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Killian Bell - page 25

Apple Watch Series 7 preorders start October 8, official partner says

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California Streaming event: Apple Watch Series 7 packs a bigger, more durable screen.
Prices start at $399.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Series 7 will finally be available to preorder on October 8, according to one of Cupertino’s official partners. Hermès is telling customers via email that’s the date they’ll be able to secure their new smartwatches.

Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech, who has a decent track record when it comes to Apple rumors, also claims that Apple Watch Series 7 will be available to preorder “as early as next week,” with shipping to begin in mid-October.

iOS 15 problems continue as iPhone 13 owners report CarPlay crashes

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Ford-CarPlay
Will it ever end?
Photo: Ford

The long list of problems that have surfaced in iOS 15 continues to grow as iPhone 13 owners report new issues with CarPlay.

Some say they are unable to play tracks in Apple Music or third-party apps like Spotify without the system crashing completely. There are some fixes you can try, like disabling the equalizer if it’s active, that may solve the problem.

iPhone 13 Pro Max hits faster charging speed of 27W

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iPhone 13 charging test
Topping up your iPhone is faster than ever before.
Photo: ChargerLAB

iPhone 13 Pro Max charges faster than its predecessor, with speeds hitting up to 27W when connected to a 30W (or higher) power adapter, new tests reveal. That’s up from a maximum of 22W in last year’s iPhone 12 Pro Max.

The smaller iPhone 13 Pro maxes out at 23W, while all iPhone 13 units — with the exception of iPhone 13 mini — can receive up to 15W when charging wirelessly using an Apple MagSafe charger.

Siri loses a whole bunch of features and is now even less useful

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Not a lot, apparently.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Siri is widely considered the dumbest of the smart assistants (although I would argue that Samsung’s Bixby easily takes that crown) and it just got a little dumber. Apple has removed a whole bunch of useful Siri features that iPhone users — particularly those with vision impairment — relied on.

Siri can no longer play your voicemail messages, check your call history, send an email, and more. “Sorry, I can’t help with that” is the response that greets iPhone users who attempt to use the features that were available before iOS 15 made its public debut almost two weeks ago.

Don’t use Visa cards with Express Transit on iPhone if you hate getting mugged

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Apple-Pay-Express-Transit-London
Security researchers just uncovered a big flaw.
Photo: Apple

Security researchers have discovered a major flaw in Express Transit on iPhone that allows hackers to steal money from a user’s Visa card. They say the problem can be easily fixed, but neither Apple or Visa seem interested.

The flaw makes it possible for iPhone’s contactless payment system, designed to make it easier and faster to pay for public transport, to be charged arbitrary transactions by a device that imitates a transport terminal.

Protect your precious Apple Watch with this tough bumper case

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Elkson-Quattro-Bumper-Apple-Watch
Get yours for just $11.99.
Photo: Elkson

UPDATE: The brilliant Elago Quattro bumper is now available in new color options, including shark gray and light pink, and it now supports 40mm Apple Watch models. Get yours today for just $11.99 from the Cult of Mac Store.

Don’t let your precious (and pricey) Apple Watch fend for itself in harsh environments. Pick up this tough Quattro Bumper Case from Elkson for essential protection against scuffs and shattered screens.

It protects the sides of your Apple Watch that are prone to scratching when you’re hard at work. It also has a lip that helps prevent its screen from rubbing up against anything rough.

You can get yours for Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5, and Series 6 for just $11.99.

iPhone owners suffer intermittent touch input issues under iOS 15

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The iPhone 13 Pro is as powerful as it is beautiful.
How's your iPhone holding up after updating to iOS 15?
Photo: Apple

Some iPhone models are being plagued by touchscreen issues under Apple’s newest iOS 15 firmware. The problem, which seems to affect iPhone 13 owners most, causes devices to not respond to touch inputs.

A restart temporarily fixes the issue, though it does appear to resurface again soon after. Some say that repeated touches can get the screen working normally again, though.

Apple says 2021 iPad mini’s ‘jelly scrolling’ effect is normal behavior

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2021 iPad mini
There goes hope of a fix.
Photo: Apple

2021 iPad mini owners who are hoping for a fix for its mysterious “jelly scrolling” effect will be disappointed to learn that Apple considers this “normal behavior for LCD screens.”

