Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Chrome OS 79 to throttle CPU usage on background Linux apps, improving web, Android performance as needed


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Apple Plans to Allow Siri to Default to Frequently-Used Third-Party Messaging Apps Later This Year

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Apple plans to release a software update later this year that will enable third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and Facebook Messenger to work better with Siri, the company told Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


Specifically, the update will enable Siri to default to the messaging app that a person uses most frequently to communicate with a given contact. For example, if an iPhone user almost always messages a friend via WhatsApp, Siri will automatically launch WhatsApp rather than Apple's own iMessage.

It will still not be possible to set third-party apps as default on an iPhone. Instead, the report claims Siri will decide which messaging app to use based on interactions with specific contacts. App Store developers will need to enable the new Siri functionality in their apps when available.

This functionality will later be expanded to third-party phone apps for calls as well, but no timeframe was specified.

In a statement, Apple also defended the competitive landscape of the App Store:
Apple offers our users an experience that is only possible from the integration of hardware, software, and services. From the very first iPhone, we have included apps to provide customers with a great experience right out of the box for making phone calls, playing music, surfing the web, and more. With every generation of iPhone we have advanced the built in capabilities for our customers with a few default apps designed for great performance, long battery life, seamless integration, and industry-leading protections for security and privacy. We have also created the App Store, the safest place to get apps, so customers can choose from millions of apps to find the ones that further enhance their iPhone. In the few categories where Apple also has an app, we have many successful competitors and we're proud that their success is responsible for almost 2 million U.S. jobs in a thriving multibillion dollar market for developers. Our North Star is always to create the best products for our customers and that is why iPhone has the highest customer satisfaction in the industry.
More details to follow…


This article, "Apple Plans to Allow Siri to Default to Frequently-Used Third-Party Messaging Apps Later This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The best wireless chargers for iPhone

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Wireless charging is now ubiquitous in the current iPhone range, but none comes with a wireless charger. Here are the best Qi chargers for your iPhone.

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Tuesday, October 1, 2019

The best iPhone XS Max deals of September 2019

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The iPhone XS Max is a beast of a phone but the launch of the iPhone 11 Pro mean tempting offers and price cuts are out there if you know where to look. We've rounded up the best SIM-only & contract deals in the UK (and where to buy SIM-free in the US)

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Deals: Apple Updates iTunes With New Horror Movie Sale, Offering $1 Rentals and Under $20 Bundles

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Apple today refreshed iTunes with a slew of new deals and offers, mainly focusing on horror and thriller movies now that we're in October. Below we've also collected all of the latest discounts on Anker products, with new sales that have kicked off in October.

iTunes Horror Movie Sale


The sale is headlined by a large collection of $1 horror rentals, including a wide range of movies from different sub-genres and decades. These include You're Next, Christine, V/H/S, Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II, and many more.


You'll also find horror bundles priced at or under $20, with franchises like Saw, Paranormal Activity, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Conjuring receiving notable discounts. There are also some more recent horror movies on sale, including a bundle of Ari Aster's films Hereditary and Midsommar priced at $19.99, down from $29.99.

We've highlighted many of the movies in the lists below, but be sure to head to iTunes this week to browse the full sale.

$1 Rentals

Under $20 Bundles


Anker Sale


Anker's discounts include an ongoing sale on its new Midnight Green portable charger and USB-C to Lightning cable, both of which have a shipping estimate of November. Otherwise, below you'll find markdowns on Bluetooth speakers, Lightning and USB-C cables, hubs, and more portable battery packs.


October Codes

No Codes Needed
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

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Apple Stores Celebrating the World's Largest Drawing Festival With Free Art Sessions Throughout October

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In celebration of The Big Draw, said to be the world's largest annual drawing festival, Apple is offering free hands-on art sessions with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil at nearly every Apple Store worldwide throughout October.

During the Today at Apple sessions, participants will use the new Adobe Fresco app on the iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil to draw colorful faces and objects, create an abstract painting, and more. Each session is between 60 and 90 minutes in length, with free registration available on Apple's website.


The Big Draw sessions include:
  • Art Lab for Kids: Make Your Own Emoji: Kids will learn fun ways to create their own emoji. We'll show them how to draw colorful faces and objects. They'll get hands-on using the Adobe Fresco app on iPad with Apple Pencil to draw an emoji to take home. Devices will be provided.
  • Art Walk: Discovering Color: Collect the colors you observe on your walk to capture your own color palette. Using the Adobe Fresco app on iPad Pro with Apple Pencil, you'll combine them to create an abstract painting to take home. Devices will be provided. Recommended for all skill levels.
  • Art Walk: Drawing from Observation: Transform the way you observe and sketch the world around you. We'll show you how being mindful of people, objects, or places in your surroundings will help you add interesting details to your drawings using the Adobe Fresco app on iPad Pro with Apple Pencil. Devices will be provided. Recommended for all skill levels.
There are also special artist-led sessions at flagship locations like Apple Union Square in San Francisco and Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City.

The Big Draw sessions begin today and run through October 31.

Related Roundup: Apple Stores

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Pixelbook Go hype takes a back seat to this killer deal on the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434


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