Killian Bell - page 10

Save 20% on these sturdy, full-coverage screen protectors for iPhone 13

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iPhone 13 screen protector from Limited77
And save 20% on other Limited77 products through the Cult of Mac Store.
Photo: Limited77

Don’t you just hate it when you buy a screen protector that doesn’t cover your iPhone’s entire screen? That’s not a problem with these tough tempered glass protectors from Limited77, which keep your iPhone 13 looking sharp.

Get yours today to save 20% — and enjoy the same discount on all other Limited77 accessories for iPhone and Apple Watch in the Cult of Mac Store.

Absolutely vile: Devs react to Apple’s 27% cut of third-party payments

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Apple third-party payments
"Apple is going to fight dirty all the way."
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple on Thursday confirmed it will charge developers in the Netherlands a 27% cut of sales revenue when they use third-party payment systems. And, just as expected, that has not gone down well with developers.

Steve Troughton-Smith, creator of apps like Broadcasts and Pastel for iOS, called the move “absolutely vile” and said Apple executives “should be ashamed.” Here’s what others are saying.

Blizzard is bringing Warcraft to mobile devices this year

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Warcraft coming to mobile
But what will it look like?
Image: Blizzard

Activision Blizzard confirmed on Thursday that it plans to bring Warcraft to mobile devices this year. The game has been in “advanced development” since last summer, but this is the first time Blizzard has offered a release date.

It’s not yet clear what the Warcraft experience will look like on smartphones. Fans will no doubt be hoping to get a taste of the original MMORPG formula on-the-go, but some rumors have hinted that it could be very different.

Apple will take a 27% cut of third-party app payments in the Netherlands

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2021 App Store Awards
Apple certainly isn't making it easy.
Photo: Apple

Apple on Thursday published new details on how it plans to handle third-party payments for dating apps in the Netherlands. The document confirms that Apple will continue to take a cut of all net revenues at a “reduced” rate of 27%.

It also states that developers must provide Cupertino with a report of all transactions each month so that they can be invoiced for the commission. Apple says it has the right to carry out audits to ensure accurate reporting.

Save 20% on this outstanding Steel Mesh band for Apple Watch

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SwitchEasy Steel Mesh for Apple Watch
Now just $27.99.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Why cough up $99 on Apple’s Milanese Loop for Apple Watch when outstanding third-party alternatives are available at a fraction of the cost. SwitchEasy’s stunning Steel Mesh is just as pretty and incredibly solid.

What’s more, it’s now available for under $28 after a 20% discount. Bag yours from the Cult of Mac Store today before the sale ends.

Creeps sell ‘silent AirTags’ with disabled speakers that are harder to spot

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Silent AirTags on eBay
Without a speaker, AirTags are easier to hide.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Creeps have taken to selling “silent AirTags” with disabled speakers that other creeps can use for more effective stalking. One such device was selling for $77.50 on Etsy before the “star seller” had a change of heart and removed it.

Apple designed AirTag to emit a sound after it has been away from its paired device for a certain period of time, which can help alert those around it of its presence. Without a speaker, AirTag is much more difficult to detect.

AirPods Pro with MagSafe are a steal with $69 off

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AirPods Pro and Transparency Mode make for fine hearing aids.
Get yours before they're all gone!
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Pick up Apple’s newest AirPods Pro with a MagSafe Case at one of their lowest prices yet. Woot is offering brand-new units for just $179.99, saving you $69.01.

This deal is good for today only and will end early if all stock sells out. Bag yours before it’s too late!

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Judge throws out lawsuit against iPhone’s water resistance

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iPhone-X-water
Plaintiffs failed to show any evidence of wrongdoing on Apple's part.
Photo: Apple

A federal judge this week dismissed a class-action lawsuit that accuses Apple of misleading iPhone customers about its water resistance.

Plaintiffs claimed that iPhone advertising that showed the device exposed to water was “false and misleading,” and allowed Apple to charge higher prices. However, they failed to prove their iPhones were actually damaged by water.

