A class suit representing multiple plaintiffs from the Democratic Republic of Congo has been filed against Apple, Google, Tesla and others. It claims tech companies have knowingly exploited underage labor in local mining for cobalt, used in lithium-ion batteries.

Time magazine has selected what it calls the most significant ten gadgets that made their first appearance in the 2010s -- and Apple has three entries.

If you visit Qatar in the next few years, you might find yourself riding in a driverless vehicle. Volkswagen and Qatar have struck a deal that will bring self-driving electric vehicles to the public transportation network in the capital city of Doha...

It didn't take long for federal officials to convict people operating two of the largest pirate streaming sites in the US. Darryl Polo and Luis Villarino have pleaded guilty to copyright infringement charges (and money laundering for Polo) for opera...

By Rachel Cericola

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to plug-in smart outlets....

There are less than two weeks left in the holiday shopping season, and time is running out to buy online. If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift for a tech fan in your life without breaking the bank, read on as we highlight some must-have technology gifts under $50 that will arrive before Christmas.

more…

The post 9to5Mac Gift Guide: Tech stocking stuffer ideas from under $10 appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple has officially announced the arrival of a new retail store at The SoNo Collection, a newly opened mall in Norwalk, Connecticut. “A brand new Apple Store is coming soon” reads signage posted inside the mall. No grand opening date has been listed at this time, and there is no webpage for the store online.

more…

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Podcasts have officially been around since 2003, but in the past few years, the medium has gone mainstream. It seems like every hit TV show has a podcast to go along with it. Topics that used to be niche can now have a global following. Regardless if a show is done by a mainstream media company or a one-person operation, anyone can have a podcast. There has been a lot of talk about Apple investing in original podcast content. Still, I think there is another way Apple could invest in the podcast industry: Building out the tools to enable business customers to use Apple Podcasts as a corporate training tool. more…

The post...

The K-pop rapper Kim Namjoon, lead singer of band BTS, revealed in a stream Q&A chat this weekend with his fans that he is currently on his 34th pair of AirPods because he keeps losing them.

more…

The post K-pop rapper Namjoon reveals that he has lost 33 pairs of AirPods appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Review site iFixit has shared a Mac Pro first impression and uncasing video, with sections that show off the internal components of the high-end Apple desktop machine.

The 19-minute long video starts by taking a poke at the ‘cheese grater’ design and actually grating cheese on it. The case is then lifted to reveal the modular tech. The team shows where hardware such as the memory, hard drive and graphics cards are and how they work together.

A full teardown of the Mac Pro is expected to be the next week’s video.

The new Mac Pro is designed for creative artists and heavy users who don’t want any compromises. The machine’s specs include Xeon processors on up to 28 cores, up to 1.5 TB of memory, up to 2 Radeon Duo GPUs and 8 PCIe expansion slots. It comes with the Pro Display XDR and can be easily upgraded.

The post iFixit Mac Pro...

Online retail giant Amazon has announced that Alexa-enabled devices will now support the playback of Apple Podcasts in the United States.

To do this, you will need to link your Amazon account to your Apple ID. Afterwards, any progress in listening to audio episodes will be synced across your devices. You can pause an episode after the commute and continue streaming it on your Echo device with a voice command. Say the command and Alexa will play the episode for you.

Users may also set Apple Podcasts as their default podcast provider in Alexa by going to Settings, then Music and Podcasts and tapping on Link or Manage New Services.

In the Apple environment, users can listen to their favorite podcasts on the HomePod, Mac, iPhone, Apple TV, iPod Touch and more. The platform boasts...

Tech companies have long disclosed the number of national security letters (NSLs) they get from authorities, but the credit reporting agencies that often dictate your financial future have been silent -- and Congress wants answers. Senators Elizabet...

Believe it or not, TiVo has required that iOS users stream recordings on WiFi for the past seven years. Yes, despite the rise of fast and (theoretically) unlimited mobile data, you couldn't catch up on shows during your commute. Reason has prevaile...

Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s global head of accessibility sat down with UK's website of the year to discuss the company's devotion to designing features for Apple devices that benefit those with disabilities

Apple can always do more but they have made great strides in the areas of accessibility for any number of its customers. And accessibility offers benefits to all users, disabled or not.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Amazon is running a holiday sale on Twelve South accessories for Apple products, with bonus savings on a variety of cases, chargers and stands for Apple AirPods, iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, iMacs and Apple Watches.

New Orleans is the latest city to fall victim to a cyberattack, although it appears to have fared better than some of its peers. The city both declared a state of emergency and shut down most of its computers after detecting suspicious activity, inc...

