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Memoji steal the show in bouncy new music video

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Memoji music video
Baby with an Animoji twist.
Screenshot: Scorpio Music/YouTube

Our amazement for great photos and even feature films shot on the iPhone is starting to seem less amazing.

But a French DJ and producer recently took a music video to the next level by animating some of the singing actors with Memoji.

First iOS 12.2 public beta boosts Downtime, Apple News

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iOS 12.2 public beta 1 is more than just a collection of bug fixes.
iOS 12.2 public beta 1 is more than just a collection of bug fixes.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The first fairly significant update to iOS in months is available now for the general public to update. iOS 12.2 will have a scattering of new features, not just the bug fixes and tweaks in recent updates.

The end of beta testing for this version could bring new iPad and iPod models. And AirPods 2 as well.

Google shames iPhone’s low-light performance in new Pixel 3 ad

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Pixel 3 Night Sight
The Pixel 3 destroys iPhone in low-light performance.
Photo: Google

Google is shaming the iPhone’s low-light performance once again in new marketing material for its Pixel 3 lineup.

One company VP shared comparison photos on Twitter that highlight (no pun intended) the Pixel 3’s incredible ability to capture dark scenes. The results simply aren’t possible on an iPhone — or any other handset on sale today.

Apple gives behind-the-scene glimpse at ads created with iPad Pro

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ipad pro
The iPad Pro is a powerful content creation machine.
Photo: Apple

Apple revealed some of the tricks it used on the iPad Pro to create its latest slate of how-to videos that were published earlier this month.

Not only did Apple film all the videos on the new iPad Pro, it also edited, animated and composed music for the ads that showed viewers how to perform tasks that used to require a PC to pull off.

Watch Apple’s secrets to doing everything on iPad:

Apple plans Netflix-for-games subscription service

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Get the professional instruction you need to start developing games for iOS
Developers could make games exclusively for Apple's game subscription service.
Photo: Epic Games

Apple allegedly wants to tap into the booming gaming industry to boost its growing Services business. The company is reportedly planning to create a new subscription service for games and it’s already talking to developers about becoming a publisher for iOS games too.

Samsung eyes camera company that sued Apple

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CorePhotonics
The rear-facing dual-cameras of the iPhone X.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Samsung is reportedly close to completing a deal to buy an Israeli optics company accusing Apple of stealing its patented dual-camera technology.

CorePhotonics most recently developed a periscope camera module with 5x telephoto for the Chinese smartphone maker Oppo.

Scribd racks up 1 million paid subscribers

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Scribd2
Scribd is the ultimate subscription service for readers.
Photo: Scribd

Scribd, the company which describes itself as the “Netflix for reading,” says that it has passed 1 million paid subscribers for its $8.99 a month service.

While 1 million is way below the kind of numbers enjoyed by Netflix, Spotify or Apple Music, it’s still an impressive milestone at a time when many publishers are struggling. It’s also one that Apple is likely paying a whole lot of attention to.

Take one easy step toward better data privacy [Deals]

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Happy Data Privacy Day! To celebrate, check out this pair of can't miss deals on data security tools.
Happy Data Privacy Day! To celebrate, check out this pair of can't miss deals on data security tools.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When it comes to personal data, you can’t be too safe. So when you have the chance to easily boost your security, you should take it. That makes this VPN a great data security tool that shouldn’t be missed. It is already discounted, but Cult of Mac readers get an extra 15 percent off when they use the code DATAPRIVACY15 at checkout.

Lack of screws put the hurt on Apple’s U.S. manufacturing plans

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Screws 1
This anecdote illustrates why U.S. manufacturing is so tough for Apple.
Photo: Gemma Stiles/Flickr CC

President Trump has suggested that Apple manufacture its devices in the United States. But things aren’t quite so easy as that — as a New York Times article makes clear.

