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AirPods are Apple’s second-fastest-selling new product of all time

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airpods
AirPods have been a massive smash hit for Apple.
Photo: Ste Smith/ Cult of Mac

AirPods are Apple’s second-best-selling new product of all time, a new report by Above Avalon analyst Neil Cybart suggests.

Cybart estimates that Apple is on track to sell 40 million pairs of AirPods in 2019. That represents almost 90 percent year-over-year growth. While impressive, this is nothing compared to the interest expressed through Google searches — which leaped up 500 percent last holiday season.

Apple names senior exec to promote its augmented reality initiatives

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There are plenty of AR apps but few people have heard of them. An Apple veteran has been tasked with changing that.
Frank Casanova is Apple's new AR boss.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s augmented reality efforts have a new spokesperson. Frank Casanova has been named head of marketing for Apple’s AR offerings.

Apple has been hard at work in this area for years, but its developer tools and the resulting AR apps haven’t attracted significant attention. Perhaps that’s why there’s a new senior director in charge of promoting them.

ThunderMag revives MagSafe for Thunderbolt 3 connections

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ThunderMag replaces MagSafe for USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connections.
ThunderMag replaces MagSafe for USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connections.
Photo: innerexile

MagSafe break-away cables were a great way to keep MacBooks from getting damaged but Apple stopped using them as part of the transition to USB-C.  ThunderMag is a new accessory that replicates this feature.

Its inventor claims there’s no data or charging slowdowns, as have plagued earlier attempts to replace MacSafe.

Enhance the capabilities of any Apple device with one do-it-all hub [Deals]

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Keep all your and your team's devices connected and charged with a single, massively useful hub.
Keep all your and your team's devices connected and charged with a single, massively useful hub.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

No matter what Apple devices you use, there are probably some annoying gaps in its performance. Maybe its batteries run out quick, or its storage, or you find transferring data between devices a hassle. So any device that can address all these shortcomings and more is welcome indeed.

App Store spending hit all-time high in 2018

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Apple removes 17 malware apps which secretly clicked on ads
iPhone users spent much more in the App Store last year, on a wide variety of apps.
Photo: Apple

iPhone users in the US spent, on average, $79 last year on software. That’s up 36 percent from 2017, according to figures from a market analysts firm. Spending on premium apps and in-app purchases has more than doubled since 2015.

Of the 2018 total, $44 was spent just on games, a 22 percent increase year-over-year.

Amazon buys mesh Wi-Fi router maker Eero

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eero
Eero monitors things like network throughput and interference, adjusting itself automatically.
Photo: Leander Kahney / Cult of Mac

Right when Apple has decided to get out of the router business, one of its biggest competitors is ready to jump in.

Amazon revealed today that it reached an agreement to acquire mesh Wi-Fi router maker Eero, giving the online retailer another powerful tool in its effort to dominate the smart home market.

Samsung’s first TVs with AirPlay 2 and iTunes are now on sale

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Samsung TV
iTunes is now available on some Samsung TVs.
Photo: Samsung

The first wave of AirPlay 2 enabled TVs are already here.

After revealing at CES 2019 that some of its new TVs would ship with an iTunes Store app and AirPlay 2 support, Samsung announced today that its QLED TVs are shipping out now. Sharing video from your iPhone to the big screen just got a whole lot easier.

How to send GIFs without sending GIFs

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It’s hard to convey a moving photo with a still image, but doesn’t this smoothie look delicious?
It’s hard to convey a moving photo with a still image, but doesn’t this smoothie look delicious?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Quick question: How do you send a GIF selfie from your iPhone? One answer is just don’t bother. It’s too much hassle. Another way is to use this handy shortcut to make one. But there’s a third way, which is also the best way: Don’t send a GIF at all.

If you and your intended GIF recipient both use iOS devices, there’s a much better option.

Samsung teases folding phone ahead of February event

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Galaxy S10
The S10 is nearly here.
Photo: Samsung

The folding future of smartphones is nearly here.

Samsung is set to unveil its folding Galaxy S10 smartphone at an event next week, but the company is already giving fans a little glimpse of what to expect. In a new video to hype the event, Samsung shows off the fold of the new S10 and it looks like it could be pretty amazing.

Watch the future unfold:

‘Culture of fear’ dominates Apple’s secretive satellite office

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apple park
Working for Apple isn't always a dream come true.
Photo: Apple

People that worked for Apple through a staffing agency have revealed some grim details of what it’s like to work for Apple as a contracted employee.

Working on Apple’s mapping projects just a few miles from Apple Park sounds like a dream opportunity, but it turns out the Silicon Valley-based gig isn’t nearly as glamorous as you’d think. A new report about Apple’s temporary workers reveals the “culture of fear” contracted employees face.

