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Apple explains App Store policies as it fights monopoly charges

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Apple App Store principles
A direct appeal to the public.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple took the defense of its App Store practices directly to its consumers, launching a new web page as it prepares for a court battle over accusations claiming the company has monopolistic control over iOS apps.

The page appeared this morning on Apple’s website with the title “App Store, Principles and Practices.”

Banking app Revolut adds Apple Pay support

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Revolut-bank
Start spending with Apple Pay today.
Photo: Revolut

Online banking service Revolut has finally added Apple Pay support in a number of European countries.

Its latest update lets you add your Revolut card to the Wallet app and pay for your purchases using an Apple Watch or iPhone.

Fortnite gets brand new burst SMG, Solid Gold Duos

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Fortnite burst SMG
Jump in now to try it out.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite’s latest content update is out and it brings a brand new burst SMG to Battle Royale.

The suppressed SMG has been vaulted to make way for the newer weapon, which is just as effective up-close. This update also brings back a popular limited-time game mode.

Apple shares suffer worst month of 2019 so far

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Apple waives developer fees for nonprofits, others in 8 additional countries
This hasn't been a great few weeks for AAPL.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple shares are having a rough time right now — but, don’t fear, investors simply think this is a great opportunity to invest.

Shares in AAPL are currently trading at $177.39. That’s down from a high of $211.75 at the start of May. It’s also way down from Apple’s all-time high of $233.47 in October. Unless things turn around in the next couple of days, that will mean Apple posting its worst month of 2019.

Apple cuts production of older iPhones with new models ‘on track’

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iPhone xs xr compared
Sales of the iPhone XR are said to be falling fastest.
Photo: Apple

Apple has cut production of older iPhone models for the third quarter of 2019, according to a new report from analysts.

The move suggests that demand for the company’s more affordable devices has started falling. Meanwhile, manufacturing is on track for Apple’s next-generation handsets coming this fall.

Go beyond Squarespace to build and host your website [Deals]

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Obior Website
This website builder and hosting service costs a fraction of alternatives like Squarespace.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Lots of people have good reason to have a website, but it can be expensive and complicated to set one up. So it’s no wonder that services like Squarespace offer a shortcut for creating working sites quickly. But at $12 a month for personal accounts, it’s still an expense, and you can do better.

New Yorkers will soon be able to use Apple Pay on the subway

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Apple Pay will go live starting this Friday.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Starting Friday, subway riders in New York City will be able to use Apple Pay to swipe in and out of turnstiles.

Apple Pay functionality will initially be limited to the 4, 5, 6 line between Grand Central-42 Street in Manhattan and Atlantic Ave-Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This is probably the most heavily trafficked subway line, and therefore one of the busiest venues Apple Pay has been rolled out as far as travel goes.

Tim Cook donates to memorial fund for beloved Auburn couple

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2018 interview with Tim Cook suggests Apple was working on iCloud backup encryption
Cook spoke warmly of Rod Bramblett and wife Paula.
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook has donated $25,000 to a family memorial fund for former Auburn college sports broadcaster Rod Bramblett and wife and fellow Auburn employee Paula.

The couple, who are survived by their two children, died in a car crash over the weekend. Their vehicle was hit by a teenaged driver at an intersection.

Samsung and Huawei beat Apple in Q1 smartphone sales

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Apple display maker exec fired for embezzling millions of dollars
Apple still ranks no. 1 in profits, though!
Photo: Kristal Chan/Cult of Mac

Apple placed third in worldwide smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2019, suggest new figures from Gartner.

Samsung came in first place, with 71.6 million units sold in the three month period. Huawei followed in hot pursuit, with 58.4 million sales. Apple, for its part, sold 44.6 million units for the quarter: a decline of 17.6% year over year.

Pokémon Company’s newest game wants to put you to sleep

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Pokémon Sleep
Want to be the very best? Just sleep.
Photo: The Pokémon Company

The Pokémon Company successfully got millions of gamers off their couches and out into the streets with Pokémon Go. Now it wants to send them all to bed.

Its next mobile game, Pokémon Sleep, will reward you for good sleeping habits. It will let you train your Pokémon while you’re catching some Zs for the first time ever.

It’s one of several new titles coming to mobile in 2020.

Former App Store boss talks approvals process

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Apple removes 17 malware apps which secretly clicked on ads
The App Store reviews process can seem a bit mysterious.
Photo: Apple

A former head of the App Store’s approvals process has shed some light on the sometimes opaque review process of new apps.

In an interview, Phillip Shoemaker revealed how the system evolved over his time running the process, from 2009 through 2016.

Citigroup reportedly pulled out on Apple Card deal

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Apple Card
Apple Card might be the most consumer-friendly credit card ever.
Photo: Apple

One of Goldman Sachs’ biggest rivals pulled out on a deal that would have made it the bank backing Apple Card.

