Apple realizes no one wants small phones, increases iPhone 13 orders

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Consumers don't want the new iPhone SE, but they can't get enough of iPhone 13.
Photo: Apple

Apple reportedly increased iPhone 13 orders after coming to the realization that there’s not enough demand for smaller smartphones.

Both iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini experienced “dismal” sales performance, according to an analyst. And Apple already cut orders for its revised iPhone SE due to weaker-than-expected demand.

Stylish MagWallet keeps cards attached to iPhone, costs a lot less than Apple’s

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SwitchEasy MagWallet for iPhone
Slim, attractive, and just $34.99.
Photo: SwitchEasy

SwitchEasy’s new MagWallet carries up to two credit cards and snaps onto the bag of your iPhone so that it’s always with you. It’s a lot like Apple’s MagSafe Wallet, only considerably more affordable.

The MagWallet’s stylish design is available in three attractive color options, all made from genuine leather. Bag one from the Cult of Mac Store today for just $34.99.

Elon Musk splashes $3 billion to become Twitter’s largest shareholder

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Elon Musk spends $3 billion on Twitter
What's next for Musk and Twitter?
Image: Elon Musk/Twitter/Cult of Mac

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has acquired a 9% stake in Twitter worth almost $3 billion. The purchase, revealed in a recent regulatory filing, gets Musk a whopping 73,486,938 shares in the popular social media platform.

Despite being described as a passive investment, one analyst believes the move is “just the start” of Musk’s involvement with Twitter.

Oops! Microsoft scraps embarrassing tweet that featured an M1 iMac

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Microsoft tweet features M1 iMac
That's unfortunate.
Image: Twitter

There’s one thing you don’t do if you’re on Microsoft’s social media team, and that’s promote Apple products. It seems at least one person forgot that last week when they posted a tweet featuring an image of the M1 iMac.

The post, which was removed after a few hours, was about cleaning Windows machines “safely and smoothly.” Microsoft should know better than anyone that it’s not even possible to run Windows natively on M1 Mac models.

Apple now sells 14- and 16-inch MacBook refurbs with big discounts

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Apple preps subscription service for iPhone, Mac and more
But Amazon is still cheaper.
Photo: Apple

Refurbished versions of the newest MacBook Pro models are now available to purchase from the Apple Store online. Both 14- and 16-inch units are available with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and customers can save up to $350.

This is the first time refurbs of these machines have been made available by Apple since they made their debut last year. But if it’s a bargain you’re after, you’re likely to find a better deal elsewhere.

Laut’s stylish aluminum stands cradle your Apple devices in style

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Laut stand for iPhone
And they're more affordable than you might think!
Photo: Laut

If you’re looking for a clean way to charge your beloved Apple Watch, or somewhere to place your iPhone so that it’s easy to see while you’re working, check out these elegant, super-sturdy stands from Laut.

They’re made from robust, anodized aluminum and designed to look good anywhere. They’re also available in a range of color options to match your Apple devices.

Roblox sides with Apple in App Store battle against Epic Games

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Roblox
Roblox has a good relationship with Apple it wouldn't want to ruin.
Image: Roblox

It would appear that large sections of the developer community are firmly behind Epic Games in its battle for a fairer, more open App Store. But not Roblox, which believes Apple’s strict controls enhance safety and security.

The online game platform, which calls itself a metaverse company and boasts almost 55 million daily active users, said in a legal filing this week that the App Store review process adds “greater legitimacy in the eyes of users.”

Apple ‘actively testing’ 9-inch foldable, but don’t expect foldable iPhone before 2025

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Apple tests 9-inch foldable
Could Apple's first foldable be a lot like the Galaxy Fold?
Photo: Matt Baumeister/Unsplash

Apple is “actively testing” a 9-inch foldable device, but it won’t be taking on Samsung with a foldable iPhone until 2025 at the earliest, one analyst claims.

The company’s “priority order” for foldables is said to be medium, large and then small devices. Its current prototype is being used to test new technologies and may not be indicative of an upcoming product.

