The war on smartphone bezels is going too far. As vendors shave off millimeters or even go edgeless, we're losing features and comfort along the way. But there's one phone that could save us.

There are plenty of great smart TVs. Our guide cuts through the alphabet soup to tell everything you need to know to buy the one that's right for you.

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 76.0.3809.100:

A list of all changes is available in the dev log.

• This update includes 4 security fixes

• OS X 10.10 or later

Download Now]]>

Amazon Chime is a communications service that transforms online meetings with a secure, easy-to-use application that you can trust. Amazon Chime works seamlessly across your devices so that you can stay connected. You can use Amazon Chime for online meetings, video conferencing, calls, chat, and to share content, both inside and outside your organization. Amazon Chime frees you to work productively from anywhere.

Features

• Frustration-Free Online Meetings - Make your online meetings effortless with Amazon Chime. Meetings start on time, and they’re easy to join. Meetings call you, and with a single tap or click, you can join or notify participants that you’re running late. A visual roster shows who is in the meeting and who is running late, and allows anyone to mute background noise. Amazon Chime automatically reconnects you if you get dropped. Crystal clear audio and HD video keep you focused on the discussion.
• ...

With OmniPlan, you can create logical, manageable project plans with Gantt charts, schedules, summaries, milestones, and critical paths. Break down the tasks needed to make your project a success, optimize resources, and streamline budgets. It's project management made painless.

How to get your project done on time and under budget:

• Translate strategy into tactics everyone can understand
• Create summaries of work broken into lists of activities
• Distribute workloads fairly and efficiently
• Manage costs as you go

Plan, monitor, and control it all with software designed to make your job easier, not harder.

Version 3.13:

Note: OmniPlan 3.13 introduces full support for JavaScript automation in OmniPlan. See examples and learn more at omni-automation.com.

• Omni Automation [PRO] — OmniPlan now provides cross-platform and cross-application automation via...

This document describes the security content of tvOS 12.2.

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...

TrailRunner is the perfect companion for runners, bikers, hikers, and all people wandering under the sky. Plan routes on a geographical map. Import GPS or workout recordings and journalize your activities in a diary.

Features

• View maps and elevation data from Internet mapping services like USGS topo maps
• Import GPS recordings from Trails, iTrail, and 321Run for iPhone
• Import workouts from the Nike + iPod Sport Kit
• Import tracks and workouts from GPS fitness devices like the Garmin ForeRunner or Garmin Edge
• Import/Export TCX, GPX, and KML files
• Describe favorite tracks and rate them with iTunes stars
• Plan routes interactively or automatically for a given distance
• Export route directions onto your iPod
• Journalize workouts in a diary, see your progress in a history chart
• Publish a Weblog to MobileMe

Note: While the software is...

App Tamer tames your processor-monopolizing apps and keeps them from chewing up excessive CPU time and battery life. Powered by a unique AutoStop feature, App Tamer stops each application when you switch away from it -- when you return to that app, it restarts automatically.

App Tamer is built around an attractive and clear user interface, designed for managing all your running applications with minimum distraction or frustration. With helpful displays, you can monitor the average percentage of your processor(s) being used by each app, or access a graphical history or your CPU usage. Easily enable AutoStop for any application, or limit it to a certain amount of CPU time.

Don't waste time trying to manage CPU usage on an app-by-app basis -- liberate your Mac with App Tamer.

Version 2.4.7:

• Fixed a bug that could cause App Tamer to use excessive amounts of CPU when iTunes or Spotify was streaming music and App Tamer was...

Apple will be giving security researchers special iPhones for better testing of potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities. According to Forbes, Apple is expected to announce the

The post Apple Giving Special iPhones for Bug Testing Along With macOS Bug Bounty Program appeared first on iLounge.

As college students head to campus and high schoolers prepare for the fall semester, Apple Authorized Reseller B&H Photo is slashing prices on Apple products, including fresh price drops on iMacs, MacBook Pros and Mac mini devices. All with free expedited shipping and special financing incentives.

Twitter is testing a new feature that would allow you to mute notifications for a certain amount of time. This setting would be independent of controlling Twitter notifications at the system level on iPhone and iPad.

more…

The post Twitter testing new ‘Snooze’ feature to let you temporarily silence notifications appeared first on 9to5Mac.

The Apple Watch accounted for close to half of all smart watches shipped in the second quarter of 2019, according to a new report shared this afternoon by Strategy Analytics.

Apple shipped an estimated 5.7 million smart watches worldwide during the quarter, earning it 46 percent marketshare and its continued position as the number one smart watch company.

Apple shipped 5.7 million smartwatches worldwide in Q2 2019, rising an above-average 50 percent from 3.8 million in Q2 2018. Apple Watch remains a long way ahead of the chasing pack and its global smartwatch marketshare has grown to 46 percent this quarter, up from 44 percent a year ago. Apple Watch has fended off strong competition from hungry rivals like Fitbit. Apple remains the clear smartwatch...

