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News - page 182

Apple car just got a lot less ambitious

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It looks like Apple's car will have a steering wheel after all.
It looks like Apple's car will have a steering wheel after all.
Photo: Anna Vi/Unsplash License

Apple’s plan for a completely autonomous vehicle has gone back onto the drawing board, according to a reliable source. The company supposedly is still prepping an electric car but the self-driving capabilities much more limited.

The Apple car could reach customers in about four years.

App Store prices now range from 29 cents to … $10,000?!?

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Developers are getting a lot more options for app pricing.
Developers are getting a lot more options for app pricing.
Photo: Apple

Apple said Tuesday the App Store is undergoing “the most comprehensive upgrade to pricing capabilities” since its launch, allowing prices to be set as low as 29 cents and as high as $10,000.

It will start offering developers 700 new price points to apply to the apps they sell, plus new tools to make international selling easier to manage.

This tiny new SSD could be the perfect stocking stuffer

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Now that's portable.
Now that's portable.
Photo: Sabrent

Just ahead the holidays, Sabrent offered a new set of solid state drives (SSD) that could be a perfect little gift for any techie on your list — the updated Sabrent Rocket Nano V2.

The redesigned version, no larger than a “fun-sized” candy bar, supports fast data transfer speeds and can store up to 4TB. And they can fit in someone’s pocket.

Karaoke with your favorite songs with new Apple Music Sing

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Karaoke with your favorite songs with new Apple Music Sing
Joining in with song gets a lot easier with Apple Music Sing.
Photo: Apple Music

Apple Music Sing gives you the real-time lyrics you need to sing along to your favorite tracks. The upcoming feature will show the words to songs so you can easily join in. It will even adjust the volume of the original singer so you take the lead.

It’s coming in December to Apple Music subscribers worldwide. The feature will work with millions of songs in the streaming service’s catalog, Apple said Tuesday.

Apple broke US law convincing retail employees not to form a union

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Apple Store employees in Atlanta and New York work to unionize for higher pay
The Apple Store in Cumberland Mall is the center of a possible legal fight over an employee union.
Photo: Apple

The National Labor Relations Board determined that Apple’s tactics in pressuring employees at an Atlanta Apple store to not unionize broke the law.

The NLRB regional director reportedly gave Apple the option to settle or she will start the process of compelling the company to do so.

Apple now lets Europeans order iPhone and MacBook replacement parts

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Self repair components and tools for iPhone with the necessary tools from Apple.
Apple's Self Service Repair Program is now available in the EU.
Photo: Apple

Apple has expanded its Self Service Repair program outside the US. Customers in selected European countries can order replacement components for their iPhones and MacBooks directly from the company.

The program is launching in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.

NBA 2K22 and Sneaky Sasquatch make Apple Arcade’s list of year’s best games

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NBA 2K22 and Sneaky Sasquatch make Apple Arcade’s list of year’s best games
Looking for some new games to try? Here's Apple's own picks for the best in Apple Arcade.
Graphic: Apple Arcade

Apple just revealed the 20 titles that made the Apple Arcade Top Games of 2022. At the top is NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition, as well as the revamped version of The Oregon Trail.

The best-of list includes a range of options for many types of players.

Apple names top podcasts of 2022

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Find out what everybody's listening to.
Find out what everybody's listening to.
Photo: Apple Podcasts

If you’re looking for a new podcast to addict yourself to, you’re in luck. Apple Podcasts unveiled the podcasts, episodes and channels its listeners paid the most attention to in 2022 (and in the case of subscriber shows and channels, paid the most money to, apparently).

Check out how Apple Podcasts sliced and diced its most popular content in the lists below. You might find a great new way to spend off-time during the holidays.

New Cascade customizable mechanical keyboard goes big

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You can get the Azio Cascade 98 mechanical keyboard in standard or slim profiles.
You can get the Azio Cascade 98 mechanical keyboard in standard or slim profiles (slim shown).
Photo: Azio

The Los Angeles-based company Azio successfully crowd-funded its Cascade 75 mechanical keyboard on Kickstarter last year. Now it’s back with the Cascade 98, a 98% layout keyboard with a full-sized number pad that comes in slim or regular profiles. It has surpassed its funding goal.

