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Now Shazam can name songs even when you wear headphones

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Shazam app
Now Apple's Shazam functionality can identify songs even when you wear headphones.
Photo: Apple

Shazam, Apple’s popular app that can name any song in seconds, added a cool new feature Thursday in version 17.3 — it now works even when you wear headphones.

And that’s true for music playing around you or within apps like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, Apple said.

iPadOS 17.4 beta hints next iPad Pro will have horizontal camera

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2022 iPad Pro in Magic Keyboard
Making FaceTime calls on an iPad Pro could soon get better.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The updated iPad Pro expected in spring 2024 could make a change tablet users have wanted for years: move the front-facing camera for better horizontal use.

Modified wording in the just-released iPadOS 17.4 beta suggests the camera move is on the way.

Leak reveals alleged 12.9-inch iPad Air design

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iPad Air 6
An iPad Air with a bigger display could arrive in Q1 2024.
Photo: Apple

Rumors indicate Apple is working on a 12.9-inch iPad Air due to launch later this year. A new leak shows off alleged design renders of the upcoming tablet.

The CAD renders show that the 12.9-inch iPad Air will resemble its 10.9-inch sibling. However, it apparently will feature a redesigned rear camera module.

OLED iPad Pro might launch later than expected

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OLED iPad mockup
OLED screens are on the way to the 2024 iPad Pro line. But when?
Photo: Cult of Mac

The first iPad Pro with a OLED display is reportedly on track to launch in April. While that’s generally good news, previous leaks predicted a release in March.

The next generation of iPad Pro is also expected to have other enhancements, like an Apple M3 processor.

How to use long-overdue improvements to the Files app in iPadOS 17

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How to use long-overdue improvements to the Files app in iPadOS 17
There are new features in the iPad/iPhone Files app when accessing thumbdrives and SSDs.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Managing files on iPad has finally got a lot easier with new tools added to the Files app in iPadOS 17. It’s especially good for working with external drives, including basic capabilities like seeing see how much space remains on a thumb drive. And iPhone users can access them, too.

Here’s how to access all the new features in Apple’s Files app.

Everything Apple is working on in 2024 [Video]

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Collage of iPhones, Apple Watch, iPad, Macs and AirPods
Apple is going to have a big 2024.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

2024 is going to be a big year for Apple products. The iPhone is due for a second year in a row of big changes. And the entire iPad lineup is getting refreshed. The rest of the Macs are being updated to M3 chips. The Apple Watch Series X may receive a radical design. And fourth-gen AirPods will bring pro noise cancellation features to the cheaper buds.

We have a new video that summarizes everything we know about Apple’s top products coming next year.

What to expect from iPad in 2024: Pro, Air and mini

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What to expect from iPad in 2024: Pro, Air and mini
2024 will be a big, colorful year for iPad.
Image: Cult of Mac

Get ready for big changes in the iPad 2024 lineup. Apple plans to shake things up next year, offering new versions of every tablet model, from the basic budget offering to the largest iPad Pro.

Details of the upcoming changes leaked out early, so we can tell you now what’s coming to the iPad in 2024.

Top 10 Best Buy holiday deals on Mac and iPad

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M3 MacBook Pro in space black
Yes, an M3 MacBook Pro in space black is on the list.
Photo: Apple

With gift-giving season at full-tilt, Best Buy offers its Apple Sales Event on a full range of fabulous products you can check out here. We’d thought we’d focus below on 10 great Mac and iPad deals you won’t want to miss. Click on the prices below to go straight to the products.

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

Ugreen’s potent new power bank charges 3 gadgets on the go

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Ugreen 100W 20000mAh Power Bank
Ugreen's new power bank works with most devices and recharges itself in just a couple of hours.
Photo: Ugreen

The new Nexode 100W 20,000mAh Power Bank lets users fast-charge three devices at once on the go, the company said Tuesday.

And the portable charger’s 65W “rapid recharge” feature lets it fully power itself back up from an empty battery in just 2 hours.

New version of Beeper Mini Android-iMessage bridge gets past Apple’s block [Updated]

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Beeper Mini app
Beeper Mini reverse engineered iMessage to send blue texts like an iPhone, but Apple blocked it, citing security and privacy concerns.
Photo: Beeper Mini

Security and privacy concerns caused Apple to block messaging service Beeper Mini, the company said Sunday. But on Monday Beeper Mini got around the block and pledged to keep making its service available.

This followed Beeper Mini’s highly publicized launch on December 5. It said it had successfully reverse-engineered iMessage to turn green Android text bubbles blue on iPhones.

From that moment, many people wondered how long Apple would let it stand (just a few days, it turned out).

