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Ed Hardy - page 120

New HomePod software chief tasked with making Apple smart speaker more competitive

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HomePod mini
A new head of HomePod software development making make Apple’s smart speaker smarter.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly hired Afrooz Family as its new head of software development for the HomePod. He’s supposedly been tasked with making the smart speaker a stronger rival for Amazon’s and Google’s products.

That would be something of a turnaround for the product.

iOS 15 makes stealing another student’s class notes a snap

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iOS 15 makes stealing another student’s class notes a snap
A student snapped a picture of their classmate’s PC screen with an iPhone and is using iOS 15’s Live View to copy the text.
Screenshot: Juan Buis

Suppose you glance around in class and notice the person in front of you is taking way better notes than you are. An iPhone running iOS 15 makes grabbing a copy easy as pie without the hassle of asking permission — thanks to the magic of Live Text.

A video of this happening in the real world that was posted on Twitter is going viral. Watch it now.

Here are some ‘big things’ that might launch at Apple’s October event

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Here are some ‘big things’ that might launch at Apple Oct. 18 event
A couple of big things might be on the docket for the Apple October event.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple promises “big things” at its product event happening October 18. Although that’s the only official hint we have, leaks have revealed details on a couple of extra-large Macs that might fit the bill.

And there could be good news for fans of both MacBook and iMac at the “Unleashed” event.

Add Florida to states adopting digital driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet

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Driver's licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet
Florida could be the ninth state to offer digital driver’s licenses in Apple Wallet.
Photo: Apple

Many Floridians will soon be able to leave home with just their iPhone… no wallet necessary. Florida is working with Apple to display its residents’ digital driver’s licenses in the Wallet app.

When the feature becomes available, residents of the Sunshine State plus eight other states will be able to store and display digital versions of their driver’s licenses on their iPhone and Apple Watch.

macOS Monterey might debut without handy Universal Control feature

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Universal Control is part of macOS Monterey and iPadOS 15.
Working with multiple Macs and iPads get a lot easier with Universal Control.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple released the tenth and possibly final beta of macOS Monterey on Wednesday and it still doesn’t allow testers to try out Universal Control. Apple will either have to delay the introduction of one of the highlights of macOS 12 or release it without it having gone through the usual beta testing program.

Apple normally announces when the debut of a major feature has been delayed. But it has not done so with Universal Control.

Kingston DataTraveler Max will make you toss your old flash drives [Review]

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Kingston DataTraveler Max review
The Kingston DataTraveler Max is so fast it leaves old USB-A flash drives in the dust.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Kingston DataTraveler Max is blazing fast. It supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 so the new flash drive can transfer data at up to 1,000MBps. And it uses USB-C so can be plugged into any Mac and most iPads.

I tested Kingston’s speed claims under real-world conditions. And data transfers are so quick it made me want to pitch out all my old flash drives.

Turn iPad into external monitor for Windows PC with Luna Display 5.0

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Turn iPad into external monitor for Windows PC with Luna Display 5.0
You can easily expand your Windows PC’s working area by turning your iPad into a second screen.
Photo: Astropad

Luna Display 5.0 allows Windows PC users to make their iPad into a second screen. A hardware/software combination from Astropad lets the two disparate computers communicate via a wireless adapter for USB-C or HDMI.

The app could already turn an iPad into a Mac display with a dongle.

Sneak a peek at Apple TV+ coming-of-age adventure Harriet the Spy

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Sneak a peek at ‘Harriet the Spy’ in trailer for coming of age adventure
Harriet the Spy will premiere November 19, 2021, exclusively on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ released the first trailer for its adaptation of the children’s classic Harriet the Spy. The animated series about the irrepressible Harriet M. Welsch is set to debut on the streaming service on November 19.

Plenty of talent is involved. It’ll star Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee Beanie Feldstein, and include Emmy winner Jane Lynch. The series will be produced by The Jim Henson Company.

Apple Watch Series 7 review roundup: Bigger is a bit better

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Apple Watch Series 7 review roundup: Bigger is a bit better
The first round of Apple Watch Series 7 reviews are in.
Photo: Apple

The larger screen in the Apple Watch Series 7 is the highlight of the upcoming wearable, according to the first reviews out today. And reviewers praise faster charging, too.

Even so, the consensus is that the new model will be a welcome upgrade for those with an older Watch but not a significant jump for those with Series 6.

