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AirPods - page 27

What to expect from Apple’s ‘show time’ event on March 25

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Apple Show time event
Apple is expected to launch a number of new services this spring.
Photo: Apple

The first Apple event of 2019 is nearly here. Tim Cook and friends are set to take the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater on March 25 to unveil the company’s newest goodies, only instead of unveiling some shiny new gadgets you can buy, Apple is supposedly going to bust out some services you can subscribe to.

The Apple rumor mill has been working in overdrive leading up the event, so we have a pretty solid idea of what we’ll see.

If you hate Apple keynote spoilers, stop reading now.

All the ways Apple locks us into iPhone [Opinion]

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iPhone survey
I wanted a Galaxy S10, but I'm stuck with iPhone.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

It’s not easy to give up your iPhone. Even if you’ve already decided you want to switch to another handset, it’s going to be incredibly difficult to let go. Apple has you locked in. And for some iPhone owners, there is no way out.

That’s because it’s not just your iPhone that you’d be saying goodbye to. Many other apps and services you use every day — some without even thinking about it — make switching to another platform nearly impossible.

Here are all the ways Apple makes it hard to jump ship and switch to Android.

AirPod alternatives last 50 hours and cost less than $60 [Deals]

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These wireless earbuds sport more than double the battery life of AirPods, but they're less than half the price.
These wireless earbuds sport more than double the battery life of AirPods, but they're less than half the price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Seems like everywhere you go, you see people with the white ear fangs known as AirPods. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon – some analysts expect Apple to ship as many as 80 million earbuds next year, and up to 110 million in 2021.

The most interesting factoids from Apple’s 13th annual supplier report

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Apple gives supply chain workers access to coding classes.
Apple gives supply chain workers access to coding classes.
Photo: Apple

Apple came out with its 13th annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, giving an inside glimpse at some of the biggest issues it’s been battling.

The 66-page report is stuffed with interesting little facts, like how many gallons of water suppliers have saved and the amount of reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Apple admits it still has a lot of work to do, but the progress the company has made is pretty impressive. One of the biggest areas Apple emphasizes in its report is the people that work in the supply chain and the educational opportunities Apple is giving them.

Enter to win a new iPhone XS Max and AirPods [Deals]

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Now's your chance to score a free iPhone XS Max and a set of wireless AirPods.
Now's your chance to score a free iPhone XS Max and a set of wireless AirPods.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The latest Apple devices are impressive, but so are their price tags. So you’d be crazy not to jump at the chance to score the latest and greatest tech from Cupertino — for free!

Our iPhone XS Max and AirPods giveaway is just that chance.

AirPods 2 might charge faster than you think possible

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AirPower
Apple hasn't given up on wireless charging pads.
Photo: Apple

A highlight of the second generation of AirPods is expected to be a wireless charging case. And a new report indicates that this will power up these earbuds in much less than half an hour.

According to earlier sources, the long wait for an update to this popular accessory is almost over.

From refurbished iPhones to AirPods alternatives, the top deals of the week [Deals]

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Dig into the four best deals at the Cult of Mac Store this week.
Dig into the four best deals at the Cult of Mac Store this week.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s been a red banner week for deals at the Cult of Mac Store. So we rounded up four of the very best, from refurbished iPhones to affordable AirPods alternatives. We’ve also got a replacement for your Mac’s Dock and more.

Most of these deals are discounted by more than half, so get ’em before they disappear!

New AirPods could arrive on March 29

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AirPods 2 might look something like this artist’s concept.
Are you ready for the follow-up to Apple's AirPods?
Photo: Caviar/Cult of Mac

Apple’s AirPods 2 are coming March 29 — at least, if a slightly sketchy new report is to be believed.

The report comes from Spanish Apple rumor site Applesfera. It claims that it has received data from “several different” sources saying that Apple’s new AirPods will land on shelves at the end of this month.

