This week on AI: Lightning crashes, Apple gears iPhones against searches, iOS 12's speed put to the test & more

Popular stories this week included hints of Lightning being replaced with USB-C, iOS 12 features designed to block searches, and the real-world speed of the OS on older Apple devices.

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This week's top stories:

• Apple's 2019 iPhone lineup may mark the end of the Lightning connector > >
• Apple bans cryptocurrency mining on the iPhone and iPad > >
• Here are all the big changes to Apple Maps in 2017 and 2018 > >
• Apple confirms iOS 12's 'USB Restricted Mode' will thwart police, criminal access > >
• iPhone 3GS returns to life with South Korean carrier > >
• Stand-alone Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac preview arrives for enterprise customers > >
• Video: Testing the speed of iOS 11 versus iOS 12 on the iPhone 6 and iPad Mini 2 > >
• How to quickly force restart the iPhone X in case of a crash > >
• How to set up your home network for many Apple TVs, Macs, iPhones, and iPads > >

For in-depth discussion of this week's hottest stories, listen to the AppleInsider podcast. Subscribe here, or stream the embed below:

Other hot stories this week:

Cheaper 6.1-inch LCD 2018 iPhone expected to be Apple's most popular model

Apple Maps recovers from multi-hour partial service outage affecting search & directions

Apple, Oprah Winfrey sign multi-year deal for TV programming

Apple looking beyond just TV with push for animated feature film

Review: HomeKit compatible First Alert Onelink Safe & Sound smoke detector more than it appears

Apple versus Samsung smartphone patent trial not over, $533M jury ruling contested

Here's 12 of the best Apple-related gifts for Father's Day

Apple's watchOS 5 beta returns following buggy initial release

Video: Hands on with the new ARKit Measure app in iOS 12

HomeKit support for third-party remote controls coming in iOS 12 and tvOS 12

Apple disallows developers from collecting and sharing Contacts data

Hands on: Netgear Cable Orbi modem & mesh Wi-Fi router

Valve not giving up, rolls out new Steam Link beta for iOS, Apple TV

Here are all the receivers and speakers that are getting AirPlay 2

Grayshift claims it defeated Apple's forthcoming 'USB Restricted Mode' security feature

Apple's TV app enables live sports, news coverage in Canada

AT&T completes $85B acquisition of Time Warner

Video: Here are over 150 new features and changes in iOS 12 for iPhone and iPad