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News - page 106

Pro Max variant dominates iPhone 15 shipments

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iPhone 15 Pro Max
You're not the only one who rocking an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Not by a long shot.
Photo: Apple

The top-of-the line iPhone 15 Pro Max makes up close to half of shipments of the iPhone 15 series, according to a trusted market analyst.

This continues a trend from last year in which Apple’s most expensive model was also its most popular.

iPhones gets big discounts in China ahead of Lunar New Year

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Apple's Lunar New Year promo in China
iPhones and other Apple products are getting discounted in China for Lunar New Year.
Photo: Apple

Apple will run a promotion in China offering up to RMB 800 ($70 off) on iPhones. The sale will run from January 18-21 and is available through Apple’s online and retail stores in the country.

The Cupertino company is providing discounts on the most popular products in its portfolio, including iPhone 15 Pro, MacBook Air, and AirPods.

iPhone 16 could get 8GB RAM and Wi-Fi 6E support

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iPhone 15 and 15 Plus review: Pro features for less
iPhone 16 could get a much-needed system memory boost.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple could equip its entire 2024 iPhone lineup with 8GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 6E support. Currently, only the iPhone 15 Pro models enjoy these features.

Additionally, the company might exclusively use Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon X75 5G modem on the iPhone 16 Pro. The non-Pro variants would stick to the X70 modem used by current-gen iPhones.

Apple’s reorganization efforts within Siri team leading to layoffs

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Apple’s AI-driven voice-controlled digital assistant Siri
Apple's reorganization efforts could cost 121 people their jobs.
Image: Apple

Apple is shutting down its Data Operations Annotations office in San Diego and merging employees who are willing to relocate with their teammates in Texas.

The move reportedly comes as a big surprise to the California workers. Until very recently, Apple told them they would simply be moving to another location in San Diego.

Ready or not, here comes Apple Vision Pro! [The CultCast]

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Apple Vision Pro product shot closeup, The CultCast episode 629
Is the Vision Pro ready for its close-up?
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Will Apple Vision Pro win the world over to “spatial computing” when it launches on February 2? With the $3,499 mixed-reality headset coming so close to reality, it’s time for a serious talk.

We’re all super-curious about Vision Pro. But the hefty price tag and lack of a clear purpose leave us wondering if it’s a solution in need of a problem. (If nothing else, we like the new Vision Pro ad.)

Also on The CultCast:

  • Apple apparently plans to keep the first Vision Pro reviewers on a short leash.
  • The buzziest gadget at this year’s CES certainly looks cool. But what can it do?
  • We’ll believe that an AI-boosted Siri is smarter when we see it.
  • Are expensive cables worth the extra cash? Torture tests by Consumer Reports raise some eyebrows.

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 CEO meets with EU competition chief to talk sideloading iPhone apps

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European Union's commissioner for competition Margrethe Vestager and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Margrethe Vestager and Tim Cook had an in-person meeting with some weighty issues on the table.
Photo: Margrethe Vestager

Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s commissioner for competition, met with Apple CEO Tim Cook on Thursday to discuss the upcoming EU requirement that iPhone users be able to install applications from outside the App Store, aka sideloading.

Vestager also says the two discussed the EU’s investigation into whether Apple Music is anticompetitive.

New Sennheiser wireless earbuds measure heart rate and body temperature

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Sennheiser Momentum Sport earbuds olive
These new sport buds will track your heart rate and body temperature.
Photo: Sennheiser

Sennheiser unveiled three new earphones at CES 2024 that will compete with various AirPods, including Momentum Sport wireless earbuds that track heart rate and body temperature. Those kinds of sensors were expected in AirPods Pro (2nd generation), launched in September 2022, but didn’t show up.

In addition, Momentum True Wireless 4 earbuds become the venerable brand’s new flagship buds for sound quality and Accentum Plus bring top-shelf features to relatively affordable over-ear headphones.  

Ask AI-powered Rabbit R1 for anything (without touching an app) [Updated]

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Rabbit R1 AI device
It won't replace your iPhone anytime soon, but it could make operating all your apps easier.
Photo: Rabbit

You can ask the new AI-powered Rabbit R1 gadget to do pretty much anything you’d normally do with some combination of apps on your smartphone, according to Rabbit’s fascinating keynote at CES 2024.

