Exclusive sale: Save 20% on this sweet silicone Apple Watch band
This silicone magnetic Apple Watch band looks great and is easy to use: SwitchEasy's Skin Silicone Magnetic Apple Watch Band is a jack-of-all-trades. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Rare App Store antitrust win for Apple, as Chinese court dismisses lawsuit
Apple has enjoyed a rare App Store antitrust win, as a Chinese court dismissed a lawsuit accusing it of charging excessive commissions. The iPhone maker is facing an onslaught of antitrust legislation and lawsuits around the world, most notably surrounding the App Store … more…

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Here’s when you can get affordable new Beats Solo Buds
Time for new earbuds? You can soon preorder powerful new Beats Solo Buds for just $80 with epic battery life and tiny case. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple may finally let Android users watch TV+ shows in an app
Macworld Apple has placed a job ad for a senior Android engineer, in a signal that its walled garden strategy may soon have to change. The new recruit will work on an Apple TV app for Google’s mobile platform. The ad, which inexplicably calls the platform “android” with a lower-case A in three out of five instances, says the Apple TV app team “is looking for a proactive, hardworking and experienced senior android [sic] engineer to lead the development of fun new features, and to help build an application used by millions to watch and discover tv [sic] and sports.” There has technically been an Android TV+ app before now–the Chromecast version of the service runs on Android–but this appears to be something more squarely aimed at mobile users. The base pay for the role ranges from $131,500 to $243,300 depending on skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman first spotted the ad. “The move,” he notes, “suggests that the company is looking to gain market share in video streaming—and is setting aside its rivalry with Android in order to chase additional users.” It’s debatable, however, whether the hunt for subscribers or the desire to avoid regulatory intervention is more of a factor in the move. As Gurman points out, the vast Android user base would enable Apple to access many more potential subscribers to its streaming service, which by most measures remains small in comparison with Disney+ and Netflix. But the company may also be motivated by wanting to amend the troubling optics of only allowing users of its own mobile platform to easily access the service in light of escalating attempts by lawmakers to bring tech monopolies to heel. Android users can obviously access Apple TV+ on their devices, but the experience is inferior to Apple devices and requires using Apple’s web portal. Most famously, Apple has tried to preserve the integrity of its “walled garden” product ecosystem by restricting iMessage to Apple users, and by limiting that service’s compatibility with other platforms: Android users are frequently ostracised for the negative effect of their green bubbles in group chats. Lawmakers’ patience with this strategy finally ran out last year, and their pressure induced Apple to pledge that it will implement RCS support and make life easier for Android users. Apple may be hoping to avoid more such embarrassing defeats in the future, which would also explain why it released a number of Windows apps earlier this year, as Gurman observes. And if a few million Android fans sign up for TV+ along the way, that’s a bonus. Android, Streaming Media

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Your introduction to AI and coding costs just $39.97
This 213-course educational bundle covers coding and AI for beginners. Get your start in a coding career with this affordable coursework. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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iOS 18 Siri will better understand people, events, locations – report
A new report says that iOS 18 Siri features will include a better contextual understanding of things like people, companies, events, and locations. A new ‘catch-up’ feature is also said to be included in the AI feature-set, where you can ask Siri to bring you up to speed on notifications you’ve received while away from your phone … more…

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Give your Mac a makeover with custom icons
You can change any icon on your Mac to customize it to your taste. Edit the thumbnail icon of any app, folder, disk or file.  (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)

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Apple gets another App Store antitrust win, this time in China
Apple has won a lawsuit accusing it of abusing its dominant power in the app marketplace, with a Chinese court rejecting claims Apple's App Store fees were too high.iOS App StoreIn 2021, Jin Xin sued Apple China, insisting Apple stopped charging its 30% App Store commission. Xin also demanded that Chinese consumers should be allowed to use other payment systems than Apple's own, as well as an apology and approximately $15,500 in compensation.Three years later, the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court sided with Apple, according to a yet-to-be-published judgment received by the South China Morning Post. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Apple to add Japan’s ‘My Number’ ID card functions to iPhone
At the request of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Apple CEO Tim Cook agreed to put Japan's "My Number" identification card… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.