It describes the challenges Apple faced when it tried making its top-of-the-line Mac Pro in the U.S. several years ago. One of the big problems? Simply, that Apple couldn’t get hold of enough screws to assemble the $3,000 computers in Austin, Texas.

Latest Mojave beta brings Touch ID support to Safari AutoFill

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2018 MacBook Air Touch ID
Apple Watch could be a Touch ID alternative on Mac.
Photo: Apple

Safari AutoFill in macOS Mojave is about to get even more convenient, thanks to Touch ID support.

The first macOS 10.14.4 beta reveals you’ll be able to log into websites simply by scanning your fingerprint. This feature has long been available on iOS, but it will be a first for Mac.

Vizio kicks off AirPlay 2 beta test in U.S. and Canada

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AirPlay 2
Sign up for SmartCast 3.0 access today.
Photo: Apple

Vizio will soon add AirPlay 2 support to some of its most recent TV sets, and you can try it out early by signing up for the new beta test in the United States and Canada.

AirPlay 2 support will let you stream content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac — including 4K movies you’ve purchased on iTunes. It will also allow you to control your set from an iOS device.

Apple met with AR startups at CES 2019

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ARkit
Apple is rumored to be developing AR glasses.
Photo: Dent Reality

Apple may not have had an official presence at CES 2019, but a new report claims that key personnel were present at the event to meet with leading AR companies.

More than half a dozen company representatives supposedly met with AR waveguide suppliers, including DigiLens, Lumus, Vuzix and WaveOptics. Waveguide is one of the most widely used structures in see-through AR displays, seen in products such as the Microsoft Hololens and Magic Leap One.

Sharp wants a piece of iPhone OLED manufacturing

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The iPhone XS Max screen delivers more of that OLED awesomeness.
Foxconn-owned manufacturer is looking to get in on building high quality displays for Apple.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Japanese electronics firm Sharp, owned by Apple supplier Foxconn, is supposedly working to enter the supply chain for future iPhones boasting OLED displays.

The news comes shortly after a report claiming that Apple plans to include all OLED displays in its 2020 iPhone lineup. Currently it includes a mix of LCD and OLED models. As a result of the increased focus on OLED displays, a number of companies are supposedly gearing up their OLED panel production capability.

Another iPhone supplier considering India manufacturing

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Foxconn moving additional iPhone production to India as coronavirus disrupts work
Another iPhone manufacturer is looking at moving beyond China.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

According to the Financial Times, Apple manufacturer Pegatron is planning to build new production lines in India, Vietnam and India. Pegatron accounts for around 30 percent of Apple’s assembly orders.

It follows on from news suggesting that fellow Apple supplier Foxconn is also considering production in India and Vietnam.

Respected analyst says everyone’s too pessimistic about Apple

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Long-term iPhone XR demand could eventually lead to greater sales than the iPhone XS.
A reliable analyst says 2019 iPhone sales won‘t be great but won‘t be disasterous either.
Photo: Apple

Ming-Chi Kuo, a tech analyst with a decent record for accuracy, predicts Apple will sell more iPhones in 2019 than many other analysts are anticipating.

To be clear, Kuo isn’t predicting a banner year for iPhone sales. Just not a terrible one.

Upcoming iPads, iPod touch referenced in iOS 12.2 beta

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Apple iPad and Apple Pencil
One of the 2019 iPad models could be a replacement for last year’s 9.7-inch iOS tablet, shown here.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Evidence continues to mount that Apple is readying a pair of 2019 iPad models, along with the return of the iPod touch. Mention of all three are reportedly included in the recent iOS 12.2 beta.

Brief descriptions of them add weight to rumors that these will be low-cost products.

Become your office’s Excel wizard with this $39 training bundle [Deals]

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Take a deep dive into one of the most powerful applications for business and number-crunching.
Take a deep dive into one of the most powerful applications for business and number-crunching.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Excel is one of the most commonly used programs in workplaces around the world. And with good reason: Microsoft’s spreadsheet software is an immensely powerful tool for tracking and analyzing data at a massive scale.

