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News - page 155

Apple’s powerful M3 processor goes into production later in 2023

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Apple M3 processor
The wait for the Apple M3 processor goes on.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Production on the much-anticipated Apple M3 processor will begin in the second half of 2023, according to a reliable source of Apple leaks. The chip is expected to bring a significant performance boost.

The launch will apparently not be in time for the 15-inch MacBook Air rumored to reach store shelves in the next few months.

TagVault: Fabric helps you hide an AirTag almost anywhere

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The AirTag holder is discreet and designed to move with fabric.
The AirTag holder is discreet and designed to move with fabric.
Photo: ElevationLab

ElevationLab released a new accessory called TagVault: Fabric on Wednesday, saying it’s “the first AirTag fabric mount.” You can discretely stick the fabric holder for Apple’s tracking device almost anywhere, like inside your suitcase or in the lining of a jacket.

Save $99 on the best iPad Pro you can buy

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iPad Pro 2022 Back View
Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro is available for less than $1,000 right now.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s 2022 12.9-inch iPad is available with significant savings on Amazon. You can get the entry-level 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 128GB storage for as low as $999 after a $99 off.

You may see a smaller discount on the listing page. Amazon will automatically apply the remaining discount at checkout.

Apple might triple its investment in India

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Apple Saket opened Thursday in the heart of India’s thriving capital of New Delhi.
Apple Saket just became the second Apple store to open in India, highlighting Apple's growing focus on India.
Photo: Apple

A government minister is “confident” that Apple will double or even triple the amount of money it has invested in India in the coming years. It’s expanding iPhone assembly in the subcontinent, and production of other devices there is expected to begin soon.

The comments come a day after Apple CEO Tim Cook met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Go twice as classy with Speidel’s leather double tour Apple Watch band

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One leather band is not really enough.
One leather band is not really enough.
Photo: Speidel

If you’re among the many people who stick with leather Apple Watch bands because they’re handsome, durable and timeless, can we interest you in a double leather band? They’re called double tour bands, and Speidel makes a beauty in brown leather.

You might think a bunch more fine leather would make it expensive. But the Speidel Brown Leather Double Tour Band stays under the $50 mark in the Cult of Mac Store.

2022 iPad Air models hit all-time low prices

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iPad Air 5 goes super fast with M1 processor
The iPad Air gets a major speed boost with a Mac-quality processor.
Screenshot: Apple

If you bought an iPad Air (5th generation) soon after it came out for full price — like I did — you hate to see news like this. Amazon just marked nearly every 2022 model down as much as $119, hitting all-time-low prices for both cellular and Wi-Fi versions.

But if you’re anybody else — like someone who needs a great iPad — it’s wonderful news. You can save $100 or more.

Tim Cook goes on a grand tour of India (and can’t stop tweeting about it)

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Tim Cook goes on a grand tour of Indian (and can’t stop tweeting about it)
A visit with PM Narendra Modi capped Tim Cook's trip to India.
Photo: Tim Cook/Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. It’s part of a busy agenda for the executive, including opening two Apple stores — the first in the subcontinent. But that’s just a small part of his activities as the executive traveled around to highlight how Apple products are being used in India.

Cook posted tweets from all the many events and meetings.

Apple touts environmental progress ahead of Earth Day

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Renewable energy is one of many topics in Apple's 2023 Environmental Progress Report.
Renewable energy is one of many topics in Apple's 2023 Environmental Progress Report.
Photo: Apple

With Earth Day coming up on Saturday, Apple devoted the top of its website’s homepage Wednesday to the company’s 2023 Environmental Progress Report. It recaps recent press materials about carbon neutrality and recycling measures, but also goes into comprehensive detail about Apple’s longterm approach to climate change.

“Behind every product is a plan for the future” serves as the 114-page tome’s tagline.

Coder’s dual MacBooks look badass in teardown skins [Setups]

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Are those MacBooks at left stripped of their cases?! Nope.
Are those MacBooks at left stripped of their cases?! Nope.
Photo: [email protected]

What’s better than having two MacBook Pro laptops in your computer setup? Having the two powerful machines wrapped in cool-looking skins that confound and excite onlookers, of course.

Such is the case with today’s dual-MacBook Pro, dual LG-display workstation that the user depends on for coding and videoconferencing.

