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Ashton Kutcher reveals why Steve Jobs’ fruitarian diet is a bad idea

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Ashton Kutcher played Steve Jobs in 2013 biopic.
Kutcher played Jobs in a 2013 biopic.
Photo: Jobs movie

During the latest episode of the brilliant hot sauce-based interview show Hot Ones, Ashton Kutcher opened up on the topic of Steve Jobs. Kutcher played Jobs in the 2013 biopic, which landed with a thud at the box office.

Kutcher told the story of how he was hospitalized before filming, after trying to follow Jobs’ fruitarian diet. “Don’t drink too much carrot juice is the moral of the story,” Kutcher said.

iPhone 11 Pro is even better than we hoped! We tell why, on The CultCast

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CultCast 407
We just spent our first week with iPhone 11 Pro...
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: We just completed our first week with iPhone 11 Pro, and it’s even better than we hoped. We’ll dive into all the features we love most. Plus: Details are emerging about iPhone 12, and we like what we’re seeing! And is Apple Watch Series 5 worth the upgrade? We discuss …

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

Two big complaints about Doom and Doom II fixed on iOS

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Doom II for iOS looks just like it did back in 1994.
This was mind-blowing back in the day. And it's still pretty great today.
Photo: Bethesda Softworks

Bethesda Softworks gave Gen Xers a reason to get nostalgic when it released updated versions of Doom and Doom II into the App Store. The versions packed all the pixelated monsters and massive weapons you could hope for on an iPhone or iPad.

But while folks were justifiably excited to don their flannel shirts, put on some alt rock in the background, and head back to the glory days of the mid-1990s, the games didn’t totally deliver on their promises. A number of people pointed out that the audio and lighting weren’t correct in both ports. Those problems have now been fixed.

Analyst isn’t convinced that Apple’s got a promising future in services

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Samsung wants to follow Apple in building a giant services business
Services is an incredibly competitive area.
Photo: Mathieu Turle/Unsplash CC

Plenty of folks are buzzing over Apple’s shift to services. From Apple Arcade to iCloud to Apple TV+, Apple’s got a new lucrative business stream which could pick up some of the slack from falling hardware sales.

Keybanc analyst Andy Hargreaves isn’t convinced, however. In fact, he points out that not only are services a competitive market (which everyone knows), but that Apple may actually be headed in the wrong direction.

Swift code usage more than doubles with iOS 13

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Swift-iOS
Swift usage is on the rise again.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s own programming language is slowly taking over its mobile operating systems. iOS 13 contains more than twice as much Swift as iOS 12, according to research from Alexandre Colucci.

A huge number of Apple’s own apps and features now contain Swift binaries. A total of 141 have been uncovered in Apple’s most recent iOS 13.1 release.

Apple webpage hints that macOS Catalina will ship next week

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macOS Catalina release date
Fans have had to wait a bit longer this year for their macOS update.
Photo: Apple

Apple hasn’t told us when we can expect the public release of macOS Catalina, but a clue on one of Apple’s regional websites suggests that it could very well be next week.

On Apple’s Danish website, it notes that Apple Arcade will launch on the Mac App Store on October 4. Given that Apple Arcade requires macOS Catalina to work, it suggests that this might be when Apple’s next-gen macOS will debut.

Proposed iPad Pro docking station packs keyboard, trackpad, ports into one

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DoBox Pro with iPad Pro
The DoBox Pro adds features to an iPad Pro that aren‘t even available in MacBook Pros.
Photo: DoBox

DoBox is looking for funding for a desktop docking station that gives the 2018 iPad Pro an array of additional features. A keyboard and trackpad are the most obvious, but there’s also a built-in hub with HDMI and other ports.

On top of all that, the proposed DoBox Pro will have a slot capable of adding up 2TB of additional storage. If you’re searching for a reliable mac docking station that enhances your device’s connectivity, you might want to explore this 6-port hub from Zagg.

Deja vu: Galaxy Fold reviewer reports screen problem after just one day

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Apple invents a unique, no-crease folding iPhone screen
Is it time to give up on the Galaxy Fold?
Photo: Samsung

Samsung might be facing another Galaxy Fold display fiasco less than 24 hours before the device is set to launch in the U.S.

After canceling the Fold’s original April 26 launch date, Samsung spent months redesigning certain parts of the display to be more durable. According to at least one reviewer of the device though, it appears that Galaxy Fold display could still be very fragile.

Access your App Store updates from the iOS 13 Home screen [Pro Tip]

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iOS 13 app updates
The quickest way to see your app updates in iOS 13.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Pro Tip: This to-do list hack turns your tasks into questions iOS 13 did away with the old Updates tab in the App Store, and replaced it with Apple Arcade. That’s pretty bad news if you don’t want to use Apple Arcade. But on the plus side, you can access your app updates from the Home screen using 3D Touch. And the good news is that, in iOS 13, you can also use this trick on the iPad.

Official For All Mankind trailer gives biggest glimpse of spacey plot

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For All Mankind
Imagine a world where the global space race never ended.
Photo: Apple

The final trailer of For All Mankind gives us our clearest look yet at the plot of the alternate-history space-race TV show.

Apple TV+ is set to debut on November 1 with For All Mankind as one of its premiere shows. Previous trailers gave us a glimpse of the bad-guy Russians landing on the moon first — and the feminist angle with female astronaut candidates. Those two plot lines converge in the new trailer, which touched down on YouTube this morning. The new spot reveals President Richard Nixon’s decision to one-up the Russians by putting a woman on the moon first.

