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News - page 195

Is this ‘every MacBook Pro user’s standard setup?’ [Setups]

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A new Studio Display completes the setup, joining a MacBook Pro and a raft of excellent audio gear.
A new Studio Display completes the setup, joining a MacBook Pro and a raft of excellent audio gear.
Photo: [email protected]

You, like many people, may build your computer setup around a MacBook Pro. But is yours the “standard setup” for MacBook Pro users?

If you answered “there’s no such thing,” you’re right. That’s why we were surprised to see a reference to such a standard in reaction to a setup with a MacBook Pro, a new Studio Display, an excellent CalDigit dock and a raft of excellent audio gear that not everyone has or even knows about. But maybe they should.

Apple Music hits 100 million song milestone

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Apple Music hits 100 million song milestone
That's a lot of music.
Image: Apple

There are now a whopping 100 million songs available to stream on Apple Music.

That’s “more music than you can listen to in a lifetime, or several lifetimes,” says Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s global head of editorial. “More music than any other platform. Simply the biggest collection of music, in any format, ever.”

iPhone 14 Pro wait times stretch out to November

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iPhone 14 Pro Camera
You'll need patience when ordering an iPhone 14 Pro.
Photo: Apple

The two iPhone 14 Pro models have been on the market for several weeks now but demand still outstrips supply. As a result, anyone shopping for the handsets should expect to wait until November to get one, especially the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

The iPhone 14 Plus is set to launch October 7 and already has a short wait time beyond that date. Those shopping for the basic iPhone 14 face no wait.

Apple declares once hugely popular iPhone 6 to be ‘vintage’

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How much is your smartphone spying on you? Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
It's time for iPhone 6 to ride off into the sunset.
Photo: Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 6 is now a “vintage” product. That doesn’t mean it’s now cool for hipsters to use one – it’s the classification Apple uses for products it stopped selling five years ago, and somewhat limits the repair options.

The iOS handset was hugely successful in its day, and probably still holds the title of the best-selling smartphone ever.

New Soundcore flagship ANC earbuds beat AirPods to monitoring heart rate

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The new Soundcore Liberty 4 wireless ANC earbuds feature heart-rate tracking.
The new Soundcore Liberty 4 wireless ANC earbuds feature heart-rate tracking.
Photo: Soundcore by Anker

Soundcore rolled out its new flagship Liberty 4 wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation (ANC) on Friday with some upgrades.

And one of those upgrades might get under Apple’s skin a little bit. That would be heart rate monitoring via an in-ear sensor, which has so far failed to materialize in Apple’s AirPods line despite persistent rumors.

Iffy AirPods Pro 2 fit? Alternative ear tips can make all the difference.

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A poor AirPods Pro 2 fit is troubling, but it's not hard to fix with after-market ear tips.
A poor AirPods Pro 2 fit is troubling, but it's not hard to fix with after-market ear tips.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

No one wants to spend $250 on a set of outstanding wireless noise-cancelling earbuds — let’s say, second-generation AirPods Pro — only to find they don’t fit well, even with a choice of ear tip sizes.

But unfortunately, it can happen. It happened to me, actually. But once I explored after-market ear tips (the part that goes into your ear canal), I quickly solved the problem at minimal expense.

What if Apple made Jon Stewart work at the Genius Bar?

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What if Apple made Jon Stewart work at the Genius Bar?
Jon Stewart is no Apple Genius, but he plays one on TV.
Screenshot: Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Ever wondered what the + in Apple TV+ stands for? According to Jon Stewart, it means you can go into an Apple Store and find him and other Apple TV+ stars working at the Genius Bar.

Watch this clip to see the former host of The Daily Show utterly failing to provide tech support.

iPhone 14 series is a bigger hit than iPhone 13

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The new iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max come in four colors -- two of them new (space black and dark purple).
While Apple is producing fewer iPhone 14 units, it's making a lot more iPhone 14 Pro Max ones.
Photo: Apple

Reports that Apple is making fewer iPhone 14 units than its predecessor are true… but that’s not the whole story. Apple is producing many more units in the entire iPhone 14 series than it did the earlier models, according to an analyst.

