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Ed Hardy - page 148

This tiny charger powers Mac, iPhone and Apple Watch at once [Review]

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Minix Neo P1 review
A pair of USB-C ports and a USB-A one provide up to 66W of power for your electronics.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Minix Neo P1 uses gallium nitride to pack three powerful USB ports into a tiny wall charger. It can provide up to 66W to an iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch or other gear. And the power adapter is made for travel, with fold-down prongs and adapters for a wide variety of countries.

I tested the Neo P1 with a variety of devices. Here’s how it stood up.

Apple reveals if its own apps live up to promises of privacy

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During the WWDC 2020 keynote, Apple doubled down on its commitment to privacy.
Apple’s own applications will carry privacy labels revealing how they collect and use personal information about users.
Photo: Apple

Apple isn’t exempting itself from a new privacy rule requiring App Store software to reveal how users’ information is used. Even the applications that come pre-installed on iPhone and iPad will display their privacy info in the App Store.

Satechi’s new foldable stand lets an iPad hover over your keyboard

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Satechi Aluminum Foldable Stand launched December 9 on the Apple Store.
Combine the Satechi Aluminum Foldable Stand with a keyboard to make a mobile computer better than a laptop.
Photo: Apple/Satechi

The Apple online store just became the exclusive source of an updated version of Satechi’s foldable iPad stand. This holds a tablet at wide range of heights and viewing angles. And it makes the screen “hover” above a keyboard.

For All Mankind sci-fi drama picked up for stellar third season on Apple TV+

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‘For All Mankind’ season two premiering globally on Apple TV+ on February 19, 2021.
Apple TV+ gave an early season three renewal to For All Mankind.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ is clearly confident about For All Mankind. The alternate-history sci-fi series got a green light for a third season on Tuesday. And that’s months before the second season debuts on Apple’s streaming video service.

The show depicts a different version of the space race — one that begins with the USSR beating the US to the Earth’s moon.

Apple’s autonomous car unit gets a new driver

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The Apple Car won‘t look anything like this. At all.
The Apple autonomous vehicle project is now part of the company’s AI division.
Illustration: Cult of Mac

Apple’s self-driving car division is reportedly on the move, but not in the usual way. The project has been transferred into Apple’s artificial intelligence division.

The reorg comes at the retirement of Bob Mansfield, who’d been managing the company’s not-so-secret autonomous vehicle development.

Mix and match AirPods Max ear cushions for cool color combos

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AirPods Max red and black
This red and black AirPods Max color combo isn’t available from Apple, but you can make it yourself.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Those with very deep pockets can make their AirPods Max colors even more personalized. Ear cushions for the headphones are replaceable and come in a variety of hues. They sure aren‘t cheap, though.

But save some money for a charger, because there’s no power adapter in the box.

iOS 14.3 with ProRAW support for iPhone 12 Pro is nearly here

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iOS 14.3 Release Candidate, iPadOS 14.3Release Candidate, watchOS 7.2 Release Candidate and tvOS 14.3 Release Candidate.
Look at all those Release Candidates. iPhone users can grab iOS 14.3 in less than a week. And iPadOS 14.3, watchOS 7.2 and tvOS 14.3 are nearly here too.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple gave developers early access to iOS 14.3 on Tuesday, which will bring ProRAW support to the iPhone 12 Pro models. Plus, it and the iPad equivalent will give everyone more information about the privacy practices of the apps they use.

Apple also seeded to devs the release candidates for watchOS 7.2 and tvOS 14.3 on Tuesday.

That weird AirPods Max case gives jokesters plenty of ammo

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AirPods Max or AirPods Bra. You decide. The internet happily points out the ... quirks in the AirPods Max design.
The internet happily points out the ... quirks in the AirPods Max design.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

After Apple unveiled AirPods Max this morning, the internet jumped quickly into mockery mode. The pricey over-the-ears headphones come with a case that lots of jokesters think looks like a bra.

And that’s just the start.

Transfer iPhone photos to hard drive to free up space with OWC Copy That

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OWC Copy That is a free image-transfer app for iOS and iPadOS.
Move multiple iPhone or iPad photos and videos to an external drive with ease using OWC Copy That.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

OWC’s just-released Copy That application frees up space on iPhone or iPad by transferring images or videos to external drives. Alternatively, it can easily back up an collection of these files.

And it’s free, with an in-app purchase for extra features.

HomePod 14.2.1 software update fixes bugs

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HomePod Software Version 14.2.1 is out.
HomePod owners can install an update to Software Version 14.2.1.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Both sizes of Apple’s smart speaker got an update to HomePod Software Version 14.2.1 on Monday. The new system software promises just general improvements. It’s not yet known if that includes squashing a reported bug in Wi-Fi connectivity for the HomePod mini.

Interesting Apple Watch concept totally rethinks a basic feature

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An Apple Watch concept gets complications out of the way
What if your Apple Watch face was pristine because the complications were hidden out of the way?
Screenshot: A Better Computer

Apple Watch offers watch faces that’s do much more than tell time. But a user thinks the extra snippets of information — called complications — junk up the appearance of the wearable. They created an Apple Watch concept that moves them off the display and onto the pop-up window that’s currently the Control Center.

