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Draft antitrust bills could take aim at tech giants like Apple

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Tim Cook congressional antitrust hearing: Should Tim Cook be worried about Congress breaking up Apple?
Tim Cook testified as part of an antitrust investigation.
Photo: C-SPAN

Efforts to regulate Big Tech continue with Democrats currently circulating drafts of antitrust bills that could affect the likes of Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google.

While there is every possibility that these draft bills morph over time, the biggest way they would currently affect Apple is by curtailing its ability to operate an app marketplace. This feeds into growing criticism about Apple’s control of the App Store, which has been the subject of investigation around the world.

Wallet app automatically archives expired tickets and passes in iOS 15

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Wallet app in iOS 15
Keeping your Wallet clean and tidy.
Photo: Apple

iPhone’s Wallet app keeps itself tidy by automatically archiving expired event tickets and boarding passes in iOS 15.

They won’t be removed from the app altogether, so you’ll still be able to access them. But expired items will be bundled into a separate list so that you don’t have to trawl through them to find a pass you need.

Apple Digital Legacy will let a loved one access your data when you die

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Apple Digital Legacy
Keeping your data alive long after you.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Apple is finally introducing a Digital Legacy feature that will allow a friend or family member to access your data after you die.

Users will be able to assign an administrator who gets access to things like photos, contacts and other things uploaded to iCloud. However, some data, such as saved credit cards and passwords, will be off limits.

You may be waiting a few more months for Apple’s new MacBook Pro

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Antonio takes rumors and makes them into renders. Not pie-in-sky dreams
It's on its way. But you'll have to wait for a bit longer.
Concept: Antonio De Rosa

Apple’s forthcoming MacBook Pros were erroneously expected by some to show up at this year’s WWDC. But according to a report from Digitimes, the next-gen Apple notebooks will not launch until the third quarter of 2021. This could be due to a lower-than-expected production yield for the mini LED screens for the computer.

The new 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models are expected to be the biggest MacBook Pro redesign in quite a while. They are likely to sport a redesigned chassis, offer a returning built-in SD card reader and HDMI port and a restored MagSafe charger. They will also boast the next generation of Apple Silicon processor, and will supposedly ditch the controversial Touch Bar as well. The question is when exactly fans will be able to get their hands on them!

macOS Monterey lets you use a second Mac as an external display

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macOS Monterey turns a second Mac into an external display
And you can USB for reduced latency.
Photo: Apple

macOS Monterey gives newer Apple computers the ability to send content to a second Mac over AirPlay. You can also use the feature for screen mirroring, turning a spare machine into an external display.

What’s more, unlike on your TV, AirPlay in Monterey lets you connect two macOS devices with a USB cable, greatly reducing latency and removing the requirement for a wireless network.

iPadOS 15 Files app gets progress bar, NTFS support, more

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iPadOS 15 Files app gets progress bar, NTFS support, more
When moving big files around on an iPad, the iPadOS 15 Files application finally gives you a progress bar.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Improvements in the Files application coming in iPadOS 15 make it a bit easier for iPad users to transfer large files, and select groups of files with a trackpad or mouse. In addition, partial NTFS support is included.

Become a better writer for life with this $199 ProWritingAid bundle

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writing
This software and educational bundle offers everything you need to become a better writer.
Photo: ProWritingAid

“Trust the process.” That popular mantra encourages us to keep grinding through hard times because good will eventually come of putting in the effort. Whether you’re studying a new language or learning to play the piano, your practice will eventually pay off.

Invasion trailer ponders human impact of alien invasion

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Invasion on Apple TV+: There's nothing like an alien invasion to bring out our humanity.
There's nothing like an alien invasion to bring out our humanity.
Image: Apple TV+

How will humans hold up during an alien invasion? Upcoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series Invasion will focus on the worldwide impact of such an event, and the first trailer looks pretty epic.

The Invasion trailer, released Wednesday, offers a taste of the international story the 10-episode series will tell. Explosions, nosebleeds, a massive crop circle (or impact crater), soldiers firing into the sky, a brief glimpse of some kind of massive alien something … it’s all fairly standard-issue sci-fi stuff, but the voiceover talks about humanity.

Hands on: Live Text in iOS 15 is completely amazing

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Hands on: Live Text in iOS 15 is completely amazing
Live Text is OCRiffic! Grab the text off anything then paste it into a note, email, etc.
Screenshot: Apple

Live Text is perhaps the coolest feature in iOS 15, macOS Monterey and iPadOS 15. It pulls the words out of images and lets you paste them into notes, emails, etc.

I’ve tested this on both iPhone and iPad. Here’s why I find it so amazing.

Nice rig. Here are 28 ways to make it better. [Setups]

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If you want suggestions for how to improve a computer setup, just ask.
If you want suggestions for how to improve a computer setup, just ask.
Photo: No-Top-5065@Reddit

To be fair, when Redditor No-Top-5065 posted pics of their MacBook Air-based computer setup, they asked for suggestions on how to improve it.