And the change will be a benefit for Apple’s bottom line.

Original AirPods Pro could gain Adaptive Transparency mode from newer model

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AirPods Pro settings
Original AirPods Pro could get one of the best features of the new second-generation version.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The new Adaptive Transparency feature found in second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds could make its way to the original model. The feature blocks loud noises above the 85 dB threshold to protect the wearer’s hearing.

iPhone users running iOS 16.1 beta 3 and the latest AirPods Pro beta firmware spotted the Adaptive Transparency toggle for the wireless earbuds in the Settings app.

Gamers rejoice! Mythic Quest season 3 premieres Nov. 11

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Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao in “Mythic Quest” season three, premiering fall 2022 on Apple TV+.
Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao return for season three of the gamer-oriented comedy.
Photo: Apple TV+

Gamer-themed workplace comedy Mythic Quest returns to Apple TV+ on November 11. That’s the date the third season of the hilarious show premieres, Apple said Thursday.

Apple’s streaming video service also announced the launch dates for new seasons of Slow Horses and Little America.

Raymond and Ray trailer delivers chemistry between Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke

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Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor are Raymond and Ray
Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor are Raymond and Ray.
Photo: Apple TV+

Raymond and Ray is a film about two half-brothers who reunite at the funeral of their terrible father. The dark comedy starring Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke will reach theaters and the Apple TV+ streaming service in October.

The trailer released Thursday gives a glimpse of the difficulties the two men face coming to terms with their father – whose last wish was for them to dig his grave.

Last chance: Save on tactical band that’s perfect for space gray Apple Watch

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It's a go-anywhere, do-anything Apple Watch band.
It's a go-anywhere, do-anything Apple Watch band.
Photo: Mifa

Your search for a perfect sports strap for your Apple Watch could be over. The Mifa Nylon Sports Leather Apple Watch Band might just be the ideal go-anywhere, do-anything accessory for your wearable — especially if it’s space gray.

And through September 30, you can get 20% off the tactical, sporty utility band in the Cult of Mac Store. That’s a savings of $5.

Google Stadia shutdown means less console action for Apple gamers

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Google Stadia for iOS is going into public beta testing soon.
RIP Google Stadia: Apple users lose an option to play console games.
Photo: Google/Cult of Mac

Google Stadia cloud gaming service is being shut down. It allowed Mac, iPad and iPhone users to play console-quality games, but its developer admits it never found an audience.

Other cloud-gaming services remain, including Microsoft’s online version of Xbox and Amazon Luna.

Italian leg of Euro tour nets honorary innovation degree for Tim Cook

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Tim Cook speaks with university students in Naples, Italy, after accepting an honorary Master's degree.
Tim Cook speaks with university students in Naples, Italy, after accepting an honorary Master's degree.
Photo: Federico II online canale 1

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s unannounced European tour has taken him to the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy so far. And on one of his latest stops, he received an honorary master’s degree Thursday from the Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II in Naples, Italy.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by an institution with such a distinguished history, one that has nurtured Italy’s brightest young minds for nearly 800 years,” Cook said, accepting the honorary master’s degree for innovation and international management.

Adobe makes Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements faster and easier

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Adobe makes Photoshop Elements and Premiere Elements faster and easier
Add Moving Elements to photos in Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023.
Photo: Adobe

Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023 and Premiere Elements 2023 launched Thursday. These are the latest versions of apps intended to simplify photo and video editing simple for users at any skill level.

They offer new AI-powered features, as well as new step-by-step Guided Edits. Plus, it helps users add animation to photos.

