iPhone - page 30

Xiaomi wants to beat iPhone by matching its ‘product and experience’

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Xiaomi wants to match iPhone in product and experience
The Chinese company isn't happy Apple is king on its home turf.
Photo: Xiaomi

Xiaomi is in “a war of life and death” with iPhone, according to the company’s CEO, and the only way it’s going to regain its position as the top smartphone-maker in China is by matching Apple’s “product and experience.”

The Chinese company was once famous for taking a little too much inspiration from Apple and rolling out copycat products. It has (mostly) moved away from that in recent years, and it hasn’t helped its market share.

Get kinky with these exotic, erotic iPhones

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Get kinky with these exotic, erotic iPhones from Caviar
An iPhone you can’t take home to grandma.
Photo: Caviar

Caviar has the perfect gift for the dominatrix in your life. There are five different specially modified iPhone 13 models in their new Kinky collection. These “reflect the most secret and hidden aspects of love, wild fantasies, and secret passions,” according to their maker.

They are coming out just in time for St. Valentine’s Day, so if your lover has enough latex body suits, this might be just what you’re looking for.

iOS 15.4 fixes bug that collects Siri recordings even after users opt out

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Siri
Apple says it will delete all inadvertent recordings.
Image: Apple

Apple on Tuesday confirmed that its second iOS 15.4 beta fixes a bug that caused some Siri interactions to be recorded even after a user opted out.

Only a “small portion” of iPhone units were affected by the bug, which was first introduced in iOS 15, Cupertino said. After installing iOS 15.4, users will again be asked whether they want to help improve Siri by having their interactions saved.

Apple’s new Tap to Pay feature lets iPhone accept contactless payments

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iPhone Tap to Pay
It will be available only in the U.S. initially.
Photo: Apple

Apple will give iPhone the ability to accept contactless payments without additional hardware later this year, the company confirmed Tuesday.

The feature, which Apple calls “Tap to Pay,” initially will be available to merchants in the United States who use a “partner-enabled iOS app.” The company says Tap to Pay will “empower millions” to use their iPhones to seamlessly accept payments.

Judge throws out lawsuit against iPhone’s water resistance

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iPhone-X-water
Plaintiffs failed to show any evidence of wrongdoing on Apple's part.
Photo: Apple

A federal judge this week dismissed a class-action lawsuit that accuses Apple of misleading iPhone customers about its water resistance.

Plaintiffs claimed that iPhone advertising that showed the device exposed to water was “false and misleading,” and allowed Apple to charge higher prices. However, they failed to prove their iPhones were actually damaged by water.

iOS 15.4 paves the way for web apps to deliver push notifications

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2021 iPad mini packs 5G
A big improvement for mobile apps on the web.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s first iOS 15.4 beta, rolled out to registered developers last week, lays the groundwork for web apps to deliver push notifications.

The feature, long available in Safari for macOS, always stood out as a notable omission on iPhone and iPad. Fortunately for those who use mobile web apps frequently, that looks set to change in the near future.

Apple pushes new activity challenge and resources for Heart Month

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Apple celebrates Heart Month across an array of products and services.
Apple celebrates Heart Month across an array of products and services.
Photo: Apple

In recognition of Heart Month, aka February, Apple is rolling out a series of new activity challenge and heart-health resources to support users’ efforts to stay healthy.

Also toward that end, the company hopes you’ll learn a thing or two from preliminary trends shown in the Apple Heart and Movement Study.

How to enable wide spectrum audio for FaceTime calls in iOS 15

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Enable wide spectrum audio for FaceTime calls
Make sure everyone gets heard on a conference call.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS and iPadOS 15 bring a number of nice improvements to FaceTime, including some new audio modes that may come in handy in certain situations.

The new wide spectrum audio is one you might want to use during conference calls. Here’s what it does — and how to enable it on iPhone and iPad.

Apple’s latest updates break Wallet on Apple Watch, Bluetooth on Mac

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Driver's licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet
Syncing Wallet changes just isn't happening for some.
Image: Apple

Apple rolled out a new crop of software updates last week, and you probably (sadly) won’t be surprised to learn that they bring yet more bugs.

In addition to experiencing Wallet sync problems between iOS 15.3 and watchOS 8.4, early updaters also report Bluetooth issues in macOS 12.2 that cause battery drain on some MacBook models.

