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Carpool Karaoke reviews highlight what’s wrong with Apple’s original shows

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carpool karaoke ad
Carpool Karaoke hasn't been the smash hit Apple may have hoped for.
Photo: Apple Music

Apple is 0-2 when it comes to critical acclaim for its original series, after early reviews for its Carpool Karaoke spinoff show have been largely negative. The show debuted this week for Apple Music subscribers.

While it’s still early days for Apple’s original content, between this and Planet of the Apps, things aren’t exactly looking good!

Apple code reveals iPhone 8’s virtual Home button secrets

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iPhone 8 concept
Don't expect this kind of functionality.
Photo: iDropNews

Bidding goodbye to the iPhone’s physical Home button won’t be easy, but there are some advantages to going virtual for iPhone 8.

Not only will it allow for a larger edge-to-edge display, but it also means you’ll be able customize the virtual button. Apple code suggests we’ll have the option to resize it and hide it away if we don’t want it to be displayed on screen at all times.

How to use iOS 11’s new camera-leveling feature

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Level up
Level up: I used the iPad’s camera level to shoot this picture of the iPhone compass level, and it’s still not level.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Did you ever try to take a photo of something flat on the ground, and spend ages trying to line it up right so that it is square in the frame? No, well, humor me here, because Apple just granted everyone’s biggest iOS camera wish: The camera app now has a level that kicks in when you hold the iPhone horizontally, and which will tell you when you’re holding the iPhone, uh, level.

How to use the new keyboard shortcuts in iOS 11’s Files app

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Files app keyboard shortcuts
Files app keyboard shortcuts
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The Files app is iOS 11’s Finder. You can use it to browse the files in your iCloud Drive, along with files and folders in your Dropbox, and inside other apps that open up their file systems to iOS. Apple has also added some keyboard shortcuts to the Files app. This lets you carry out many common tasks without touching the screen when you have a hardware keyboard attached.

Most of the new keyboard shortcuts are great, and show how serious Apple is about the new user-accessible iOS file system. But some serious limitations mean you’ll still need to reach up and tap the screen to do the most basic things.

PSX fave RayCrisis blasts its way into the App Store

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RayCrisis
A fun arcade blaster with a tech theme.
Photo: Taito

Nineteen years after it arrived on the first-generation PlayStation console, RayCrisis, a.k.a. the final installment in Taito’s 1990s trilogy of awesome scrolling shooters, has landed on iOS.

The first two installments of the series, RayForce and RayStorm actually arrived in the App Store waaaaay back in 2012, but RayCrisis has been mysteriously missing in action. Now, finally, it’s possible to get the whole threesome on your iOS device!

Component sales soar as iPhone 8 enters mass-production

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iPhone 6s teardown
Pegatron will team up with an Indonesian manufacturer..
Photo: iFixit

Component suppliers enjoyed stronger sales throughout July as Apple ramps up production of its next-generation iPhones.

Supply chain sources say all three models that will be unveiled in September have now entered mass-production, but shortages are still expected for iPhone 8.

Apple’s R&D spending hints at something spectacular

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R&D
One of Apple's many R&D centers. (This one's in Japan!)
Photo: Apple

This year marks ten years since the launch of the original iPhone and, appropriately enough, Apple has ramped up its R&D spending as a percentage of its total revenue to the level it was during the development of its debut handset.

In other words, something big is coming!

iPhone 8 could silence notifications when you’re looking at it

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iphone
Sounds won't, well, sound when you're paying attention.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 8 might use its 3D facial recognition sensor to silence notifications when you’re looking at the device.

Developer Guilherme Rambo discovered the possible UI element buried inside code accidentally released as part of Apple’s HomePod firmware. Coders digging into the software discovered numerous other details about upcoming Apple devices.

iPhone 8 may only come in 3 color options

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face tracking
Facial scanning may be the iPhone's next big feature.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult fo Mac

Despite rumors of production holdups, the next-generation iPhone won’t face a delayed launch, according to the latest report out of Asia. The new iPhone 8 will allegedly come in only three color options, with manufacturing hitting full swing next month.

