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Live blog: Apple gives investors first look at iPhone XS sales

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Apple earnings
Apple's Q2 earnings are expected to be a bit of a downer.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s last earnings call of 2018 kicks off in an hour, and it’s shaping up to be the company’s biggest Q4 report ever.

Shares of Apple stock have been on an upward trend the last few days as investors eagerly await their first glimpse at iPhone XS sales figures. Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are set to get on the phone with investors at 2 p.m. Pacific this afternoon. We’ll be right here live-blogging all the action with as much witty analysis as we can must.

Come join the fun!

How to quit the iOS 12 beta program

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Now that iOS 12.1 has officially added bagel emoji, it’s time to exit the beta program.
Now that iOS 12.1 has officially added bagel emoji, it’s time to exit the beta program.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Not everyone who signs up for the iOS beta program is a developer. There are journalists testing new features, and regular folks who just want to try the latest additions (despite the bugs). But what happens when the final version ships? You’re left running the beta, while everyone else is on the regular version.

Today we’ll see how to exit the iOS beta program and switch back to regular updates.

Apple joins opposition to Trump transgender policy

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President Trump: Apple encryption could protect ‘criminal minds’
Trump wants transgenders to be redefined out of existence.
Photo: Bloomberg

Some of the biggest company’s in the country have come out in open opposition to transgender policy changes proposed by US president Donald Trump.

Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google are among 50 companies that signed a letter condemning Trump’s alleged plans to limit the definition of gender to birth anatomy. The companies — representing over $2.4 trillion in annual revenue — say that what harms transgender people harms their companies.

2019 iPad could sport revolutionary 3D scanning tech

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LEGO AR Studio
Apple's adding its laser-scanning tech to the next iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is all-in on augmented reality. This requires sensing the objects around the computer and user, which is why Apple reportedly intends to build its new “Time of Flight” laser scanning technology into the back of the next iPad.

The 2018 iPad Pro isn’t even out yet and there’s already a possible reason to wait on its replacement .

5 things to watch for during Apple’s last earnings report of 2018

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Tim Cook earnings apple
Tim Cook likes his currency the old-fashioned way.
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Hot on the heels of Tuesday’s big keynote, Apple is set to unleash its final earnings report of 2018 on Thursday, November 1. The report will give investors their first glimpse into how well the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are selling.

Apple shares are trading up again today after climbing Tuesday, signaling that Wall Street is pretty optimistic about Apple’s ability to rake in the cash. Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri are set to get on the phone with investors at 2 p.m. Pacific today — and there are some key areas investors will be watching intensely.

Aw Snap! ‘Influencer’ sued for not wearing Spectacles on Instagram

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Snap Spectacles
Luka Sabbat wearing Snap Spectacles. He is being sued for not wearing them in more Instagram posts.
Screen shot: Luka Sabbat/Instagram

Life as a social media influencer has its share of heavy lifting.

But a 20-year-old actor and model is facing a $90,000 lawsuit because he allegedly failed at the seemingly easy job of wearing Snap Spectacles in a few posts on Instagram.

How to make Group FaceTime calls on iPhone, iPad or Mac

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Group FaceTime is super easy to use.
Group FaceTime is super easy to use.
Photo: Apple

With the new Group FaceTime feature in iOS 12.1 and macOS Mojave 10.14.1, you can call up to 32 people and chat with them all at the same time.

Apple took some extra time getting this feature working perfectly. Now that’s it’s here, let’s see how to use Group FaceTime on iOS devices and Mac to get in on those massive group chats.

Face ID could get a big upgrade in 2019

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face id
Apple plans to make Face ID even better.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The iPhone’s Face ID system will allegedly get a big upgrade in 2019, according to one of the most accurate Apple analysts.

Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, told investors in a note today that his supply chain sources indicate Apple will add an upgraded sensor to the Face ID system next year to make the experience even better.

2018 iPad Pro runs faster than some MacBook Pros

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One of these computers is faster than the other. Which it is will surprise you.
One of these computers is faster than the other. Which it is will surprise you.
Photo: Apple

Benchmark scores for the 2018 iPad Pro announced this week show that this tablet is faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro released this summer.

Unfortunately, these same benchmark tests don’t clear up the some other mysteries about the new iPads.

Fortnite 6.2 lets you float into battle like never before

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Are you ready to rise in Fortnite Battle Royale?
Are you ready to rise in Battle Royale?
Photo: Epic Games

Epic Games just rolled out this week’s Fortnite update, giving players a new way to float into battle.

Balloons are the hottest item in the patch notes this week, alongside some nice improvements. Glider re-deploy is sticking around for now, too, but some other items have been banished to the vault.

U.K. passport plan might spark Apple’s next big fight

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Square Terminal could help more businesses accept Apple Pay.
The UK government wants Apple to open up its NFC chip reader to developers.
Photo: Square

The UK government wants Apple to open up developer access to the NFC chips inside iPhones. The reason is because it plans to launch a new app designed to help EU citizens apply for residency in the U.K. after it leaves the European Union.

However, as part of the app, the government wants to let users scan the chip inside their passports with their smartphone’s NFC reader. Unfortunately, while this is possible to do on Android, Apple does not allow developer access in this way. And the British government wants that to change.

Halloween iPhones trump candy as ultimate treat

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Halloween iPhones
No tricks. You're getting a smartphone, kid.
Screen shot: GizmoSlip/YouTube

Brandon Baldwin normally hurls iPhones from a couple of stories up to see if they survive as a way to entertain the 3.2 million followers of his YouTube channel, GizmoSlip.

