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New ads show off iPhone encryption, recycling, and privacy

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iPhone recycling 1
Not every important feature of the iPhone is immediately visible.
Photo: Apple

Not every feature that makes the iPhone special is an immediately visible one like fancy new displays or new color options. Some of the things which make iOS great are under-the-hood features like its focus on encryption, privacy in the App Store — and even Apple’s sustainable focus on iPhone recycling.

Those are three of the topic highlighted in a series of new ads. Apple shared them to its YouTube channel in Australia over the weekend. Check them out:

For a limited time, get a discount on this highly rated language iPhone app [Deals]

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With this Mondly subscription, you will save 95% on a lifetime of language lessons backed by AI, AR and other innovative features.
Save 95% on a lifetime of language lessons backed by AI, AR and other innovative features.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Languages are better than passports. When you learn a new one, a whole new world opens up wherever you go, even if you never leave the country. So this chance to pick up five language lessons at once is a way to bring the world to you.

App Store testers plow through up to 100 apps per day

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Apple removes 17 malware apps which secretly clicked on ads
Nothing makes it onto an Apple App Store without a human looking at it. That takes less time than you might think.
Photo: Apple

With close to two million applications in its software stores, Apple reportedly doesn’t have much time to devote to testing most new submissions. Details leaking out about the process show that a typical app either gets approved or blocked in 5 or 10 minutes.

A lot of them get blocked.

What’s new in iOS 13 beta 2 [Cult of Mac Magazine No. 302]

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What's new in iOS 13 beta 2? Find out in Cult of Mac Magazine.
We dug through the latest iOS 13 beta so you wouldn't have to.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

If you’re not ready to chance running the latest iOS 13 beta on your daily driver, let Cult of Mac take the risk for you. We found some great new features in iOS 13 beta 2 — along with some neat fixes and plenty of rough edges.

Find out what we liked (and what we didn’t) in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine for iOS. Or hit the links for the usual roundup of top Apple news, reviews and how-tos.

Prices plummet on VPNs, Raspberry Pi kits and more [Deals]

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Price Drop Roundup
Some of our best deals got even better, with discounts as steep as 98% off.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Pretty much every deal we share is already great, so when they get even better, you’ll want to pay attention. Right now in the Cult of Mac Store, prices on VPN subscriptions, lessons in Logic and Excel, and a loaded Raspberry Pi kit have reached new lows. Read on for more details:

Brexiteer doesn’t want her shiny new EU iPad

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Logitech Slim Folio Pro review
Apple's market share climbed 4% last quarter.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The dutiful iPad has found itself in the middle of the United Kingdom’s bitter divide over leaving the European Union.

A freshly sworn-in member of European Parliament cried foul over being issued an iPad, implying to followers on Twitter the device was nothing more than a pricey perk.

But her grandstanding backfired when critics informed her that the iPad is a cost-saving tool for her to do her job.

If you’re using an AirPort, you should upgrade it ASAP

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AirPort Express
Anyone with an AirPort Express like this one should install the latest security update.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple discontinued the AirPort line of wireless routers last year but continues to support them, including efforts to keep out hackers. The US government’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a statement urging users of networking equipment to install a new firmware patch to block attacks.

Google has made its last iPad rival

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Google Pixel Slate tablet
Pixel Slate is the last Google tablet you’ll ever see,
Photo: Google

Google won’t make any more tablets, and dropped plans to introduce two models it was prepping for release.

No reason was given, but heavy competition from Apple’s iPad line had to have been a factor.

Physician uses Apple Watch to diagnose atrial fibrillation on the go

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Apple health care
Apple Watch’s ECG is incredible.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch has proven to be a lifesaver many times over for its owners but now it’s also being used to help save people that don’t even own one.

A physician in San Diego recently shared how he used the ECG on his Apple Watch Series 4 to detect atrial fibrillation in someone while chilling at a restaurant. And it probably saved the person’s life.

Sluggish iPhones sales leave Apple with surplus OLED problem

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iPhone X
The iPhone X was the first iOS device to get an OLED display.
Photo: Apple

Weak iPhone sales over the last two years could cause Apple to bring OLED displays to the iPad or MacBooks a bit earlier than expect.

Apple owes Samsung Display hundreds of millions of dollars because it agreed to purchase a certain amount of OLED displays per year. With iPhone sales in a slump, Apple hasn’t bought as many OLEDs as it promised but the two sides are reportedly discussing alternative solutions other than sending a giant pile of cash to Samsung.

Apple yoga challenge wants you to get bent today

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Yoga Day Activity Challenge
Yoga brings more benefits than just these stickers.
Photo: Apple

It’s the International Day of Yoga, and Apple created a yoga Activity Challenge to urge Apple Watch wearers to participate.

The reward is three stickers to be that can be used in Messages and FaceTime. Also, you’ll be more flexible from doing yoga.

