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News - page 237

Ends tonight! Hunt down major savings on dozens of Apple accessories.

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Laut's iPad folio is one of many Apple accessories offered at 20% off for Easter.
Laut's iPad folio is one of many Apple accessories offered at 20% off for Easter.
Photo: Laut

Sellers in the Cult of Mac Store have been as happy as kids on as Easter egg hunt, offering wonderful deals on Apple accessories around the holiday. Few of the sales are as big as the German brand Laut’s, however.

In the Laut Easter Sale, which ends at 11:59 p.m. PDT on April 19, you will find nearly 80 products covering your needs for Apple accessories. They range from iPad folios to iPhone 13 cases to AirTag mounts to AirPods cases — and beyond. We cover some highlights below.

Last chance to save big on metal Apple Watch bands

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Get Riley & Lo metal Apple Watch bands and stacking bracelets at 25% off.
Get Rilee & Lo metal Apple Watch bands and stacking bracelets at 25% off.
Photo: Cult of Mac Store

When it comes to Apple Watch bands, some folks love their leather. Others go for braided nylon loops. Still others prefer silicone or carbon fiber. But for many, it’s always going to be metal. Stainless steel. It’s durable, cool to the touch, non-corrosive, comfortable and more affordable than gold, platinum or silver. In a word, it’s classic.

And right now you can get 25% off all Rilee & Lo metal Apple Watch bands and stacking bracelets in the Cult of Mac Store. The deal last through 11: 59 p.m. PDT on April 19.

Study shows consumers love Apple third-best among brands

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Apple placed third behind Disney and Tesla. The top 10 included three tech companies.
Apple placed third behind Disney and Tesla. The top 10 included three tech companies.
Photo: MBLM

Apple stood as the third-highest rated brand among consumers in MBLM’s Brand Intimacy 2022 Study results released Tuesday. The Cupertino tech giant placed just behind Disney and Tesla in the rankings, which seek to show how consumers bond with the brands they use and love.

And this year, MBLM counted three technology brands among the top 10, up from two last year.

Turn iPad into professional drawing tablet with Astropad Studio for PC

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Turn iPad into professional drawing tablet with Astropad Studio for PC
Artists, grab your iPad and Windows laptop. Astropad Studio for PC is here.
Photo: Astropad

Astropad released the first Windows version of Astropad Studio, software that turns an iPad into a drawing tablet wirelessly communicating with a laptop or desktop. With it, artists can mirror their favorite professional drawing or painting apps on the tablet, including using an Apple Pencil with Windows software.

The software has been in beta testing for a year.

Nomad’s potent new GaN charger is no bigger than an AirPods case

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The new Nomad 65W Power Adapter is compact, potent and sports two USB-C ports.
The new Nomad 65W Power Adapter is compact, potent and sports two USB-C ports.
Photo: Nomad

Apple made news recently with its apparent plans for a 35W charger with an amazing two USB-C ports (not a new thing, mind you, just new for Cupertino). Now that unfolding scenario seems even later to the party when you consider Nomad’s release Tuesday of its most powerful gallium nitride (GaN) charger to date, at 65W. And of course the potent little thing features dual USB-C ports.

Notably, the new Nomad 65W Power Adapter is also a real product you can buy now, not something on the drawing board. And it’s only about the size of an AirPods case.

Apple TV+ trailer for bilingual thriller Now & Then shows perfect lives upended

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Bilingual thriller
Bilingual thriller "Now and Then" premieres on Apple TV+ May 20.
Photo: Apple TV+

There are youthful indiscretions, and then there are youthful indiscretions. When a celebration among college besties ends up with someone dead, and everyone figures they can escape blame, well, that’s something that might come back 20 years later to haunt … everyone.

Along those lines, Apple TV+ shared a roughly 2-minute peek Tuesday at its new bilingual thriller Now & Then. The eight-episode series is scheduled to debut on the streaming service May 20.

iPhone 14 might be Apple’s first with an autofocus selfie camera

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iPhone 14 might be Apple's first with an auto-focus selfie camera
The front-facing camera in the iPhone 14 might get a significant upgrade.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 14 will have an autofocus front-facing camera, if a reliable source is correct. Previous iOS handsets used a fixed-focus selfie cam instead.

