A new SurveyMonkey poll ranks Amazon as the #1 company for having the most impact on society today. Why is apparently irrelevant.

While a new iPhone can generally get you through a full day’s use, there are still instances where you need go longer between charges. We’ve previously highlighted the best battery packs for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but another popular option for getting added battery life out of your iPhone is to use a battery case…

more…

Direct Mail is an easy-to-use, fully-featured email marketing app purpose-built for macOS. Create, send, and track great looking email campaigns that get results.

Start your newsletter by selecting from a gallery of professionally-designed templates (or import your own), then customize to your heart's content. You'll love not having to hassle with a slow, clunky, web-based editor. When you're ready to send, rely on Direct Mail's built-in email service to deliver your message in a flash. Campaign reports show you a clear summary of opens, clicks, and more. Grow your mailing list by creating customizable subscribe forms and publish them to your website or Facebook Page.

The published price is that for 1000 e-mail credits on the "Pay Per Email Plan". Pricing plans are available to meet the needs of all kinds of senders, from hobbyist to professional. View full pricing info.

...

Apple's pop-up Watch store located in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo will be closing on May 13th, according to recently-posted signage at the location.

Direct Mail is an easy-to-use, fully-featured email marketing app purpose-built for macOS. Create, send, and track great looking email campaigns that get results.

Start your newsletter by selecting from a gallery of professionally-designed templates (or import your own), then customize to your heart's content. You'll love not having to hassle with a slow, clunky, web-based editor. When you're ready to send, rely on Direct Mail's built-in email service to deliver your message in a flash. Campaign reports show you a clear summary of opens, clicks, and more. Grow your mailing list by creating customizable subscribe forms and publish them to your website or Facebook Page.

The published price is that for 1000 e-mail credits on the "Pay Per Email Plan". Pricing plans are available to meet the needs of all kinds of senders, from hobbyist to professional. View full pricing info.

...

WebSnapperPro lets you capture full web pages exactly as they appear in your browser, with a single mouse click, without the need to "stitch" or cut-and-paste. Save the page as an image file or as vector-based PDF. You can print the page, send it as an email attachment, send it to Evernote, or export it to your DropBox account, right from the WebSnapperPro interface.

Version 2.1.0:

• Fixed minibrowser crashes in systems prior to 10.13
• Small bug fixes

• OS X 10.10 or later

Download Now]]>

Yummy FTP Pro is an advanced Mac file transfer app which provides a full-featured professional toolkit combined with blazing speeds and impeccable reliability, so whether you want to transfer a few files or a few thousand, schedule backups, edit and maintain websites, even automate transfers, you need this time-tested and truly dependable app. (Was Yummy FTP)

Why use Yummy FTP Pro?

• Get the fastest and most reliable file transfers available on the Mac
• Schedule one off or repeating transfer or folder synchronization tasks
• Manage websites with file management, editing, diff, preview, & sync tools
• Create FTP drop folders on your Desktop for quick and easy uploading
• Get frequent free maintenance + feature updates
• Fast and free technical support when you need it

Feature Highlights

• Full FTP/S + SFTP + WebDAV/S protocol support
• Easy-to-use, clear and simple user...

Don't expect to see embedded SIM technology in your phone any time soon. The GSMA, which oversees key cellular standards, has placed eSIM spec work "on hold" while the US Department of Justice investigates the possibility of collusion between AT&...

This week Samsung was granted a U.S. patent for a "Virtual Leash" system that includes a smart collar. Pet owners will be able to control how far their dog could run while on a walk by using their Galaxy smartphone in wireless communication with the smart dog collar. With so many dog lovers in the world, could this be a killer application for a future Galaxy smartphone? Only time will tell. Yet the thing with this idea is that it's likely to be used far beyond it's original intent.

The support shared between readers in the comments section is one of the things we love most about the Engadget community. Over the years, we've known you to offer sage advice on everything from Chromecasts and cameras to drones and smartphones. In f...