Score premium wireless earbuds for a fraction the price [Deals]

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AirDops
These AirDops are the perfect budget wireless earphones.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s amazing how quickly AirPods caught on. In just a couple years, they catapulted from slightly obnoxious accessory of the tech elite to essential part of the Apple experience.

Of course, they retail for about $159, so it’s also amazing how expensive they are. AirDops True Wireless Earbuds offer almost all the features of their expensive cousins from Cupertino — and they cost a whole lot less.

Huge Apple hardware updates are on the horizon, this week on the The CultCast

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CultCast 376 MacBook Pro
Apple's about to update everything.

This week on The CultCast: a totally new 16” MacBook Pro; a new 6K cinema display; new Mac Pro; new AirPods; new iPads and iPhones; even a new iPod Touch… according to a new report, Apple’s about to make huge updates to their ENTIRE product line. This could be one of the best hardware releases in years.

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6 ways Samsung just leapfrogged Apple

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Samsung
Samsung's Unpacked event was actually pretty impressive.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung put Apple and the rest of the tech industry on notice today during its massive Unpacked event.

During the biggest tech event of 2019 so far, Samsung unveiled a slew of new smartphones, wearables, earbuds and more. Even though Samsung has a rep for copying Apple — and there was certainly a lot of that at Unpacked — the company is setting the tone for the rest of the industry. Samsung even leapfrogged Apple’s products in some ways.

Here are six things Apple should take note of.

New Samsung Galaxy Buds try to steal AirPods’ thunder

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Galaxy buds
Watch out AirPods, Galaxy Buds have arrived.
Photo: Samsung

AirPods have become the ultimate status symbol among Millenials, but Samsung is ready to steal some of the shine with its new line of Galaxy Buds.

Just like AirPods, the new Galaxy Buds give wearers a convenient, cord-free solution for listening to music on the go. However, Galaxy Buds pack some impressive features that AirPods don’t have and it could be bad news for Apple.

iOS 12.2 beta 3 brings changes to Apple News, TV remote app and Group FaceTime fix [Updated]

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animoji
The new animoji of iOS 12.2.
Photo: Apple

Update: The latest beta of iOS 12.2 is now available to the public, not just developers.

Apple just released the third beta build of iOS 12.2 to developers this morning, bringing a bunch of fixes and new features to the iPhone and iPad.

iOS 12.2 beta 3 arrived just over two weeks after developers received the last build. There are also new betas out for tvOS 12.2 and watchOS 5.2 to go with the macOS 10.4.4 beta that came out yesterday.

AirPods 2 in a new color could soon launch alongside AirPower

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AirPods 2 might look something like this artist’s concept.
AirPods 2 might look something like this artist’s concept.
Photo: Caviar/Cult of Mac

The design of Apple’s AirPods is about to get a tweak, according to a new unconfirmed report coming out of Asia. Expect a fresh choice of color and a coating that will make these earbuds harder to drop.

This refresh is reportedly tied to the release of the AirPower wireless charger which is expected to launch at the same time.

An Apple March event is all but confirmed! Catch our expectations, on The CultCast

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CultCast MacBook Pro
Just what does Apple have up their sleeve for their rumored March event?

This week on The CultCast: It’s all but confirmed — Apple’s holding a March media event to make some special announcements. We’ll tell you what we know. Plus: Apple’s all-time best-selling products may surprise you. And is it worth buying a 2018 MacBook Pro, or should you wait? We’ll tell you what we think.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain..

Colorful custom AirPods will make you see green

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Caviar AirPods in black
You don’t have to settle for white AirPods if you have plenty of green.
Photo: AirPods

If you’ve been hoping for a pair of AirPods in black or red then this is your lucky day. And you’re even luckier if for some reason you’ve been hoping to pay a whole lot of money for them.

Luxury brand Caviar now has the Apple’s wireless earbuds in new colors but these go for more than three times the standard price.

Apple might make us wait until fall for brand-new AirPods

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AirPods and case
But wireless charging could come sooner.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

We might be waiting a while to get our hands on Apple’s second-generation AirPods, according to a prominent tipster.

