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News - page 103

Porsche and Aston Martin preview gorgeous next-gen Apple CarPlay

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Porsche CarPlay
Porsche's CarPlay integration extends all the way across the dashboard.
Photo: Porsche and Apple

Collaborating with Apple, upscale carmakers Porsche and Aston Martin previewed next-generation, more fully integrated CarPlay interfaces for upcoming models Wednesday.

Apple announced next-gen CarPlay in 2022, set to start rolling out in vehicles from more than a dozen makers by the end of 2023 and in 2024.

iPhone 15 Pro wins for best camera in MKBHD Smartphone Awards

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MKBHD Smartphone Awards
Big-time tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee loves iPhone 15 Pro for its cameras -- especially for video -- and iPhone 15 Plus's big battery.
Photo: Marques Brownlee

YouTuber and tech influencer Marques Browlee recognized iPhone 15 Pro as the smartphone with the best cameras of the year in his MKBHD Smartphone Awards 2023 on Tuesday, offering his highest praise for the handset’s exceptional video chops.

And that’s not all. He also named iPhone 15 Plus as the handset with the best battery experience. Watch his video below.

It’s the last day to buy Apple Watch from Apple.com before US sales ban [Updated]

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Most popular Apple Watch model - Apple Watch Series 9
Apple Watch Series 9 is going fast. And not in a good way.
Image: Apple

Sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple’s website will stop on December 21. So Wednesday is the last day to purchase these wearables from Apple.com.

Apple retail stores will continue to sell them until December 24, but then those also will halt because of a patent dispute over an important feature in the devices. Apple, which previously appealed the U.S. International Trade Commission’s ruling on the matter, asked for a stay on the ban on U.S. imports and sales of the smartwatches. But in a Wednesday filing, the ITC denied Apple’s request (.pdf).

If you have dual displays, try this neat wallpaper trick [Setups]

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Dual-Studio Display MacBook Pro setup
This flat side-by-side look brought up debate, plus the question of getting wallpaper to work that way across two screens.
Photo: [email protected]

Few people would dispute that the extra screen real estate of a second display can be a huge help in a computer setup. But let’s say you have two Studio Displays in landcape (horizontal) mode. Do you place them side by side perfectly straight or do you angle them in some way?

Today’s MacBook Pro workstation brought up the debate and surfaced a cool tip for getting wallpaper to appear half on one display and half on the other.

Beeper Mini now requires a Mac to bring iMessage to Android

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Beeper Mini app
No Mac? No iMessage on Android for you then
Photo: Beeper Mini

Beeper Mini will soon require you to have access to a Mac for using iMessage on Android. Or you will have to use your friend’s Mac to set up Beeper Cloud.

Beeper’s latest workaround comes after Apple’s crackdown. The service has experienced multiple outages this week, with the company claiming its latest fix will address them and deliver a reliable experience.

iOS and macOS updates delete mystery bugs

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iOS 17.2.1 fixes mystery iPhone bugs
Take a couple minutes and install iOS 17.2.1. Your iPhone will be free of some bugs.
Image: Cult of Mac

iPhone users can now install iOS 17.2.1. And macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 is out as well. These are minor bug fix updates, though. The changes are so small Apple didn’t bother to describe them.

These are the only updates introduced Tuesday. There’s no iPadOS version, nor one for Apple Watch. And no new betas, either.

Apple TV+ wins Emmy Awards for 4 kids shows

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Best Foot Forward wins Emmy.
Best Foot Forward and three other Apple Originals took home Children's & Family Emmy Awards.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ took home four wins over the weekend in the second annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards, notching victories for Apple Originals Pinecone & Pony, Life By Ella, Jane and Best Foot Forward.

And Apple’s Tara Sorensen and Ellen Coons were honored for Individual Achievement in Animation — Character Animation for Shape Island.

Eve rolls out world’s first Matter-over-Thread smart outlet

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Eve Enerby Outlet and Eve Light Switch
The first-ever Matter-over-Thread smart outlet and a light switch updated for Matter are two of Eve's new offerings.
Photo: Eve Systems

Eve Systems introduced the first Matter-over-Thread smart electrical outlet along with a Matter-enabled smart light switch and window blinds on Monday, the company said.

Eve Energy Outlet, Eve Blinds Collection and Eve Light Switch all work with HomeKit. The outlet and blinds go on sale in early February 2024 and the light switch arrives a bit later.

TikTok app finally optimized for iPad [Awesome Apps]

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TikTok for iPad in Landscape
At long last, there's actually a reason to put the TikTok app on your iPad.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

The TikTok application just got a major revamp for iPad users. And that includes both portrait and landscape orientations.

It’s a significant change for an app that previously emphasized handsets well ahead of every other device.

Apple News+ adds content from The Athletic and Wirecutter

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The Athletic homepage
If you subscribe to Apple News+, you now have top sport journalism at your fingertips.
Photo: The Athletic

Apple News+ subscribers now get access to The Athletic‘s sports journalism and will see Wirecutter‘s in-depth product ratings in the feed early in 2024, Apple said Tuesday.

“Like so many lifelong sports fans, I am a devoted reader of The Athletic and their fantastic sports reporting and local coverage,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services.

“We’re so proud to now bring sports fans The Athletic in Apple News+ — which millions of News+ subscribers are going to love,” he added.

Apple scrambles to find software fix to prevent Apple Watch import ban

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Lift your arm to look at your Apple Watch, and you'll see a face like this turn into an animation. And there are tons of them.
The fix is unlikely to be ready by the time the import ban goes into effect, though.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Apple engineers reportedly are racing to create a software workaround ahead of a potential Apple Watch import ban in the United States over a patent claim. Apple reportedly hopes to make changes to the algorithm that measures a user’s blood oxygen saturation.

