Stop apps from tracking your activity with App Tracking Transparency

App Tracking Transparency lets you decide whether or not apps should be able to track your activity. Here’s how to use it.

Since iOS 14.5, Apple added a feature called App Tracking Transparency (ATT). But what exactly is it? App Tracking Transparency gives you control over what apps are allowed to track your activity across other companies’ apps and websites. Once the feature is enabled on your iPhone or iPad with iOS 14.5 and later, then apps are required to prompt users for permission to track their activity.

If you still aren’t familiar with how this tracking technology works, think about all those times you were searching for one specific product that you maybe needed to buy just once. You may or may not have bought the item, but then you are getting bombarded on Facebook and Instagram with ads for other similar products. Sound familiar? That’s because companies like Facebook collect user data, such as browsing history, to deliver ”personalized” ads and the like. While this may…

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Review: Twelve South’s Curve Riser elevates your iMac a bit too much

Office ergonomics are super important, which is why the Curve Riser won’t work for most people.

With the work-from-home life seeming to be here for the foreseeable future, more folks are ensuring they have a proper place to work from home. With Apple just launching its own external display, and the iMac getting a new lease of life in the last couple of years, a decent monitor stand is now something that a lot of Mac users ought to consider grabbing for their home desk setups.

Twelve South, a purveyor of quality Apple-related accessories, is often one of the go-to brands for filling this type of niche that Apple leaves open, but its Curve Riser iMac stand is a rare miss from the company.

Twelve South Curve Riser review:

Price and availability
What’s good
What’s not good
The competition
Should you buy?

Twelve South Curve Riser

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Protect your big, beautiful iPhone 12 Pro Max with a new case

If nothing but the biggest and best will do, you’ll buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max with its huge 6.7-inch screen and more advanced camera than the smaller Pro model. Keep this beauty looking sharp with both a screen protector and one of the best iPhone 12 Pro Max cases.

Apple’s own

Apple Silicone Case with MagSafe

Staff Pick

The Apple option is always a good one. We like the silicone case for its appealing colors, perfect fit, and MagSafe compatibility. It’s a slim case with a soft microfiber interior for extra protection.

From $49 at Amazon

$49 at Apple

$50 at Best Buy

Quality and price

Spigen Ultra Hybrid Designed for Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max Case

With a hard polycarbonate back and soft TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) bumper, you can show off your iPhone 12 Pro Max while protecting it. Spigen offers quality products at reasonable prices. Choose from several color options.

From $14 at Amazon

PopSocket collab

iPhone 12 Pro Max Otter + Pop Symmetry Series

Otte…

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Protect your iPhone 11 Pro Max with our favorite cases

Even though the iPhone 11 Pro Max is a couple of years old, it’s still a fantastic iPhone, especially if you can get a great deal on one. It’s still plenty fast for the average person and packs in a lot of power. Plus, that large screen lets you get a lot of information at-a-glance in one place! However, it’s important to remember that it’s a large slab of metal and glass, and because of that, it can get slippery, resulting in drops. When that happens, your best bet against damage is to put that large iPhone in a great case. Here are some of the best iPhone 11 Pro Max cases around; no matter your budget or style, there’s something for everyone here.

Elegant leather

Apple Leather Case

From $30 at Amazon

Staff pick

The Apple Leather Case is classy, elegant, and professional. It’ll keep your device safe and sound with protective edges all around (though the bottom is left open for easy access), and the leather develops a rich patina over time.

Stop the drop

Loopy Cases

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Square Enix’s Echoes of Mana is now available on iOS, servers online soon

What you need to know

Echoes of Mana is now available for download from the App Store.
The 2.7GB download is now available but you need to wait for servers to come online before you can play.
Square Enix says its server should be ready on April 27.

You can download the game now while you wait for the servers to come online.

Those looking forward to taking the latest Square Enix iOS game for a spin won’t have to wait much longer — Echoes of Mana is now available for download in the App Store.

While the game is now in the App Store and you can indeed download the 2.7GB monster, you can’t quite play it yet. The servers required to make the game work will come online tomorrow, April 27. With that in mind, it might be wise to get the game downloaded now so that you’re ready to go when the big day rolls around!

There’s plenty to look forward to once that happens, too. Check out the trailer to get a feel for what’s going to be on tap in just a few short hours.

Immerse yours…

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You can use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone in certain conditions

When you have your face covered up, unlocking with Face ID can be tricky. Thankfully, you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone too.

