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Siri could soon recognize your voice for added security

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri could be about to get more security conscious.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Siri may soon respond to your voice and your voice alone, according to a recently-published patent application from Apple.

The security feature would essentially expand the biometric security system of Touch ID to voice, so that Siri’s voice recognition could also be used to unlock devices or potentially even confirm payments on Apple Pay.

Should fans skip iPhone 8 and buy the Galaxy S8? [Friday Night Fights]

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You have to be impressed by the new Galaxy S8 — even if you’re a long-time iPhone fan. Samsung’s new phone boasts everything you could want in a smartphone, and it packages it all into a stunning curved-glass shell with an edge-to-edge Infinity Display.

Friday Night Fights bug But can the Galaxy S8 help you forget about the iPhone 8? Should you wait for what might be another boring iPhone refresh, or throw in the towel now and finally make the leap to Android?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we duke it out over Samsung’s latest flagship and whether it can help Apple fans forget about the iPhone.

Apple dock could turn your iPhone into a MacBook

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Just take my money, Apple!
Just take my money, Apple!
Photo: Apple

Apple has created a dock that could turn a future iPhone or iPad into a MacBook.

The idea is explained in a patent application published on Thursday, which details an ultra-portable notebook into which an iOS device is placed to provide software and power.

Tim Cook promises to make Apple ‘pro’ again, this week on The CultCast

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Are you ready for Apple to make Macs
Are you ready for Apple to make Macs "pro" again?
Photo: Cult of Mac

This week on The CultCast: Are you yearning for a more powerful Mac? Well, friend, Tim Cook is promising to make Apple “pro” again. We discuss! Plus: iPhone 8 ditching Lightning for USB-C; Spotify about to go Hi-Fi; why your next iPhone screen might read your fingerprints; and the best iPhone bumper case in the land!

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace.com website. Enter offer code “CultCast” at checkout to get 10 percent off any hosting plan.

Oculus has no plans to bring VR to the Mac anytime soon

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Alex Heath gets down in the Oculus booth. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
You still can't use the Oculus Rift on Mac.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Mac users hoping to jump into the world of virtual reality will have to wait even longer than expected.

Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell revealed in a recent interview that the company currently has no plans to bring Rift support to the Mac. Even though Mitchell himself is a MacBook Pro user, he says Apple’s machines don’t have the resources to deliver a premium experience

Apple designs iPhone display that reads fingerprints

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Farewell, Home button.
Photo: Apple

Apple has patented new technology that allows an entire iPhone display to become a fingerprint scanner.

The invention comes just in time for iPhone 8, which is expected to come with a Touch Bar-style “function area” in place of its Touch ID button.

Apple reportedly snaps up Israeli facial-recognition company

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iPhone 8 facial recognition
How facial recognition could work on a future iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has reportedly acquired RealFace, an Israeli startup that developed facial-recognition technology for user authentication.

The news comes shortly after a separate report claiming that Apple is planning to incorporate new biometric security systems into future iPhones starting in 2018.

Simple twist of the Digital Crown could charge future Apple Watches

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Apple-Watch-Digital-Crown-charger
You may not need a charger at all.
Photo: Apple

The amazing minds at Apple have developed a new method of charging electronic devices using tiny magnets.

Revealed in a new patent application published today, the system could be used in a future Apple Watch to allow users to top up their battery by winding the Digital Crown.

iPhone 8 may come with iris-scanning technology

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Apple's next handset could put the "eye" in iPhone.
Photo: Bill Dickerson/Flickr

The iPhone 8 could include iris scanning technology, along with all its other new features, claims a report citing industry sources.

The in-built eye-scanning tech would join OLED displays and wireless charging as selling points for the next-gen handsets, scheduled for September 2017.

Apple reportedly starting iPhone 8 production early

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iPhone8
Is this how the new iPhone 8 will look?
Photo: Imran Taylor

Apple is getting a head start manufacturing the iPhone 8, according to a report from analysts at BlueFin Research Partners. “Early indication [is that Apple is] trying to pull in next generation iPhone builds as much as possible,” write John Donovan and Steve Mullane in a note issued this morning.

However, the analysts remain unsure whether this means Apple will debut the iPhone 8 earlier than its expected September launch date.