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News - page 18

Cool new security camera’s solar panel tracks the sun

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Baseus Security S2 Outdoor Camera 4K
One of the new Baseus security cameras tracks the sun's path to stay charged.
Photo: Baseus

Two innovative new outdoor cameras could change how homeowners approach property surveillance, Baseus said Sunday. The standout feature? The more advanced Baseus Security S2 Outdoor Camera 4K packs a small solar panel on top that actually moves to follow the sun throughout the day, keeping the cameras charged. And the budget-friendly new Baseus Security S1 Lite 2K model uses solar charging, too.

Apple Sports app kicks up soccer coverage and lands in Mexico

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Apple Sports app adds FA soccer coverage and debuts in Mexico
Apple Sports app bolsters soccer coverage with FA Cup and comes to Mexico for the first time.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple rolled out version 3.1 of its Sports app Monday, delivering expanded soccer content with the UK’s FA Cup and making the application available to users in Mexico for the first time.

The update arrives just in time for the FA Community Shield match and marks another significant milestone in the app’s rapid evolution.

UK does U-turn on secret backdoor into iPhone accounts

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Apple privacy
The U.K. reportedly won’t try to violate your privacy.
Image: Apple

The United Kingdom government reportedly had to give up its demand for a backdoor into encrypted Apple iCloud accounts. The reversal reportedly came as part of ongoing trade talks between the UK and the Trump administration.

Apple fought the demand, and it seems like it won.

Severance fans can now reserve Lumon’s iconic MDR keyboard

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Severance MDR Dasher Keyboard
Be the cool kid on the block with Atomic Keyboards' MDR Dasher Keyboard from Severance.
Photo: Atomic Keyboards

Severance, the dystopian workplace thriller that captivates Apple TV+ subscribers, makes the leap from screen to desk with a meticulously crafted replica of the show’s distinctive keyboard. Atomic Keyboards announced recently that its MDR Dasher Keyboard — inspired by the mysterious input device used by Mark S., Helly R., Dylan G., and Irving B. in Lumon Industries’ sterile offices — now heads to Kickstarter with reservations open for just $10.

Just remember, the retro keeb is three keyboards in one, but it features no Escape, Option or Control keys. And it’s steep pricing might make you lose hope altogether.

M5 iPad Pro might tackle Face ID’s biggest weakness

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M4 iPad Pro deal
Another front camera for portrait Face ID? Yes, please!
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s 2025 iPad Pro will reportedly sport dual front-facing cameras and Face ID scanners to address a major limitation in the previous version of the tablet: its struggles to work in portrait mode.

Last year, the company repositioned the front camera on the M4 iPad Pro to a landscape orientation, which solved some problems but caused others. Apple allegedly has a solution, though.

iOS 27 could have a surprising focus

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iOS 27 rumors
iOS 27 developers could put most of their attention on the folding iPhone.
Image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

With a foldable iPhone widely rumored for 2026, the next version of iOS will concentrate on a user interface revamp needed for the new type of device, according to a noted tipster. iOS 27 will apparently need to handle two screens with different resolutions, for example.

Apple sues leaker behind iOS 26 sneak peek

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Apple leaker Jon Prosser shaves his eyebrows.
Prosser is in a lot of trouble over his iOS 19/iOS 26 leaks.
Screenshot: Front Page Tech

Apple sued notorious leaker Jon Prosser and an associate Thursday, alleging that they concocted a “scheme to break into an Apple development iPhone, steal Apple’s trade secrets, and profit from the theft.”

Prosser published several renders showcasing iOS 26’s rumored visionOS-inspired glassy redesign months before WWDC25. While not completely accurate, his leaks proved pretty much on point regarding the look of the Liquid Glass design language of Apple’s upcoming operating systems.

Intense Cyberpunk 2077 reaches Mac gamers

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Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for Mac
The Mac version of Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is out!!
Image: CD Projekt Red

The AAA game Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition hit Mac on Thursday. The graphically intensive action role-playing game earned a lengthy list of awards since its original debut on other platforms in 2020.

CD Projekt Red committed itself to the release last fall, saying at the time the game would be out in early 2025. The wait was longer than expected, but is finally over.

Science proves that emojis improve text messages

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Emoji respect
Don’t dismiss emoji as silly.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

On World Emoji Day, it’s time to give some respect to the little digital images used to express emotion. A new study shows that people who use emojis in their text messages come across as more responsive and likable.