Big Apple secrets ignite in City on Fire trailer

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Want to watch New York City burn?
Want to watch New York City burn? "City on Fire" debuts May 12 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ lit the fuse on upcoming mystery-thiller City on Fire, releasing its first trailer Tuesday. The eight-episode series takes its tale of murder, arson and family drama from the acclaimed novel of the same name by Garth Risk Hallberg.

City on Fire debuts with three episodes on Friday, May 12, on Apple TV+.

Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown expands to US soon

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Netflix Downloads for You puts suggested shows right onto your iPhone
The time to pay for your own Netflix account is coming.
Photo: Netflix

Netflix’s restrictive new account-sharing policy will go live in the United States in the first half of 2023. The streaming company started cracking down on password sharing in New Zealand, Portugal, Canada and Spain earlier this year.

It is fairly common for friends and family members to share a Netflix account among themselves. With its new account-sharing rules, the company wants to clamp down on such behavior.

The scramble to create killer apps for Apple’s AR/VR headset is on

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Apple VR/AR headset concept by Amin Jony.
Surprise: the Apple VR/AR headset might be able to run iPad apps right out of the box.
Concept: Amin Jony/Freelancer.com

There’ll be a lot more to Apple’s VR/AR headset than new hardware: an unconfirmed report leaks details on Apple’s plans for software. There’ll be games and fitness apps, a VR version of FaceTime and more.

That’s not surprising. What is eye-opening is the assertion that the headset will be able to run third-party iPad applications right out of the box.

Attach 2 screens to MacBook with Mobile Pixels’ redesigned Trio and Trio Max

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Mobile Pixels Trio
Don't give up on plenty of screen space when on the go.
Photo: Mobile Pixels

Mobile Pixels just started taking preorders for updated versions of Trio and Trio Max, clip-on accessories that add not one but two external displays to a MacBook or other notebook.

Don’t think these products will trap you in the office — the add-on screens are intended for use on the go.

The new versions offer larger screens in thinner, lighter designs. And there’s a new attachment system, too.

New Apple Health-connected smart scale dares you not to look

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The new Withings Body Smart scale not only measures health metrics, it keeps them private if you like.
The new Withings Body Smart scale not only measures health metrics, it keeps them private if you like.
Photo: Withings

Withings unveiled its newest smart scale Tuesday, the Body Smart. It provides precise weight, body composition and health measurements as well as an Eyes Closed Mode “for those that dare not look,” the company said.

Eyes Closed Mode instead shows encouraging statements on the scale and surfaces your actual stats in the Apple Health-connected app so others can’t see them.

Colorful charging pad powers up iPhone and curbs cable clutter

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Elago's MS pad is a perfect accessory for your iPhone and MagSafe charging puck.
Elago's MS pad is a perfect accessory for your iPhone and MagSafe charging puck.
Photo: Elago

If you use a MagSafe charging puck with your iPhone, you may want to try Elago’s MS Charging Pad for MagSafe with it. Not only does the pad surround the little charger with soft silicone to get a good grip and protect your handset and surfaces from scratches, it helps channel the cable and brings a welcome splash of color.

You can choose from seven fun colors for the Elago MS Charging Pad in the Cult of Mac Store — white, black, red, lavender, pink, mint and jean indigo.

M1 iMac hits an all-time low after a $299 discount

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The 2021 iMac is crazy thin.
You don't want to miss this amazing deal on the M1 iMac.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s 24-inch iMac is down to its lowest-ever price after a whopping $299 discount. While the machine usually retails for $1,499, you can currently get it for $1,199.99 on Amazon.

You can get a lower but equally enticing $199 discount on the entry-level configuration of the M1 iMac.

Apple’s first retail store in India opens, and Tim Cook is there

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Apple BKC with Apple logo upfront.
Apple BKC features huge glass walls and a timber ceiling.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s first retail store in India opened its doors to shoppers Tuesday, and CEO Tim Cook showed up to celebrate. Apple BKC — housed in an energy-efficient structure with some stunning architectural details — is located inside Jio World Drive, a huge shopping complex in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

The Indian store opening marks an important milestone for Apple, as it seeks to expand its retail and manufacturing presence in the world’s most populous country.

