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...

Amazon has just issued another price drop on Apple AirPods, bringing one of the season's hottest gifts down to $139, with delivery before Christmas. Amazon has also reissued triple-digit discounts on current 11-inch iPad Pros for the holidays, while new iPad Air markdowns of up to $200 off deliver the lowest prices ever on the thin-and-light models.

A year after Apple appeared certain to base a new campus in North Carolina, but instead picked Austin, Texas, the local council raises hopes the company may yet come to the region.

What a week for gaming and entertainment news! While Sony was showing off a slew of new games that will be hitting its console over the next year, Microsoft finally revealed its next-gen gaming system. If you still pine for the chunky stylings of a m...

In this week’s top stories: The Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR are here, Apple releases iOS 13.3 with new features and fixes, Apple Card receives two updates, and more. Read on for all of this week’s biggest news.
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It might soon be decidedly easier for Americans to manage diabetes -- the FDA has approved the sale of an interoperable, automated insulin pump for the first time. Tandem Diabetes Care's updated t:slim X2 can pair with a Dexcom G6 glucose monitor to...

Getting yourself a pair of wireless earbuds doesn’t have to break the bank. Forget the Apple AirPods Pro- what you’ll need is a dependable and cost-effective earbuds, courtesy of Taotronics. Today, they’re offering the SoundLiberty 77 True Wireless Earbuds for just $39.95, down $20 from its original price of $59.95 on Amazon.

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Apple is offering its employees free genetic testing as part of its AC Wellness clinic program, as per CNBC. Various off-site clinics are spread near the vicinity of Apple Campus. With a Color Genomics partnership, those who are interested can get screened genetically for possible diseases.

Genetic testing can help Cupertino-based employees get a better understanding of their health and see if they’re pre-disposed to certain conditions or diseases later in life. By knowing what kinds of diseases you’re susceptible to you can take preventive measures.

Color Genomics tests for gene mutation that can reveal possible cardiovascular diseases or cancer. The screening is not offered on a public level, meaning not just anyone can get screened for possible gene mutations. However,...

As debate continues around how e-cigarettes should be legislated, vaping companies promote their products as less health-damaging than smoking regular cigarettes. However, a new three-year study from UC San Francisco shows that vaping is associated w...

This weekend's Red Dead Redemption 2 update isn't just about running a moonshine business -- it's also about bringing more parity between PC and console players. PS4 players now have access to the Photo Mode and Story Mode features that premiered fi...

The US is growing increasingly suspicious of foreign-made apps. House national security subcommittee chairman Rep. Stephen Lynch has sent letters to Apple and Google asking whether or not they require app developers to disclose "potential overseas a...

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.

There has been quite a bit of talk about Apple’s shift to 5G connectivity in the 2020 iPhones, with some analysts anticipating it could dramatically increase iPhone shipments. One analyst, however, anticipates that the 5G iPhone will be a letdown because of the carriers in the United States.

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Apple puts a big emphasis on the accessibility of its products, ranging from iPhone and Apple Watch to AirPods and more. In a new interview, Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s global head of accessibility, offers more details about Apple’s focus on accessibility.

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The post Apple’s head of accessibility talks AirPods Live Listen, inspiration for new features, and more appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to your weekend! On the Engadget Podcast we're discussing Apple's pricey new Mac Pro, while separately Porsche showed off its idea for a Star Wars ship. Story highlights from last week included Elon Musk...

It is our pleasure to, once again, thank Defense by X-Doria for being our sponsor here at TMO this week. You’ve read about their excellent iPhone cases, and this week I’m happy to feature their wireless charging dock, the Defense Vertical Duo.

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...

Lead image courtesy of Yota Suzuki.

Apple today opened its 10th store in Japan to impressively long lines of customers gathering at Lazona Kawasaki Plaza. Early visitors through the doors of Apple Kawasaki have followed the rollout of a major retail expansion in Japan over the past two years.

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If you missed out on Black Friday discounts for massive TVs, you still have some time to pick up the TCL 65R615 at Best Buy. The 65-inch 6-Series Roku TV was consistently one of the best-reviewed models available last year at its starting $900 price,...

This morning the president tweeted that "We have agreed to a very large Phase One Deal with China........The Penalty Tariffs set for December 15th will not be charged because of the fact that we made the deal." The 15 percent tariffs that would have...

As the U.S. government scrutinizes big tech over potential data security concerns involving China and Russia, the chair of a congressional panel on Friday asked Apple and Google if they require mobile app developers to disclose foreign ties.

Since Steve and I can’t cover everything, we’ll frequently offer a wrap-up of news items you should check out.

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,” according to AppleInsider.

iDownloadBlog reports that Amazon and Apple today expanded their existing partnership that enables Echo owners to use Apple Music by introducing support for Apple Podcasts.

The gang at iFixIt, who disassembly tech products and examine their innards, has torn apart the Mac Pro to see what's...

UFC 245 Usman vs. Covington is set for T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 14 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Read on below for how to watch the fight on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Podcasts are now available on Amazon Echo devices via Alexa, as are podcasts that are available on Spotify.

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. 

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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.

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I didn’t even know about the massive fires throughout much of Africa.

∞ Read this on The Loop

Squinting a little bit lately? Small print seems out of reach for you to read? You should visit your eye doctor, but you may not have the time. EyeQue Vision Check is an ophthalmic refractometer that works with your iPhone to test and track your vision. We have this CES 2019 Innovation Award Winner on sale for $40 when you use promo code MERRYSAVE15 at checkout.

Have a busy schedule but want to check if your glasses prescription is still up to snuff? Say no more! With EyeQue VisionCheck, you won't need to set up a whole doctor's appointment. This MIT patented refractometer is the only at-home solution to test your eyes, get EyeGlass Numbers, and use them to order eyeglasses online. This...

The Philips Hue smart lightbulb lineup already includes some outdoor lighting, but rumor has it that Philips will introduce more outdoor options, likely at CES. According to a leaked product catalog, found by Hueblog.de, Philips Hue is planning a pre...