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News - page 198

Coder suffers crippling doubts over just-upgraded display [Setups]

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It's not always clear right away if you chose the best display for you.
It's not always clear right away if you chose the best display for you.
Photo: [email protected]

A new external display for your computer setup is usually a joy to behold. It is, after all, what you look at most. And you probably just replaced your old one with a bigger, brighter and more beautiful new one. But sometimes buyer’s remorse creeps in. Is it actually the best screen for your needs that you can afford?

Today’s featured setup comes from a software coder who has started to have doubts about a substantial recent monitor purchase. Will he succumb to them? He’s keeping his eye on the return deadline and asking for advice.

Protect iPhone 14 with Laut’s new cases, screen protectors and lens shields

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The Prestige Folio is an iPhone 14 case, wallet and stand.
The Prestige Folio is an iPhone 14 case, wallet and stand.
Photo: Laut

Accessories maker Laut just released a dozen new iPhone 14 cases, screen protectors and camera lens shields in the Cult of Mac Store. They cover a range of styles and applications. We highlight some below.

And Laut is just part of the picture. You can see the company’s new entries and other new iPhone 14 cases in the rapidly growing field of choices.

Mayo Clinic finds new way Apple Watch detects bum tickers

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AI and ECG readings from Apple Watch could be crucial to detecting heart problems.
AI and ECG readings from Apple Watch could be crucial to detecting heart problems.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The famed Mayo Clinic showed us a new way artificial intelligence (AI) and Apple Watch can help save patients’ lives, according to a new study.

Instead of relying only on expensive tests conducted in clinical settings, doctors may be able to turn to AI and Apple Watch electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings to help determine which patients have previously undetected heart pump problems that could lead to heart failure.

Apple plans to splash out gift cards during Black Friday shopping event

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Apple is running a special shopping event for Black Friday.
Apple is running a special shopping event for Black Friday
Screenshot: Apple

Apple will bundle gift cards of up to $250 with the purchase of certain products during its special shopping event for Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

The deals on eligible Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and AirPods will stay live for four days, starting on Friday, November 25.

iPhone 15 Pro could feature significantly faster wired data-transfer speeds

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Robotics engineer Tom Pillonel modded his iPhone with USB-C and sold it for $86,000 on eBay.
2023 iPhone 15 Pro
Photo: Tom Pillonel

2023 iPhone 15 Pro models could feature faster data-transfer speeds over a wired connection. Rumors indicate Apple will transition to USB Type-C connectors across its entire iPhone lineup next year. But the faster data-transfer speeds could be limited to the Pro models.

Current iPhone models only support USB 2.0 transfer speeds over Lightning.

Røde’s refreshed NT-USB+ mic is easy for all kinds of audio

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The Røde NT-USB+ on a desk. The NT-USB+ is a great professional microphone for your Mac out of the box.
The NT-USB+ is a great professional microphone for your Mac out of the box.
Photo: Røde

Røde’s new NT-USB+ microphone brings exciting new features to the company’s well-reviewed NT-USB from 2014.

Like its predecessor, the NT-USB+ is an all-in-one microphone for streaming, capturing vocals, playing instruments and recording podcasts. The refreshed version adds higher bit depth, a built-in low noise/high gain preamp and a high-powered headphone jack to the classic model. Plus, it connects over USB-C at both ends.

Soccer, anyone? Apple TV+ launches MLS Season Pass soon.

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Are you ready for some football? And by that we mean soccer, natch.
Are you ready for some football? And by that we mean soccer, natch.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ and the top pro soccer league in the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS), said Wednesday the MLS Season Pass subscription service showing all matches with no blackouts launches February 1, 2023.

The launch, which includes features on multiple Apple services, kicks off a 10-year partnership between Apple and MLS.

Save $50 on Apple Watch Series 8 with this pre-Black Friday deal

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Apple Watch Series 8
This is the Apple Watch Series 8 deal that you should not miss.
Screenshot: Apple

Looking to buy an Apple Watch Series 8 for your loved one this holiday season? Amazon has discounted the smartwatch by $50, bringing its price down to as low as $349.

The $50 off is available on the watch’s GPS and cellular variants. And if you place your order now, Amazon will deliver the wearable a week before Thanksgiving.

Emancipation trailer shows Will Smith’s epic struggle for freedom

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'Emancipation' trailer shows Will Smith’s epic struggle for freedom
Will Smith and Ben Foster star in Emancipation, coming to Apple TV+ in December.
Photo: Apple TV+

Emancipation starring Will Smith portrays one man’s fight through unthinkable terrors to reunite with his family. It is based on the real-life story of Peter, whose saga of escaping slavery made headlines around the world in 1863.

A trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ film premiered Wednesday revealing top-quality acting and cinematography.

Want a smart plug made for Matter? You can already nab Meross’ new one.

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Ready for a smart plug made for the Matter smart home standard?
Ready for a smart plug made for the Matter smart home standard?
Photo: Meross

Accessories maker Meross now allows you to order one of the first smart plugs designed for the new Matter smart home wireless networking standard.

And not only that. The plug, which the company said will ship on December 31, appears to be one of the first smart gadgets to sport the Matter logo.

And right now you can get it for 30% off in a launch discount.

MacBook Pro drives dynamic, well-mounted displays [Setups]

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A 34-inch ultra-wide display in landscape mode and a 24-inch monitor in portrait mode make a good combo.
A 34-inch ultra-wide display in landscape mode and a 24-inch monitor in portrait mode make a good combo.
Photo: [email protected]

Powerful MacBook Pro — check. Extremely capable USB dock — check. Dazzling displays properly mounted in different orientations — check. Two of the best input devices you can buy — check.

