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Latest iPadOS 13 beta is finally stable enough for almost anyone [Opinion]

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iPadOS Home Screen
Widgets on the Home screen are something you can have today, if you install the iPadOS13 beta.
Photo: Apple

The iPadOS beta Apple introduced this week offers something none of its predecessors did: reliability. Stability, even. After days of testing on an iPad Pro, I found it close enough to the final version that an average person can access a mouse or thumbdrive with their iPad nearly hassle-free. That hasn’t been true of earlier betas.

Less rigorous testing of iOS 13 on an iPhone XS Max indicates it’s also relatively stable.

We could see an iPhone Pro this year

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iPhone 11 Max leaning on fence post
This could be a picture of the iPhone 11 Pro, not a “Max” or a “Plus.”
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple makes a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro. Soon there could be an iPhone Pro, too.

This unconfirmed report comes from a source with an unblemished history for leaking details about upcoming Apple products.

7 things Apple should steal from Samsung [Cult of Mac Magazine 309]

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7 things Apple should steal from Samsung, in Cult of Mac Magazine No. 309.
It's time for Apple to copy Samsung (by copying Samsung).
Cover: Marty Cortinas/Cult of Mac

Sure, Samsung showed off some clunky ideas this week during its Galaxy Note 10 showcase. But some of Samsung’s new features got us hoping Apple adds them soon to iPhones and MacBooks. It’s high time Apple does what Samsung always does: Copy the best features!

Find out what we liked in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. In it, you also will find an assortment of Apple news (the latest on Apple Card and iPhone batteries), reviews (AR swim goggles, etc.) and how-tos (mute those calls!).

Grab the iOS version for free and read it on your iPad. Or, alternatively, hit the links below to read in whatever browser you want.

iPad Pro might get triple-lens camera like iPhone 11

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iPad Pro with rumored triple-lens camera
The artist’s concept shows an iPad Pro with the rumored triple-lens camera.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Apple

The signature feature of the upcoming iPhone 11 could also be in Apple’s professional-grade tablets. The next iPad Pro will get the triple-lens camera supposedly launching in this fall’s iOS handsets, according to an unconfirmed report from Asia.

And regular iPad models might get a dual-lens camera.

Pick the wireless charger that’s best for you [Deals]

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Wireless Charging Accessories
Browse our top four favorite wireless charging accessories.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Wireless charging is becoming the new normal. If you own a Qi-compatible device, you’ll want a wireless charger that meets your needs, so we rounded up four of our favorites.

From wirelessly charging three devices at once to charging your phone while you drive, we’ve got the wireless chargers you’re looking for.

Sony’s new CarPlay system is big as an iPad

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BMW could ditch its pricey annual subscription cost for CarPlay
BMW could ditch its pricey annual subscription cost for CarPlay
Photo: Sony

Car infotainment systems have grown dramatically in size, and Sony promises one that allows people with older models to upgrade to an 8.95-inch screen. It supports Apple’s CarPlay, so the driver’s iPhone is ready to provide navigation, make calls or play music.

Suddenly, MacBooks are back in high demand

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The MacBook Pro has a Touch Bar, and a better display.
MacBook shipments were way up last quarter, and are predicted to rise this quarter too.
Photo: Apple

Shipments of MacBooks were up almost 20% during the second quarter of this year compared to the same period of 2018, according to a market-research firm.

And the analysts predict another 20% growth in the current quarter, buoyed by the release of the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Foxconn takes heat for using teens to build Amazon devices

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Amazon Echo
Foxconn has another problem with underage workers.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Frequent Apple contract manufacturer Foxconn recruited kids as young as 16 to work on its production lines, leaked documents show. The company reportedly pushed the teenagers to work nights and overtime as part of the job.

On this occasion, however, Apple isn’t the company under fire. The recruits (classed as “interns”) were working on the Amazon production line. They were building devices like the Echo smart speakers.