Some may argue that the default text size on iOS is too large, while others would say the font is simply too thin to be legible. Luckily, Apple has options for both kinds of people, allowing you to both enlarge or shrink the iOS text size, and bold if need be.

more…

Apple got a head start on its Earth Day celebrations yesterday, holding a Beer Bash concert with reggae artist Ziggy Marley. As usual, employees took to Twitter to share pictures and videos from the event, as did Tim Cook…

more…

Apple has been working on an all-glass iPhone for close to seven years, with their first patent coming to light in 2011. Patently Apple covered another one that even covered a glass encased iMac or TV since at least 2013. Today, an Apple patent filing discovered in Europe shows Apple working on a tubular glass iPhone and more

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to the weekend. We have some news about Flickr's future plus a bundle of 4/20 stories from Friday.

We're upgrading Engadget's daily newsletter and want to hear from you.

Tell us exactly what you think...

The wide and varied world of software, there are new apps joining the App Store ranks all the time, while existing releases receive updates to keep them relevant to their users. AppleInsider has collected together some of the highlight additions and updates for macOS and iOS software produced in the last week.

Mac Rumors reports, citing Japanese website Mac Otakara, that Apple will release an updated iPhone SE next month with a similar form factor as the previous model. It is expected to retain Touch ID, but will drop the 3.5mm headphone jack. From the report: Also like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the new iPhone SE will supposedly be powered by Apple's last-generation A10 Fusion chip, up to 40 percent faster than the A9 processor in the current iPhone SE. The chip will likely enable support for the HEIF image format and HEVC video compression standard. The report speculates that the new iPhone SE may have a glass back with wireless charging capabilities, like the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, but evidence is said to be inconclusive at this time.

...

Postbox is a new email application that helps you organize your work life and get stuff done. It has all the elegance and simplicity of Apple Mail, but with more power and flexibility to manage even the most demanding workloads.

Features

• Ultra-Fast Search - Instantly find messages, attachments, images, links, and contacts.
• Conversation Views - Make sense of email threads through chronological message views.
• Better Organization - Tabs, Topics, and To-Dos help you stay organized with less effort.
• Works Great with OS X - Postbox integrates with the Address Book, iCal, iPhoto, Spotlight, and Quick Look. Postbox even works with OmniFocus and Things!
• Quick and Easy Setup - Postbox will automatically determine your connection settings for you!

Postbox is available in English, German, French, Spanish (Spain), English (British), Italian, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, and Swedish.

BusyContacts is a contact manager for OS X that makes creating, finding, and managing contacts faster and more efficient. It brings to contact management the same power, flexibility, and sharing capabilities that BusyCal users have enjoyed with their calendars. What's more, BusyContacts integrates seamlessly with BusyCal, forming a flexible, easy-to-use CRM solution that works the way you do.

BusyContacts syncs with the built-in Contacts app on OS X and iOS, and supports all leading cloud services, including iCloud, Google, Exchange, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Key Features

• Customizable Views -- View contacts in a single-column Card View or multi-column List View.
• Tags -- Tags can be used for grouping, filtering and coloring contacts.
• Smart Filters -- Smart Filters are a powerful tool for...

Vimeo gives you the tools to upload, manage, review, and showcase your videos in the highest quality possible. The Vimeo app for macOS integrates with Final Cut Pro to export ProRes videos, manage your uploads, and share videos to review with your team or showcase to the world - all without interrupting your post-production workflow.

With Vimeo for macOS, you can:

• Export as ProRes and other advanced codecs from Final Cut Pro
• Upload directly to your Vimeo account
• Adjust the title, description, and privacy settings for your videos
• Get instant access to video links, video review pages, and embed codes
• Receive notifications about important video activity

Version 1.0:

Vimeo is the high quality home to upload, distribute, and discover amazing videos.

Host videos in the highest quality possible

• Upload in 4K Ultra HD with HDR support
• Stay organized with video management...

If you weren't able to get your hands on one of the 5,000 copies of the campy horror game, Night Trap, for the PS4 last August, fear not! Limited Run Games announced on Friday that it will be releasing the cult classic once again, this time for the N...

Vice-owned outlet Motherboard's documentary The Most Unknown, about "the biggest questions in science," will debut on Netflix after its theatrical run. The publication sent nine scientists around the world to get answers to big topics like the defini...

Revenge porn is getting attention across the nation as state, regional and even federal lawmakers wrestle with how to deal with the practice of posting private, intimate photos of people without their permission. A 2015 Texas law that made revenge po...

Long before Minecraft exploded from a development tool to a game purchased by Microsoft for billions of dollars, there was Flickr. The photo-sharing started in 2004 based on tools built for a never-released MMO before being purchased by Yahoo (now a...