Prehistoric Planet 2 teaser reveals fascinating and fearsome dinosaurs

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Prehistoric Planet 2 debuts May 22 in a week-long event on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

On Tuesday, aka National Velociraptor Awareness Day, Apple TV+ dropped a teaser trailer for season 2 of its award-winning natural history series, Prehistoric Planet. And it comes complete with an exciting “new” lineup of dinosaurs.

Narrated by the inimitable Sir David Attenborough — the voice of nature — the series uses new research and technological wizardry to create an in-depth nature documentary. But this one, returning May 22, takes you to landscapes filled with fearsome predators and gentle giants of many millions of years ago.

How far can you get on Apple silicon without Rosetta?

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Grid of Apple app icons
How far can you get without Rosetta 2?
Image: Apple

Is it possible to get work done on an Apple silicon Mac without ever installing Rosetta 2, the compatibility layer for running old Intel apps? In short, yes.

After buying my first Apple silicon Mac earlier this year, I was curious if I could get settled into my new computer without Rosetta. And I was successful. I’ve been writing articles, making videos and recording podcasts for more than a month, and I haven’t yet come across a mission-critical app that’s Intel-exclusive.

Rumor: iPhone 15 could feature frosted glass back

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iPhone 15 already in trial production
Apple could offer iPhone 15 in an iPhone 12-like cyan color.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac/Pixabay/Pexels

A new rumor claims Apple will offer the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus in a cyan-green color. Additionally, the company apparently plans to use a frosted glass back on these phones.

Up to this point, Apple only used frosted glass on its iPhone Pro lineup. (The iPhone 14 series features a clear glass back.)

Rode unveils all-in-one Streamer X and RodeCaster Duo for content creators

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The compact, portable RødeCaster Duo can do everything the RødeCaster Pro II can do.
The compact, portable RødeCaster Duo can do everything the RødeCaster Pro II can do.
Photo: Røde

Australian audio powerhouse Røde introduced five new products and two major software updates Monday — its “biggest product announcement ever,” it said — at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas.

Two new products headlined — the Streamer X audio interface/video capture card and the compact RødeCaster Duo AV production tool. The new PodMic USB, important firmware updates to the Wireless Go II mic system and the RødeCaster Pro II production tool, and handy new accessories rounded out the mix.

Behind-desk lighting takes MacBook Pro rig to ‘next level’ [Setups]

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A light strip -- in this case one from Nanoleaf -- can make a big difference.
A light strip -- in this case one from Nanoleaf -- can make a big difference.
Photo: [email protected]

A humble light strip can have a huge impact on a computer setup and even the room it’s in, providing functional lighting as well as setting a mood with white or colored lights at different temperatures (cool, warm, etc.). Today’s featured MacBook Pro setup uses nothing but a Nanoleaf Essentials light strip behind the desk and a Xiaomi monitor lamp to light its way. And they do so to great effect.

Read more about the lighting below, plus the setup’s use of a Sonos Bluetooth speaker for audio and an iPhone with Continuity Camera for effective videoconferencing.

Stash your cash in a high-yield Apple Card Savings account

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Apple Card Daily Cash can go straight into 'high-yield' savings account
A new Savings account for Apple Card holders includes a Savings dashboard to track progress.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple Card Savings launched Monday, allowing money earned from Apple Card’s cash-back program to go into a high-yield savings account. And it is high-yield — at 4.15%, the annual rate is about 10 times higher than the national average.

There are no fees for the new financial service, and users can bring in their own cash from other banks that offer lower interest rates.

World’s first lossless Wi-Fi headphones come from unexpected place

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HED Unity lossless Wi-Fi headphones come with a hefty price tag -- $2,199.
HED Unity lossless Wi-Fi headphones come with a hefty price tag -- $2,199.
Photo: HED Technologies

Rumors swirled over the past few years that Sonos would take on Apple’s AirPods Max by releasing its first headphones, possibly with Wi-Fi in addition to Bluetooth. But a little-known Swiss startup has beaten both companies to the punch with a pricey new set of cans.

HED Technologies recently unveiled HED Unity, the world’s first wireless headphones to offer lossless audio, high-resolution audio streaming over a local Wi-Fi network at up to 24bit/96kHz.