Still, getting your hands on one might not be so easy.

Zoom’s Livetrak mixing desk turns your iPad into a music studio

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Zoom livetrak l-12
Zoom’s wonder-box has real knobs and faders, just like a proper music studio.
Photo: Zoom

Zoom’s new Livetrak L-12 could be the only box you need to turn your iPad into a mobile music studio. In one unit, the L-12 combines a mixer, a 12-track recorder, and an interface that lets you hook up all your musical instruments and gadgets to your iPad. And that’s just the beginning.

Universal gamepads, ultimate car mounts and more [Crowdfund Roundup]

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ALL Controller
ALL Controller lets you game on anything.
Photo: Digital Depth

Crowdfund Roundup bugMany of us own more than one console, which makes finding and replacing the right controllers a real pain. But not if you have ALL Controller, the gamepad that’s compatible with almost any system — and fully customizable.

It’s just one of the awesome ideas in this week’s Crowdfund Roundup. We also have the ultimate smartphone car mount, a top that warms you up on cold winter mornings, and more!

Download the latest iOS 11 public beta now

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iPhone 7 iOS 11
A redesigned Control Center is one of many changes to look forward to in iOS 11.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Just one day after developers received the fifth beta build of iOS 11, Apple has released the same beta update to public testers, bringing a number of UI changes and bug fixes with it.

iOS 11 public beta 4 and macOS High Sierra public beta 4 are now available to download for all members of Apple’s public beta software testing program. You can also download the new software directly to your Mac, iPhone or iPad if you have the previous public beta installed.

This iPhone 7 Plus case is tough, slender and totally affordable

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Jaagd iPhone 7 Plus case
This minimalist iPhone 7 Plus case offers great protection for just $9.
Photo: Jaagd

This post is presented by Jaagd.

If you’re dropping coin for a new iPhone 7 Plus, you’ll want protection for when you drop the phone. The ideal iPhone case is slim, strong and affordable. That makes the straightforward design of Jaagd iPhone cases a refreshing return to simplicity. We want cases that give our phones a tougher skin, not a whole new look and feel.

How to shoot amazing black-and-white photos on your iPhone

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IPhone tiger black and white

Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Often, our eye is drawn to something because of its color. But sometimes we’re attracted by a pattern, or perhaps color even detracts from an image (like a row of cars in front of a beatific white building). At those times, we should shoot black-and-white images, which emphasize pattern, texture and shape.

The iPhone — with its giant screen, its great camera and its huge library of photo apps — is fantastic for shooting B&W pictures. Let’s take a look at how to shoot amazing black-and-white photos with your iPhone.

Spark email for Mac gets new Smart Search features

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Spark is now available on Mac.
Spark's latest update for Mac makes searching for emails a lot easier.
Photo: Readdle

An update to Spark, a powerful Mac email app from Readdle, brings a serious boost to the software’s Smart Search functionality. The Spark 1.3 update also comes with a lot of under-the-hood changes and performance improvements, making a great Mac email app even better.

India’s telecom regulator isn’t happy with Apple

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Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Not everyone is happy about Apple in India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple might be desperate to make inroads into India, but not everyone in the country is quite as supportive as Apple might like.

In particular, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has accused Apple of carrying out “data colonization” in the country, while also being “anti-consumer” in its behavior. The strong language suggests an attempt to paint Apple as the bad guy among the general public.

iPhone 8 helps boost demand for OLED displays

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iPhone 8 concept
The OLED revolution has begun.
Photo: Concept

Demand for OLED smartphone displays will continue to rise “at a rapid pace” thanks to the upcoming launch of the iPhone 8 and other flagship devices.

It’s thought Apple’s new handset will kickstart an OLED display revolution as rival manufacturers fight to keep up and compete with the iPhone.