The iconic PC strategy game, ROME: Total War, is launching on iPad later this week. The game was first launched as a desktop PC game in 2004 (a Mac version followed in 2010) and received high acclaim in the strategy game sector. Players participate in full-3D historical battles – controlling infantry, calvary and artillery – taking advantage of flanking strategy, positioning and fatigue to overcome their opponents. The game received stellar reviews and Feral Interactive is bringing the full experience to the App Store as a $9.99 iPad game this Thursday, on November 10th.

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Filed under: Apple

Apple executives have targeted both India and China as developing regions to drive revenue growth in the coming years, primarily through iPhone sales. However, India has stringent regulations on foreign device sales and requires that 30% of the components in the devices must be sourced domestically. Apple currently cannot meet this requirement as the vast majority of parts and all assembly happens in China. As such, Apple is looking to setup a new manufacturing plant in India that will make iPhones and iPads, thereby complying with the law and enabling iPhone to join the Indian smartphone market en masse.

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Some have been pretty skeptical concerning the new MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar, worried that it will complicate things for users who are accustomed to the physical function row of keys. If you’re in the camp of wondering exactly how the new Touch Bar will work, a new tool brings the capability to all Macs…

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In this week’s top stories: Apple answers your MacBook Pro questions, cuts USB-C adapter prices, iOS 10.2 arrives for testers, and we break down the best wireless cord-free earbuds available ahead of Apple’s AirPods.

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KGI‘s Ming-Chi Kuo is out with his latest iPhone sales numbers forecast which shows the iPhone 7 line falling in sales for the second consecutive year. The primary drivers are weak demand in China, slow shipment volume of 4.7” iPhones in 1Q17, and the lack of a new iPhone SE in 2Q17.

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Need a few apps to keep you occupied this weekend? You’ll definitely want to check out the latest edition of Friday 5. Inside you’ll find a stylish new Pinball game, a writing app that’s great for putting together long-form projects, and a multi-platform podcast app that helps keep you up to date with all of your favorite shows. more…

Filed under: Apple

Following an announcement from Apple today that it would decrease prices of USB-C accessories to help ease the transition to the all USB-C ports on the new MacBook Pro models, it’s also offering discounted pricing on the new LG UltraFine 5K and 4K displays that it introduced to go alongside the new Thunderbolt 3-equipped Macs. The deals get you around 25% off the newly announced displays made for the new MacBook and MacBook Pro models. 

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[First of all, I would like to say that this is but my very own take, which is not necessarily shared by my colleagues here at 9to5Mac and therefore not an editorial, staff-wise opinion piece. It represents my view and my view only, so try to keep that in mind.]

Up until not too long ago, I used to ask myself a simple question: if I were to pick one company — and one company alone — to rely on for all of my “tech needs”, which one would I choose? The answer would come rather swiftly: Apple.

As a critic (by nature more than profession) I have always seen the vast majority of products skeptically, but that didn’t take from the fact that the Cupertino giant made what I considered to be the best smartphone, the best tablet, the best computers and even two of the most valid operating systems around, accounting for a sweet, unified and well-connected package that would make me feel like I didn’t have to look outside of it. It was Apple’s dream of ecosystem lock-in, essentially.

However, as my view of this universe has got more and more panoramic — especially in the last year of collaboration with the sister site 9to5Google, which has helped me a lot to gain even more direct experience with Apple’s competition — I started to have a feeling that this bubble was somewhat bursting.

And this feeling is something I simply haven’t been able to shake, and one that has brought me, like apparently many others, to think that the well-oiled profit machine Apple Inc. may have lost some of its touch, for what concerns the present and, more importantly, the future…

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The Apple community has had a hard time being content with the Mac lately. First it was the feeling that the Mac line including MacBook Pros weren’t being updated as often as, say, iPhones. A redesigned MacBook Pro helps resolve that with at least one member of the Mac family.

But the new MacBook Pro goes all in on USB-C and drops legacy ports like standard USB-A, and many Mac users believe this move is too aggressive considering the cost attached to this transition. The good news is that Apple is listening and lowering the price of its USB-C adapters in an effort to ease the USB-A to USB-C transition…

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TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Amazon Echo Dot Bundles: Logitech Harmony Elite Remote $288 ($350 value), WeMo Switch $73 ($85 value)

Final Fantasy III for iOS now matching its all-time low: iPhone $7, iPad $8 (Reg. up to $17)

VIZIO’s 38-inch 2-Ch. Sound Bar w/ Bluetooth brings upgraded audio to your TV: $68 shipped (Reg. $95)

Apple’s gorgeous 21-inch Retina 4K iMac 3.1GHz/8GB/1TB is on sale for $1,290 shipped (Reg. $1,499)

Grab a brand new current gen MacBook Air for nearly $250 off: $950 shipped (Reg. $1,199)

Save big on first gen. Apple Watch in 38mm or 42mm sizes: Sport $200 or Stainless Steel $240 w/ free shipping

Black Friday 2016:

Amazon launches its Black Friday Store with new deals every five minutes + gift guides to make shopping easier

Sam’s Club details its Black Friday plans plus a look at an upcoming one-day sale that nets $175 off iPad Pro

Amazon Startup Week Deals: TarDisk 256GB Storage Expansion Card for 13-inch MacBook Air $100 off, more

Here’s a look at Dell’s Black Friday 2016 Ad: Nest 3rd Gen. Thermostat $199, Xbox One S w/ 2 games + controller $250, more

BJ’s Leaked Black Friday Ad: GoPro Silver bundle $200, Xbox One S/PS4 Slim $250, new console games $34, more

Kohl’s Black Friday Ad has now leaked: Xbox One/PS4 $250 + $75 Kohl’s Cash, 49-inch 4K Ultra HDTV $250, much more

JCPenney Black Friday 2016 Ad: Roku Streaming Stick $35, Bella/Sunbeam appliances $10, more

App Store Free App of the Week: Lost in Harmony goes free for the first time (Reg. $4)

The “mind-bending” iOS puzzler Hocus is now available for free on the App Store (Reg. $1)

Ubisoft’s Rayman Classic for iOS drops to $1 (Reg. $5)

Arcade-adventure game Fetch on iOS drops down to just $1 (Reg. $7)

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Smartphone Accessories: KMASHI 20000mAh QC 2.0 Power Bank $20 Prime shipped (Reg. $33), more

• Games/Apps: Mortal Kombat X $18, PS4 Uncharted bundle + Infinite Warfare $300, more
• Jawbone MINI JAMBOX Bluetooth Speaker $40, AKG Noise-Cancelling Headphones $100, more
• Amazon’s Gold Box takes up to 50% off adidas shoes, clothes and more: jogger pants $43, more
• Amazon Mega Bloks Gold Box, starting at $6: 150-piece set $18 (Reg. $30), more
• Finally get the massage at home you deserve: Homedics Foot Massager $39, more

MORE DEALS STILL LIVE:

Make the move to USB-C w/ exclusive discounts on Anker accessories: Aluminum Hub w/ Pass-Through Power $32 (Reg. $40), more

Your choice of Luvvitt iPhone 7/Plus Cases in a variety of styles/colors from $4 Prime shipped + screen protector deals

Caudabe’s ultra-thin Veil XT iPhone 7 case is the best option for a true minimalist, save 30% w/ this exclusive code: $14

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Filed under: Apple