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News - page 142

iOS 16.6 and macOS 13.5 are less than a week away

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iOS 16.6
iOS 16.6 is almost here, along with an array of other Apple OS updates.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The release candidates for iOS 16.6 and macOS Ventura 13.5 were seeded to developers on Tuesday. These are the final betas of minor bug updates without significant new features, but nevertheless they will be worth installing when the final versions are released, almost certainly within a week.

The same is true for iPadOS 16.6 RC, watchOS 9.6 RC and tvOS 16.6 RC.

New Apple-certified GaN charging station powers up 6 devices at once

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You might not always have to charge six devices at once, but with this charging station, you can.
You might not always have to charge six devices at once, but with this charging station, you can.
Photo: ESR

ESR just launched a Kickstarter campaign for an unprecedented, Apple-certified 100-watt 6-in-1 charging station with GaN technology to juice up all your devices.

The company called the device — which can charge iPhone, iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously — the “world’s first” of its kind. You can preorder it now at a 20% discount. And it may serve all your charging needs.

2024 iPhone could get 12× telephoto zoom lens

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Super telephoto photo of a hawk
Pictures like these, with an incredibly long zoom, might be possible on the next next iPhone.
Photo: Susanne Nilsson/Creative Commons

A new leak outlines how the 2024 iPhone Pro Max might improve upon the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max’s camera. While this year’s model reportedly will introduce a new periscope lens, the iPhone 16 Pro Max could come with an ultra-long telephoto periscope lens capable of 12× optical zoom.

To clarify, today we’re still on the iPhone 14, which features a 3× optical zoom — and the model releasing this fall is rumored to retain the same 3× zoom level, using periscope technology to reduce the camera’s thickness.

The source of Tuesday’s iPhone 16 rumor, Digital Chat Station, previously leaked the iPhone 12 mini display.

Sleeves in sleek black or plush pastels protect MacBook

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Laut's sleek and protective sleeve protects your laptop.
Laut's sleek and protective sleeve protects your laptop.
Photo: Laut

When you don’t want to lug around a computer bag or case, or you need something slim to protect your MacBook inside your luggage, a sleeve can suit the situation perfectly. Laut makes a great selection of sleek and protective sleeves, including colorful ones.

Check out three different sleeves for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air in different sizes in the Laut MacBook Sleeves collection.

Get the MacBook Pro you want at the discount you need

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2023 MacBook Pro.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the best laptop you can buy at its discounted price.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s 2023 16-inch MacBook Pro represents the best of what the company has to offer in a laptop. But it is equally expensive, putting it out of reach for many.

With Amazon’s latest deal, the 16-inch MacBook Pro gets a fair bit cheaper after a $250 discount. This brings the entry-level model’s price down to $2,249 from $2,499.

Here’s why people are learning to love Apple Maps

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Apple Maps' use of 3D imagery led the way, but in other ways it trailed Google Maps.
Apple Maps' use of 3D imagery led the way, but in other ways it trailed Google Maps.
Photo: Apple

After its launch in 2012, Apple Maps performed so badly that Apple CEO Tim Cook actually apologized for the service and fired the company’s head of software (for the disastrous launch and other reasons). But now, many people actually choose Apple Maps over Google Maps and other services, according to a new report.

iPhone shines as relative bright spot in weak global smartphone market

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iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus now come in yellow as well as a rainbow of other colors.
iPhone didn’t have a great Q2, but other handset-makers did worse.
Photo: Apple

iPhone pulled in its highest-ever Q2 share of the global smartphone market, according to an analysis firm. Apple’s total shipments were down, just not down as much as shipments of Androids from rival handset-makers.

The good news for Apple is that consumers around the world are more interested in premium smartphones than ever before.

Stacked batteries could let iPhone 15 go longer between charges

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iPhone 11 Pro Max teardown
A new type of battery could give the iPhone 15 the longest battery life yet.
Photo: TechInsights

Apple will put batteries that could last up to 10% longer in the upcoming iPhone 15 series, according to an unconfirmed report. These will be stacked batteries rather than wound ones.

iOS handsets already offer lengthy times between recharges, but surely no one will complain about extending that.