So if you always just 🙄 at emojis, you should think seriously about using them instead.

Apple Arcade brings SpongeBob SquarePants to slew of iPhone and iPad games

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Apple Arcade SpongeBob SquarePants crossover events
We hope you like SpongeBob SquarePants, because he and his undersea pals are about to show up all over Apple Arcade.
Photo: Apple

Apple Arcade subscribers can now enjoy special SpongeBob SquarePants content across multiple games on the platform — if they’re into that fishy sort of thing. The gaming service continues its strategy of bringing beloved characters to its exclusive titles. The latest crossover events feature the iconic Nickelodeon character in Snake.io+, Crossy Road Castle and an updated SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit game.

Said Phil Schiller, Apple fellow and former SVP for worldwide product marketing, in a post on Mastodon Social: “Jumping Jellyfish!”

Surprise! Apple releases Emoji Game early for World Emoji Day.

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Emoji Game on Apple News
No need to wait until September to play the new Emoji Game.
Photo: Apple

Apple gave its News+ subscribers an unexpected treat Thursday. It rolled out the new Emoji Game on Apple News+ ahead of schedule to celebrate World Emoji Day. Originally slated to debut with iOS 26 this September, the puzzle game is now available for users running iOS 18.4 and later versions.

“Emoji Game is the perfect addition to the Apple News+ suite of word and number puzzles, turning the emoji we use every day into a brainteaser that’s approachable and fun,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News.

Weird story links World Emoji Day to Apple

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The roots of World Emoji Day go deep into Apple history.
The roots of World Emoji Day go deep into Apple history.
Image: Cult of Mac

World Emoji Day happens on July 17 every year — but why? The holiday’s story takes a circuitous path through Apple history, tying together Mac OS X Jaguar, calendar software, Japanese cellphone carriers, Macworld Expo and Emojipedia creator Jeremy Burge.

ChatGPT for Mac now doubles as an AI meeting assistant

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ChatGPT Record mode
ChatGPT's Record mode comes to the Mac for Plus subscribers.
Screenshot: Rajesh PandeyCultOfMac

ChatGPT for Mac can now record and transcribe your meetings. The feature, which went live in early June, is now rolling out to the Mac app.

Besides meetings, you can use ChatGPT’s record mode for transcribing voice notes and brainstorming sessions.

iPhone 17 Pro might feature MacBook Pro-style antireflective screen

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iPhone 15 Pro Max with display off
Apple’s next iPhone could feature an anti-reflective display.
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Contrary to previous rumors, a new report says Apple will equip the iPhone 17 Pro with a new antireflective display. The coating will help cut down on glare and unwanted reflections, making the device easier to use — especially outside on sunny days.

Apple suppliers seemingly improved their yields enough to allow mass production of the antireflective displays for use in the upcoming iPhones.

Razer’s new TB5 dock supports triple 4K displays and SSD storage expansion

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Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma
Razer's entrant brings built-in support for SSD storage expansion to the Thunderbolt 5 dock race.
Photo:

The new Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma promises to transform how Mac users connect their devices while delivering blazing-fast data speeds, support for massive SSD storage expansion, expanded display capabilities and RGB lighting, the gaming peripherals giant said Wednesday. Priced at $399.99, the dock stands in the first wave of major accessories to fully embrace Intel’s latest Thunderbolt 5 standard.

“The Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock is designed to meet the growing need for faster data transfer and robust multi-display support,” said Travis Furst, notebooks and accessories chief at Razer.

Court battle between display makers could bring U.S. iPhone import ban

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iPhone 16 Pro Max display
The iPhone’s OLED display is at the center of a court battle.
Photo: RepairsUniverse

Multiple iPhone models might be blocked from import into the United States. The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that one of the companies that makes displays for iOS handsets infringes on the patents of another, and products that use the infringing displays face an import ban.

President Donald Trump has the option to veto the ban, however.

New report confirms all iPhone Series 17 color options

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report confirms all iPhone Series 17 color options
An X.com user displays the colors using Pantone selections. On the left is iPhone 17; top right is iPhone 17 Air and bottom right shows the Pro colors.
Photo: X.com@pyrobinkx

Apple’s complete — and surprisingly broad — iPhone 17 color palette got confirmation through internal Apple documents, according to a new report. Expanding on recent leaks, the new information reveals the most diverse selection in years across all four models expected to launch in September.