Keychron and others have led the way with low-profile mechanical keyboards that don’t stand as tall as the classics. Azio said their new version is the first one with a full-sized number pad.

AirTag holder with keychain tracks your suitcase or your pooch (47% off!)

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What's more valuable than your best friend?
What's more valuable than your best friend?
Photo: Elkson

Apple’s AirTag tracking device can be a lifesaver, whether you’ve lost something valuable or suffered theft. And what makes AirTag even better? A simple, secure device that protects it and attaches it to your valuable, whether that’s a suitcase or your pet dog.

That would be the Elkson AirTag Holder with Keychain, brand new to the Cult of Mac Store. And for a limited time, you can get the holder and keychain for 47% off the regular price. That’s a savings of $7.

85-inch screen towers over 3 Cinema Displays under glass [Setups]

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This custom-made desk and screen setup is mind-boggling.
This custom-made desk and screen setup is mind-boggling.
Photo: [email protected]

Occasionally a computer setup crops up that just makes you say, “WTF?” That’s what a colleague said about a DIY extravaganza he came across in which three 30-inch Cinema Displays were mounted under glass inside a desk.

The Cinema Display imagery shows up on a mammoth 85-inch screen above — all in a huge, homemade desk assembly. WTF, indeed.

Securely carry your gear in stylish backpack with built-in AirTag tracking

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Securely carry your gear in stylish backpack with built-in AirTag tracking
HyperPack Pro includes Apple's Find My technology so you can track it down if your lose it.
Photo: Hyper

The HyperPack Pro has room for a 16-inch MacBook plus all your other gear, and the backpack includes a built in tracker using Apple’s Find My technology so it can easily be found if misplaced.

Hyper’s new backpack just debuted, but has already been named a CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree.

AirPods dominate global smart headphones market

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Everything we’re expecting from AirPods Pro 2
AirPods Pro 2 helped give Apple a huge share of the smart headphones market in Q3 2022.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

If it seems like almost everyone you see wearing wireless earbuds is using AirPods, you’re not far off. Apple owns a whopping 31% of the world market – three times the market share of its closest competitor.

And the company’s lead is growing, with shipments growing strongly year-over-year, according to a market research firm.

Apple speeds up plans to move iPhone assembly out of China

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Apple Store logo in Chengdu, China with two people standing in front of it
Apple no longer wants China to be its primary manufacturing base.
Photo: Unsplash

Apple has expedited plans to move a part of its supply chain outside of China. The company is asking suppliers to increase their assembly base in India and Vietnam.

Over the last year, China’s strict COVID-19 restrictions have disrupted Apple’s production lines in the country multiple times.

Elon Musk vs. Apple: Tech battle for the ages! [The CultCast]

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Elon Musk versus Apple on The CultCast podcast: Well, that escalated quickly!
Well, that escalated quickly!
Image: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr CC/Modified by Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After new Twitter CEO Elon Musk began publicly questioning some of Apple’s policies, he went mano-a-mano with Tim Cook. Maybe Musk’s meme-y declaration of war was a bit premature …

Also on The CultCast:

  • The sad state of iCloud storage.
  • A Twitter phone? Really?!?
  • 2023 MacBook Pro benchmarks reveal a big fat surprise.
  • A totally weird tale about the dangers of walking the streets of New York City with hundreds of iPhones.

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.

Enter to win a tough, titanium Apple Watch Ultra band from Lululook [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Cult of Mac giveaway: This titanium Apple Watch Ultra band from Lululook is as robust as they come.
This titanium Apple Watch Ultra band from Lululook is as robust as they come.
Photo: Lululook

This week’s giveaway will let five lucky winners get their hands on a sturdy Apple Watch Ultra Titanium Band from Lululook. The band matches the new Apple Watch Ultra perfectly, thanks to its sleek titanium finish.

Enter below for your chance to win this gorgeous titanium band, which retails for $33.99.

