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News - page 234

HyperDrive USB-C dock packs HDMI and DisplayPort into pocket-size hub

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HyperDrive USB-C dock packs HDMI and DisplayPort into pocket-size hub
Plenty of USB-C hubs have HDMI ports, but far fewer include DisplayPort. The HyperDrive USB4 Mobile Dock offers both. And more.
Photo: Hyper

The HyperDrive USB4 Mobile Dock offers ports for both HDMI and DisplayPort, giving users additional options for an external monitor. And the just-launched USB-C hub also includes dual USB-A ports, Ethernet and more.

And all this fits into a package not much larger than a Magic Mouse.

US and 60 partner countries sign ‘Declaration for the Future of the Internet’

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The U.S. capitol building in Washington, D.C.
The U.S. capitol building in Washington, D.C.
Photo: WhiteHouse.gov

The White House said Thursday that the U.S. and 60 partner countries have signed a new pledge to try to ensure the global internet is affordable, maintains a “free flow of information,” and safeguards privacy and human rights.

The document, called the Declaration for the Future of the Internet, requires no specific actions, however. But it does obligate signatories to adhere to certain principles.

Save $40 on the just-launched 2022 iPad Air 5

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iPad Air 5 goes super fast with M1 processor
No matter the color, you can find a discount on the iPad AIr 5 today.
Screenshot: Apple

The iPad Air 5 has only been out a month and you can already buy it at a nice discount. The 10.9-inch mid-range tablet is available at $40 below the usual cost.

And this deal is on the base model, so you don’t have to pay more to save more. Though you can also get discounts of up to $70 on versions with 5G or more storage.

Wall Street watches to see how Apple handles global challenges

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Apple MacBook cash dollars money
We'll discover on Thursday how Apple did during Q1 2022. Analysts are moderatly optimistic.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Wall Street analysts harbor modest hopes for Apple’s most-recent financial quarter. They predict the company saw its revenue rise by 5% versus the same quarter of 2021.

The iPhone-maker will announce the results of the January-through-March period ahead of Thursday’s quarterly earnings call. Investors will be looking closely to see how the company is managing the ongoing chip shortage, COVID-19 lockdowns at assembly plants, inflation and other challenges.

EU may soon force Apple to open iPhone NFC to other payment services

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Apple Pay Tap-to-Pay
iPhone users might soon be able to use tap-to-pay with non-Apple payment systems. In the EU, anyway.
Photo: Apple

The European Union reportedly plans to accuse Apple of violating the law by limiting access to the iPhone’s NFC capabilities to the company’s own payment system. The goal is to give rival systems like PayPal access to the iPhone’s convenient tap-to-pay function.

Apple claims the limitation is there to protect users’ financial information. The EU calls it anticompetitive.

Clever DIY project hacks old iMac into a Studio Display

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Clever DIY projects hacks old iMac into a Studio Display
Here's a 2014 iMac made into an external display almost a beautiful as a Studio Display.
Photo: Luke Miani

An intrepid Apple expert set out to convert an iMac on its last legs into a useful external monitor with the same general design and functionality as a new Studio Display. The inspiration comes from Apple’s recently released monitor using a 27-inch 5K LCD, as do all the iMacs made for many years.

Watch a video of this DYI project to see if this is something you’d like to do with that old iMac you have gathering dust.

Cupertino offers deals to ‘Make Mom’s day with Apple Pay’

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Do Mother's Day with Apple Pay this year.
Do Mother's Day with Apple Pay this year.
Photo: Apple

As you may have nervously noted, given past lapses (You? Never!), Mother’s Day is fast approaching. It falls on Sunday, May 8. To help you out, Apple sent out a series of Apple Pay promotions Wednesday that’ll save you a few bucks on thoughtful gifts for mom.

Discounts are outlined below. And in case you missed it, Apple also put out a gift guide for the occasion.

Spill your iPhone’s guts with Casetify’s Inside Parts cases

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Protect your iPhone while making it look transparent.
Protect your iPhone while making it look transparent.
Photo: Casetify

Did you know you can protect your iPhone while making it look like you somehow got a really cool transparent version that shows all of your handset’s high-tech guts?

Well, you can, if you nab a Casetify Inside Parts Impact iPhone Case in the Cult of Mac Store. It seems to wear all the interior components on the outside.

Apple pushes February MacBook Pro orders back to June

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Apple pushes February MacBook Pro orders back to June
Buying a high-end MacBook Pro requires money and patience.
Photo: Cult of Mac

People who ordered a top-tier MacBook Pro in February are being notified that it won’t be delivered until June. The delay results from COVID-19 lockdowns in China hampering notebook assembly.

New orders also face delays of several months, making a refurbished 2021 MacBook Pro a better option for some buyers.

New low-cost Wyze garage door opener pairs with camera

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The Wyze garage door controller comes with a Wyze camera or can be bought separately.
The Wyze garage door controller comes with a Wyze camera or can be bought separately.
Photo: Wyze

If you’d like to open your garage door with ease and also keep tabs on it, Wyze released a garage door controller in a $40 bundle that includes the Wyze Cam v3. The camera’s usually $30 by itself. Or you can buy the controller separately for $19.