Cupertino said uneven scrolling can occur because of the way in which its Liquid Retina displays refresh line by line. However, the behavior has not been spotted on other Apple devices with LCD screens, like the newest iPad Air.

New macOS Monterey beta hints at ‘High Power Mode’ for MacBook

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Video editing on a MacBook Pro
Get the best performance when you need it most.
Photo: Apple

Apple is working on a new “High Power Mode” that could boost MacBook performance when the device isn’t connected to a power source, according to the latest macOS Monterey beta.

The feature is thought to be similar to the “Pro Mode” that was first spotted in a macOS Catalina beta early last year. Pro Mode never made its public debut, but it seems Cupertino hasn’t given up on the idea.

Apple vows to fix iPhone 13 bug that breaks Unlock with Apple Watch [Updated]

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iPhone 13 and new iPads hit the Apple Store
Mask-wearers must enter their passcode to unlock iPhone 13.
Photo: Apple

Apple has promised to fix an iPhone 13 bug that prevents owners from using Unlock with Apple Watch. In the meantime, users can disable the feature to prevent an “Unable to Communicate with Apple Watch” error from appearing.

Unlock with Apple Watch was first introduced last April with iOS 14.5, giving iPhone users with Face ID the ability to easily unlock their devices while wearing a mask, which prevents facial recognition from working.

Update Sept. 28: iOS 15.1 beta 2 includes a fix for this problem. However, it’s not known when iOS 15.1 will be released to the public.

Apple raises price of Beats Flex headphones by $20

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Beats Flex have many AirPods features for much less.
They're now $69.99, up fro $49.99.
Photo: Apple

Beats Flex wireless headphones are now $20 more expensive after Apple permanently raised their price. The buds went on sale last October priced at $49.99, and that price stuck until this week when it was increased to $69.99.

It’s not clear why Apple has made this move, but it could have something to do with rising supply chain costs across the component industry.

Safari 15 frustrates macOS users with a plethora of bugs

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Safari 15 on macOS
Frequent crashes have become the norm for some users.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you haven’t yet upgraded to Safari 15 for macOS, you’re one of the lucky ones. The latest version of Apple’s web browser is frustrating users with a plethora of bugs that cause repeated crashes. However, there are fixes you can try.

Safari 15 comes bundled with macOS Monterey, which is still in beta testing ahead of its public debut later this fall. It’s also available as a standalone upgrade for those running macOS Big Sur and Catalina.

Spotify acknowledges battery drain complaints on iOS 15 and iOS 14.8

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Spotify iPhone
A fix should be on its way.
Photo: Cezar Sampaio/Unsplash CC

Spotify says it is looking into complaints regarding increased battery usage under iOS 15 and iOS 14.8. A growing list of users are reporting that the Spotify app has been draining their battery life since they updated their devices.

“We’ve passed your info on to the relevant team and we can confirm they are currently looking into it,” the music streaming giant told one customer.

Mysterious ‘jelly scrolling’ problem plagues new iPad mini owners

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2021 iPad mini packs 5G
Well, that's not good.
Photo: Apple

iPad mini’s glorious upgrade for 2021 isn’t without its faults for some early adopters, who are being plagued by a mysterious “jelly scrolling” issue on its new 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display.

The problem, which causes one side of iPad mini’s screen to scroll ever so slightly faster than the other, only seems to surface when using the tiny tablet in portrait mode. Some may not notice it until seeing the effect in slow motion.

Apple MagSafe Charger hits lowest price yet — get yours for under $28

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MagSafe charger for iPhone
Brand-new units are just $27.14 today only.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s official MagSafe Charger just hit its lowest price yet after Amazon slashed $11.86 off its usual price for a limited time only.

Bag yours today — in time for your iPhone 13 upgrade — for just $27.14 before the discount disappears.

Third-party display repairs kill Face ID in iPhone 13

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iPhone 13 display repairs break Face ID
If you want to keep using Face ID, you'll have to pay Apple to repair your screen.
Photo: Phone Repair Guru

If you happen to break the dazzling Super Retina XDR display packed into your iPhone 13, you might want to avoid seeking out a more affordable replacement from a third-party repairer. It seems third-party replacements kill Face ID in Apple’s newest smartphone lineup — even when genuine Apple parts are used.

“Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple display,” reads the message that greets iPhone 13 owners after their display is replaced by anyone other than Apple.

iPadOS 15 review: Nice improvements, but where’s the ambition?

