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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.

2019 iPhone render puts new spin on triple lens camera

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A major topic of debate about the iPhone XI is camera lens placement.
A major topic of debate about the iPhone XI is camera lens placement. This is the latest possibility.
Photo: OnLeaks/CompareRaja

Several rumors about the next iPhone point to it having three camera lenses but don’t agree on how they’ll be arranged. The latest leaked render shows it with the lenses neatly lined up in a row.

This unconfirmed image also shows a smaller notch.

The Podfather’s watch packs a hefty $49,000 price tag

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Tony Fadell watch
Maybe the price on that Apple Watch Series 4 isn't so steep.
Screenshot: Hodinkee

Tony Fadell invented the iPod and hundreds of millions of people bought one. But he can’t expect those kinds of sales with his latest creation – a watch costing $48,800.

The Ressence Type 2 has a relatively modest price tag in the luxury watch space. A brand like Patek Phillipe can fetch a couple hundred thousand dollars just for a used timepiece.

How to watch any video in a floating window on iPad

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The iPad’s picture-in-picture video can be a real productivity ‘booster.’
The iPad’s picture-in-picture video can be a real productivity ‘booster.’
Photo: Cult of Mac

Did you know that you can watch any video in a floating window on your iPad? Of course you did. But did you also know that you can change the size of the window, and even dock it to the side of your screen? Maybe not! Today we’re going to check out how to use picture-in-picture on the iPad.

Make a New Year’s resolution to be safer online [Deals]

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Utilize Dashlane's advanced features to take control of your online security.
Utilize Dashlane's advanced features to take control of your online security.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

This post is presented by Dashlane.

New Year’s resolutions are sure easy to make. But even the healthiest commitments can be hard to keep over time. Luckily, any resolution to be safer online is easy to stick with — when you get the right tool.

DuckDuckGo gives Apple Maps a tiny victory over Google

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DuckDuckGo searches can now include Apple Maps data without violating your privacy.
DuckDuckGo searches can now include Apple Maps data without violating your privacy.
Photo: DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo teamed up with Apple to  protect user privacy for map and address-related searches. Their agreement gives users of the search engine access to continually updated maps, enhanced satellite imagery and more without exposing their data.

The pairing seems natural as both Apple and DuckDuckGo have taken strong stances on protecting user privacy.

Nike kills shoelaces with new iPhone-controlled sneakers

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Marty McFly would've loved these.
Marty McFly would've loved these.
Photo: Nike

Nike is on a mission to kill shoelaces for good with its new pair of app-controlled sneakers, which made their official debut today.

Taking a page right out of Back to the Future II, Nike’s new Adapt BB self-lacing shoes pack wireless connectivity, and a custom motor and gear train, to give athletes a perfect fit without having to fuss with retying their laces.

Organize your cables and gadgets with Pad & Quill’s classy Tech Folios

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Don’t let them dangle — wrangle the tangle.
Don’t let dongle’s dangle — wrangle the tangle.
Photo: Pad & Quill

Check out Pad & Quill’s latest trio of gadget organizers. The Tech Folio, Tech Folio Mini, and Tech Folio Pro are variously-sized pouches with pockets, clips, and stretchy bands with which to wrangle and organize your cables and gadgets. Let’s take a look.

Netflix hikes prices for U.S. subscribers

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Netflix on iPad
Prepare to pay more for Netflix.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Netflix has confirmed another price hike for subscribers in the United States — its biggest increase since it launched 12 years ago.

The company’s most popular plan, which offers high-definition streaming on up to two different devices simultaneously, will now cost $13 a month, up from $11 a month.

Netflix says it will use the cash to “continue investing in great entertainment.”