Apple's Craig Federighi unveils iOS 13 at WWDC 2019. (credit: Ron Amadeo / Ars Technica)

Privacy has been a renewed focus with Apple’s next operating system update. One new feature in iOS 13 that seems centered on user privacy could have sweeping consequences for messaging and online call apps.

In iOS 13, Apple will not allow apps to run voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) in the background when the programs are not actively in use. Many apps that offer VoIP services currently run in the background, and they will need to be rewritten to adjust to Apple’s upcoming rules. The change is slated to roll out when iOS 13 is released in September. However, app developers will get a grace period, and they have...

Disney today announced the long-awaited bundle option for its collection of streaming services. When Disney+ launches on November 12, you’ll be able to sign up for a bundle of Disney+, ESPN+, and Hulu for $12.99 per month.

more…

The post Disney announces bundle with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for $12.99 per month appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Shoppers looking for the best deal on a highly portable iPad mini can save $130 instantly on closeout iPad mini 4 devices, with the 128GB cellular tablets now on sale for $399 with promo code.

After first being announced in March, Apple Card is now available to early testers. I was among the early group of testers invited to try Apple Card today, and here are some observations after application and approval, using it with the Wallet app and more.

more…

The post Hands-on: Apple Card application and approval, Wallet app, iPad support, more appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Major messaging app services that offer calls, such as Facebook's Messenger and WhatsApp, will have to make major changes to their code base to work properly in iOS 13, a report claims, due to fears from Apple that existing methods used by the apps could be used for data collection purposes.

A man has been accused of paying employees of AT&T over a five-year period to illegally unlock large numbers of iPhones and other devices, an act that is alleged to have cost the carrier an average of around $5 million per year in lost revenue.

GrubHub has once again been accused of hijacking restaurants' online presences in the name of revenue. Motherboard has learned that some phone listings in the Yelp app have been replaced with GrubHub numbers so that the delivery service can collect...

Back in the '70s, law enforcement struggled to find serial killers like Ted Bundy and the BTK Killer -- not to mention understand the dark forces that drove them. The Netflix drama Mindhunter depicts the pioneering work of two fictional FBI agents du...

In a note to clients — as noted by Forbes — analyst Jeff Lin of IHS Market predicts that, when Apple debuts its 16-inch MacBook Pro, the company will quit making the 15.4-inch model. Makes sense as Apple may be considering a streamlining of its laptop line.

Lin says the supersized-laptop will start production in September at a monthly production volume of 39,000 units and use the Coffee Lake-H Refresh, Intel's fastest 45-watt mobile processor to date with as many as eight cores. Thanks to narrower bezels on the display, it’s expected to have pretty much the same physical dimensions as the 15-inch laptop.

When it comes to the 16-inch MacBook Pro (which, you should note, has NOT been confirmed by Apple), Apple...

With the Apple Card now available in a preview capacity to some customers, Apple has released everything from tutorial videos to support documents, giving us more insight into how the card works.

We've had countless questions from people who use software and apps like Mint and Quicken about whether or not the Apple Card will support financial services, and the answer is no, not at this time.

In a support document on how the Apple Card works, Apple says exporting data from Apple Card is not a feature offered at this time. From the document: "Exporting data from Apple Card to a financial app like Mint is not currently supported."

As financial apps like Mint and software like Quicken are popular with many people, it's possible that Apple will add support for exporting data in the future. Right now, Apple Card data and transactions can be viewed and...

Apple continued to lead the tablet market with nearly double the shipments of its nearest competitor during the third quarter fo 2018, according to new data from IDC.

The iPad now has 26.6% of the global tablet market based on quarter three sales of 9.7 million units. Worldwide tablet market declined 8.6% during the third quarter of 2018 (3Q18) as global shipments fell to 36.4 million

IDC says the refreshed $329 iPad with Pencil support that launched in late March continued to drive volume although it was unable to maintain the same momentum from the third quarter of 2017 as that was the first time in a while that Apple had released a lower cost iPad. iPad Pro saw year-on-year declines in anticipation of a refresh at the beginning of the fourth quarter, “which bodes well for Apple through the end of the year,” adds the research group.

Samsung maintained its position as the...

Twelve South is out today with a new version of its AirSnap case for AirPods. Previously only available in leather, AirSnap now comes in a twill variant in a choice of two shades of grey.

more…

The post Twelve South refreshes AirSnap case for AirPods with new twill options, supports wireless charging appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Thanks to a surprise release from Annapurna Interactive, the PlayStation 3 classic, Journey, is available on iOS.

Apple Card, Apple's credit card that began rolling out to some beta testers and members of the media this week, uses Mastercard for processing payments.