After mocking Apple, Samsung stops including chargers with phones

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No Samsung charger for you!
Samsung buyers could soon wave goodbye to a free wireless charger and headphones.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Samsung is copying Apple again. The Galaxy S21 series reportedly will not come with a wall charger or a pair of headphones when the new top-tier handset debuts in January.

This despite Samsung mocking Apple in October for leaving these accessories out of the iPhone 12 box.

Apple TV focused on gaming won’t launch Tuesday [Updated]

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An Apple TV made for gaming could be announced December 8
Apple TV can play games, not just video. New hardware focused on gaming could be in development but not out soon.
Photo: Cult of Mac

A faster version of the Apple TV set top box apparently isn’t going to unveiled Tuesday morning, despite significant speculation.

Apple is reportedly going to launch something on December 8, and earlier today a noted leaker seemed to hint about it being new Apple TV hardware. But that’s now been retracted, and other sources have stated that whatever gets announced tomorrow, it won‘t be an Apple TV.

UPDATE: Apple took the wraps off AirPods Max headphones and Apple Fitness+ on December 8.

Apple replaces malfunctioning iPhone 11 touchscreens

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Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
A just-announced Apple service program will repair an iPhone 11 touchscreen problem affecting some units.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple launched an iPhone 11 Display Module Replacement Program late on Friday. It’s intended to repair a small percentage of units that are experiencing problems with the touchscreen.

These units “may stop responding to touch due to an issue with the display module,” according to Apple.

You’ll flipper out over new Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes on Apple Arcade

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‘ Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes’ rolls onto Apple Arcade on Friday
Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes is a mashup of two popular game genres.
Photo: FireFly Games

Dark forces are on the rise and your quest is the defeat them with the power of… pinball. OK, high fantasy this is not. Instead, Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes fuses pinball and tower defense into a deliberately wacky game that launched Friday on Apple Arcade.

And the in-app purchases that plagued the original version are gone!

Surf’s up! Apple TV+ dives into World Surf League docuseries

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Apple TV+ goes behind-the-scenes at the 2021 World Surf League championship.
Seven-time World Surf League champion Stephanie Gilmore at Honolua Bay.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s video streaming service is hitting the waves. It ordered a documentary series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the aspirations, failures and accomplishments of the world’s best surfers as they compete in the World Surf League championship.

Satechi’s wireless iPhone 12 charger is like MagSafe Lite

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Satechi USB-C Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable
Satechi’s newest iPhone 12 wireless charger does most of what MagSafe does. But not everything.
Photo: Satechi

The Satechi USB-C Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable uses the magnets built into the iPhone 12 series to cling to the back of the handset, providing more reliable wireless charging.

That makes it similar to Apple’s MagSafe Charger. But Satechi’s cheaper alternative doesn’t offer faster powerups as Apple’s does.

Apple’s Family Sharing just got a lot sweeter

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Apple’s Family Sharing now includes in-app purchases and subscriptions
Siblings can share an iPad, as well as in-app purchases and subscriptions.
Screenshot: Julia M Cameron/Pexels CC

Developers of iPhone applications that include in-app purchases and subscriptions can now make them part of Family Sharing. This allows a family to share an item or subscription — at the developer’s discretion.

This is already a feature of Apple’s own services. A family can share a subscription to Apple Arcade or Apple TV+, for example. With this change for third-party apps, the Family Sharing option should become more widely available.

It’s not just you: Complaints about iPhone 12 battery life and dropped calls are widespread

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It’s not just you: iPhone 12 battery problems & dropped call complaints are widespread
Other people also have iPhone 12 battery problems or dropped calls.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Some iPhone 12 users are reporting problems with either battery life or dropped calls. The difficulties aren’t happening to every user, but they seem to be fairly widespread.

There have been complaints about all four variations of the iPhone 12, not a specific model.

Apple plans mysterious hardware release on December 8

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While not a literal crystal ball for seeing the future, the EEC database gets close when it comes to Apple products.
Apple plans to release something on December 8. Could be a Christmas Surprise.
Photo: Jennifer Hubacher/Pexels CC

Apple reportedly warned authorized service providers that new products are coming the morning of Tuesday, December 8.  Among the possibilities are AirPods over-the-ear headphones and AirTags item-tracking tags. Or new Apple TV hardware.

This could be the Apple “Christmas Surprise” that had been predicted.

Senator’s farewell speech advocates for iPads on the Senate floor

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Senator Michael B Enzi says iPads and other electronic devices should be allowed on the Senate floor.
Ironically, Senator Enzi had to read his farewell speech from a piece of paper, not an iPad.
Screenshot: Senator Enzi

U.S. senators are banned from using electronic devices on the senate floor, but retiring Senator Michael B. Enzi wants to change that. Despite being 76 years old, he used part of his farewell speech to urge his fellow lawmakers to end the restriction on laptops, phones and tablets.

Of course, the senator had to read his speech from a piece of paper, not the iPad he would have preferred.

M1 Mac mini runs Windows 10 far faster than Microsoft Surface Pro X

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M1 Mac mini running Windows 10
Even with a workaround, Macs with Apple Silicon have good performance running Windows 10 for Arm.
Photo: Cult of Mac

New tests show relatively speedy performance for a Mac mini with an ARM-based Apple M1 processor running the ARM version of Windows 10. Even though the OS is running as a virtual machine, benchmarks show the device can handle X86 applications far faster than the Microsoft Surface Pro X, which also uses an ARM chip.