You can ask it to explain something, call an Uber, order a meal delivery or even book a fairly complex vacation itinerary, to name a few examples.

And unlike a would-be iPhone replacement like the Humane Ai Pin, Rabbit R1 comes with a screen and costs just $199 with no subscription necessary.

Update: Rabbit noted it sold out its R1 units on day one of sales, moving 10,000 units. See the company’s tweet below.

Terrible Mac sales in 2023 help explain why Apple rushed out M3 processor

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New super-size MacBook Air is 'world's thinnest 15-inch laptop'
Even the launch of the first 15-inch MacBook Air wasn't enough to spur 2023 Mac shipments.
Screenshot: Apple

Shipments of Macs plunged 22.4% in 2023, according to a market research firm. While every PC maker also had a weak year, Apple did a bit worse than its rivals.

The drop in macOS demand probably explains why Apple launched the M3 family of processors in the fall, less than a year after the release of their predecessors.

Kensington hub uses Thunderbolt 5 to transfer files at an amazing 120Gbps

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Kensington SD5000T5 Thunderbolt 5 Dock
Thunderbolt 5 means this upcoming Kensington multiport dock offers transfers at up to 120Gbps.
Photo: Kensington

Kensington on Monday unveiled one of the first docks using Thunderbolt 5, a new version of the networking standard that’s up to three times the speed of its predecessor. The SD5000T5 will sport an array of ports, and support dual 8K displays.

Also at CES 2024, the accessory-maker took the wraps off a trio of USB-C docks.

His sister works for Apple. Brace for jealousy. [Setups]

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Mac Studio setup with 5K Studio Display and 4K Samsung monitor
What do you do if one display is 5K resolution and one is 4K resolution?
Photo: [email protected]

When someone asked a marketing director in the United Kingdom how much money he makes, the man laughed and said, “Not enough to justify the contents of this picture” of his computer setup.

Hey, we get it. But then we suffered immediate pangs of envy when he went on to say, “My sister works for Apple so got a sick deal on a refurbed [Mac] Studio and new Studio Display.”

Yeah, good for you, pal. No, really. We mean it!

Juuk Aruna band brings smooth and shiny stainless steel to Apple Watch

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Juuk Aruna for Apple Watch
Now that's a good-looking Apple Watch.
Photo: Juuk

Need a quick and easy way to give your Apple Watch a high-end look? Check out Juuk’s outstanding Aruna band, made from smooth and shiny stainless steel. It’s available in a variety of color options for all 38/40/41mm Apple Watch models — and every single one of them looks fantastic.

Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store.

OtterBox makes ‘leather’ iPhone cases out of … cacti?!?

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OtterBox Symmetry Series Cactus Leather iPhone cases product shot
No cows were harmed making the new Symmetry Series Cactus Leather iPhone cases.
Photo: OtterBox

OtterBox’s new iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands and MagSafe wallets might look and feel like they’re made of leather, but they’re not. They’re made from nopal cactus leaves.

The exclusive Desserto leather alternative used in OtterBox’s Cactus Leather iPhone cases is “a luxury material that is durable, cruelty-free and sustainable,” the company said Tuesday in a press release.

The Dynasty documentary tackles the many victories and controversies of New England Patriots

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'The Dynasty: New England Patriots' sports documentary hits Apple TV+ February 16.
The Dynasty: New England Patriots sports documentary hits Apple TV+ February 16.
Photo: Apple TV+

Football fans can look forward to the February premiere of The Dynasty: New England Patriots, an Apple TV+ sports documentary that interviews Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and many others about the team’s six Super Bowl wins between 2001 and 2019 — and the team’s many scandals.

The trailer for the upcoming documentary dropped Tuesday. Watch it now.

Anker ships its first Qi2 MagGo chargers

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Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station
This folding 3-in-1 charging station is Qi2-certified and on sale now.
Photo: Anker

Many companies use CES to unveil products that won’t go on sale right away — including Qi2 chargers — but Anker is using the major electronics show to make hay about much of its previously teased lineup of MagGo Qi2 charging accessories going on actual sale.

Qi2 is essentially MagSafe for all, and it can be used to charge MagSafe iPhones at a full 15 watts, so these are worth a look.