Apple can wait on major App Store change until Supreme Court ruling

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App Store faces barrage of antitrust charges
The fate of the App Store anti-steering policy is up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Photo: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels CC

Apple is hoping to take its lawsuit with Epic Games all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and on Monday received permission to hold off on making a significant change to the App Store ordered by lower courts until there’s a final decision by the high court.

This means the Mac-maker won’t have to change its App Store policy that prevents developers from sending customers to their websites to pay for apps or services… yet.

You’ll laugh and cry at the most popular emoji on World Emoji Day

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You’ll laugh and cry at the most popular emoji on World Emoji Day
Did your favorite emoji make the top 20 list? Find out now.
Image: Facemoji/Cult of Mac

There’s no better day to check into the state of emoji than World Emoji Day, celebrated every year on July 17. There’s a new most popular one this year, though the top five stayed consistent. And the top 20 also boasts a new entry you should be aware of.

It’s wise to know the meaning of the most popular so you’re not confused when someone sends you a 🗿. At the same time, it’s interesting to explore what’s the least used emoji and why certain emojis never seem to gain traction in digital conversations.

The most confusing and misused emoji will melt your brain

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We have a winner: survey finds Woman Tipping Hand is most-confusing emoji.
We have a winner: Survey finds Woman Tipping Hand is the most-confusing emoji.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Ever find yourself perplexed by the intended meaning of an emoji in a message? A recent survey suggests you’re not alone. Even on World Emoji Day (July 17), a lot of the little graphics have people scratching their heads and even offending each other.

Ukraine-based language-learning platform Preply sought to understand which emoji cause the most confusion and misuse — unintentionally or intentionally — among Americans. You can see the main findings below, including insights on the least used emoji that rarely make an appearance in conversations.

Save $100 on Apple’s most powerful iPad ever

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iPad Pro 2022 Back View
Apple's latest is labeled "iPad Pro," the only visible difference between it and the 2021 model.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s 2022 iPad Pro lineup is the perfect laptop replacement for many. And if you are looking to buy the M2 iPad Pro, you can save up to $100 on it.

Amazon is offering up to $70 off on the 11-inch iPad Pro and up to $100 off on the 12.9-inch model. The discount varies depending on the storage and connectivity configuration you opt for.

Before and after photos show MacBook Pro rig’s subtle evolution [Setups]

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See if you can spot the differences between the setup in the photo above and the setup in the photo below.
See if you can spot the differences between the setup in the photo above and the setup in the photo below.
Photo: [email protected]

We love it when computer setup users show their work as they trudge toward home-office nirvana. Today’s featured MacBook Pro and iPad Pro setup does it in a subtle way, providing “before” and “after” photos showing incremental changes that improved the workstation.

You can see the before photograph below and the after shot above.

Factory-sealed 2007 iPhone sells for almost $200,000

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Factory-sealed 2007 iPhone
This is $190,000 worth of iPhone.
Photo: LCG Auctions

An original iPhone from 2007 just sold for what’s apparently a record-breaking amount. At over $190,000, it’s more than 3X the previous top price, actually. But the latest device to sell at auction has a quirk that made it even rarer than usual.

The eye-opening price shows the market for factory-sealed 2007 iPhone units is hot.

Here are the M3-powered Macs expected in fall 2023

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Here are the M3-powered Macs expected in fall 2023
The Apple M3 is almost here, and it’s reportedly going into multiple Macs.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The next generation of Apple silicon is right around the corner, and the upcoming M3 processor is supposedly going into multiple new Macs before the end of 2023.