Whether you already use Excel, or want to get started, the tips in this educational bundle will prove priceless.

5 crucial iOS tweaks iPad users need [Cult of Mac Magazine No. 281]

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5 crucial iOS tweaks the iPad needs, in Cult of Mac Magazine No. 281
With these tweaks, the iPad will become truly powerful.
Cover: Marty Cortinas/Cult of Mac

If you own an iPad, you probably harbor big expectations for iOS 13. So do we. While Apple’s tablets pack performance comparable to laptops, the software they run on continues to lag. Here’s what Apple can do to remedy that in 2019.

Get our list of five crucial tweaks we want to see in iOS 13, plus the rest of the week’s best Apple news, reviews and how-tos, in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Get yours now!

Take control of your monthly finances with a simple web app [Deals]

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This web app offers a variety of tools for tracking and even predicting personal finances up to three years ahead.
This web app offers a variety of tools for tracking and even predicting personal finances up to three years ahead.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Plenty of us know the anxiety that comes with checking the bank account. Wages, taxes, markets and other factors make saving money a constant challenge. So any chance to get greater financial perspective and control is one you should seize.

Apple’s pay news service might be part of something bigger

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Apple News
Magazine subscriptions are coming to Apple News.
Photo: Ste Smith/CultofMac

The launch of Apple’s news magazine subscription service could be just weeks away.

Images found in the first iOS 12.2 beta appear to show that Apple is already in the testing phase of the magazine subscription service. Rumors have been circulating about its potential launch pretty much ever since Apple acquired Texture. Now it looks like the iPhone-maker is finally ready to capitalize by bundling it with other content.

T-Mobile to launch TV streaming service soon

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t-mobile
T-Mobile CEO John Legere is trying to make is carrier relevant again.
Photo: T-Mobile

T-Mobile is about to launch a new feature as part of its wireless service plans designed to lure in new subscribers: free TV streaming.

The carrier is reportedly planning to enter the streaming wars within the new few weeks with a free, ad-supported video service optimized from mobile streaming. T-Mobile service sounds similar to Verizon’s now-defunct go90 video streaming platform, but T-Mobile is hoping to some extra perks will make it more attractive to customers.

How to make Shortcuts give you a weather forecast on iPad

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iPad weather
Life’s a beach — without this iPad weather shortcut.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The iPad infamously still lacks a built-in weather app. There are plenty of ways around this — you can ask Siri, you can use the Maps app to see the weather anywhere, or you can wait for your iPhone to give you a lock-screen forecast every morning.

Today we add a new method. We’ll make a quick shortcut that gets the weather at your current location, and displays it as a notification.

Unknown iPads pop up in Eurasian database

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New mages could be of the rumored iPad mini 5.
iPad mini 5, supposedly pictured here, could have been listed in a Eurasian database.
Photo: Mr-white

Reports that Apple plans to bring out new iPad models in the near future strengthened today when several new tablets appeared in a Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) database.

These could be an update for last year’s 9.7-inch model and the rumored return of the iPad mini.

iPhone is tech reporter’s first line of defense against data vampires

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iPhone data privacy
Data privacy comes with the price.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The New York Times investigative reporter Nick Confessore has covered data privacy long enough to make the iPhone his smartphone of choice.

His take on data-hungry Android phones is damning enough to make anybody switch to an iPhone. He also offers other tips for keeping your data as safe as possible these days. Unfortunately, that’s not very safe at all, according to Confessore.

Now is the time to buy Apple stock

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What’s it like to have your startup bought by Apple? Stressful
Buying Apple shares now could earn you quite a bit of money this year, according to Morgan Stanley.
Photo illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If you’ve been thinking about investing in Apple stock, an analyst from Morgan Stanley says this is to time to do so. The price is already low, and not likely to go any lower.

There’s been bad news for Apple recently but that’s already priced into the stock.