“Any recommendation on how can I improve my desk setup? Not into gaming, work and study most of the time,” said the post’s headline.

European Commission worries Apple could be future smart home ‘gatekeeper’

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Siri on HomePod mini
Siri is taking over our lives.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Smart home technology isn’t a massive focus of Apple’s. But the European Commission is nonetheless concerned that Apple could be one of the companies potentially able to engage in anticompetitive behavior in this area due to its outsized influence on the tech industry.

In preliminary investigation results published Wednesday, the EC raises concerns about the potential of “gatekeepers emerging” in this sector. The inquiry into Internet of Things (IoT) devices was launched in July 2020. It’s based on feedback from more than 200 different companies. Along with Apple, Amazon and Google are both mentioned as big players.

Keep Apple Pencil looking sharp and ready to go with this soft sleeve

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Laut Pencil Case for Apple Pencil
Available now for just $14.99.
Photo: Laut

Keep your Apple Pencil free from scuffs and scrapes and ensure it’s always easy to find with the stylish and affordable Pencil Case from Laut.

It’s soft, protective, and can be easily attached to your iPad’s case (or something else) so that you never lose it. Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store for under $15.

US Senate passes bill that boosts American chip manufacturing

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chips
Bolstering chip manufacturing in the United States.
Photo: Intel

The U.S. Senate passed a bill Tuesday that could see the United States invest $52 billion in growing its own chip manufacturing technologies. The $52 billion is part of a broader bipartisan bill. In total, it aims to invest close to $250 billion in U.S. manufacturing and technology.

The bill passed Tuesday with a 68-32 vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described it as likely to “go down as one of the most important things this chamber has done in a very long time.”

It is an attempt to wrestle back control of some of the world’s tech manufacturing from China.

Win big with this ultimate Apple giveaway worth more than $5,000

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Apple gear
Enter to win a dream setup that will thrill any Apple fan.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want another bite out of Apple? Of course you do. While Apple alternatives come in at better price points, there’s a reason why the brand has so many steadfast loyalists. There’s simply nothing quite like Apple products.

That’s why this Apple bundle giveaway is as awesome as it claims to be. For a limited time, you can purchase entries to win an iMac, iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, AirPods Pro and a bevy of Apple subscriptions, all while donating to a benevolent charity. With products valued at a grand total of $5,743, this is a bundle giveaway that you definitely don’t want to miss.

Honor of Kings pulls in a royal ransom of revenue in App Store in May

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Millions play the Chinese games “Kings of Glory” and “Arena of Valor.”
Big in China.
Photo: Tencent Games

Tencent’s Honor of Kings raked in royalty levels of cash in the App Store, app analytics platform Sensor Tower reports. The report doesn’t break down exact iOS earnings, but across both the iOS App Store and Android’s Google Play store, the popular gaming title pulled in $264.5 million in player spending — in the month of May alone.

That’s a whole lot of cash, not least for a multiplayer online battle game that’s been around on mobile since 2015. It’s a testament to its longevity, and the fact that App Store success doesn’t rely on the United States these days.

macOS Monterey gets new ‘erase all contents’ option like iPhone and iPad

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macOS Monterey adds new 'erase all contents' option
A quicker, easier way to wipe your Mac.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s upcoming macOS Monterey update will make it easier for users to wipe all data from a Mac. A new “erase all contents and settings” option allows a system to be wiped without removing macOS.

Apple says the process — similar to that available on iPhone and iPad — is instant and secure, destroying all encryption keys.

iOS 15 makes it even easier for Android users to switch to iPhone

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iOS 15 makes it easier for Android users to switch
You can now transfer even more data.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Android users will enjoy a more seamless experience when switching to iPhone this fall with the improved “Move to iOS” feature in iOS 15.

After several years of no significant changes, the switching tool is finally getting the ability to copy over photo albums, files, folders, and even more from Android devices.

tvOS 15 lets you sign into apps using Face ID or Touch ID on iPhone

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tvOS 15 lets you sign in with iPhone and iPad
No need to struggle with the Siri Remote.
Image: Apple

Signing into Apple TV apps will soon be easier than ever, thanks to the ability to use Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad with tvOS 15.

The new “Sign in with Apple Device” feature will negate the need to enter usernames and passwords with Apple TV’s Siri Remote, significantly speeding up the sign in process. But there is a small catch.

New ‘World Timer’ face for Apple Watch spilled in WWDC session

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World Timer face for Apple Watch
Will World Timer come with watchOS 8 this fall?
Image: Apple

A new “World Timer” face for Apple Watch has been spilled ahead of its release in a WWDC 2021 developer session.

The face didn’t get a mention during Apple’s watchOS 8 announcement on Monday, and isn’t yet available inside the first developer beta. Fans will be hoping it does appear before watchOS 8 makes its public debut.