Since it uses Mastercard's network, the Apple Card is able to take advantage of benefits offered to Mastercard card holders, as pointed out by TechCrunch's Matthew Panzarino, one of the early testers.

Mastercard's website offers a list of benefits available to Apple Card users, including fraud protection, identity theft protection, and a free ShopRunner membership that offers free two-day shipping from some websites.

Other benefits include Mastercard's...

Apple Card is out now for a select few people, and it will be available for the rest of us later this month. Even before you get yours, though, we've got the important details of how to apply for it -- and how you should or should not use it.

What if there was a single place to pick, store, and organize colors on your Mac that also made it simple to use those colors in design apps, for development, or however you want? Sip is a menu bar app that does just that.

When Apple announced its Q3 earnings last week we learned that the company’s iPhone revenue dropped, but the company doesn’t share data on unit sales for its products. IHS Markit is out today with its report on the overall smartphone market including its estimates on iPhone shipments.

more…

The post Report: iPhone shipments dropped 15% in Q3, Apple in 4th place for overall smartphone market share appeared first on 9to5Mac.

The Sticker-Eye Security Camera. Photo ©2019, Steven Sande

The most common “Internet of Things” devices that people install in their homes are wireless security cameras. Whether you’re using them to see what’s going on with your pets while you’re out of town or want to catch potential thieves in the act, these devices are popular. There’s one bad point about 99% of all security cameras, though — they need power and in some case even require a wired connect of some sort. A new wireless home security camera that was funded by a very successful Kickstarter project is now available and it’s incredibly easy to install and use. Today I’ll tell you about my hands-on experiences with the Sticker-Eye security camera ($110.49 on Amazon, affiliate link) from EyeCloud AI. 

Design

The design of...

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple 54 newly granted patents today. Our final granted report of the day covers a fingerprint sensor patent that covers an under display application. Such a system would be welcomed and match Huawei's dual face and touch ID system on smartphones to give users a choice of biometrics. This has been pointed out before and now a rumor is suggesting that we'll such a combination on 2021 iPhones. Other granted patents of interest today include those covering Memoji ...

A state-sponsored Russian hacking group has been taking advantage of Internet of Things devices' poor security measures to infiltrate corporate networks, according to Microsoft. The company has revealed that researchers from Microsoft's Threat Intell...

XIDU, one of the fastest-growing tech companies based in Shenzhen, China, is always committed to providing better laptops with great user experience, excellent performance, and

The post XIDU releases the PhilPad in competition to the Microsoft Surface and Chuwi laptops appeared first on iLounge.

Apple's widely rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro will be powered by Intel's 9th-generation Coffee Lake Refresh processors, in line with the 15-inch MacBook Pro released in May, according to IHS Markit analyst Jeff Lin.

If accurate, this means the 16-inch MacBook Pro will be configurable with up to an 8-core Core i9 processor with a 2.4GHz base clock speed and a max Turbo Boost frequency of 5.0GHz. The lineup also includes 6-core Core i7 processors. All of the chips are 45W with integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630.

Notably, this would mean that Apple isn't yet ready to use Intel's latest 10th-generation Ice Lake processors. These chips...

[VIDEO] This Bill Gates interview came out about a month ago, but I just watched it this morning, thought it was worth sharing.

The whole thing is relatively short, all interesting, but the Steve Jobs bit kicks in at about 2:40 in. I definitely get a sense that Bill held a real reverence for Steve. The video is embedded in the main Loop post.

This was a really interesting read. If you have an iPad Pro with USB-C, spend a few minutes scanning the options here. Dongle city, but necessary for many.

∞ Read this on The Loop

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 Skillshare: With thousands of online classes, Skillshare can help you improve your professional skill set, start that side hustle, pursue a passion project, and much more. Get two free...

Apple's reported operational expenses for research and development in the June quarter hit a new all-time high of $4.257 billion, well over twice the quarterly spending it reported in 2015. Apple's aggressive expansion demonstrates the company is building for the future even as its rivals retreat from tablets and smartwatches and fail to keep pace with Apple's aggressive OS updates and custom silicon work.

Thatgamecompany has released "Journey" to the iOS App Store with no pre-hype, giving iPhone owners a chance to play the 2012 indie hit.

Arlo Technologies, Inc., which specializes in Internet connected cameras says support for HomeKit, Apple's smart home platform, is rolling out now on Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 Security Camera Systems that are paired with Arlo's most popular base station models, VMB4000 and VMB4500. 

While Arlo users can already control their Pro or Pro 2 cameras via the Arlo app, HomeKit compatibility will provide added convenience for iPhone and iPad users,...

Today at their 24th annual DevCon, FileMaker, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Apple, unveiled the start of a new chapter in the company's history as Claris International Inc.

