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Tim Cook: Music ‘deserves’ the audio quality HomePod offers

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HomePod
Tim Cook thinks HomePod will blow away the "squeaky sound" of its rivals.
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook talked up the audio quality of Apple’s HomePod smart speaker during a recent interview, while taking a shot at the competition.

“We think one thing that was missing from this market was a quality audio experience, a very immersive audio experience,” Cook said. “Music deserves that kind of quality as opposed to some kind of squeaky sound.”

E.U. fines Qualcomm for paying Apple billions to shut out rivals

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What’s it like to have your startup bought by Apple? Stressful
Qualcomm allegedly paid Apple billions to keep its business.
Photo illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The European Commission has fined Qualcomm 997 million euros ($1.2 billion) for abusing its market dominance in LTE baseband chipsets, supposedly paying Apple billions of dollars in order to secure their business and stop Apple buying chips from rivals.

Such practice is illegal under EU antitrust laws.

Quick Tip: Stop Mac Spaces rearranging themselves

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find-the-lady
Dealing with Spaces' default behaviour feels like trying to battle a street magician.
Photo: Rich Anderson/Flickr CC

If you use Spaces on your Mac, then there may be one “feature” that annoys the hell out of you. Do you keep nicely-arranged workspaces for specific tasks? Do you like to always have your text editor in the middle Space, and your slacking off apps (Twitter, Slack) out in the very last space of all?

That’s neat, but macOS can drive you crazy by forever rearranging your Spaces, so that your Twitter and Tumblrs end up where your work Space should be. Fortunately, it’s a one-click fix.

Why Apple’s HomePod is poised to bomb

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Will Apple's HomePod smart speaker be DOA?

Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

HomePod, the first new Apple product of 2018, is about to arrive. And as a huge Apple fanboy, I couldn’t care less.

Apple’s been hyping its smart speaker ever since unveiling the device last June at the Worldwide Developers Conference. And yet HomePod has failed to really excite fans (except through leaks that gave us early details about the iPhone X). Apple bills HomePod as a powerful speaker that packs Siri to take your listening experience to an all-new level. But with its Feb. 9 release just weeks away, HomePod is looking more like Apple’s next big bomb.

Mac FoneLab is your first aid kit for iPhone

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The Mac FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery app offers a powerful and intuitive alternative to iTunes for recovery of lost iOS data.
This Mac app offers a powerful and intuitive alternative to iTunes for recovery of lost iOS data.
Image: Aiseesoft

This post is presented by Aiseesoft, maker of Mac FoneLab iPhone Data Recovery.

New year, new phone — and the same old risks of damage or data loss. Whether you’ve shelled out more than a thousand bucks for a new iPhone X or still use one from five years ago, these devices are essential to day-to-day life. So just like keeping a first aid kit around, it pays to have the tools to recover your iPhone data if and when something goes wrong.

Emergency Bypass lets selected contacts punch through Do Not Disturb

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sofa
Now you can finally relax and take that siesta, without missing texts from your loved ones.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The iPhone’s Do Not Disturb feature really is great. It silences your phone on a daily schedule, so you never need to worry about being woken up by a Facebook alert, or some other useless beep. But maybe you want to be disturbed by certain people. Maybe your teenage kids are out late, or your better half is away on a trip. Is there a way to let their calls and texts punch through the Do Not Disturb shield? Well, yes, there is! It’s called Emergency Bypass, and here’s how to enable it.

iOS 11.2.5 is out along with tvOS, watchOS and macOS updates

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iPhone plus model next to iPhone X
A new update is out for iPhone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple pushed out a big batch of software updates this morning for iOS, tvOS, watchOS and macOS, bringing a host of bug fixes and performance improvements to all of its major platforms.

iOS 11.2.5 is the biggest of today’s software updates. The update for iPhones and iPads adds a couple new features, including support for Apple’s HomePod smart speaker, which opens for preorders this Friday.

2018’s entry-level iPhone might lack key features

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iPhone X
Ready to ditch your iPhone X already? There's still time to get a great price!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple will cut key features from its upcoming 6.1-inch iPhone to reach a more affordable price tag, according to one reliable analyst.

The device, which is expected to look a lot like iPhone X, could cost as little as $700. But buyers will lose luxuries like a stainless steal frame, dual rear-facing cameras, and even 3D Touch.

DJI unveils impossibly tiny new Mavic Air drone

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Mavic Air
So tiny, yet so powerful.
Photo: DJI

The most popular consumer drone on the market just got a huge upgrade that gives it even more mass appeal for budding droners and video creators.

DJI unveiled its new folding drone, the Mavic Air, today. A blend of the company’s two most popular drones, the Mavic Pro and the Spark, it also packs new features you won’t find on DJI’s other drones.

Take a closer look:

Apple could launch a more affordable 13-inch MacBook this year

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Get a MacBook Air for $200 off
It’s about time we saw that new MacBook Air.
Photo: Apple

Apple is said to be preparing a new 13-inch MacBook for 2018 that will likely replace the MacBook Air as its most affordable notebook.

