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iOS 13.2 is out now with tons of new emoji and Deep Fusion for iPhone 11

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3-nanometer chips will be ready for 2022 iPhone
3-nanometer chips will be ready for 2022 iPhone
Photo: Apple

Apple released iOS 13.2 to the public this morning after beta testing the software update with developers for a month.

iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2 bring a bunch of new features and bug fixes to the iPhone and iPad, including more than 50 new emoji characters and support for the new AirPods Pro that were just revealed this morning.

Apple steps up smart home fight against Amazon and Google

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The HomePod -- a beautiful body with the brain of an idiot.
Apple wants to make a bigger mark on your home.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple is ramping up its smart home efforts in a bid to better compete against Amazon and Google, according to a new report.

Cupertino is said to be hiring for a team that will be focused on revamping HomeKit software and devices. It also wants to encourage more third-party manufacturers to support its platform.

Early review calls Apple TV+’s The Morning Show a ‘painful belly flop’

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Early review calls The Morning Show ‘a painful bellyflop’
This was the first show Apple commissioned for Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

Remember that story about how the logo for The Morning Show, one of Apple TV+’s flagship shows, looked suspiciously like the logo for Elon Musk’s The Boring Company? It turns out that may have been a bad omen.

Ahead of Apple TV+’s November 1 launch, the first reviews are out for its star-studded newsroom drama/comedy starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell. And, well, they’re far from the blockbuster reviews Apple likely hoped for from its show that costs more than Game of Thrones.

iOS 13 Mail tweak is causing people to accidentally delete messages

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Tweet regading iOS 13 tweak that moved trash can
The trash can is an icon that deserves to be returned to its rightful place.
Screenshot: John Roberts/Twitter

Why did Apple change its Mail app by placing the trash can icon where the reply arrow used to be?

Several iPhone users who updated to iOS 13 have asked that same question, taking to Twitter to vent and find a growing community of people who have accidentally deleted emails.

Spotify is adding 2x as many monthly subscribers as Apple Music

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Spotify is adding 2x as many monthly subscribers as Apple Music
Spotify reported some great fiscal quarterly earnings.
Photo: Spotify

Spotify’s third fiscal quarter figures show that it is growing considerably faster than Apple Music.

“We continue to feel very good about our competitive position in the market,” the streaming giant noted in a statement. “Relative to Apple, the publicly available data shows that we are adding roughly twice as many subscribers per month as they are. Additionally, we believe that our monthly engagement is roughly 2x as high and our churn is at half the rate.”

2020 iPhone will boast Apple’s fastest, best-looking display yet

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Apple supplier will start building crucial iPhone component in India
New iPhone will borrow tech which debuted with the 2017 iPad Pro.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The 2020 iPhone will reportedly take a page out of the iPad Pro’s playbook, adopting a 120Hz display that will allow for more fluid scrolling, greater responsiveness and smoother motion content.

Apple introduced the 120Hz ProMotion iPad Pro back in 2017. It now seems that the same technology could find its way to the iPhone, doubling the display refresh rate from its current 60Hz.

Apple’s software VP offers advice to up-and-coming coders

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Apple's Software Engineering VP offers advice to up-and-coming coders
Craig Federighi shared some of his career lessons with a would-be employee.
Photo: Apple

One of the cool things about Apple is how accessible its senior execs are. Steve Jobs started the practice of making his email address public knowledge, and would often respond to users’ comments. Tim Cook continued that philosophy, and has said he spends hours responding to people’s emails.

Over the weekend, an email posted to Reddit featured Craig Federighi’s message to a young fan wanting to pursue coding. Here’s what Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering had to say.

5 Mac apps you will use every day for less than $50 [Deals]

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Luminar
Use the power of AI to improve your photos with Luminar 3.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Practically every year, Apple comes out with Macs that both look good and pack enough power to blaze through even the most intense tasks. However, you can’t get the most out of your Mac without third-party developers creating software for just about everything.

Check out these five great Mac apps — all on sale at steep discounts — that you’ll probably use on an everyday basis.

Former Apple designer responds to Trump’s iPhone critique

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Apple shares suffer biggest decline since August
Trump: Not a fan of Apple's decision to ditch the Home button, apparently.
Photo: White House

As an iPhone UI designer, you need to have a thick skin. First, you have to defend your idea internally at Apple. Then members of the public endlessly critique your work upon its release. The one thing you probably don’t expect, though? For the president of the United States to slam your painstaking creation.

That’s exactly what happened to former Apple user interface prototyping team member Linda Dong. In a Sunday tweet, she commented on President Donald Trump’s recent declaration about the iPhone X interface.