In addition, the company announced its acquisition of Stamplay, a service that helps businesses of all sizes integrate data from third-party cloud services such as Box, DocuSign, and others into their apps. Claris has fully integrated this service and unveiled a new offering, Claris Connect. This service will provide customers with an interface for automating workflows across cloud-based services, saving them from the task of building custom-built, backend integrations. The Claris Connect team will continue to be led by former Stamplay CEO, Giuliano Iacobelli.

"Claris stems from the Latin root 'clarus,' which means 'clear, bright and shining,'" said Brad Freitag, Claris CEO, in a press release.  "Nothing better encapsulates the company's mission: to empower the...

Today at their 24th annual DevCon, FileMaker, Inc., unveiled the start of a new chapter in the company’s history as Claris International Inc.

In addition, the company announced its acquisition of Stamplay, a service that helps businesses of all sizes integrate data from third-party cloud services such as Box, DocuSign, and others into their apps. Claris has fully integrated this service and unveiled a new offering, Claris Connect. This service will provide customers with an interface for automating workflows across cloud-based services, saving them from the task of building custom-built, backend integrations. The Claris Connect team will continue to be led by former Stamplay CEO, Giuliano Iacobelli.

“Claris stems from the Latin root ‘clarus,’ which means ‘clear, bright and shining,'” said Brad Freitag, Claris CEO.  “Nothing better encapsulates the company’s mission: to empower the problem-solver with smart solutions that work for their business. By extending the reach...

Today at their 24th annual DevCon, FileMaker, Inc., unveiled the start of a new chapter in the company’s history as Claris International Inc.

In addition, the company announced its acquisition of Stamplay, a service that helps businesses of all sizes integrate data from third-party cloud services such as Box, DocuSign, and others into their apps. Claris has fully integrated this service and unveiled a new offering, Claris Connect. This service will provide customers with an interface for automating workflows across cloud-based services, saving them from the task of building custom-built, backend integrations. The Claris Connect team will continue to be led by former Stamplay CEO, Giuliano Iacobelli.

“Claris stems from the Latin root ‘clarus,’ which means ‘clear, bright and shining,'” said Brad Freitag, Claris CEO.  “Nothing better encapsulates the company’s mission: to empower the problem-solver with smart solutions that work for their business. By extending the reach...

Sprint is adding another 5G phone to its (currently narrow) selection, and you might like who's making it -- though it won't be great news for people on other networks. The carrier has announced that OnePlus is prepping a 5G device for the network,...

L-com has introduced a new series of latching USB 3.0 cables. These cables feature a latching mechanism on the Type-A male connector that ensures a secure, strong connection, according to product manager Brian Gates.

Despite being one of the most successful standards and connector types for data connectivity, standard USB connectors are friction fit and have a tendency to disconnect from the mating jack when subject to pulling or vibration, he adds. L-com now stocks two series of latching USB 3.0 cable assemblies, the...

L-com has introduced a new series of latching USB 3.0 cables. These cables feature a latching mechanism on the Type-A male connector that ensures a secure, strong connection, according to product manager Brian Gates.

Despite being one of the most successful standards and connector types for data connectivity, standard USB connectors are friction fit and have a tendency to disconnect from the mating jack when subject to pulling or vibration, he adds. L-com now stocks two series of latching USB 3.0 cable assemblies, the...

We first reported on an Apple patent for Face ID on Macs back in 2017, before we knew what Apple would call the feature when it debuted in the iPhone X. That patent has today been granted.

The patent is for a more intelligent version of Face ID than is currently used on iPhones…

more…

The post Apple granted patent for Face ID on Macs, with smart auto-wake feature appeared first on 9to5Mac.

About a year ago, my Apple World Today compadre, Steve Sande, reviewed Twelve South’s AirSnap AirPod case. Now the company has released a new version — the AirSnap Twill —  and, having received an advance copy, I can attest that it’s just as great as the original. 

Here’s Steve’s description of the AirSnap: “The design of AirSnap is simple; it's a well-made leather case that the AirPod charger fits into, with a gap in the bottom for charging and a snap closure to keep the charger from falling out. The real genius of the design is the small metal carabiner-type clip (spring-loaded) on top. Take that and snap it to a strap or onto a similar carabiner inside a backpack, and your AirPods will never get lost again. The carabiner swivels so the case doesn't get tangled up.”

All of this is...

At last, AT&T's 5G network is available in New York City... only you likely can't use it yet. The carrier now offers the higher-speed wireless service in parts of NYC, but it's currently limited to business customers and developers. That's not...

The FTC is currently looking into the Apple-Amazon agreement for antitrust issues regarding third-party resellers. Reports say that lawyers have reached out to independent sellers

The post FTC Probing for anti-trust issues into Apple-Amazon agreement appeared first on iLounge.