Modded Android phone steals iPhone’s Lightning port

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First Android phone with Lightning port
Why? Why not?
Photo: Ken Pillonel

This Samsung Galaxy A51 is almost certainly the only Android phone in the world that uses a Lightning port. That’s thanks to engineer Ken Pillonel, who hacked the handset to use Apple’s connector instead of USB-C.

The port is fully functional, with support for charging and data transfer — despite the fact that Apple designs its cables to work only with its own devices. Why go through all that effort? Well … why not?

Apple teams up with LG to build foldable iPad and MacBook devices

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An iPhone concept shows a realistic folding iPhone design
Just don't expect to see one any time soon.
Image: ConceptsiPhone

Apple is said to be collaborating with LG on new foldable iPad and MacBook models with flexible OLED displays. LG is already gearing up to supply similar displays to HP for a foldable laptop scheduled to launch this year.

The report corroborates earlier claims from one display analyst, who claims Apple is exploring foldable/rollable display technologies for future devices. It warned, however, that a foldable iPhone won’t come until 2025 at the earliest.

WhatsApp plans big improvements to voice messaging ‘in the coming weeks’

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WhatsApp voice messaging improvements
Faster playback, the ability to pause recordings, and more on the way.
Image: WhatsApp

WhatsApp on Thursday revealed significant improvements to voice messaging across Android and iOS. The update adds the ability to change the speed of audio playback, pause and resume recording, and more.

It also allows voice message playback to continue when users back out of a conversation to catch up with another. Users can look forward to seeing the changes “in the coming weeks,” WhatsApp said.

Apple will make it easier for Dutch dating apps to use alternative payments

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App Store
Will it be enough for the ACM?
Photo: James Yarema/Unsplash

Apple this week revealed slightly more relaxed rules for Dutch dating apps that will make it easier for them to offer third-party payment options. It comes after months of fighting with Dutch regulators over new app laws.

One thing Cupertino won’t give up, however, is its 27% commission.

Apple finally lets ‘reader’ apps like Netflix and Spotify link to their own sites

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Apple lets reader apps link to their own sites
It's a start.
Image: Apple

Apple on Wednesday confirmed a significant change to its App Store policy that finally allows “reader” apps like Netflix and Spotify to link to their own websites for things like creating and managing accounts.

Until now, including an external link for this kind of purpose was prohibited, and would have resulted in App Store expulsion. That meant a poor user experience for a whole bunch of popular services on iPhone and iPad.

That’s finally changing, but of course, Apple plans to make it as complicated as possible for developers to enjoy it.

Don’t rely on automatic iOS updates unless you like getting left behind

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iOS 14.4 debuted to the general public on Tuesday.
Automatic updates are designed to drop late.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhone and iPad users should manually install the latest iOS and iPadOS updates if they want to get their hands on Apple’s newest features and improvements as quickly as possible, according to one Cupertino chief.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, confirmed that automatic software updates don’t drop until one to four weeks after the company makes them available to manual updaters.

Apple makes $50 million commitment to supplier employee development

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Apple supplier development fund
'We put people first in everything that we do.'
Photo: Apple

Apple on Wednesday revealed a new Supplier Employee Development Fund that will offer $50 million to expand access to learning and skills development.

The fund includes new partnerships with leading right advocates, universities, and nonprofits, Apple said. Cupertino will also focus on working alongside supply chain partners to “amplify worker voice” and support rights programs.

$5.5 billion lawsuit accuses Apple of overcharging App Store users

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2021 App Store Awards
Apple just cannot avoid new App Store complaints.
Image: Apple

Apple faces an incredibly pricey lawsuit in the Netherlands, where the company is accused of “market dominance,” “anti-competitive practices,” and overcharging App Store users for apps and in-app subscriptions.

The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation believes Apple has been able to charge “excessively high prices” by excluding all competition and then abusing its “monopoly position.” It says damages could total $5.5 billion.

