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News - page 206

iOS 15.6.1, macOS Monterey 12.5.1 close security holes

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iOS 15.6.1, macOS Monterey 12.5.1 close security holes
Apple recommends iOS 15.6.1 for anyone with the earlier version.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult off Mac

iPhone users can update to iOS 15.6.1 starting Wednesday, and the same is true for Mac users and macOS Monterey 12.5.1. These are simply security patches with no new features, but still important.

iPadOS 15.6.1 is also out to take care of the same issues. Plus there’s watchOS 8.7.1 with security fixes.

Last chance: Save $25 on compact stand that charges 4 devices at once

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Charge four devices at once with the stand.
Charge four devices at once with the stand.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Who doesn’t love saving money, saving space and saving your gadgets from running out of juice? Well, you can do all three at once when you buy a SwitchEasy 4-in-1 MagPower Charging Stand.

The compact charger powers up four devices at once. And you can get it at 30% off in the Cult of Mac Store through 11:59 p.m. PDT Wednesday, August 17, 2022. That’s a savings of about $25 on something you’re likely to use every day.

Enjoy Apple TV+ free for 3 months from Best Buy

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Enjoy Apple TV+ free for 3 months from Best Buy
You could watch all these shows for the low, low price of $0.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The best way to make Apple TV+ better is to make it free. And that’s exactly the deal Best Buy is offering right now: three months of Apple’s streaming service for $0.

If you want to try Severance after the psychological thriller scored 14 Emmy nominations, you probably won’t get a better chance.

Free new GarageBand sessions teach you to remix tunes by Katy Perry and Seventeen

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Using GarageBand on iPhone and iPad, aspiring musicians can learn how to remix hit songs from Katy Perry and K-pop supergroup Seventeen.
Using GarageBand on iPhone and iPad, you can learn how to remix hit songs from Katy Perry and K-pop supergroup Seventeen.
Photo: Apple

Apple released two new GarageBand in-app Remix Sessions Wednesday for iOS and iPadOS featuring Katy Perry and K-pop phenom Seventeen.

So now’s your chance to learn how to remix hit songs by superstars on your iPhone or iPad (and you don’t need to be any sort of music pro to do it).

‘The perfect computer doesn’t exist’ [Setups]

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The biggest iPad doesn't look so big next to that mechanical keyboard.
The biggest iPad doesn't look so big next to that mechanical keyboard.
Photo: Steve Troughton-Smith

App developer Steve Troughton-Smith raised a few eyebrows recently when he tweeted a photograph of his iPad Pro propped up on a stand and hooked up to a mechanical keyboard that dwarfed it in size. It looked like some ungainly desktop machine of yesteryear.

“The perfect computer doesn’t exist,” the title read.

It would be a stretch to say Troughton-Smith does all his work on that iPad setup, but he does some of it via the tablet, he told Cult of Mac.

Some iPhone 14 models jumping in price, but not all

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Why the iPhone 14 looks like the iPhone 12
Grab your wallet: the iPhone 14 Pro is supposedly going up in price.
Concept render: souta

An analyst believes he has the answer to one of the few remaining mysteries of the iPhone 14 series: price. Supposedly, the two iPhone 14 Pro models are in for a price hike. But there’s good news for those interested in the basic iPhone 14.

The cost of the new iPhone 14 Plus is still a closely-held secret, though.

Adonit’s inexpensive new iPad stylus offers on-tablet wireless charging

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Adonit's inexpensive new iPad stylus offers on-tablet wireless charging
The Adonit Neo Pro gets power from the side of a compatible iPad, just as Apple Pencil does. But it costs much less.
Photo: Adonit

Place the Adonit Neo Pro on the side of an iPad and the stylus will start charging. The Apple Pencil 2 can do the same trick, but the Neo Pro costs less than half as much.

Adonit’s stylus can do most of what Apple’s can, as it offers tilt sensitivity and palm rejection. All it’s missing is pressure sensitivity.

Your next Apple Watch could be made in Vietnam

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Apple Watch sales increasingly dominate globally.
Apple is looking to make the Apple Watch in Vietnam.
Photo: Apple

Apple is looking to assemble MacBooks and Apple Watches in Vietnam to diversify its supply chain. The company’s vendors have so far manufactured these products in China.

Apple suppliers already assemble AirPods, iPads, and iPhone chargers in Vietnam. After China, it is the second largest manufacturing hub for the company.

