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News - page 228

Luck trailer: First full-length, 3D-animated film on Apple TV+ looks fun

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"Luck" takes you to where luck comes from.
Photo: Apple TV+

Feeling unlucky lately? Wouldn’t it be nice if a black cat who speaks English with a Scottish accent could take you to a magical land where luck is made?

Not bloody likely to happen, but you get the next best thing with Luck, the first full-length, 3D-animated film to hit Apple TV+, which offered a trailer for it Thursday.

It’s also the streamer’s first film through its exclusive deal with Skydance Animation. Look for Luck’s Apple TV+ debut on August 5.

Long-lost iPhone clownfish return in iOS 16 beta 3

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Long-lost iPhone clownfish are back in iOS 16 beta 3
Remember these guys?
Photo: Apple

When Apple first showed off the original iPhone in early 2007, the demo included a Lock Screen image of a pair of clownfish. The pic was not on the device when it shipped, but some people say the picture is included in the just-released iOS 16 beta 3.

Bringing back the image after 15 years is apparently a sort of Easter egg to celebrate the anniversary.

Apple TV+ keeps finding new viewers to grow faster than rivals

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Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+
Apple TV+ growth stood out in the streaming market in Q2 2022.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple TV+ saw strong growth in spring 2022, according to a company that tracks viewership. It grew to 6% of the U.S. streaming market.

During the same quarter, Netflix stayed on top but dropped by two percentage points. It’s now just ahead of Amazon Prime Video.

Extra-rugged Apple Watch for athletes will pack biggest screen yet

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A ruggedized Apple Watch for athletes
Just how radically rugged will the Apple Watch for extreme athletes be?
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

The rugged Apple Watch designed for hardcore athletes will come with the smartwatch’s biggest screen yet, according to a new report.

Slated to launch this fall alongside Apple Watch Series 8, the sports-oriented smartwatch will come with a beefier battery to make it through longer workouts. A more shatter-resistant screen and a brawny metal case will round out the package — along with a hefty price bump.

New Lockdown Mode makes iPhone secure from sophisticated digital attacks

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New Lockdown Mode makes iPhone secure from sophisticated digital attacks
Lockdown Mode is designed to offer an extreme, optional protection for the very small number of users who face grave, targeted threats to their digital security.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

A new hyper-secure Lockdown Mode should help protect the iPhones, iPads and Macs of journalists, politicians and activists who face “highly targeted cyberattacks from private companies developing state-sponsored mercenary spyware,” Apple said Wednesday.

The new security measure is only for extreme cases, though, because it blocks commonly used features of messaging and web browsing.

This is how you power a home-automation station [Setups]

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An M1 Max MacBook Pro and Raspberry Pi help make this a home-automation station.
An M1 Max MacBook Pro and Raspberry Pi help make this a home-automation station.
Photo: [email protected]

Most of the time, when we talk about home automation, we’re talking about Apple’s HomeKit system. But today’s featured computer setup, which relies on a formidable M1 Max MacBook Pro and dual displays, goes another route.

The homeowner runs a Raspberry Pi with open-source software to achieve about 50 automations, including Siri integration.

Have your way with documents on iPhone and Mac with Kdan’s PDF Reader

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Create, convert, edit and share documents with Kdan's PDF Reader.
Create, convert, edit and share documents with Kdan's PDF Reader.
Image: Kdan

This post is brought to you by Kdan.

 If you want to work smoothly with PDF files, you need a capable tool like Kdan’s PDF Reader. The name may leave you thinking it just helps you read PDFs, but it actually does much more for your workflow. If you’re wondering how to convert to PDF on iPad, take a look at this step-by-step guide.

With PDF Reader, you can create, read, edit, sign, scan, secure and convert PDFs on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Learn more and download it below.

Buy refurbished Mac Studio from Apple with hefty discounts [Updated]

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A table of desktop Macs. Going clockwise around the table, starting at the front: the Mac Studio with Studio Display (height-adjustable stand and nano texture glass), the iMac, Mac Pro with Pro Display XDR (with Pro Stand) and Mac mini with Studio Display (tilt stand).
Save a few hundred dollars by picking up a refurbished Mac Studio.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple has started selling refurbished Mac Studio in the United States, Canada, and select other European countries. You can save up to 15% by picking up a refurbished Mac Studio instead of purchasing a brand new unit.

Update: Apple has again updated its Certified Refurbished store with fresh refurb M1 Max Mac Studio units with one-day delivery for most locations. Stocks are unlikely to last for long, so if you find a configuration you want, pull the trigger on it.

M2 MacBook Air preorders open on July 8

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13-inch MacBook Air with M2
You can get your hands on the M2 MacBook Air starting July 15.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s svelte new M2 MacBook Air will be available for order starting July 8. It will then hit retail stores on July 15.

“Supercharged by the M2 chip,” Apple said in a press release Wednesday, “the all-new MacBook Air features even more performance and a new strikingly thin design, a larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a four-speaker sound system, up to 18 hours of battery life, and MagSafe charging.”

