News - page 8

Apple outshines Samsung in India with surging iPhone shipments

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Apple Saket opened Thursday in the heart of India’s thriving capital of New Delhi.
Indians are buying more iPhones than ever before.
Photo: Apple

Apple continued its impressive run in its next big growth market, India, shipping more than 9 million iPhones from January to September 2024. This represents 35% year-over-year growth for iPhone shipments in the country.

The company also increased its lead over Samsung, the previous leader in India’s smartphone market.

Feature-packed mobile game controller cools your iPhone while you play

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GameSir X3 Pro Mobile Gaming Controller
The GameSir X3 Pro includes features many mobile controllers leave out.
Photo: GameSir

The newly launched GameSir X3 Pro Mobile Gaming Controller packs Hall Effect sticks, dual rumble motors, micro switch triggers and detachable grips. And its USB-C connector and telescoping design means it fits a range of iPhone and Android models.

A stand-out feature is a cooling plate designed to prevent the handset from overheating while playing very demanding games.

New smart lock for renters opens with iPhone and Apple Watch

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Alloy Deadbolt+ smart lock for renters
Look, ma, no keys! And both renters and property managers get benefits from the new smart lock.
Photo: SmartRent

Apple Wallet-compatible smart lock Alloy Deadbolt+ will make life easier for renters and landlords alike, SmartRent said Wednesday. Debuting at a Starwood Capital Group property, Alloy Deadbolt+ expands on the security, functionality and convenience of smart locks by integrating with resident keys in Apple Wallet. It easily lets you in, as well as your property manager and designated friends and service providers.

“Alloy Deadbolt+ enhances the way we think about secure access, providing a straightforward and reliable solution for both residents and property managers,” SmartRent Chief Technology Officer Isaiah DeRose-Wilson said.

Apple TV+ knows what you want: German hospital dramas [Updated]

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KRANK Berlin on Apple TV+
Haley Louise Jones will star in a new medical drama “KRANK Berlin" on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ casts its net wide for quality programming, offering plenty of entertainment from distant lands. So why not a German hospital drama? A “gritty” new eight-episode series called Krank Berlin Berlin ER is headed your way soon. Apple offered a description of the “vibrant and dynamic” show. And since first announcing it, the stream has posted an air date, below, for the German-language medical drama — as well as a new title.

Update: Apple TV+ gave Krank Berlin a boring new title and an air date Wednesday. Now named Berlin ER, the series, which comes to us from a former emergency room doctor, streams with its first two episodes February 26, 2025.

HomePod with a large display is still on the way

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HomePod with a larger Display concept
A HomePod with a larger touchscreen -- perhaps something like this concept -- is supposedly on the drawing board at Apple.
Concept: Apple/Cult of Mac

The HomePod with a built-in 6- to 7-inch display that’s been the subject of previous rumors will launch after Apple’s developer conference in June, according to a report on Wednesday from a reliable source.

It will supposedly be part of Apple’s drive to offer more smart home products.

Apple’s next iPad Pro upgrade to arrive in second half of 2025

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Apple Magic Keyboard for M4 iPad Pro
M5 iPad Pro is still more than a few months away.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The next big iPad Pro refresh will arrive in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, according to a new report. The upgraded M5 iPad Pro reportedly will be the first product to use the next-gen Apple silicon chip.

Apple surprised everyone by launching this year’s iPad Pro refresh with an M4 chip.

Tim Cook opens up about Apple’s AI strategy and Vision Pro’s future

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Tim Cook on Apple Intelligence
Tim Cook spoke recently at Apple Park during the "It's Glowtime" event.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed details about the company’s approach to artificial intelligence and defended its Vision Pro headset in an extensive interview Wednesday. In a now-familiar refrain, he discussed the company’s strategic entry into generative AI while addressing criticisms about Apple’s seemingly delayed response to the AI boom.

“We never talked about charging for it,” Cook said of Apple Intelligence. “We view it sort of like multitouch, which enabled the smartphone revolution and the modern tablet.”

