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  • New Update for Luminar Photo Editor: Now works with RAW and iCloud on Apple devices

    New Update for Luminar Photo Editor: Now works with RAW and iCloud on Apple devices

    The Luminar Mobile app for photo editing has just added some cool new features. With the latest update, version 2.2, you can now edit RAW images right on your iPhone, iPad, or even the Apple Vision Pro. This is especially handy for Vision Pro users since the device doesn’t have its own photo editing tools in the Photos app. If you’re into editing photos, you’ll want to check this out.

    Here’s what’s new in Luminar Mobile 2.2:

    RAW Image Editing

    Now, you can edit photos from many big camera brands in RAW format. This means you get to use pro-level tools to adjust things like brightness, contrast, and color. You can make your pictures look just how you want with lots of detail.

    Keep Track of Your Changes

    Every edit you make is saved automatically. This way, you can go back to your work whenever you want. It’s like having a history book for your edits, so you can always see what you’ve changed and make further tweaks if needed.

    Sync Your Edits with iCloud

    If you use more than one Apple device, you’ll love this. Now, your edits will sync across your devices using iCloud. Start editing on your phone, and pick up right where you left off on your iPad or another device.

    Better App Design

    The app’s look and feel have been improved based on what users have said. It’s now easier to use, with a nicer layout. For those using an iPad, tools for adjusting color and adding effects are easier to find. There’s also a new button to go back to your original photo if you decide you want to start over.

    This update makes Luminar Mobile a great choice for anyone looking to do more with their photos on Apple devices.

  • Apple TV+ misses out on Oscar nods for movies this year

    Apple TV+ misses out on Oscar nods for movies this year

    Apple TV+ has made big waves with its TV shows recently, but when it comes to movies, they’re still finding their footing. The latest Oscar nominations reveal that none of Apple’s films got any recognition this year.

    No Love from the Academy for Apple’s 2024 Films
    This year’s nominations for the 97th Academy Awards came out, and sadly, Apple didn’t get a single nomination in any category – not for directing, acting, or even for their documentaries or how the films look.

    Here’s a look at some Apple movies that could have been in the race if they had been shown in theaters:

    • “Blitz,” directed by Steve McQueen
    • “The Last of the Sea Women,” a much-talked-about documentary
    • “Fancy Dance,” which was Apple’s best-reviewed movie this year
    • “Fly Me to the Moon”
    • “Wolfs”

    This year’s Oscar snub really points out how Apple is still working on getting its movie game right, despite their success with TV series.

    From Oscar Glory to Current Challenges
    Back in 2022, Apple TV+ made history by being the first streaming service to win Best Picture with “CODA.” This was a big moment because even Netflix hadn’t achieved that before.

    However, since that win, Apple’s path in the movie world has seen some ups and downs. After a few films didn’t do well in theaters, and with “Wolfs” shifting to a streaming-only release at the last minute, Apple seems to be moving towards making movies just for streaming. They’re also focusing more on movies that appeal to a broader audience, like their big upcoming Formula 1 film, which might be their first big summer hit.

    Given this new direction, not getting Oscar nominations might not be as big of a blow to Apple as it once would have been. Still, it’s a bit of a letdown after their earlier Oscar triumphs.

  • Music Streaming Services: How much do they pay artists?

    Music Streaming Services: How much do they pay artists?

    Not all music streaming platforms give the same amount of money to musicians, and a recent study shows just how different these payments can be. For example, Apple Music pays artists way more than Spotify does.

    The study, done by Duetti, looks at how much artists got paid in 2024 by different platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube.

    One key thing they checked was how much money artists make for every 1,000 times their song is played. Here’s what they found for 2024:

    • Amazon paid $8.80 for 1,000 streams.
    • Apple Music paid $6.20.
    • YouTube paid $4.80.
    • Spotify only paid $3.00.

    This shows that Apple Music paid artists more than twice what Spotify did. One reason for Spotify’s lower payments is its free version which has lots of ads but doesn’t make much money for artists.

    While Spotify has ads like YouTube, YouTube still manages to pay artists more. Apple Music, on the other hand, only has paid subscriptions, which lets them give more money to artists.

