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Apple Pay adoption soars, but still lags in U.S.

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Apple Pay adoption
Target stores are now accepting Apple Pay.
Photo: Apple

The number of Apple Pay users continues to climb, but the country with the slowest adoption is the United States.

Year over year figures show a 135 percent increase in Apple Pay users, a meteoric climb likely fueled when Apple added peer-to-peer payments at the beginning of 2018.

Samsung’s new foldable phone is a pricey taste of the future

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Galaxy-Fold-inside
Could it be here any day now?
Photo: Samsung

We won’t have flying cars and hoverboards in 2019, but thanks to Samsung, we do have foldable phones.

The Galaxy Fold finally got its official unveiling today at Galaxy Unpacked, and it wants to replace your phone and your tablet. Samsung calls it “a whole new world of mobile,” but it looks more like a prototype than a final design. And that futuristic folding phone certainly won’t come cheap.

Hyperspektiv app glitches up your photos and videos [Review]

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Imagine this moving, and you might start to get seasick.
Imagine this moving, and you might start to get seasick.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Hyperspektiv is a contradiction. Photo-editing apps are designed to make your photos look better by making them look nicer. Hyperspektiv is designed to make your photos look better by making them look worse.

Not only that, it’s one of a handful of photo apps that don’t try to mimic the limitations of film photography, like grain and light leaks. Instead, it ditches the nostalgia and uses truly digital means to glitch up your images, turning them into stills and videos that would look fantastic in a music video.

iOS 12.2 beta 3 brings changes to Apple News, TV remote app and Group FaceTime fix [Updated]

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animoji
The new animoji of iOS 12.2.
Photo: Apple

Update: The latest beta of iOS 12.2 is now available to the public, not just developers.

Apple just released the third beta build of iOS 12.2 to developers this morning, bringing a bunch of fixes and new features to the iPhone and iPad.

iOS 12.2 beta 3 arrived just over two weeks after developers received the last build. There are also new betas out for tvOS 12.2 and watchOS 5.2 to go with the macOS 10.4.4 beta that came out yesterday.

Apple may finally preview a revamped Mac Pro at WWDC 2019

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Mac Pro
The new Mac Pro will be modular again, just like this one.
Photo: Apple

Apple may finally give fans a first look at its revamped Mac Pro at WWDC 2019.

The company promised in the spring of 2017 that it would “rethink” its high-end desktop following feedback from professional users. The new model is expected to come with a more modular design that can be easily upgraded, but we’re still waiting for an update on Apple’s progress.

Rap T-shirt designer gives Steve Jobs the hip-hop fashion treatment

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Marino Morwood 2
Marino Morwood's designs have been worn by some crazy popular rappers.
Photo: Marino Morwood

Steve Jobs may have been referenced in a hip-hop track or two, but Apple’s co-founder and urban fashion aren’t exactly things you’d expect to find together.

That did not stop rap T-shirt designer Marino Morwood from picking Jobs as the subject of his latest creation. Having focused stars like Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. for his previous designs, his Steve Jobs T-shirt could bring Apple’s late CEO to a whole new audience!

Qualcomm renews efforts to block certain iPhone imports in U.S.

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Qualcomm headquarters
Certain iPhone models could potentially be blocked from sale in the U.S.
Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm has ramped up its efforts against Apple as part of the long-running battle between the two tech companies.

The chip maker has asked U.S. trade regulators to reverse a previous judge’s ruling. This would allow it to block the import of certain iPhone models into the United States.

Pocket a wireless charging powerhouse [Deals]

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This portable battery sports massive capacity, tons of connections and even wireless charging.
This portable battery sports massive capacity, tons of connections and even wireless charging.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

One thing that’s always good to have on hand is extra power for our mobile devices. But as we carry more, and more power-hungry devices, the typical portable battery won’t cut it. So, it’s time for a better battery.

Student faces lengthy prison spell for drug-dealing iOS app

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Mascot 2
The app was named after UC Santa Cruz's banana slug mascot.
Photo: Mike Fernwood/Flickr CC

Drugs on a college campus? To paraphrase an old Apple slogan, it turns out there’s an app for that.

Created by 18-year-old University of California, Santa Cruz student Collin Riley Howard, the Banana Plug app allegedly allowed customers to place orders for drugs — including cocaine, “Molly” and “shrooms” — from the comfort of their iOS devices. Howard then communicated with buyers via Snapchat to set up the sale, authorities say.

Apple’s latest ad will make believe an Apple Watch can fly

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Flight 2
Apple's best commercial of 2019 so far.
Photo: Apple

The latest Apple Watch ad likens the Apple Watch Series 4’s cellular capabilities to the power of flight.

It features 29-year-old Finnish-American athlete Inka Tiitto, best known to U.S. audiences for her appearance in America’s Got Talent. It depicts Tiitto running through woods and mountainsides, before eventually being hurled upward into the sky for a dazzling skydiving display.

Check it out below.

Apple plans to merge iOS and macOS apps by 2021

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Office Mac App Store
Your favorite apps could soon be available on any Apple device.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to make it easy for developers to merge iOS and macOS apps into one by 2021, according to a new report.

The project, dubbed “Marzipan,” hopes to encourage development and boost App Store revenue. It will start with a new software development kit that will let developers port their iPad apps to Mac later this year.