Do you think that the trend of having long line-ups forming to see a a new Apple Store opening is fading? Then think again. The lineup to get into new Apple Kawasaki store in Japan was massive and far beyond what is seen in our cover graphic.

Animate CC 2020 is available as part of Adobe Creative Cloud for as little as $20.99/month (or $9.99/month if you're a previous Flash Professional customer).

Animate CC 2020 (was Flash CC) lets you share work directly from within the application and get access to new features the moment they're released. Your entire creative world, together in one place. Work faster than ever before with a 64-bit architecture, a new streamlined user interface, and more connected tools. Create HTML content and export high-definition video and audio.

Animate CC 2020 is part of Creative Cloud. That means you have access to all the latest updates and future releases the moment they're available. You can use Save to Cloud to keep your files organized across multiple computers. And Creative Cloud is integrated with Behance, so you can share your projects and get immediate...

Adobe Acrobat Reader allows users to view PDF documents. You may not know what a PDF file is, but you've probably come across one at some point. PDF files are used by companies and even the IRS to distribute documentation and other pieces of information about their products, and Adobe Acrobat Reader is the essential interpreter. Acrobat integrates directly with your Web browser, so if you come across a PDF document on the Web, you can view it directly from within your Netscape or Internet Explorer browser window. Acrobat also makes printing much more practical, by guaranteeing that the printout will look exactly like it does on your screen.

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software is the free global standard for reliably viewing, printing, and commenting on PDF documents.

And now, it's connected to the Adobe Document Cloud − making it easier than ever to work across computers and mobile devices.

It's the only PDF viewer that can open and interact with...

Adobe Flash Player is a cross-platform, browser-based application runtime that provides uncompromised viewing of expressive applications, content, and videos across browsers and operating systems. Pepper Flash plugin is built for Chromium-based browsers, i.e. Chrome, Opera, Chromium etc.

Version 32.0.0.303:

• Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.

• OS X 10.10 or later
• Latest versions of Safari or Firefox recommended

Download Now

You can download Lightroom for Mac as a part of Creative Cloud for only $9.99/month with Photoshop, included as part of the photography package.

The latest version of Lightroom gives you all of the photo-editing powers to turn your photography into a masterpiece. Take your images to the next level with the most advanced all-in-one software solution for macOS.

Enhance and manage images with a desktop-optimized application

Adobe Lightroom for Mac is a complete package with top-notch photo-editing and organizing tools. Embody your boldest ideas using an incredible imaging toolset. Harness the power of Lightroom to manage your photos, make state-of-the-art adjustments, and present your artworks in beautiful print layouts, digital presentations, and online galleries.

Drive inspiration creating your best photos ever

A camera lens does not always see a scene as you see it within your eyes. Enhance your...

Apple is being questioned by lawmakers over the disclosure of foreign applications in the App Store. Reuters reports that House of Representatives Oversight Committee is seeking answers from both Apple and Google on whether app developers are required to disclose non-US ties.

more…

The post Lawmakers seek answers from Apple on the disclosure of foreign apps in the App Store appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple released Screen Time initially with iOS 12, and it has continued to refine it since. I’ve enjoyed using it as a parent with my children’s iPad as a way to automatically disable their devices after a certain amount of time. Since then, we’ve had various articles looking at how Apple could improve Screen Time. Ben Lovejoy argued that a Screen Time API would allow third-party developers to expand beyond what Apple has built. I mentioned last December that I would love to see some enhanced Safari filtering options, iMessage history, and more. After I attended...

POW Audio gave us a chance to take a look at their brand new Una X, an expandable, omnidirectional Bluetooth speaker designed to fit comfortably in a bag so you can take the party with you.

Apple is looking into methods for providing more haptic feedback on iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. The company has been granted a patent (number 10,503,258) for an “input mechanism with force and rotation inputs and haptic feedback.”

In the patent data, Apple notes that touch screens are becoming increasingly popular as an input method for an electronic device because of their ease and versatility of operation, as well as their declining price. 

However, in addition to touch panels/touch screens, many electronic devices may also have mechanical inputs, such as buttons, switches, and/or knobs. These mechanical inputs can control power (i.e., on/off) and volume for the electronic devices, among other functions. Apple says that, however, sometimes these mechanical inputs also fail to give a user tactile feedback, such as the "click-click-click" feeling of winding a mechanical alarm clock with a knob or a mechanical watch crown.  The company...

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 this week’s picks.

iOS

Magnin & Associates has launched Railroad Logistics Challenge 1.0 for iOS and tvOS. In the $2.99 game, you try your hand at railroad logistics. 

Among your chores; reading daily job cards, deciding which order to pick up the various cars, where to fill them (if needed), and then where to deliver each. There are variety of railroad cars including box cars, flat beds, gondola cars, and tankers. You simply back your train into the car you want to pickup and it couples automatically.

macOS

Dirk Stichling has announced the 10th...

