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9to5Mac Daily: April 12, 2024 – M4 Macs, iPhone repair changes

9to5mac daily podcast

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts appStitcherTuneInGoogle Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Ulysses: The ultimate writing app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Learn more and get started today for free. 
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iOS features that get progressively more useful [Video]

The iPhone and iOS have continuously evolved over the last 17 years. When the original iPhone was released, the feature sets and tools included in PhoneOS 1 were very limited. Apple wanted users to focus on basic interactions such as using the new touchscreen and making phone calls. However, with iOS 17, the software has grown exponentially and has become your go-to tool for almost any task. In this post, I will highlight 12 progressively useful features built into iOS. Share your favorite iOS feature in the comments—one that others might not know about—so we can all learn!

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HomePod mini hits $80 in Friday’s best deals, Apple Watch Series 9 from $295, more

Friday has a fresh batch of Apple deals on tap as we head into the weekend. Today’s best offers come headlined by the second HomePod mini deal in 2024, which drops down to $80 in all five colorways. It comes with the second-best prices on the Apple Watch Series 9, starting from $295, and a new all-time low that drops Anker’s 30W Nano 3 USB-C charger to $14. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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iOS 18 Siri: Three clues about what it may be able to do

iOS 18 Siri – three clues | Abstract image reminiscent of Siri animation

People have been complaining about Siri for years now, arguing that it’s fallen behind the likes of Alexa and Google Assistant. With clear evidence that 2024 is going to see dramatic improvements in Apple’s AI features, will iOS 18 Siri finally turn things around?

I’m very much hoping the answer is yes, and think there are three clues which provide some reason for optimism …

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New Apple Watch data shows the average person takes 334 days to walk/run a marathon

I can’t run a marathon (and I don’t plan on trying), but new data from the Apple Heart and Movement Study offers some insight into the training habits of people who do.

Published by Brigham and Women’s Hospital on Friday, the data reveals that more than 1,500 participants of the Apple Heart and Movement Study ran an estimated 2,623 marathons over the course of the study period (November 2019 – January 2024).

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Billion dollar developer lawsuit will proceed, after Apple’s objection was rejected

Billion dollar developer lawsuit will proceed | Court gavel on keyboard

A UK court has ruled that a near billion dollar developer lawsuit against Apple will be allowed to proceed, after the iPhone maker attempted to get it dismissed.

The £785M ($979M) antitrust lawsuit was filed on behalf of more than 1,500 British developers, and alleges that Apple’s monopolistic control of the market for iPhone apps allowed the company to charge ‘abusive’ levels of commission on app sales …

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Taylor Swift songs back on TikTok | RED album on an iPhone

Taylor Swift songs back on TikTok after Universal row; AI influencers coming

Taylor Swift songs have returned to TikTok, after a ten-week gap resulting from a dispute between the short video app and Universal Music. That dispute hasn’t ended, but it appears that Swift has reached an individual agreement with TikTok.

Separately, TikTok has announced plans to use AI to create virtual influencers who will compete with real ones for brand deals …

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No longer possible to hide the blue badge of shame on X [U]

X blue checkmarks held in an artificial white hand

Ah, the saga of X’s blue checkmarks! Originally a sign that someone was who they claimed to be, and later sold so that cryptocurrency scammers could see their posts boosted, the company is now coming full circle with some journalists.

Update: After a number of journalist accounts got unwanted blue checkmarks, Twitter has now made it impossible to hide it – see update at end …

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Spy thriller movie Argylle streaming now on Apple TV+

From director Matthew Vaughn, the new spy thriller movie Argylle is now streaming on Apple TV+, Apple’s streaming service for original TV shows and movies.

The film features a star-studded cast including Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, John Cena, Samuel L. Jackson, Bryan Cranston, Dua Lipa and more. It’s a twisty action spy narrative which sees author Elly Conway (played by Howard) wrapped up in espionage plot of her own design.

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9to5Mac Daily: April 11, 2024 – Apple News+ puzzles, Safari speed upgrades 

9to5mac daily podcast

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts appStitcherTuneInGoogle Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Ulysses: The ultimate writing app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Learn more and get started today for free. 
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Apple’s John Ternus defends iPhone parts pairing as ‘not evil’

Apple announced big changes to its repair policy today, saying that select iPhone repairs can be completed with used genuine parts for the first time. One controversial repair practice that remains in place, however, is parts pairing.

In a new interview with TechCrunch today, John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, defended the practice as something that “is not evil.”

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iOS 18 rumors, game emulators in the App Store, Vision Pro camera access

Benjamin and Chance delve into the latest rounds of iOS 18 rumors, including a curious discovery of a new ‘Safari browser assistant’ in development. Apple has also changed the rules surrounding game emulators in the App Store, with somewhat unclear implications. Apple News+ adds a new Quartile word puzzle, and the wait for the new iPad Pro continues.

And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance considers his smart home strategy ahead of the move to his new house. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

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14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro $550 off, 10.9-inch iPad from $349, Satechi gear, more

M2 Pro MacBook Pro

Through the end of the day, you can save $550 on 14-inch M2 Pro MacBook Pro to headline today’s best Apple deals. The latest 10.9-inch iPad starts from $349 ahead of a potential refresh this fall, and Satechi’s Dock5 charging station powers your entire Apple everyday carry with a rare discount to $49. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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