Apple tests Amazon’s AI chips to pretrain Apple Intelligence models

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Screenshot of Apple introducing Apple Intelligence during the WWDC24 keynote.
Apple wants to use Amazon's chips for training its AI models
Photo: Apple

Apple uses Amazon Web Services’ custom artificial intelligence chips to power its search services. The company is also evaluating if it can use Amazon’s latest AI chips to pretrain Apple Intelligence models.

Apple’s Benoit Dupin, senior director of machine learning and AI, made these revelations Tuesday in a surprise appearance at Amazon’s annual AWS re:Reinvent conference in Las Vegas.

Investigative series Hysterical wins top Apple Podcasts Award 2024

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Investigative series ‘Hysterical’ wins top Apple Podcasts Award 2024
Apple singled out Hysterical for its annual podcasts award.
Image: Apple/Cult of mac

Apple picked Hysterical as the winner of the Apple Podcasts Award for 2024, which honors quality and innovation in podcasting.

It’s not a comedy. The seven-part series by Dan Taberski investigates a mysterious illness that spreads among a group of high school girls in upstate New York, and looks for parallels with one that affects American diplomats.

iOS 18.2 won’t launch as soon as hoped [Updated again]

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iOS 18.2 mockup
The iOS 18.2 release date is soon — just not as soon as had been rumored.
AI image: ChatGPT

A rumor from early November said the iOS 18.2 launch day would be the week of December 2, but that’s now impossible. There are steps that must take place before the operating system can be introduced, and not all of them have happened yet.

The release will probably be in the second week of December. Right now, the earliest likely date is December 10, though December 11 is looking increasingly likely.

Whenever the launch finally happens, it’ll usher in some of the most-anticipated new Apple Intelligence features, including Genmoji, the Image Playground and more.

Update: The much-anticipated release candidates for iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2 went out December 5, which means Apple Intelligence phase 2 will likely launch December 12.

Tesla fires up long-awaited Apple Watch app

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Tesla Apple Watch app
Tesla's rendering shows how the app will look on your Apple Watch display.
Photo: Tesla

Tesla is rolling out a significant holiday software update, headlined by the launch of its first Tesla Apple Watch app. The new app, long expected and finally available next week, will allow owners of Tesla electric cars and trucks to use their Apple Watch as a digital key to lock and unlock their vehicles. That eliminates the need to carry a smartphone (at least for that reason).

Users can also view battery charge levels, control climate settings, and remotely open the front trunk (“frunk”) directly from their wrist.

Robot vacuum cleaner support now coming to Home app in 2025

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Robot vacuum cleaner support in iPhone Home app
Soon you’ll be able to ask Siri to clean a specific room, or add it to a Routine in the Home app.
Image: Apple

Turns out we won’t be able to order robot vacuum cleaners around with Siri commands and the Home application quite as soon as hoped. Apple moved the release date for this feature to early 2025.

When it launches, though, it’ll be a powerful tool for controlling these automated home-cleaning devices.

My favorite Bose headphones hit their lifetime low price for Cyber Monday

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Bose QuietComfort headphones
The Bose QuietComfort are the best headphones you can find for $199.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/CultOfMac

Apple’s AirPods Max are a great pair of wireless headphones. But they are too expensive for what they offer. Plus, they don’t work as well with non-Apple devices. Due to these limitations, I got the Bose QuietComfort headphones earlier this year.

For Cyber Monday, these fantastic Bose headphones are down to their lowest price ever. And you should buy them over any other option you might have in mind. Here’s why.

Finally, Apple makes fixing Siri a priority [The CultCast]

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The CultCast logo, episode 675, with a photo of an iPhone
Sounds like Apple's finally getting Siri-ous about fixing its AI assistant.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: With a slightly smarter Siri on the way in iOS 18.4, a new rumor indicates Apple might actually fix Siri once and for all … in 2026! We discuss the “LLM Siri” that supposedly will catch up with ChatGPT and other chatty competitors.

But the question remains: Can Apple really afford to wait that long to make its AI assistant less of a laughingstock?

