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Scam subscriptions plague the App Store

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App store
There's a whole of money that can be made on the App Store.
Photo: Apple

Subscriptions mean big business for app developers, but this success has ushered supposed bad actors into the App Store. A new article by TechCrunch shines a light on some of these apparent scam tactics, which could cause a headache for Apple.

iPhone XR looks set to become a massive smash hit

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iPhone XR
Are you excited about the iPhone XR?
Photo: Apple

Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks the iPhone XR is going to be a massive smash hit for Apple — and it seems everyone is being taken by surprise by how in-demand it will be.

In a recent note to investors, Kuo increased his estimate for fourth-quarter iPhone XR shipments by 10 percent. Instead of 33 million to 35 million iPhone XR units over the quarter, he now thinks Apple’s suppliers will ship out 36 million to 38 million units.

Fortnite 6.1 drops new Quadcrasher and BR tournaments

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Fortnite Quadcrusher
Unleash destruction in the new Quadcrusher.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite’s weekly content update has landed and there are big additions to look forward to for Battle Royale regulars.

Players can now navigate the map in the new Quadcrusher vehicle and take part in in-game tournaments. There are also a whole host of big improvements to look forward to across all platforms, including iOS.

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen dies at 65

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918388A7-B41E-4841-BD44-4A940D084258
Paul Allen (left) and Bill Gates in the early days of Microsoft.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen died today after a battle fighting non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Allen was 65 years old and was also the owners of the Seattle Seahawks and the Portland Trailblazers.

Recordings of Saudi dissident’s death probably not from his Apple Watch

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Jamal Khashoggi could have recorded his own last moments with an Apple Watch
Jamal Khashoggi could have recorded his own last moments with an Apple Watch, but it's doubtful he could have transmitted them.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Investigators into the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi claim to have recordings made on his Apple Watch of this prominent critic of Saudi Arabia being killed by Saudi agents. However, experts doubt that these actually came from the journalist’s wearable.

Why Apple’s plan to give away original TV shows is crazy like a fox

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Will Apple's weird plan to give away its TV shows make Netflix nervous?
Will Apple's weird plan to give away its TV shows make Netflix nervous?
Photo: Siniz Kim/Unsplash CC

After spending upward of $1 billion creating original TV shows, Apple apparently plans to give them away for free. That would certainly be a bold move as Apple muscles into original video production, but it might be the craziest idea ever.

Here are three reasons why it’s a smart strategy — and three more why it could backfire.

Jony Ive isn’t leaving Apple any time soon

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"Will design for food."
Photo: Apple

Apple design boss Jony Ive says he’s got plenty left to do at Apple that will keep him there for the foreseeable future.

Making an appearance at Wired’s 25th-anniversary party at the SFJazz Center in San Francisco, Jony Ive was interviewed on stage by Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour. Ive was asked if he plans to move onto something else, like sailing the sea his yacht, to which Ive emphatically replied that he still has work to do.

How to get a lock-screen weather forecast every morning

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Watch out! Here comes some weather
Watch out! Here comes some weather
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

How would you like to have the day’s weather forecast show up on your iPhone or iPad’s lock screen every morning? Every morning, after a peaceful alarm rouses you gently from your slumber, you can look at your iPhone and see how the day’s weather will unfold. And this is all built-in, no third-party apps or hacks required. You just have to know how to switch on lock screen weather.

iOS 12.1 gets fourth beta, along with tvOS and watchOS

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Now the public can try out the new betas, too.
iOS 12.1 beta 4 is just one of the pre-release versions Apple released to developers today, covering a range of devices.
Photo: Apple

Apple has settled into a steady pace of seeding to developers betas of its operating systems. Near the beginning of each week, expect updated pre-release versions of iOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, and tvOS 12.1. Today is the fourth round.

These include some hotly-anticipated features, but leave Apple Watch Series 4 users up on the air.

The first 2019 iPhone rumors are already here

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iPhone notch
Is it time for Apple to rebrand the iPhone?
Photo: Antonio De Rosa

The full 2018 iPhone lineup isn’t even on sale yet but new rumors are already coming out about next years models.

One of the best Apple analysts, Ming-Chi Kuo, just sent out a new report to investors with some details about the 2019 iPhone lineup. The good news is if you like big phones, not much is going to change.

Revived Palm phone hopes to become an iPhone companion

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The new Palm is palm sized.
The new Palm is far smaller and simpler than an iPhone, and that's by design.
Photo: Palm

Remember the Palm Pilot? This iconic gadget of the 1990s has returned, sort of. 

At a time when iPhone and its rivals have become big and powerful, Palm will be a small, simple smartphone that doesn’t demand as much attention.

This Siri Shortcut lets you ditch Google Maps for Apple Maps

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Updated Apple Maps rolls out in Pacific Northwest and Midwest
Enjoy turn-by-turn navigation in India today.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

If you click a Google Maps link on your iPhone, it either opens in the Google Maps app or — if the app isn’t installed — it opens Google Maps in Safari. But what if you prefer to have that link open in Apple Maps? To good news is tat it’s an easy fix, using iOS 12’s new Shortcuts app. Let’s see this cool Apple Maps shortcut.