My24hournews.com filed suit against AT&T for skipping out on a $100 million deal to use the former company's news-streaming technology and hampering that's company's launch.

Sundance film festival darling Drake Doremus' futuristic love story, Zoe, is one of the more anticipated titles of the year. The director of Like Crazy, Douchebag and Breathe In will premier his eighth film on Saturday as the Tribeca Film Festival's...

Apple on Friday activated a new hardware replacement program targeting an issue that causes the internal battery of certain non-Touch Bar 13-inch MacBook Pro models to expand.

Apple has today begun rolling out a battery replacement program for the non Touch Bar 13-inch MacBook Pro.

more…

iOS offers a host of ways to customize your iPhone and it can be easy to look past some handy options. We previously covered how to create custom vibration patterns. Follow along for how to set custom iPhone ringtones and text tones on a per contact basis.

more…

UPDATE: An AT&T spokesperson gave us the following statement:

We are aware of the investigation into GSMA’s process for developing eSIM standards that provide a better experience for consumers. Along with other GSMA members, we have provided information to the government in response to their requests and will continue to work proactively within GSMA, including with those who might disagree with the proposed standards, to move this issue forward.

News has broke this afternoon that the US Department of Justice has opened an investigation over antitrust concerns and potential collusion between Verizon and AT&T in efforts to prevent eSIM adoption and progress...

Every tech giant is working on what’s labelled Artificial Intelligence (AI). But just what is AI, really? Simple Machine Learning? Or the duplication of human intellectual capabilities and beyond? John has the story. Plus more news debris.

After three weeks of deliberations, Apple on Friday sent out notifications of acceptance to students and STEM organization members who applied for a scholarship to this year's Worldwide Developers Conference.

Everyone's favorite word "collusion" has arisen once again, as the New York Times cites multiple sources reporting that the Department of Justice is investigating AT&T, Verizon and the GSM Association (GSMA). According to the sources, the DoJ is...

An anonymous reader shares a report: The 10.13.4 update for macOS High Sierra is recommended for all users, and was emitted at the end of March promising to "improve stability, performance, and security of your Mac." But geek support sites have started filling up with people complaining that it had the opposite effect: killing their computer with messages that "the macOS installation couldn't be completed." The initial install appears to be working fine, but when users go to shutdown or reboot an upgraded system, it goes into recovery mode. According to numerous reports, there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with users' Macs -- internal drives report that they're fine. And the issue is affecting a range of different Apple-branded computers from different years. Some have been successful in getting 10.13.4 to install by launching from Safe Mode, but others haven't and are deciding to roll back and stick with 10.13.3 until Apple puts out a new update that will fix whatever the...

For Star Wars and Marvel fans who still prefer DVDs and Blu-Rays over digital, you might not be able to shop at Amazon for your physical media needs. Unless, of course, you're a Prime member. That's because the online giant has made a number of recen...

Adds support for the iPhone X and additional iPad resolutions, plus fixes a number of bugs. (Free, 2.3 GB)

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

https://9to5mac.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/9to5mac-daily-april-20-2018.mp3

more…

The United States Department of Justice today launched an antitrust investigation to determine whether U.S. carriers, including Verizon and AT&T, have coordinated to prevent consumers from easily switching wireless carriers, reports The New York Times.

AT&T, Verizon, and GSMA, an industry group that sets mobile standards, were asked in February for documents related to their efforts to hinder the implementation of eSIMs. An embedded SIM, or eSIM, is a standardized chip that's designed to replace a physical SIM card.

A physical SIM card slot in an iPhone, via iFixit

With eSIM technology, there is no need to swap out SIM cards when switching carriers, making it easier to make a switch from one carrier to another. eSIMs are designed to be compatible with all major carriers, regardless of network type.

...

Apple’s WWDC is set for June 4. Now, the company has begun notifying scholarship applicants of their award status. While the typical ticket price is $1599, WWDC scholarship winners receive free access to the conference and more.

more…

The good news for fans of Friday Night Lights, the highly acclaimed TV show about a high school football team in Texas, just keep on coming. Only a couple of weeks after Amazon announced that the series would be streaming on its video service, Hulu i...

The slow war against AI-powered, face-swapping pornography continues. The Screen Actors Guild, the labor union representing the biggest names in film and television, says it's "fighting back" against deepfakes, videos that superimpose actors' faces o...