Also on The CultCast:

  • New rumors and renders show what the iPhone 17 lineup might look like.
  • Uh-oh: We’ve got bad news about AirPods Max.
  • And finally, Griffin talks up a solid — and much cheaper — stand-in for Apple’s Studio Display in an all-new Under Review.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

iPhone helps bring super-size Wallace & Gromit to Battersea for Christmas

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Wallace & Gromit tower over Battersea Power Station this Christmas
Visit Battersea Power Station to watch Wallace & Gromit decorate their Christmas trees… with a bit of help from iPhone.
Photo: Apple

London’s iconic Battersea Power Station is decorated with a sort of enormous Christmas card starring the beloved characters Wallace & Gromit.

The short animation of the man, his dog, and their Christmas trees was filmed on an iPhone 16 Pro Max and then projected onto the 101-meter (330 foot) chimneys that rise above the River Thames.

Today in Apple history: Fans queue up as Apple opens Tokyo store, its first outside US

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Apple's store in Tokyo's swanky Ginza shopping district.
Apple's first non-U.S. Apple Store was located in Tokyo.
Photo: Héctor García/Kirai CC

November 30: Today in Apple history: Apple opens first store outside U.S. in Tokyo's trendy Ginza shopping district November 30, 2003: Apple expands its retail chain outside the United States for the first time, opening an Apple Store in Tokyo’s trendy Ginza shopping district.

On opening day, thousands of Apple fans — possibly the biggest queue in Apple history — line up around the block in the rain to gain early access to the store, which offers five full floors of Apple product goodness.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs does not show up for the opening of the 73rd Apple Store. However, shoppers hear a welcoming speech from Eiko Harada, president of Apple Japan.

Celebrate National Unsubscribe Day the right way

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unsubscribe from emails and subscriptions
Apps can help you unsubscribe from emails and services, or you can take matters into your own hands.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

These days its seems a “national day” exists for every conceivable thing — and on Saturday, November 30, that includes unsubscribing. In other words, it’s time to unsubscribe from unwanted emails and manage paid subscriptions. For example, do you even open half the emails you get? Do you know how many subscriptions you pay for? Well, there are apps and other tools for cleaning up your subscription life so you can get on with your actual life.

Belkin recalls fast-charging Apple Watch power bank over fire risk

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Belkin BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K in use
Stop using the Belkin BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch immediatley.
Photo: Belkin

Belkin is recalling its BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K due to a potential fire hazard. It is one of the few power banks on the market that can wirelessly fast charge an Apple Watch.

The company will issue a full refund to affected customers, though they must fill out a recall form first.

Try not to start crying during Apple’s Christmas ad for AirPods

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Screenshot of Apple's Heartstrings AirPods hearing aids ad.
Apple's new seasonal ad will bring a tear to your eye.
Photo: Apple

You’d better get the tissues ready before watching Apple’s new seasonal holiday ad, appropriately titled “Heartstrings.”

I know I got a little misty.

The ad depicts a moving father-and-daughter moment on Christmas morning to showcase the new hearing aid feature in AirPods Pro 2.

Watch the ad below.

My favorite iPad is down to its lowest price this Black Friday

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Apple Magic Keyboard for M4 iPad Pro
Every M4 iPad Pro buyer should at least consider getting the Apple Magic Keyboard.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There’s no better tablet to buy than an iPad. Apple overhauled the iPad Pro lineup this year with a slimmer new design, brighter displays, and a faster M4 chip.

I upgraded to the 11-inch iPad Pro from the M1 version earlier this year and could not be happier. This Black Friday, you should buy one, too, especially since the tablet is available with a big $150 discount.

Holiday-shop with Apple Pay to help fight AIDS

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Apple Pay donations
Along with the seasonal Apple Pay campaign, Product (Red) collection purchases donate to the cause anytime.
Photo: Apple

Apple said it will once again run its annual charitable giving campaign coinciding with World AIDS Day on December 1. And that gives holiday shoppers an opportunity to easily contribute to global health efforts while making their seasonal purchases. In addition, purchases from Apple’s Product (Red) collection contribute to the cause anytime.