Apple tells lawmakers that sideloading apps ‘would allow malware, scams’

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iPhone sideloading isn't safe, Apple says
Apple also warns 'big media platforms' would take advantage.
Image: Apple

Apple issued a letter to U.S. lawmakers Wednesday urging them not to allow the distribution of iPhone and iPad apps outside the App Store. It insists doing so “would allow malware, scams and data-exploitation to proliferate.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee will meet Thursday to consider the Open App Markets Act, a bill that hopes to prohibit companies like Apple from blocking sideloading and alternative app marketplaces.

Facebook warns it will lose $10 billion to iOS privacy protections in 2022

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Facebook loses to iOS privacy protections
How disappointing.
Photo: Dawid Sokołowski/Unsplash

Facebook parent company Meta has warned investors that it will lose around $10 billion in 2022 as a result of Apple’s bolstered privacy protections.

The company has been whinging about the improvements, which include App Tracking Transparency, since they were introduced in iOS 14. Its shares dipped more than 20% on Wednesday after it reported its latest disappointing earnings.

How to download Wordle to your device so it stays free forever

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How to download Wordle
If you download it, it can't be ruined.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Wordle, the simple yet fun daily word game that became a craze in recent months, was acquired this week by The New York Times. Naturally, this led fans to worry that the game might change — or that we might have to pay for it.

But there is one way you can ensure that never happens. It’s actually surprisingly easy to download Wordle — the entire game — and save it to your iPhone, iPad or Mac so you can continue playing it in its current form.

We’ll show you how.

WhatsApp plans emoji message reactions for iPhone

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WhatsApp message reactions
It looks like users will have six emoji to choose from.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp is readying message reactions on iOS and Android that will roll out in a future app update. Screenshots of the feature have appeared ahead of its release, showing the ability to react to messages with select emoji.

It’s much like the message reactions feature already available to iPhone users inside iMessage. WhatsApp seems to be following Apple’s lead by only making certain emoji available, rather than allowing all of them, like Instagram.

Universal Control on Mac and iPad is one of Apple’s most magical features yet

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Universal Control
It "just works," and it does so magnificently.
Photo: Apple

Universal Control, which is finally in testing ahead of its public debut, lets you control a Mac and an iPad with the same keyboard and mouse, bringing the two computers closer together than ever before. It’s particularly handy if you rely on both macOS and iPadOS apps and find yourself regularly switching between them.

The feature looked pretty ambitious and exciting when Apple previewed it during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote back in June. And now that it’s here (mostly) and we’ve had the chance to try it out, we firmly believe it is one of Cupertino’s most magical features to date.

Here’s why Universal Control will knock your socks off.

Silky silicone case protects iPhone 13, plays nicely with MagSafe gadgets

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SwitchEasy MagSkin Silicone Case for iPhone 13
Get yours in one of four color options.
Photo: SwitchEasy

SwitchEasy’s new MagSkin case protects your new iPhone 13 with silky smooth silicone to keep it in pristine condition while adding extra grip that’ll stop it from slipping out of your hands. It also plays nicely with all your MagSafe accessories.

Get yours in one of four color options from the Cult of Mac Store today.

Don’t install the macOS 12.3 beta if you use Dropbox or OneDrive

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Get OneDrive for M1 Macs
You need to wait for Dropbox and OneDrive updates.
Image: Microsoft

Think twice about rushing to install macOS 12.3 if you use Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive for cloud storage. Both services use kernel extensions that Apple is deprecating in its next Monterey update.

Dropbox and Microsoft are working on updates that will eliminate this problem. However, those are also in beta and could come with issues of their own.

Gucci’s fancy AirPods Max case costs only twice as much as AirPods Max

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Gucci's AirPods Max case
Bag yours for a mere $980.
Photo: Gucci

Do you hate Apple’s own AirPods Max case? Gucci now offers a fancy alternative that costs only twice as much as the headphones themselves.

