Infamous patent troll VirnetX has formally asked a Texas court this week to order Apple to stop providing its FaceTime and iMessage features to customers. The request follows VirnetX’s victory in court earlier this year to the tune of $625 million, which the firm wants to see increased by $190 million or more, Law360 reports:

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Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: FaceTime, iMessage, VirnetX

Adobe is showing off a new feature coming to the next big version of Photoshop CC called content-aware crop. In the video demo below, Adobe gives the example of cropping a photo of a child by straightening the horizon in the shot, but doing so cuts off the lifeguard sign behind the child. Content-aware crop solves this problem…

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Filed under: Apps Tagged: Photoshop

Last year, I wrote a Feature Request asking that Apple give third-party apps access to Siri, and generally work at beefing-up both the intelligence and the capabilities of its intelligent assistant. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an opinion piece pointing to the fact that Viv is exactly what Siri should have been by now.

This week, a report suggests that I may finally be getting my wish. Apple is said to be not only planning to offer a Siri SDK to all developers, but also building an Amazon Echo/Google Home type box that will embed Siri more deeply in the home through integration with HomeKit. We will, says the report, find out more at WWDC.

If true, the implications could be profound – perhaps even meaning that we’ve hit ‘peak app’ …

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Filed under: Opinion Tagged: Amazon Echo, Apps, google home, homekit, Peak app, Siri, Siri SDK, Viv

The Financial Times is reporting that Apple considered a buyout of Time Warner late last year, with Apple executive Eddy Cue raising the idea at a meeting with Time Warner’s head of corporate strategy, Olaf Olafsson. The idea of bid was very much tentative and did not enter serious negotiations involving Tim Cook, according to the report. However, Apple is still interested in acquiring media company talent and sources indicate the company is ramping spending on original content: “several hundred million dollars a year”.

Apple has long been rumored to want to launch a skinny cable subscription service for internet television, in concert with its Apple TV set top box. At Startup Fest earlier in the week, Tim Cook said he wants Apple to be a catalyst in the entertainment business.

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Filed under: AAPL Company, iOS, iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: app, exclusive content, iOS, Media, original content, TV, video

I’m not normally one for hiding Apple’s gorgeous designs away inside cases, but my 11-inch MacBook Air is used almost exclusively when I’m out and about, so it does normally live in a TwelveSouth BookBook case to keep it safe on its travels. I adore that case, so persuading me to set it aside for an alternative would not be an easy task.

But I was very taken with the leather iPhone and iPad cases I recently reviewed from NY-based Burkley, so I decided to give one of the company’s snap-on leather MacBook Air covers a try. It currently offers these for the MacBook Air only (both 11- and 13-inch) – though it does also have a non-snap-on variation for the 12-inch MacBook.

Burkley likes to mix up its leather offerings for each product, with the Antique Camel Leather I liked last time not available for the MacBook, so I tried the Special Burned Tan Leather. This is a fairly standard tan color in the center, with darker burned-in edges …

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Filed under: Mac, Reviews Tagged: Burkley, Burkley leather MacBook Air case, Burkley leather MacBook case, Burkley leather MacBook Pro case, MacBook case, MacBook leather case

The team behind Pixelmator has today released yet another free update to its Mac photo editor, Pixelmator version 3.5 ($29.99 in the Mac App Store). Alongside the usual round of performance improvements and bug fixes, the app includes a few handy new end-user features. There’s a smarter Auto Selection tool and a brand new Magnetic Selection tool to accurately and quickly cutout objects from a scene in a photograph. There’s also a brand new Retouch extension for the native OS X Photos app, integrating refined brush-style edits into iCloud Photo Library. Video demo after the break …

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Filed under: AAPL Company, Apps, iOS, iOS Devices, Tech Industry Tagged: iOS, iPad, iPhone, Mac, magnetic, photo editor, Photoshop, Pixelmator, pixlemator

Drop-tests are always fun to watch, but I’ve always felt that the reliability of most of them is suspect simply because there are so many variables.

Most involve someone dropping a phone by hand, and the distance is often as imprecisely measured as ‘waist height’ or ‘head height,’ making it hard to be sure both phones experienced exactly the same force. Dropping a phone from a hand can result in differences in initial angles, and releasing one side of the phone a fraction of a second before the other can impart a rotation to the device. In short, most drop-tests are more entertainment than science.

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Filed under: iOS Devices Tagged: iPhone 6 drop test, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s drop test, iPhone 6s versus samsung galaxy s7, iPhone 6s versus samsung galaxy s7 drop test, iPhone drop test

Earlier this week it was reported that an upcoming MacBook Pro refresh would bring a thinner design, Touch ID support, and an OLED touch bar above the keyboard. One of the longstanding requests by MacBook users, however, has been an option for cellular connectivity and now it looks like we might be one step closer to that coming to fruition. As noted by PatentlyApple, Apple has recently been granted a patent for a MacBook with cellular connectivity.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard whispers that Apple is working on MacBook with cellular connectivity. In 2011, a MacBook Pro with 3G connectivity and a SIM card slot from 2007 was put up for auction on eBay with the seller claiming it was an unreleased prototype model, but is it still possible that Apple is considering finally adding the feature?

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Filed under: Mac, Opinion Tagged: LTE, LTE MacBook, MacBook, Opinion

In India, it’s required that any company wanting to set up a retail location must sell at least 30 percent locally sourced goods, but reports claimed that because of Apple’s “cutting-edge technology,” it would be able to circumvent this requirement. According to a report from Reuters today, however, that is not the case.

