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$350,000 Swiss watch looks like an Apple Watch on standby

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Swiss Alp Watch Concept Black 1
This way, everyone will know how much you spent. Or perhaps not.
Photo: H Moser & Cie

Plenty of tech companies “borrow” from Apple’s designs when it comes to new products, but it’s relatively rare for other industries to play copycat.

A Swiss watch company, however, is making an exception to the rule. The Swiss Alp Watch Concept Black from H Moser & Cie offers a hands-free Swiss watch that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Apple Watch.

Here’s how much Apple spent keeping Tim Cook safe in 2018

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quotes on Apple
It's a lot of money -- but way less than some of Cook's contemporaries.
Photo: Apple

Apple spent $310,000 on Tim Cook’s personal security last year. That figure alone may be around 5x the median household income in the U.S., but it’s a bargain compared to the figures some tech companies spend keeping their executives safe!

Amazon and Oracle, for example, spent $1.6 million each protecting Jeff Bezos and Larry Ellison. Google, meanwhile, spent $600,000 looking after CEO Sundar Pichai. All of those pale in comparison to Facebook, however — whose CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s security detail cost a reported $10 million.

Apple plans to reduce hiring amid iPhone sales slump

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Apple leases new offices near to Apple Park
Apple leases new offices near to Apple Park
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

Slumping iPhone sales have caused Apple to rethink its hiring strategies for certain division.

During an employee meeting earlier this month, Tim Cook was asked if the company is about to go on a hiring freeze. Cook reportedly responded that a total hiring freeze wasn’t a solution, the company would reduce hiring in some areas.

2019 iPhone could retain Lightning port, gain hi-res selfie cam

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A major topic of debate about the iPhone XI is camera lens placement.
Allegedly, these 2019 iPhone rear cameras could be getting an upgrade.
Photo: OnLeaks/CompareRaja

One rumored change to the 2019 iPhone might not happen: a generally reliable source indicates that Apple’s next handset will hold onto its Lightning connector.

And the same source says the iPhone XI will have very high-resolution front- and rear-facing cameras.

New iPhone XS battery case works with iPhone X. Sort of.

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APple Smart Battery Case iPhone XR
You can use the new Apple Smart Battery Case with the iPhone X if you’re willing to put up with some hassle.
Photo: Apple

Apple clearly says its new battery cases aren’t compatible with the iPhone X but some users of that handset claim that they’ve gotten the two to work together.

The designs of new iPhone XS and older X are nearly identical and the 2017 model mostly fits in the Smart Battery Case. Nevertheless, the handset gets power only under some conditions.

How to password-protect any app on your iPhone or iPad

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A barrier, blocking things. That’s a genuine light-leak FYI.
A barrier, blocking things. That’s a genuine light-leak FYI.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You know how iOS’ accessibility features often prove handy for all users? Like Live Listen, which lets you turn your AirPods into remote listening devices? Or a combo of settings that resurrects an iPhone with a broken screen?

The same is true for Screen Time. This feature tracks how long you spend using apps every day, and can help you limit that time. But you can also use Screen Time to password-protect any app on your iPhone or iPad.

Restore lost or deleted data from your iOS devices

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No matter whether your data is backed up in iCloud, in iTunes or not at all, the UltData app can get it back.
No matter whether your data is backed up in iCloud, in iTunes or not at all, this app can get it back.
Image: Tenorshare

This post is presented by Tenorshare.

The more we use our iOS devices, the more likely we are to lose data that’s important to us. Whether because of theft, damage or neglect, plenty of us know how valuable it can be to quickly get back the data we’ve lost. Even better if you can target just the files you want, like certain photo albums or text exchanges.

Apple snags another TV insider

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Apple TV
The guy that created Parenthood is joining Apple's TV team.
Photo: NBC

Apple may have found the perfect TV executive to help it produce a bevy of squeaky-clean TV shows for its upcoming streaming service.

Jason Katims, who created Parenthood and produced Friday Night Lights inked a multi-year deal with Apple will have the award-winning TV veteran develop and produce a number of shows for Apple.

Meet Korg’s new hardware groovebooxes: Volca Drum and Volca Modular

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Who wouldn’t want to play with one of these little tykes?
Who wouldn’t want to play with one of these little tykes?
Photo: Korg

Hey, iOS musicians. Not just you, in fact: Hey anyone who likes fun! Meet Korg’s new music-making boxes, the Volca Drum and the Volca Modular. They’re new additions to the Volca family of paperback-size music machines that hook up together or work alone. And they work great with your iPad or Mac, if you like.

Apple may hit the brakes on autonomous vehicle program

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Project Titan
Apple’s test vehicles from its self-driving car project could be headed for the highway exit.
Photo: Idiggapple/Twitter

Apple’s self-driving car development could be headed for a cliff. Maybe. A questionable report from industry analysts says that there are layoffs in this division and the whole project might even be scrapped.

The cause is supposedly the slowdown in iPhone sales caused by the weakening Chinese economy. The reduction in revenue leaves less room for non-core programs.

