VideoLAN has released a new version of its VLC for Mobile app that adds improved support for Apple’s latest hardware and software.

Version 2.8.6 includes adjustments to the user interface on the taller, 5.8-inch iPhone X OLED display. The latest version also includes “full support” for 4K videos formatted in HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) which Apple has embraced to limit file sizes on ultra high-definition videos.

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Amazon launched its Music Unlimited service just over a year ago, adding to Apple Music’s competition in the streaming music space – and a major international expansion today sees it available in 28 new countries.

Amazon quickly followed its US launch by rolling out the service to Austria, Germany and the UK the following month, and Japan later. It subsequently matched Apple’s family plan and student deal, but today’s news will increase the pressure as it becomes available to many more users …

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Six countries in Southeast Asia will soon be able to order Apple products online, secure in the knowledge that they are buying genuine items sourced from the Cupertino company. Alibaba-owned online store Lazada announced a partnership with Apple today.

Currently, online sales in the region are available only through grey market suppliers, with the consequent risks of buying counterfeit products or paying inflated prices …

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Supply-chain sources report that demand for iPhone X components is slowing, with some said to be concerned that demand may be lower than predicted in the first part of next year.

In all, four component suppliers all report flat or declining orders …

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A number of hotel chains have been using smart home technology in their rooms for some time now, with Hilton yesterday announcing its own plans to take the idea one step further, with the ability to remember your connected room preferences and automatically apply them when you check into a new hotel.

Hilton says the Hilton Honors app will allow guests to control the temperature in their room, adjust lighting, stream content to their TV, and control Internet-connected picture frames by displaying their own personal images.

There’s also support for scenes, so every time you stay at a Hilton with Connected Room, you can tap a single button to set your room up just as you like it.

I love this idea, and I’d like to see Apple work with hotel chains to take the logical next step …

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Last month we saw the first fitness club to deploy Apple’s GymKit technology pop up around the globe in Australia, and this week the Apple Watch workout syncing feature has gone live in the UK. Metro reports that the Mansion House Virgin Active gym in London now offers exercise machines that work with Apple’s GymKit feature which lets you sync workout data between the machine and Apple Watch. In the piece, Apple’s fitness chief Jay Blahnik suggests we may see even more GymKit-compatible machines soon…

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The popular UK video service BBC iPlayer has released an update for its iOS and tvOS universal app with some interesting release notes, suggesting that the TV app will be launching in the UK imminently.

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Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities is out with his latest investor note this evening covering more changes we can expect with next year’s iPhone refresh. Kuo writes that Apple will bring L-shaped battery designs to the 6.5-inch and 5.8-inch OLED iPhones introduced next year, allowing for increased capacity and improved battery life…

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Popular news reading service Feedly today announced a major update for its iOS app. The update focuses on bringing interface enhancements to iPhone X users, including a new dark mode that looks pretty stunning on the iPhone X’s OLED display…

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Image via @MishManners

Speaking at the Pivot Summit in Geelong, Victoria today, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak shared a few new tidbits about his experience with the iPhone X so far and his thoughts on Face ID vs. Touch ID. Woz also offered up a few anecdotes about his years working with Steve Jobs. Wozniak is one of several speakers at the one day conference focused on providing insight about emerging technology.

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