Citigroup reportedly was in advanced negotiations with Apple but pulled out of the Apple Card deal due to doubts that it will be profitable.

How to make your iPhone read any text out loud

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Speaker grille read text
This speaker symbolizes every word spoken by your iPhone.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Today we have another great tip ripped form the iPhone’s accessibility settings. The screen reader lets you use a quick two-finger gesture to read anything on the screen. This is obviously designed for folks who have trouble reading the screen, but it is also very handy for everyone else.

You can listen to a long magazine article while you do the dishes for example, and much more.

iOS 12.4 beta 3 is out now for developers

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Apple Card
Apple Card’s official launch date still hasn’t been revealed.
Photo: Apple

12.4Apple is speeding through the beta process of iOS 12.4 with yet another beta build that’s ready for developers.

iOS 12.4 beta 3 comes just eight days after Apple seeded the second beta to developers and the public at the same time. The update prepares iPhones for the launch of Apple Card later this summer, along with packing a bunch of bug fixes and performance improvements.

Everything we think we know about iOS 13 for iPhone

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We hope iOS 13 looks a lot like this.
We hope iOS 13 looks a lot like this.
Photo: Alvaro Pabesio

The big iOS 13 news is all about the iPad. Or at least, we expect it to be based on rumors and leaks. But what about the iPhone? How will iOS 13 shape up on the most popular of iOS devices? Will it be a dead year, while the iPad gets all the (somewhat overdue) attention? Or will it be just as exciting for iPhone owners?

The good news is, the iOS update will probably be huge overall. In recent years, Apple has managed to lock down the secrecy around software, but this year the rumors — based on purported leaks — abound. That might mean the iOS 13 is bursting with new stuff.

So, let’s take a look.

Top iPhone lens maker now has bags for your gear

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Moment bag for mobile phtographers

Photo: Moment

Moment, a go-to brand for quality iPhone lens attachments, will now help you carry your gear with new bags to support the mobile photographer.

The company’s roomiest offering is an expandable fanny sling pack with adjustable microfiber-lined pockets for your lenses and other accessories.

For a more tightly edited carry, Moment also introduced a crossbody wallet functional enough for your shoots and stylish enough to carry in any situation.

Steve Jobs didn’t want the ‘Get a Mac’ ads to be too funny

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Justin Long
Apple's "Get a Mac" campaign got laughs at Microsoft's expense from 2006 to 2009.
Photo: Apple

Justin Long, the “Mac” to John Hodgman’s “PC” in the now-famous ads from Apple, said the funnier commercials were kept off the air by company founder Steve Jobs.

It’s not because Jobs lacked a sense of humor as Long revealed over the weekend to host Lola Ogunnaike on PeopleTV’s Couch Surfing.

Teen who hacked Apple thought it would earn him a job

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hacking pic
This was the second teenager in Australia to hack Apple's secure servers.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A second Australian teenager who hacked into Apple’s computer systems has said that he did it because he thought it would help earn him a job at Apple.

The unnamed teen was 13 when he hacked into Apple’s mainframe. Now 17 years old, he recently plead guilty to multiple computing hacking charges in an Adelaide Youth Court.

Craig Federighi won’t accept Google’s luxury Apple dig

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Google
Google CEO recently took a shot at Apple's privacy stance.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, has addressed Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s shots at Apple’s stance on privacy.

In a recent New York Times op-ed, Pichai dismissed unnamed (but clearly Apple) tech giants who sell privacy as a “luxury good.” Unsurprisingly, Federighi doesn’t agree.

Huawei founder doesn’t want iPhones banned in China

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Chinese company Huawei wants the media buzz that would come with releasing the world's first foldable phone.
Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei is a self-admitted Apple fan.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

Huawei may be competing with Apple in the smartphone industry, but Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei has said that he would be “the first to protest” if China was to consider banning the iPhone in the country.

This comes after the U.S. placed a ban on Huawei products. This prompted concerns that China could retaliate and ban an American tech giant, such as Apple.

Apple’s new iPod touch is the fastest yet — and all too familiar

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iPod-touch-2019
The new iPod touch looks just like the old one.
Photo: Apple

Apple just surprised us with a new iPod touch that promises to be its fastest yet.

Powered by a speedy A10 Fusion processor, it’s built for gaming and immersive augmented reality experiences on the go. It’s also affordable, with prices starting at just $199.

The only problem is it looks just like the old iPod touch.

iPhone chip manufacturing on its way to Indonesia

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iPhone 6s teardown
Pegatron will team up with an Indonesian manufacturer..
Photo: iFixit

Apple manufacturing partner Pegatron plans to invest up to $1 billion in a new iPhone chip plant in Indonesia.

The Taiwanese company outlined its plans in a letter of intent to the Indonesian government, according to a new report. Pegatron plans to work alongside local company PT San Nusapersada.