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WeChat users in China can soon resume tipping

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Apple could be a $2 trillion company by end of 2021
Apple came to an agreement with tech giant Tencent to reintroduce the feature.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Nearly 1 billion users of Chinese messaging app WeChat will soon be able to resume sending tips to content creators with their iPhones.

Tipping a fellow user is a big part of the popular social media platform in China. However, last year a dispute over whether Apple should get a healthy cut of those tips basically blocked WeChat tipping.

Nintendo Switch games could be coming to macOS

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The Nintendo Switch's flexible Joy-Con controllers work just fine with a Mac (but not an iPhone).
Nintendo’s newest console was by far the hottest product.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Nintendo Switch games could soon be popping up on macOS.

The team behind a popular Nintendo 3DS emulator for Mac is hard at work on a new Switch emulator called Yuzu. It will eventually allow fans to enjoy franchises like Super Mario and Zelda on platforms that aren’t officially supported by Nintendo.

Speedometer 2.0 lets you put your browser speed through its paces

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Speedometer
A benchmark for modern web app responsiveness.
Photo: Apple

Apple has released Speedometer 2.0, a benchmark that lets you test your browser’s web app responsiveness. The tool is part of Apple’s contribution to WebKit, a collaboration between Apple, Adobe Systems, Google, KDE, and others.

Speedometer 2.0 works by simulating “user interactions.” Essentially, it runs 480 tasks and then measures how long it takes your browser’s speed in carrying these out, before providing you with a report.

Chinese consumer group demands action concerning iPhone slowdowns

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iPhone 8 Plus image
Another group is demanding answers from Apple.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A Chinese consumer group is joining the number of organizations and individuals asking Apple for more information about its purposeful slowing down of older iPhones as their batteries degrade.

In a letter sent to Apple this week, the Shanghai Consumer Council asks Apple for details about what it plans to do to rectify the issue. It wants a response by Friday.

What you need to know when buying a new TV

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This TV shopping guide will give you info on screen resolution and other key features.
Hint: This is not a cutting-edge TV.
Photo: AlexAntropov86/Pixabay CC

By Allison Martin

You walk into the store expecting to choose a television in record time. But while that may sound appealing, the TV-buying process is often more complex. With so many sizes and features to choose from, finding the perfect set can be overwhelming — but don’t fret.

From resolutions to refresh rates, we tell you about the key factors to consider when buying a new TV.

How to type Slack-style keyboard emojis on Mac

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rocket icon
Rocket will change the way you use emoji on your Mac.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Users of chatroom (and time-wasting tool) Slack will be familiar with typing out emoji reactions. To insert a smiley face, for example, you just type :smile:, and your text will be replaced by a smiley-face emoji when you hit enter.

If you ever find yourself missing this handy feature anywhere else on your Mac, you should take Rocket for a spin. It’s a macOS app that exists to make emojis easier.

Longtime holdout Toyota finally embraces CarPlay

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Toyota Avalon CarPlay
CarPlay will be available in the 2019 Toyota Avalon.
Photo: Toyota

Toyota has confirmed it will finally embrace CarPlay in its 2019 Avalon and other vehicles launching this year. The Japanese firm is one of the last major automakers to adopt Apple’s platform, which will be available with all standard packages.

The HyperDrive hub is a MacBook owner’s dream

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HyperDrive
If you have a MacBook, you need a HyperDrive.
Photo: HyperDrive

The HyperDrive 8-in-1 USB-C hub is a MacBook owner’s dream. With all the ports you’ll ever need on the go, plus a built-in Qi charging pad, it’s ideal for connecting all your peripherals and keeping your iPhone topped up at all times.

Apple pays tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.

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MLK
MLK Day is celebrated each January in the U.S.
Photo: Apple

As it has for years, Apple is commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day by changing the image on its homepage and displaying a quote from the legendary civil rights leader.

“The time is always right to do what is right,” reads the quote from King, which accompanies a photo of the slain minister who was born on this date in 1929. On Twitter, Tim Cook also paid homage to King, who the Apple CEO often refers to as one of his personal heroes.

The cool paraphernalia found in an Apple veteran’s desk drawer

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Chris Espinosa
One of the many items Chris Espinosa uncovered in his packing.
Photo: Chris Espinosa

Clearing out your desk can be a great way of discovering paraphernalia you’d long since forgotten you owned. Things are no different if you’re a long-time Apple employee, packing up your office at 1 Infinite Loop to move to the amazing new Apple Park campus.

Here are a few of the pieces of Apple memorabilia that Chris Espinosa — Apple’s longest-serving employee, who joined the company  as a 14-year-old kid when it was still based in Jobs’ garage — found when he was clearing his desk recently. Check them out below.

Master the dark arts of Microsoft Excel [Deals]

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Learn the ins and outs of Microsoft Excel with this comprehensive, hands-on lesson bundle.
Learn the ins and outs of Microsoft Excel with this comprehensive, hands-on lesson bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you work in an office, you probably work with Microsoft Office Suite. And of all the apps, Excel is perhaps the most useful for any professional to master. But it’s a complicated application, and to become a master you will need guidance.