Sidney Poitier doc explores legendary actor’s legacy [Trailer]

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First Sidney trailer explores Poitier’s powerful legacy
Sidney honors a legend and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist.
Photo: Apple TV+

Sidney Poitier was the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Actor. His willingness to stand up to racism made him both loved and hated in 1960s America. An Apple TV+ documentary honoring his life and legacy premieres September 23.

A trailer for the film, called simply Sidney, debuted Tuesday.

iOS 16 beta 6: All the new features and changes

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iOS 16 beta 4: All the new features and changes
iOS 16 beta 6 is a little light on changes.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

With iOS 16 likely just a month away from release, Apple is picking up the tempo of beta releases of the operating system. Apple seeded iOS 16 beta 6 Monday, a mere seven days after the fifth beta. Along with that increase in release speed, the latest beta packs only minor changes.

As iOS 16 nears its stable launch, we are going to see Apple focus more on squashing bugs and improving the overall stability instead of adding new features or tweaking things around.

Go everyday glam at 66% off with Goldenerre’s Starburst Apple Watch Band

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It's glamorous, but it's not over-the-top glamorous.
It's glamorous, but it's not over-the-top glamorous.
Photo: Goldenerre

Sometimes you want to glam it up a bit, but not so much that you look silly at the laundromat. If you’d like an Apple Watch band that you can look good wearing at the burger joint, the French restaurant and the gala black-tie benefit, look no further. Goldenerre’s Starburst Apple Watch Band has you covered.

And it’s available now for a staggering 66% off in the Cult of Mac Store. That’s a savings of $56!

Wrap iPad in 6 feet of drop protection with new Zagg keyboard case

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Wrap iPad in 6 feet of drop protection with new Zagg keyboard case
Drops and spills are no problem for the Zagg Rugged Pro Connect.
Photo: Zagg

The Zagg Rugged Pro Connect keyboard and case for iPad can take what life dishes out. It has 2 meters of drop protection, it is water resistant, the keys won’t pop off, and there’s a snap-on screen protector.

The case fits multiple generations of the 10.2-inch budget iPad, and is available starting Tuesday.

2021 MacBook Pro models sink to lowest-ever prices

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If you've been wanting an M1 Pro MacBook, don't miss this opportunity.
If you've been wanting an M1 Pro MacBook, don't miss this opportunity.
Photo: Apple

Amazon surfaced the lowest prices ever on certain 2021 MacBook Pro laptops Tuesday, including 14-inch and 16-inch models. Specifically, there are three options featuring the M1 Pro chip and different sizes of solid state drive (SSD).

If you’re in the market for one of those, act fast. Deals where you can lop $300 off the the usual prices don’t usually last long.

Curve Flex lets your MacBook take a dramatic stand

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Twelve South Curve Flex MacBook stand designed for office or coffee shop
Let your MacBook stand up and take a stand with the Twelve South Curve Flex.
Photo: Twelve South

With Twelve South’s Curve Flex, a MacBook can tilt up slightly or be elevated almost two feet off a desktop. The laptop stand is designed to be, well, flexible. It’s also portable.

The accessory launched Tuesday.

Plugable’s expansive new 13-port USB-C desktop dock adds dual 4K displays

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Plugable's expansive new 13-port USB-C desktop dock adds dual 4K displays
With the Plugable UD-6950PDH on your desktop, your Mac can have 13 more ports and two more 4K monitors.
Photo: Plugable

The Plugable UD-6950PDH is a just-launched USB-C dock that lets Mac users add a wide variety of accessories via a whopping 13 ports. And that includes a pair of 4K monitors even on Macs that not designed to handle that many.

On top of that, the dock offers 100W of power for charging high-end MacBooks.

Das Keyboard hunts serious Mac users with MacTigr low-profile mechanical keyboard

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Das Keyboard hunts serious Mac users with MacTigr low-profile mechanical keyboard
Not for Windows users. Das Keyboard promises MacTigr provides "a premium Mac typing experience."
Photo: Das Keyboard

Unlike so many keyboards, the MacTigr is specifically for Mac. The designers at Das Keyboard included Mac-specific keys in a low-profile mechanical keyboard made of high-quality materials.

In addition to Cherry MX Low Profile Red mechanical switches, the accessory is packed with extra features, like a volume knob, sleep button and even a two-port USB-C hub.

