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Excel for iPhone update turns photos into editable spreadsheets

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Microsoft Excel
One of Microsoft Office's coolest features.
Photo: Microsoft

An update for Microsoft Excel on the iPhone may not sound like the most exciting thing. But the update in question is actually pretty darn neat. That’s regardless of whether you regularly use spreadsheets or just fancy a neat tech demo.

The update lets you easily import spreadsheets by simply snapping a photo with your iPhone. The image you take of a paper-based spreadsheet is then recognized and turned into a fully functioning editable spreadsheet.

Apple’s hard at work on building its first Mexico City flagship store

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Mexico Apple Store
A look at the upcoming Mexico City Apple Store.
Photo: Apple Insider

Construction is well underway on Apple’s first Mexico City flagship retail store.

The upcoming Apple Store will be a standalone structure located in the Antara Fashion Hall at an upscale mall in Mexico City. Apple first committed to opening a Latin American flagship Apple Store back in 2017.

Apple Pay Express Transit en route to London

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay Express Transit is on its way to London, giving travelers a quick and easy way to pay for rides.

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed it is working closely with Apple to enable the feature “in the coming months.” It promises more information will be available at a later date.

Huawei is gearing up to battle its U.S. government ban

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Huawei
Huawei has faced a series of challenges in the U.S.
Photo: AndroidCentral

Huawei has filed a legal motion to try and reverse the against the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, the ruling which blocked U.S. government agencies from buying Huawei products.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the motion argues that the ruling was unconstitutional.

T-Mobile and Sprint may have to create a new wireless carrier in U.S.

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T-Mobile CEO John Legere with the Phone BoothE.
Deal between T-Mobile and would be worth $26.5 billion.
Photo: T-Mobile

The Department of Justice are happy to let T-Mobile and Sprint’s merger complete — on one condition. In order for the $26.5 billion merger to proceed, the DOJ wants the companies to help with the creation of a new wireless carrier.

This would address the concern about a merger stifling competition by reducing the number of major U.S. carriers. But as Bloomberg points out, “spinning off a full-fledged national competitor would be a high bar for T-Mobile and Sprint to meet.”

Miniature six-lead ECG is more accurate than Apple Watch [Updated Review]

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AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L
The pocket-size AliveCor KardiaMobile 6L can take a six-lead ECG.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

AliveCor’s KardiaMobile 6L promises to be much more accurate than the heart monitor built into Apple Watch Series 4, and almost as easy to carry around. It’s the first personal ECG with three electrodes approved by the FDA to check the electrical activity of the heart.

We put this ultra-portable iPhone accessory to the test, as well as the more basic single-lead KardiaMobile, so don’t miss our reviews of each.

5 improvements iPad users expect from iOS 13 [Opinion]

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So powerful, and yet it can’t even copy a file off a USB stick.
Better support for external monitors is one of the features iPad users want in iOS 13.
Photo: Apple

Those of us with an iPad have big expectations for the next version of Apple’s mobile operating system. These tablets pack performance comparable to laptops, but the software continues to lag.

Here’s what Tim Cook and Co. can do to remedy that.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on January 20, 2019 but is being revisited in the lead up to WWDC 2019.

UPDATE: iPadOS 13.1 is now out, and it offers almost everything asked for in this editorial.

How to resize a JPG on your iPhone

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If only you could resize and share all pictures.
If only you could resize and share all pictures.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Ever wanted to resize a photo before sending it, or posting it to the web? The quickest and easiest way to do this is with a shortcut. And it’s even quicker and easier because I’ve already written it for you. All you have to do is share the photo from inside the Photos app, pick this shortcut, and you’re pretty much done. Check it out.

Why the iPod touch is still totally relevant

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It's a repair manual! The iPod touch can be anything.
It's a repair manual! The iPod touch can be anything.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The iPod touch exists to be used by waiters, warehouse staff, delivery persons, and anyone else whose employer wants them to use an iOS device as a handheld on-the-job computer. That’s why it just got an update, and it’s probably why it hasn’t — and never will — change size or shape. It is a utility computer. Making it an all-screen, buttonless iPhone-lite is pointless. Adding Touch ID is equally useless when it is used by multiple people.

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t also a great device for everyone else. If you need a utility iOS computer, then you should buy it. Musicians are one great example of potential users. Let’s see why the iPod Touch is still great.

Leaked macOS 10.15 screenshots reveal Music and TV apps

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The TV app for Mac is coming this fall.
The TV app for Mac is coming this fall.
Photo: 9to5Mac

The first glimpse of Apple’s new Music and TV apps for Mac has been revealed with less than a week to go before WWDC 2019.

9to5Mac published two leaked screenshots of macOS 10.15 this morning just one day after they showed off leaked screenshots of iOS 13’s dark mode. The Music app and TV app screenshots look pretty bare, but reveal some new UI tweaks before Apple’s big keynote on June 3.

Take a look at the new Music app:

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.