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AirPods - page 29

iPhone XS user guide suggests AirPower isn’t quite dead yet

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AirPower
Is AirPod finally ready to make its big debut?
Photo: Apple

With no mention of it during the iPhone XS keynote, and little sign of it on Apple’s website, it was beginning to look like AirPower had been wiped entirely from Apple’s plans. But it seems the wireless charger isn’t quite dead yet.

AirPower is mentioned in the iPhone XS user guide, early adopters have noticed today. A reference in the latest iOS 12.1 beta also provides hope for the device.

How to use iOS 12’s Live Listen feature with AirPods

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Bluetooth in iOS 11
AirPods plus iOS 12 equals Live Listen.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Back in 1979, the original Sony Walkman had an odd feature. If you pressed an orange button on the end, a built-in mic would connect to the user’s headphones, letting the person hear what was going on in the outside world. This may be the first case of technology being used to mitigate the bad manners surrounding personal audio.

Now, in iOS 12, this type of feature is back — and way more useful than it was in music’s greatest-ever decade. Live Listen is a new iOS 12 feature that pipes live audio from the iPhone’s mic directly to your AirPods. Why? Well, it’s an accessibility feature, but it can be used for much more.

Trump tariffs are about to hit Apple fans where it hurts

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tariffs
President Trump and Apple CEO Tim Cook don't see eye-to-eye on any of the Trump tarrifs.
Photos: White House/Apple

President Trump reportedly ordered tariffs on $200 billion more Chinese goods yesterday. After these were first proposed several weeks ago, Apple warned that they’ll likely increase the cost of many of its products.

The list of affected devices includes some of Apple’s most popular offerings.

HyperJuice AirPods wireless charger does what Apple can’t

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The HyperJuice is an AirPods wireless charger that, unlike Apple's, is available now, not sometime in the future.
The HyperJuice is an AirPods wireless charger that, unlike Apple's, is available now, not sometime in the future.
Photo: Hyper

Conspicuously absent from the Apple event yesterday was the AirPods wireless charger that the company first showed off last year. Well, you don’t have to wait for Apple to get its act together because a third-party accessory maker called Hyper just announced its own solution.

HyperJuice is a snap-on adapter to the Apple AirPods Charging Case, allowing it to get power from any Qi wireless charger.

Live blog: Apple unveils its biggest iPhone lineup ever

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iphones
The iPhone XS Max will be the largest iPhone Apple ever made.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s most anticipated keynote of 2018 is finally here and thanks to a bevy of leaks, it might be short on surprises.

Details about the entire 2018 iPhone lineup have already surfaced online, even as Tim Cook and the gang get set to take the stage at the Steve Jobs Theater this morning.

Will Apple be able to pull out “one more thing” to wow fans? We’ll find out in just a few hours. Come on in and join Cult of Mac‘s live blog for a full breakdown on everything that is announced today.

Ring in Apple’s big announcement with our top iPhone accessories [Deals]

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Even with a new iPhone, you're still going to want the right accessories, so we've rounded up some of the best.
Even with a new iPhone, you're still going to want the right accessories, so we've rounded up some of the best.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Today, Apple adds another generation to its line of mobile devices and operating systems. iOS 12 and iPhone Xs come with a whole new set of features that you can read about elsewhere, but one thing that hasn’t changed about iPhone is the need for the right accessories. So we’ve rounded up some of the best deals on iPhone accessories in the Cult of Mac Store, from an affordable AirPod alternative, to a wireless charging pad, a DSLR-style grip, and more. Read on for more details:

Don’t expect new Beats headphones at Apple’s iPhone event

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Beats
2018 Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons with his Beats.
Photo: Beats by Dre

Apple’s huge iPhone keynote tomorrow won’t give any stage time to the company’s Beats-branded headphones.

Despite being the largest headphone brand in the world and inking a sweet new deal with the NBA, new Beats headphones aren’t planned to be revealed at Apple’s biggest event of the year.

Trump tariffs may jack up Apple Watch prices by 20%

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Yeah, we're pretty incredulous about your ideas, too, Mr. Trump.
Thanks Donald!
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Trump’s latest round of proposed tariffs will negatively impact Apple’s revenues but according to some numbers crunched by an Apple analyst, investors shouldn’t worry about the company’s profits being hit too hard.

Apple revealed last week that some of the proposed tariffs would hurt the profitability of Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod and Apple Pencil. Price increases would be passed on to consumers, however, it probably won’t be more than a 20% jump.

How to work when it’s really, really noisy

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Construction noise can drive you crazy.
Construction noise can drive you crazy.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

As I write this, there’s a truck outside my window using its crane to shovel molten blacktop onto the street. Its diesel engine is revving hard, and has been for the last half hour. For the past two years, there’s been an apartment building under construction across the street from my office. Starting at (and often before) 7 a.m., six days a week, I’ve enjoyed a symphony of pumped cement, circular saws screeching through thin metal sheets, over-revved forklifts, and drilling into reinforced concrete.

I mention this to tell you that I know a thing or two about writing in a noisy spot. I also know how to stop it driving you nuts.

Beats become the official headphones of the NBA

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Beats
2018 Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons with his Beats.
Photo: Beats by Dre

NBA players have rocked Beats by Dre before games for years but now the company is about to have an even larger presence in the world of basketball.

Beats by Dre revealed today that it has struck a deal that will make it the official headphone, wireless speaker and audio partner of the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League and USA Basketball starting when the preseason tips off in October.

Don’t expect new AirPods or HomePod until 2019

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airpods
The wait for AirPods 2 could stretch out over a year.
Photo: Ste Smith/ Cult of Mac

New iPhones and iPads are coming this fall, but some Apple products reportedly won’t be refreshed so soon. New versions of this company’s smartspeaker and wireless headphones might not be out until 2019.

