Apple's Beats Announces Solo Pro, Its First On-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

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Apple’s Beats By Dre announced Solo Pro on Tuesday, the company’s first on-ear, noise-canceling headphones. They also include support for “Hey Siri,” Apple’s voice assistant. According to the company, Solo Pro offers an “exceptional frequency response with lower total harmonic distortion.” It also has two beam-forming microphones and and what Beats says is an “updated speech-detecting accelerometer” for voice calls. They’re $299.95, and will ship  onOctober 30th in Black, Ivory, Gray, Dark Blue, Light Blue and Red. You can preorder now.

Apple’s Beats Announces Solo Pro, Its First On-Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones

Apple TV App Available for Roku Devices

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Apple has released an Apple TV app for Roku devices, bringing the company’s Apple TV+ subscription service to the Roku platform. Apple TV+ launches November 1st, but the app will also allow users to, “Buy or rent new release movies or explore the catalog of over 100,000 movies and shows—including the largest catalog of 4K HDR movies.” In other words, you can get content from the iTunes Store, or whatever Apple is calling that aspect of its business these days. You can download the Apple TV app for Roku devices from the Roku Channel Store.

Apple TV App Available for Roku Devices

'The Missing Cryptoqueen' is 'Serial' With a Tech Twist

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Dr. Ruja was a business superstar who sold out arenas when she spoke. Leading a cryptocurrency firm called Onecoin, she promised to change her investors’ lives and make them rich beyond their wildest dreams. Then, suddenly, she disappeared. Journalist and author Jamie Bartlett, an expert in the darkest parts of the internet, tried to uncover what happened for this impeccably produced podcast, The Missing Cryptoqueen. Like Serial, I was gripped from episode 1, totally invested in finding out what happened. It is one of the best non-news podcasts I’ve heard in a long time. The podcast was produced by the BBC and is available via the BBC Sounds app or Apple Podcasts.

‘The Missing Cryptoqueen’ is ‘Serial’ With a Tech Twist

This PC Case Headed to Kickstarter Looks a Lot Like Apple's New Mac Pro

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There’s a new Kickstarter project for a PC case making waves because of its similarity to Apple’s as-yet-unshipped Mac Pro. That mostly because it looks exactly like Apple’s as-yet-unshipped Mac Pro. Honestly, I’d be surprised if Apple doesn’t attempt to squash it, and I’d be only slightly less surprised if they failed to do so. In any event, this case looks like the Mac Pro, but is designed for off-the-shelf PC components. It will come with a front that looks more like Apple’s original cheese grater Mac Pro, but there’s an optional “patent pending” “noise dampener” front and back that looks like Apple’s new cheese grater. The accompanying image would be that optional front, on the left, and the accompanying back plate, on the right. There are many more pics on the rather slick website linked below. No pricing has been announced, but it launches on Kickstarter on October 21st.

Apple Selling Lumos Matrix Urban Smart Bike Helmet

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This is a bike helmet with a difference. Connect it to the Lumos apps on your iPhone and Apple Watch and you can activate turn signal indicators on the helmet. It also has integrated lights and automatic warning lights that are similar to brake lights. Oh, and it makes you a lot more visible. Apple is selling it for $249.95.

Apple Selling Lumos Matrix Urban Smart Bike Helmet

Apple Releases Trailer for 'Truth Be Told' Based on Are You Sleeping

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Today Apple shared a trailer for its upcoming series Truth Be Told based on a novel by Kathleen Barber called Are You Sleeping.

Every truth has a consequence. When new evidence compels podcaster Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) to reopen the murder case that made her a national sensation, she comes face to face with Warren Cave (Aaron Paul), the man she may have mistakenly helped to put behind bars. Her investigation navigates urgent concerns about privacy, media and race. Truth Be Told is created by Nichelle Tramble Spellman and stars Octavia Spencer, Aaron Paul, Lizzy Caplan, Elizabeth Perkins, Michael Beach, Mekhi Phifer, Tracie Thoms, Haneefah Wood and Ron Cephas Jones.

You can watch the trailer on YouTube here.

10 Features in macOS Catalina You Need to Know

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MacMost has a good video on YouTube where he shares 10 macOS Catalina features. They’re smaller features that don’t get the same attention or shoutout by Apple, but they’re good to know. The first one he mentions is a feature that I noticed but was annoyed about. When you hover or long-click the green fullscreen button in Safari, it now brings up a menu window to enter full screen or tile the window to the left or right. While it makes this capability more obvious it also adds an extra step, when just dragging the window by the green button was faster. In any case the video is pretty helpful and you can watch it here.

Teach Your Kid Robotics and Coding With MeeBot 2.0

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The MeeBot from Jimu Robotics is a great way to teach kids about robotics and coding. (It is recommended for those aged eight-years-old and over.) The second generation of the kit is available exclusively at Apple Stores.  It comes with 390 snap-together interlocking parts and connectors and six robotic servo motors. Additionally, the required power cables, control unit, and battery are all included. No additional tools are needed.  Children can create custom actions with the PRP (Pose, Record, Play) function. The robot is compatible with iOS devices. The MeeBot 2.0 costs $129.