But on Halloween night, Baldwin and his co-hosts decided to see what would happen when you drop an iPhone into the candy bag of a trick-or-treater.

Use solar energy to recharge your devices anywhere [Deals]

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This tough, lightweight, foldable solar charger can charge up two USB devices at once.
This tough, lightweight, foldable solar charger can charge up two USB devices at once.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You never know when you’re going to need to recharge your devices. It’s annoying enough when your phone dies at the office, but on a long hike or far from outlets it can be more than inconvenient. So it’s worth having a charger that works even when there’s no outlet to be found.

Apple eyes stake in struggling U.S. radio group iHeartMedia

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iHeartMedia
A deal could bring Beats 1 to broadcast radio.
Photo: iHeartMedia

Apple is in talks over acquiring a stake in iHeartMedia, according to a new report.

Sources say the company could invest millions of dollars to help save the struggling U.S. radio group, which filed for bankruptcy back in March. However, negotiations are at an early stage for now and no deal has been agreed yet.

Apple suppliers don’t expect big profits from Retina MacBook Air

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MacBook Air 2018 open
Apple's new MacBook Air is a stunner. But will it be a commercial hit?
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new Retina MacBook Air looks to be one of the more gorgeous laptops in Apple history. However, suppliers reportedly aren’t expecting to be awash with profits thanks to Apple’s orders.

That’s partly because of the price of the laptop, but also because of a bit of belt-tightening on Apple’s part which will reduce how much it has to pay manufacturers.

You can now watch Apple’s iPad and Mac event on YouTube

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Apple Maps just got a New York update.
Tim Cook getting ready to open a can of Mac and iPad whoop-ass at the "There's More in the Making" event in Brooklyn, New York.
Photo: Apple

Apple has been killing it this year, and this week’s “There’s More in the Making” event was no exception. People tuning in were treated to the unveiling of a new Mac mini, a stunner of an iPad Pro refresh, a gorgeous new MacBook Air, and more. Heck, there was even a super-hot New York crowd thrown in for good measure!

If you missed the event live, there’s now an easier way to see it than ever. That’s because Apple just uploaded the whole 90-minute event to YouTube.

Stockholm rejects Apple’s plans for historic park flagship store

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Apple Store
This mockup shows how the Apple Store could look.
Photo: Apple/Foster + Partners

Apple chooses some spectacular, historic locations for its Apple Stores — but those spaces don’t always want to be home to trendy retail stores selling expensive smartphones.

In Stockholm, Sweden, the new government has announced that it will block plans for an Apple Store in the Kungsträdgården park. While it welcomes Apple’s arrival in the city, it says that “Kungsträdgården is the wrong place.”

Apple won’t repair your ‘obsolete’ iPhone 5 any more

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iPhone 5 1
The iPhone 5 was one of the best iPhones Apple ever built.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 5 may be 6 years old at this point, but for many Apple fans this remains one of the greatest iPhone models ever built, and a genuine classic.

Sadly, there’s a bit of bad (if predictable) news from Apple: According to the company’s latest update of “vintage” and “obsolete” devices, the iPhone 5 is now considered too old for Apple repairs.

With a 14-hour battery, these new sports earbuds go the distance [Review]

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Tarah Pro sports earbuds are up to almost any adventure.
Tarah Pro sports earbuds are up to almost any adventure.
Photo: Jaybird

Tarah Pro earbuds, the latest wireless sports headphones from Jaybird, take adventure audio to new extremes. With smart new features and an astonishing 14 hours of battery life, these sweat-proof earbuds can go the distance — even if you’re a marathoner.

If you’re a fitness fanatic who constantly crushes your Activity goals during epic outdoor adventures, these might be the perfect Bluetooth earbuds for you.

Apple Watch shipments could grow 40 percent next year

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Man’s brand new Apple Watch turns out to be toilet plunger
The Apple Watch Series 4 could help push this wearable to more than 80 percent growth over two years.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The original Apple Watch got off to a slow start and was even labeled a flop. But years later, this wearable has really turned things around.

A market analysis firm says shipments are up significantly this year, and will be even stronger in 2019, with 83 percent growth over a two-year period.

Pixelmator preps AI-powered photo editor for iPad

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Pixelmator Photo will offer a wide sweep of image-editing tools, many enhanced through machine learning.
Pixelmator Photo will offer a wide sweep of image-editing tools, many enhanced through machine learning.
Photo: Pixelmator

Pixelmator makes image editing software for Mac and iPad, and it’s hard at work now on a new iPad application that uses artificial intelligence to improve its photo-editing capabilities.

The new app — dubbed Pixelmator Photo — will employ Apple’s Core ML (machine learning) technology to intelligently improve the exposure and cropping of images.

Bag a MacBook Air for $490, iPhone 7 for $330 [Deals & Steals]

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Macbook Air Refurb
Buy an older MacBook Air to save a fortune!
Photo: Apple

Apple’s gorgeous new MacBook Air is the upgrade we’ve all been waiting for, but it’s incredibly pricey. If you need a more affordable notebook, you can pick up an older model at a great price from Woot, which has 13-inch units available now for under $490.

That’s just one of the awesome offers in today’s Deals & Steals roundup. We also have refurbished iPhone 7 units for under $330, 14 percent off the terrific Amazon Fire TV Stick, and more!