New Apple TV+ video showcases 2023 coming attractions

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Did you like
Did you like "Band of Brothers," about the 101st Airborne at Normandy and beyond? You might like "Masters of the Air," which follows the exploits of the Eighth Army Air Force during WWII.
Photo: Apple

“In a world like this, you can have it all,” says actor Billy Crudup, from The Morning Show, at the top of a new Apple TV+ trailer. It’s called “Apple TV+ Winter 2022 & Beyond | Official Preview,” and it’s all about year-end fare on the streaming service and what you can look forward to in 2023.

It short YouTube video may not give you all, as the Crudup clip implies, but it shows a lot of quality entertainment on tap now and upcoming.

Modified iMac is a chinless wonder

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Modified iMac is a chinless wonder
Does the iMac look better sans chin?
Screenshot: Io Technology/Bilibili

The 24-inch iMac is a beautiful bit of kit, but it comes with a hefty “chin.” A custom modified version shows what the all-in-one desktop would have looked like if Apple had made some other design decisions.

Take a look and judge for yourself if this is an improvement.

Ends tonight: Get 30% off stretch-link and stackable metal Apple Watch bands

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Get the look of luxury for a low price.
Get the look of luxury for a low price.
Photo: Rilee & Lo

You’ve got to love an Apple Watch band that looks like a million bucks but costs nothing near that. In fact, you can get Rilee & Lo’s stainless steel stretch-link bracelet and a matching stacking bracelet for well under $50 this week.

Through December 2, all Rilee & Lo Apple Watch bands are 30% off in the Cult of Mac Store.

Juice up to 4 devices at once with new Zens modular MagSafe charger

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Zens' new modular charger for 3 or 4 devices is now on sale at Apple.
Zens' new modular charger for 3 or 4 devices is now on sale at Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple recently started selling the new Zens 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger, which you can modify to power either three or four devices at once, including an iPad.

You can set it up as a 4-in-1 charging station for iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods or a 3-in-1 that leaves out the Apple Watch charger.

Last chance to save 40% on SwitchEasy Apple accessories

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More discounts added!
More discounts added!
Photo: Adel Neal/ Cult of Mac

Following Black Friday, the Cult of Mac Store added massive discounts over the weekend for Cyber Monday. So not only can you get a whopping 40% off SwitchEasy iPhone 12 series cases and accessories, you can get 30% a whole lineup of other great SwitchEasy gear.

See below for more details on all the great deals on many brands you can still get in the Cult of Mac Store. But if you like what you see, don’t hesitate. This deal ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT on Friday, December 2.

Maxed-out Mac Pro stars in Apple-riffic rig [Setups]

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"How many computers do you need," asked a commenter.
Photo: [email protected]

We enjoy seeing computer setups grow and change. We last looked at today’s featured setup when its user described it as “temporary” back in June. Since then it has metastasized into a monstrous beast with a maxed-out Mac Pro, a 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro, a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, iPad mini and dual Pro Display XDRs.

And the custom-made desk with lights against a dramatic backdrop of 3D wall panels really enhances the setup, too.

Creative amps up distinctive Pebble Pro desktop speakers

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Creative Pebble Pro promise plenty of volume, bass and clarity.
Creative Pebble Pro promise plenty of volume, bass and clarity.
Photo: Creative

Creative recently unveiled a new addition to its distinctively round and tilted Pebble line of USB desktop speakers — Creative Pebble Pro.

With overhauled full-range drivers and digital amplifiers — plus flashy new RGB lighting — the new speakers jack up volume and bass so no subwoofer is needed, the company said.

iPhone Emergency SOS via satellite saves stranded Alaska man

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iPhone Emergency SOS via satellite saves stranded Alaska man
Even in remote Alaska, an iPhone 14 can call for emergency help.
Photo: Yaroslav Shuraev/Pexels

Apple’s new Emergency SOS via satellite service built into the iPhone 14 helped Alaska State Troopers rescue a man near the Arctic Circle.

As the satellite SOS service just launched in mid-November, this may be the first time it has been used in real crisis.