Apple Pay’s Express Transit Mode will be coming to Washington Metro next year, according to the Metropolitan Transit Authority in Washington.

Washington commuters should be able to top up their SmarTrip cards in the Wallet app, then hold their Apple Watch or iPhone to the receiving terminal in order to pay for the fare and ride on a Metrobus or Metrorail station, all without needing to unlock or enter their iPhone password.

Metro is mobile ready, GM/CEO Wiedefeld announces. SmarTrip is coming to iPhone & Apple Watch next year. More announcements soon! #wmata...

Apple has announced its partnership with Bit Fry Game Studios to bring the ‘Ultimate Rivals’ series to the Apple Arcade.

‘Ultimate Rivals’ is a sports-themed game where athletes from soccer, football, basketball and hockey are packed in a single video game, which is unprecedented in sports gaming.

The game’s first title is ‘Ultimate Rivals- the Rink which gives you access to 50-plus athletes for 2-on-2 matches. Players will be able to select professional athletes from the WNBA, NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL and US National Soccer Team.

Focusing on the strategic element, users can form teams that unlock a certain play style to compete against other online players and the AI. According to Apple, the game will have 60fps framerates, leading-edge sound and visuals...

Back by popular demand! Mac users who need to run Windows applications within macOS can take advantage of a deal on Parallels Desktop 15, with the virtualization software available as part of the 2020 Limited-Edition Mac Bundle that's just $48 with coupon.

When Google announced the Pixelbook Go, it promised a top-of-the-line model with 4K display for those willing to pay over a grand for one. Well, those who've been holding off on buying until it becomes available can now get it -- or ask for it -- in...

If you can read English and write in either Dutch or Japanese, we need your help in translating TidBITS!

By Joel Stocksdale

While the Ford F-150 has been the claimed target for the Tesla Cybertruck, it looks like the government may classify it like even larger and more capable pickups. As first reported by Automotive News, the electric car company sent...

Enlarge / iOS 13 on an iPhone 11 Pro. (credit: Samuel Axon)

A bug in iOS 13.3 allows children to easily circumvent the restrictions their parents or guardians set with the Communications Limit feature in Screen Time. Apple has said it plans to fix the problem in a future software update.

The iOS 13.3 update released earlier this week added the ability for parents to whitelist contacts for their kids to communicate with. Kids need the parents to input a passcode to talk to anyone not on the list, with an exception made for emergency services like 911. It was the flagship feature of the update.

Yesterday, CNBC...

The design of Apple’s 2019 Mac Pro strongly suggests that there may be room for a new model, a new kind of Mac in 2020.

To help celebrate the holidays, 9to5 readers can get 20% off all Defense cases for iPhone with our exclusive promo. Head below for a better look at the full line up and another exclusive offer on Defense’s DUO wireless charging dock.

more…

The post Exclusive 20% off iPhone cases from Defense for a limited time appeared first on 9to5Mac.

China, the world's largest smartphone market, has been nothing short of a moving target for Apple. A salvo shots fired by top analysts this week only evidences one thing: the only near-term certainty with Apple and China may be more uncertainty.

Apple today released a new version of its iTunes Remote app for iOS, which has not been updated for more than a year. Version 4.5 of the app features Dark Mode and enhanced support for the new Music and TV apps included with macOS Catalina.

more…

The post iTunes Remote iOS app updated w/ Dark Mode and improved support for Music and TV apps in macOS Catalina appeared first on 9to5Mac.

That $53,000 for the Mac Pro on the high-end is a lot of money for a computer, but there will be buyers. There doesn't seem to be a lot of discussion about the lower, more practical, workstation price points -- which are common to Windows workstations too.

The new Mac Pro can hold up to 1.5 terabytes of memory, but paying Apple's prices for more RAM from the base amount at the time of order can add up to $25,000 to the cost of the workstation. AppleInsider offers some aftermarket upgrades as cheaper alternatives to boost the memory capacity of your new 2019 Mac Pro with a quick DIY upgrade.

If you find Amazon's Echo Wall Clock a tad too drab but still like the idea of a connected timepiece on your wall, Citizen might have what you're looking for. The company has introduced a Smart Clock thatcan accept Alexa commands through other devic...

Checkm8 is an iPhone flaw in the bootrom that can lead to a jailbreak. It can’t be patched via software, and it affects the iPhone 4s through iPhone X. But attackers need physical access to your device, and the jailbreak can only be tethered, meaning that if the iPhone is restarted it disappears.