First Vision Pro ad harks back to classic iPhone Hello advert

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Get Ready | Apple Vision Pro video ad
Put on your goggles ... here comes Vision Pro.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s fun new Get Ready video for the upcoming Vision Pro headset is clearly intended to ratchet up the hype for the spatial computing device scheduled for release in early February.

The new advert shows a wide range of celebrities putting on visors in iconic film roles. That makes it strongly reminiscent of a 2007 ad released before the launch of the original iPhone.

This slim, wireless mechanical keyboard connects to four devices

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Satechi SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard
Satechi's first mechanical keyboard won't take up much room on your desk.
Photo: Satechi

The Satechi SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard offers a 75% layout with low-profile brown switches. It can connect with up to four computers, whether Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, etc.

The wired/wireless keyboard debuted at CES 2024, and is available now.

Alogic unveils world’s first foldable MagSafe 3-in-1 wireless charger

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Matrix Ultimate folding 3-in-1 wireless charger
This 3-in-1 MagSafe charger folds and disassembles for true portability.
Photo: Alogic

Alogic rolled out the portable Matrix Ultimate — calling it the world’s first foldable MagSafe-certified 3-in-1 wireless charger for iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch — at CES in Las Vegas Tuesday.

In addition, the company unveiled four new 32-inch Clarity 4K-resolution displays (previous Clarity models are 27 inches), plus Glide Flexible Monitor Arms.

Turn Apple Watch into high-end jewelry with this band

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Isn't it time you made your wearable an elegant piece of jewelry?
Isn't it time you made your wearable an elegant piece of jewelry?
Photo: Goldenerre

Your Apple Watch may be the ultimate tool, but it can also be beautiful jewelry with the right accessory. Goldenerre makes some remarkably pretty Apple Watch bands, and its Basketweave model is no exception.

Now available in the Cult of Mac Store in three lustrous finishes, you can get it for just $108.

Chipolo Card Spot wallet finder goes ‘Perfectly Imperfect’

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Chipolo Card Spot Perfectly Imperfect wallet tracker
The special edition of Chipolo's Find My-compatible wallet tracker is Perfectly Imperfect.
Photo: Chipolo

Chipolo introduced the “Perfectly Imperfect” limited edition collection of its Card Spot wallet tracker. Although slightly flawed in appearance, each unit is fully functional — like so many of us.

The tracker uses Apple’s Find My network, which means iPhone, Mac and iPad users can locate it without having to install any software from Chipolo.

Aqara’s new HomeKit-enabled wares include powerful hub, smart plug and lock

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Aqara Hub M3
The new Aqara Hub M3 can help your run your whole smart home.
Photo: Aqara

Aqara highlighted new HomeKit-enabled smart-home devices at CES 2024 Monday in Las Vegas — the new Hub M3, Border Router Plug and Smart Lock U300 — plus an AI chatbot interface for the Aqara Home App.

The devices support both Matter and Thread networking standards. And the hub may help you control your whole smart home.

iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall from Alaska Airlines jet

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An Alaska Airlines flight lost a door plug in mid-air.
The iPhone went out this hole in the fuselage.
Photo: National Transportation Safety Board

An iPhone found beside a road in Portland reportedly dropped from an Alaska Airlines jet after part of the fuselage detached in flight, immediately depressurizing the cabin. The iPhone is undamaged despite a 16,000-foot plunge.

Is that tough enough for you?

Holograms at CES? Samsung shows off world’s first transparent microLED displays.

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Samsung transparent micro LED display
A screenshot from a video posted on X shows the transparent display in action.
Photo: Dave Snelling, @snellingD on X

Samsung showed off three transparent microLED displays at its First Look event Sunday just ahead of CES 2024 in Las Vegas, according to reports. Two of them are tinted, but the totally clear one can have an especially hologram-like effect.

Don’t get too excited, though. With no availability or pricing information available yet, it might be a while before even any rich people you know can buy these.

Can removing a 4K external display count as an upgrade? [Setups]

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MacBook Pro setup with LG UltraFine monitor on stand
Once again, a monitor riser (and other updates) elevates a computer setup.
Photo: [email protected]

Multiple-display computer setups are all the rage, but can a workstation benefit from losing one of its external monitors, even one with 4K resolution?

If today’s featured MacBook Pro rig is any indication, yes, it can — especially if the outfit sees a bunch of other cool upgrades at the same time, like a cool new monitor riser, an open stand for the MacBook Pro and a great new office chair.