Find lost items anywhere in the world with GeoZilla GPS Tracker [Review]

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GeoZilla GPS Tracker
The tiny GeoZilla GPS Tracker can be found anywhere cell phones work.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The GeoZilla GPS Tracker can find your dog if he gets out of the yard, even if he takes a plane to Reno. Or it can locate your lost luggage if the airline accidentally ships it to Australia.

There are plenty of tracking tags that can discover your keys in your living room, but the GeoZilla GPS Tracker uses built-in cellular-wireless access so it can be found anywhere.

Read on to find out if this is the ultra-portable global tracker you’ve been hoping for.

AirPods Pro might offer all the new features we’re asking for

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ESR AirPods Pro case
This ESR case is designed to protect the redesigned case for AirPods Pro.
Photo: ESR

UPDATE: The wait wasn’t long: Apple’s new AirPods Pro with noise cancellation are already here.

 

Apple is reportedly about to take its wireless earbuds professional. Get ready for AirPods Pro with noise cancellation and a range of color options.

But they’ll also supposedly cost dramatically more than Apple’s current in-ear headphones.

Apple’s 2020 vision: Whole lotta hardware [Cult of Mac Magazine 320]

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Apple's 2020 vision: Whole lotta hardware
Next year looks like it's going to be a blockbuster.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

If the rumors prove true, next year will bring a wave of new Apple hardware. We’re talking a major iPhone revamp, new Macs and Apple Watches, and even (possibly) augmented reality glasses.

Read all about the latest Apple hardware rumors and predictions in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it free from the iOS App Store. The latest issue also explains why we’re hooked on Apple Arcade, along with reviews of several tasty bits of gear. Plus, as usual, you’ll find how-tos for iPhone, Apple Watch and other Apple products.

Bonus: Enter our Apple giveaways

Enter our latest giveaways for your shot at winning some awesome Apple gear. First, we’re giving away a great prize consisting of an iPhone 11, AirPods and a custom Belkin charging pad. And second, our Apple Watch Series 5 giveaway ends next week. Enter both giveaways now!

Get a grip on your investments with this full-featured finance app [Deals]

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Finimize App
Finimize puts up-to-the-minute expert investment advice in the palm of your hand.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’ve got even a little bit of money sitting around, there’s no reason just to let it sit. Investing is one of the best ways to make your dollars work. But investing is time-consuming and intimidating, not to mention risky. So instead of jumping in without a plan, you can use this app to make smart investment choices straight out the gate — and right from your phone.

Beautiful drone shots in Apple’s new privacy ad will creep you out

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privacy
Apple's camera man killed it on this ad.
Photo: Apple

Apple just posted a new video advertisement on Youtube, as the company does from time to time.

The ad is about privacy on iPhone which has been one of the company’s biggest talking points over the last few years. Honestly, I don’t think a single word from the ad actually entered my ears. I was too blown away with the creepy beautiful FPV drone shots that transport you from being a distant observer to an intimate guest in someone’s life.

Check it out:

United Airlines teams up with Apple for SFO makeover

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United
Apple spends a lot of money on United Airlines tickets.
Photo: United Airlines

San Francisco International Airport could soon get some serious tech upgrades thanks to Apple. The iPhone-maker is reportedly in discussions with United Airlines about giving the carrier’s SFO terminal a much-needed makeover.

How to change the dictation language on Apple Watch

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Apple Watch dictation
If you talk to your Apple Watch, you need to know this tip.
Photo: Israel Palacio/Unsplash

Maybe you like to keep your iPhone and Apple Watch in English, but you also like to dictate notes and messages in your mother tongue. Or perhaps you want to dictate your notes in English, but send iMessages to your family in Spanish. Or maybe your Apple Watch is just screwed up, and keeps trying to take dictation in a language you don’t speak.

Whatever the reason, it is easy to change the Apple Watch dictation language. Plus, you also can specify a different language for each and every app. Let’s see how.

Swordfight with terrorists or wash pigs in new Apple Arcade games

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Apple Arcade adds Fallen Knight, Hogwash, and more
Additions to Apple Arcade let you run around a barnyard as a muddy pig, or clobber legends of Slavic myth.
Photo: Apple

Five newly released Apple Arcade games run the gamut from a side-scroller starring Lancelot wielding a laser sword all the way to a farmhand chasing down muddy pigs.

With these varied additions, Apple has almost reached the goal of 100 titles in its recently launched subscription gaming service.

Apple starts shooting second season of For All Mankind next month

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Apple starts shooting second season of For All Mankind next month
'For All Mankind' answers the question, what if the Soviets have reached the moon first?
Photo: Apple

Apple is apparently very confident of success for its Apple TV+ series For All Mankind. With a week still to go before Apple launches its streaming TV service, it is gearing up to shoot a second season of the big budget space race show.

Actor Joel Kinnaman revealed that he will be filming the second series simultaneously with the sequel to Suicide Squad. Shooting will commence in a couple of weeks.