    Another concerning point from the report is that even though Spotify has been increasing its prices, the money artists get from each stream has been going down. This is a bit troubling, especially since Spotify has been putting more effort into podcasts and audiobooks, possibly at the cost of music artists’ earnings.

  • What’s coming in the next iPhone software update?

    What’s coming in the next iPhone software update?

    Apple is set to roll out the new iOS 18.3 update next week after months of testing. Even though it’s not a huge update, it does bring some cool new features and fixes for iPhone users.

    Changes in Notifications

    Apple has decided to pause its AI-powered news summaries because they’ve been getting some details wrong. In iOS 18.3, you’ll see summarized notifications in italics so they’re easy to spot. Also, you can now tweak your notification summary settings right from your lock screen. Apple has promised to make these summaries better in future updates.

    New Visual Intelligence Features

    If you’ve got one of the iPhone 16 models, you can enjoy enhanced Visual Intelligence. This feature lets you get instant info about things around you by just holding down the Camera Control button. Now, you can add events to your calendar from posters you see in public, and it can even tell you about different animals or plants. Remember, these features are only for the latest iPhone models.

    Calculator App Gets a Boost

    A handy feature is back in the Calculator app with iOS 18.3. Now, when you hit the equals button twice, it repeats the last calculation, which is super useful for things like figuring out compound interest.

    Maybe Something for Black Unity

    There’s a hint in the tvOS update code about a possible “UNITY25” campaign, suggesting Apple might celebrate Black Unity again this year with new watch bands, faces, or iPhone wallpapers. Nothing’s confirmed yet, but we might hear something soon.

    Bug Fixes and More

    iOS 18.3 also fixes some annoying bugs. For instance, Siri won’t make your keyboard vanish when you try to type a request, and Apple Music will stop playing when you close the app, not after the song ends. There’s also talk about adding support for robot vacuums in the Home app, but that seems to be pushed to a later update.

    This update is shaping up to make your iPhone experience smoother and more useful, especially if you’ve got the latest model. Keep an eye out for the official release next week.

  • Apple’s First Laser Printer: The birth of desktop publishing

    Apple’s First Laser Printer: The birth of desktop publishing

    Forty years ago today, Apple changed the world of printing with the launch of the LaserWriter. This was not just any printer; it was the start of what we now know as desktop publishing.

    The LaserWriter was Apple’s debut into the laser printing scene, and it was one of the earliest printers to use Adobe’s PostScript technology. This technology was special because it allowed for detailed and scalable printing of text, designs, and images, moving away from the less precise dot-matrix printers of that era.

    Under the hood, the LaserWriter was powered by a Motorola 68000 microprocessor, the same as in the Macintosh computers. It had its memory, could run its programs, and its processor was faster than those in the Macs, making it the most powerful piece of hardware Apple had at that time.

    With a print quality of 300 dots per inch (dpi), the LaserWriter could produce documents that looked like they came from high-end professional printers. When it first came out, it cost $6,995, which would be about $24,000 today.

    Alongside the LaserWriter, Apple introduced the AppleTalk networking system. This was groundbreaking because it enabled multiple computers to connect to one printer, making office printing more efficient than ever before.

    When combined with the Macintosh and programs like Aldus PageMaker, the LaserWriter allowed people to create and print professional-looking materials like flyers, newsletters, and ads right from their desks. This meant that publishing tools, once only available to big companies, were now within reach for smaller businesses, schools, and individual creators.

    Over time, Apple expanded the LaserWriter line, offering everything from high-end models like the LaserWriter Pro to more budget-friendly options like the Personal LaserWriter. However, as competitors like HP and Canon entered the market with cheaper yet similar technology, and as more printers worked well with Apple’s systems, the LaserWriter’s unique position weakened. By the time Steve Jobs came back to Apple in 1997, the decision was made to stop producing the LaserWriter, as focus shifted away from peripherals like printers.

  • iPhones with TikTok app sell for big bucks on eBay

    iPhones with TikTok app sell for big bucks on eBay

    People are selling old iPhones with TikTok already on them for lots of money on eBay. Some are even asking for up to $50,000! For example, someone listed an unlocked iPhone 12 Pro Max with TikTok for $50,000.