The confirmation comes as Apple prepares to refresh its entire smartphone lineup with new features including the A19 chip, 12GB of RAM for Pro models, and the introduction of the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air to replace the iPhone 16 Plus.

Clever phone lanyard is also a USB-C charging cable

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Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable
This lanyard can also charge your iPhone.
Photo: Satechi

The Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable makes carrying around an iPhone easy, and charging it, too. That’s because it’s both a lanyard and a USB-C charging cable in one accessory.

In addition, the accessory maker also just launched the Satechi OntheGo 67W Slim Wall Charger to power up an iPhone or MacBook when and where needed.

Cutting-edge hinge could prevent screen creases on folding iPhone

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Folding iPhone Rumors
Apple is working hard to prevent the folding iPhone from being marred by a screen crease.
Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Part of the innovative technology going into the upcoming folding iPhone is supposedly an internal hinge that will play an important role in ensuring that the flexible display won’t be marred by an unsightly crease.

An analyst who’s a respected source of Apple information reported Tuesday that the component will begin shipping to Apple at the beginning of 2026.

Apple TV+’s Severance and The Studio dominate Emmy nominations

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Severance tops Emmy nominations
Severance leads all shows in Emmy nominations this year -- 27.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ secured a commanding position in the 2025 Emmy nominations announced Tuesday, with two of its flagship series earning the most nominations in their respective categories. The streaming service’s dystopian workplace drama Severance topped all shows with 27 nominations. And Hollywood satire The Studio led comedy series with 23 nominations, breaking Ted Lasso‘s record for a first-year comedy series.

Notably, Apple TV+’s hit spy thriller Slow Horses and comedy Shrinking also drew top nominations.

Actually, base iPhone 17 may not stick with last year’s chip [Updated]

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iPhone 17 rumors
iPhone 17 could pack the same internals as iPhone 16.
Image: Cult of Mac

An analyst said back in May that Apple may reuse the iPhone 16‘s A18 chip on the base iPhone 17 model this year and could ship both it and iPhone 17 Air with 8GB of RAM. But now he’s changed his tune.

All other members of the iPhone 17 family will reportedly use a newer A19 chip and sport 50% more RAM.

Update: As noted in the post below, GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu predicted in May that the base iPhone 17 would stick with iPhone 16’s A18 chip. But now he cites in a note seen by outlets like 9to5Mac that supply chain reporting indicates the base model will use the A19 chip expected in the Pro models. And only the base iPhone 17 may offer just 8GB of RAM, while the Air and Pro models will start at 12GB.

Apple commits $500 million to American-made rare earth magnets

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MP Materials makes rare earth magnets in Fort Worth, Texas.
MP Materials makes rare earth magnets in Fort Worth, Texas.
Photo: MP Materials

Apple announced a new commitment Tuesday to buy $500 million worth of American-made rare earth magnets from Texas-based MP Materials. The raw material will go into iPhones, MacBooks and more.

In addition, the two companies are working together to build a cutting-edge rare earth recycling line in California.

New HDMI adapters overcome Apple silicon Mac external display limits

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OWC HDMI adapters
OWC's new Quad HDMI adapter makes running multiple 4K external displays a breeze.
Photo: OWC

Two new HDMI adapters from Other World Computing (OWC) solve the external display limitations that have frustrated Apple Silicon Mac users since the M1 chip’s introduction, the company said Monday. The new OWC USB-C Quad HDMI 4K Adapter and redesigned OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Adapter offer Mac owners a way to connect multiple external monitors without juggling multiple dongles.

“Whether you’re working with spreadsheets, streaming data, editing video or just need more screen real estate to stay productive, we believe your gear shouldn’t hold you back,” said Larry O’Connor, OWC’s founder and CEO. “With our new Quad and enhanced Dual HDMI adapters, we’re giving users the power to easily expand their visual workspace, without the complexity or cost of juggling multiple adapters or sacrificing performance.”

iPhone 17 Pro may sport 5 colors, including cool new copper-orange

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iPhone 17 Pro colors
The orange and dark blue options look racier than the usual Pro hues.
Photo: X.com@SonnyDickson

After last week’s iPhone 17 color revelations, fresh component leaks suggest Apple might introduce its boldest iPhone Pro color yet, come September. This time, camera lens covers reveal a potential brand-new copper-orange finish that would mark a significant departure from the company’s traditional Pro palette. The other possible colors are black, gray, silver and a dark blue that harkens back to iPhone 15 Pro’s most striking hue.