Either way, you gain better control over your home’s alternative entry point at a low cost.

Apple TV+ film will chronicle Michael J. Fox’s extraordinary life

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Apple Original Films announced a new untitled feature film about the life of actor and advocate Michael J. Fox.
Apple Original Films announced a ]new untitled feature film about the life of actor and advocate Michael J. Fox.
Photo: Apple TV+

Most folks would recognize actor Michael J. Fox from his memorable roles in movies like Back to the Future and TV shows like Family Ties. But many also know him from his long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Apple said Wednesday it has a new nonfiction film about Fox’s remarkable life in production — but as of yet untitled — with an Oscar-winning filmmaker at the helm.

Mac mini rig enjoys maximum display space plus The Max Stand [Setups]

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That's a massive amount of screen real estate.
That's a massive amount of screen real estate.
Photo: [email protected]

When a computer setup sports massive curved and stacked displays, it can be easy to miss other details. Today’s featured Mac mini setup features a 32-inch curved monitor sitting on top of a super-ultra-wide screen spanning a jaw-dropping 49 inches.

But a tiny object sitting off to the right in the photograph quietly steals the limelight. Look at what the AirPods Max headphones are sitting on.

Klipsch brings the brawn with new desktop speaker set

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Klipsch's new ProMedia Heritage 2.1 speaker set has a groovy 1970s look.
Klipsch's new ProMedia Heritage 2.1 speaker set has a groovy 1970s look.
Photo: Klipsch

Klipsch likes to draw on it lengthy history when it rolls out new speakers, and the ProMedia Heritage 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System is no different. But the fabric-covered speakers and subwoofer, designed to recall the company’s Heresy speakers from the 1970s, also pack 220 watts of peak power.

That’ll blow the room away, whether you’re cranking tunes, enjoying your home theater or playing games.

Apple now offers parts and tools needed to fix your own iPhone

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Apple Self Service Program for customer repairs
Apple's Self Service Program is a major change to the company's repair policy.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone Self Service Program that Apple announced last fall launched Wednesday. It provides customers with the parts and tools they need to repair their own handsets. And it marks a major shift in the company’s approach to hardware fixes.

The program is for individuals, not small businesses.

Here’s why you can’t find a Genius at your Apple store

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You might not find technical help at your Apple store as easily as you could in the past.
You might not find technical help at your Apple store as easily as you could in the past.
Photo: Apple

Apple has cut back on hiring technical support workers — aka “Geniuses” — at some of its retail locations. Employees have learned  some of the openings will go unfilled after recent departures by folks who held those roles.

Apple fixes Studio Display’s disappointing webcam in new macOS 12.4 beta

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Apple Studio Display
The front-facing camera in the Apple Studio Display will soon work much better.
Photo: Apple

Apple built a fix for the webcam quality issues on its new Studio Display into macOS 12.4, which is in beta testing. This will fulfill Apple’s promise to improve the look of video conferencing done with the camera.

Early tests with the pre-release software show definite improvements.

Updated Sennheiser flagship earbuds boast improved features and lower price

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The Sennheiser Momentum 3 wireless buds have a sleeker design, better ANC and a wireless charging case.
The Sennheiser Momentum 3 wireless earbuds have a sleeker design, better ANC and a wireless charging case.
Photo: Sennheiser

Sennheiser first put out its top-tier Momentum True Wireless earbuds in 2018 to rave reviews about sound quality. Next came a 2020 update and now, with a new release, we see a substantial redesign with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds.

They offer substantial upgrades at a lower-than-expected price, compared to the starting price of their predecessors.

The German maker released the new flagship buds along with its new Sport True Wireless earbuds for athletic types who want to filter out the sound of their own huffing and puffing.

Protect your MacBook with SwitchEasy’s leather sleeve and stand

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SwitchEasy's EasyStand is a stand and sleeve for your MacBook.
SwitchEasy's EasyStand is a stand and sleeve for your MacBook.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Wouldn’t it be cool if you had something to slightly elevate your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro while you use it and to serve as a protective sleeve when you take it on the go?

Well, you can do both things with the SwitchEasy EasyStand Leather MacBook Sleeve. It’s available — and affordable — in the Cult of Mac Store.

Trailer for Apple TV+’s Essex Serpent is a mashup of science, religion and romance

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Trailer for Apple TV+'s 'Essex Serpent' is a mashup of science, religion and romance
Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes will star in The Essex Serpent on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

The first trailer for the upcoming historical drama The Essex Serpent dropped Tuesday. It gives a preview of a very complicated relationship between characters played by Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston. Also, there might or might not be a giant sea serpent involved.

The limited series premieres May 13 on Apple TV+.

Rugged new Samsung T7 Shield SSD survives drops, rain and dust

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Rugged new Samsung T7 Shield SSD survives rain, drops and dust
The Samsung T7 Shield is rugged enough to be used outdoors... but you don't have to.
Photo: Samsung

The Samsung T7 Shield is a a credit-card size external SSD intended for outdoor content creators or travelers. It’s drop, water and dust resistant, and offers up to 2TB of capacity.

This new rugged version joins other SSDs in the Samsung T7 line.