Court sides with criminal defendant who refused to unlock his iPhone

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GrayKey can bypass iPhone security
Should criminals have to unlock their iPhones?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A Florida appeals court has sided with a criminal defendant who refused to turn over his iPhone passcode to the cops.

The 1st District Court of Appeal was responding to a 2018 robbery case in Alachua County. Previous courts had come to conflicting decisions about whether the defendant must reveal how to unlock his devices.

Foxconn founder urges Apple to move manufacturing to Taiwan

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Terry Gou
Departing Foxconn chairman Terry Gou has some words of wisdom for Apple.
Photo: Voice of America/Wikimedia Commons

Terry Gou, departing founder of Apple’s biggest supplier Foxconn, has urged Apple to move manufacturing out of China. Gou suggests that Apple select neighboring country Taiwan as a location.

This would allow Apple to avoid any tariffs that come from the United States’ burgeoning trade war with China.

Big changes coming to iPhone, and tvOS gets some long-awaited features, on The CultCast

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CultCast 393
Ming-Chi Kuo says some big changes are coming to iPhone.

This week on The CultCast: New iPhone rumors point to some big changes coming in 2020. Plus: Leander gives his take on the new betas; two long-awaited features are finally coming to tvOS; and scientists say iPhone is making teenagers too … horny.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create 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..

AT&T is America’s fastest LTE mobile network

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AT&T logo
AT&T came out on top.
Photo: Luismt94/Wikipedia CC

AT&T has beaten out its rival networks to claim the title of fastest LTE carrier in the United States.

That’s according to a new rundown of mobile networks by PCMag. The publication issues its report every year, with Verizon and AT&T typically battling back and forth for first place. This year was AT&T’s turn — marking the first time in six years that it’s managed to overthrow Verizon.

Qualcomm criticized for using internal Apple documents in court

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Anti-robocall bill is one step closer to being passed into law
FTC argues that Qualcomm should have introduced documents earlier.
Photo: Pexels

The legal battle between Apple and Qualcomm may be settled. But that hasn’t stopped Qualcomm from bringing up Apple’s name in court.

As part of a hearing to stop the enforcement of an antitrust ruling, Qualcomm used internal Apple documents as evidence. And the U.S. Federal Trade Commission wasn’t too happy about it.

Uniq iPhone battery is also wireless charger and phone stand [Review]

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Uniq HydeAir
The Uniq HydeAir sports several unique features along with the expected ones.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Uniq HydeAir isn’t your standard 10,000mAh external battery. Beyond USB-A and USB-C ports, it also lets you enjoy the benefits of wireless charging when traveling. And it even has a built-in stand for your phone.

Charge into our hands-on review to discover if HydeAir is right for you.

Clever concept fixes iPhone’s incoming call problems

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Incoming call
Please make this real.
Photo: Vinoth Ragunathan

The way iPhone handles incoming calls is probably one of the worst UI elements still around in iOS. Instead of only showing a small alert, the entire screen is taken hostage by a caller. This especially sucks in the age of endless robocalls, yet Apple has shown no motivation to change all of that.

Concept designer Vinoth Ragunathan has come up with a clever solution that fixes all that and it doesn’t even require much work on Apple’s part. All you would have to do is swipe up to dismiss the screen.

New Mac Pro grille is actually a terrible cheese grater

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Cheese grater pro
You *could* use the Mac Pro to grate cheese. But you won’t be happy.
Photo: Winston Moy

The new Mac Pro sure looks a lot like a cheese grater, but it turns out that it’s pretty bad at grating cheese.

YouTuber machinist Winston Moy painstakingly re-created the complex circular structure of the new Mac Pro grille using his Shapeoko mill to put Jony Ive’s work to the test. The video of the entire process proves quite fascinating. However, the end result kind of disappoints.

Skip to the 5:30 mark to see it in action:

How (and why) to make your own power-only USB cable

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Title image
Assemble your tools for a fun hack attack
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

USB is dirty. Just like you’d never stick your body parts into a mysterious public hole, neither should you plug your iPhone into a public charging station. iOS is pretty good at rejecting unknown connections from USB, but why take the risk?

There are a few ways to make public iPhone charging safe. One is to plug into a power outlet using your own plug and cable. But what about on a plane or train, or other public spot where only USB outlets are available? Or a friend’s computer, one that might be riddled with malware? Then you need a custom USB cable, one that only passes power, and not data. The good news is that, if you have an old Lightning USB cable laying around, you can easily fashion your own, just by yanking out two pins from inside the USB plug. Alternatively, a charging keychain can be a great portable solution to ensure safe and convenient charging wherever you go.

Here’s how.

Grab your wand! Harry Potter AR game apparates into App Store early

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The first AR Harry Potter game promises spell casting in the real world
The first AR Harry Potter game promises spell casting in the real world
Photo: Niantic and WB Games

A much-anticipated game set in J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World just launched a day early. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite has been compared to Pokemon Go, as gameplay revolves around using a phone to find augmented-reality objects scattered around the real world.