Apple named in class-action lawsuit alongside AMD and Intel

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A10 processor
Apple's A-series chips are also susceptible to Meltdown and Spectre bugs.
Photo: Apple

Apple has been named in a class-action lawsuit alongside AMD and Intel. The case filed in Israel, one of many expected to hit major chip manufacturers, comes after the discovery of the Meltdown and Spectre bugs that leave billions of users at risk.

Apple shows off ARKit and note-taking in new iPad Pro ads

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Latest ad
That's the GoodNotes 4 app, in case you were wondering!
Photo: Apple

Apple debuted two ads over the weekend, both showing off features of the iPad Pro, running iOS 11.

The first ad, “Take Notes,” depicts how the Apple Pencil can let people write down handwritten notes, complete with doodles. The second, “Augmented Reality,” shows off Apple’s ARKit technology by demonstrating the way that apps like Ikea Place can drop virtual items of furniture into the real world.

Check them out below.

MacBook won’t get a major upgrade in 2018

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13 inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar
Apple's reportedly not planning a major MacBook refresh this year.
Photo: Apple

Apple has no plans for a major upgrade to its MacBook line this year, a report claims. The last time Apple gave a major upgrade to the MacBook was in 2016, when Apple introduced the Touch Bar.

Provided this is accurate, it may disappoint customers who view the introduction of the iMac Pro as proof that Apple is placing renewed emphasis on its Mac product line.

Drone flyover video shows Apple Park open for business

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Apple leases new offices near to Apple Park
Apple's new campus is looking spectacular.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

More than six years after Steve Jobs pitched it to the Cupertino City Council, and more than four after it was given the official go-ahead, Apple Park is officially open.

In a spectacular new drone video shot by drone videographer Duncan Sinfield, the enormous Apple Park campus is shown looking sleek, polished, and ready for business. While landscaping still needs a few finishing touches, much of the large construction equipment has now been removed from the campus as it is no longer needed. Check out Duncan’s amazing video below.

OurPact, Kraino, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend, everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

An app to help parents keep track of what their kids are doing on their iPhones is just one of our picks for “Awesome Apps of the Week.”

In addition, we’ve got a pair of fun retro-style platformers, and an impressive display of artificial intelligence to help keep track of the food you’re eating. Check out our selections below.

Learn how to get in on the freelancing game [Deals]

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Being your own boss is great, but it takes a plan and the right skills. Get both with this bundle of courses.
Being your own boss is great, but it takes a plan and the right skills. Get both with this bundle of courses.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The job market is changing fast. So while all sorts of gigs are changing or vanishing, freelancing has become a more and more practical way to get work. But when charting your own career course, it can be hard to know where to start.

Cult of Mac Magazine: Your iPhone tracks your every move, and more!

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cover
For some folks, the significant locations data could be a fun way to see what they were up to in the past. For others, it could even prove useful, helping to remember client visits or track down that amazing restaurant you visited a few times while on vacation.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Your iPhone knows where you are, and it remembers where you have been. It keeps a record of your frequent hangouts — aka “significant locations” — and uses this data to make location-based suggestions using Siri and to power other features. Don’t panic, though. We’ll show you how to access your recent locations data, remove it, and switch it off altogether.

In this week’s issue, you’ll find that story and more. Learn how iPhone X’s TrueDepth camera could soon make capturing Hollywood-quality motion capture as easy as snapping a selfie. Discover how to quickly zoom text on iPhone and iPad. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Man used Mac malware to make child porn, feds say

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FaceTime
Your FaceTime camera could be spying on you.
Photo: Travis Isaacs/Flickr

Mac malware was the secret key behind an Ohio man’s 13-year spree of creating child pornography, according to inditement filed by the US Department of Justice.

By using the Mac malware known as Fruitfly, 28-year-old Phillip Durachinsky allegedly produced child pornography after tapping into his victim’s webcams and other personal information completely without them knowing.

Apple shows iPhone X camera in a new light

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The iPhone X camera's Portrait Lighting will blow you away.
The iPhone X camera will blow you away.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone X’s advanced camera gets some prime time in the spotlight in Apple’s latest ad.

Apple dropped the fun new spot, which highlights the next-gen photographic features of the $1,000 iPhone, this afternoon. While Portrait Mode loomed large in 2017’s marketing, Apple apparently wants to make Portrait Lighting the next big thing this year.

iRig Keys IO is all you need to make music on iOS and Mac

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irig keys on a beach
Totally practical.
Photo: IK Multimedia

IK Multimedia’s new iRig Keys is the single perfect accessory for an iOS musician. It combines everything you need into one box, but not in a Homer’s Car kind of way. It’s more like the iPhone itself, which managed to combine a computer with a camera with a mini touch-sensitive movie screen into something better than a mere collection of parts.

Stealthy OSX/MaMi malware discovered targeting Macs

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macOS High Sierra
Your antivirus won't save you from OSX/MaMi.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The first nasty bit of undetectable malware of 2018 has been unearthed after it was found targeting Macs this week.

Security researchers revealed info about the new OSX/MaMi malware which is a lot like the popular DNSChanger malware from 2012 that infected millions of machines.

How to get the best battery life from your MacBook

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MacBook battery
Looking after you MacBook battery is really easy.
Photo: FruitJuice

Did you know that leaving your MacBook plugged in all the time is a sure way to ruin its battery? That instead you should use your notebook computer on battery power for an hour or two each day? That’s the advice from battery health app FruitJuice, which will help you to keep your battery in tip-top condition.