Saying goodbye to the physical Home button won’t be easy, but going virtual offers some clear advantages. Clues buried in HomePod firmware reveal one of iPhone 8’s coolest features.
In this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine, you’ll find that story and more. Get all the new tweaks in iOS beta 5. And check out Nomad’s brand-new Sport Strap for Apple Watch. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.
By Angela Moscaritolo, DealNews
If you’re in the market for a new iPhone, you may want to wait awhile. Apple’s 10th anniversary iPhone, widely referred to as the iPhone 8, is expected to be released soon. Rumors suggest it’ll boast an all-new design. And if history is any indication, we’ll definitely see discounts on the iPhone 7 once the iPhone 8 makes its debut.
So when should you pounce on that new handset? Read on for our full analysis.
This week on The CultCast: What does Apple have in store for the next generation of Watch? We round up the current rumors and reveal our Series 3 wish list. Then: Could Face ID actually replace Touch ID on iPhone 8? We have concerns. Plus: Proof that a 4K Apple TV is right around the corner; more incredible demos of ARKit; and we share our favorite new shows, movies and board games in an all-new What We’re Into!
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We’re likely to get our first glimpse of the iPhone 8 next month, but for now designers are having some fun showing off not just how they think the new handset will look — but how it could be marketed as well.
These renders come from South African born designer Quinton Theron, which combine the design elements rumored about the iPhone 8 with some nifty ad-style backdrops.
iPhone 8’s new facial recognition functionality will be just as versatile as Touch ID, giving users the ability to authorize Apple Pay transactions, unlock third-party apps, and more.
Apple’s code suggests “Face ID” will even support multiple faces for different users.
Bidding goodbye to the iPhone’s physical Home button won’t be easy, but there are some advantages to going virtual for iPhone 8.
Not only will it allow for a larger edge-to-edge display, but it also means you’ll be able customize the virtual button. Apple code suggests we’ll have the option to resize it and hide it away if we don’t want it to be displayed on screen at all times.
Apple could be planning to add a pause and resume function to its Camera app in iOS 11. References to the feature have been spotted in the company’s beta code, but it’s not yet clear which devices will support it.
Apple’s share of the U.S. smartphone market rose last quarter, but that couldn’t prevent Samsung from stealing the top spot.
Strong demand for the Galaxy S8 helped the South Korean company overtake its biggest rival, but the “bounce” from its launch was less than expected for a flagship device.
Component suppliers enjoyed stronger sales throughout July as Apple ramps up production of its next-generation iPhones.
Supply chain sources say all three models that will be unveiled in September have now entered mass-production, but shortages are still expected for iPhone 8.
The iPhone 8 might use its 3D facial recognition sensor to silence notifications when you’re looking at the device.
Developer Guilherme Rambo discovered the possible UI element buried inside code accidentally released as part of Apple’s HomePod firmware. Coders digging into the software discovered numerous other details about upcoming Apple devices.
Demand for OLED smartphone displays will continue to rise “at a rapid pace” thanks to the upcoming launch of the iPhone 8 and other flagship devices.
It’s thought Apple’s new handset will kickstart an OLED display revolution as rival manufacturers fight to keep up and compete with the iPhone.
The iPhone 8 has been spotted again ahead of its official debut this fall. This time, it’s in a super-sharp case render that provides a high-res look at its gorgeous edge-to-edge display.
The next generation Apple TV could be unveiled later this year, based on the latest leak from Apple’s unreleased HomePod.
Code for Apple’s leaky smart speaker reveals that the new Apple TV might finally gain 4K support and it will support two of the biggest formats for super high def video.
Countless rumors have warned iPhone 8 won’t be cheap. One of the things pushing up its price tag is the manufacturing process for its swanky new OLED display.
According to one Foxconn executive, the display is proving difficult to produce because of the “special cutting” required to create the notch at the top of the screen.
An apparent iPhone 8 photo straight out of Foxconn has confirmed one of our biggest fears for Touch ID: It will be relocated to the back of the device.
Apple has been working to embed its fingerprint scanner into the iPhone’s display, but it seems the technology won’t be ready in time for this year’s big refresh.
Apple finally has an official Instagram account. The company has expanded its social media presence to promote Shot on iPhone photos, and it is inviting fans to take part by using the #ShotoniPhone tag on their Instagram uploads.
Thanks to secrets discovered in Apple’s own firmware, we already know a lot about the iPhone 8. Now an apparent X-ray of the device has all but confirmed even more of its hottest features ahead of its official debut this fall.
The U.K. company rumored to be producing wafers for the laser diodes for the iPhone 8’s 3D tracking technology has seen its share price treble this year.
The lesser-known company IQE, based in Wales, has neither confirmed or denied its relationship with Apple, but has reported a “significant ramp” in demand for “VCSEL” laser components, which it says will be used for “mass market consumer applications.”
The new iPhone 8 will be capable of unlocking with its face recognition even when it’s lying flat on your desk, a new report suggests.
The information is just the latest leak from a treasure trove of Apple code accidentally released just over one week ago. A line in the firmware refers to “Pearl,” Apple’s internal name for its facial recognition tech — alongside words including “unlock” and “resting.”
HomePod software appears to reference an unannounced “SmartCamera” feature built into iOS 11 or the yet-to-be-released 2017 iPhone. And it could totally change the way we snap photos.
In this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine, you’ll find that story and more. Get more juicy details on iPhone 8. And check out one of our favorite custom-fit bands for Apple Watch now available in seven new leather colors. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.
This week on The CultCast: Apple accidentally leaked major details about the iPhone 8 and HomePod — we’ll tell you everything we’ve learned. Plus: Leaked audio files show off the HomePod’s cool UI sounds; we reveal exclusive new audio of the HomePod’s boot-up noise; and we wrap with our reviews of the best internet-connected security cameras and the hawt new flagship Olympus OM-D EM-1 mirrorless camera in an all-new Under Review.
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Apple’s HomePod might have revealed another huge new iPhone feature after developers did some more digging into the beta software for the upcoming smart speaker.
The software appears to reference an unannounced “SmartCamera” feature built into iOS 11 or the yet-to-be-released 2017 iPhone. And it could totally change the way we snap photos.
Apple spent a whopping $2.94 billion on research and development last quarter, according to a new filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Apple R&D spending represents an increase of 6 percent compared to the same quarter last year.
While Apple keeps its plans close to its chest, it invests a tremendous amount of money on research and development to create the products we’ll be buying a year or more from now.
Apple posted its second-highest Q3 earnings ever today, surprising investors with $45.4 billion in revenue powered by strong iPhone, iPad, Mac and services revenues.
CEO Tim Cook sounded pleased during Apple’s earnings call, but he wasn’t just looking back on the past three months. By the end of the call, Cook had analysts hyped for the future and upcoming Apple products.
Here are the five biggest takeaways from the Apple Q3 2017 earnings call.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are set to reveal all the details of Apple’s latest earnings in a call with investors today could have a huge impact on the company’s stock price.
The Q3 2017 earnings report isn’t expected to be a record-breaker, but Wall Street analysts will be hanging on to every word that comes out of Cook’s mouth as the next iPhone launch approaches. Most experts agree Apple will meet earnings expectations of $43.5 billion in revenue — the only question is by how much.
Cult of Mac will be right here live-blogging the entire call once it starts at 2 p.m. Pacific. Come join the fun.
