing social network.

Instagram previewed the new video chat feature last month at Facebook’s developer conference, but now all users can take advantage of the new feature that lets you connect with friends whether they’re on iOS or Android.

Top Apple analyst drops a ton of details on Apple’s 2018 product pipeline

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iphone x
The iPhone X Plus is set to launch in September.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The best Apple analyst in the game just dropped a huge report on all the new products coming out soon and there’s a lot for Apple fans to be excited about.

If you’ve been desperately waiting for Apple to come out with a new MacBook Air the wait might be over real soon. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says a cheaper MacBook Air is set to launch later this year, and he’s got some info on the 2019 iPhone too.

macOS Mojave public beta finally here

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Mojave
After being announced at WWCD 2018 earlier this month, the macOS Mojave public beta was just made introduced.
Photo: Apple

Those in the general public eager to try out Apple’s next Mac operating system can now do so. The first macOS Mojave public beta was just released.

This appears to be the same version introduced last week as the second developer beta.

How to add your own iOS 12 Siri Shortcuts right now

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Siri
Siri Shortcuts could become super powerful.
Photo: Apple

Siri Shortcuts are the iOS way to automate actions you do over and over. The WWDC 2018 keynote gave an examples of chaining together a bunch of these actions into one shortcut — order your favorite “coffee,” and give you directions to work, or switch on the lights at home one whole hour before you get there in order to, I don’t know, waste electricity? To trigger these little automations, you just tell Siri, using a pre-chosen keyword/name.

However, you don’t alway want to put together lots of steps. Sometimes you just want Siri to carry out a single action with a Shortcut. For instance, opening up your favorite news site in Safari, or sending a message to your spouse, or viewing your most recent photos. The good news is, you can do all of these right now, even without the fancy new Siri Shortcuts app.

Amazon tops Apple as most valuable U.S. brand

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Apple adds 5 new vice presidents to its executive lineup
Apple adds 5 new vice presidents to its executive lineup
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

When Tim Cook wants to know how Apple is doing, it’s doubtful he turns to some research group’s published rankings of brands and companies with the most value, most love or most intimacy with its customers.

So for what it’s worth to the CEO or, for that matter anyone else, Apple is the second-most valuable U.S. brand, according to a new report published today by the group Brand Finance.

Android users still flocking to iPhone at an impressive rate

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iPhone with Samsung
They’re still running!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Android owners are still ditching their handsets for an iPhone at an impressive rate.

New research reveals that up to 20 percent of iPhone buyers each quarter are switching from Google devices. The iPhone SE is one of the most popular models among former Android fans, but there’s a lot of love for larger Apple devices, too.

Apple’s free Schoolwork app is ready for the classroom

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Apple Schoowork app
Students and teachers can start using Schoolwork today.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s free Schoolwork app, which lets students and teachers collaborate on school assignments, is available now.

Schoolwork makes it easy to create assignments, take advantage of third-party apps for learning, and view student progress. It will work alongside the Classroom app to provide teachers around the world with the tools they need to “enhance the learning experience.”

Apple’s new AirPods case could charge your iPhone in a pinch

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AirPower
Will we finally get a release date for AirPower?
Photo: Apple

Apple’s upcoming AirPods case will offer more than just wireless charging for your headphones, according to a sketchy new report.

A source familiar with Apple’s plans claims the case will double as an iPhone charger that will give you a boost in battery life when you’re in a pinch. The device could be available before the end of this year.

Original content could rake in billions for Apple

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money
Original content could turn out to be a big money spinner for Apple.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

In three years’ time, Apple could bring in an extra $10 to $12 billion in annual revenue through its original video content and Apple Music, analyst Amit Daryanani of RBC Capital Markets argued in a note to clients this week.

In terms of Apple’s share price, that would add up to 75 cents to the company’s earnings per share.