The Cellebrite UFED team is working quickly to provide users with support for the above-mentioned scenario.  This will be included with the launch of our iOS extraction agent in an upcoming release. The team is committed to providing a comprehensive, forensically-sound solution that adheres to Cellebrite’s high standards, is fully tested, and is admissible in court.

Speaking about recent rumors, if Apple did remove the Lightning port from future iPhones, I wonder if it would defeat companies like Cellebrite. I’m not sure if they could still extract data via the wireless charger.

...

A trade agreement between the U.S. and China is “an early Christmas present to Apple,” according to one analyst.

THQ Nordic is testing the waters for a possible reboot of the 2001 fantasy RPG Gothic with a playable trailer. It's hoping for feedback from players on whether it should go ahead with a full rework. The prototype, which is called Gothic Playable Teas...

Apple employees based in Silicon Valley are able to have genetic tests performed for free via the company's AC Wellness clinics, through a partnership with Color Genomics, in what may be a pilot program for the iPhone maker's healthcare project.

Andrew Orr and Charlotte Henry join host Kelly Guimont to discuss Apple Podcasts coming to Amazon Echo devices, and the latest OS updates.

YouTuber Marques Brownlee got to spend two weeks with a new Mac Pro. Jealous, much?! In a recently posted video, he unboxed the device and gave his review.

Apple is partnering with Color Genomics to offer free DNA testing to its employees. These will be genetic screenings for diseases.

Repair site iFixit managed to get a Mac Pro on Friday, and has kicked off its traditional teardown with an uncasing and first impressions video.

The video shows the process of removing the ‌Mac Pro‌'s aluminum case and it takes a look at some of the internal components.

For those interested in a quick look at what's inside the ‌Mac Pro‌ and how the different components work, the video is worth checking out.

iFixit plans to share a full ‌Mac Pro‌ teardown next week, likely on Tuesday.

Related Roundup: Mac ProBuyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Buy Now)
This article, "iFixit Shares Mac Pro Uncasing and First Impressions" first appeared on MacRumors.com

...

Most people in the US agree that the country needs to reform its criminal justice system. In 2017, for instance, a poll conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union found that 71 percent of Americans said it was important for the country to reduce...

Apple Arcade is here, and you can play some of the subscription service’s many games with select models of Xbox One and PlayStation 4 controllers as well as Mfi (Made for iOS) controllers!

During Apple Arcade’s announcement, though, Apple gave the impression that all Apple Arcade games would work with gamepads (in part because the service will eventually also come to macOS and tvOS), but it turns out that’s not entirely true. Some games have interfaces solely designed for touchscreens—at least on iPhone and iPad. 

...

Benjamin and Zac reflect on the Apple TV Siri remote, the first round of award nominations for TV+, what’s new in iOS 13.3 and other software updates, the launch of the 2019 Mac Pro, and much more.

9to5Mac Happy Hour is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

...

Through Apple's AC Wellness services that offer health benefits to Cupertino employees, Apple has begun providing its staff with free genetic testing, reports CNBC.

AC Wellness operates on-site health clinics on and near Apple's Cupertino campuses, and through a partnership with Color Genomics, employees are able to get genetic screenings for diseases.

Genetic testing is expected to help employees uncover health problems that could turn into risks later in time, allowing patients to take preventative steps. Color's test is able to look for gene mutations associated with cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The test created by Color is not sold directly to consumers and is instead ordered by clinicians at AC Wellness, with a follow up appointment required to discuss the health results.

This article, "...

Amanda Palmer wouldn't exist in her current form without Patreon. That's not to say Amanda Palmer the person would dematerialize if Patreon didn't exist, but Amanda Palmer the artist would be a completely different beast. As it stands, Palmer is an i...

Check out the free eBook from NASA titled “Earth at Night.”

∞ Read this on The Loop

A year to the day after Apple announced plans to spend $1 billion on a new corporate campus in Austin, Texas, to initially support 5,000 employees with the potential to grow to 15,000, television station WRAL in Raleigh, North Carolina, has shared an update and a few new details related to North Carolina's attempts to attract the new campus.

Rendering of Apple's upcoming Austin campus

While it didn't conduct a public competition like Amazon, Apple was open about its plans to construct a new corporate campus, announcing its intentions in January 2018. A number of cities emerged as top contenders to land Apple's new campus, but by May 2018,...

After months of thinking, curating, photographing, more thinking, we've come up with a holiday gift guide that covers all the bases (and budgets), from laptops and mobile devices, to toys, to the smart home, to book and media recommendations (only on...

Time is running out to save up to $1,700 instantly on Mac hardware, with prices starting at just $679. Save on 13-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, iMacs, the Mac mini, and even iPad Airs and iPad Pros with free expedited shipping for fast delivery before the holidays.