Galaxy S10 embarrassed by iPhone in alleged early benchmarks

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Samsung Galaxy S10 teaser
You won’t be blown away by Galaxy S10 performance.
Photo: Samsung

It seems Samsung is still struggling to match the performance of the iPhone.

Alleged early benchmarks for the upcoming Galaxy S10+ suggest the company’s flagship device doesn’t come close to competing with the iPhone XS Max. It doesn’t even beat the aging iPhone X.

Free Apple Watches may land on some senior citizens’ wrists

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Apple Watch Meidcare
That includes a life-saving ECG app.
Photo: Apple

Apple and a handful of private Medicare insurers are exploring a deal that could subsidize the cost of Apple Watches for people over 65 to use for health tracking.

Insurance companies offering the Apple Watch free or at a reduced cost as a carrot to get healthy is a growing trend as the watch continues to grab headlines for its health benefits.

Motorola’s relaunched Razr could cost more than iPhone XS

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Razr2
Expect a bit of a design overhaul since the last time you saw the Razr.
Photo: OptoScalpel/Wikipedia CC

Motorola is planning to bring back its popular pre-iPhone line of Razr handsets — but don’t expect it to cost what a cellphone cost back in the early 2000s.

According to a new report, Motorola’s revived flip phone brand could carry a price tag of $1,500 when it launches. In other words, it’s trying to take on the iPhone, a handset whose popularity helped cement the Razr’s fate, with a new phone that costs more than Apple’s flagship. We’ll give it to Motorola: That’s a bold strategy!

Apple references AirPower again as lengthy wait continues

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AirPower
Arriving in 2020?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Another small but significant reference to Apple’s long-awaited AirPower charging mat has been spotted this week, giving fans hope that the product is still in the pipeline after all.

AirPower is mentioned on an Apple product page for its new Smart Battery Case for iPhone XS. But what does it mean?

Roku follows in Apple’s footsteps by removing InfoWars app

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Infowars app
Apple removed the InfoWars app last year.
Photo: Infowars

Streaming service Roku is the latest tech company to follow Apple’s lead in banning right wing conspiracy website InfoWars from its platform.

Apple booted podcasts from the website off its platform back in September, following by banning InfoWars and host Alex Jones from the App Store. These decisions prompted other tech companies such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to follow in its footsteps. Now they have been joined by Roku.

Scott Forstall reveals the surprising origins of Apple TV

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Scott Forstall 2
The Apple TV started as a passion project.
Photo: Philosophy Talk

Scott Forstall has been largely absent from the tech world since leaving Apple following the Apple Maps debacle in 2012. However, in recent times he’s been giving a few more interviews about his time at Apple — when some people predicted he could even be a potential future CEO.

In a new interview on Philosophy Talk’s The Creative Life, Forstall talked about (among other things) his work on the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Including a rather intriguing anecdote about the creation of the Apple TV.

Apple Music will be free to some Verizon customers

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Streaming services like Apple Music dominate the US music market
Verizon customers could get a treat worth dancing about.
Photo: Apple

Update: Verizon has officially confirmed this offer. 

“When we introduced six months free of Apple Music to Verizon Unlimited subscribers, we said it was just the beginning of a great collaboration between Verizon and Apple to bring music streaming to our loyal customers,” said Angie Klein, vice president of marketing at Verizon. “Our customers loved the offer, so we’re expanding the value of our Beyond Unlimited and Above Unlimited plans by including Apple Music at the same plan price. You can stream more of the music you love on the network you deserve.”

According to a new report, Verizon is set to offer Apple Music as a freebie service to customers on two of its “unlimited” cell phone plans. This would, in essence, reduce Apple’s $9.99 per month subscription costs to zero — while boosting Apple’s subscriber numbers as well.

Court rules against Apple in $440 million patent battle

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European Commission could get even tougher on tech in 2020
Apple may have to pay up big bucks.
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A U.S. appeals court has upheld a $440 million judgment against Apple by “patent troll” VirnetX, an intellectual property licensing firm which has been battling Apple for years.

VirnetX won a $302 million verdict against Apple in 2016. That figure has now grown to $440 million thanks to interest, enhanced damages, and additional costs.

Tim Cook celebrates Apple Watch’s lifesaving abilities

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
A customer shared their story with Tim Cook.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Tim Cook shared a story on Twitter, describing how an Apple Watch user potentially had his life saved when his wearable device warned of an irregular heartbeat.

Elissa Lombardo, who alerted Cook of the incident, said that her husband had owned his Apple Watch for just a couple of days before he was sent the alert. The Apple Watch revealed signs of atrial fibrillation and an elevated heart rate of 150 beats per minute — compared to a normal resting heart rate of 60 to 100bmp.

Nomad’s new leather Apple accessories will only look better with time

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This is the original color of the Nomad Apple Watch Modern Strap and AirPods Rugged Case.
This is the original color of the Nomad Apple Watch Modern Strap and AirPods Rugged Case.
Photo: Nomad

Leather is a popular choice for Apple Watch bands but the latest from Nomad takes this material in a slightly unusual direction: it’s as untreated as possible. The intent is that this light-colored band will take on a patina over time.

Nomad also just introduced an AirPods case of the same material.