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News - page 144

Supreme Court refuses to speed up major App Store change

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Is Apple’s deal to make Google Safari’s default search engine anticompetitive?
The Supreme Court won't immediately end Apple's anti-steering policy for third-party app developers.
Photo: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels CC

The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by Epic Games that would have required Apple to immediately get rid of its “anti-steering” rule for third-party applications — a major change. Instead, the Mac-maker can wait until there’s a final decision by the high court.

This means Apple doesn’t have to change its policy that prevents developers from sending customers from their applications to their websites to pay for subscriptions or services … yet.

Apple’s sweetheart deal with TSMC isn’t as sweet as we thought

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TSMC chip wafer
Not all of the chips on a wafer a good. But who pays for the defective ones?
Photo: TSMC

Apple’s chip-maker TSMC does not absorb the cost of defective processors created in the production process, according to a trusted analyst. That contradicts a recent report that TSMC “eats the cost of the defects.”

Which isn’t to say that Apple and the Taiwanese company don’t have a very close working relationship.

Razer marks International Cat Day with new Kraken Kitty headsets

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If you love cats, not to mention sea monsters, light it up with Razer Kraken Kitty V2 and V2 Bluetooth headsets. Or you could just buy the ears.
If you love cats, not to mention sea monsters, light it up with Razer Kraken Kitty V2 and V2 Bluetooth headsets. Or you could just buy the ears.
Photo: Razer

Gaming brand Razer birthed a new litter of Kraken Kitty headsets Tuesday in recognition of International Cat Day, “so gamers, streamers, and cosplayers alike can celebrate in style.”

It said its original Kraken Kitty headset is one its most popular models.

“When we first released the Kraken Kitty, it really scratched an itch in the market, as there was nothing like it before.” said Alvin Cheung, senior vice president, Hardware Business Unit.

Why the dream of Apple buying Disney won’t die

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Disney+ logo
The idea that Apple could buy Disney keeps coming up.
Photo: The Walt Disney Company

As legacy studios like Disney face formidable problems, a new report suggests CEO Bob Iger might revisit a “once-unthinkable option” — that Apple might buy the company, or at least a stripped-down version of it.

After all, in a near-future of even greater tech-company dominance over entertainment, Disney may need deep-pocketed protection. And its longstanding connection with Apple could come into play.

Save big on the mouse most Mac owners prefer and other Logitech gear

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Mac users love Logitech mice like the MX Master 3S for Mac.
Mac users love Logitech mice like the MX Master 3S for Mac.
Photo: Logitech

With summer on the wane and the new school year looming, peripherals giant Logitech — a mainstay in our computer setups coverage, especially for the MX Master 3S mouse and MX series keyboards — is running a site-wide sale through August 16.

Logitech’s back-to-school sale is “filled with cutting-edge technology and exclusive deals to help you embark on your academic journey with confidence and success,” the company said.

Obviously, you don’t need to be a student to get the deals. Anybody can do it. See below.

Mac Studio drives wild 4-monitor formation with Bat-Signal [Setups]

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The Bat-Signal is displayed on a giant screen atop three other monitors in a Batman-themed computer setup.
Gotta love the Bat-Signal.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup found an interesting way to arrange its four displays — three little ones in a row and one huge one broadcasting the Bat-Signal on top.

With Batman undoubtedly on his way (OK, maybe it’s just the logo, not the actual signal), the workstation also boasts a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Apple’s Smart Folio and a remarkably affordable mechanical keyboard for use with the desktop machine.

Nomad’s new Sport Band for Apple Watch glows in the dark

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You might want to wear a different band to the movie theater. It might distract others.
You might want to wear a different band to the movie theater. It might distract others.
Photo: Nomad

Nomad added a new limited-edition Sport Band for Apple Watch Tuesday, and this one glows in the dark. That’s why it’s called Glow.

By day the waterproof bands appears off-white, but in the dark in glows bright green. It will be tough to misplace it, even at night.

Add 10,000mAh of power to your iPhone with this magnetic stand

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MagSafe 10,000mAh Battery Pack with Foldable Kickstand
Get two full recharges for your iPhone from Ugreen’s MagSafe power bank.
Photo: Ugreen

The name for the Ugreen MagSafe 10,000mAh Battery Pack with Foldable Kickstand is a mouthful, but it’s also a full description of what the new accessory has to offer. Magnetically clip the power bank to the back of an iPhone and it’ll wirelessly recharge the handset. And the kickstand means it also functions as a stand.