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Filed under: AAPL Company Tagged: Apple, India, retail

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS:

Get SSD speed and size for $50 w/ Lexar 256GB S75 USB 3 Jumpdrive retractable Flash Drive (150mb/s read)

GOgroove FlexSMART X2 Bluetooth In-Car FM Transmitter with USB Charging $30 (Reg. $40), more

Samsung’s SmartThings home automation lineup now 20% off, get the 2nd gen Hub for $79

Pay what you want for 26.5 hours of photography tutorials and 100 stock images

Many acclaimed Bose speakers & headphones now on sale, SoundLink Mini II $179 shipped (Reg. $199)

WWE 2K on iOS and Android now on sale for just $1 (Reg. $8)

KAMI paper puzzle game goes free on iOS for the very first time today (Reg. $2)

Halo Spartan Strike action-shooter for iOS drops to its lowest price yet: $1 (Reg. $6)

App Store Free App of the Week: Pull My Tongue goes free for the first time ($1 value)

Review: We flew DJI’s impressive Phantom 4 drone towards a wall at 20MPH and nothing happened

MORE NEW GEAR FROM TODAY:

Tear up that cable bill and save with free local channels: 1byone 50-mile invisible HDTV Antenna $22 Prime shipped (Reg. $30)

• Gift Cards up to 20% off: GameStop, Staples, CVS, Domino’s, Jiffy Lube, more
• LG 55-inch 4K Smart Ultra HDTV + 320W 2.1-Ch. Sound Bar: $849 ($1,200+ value)
• Audio-Technica ATH-M40X Headphones + FiiO A1 Amp: $79 (~$160+ value)
• Games/Apps: PlayStation Plus 1yr. $40, DRAGON QUEST II $3, iOS freebies, more
• Grab a 10,000 BTU LG Portable AirCon w/remote for $279 Shipped
• CaseCrown gear 50% off: iPhone 6/s/Plus cases $3 each, iPad Mini 3 cases $8, more
• Wenger Backpack for MacBooks up to 15-inches: $35 Prime shipped (Reg. $50+)
• Daily Deals: Insignia 16-Bottle Wine Cooler $100, 38-Bottle $300, more
• Keep the kids busy this summer w/ these Minecraft LEGO deals from $14 Prime shipped
• Dremel Rotary Tool w/ 28 accessories: $49 shipped (Orig. $75)
• Xiaomi’s first drone records 4K video, lasts 27mins, costs $460

MORE DEALS STILL ALIVE:

Get more space and 2X the power with the mophie 32GB Space Pack for iPhone 5/s/SE: $40 shipped (Reg. $110)

Boost your iPhone’s battery w/ mophie’s juice pack reserve case for $40 Prime shipped (Reg. $60)

• 50-inch Panasonic 4K Smart LED Ultra HDTV for $500 shipped, 65-inch $1,000, more
• Here’s your chance to finally save on SONOS, all speakers now come w/ a free gift card
• Green Deals: Philips Hue Lux A19 LED Light Starter Kit $40, more
• Treat yourself w/ all-time low prices on Bowers & Wilkins headphones, speakers
• Get ready for Memorial Day weekend parties with djay 2 for iPhone or iPad: $1 (Reg. up to $10)
• Staples gift card $150 for $130 with free email delivery (14% off)
• Pebble 2 and Pebble Time 2 announced alongside all-new fitness tracking 3G Pebble Core
• Simplify summer outings w/ the Radio Flyer Ultimate Family Wagon $130 shipped (Reg. $180)
• Media: 75% off Google Play Rentals including Deadpool + Sleeping w/ Other People $1, more
• Aukey display adapters with Prime shipping: USB-C to HDMI $14 or VGA $13, VGA to HDMI $9
• Free Xbox Live Gold Games for June: Goat Simulator, The Crew, Super Meat Boy, more
• URPOWER 2-in-1 Solar Waterproof LED Outdoor Lighting Kit $18 (Reg. $25), more
• J. Crew Factory: 50% off summer styles + extra 20% off $100 or more – men’s shorts from $21
• Get summer styles up to 75% off at the Kate Spade surprise sale- deals start at $10
• Lifetime Portable Tetherball System w/ soft ball $88 shipped (Reg. $130+)
• Cuisinart 15-Piece Stainless Steel Hollow Knife Block Set $43 shipped (Orig. $80)
• Rachael Ray 2-Quart Crescent Kettle (multiple colors) $19 shipped (Orig. $33), more
• Dell 28″ 4K Monitor w/ dual USB/HDMI inputs: $400 shipped (Reg. $500)
• Sony PlayStation Vita with Wi-Fi for $140 shipped (Orig. $200)

NEW PRODUCTS & MORE:

LG’s new OLED 4K Ultra HDTVs are still lustworthy, just as expensive

• Jaybird’s new Freedom Bluetooth earbuds have an Apple-inspired metal design
• The second generation Boosted electric skateboard promises longer range
• National Streaming Day: I finally cut the cord and haven’t looked back, here’s how I pulled it off…
• Roboterra’s K’NEX-like coding system aims to empower young engineers
• TRNTBL is a modern day vinyl-lovers dream w/ built-in AirPlay, SONOS and Bluetooth
• Black + Decker launches app-connected Bluetooth batteries w/ USB port
• Garmin’s new vívosmart HR+ opts for GPS-tracking and heart rate monitoring over battery life
• The Tap Bluetooth wearable turns nearly any surface into a functioning Bluetooth keyboard
• The Vuze Camera brings an affordable point-and-shoot design to virtual reality
• Review: Samsung’s KS9500 65-Inch curved 4K TV is pretty amazing [Video]
• The newest Garmin Fitness Tracker delivers a ‘Suffer Score’ after each of your workouts
• The Thin Ice wearable cools your body in hopes of burning an additional 1,000 calories per day

Filed under: Tips and Tricks Tagged: 9to5Toys, Amazon, app deals, Best Buy, Daily Deals, free apps, GoGroove, Gold Box, Lexar, video games