Watch the full thing here:

Apple patches security bug on Macs, plus older iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches

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iPhone 6s colors
If you’re still rocking an iPhone 6S, Apple has an iOS update for you.
Photo: Apple

Apple introduced iOS 12.4.2 to fix a security bug that was found by Google Project Zero. After Tuesday’s launch of iOS 13.1, now seems an odd time to be updating last year’s version, but this patch is for iPhones and iPads made in 2014 and before that can’t upgrade to the new version.

In addition, the company released watchOS 5.3.2 for early Apple Watch models. Plus there’s a fresh security update for macOS Mojave 10.14.6. All take care of the same bug.

The best widgets apps for iPadOS 13’s new Home screen

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Dark Mode on iPadOS
The new Home screen widget panel on iPadOS 13.
Photo: Apple

In iPadOS, the old Today View has shuffled over a little, and now lives right on the Home screen. You can pin widgets there, and they will be permanently shown on the left edge of the Home screen (in landscape, at least — in portrait they will act more like a temporary Slide Over panel).

This changes how we use widgets. Instead of being temporary, quick-info panels, or shortcuts for app functions, widgets are now always visible, and always available to tap. A weather widget can be checked with a single glance, for instance. Ditto countdown timers. And — best of all — Shortcuts can be triggered with a single tap.

Let’s take a look at some great widgets for the iPadOS Home screen.

2020 could bring Apple’s largest iPhone screen ever

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Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
iOS is designed to hide the screen cutout as much as possible. This might not be necessary next year.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Significant design changes in next year’s top-tier iPhone might push the display size up to 6.7 inches, if an unconfirmed report from a reliable source is correct. This model will also supposedly have no need of a screen cutout — also known as the notch.

10.2-inch iPad hits Apple Store shelves

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ipad
The quickest way to get the new 10.2-inch iPad is to go to an Apple retail store today.
Photo: Apple

The latest iPad just made its appearance in Apple retail locations. Those eager to get their hands on the first 10.2-inch budget tablet with iPadOS can hurry to the nearest store to pick one up now.

This is currently a quicker option than ordering the seventh-generation iPad for home shipment.

1 in 5 iOS devices are already using iOS 13

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iOS 13 adoption
iOS 13 is off to a cracking start!
Photo: Mixpanel

One in five compatible devices are already running iOS 13, data from analytics company Mixpanel suggests.

According to the company’s data, as of this morning 20.27% of users are running iOS 13. Meanwhile, 74.66% are using iOS 12, and the remaining 5.08% are running some earlier version of iOS. That still leaves a long way to go — but it’s a fantastic start.

RIP Adam Rosen: Remembering one of the most passionate Mac fans ever

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Vintage Mac Museum
Rosen would turn down 80 percent of what was offered to him because he only wanted the important models. He also couldn't let his collection outgrow another living space.
Photo: Adam Rosen

Adam Rosen was happiest standing over an old Mac computer, all pulled apart with wires sticking out and components scattered across his kitchen table.

Rosen knew this part of him might never land him a wife. Who could appreciate a home where each room was a gallery of old working Apple computers?

This private Vintage Mac Museum lost its devoted docent on Aug. 31 when Rosen, 53, died from pancreatic cancer.

Mario Kart Tour Gold Pass shows what a bargain Apple Arcade is

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Mario Kart Tour is a massive money spinner for Nintendo
Gold Pass costs the same as a subscription to Apple's 100+ gaming service.
Photo: Nintendo

Mario Kart Tour went live this week — and despite being, technically, free to download its in-app purchases make it pretty pricey. Certainly compared to Apple Arcade.

Eagle-eyed gamers quickly noted that Mario Kart‘s so-called Gold Pass subscription will set you back $4.99 per month. That’s the same price that Apple is charging for its entire 100+ game subscription service!

Apple is named the U.K.’s best tech employer

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Apple is the U.K.'s top tech employer.
Apple employs some 6,500 people in the U.K.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s home town might be Cupertino, but Apple is a truly global company, circa 2019. (And it has been for years, too.) The latest evidence of this is a ranking of the top tech companies to work for in the U.K. Apple came in at number one on the list.

Apple employs some 6,500 people in the U.K. In capital city London alone it employs 2,500 people. Overall, Apple has around 132,000 full-time employees worldwide.

Amazon exec promoting new Echo Buds wears AirPods during TV interview

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Amazon exec wears AirPods during an interview.
Wait a second, those aren't Echo Buds!
Screenshot: John Paczkowski/Bloomberg

Here’s a top tip: If your job involves promoting hardware that is not made by Apple, do not use an Apple device in public.

It sounds easy, right? As it turns out, it’s pretty darn difficult. And it’s a problem suffered by many, many people who are likely way above your pay grade. The latest example? Amazon exec Dave Limp, who yesterday gave an interview promoting Amazon’s new wireless Echo Buds. While wearing Apple’s AirPods, of course.

Struggling iPhone display-maker suffers another big blow

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iPhone XR
Apple won't give up on JDI.
Photo: Apple

An effort to save struggling LCD manufacturer Japan Display (JDI) has reportedly been scrapped.

The firm leading the bailout with a ¥63 billion ($557 million) investment this week pulled out of a potential deal, according to people familiar with the matter.

The future of JDI now looks uncertain — but strong demand for iPhone 11 is helping its bottom line.