    Even though President Trump said companies wouldn’t get in trouble for not following the TikTok ban, big companies like Apple and Google are still not allowing TikTok in their app stores in the US.

    A Quick Update

    The US Supreme Court said yes to banning TikTok last Friday, and the ban started on January 19. TikTok was taken off the app stores on Sunday. Apple had to say they would follow the law. But then, Trump posted on social media that he would stop the ban when he became president again the next day, and he said companies could ignore the law without getting into trouble. So, TikTok came back online thanks to Bytedance, with Oracle, a US company, trusting Trump’s word.

    Trump then made an official statement saying the ban wouldn’t be enforced for 75 days, but lawyers said this might not be legal, meaning companies could still face huge fines of up to $850 billion. They also said Trump could change his mind if he didn’t like a company.

    eBay Listings for TikTok iPhones

    Wired noticed that some sellers on eBay are trying to make money by selling old phones with TikTok on them for much more than they are really worth.

    If you look up “TikTok phone” on eBay, you’ll find over 9,000 listings for phones from brands like Apple and Samsung, all with TikTok installed. Some listings are asking for $50,000, while many others are between $2,000 and $5,000.

    Luckily, it seems like most people aren’t paying these crazy prices. The phones with very high prices aren’t selling, and when they do sell, it’s often because buyers can offer a lower price through eBay’s “best offer” option.

    Here’s an interesting thing about these iPhones: if one user downloads apps using their Apple ID and then another user signs in with their own ID, the apps stay on the phone. But, if you ever reset your phone using your own iCloud backup, you’ll lose those apps.

    Source

  • Judge finds possible evidence that Apple paid women less than men

    Judge finds possible evidence that Apple paid women less than men

    A judge has decided that there’s a good chance Apple might have paid female employees less than their male counterparts, allowing a lawsuit from 12,000 current and former female workers to move forward.

    Apple’s Admission and Defense

    Apple has admitted there are differences in pay but insists these differences are due to individual circumstances, not deliberate discrimination.

    The Controversy Over Pay

    This issue was first highlighted in 2021 through an internal employee survey which revealed a 6% pay gap between men and women in technical positions. The survey showed men in middle-level tech roles earning about 6.25% more than women, and white employees earning 5.06% more than non-white employees in similar roles. The survey also pointed out that non-white workers received stock grants 11% later than white employees in entry and mid-level positions. Following this, Apple banned further internal pay surveys.

    The Lawsuit Against Apple

    Last year, a class action lawsuit was initiated under the California Equal Pay Act, claiming that Apple underpaid women. Apple tried to get the case thrown out, arguing the pay differences were fair based on individual factors. However, the judge disagreed, finding enough evidence to let the lawsuit proceed.

    Judge’s Ruling

    California Superior Court Judge Ethan P. Schulman’s ruling denied Apple’s request to dismiss the allegations, agreeing that there was a “reasonable possibility” of widespread unequal pay in Apple’s engineering, AppleCare, and marketing departments.

    Three Points of Discrimination

    The lawsuit points out three main issues:

    • Salary History in Recruitment: Asking for past salaries or salary expectations during hiring could perpetuate existing pay gaps. Although Apple stopped asking for salary history, they still inquire about salary expectations, which might disadvantage women who tend to negotiate less aggressively.
    • Performance Reviews: There’s an accusation that performance evaluations might favor men over women, where similar behaviors are assessed differently based on gender.
    • Talent Reviews: These reviews allegedly lead to unequal pay for men and women of similar talent levels.

    Apple’s Response

    Apple has not commented on the recent judicial decision but has previously emphasized its commitment to pay equity, stating they do not base offers on salary history and regularly review compensation to ensure fairness.

    This case will continue as Apple prepares to defend its practices in court.

    Source

  • UK Watchdog probes iPhone App Store dominance

    UK Watchdog probes iPhone App Store dominance

    The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has kicked off a thorough investigation into how mobile app stores operate, focusing on iPhone and Android systems.

    The study aims to look at whether Apple has too much control over the market and if they might be using this power in unfair ways. They’re checking how apps are sold to consumers and the rules developers have to follow to get their apps on the iPhone’s App Store.

