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News - page 195

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.

Apple rebrands its mixed-reality operating system as ‘xrOS’

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Apple VR/AR headset takes big step toward production
Apple's AR/VR headset is inching closer to release.
Concept: Martin Hajek/Computer Bild

Apple reportedly changed the name of the operating system that will power its upcoming mixed-reality headset. Previously referred to as “realityOS,” Apple now calls the operating system “xrOS.”

This internal change is another sign of Apple ramping up work on the headset ahead of its official launch.

Now you can customize a mechanical keyboard with Lego bricks

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Go crazy with those Lego bricks.
Go crazy with those Lego bricks.
Photo: MelGeek

Lots of people love all things Lego. Now they can use Lego bricks to create whatever design they want on the front and back of a new mechanical keyboard, the tenkeyless (TKL) MelGeek Pixel.

The Lego-friendly keyboard has surpassed its funding goal on Kickstarter, so if you buy one, it will probably ship.

This portable Apple Watch power bank turns into a nightstand

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OtterBox 2-in-1 Power Bank with Apple Watch Charger
Keep your Apple Watch juiced up for days with the travel-friendly power bank from OtterBox.
Photo: OtterBox

OtterBox merged a power bank, an Apple Watch wireless charger and a stand for the wearable into a single product. Just place the accessory on it end and it becomes a stand that juices up the Watch.

In addition, OtterBox also released on Thursday a MagSafe iPhone power bank that comes with a clip-on stand plus a car vent mount. This is joined by a foldable power bank with a built-in iPhone stand and Apple Watch charger.

All three new accessories are now available from the Apple store.

Beats Flex earbuds get savage with special-edition leopard print

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The special edition is purely a cosmetic tweak.
The special edition is purely a cosmetic tweak.
Photo: Beats

Apple-owned Beats hooked up with Japanese fashion brand Wacko Maria to release a new special-edition set of Beats Flex earbuds Friday featuring a leopard print, the companies said Thursday.

Beats Flex are the brand’s most affordable wireless earbuds. But now they pack a little more street cred.

Hubitat hub update broadens smart-device compatibility with HomeKit

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The updated hub supports HomeKit integration.
The updated hub supports HomeKit integration.
Photo: Hubitat

With a new software update to the Hubitat Elevation hub, users can bridge hundreds of Z-Wave and Zigbee devices not normally compatible with HomeKit into their Apple Home app, Hubitat said Wednesday.

The Hubitat Elevation software version 2.3.4 update brings HomeKit integration. It lets the hub serve as a bridge for “countless lights, switches, sensors and other devices that are not natively HomeKit compatible,” the company said.

Make AirPods sound like new with Belkin cleaning kit

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Make AirPods sound like new with Belkin cleaning kit
Get that yucky earwax out of your AirPods with this cleaning kit.
Photo: Belkin

Your old AirPods aren’t what they used to be. The speakers can get gummed up, degrading the audio performance. But the Belkin Cleaning Kit for AirPods can take care of the problem.

This might save you the cost of buying a new pair of Apple earbuds.

Here’s how you can help Apple in the fight against AIDS

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Here's a range of (Product) Red devices that help support the fight against AIDS.
Here's a range of (Product) Red devices that help support the fight against AIDS.
Photo: Apple

Apple recognized World AIDS Day Thursday with a reminder about how customers can join the fight to end AIDS. They can help through Product (Red) purchases, downloading and sharing new red Apple Watch faces and other means.

Purchases of Apple (Product) Red devices help support the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a major nonprofit fighting HIV/AIDS worldwide.