Apple kicks its return-to-office plan back into gear

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The walkway around Apple Park.
Apple Park will soon be busier.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple’s oft-delayed plan to require corporate employees to be in the office three days a week is reportedly back on.

Apple employees are already required to be in the offices two days a week. That will reportedly jump to three days a week starting in early September.

Life By Ella trailer shows a very upbeat teen in new Apple TV+ series

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'Life By Ella' trailer shows a very upbeat teen in new Apple TV+ series
Life By Ella premieres globally September 2, 2022 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Life By Ella follows a teen as she takes herself in a bold new direction: She’s going to seize every day and experience everything she was afraid to do before. The kids and family series debuts September 2 on Apple TV+.

Apple posted an extremely upbeat trailer for the upcoming show Monday.

New AirVersa air purifier for HomeKit gets Thread networking support

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AirVersa's new Purelle air purifier works with HomeKit as well as the Thread wireless networking protocol.
AirVersa's new Purelle air purifier works with HomeKit as well as the Thread wireless networking protocol.
Photo: AirVersa

AirVersa’s new Purelle Smart Air Purifier for HomeKit came out on Amazon in the U.S. on Saturday. According to the company, it’s the first air purifier to support the Thread networking standard.

That Thread support will be important when the Matter home automation standard starts helping devices made by different makers work well together.

Dual Studio Displays dole out killer color consistency [Setups]

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Two Studio Displays offer identical color consistency.
Two Studio Displays offer identical color consistency.
Photo: [email protected]

If there’s one thing Apple displays are known for, it’s high prices. OK — all joking aside — if there are two things they’re known for, it’s crisp, accurate colors and being worth the price for that level of quality.

After all, those who work or play with graphics, photos, video or animation need great color.

And if you go dual-display, it helps if they’re the same model. Today’s featured Mac Studio setup, for example, corrected mismatched displays and the resulting color inconsistency by adding a second Studio Display.

Severance and Ted Lasso rake in awards from Hollywood critics

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Christopher Walken, John Turturro and Zach Cherry in “Severance” on Apple TV+. It won 5 awards from the Hollywood Critics Association.
Christopher Walken, John Turturro and Zach Cherry in “Severance” on Apple TV+. The series won 5 awards from the Hollywood Critics Association.
Photo: Apple TV+

Two of the best-loved shows on Apple TV+ — Severance and Ted Lasso — took home honors over the weekend from the Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards.

Severance won five awards, including Best Drama, and Ted Lasso won two awards, including Best Comedy. Apple TV+ topped all streaming services with 53 nominations overall.

Pump 245 watts into your gear with new GaN desktop charger and power bank

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Pump 245 watts into your gear with new GaN desktop charger and power bank
Hype has a pair of GaN accessories that can handle 245W either in the office or on the go.
Photo: Sanyo/Hyper

The switch to gallium nitride continues to lead to less bulky but more powerful charging accessories. As their names indicate, the HyperJuice 245W GaN Desktop Charger and 245W USB-C Battery Pack can each supply 245 watts of power, but GaN means they aren’t oversized.

Both launched Monday.

Heatwave in China may hurt iPad supply

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Future iPhones might need a Vapor Chamber cooling system
It's hot and dry enough in China to affect iPad production.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

It’s hot in China. Hot enough that the government is ordering industries in parts of the country to temporarily halt electrical consumption so there’s enough left for air conditioning. An Apple analyst warns that iPad assembly could be affected.

Apple is expected to launch a redesigned budget iPad and an updated iPad Pro this autumn, and production problems could limit their availability.

How scientific are Apple’s health and fitness features?

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Putting Apple's health & fitness features under a microscope
Let's put Apple's health and fitness features under a microscope.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac/Rouibi Dhia Eddine Nadjm*

In a recent report, Apple outlined the “rigorous scientific validation processes” used to develop the health and fitness features baked into its products.

Wearables like Apple Watch monitor our bodies around the clock, providing health insights in real time. That’s a new and unprecedented development in medical technology. The benefits are already clear, as the report illustrates, with anecdotes about how Apple Watch has saved lives.

But anecdotal evidence is not the same as scientific research. By cherry-picking the best outcomes, anecdotes risk overlooking the bigger picture. Scientists must look at all the outcomes, not just the good ones. With that in mind, I took a closer look at the scientific studies cited in Apple’s report, to find out what they tell us about the impact Apple Watch is having on our health.