Adobe teases RAW image editing in Photoshop for iPad

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Adobe teases RAW image editing in Photoshop for iPad
As seen here, Photoshop for iPad will soon be able to work with images in a variety of raw formats.
Screenshot: Adobe

Adobe promised Tuesday that Photoshop on the iPad will soon be able to work with images in a variety of raw formats.

Ryan Dumlao, product manager for this application, gave a sneak peek at the power of the upcoming feature for Apple tablets. Watch it now.

M1X MacBook Pros might start at 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, 120Hz screen

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M1X MacBook Pros might start at 16GB RAM, 512GB storage
The 2021 MacBook Pro models could be the latest with 120Hz displays.
Concept: Cult of Mac

The 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models expected soon will offer more storage and RAM that their most recent predecessor, according to a tipster. And an expert claims they’ll have 120Hz displays.

Both notebooks will have mini-LED screens and M1X processors, and are likely to be unveiled at the Apple event on October 18.

How to see the AR Easter egg hidden in Apple’s October 18 event invite

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How to see the AR Easter egg hidden in Apple’s October 18 event invite
Captain Tim Cook calls for warp speed!
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Concealed in Tuesday’s invite to the Apple October event is an augmented reality Easter egg. It’s a bonus to make the invite seem cool, and perhaps get Mac fans excited about what’s coming.

The graphic for the Oct. 18 event has a “zooming into hyperspace” effect. And it looks even better in AR.

Apple invites the world to Oct. 18 ‘Unleashed’ event; new M1X Macs expected

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Apple invites the world to Oct. 18 ‘Unleashed’ event; New Macs expected
Multiple new Macs could be “Unleashed“ at the Apple October event.
Photo: Apple

Apple sent out invites Tuesday to its much-anticipated October product launch event. The tagline is “Unleashed,” and the streaming event almost certainly will bring the debut of redesigned MacBooks and perhaps an iMac running an updated Apple processor.

Cupertino could squeeze some other new products onto the agenda as well. The event is scheduled for October 18 at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Here’s what to expect.

Add dual 4K monitors to M1 MacBooks with Hyper’s new adapters

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Add dual 4K monitors to M1 MacBooks with Hyper's new adapters
With the HyperDrive Dual 4K HDMI 3-in-1 USB-C Adapter you can easily connect a pair of displays to an M1 MacBook.
Photo: Hyper

A pair of adapters just launched by Hyper let MacBooks with an Apple M1 processor connect to dual HDMI monitors. Apple says the macOS notebooks can only use one external display, but users found a workaround. And Hyper built this workaround into its latest accessories.

There’s a basic HyperDrive Dual 4K HDMI adapter, plus a second version that offers additional ports.

Latest Tile trackers take on AirTag with slimmer designs, longer range

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2021 Tile Pro, Tile Slim and Tile Sticker
The 2021 Tile Pro, Tile Slim and Tile Sticker have been upgraded to look and perform better.
Photo: Tile

The new generation of Tile trackers for 2021 offer sleeker new designs, increased range, a louder ring and a new way for lost items to be found and returned.

Tile has had to step up its game now that it faces competition from Apple AirTag.

Apple crushes bunch of iPhone bugs with iOS 15.0.2

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iOS 15 has been replaced by iOS 15.0.1.
iOS 15.0.2 is out to get rid of some iPhone problems.
Photo: Cult of Mac

iPhone users should install the latest system software update because it fixes a collection of bugs. Monday’s release of iOS 15.0.2 takes care of images that couldn’t be deleted, problems with AirTag and iPhone Leather Wallet, and more. More significantly, it (and a related iPadOS update) deals with a device restore/update issue with iPhone 13 and the new iPad mini. If you’re unsure whether your AirTag is up to date, you can check the current AirTag firmware version to stay on track.

Tablet users can install iPadOS 15.0.2, which also came out Monday.

Mac shipments shoot up as total PC market slows

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The 2021 iMac is crazy thin.
Mac shipments were up last quarter.
Photo: Apple

Mac shipments saw healthy growth during Q3 2021. Two market-research firms agree that the rise increased Apple’s share of the global PC market.

But COVID-19 has made it difficult for computer-makers to get the componts they need, reducing the ability to produce and sell products.

