Ed Hardy, author at Cult of Mac

Apple Music Classical now playing on Android

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Apple Music Classical now playing on Android
Apple Music Classical isn't just for iPhone users any more,.
Photo: Apple

The Apple Music Classical application that debuted for iPhone in March is now available for Android, too. The service gives access to the world’s largest classical music catalog, and is designed to help users find specific recordings of great works almost instantly.

It requires a subscription to Apple Music.

iOS 17 might make sending video to TVs via AirPlay easier

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AirPlay Logo
Using AirPlay to wirelessly send video from an Apple device to someone else's TV will allegedly get easier.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Sending video from iPhones to TVs over AirPlay will get easier in iOS 17, according to a tipster. The goal is supposedly to simplify sending video to other people’s TVs. The improvement will almost certainly be extended to iPad, too.

This is one of numerous small changes expected when iOS 17 is unveiled at WWDC23 in early June.

Go ultrawide with this BenQ monitor for creatives [Review] ★★★★☆

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BenQ PD3420Q review★★★★☆
BenQ's ultrawide monitor has room for three apps side-by-side-by-side.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The BenQ PD3420Q is a ultrawide monitor designed to appeal to creative professionals with its atypical shape and color consistency with MacBooks.

The 34-inch screen has a 2K resolution and a 21:9 aspect ratio. And there are some nice additions, like a HotKey Puck and built-in KVM.

I tested the PD3420Q in my home office, exploring the advantages and drawbacks of the very wide screen.

Prehistoric Planet is the best dinosaur doc in a generation [Apple TV+ review] ★★★★★

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Triceratops in Prehistoric Planet season two★★★★★
Triceratops fights are a highlight of Prehistoric Planet season two.
Photo: Apple TV+

Season two of Prehistoric Planet will fill the heart of any dinosaur-obsessed child with joy. And adults should watch, too — especially anyone who still thinks dinos are slow-moving, stupid creatures that are just waiting around to go extinct.

These new episodes, which Apple TV+ doled out this week, combine cutting-edge CGI with the latest in paleontology. The result is a series that’s stunningly beautiful, exciting to watch and as scientifically accurate as possible.

iPhone 15 will be part of making Qi2 the global wireless charging standard

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Apple’s MagSafe fuels new Qi2 wireless charging standard
Qi2 brings the benefits of MagSafe to Android.
Photo: WPC/Cult of Mac

Qi2 is a new wireless charging standard expected to go into widespread use later in 2023. And, according to an unconfirmed report, the upcoming iPhone 15 will be one of the handsets that supports it, including 15W charging.

That’s not surprising, considering Qi2 is heavily based on the MagSafe system built into current iPhones.

Latest Belkin power bank can fast-charge Apple Watch

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Belkin BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K in use
Quickly power up your Apple Watch and iPhone with Belkin's new portable battery.
Photo: Belkin

A new power bank from Belkin includes a built-in wireless charger that can juice up the latest Apple Watch models in the minimum amount of time. The battery also can simultaneously replenish an iPhone through its USB-C port.

The BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K launched Thursday.

How to use ChatGPT on iPhone for good, not evil

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How to use ChatGPT on iPhone for good, not evil
The new ChatGPT for iOS app is useful in many ways, not just cheating.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

OpenAI’s ChatGPT for iOS makes the much-hyped chatbot easy to use on an iPhone. It’s powered by the same artificial intelligence as the web version, so it’s useful in many ways for people on the go. Plus, the app has its own voice-recognition system. And the basic version is free.

The ChatGPT AI already stirred up enormous controversy. But here are some suggestions for how to use the new iPhone application in positive ways.

Get outsized savings on an M2 Mac mini refurb straight from Apple

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Mac mini sitting on desk alongside LG display, LaCie hard drive, Model F keyboard and Magic Trackpad
Save big on the slim 2023 Mac mini with M2 chip.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The 2023 Mac mini with the powerful Apple M2 processor is already an amazing deal, and shoppers can now save even more by buying a refurbished unit.

These are primarily desktops that consumers bought then returned so supplies are limited. There are no units with the M2 Pro processor available at this time, for example.

Embarrassing medical info fuels jokes in Apple’s privacy-themed ad

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Embarrassing medical info fuels jokes in Apple’s privacy-themed ad
Apple's latest video advert uses humor to drive home an important point.
Screenshot: Apple

Walking into a doctor’s office to be greeted by a public announcement of the medical condition you’re there to have treated would be a nightmare. A nightmare that plays out in the latest Apple video advert.

But one person in the ad is safe from embarrassment: the one who stores her medical data in the iPhone Health app, which Apple designed to protect user privacy.