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.

Sponsored by Nanoleaf: Nanoleaf is ushering in a new era of beautifully personalized lighting experiences. Visit nanoleaf.me/9to5Mac for more info on exclusive deals for Nanoleaf’s Design Kits, Twin Packs and Starter Kits...

Shortly after the Pro Display XDR became available to order this week, Stephen Hackett of Relay FM noted that the iMac Pro was not included in the list of Mac models compatible with the display on Apple's website.

Fortunately, video editor Thomas Grove Carter has since demonstrated that the iMac Pro can in fact drive the Pro Display XDR, but only at a 5K resolution. This is likely because the iMac Pro uses Intel's older "Alpine Ridge" Thunderbolt 3 controller without enough bandwidth to drive a 6K display.

Confirmation that the #iMacPro does drive the #ProDisplayXDR 🧐

At 5k. Not 6k....

Everyone from the Department of Justice, the FBI, and politicians like Senator Lindsey Graham are attacking encryption, calling for backdoors for the “public good.” But people who understand security are cautioning against such a move. This week Representative Ro Khanna forwarded a letter to Lindsay Graham from the Defense Department’s Chief Information Officer Dana Deasy.

As the use of mobile devices continues to expand, it is imperative that innovative security techniques, such as advanced encryption algorithms, are constantly maintained and improved to protect DoD information and resources. The Department believes maintaining a domestic climate for state of the art security and encryption is critical to the protection of our national security.

...

Apple has partnered with Amazon to launch support for Apple Podcasts on Amazon Echo devices. Starting today, Echo owners in the United States can ask Alexa to play any of the 800,000 shows in the Apple Podcasts directory.

To set up the integration, Echo customers must first link their Apple ID in the Alexa app. As well as asking Alexa to play a specific show, playback progress will automatically sync with all of your Apple Podcasts app across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.

more…

The post You can now ask Alexa to play Apple Podcasts on Amazon Echo speakers appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Apple shared which Macs will be compatible with the Pro Display XDR and very notably, the iMac Pro wasn’t on the list. However, we’ve got confirmation today that it will work, but with a limitation.

more…

The post Apple Pro Display XDR works with iMac Pro, but with limitations appeared first on 9to5Mac.

This seems like an impossibly great deal, especially if you are considering plunking down cash for Apple TV+. Even without a plan, you’ve got an iPod (fill it with songs for that long plane trip), a first phone for the kids, and a cheap entre into Apple TV+.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Patently Apple has briefly covered Tim Cook's Asian tour starting in Japan, then to Singapore and today Cook has sent out another round of tweets of his tour continuing in Thailand with a series of photos as presented in our report

Apple's Pro Display XDR offers a high 6K resolution for the Mac Pro and select Mac and MacBook models, but users of the iMac Pro are only able to use the professional-level monitor at a lower 5K resolution.

OWC has announced the availability of the ThunderBay 4 mini storage solution, the newest addition to their ThunderBay line of external storage systems, available in either Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 2 interfaces.

Featuring four bays for 2.5-inch drives, the ThunderBay 4 mini is available in pre-configured solutions up to 16TB, while the 0GB enclosure is ready out of the box for users to repurpose or maximize their choice of 2.5-inchSSDs and/or HDDs. Mixed drives can be used independently or combined as a RAID with the included SoftRAID setup and management software. 

The ThunderBay 4 mini weighs only 3.1 pounds with SSDs installed. The aluminum enclosure is available in two models: Thunderbolt 3 with two ports (Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt backward compatible) for up to...

OWC has announced the availability of the ThunderBay 4 mini storage solution, the newest addition to their ThunderBay line of external storage systems, available in either Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 2 interfaces.

Featuring four bays for 2.5-inch drives, the ThunderBay 4 mini is available in pre-configured solutions up to 16TB, while the 0GB enclosure is ready out of the box for users to repurpose or maximize their choice of 2.5-inchSSDs and/or HDDs. Mixed drives can be used independently or combined as a RAID with the included SoftRAID setup and management software. 

The ThunderBay 4 mini weighs only 3.1 pounds with SSDs installed. The aluminum enclosure is available in two models: Thunderbolt 3 with two ports (Thunderbolt 2/Thunderbolt backward compatible) for up to...

Fitness trackers are the answer to holiday food and drink binges and promises of shedding a few pounds for your New Year’s resolution. This time, you can get the Fitbit Charge 3 to jump-start your shift to a better and healthier lifestyle. It’s discounted to just $99.95, down $50 from its original price of $149.95 on Amazon.