Living out of a suitcase, even for a short time, can feel chaotic. Tossing loose ends and paperwork into one central vault — WaterField Designs’ Travel Folio— helps keep travelers organized, calm, and looking sharp. The Folio is the ultimate catch-all organizer for travel docs, passports, visas, small electronics, and other travel necessities that otherwise tend to get scattered. 

Lined in gold for easy interior visibility, the sleek and streamlined Travel Folio is available in full-grain leather or textiles for a look befitting business or leisure. Features include:

° Gold, water-resistant liner lights up interior for increased visibility; 

° Three pen slots for ballpoints, Apple Pencil or Surface Pen; 

° One zippered pocket for coins or small valuables; 

° One open-topped pocket for phone, earbuds or cords;

° Fits A4...

Living out of a suitcase, even for a short time, can feel chaotic. Tossing loose ends and paperwork into one central vault — WaterField Designs’ Travel Folio— helps keep travelers organized, calm, and looking sharp. The Folio is the ultimate catch-all organizer for travel docs, passports, visas, small electronics, and other travel necessities that otherwise tend to get scattered. 

Lined in gold for easy interior visibility, the sleek and streamlined Travel Folio is available in full-grain leather or textiles for a look befitting business or leisure. Features include:

° Gold, water-resistant liner lights up interior for increased visibility; 

° Three pen slots for ballpoints, Apple Pencil or Surface Pen; 

° One zippered pocket for coins or small valuables; 

° One open-topped pocket for phone, earbuds or cords;

° Fits A4...

The Twelve South Journal CaddySack Travel Tote is down to just $62.99 down from its original price of $79.99 on Amazon. The travel organizer offers

The post Luxury leather travel tote for MacBook chargers, cables & adapters is now 21% Off appeared first on iLounge.

TrailRunner is the perfect companion for runners, bikers, hikers, and all people wandering under the sky. Plan routes on a geographical map. Import GPS or workout recordings and journalize your activities in a diary.

Features

• View maps and elevation data from Internet mapping services like USGS topo maps
• Import GPS recordings from Trails, iTrail, and 321Run for iPhone
• Import workouts from the Nike + iPod Sport Kit
• Import tracks and workouts from GPS fitness devices like the Garmin ForeRunner or Garmin Edge
• Import/Export TCX, GPX, and KML files
• Describe favorite tracks and rate them with iTunes stars
• Plan routes interactively or automatically for a given distance
• Export route directions onto your iPod
• Journalize workouts in a diary, see your progress in a history chart
• Publish a Weblog to MobileMe

Note: While the software is...

To be honest, I’m not sure if a newly granted Apple patent (number 10,375,357) involves the rumored “Apple Car” or simply involves the use of iPhones in current vehicles. The patent is for a “method and system for providing at least one image captured by a scene camera of a vehicle.”

In the patent filing, Apple lists such applications as:

• An omnidirectional camera that can be used to record an event happening around a police vehicle. The system and method include an omnidirectional camera and a digital processor that processes the images taken by the camera. The direction of the signal generated by the microphone determines the region of interest. 

• A vehicle-mounted image record system for encouraging safe driving of a vehicle by recording images of the surface of the road and part of the vehicle. The system includes one or more cameras mounted on the vehicle and a recording device...

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially published a series of 54 newly granted patents for Apple Inc. today. In this particular report we cover an advanced facial recognition system for the iMac. The patent in-part derived from the acquisition of Sweden's Polar Rose back in 2010.

Scientists have created the world's thinnest gold. At just two atoms thick, the material is one million times thinner than a human fingernail, which is big news for the tech industry. Gold is already used in a range of applications such as engineerin...

The iTunes movie storefront was refreshed this morning with a new batch of deals headlined by an $8 iconic film sale. There’s also the usual selection of $5 titles, various bundles and this week’s $1 HD rental. Hit the jump for all of our top picks.

more…

The post Apple launches iconic movie sale for $8, more deals from $5 plus $1 rental of the week appeared first on 9to5Mac.

New to Apple’s MacBook line? You’ve probably discovered that connecting anything to these USB-C equipped wonders requires one of two things: a pile of individual dongles to do different things, or a USB-C hub. We’re coming to your rescue today with one of the latter items, the Adam Elements CASA Hub 5E USB-C 5-in-1 Card Reader Hub for $45.

Just plug this little wonder into your MacBook Pro 2018 /2017/2016, MacBook Air 2018, or Macbook 12-Inch, and you have SD and micro-SD card slots, two USB 3.1 Type-A ports, and can even plug in a PD 3.0 60W fast charge cable to really speed up your recharging.

This deal won’t last forever, so get...

USA Basketball has had a hard time getting players to participate in the upcoming FIBA World Cup, but the organization has managed to lock down one position: its streaming partner. Today, Twitch announced that it will be the exclusive home for live s...

