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iPhone 11 ultra-wide camera disappoints RAW shooters

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the three view of the iPhone 11 Pro
The three views from the iPhone 11 Pro's three rear-facing cameras.
Photo: Apple

What makes the iPhone 11 Pro a Pro smartphone? It’s definitely not the ultra-wide camera.

According to Ben Sandofsky, co-developer of the photo app Halide, the ultra-wide camera does not support RAW capture of images or allow photographers to manually focus the camera.

Nixed bilateral charging could have been iPhone 11 Pro exclusive

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iPhone 11 teardown disassembled
Taking an iPhone 11 to pieces finds no sign of one rumored feature, but hints Apple Tags could still be on the way.
Photo: iFixit

A teardown of the iPhone 11 finds Apple’s less-expensive handset lacks any sign of inverse wireless charging. iFixit did discover hardware possibly related to this rumored feature in the iPhone 11 Pro series, however.

An X-ray of the iPhone 11 does turn up evidence of ultra-wideband support, however. That will prove important if Apple launches the item-tracking tags that also showed up in many rumors.

Check out iOS 13’s amazing NFC-triggered Shortcuts

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nfc shortcuts
These little NFC tags are discreet enough to stick anywhere.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Shortcuts has gotten so many amazing new tricks in iOS 13 that it’s going to take a while for us to cover them all. So, how about starting with the new NFC automations? This lets you tap your sleeping iPhone onto an NFC sticker or tag, and your iPhone will run a shortcut. This is pretty amazing, because you can walk around you home (or office), and just tap your iPhone onto objects to perform tasks: open apps, set timers, play music, dim the lights — in fact, you can do anything a regular shortcut can do.

Here are two great examples of using NFC shortcuts in iOS 13.

Amazon plans to launch cheaper AirPods alternative

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AirPods supplier confident of booming business through 2021
AirPods are getting some fresh compeition.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Amazon is gearing up to take on Apple with its own set of wireless earbuds that pack some features AirPods can’t match.

Apple’s HomePod speaker could get some tougher competition from Amazon too as the company is also reportedly working on a bigger Echo smart speaker that will have better sound quality.

Galaxy Fold debacle nears its end with US launch coming Friday

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Galaxy Fold specs
Despite its problems, the Galaxy Fold is likely a harbinger of many folding phones to come.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung’s demonstration on the dangers of letting one’s reach exceed one’s grasp is almost over. The Galaxy Fold, the first mass-market phone with a foldable display, will reach US customers’ hands on Friday, many months after first scheduled.

Despite well-publicized problems, this company is already hard at work on a more affordable version. And rivals, including Apple, are also considering flexible screen handsets.

Can’t figure out how to update apps in iOS 13? Here’s how.

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iOS 13 app store
App Store updates are still open for business.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

In all versions of the App Store up until iOS 13, there has been an Update tab — a whole page of the store dedicated to showing you the latest updates to your installed apps. In iOS 13, that’s gone, replaced by Apple Arcade, whether you subscribe to the new gaming service or not.

So, how do you update your apps in iOS 13? And if you have auto-update switched on, then how do you even see which apps have been updated, and read their release notes? Fear not. Manual update is still there. It’s just hidden.

EarthNight is an endless runner set on the back of a frikkin’ dragon [Review]

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EarthNight brings all the dragons you could hope for. And it's beautifully hand-painted.
This beautifully hand-painted game delivers all the dragons you could hope for.
Image: Cleaversoft

An endless runner with gorgeous hand-painted graphics, in which you sprint on the backs of enormous flying dragons? Welcome to the world of EarthNight, one of the plentiful launch titles for Apple Arcade.

Put on your running shoes and let us race you through its features in our EarthNight review.

iPhone 11 is first phone to survive this brutal torture test

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Apple has raised $220 million to fight AIDS-related deaths in Africa
Apple has raised $220 million to fight AIDS-related deaths in Africa
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

We know Apple’s new iPhone 11 lineup is its toughest yet. And a number of rudimentary drop tests have already proven that. But what do more scientific torture tests tell us about its strength?

SquareTrade used a series of punishments to simulate real-world incidents that could damage your pricey new phone. It says iPhone 11 is the only handset to survive its brutal tumble test.

iPhone 11 Pro Max wins highest-ever A+ score from DisplayMate

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iPhone 11 Pro Max display specs
The OLED display in the iPhone 11 Pro Max has some impressive specs.
Photo: Apple

The experts at DisplayMate positively gushed about the quality of the iPhone 11 Pro Max display. They call the screen “almost certainly considerably better than your existing Smartphone, 4K UHD TV, Tablet, Laptop and computer monitor.”

The crisp OLED screen in Apple’s newest flagship handset met or exceeded the test lab’s records in color accuracy, brightness, reflectance and more.

Apple will make the new Mac Pro in Texas

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Mac-Pro-manufacturing-US
Mac Pro manufacturing isn't going anywhere.
Photo: Apple

Apple today confirmed that its brand new Mac Pro will be manufactured in Austin, Texas. It will soon enter production at the same facility where the last Mac Pro was assembled.

The move is part of Apple’s commitment to U.S. economic growth, it says. It is currently on track to invest $350 billion into its home country by 2023.

Got a new Apple Watch? Now get the best price for your old one

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watchOS 5
Avoid selling your old Apple Watch to Apple.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Now that you have your shiny new Apple Watch Series 5, it’s time to make back some of the money you just spent by selling your old model. But don’t take it to the Apple Store.