The move comes amid an ongoing patent dispute between Apple and Masimo, a medical devices company that says the Apple Watch’s blood oxygen feature breaches its patents. The International Trade Commission ruled earlier this year that Apple infringed on patents held by Masimo Corp., which could result in a ban on the import and sales of certain Apple Watches next week.

As a preemptive measure, Apple says it will pause Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 sales starting December 21. The company also began sending new marketing materials to its retail stores, promoting the Apple Watch without mentioning the Series 9 or Ultra 2. Apple’s decision to pause smartwatch sales does not affect the Apple Watch SE model, as it lacks a blood oxygen sensor.

These 4 Apple TV+ series prove more popular than almost any other streaming shows

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Apple TV+ hits
These four Apple TV+ series all draw big audiences.
Photo: Apple TV+/Cult of Mac

Four of the top 10 most popular streaming series are all on Apple TV+, according to a market analysis. That’s a new milestone for Apple’s streaming service.

The list includes British spy thriller Slow Horses and Godzilla series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, as well as other shows that both audiences and critics like.

Studio Display stars in designer’s Lego-rich home office [Setups]

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Setups Jose Munoz desk with MacBook Pro and Studio Display
Munoz loves his Studio Display the most, but he also praises his 14-inch M1 MacBook Pro and other gear.
Photo: Jose Munoz

If Apple’s popular but pricey Studio Display is well-suited to anyone, it’s any type of designer because of the monitor’s formidable graphics chops.

In today’s loaded MacBook Pro setup, a designer sets apart his Studio Display for the highest praise among many items in a remarkably well-equipped workstation. And his Lego collection is epic, too.

Apple readies AirPods 4 with noise cancellation, plans AirPods Max update

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AirPods 4 are coming in 2024
Expect to see two versions of AirPods 4 -- including one with noise canceling -- in 2024.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple will revamp its AirPods lineup in 2024 in an effort to boost sales and clarify offerings, a new report indicates.

AirPods 4 should arrive next year, with two versions replacing current lower-priced earbuds models. And AirPods Max will receive some long-awaited updates, although the pricey over-ear headphones won’t get a major revamp.

Apple ‘pausing’ Apple Watch sales in US over patent dispute

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Apple Watch Shock
Grab a recent-model Apple Watch while you can still get one.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple will temporarily halt sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 starting December 21. This is the result of a decision made by the International Trade Commission that the wearables infringe on patents held by two medical device-makers.

Apple argues that the companies are “patent trolls,” but it’s not that simple. And the question now is whether Apple will pay to license the patents, or if it will continue to fight in court.

2024 Apple Watch could pack two major new health features

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Apple Watch Series 9 with Mulberry Sport Band on desk
2024 Apple Watch might pack some big upgrades.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly plans to launch a redesigned Apple Watch next year capable of detecting hypertension and sleep apnea.

Like the temperature sensor on recent Apple Watches, the next-gen model won’t provide exact blood pressure readings. Instead, it will only show if the blood pressure is elevated compared to the baseline reading. If the watch detects hypertension (or sleep apnea), it might recommend a doctor’s visit.

Best (and worst) gear of 2023 [The CultCast]

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A red question mark atop a winner's podium.
What gear and amusements made us smile (and kvetch) in 2023?
Image: Joshua Golde/Unsplash License/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After a quick spin through the news of the week, we get down to business with our second round of picks for the best and worst tech and entertainment of 2023.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Would you pay 99 bucks for a USB-C case for AirPods Pro? I think the price is outrageous, but not everyone is so sure.
  • Apple just raised the bar for authorities who might want to spy on your iPhone’s push notifications.
  • A new iPhone security feature will soon make it harder for thieves to wreck your life.
  • And the latest on how Apple might be forced to open up iPhone to appease regulators.

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.

Apple Watch Ultra may get bigger, pricier microLED display in 2026

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Apple Watch Ultra 2 diver
Think Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a big screen? Well, it's probably going to get significantly larger.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 2’s generously large display, expected to switch from OLED to microLED, will come out later than previously estimated, grow by 10% in size and cost more, according to a research company.

Other recent estimates pushed back the launch time frame to 2025, but now it may actually be 2026.

How many displays would you add to this MacBook Pro workstation? [Setups]

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MacBook Pro setup with ultra-wide Samsung display
Would you add displays alongside or above this ultra-wide monitor, or replace it?
Photo: [email protected]

If you had a gigantic 49-inch curved ultra-wide display, would you dream of adding more external monitors to it? If so, would you stack them, or add one or two displays in portrait mode (vertical) on either side of the big screen?

A MacBook Pro user with a giant Samsung display is pondering those very questions.

Brilliant Murderbot novels becoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series starring Alexander Skarsgård

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'Murderbot' novels becoming Apple TV+ sci-fi series
All Systems Red from Martha Wells is coming to Apple TV+.
Image: Tor/Cult of Mac

The Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Murderbot novels by Martha Wells are getting adapted into a series on Apple TV+. The sci-fi show will star Emmy winner Alexander Skarsgård, perhaps best known for his role on Succession.

Wells’ action-packed bestsellers center on a robot that breaks the programming that forces it to kill. The move allows the android to go freelance as a security specialist. Fans eagerly awaiting the Murderbot TV series release date can find all the latest details about the adaptation.

Nab killer holiday deals on iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and Beats

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Best Buy sale Apple Watch Ultra 2
Best Buy offers $50 off Apple Watch Ultra 2, among many other bargains.
Photo: Apple

While Best Buy offers great deals on MacBooks, iMacs, Macs mini and iPads in its Apple Sales Event for the holidays, you can also score good deals on iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods. See the selection below, or check out the whole sale here.

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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.