How to do multitasking in iPadOS 15

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How to do multitasking in iPadOS 15
iPadOS 15 makes multitasking much more intuitive. Here’s how to use it.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Your iPad could show you two or three applications at the same time for years … if you could figure out multitasking. Thankfully, iPadOS 15 makes the iPad’s multitasking system much more intuitive

Here’s how you can start taking advantage of this powerful capability right now.

Apple Arcade goes big with NBA 2K22 and Transformers: Tactical Arena

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Apple Arcade going big with ‘NBA 2K22’ and ‘Transformers: Tactical Arena’
Play some serious basketball with NBA 2K22.
Photo: 2K/Apple Arcade

Apple’s gaming service will soon launch a pair of big-name titles. Basketball season starts soon, and that means it’s time for NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition. Meanwhile, Transformers: Tactical Arena will let players choose their favorite characters and battle it out in PvP action.

Both will be available in the coming weeks on Mac, iPhone and more. But a subscription to Apple Arcade will be needed.

Clever modder builds powerful M1 chip into aged iMac G4

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Clever modder builds powerful M1 chip into aged iMac G4
Yes, that’s an iMac G4 from 2002 running macOS Big Sur on an M1 processor.
Screenshot: Colby Sheets

That old iMac doesn’t have to gather dust on a shelf. One guy is drawing a crowd by showing off an iMac G4 that he upgraded by merging it with a Mac mini sporting Apple’s latest M1 processor.

Considering Colby Sheets started with little experience tinkering with hardware, his project is likely to leave many people looking speculatively at their old iMac.

Apple stays strangely silent on most Apple Watch Series 7 prices

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Apple stays strangely silent on most Apple Watch Series 7 prices
How much does the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 cost? No one but Apple knows for sure.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Series 7 launches Friday but pricing information for most configurations remains a mystery less than a day from the debut. All Apple has revealed so far is that the base model is $399.

If buyers don’t have this information until preorders begin, those who spend extra time deciding on a configuration might have to wait additional weeks to get their device.

Laugh along with first trailer for Apple’s murder-mystery comedy The Afterparty

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Laugh along with first trailer for Apple’s murder-mystery comedy “The Afterparty
Aniq, played by Sam Richardson, adds to the hilarity in The Afterparty
Screenshot: Apple TV+

TV industry virtuosos Phil Lord and Chris Miller created a very unusual comedy series for Apple TV+. The Afterparty is about a murder but each episode is seen through a different suspect’s perspective and shot in a different film genre.

The laughs start in the first trailer for the show, which debuted Thursday. Watch it now

Add convenient media controls and 6 ports to iPad with one USB-C hub [Review] ★★★★★

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HyperDrive 6-in-1 USB-C Media Hub review★★★★★
Kit out your iPad with physical media controls as well as six commonly used ports.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The popular Apple Magic Keyboard turns an iPad into a laptop, but unlike some rivals, it doesn’t include physical media controls. However, the HyperDrive 6-in-1 USB-C Media Hub adds these advanced options. And that’s only the start, as it also includes ports for connecting a monitor, headphones and a range of useful USB-A accessories.

I love it. Here’s why.

How to get ready to preorder Apple Watch Series 7

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How to get ready to pre-order Apple Watch Series 7
How to be ready to order an Apple Watch Series 7 early on Friday morning.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The time when you can preorder the next generation of Apple Watch is drawing close. Apple will start taking people’s money at exactly 5 a.m. PDT this Friday, Oct. 8.

If demand is as heavy (and supply is as light) as expected, the company might quickly run short of Apple Watch Series 7 available on launch day. That means that if you delay your order, you might have to wait extra days or even weeks to get your new device.

If you want in on day one, there’s more you should do to get ready than simply setting an alarm. Here’s how to get completely ready to put in an Apple Watch Series 7 preorder.

Halide camera app improves iPhone 13 Pro macro shots

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Halide 2.5 update improves images from iPhone 13 Pro macro camera
Take better macro images with the iPhone 13 Pro and a new Halide 2.5 update.
Photo: Lux Optics/Cult of Mac

A just-released update to Halide helps iPhone and iPad owners take better close-up images. The iOS application works with the macro camera in the iPhone 13 Pro series, but also offers tools that can help any phone or tablet user with close-in pictures.

This is in addition to Halide Mark II 2.5’s many other features that give more control over the cameras built into iPhone and iPad than are available in Apple’s own application.