Apple might reserve its fastest chips for iPhone Pro

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Why the iPhone 14 looks like the iPhone 12
Pro iPhones could get a speed advantage over non-Pro models.
Concept render: souta

Going forward, Apple might make its latest and greatest A-series chips exclusive to high-end iPhone models, according to a reputable analyst.

Apple previously did not differentiate between Pro and “regular” iPhones when it came to processors. But that could change with this year’s iPhone 14 lineup.

Dress up your wrist with a classy calfskin leather Apple Watch band

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There's nothing like a classic leather Apple Watch band.
There's nothing like a classic leather Apple Watch band.
Photo: Speidel

Nothing beats the classic style and comfort of a premium leather Apple Watch band. And calfskin leather typically makes for an especially supple version of the classic strap.

If you’re looking to upgrade the look and feel of your wrist, check out the Speidel Sport Calf Skin Leather Apple Watch Band. You can get a good price on it in the Cult of Mac Store.

EU’s Digital Markets Act takes step toward forcing huge changes to iPhone

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European Union
The European Union takes another step toward tough regulations on tech giants like Apple.
Photo: Freestocks.org

The European Parliament passed the landmark Digital Markets Act on Tuesday. The legislation aims to outlaw many common practices of Big Tech companies, especially Apple, Google and Amazon.

For iPhone users, the DMA would force Apple to allow rival app stores and sideloaded applications. And these are only two of many significant changes in the act.

There are still further steps the the EU government must go through before the DMA goes into effect, but that’s expected to happen before the end of 2022.

Next Apple Watch might tell when you’re running a fever

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You can get big discounts on Apple Watch 7 and SE at Amazon.
This year's Apple Watch upgrade might put a temperature monitor on your wrist.
Photo: Apple

The upcoming Apple Watch Series 8 could feature a body temperature sensor that will allow the wearable to detect when you are running a fever.

Both the regular Apple Watch Series 8 and the rumored rugged variant aimed at hardcore athletes should feature the new sensor.

M1 Max MacBook pairs nicely with 40-inch ultra-wide display [Setups]

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No scaling issues seen here.
No scaling issues seen here.
Photo: [email protected]

Curved ultra-wide displays are all the rage lately, and it’s no wonder why. What a fantastic amount of real estate. But it can be worrisome buying one if you’re not sure how it will look with your Mac’s resolution and scaling options.

Today’s featured computer setup pairs a beast of a 16-inch M1 Max MacBook with a brilliant 40-inch LG 5K UltraWide curved display. Let’s look at how well it’s working and what some of the issues can be.

Top TweetDeck for Mac alternatives to ease power users’ pain

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TweetDeck for Mac alternatives worth trying out
These TweetDeck for Mac alternatives are worth checking out.
Photo: Rajesh

With Twitter killing off TweetDeck for Mac today, users who didn’t plan ahead might be scrambling for options to manage their feeds.

While TweetDeck will continue to function on the web, many power users prefer a native Mac app. Luckily, you can find several worthy TweetDeck alternatives for Mac users that will help you get a handle on your Twitter obsession.

Apple really wants you to buy an Apple TV

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The current Siri Remote was an improvement on its predecessor.
Get a $50 gift card when you buy an Apple TV.
Photo: Apple

Apple is bundling a $50 gift card if you purchase an Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD in the United States. The offer is exclusively available through its online store.

Before making this promotion live, Apple took down its online store for a few hours earlier in the day.

Catch the light with Laut Holo Apple accessory cases

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The cases' hard plastic materials catch iridescent light.
The cases' hard plastic materials catch iridescent light.
Photo: Laut

An Apple accessory case is a case is a case is a case — except when it’s both protective and catches all the colors of the rainbow. That’s what Laut’s Holo cases for AirPods Pro, AirPods 3 and iPhone 13 do as they reflect iridescent light.

Check out the Laut Holo Collection in the Cult of Mac Store and get a great deal on a stylish and protective case.

Xfinity Stream app for Apple TV makes cable box (mostly) superfluous

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Xfinity Stream app for Apple TV makes cable box (mostly) superfluous
Your Apple TV can be your cable box with the new Xfinity Stream app.
Photo: Comcast/Apple

An Apple TV can now be used to watch all of Comcast’s live, on demand and DVR programming. The cable behemoth’s subscribers just need to install the newly-released Xfinity Stream app on Apple’s streaming box.

Thursday’s release makes it simple for Apple TV users to add Xfinity access to additional rooms. No traditional cable box necessary.

Startup’s bankruptcy may put an end to Apple Store ‘Delivery with Setup’ option

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At first Enjoy withdrew to assess its business priorities, but now it has filed for bankruptcy.
At first Enjoy withdrew to assess its business priorities, but now it has filed for bankruptcy.
Photo: Apple/Enjoy

Apple Store’s “Delivery with Setup” option appears to be done for. Its key partner, startup Enjoy, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Thursday. That’s according to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

This comes less than a year after the startup raised more than $250 million in growth capital and became a publicly traded company.