The new wireless earbuds — rumored to bring “Hey Siri” support and new color options — may not appear until this fall. In the meantime, Apple could launch a wireless AirPods charging case.

Sketchy report claims AirPods 2, AirPower and new iPads coming March 29

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AirPods in case
AirPods aren't as good without iPhone
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next big event could be right around the corner if a sketchy new report is to be believed.

AirPods 2, the AirPower charging mat, and next-generation iPads might appear at a mid-March event, with preorders starting March 22.

AirPods are Apple’s second-fastest-selling new product of all time

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airpods
AirPods have been a massive smash hit for Apple.
Photo: Ste Smith/ Cult of Mac

AirPods are Apple’s second-best-selling new product of all time, a new report by Above Avalon analyst Neil Cybart suggests.

Cybart estimates that Apple is on track to sell 40 million pairs of AirPods in 2019. That represents almost 90 percent year-over-year growth. While impressive, this is nothing compared to the interest expressed through Google searches — which leaped up 500 percent last holiday season.

Your next AirPods could be easier to hold onto

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Apple AirPods
New AirPods are supposedly coming soon.
Photo: Apple

Upgraded AirPods are on the way — and a new report sheds light on new features that Apple’s next-gen wireless earbuds will supposedly boast. If you’re looking for a new color option, smart sensors, and a less droppable coating, you’re likely to be in luck.

If you’re looking for a drop in cost, on the other hand? Not so much.

Best Valentine’s Day gifts for Apple fans [Gift Guide]

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Valentine’s Day gift guide 2019
Gifts that are guaranteed to bring a smile.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Valentine’s Day is fast-approaching, which means it’s time to start shopping for that special someone in your life. If they’re a fan of Apple products and awesome gadgets to go with them, Cult of Mac is here to help.

Our Valentine’s Day gift guide is full of great gift ideas that are guaranteed to put a smile on their face. We have beautiful books about Apple’s most iconic devices, the coolest cushions and T-shirts, and must-have accessories.

No matter what your budget, you’ll find something they’ll love almost as much as you. (Maybe even more?)

Take a peek at Samsung’s AirPods rival ‘Galaxy Buds’

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Galaxy Buds 2
Samsung is ready to take on the AirPods.
Photo: Winfuture.de

Apple’s AirPods have been a massive smash hit since they launched a couple years back. It’s therefore unsurprising that rival companies would be keen to get themselves some of the sweet wireless cash — by launching their own wireless earbuds.

One of these companies, Samsung, is reportedly set to show off its own “Galaxy Buds” at its upcoming February 20 press event. And thanks to a leaked image, we have a good idea of what they’ll look like.

Apple seeds second beta of iOS 12.2 to devs

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iOS12
iOS 12.2 is bringing a bunch of new features to iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Apple

Apple is starting off February by serving up a fresh new beta for developers with the release of iOS 12.2 beta 2.

The new beta comes just over a week after Apple seeded the first build of iOS 12.2. That update brought Apple News support to testers in Canada, as well as new Downtime feature that lets you schedules periodically limit the number of apps you can access.

Brilliant hack keeps AirPods in her ears

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AirPods earrings
Gabrielle Reilly embraces form and function with her Airings.
Photo: Gabrielle Reilly

Gabrielle Reilly purchased Apple AirPods because there were no wires for her mischievous cat to chew up.

But AirPods came with a new risk of loss from slipping out of her ears. So Reilly, a paralegal from Virginia, created a set of earrings to hold her AirPods.

Death of 3D Touch, AirPods with health sensors, and a MacBook Pro flaw you need to know about, on The CultCast

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Cultcast 372 MacBook Pro
New AIrPods with health sensors in 2019? Is Apple killing 3D Touch? We'll tell you what we know.
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: Why iPhone’s 3D Touch is probably dead; new reports say AirPods packed with health sensors are coming in 2019; the MacBook Pro “stage light” flaw affects all models built after 2016 — and could cost you $600 to fix. Plus, the wild saga of MoviePass … continues.

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