The Ophidia case brings “vintage and contemporary together through its archive-inspired design elements” — whatever that means. It’s also emblazoned with a pretentious quote (in Latin, of course) on the inside. Order yours now for $980.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

iOS 15.4 paves the way for web apps to deliver push notifications

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2021 iPad mini packs 5G
A big improvement for mobile apps on the web.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s first iOS 15.4 beta, rolled out to registered developers last week, lays the groundwork for web apps to deliver push notifications.

The feature, long available in Safari for macOS, always stood out as a notable omission on iPhone and iPad. Fortunately for those who use mobile web apps frequently, that looks set to change in the near future.

How to enable wide spectrum audio for FaceTime calls in iOS 15

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Enable wide spectrum audio for FaceTime calls
Make sure everyone gets heard on a conference call.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS and iPadOS 15 bring a number of nice improvements to FaceTime, including some new audio modes that may come in handy in certain situations.

The new wide spectrum audio is one you might want to use during conference calls. Here’s what it does — and how to enable it on iPhone and iPad.

Apple’s latest updates break Wallet on Apple Watch, Bluetooth on Mac

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Driver's licenses and IDs in Apple Wallet
Syncing Wallet changes just isn't happening for some.
Image: Apple

Apple rolled out a new crop of software updates last week, and you probably (sadly) won’t be surprised to learn that they bring yet more bugs.

In addition to experiencing Wallet sync problems between iOS 15.3 and watchOS 8.4, early updaters also report Bluetooth issues in macOS 12.2 that cause battery drain on some MacBook models.

macOS 12.3 suggests Apple’s Ultra Wideband technology is coming to Mac

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Apple Ultra Wideband
It would make missing Macs a lot easier to find.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s new macOS 12.3 beta, which rolled out to registered developers last week, suggests Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology is coming to Mac.

UWB, currently exclusive to iPhone models with the Apple U1 chip, allow precise location reporting to make missing devices much easier to find. UWB is also used to improve AirDrop and to enable Apple’s CarKey feature.

WhatsApp chief says company ‘would love’ to deliver an iPad app

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WhatsApp on iPad
Is WhatsApp for iPad looking more likely than ever before?
Image: WhatsApp/Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart has revealed that the company “would love” to deliver a native iPad app after acknowledging that users have been waiting for it for a long time.

WhatsApp is one of the only major messaging platforms that doesn’t offer a tablet app for iPad or Android. But Cathcart says “the underlying technology is there” now that WhatsApp offers proper multi-device support.

Apple lets devs release unlisted apps that can only be found with a link

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app-store
Devs can now hide apps that aren't for general distribution.
Image: Apple

Apple has confirmed that developers can now release unlisted apps on iPhone, iPad and Mac that cannot be found without a direct link.

Unlisted apps — which do not appear in App Store search results, categories, recommendations, or other listings — will developers to distribute their titles to limited audiences, such as employees and students.

How to enable background blur for FaceTime video calls in iOS 15

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How to enable background blur for FaceTime video calls in iOS 15
Use Portrait mode to bring background blur to FaceTime on iPhone and iPad.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS and iPadOS 15 bring a number of big improvements to FaceTime — including voice isolation and the ability to blur your background during video calls like you can on Zoom and other video calling platforms.

We’ll show you how to enable the background blur feature using Portrait mode on iPhone and iPad.

Last chance: Save on this gorgeous, adjustable aluminum Free Stand for iPhone

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Laut stand for iPhone
It's perfect for hands-free FaceTime calls.
Photo: Laut

Sick of losing your iPhone under all the clutter on your desk? Laut’s gorgeous Free Stand ensures your smartphone is always easy to see so you don’t miss another notification. It’s also great for hands-free FaceTime calls.

The Free Stand is made from sturdy aluminum and looks right at home alongside other Apple devices. It’s also adjustable, and until the end of today, it’s available from the Cult of Mac Store at 20% off its usual price. You can also save on all other Laut products.