Apple Extends Free Satellite SOS Service

Apple has extended its Emergency SOS via satellite service for an additional year free of charge for iPhone 14 users. This life-saving technology, initially available on iPhone 14 and now on iPhone 15 in 16 countries, enables users to text emergency services outside cellular and Wi-Fi coverage. A notable example of its effectiveness was in the Angeles National Forest, where two injured individuals were rescued after their car fell off a mountain, thanks to the satellite communication service. Additional features include location sharing via the Find My app, Crash Detection, and Check In for safety notifications. The service, requiring iOS 17, is available for users who activated their iPhone 14 before November 15, 2023.

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BlogKarl MaddenComment
2023's App Store Gems: Unveiling This Year's Top Finalists

The 2023 App Store Awards have recognized nearly 40 app and game developers across 10 categories for their achievements in innovation and technical excellence. Notable finalists include AllTrails, Duolingo, and Flighty for iPhone apps; Afterplace, Honkai: Star Rail, and Vampire Survivors for iPhone games; Concepts, DaVinci Resolve, and Prêt-à-Makeup for iPad apps; Eggy Party, Lost in Play, and Pocket City 2 for iPad games; Linearity Curve, Photomator, and Portal for Mac apps; and ELEX II, Lies of P, and Return to Monkey Island for Mac games. Winners will be announced soon.

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BlogKarl MaddenComment
Apple Arcade's November Fiesta: New Hits, Epic Updates, and Endless Fun!

This November, Apple Arcade is set to enrich its gaming portfolio with eight new titles and over 50 updates. Highlights include the strategic word puzzle Knotwords+, the comprehensive soccer management simulator Football Manager 2024 Touch, the adventurous Downwell+, and the family-friendly Delicious – Miracle of Life+. Additionally, popular games such as Hello Kitty Island Adventure and NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition are receiving exciting updates, alongside other notable titles like Sonic Dream Team and Puzzle & Dragons Story, enhancing the diverse gaming experience for Apple Arcade subscribers.

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BlogKarl MaddenComment
iPhone's Prowess Unveiled at Paris Photo Exhibition

The "I Remember You" exhibition, held in Paris, showcased the impressive capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro Max through the works of five renowned photographers. Exploring themes of nostalgia and technology, the two-day event at Salon Corderie featured captivating images ranging from human portraits to natural landscapes, demonstrating the iPhone's ability to capture life's fleeting moments. Curated by Dr Isolde Brielmaier, the exhibition highlighted how each photographer utilized the iPhone in their creative process, turning everyday snapshots into enduring mementoes and offering an immersive journey through memory, connection, and the timeless essence of photography.

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BlogKarl MaddenComment
The Mac & Forth Show 369 - No iMac For You!!

On this week's episode of The Mac & Forth Show, hosts Alan, Dean, Steve, and Karl discuss the latest updates and rumours in the Apple universe. Apple has released updates for macOS Sonoma and HomePod, enhancing stability and user experience. Meanwhile, iOS sees a minor update with version 17.1.1. In hardware news, Apple has confirmed there will be no Apple Silicon 27-inch iMac, suggesting a focus on the 24-inch model for upgraders. Speculation about new iPads and AirPods not being ready for a 2023 launch is also on the table, alongside Macs now being able to detect water in USB-C ports to prevent damage. In response to the EU Digital Markets Act, Apple will comply with regulations allowing side-loading and alternative payment systems. Developers express frustration with Apple's Feedback Assistant, calling for a boycott due to its inefficiency. And in a lighter note, Apple Music celebrates Taylor Swift as the Artist of the Year for 2023. All this, and slightly more on this week’s episode.

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PodcastKarl MaddenComment
The Mac & Forth Show 368 - Shot On iPhone*

On this week's episode of The Mac & Forth Show, hosts Alan, Dean, Karl, and special guest Craig Atkinson, from our Discord server, discuss Apple's new M3 chip lineup, including its integration into the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. They touch upon the release of the "scary fast" iMac with the M3 chip, the iPhone 15 Pro Max's role in capturing the recent Apple event, the revelation about the iPhone's malfunctioning Wi-Fi MAC privacy feature for three years, and a guide to the new Journal feature in iOS 17.2. All this, and slightly more on this week’s episode.

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PodcastKarl MaddenComment
The Mac & Forth Show 367 - Macbusting

On this week's episode of The Mac & Forth Show, join Alan, Dean, Steve, and Karl as they delve into the latest Apple updates. Apple is teasing a "scary fast" Mac announcement set for October 30th. The company has also rolled out updates for iOS 17.1 and iPadOS 17.1. In subscription news, Apple One bundles are seeing price increases across TV, Arcade, and News+. On the health tech front, Apple Watch is making strides in identifying Parkinson's disease. For HomeKit enthusiasts, Matter 1.2 now supports robot vacuums and fridges. Lastly, a new survey reveals that a significant number of teens are comfortable with parents tracking their location for safety reasons. All this, and slightly more on this week’s episode.

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PodcastKarl MaddenComment
The Mac & Forth Show 366 - What’s In The Box?

On this week's episode of The Mac & Forth Show, hosts Dean, Steve, and Karl, are joined by GazMaz from the mighty MyMac Podcast. We're diving into Apple's latest third-gen Apple Pencil with USB-C charging and the new firmware for AirPods Pro 2. We'll also discuss the UK's approval of Microsoft's Activision deal with a minor tweak concerning cloud gaming. In software updates, iOS 17.1 brings fixes for iPhone 15 screen burn and a pesky keyboard bug. Goldman Sachs is having second thoughts about its Apple Card partnership, and we'll take a nostalgic look at a vintage Apple gear auction featuring an 8GB original iPhone still in its shipping box. All this and slightly more on this week’s episode.

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PodcastKarl MaddenComment
The Mac & Forth Show 365 - Extra Large Napoleon

On this week's episode of The Mac & Forth Show, join Alan, Dean, Steve, and Karl, as they discuss Apple's iOS 16.7.1 update addressing security vulnerabilities for older devices, and the new AirPods Pro 2 firmware update aimed at bug fixes. They also delve into the financial ties between Apple and Google, with Google's payment to Apple for being the default search engine on iOS now ranging between $18 to $20 billion. The hosts touch on Tim Cook defending Apple against greenwashing accusations, Ridley Scott's 4-hour director's cut of 'Napoleon' for Apple TV+, and a nostalgic revelation about Steve Jobs wanting the Macintosh design to embody the early Beatles' energy.

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PodcastKarl MaddenComment
The Mac & Forth Show 364 - Hot On Instagram

This week, Alan, Steve, and Karl, joined by Steve Durbin of GeeksCorner, dive into Apple's iOS 17.03 overheating fix, Spotify's stance against Apple's App Store dominance in the UK, and Google’s ‘Assistant with Bard’ tease for iOS and Android. They also discuss Facebook and Instagram's no-ads plan, Apple's shift to automated support on 'X', and the eerie ‘The Enfield Poltergeist’ trailer. Tune in for a roundup of tech updates and more in this week's episode.

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