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News - page 223

As iPhone turns 15, old prototypes could fetch $500,000 each

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Half a million for an
Half a million for an "old-ass iPhone," as Miani put it? Really?
Photo: Luke Miani

Apple iPhone turns 15 years old today. To mark the occasion, YouTuber Luke Miani showed off a handful of iPhone prototypes. They feature pre-release software and somewhat unfamiliar designs.

To give you an idea of how rare these handsets are, two of them are valued at $500,000 apiece.

Leather rally Apple Watch bands make a racy statement

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If you're wearing that strap, you probably drive a fast car.
If you're wearing that strap, you probably drive a fast car.
Photo: BluShark

Evoking nostalgia for 1960s and 1970s motorsports with their distinctive perforations, leather rally watch bands pair beautifully with rugged chronograph watches and smartwatches alike.

BluShark’s trio of leather rally Apple Watch bands, for example, make quite the racy statement.

Your car may not be all that fast, but if you want to feel like Steve McQueen getting behind the wheel, check out BluShark’s leather rally Apple Watch band collection in the Cult of Mac Store.

Apple is slowly catching up with demand for 2021 MacBook Pro

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Apple pushes February MacBook Pro orders back to June
You won't need a calendar to track your 2021 MacBook Pro order. It might help, though.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Wait times for Apple’s hottest MacBooks are shorter than they were this spring. It’s now possible to get some versions of the 2021 MacBook Pro delivered in less than a month.

And the COVID outbreak in China that caused the delays is apparently over.

New program rewards top Apple Support Community contributors

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The new Apple Community+ program seeks to reward top contributors in the Apple Support Community.
The new Apple Community+ program seeks to reward top contributors in the Apple Support Community.
Photo: Apple

Apple introduced a new global “Apple Community+” program Wednesday that Cupertino said will recognize and reward top contributors in the Apple Support Community.

The new program will provide “access to special perks, white-glove experiences, and more,” the company said.

Trailer gives sneak peek at final season of Jason Momoa’s See, coming soon to Apple TV+

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Trailer gives a sneak peek at the final season of Jason Momoa's 'See'
Jason Momoa in the third season of “See,” premiering globally Friday, August 26 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

See is coming to an end. The epic, post-apocalyptic adventure series starring Jason Momoa will wrap up with season 3, which premieres on Apple TV+ in late August.

A just-released teaser trailer for the upcoming season reveals a new threat for Baba Voss and his family.

Mac Pro and 3-Pro-Display-XDR workstation is an AV wonderland [Setups]

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A 2019 Mac Pro is the core of this computer setup, along with a 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook (not pictured).
A 2019 Mac Pro is the core of this computer setup, along with a 16-inch M1 Pro MacBook (not pictured).
Photo: Liam Hudson

We can count the number of times we’ve come across a three-Pro Display XDR workstation in our Setups travels on less than one hand — maybe two or three times. And if you throw in a late-model Mac Pro and a pile of great audio-visual gear for professional-level videoconferencing, well, that’s even more rare.

Liam Hudson, CEO of a qualitative electronic trading company, sent his “ultimate computer setup” for at-home work to Cult of Mac. And it’s really something.

Why you won’t want to use iPad as a Home Hub with iOS 16

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You'll still be able to use iPad as a Home Hub when iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 come along, but will you want to?
You'll still be able to use iPad as a Home Hub when iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 come along, but will you want to?
Photo: Apple

The recent news that iPads won’t function as Home Hubs with iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 stands corrected. Apple now says they’ll work. But they won’t benefit from any new features in the revamped HomeKit and Home app.

And that’s likely to be a pretty big drawback.

Apple TV+ films and series rank higher than any rival streaming service

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Apple TV+ offers higher-rated films and series than any rival streaming service
Apple TV+ content gets top marks.
Graphic: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ content enjoys the highest average IMDb score of any streaming service, according to a new study. It comes in tops in a variety of areas, including dramas and child-friendly shows.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise: Apple’s streaming video service regularly wins awards, including a Best Picture Oscar in 2022.

Apple’s all-in-one gift card finally arrives in Europe

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Buy hardware or software with the new Apple gift card.
The "gift card for everything Apple" is now available in Europe.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s all-in-one gift card is now available in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and several other European countries. The gift card’s expansion comes nearly two years after its US launch.

Until now, Apple sold separate gift cards to customers in Europe: one for App Store and another for Apple Store.

Brazil wants Apple to make USB-C iPhones

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iPhone X with USB-C port
Everyone wants a USB-C iPhone.
Photo: Ken Pillonel

Brazil is considering forcing smartphone manufacturers to adopt a standard charging port on all their devices. The move comes in the wake of the European Union ruling mandating the use of USB-C for charging phones, tablets, headphones, and other accessories.

US Senators are also urging a common charging standard on smartphones to reduce e-waste.

Belkin revamps 3-in-1 charging stand with faster Apple Watch charges

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This MagSafe charger from Belkin might be the coolest iPhone 12 accessory.
Belkin's iPhone/Apple Watch/AirPods charging stand just got better.
Photo: Belkin

An improved version of the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Stand supports fast charging Apple Watch Series 7 – up to 33% faster than Series 6.

And the stand still charges MagSafe iPhones at up to 15 watts. And it provides 5 watts to AirPods wireless charging cases.

Park the preschoolers in front of this Apple TV+ Duck & Goose trailer

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Duck and Goose are good friends who know it's OK for friends to be different.
Duck and Goose are good friends who know it's OK for friends to be different.
Photo: Apple TV+

Rejoice, parents. A wholesome new animated series is on the way, and you can feel OK about parking your preschoolers in front of it. Or at least it looks that way from the new Apple TV+ trailer for Duck & Goose, out Tuesday.

