Tim Cook answered questions about App Store business practices last month. Photo: C-SPAN
Congress’ big tech antitrust hearings are done and now, weeks later, investigators are gearing up to deliver their findings.
According to David Cicilline, the Democrat leading the House antitrust investigation into tech giants including Apple, the investigatory committee could reveal its recommendations next month. And things aren’t looking too rosy for the companies involved.
Can Facebook's answer to Zoom triumph? Photo: Facebook Messenger Rooms
Whether it’s socially distanced family quizzes, interminable work meetings or virtual conferences, video chat apps are big business in 2020.
Not wanting to be left out of the surge of popularity enjoyed by Zoom and Google Meets, Facebook is updating its video chat competitor Messenger Rooms app. The update makes it easier to find Rooms you’ve been invited to, to arrange future meetings, and to use custom backdrops of your choosing.
Gates says that, unlike Jobs, he wouldn't have been able to turn Apple around in the late 90s. Photo: Statsministerens kontor/Flickr CC
The companies they helped found might have been sworn enemies at times, but Steve Jobs and Bill Gates didn’t hate one another. In fact, as the former Microsoft boss admitted on a recent podcast, he was actually jealous of Steve Jobs.
Appearing on the Armchair Expert podcast, Gates told actor and podcast host Dax Shepard that Jobs was a “wizard” when it came to motivating people. “I was a minor wizard so I couldn’t fall under his spells,” Gates said. “But I could see him casting the spells, and then I would look at people and see them mesmerized … I was so jealous.”
The new Level Touch smart lock opens with a touch -- and other ways, too. Photo: Level Home
Level Home’s second HomeKit-compatible smart lock lets you use your fingertip as a key. But you won’t even really need that finger tap to open your door. The new lock, called the Level Touch, offers a variety of entry methods — including fully automatic (triggered by your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection when you arrive home).
“With Level Touch, keys are optional,” the company said in a press release Tuesday unveiling the new device. “You can enter and exit in any way that is most convenient for you, with the touch of a finger, using your voice or even an included programmable keycard. All of this while maintaining the highest level of residential security of any smart lock to date.”
A Files Home screen widget appeared in iOS 14 beta 2. It’s unlikely any more new features like this will be forthcoming before the full release. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple seeded the sixth beta of iOS 14 to developers Tuesday, along with the iPad equivalent. That’s a week since the last betas were introduced — and the quick turnaround is a strong sign that Apple won’t add any more surprise features before the full release of these operating systems this autumn.
Video editing on the go just got a little easier. Photo: Apple
Apple rolled out major improvements to Final Cut Pro X on Tuesday that promise to make life a little easier for remote video editors. The changes are designed to speed up workflows and enhance portability.
The Mac mini could have had a dedicated data/charging port for the iPod. Photo: Apple
Apple reportedly explored adding an iPod port to the Mac mini. Images of a prototype unit surfaced online over the weekend, showing a product Apple decided not to release.
From meetings and home automation to dispute resolution, these apps make things easier. Image: Cult of Mac
You can get a comprehensive overview of all your HomeKit cams with Eve’s latest app update. And if you spot neighbors doing something fishy on your property, you can use Jury to settle the dispute virtually rather than taking them to court (or throwing fists like a barbarian).
Those are just two of the featured apps in our roundup of the week’s best new apps and updates.
Keep your AirPods looking cool this summer with the super-sweet Ice Cream case from Elago. Available in four delicious color options, it not only looks great, but also keeps your AirPods protected on the go.
Get the inner secrets of the AirPower, a wireless charger Apple had to admit it couldn’t develop. Photo: Apple
Images and a video allegedly showing a teardown of AirPower, Apple’s multi-device wireless charger that was canceled before it launched, came to light Friday.