Update: Beeper Mini is back with improvements, according to a new blog post that puts the ball back in Apple’s court. Beeper said it’s willing to share its codebase with an independent research firm and reirterated it could add a pager emoji to enable filtering of Beeper Mini messages in iMessage. See more on the story so far below.

2024 will bring major upgrades to iPads and Macs [The CultCast]

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iPad-upgrades-2024-CultCast-episode 624
The best tablets in the world are about to get even better.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest Apple rumors point to a jumbo iPad Air and even-better (and pricier) iPad Pros landing in early 2024. Plus, Apple’s powerful M3 chip reportedly will come to more Macs.

We run down what it all means. Brace yourself for performance!

Also on The CultCast:

  • Cool new features coming to next-gen iPhones will make Apple’s world-beating smartphone even better. We’re especially excited about a turbocharged Action button.
  • Government spying on push notifications is definitely a thing.
  • Installment number one of our “best of 2023” picks. These fabulous things made us quiver with joy this year.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Here’s our holiday buying guide for iPhone, iPad and AirPods [Video]

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Holiday Buying Guide
Check out our guide for gifting Apple products this holiday season.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You’re running out of time to buy the Apple gifts your loved ones want for the holidays. If you need to buy an iPhone, iPad or AirPods, you need to make a well-informed decision quickly — but how do you know which model to get?

We have a helpful new video that will explain the differences between various iPhone, iPad and AirPods models. Plus, we published detailed written buying guides for your convenience.

Mount iPad anywhere with this sleek magnetic pad

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Any sealed surface will take Xvida's mounting pad to magnetically hold your iPad.
Any sealed surface will take Xvida's mounting pad to magnetically hold your iPad.
Photo: Xvida

iPads are light and easy to handle, but sometimes you need your hands for other tasks — like glancing at a recipe while cooking. That’s where Xvida’s Magnetic Wall Mount for tablets comes in super, well, handy.

And it’s available now in the Cult of Mac Store for just $25.

12.9-inch iPad Air, OLED iPad Pro pegged for March release

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iPad Air and iPad Pro
The largest iPad Air yet is on the way.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The long wait for fresh iPads will reportedly come to an end in March 2024. The first 12.9-inch iPad Air will launch then, according a reliable Apple tipster, as will the much-anticipated iPad Pro with an OLED screen.

In addition, new versions of Apple Pencil and the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad will also be unveiled at the same time.

iPad gift guide: Pick the best tablet to give your loved ones

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iPad gift guide: Pick the best model to give your loved ones
We have expert advice on choosing the best iPad to give as a gift.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iPad makes a spectacular gift. Apple tablets are very popular, and everyone from little Billy to Grandma will enjoy one.

But there’s a wide array of models to choose from. In this guide, we go through all the options to explore their pros and cons as gifts.

Bag bargains on Macs, iPads and Studio Displays while you can

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Woot! Apple sale
Discounted iMacs are on the gift list this season at bargain site Woot!
Photo: Apple

Amazon bargain site Woot! would never miss out on giving you discounted gift options on Apple gear for the holidays, and so it offers a sale right on the heels of Cyber Monday.

iMacs, Mac minis, MacBooks, iPads, Studio Displays — the list of 18 items at up to 51% off is well worth a look. Sale goes through December 5, but these deals likely will sell out early.

5 Black Friday Apple deals that are still live

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Black Friday Apple Deals Still Live
These Black Friday Apple deals are still live!
Image: Rajesh/Cult of Mac

Black Friday and Cyber Monday provide an excellent opportunity to buy a new MacBook, iPad and other Apple products at heavily discounted prices. This year, we saw some hefty discounts on Apple gear during the shopping marathon.

But what if you missed buying the MacBook or Apple Watch you wanted? While Black Friday and Cyber Monday might be over, the deals are not all gone. Check out the five best Apple deals that are still live below.

Last chance to win a super-protective iPad case from Zugu [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Lather your iPad in a luxurious sheild.
Keep your iPad safe and secure at all times in a rugged Zugu case.
Photo: Zugu

The prize in this week’s giveaway is every iPad owner’s dream: an iPad case from Zugu with a built-in Apple Pencil holder. We teamed up with Zugu to give five lucky winners the chance to win one of these fantastic iPad cases.

Zugu’s cases start at $49.99, fit a wide array of iPads, and come in nine different colors. So if you win, you will be spoiled for choice.

Best Cyber Monday Apple Deals: MacBooks, AirPods, Apple Watch and more

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Best Cyber Monday Apple deals
Check out these amazing Cyber Monday discounts on some popular Apple products.
Photo: Rajesh

Did you miss buying your favorite Apple gear or accessory during Black Friday? Do not worry, as Cyber Monday is here. This is probably your last chance to get a new MacBook, iPad, or Apple Watch at its lowest price before the holidays.