In addition, the front camera will allegedly have a lower f-stop. Both changes will help make the iPhone 14 a better option for narcissists.

Compact new magnetic charger tops up iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch all at once

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You can stick this all-in-one charging station on a nightstand.
You can stick this all-in-one charging station on a nightstand.
Photo: Native Union

Does charging up all your gadgets in one place sound good? Native Union rolled out a new MagSafe-compatible 3-in-1 wireless charging station Tuesday that should do the trick, topping up your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch all in one go.

The compact Native Union Snap 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger joins the previously released Snap 2-in-1 in the company’s charging lineup.

Bang & Olufsen’s pricey new ANC earbuds borrow AirPods Pro design

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Nice stems on those. But $400 nice?
Nice stems on those. But $400 nice?
Photo: Bang & Olufsen

Danish audio legend Bang & Olufsen has struck out in a new yet familiar direction with its latest true wireless earbuds, the Beoplay EX. It’s the company’s first set of earbuds with stems, which makes them look a lot like AirPods Pro.

As a premium offering, Beoplay EX boasts all of the expected features, like active noise cancellation (ANC). The buds also claim top-notch sound and demand a high price for it — $399, considerably more than AirPods Pro and other major contenders.

There’s recycled gold in them there iPhones

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Daisy the robot can disassemble up to 1.2 million phones each year.
Daisy the robot can disassemble up to 1.2 million phones each year, helping Apple recover more valuable materials for recycling.
Photo: Apple

For the first time, Apple is putting certified recycled gold in the iPhone. It’s part of the company’s increased use of recycled content across its products. Because of these efforts, nearly 20% of all material used in Apple products in 2021 was recycled, a new high point for the company.

“As people around the world join in celebrating Earth Day, we are making real progress in our work to address the climate crisis and to one day make our products without taking anything from the earth,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, in a press release Tuesday.

Apple also added a new shredderbot that rips apart audio modules to its robot recycling crew.

Apple TV+ Make or Break trailer follows top surfers’ intense competitions

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Hang ten with some of the top surfers in the world.
Hang ten with some of the top surfers in the world.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ released the first trailer Monday for Make or Break, a new seven-part documentary series that delivers behind-the-scenes access to the world’s best surfers. The series follows them as they battle for the world title at the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT).

In the trailer, you get to briefly meet a bunch of the world’s best surfers and get a taste of the huge challenges they face.

And dude, you can’t unsee the surfboard with the big shark-bite taken out of it.

Arm your drone with GoPro’s new ‘Black Bones’ camera

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GoPro's new version of the Hero10 Black strips away weight and bulk.
GoPro's new version of the Hero10 Black strips away weight and bulk for use with drones.
Photo: GoPro

GoPro rolled out a new first-person view (FPV) drone camera last week, though only in the U.S. It’s a stripped-down version of the company’s popular Hero10 Black action camera called the GoPro Hero10 Black Bones.

As the name implies, it’s bare-bones, brought down to a very light weight. So you can attach it to your drone and fly it around.

Every MacBook and iPad user should carry these 3 adapters

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Every MacBook and iPad user needs these 3 adapters
A small collection of adapters can really make your life easier.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adapters simplify the sometimes-messy process of connecting things to our computers. I regularly travel, and I’ve found there are three USB adapters that get me through most of my connection problems.

If you, for example, suddenly need to use a new accessory at a client’s office, or get power at an airport, these adapters will get you through. And they are very affordable.

CODA coda: Tim Cook will address grads at leading school for the deaf

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Cook during a previous commencement address.
Cook during a previous commencement address.
Photo: George Washington University

Gallaudet University confirmed Saturday that Apple CEO Tim Cook agreed to deliver its commencement address next month. Cook responded to a student’s invitation via Twitter to speak at the school’s 152nd Commencement on May 13.

Gallaudet, located in Washington, D.C., calls itself the only university in the world where Deaf, deaf-blind and hard-of-hearing students live and learn bilingually in American Sign Language and English.