Rebutting a widespread speculation, Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the company is not working toward building an operating system that both Macs and iPhones could share. From his interview on Sydney Morning Herald: Later, when I ask about the divide between the Mac and iOS, which seems almost conservative when compared to Microsoft's convertible Windows 10 strategy, Cook gives an interesting response. "We don't believe in sort of watering down one for the other. Both [The Mac and iPad] are incredible. One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two ... you begin to make trade offs and compromises. "So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day. But that's not what it's about. You know it's about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their passion or express their creativity. So this merger thing that some folks are fixated...

Tesla's troubles with media reports on working conditions and union organizing took a hard right turn on Monday. In response to Reveal's report on Tesla's workplace safety, the auto manufacturer accused the Pulitzer-finalist of being "an extremist or...

Earning a featured spot in the revamped iOS App Store can increase app downloads by up to 800 percent, according to new data sourced from app analytics site Sensor Tower and shared by TechCrunch.

The data, collected from September 2017 to the present, suggests an app that's highlighted using either the "App of the Day" or "Game of the Day" feature in the U.S. sees the greatest increase in downloads.

Specifically, "Game of the Day" apps have seen a median download increase of 802 percent for the week following the feature, while "App of the Day" apps have seen a boost of 685 percent.

Other features, such as a developer story or an app list can increase downloads by up to 240 percent. Stories resulted in a 222 percent boost in downloads, while app lists increased downloads by 240 percent. A theme feature had the lowest impact at a 164 percent...

In this hands-on video walkthrough, we step through several basic and several advanced app icon management tips for iPhone users. Chances are you’ll know many, if not most of these, but there’s probably at least one or two tips that have flown under your radar. Watch our hands-on video to find out. more…

An analyst is arguing that Apple will completely discontinue the iPhone X this year, owing to a lack of consumer interest at the high-end. That's a highly questionable claim, even if one assumes demand isn't as strong as Apple expected.

These are two different methods and we’ll explain the differences, as well as which method is best for your needs.

Laptop Mag is out today with its ‘Best & Worst Laptop Brands 2018’ report. While Apple received the highest score of any company for “Support & Warranty” it also scored the lowest in “Innovation” and “Value and Selection,” putting it at the bottom of the pack overall.

more…

Since it’s Earth Day, maybe you can use the workout as a challenge to do something good for the environment, like picking up trash on the side of a road.

The comparison of the Apple's iPhone X's features against main rival Samsung's Galaxy S9 Plus continue with more battery tests, this time examining how long each of the premium smartphones take to recharge.

Dave Hamilton and Andrew Orr join Jeff Gamet to talk about why macOS and iOS won’t merge into a single operating system for now, and they look at how the iPhone’s long life span stands in contrast to Greenpeace criticism.

"It's very similar to having a phone, you wouldn't want just one or two apps on it. You'd want to be able to have a wide selection," Bharat Vasan, CEO of PAX, told me in his company's downtown San Francisco office. He's referring to the range of "pod...

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications. more…

Apple stock, and the market, are both taking a big hit after a notable analyst predicted in "in-line" quarterly earnings report accompanied with predictions for the June quarter being lower than what Wall Street is currently expecting.

Star Wars: Jedi Challenges for the iPhone and iPad just got a cool update that lets you play holochess without Lenovo’s Mirage AR headset. The new update takes advantage of ARKit and your iPhone or iPad’s camera so you can play in your livingroom, or anywhere else you have enough room to walk around the virtual holochess board. Star Wars: Jedi Challenges is free, and the new holochess mode requires an ARKit-compatible iPhone or iPad.

Taking online classes is an easy way to fit college into your schedule without the need to physically be on campus. But, there are drawbacks. Full Sail University hopes that implementing virtual reality into its courses will help eliminate some of th...

Adds support for the Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage service. ($49.99 new, free update, 48.9 MB)

M036654042e928cadea70fbaa0215f75c4

Greenpeace criticized Apple’s new iPhone recycling robot Daisy saying the company should instead design iPhones that can stay in use longer—a request that seems odd considering the company supports iOS 11 on the five year old iPhone 5s.

Zac wrote a really helpful piece earlier this week about a HomeKit feature that had somehow entirely passed me by: the ability to customize your light icons.