You can get the recently launched M3 MacBook Pro with a 10-core GPU for just $1,449 ($150 off). You can score even bigger discounts of up to $250 on the 15-inch MacBook Air. The Apple Pencil 2 is also down to its new lifetime low price of $79.99 after a massive $49 off.

While Apple is running its own shopping event for Cyber Monday, you should look at deals from third-party retailers, as they are offering bigger discounts. However, as always, these prices could change at any time and/or the products could sell out.

Apple Black Friday deals: AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad and more [Held over!]

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Illustrative graphic with the text 'Best Apple Black Friday deals'
There are some great deals to be had on Apple gear and accessories during the 2023 Black Friday sales.
Photo: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Update: Black Friday might be over but the deals certainly are not. Many of the best deals on Apple products are still live and you can score some hefty discounts on them this shopping season. In fact, some of these deals disappeared for a while on Black Friday — like the iPad (9th gen) for just $229 (save $100) — then reappeared at some point!

For starters, don’t miss this killer deal on AirPods Pro 2 (with USB-C) for just $189 (save $60) — this is the best price we’ve seen on the best AirPods you can get. Plus, Apple Watch SE (2nd gen., 2022) is down to just $179 (save $70) — the SE is a great gift for someone this Xmas. Or, if you are shopping for yourself, the latest Apple Watch Series 9 is just $329 (save $70).

There are lots of great Apple deals to be had on Black Friday 2023 — just not from Apple itself. Apple is usually pretty stingy when it comes to Black Friday (Tim Cook loves his margins!). This year, you can get an Apple gift card worth up to $200 when you splash out on select products, but the latest and greatest — iPhone 15, M3 MacBook Pros, iMac, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 — are not included.

However, there are great savings on Apple products from third-party retailers like Best Buy, B&H Photo, Target and Walmart. All these stores offer significant discounts on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPads, iPhones and more. Here are the best deals on Apple gear we’ve found.

Who will lead Apple when Tim Cook steps down? [The CultCast]

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Who will take over when Tim Cook finally steps down as Apple CEO? Apparently, he has some ideas.
Who will take over when Tim Cook finally steps down as Apple CEO? Apparently, he has some ideas.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Tim Cook recently said Apple has “very detailed” succession plans for when he eventually steps down as CEO. Plus, the company definitely plans to hire from within. That got us thinking … who’s next in Apple’s game of thrones?

Also on The CultCast:

  • OLED screens might come to iPad Air and iPad mini somewhat soonish.
  • Europe’s busybody technocrats have some more grand plans for Apple and other manufacturers. We’ve got mixed emotions.
  • Sonos reportedly wants to take on Apple TV and AirPods Max with rival products.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Budget iPad is an even better deal at an amazing $100 off

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iPad 10 and iPad 9 savings
You can get the iPad 10 or the iPad 9 at $100 below the usual cost.
Photo: Cult of Mac

iPad 10 is a capable tablet for school or fun, and you can now grab one for $349. And the entry-level iPad 9 is down to a mere $229. That’s $100 off either model, a truly significant saving on what are already Apple’s lower-price tablets.

The holiday season is almost here, and those planning to gift an iPad can take advantage of these deals before they go away.

Just how hot are those new M3 MacBook Pros? [The CultCast]

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Apple's M3 Max chip sitting in front of flames. The CultCast episode 621.
Just how extreme is the MacBook Pro's thermal throttling?
Original photo: Christopher Burns

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Tests performed on the M3 MacBook Pros reveal the performance-crushing effects of thermal throttling and skimpy RAM. Erfon is not impressed!

Also on The CultCast:

  • Apple shocks everyone by pledging to support Rich Communication Services for better texting between iPhones and Android devices.
  • Griffin runs down some of the most interesting new features coming soon in iOS 17.2.
  • Apple reportedly plans to overhaul the iPad lineup next year, and a mammoth 12.9-inch iPad Air is apparently on the menu.
  • If the iPhone 16 gets exclusive AI features, will Siri really get smarter? We’re extremely skeptical.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Pre-loved iPad comes bundled with every accessory you need for less than $220

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Score early Black Friday savings on this near-mint iPad with renewed new Beats headphones, now just $220.
A refurbished iPad and an accessory bundle featuring Beats Flex headphones makes a perfect gift.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Looking for a Black Friday sale on an iPad? For a limited time, you can score an incredible deal on a near-mint refurbished iPad bundled with all the accessories you could need — including a set of Beats wireless headphones.

Through November 26, this combo goes for only $219.97, with no coupon necessary.