Teach Your Kid Robotics and Coding With MeeBot 2.0

TripIt Adds a Mac App for macOS Catalina Users

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TripIt is a great app for travelers and lets you plan your entire trip with it. It recently launched an app for macOS Catalina that uses Apple’s Project Catalyst. Starting today, you can access TripIt on your desktop with the new TripIt app for Mac. Simply download the TripIt app for Mac on the Mac App Store to see all of your travel details in one place. With TripIt app for Mac, you’ll get the itinerary-managing power of the highest-rated travel-organizing app right on your desktop, including: A menu bar that makes adding travel plans a breeze, and the availability of more screen real estate and a full keyboard for fine-tuning itineraries; Notifications on your desktop so you never miss a beat; Plane-friendly features, such as offline access to your travel plans and Dark Mode; An enriched pre-trip experience, with access to neighborhood safety scores and links to Maps to help you explore the areas you’ll be visiting. Mac App Store: TripIt – Free

Budget Burndown Gives You a Visual Spending Tracker

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Budget Burndown is a new financial app for the App Store that gives you a nice, visual spending tracker so you can quickly see where your money is going. Features: At-a-glance visibility into how much you’re spending against your monthly budget; View your total amount spent and all of your transactions across multiple cards in a single list; Your bank credentials are end-to-end encrypted, so your information is completely safe; Get helpful features like the home screen widget, custom notifications, editable transactions, and multiple linked cards; and you don’t have to create an account; just link whichever cards you want to track. Additionally, I also personally approve of its privacy policy. App Store: Budget Burndown – Free (Offers In-App Purchases)

Eve for HomeKit Updates for iOS 13

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Eve is a smart home company that builds products that work with Apple’s HomeKit. The company recently updated its app to version 4.0 for iOS 13. It adds dark mode, easier access to your favorite views, and other refinements.

Eve works with all HomeKit-enabled accessories. See your home at a glance. Customize your ecosystem down to the finest detail. Activate scenes in a snap. And easily create automations using timers and rules. With Eve, you’re at the forefront of connected home control – and guided – every step of the way.

App Store: Eve for HomeKit – Free

Apple Shares Trailer for The Elephant Queen

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Apple has shared a trailer for The Elephant Queen.

Embark on an epic journey of love, courage and coming home. Join Athena, the majestic matriarch of an elephant herd, as she is forced to lead her family across the unforgiving African savanna in search of water. This family-friendly adventure is a cinematic love letter to a threatened species. Narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, The Lion King), The Elephant Queen won the Cinema for Peace International Green Film Award of the Year.

You can watch the trailer on YouTube here, and check out our Apple TV guide here.

The iPhone 11 Glows Thanks to its Glass Back

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Someone noticed that their iPhone 11 glows when you turn on the flashlight. The latest models have a special matte glass material on the back. While the iPhone 8 and later have had a glass back, it wasn’t matte and so didn’t produce this effect (Or at least, this is the first time I’ve seen this).

When you turn the flash light on, the iPhone 11 glass back glows. Not sure if the iPhone XR did this too, but I thought the effect was pretty cool.

You can watch it in action on YouTube here.

32BitAppCheck Helps You Transition to macOS Catalina

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32BitAppCheck is an app that scans for 32-bit apps on your Mac. It can help you prepare for macOS Catalina because this release will end support for 32-bit apps. It takes about 30 seconds to scan your computer (longer if you have hard drives plugged in). Once it’s finished it will present a list of all the 32-bit apps it found, which you can save as an .RTF file.

Information then collected in the app’s window begins with a list of 32-bit applications, followed by 32-bit preference panes found in System preferences. Then, you will see 32-bit system extensions, and 32-bit system frameworks. These software will include both Apple and 3rd-party software. You can then edit the information, changing fonts, and adding notes. Click Save to save the information in an RTF file. The most recent information with you edits is also saved within the app.

You can download the app here. As this is an app outside of the Mac App Store, I scanned it for malware using VirusTotal, and it appears to be clean. For an additional resource I’ve also written about Go64, which does the same thing and the UI is a bit more friendly.

Woolnut Has a Leather Case to Go with iPhone 11/Pro Midnight Green

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Woolnut announced a leather case in “Racing Green” designed to complement Apple’s midnight green finish on iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. I love Woolnut’s cases and sleeves (read my review on the company’s MacBook Air leather sleeve for more). I own and used a Woolnut case for my iPhone X/S, and I immediately purchased the Racing Green case announced for iPhone 11. In any event, Woolnut’s cases are made from vegetable retanned full-grain leather from Scandinavia, with a soft microfiber lining on the inside. I asked how well this green matches Apple’s midnight green, and the company told me, “Our Racing Green color is slightly darker but they do complement each other really nice.” I trust that comment, but regardless, this Racing Green looks great, and I’m looking forward to popping it onto my new iPhone. It’s £35 (US$43.08).

Woolnut Has a Leather Case to Go with iPhone 11/Pro Midnight Green

Earbuds Commercial Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max

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An ad for noise-cancelling earbuds from Koss Heaphones was shot on the iPhone 11 Pro Max by videographer Martin Moore.

Recently shot this Koss Headphones Commercial on an iPhone 11 Pro Max using FiLMiC Pro on FiLMiC Extreme 4K 24fps, Zhiyun Smooth 4 3-Axis Gimbal. Edited in FCPX and exported with Apple ProRes 422.

Mr. Moore is known for shooting commercials with iPhones. Last year he created several using the iPhone XS Max. It’s a great way to show off the video capabilities of Apple’s devices. You can check it out here.

Motif App Lets You Create Photo Books on iOS

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Motif Photos, an app available on macOS and iPadOS, was recently added to iOS. It lets you create photo books on iOS and have them shipped to you. It syncs directly with your camera roll and gives you some templates to get started with.

Great stories begin with the best photos. Motif’s intelligent technology automatically analyzes each of your photos. It checks focus, clarity, lighting, people, faces, image orientation, panoramas, duplicates, and much more. Only the best images are recommended to build your Motif photo book.

Motif can automatically flow your best photo images through 80+ professionally built layouts. It balances image orientations and optimizes image centering and cropping. In seconds, review your personalized photo project, with layered texture, diverse layout, and exceptional design.

Prices start at US$10 for softcover books and US$20 for hardcover books. App Store: Motif – Free