The default icon for all lights is a lightbulb. But HomeKit offers you the ability to choose between four icons:

• Lightbulb
• Floor lamp
• Ceiling light
• Desk lamp

Zac mentioned that it would be useful to have more options, and I wanted to give this greater visibility by making it a feature request …

more…

LG is expected to unveil its next flagship smartphone, the G7 ThinQ, at a New York event on May 2nd. Aside from the ThinQ artificial intelligence, the phone will get another new feature: A dedicated button for Google Assistant. According to a CNET re...

Japanese blog Macotakara has published new details about the rumored iPhone SE 2 based on details shared by a case maker source. The new details come after Eurasian regulatory filings this month suggest we’re just weeks away from new iPhones being unveiled.

more…

In the past, we've seen hotel rooms and even entire hotels specifically designed for those who prefer the orange glow of de_dust2 to a sandy beach. But Alienware's new gaming suite in Hilton's Panama City location might well be the easiest place yet...

Postbox is a new email application that helps you organize your work life and get stuff done. It has all the elegance and simplicity of Apple Mail, but with more power and flexibility to manage even the most demanding workloads.

Features

• Ultra-Fast Search - Instantly find messages, attachments, images, links, and contacts.
• Conversation Views - Make sense of email threads through chronological message views.
• Better Organization - Tabs, Topics, and To-Dos help you stay organized with less effort.
• Works Great with OS X - Postbox integrates with the Address Book, iCal, iPhoto, Spotlight, and Quick Look. Postbox even works with OmniFocus and Things!
• Quick and Easy Setup - Postbox will automatically determine your connection settings for you!

Postbox is available in English, German, French, Spanish (Spain), English (British), Italian, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, and Swedish.

Apple will release an updated iPhone SE in May, according to case makers who spoke with Japanese website Mac Otakara at the Global Sources Mobile Electronics trade show in Hong Kong this week.

The case makers said the second-generation model will retain the same physical size as the current iPhone SE, and Touch ID is expected to remain, suggesting the device will continue to have a four-inch display sandwiched between top and bottom bezels for the home button, camera, and earpiece.

Following in the footsteps of the iPhone 7 and beyond, the case makers do not expect the new iPhone SE to have a 3.5mm headphone jack. If accurate, and with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus likely to be discontinued in September, Apple would no longer sell any iPhone model with a headphone jack.

Also like the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, the new iPhone SE will supposedly be powered by Apple's last-generation...

TinkerTool is an application that gives you access to additional preference settings Apple has built into Mac OS X. This allows to activate hidden features in the operating system and in some of the applications delivered with the system.

The tool makes sure that preference changes can only affect the current user. You don't need administrative privileges to use the tool. With this design, it is no problem to use TinkerTool in professional networks where users have restricted permissions. The program will never change any component of the operating system, so the integrity of your system is not put at risk, and there will be no negative effect on system updates.

All preference settings changed by TinkerTool can be reset to Apple's defaults, or to the state that existed before using the tool. No dangerous background processes are used for TinkerTool's operation. You may send bug reports here.

...

Earlier today, we reported on WebKit’s mailing list suggesting that iOS 12 will support iPhone 5s. Following that, I decided to look into WebKit’s source code to see what else could be found about future Apple releases. For those who don’t know, WebKit is the engine behind Safari on both macOS and iOS, it’s developed in the open so it’s natural that it will eventually hint at future iOS and macOS features.

more…

Patently Apple posted a report in December titled "Apple Details their Finisar Investment while revealing they're the Largest Customer of VCSEL Wafers in the World." Today we're seeing that being the largest customer of VCSEL wafers is making life hard for their competitors trying to match Apple's 3D Face ID

Back when I bought my 2016 MacBook Pro, I was kind of tempted to get all the expense out of the way in one hit and upgrade my monitor at the same time. The problem, as I wrote later, was finding someone to take my money.

What I really want now is to replace my existing two-screen setup – 15-inch MacBook Pro on the left, 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display on the right – with a single monitor.

That means I need something substantially wider than 27 inches and 2560 pixels. My colleague Jeff tested one candidate back in 2016, LG’s 34-inch UltraWide. But that didn’t tick all of my boxes, so I held out …

Sure, Macs have some pretty decent speakers but if you compare them to speakers that are designed for listening to music or video soundtracks they can sound flat and unimpressive. That's why Boom 3D for Mac was created -- it's a system-wide volume booster and equalizer for macOS that is designed to give you complete control over your Mac's audio. This awesome utility would usually set you back $16.99, but we have Boom 3D for Mac on sale for just $7.99.

