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Crash Bandicoot is getting his first new mobile game in 10 years

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Crash Bandicoot is getting his first new mobile game in 10 years
Racing onto a mobile device near you.
Photo: King

Beloved Sony PlayStation mascot Crash Bandicoot is coming to mobile with a brand new game, according to screenshots which have shown up online.

Developed by King, Crash Bandicoot Mobile is an endless runner in which the genetically engineered bandicoot looks set to speed through Wumpa Island en route, we presume, to disrupting the plans of evil Doctor Neo Cortex.

iPhone-maker shuts down Shenzhen facilities amid coronavirus crisis

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Foxconn Wisconsin
Foxconn workers in Shenzhen will not report next week until further notice.
Photo: Foxconn

The Chinese company that assembles most of the world’s iPhones has ordered employees in one region of the country not to return to work next week to prevent further spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Foxconn sent text messages to Shenzhen-based employees that those sites will remain closed until further notice. While Foxconn’s main iPhone factory is in Zhengzhou, a portion is assembled in Shenzhen. Shenzhen is also the headquarters for Foxconn’s parent company, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

Judge slams ‘dumb’ FCC in iPhone radiation lawsuit; case moves to trial

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The FCC is currently shut down.
A California judge whacks the FCC with a ruler over its testing standards for radiofrequency radiation, but says the case will continue.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

U.S. District Judge William Alsup allowed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Apple over allegedly exposing iPhone owners to high levels of radiofrequency radiation to move forward Thursday. However, the judge also blasted the Federal Communications Commission for its “dumb” testing standards.

France fines Apple $27 million for iPhone ‘throttling’ controversy

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France fines Apple $27 million for intention iPhone 'throttling' controversy
iPhone throttling case was heavily publicized in early 2018.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has been fined 25 million euros ($27.4 million) in France after being found guilty of intentionally throttling the speed of older iPhones with previous software updates for iOS.

In 2018, Apple admitted that these updates slowed older devices. However, it has always insisted that it did this to prolong the life of aging lithium-ion batteries.

Add Adobe Creative Cloud to your professional skill set [Deals]

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pexels-photo-131187
Increase your earning potential with these top-rated courses covering Adobe Creative Cloud design skills.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you work in the digital marketplace, it pays to know how to use Adobe Creative Cloud. This suite of apps includes the industry standard apps for digital graphic design, photography publishing, video, and more. And this bundle of courses will get you up to speed so you can boost your job opportunities.

Apple boots smelters and refiners in crackdown on conflict minerals

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Apple boots smelter and refiners in crackdown on conflict minerals
Conflict minerals can find their way into everything from jewelry to smartphones.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

As part of ongoing efforts to cut down on the use of conflict minerals, Apple removed 18 smelters and refiners from its supply chain last year.

Apple removed companies unwilling to submit to third-party audits of their premises. By taking them out of its supply chain, Apple’s able to claim 100% audit participation on the part of companies it works with.

The new iOS 13.4 beta just leaked ALL SORTS of stuff … Catch the juicy details, on The CultCast

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CultCast 426
Surprise! The new iOS beta is bursting with secret products and features.
Photo: The CultCast

This week on The CultCast: The new iOS 13.4 beta just leaked new hardware, new iPhone features and MORE. We’ll share aaaaall the juicy details. Plus: How your iPhone might soon replace your car keys; Apple Maps just got a massive update; and Microsoft quietly stole Apple’s secret recipe …

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast, and use offer code CultCast at checkout for 10% off your first purchase.

Get your Apple Watch and Strava in sync again with this essential app

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Strava is ready to play nice with Apple
Strava is ready to play nice with Apple
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Before iOS 13, if you wanted to sync Apple Watch workout data with Strava, you had an excellent option: a brilliant third-party fitness app called HealthFit. Unfortunately, Apple’s strict new rules in iOS 13 broke the app’s syncing functionality, leaving Apple Watch-wearing members of the fitness social network in the cold.

Luckily, today’s HealthFit update brings the welcome return of this Strava-syncing capability. Cult of Mac has been testing a beta version of HealthFit 5.2.6 and can confirm that it works really well again. Strava sync is back and better than ever. Here’s what the new-and-improved fitness app can do for you.