Japan's Fair Trade Commission is investigating Apple's dealings with local parts makers, some of which signed contracts with the tech giant that could violate antimonopoly laws, reports Reuters.

The investigation is the latest by the country’s regulators against the tech giant after the FTC found last year that the company may have breached antitrust rules on the way it sold its iPhones in Japan. In 2018, the FTC said that the Japanese unit of the Cupertino, California-based company forced NTT Docomo, KDDI Corp., and SoftBank Group Corp. to offer subsidies and sell its smartphones at a discount. “Obliging carriers to offer subsidies (for iPhones) could have prevented the carriers from offering lower monthly charges and restricted competition,” the regulator agency said in a...

Indie studio Glumberland, developer of cute and quirky life simulator Ooblets, announced its decision to sign a PC exclusivity deal with Epic Games last week. It essentially secured the company's future, but it has also become the target of widesprea...

There's a nice friendly consumer side to Apple and then there's the ruthless business side that we rarely get to read about. According to a new report today we're learning that Japan’s Fair Trade Commission is investigating Apple Inc over its pressure on Japanese parts makers and whether it abused its power in violation of anti-monopoly rules

Spotify has a handsome macOS app for accessing and making playlists, searching its library of music and other audio, and playing it back. But there’s a mystery in its lists: If you click a column heading for a playlist, album, or other view to sort by ascending or descending order, how do you restore the original sequence?

This is particularly critical with albums, because those of us who remember albums—or are listening to multi-track audiobooks—would like to hear them in the order in which they were produced or intended. Because it’s a kind of semi-app, like Slack and many others for macOS, Spotify presents few options in its menus to help figure out app behavior.

To read this article in full, please click here

Apple has begun to roll out its virtual credit card on Tuesday, working with bank Goldman Sachs Group on the new iPhone add-on that may help Apple diversify from device sales and build out the Wall Street bank’s new consumer business, according to Reuters. Apple said a limited number of consumers who expressed interest in the card will start to...

June and July's best new Mac games

Image by Gearbox

It's hot out there, and these five cool games are great company for anyone wanting to spend the summer days inside. We've got an eclectic mix this month, too. There's Borderlands 2, which finally made it to the Mac after years of being on other platforms. (Fortunately, it looks as though there are plenty of people playing if you want to do the multiplayer content.) For other releases, we've got a good new fighting game, a cute but complex space colony sim, as well as a relaxing tale about a vacationing bird's journey up a mountainside.

To read this article in full, please click here

Vibes, a mobile marketing leader, has released findings from its annual U.S. Mobile Consumer Report, suggesting that consumers are hungrier than ever for great deals from brands they love, but that the app economy may be losing steam as text messaging reigns supreme for brand-consumer conversations.

The report, now in its fourth year, shows that deals continue to be a driving factor for mobile consumer loyalty: 85%of consumers say they are more likely to shop at a store with a loyalty program in place, than one without. However, these same consumers are savvy: they...

Vibes, a mobile marketing leader, has released findings from its annual U.S. Mobile Consumer Report, suggesting that consumers are hungrier than ever for great deals from brands they love, but that the app economy may be losing steam as text messaging reigns supreme for brand-consumer conversations.

The report, now in its fourth year, shows that deals continue to be a driving factor for mobile consumer loyalty: 85%of consumers say they are more likely to shop at a store with a loyalty program in place, than one without. However, these same consumers are savvy: they...

Apple was the king of tablets in Q1 and their streak continues into Q2 according to a new IDC report. Apple increased their market share Year-over-Year (YoY)

Apple Card got its first group of public test users today. A limited number of customers who signed up on Apple's website to be notified about the release of Apple Card are now able to apply for the card in their Wallet app as well as order a physical Apple Card (via TechCrunch).

Sign-up invites for Apple Card Preview are going out to a random selection of people who signed up to be notified about Apple Card. Apple hasn't disclosed exactly how many people are part of its preview rollout, but a full rollout of Apple Card is expected later this month.

The Apple Card signup process on iPhone asks for your address, birthday, income level, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. This information is sent to Goldman Sachs, which approves or declines the application in less than a minute. Once...

Wise Apple sage, seer, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that Apple is looking to launch an iPhone equipped with both Face ID and an in-display fingerprint sensor in 2020.

In a recently released note to investors, Kuo based the prediction on Apple’s patents related to fingerprint on display (FOD) and the continued use of the technology in Android smartphones, which together suggest to him that Apple will opt to bring fingerprint scanning back to its smartphone screens.

Kuo offered the following quote: 

“In terms of technology, we predict that four critical technical issues of FOD will significantly improve in 12–18 months, including module thickness, sensing area, power consumption, and lamination yield rate. Therefore, we believe that Apple will launch the new iPhone equipped with both Face ID and FOD to enhance security and convenience thanks to the multi-biometrics.”