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Deals: Apple's new 13-inch iPad Pro M4 gets a $120 price cut
Released only two weeks ago, Apple's 13-inch iPad Pro with the M4 chip is already eligible for a triple-digit discount, with limited supply available at the reduced price.Snag a limited-time 13-inch iPad Pro price cut.Apple Authorized Reseller B&H is offering the $120 discount on Apple's brand-new M4 iPad Pro 13-inch with a 2TB capacity in Space Black. The Wi-Fi model with Standard Glass, which normally sells for $2,299, is on sale for $2,179. Amazon has a few units left in stock at $2,174, with more on the way.Grab the deal at B&H Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Vision Pro Marvel app reviews: ‘Best experience’ or ‘flimsy and meh’
Hands-on reviews of the new Vision Pro Marvel app What if…? are in, and are best described as mixed. One reviewer said that it was “maybe the best hour I’ve spent on the device since I got it,” while another described it as a “flimsy” and “meh” experience. Both, however, were upbeat about the future potential … more…

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If you had an iPhone 7 with audio problems, your settlement deadline is soon
Earlier in 2024, Apple agreed to settle a class action suit over audio issues with the iPhone 7 — but conditions are very limited and the time to apply is almost over.iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 PlusIt was the "Audio IC Defect," also known as the 'loop disease,' and affected users had greyed-out speaker buttons while on a call. Plus they had loss of Siri voice commands, the Voice Memos app wouldn't work, and microphone audio quality degraded.The class action lawsuit that followed took six years to conclude with Apple agreeing to settle for a total of $35 million. Affected users were sent a postcard by the settlement administrator, and anyone receiving it has up to Monday, June 3, 2024, to respond. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Anker’s Nano Power Bank is Discounted to Just $35
Anker’s ever-reliable and stylish power bank is discounted at $15 off in today’s deal. The Nano Power Bank with USB-C Cable is down to just $34.99 from its original price of $50 on Amazon through a Prime membership. The Anker Nano Power Bank houses a 10,000 mAh battery that’s ready for charging smartphones, tablets, and […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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All-screen MacBook might have the M5 chip
Apple’s rumored all-screen MacBook Pro is rumored to have the M5 chip and come in multiple sizes, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. A foldable MacBook Pro has been in the rumor mill for years, but it’s only now a reliable source has updated news. While folded, the MacBook Pro will appear to be an iPad, […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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iOS 18 to introduce App Icon customization
A report advocates that upgrades are coming to the home screen and Apple apps for the upcoming iOS 18 that’s arriving in the fall of this year. The updates are anticipated to be announced at the WWDC event in June with the new features including enhancements based on AI. Past reports suggest that Photos, Siri, […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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Instagram Limits tool offering increased harassment protection for teens
Meta is offering teenagers a strengthened version of its Instagram Limits tool. When set to its highest level, only Close Friends will be able to comment, reply, tag, mention, or message them. It’s the latest development in the company’s protections for teens, after anti-grooming blocks and nudity blurring introduced earlier in the year … more…

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Black Pencil design award given to Apple Vision Pro
Apple’s Vision Pro has been bestowed the highest title in a ceremony where Apple designer Alan Dye was present. Apple has been awarded a black pencil from the Design and Art Direction a number of times for its iMac, iPhones, and even Apple’s website. This year the one to take the black pencil is Apple’s […] The post appeared first on iLounge.

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How to convert YouTube to MP3 on Mac with iTubeGo
There's a near-unlimited number of YouTube videos that you might want to have an offline MP3 copy of, like podcasts or instructional audio. Here's how to convert YouTube to MP3 with iTubeGo.Convert YouTube to MP3 on Mac with iTubeGO platformYouTube is a video-first platform, but many creators upload audio-focused content anyway. The website is filled with media that doesn't need a video component, so get a YouTube to MP3 Mac app like iTubeGo to get the audio for offline listening.Easily download and convert YouTube to MP3 with minimal configuration and a single button press. Whatever file format and extra data that comes with the downloaded content is stripped when converted to MP3 audio. Continue Reading on AppleInsider

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Japan’s Individual Number Card coming to Apple Wallet; first official ID outside US
Japan’s Individual Number Card – also known as My Number Card – is coming to Apple Wallet, a first for official identity documents outside of the US. The country clearly expects residents to take some time to get used to the idea: It’s being announced around a year ahead of its rollout next spring … more…

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iOS 18 Project Greymatter will use AI to summarize notifications, articles and much more
Apple's next-gen operating systems will feature Project Greymatter, bringing a multitude of AI-related enhancements. We have new details on AI features planned for Siri, Notes and Messages.AI will improve several core apps with summarization and transcription featuresFollowing widespread claims and reports about AI-related enhancements in iOS 18, AppleInsider has received additional information about Apple's plans in the area of AI.People familiar with the matter have revealed that the company is internally testing a variety of new AI-related features ahead of its annual WWDC. Known under project codename "Greymatter," the company's AI improvements will focus on practical benefits for the end user. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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