The accessory can even recharge two other devices at the same time.

Grab steep discounts on iPad Pro before they disappear

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These 2021 iPads are
These 2021 iPads are "new" in that they're not used.
Photo: Apple

Amazon deals site Woot! is at it again, offering great prices on Apple gear. This time the steals are big discounts on 2021 iPad Pro — 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, with or without cellular coverage along with Wi-Fi.

They may not be new-new, but they’re not used and they could be new to you. The sale goes through August 14 at 10 p.m. PT.

College students, you don’t need a MacBook Air

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2022 iPad Pro gets speed boost from Apple M2 processor but no new ports
An iPad Pro or iPad Air with a Magic Keyboard is a better choice for most students than a MacBook Air.
Photo: Apple

Dear university students: While it’s tempting to buy the hot new MacBook Air, doing so would mean a huge loss of flexibility. You simply don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars more for a laptop that’s less versatile. An iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard and Pencil fits your needs much better, especially now that it has the very same M2 chip inside.

And beyond the versatility, the whole iPad lineup can do just about everything you can expect a Mac to do every day.

To be clear, there are exceptions to this — some students really do need a Mac. But odds are you’re not one of them.

The Changeling trailer reveals supernatural horror show

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You weren't going to sleep well ever again, anyway.
You weren't going to sleep well ever again, anyway.
Photo: Apple

The new Apple TV+ trailer for the upcoming drama series The Changeling starts off lightly enough — LaKeith Stanfield’s character, Apollo, can’t get a date with Clark Backo’s Emma in New York City because she’s moving to Brazil.

But once she’s there, dark magic soon reveals this Big Apple-based “drama” to be an absolute supernatural horror show. It premieres Friday, September 8.

College students, you don’t need a MacBook Pro

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M2 MacBook Air comes i 13-inch and 15-inch versions
A MacBook Air with either a 13-inch or 15-inch display is a better choice for most students than a MacBook Pro.
Photo: Apple

Dear university students: While it’s tempting to buy the top-tier MacBook Pro, it would be a huge waste of money. You simply don’t need to pay an extra $1,000 or more for a notebook that powerful. A MacBook Air fits your needs much better, especially now that there’s a 15-inch version.

And beyond the higher price, the increased performance of the MacBook Pro comes with a drawback you’ll notice every day.

To be clear, there are exceptions for this — some students really do need a MacBook Pro. But odds are you’re not one of them.

Apple’s M3 Max chip spotted with 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU

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Apple M3 processor
Apple could bump the CPU and GPU core count on the M3 Max.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next-generation M3 Max could feature a staggering 16-core CPU and 40 GPU cores. A third-party Mac developer spotted the chip in test logs running inside a high-end MacBook Pro.

This new high-end Apple silicon should find its way inside the 2024 MacBook Pro. It should also power other high-end Macs due to launch in 2024.

Third-party Apple Watch chargers will work faster soon

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This MagSafe charger from Belkin might be the coolest iPhone 12 accessory.
This Belkin stand supports Apple Watch fast charging, but not all do.
Photo: Belkin

Makers of third-party Apple Watch chargers will reportedly no longer be able to build the old, slow Apple Watch charging puck into their products. The only one available will operate 33% faster than the original Apple Watch charger.

This means that, going forward, all new Apple Watch accessories will support Fast Charge.

Limited-edition iPhone case takes you back to 1969 moon landing [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Taking a step back to 1969 when history was made
This very special giveaway will take two winners back to a very important date in the history of space exploration.
Photo: Pitaka

We joined forces with Pitaka this week for an exciting giveaway that will take you over the moon. Two lucky winners will score big with the ultra-cool Moon Wondering MagEZ Case for iPhone 14 Pro or 14 Pro Max. This limited-edition iPhone case is totally sold out, so this is your last chance to get one.

This Moon Wondering Kit is worth $89.99 and it comes with a bunch of goodies — a MagEZ Moon Wondering iPhone Case, a MagEZ Grip and a special Moon Wondering coin. Talk about a package deal!

See when your team’s on Friday Night Baseball in September

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With the regular season ending October 1, MLB action heats up in September.
With the regular season ending October 1 ahead of the playoffs, MLB action heats up in September.
Photo: Apple

On Monday, Apple and Major League Baseball called out the September Friday Night Baseball schedule for Apple TV+ subscribers.