HomePod sold 1.6 million units over the holidays

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The HomePod is a lot smarter than you might think. Just take a look at these tips!
HomePod is Apple's take on the smart speaker.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s HomePod smart speaker experienced 45 percent growth in the holiday quarter, according to new figures. Strategy Analytics’ report suggests that Apple sold 1.6 million HomePod speakers over the three month period.

Those numbers still put it firmly behind market leaders like Amazon and Google. Nonetheless, they show that Apple is continuing to benefit from the explosion of interest in smart speakers.

Take control of your Apple Pencil 2

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Like everything else, the new Apple Pencil is better.
Like everything else, the new Apple Pencil is better.
Photo: Andrea Nepori

The Apple Pencil 2 is way better than version 1.0. It’s always charged. It’s always there on the side of your iPad, ready to use. And now that it supports tap gestures, it’s also a lot more powerful. But it doesn’t stop there.

Check out these excellent Apple Pencil 2 tips and tricks to take your Apple stylus usage to the next level.

iPhones are about to get interesting again [Opinion]

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TCL folding phone designs
These are just some of the possible designs a folding iPhone might use.
Photo: TCL/Cnet

Apple picked a design for the iPhone more than a decade ago and has gradually improved it with each successive model. But that‘s all over and done. We have no idea what the 2020 iPhone will look like. Literally no clue

That’s because the era of foldable displays is about to kick off, and they are going to bring profound changes to phones of all types.

iPhone discounts ease Apple’s pain in China only briefly

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China iPhone sales
Apple CEO Tim Cook meets with Apple Store employees in China.
Photo: Apple

Temporary price cuts in China offered only a temporary boost in iPhone sales, according to industry analysts watching how Apple would follow up dismal year-end figures in the depressed Chinese smartphone market.

To start 2019, Apple revealed unexpected revenue shortfalls, blaming it mostly on a sharp drop in demand for iPhones in China.

Triqtraq turns your iPhone into an amazing groovebox [Review]

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Triqtraq is almost too much fun.
Triqtraq is almost too much fun.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

A week or so back, I took a long trip, and I figured I’d make some music on the journey. I wanted an app that would be simple to use, but powerful enough to get some real expression into these musical sketches. Plus, I wanted something called parameter locks, which I’ll explain below.

I quickly narrowed in on Triqtraq. It’s not a new app, but it’s so good you should check it out ASAP.

iPhone SE returns — grab one before they disappear

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iPhone SE
Two new iPhone SE models for 2020?
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

The iPhone SE is making a rare appearance on Apple’s clearance page. This discontinued model was already inexpensive, and it’s available now for $100 or $150 less than the usual price, depending on the model.

But don’t dither; it’s likely to sell out again quickly.

Control devices with a wave of your hand using this sci-fi ring

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Litho
Litho is an input device for the real world.
Photo: Litho

Ever wish you could control your smart home devices without reaching for your iPhone? A new finger-worn controller is trying to make that a reality and it could be a total gamechanger for ARKit apps.

Litho, a small controller you wear on two fingers, gives wearers the ability to control iPhone connected devices by pointing, swiping and taping. It also doubles as a controller for AR apps so you don’t have to keep tapping on the screen.

Prepare to be amazed:

Media mogul says Apple is foolish to challenge might of Netflix

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Barry Diller
Barry Diller doesn't see the competition catching up to Netflix.
Photo: J.D. Lasica/Wikimedia CC

Apple can try to compete with Netflix for video streaming subscribers, but Barry Diller says Apple and others are “fools” to chase Netflix.

Diller, a studio executive turned tech entrepreneur, does not see any company gaining the number of subscribers as Netflix, which began building a base by sending DVDs of choice movies by mail.

Fortnite goes high plain driftin’ with the new Driftboard

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Fortnite 2
The day has finally arrived.
Photo: Epic

Bored of traveling around on foot in Fortnite? There’s some good news: Epic has finally introduced the new, eagerly awaited Drifboard” into the game. It allows players to catch some air and pull a few tricks while they’re going about their running and gunning business.

The Driftboard allows you zoom past your fellow players and competitors with impressive speed. You can even loot and revive allies without having to set foot off the board. Check it out in action below.

Don’t expect a major redesign for this year’s iPad mini 5

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iPad mini
The new iPad mini could just just like the old one.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

The iPad mini hasn’t gotten a sequel since 2015. However, if you’re expecting this year’s rumored refresh to be a massive leap forward, you might want to think again.

At least that’s the take based on an alleged CAD render seen by noted leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer, aka @OnLeaks. While he did not share the image, he suggests the supposed leak indicates the next-gen iPad mini will not see any major external design changes. iPad mini lovers — brace yourself for a simple spec bump.

Today in Apple history: Mac creator complains about Steve Jobs

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Jobs
Young Steve Jobs wasn't exactly easy to work with!
Photo: Esther Dyson/Flickr CC

February 19 Today in Apple history: Mac creator Jef Raskin complains about Steve Jobs February 19, 1981: Jef Raskin, creator of the Macintosh project, sends a memo to Apple CEO Mike Scott, listing his many complaints about working with Steve Jobs.

He claims that Jobs, who joined the Mac team the previous month, is tardy, shows bad judgment, interrupts people, doesn’t listen and is a bad manager.