Here's what Boom 3D does for any Mac with built-in speakers:

• Features 3D Surround Sound unlike anything you've heard from a computer
• Comes w/ built-in audio player for greater control
• Takes audio levels on your Mac up a few notches across all of your...

This week on the AppleInsider podcast, Victor interviews Oliver Seil, Belkin's VP of Design, plus Victor and Mikey talk about iPhone SE2 rumors, and what the chances are of merging of iOS and MacOS.

Have some large files you’d like to send? Too big for email and don’t want to have to sign-up for a service like DropBox? Check out Plover.

Here’s how it works:

• Go to the website, plover.io
• When the page loads, note that you’ll be an animal in a location

For example, I just loaded the page and found that I am a panther in blue-foreign-spring. All I need to do is grab a link to this page and text it to a friend. When they follow the link, they’ll appear on the same page as a different animal.

To construct the link to the current page:

• append the location to plover.io

In my case, the link to my page would be plover.io/blue-foreign-spring. There’s also a link to the room on the page you can control-click and copy. Either works.

Once you see your friend’s animal appear on the page, drag and drop a file on their animal, or click their animal...

Nice writeup by Andrew Orr for The Mac Observer. This is one of those posts that worth scanning now, while you are feet up with a cup of coffee, rather than in a state of panicked response to your phone gone missing.

One note: Ignore the link to “How to Set Your iOS Device Data to Auto-Destruct” on that page. As pointed out in the comments, it’s outdated and no longer accurate.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Mitchel Broussard, MacRumors:

eBay today announced a new update for its iOS and Android apps, aimed at further simplifying the item listing process. The headlining feature of the update is a new barcode scanner, allowing sellers to quickly scan the box of an item (if they still have it), select a condition, and click “list your item.”

The barcode scanner will automatically populate the listing with all of the requisite details (images, description, suggested starting price), and the process can be finished “within seconds,” according to eBay. If you don’t have the item barcode you can still search for it by typing in a description, which should populate the listing at around the same rate as the barcode scanner.

Great idea.

...

The Accord has gotten some positive headlines, but Bryan Chaffin doesn’t think the announcement stands up to logical scrutiny.

One of the reasons for the $999+ price-tag of the iPhone X is the cost of the Samsung-made OLED screen. The latest estimate is that Samsung charges Apple around $97 per display.

Apple’s negotiating position has been weak, as Samsung has so far been the only company able to make the displays to the iPhone maker’s exacting standards in sufficient volumes. That looked set to change as Apple worked to bring LG on board as a second supplier for this year’s iPhones, but that plan now seems to be in doubt …

more…

When you say “Hey Siri” do multiple Apple devices reply? If so, you need to know how a device responds to the command when there’s more than one gadget nearby that supports "Hey Siri.”

When you say "Hey Siri" near multiple devices that support "Hey Siri," the devices quickly communicate to each other using Bluetooth to determine which one should respond to the request. The device that heard you best or was recently raised should respond.

The HomePod responds to most Siri requests, even if there are other devices that support "Hey Siri" nearby. If you want to use Siri on a specific device, raise to wake that device or press the button to use Siri, then make your request. 

Hey Siri" uses Bluetooth to communicate with nearby devices, so make sure that you turn on Bluetooth on all of your devices. If you turn off Bluetooth or if a device isn’t in Bluetooth range of the other devices, multiple devices might respond to your request.

If the wrong device is...

On a regular basis, Apple World Today posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are today's picks.

iOS Apps/Updates

Spiderweb Software has launched Avernum 3: Ruined World. It’s a $9.99 fantasy role-playing adventure in which players escape into an enormous world that evolves as time passes. Towns fight battles. Refugees flee. Disasters happen. You can be a merchant or bounty hunter, buy a home, save the world, and more.

macOS Apps/Updates

Gro Software has announced Gro CRM 2.1, an update of their Mac CRM software platform for small business. 

The upgrade includes such new features as: business card scanning, map contact tracking for the door-to-door industry, auto history tracking for...

The way that technology can touch us personally is captured in a thank you letter an iPhone user sent to Apple, noting appreciation for Live Photo's capture of ambient sound and video of a loved one who had passed away. Apple's chief executive Tim Cook responded with a note of condolences and appreciation for sharing the story, stating "it is deeply inspiring for us."

