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Ed Hardy - page 131

Upgrades might make next-gen iPad Air more ‘Pro’

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iPad Air 4 comes in a range of colors.
The iPad Air 5 could look quite a bit like its predecessor while also getting upgraded features.
Screenshot: Apple

The difference between the current 10.9-inch iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro is relatively slim. And now it seems more of the features of the Pro tablet are moving to the Air. Apple is reportedly going to build on the powerful 2020 model with an iPad Air 5 that offers a dual-lens camera and optional 5G. Plus, the tablet is getting a processor upgrade.

These changes would make it a stronger mid-range tablet in Apple’s product lineup.

Latest iPadOS 15 beta makes big changes to Safari

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Latest iPadOS 15 beta makes big changes in Safari
Apple isn’t exactly walking back some of the biggest changes in iPadOS 15. But it’s giving users to option to do so.
Screenshot: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apparently responding to criticism of the Safari redesign in iPadOS 15, a beta released Tuesday makes significant changes to the layout of the Safari web browser. The newest iteration gives users the option to view the Address Bar very much like it looks in iPadOS 14. But those who prefer can keep the new compact view.

Mophie clip-on power bank costs half what Apple’s does [Review]

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Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini review
The Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini is quite small for something that doubles the battery life of an Phone 12.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Double your iPhone 12’s battery life by attaching the Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini. The two devices connect magnetically with Apple’s MagSafe system, and power flows wirelessly. It’s really simple.

I took the 5000 mAh power bank on a recent holiday to truly put it to the test. It came though with flying colors. And it costs far, far less than Apple’s similar MagSafe Power Bank.

Evidence grows for iPad mini’s expanding screen

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Evidence grows for iPad mini expanding screen
The next iPad mini could have a larger display than any of its predecessors. But still stay “mini.”
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The iPad mini 6 screen will increase to 8.3 inches, according to a report from a display industry expert. This is just the latest leak to indicate that Apple is about to dramatically improve the design of its smallest tablet.

A larger screen should make the computer easier and more fun to use. Especially as the whole device will reportedly stay about the same size.

Facebook’s cloud gaming service finally launches on iPhone

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Facebook’s cloud gaming service finally launches on iPhone and iPad
After over a year of delays, the real Facebook Gaming service is available for iPhone and iPad.
Image: Cult of Mac

Add Facebook to the list of companies offering a gaming service for iPhone. There’s a lengthy list of titles available on day one, including strategy, role playing, trivia and other types of games.

But don’t look for these in the App Store — Apple’s stringent rules on gaming services caused Facebook Gaming to be introduced as a web app instead.

mini-LED display might add luster to next iPad mini. Or might not. [Updated]

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Gorgeous mini-LED display could add luster to next iPad mini
An iPad mini with a mini-LED screen seems appropriate.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The 2021 iPad mini will be Apple’s next tablet with a mini-LED display, according to information leaking from a component supplier. This type of screen looks better than the standard LCD used in many current iPads.

But an display industry expert claims there’s no truth to this report.

Even so, Apple allegedly won’t reserved the display tech for tablet much longer. mini-LED displays will also supposedly be used in upcoming MacBook Pro models.

High-flying Jetpack Joyride+ rockets onto Apple Arcade

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Jetpack Joyride+ debuted on Apple Arcade on Kuly 23
Pretend you got the jetpack you always wanted in Jetpack Joyride+ on Apple Arcade.
Photo: Halfbrick Studios

Jetpack Joyride+ launched on Apple Arcade Friday, allowing subscribers to play the classic game without the hassle of in-app purchases.

Strap on a jetpack and fly through an endless runner. Or ride a mechanical dragon or giant mech while wearing a crazy costume — the game offers all these modes.

Save time with super-fast OWC Envoy Pro SX portable Thunderbolt SSD

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Save time with super-fast OWC Envoy Pro SX portable Thunderbolt SSD
The fast and rugged OWC Envoy Pro SX is ready to go on the road.
Photo: OWC

OWC built Thunderbolt into the new Envoy Pro SX to make the portable drive fast and reliable. And don’t worry if you spill coffee on the SSD — it can take the punishment.

It’s available with up to 2TB of storage, isn’t bulky, and requires no fan.

Twitter may have found a way to make itself a bit more savage

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Twitter may have found a way to make itself a bit more savage
Twitter asked some iPhone users to test upvoting and downvoting replies to tweets, instead of just liking some.
Photo: Twitter

Twitter is running an experiment that lets iPhone users downvote a reply to a tweet. It tests allowing users to actively show that they disagree with a response to a post on the social-networking service.

Twitter is often a venue for people to angrily argue politics, sports, entertainment, etc. Giving people the ability to downvote each other isn’t likely to calm the storm.

Money to burn? Buy the NFT of Steve Jobs’ weird teen job application

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Money to burn? Buy the NFT of Steve Jobs’ weird teen job application
A job application Steve Jobs filed out in 1973 is up for auction as an NFT, and as a real document, too.
Photo: stevejobsjobapplication.com

We’ll soon find out how the ongoing fascination with Steve Jobs will combine with the new fascination for NFTs. A handwritten job application the Apple cofounder filled out in 1973 is going up for auction both as a physical document and as a Non-Fungible Token.

Stop fat-shaming Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack

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Oh no. The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack fails to defy the laws of physics.
Oh no. Apple's new MagSafe Battery Pack fails to defy the laws of physics.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple’s just-released MagSafe Battery Pack faced plenty of mockery for not being about as slim as a credit card, as some people apparently expected. This criticism clearly comes from people ignoring an inescapable fact: Batteries are always bulky.