Don’t have a workout buddy? You’ll do just fine with the Charge 3 as your companion. Choose from 15 preset exercises such as yoga, swim, bike and run and get stats delivered straight to your wrist in real-time. It’s water-resistant and swim-proof to a depth of 50 meters, with Bluetooth 4.0 technology allowing for a range up to 6 meters.

Fitbit Charge 3

Preview
Product
Price

...

Social media platform Twitter has announced that Live Photos is now supported, which means you can now upload them as GIFs and post them without needing any special tools or apps.

The Live Photos feature was first introduced in 2015 when the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus launched. Sadly, most social networks did not take to the technology and do not let the photos play when uploaded to Twitter, Facebook, and others.

iOS Live Photos on Twitter

Give the gift of GIFs. You can now upload your iOS Live Photos as GIFs anywhere you upload photos on Twitter. pic.twitter.com/D8TIfsBwyd

— Twitter (@Twitter) December 11, 2019

Taking a picture with the...

Michelle Obama, Ellen DeGeneres, and Apple have teamed up together this holiday season and gave away iPads and Macs to students and teachers at the Randle Highlands Elementary School.

The Cupertino-based company’s donation includes donating MacBook Airs for teachers, iMacs for use at the school, an iPad given to each student, a new basketball court and a $100,000 cash donation.

The D.C.-based Randle Highlands Elementary School was chosen because it’s one of the schools with the highest percentage of students that come from low-income families. Tim Cook, Apple CEO mentions that all children deserve a chance to build something that may change the world.

The donation was shown in the Ellen DeGeneres show and a part of a segment called ‘Greatest Night of Giveaways’. The program will continue for several more days in the NBC network. Michelle Obama, former first lady said she had fun making the children at the Randle Highlands school happy with the iPad donation....

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg:

Apple Inc. avoided 15% tariffs on its most important products, the iPhone, iPad and MacBooks, after U.S. President Donald Trump signed off on a trade deal with China.

The new import duties were due to kick in Dec. 15 and could have added about $150 to the price of iPhones during the crucial holiday shopping season, according to Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.

Can’t help but think the $150 per iPhone dump of cold water on Apple’s holiday sales were the primary driver for this deal with China.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Start off by following the headline link, check out the graph at the top of the article, showing quarterly iPod and wearable revenues. In 2007, Q4, iPod revenue hit a historic high of about $4 billion. Now read on.

Horace Dediu, Asymco:

My [Apple] Watch revenue estimate was $4.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018. This conclusion was confirmed by statements from the Company.

And:

Looking forward to the next quarter, I am expecting a 51% increase y/y for Wearables and 24% growth in Watch. This results in a Watch revenues about $5.2 billion and non-Watch $5.7 billion. Now if we assume $1.7 billion for non-Watch-non-AirPods (i.e. Apple TV, HomePod, Beats, iPod, other) then this quarter AirPods will have overtaken peak iPod.

Apple Watch and AirPods have both reached historic levels for Apple. I suspect AirPods will be the new benchmark to which all future products will be compared.

...

AT&T has started the rollout of its 5G mobile network, with the carrier making the low-band version of the technology available to use in ten markets across the United States - but it can currently only be used with one smartphone model.

Worked on a little sentiment analysis tool. The goal was to have a natural language processor that would report back a basic polarity score on text provided. So lightweightsentiment is a Lightweight Sentiment Analysis Tool built using the nltk (natural language toolkit) python framework.

Requirements

lightweightsentiment was written to conform to python 2 or 3 and requires the following modules installed (newer versions may work):

nltk==3.4.5

textblob==0.15.3

To install nltk run:

python -m textblob.download_corpora

Usage

Simply run the input.py script with a –text option and then some text to see sentiment. For example:

python input.py --text "Gosh, I hate this feature"

The output would then be a number between...

Yours Truly has been working with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, and I join host (and my ol’ buddy) Chuck Joiner on the latest episode of MacVoices to talk about the laptop.

I discuss my experiences and impressions of the latest Mac’s power, keyboard, and screen. I also talk about how I use it in my daily work with Apple World Today among other projects, what other hardware I supplement the new Mac with, and why I gave up my iMac for this set-up.

Apple has revealed “Ultimate Rivals” from Bit Fry Game Studios, a new sports game franchise that brings together athletes across hockey, basketball, football, baseball and soccer into a single officially licensed video game, a first in sports and gaming. 

In Ultimate Rivals: The Rink, the first title in the franchise, players choose from more than 50 superstar athletes to compete in two-on-two hockey matches. Players can combine, for instance, Alex Ovechkin and Alex Morgan against De’Aaron Fox and Jose Altuve or Skylar Diggins-Smith and Wayne Gretzky. Different combinations of heroes unlock unique ways to play and win against the AI or other gamers in online multiplayer matches. 