NFL ‘considers’ its own streaming service for mobile devices

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NFL plans its own streaming service
It could cost just $5 a month.
Photo: Adrian Curiel/Unsplash

There may soon be yet another streaming service to add to your roster. The National Football League is said to be considering a platform of its own, dubbed NFL+, that will stream live games to smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

NFL+ could also provide access to radio, podcasts and team content, according to a new report, which claims teams were briefed on the plans at the annual NFL owners’ meeting that recently took place in Palm Beach, Florida.

Facebook Messenger adds a bunch of handy, Slack-like shortcuts

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Facebook Messenger shortcuts
It's now easier to send silent messages, GIFs, payments, and more.
Image: Meta

Facebook Messenger? Meta Messenger? Just Messenger? We don’t know what it’s supposed to be called these days. But we do know it just added a bunch of useful, Slack-like shortcuts that help you get things done faster.

You can use them to silently deliver messages without notifications, to find the perfect GIF, to send payments and more — all without having to fiddle around inside menus. And Meta says even more are coming later this year.

Charging problems return for Apple Watch Series 7 owners

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Twelve South HiRise Duet iPhone Apple Watch charging dock
Not again.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch Series 7 owners are suffering more charging problems just two months after earlier issues were eliminated. Some owners report that fast charging is broken after installing the latest watchOS 8.5 update.

Faster charging is one of Apple Watch Series 7’s biggest selling points. Top-ups are supposed to be around 33% quicker than on previous models — but only if you’re using the right charging accessories.

Apple stock sees 10th consecutive increase for first time in over a decade

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Apple stock sees 10th consecutive rise
AAPL keeps on climbing.
Image: Apple/Google

Apple’s share price was up 0.5% at the end of trading on Monday, marking a 10th consecutive increase for the first time in more than a decade.

That’s despite reports that indicate Apple has been forced to slash iPhone SE 3 orders due to weaker-than-expected demand. But one analyst says investors are more interested in the performance of iPhone 14 later this year.

Cider is the smart way to enjoy Apple Music on Windows

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Cider for Apple Music
Better than iTunes in every single way.
Image: Cider Collective

iTunes has become a slow and bloated mess over the years — which is why it no longer exists on Mac. But for those who are stuck with Windows, suffering iTunes is necessary if you want to enjoy Apple Music. Or is it?

There are other ways to take advantage of your Apple Music subscription on third-party machines. You could use the web app in a browser of your choice, or you could download Cider, a new and far greater iTunes alternative.

Cider, which is also available on Mac if you aren’t happy with the default Music app, offers a clean and simple user interface and almost all of the features we’ve come to expect from Apple’s streaming service — plus extras.

TikTok tests new feature that will finally make it easier to find lost videos

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TikTok on iPhone
A new 'watch history' feature is in testing.
Photo: Solen Feyissa/Unsplash

Don’t you just hate it when you accidentally refresh TikTok and lose the video you were watching? It can be incredibly difficult to track down the video again if you don’t know which account posted it. But a solution could be on the way.

TikTok is finally testing a new “watch history” feature where you’ll find all the clips you’ve recently consumed. It’s only available in the beta version of the TikTok app for now — but it could soon roll out to everyone.

Save 20% on Limited77 iPhone cases, MagSafe chargers and more

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Wooden Bumper for iPhone 12 review
Prices start at just $20!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Limited77 is now running one of its biggest-ever sales in the Cult of Mac Store. You can enjoy 20% off all the company’s products for a limited time only.

iPhone cases, MagSafe chargers, charging docks and more are available from as little as $20. Check out the full lineup and bag a bargain before this sale ends.

QuietMeet for Mac automatically pauses music when it’s meeting time

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QuietMeet for Mac
Stop panicking every time you get a call.
Image: QuietMeet

Do you ever find yourself scrambling to stop music playback on your Mac when a call comes in? QuietMeet is a new app that takes care of that for you.

Compatible with Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime and other popular services, QuietMeet automatically pauses your music when a call comes in — then resumes it when the call has ended. And it never gets in your way.