This is straight from the horse’s mouth, so odds are Apple will follow it.

Following rumors that Apple is working on cross-platform software initiatives to bridge its two most popular systems, CEO Tim Cook has denied speculation that the company will eventually weld the two platforms together.

“We don’t believe in sort of watering down one for the other,” said Cook. “Both are incredible. One of the reasons that both of them are incredible is because we pushed them to do what they do well. And if you begin to merge the two … you begin to make trade offs and compromises.

“So maybe the company would be more efficient at the end of the day. But that’s not what it’s about. You know it’s about giving people things that they can then use to help them change the world or express their passion or express their creativity. So this merger thing that some folks are fixated on, I don’t think that’s what users want.”

Back in December, it was rumored that Apple’s...

BusyContacts is a contact manager for OS X that makes creating, finding, and managing contacts faster and more efficient. It brings to contact management the same power, flexibility, and sharing capabilities that BusyCal users have enjoyed with their calendars. What's more, BusyContacts integrates seamlessly with BusyCal, forming a flexible, easy-to-use CRM solution that works the way you do.

BusyContacts syncs with the built-in Contacts app on OS X and iOS, and supports all leading cloud services, including iCloud, Google, Exchange, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Key Features

• Customizable Views -- View contacts in a single-column Card View or multi-column List View.
• Tags -- Tags can be used for grouping, filtering and coloring contacts.
• Smart Filters -- Smart Filters are a powerful tool for...

Airmail is an mail client with fast performance and intuitive interaction. Support for iCloud, MS Exchange, Gmail, Google Apps, IMAP, POP3, Yahoo!, AOL, Outlook.com, Live.com.

Airmail was designed from the ground to retain the same experience with a single or multiple accounts and provide a quick, modern and easy-to-use user experience. Airmail is clean and allows you to get to your emails without interruption -- it's the mail client for the 21st century.

We have taken usability and function to the next level with Airmail and bring a striking-design with support for all major email services. Switch between accounts like a breeze and quick reply to incoming messages within seconds -- email has never been so easy and productive.

Version 3.5.6:

• Improved Rendering
• Minor Fixes

• OS X 10.10 or later

...

Default Folder X attaches a toolbar to the right side of the Open and Save dialogs in any OS X-native application. The toolbar gives you fast access to various folders and commands. You just click on the buttons to go to your favorite and recently used folders, manage the folders and files shown in the list, and make changes to your settings. It also fixes a number of problems in Open and Save dialogs, "rebounding" to the last selected file, putting the path listing back in the top menu, and correcting bugs in scrolling column views.

Features

• Directory assistant: You can access the contents of your recent, favorite, and open folders right from Default Folder X's toolbar.
• Real time saving: If you're constantly saving things inside the same folder, Default Folder X can remember that folder for you.
• Finder management: Default Folder X lets you open up or save to any Finder window...

TotalFinder is a universally acclaimed navigational companion for your Mac. Enhance your Mac's Finder with features so smart and convenient, you won't believe you ever lived without them.

Features

• Tab-based interface - Say goodbye to scattered, disorganized Finder windows. TotalFinder merges everything into a workflow-friendly, tab-based layout.
• System-wide access - With TotalFinder, convenience is key: With the stroke of a hot-key, it's available instantly, system-wide.
• Helpful tweaks - TotalFinder's Folders on Top feature takes file organization to a new level. Just click the option in the Preferences menu and your much-needed folders will automatically be prioritized in every window.
• Reduce clutter - OS X's Finder has a bad habit of cluttering your system with hidden attribute files. TotalFinder emphasizes cleanliness, eliminating superfluous files...

Chromium is an open-source browser project that aims to build a safer, faster, and more stable way for all Internet users to experience the web.

Version 66.0.3359.117:

• Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.

• OS X 10.9 or later

Download Now]]>

Google Chrome is a Web browser by Google, created to be a modern platform for Web pages and applications. It utilizes very fast loading of Web pages and has a V8 engine, which is a custom built JavaScript engine. Because Google has used parts from Apple's Safari and Mozilla's Firefox browsers, they made the project open source.