Ultimate Rivals: The Rink launches today on Apple Arcade across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac and will be followed by an NBA licensed basketball game, Ultimate Rivals: The Court in spring 2020. Apple Arcade is a $4.99/month subscription service.

“We are ripping up the sports video...

Apple has revealed “Ultimate Rivals” from Bit Fry Game Studios, a new sports game franchise that brings together athletes across hockey, basketball, football, baseball and soccer into a single officially licensed video game, a first in sports and gaming. 

In Ultimate Rivals: The Rink, the first title in the franchise, players choose from more than 50 superstar athletes to compete in two-on-two hockey matches. Players can combine, for instance, Alex Ovechkin and Alex Morgan against De’Aaron Fox and Jose Altuve or Skylar Diggins-Smith and Wayne Gretzky. Different combinations of heroes unlock unique ways to play and win against the AI or other gamers in online multiplayer matches. 

Ultimate Rivals: The Rink launches today on Apple Arcade across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Mac and will be followed by an NBA licensed basketball game, Ultimate Rivals: The Court in spring 2020. Apple Arcade is a $4.99/month subscription service.

“We are ripping up the sports video...

Apple has avoided 15% tariffs on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac laptops after President Donald Trump signed off on a trade deal with China, reports Bloomberg. The import duties were to start Dec. 15 and could have added around $150 t the price of Apple products.

Apple currently pays tariffs on the Apple Watch, AirPods, iMac components, and HomePod speaker. It's possible these could be eliminated under the new U.S.-China deal.

Trump signed off on a "phase-one" deal that roughly halves current tariff rates and scraps a threatened $160 billion worth of duties on Chinese-made goods including phones and computers, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Internet providers have successfully persuaded the FCC to remove unfavorable data that shows their advertised speeds are typically higher than their actual speeds.

Internet experts and former FCC officials said the setup gives the internet companies enormous leverage. “How can you go to the party who controls the information and say, ‘please give me information that may implicate you?’ ” said Tom Wheeler, a former FCC chairman who stepped down in January 2017.

Jim Warner, a retired network engineer who has helped advise the agency on the test for years, told the FCC in 2015 that the rules for providers were too lax. “It’s not much of a code of conduct,” Mr. Warner said.

So it seems these companies regularly lie about their internet speeds. Shocking, I know.

This week on the AppleInsider Podcast, Victor and William talk about password managers, the Feds threatening encryption backdoors, Apple Card iPhone installments, and unsurprisingly the Mac Pro.

Tim Cook is continuing something of a whirlwind tour of Asia, after beginning the trip in Japan earlier in the week. From there he headed to Singapore and is currently in Thailand…

more…

The post Tim Cook’s tour of Asia continues in Thailand after Japan and Singapore appeared first on 9to5Mac.

What better day than Friday the 13th to check that your backups are actually working by restoring some critical files?

I use iOS 13’s Siri to set a timer on my iPhone 11 Pro Max for a variety of tasks. You can do the same to remind yourself to make a phone call, turn the oven on (or off), head out to pick up the kiddos from school, and more. Here’s how to do it:

Activate Siri. I do this on my iPhone by simply saying, “Hey, Siri.”

Say something like "Set a timer for 30 minutes."

Siri will confirm that the timer was created and started.

Open the Clock app and click on the Timer icon if you want to watch the countdown.

Even with the timer set, you can continue to use your iPhone as usual. 

Continuing his international tour, Tim Cook has landed in Thailand, taking in the sights of the Chao Phraya River and Wat Arun, as well as visiting schoolchildren learning from Apple's Everyone, Can Create curriculum, and speaking to WWDC scholarship winners.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Last night, The Game Awards was a showcase for industry stars and served as an unveiling for Microsoft's next Xbox... box. Also, Alexa can get answers from Samuel L. Jackson, and AT&T's 5G wireless service i...

Apple has been granted a patent (number 20190377410) — one of several — involving eye-tracking features for the rumored “Apple Glasses,” a head-mounted artificial reality/virtual reality headset. 

It would allow such a device to track multiple users simultaneously, something Apple says most current head mounted displays (HDMs) can’t do.

Here’s Apple's summary of the invention: “The invention relates to a method for operating an eye tracking device for multi user eye tracking, wherein images of a predefined capturing area of the eye tracking device are captured by means of an imaging device of the eye tracking device and the captured images are processed by means of a processing unit of the eye tracking device. If a first user and a second user are present in the predefined capturing area of the eye tracking device, a first information relating to the first user and a second information relating to the second user are determined on the basis...

PayPal is a hugely popular option for transferring funds, but the legal status of digital payment systems continues to be contentious. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, PayPal is suing the consumer protection agency for the financial sector in...