As the season’s final stretch unfolds — the regular season ends October 1 ahead of the playoffs — don’t miss out when your team’s at bat.

Is Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad too heavy? [Setups]

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A big Samsung smart TV dominates this Mac Studio rig.
A big Samsung smart TV dominates this Mac Studio rig.
Photo: [email protected]

We look at a lot of computer setups on social media, but sometimes what drives conversation among commenters surprises us. With today’s Mac Studio rig with an odd couple of mismatched displays, the main debate concerned … keyboards for iPad.

Specifically, when an iPad is so wonderfully light, what keyboard case doesn’t weight it down too much?

Latest HyperDrive USB-C portable docking station adds dual 4K plus 8 high-speed ports

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HyperDrive Next 10 Port Business Class USB-C Dock
The HyperDrive Next 10 Port Business Class USB-C Dock is designed to be used in the office or on the go.
Photo: Hyper

The just-launched HyperDrive Next 10 Port Business Class USB-C Dock can handle dual 4K monitors, and it offers multiple 10Gbps USB ports and a detachable USB-C cable.

It’s part of the new HyperDrive Next collection, which also includes a range of USB-C hubs plus an NVMe SSD enclosure with data transfer speeds up to 40Gbps.

Indie dev Casey Liss on how he came to love SwiftUI [Planet of the Apps]

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Casey Liss and Callsheet
Casey Liss, developer of a new app, Callsheet, that makes looking up movie and show trivia trivially easy.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Pro tip bug Planet of the Apps is a series of interviews with app developers about making, marketing and maintaining apps in the App Store.

Indie developer and podcaster Casey Liss used to hate SwiftUI, Apple’s controversial UI toolkit for crafting apps. A lot of developers have a deep and abiding animus for SwiftUI, including Liss himself. But after using SwiftUI to create his latest app Callsheet, a movie and TV database app, he’s now a huge fan.

“So much of SwiftUI, I love,” he said in a wide-ranging and surprisingly-interesting interview. “I went from nothing to a fully functional app … in the span of a couple of weeks… It was stunningly fast.”

Here are all the M3 Macs in development

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Here are the M3-powered Macs expected in fall 2023
A new M3 Mac with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU has been spotted in developer logs.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is working on a slew of M3-powered Macs for late 2023 and 2024, and the latest mystery machine spotted on developers’ logs appears to be a new Mac mini.

The M3 chip, the next-gen Apple silicon that will power these Macs, should be based on the 3nm node, offering superior performance and efficiency.

The latest AirTag and Apple Watch rumors make us giddy [The CultCast]

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An Apple AirTag and an Apple Watch Ultra: We're talking the latest Apple rumors on The CultCast, episode 606.
AirTags with new functionality and Apple Watches in new colors sound good to us.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Which gets you more excited, an AirTag with new AR capabilities, a pink Apple Watch or a black titanium Apple Watch Ultra? This week’s top Apple rumors fuel our imaginations …

Also on The CultCast:

  • Apple touts 1 billion paid subscribers, a gigantic number that pushed the company to record-high revenue for its services division last quarter.
  • Leander cooks up a cheap-and-dirty way to add CarPlay to any car, even an old beater. (Still can’t get him to come on the podcast, though, because … 👀.
  • Tim Cook finally plays the AI card as Apple tries to cash in on the latest tech buzzword.
  • Griffin proves he’s a total nerd the consummate tech collector by revealing what he uses an ancient Apple Newton for these days.

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.

Idris Elba might return for Hijack season 2

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Elba looks tense here for a reason. He's got big problems to solve.
Will there be more adventures for Sam Nelson (Idris Elba)?
Photo: Apple TV+

Now that Hijack has finished its run on Apple TV+, fans of the immensely popular limited series want to know if there’ll be a season two. One of the executive producers says, “I hope so.”

Star Idris Elba already said he’s open to the idea.

Save by buying refurb AirPods 3 straight from Apple

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Apple AirPods 3 Review
Save a nice chunk of money off the regular price by getting a refurbished pair of AirPods 3.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple began selling refurbished AirPods 3 wireless earbuds on Friday. Those willing to buy a previously-purchased unit save $30 off the regular cost.

At this time, the only refurb option from Apple is the version that comes with a MagSafe Charging Case.