We’ve written a lot about the Focos photo app here on Cult of Mac, because it’s like the Photoshop of focus. The universal iOS app lets you edit the focus of your Portrait mode photos in crazy depth (pun intended). But v2.0 just launched, and it’s hands-down amazing.

Focos 2 uses machine learning to calculate the depth of any photo, and then apply portrait-style blur to it. That means you can take portrait photos on the iPad and, wildest of all, you can apply a portrait background blur to photos you’ve saved from the internet.

The new Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ was faster that last-year’s iPhone XS Max in a speed test designed to test real-world use. Several improvements in the new Android model helped boost Samsung’s new flagship handset over the top.

Of course, Apple is about to introduce its own new flagship model, and comparing that to a just-released model will be a more fair test.

Nike continues to add to the technology of its self-lacing shoe line. The FitAdapt system, which includes a built-in motor to adjust the lacing, pressure and fit of two shoe models, can now be controlled by Siri commands, and there’s a new Apple Watch app too.

Apple is making it easier for independent repair shops to service out-of-warranty iPhones. It’s doing this by providing them with parts, tools, training, repair manuals and diagnostics previously available only to Apple Authorized Service Providers (AASPs).

The program has initially launched in the U.S. However, Apple says that there are plans to expand this to roll it out to additional countries in the future.

Each finished work of art has a backstory and Andrew Griswold’s podcast Just Outside the Artboard focuses on what happens between idea and creation.

His first episode, launched Aug. 23, gave him plenty to talk about as one of the 10 winners of Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” challenge.

Glasgow, Scotland’s most heavily populated city, is planning to spend millions giving an iPad to every middle and high school student.

As part of a new contract, 47,100 iPads will be handed out to students, alongside an extra 4,900 to teachers. But not everyone is happy about the dispensing of these “shiny new objects.”

Today, we’re awash in formats and delivery systems for content. That means it can be hard to keep track of how to play what. So if you’re playing high-bandwidth video and audio from a bunch of different sources, it’s helpful to have one player to handle them all.

Apple may be trying to wean itself off manufacturing in China, but despite its use of factories in Brazil and India, it’s actually relying on China more than ever.

According to Reuters, the majority of Apple suppliers have become increasingly concentrated in China. Although Apple uses small factories outside the country, these are typically used only for small domestic runs.

Apple is getting excited at the prospect of opening its long-awaited first retail store in India.

“We appreciate the support and hard work by Prime Minister Modi and his team to make this possible and we look forward to one day welcoming customers to India’s first Apple retail store,” Apple said in a statement Thursday.

Apple has released the latest beta version of macOS Catalina. The seventh beta, carrying the build number 19A546d, takes us one step closer to the official release of macOS Catalina, most likely next month.

It comes one week after Apple released beta number six.

The eagerly anticipated iOS game Pokémon Masters has arrived in the App Store a few hours ahead of schedule.

Having racked up more than 5 million preorders, the real-time Pokémon battle game is now ready for gamers everywhere. Complete with classic trainers like Misty and Brock.

Still wearing the same old band that came with your Apple Watch? Booooorring! Switch things up with this great deal on classy Apple Watch bands from Clessant.

Right now, when you buy any Clessant band, you get a second one of equal or lesser value at 50% off. But if you want to take advantage of this deal, you’d better act fast. This sale ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on Friday, August 30, 2019.

Anyone who wants to get a jump on iOS 13.1 can do so: the first public beta of this version was just released.

This includes features that apparently won‘t be in iOS 13 when it debuted in a few weeks.

In the olden days, when you wanted to replace your hard drive with a bigger one, you’d run a “secure erase” on it to completely remove any personal data. This would write zeros to the entire disk, overwriting anything already there.

But now, thanks to advances in storage tech, this no longer does the trick. (Not that you can change your own Mac SSDs now anyway.) The new secure-erase, says Apple, is to just encrypt your disk.

Apple may have finally succeeded in its long, long quest to be allowed to sell its products directly in India. Until now, the company has been forced to go through third-party resellers, but the Indian government today changed the rule that was hobbling Apple.

Being able to deal directly with the public might increase Apple’s poor sales of iPhones in this huge market.

This post is presented by Digiarty.

Macs are mighty machines, but if you work with video, you discover their limitations pretty quickly. And if you’re thinking a decked-out Mac Pro or other powerhouse computer might be the answer, you’re talking prices that rival down payments on a car or even a house. The best (and most affordable) answer might be to get better video processing software.

Microsoft just brought Dark Mode to Outlook for iOS. And this is just the start of giving many more applications in the Microsoft 365 product suite this feature, which puts white text on a black background.

Surprisingly, iOS 13.1 is already in beta. It looks like Apple’s release strategy this year is to freeze the current beta version of iOS 13.0 in order to get it ready for the new iPhones expected on September 10. Meanwhile, Apple continues to test the next version, adding back some features removed during the beta period — Shortcuts automations, for example.

So, what other new (or revived) features will you find in iOS 13.1 beta 1?

A revamp of Apple’s program that had people monitoring Siri voice commands for quality control will soon ask users to opt-in first, and only Apple employees will be listening.

“We realize we haven’t been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that we apologize,” the company said in a statement.

T-Mobile is so eager to get people to try its network, the company is giving away wireless hotspots. These are good for a month or 30GB of data, and are intended to let potential customers see how well T-Mobile service works at their home, office or school.

This telecom has a bad reputation as being mostly available only in big cities. This promotion seems intended to overcome that.

Qantas Airways, Australia’s largest airline by fleet size, has joined Virgin Australia in banning certain MacBooks from checked luggage.

Virgin announced its decision yesterday, citing fears that the laptop batteries could catch fire. Other airlines to also ban the laptop include Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration also reminded laptop owners not to bring on board products with recalled batteries, including Apple’s. Now Qantas is following suit.

Motion Twin’s celebrated game Dead Cells has finally landed on the App Store. In the process, it gives iPhone and iPad gamers the chance to play one of the most fun indie releases of recent times.

For the uninitiated, Dead Cells combines Castlevania-inspired side-scrolling action with some beautiful graphics and terrific gameplay. The results are an undisputed “must download.” Check out the trailer below.

Since the world runs on data these days, learning to work with it is a surefire way to boost anyone’s professional prospects. Ready to master the mysteries of big data? This comprehensive bundle of educational courses will prove invaluable.

One of the best things about Apple Store design is how Apple’s architects find ways to embrace local design elements, while still making the stores feel connected to one another.

The latest example of this is the stunning Foster + Partners design for the new Apple Aventura store in Miami, Florida. The most notable aspect of the store’s design is its undulating vaulted roof. This was intended to represent the city’s nautical history.

Apple’s AirPods are some of the top-selling earphones of all time. But according to Consumer Reports, they have a problem: “They just don’t sound great.”

In a series of tests, the consumer testing group pits the second-gen AirPods against Samsung’s Galaxy Buds. And, spoiler alert, their conclusions don’t come down in Cupertino’s favor.