And the wait for AirPods 2 could be much longer than many are hoping.

Beware, this apple pop-up shop isn’t selling iPhones

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Apple popup shop
This is not a real Apple store.
Photo: Ashley Carman/The Verge

Apple fans in NYC eager to visit the company’s first ever pop-up shop in The Big Apple are going to be in for a rude surprise when they show up to the doors tomorrow morning.

A new store has popped up in the Big Apple this week promising to provide a taste of the future. The logo and font on the outside is minimalist and very Apple-esque, but instead of selling limited editions iPhones or Apple Watches, the shops are promoting actual apples.

iOS 12 beta hints at wireless AirPods charging case launch

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AirPower
The long-delayed wireless AirPods charging case could finally be out soon, along with the AirPower charging mat.
Photo: Apple

Last September, Apple unveiled an AirPods case that can be wirelessly charged. We’re still waiting for it almost a year later — but there’s fresh evidence that it’s coming soon.

Buried in the iOS 12 beta released today are a couple of images that seem to show this new case.

AirPlus case adds wireless charging to your AirPods

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AirPlus. If you can live with the thick rubber, they're a great idea.
AirPlus. If you can live with the thick rubber, they're a great idea.
Photo: HiQ

AirPlus is a silicone case for your AirPods’ case, which adds one great feature, as well as several not-so-great ones. With your AirPods inside the case, you can drop it onto any Qi-compatible charging mat and have the AirPods and their battery case charge wirelessly. That’s pretty sweet, but there are downsides too.

AirPods Retro bring a classic Macintosh vibe to Apple’s buds

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AirPods
AirPods with a classic Mac twist.
Photo: Colorware

Do you love your AirPods but wish they looked like they came out in the 80’s?

ColorWare has come out with a new customization of Apple’s AirPods that look like the could have been paired with the original Macintosh. The Pantone 453 finish makes the buds look more retro, but they’re anything but cheap.

Apple’s prepping new AirPods, iPhones, and a HomePod—we’ll tell you what we know on The CultCast

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CultCast HomePods 342
Apple's got some new hardware cookin' for us.
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: Apple plans new, improved AirPods, HomePod and over-ear headphones; Apple finally acknowledges its new MacBook keyboards suck, and they’re going to make it right; a top Apple analyst drops a bunch of details on Apple’s 2018 product pipeline; and how Apple is trying to solve a fascinating issue their autonomous car.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first hosting plan or domain.

Apple’s new AirPods case could charge your iPhone in a pinch

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AirPower
Will we finally get a release date for AirPower?
Photo: Apple

Apple’s upcoming AirPods case will offer more than just wireless charging for your headphones, according to a sketchy new report.

A source familiar with Apple’s plans claims the case will double as an iPhone charger that will give you a boost in battery life when you’re in a pinch. The device could be available before the end of this year.

AirPower to arrive in September after design problems are solved

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AirPower
Will we finally get a release date for AirPower?
Photo: Apple

Apple will finally deliver its AirPower charger in September after solving “a series of technical hurdles,” according to a new report.

Overheating is one problem company engineers have had to contend with. Another is AirPower’s complex circuitry, which is necessary to allow compatible devices to be placed anywhere on the mat for charging.

Your AirPods just got way more useful with Live Listen

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airpods
AirPods can help you hear in a crowd thanks to Live Listen, coming in iOS 12.
Photo: Ste Smith/ Cult of Mac

WWDC 2018 bug Cult of MacYou’re in a noisy bar or restaurant and can’t hear the person across the table from you. Good news: With a feature added in iOS 12, you can use your AirPods and iPhone as a low-cost hearing aid.

This feature is called Live Listen, and it’s been available for certain hearing aids for some time. But soon, anyone with a pair of Apple’s wireless headphones will be able to use it.

This alligator skin iPhone X will destroy your bank account

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Hadoro iPhone
3D carbon fiber, aligator skin and gold were used in Hadoro's iPhones.
Photo: Hadoro

The French luxury designer brand Hadoro has just taken the crown for the most expensive iPhone X ever created.

We’ve seen gold iPhones that pay tribute to Putin and Harry and Meghan. We’ve even seen an iPhone X with solar panels in the back. All of those were ridiculously expensive. But none of them compare to Hadoro’s lineup of 20 custom designed iPhones that cost between $5200 – $10,399.

Take a look at the two most expensive models:

Sell us your used Apple accessories: Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard and AirPods

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Sell your Apple accessories to us! The Cult of Mac buyback program will buy your used Apple Pencil, AirPods and Smart Keyboard.
Sell your Apple accessories to us!
Photos: Apple, Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The Cult of Mac buyback program just got bigger and better than ever: Now we pay cash for your used Apple accessories, including Apple Pencil, Smart Keyboard and AirPods.

Although we are huge fans of all three of these accessories, we won’t judge you if you decide to unload them. And we promise to make it as easy as possible if you’ve decided it’s time to sell used Apple accessories.

Brainwavz B200 earbuds sound, and feel, better than AirPods [Review]

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The Brainwavz Audio B200 earbuds are some of the best around, even with a few compromises.
Some of the best earbuds around, even with a few compromises.
Photo: Brainwavz Audio

Looking for a new set of earbuds for the summer? Brainwavz Audio’s B200 earbuds deliver high-fidelity audio with impressive clarity and detail. Plus, their over-the-ear design won’t frustrate you by falling out.

Yes, picking these earbuds over AirPods means making a couple of big compromises. But after a few weeks of testing, these audiophile-grade earbuds won me over with their superior sound.