Here is what we know about the iMac and the two MacBooks we have to look forward to this autumn.

iPhone 15 rumors + iOS 17 beta horror stories [The CultCast]

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iPhone 15 rumors - The CultCast episode 603
The iPhone 15 rumors are becoming clearer ...
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest iPhone 15 rumors paint a somewhat troubling picture. This year’s models might look a lot like last year’s models, which already seemed pretty darn familiar. Plus, is that camera hump really going to get even bigger? And will we once again revert to non-parity between Pro models, so you have to go ridiculously large to get the best features? Oh dear …

Also on The CultCast:

  • The iOS 17 public betas arrive, but should you really install them on your daily driver? Our lousy experiences with the buggy software make that a pretty hard no unless you’ve got extreme tolerance for iPhone malfunctions.
  • Craving that bigger iMac we heard about recently? Better put on your waiting pants.
  • Jony Ive returns to hardware design with a very pricey product. Meanwhile, his precious $300 book Designed by Apple in California would have made a very smart investment.

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.

Why the Microsoft/Activision deal is a huge win for Mac gamers

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Why the Microsoft/Activision deal is a huge win for Mac gamers
Microsoft promised to allow rival cloud-gaming services access to Activision Blizzard games.
Image: Cult of Mac

Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard will be best thing to happen to Mac gaming in decades. The selection of titles available for Mac (and iPad) will shoot up dramatically because Microsoft has committed to allowing its popular games available on rival cloud gaming services.

Mac gaming has limped along since the 1990s. This deal will be a huge turnaround — if it makes it over all the regulatory hurdles.

3 cool new wallpapers you won’t regret downloading

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Basic Apple Guy's
Basic Apple Guy's "Trip Around the Sun" wallpaper puts things in perspective.
Photo: Basic Apple Guy

Mac maven Basic Apple Guy seemingly never stops creating gorgeous wallpapers you can download and put on your Apple screens — Mac, iPad and iPhone. Just in the past couple of weeks he’s made three beauties for you to try out.

Check out the images and see descriptions and links below.

Versatile Mac mini powers DIY workstation [Setups]

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An M1 Mac mini drives a n LG display in this Chicago-area setup.
An M1 Mac mini drives a n LG display in this Chicago-area setup.
Photo: Bill Penhale

While Apple is finally putting out an M2 Mac Pro even as its powerful Mac Studio machines conquer most hardcore computing tasks, the truth is most users can more than get by with an M1 or M2 Mac mini. That goes for Bill Penhale, who sent us his setup from Shorewood, Illinois, near Chicago.

“I am pretty techy for 70, ha!,” the retired sales director told Cult of Mac. And judging by his M1 Mac mini-powered setup, with a fine 4K external display, solid audio and loads of external storage, that’s certainly true.

Nod your head at the emoji coming in 2024

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Proposed Emoji 15.1 additions
You’ll almost certainly be able to add these to your IMs in 2024.
Image: Emojipedia

The list of new emoji up for approval includes a phoenix, a breaking chain, a lime, a person nodding or shaking their head, plus a handful more.

These are being proposed to the Unicode Consortium in September, but are very unlikely to appear on iPhone and other computers before 2024.

Sweet deals on Mac, iPad and Apple accessories linger on after Prime Day

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The new MacBook Air features a spacious, high-resolution 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display — 25 percent larger than the 13-inch MacBook Air with M2.
The 15-inch MacBook Air is new but you can still find a discount on it, and other Apple products, in after-Prime Day sales.
Photo: Apple

Although Amazon’s Prime Day is over, you have not missed your chance to save money on iPad, MacBook or AirPods. These Apple products are still on sale with enticing discounts.

But don’t wait — these deals could disappear at any time.

Last chance: Get 30% off all SwitchEasy iPad cases

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SwitchEasy's origami case for iPad provides multiple positions.
SwitchEasy's origami case for iPad provides multiple positions.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Attention iPad owners: This is your last day to slash 30% off a fantastic variety of iPad cases in the Cult of Mac Store.

SwitchEasy’s sleek and protective cases cover any iPad you might own. See key highlights below and check out the SwitchEasy Flash Sale, which ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on July 13.