The new show for preschool-age kids premieres Friday, July 8.

Judge rules against Apple in ECG suit calling for Apple Watch import ban

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A judge ruled Apple infringed on AliveCor's ECG-related patents.
A judge ruled Apple infringed on AliveCor's ECG-related patents.
Photo: Apple

Personal electrocardiogram (ECG) technology maker AliveCor sued Apple last year, claiming the tech giant infringed on patents when developing the heart-health functionality for Apple Watch. AliveCor called for a ban on U.S. imports of the wearable, as well.

Now a judge from the International Trade Commission has supported the claims in an initial ruling.

Sleek Elago MagSafe stands keep your charging iPhone functional

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The Elago MS4 charging stand, shown in silver, is compatible with MagSafe and helps unclutter your cables.
The Elago MS4 charging stand, shown in silver, is compatible with MagSafe and helps unclutter your cables.
Photo: Elago

Elago’s sleek, MagSafe-compatible iPhone charging stands make it easy to keep using your favorite gadget while it rapidly charges, sitting upright on the aluminum stand, easily at hand. Or easily hands-free, as the case may be.

You just quickly install a MagSafe charging puck into the Elago stand. Then it’s perfect for charging your phone while on FaceTime calls or while you’re using it in other ways.

Apple efforts to make iPhone 5G modems are bombing

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An Apple 5G modem might look like this
We apparently won't see an Apple 5G modem for years to come.
Artists concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly unable to produce the 5G modem for the 2023 iPhone, as it had hoped. It will instead have the buy the critical component from Qualcomm, a company that Cupertino has quarreled with in the past.

Cupertino already sank more than a billion dollars into this so-far-unsuccessful effort.

Apple TV+ subscribers think it’s a better value than Netflix

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Apple TV+ subscribers think it's a better value than Netflix
Viewers are more satisfied with Apple TV+ this year.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple TV+ subscribers seem much more satisfied with the streaming service than they were a year ago, according to a survey of viewers. The home of Ted Lasso and Severance even made gains on Netflix – streaming’s 800-pound gorilla – in a couple of categories, including value.

And more people than ever would make Apple TV+ their one and only streaming service.

Track wildlife with this nifty new trail camera

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The Keen Ranger PT blends in with the environment.
The Keen Ranger PT blends in with the environment.
Photo: Keen

Security gear provider Reolink launched a new brand, Keen, and a new product Tuesday — the Keen Ranger PT trail camera. With a 360-degree view, 4MP super HD image quality and other features like night vision, hunters, campers, farmers and wildlife enthusiasts are likely to recognize what game they “capture” with it out in the bush.

And for launch you can get 15% off the device’s regular price, plus a chance to win $1,000.

Give your new MacBook Pro some old-world charm with leather BookBook case

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Give your MacBook Pro some old-world charm with leather BookBook case
A MacBook Pro in a BookBook has a unique look.
Photo: Twelve South

Twelve South’s latest BookBook case makes the 2021 MacBook Pro look like a leather-bound book. The unique case manages to simultaneously make your macOS laptop stand out from the crowd and blend into the background.

There are versions for both the latest 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. BookBook is also available for iPad and iPhone.

Don’t expect iPad mini 7 to come with 120Hz ProMotion display

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iPad mini in hand, held up to the sky
ProMotion is unlikely to come to the iPad mini 7.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Display analyst Ross Young has debunked a rumor claiming the iPad mini 7 could debut with a 120Hz ProMotion display. He says it would be surprising if the next iPad mini comes with a higher refresh rate display.

Unlike the iPad Pro series, the iPad mini features a regular 60Hz panel. The higher refresh rate allows the Pro models to offer a smoother experience.

M1 MacBook Pro beats the newer M2 model in real-life stress tests

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M2 MacBook Pro's slow SSD has an impact in daily use.
Entry-level M2 MacBook Pro's slow SSD impacts its daily use performance.
Photo: Rajesh

The slower SSD on the entry-level M2 MacBook Pro has a noticeable impact on its performance in daily use. Tests show the M1 MacBook Pro beating its successor in stress tests that rely heavily on swap memory usage.

Benchmarks first revealed that the base M2 MacBook Pro SSD is about 50% slower than the M1 model.

After Loot debut, Apple calls dibs on new shows from Maya Rudolph’s company

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Maya Rudolph stars in
Maya Rudolph stars in "Loot" on Apple TV+, and her production company now has a first-look deal with Cupertino.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ struck a first-look deal with Maya Rudolph’s production company after last week’s premiere of her comedy series Loot.

That means Rudolph’s company, Animal Pictures, will show what it’s working on to Apple first, before shopping it around to other buyers.

Next Apple Music Live show features rapper Lil Durk

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The Chicago DJ Lil Durk performs live on Wednesday.
The Chicago DJ Lil Durk performs live on Wednesday.
Photo: Apple Music

After Harry Styles kicked off the return of the Apple Music Live series, Chicago rapper Lil Durk continues it. His live concert streams Wednesday.

The rapper’s show takes place in Los Angeles, but Apple’s streaming series lets you watch and listen to it anywhere.

Show your pride year-round with rainbow Apple Watch bands and more

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Rainbow nylon Apple Watch bands are great for Pride and for workouts.
Rainbow nylon Apple Watch bands are great for Pride and for workouts. Shown: BluShark AlphaPremier.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

LGBTQI Pride Month may be drawing to a close on Thursday, but you can wear your pride on your sleeve or elsewhere all year long if you want — thanks to rainbow-themed Apple accessories in the Cult of Mac Store’s Pride collection.

In addition to several colorful watch bands discussed below, you can find a rainbow lanyard with a shock-proof iPhone case and a rainbow polka-dot MacBook Pro case.