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Ed Hardy - page 72

New Geekbench 6 tests devices’ performance at cutting-edge tasks

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Primate Labs Geekbench 6
One of the best benchmarking applications has been updated for AR and AI tasks.
Photo: Primate Labs/Cult of Mac

Primate Labs introduced Geekbench 6 on Tuesday, the first significant update in years to a premier cross-platform benchmarking application.

The new version adds tests to check the performance of Macs, iPhones, iPads, Androids and PCs as they carry out new, cutting-edge tasks.

This adjustable iPad stand also includes a USB-C hub [Review] ★★★

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Plugable USB-C Stand Dock left edge★★★
Plugable's stand/hub is fully compatible with almost every type of iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Plugable USB-C Stand Dock doesn’t stop at simply holding up your iPad so you can see the display, it’s also an 8-port hub that allows you to connect an external screen and other accessories to your tablet.

I put the portable and affordable stand/hub to the test in my home office. Here’s how is stood up to the challenge.

Apple goes on a bug hunt with iOS 16.3.1, macOS 13.2.1 and more updates

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Apple goes on a bug hunt with iOS 16.3.1, macOS 13.2.1 and more updates
iOS 16.3.1 is joined by macOS Ventura 13.2.1, iPadOS 16.3.1, watchOS 9.3.1 and tvOS 16.3.2.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There are bug fix updates for every type of Apple device out Monday, including Mac and iPhone. Safe to say, if it has an Apple operating system, there’s an update. Don’t go looking for new features though. These are bug fix updates, including tweaks to iCloud, Siri and Crash Detection.

Nevertheless, the new versions are recommended for all users.

15.5-inch MacBook Air could arrive in April

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2022 MacBook Air with M2 processor
The 2022 MacBook Air with M2 processor could soon be joined by a bigger brother.
Photo: Apple

A super-size MacBook Air is supposedly right around the corner. An analyst who’s built a solid reputation for accurately predicting Apple products says the next macOS notebook will be out in six weeks or so.

This will be the first time the thin and light line of notebooks has expanded past the current 13.6-inch screen.

iMac with Apple M2 upgrade looks unlikely

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24-inch iMac 2021 with Apple M1 processor. In blue and pink
The M1 iMac could stay in Apple's product lineup for three years.
Photo: Apple

There reportedly haven’t been any signs that a 24-inch iMac with an Apple M2 processor is on the way. And that means the next iMac upgrade might be as much as a year away.

That would leave users of the all-in-one Mac desktop waiting for a total of three years for a faster version.

Shrinking is the biggest hit on Apple TV+ since Severance and Black Bird

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'Shrinking' is a big hit for Apple TV+.
An Apple TV+ show starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford is drawing plenty of viewers.
Image: Apple TV+

The new comedy Shrinking has become a standout success for Apple TV+, according to two audience-tracking companies. The last new shows on the streaming service to attract so much attention were Black Bird and Severance. Not that the three series have much in common, besides being able to pull in large numbers of viewers.

Shrinking, which stars Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, is about a therapist who throws out the rulebook and tells his clients what he really thinks they should do.

Take up rocket-powered water racing in Riptide GP: Renegade+

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Take up rocket-powered water racing in 'Riptide GP: Renegade+'
Don't go street racing, try hydrojet racing instead.
Screenshot: Vector Unit

Nothing gets the heart pumping like a good racing game. Riptide GP: Renegade+ challenges players to try hydrojet racing at breakneck speeds, alone or in groups of up to eight.

The game from Vector Unit first debuted several years ago, and was named an App Store Best of 2016. Starting Friday, it’s included with the Apple Arcade subscriptions service for iPhone and other Apple devices.

Classic puzzle adventure Myst makes the jump to iPhone and iPad

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'Myst Mobile' brings a classic from 30 years ago to iPhone and iPad
Myst's graphics were spectacular in 1993, and are still beautiful today.
Photo: Cyan

The best-selling PC game of the 20th century has been reborn as Myst Mobile. Anyone who wants to relive the classic, or play an amazing game for the first time, can install it on iPhone and iPad and start playing for free.

This isn’t a knockoff. Cyan, the developer of the original, calls its new version “the definitive mobile port.”

HomePod 2 teardown reveals it’s far easier to repair than the original

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HomePod 2 teardown reveals it's far easier to repair than the original
Disassembling a HomePod 2 requires a screwdriver, not a saw.
Screenshot: iFixit/Creative Electron

A teardown video from iFixit shows that getting into the recently launched HomePod 2 is dramatically easier than opening up its predecessor. That’s going to make repairing the new smart speaker far simpler.

The video is an interesting deep dive for anyone who just wants a glimpse inside the latest HomePod.

Clever iOS 17 concept wishes for Split View, sideloading and more

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Clever iOS 17 concept wishes for Split View, sideloading and more
There'd be few complaints if Apple built all these features into iOS 17.
Concept:

A skilled concept artist created a video with a wish list of new features for iOS 17, including displaying two applications at once and directly installing applications outside of the App Store. Plus quite a few more additions.

It’s a demonstration that, as good as iPhone is, there’s plenty room for improvement.

Siri desperately needs some ChatGPT-like smarts

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Siri desperately needs some ChatGPT-like smarts
There's a lot Siri doesn't understand. And that's a problem.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Users have complained about the limitations of the Siri “intelligent” assistant for years, but now that OpenAI’s ChatGPT is showing the world that artificial intelligence can do amazing things, it’s never been more obvious that Apple’s version is as dumb as a bag of hammers.