Suppliers are already manufacturing displays for the machine, which will reportedly make its debut in the second half of the year, according to industry sources.

Apple spent a fortune lobbying Trump administration in 2017

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President Trump: Apple encryption could protect ‘criminal minds’
Apple took exception to Donald Trump throughout last year. And beyond.
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Apple ramped up its lobbying spend in 2017, shelling out $7 million to battle many of the regulations and proposed new laws issued by the Trump administration.

Under Tim Cook, amount spent by Apple on lobbying efforts has more than doubled. However, while last year’s figure was a personal record for the company, it is less than many other big tech giants spent. During the same period, Google spent $18 million on lobbying efforts, while Amazon spent $12.8 million, and Facebook spent $11.5 million.

Awesome Apple Watch tricks to get the most out of your wearable

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Apple Watch Series 3
Make the most of your Apple Watch with these handy tips.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The Apple Watch truly became a useful device with the release of the Series 3. LTE connectivity, more accurate heart rate monitoring, and faster hardware make the Apple Watch a joy to use.

With all the features and functions Apple advertises, there are still plenty of hidden tips and tricks for users to discover. Check out seven of my favorites in our latest video:

Grid Autosport racing game for iOS just got even better

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GRID
This was one of my favorite games of 2017.
Photo: GRID Autosport

Grid Autosport, the iOS “console-quality” AAA racing game, just got even better, courtesy of an update.

It adds additional control options, including better car handling for people playing the game with MFi controllers. It also lets you switch off haptic feedback, as well as fixing bugs and making a couple of additional tweaks.

Apple supply chain spills beans on 2018 iPhone upgrades

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iphone x
iPhone X Plus could be one of three new handsets launching this year.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Sources in Apple’s supply chain have spilled the beans on the company’s iPhone upgrade plans for 2018.

Corroborating claims from one reliable analyst, a new report reveals we will see three new iPhone models this year — each with a different display.

Apple’s old sapphire nightmare continues with new lawsuit

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Apple is gobbling up sapphire supplies at an alarming rate of knots. Photo:
Apple is facing a lawsuit from one of the companies in its sapphire supply chain.
Photo: GT Advanced Technologies

Despite seemingly dropping plans for a sapphire display for the iPhone, Apple continues to be haunted by its brief venture into manufacturing using the material.

In addition to Apple’s sapphire supplier GT Advanced Technologies going bankrupt several years back, this week Apple was handed a lawsuit by manufacturer Hebei Hengbo Fine Ceramic Material. The company claims to have fallen out with Apple over terms for a contract involving high purity alumina melt stock, a material used as part of the sapphire process.

Tim Cook takes first trip to Canada as Apple CEO

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Tim Cook
Tim Cook made a surprise visit to a Toronto Apple Store.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook sure racks up the air miles! This week, Apple’s CEO visited Canada, where he made a surprise appearance at a downtown Toronto Apple Store, and took in a Maple Leafs game for good measure.

Incredibly, this is Cook’s first ever visit to Canada since assuming the role of Apple CEO back in August 2011.

Check out the ‘Apple Gray’ bikes at the new spaceship campus

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Apple leases new offices near to Apple Park
Walking around Apple Park will take you a while.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

Getting around the 175 acres of Apple Park has been made a little bit easier for employees thanks to a fleet of new bicycles on the new Apple campus. And in true Apple fashion, the design of the bikes is very minimalist.

Video of the all-chrome bicycles surfaced online this week after someone visited Apple’s campus. Over 1,000 of the shiny bikes can be found on campus with 2,000 parking spots.

Here’s what the bikes look like.

Add a layer of luxury and protection to your iPhone

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Rmour Silver Corners, a new line of
This new line of "iPhone jewelry" adds an eye-catching layer of bling and protection.
Photo: Creatio Design

This post is presented by Creatio Design, maker of Rmour Silver Corners.

An iPhone is a powerful tool, but it’s also a luxury item. When you spend $1,000 on an iPhone X, it’s not just for the powerful camera and fast processor. You’re investing in something that looks and feels fantastic.

Unfortunately, protecting that investment with a case typically obscures the iPhone X’s intrinsic beauty. The opposite occurs with Rmour Silver Corners for iPhone X, a new line of protective “iPhone jewelry” inspired by medieval suits of armor.

Apple Music finally gives artists the data they crave

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Apple Music for Artists
Apple Music for Artists launches in beta today.
Photo: Apple

Apple is offering musicians an analytics dashboard through Apple Music for Artists. The new tool provides insight into the listening habits of fans, highlighting the number of track plays, song purchases, and more dating back to when Apple Music launched in June 2015.

Disney hires Apple vet to build streaming service

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Photo: Tom Bricker
Disney is planning to take on Netflix.
Photo: Photo: Tom Bricker

Disney is bringing in an Apple veteran to help build its streaming service that will ultimately take on Netflix and maybe even Apple.

Kevin Swint, a former Apple employee that was in charge of the company’s worldwide iTunes movie business, was recently hired by Disney to help the company embrace streaming.