Version 66.0.3359.117:

Site Isolation Trial:

• Chrome 66 will include a small percentage trial of Site Isolation, to prepare for a broader upcoming launch. Site Isolation improves Chrome's security and helps mitigate the risks posed by Spectre.

Security Fixes and Rewards:

• Chrome 66 will not trust website certificates issued by Symantec's legacy PKI before June 1st 2016, continuing the phased distrust outlined in our previous announcements.
• This update includes 62 security fixes. Please see the Chrome Security Page for more information

...

With Skitch, taking, annotating, and sharing screenshots or images is as fun as it is simple.Communicate and collaborate with images using Skitch and its intuitive, engaging drawing and annotating features.

• Create a note. Use Skitch's image capturing features to take screenshots, then edit and share these and other images with your collaborators.
• Make your point. Markup and annotate key components of your images to communicate with others.
• Share it all. Share your thoughts with your collaborators with streamlined feedback options; share summaries of your notes; share your notes on Evernote or social media with ease.

Version 2.8.1:

• Bug fixes and miscellaneous improvements including a fix for dragging and dropping an image into another app copying over the previously clipped screenshot instead of the currently selected one.

...

All Mac users owe Kare a debt of gratitude for her work.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Apple has unveiled a new robot called Daisy that's designed to recycle nine different versions of the iPhone. The new robot is an update to Liam, the recycling robot the company announced back in 2016. TechCrunch reports: Daisy was developed in-house by Apple engineers, using some of Liam's parts -- a recycling of sorts. The industrial robot is able to disassemble nine different versions of the iPhone, sorting all of their reusable components in the process. In all, Daisy is capable of taking apart a full 200 iPhones in a given hour, proving a solid alternative to traditional methods that can destroy valuable components in the process. Along with Daisy, Apple's also using the occasion to announce GiveBack, an addition to its recycling program. For every device customers turn in or trade from now until April 30, the company will make a donation to Conservation International, a Virginia-based environmental nonprofit. Eligible devices will still qualify for an in-store or gift card...

Amid reports that Apple is planing to support cross-platform apps for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, a new interview with Tim Cook sheds light on the Apple CEO’s thoughts on the distinction between iPad and Mac…

more…

Libratone's Zipp speaker is a customizable and powerful speaker that is sure to liven up any room whether at home or on the go. Its surprising list of features, not to mention inputs, makes it one of the best speakers you can add to your home.

In this episode, Bryan Chaffin and Jeff Gamet dissect the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, a pledge by 34 tech companies to do something vague and unlikely. The timing for the announcement is somewhat interesting because we are in the middle of an undeclared shadow cyberwar. They cap the show analyzing what it might take for any new social network to supplant Facebook.

If you're looking for a podcast episode for your next commute, listen in on The Committed as Adam Engst discusses the recent TidBITS redesign with hosts Kirk McElhearn, Rob Griffiths, and Ian Schray.

Read original article

Google has added a feature to its Google Chrome Web browser that the company promises will reduce the annoyance of auto-play videos, but there are exceptions that may make it less useful.

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Even though Final Cut Pro X curiously doesn’t support external GPUs yet, DaVinci Resolve is another popular NLE that already works with eGPUs on macOS. In fact, the $299 Studio edition supports multiple GPUs, which can have a noticeable effect on both timeline and render/export performance.

I’ve been super impressed with the relentlessness that Blackmagic Design, the creators behind DaVinci Resolve, has displayed while iterating on its hardware and software products. For example, DaVinci Resolve has progressed from what was primarily viewed as a colorist’s tool that you’d use and round trip back to your primary NLE, to a competent standalone NLE. The upcoming version 15,...

Wow, lots of interesting news in the world of Apple today (except for AAPL's share price tanking, but...) -- Apple's environmental report for 2017 shows significant progress, FoundationDB goes open source, there's good news for snorers, and don't tear apart an iMac Pro and expect Apple to repair it...

• Apple is making good progress on all environmental fronts, including a goal to plan to eventually eliminate the need for mining for materials for its products
• Apple's FoundationDB is now open source, so perhaps developers can add the Dropbox-like sharing functionality to it that we need
• Keep waking up your partner with your snoring? Sleep Cycle will now wake you up with a tap on the wrist from an Apple Watch, so you can change position and hopefully stop snoring
• A YouTube vlogger is griping that Apple won't repair the iMac Pro that he tore apart for an online review

The text version of the podcast can be read below. To listen to...