Until there’s a revolutionary breakthrough in power storage tech, there’s no way to make an ultra-slim battery store a useful amount of power. Stop expecting it. And stop criticizing companies for not miraculously producing an impossible product.

macOS Big Sur 11.5 and iPadOS 14.7 offer small tweaks and bug fixes

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macOS Big Sur 11.5 and iPadOS 14.7 offer small tweaks and bug fixes
No more betas. You can update your computer(s) to macOS Big Sur 11.5 and/or iPadOS 14.7.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Both macOS Big Sur 11.5 and iPadOS 14.7 made the jump from beta to full release on Wednesday. They bring only a handful of new features, though, as well as bug fixes.

The updates follow several days after the debut of iOS 14.7 for iPhone.

Handy portable iPad stand is also a 6-port hub [Review]

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Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub for iPad Pro review
The Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub has what you need to make your iPad Pro or Air into a portable desktop.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi Aluminum Stand & Hub turns your iPad into a useful desktop. Not only does it prop up your tablet, it includes six useful ports. And it goes almost anywhere, from a meeting room to a coffee shop.

I’ve used the tablet stand for weeks, including on a recent vacation. Here’s why I love it… despite a limitation or two.

The Problem with Jon Stewart brutally mocks billionaire space race

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‘The Problem with Jon Stewart’ brutally mocks billionaire space race
Jon Stewart's new parody video is so full of NSFW images we had to go with this one.
Screenshot: Jon Stewart

Although The Problem with Jon Stewart doesn’t premiere on Apple TV+ until September, the comedian couldn’t let Jeff Bezos’ and Richard Branson’s personal space race go by without comment. Stewart posted a video Tuesday making fun of billionaires competing to see who can shoot off a better rocket.

The humor isn’t subtle. Many jokes have been made about how much Bezos’ New Shepard rocket looks like a penis, and Stewart takes the idea and runs with it. If watching a video of giant space penises is going to get you in trouble at work, maybe you’d better wait until you get home to see this one.

If not, watch the mockery now:

Pegasus spyware won’t affect ‘overwhelming majority’ of iPhone users, Apple says

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Fraudster steals $16k from victim posing as Apple tech support
Those misusing the Pegasus iPhone hacking tool allegedly work for governments around the world.
Photo: Donald Tong/Pexels CC

Amnesty International accuses governments around the world of using NSO Group’s Pegasus iPhone hacking tool to illegally spy on journalists and human rights defenders. Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture condemns this type of hacking, but also says that such attacks “are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users.”

Keep hydrogen peroxide away from your Apple devices

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Do not clean or disinfect your iPhone with hydrogen peroxide
Don’t combine your iPhone and hydrogen peroxide.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple recently added hydrogen peroxide to the list of cleansers not to use on its products. The chemical is often employed to disinfect surfaces, but it’s not recommended for wiping down your iPhone, Mac or iPad. Or your Apple peripherals, either.

The warning comes as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on.

iOS 14.7 adds first taste of reverse wireless charging to iPhone 12

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iOS 14.7 will bring Apple Card tweaks, Apple battery pack support
iOS 14.7 brings some tweaks, but isn’t a major update.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhone users can now download iOS 14.7. The update, released Monday, adds reverse wireless charging to the iPhone 12 series, albeit in a limited way. It also includes some promised improvements to the Apple Card, and allows users to manage timers on a HomePod.

In addition, Apple released watchOS 7.6.

Apple should go all in on iPhone 12’s reverse wireless charging

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Apple should go all in on iPhone 12’s reverse wireless charging
What if you could charge your AirPods just by putting them on your iPhone?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Turns out the iPhone 12 could do reverse wireless charging all along — Apple just didn’t talk about it until this week. And now that the cat’s out of the bag, Apple should embrace the capability and let iPhones wirelessly charge any other compatible device.

Improved Alto’s Odyssey, Angry Birds arrive in Apple Arcade

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‘Angry Birds Reloaded’ is coming soon to Apple Arcade.
“Angry Birds Reloaded” is one of the classic games now available on Apple Arcade without the hassle of in-app purchases.
Photo: Rovio

A trio of classic games have been updated just for Apple Arcade. That includes Angry Birds Reloaded, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City and Doodle God Universe.

All three debuted Friday on Apple’s subscription gaming service.

Microsoft just won’t let Clippy die

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It looks like you're digging a shallow grave. Would you like help?
Shockingly, Microsoft’s Clippy has fans. and they’re responsible for bringing it back — in a limited form.
Image: Microsoft

Windows users can’t escape Clippy. The much hated personal assistant is coming back. Fortunately, it’ll be far less prominent than back in 1997. And Mac users won‘t have to see it at all.

Apple has made its share of mistakes over the years. But few of these can compare to Clippy’s irritating attempts to help people using Microsoft Office.

Apple loves Mophie’s new 3-in-1 MagSafe stand

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Apple loves Mophie’s new 3-in-1 MagSafe stand
The Mophie 3-in-1 stand for MagSafe Charger can juice up your iPhone 12, Apple Watch and AirPods.

You can charge an iPhone 12, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously with the just-released Mophie 3-in-1 stand for MagSafe Charger. Apple likes it so much the product is listed on the online Apple Store, an honor that doesn’t go to most accessories.