Neil Hughes
AppleInsider
Brooklyn, NY, United States
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Past articles by Neil:
iPhone XS review: There's nothing excessive about Apple's latest and greatest smartphone
Apple's new iPhone XS is a modest step up from last year's iPhone X, but remains a major technological leap forward for anyone who hasn't yet made the jump to the edge-to-edge design with Face ID. As with the debut of the iPhone X, if you can stomach the sticker shock, the iPhone XS is a premium, polished, near-perfect handset that showcases Apple's marriage of hardware and software at its most… → Read More
2018 13-inch MacBook Pro review: Apple's lofty promises are finally realized
The true realization of Apple's ultra-thin, ultra-powerful professional-grade notebook has finally arrived, elevated to greatness by the maturation of USB-C, the fixing of a flawed keyboard, and the polish of an increasingly versatile macOS platform. → Read More
First look: Oculus Go, Facebook's standalone, iPhone-compatible VR headset
Facebook on Tuesday issued a surprise by announcing the immediate launch of its new Oculus Go standalone VR headset, which also boasts iPhone connectivity. AppleInsider got its hands on one of the first units, and offers a closer look. → Read More
First look: Master & Dynamic Lightning to 3.5mm Audio Cable with DAC, mic
Premium headphone maker Master & Dynamic began offering an in-house way for its customers to plug its gear into Apple's latest iPhones without the need for a Lightning-to-headphone adapter. AppleInsider got its hands on the new cable and offers a first look at the accessory. → Read More
Going all-in on USB-C with Apple's ecosystem? That's impossible
I'm finally ready to fully embrace the smaller, reversible, more powerful USB-C port featured on Apple's recent MacBooks. But in preparing for a full switch to the versatile port, I have hit a number of roadblocks. No matter how badly I want to completely ditch USB-A, it turns out I just can't. → Read More
Apple HomePod preorders outpaced all other smartspeakers, except Amazon Echo Dot
Priced at $349, the Apple HomePod saw more pent-up demand at launch than virtually all of its competition, save for one budget-priced smartspeaker: Amazon's $50-and-under Echo Dot. → Read More
Leaked memo suggests Nokia's health business is unhealthy
Less than two years after Nokia bought health and fitness gear maker Withings for $192 million, the major investment appears to be problematic for the Finnish company, as a new memo suggests its health business may not last much longer. → Read More
How to reset your HomePod and connect it to a new Apple ID
HomePod services like sending text messages or creating reminders can only be accomplished with the Apple ID used to initially set up the device. If you want to change the Apple ID affiliated with your HomePod, you'll need to redo the setup process. → Read More
Apple expected to ship 100M 6.1" LCD iPhone units priced at $700-$800 in late 2018
Adding to expectations that the new 6.1-inch iPhone with LCD display will be a blockbuster success, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said on Wednesday that he expects the company will ship a whopping 100 million units in the second half of 2018. → Read More
Android-powered Essential Phone estimated to have shipped just 88K units in 2017
Despite being one of the first handsets on the market with an edge-to-edge display, the Essential Phone, pioneered by former Android chief Andy Rubin, failed to compete with the likes of Apple's iPhone X in any meaningful way, with one new estimate suggesting just 88,000 units were shipped last year. → Read More
HomePod review: Your mileage may vary, but crank it up for the ride
I love Apple's HomePod, and I want one in every room of my house. But I also kind of hate HomePod for its reliance on Siri. Like any messy relationship, it's complicated. If you can get over the personal assistant's numerous shortcomings, you'll find that HomePod is a fantastic sounding compact speaker, but also potentially the start of something much better. → Read More
Despite being a HomeKit accessory, HomePod does not work within custom triggers or scenes
Though HomePod integrates with Apple's HomeKit, and even shows up as a smart home accessory within the iOS Home app, it cannot be used as a part of an automated trigger or custom scene. → Read More
First look: Apple's HomePod is loud, heavy and powerful
Friday marks the launch of Apple's foray into home audio, the HomePod, a compact yet booming smart speaker that will delight your ears and possibly annoy your neighbors. AppleInsider offers a closer look at the newly released hardware. → Read More
First look: iPhone Battery Health settings in iOS 11.3
Apple's second beta of iOS 11.3 adds the anticipated iPhone Battery Health section, allowing users to check the longevity and remaining capacity of their device's battery, and also control throttling of it. AppleInsider offers a first look at how it will work when iOS 11.3 ships to the public later this spring. → Read More
HomePod review roundup: Apple's smart speaker sounds incredible, but Siri is lacking
As a home audio device, Apple's HomePod is a hit with critics, who have lauded the $349 accessory's superior sound quality. But the standalone speaker has not addressed the shortcomings of Siri, an area where HomePod lagged behind the capabilities of competitors Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. → Read More
Premium-priced iPhone X, iPhone 8 propel Apple to $88.3B in revenue in its best quarter ever
Apple continued its streak of record breaking holiday quarters, coasting to new heights yet again with revenue of $88.3 billion and earnings per share of $3.89, based largely on the highest-ever average selling prices for iPhone lineup. → Read More
As other analysts cut AAPL estimates, Guggenheim stands pat with bullish $215 target
Ahead of Apple's December quarter results, analysts have been slashing targets for the company, based on a belief that iPhone sales are slower than expected. But Robert Cihra of Guggenheim hasn't budged on his $215 price target, telling investors on Wednesday that he sees the iPhone X as the start of a multi-year upgrade cycle. → Read More
Amazon's Super Bowl ad reveals the same old Alexa ahead of Apple's HomePod
After a teaser suggested new voice options could be coming to Alexa, the release of Amazon's full Super Bowl spot reveals it was all just a joke, setting up a primetime ad where celebrities substitute in for Alexa -- and poorly. → Read More
Report reaffirms Apple still plans to 'allow iPad apps to run on Macs this year'
Despite multiple reports saying key features in "iOS 12" have been delayed to allow Apple to improve performance and squash bugs, one highly anticipated feature expected to make it easier for developers to port apps from iOS to macOS is said to still be on target to launch later this year. → Read More
Ahead of Apple's HomePod launch, Amazon teases new voices for Alexa
With days to go before the launch of Apple's Siri-powered HomePod smart speaker, Amazon will unveil changes to its own personal assistant, Alexa, likely to come in the form of new voice options. → Read More