Apple to start offering ‘Spoken Editions’ of news articles via iTunes

Cody Lee ∙ September 23, 2016

You'll soon be able to listen to news articles in iTunes, reports TechCrunch. The outlet says that in the near future, you'll be able to browse through a new category of podcasts that will allow you to listen to news stories from your favorite publishers.

These new podcasts will be labeled "Spoken Edition" in iTunes, and the format will be short-form programs that offer listeners an audio version of a publisher's articles. So you could essentially listen to the news while commuting or working out.

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Some heavy duty cases for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Cody Lee ∙ Updated August 2, 2018

Although Apple has taken some major steps this year to make the iPhone more durable, the device is still very susceptible to bumps and scratches. This is why we recommend putting a case on your smartphone if you want it to stay in like-new condition.

We've already recommended a number of different cases, but for those who work and use their phones in more harsh environments, a heavy-duty case is the only way to go. Here are a few we like so far that are available for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus right now.

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A mysterious wireless Apple device with Bluetooth and NFC has surfaced in an FCC filing

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 23, 2016

A mysterious low-powered wireless device from Apple has just passed testing by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and could be released in the United States in the next few months, according to an FCC filing that was first spotted by French blog Consomac.

It's designated by the model number “A1844”, includes both Bluetooth wireless functionality and built-in NFC and is rated at between 100mA and 700mA (from 5.5V to 13.2V).

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Project “Invisible Hand” would let users fully control Apple devices via Siri within 3 years

Christian Zibreg ∙ September 23, 2016

Bloomberg today published an article that shed more light on Apple's rumored Amazon Echo-like Siri hardware, which has purportedly exited the research and development lab and is now in prototype testing. As part of the report, Bloomberg alleges that Apple has another secretive project in the works that would improve Siri on iPhones and iPads.

Code-named Invisible Hand, the project would give us the ability to fully control our Apple devices through “a Siri command system within three years”.

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Bloomberg: Apple’s Echo-like Siri appliance is now in prototype testing

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 31, 2017
Amazon Echo

Apple's rumored Amazon Echo-like Siri hardware has exited the company's research and development lab and is now in prototype testing, Bloomberg reported Friday. The project started more than two years ago, but Apple is now “pressing ahead” with the development of its unnamed Siri-driven smart home appliance after Amazon's Echo proved a surprise hit, even to Apple engineers working on the project.

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Launchpad adds a paginated information system to the Reachability interface

Anthony Bouchard ∙ September 23, 2016

Reachability, a feature designed by Apple to make it easier to tap on things that normally appear at the top of the screen on iPhones with larger displays, has always been deemed "wasted space" by the jailbreak community.

Yet another jailbreak tweak release to try making use of that space is Launchpad, which will give you a customizable paginated information system in the Reachability interface.

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Some great minimalist cases for iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

If you recently purchased an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus, and are in the market for a minimalist case, this post is for you. We've rounded up some of our favorite minimalist cases for Apple's new handset based on price, personal experience and customer reviews.

So what qualifies as a "minimalist" case? Obviously the term is a bit subjective, but to us this means it has a subtle, unassuming design free of complex patterns and unsightly branding. They're typically thinner, made of a single material, and solid in color.

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Yahoo confirms hack, says data from 500 million user accounts stolen

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Yahoo on Thursday confirmed that certain user account information was stolen from the company's network in late 2014. Recode has the official statement, which says that it believes more than 500 million users were affected by the breach.

The good news is that Yahoo says from what it knows so far, the stolen information doesn't include payment card data, bank account information, or unprotected passwords. The firm is working closely with law enforcement in its investigation.

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Apple’s free app of the week: AG Drive

Cody Lee ∙ September 22, 2016

Apple on Thursday updated its App of the Week promotion with the game AG Drive. This means from now through next Thursday, you can pick up the popular futuristic racing title for free—a solid savings of $4.

AG Drive puts you behind the wheel of a blazing fast anti-gravity craft and up against opponents on gorgeous tracks. It features amazing graphics, easy-to-learn controls, and it works on both iOS and Apple TV.

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