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 Just ahead of the launch of the AirPods Max 2, Apple has released new firmware for the headphones. The updated firmware is version number 8E251.
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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a branch of Iran's armed forces, has threatened to target US tech companies' operations in the Middle East. It told employees of 18 companies — including Apple, Google, Meta and NVIDIA — "to leave their workplaces immediately to save their lives," as CBS News reported. Those living close to the companies' facilities in the region were instructed to evacuate immediately as well. Microsoft, Oracle, Tesla, HP, Intel, Palantir, Boeing, Dell, Cisco and IBM are also among the companies that the IRGC named.
"Since the main element in designing and tracking terror targets are American [information and communications technology] and AI companies, in response to this terrorist operation, from now on the main institutions effective in terrorist operations will be our legitimate targets," the IRGC said in a statement. The military force warned it will start targeting the companies on Wednesday evening if more Iranian leaders are killed.
Iran previously pledged to attack companies and banks tied to the US and Israel, though the warning it issued on Tuesday had a specific deadline. Earlier this month, Iranian drones struck Amazon data
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At first glance, the AirPods Max 2 don't seem like much of an upgrade from their predecessor. But after I went hands-on with them, I grew more impressed with the changes, though I still have a few gripes.
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The $549 AirPods Max 2 are set to launch tomorrow, and ahead of the debut of the new over-ear headphones, Apple sent a pair for MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera to check out.
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Apple Intelligence briefly appeared in China before being pulled due to regulatory issues, raising questions about Apple's AI rollout and compliance.
The post Apple Intelligence Just Leaked in China (It Wasn't Supposed to) appeared first on eWEEK.
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 Apple updated the Studio Display earlier this month, four years after the original launched. Here's how it compares to the original model.
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Screenshots promoting "Instagram Plus" have been spotted by users in the Philippines and Mexico in recent days. According to social media consultant Matt Navarra, a subscription to Instagram Plus includes several Story-focused features not otherwise available to Instagram users. This includes the ability to create multiple audiences for Stories posts, search the list of people who have viewed your Story, extend Stories longer than 24 hours and create "spotlight" Stories. It also mentions something called "super hearts" for reacting to Stories.
A spokesperson for Meta confirmed the test to Engadget, saying that Instagram Plus is currently available in "a few countries." The spokesperson added that "preview" would allow people to see some of another user's Story without "showing up as a viewer". There's nothing quite like paying to be sneakier on social media.
The idea, as we've seen so far, seems closely modeled after Snapchat , which also offers bonus features to the app's power users. Launched in 2022, the service has now become a significant driver of non-advertising revenue for the company.
- Mat Smith
The other big stories (and deals) this morning
This Frankenstein PlayStation PCB reads games from microSD and has HDMI output
How to use Apple's Playlist Playground to make AI-generated mixes
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 Apple today released a teaser trailer for Cape Fear, a new "highly anticipated" psychological thriller series starring Amy Adams, Patrick Wilson, and Javier Bardem. The first two episodes of the 10-episode limited series will premiere on Apple TV on Friday, June 5, and one new episode will follow every Friday through July 31.
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 Apple's 20th anniversary iPhone will feature a radical new curved design with slimmer bezels, according to a new report.
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 Today marks the 10th anniversary of Safari Technology Preview, a version of Safari that's aimed at testing new web technologies.
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 Apple accidentally started rolling out Apple Intelligence features in China before receiving regulatory approval, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
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There are hundreds of Bluetooth earbuds on the market for way less money than Apple's AirPods Pro. Are any of these more affordable options good enough to make me consider switching the earbuds I wear for hours every day?
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 Apple today released a new firmware update for the Studio Display and ?Studio Display? XDR, its two new monitors that came out earlier in March.
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Apple has lowered App Store commission rates in mainland China, cutting its standard fee from 30% to 25% and reducing some discounted rates from 15% to 12%. The change took effect on March 15 and applies to paid apps and in-app purchases sold through the mainland China App Store. The fee cut is limited to […]
The post Apple Cuts China App Store Fees to 25% After Regulator Talks appeared first on eWEEK.
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Microsoft is sitting on top of the world right now, thanks to its lead in AI. It's the most valuable company on the planet, with a valuation of more than $3.2 trillion. Its rise was rocket-fueled by its investor relationship with OpenAI, the company that makes the wildly popular generative AI (genAI) chatbot ChatGPT. OpenAI's GPT large language model is also the basis for Microsoft Copilot, the genAI tool that Microsoft is building into just about every one of its products, from GitHub to Windows to Microsoft 365 and beyond.
Microsoft's AI dominance appears insurmountable. But things can change quickly in tech. Google and Apple are in talks to embed Google's genAI tool Gemini into iPhones — a deal that, if it reaches fruition, could unseat Microsoft sooner than you think.
To read this article in full, please click here
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