Apple will offer you just a fraction of what your old Apple Watch is really worth. Make a lot more by selling yours to Cult of Mac instead.

Price of iPhone 11 with space history is out of this world

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Gargarin space craft, Titanic iPhones from Caviar
Caviar's customized iPhone 11 Pro models have fragments of historic ships, Yuri Gargarin's Vostok 1, left, and the Titanic.
Photo: Caviar

Caviar is a Russian jeweler that routinely applies precious gems and gold-plating to iPhones to sell to the rich.

Now it is working with new materials – pieces of the Titanic and the first manned spaced craft.

Drop test confirms iPhone 11 is a tank

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iphone11
The iPhone 11 can take a licking and keep on ticking.
Photo: Apple

Apple advertised the iPhone 11 and 11 Pro’s toughness as one of the new devices’ big selling points. But just how durable are Apple’s latest handsets?

Reviewers seemed unwilling to test this out, lest they damage their highly coveted review units. But now that the iPhone 11 is available for sale, an early drop test reveals just how tough the new phones are.

Apple chipmaker may start volume production of 5nm chips in March

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Apple chipmaker racing ahead with its next next-gen nanometer process
Could next year's iPhone chip be made using a cutting-edge 5-nanometer process?
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro is just making its way into customers’ hands. But work is already underway for next year’s handset refresh.

According to a new report, Apple chipmaker TSMC is gearing up to carry out volume production of its next-gen chips as early as March. And they could offer a major boost over this year’s A13 Bionic chips!

Protect your online privacy and security with a VPN [Deals]

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NordVPN
Score a year of top tier VPN protection for a fraction of the usual price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re not already using a VPN, you’re leaving yourself exposed to tons of online threats. From trackers to hackers to snoops and content restrictions, there are lots of online headaches and threats to contend with. So it’s well worth taking a simple step to protect yourself.

Oprah’s Book Club finds new home in Apple Books

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Oprah-Book-Club
Preorder Oprah's first selection today.
Photo: Apple

Oprah’s Book Club has landed in Apple Books, connecting readers worldwide to “stories that truly matter by today’s most thought-provoking authors.”

Its arrival comes weeks before Oprah’s new TV show kicks off on Apple TV+. A new episode will air every two months, and every title selected will be available from Apple Books.

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates is Winfrey’s first selection, and you can preorder it now in ebook and audiobook formats ahead of its debut tomorrow, September 24.

Apple spammed Emmy viewers with ads for Apple TV+

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Truth Be Told on Apple TV+
Ads included glimpses of two shows Apple hasn't previously shown off.
Photo: Apple

Apple has its eye on dominating next year’s Emmy Awards with its original content. But Apple TV+ wasn’t exactly hiding in the shadows at this year’s event.

Apple bombarded people who tuned in to the Emmys with 15-second spots for its TV+ ads during commercial breaks. This included the first teases for its shows Servant and Truth Be Told. Check them out below.

Apple will get an early indication of its EU tax case outcome this week

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International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
Fiat and Starbucks cases will offer Apple advance warning (or good news) about its ongoing EU tax battle.
Photo: Pexels

Apple could get an early indication about the likely outcome of its giant European Union (EU) tax case early this week.

Apple was in court last week protesting its 13 billion ($14.4 billion) tax bill from the EU. Although the case is likely to drag on for months, two related cases will be ruled on this week. They may offer Apple some clues about its chances of success.

Wicked bike wreck shows importance of Apple Watch hard fall detection

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fall detection
An Apple Watch can call 911 if you trip, slip, or wipe out so severely you knock yourself unconscious.
Photo: Apple

Bob Burdett was mountain biking near Spokane, then the next thing he knew he was waking up in an ambulance. He’d had a crash so severe he was knocked unconscious for a considerable amount of time. Fortunately, his Apple Watch called 911 for him.

6 reasons the 6.1-inch iPhone 11 is Apple’s best new smartphone [Review]

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Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Everyone shopping for a 2019 iPhone faces a conundrum. The new Pro models come loaded with top-of-line features, but they cost much, much more than the 6.1-inch iPhone 11. Is it really necessary to pay $1,000 or more to get a great iPhone?

No, no it isn’t. In our iPhone 11 review, we’ll tell you why it’s Apple’s best new smartphone for most people.

Access a universe of mind-expanding documentaries [Deals]

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Curiosity Stream All
Access two years of top quality documentary films and series.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s no shortage of streaming video content to consume. But on most platforms, compared to TV shows and popular movies, there’s a shortage of quality educational and documentary content. To deliver the goods, Discovery Communications founder John Hendricks launched CuriosityStream.

iPhone 11 makes powerful first impression [Cult of Mac Magazine 315]

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The iPhone 11 looks simply stunning in red. And that's just for starters ... read all about it in Cult of Mac Magazine 315.
The iPhone 11 looks simply stunning in red. And that's just for starters ...
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The new iPhones and Apple Watch are out, and they’re racking up rave reviews. Our hands-on iPhone 11 first impressions show it to be a pretty, powerful photographic phenom. Meanwhile, other reviewers can’t stop complimenting the entry-level iPhone (or its beefed-up siblings, the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max). Same goes for Apple Watch Series 5.

So, basically, accolades all around. Well done, Apple.

If you picked up a new device, you’ll need to know the right way to set it up. Here are tips and tricks for setting up your new iPhone or Apple Watch the right way. And even if you don’t have a brand-new shiny device, you’ll want all our tips and tricks for Apple’s latest mobile software. Here’s everything you need to know about iOS 13.

Get all that info and more in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.