Today’s featured computer setup seems to have it all without going overboard, and it all rests easily on a solid standing desk from New Zealand.

And the user even recommends deals on truly stellar noise-canceling headphones. Read on for more and don’t miss the gear list at the bottom of the page.

New Elgato Stream Deck+ jacks up control with LCD touch strip and 4 dials

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Elgato just further opened up your workflow-tweaking opportunities.
Elgato just further opened up your workflow-tweaking opportunities.
Photo: Elgato

Corsair Gaming subsidiary Elgato unveiled the latest version of its popular Stream Deck streaming and workflow controller Wednesday, dubbing it Stream Deck+.

It retains eight of the familiar customizable LCD keys that other versions have. But it adds a touch strip, which is a screen, and four “infinite dials” to help you tweak and adjust tasks in your workflow. A common use of this type of tool is controlling video streaming production.

It’s already too late to order iPhone 14 Pro in time for Christmas

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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).
It's too late for many people to have a shiny new iPhone 14 Pro under their Christmas tree.
Photo: Apple

There are going to be many sad Apple fans this Christmas. An iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max ordered today won’t arrive until after Christmas – six weeks from now.

Problems at a giant iPhone assembly plant in China mean the supply of the two iPhone 14 Pro models is falling far behind demand.

iOS 16.2 allows disabling wallpaper and notifications on iPhone 14 Pro’s Always On Display

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The iPhone 14 Pro is in the wild on launch day. Just be sure you update to iOS 16.01 before activating with your cellular carrier to avoid problems.
iOS 16.2 beta 3 lets you customize iPhone 14 Pro's Always On Display to a certain extent.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple added new customization options for the iPhone 14 Pro’s Always On Display in iOS 16.2 beta 3. Until now, you could only enable or disable the feature on the new iPhones.

The latest iOS 16.2 beta, released to developers Tuesday, provides toggles for disabling wallpaper and notifications in Always On Display mode, enabling a much simpler look.

Steve Jobs’ sandals sell for a lot more than you might imagine anyone paying for used shoes

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Steve Jobs sandals sold for 4x what you might imagine anyone paying for used footwear
These are worth how much?
Photo: Julie's Auction

How much would you pay for a used pair of shoes? A few bucks, probably. What if they were owned by Steve Jobs? The amount you might be willing to put down surely goes up quite a bit. But would it go up to almost $220,000?

That’s what a pair of Birkenstocks owned by the Apple co-founder sold for over the weekend.

Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack hits new low in pre-Black Friday deal

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Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack has never been this cheap before.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 is down to its lowest price ahead of Black Friday. The battery pack is available for $71 — a massive 28% off its $99 MSRP.

This is the cheapest price Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack has dropped to so far. Stocks are unlikely to last long, so make sure to place an order before the deal expires.

Apple launches free Emergency SOS via satellite on all iPhone 14 models

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Apple launches free Emergency SOS via satellite on all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models
Starting Tuesday, an iPhone 14 can now communicate with satellites.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

iPhone 14 models can now use Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite service. It allows users of the latest iOS handsets to exchange texts with emergency services while outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

The new feature debuted Tuesday in the United States. Apple says the satellite SOS service will become available in France, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom starting in December.

Elon Musk plans to end ‘Twitter for iPhone’ and Android labels

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Apple's Twitter account and other high-profile accounts hacked in massive Bitcoin scam.
Prepare to say goodbye to device labels on Twitter.
Photo: Ravi Sharma/Unsplash CC

Over the years, numerous celebrities have been caught promoting flagship Android phones on Twitter while tweeting from their iPhones. This could soon become a thing of the past, due to a change proposed by Twitter CEO Elon Musk.

The new Twitter owner plans to remove the “Twitter for iPhone” or “Twitter for Android” label below each tweet.

‘Ted Lasso’ sends funny, encouraging messages to players headed for World Cup

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Ted Lasso tends to dominate during awards season.
Ted Lasso is solidly behind the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team as it heads for the FIFA World Cup.
Photo: Apple TV+

Ted Lasso has some words of encouragement for the members of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team headed for the FIFA World Cup next week. Billboards with personal messages from the lead character of the hugely popular Apple TV+ show popped up in the hometowns of players and the head coach over the weekend.

The notes are very Ted Lasso.

‘Finally, a real student setup that’s not $8,000’ [Setups]

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This tidy setup didn't cost a fortune, but it gets the job done.
This tidy setup didn't cost a fortune, but it gets the job done.
Photo: [email protected]

It’s funny when you see a student’s computer setup on social media with gear that looks like it costs a bazillion bucks. Like, what, did Elon Musk go back to college for some reason? Maybe to escape the $44 billion dumpster fire that is Twitter?

Well, today’s clean and practical MacBook Pro setup is the real thing — a starving student’s workstation cobbled together on a budget.

Let’s look at how the user saved some money.

Ted Lasso’s Coach Beard covers the World Cup in new Apple podcast

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The new After the Whistle podcast covering the World Cup kicks off November 17.
The new After the Whistle podcast covering the World Cup kicks off November 17.
Photo: Apple News

An amusing audio teaser from Apple News on Monday introduced the limited podcast After the Whistle, in which Coach Beard from the Apple TV+ hit Ted Lasso — aka actor Brendan Hunt — and veteran English sportscaster Rebecca Lowe will explain everything about the world’s biggest sporting event, the World Cup, as it happens.

As you may know, the World Cup is a massive football tournament (to use the world’s sensible term for soccer). It kicks off Sunday in Qatar and will be broadcast globally. Apple News boots up the podcast on Thursday in anticipation of it.