    This investigation sounds a lot like what’s happening in the European Union, where they have rules to keep big tech companies in check.

    The CMA will look into how much competition exists between Apple and Google, including how hard it is for new companies to break into the market. They’ll check if Apple and Google are using their big influence over mobile operating systems to favor their own apps or limit choices in browsers. They’re also looking at the conditions app makers must agree to for their apps to appear in these stores.

    The investigation is set to wrap up by October 22, 2025. After that, we’ll know more about what might happen next. Possible outcomes could include penalties or changes in how these companies do business.

    In Europe, Apple was made to allow other app stores, let apps be downloaded from the internet, and give users more browser options. However, Apple also changed how they charge developers, which some big companies like Epic Games and Spotify say is still not fair. While the EU case continues, it’s likely Apple might use similar tactics when dealing with the CMA in the UK.

    Source

  • How the Apple Watch helped a business leader quit drinking

    How the Apple Watch helped a business leader quit drinking

    The Apple Watch has become known for helping people in emergencies, but for one business leader, it offered life-changing insights.

    John Mackey, who started Whole Foods, decided to stop drinking three years ago after looking at the information his Apple Watch gave him. He told Business Insider that the decision was one of the best he’s made. “I wish I had stopped drinking 30 years ago,” Mackey said, reflecting on the years he could have felt better.

    Mackey found that his Apple Watch was key in this life change. He used it to keep track of his sleep. “Some nights I slept well, others not so much,” he observed. This led him to think about what he did differently on those bad sleep nights.

    With the help of his Apple Watch and the AutoSleep app, Mackey noticed patterns. More exercise and lighter dinners helped him sleep better. But the real eye-opener was his deep sleep, or the lack of it, when he drank.

    In a podcast last year, Mackey explained how the watch influenced his decision. “It changed my life. It helped me stop drinking over two years ago,” he said. He explained how even one drink would ruin his deep sleep, making his total sleep time decrease by about an hour.

    “I didn’t want to give up alcohol because I enjoyed it,” Mackey admitted. But the evidence was clear: alcohol meant no deep sleep. He had to choose between a good night’s sleep or a drink, and he chose sleep.

    For Mackey, better sleep has meant a better life. His experience underscores how useful the sleep tracking features on newer Apple Watch models can be, including the Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2, which can even detect signs of sleep apnea.

    This story shows how technology, in this case, the Apple Watch, can lead to significant personal improvements by providing clear insights into our daily habits.

    Source

  • New updates coming to iPhone screen recording

    New updates coming to iPhone screen recording

    The iPhone’s screen recording tool is about to get even better with three cool new features. It’s great for making quick videos of your screen, like when you’re showing someone how to do something on their phone. I talk about these updates in my latest “iPhone Secrets” episode.

    What Does Screen Recording Do Now?

    Screen recording on your iPhone lets you capture whatever is on your screen and save it in your Photos. You can also stream it live! To do more, just hold down the Screen Record button in the Control Center. This lets you turn on your microphone or choose where to send your live video, like to Zoom or Instagram.

    What’s New?

    • Stereo Sound Recording: Right now, when you record your screen, the sound is only in one channel (mono). But soon, you’ll be able to record in stereo using the iPhone’s multiple microphones for a richer sound experience.
    • HDR Screen Capture: Currently, if you record your screen while watching high-quality (HDR) video, it all goes back to standard quality (SDR). In the next update, you’ll keep the high quality, making your recordings look just as good as what you’re watching.
    • Live Camera Overlay: Imagine recording your screen and adding a live video of yourself in a small window. This is coming soon! It’s like having a mini TV of you in the corner of your screen recording, perfect for tutorials or explaining things hands-free.

    Here’s what the new screen recording menu might look like, with a camera icon next to the microphone icon, allowing you to turn your camera on while recording.

    These changes might not excite everyone, but for people who use screen recording a lot, they’re big improvements. Especially the camera overlay, which can make your videos much more engaging.

    What do you think about these updates? For more details, check out the latest “iPhone Secrets” episode where I go over these features and more coming to iOS 18.3.