At long last, some two and a half years after Apple declared itself serious about enticing professionals back to the Mac, the Mac Pro is finally here. It joins the iMac Pro and the new 16-inch MacBook Pro as a triptych of attractive options for professional Mac users. That’s great.

Apple

Mac mini

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The very first Mac Pro orders have been shipped and are currently expected to be delivered on Friday.

Per MacStadium’s Brian Stucki, who ordered a couple 2019 Mac Pros when Apple began accepting purchases, his first unit is due to arrive a few days early on Monday, December 16th.

Apple’s initial delivery estimates were at one to two weeks after purchase, but orders placed now will not be delivered until December 31 to January 8 due to demand for the machine. 

The new Mac Pro is geared towards the professional market and starts at $5,999 for the base configuration, the price rising with available upgrades. The unit features workstation-class Xeon processors with up to 28 cores, up to 1.5TB RAM, eight PCIe slots, 4TB SSD storage (soon to be 8TB) and dual Radeon Pro Vega Duo GPUs. 

A fully equipped ‌Mac Pro‌ retails for over $52,000, with the price tag even higher for those who add Apple’s $4,999 Pro Display XDR, a 6K display that’s being sold alongside...

Love is never having to say, “Alexa, what time is it?”

LendEDU has released its third annual Christmas consumer spending report. This year’s version (https://lendedu.com/blog/cost-of-christmas/ ) also features a new section: a price comparison between 20 identical Christmas items found on both Amazon and Walmart.

Some of the key findings included:

° The average adult American anticipates spending $668 on Christmas in 2019, up from last year’s figure of $633.

° Fifty-seven percent ($380.76) of that total spend will go towards gifts, while 15% each ($100.20) will go towards decorations and other expenses, and 13% ($86.84) will go towards travel.

° Twenty percent anticipate going into debt to afford Christmas this year, with the average amount of debt being $720.

° Fifty-percent will do their Christmas shopping online, while 47% will go to the store. And while 47% said they will use Amazon, 38% will use Walmart, and 15% will use neither.

° ...

LendEDU has released its third annual Christmas consumer spending report. This year’s version (https://lendedu.com/blog/cost-of-christmas/ ) also features a new section: a price comparison between 20 identical Christmas items found on both Amazon and Walmart.

Some of the key findings included:

° The average adult American anticipates spending $668 on Christmas in 2019, up from last year’s figure of $633.

° Fifty-seven percent ($380.76) of that total spend will go towards gifts, while 15% each ($100.20) will go towards decorations and other expenses, and 13% ($86.84) will go towards travel.

° Twenty percent anticipate going into debt to afford Christmas this year, with the average amount of debt being $720.

° Fifty-percent will do their Christmas shopping online, while 47% will go to the store. And while 47% said they will use Amazon, 38% will use Walmart, and 15% will use neither.

° ...

Dirk Stichling has announced the 10th anniversary of myTracks, his photo geotagging app for macOS (10.10 and later). In celebration of the anniversary, the popular app is now available for $7.99 (50% off) for a limited time. 

With myTracks, GPS tracks can be downloaded from various hardware GPS loggers and the tracks organized into a library. The tracks can be displayed on a map, using various map types. myTracks’ geo-tagging feature allows it to write GPS information into photo files (both jpg and raw).

myTracks can be used with the macOS Photos app, as well as numerous other photo organizing applications, including Adobe Lightroom, GraphicConverter, or even the macOS Finder. It handles the JPEG and RAW photos formats. GPS tracks can be exported in the GPX, KML or KMZ file formats, and can be used with Google Earth.

In addition to using myTracks for macOS with dedicated GPS loggers, app developer...

Dirk Stichling has announced the 10th anniversary of myTracks, his photo geotagging app for macOS (10.10 and later). In celebration of the anniversary, the popular app is now available for $7.99 (50% off) for a limited time. 

With myTracks, GPS tracks can be downloaded from various hardware GPS loggers and the tracks organized into a library. The tracks can be displayed on a map, using various map types. myTracks’ geo-tagging feature allows it to write GPS information into photo files (both jpg and raw).

myTracks can be used with the macOS Photos app, as well as numerous other photo organizing applications, including Adobe Lightroom, GraphicConverter, or even the macOS Finder. It handles the JPEG and RAW photos formats. GPS tracks can be exported in the GPX, KML or KMZ file formats, and can be used with Google Earth.

In addition to using myTracks for macOS with dedicated GPS loggers, app developer...

iOS 13.3 just arrived recently with new parental controls, particularly a feature called Communication Limits. It's designed to block children from communicating with people not in their contacts unless their parents let them by entering a code. Howe...