Add a touch of Note 10 to iPhone with sweet Samsung wallpapers

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Note-10-wallpapers-iPhone
They look great on iPhone XS.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Bring a touch of Galaxy Note 10 to your iPhone (or any other phone) while you wait for the real thing with these sweet Samsung wallpapers.

The high-resolution images look terrific — particularly on OLED displays — and they’re probably the closest iOS fans will get to experiencing Samsung’s latest flagship.

Apple wants another shot at overturning $439 million patent lawsuit

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Anti-robocall bill is one step closer to being passed into law
Apple is frequently targeted in patent cases.
Photo: Pexels

Apple wants another shot at beating so called patent troll VirnetX in court.

The Cupertino company was previously ordered to pay $439 million for infringing on two of VirnetX’s patents with its FaceTime technology. However, an appeals court has since found many of VirnetX’s patents to be unpatentable.

Apple’s USB-C AV dongle gets a 4K HDR upgrade

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Apple-USB-AV-dongle
It's finally fit for 2019.
Photo: Apple

Apple this week upgraded its official USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter to support 4K HDR video at up to 60Hz.

The newest model, numbered A2119, boasts HDMI 2.0 connectivity. That means you can enjoy HDR10 and Dolby Vision content when outputting video from a compatible Mac or iPad Pro.

Apple increases its number of self-driving car test drivers

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Project Titan
Apple has the third-largest self-driving car fleet in California.
Photo: Idiggapple/Twitter

Apple has slightly increased the number of test drivers for its self-driving car project, although the total number of vehicles remains the same.

According to new figures from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, Apple is currently testing 69 cars on public roads in California. That’s the same number it had in late April. However, Apple has increased its test drivers from 110 to 143 since then.

Researchers trick Face ID with modified glasses

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Facial Recognition
Face ID won‘t unlock your iPhone if you're unconscious. Glasses can trick the sensors, though.
Image: Apple

One of the advantages of Face ID over Touch ID is that the person unlocking their iPhone must be awake. However, researchers found a way to fool Apple’s facial recognition system into thinking someone is conscious when they weren’t — using modified glasses.

This method does not allow a hacker to trick an iPhone into misidentifying one person as another. But it still could prove problematic for Face ID.

Last chance! Get this luscious Apple Watch band and save 50% on a matching bracelet

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Rilee & Lo stretch link band
Brilliant stretch-link bracelets that won't break the bank.
Photo: Rilee & Lo

Bling it up with Rilee & Lo’s spectacular stretch-link band for Apple Watch and get half off a matching stacking bracelet in this exclusive deal.

Available in a range of gorgeous color options and made from premium stainless steel, they’ll help make your Apple Watch look better than ever. Bag yours today before this offer expires on Friday, August 9.

Mini Apple 1 replica celebrates the computer that started it all

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3d printed Smithsonian Apple 1
Looks like it belongs in a museum.
Photo: Matteo Trevisan

The Smithsonian is home to the most famous of the Apple 1 computers. It’s covered in a crude wooden case and Matteo Trevisan wants it.

That’s not happening. But he and another self-described Apple maniac indulged their geeky pleasure by creating a miniature version with a 3D printer and Raspberry Pi computer.

Apple expands bug program with monstrous $1 million bounty

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The CIA has a team of more than 5,000 hackers.
Hackers can get PAID for finding bugs now.
Photo: Brian Klug/Flickr CC

Apple is ready to pay a bigger bounty than any other tech company when it comes to finding bugs on the iPhone or other Apple products.

The iPhone-maker revealed today at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas that it will now pay up to $1 million for some discovered vulnerabilities, up from the $200,000 it offered when the bug bounty program began three years ago.

New iOS 13 beta makes Dark Mode easy as flipping a switch

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iOS 13
There’s lots to try out in iOS 13 Public beta 5.
Screen capture: Apple

Apple just introduced a fifth beta of iOS 13 to the general public. All the really significant new features appeared in earlier betas, but this one does have a nice tweak: switching to Dark Mode takes only pushing a button.

Apple also released the closely-related iPadOS 13 Public beta 5, as did tvOS 13.