A big Friends reunion will help HBO Max fight Apple TV+

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Friends
It's happening!
Photo: Warner Bros.

HBO Max is on its way to take on the likes of Apple TV+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime — and it’s going to come out fighting. A new report reveals the service is close to securing a big Friends reunion.

Yes, the return we’ve all been waiting for, but never really believed would happen, is close. It is said to be an hour-long special that will feature all six stars from the hit show.

It won’t exactly be the Friends reunion you’ve been dreaming of, however.

Apple gives developers the ability to distribute custom apps to schools

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Apple-in-school
Apple devices are now even more useful in schools.
Photo: Apple

Apple School Manager now gives developers the ability to distribute custom apps to schools for the first time.

The change will allow app-makers to better meet the individual needs of educational institutions, Apple said. It paves the way for new software that offers specific functionality for certain organizations.

All 9 episodes of Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet are live on Apple TV+

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All 9 episodes of Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet are live on Apple TV+
Apple's first comedy series is available for your viewing pleasure.
Photo: Apple

Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet, Apple’s gamer comedy series from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiastars Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, has debuted on Apple TV+.

In a break from Apple’s approach with some previous shows like The Morning Show and Servant, all nine episodes of the show are available to binge-watch now. The show, which is Apple TV+’s first true comedy series, follows the makers of a fictitious MMORPG game setting out to create their first-ever game expansion.

Latest Apple Pay promo offers free movie rental when you spend $10 with Postmates

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Latest Apple Pay promo offers free movie rental when you spent $10 with Postmates
Dinner and a movie, anyone?
Photo: Postmates/Apple

If you buy the dinner, Apple will throw in the movie. At least, that’s what the latest Apple Pay promotion is offering. It’s giving any Apple Pay customers in the US a free movie rental in the TV app if they spend $10 or more with delivery service Postmates.

Postmates offers meal delivery, alongside everyday groceries. As its website states, “Whether you need a gallon of milk or a handle of vodka, we get it.” Now thanks to the Apple Pay deal you can enjoy any of the above with the $5.99 movie rental of your choice.

Nvidia GeForce Now magically makes your Mac a beefy gaming PC [Review]

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Nvidia-GeForce-Now-MacBook-Pro
BioShock Infinite looks gorgeous on a MacBook Pro.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Nvidia GeForce Now is ready to stream the latest PC games to your Mac. It sells us a dream that sounds too good to be true, a future that macOS fans gave up wishing for a long time ago. And most importantly, it actually delivers it.

I’ve been playing games on GeForce Now for several days (I love my job!) so that I can tell you whether it’s worth your hard-earned cash. And although I’ve run into a few teething troubles that I can’t ignore, I’ve been blown away by what it can do.

Unfollow frenzy: Instagram makes it simple to weed out your feed

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Instagram lawsuit
It's time to clean up your Instagram list.
Photo: Pixabay

Pruning the list of accounts you follow on Instagram just got a lot easier with the addition of a new feature coming to the photo and video sharing social network today.

Instagram’s Twitter account revealed the new feature this morning showing how you can see which accounts you interact with the least and then manage your following list from there.

This is what it looks like:

One Switch gives you a single toggle to control everything useful on your Mac

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One Switch: One switch for your Mac's menu bar.
One Switch: One switch for your Mac's menu bar.
Image: Fireball

One Switch isn’t a new app, but it does look like one of the handiest Mac apps for anyone who follows our Cult of Mac how-tos. The app puts a drop-down list in your Mac’s menu bar, offering instant access to all kinds of great hacks and tweaks, from toggling Dark Mode to connecting AirPods.

Free Apple TV+ trial hasn’t enticed large number of subscribers: survey

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Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is spending big to attract paid subscribers.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ may be “off to a rousing start” in the eyes of CEO Tim Cook, but a new survey suggests those who have tried the streaming service don’t share his enthusiasm.

Only 28% signed up for the $4.99 monthly subscription after their free trial expired, according to the website Flixed, which helps people cut the cable by offering insights on the growing number of streaming services. Flixed also found most respondents “liked Apple TV+ less” than Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.