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iPadOS 15 review
Improvements are nice, but just not enough.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple somehow created the world’s greatest and most disappointing tablet operating system. iPadOS is by far the best you’ll find for larger touchscreens, and yet, it leaves us wanting so much more.

This year’s iPadOS 15 release is an incremental upgrade over its predecessor. It improves upon the split-screen multitasking system, adds some new features like Focus mode, and finally allows us to put widgets anywhere.

But it’s still iPadOS as we know it, and it’s still holding back iPad Pro. We could be doing so much more with the hardware, especially now that the newest models pack even-speedier M1 chips. But Apple won’t let us.

Here’s our full iPadOS 15 review. It lays out what’s good about the new operating system — and explains why we think it’s time for a little more ambition.

iPhone 13 mini doesn’t come with faster MagSafe charging

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iPhone 13 mini MagSafe Charger
12W is still the max.
Photo: Apple

Those hoping that iPhone 13 mini might ship with faster MagSafe charging will be disappointed to learn that it’s no quicker than its predecessor. Top-ups are restricted to a maximum of 12W when using a 20W charging adapter.

iPhone 13 and 13 Pro models, like last year’s larger iPhone models, can charge at up to 15W.

Restoring iPhone 13 or a new iPad from backup can break Apple Music

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Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos and Lossless Audio are coming to Apple Music subscribers beginning June 2021.
A day-one update fixes the problem.
Photo: Apple

Apple warned owners of iPhone 13 and its newest iPad models on Friday that restoring their device from an earlier backup can cause problems in Apple Music. A bug prevents some users from accessing the Apple Music catalog and settings, and from using Sync Library on their new device.

The problem affects only iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad mini and the new ninth-generation iPad. Installing a software update fixes the problem.

Apple Watch 7 packs new ‘communications transmitter’ for data transfer

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Apple Watch Series 7
But you probably won't be able to use it.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Series 7 comes with a brand-new “communications transmitter” for wireless data transfer, regulatory documents reveal. The 60.5GHz module works with a “Wireless Serial Dock” that could enable faster transfer speeds.

It seems, however, that the new connectivity option is likely going to be reserved for internal use.

Apple fans worldwide get their hands on iPhone 13 and new iPad models

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iPhone 13 and new iPads hit the Apple Store
Are you one of the lucky ones?
Photo: Apple

iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad mini and the ninth-generation iPad hit the Apple Store on Friday morning. Cupertino showed off photos of customers getting their hands on its newest devices in Beijing to celebrate the occasion.

Those who preordered online last week also started receiving their new devices today. Twitter and other online platforms have become flooded with images from excited Apple customers with new products to unpack.

Make Apple Watch workouts more comfortable with ActionSleeve 2

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Twelve South ActionSleeve for Apple Watch
Always comfortable and out of your way.
Photo: Twelve South

Do you find your Apple Watch is uncomfortable on your wrist during intense workouts? Wear it on your arm where it’s out of your way with the superb ActionSleeve 2 from Twelve South — now available from the Cult of Mac Store.

Made from a soft and lightweight fabric, ActionSleeve 2 feels good even when you’re hot and sweaty. It doesn’t prevent Apple Watch from tracking your heart rate and other statistics, and it’s machine washable so you can keep it clean.

You can already save $30 on Apple’s new 10.2-inch iPad

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New budget iPad 9 gets better video chat, doubles storage
Bag yours for just $299.
Photo: Apple

Amazon is already offering $30 off the new 10.2-inch iPad that was just launched by Apple. Bag yours with a speedy A13 Bionic processor, a gorgeous Retina display, and 64GB of storage for just $299 before the discount ends.

This year’s iPad refresh also brings an upgraded front-facing camera with the same Center Stage technology found in the latest iPad Pro.

Newest 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro sees rare $24 discount

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How to preorder a 2021 iPad Pro
This offer won't last long!
Photo: Apple

Apple’s newest Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro just got a rare $24 discount on Amazon. Bag your 12.9-inch model today for $324.88 before the price returns to normal.

The brilliant Magic Keyboard is perhaps the best accessory you can get for iPad Pro — if you’re a regular typist. It’s works beautifully, it is fantastically designed, and no other iPad keyboard is as enjoyable to type on.