Not only does this make Apple look bad, it makes HomePod less useful. Really, it makes all the company’s products less useful than they could be.

Apple needs to step up its AI game or it risks being left out of an important new wave of computing.

iPhone 14 Pro performance beats new Galaxy S23 Ultra [Updated]

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iPhone 14 Pro vs Galaxy S23 Ultra
For the best performance, iPhone is still the only choice.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Benchmarks for the Galaxy S23 Ultra show that Samsung’s new flagship handset offers substantially slower performance than the top-of-the-line iPhone 14 Pro.

This continues a long string of high-end Androids that can not match the performance of the latest iPhone.

Apple hires new head of HR

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Apple hires new head of HR
Say hello to Carol Surface, the new Apple Chief People Officer.
Photo: Medtronic

Carol Surface is reportedly stepping in as Apple’s new Chief People Officer, the company’s term for head of human resources.

She’s taking over part of the responsibilities of Deirdre O’Brien who was previously both the HR chief and in charge of managing Apple’s retail store business.

Handy shelf makes the back of iMac or Apple Studio Display useful

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Twelve South BackPack for Apple Studio Display
The back of an Apple Studio Display doesn't have to be so blank.
Photo: Twelve South

The Twelve South BackPack for Apple Studio Display and iMac adds storage space to the rear of the monitor. The snap-on shelf can be used to declutter a desk or to add a bit of decor to an office.

There was already a version of the accessory specifically for iMacs.

Learn to protect your kids online with a free class from Apple

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Child with iPad
iPad and iPhone have free tools to help protects kids online. Apple offers a class on how to use them.
Photo: Apple

February 7 is Safer Internet Day, and parents can take part by signing up for Apple’s “Your Kids and Their Devices” class. It shows parents how to maintain the online privacy of children who use iPhone or iPad. For those looking for more tools for kids to stay safe online, Apple offers various built-in features and educational resources.

The class is free and available online or in person around the world.

Super-slim new hub adds the ports a MacBook needs [Review] ★★★★★

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Super-slim new hub adds the ports a MacBook needs★★★★★
Expand the port selection on your MacBook with a USB-C hub that clicks to the side of the notebook.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Satechi Pro Hub Slim plugs directly into the side of a MacBook to greatly expand the range of ports available. It’s sleek enough for Apple’s latest notebooks, and adds minimal bulk. But there’s still room for HDMI, a pair of full-size USB-A ports, memory card readers and more.

I tested each of the features of the 7-in-2 hub to be sure it lives up Satechi’s promises.

Google and Mozilla test iPhone browsers not based on WebKit

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Google claims Chrome for Mac is now faster than Safari
A major under-the-hood change might be coming to Chrome for iPhone.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Google is tinkering with a version of its Chrome web browser for iPhone that does not use the WebKit rendering engine. The same is true for Mozilla and the Firefox browser.

Releasing these is currently impossible because of Apple’s browser rules, but the iPhone-maker may be forced to drop that restriction soon.

‘iPhone Ultra’ concept envisions what a titanium iPhone might look like

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Mockup of the rumored iPhone Ultra
This might be what an "iPhone Ultra" looks like.
Mockup: Jonas Daehnert

Apple is reportedly working on an “iPhone Ultra,” an even-more-premium iPhone that sits above the Pro series. A designer wondered if that might mean an iPhone Pro mixed with an Apple Watch Ultra, and dreamed up a concept device that merges the two.

The result is fun and gorgeous, if not anything Apple is likely to ever make.

Software update brings tiny tweaks to Apple TV and HomePod

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Apple TV and HomePod mini
tvOS 16.3.1 and HomePod software 16.3.1 are ready to be installed.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A tvOS 16.3.1 update is out for Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD. There’s also an equivalent update for HomePod smart speakers.

These bring general improvements, not new features, but are nevertheless recommended for users of the Apple entertainment devices.

Apple TV+ has a hit with Shrinking starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford

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Take a first look at Harrison Ford in Apple TV+ comedy 'Shrinking'
Plenty of people are watching Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in “Shrinking,” now on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Shrinking is finding a growing audience. The Apple TV+ comedy drew enough viewers during its debut week to become one of the top 10 most popular shows on all streaming platforms.

The ongoing series starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford is about a therapist who throws out the rule book and tells his clients what he really thinks they should do.

iPad shipments shoot through the roof

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To celebrate Juneteenth, artist Ajuan Mance is revisiting “The Ancestors’ Juneteenth,” a series that depicts historical Black figures in present-day settings.
iPad had a good 2022.
Photo: Apple

Apple made almost half the tablets sold in the word during the December quarter, according to market researchers.

The company itself says it took in more revenue from iPad sales in the October-through-December period than in any previous quarter.

Smashy, smashy with Castle Crumble on Apple Arcade

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Smashy, smashy with 'Castle Crumble' on Apple Arcade
That's a nice-looking castle you got there. Be a shame if something happened to it.
Photo: Orbital Knight

Have fun with creative destruction in Castle Crumble, which challenges players to knock down fortresses with bombs and spells.

The puzzle game debuted Friday on Apple Arcade, and is playable on iPhone, Mac and other Apple devices.

iPhone shipments drop but still top global phone market

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iPhone 14 Pro performance whips Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
The iPhone 14 series propelled Apple past Samsung and other Android-makers in Q4 2022.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple was hit with a sharp decline in iPhone shipments in the December quarter, but the news isn’t all bad — it’s once again the world’s largest maker of smartphones by a wider margin than ever before, according to market analysts.

Even better, Apple is pulling in almost half the revenue of the entire global market, and a very large share of the profit.