Coronavirus in China could exacerbate AirPods supply problems

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They AirPods Pro fit in their case like nothing ever happened.
New AirPods Pro orders aren't shipping until March.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple’s current AirPods Pro supply woes could soon get much worse, thanks to the new coronavirus spreading throughout China.

Before the coronavirus outbreak, Apple ordered suppliers to produce 45 million AirPods units to catch up with the huge demand. Then, manufacturers shut down production lines through February 10 due to the fast-spreading virus. Now a new report cautions that suppliers might not have enough components to fulfill Apple’s order when production resumes.

Unmount noisy hard drives to stop them driving you crazy

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A hard drive, fully
A hard drive, fully "unmounted."
Photo: Vincent Botta/Unsplash

If the main disk in your Mac is a spinning hard drive, you should probably upgrade to a solid state drive. Swapping in an SSD is the cheapest way to make your old computer feel like a brand-new Mac. But for backups, and for lesser-used internal storage in a Mac Pro or iMac, a hard drive still gives you the best value. You will pay far less per megabyte of storage.

The problem is that hard drives are noisy as well as slow. If you’re used to enjoying the silence of an SSD-based computer environment, then those whirrs, whines clicks and pops will drive you nuts. Which is why you should unmount your noisy hard drives. That way they’re still available to the apps that need them, but otherwise they’re sleeping.

LG confirms Dolby Atmos coming to Apple TV app, AirPlay 2 on its Smart TVs this year

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LG UM6X UHD in room
LG confirms Dolby Atmos coming to its TVs via Apple TV app and AirPlay.
Photo: LG

TV maker LG has confirmed it will add Dolby Atmos support to 2018, 2019 and newer 2020 models of selected televisions this year for both the Apple TV app and AirPlay 2.

In a published report Thursday, a company representative told FlatpanelsHD that support for Dolby Atmos will be delivered “later this year.”

iOS 13.4 beta code hints at new Apple TV device

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Apple TV Siri Remote
Apple TV is due for an upgrade.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

An updated Apple TV 4K could soon roll out of Apple’s product pipeline, based on references to an unreleased product discovered in the latest iOS beta.

9to5Mac unearthed clues in iOS 13.4 beta 1 that signal a new Apple TV 4K is currently in development. Considering the company hasn’t released new Apple TV hardware since fall 2017, the wait for a new set-top box may not be much longer.

Mophie‘s fast-charging powerbanks debut at Apple stores

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The Mophie Powerstation lineup for 2020.
The latest Mophie external batteries charge an iPhone at the fastest speed possible.
Photo: Mophie/Zagg

The Apple Store today began offering three external batteries from Mophie. All have Lightning ports, and two include an integrated Lightning cable that provides 18W of power, making fast iPhone recharges on the go a breeze. The top-of the-line new Powerstation model also adds built-in wireless charging.

Apple Watch saves life: How an alert saved his life

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photo of Texas native and Apple Watch user Brady Ogle
Brady Ogle loves his Apple Watch for many reasons.
Photo: Brady Ogle

Brady Ogle knew something was wrong with his body. It took the Apple Watch to confirm it.

24 hours after New Year’s Day, Ogle reported for work like any other workday at an AT&T store in Granbury, Texas, just south of Dallas. For the preceding three months, the 30-year-old hadn’t been feeling well. He visited his doctor but was told he might be suffering from a mild case of indigestion and to simply manage it from home with a proper diet.

Still, his symptoms kept preying on his mind. Something was wrong. He could feel it.

Apple TV+ could hit 26 million paying subs by 2025; likely 2.6 million currently

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Apple TV+ could have 26 million paying subs by 2025; 2.6 million currently
Apple TV+ debuted back in November.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ will have almost 26 million paying subscribers by 2025, a new report claims. That’s just a fraction of the 126 million subs that rival streaming service Disney+ is likely to have at that point in time.

Both services launched within two weeks of each other in November 2019. While Apple hasn’t revealed any TV+ subscription numbers, Disney CEO Bob Iger says Disney+ already has 28.6 million subs. That’s more than Digital TV Research thinks Apple TV+ will have five years from now.