Adobe’s Project Gemini enhances iPad drawing and painting

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Project Gemini
Project Gemini aims to perfect the mobile drawing and painting experience.
Photo: Adobe

Adobe is developing new drawing and painting software for illustrators with a next-generation program called Project Gemini.

The announcement came with a pun – “we went back to the drawing board” – but artists likely received the words with relief as opposed to an eye roll.

Firmware update adds AirPlay 2 support to Libratone ZIPP speakers

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WWDC 2017 AirPlay 2 device makers
Craig Federighi highlights speaker makers adding AirPlay 2 support at WWDC 2017
Photo: Apple

At WWDC 2017, Apple announced speaker support for the Home app, powered by an update to AirPlay. While introducing Airplay 2, they highlighted several speaker makers that would add support for the new protocol. Nearly a year later, iOS 11.4 finally launched with support for the updated wireless audio protocol.

As of today – 4 months after becoming available in iOS – speaker manufacturer Libratone has made good on their AirPlay 2 promise.

Adobe shows off ‘real’ Photoshop on iPad

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Photoshop on iPad
“Real Photoshop” is coming to the iPad this year.
Screenshot: Adobe

Adobe is bringing Photoshop CC to iPad in 2019 and in its announcement this morning, it placed emphasis on one word: real as in real Photoshop.

Photoshop on iPad will have all the might of the desktop version but with the pencil and touch workflow of the tablet. The work will automatically and seamlessly sync to the desktop.

Your Apple Watch could monitor how you’re recovering after a hip op

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
This is Apple's second major medical study.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple has teamed up with medical device company Zimmer Biomet to explore ways to make the Apple Watch into a valuable tool for people recovering from knee and hip replacement surgeries.

The two companies are collaborating on a clinical study to examine why certain patients recover from these procedures faster than others. The Apple Watch will be used for gathering data from participants.

iPhone Upgrade Program users can start process of getting iPhone XR today

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iPhone Upgrade Program 2
It's like being a celebrity whisked through the pre-order process.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone XR, the handset which scored the main event spot in Apple’s most recent media event, opens up for pre-orders this Friday. However, if you’re a loyal enough Apple fan to be a member of its iPhone Upgrade Program, you can begin the process of getting your hands on an iPhone XR today.

That’s due to a pre-approval feature, which will speed you through Friday’s checkout process like a celebrity being ushered through airport security.

Apple donates 1,000 watches for eating disorder study

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Man’s brand new Apple Watch turns out to be toilet plunger
Apple Watch is being used in yet another research study.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is donating 1,000 Apple Watches for a new study intended to track binge eating. The Binge Eating Genetics Initiative (BEGIN) is being run by the University of North Carolina. The Apple Watches will be used to track the heart rate of participants when they binge on food.

This is just the latest example of how Apple’s wearable device is being used in research studies.

Apple snaps up music analytics firm Asaii

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apple-music
Asaii's platform could help improve Apple Music.
Photo: Apple

Apple has acquired a music analytics startup called Asaii, according to a new report.

It is believed the acquisition, which could help Apple deliver better recommendations to Apple Music subscribers, cost less than $100 million. Asaii claims its platform can pick out the hottest artists “10 weeks to a year” before they even hit the charts.

Apple debuts a pair of new Apple Watch ‘how to’ videos

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Apple Watch 2
New videos showcase Apple Watch’s Workouts and Emergency SOS features.
Photo: Apple

With the Apple Watch Series 4, Apple’s wearable devices have moved firmly into the territory of “must have” tech products. And Apple wants to make sure that potential customers know everything they can do!

As a result, the company unleashed a pair of new “How to” videos over the weekend — showcasing how to use the Apple Watch’s Workout feature and its Emergency SOS mode. Check them out below.

Cult of Mac Magazine: It killed me to return my iPhone XS Max!

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Cult of Mac Magazine Issue 266: It killed me to return my iPhone XS Max!
The sadness ... it's unbearable!
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

After a week of being spoiled rotten by the iPhone XS Max’s big, beautiful screen, Cult of Mac writer Killian Bell did the unthinkable. He returned his iPhone XS Max to its rightful owner.

You’ll find that heartbreaking story and much more in this week’s issue of our magazine. It’s free and it’s fun to read on an iPad or iPhone. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes now. Or read on for this week’s top stories.

Cops warned to not even look at suspects’ iPhones

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faceID
Getting access to a suspect's phone requires police officers not look at it too many times themselves.
Photo:

Face ID brings a special challenge for law enforcement. Police need to be careful to not do anything that an iPhone might use as an attempt at facial recognition. They risk the phone locking itself in a way they can’t easily circumvent.

It all comes down to contradictory laws on passwords and biometric security systems.

Replaceable batteries make Tile the tracker you’ve been waiting for [Review]

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Tile will speak out against Apple in Congress antitrust hearing
A 2018 Tile Pro can be used for years now that the battery can be swapped out.
Photo: Tile

For much too long, the best key finder had a significant flaw. A Tile Pro or Tile Mate helps you keep track of your keys, the remote, or other items, but each only lasts a year. Then you have to buy another one because the battery can’t be replaced. That finally changes in the new 2018 version. Plus they have a greater range.

We tested the latest versions of the regular and Pro versions of the Tile tracker to see if they live up to their promises.