Jamstack Bluetooth speaker clamps onto your electric guitar

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It’s bigger than it looks here.
It’s bigger than it looks here.
Photo: Jamstack

The $249 Jamstack is a Bluetooth speaker that clips onto your electric guitar, hooks up to your iPhone, and lets you run iOS amp simulation and effects apps. It’s like adding a teeny-tiny amp to your guitar, only with way more wires.

For practice, it looks pretty neat — but for recording, it seems killer.

Apple brings veterans’ health records into 21st century

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Apple Health Records veterans
It’s a first for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Photo: Apple

Apple today confirmed that the Health Records feature on iPhone will soon be available to veterans.

The company is working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that, for the first time, U.S. veterans receiving care through the Veterans Health Administration will have access to their health records directly on their iPhone.

Steve Jobs opera triumphs with classical music Grammy

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Ashton Kutcher and Michael Fassbender played Steve Jobs in movies. Now Edward Parks III brings his rich baritone voice to the Steve Jobs opera, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.
Apple's former CEO as portrayed in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.
Photo: Dario Acosta/Santa Fe Opera

The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, an opera based on the life of Apple’s late co-founder and CEO, bagged the Grammy for best opera recording last night.

The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra recording of composer Mason Bates’ opera triumphed over nominees including Doctor Atomic by John Adams, Alceste by John-Baptiste Lully, Der Rosenkavalier by Strauss and Rigoletto by Verdi.

Apple joins coalition of companies supporting Dreamers

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Tim Cook talks diversity, sustainability, and coming out as gay
Tim Cook has been an outspoken supporter of Dreamers.
Photo: Apple

Apple has teamed up with a whole lot of other companies — including Amazon, Facebooks and others — to urge Congress to protect the ability of so-called “Dreamer” immigrants to legally stay and work in the U.S.

“With the re-opening of the federal government and the presumptive restart of immigration and border security negotiations, now is the time for Congress to pass a law to provide Dreamers the certainty they need,” the coalition of companies wrote in a letter to lawmakers. “These are our friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and they should not have to wait for court cases to be decided to determine their fate when Congress can act now.”

Apple forced to tell Italian shoppers about iPhone throttling controversy

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iPhone batteries
Apple's iPhone throttling controversy dominated the news last year.
Photo: iFixIt

As part of the fallout from a decision in Italy, Apple has added a statement to its homepage in the country, describing how it did not provide adequate information to customers.

The statement concerns the “iPhone throttling” controversy, in which Apple slowed down iPhones with aging batteries, via an iOS update.

TSMC is working on sequel to Apple’s celebrated A12 Bionic chip

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Gather_Round_A12Bionic 2
TSMC is getting ready to start A13 chip production.
Photo: Apple

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) will remain the exclusive iPhone chip supplier for the 2019 era iPhones, a new report confirms. TSMC has been making Apple’s A-series mobile chips since 2016, making it no surprise that the company would be offered the contract for yet another year.

2019 iPhone lineup won’t get USB-C or faster charging

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iPhone Lightning connector
You won’t have to swap your Lightning accessories just yet.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The 2019 iPhone lineup will not be making the switch to USB-C, according to a new report.

Apple is expected to retain the Lightning port for this year’s upgrade, and it will continue to bundle the same 5W charging adapter in the box as a cost-saving measure.

Your next AirPods could be easier to hold onto

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Apple AirPods
New AirPods are supposedly coming soon.
Photo: Apple

Upgraded AirPods are on the way — and a new report sheds light on new features that Apple’s next-gen wireless earbuds will supposedly boast. If you’re looking for a new color option, smart sensors, and a less droppable coating, you’re likely to be in luck.

If you’re looking for a drop in cost, on the other hand? Not so much.

Upgrade rate slows by 33 percent as we hold onto our iPhones ever longer

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iPhone 6s
With people keeping their phones so long, a typical device getting replaced these days is the iPhone 6s.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The days when people bought a new iPhone every two years are over, according to an industry analyst. In fact, many people are holding on to their handsets for twice that long.

That’s bad news for Apple’s bottom line, as faster upgrades mean more profits.

Glass screen protectors sometimes cause problems for 2018 iPad Pro

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The touchscreen in the new iPad Pro sometimes becomes less responsive under a glass screen protector.
The touchscreen in the new iPad Pro sometimes becomes less responsive under a glass screen protector.
Photo: Zagg

Some users of the newest iPad Pro models report that glass screen protectors limit the sensitivity of the touchscreen. These add-ones can also cause problems with Face ID.

The maker of a popular line of glass screen protectors say it has received only a very limited number of complaints, but it’s nevertheless working to address this issue.