It’s time to say goodbye to SwiftKey for iPhone

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SwiftKey works great on the giant iPhone 6 Plus.
SwiftKey for iOS is riding off into the sunset.
Photo: Killian Bell

Microsoft is killing SwiftKey for iOS, one of the most popular third-party keyboard apps for iPhone. The company will remove the app from the App Store and end its support on October 5.

SwiftKey first became available for iPhones in 2014. Microsoft acquired the keyboard app in 2016 and eventually discontinued its own Word Flow keyboard for iPhone.

Win a 100W GaN compact charger to take anywhere [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Lululook 100W GaN charger giveaway: This petite but powerful charger packs four ports so you can fast-charge all your devices simultaneously.
This petite but powerful charger packs four ports so you can fast-charge all your devices simultaneously.
Photo: Lululook

The Cult of Mac giveaway prize this week is a great fit for anyone who has any electrical device they wish to charge quickly. We teamed up with Lululook for five lucky winners to get their hands on a four-port, 100W USB-C GaN charger.

This fierce device houses three USB-C ports along with one USB-A port, and pumps out enough power to charge up a MacBook Pro. And, at just over 2 inches, it’s the perfect charger to take anywhere to keep all your gear juiced up.

Go old school with this wooden iPad stylus

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Go old school with this wooden iPad stylus
The Adonit LOG wooden iPad stylus combines sustainability and functionality.
Photo: Adonit

The Adonit Log is a new iPad stylus that skips the usual plastic or metal body and instead uses sustainably-sourced wood. It’s like using a pencil with your tablet.

But the stylus still includes high-tech features, including a 1-millimeter tip for high accuracy, palm rejection and a long-lasting battery.

Cloudflare goes all in on Apple’s CAPTCHA alternative

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Apple Automatic Verification will help save us from CAPTCHA hassles
Apple users may be freed from CAPTCHA with the help of Cloudflare's Turnstile.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s Automatic Verification system for websites is getting a big boost from Cloudflare. The web security company just unveiled Turnstile, a free alternative to those irritating CAPTCHA image tests. This has Apple’s system built in.

Turnstile, now in open beta testing, is available to anyone, not just Cloudflare customers.

Square now supports Apple ‘Tap to Pay on iPhone’ contactless payment system

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Square now supports Apple's Tap to Pay on iPhone
Retailers that use Square's POS software can now accept contactless payments directly on an iPhone.
Photo: Square

Square now offers Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone system to sellers in the U.S. With it, businesses can accept contactless payments directly on their iPhone – no additional hardware required.

Apple launched its new payment method earlier in 2022, and already uses it in its own stores.

New Logitech mechanical mini keyboard is designed for Mac

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New Logitech mechanical keyboard is designed for Mac
The MX Mechanical Mini keyboard and Lift mouse are part of Logitech's new "Designed for Mac" collection.
Photo: Logitech

Logitech just launched its first mechanical keyboard optimized for Mac. The MX Mechanical Mini features low-profile switches and backlighting.

It’s joined by the MX Master 3S mouse and the Lift mouse in Logitech’s new “Designed for Mac” collection.

Never mind the MacBook Pro, you’re going to want this glowing duck [Setups]

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Just try to stay in the warm glow of that duck.
Just try to stay in the warm glow of that duck and you might get some work done.
Photo: [email protected]

You can amass an array of the world’s most formidable tech gear and photograph it, but if you get a cute animal in the frame — living or inanimate — that’s where all eyes will go.

Today’s clean MacBook Pro setup boasts a 34-inch curved ultra-wide display, a custom mechanical keyboard and other cool stuff.

But it also has a duck that glows.

Apple will produce fewer iPhone 14 units due to low demand

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iPhone 14
Weak demand means Apple won't produce as many iPhone 14 units as initially forecasted.
Photo: Apple

Apple has reportedly gone back on its plans to boost iPhone 14 production for the year. The company seemingly nixed the original plan after demand for the “standard” iPhone 14 did not surge after its release.

The situation is very different for the iPhone 14 Pro.