Apple has yet to implement fingerprint recognition in its iPhone...

Once again, The Macalope is forced to drag Schrödinger’s cat from its theoretical box in order to present the mystery of how the iPhone’s percentage of Apple’s revenue can be both bad when it’s high and bad when it’s low.

If you hear a lot of hissing and plaintive meowing, you know why.

The cat’s name is Mr. Whiskers, by the way. Nobody every asks that on quantum mechanics tests but you can put it down for extra credit.

Writing for MarketWatch, Jon Swartz says “The iPhone just did something it hasn’t done in nearly 7 years, and it isn’t good for Apple.” (Tip o’ the antlers to Philip.)

...

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...

BusyCal is the powerful, flexible, reliable calendar app for macOS. It's packed with time-saving features and compatible with all leading cloud services including iCloud, Google, Exchange and more.

BusyCal displays your calendar in Day, Week, Month, Year and List views. What makes BusyCal unique is its ability to customize these views to more precisely meet your needs. You can choose the number of weeks shown in the Month view and the number of days shown in Week view and even customize the calendar's appearance by choosing a font face and size, calendar colors, time format and more.

Features

• View and edit event details in a non-modal info panel.
• Create repeating To Dos that display in the calendar and carry-forward until completed.
• Scrolling Month and Week Views.
• Customizable list view lets you filter and sort events by date, calendar, and more.
• View live weather forecasts, sunrise/sunset times, and...

iClock replaces the old Apple's default menu bar clock with more features, customization and increases your productivity.

Features:

• Have your Apple or Google calendar instantly available from the menubar
• 2 types of calendars (tiny or big calendars) accessible from the menubar to help you see and easily edit your schedule and events
• From the menubar tap the Time to see the local time and important info for any cities in the world in a handy customizable menu
• 'Take 5' is a break or pomadoro timer to remind office workers to take a few minutes to get up and more around or exercise for health
• Have the day, date, and time in different fonts and colors in the menu bar
• Global Scheduler: helps you arrange the timing of international meetings to fit everyone's schedule
• Set alarms instantly from the menubar for cooking eggs, making meetings, errands or anniversaries
• Countdown timer, stopwatch...

Apple is planning to give security researchers access to special iPhones that will make it easier for them to find security vulnerabilities and weaknesses, reports Forbes, citing sources with knowledge of Apple's plans.

Apple is going to announce the new program at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas, which kicked off earlier this week and is continuing until Thursday.

The "special" iPhones will be similar to "dev devices," aka iPhones that are not as locked down and that will better allow security researchers to locate bugs.What makes these iPhones special? One source with knowledge of the Apple announcement said they would essentially be "dev devices." Think of them as iPhones that allow the user to do a lot more than they could on a traditionally...

Notion is the unified workspace for modern teams.

Notion Features:

• Integration with Slack
• Documents
• Wikis
• Tasks

Note: This application contains in-app and/or external module purchases.

Version 1.0.8:

• Release notes were unavailable when this listing was updated.

• OS X 10.9 or later

Download Now]]>

Apple will furnish vetted security researchers special iPhone variants in efforts to suss out hardware and software vulnerabilities, according to a report on Monday that also claims the company intends to institute an official bug bounty program for Mac in the coming weeks.

Apple is reportedly set to provide security researchers with unique iPhone models that would allow them to more easily find weaknesses in iOS. Forbes reports that Apple will make this announcement at the Black Hat security conference later this week.

more…

The post Report: Apple to provide ‘pre-jailbroken’ iPhones to researchers, launch macOS bug bounty program appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Japan's Fair Trade Commission is investigating Apple to determine whether it pressured Japanese suppliers and abused its position of power, thereby violating antimonopoly rules, reports Reuters.

The FTC in Japan surveyed Japanese companies and found that Apple had signed contracts forcing its partners to provide free technology and know-how for parts manufacturing.

When one of the companies called Apple's contract an infringement of intellectual property rights and demanded a revision, Apple allegedly threatened to end the business relationship between the two companies.

Apple has not commented on the report, but this is just one of several antitrust investigations that have been launched in recent months.

In South Korea, Apple...

We’re just over a month away from the expected announcement and release of the iPhone 11. At an investor event this week, SoftBank President Ken Miyauchi offered a hint at when we might expect the iPhone 11 release.

more…

The post SoftBank president suggests iPhone 11 will launch on September 20th appeared first on 9to5Mac.

SoftBank president Ken Miyauchi during a quarterly earnings presentation Monday jokingly implied that this year's iPhone refresh will hit store shelves ten days prior to the end of September, a date that falls squarely in line with Apple's typical release timeline.

Spam phone calls have become increasingly problematic in the United States over the course of the last few years, and most people receive multiple spam calls per week, and some, per day.