Apple and the university have close ties, with Gallaudet serving as an Apple Campus. Incoming students are equipped with a MacBook Pro or an iPad Pro. And the school praised Apple TV+ Oscar-winning film CODA for its realistic portrayal of a deaf family.

Studio Display is worth the price for the levitation alone [Setups]

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Oh, you didn't know the new Studio Display levitates? Well, sort of.
Oh, you didn't know the new Studio Display levitates? Well, sort of.
Photo: [email protected]

After Apple rolled out its new Studio Display on March 18, the reviews poured in. Many praised the 27-inch 5K display. But some found faults. Ultimately, after the dust settled, a primary question lingered. It’s good, for the most part, but is it worth the $1,600 price?

Today’s featured setup seems to answer the question in the affirmative. See how the Studio Display in the photo floats in the air? When you think about it, it’s really just a matter of factoring in the value of levitation.

Eufy’s new fingerprint ID smart lock is also a 2K security camera and doorbell

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Eufy's new smart lock is also a wide-angle security camera and a motion-detecting doorbell.
Eufy's new smart lock is also a wide-angle security camera and a motion-detecting doorbell.
Photo: Eufy

Eufy has a new Kickstarter campaign for what it calls “the see-everything smart lock.” It’s the Eufy Video Smart Lock, a 3-in-1 device that works as a fingerprint-detecting lock, a 2K, wide-angle camera and a dual motion-detection doorbell, the company said.

Now that’s a capable gadget. And it has a substantial price to match. See below.

Two Apple TV+ shows beat anything on Netflix and Disney+ in Q1 2022

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Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+
Apple is managing to stand out in the streaming market in Q1 2022.
Photo: Cult of Mac

More streaming viewers watched the drama CODA on Apple TV+ than any other movie or series during the first three months of 2022, according to a ratings tracker. And the thriller Severance on Apple’s streaming service came in third place overall.

That means Apple TV+ streamed two shows with more viewers than anything on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu or Disney+.

Ends Sunday: 20% off all Elago Apple accessories

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Yes, you're AirPods Pro case can look like an adorable little Mac.
Yes, you're AirPods Pro case can look like an adorable little Mac.
Photo: Elago

Elago makes so many fun and interesting accessories for Apple products, it’s hard to know where to begin. But begin you should, because Saturday and Sunday you can get 20% off everything Elago in the Cult of Mac Store.

Don’t worry. There are a mind-numbing 148 products to choose from, but we’ll help you pick some choice items below. And you can browse everything in Elago’s Easter weekend sale, of course. But don’t dawdle. It’s only for the weekend, and it ends Sunday!

This weekend only: Take 20% off all BluShark bands for Apple Watch

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BluShark's Apple Watch bands come in a great variety of materials and colors.
BluShark's Apple Watch bands come in a great variety of materials and colors.
Photo: BluShark

If you’re thinking about freshening up your Apple Watch band — or giving one as a gift to a family member or friend — you’re in luck. This weekend only, April 16 – 17, BluShark is offering all of its bands at 20% off in the Cult of Mac Store.

With a choice of 41 different straps in a variety of materials and colors, you’re bound to find something great. And there’s a handsome Canvas Strap Roll to carry your watches, straps and tools, as well.

iPad Pro is a real steal after a $400 discount

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Logitech Combo Touch review
The deals on the 2021 iPad Pro lineup are too good to ignore
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The M1 iPad Pro is discounted by up to $400 on Amazon, making it the perfect time to pick one up. The 11-inch iPad Pro sees a sweet $50 discount off its retail price, bringing its price down to $749.

The best deal is on the top-end 12.9-inch iPad Pro with cellular connectivity and 2TB storage that’s discounted by $400.

Unreal Engine’s free Core game creation tool comes to macOS and iOS

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Core is a game-development tool previously limited to PCs.
Core is a game-development tool previously limited to PCs.
Photo: Manticore Games

Core is a free tool for creating games that runs on Unreal Engine, which is only available on PC. But as part of its one-year anniversary, developer Manticore Games said Friday that Core is coming to macOS and iOS in summer 2022.

When Mac, iPhone and iPad get Core, gamers will be able to cross-play between versions with Windows gamers, Manticore said. And developers can start playing with Core for iOS on Friday.