Apple Maps now has public webpages for some landmarks and points of interest

Apple is now publishing public web pages for landmarks and POI in its Apple Maps database: here’s one such place. The website link shows details about the place such as location, name, telephone number and reviews. The design is identical to the cards in the iOS 10 Maps app.

When on an Apple platform, these URLs appear to act as deep links into the native Maps app. If viewing in Chrome or on a non-Apple device like Android, the fallback webpage is loaded. The purpose for these URLs is unclear, but it may possibly foreshadow a larger move by Apple to offer its own online mapping service to compete with Google Maps on the web.

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Pro surfer puts the iPhone 7 & 7 Plus to the latest OTT waterproofing test [Video]

While Apple makes rather modest water-resistance claims for the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus, suggesting nothing more demanding than a cycle ride in the rain, that hasn’t stopped people putting them through some rather more extreme tests.

We’ve already seen the phone survive immersion in water, soda and coffee, and even dropped into 35 feet of water. This latest test has pro surfer Kai Lenny take the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus out into the waves …

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Happy Hour Podcast 086 | macOS Sierra ships, Apple Watch Series 2 tested, iPhone 7 Plus bokeh effect on iOS 10.1, and more

This week Benjamin and Zac unpack 9to5Mac’s Apple Watch Series 2 review, the launch of macOS Sierra, iOS 10.1 beta’s Portrait mode blur effect on iPhone 7 Plus, and much more. 9to5Mac’s Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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Apple taking the fight to Samsung: planning an Apple Store right by company’s South Korea HQ

The rivalry between Apple and Samsung may be about to intensify: the WSJ reports that the iPhone maker is considering opening up an Apple Store very close to Samsung’s HQ in Seoul, South Korea. Perhaps very close indeed!

Apple looked at sites across the street from the Samsung ’s longtime headquarters in Seoul, according to people familiar with the matter.

The move could be a very smart one for Apple …

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Review: The Brydge keyboard for 12.9-inch iPad Pro is (almost) the one Apple should have made

When I tried the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, one of the things that put me off was the quality of the keyboards available at the time. The only one I could get hold of on day one was the Logitech Create, which I found ugly and not a great typing experience. The Apple Smart Keyboard, that I got to try later, was a bit prettier but still not fantastic to type on.

What I really wanted at the time was for Brydge to bring out a version of its iPad keyboard for the 12.9-inch model. It eventually did so, and I got the chance to try it this week …

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Opinion: Apple Watch Series 2 may right enough wrongs to make me wear it everyday

Read Zac’s full Apple Watch Series 2 review

I’ve never been entirely sold on Apple Watch. From the get go, I didn’t necessarily see a clear purpose for the device. Nevertheless, I purchased the first-gen model on launch day, being the Apple fanboy that I am. Over the course of my first year and a half with Apple Watch, though, I didn’t find myself consistently wearing it. I would go through phases where I would use it for a few weeks, but then I would go weeks without even charging it.

This year, Apple revamped the Apple Watch lineup and I was pressed with the decision of upgrading or sticking with my first-generation model. It didn’t make a lot of sense for me to spend money on something that I wasn’t consistently using, but factors such as the improved speed seemed like enough to dispel some of my issues with the first-gen. So much so, that I went ahead and purchased the Apple Watch Series 2 on launch day and have been using it since…

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