Apple is aiming to help combat spam phone calls in iOS 13 with a new "Silence Unknown Callers" feature, which does what the name suggests - it silences incoming phone calls from numbers that are not in your contacts list. In our latest YouTube video, we checked out this feature to demonstrate just how it works.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

With the Silence Unknown Callers feature activated, all incoming calls to our test phone from unknown numbers (aka numbers not in our Contacts list) were silenced.

Silenced means sent straight to voicemail without the phone ringing at all, but the person does have...

Among the TV shows, magazines, and games services unveiled at Apple’s “Show time” event was a surprise entry into a category that couldn’t be further outside Apple’s wheelhouse: a credit card. Dubbed Apple Card, it’s not a traditional plastic credit card that gives you points on things you buy. Rather, it’s a whole new way to shop online and offline. Here’s everything you need to know about it:

Update 8/05/19: The wallet.apple.com site has now been populated with instructions for how to sign up for Apple Card, along with an email link to be notified when it is available. Apple is now sending out Apple Card Preview invitations to a very limited group of testers.

To read this article in full, please click here

Apple has seeded the fourth public beta of iPadOS, which was previewed in June at the Worldwide Developer Conference.

The public betas are available on Apple's Beta Software Program website. Just remember that beta software, so proceed with care. Apple does public betas in order to increase the size of the pool of testers. The tech giant recommends keeping back-ups of your files before installing a public beta.

Apple has launched a web page that tells you how to apply for the Apple Card, which is expected to debut any day now. 

You can apply for Apple Card directly from the Wallet app on your iPhone if you have received an email invitation to the Apple Card Preview. If you’d like to be notified when Apple Card is available, click here.

Or to apply on your iPad, go to Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay, Apple says that, before you start, there are a few things to check:

• You are a US citizen or lawful resident at least 18 years of age or older.

• Make sure you’re on the latest version of iOS. Learn here how to update.

• Applying for Apple Card requires an...

It turns out that so many people signed up to receive $125 cash instead of credit monitoring in the Equifax breach settlement that no one will receive much money. There’s nothing we can do about it, and that has many of us fuming.

With the internet abuzz with privacy concerns and the potential changes coming to net neutrality, you’ve likely heard about virtual private networks, better known as VPNs. When used correctly, a VPN can greatly strengthen your online privacy, assist in keeping your personal information secure, and even spoof your location in the world—allowing you to access websites or services that would otherwise be off limits due to region-locking.

To read this article in full, please click here

Facebook knew its Libra cryptocurrency would face a regulatory gauntlet, but it might not have expected a united front. Regulators from the US, UK, EU and four other governments have asked Facebook to answer several questions about how it will prote...

The website for the Apple Card onboarding process has now gone live ahead of the much-anticipated credit card’s public launch. Tim Cook has previously said that the Apple Card rollout will begin in August.

The page says users can setup on any iPhone and iPad with Face ID or Touch ID (apart from iPhone 5s). iPad users can setup the card through the Wallet & Apple Pay settings page.

more…

The post Apple Card Preview: onboarding website goes live ahead of Apple Card launch, includes how to set up video appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Creston, which specializes in advanced smart home technology, has announced that the Apple TV, Siri, and HomeKit technologies can now be leveraged to enhance the experience of Crestron smart home clients. 

The new integration delivers new functionality such as IP control of the Apple TV set-top box, including voice control with Siri via the TSR-310 touch screen remote control. Initial support will be provided via Crestron SIMPL Windows programming software for 3-Series control systems, with support in the Crestron Home operating system coming soon.

Michael Short, Creston’s global residential marketing manager, says more enhancements made possible by...

The new school year is almost upon us and as always, there are families who could use some help with school supplies. With its latest charity initiative, Amazon will let you donate a backpack to a student in need with a simple Alexa command.

iOS 13’s Health app not only gathers more of our scattered health information but also helps us understand and use it in practical and potentially profound ways. Here’s what you can look forward to in a few months.

Earlier today Samsung Electronics posted a press release to introduce their updated Galaxy Watch Active2, the newest addition to the Galaxy smartwatch portfolio – prior to their New York launch of the Galaxy Note 10 on Wednesday. The watch launches in September when they hope to have FDA approval for their copycat ECG feature

The Matrix is coming back to theaters to (belatedly) mark its 20th anniversary, and you might have a reason to watch even if you're not overwhelmed with nostalgia. The sci-fi classic will start a one-week run on August 30th at AMC's Dolby Cinemas ac...

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Sponsored by Skillshare: With thousands of online classes, Skillshare can help you improve your professional skill set, start that side hustle, pursue a passion project, and much more. Get two free months of unlimited...

When Samsung unveiled the Note 9 a year ago, I was surprised by how much I liked it. Sure, it didn't bring many fresh features -- mostly just refinements in areas where the Note line already excelled. There was more power than before, longer ba...