2022 looks like a humdinger for new Apple hardware [The CultCast]

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The CultCast: What new Apple hardware is popping out of Apple's magic pipeline this year?
What's popping out of Apple's magic pipeline this year?
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Will Apple blow our minds (and our wallets) with a devastating blitz of new hardware in 2022? Signs point to yes. This week we’re discussing the latest rumors about new Apple gear coming this year — and trying not to get too excited.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Tim Cook’s alleged stalker sounds just plain sad in Apple’s restraining order application.
  • And the Apple CEO’s house has disappeared behind a massive, Minecraft-looking wall in Apple Maps.
  • You can make make your house go to blurs-ville, too!

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 livestream, embedded below.

iPhone solidly beats rivals to take No. 1 smartphone spot

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iPhone Q4 2021: Apple solidly beats all rivals to take #1 smartphone spot
iPhone shipments in Q4 2021 beat out every competitor.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac/Rodnae Productions /Pexels

Apple moved more smartphones during the 2021 holiday quarter than any competitor. It outsold Samsung, its nearest competitor, by more than 20%.

That said, the number of iPhones that shipped during Q4 2021 dropped a bit year over year.

How to enable background blur for FaceTime video calls in iOS 15

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How to enable background blur for FaceTime video calls in iOS 15
Use Portrait mode to bring background blur to FaceTime on iPhone and iPad.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS and iPadOS 15 bring a number of big improvements to FaceTime — including voice isolation and the ability to blur your background during video calls like you can on Zoom and other video calling platforms.

We’ll show you how to enable the background blur feature using Portrait mode on iPhone and iPad.

Last chance: Save on this gorgeous, adjustable aluminum Free Stand for iPhone

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Laut stand for iPhone
It's perfect for hands-free FaceTime calls.
Photo: Laut

Sick of losing your iPhone under all the clutter on your desk? Laut’s gorgeous Free Stand ensures your smartphone is always easy to see so you don’t miss another notification. It’s also great for hands-free FaceTime calls.

The Free Stand is made from sturdy aluminum and looks right at home alongside other Apple devices. It’s also adjustable, and until the end of today, it’s available from the Cult of Mac Store at 20% off its usual price. You can also save on all other Laut products.

Apple fixes the iCloud sync issues tormenting users and developers

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iCloud
Data syncing should be stable again.
Image: Apple

Apple says it has eliminated the iCloud sync issue that has been causing all kinds of disruption inside third-party apps.

The problem first surfaced late last year, soon after iOS 15 made its debut, and sporadically prevented many apps from syncing data through iCloud — much to the frustration of users and developers. But it is said to be eliminated now.

iPhone could accept NFC credit card payments without additional hardware

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iPhone credit card payments
Worrying news for companies like Square.
Mockup: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple is working to give iPhone the ability to accept contactless credit card payments over NFC without the need for additional hardware “in the coming months,” according to a new report.

You currently need a third-party credit card reader, like those made by Square, to use iPhone as a payment terminal. However, since iPhone 6 made it debut in 2014, Apple’s smartphone has been packing the NFC technology that’s needed.

How to enable voice isolation for FaceTime calls in iOS 15

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Enable voice isolation for FaceTime
Keep kids' voices out of your remote meetings.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Remote meetings on FaceTime are a lot calmer in iOS and iPadOS 15, thanks to a feature called voice isolation that blocks out background noise. Even better, the feature works in other video-calling applications, including Zoom and Google Duo.

Here’s how you can enable it on iPhone and iPad.

Intelli’s compact new StepUp is the Transformer of 3-in-1 iPhone chargers

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Those little platforms for Apple Watch and AirPods pop in and out.
Those little platforms for Apple Watch and AirPods pop in and out.
Photo: Intelli

In a world awash with multi-device charging stations that juice your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at the same time, it’s refreshing to see an unfamiliar design once in a while. Intelli provided one recently when it launched its new StepUp Magnetic Wireless Charging Station.

With its tidy little pop-out charging platforms, the MagSafe-compatible StepUp can be a sleek charger just for your iPhone or transform into a 3-in-1 for your trio of devices. But even fully deployed, the design is compact.

Eurasian filings reveal new iPhone and iPad coming soon

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Eurasian filings reveal new iPhone and iPad coming soon
Not a rumor. Proof that a new iPhone and iPad will launch within a few months.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The Eurasian Economic Commission confirmed that Apple plans to release a new iPhone and iPad in the near future. The devices appear in the online database of the regulatory agency.

These are almost certainly the next-generation iPhone SE and iPad Air 5.

How to share your Focus status with select contacts in iOS and iPadOS 15

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How to share Focus status
Let others know when your notifications are disabled.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

It’s possible to share your Focus status with select contacts in iOS and iPadOS 15, so that friends and family members don’t think you’re just ignoring their calls and texts.

Here’s how you pick and choose who sees that your notifications are disabled while you’re busy.