One incredibly handy feature on your iPhone is the ability to unlock it using just your Apple Watch, instead of typing in your password. Of course, this doesn’t always work 100% of the time, but when it does, it’s pretty amazing. While we have Face ID on most iPhone models these days, there are times when our faces get covered up and it’s hard for the TrueDepth camera sensors to detect our face. This is especially true since the pandemic, which calls for wearing a face mask in certain places.

Apple added a feature in iOS 14.5 and later that lets you unlock your iPhone when Face ID just isn’t an option. That’s right — you can use your favorite Apple Watch, such as the Apple Watch Series 7, to unlock your iPhone when your face is covered up, or other situations where Face ID just doesn’t work well enough.

Here’s how to unlock your iPhone wit…

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Adam Scott wins a Webby Best Actor award for his role in ’Severance’

What you need to know

Adam Scott has won a Webby for his role in Apple TV+ show Severance.
Scott has won the Webby Best Actor award for his lead role in one of the hotted shows around right now.

”A beloved actor, when Adam Scott attaches himself to a streaming show, people want to watch.”

Apple TV+ has won another award, this time specifically for Adam Scott’s role in Severance. Scott has picked up a Webby Best Actor award, it has been confirmed.

Severance has become a beloved Apple TV+ show since its recent season one finale and the excitement is already building for its second season. Now, Scott has been been given the Webby Best Actor for his ”incredible work” on the show.

Apple TV+ is of course no stranger to awards wins, but this one is specifically for Scott. The announcement says that ”when Adam Scott attaches himself to a streaming show, people want to watch.”

A beloved actor, when Adam Scott attaches himself to a streaming show, people want to watch. That’s pa…

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Watch the trailer for Apple TV+ period drama ’The Essex Serpent’ now

What you need to know

Apple TV+ has shared the first trailer for its period drama dubbed The Essex Serpent.
The Essex Serpent is based on a novel of the same name.
The new show will star Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston.

The new show will premiere on May 13.

Apple TV+ has today shared the first trailer for its upcoming period drama The Essex Serpent starring Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston.

The new Apple TV+ show will premiere on May 13 and is based on the novel of the same name. The first two episodes will be available to watch on that day while a new episode will arrive weekly through to the season’s conclusion on June 10.

Set in Victorian England featuring a star studded cast led by Danes, Hiddleston, Frank Dillane, Clémence Poésy and Hayley Squires, ”The Essex Serpent” follows London widow Cora Seaborne (Danes) who moves to Essex to investigate reports of a mythical serpent. She forms a surprising bond of science and skepticism with the local pastor (Hiddleston), but w…

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Apple disagrees with Japanese claims that built-in apps harm competition

What you need to know

Apple says it doesn’t agree with Japan’s concerns about the way it bundles Safari with iPhones.
A Japanese report had previously also suggested that third-party App Stores should be allowed.

Japanese authorities are concerned about a number of things relating to Apple and Google.

Apple says that it disagrees with a report by Japanese authorities that suggests the inclusion of Safari pre-installed on devices harms competition. The same report also floats the idea that App;e should allow people to install apps from multiple app stores.

The report itself isn’t aimed only at Apple — Google also came in for the same criticism. While Google has yet to respond, saying that it is still looking into Japan’s concerns, Apple was much quicker to argue its corner according to Kyodo News.

The U.S. technology giant said in a statement, ”We respectfully disagree with a number of conclusions” in the government report released the same day that expressed concern over …

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Review: Spigen’s Enzo iPhone Case is classy but quite pricey

Wrap your iPhone in sophisticated full-grain Italian leather.

Spigen is primarily known for its well-priced, great-quality tech accessories. However, the Enzo case marks a bit of a departure: while it is of excellent quality, the price point is on another level. Crafted from Italian Genoma™ leather, this svelte MagSafe-compatible iPhone case features diamond-cut metal accents. It also comes with an included wrist strap that you can attach for extra security while holding your iPhone.

Spigen Enzo iPhone Case review:

Price and availability
What’s good
What’s not good
The competition
Should you buy?

Spigen Enzo iPhone Case

Bottom line: This is an elegant MagSafe case you’re sure to love if you don’t mind the price.

The Good

Full-grain Italian leather
MagSafe compatible
Slim and sleek
Diamond-cut metal accents
Soft mi…

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