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News - page 247

Mac Studio, Studio Display and iPad Air reach customers around the world

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Mac Studio and Studio Display launch
Are you getting new Apple devices today?
Photos: Joe Dawson and Pawan

Apple’s new Mac Studio, Studio Display, iPad Air and iPhone SE officially go on sale today. That means customers who preordered early (before shipping dates slipped) are beginning to receive the first deliveries around the world.

If you, like me, are disappointed not to be reveling in the same delight as they are, here are a whole bunch of photos that highlight what we’re missing out on.

Kids learn to make life an adventure with Pinecone & Pony on Apple TV+ in April

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Kids learn to make life an adventure with ‘Pinecone & Pony’ on Apple TV+ in April
Pinecone & Pony set off for adventure April 8 on Apple TV+.
Photo: DreamWorks Animation/Apple TV+

DreamWorks Animation created Pinecone & Pony, the animated adventure of a girl learning that there’s more than one way to be a warrior. The series for kids and families premieres on Apple TV+ on April 8.

A trailer for the upcoming series gives a taste of the fun to come.

Save on awesome accessories for all Apple devices this St. Patrick’s Day

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Cult of Mac Store St. Patrick's Day sale
Use the code PATRICK at checkout.
Image: Elago/Cult of Mac

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by saving 20% on outstanding accessories for all your Apple devices in the Cult of Mac Store.

We’ve got cases, premium Apple Watch bands, do-it-all charging stands, sturdy in-car mounts, MacBook risers, and lots, lots more. Use the promo code PATRICK at checkout to take advantage of the discount today only.

Turn your laptop into a desktop with new StarTech Thunderbolt 4 dock

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StarTech.com's capable new Thunderbolt 4 docking station can broaden your laptop's horizons.
StarTech.com's capable new Thunderbolt 4 docking station can broaden your laptop's horizons.
Photo: StarTech.com

With Thunderbolt 4 connectivity becoming more and more common in new laptop computers, including various Macs, you may be in the market for a worthy docking station. After all, small, lightweight laptops don’t always have all the ports you need. So it’s a good thing StarTech.com recently released its TB4CDock for Mac and Windows. If you also need an apple sd card reader along with a docking station, consider checking out this 6-port hub from Zagg.

The Thunderbolt 4 station bristles with the ports you need to turn your laptop into a desktop, or close to it.

Apple vows to fix Studio Display’s disappointing webcam

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Apple Studio Display
A software update is on the way.
Photo: Apple

Apple has promised that it will address webcam quality issues on its new Studio Display with a software update.

The monitor’s rather disappointing camera performance is one of the biggest frustrations among reviewers. One likened it to an “old BlackBerry,” while another said it is “awful in good light and downright miserable in low light.”

Carry your new Mac Studio in style with this protective case

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If you need to bring your Mac Studio desktop computer somewhere, this is a good way to do it.
If you need to bring your Mac Studio desktop computer somewhere, this is a good way to do it.
Photo: WaterField Designs

If you buy a powerful new Mac Studio desktop computer and you need to take it somewhere, what are you going to do? Re-pack it? Here’s a better idea. Get a stylish and protective new carrying case like the one WaterField Designs just released.

The San Francisco-based luxury bag maker for tech gear adds the new Mac Studio Shield Case to its list of quality goods, including sturdy leather AirTag accessories and a cool AirPods Max case that Apple should’ve made.

Launch of much-anticipated home-automation standard Matter delayed again

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Matter is a new interoperable homer automation standard back by Apple, Amazon, Google and m ore.
Matter is going to… matter to fans of home automation.
Photo: Connectivity Standards Alliance

The release date for the Matter standard has been pushed back to fall of 2022. Previously, Apple and the rest of the Connectivity Standards Alliance had hoped to launch the cross-platform home-automation standard much earlier in the year.

A primary goal is interoperability, allowing accessories to connect to HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, etc. Matter might finally make smart homes more common… even mainstream.

Now Siri can control your Roomba robot vacuum cleaner

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Have Siri tell that robot Roomba vacuum where to go.
Have Siri tell that robot Roomba vacuum where to go.
Photo: iRobot

Siri is about to get better at helping you clean the house. iRobot has begun to roll out an iRobot Genius 4.0 Home Intelligence software update to Roomba robot vacuum and Braava jet robot mop customers. The update brings Siri voice support to all users, at long last.

So cleaning the floors isn’t just for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant anymore.

Apparent iPhone 14 leak suggests no major design changes

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iPhone 14 design leak
Apple's next iPhone could be largely the same as the last one.
Image: MySmartPrice

iPhone 14 Pro is expected to come with big design changes — like the removal of its notch — this fall. But the same tweaks seemingly won’t be extended to regular iPhone 14 models. In fact, they may not change at all.

Leaked CAD drawings, supposedly showing the standard iPhone 14, suggest its design will be identical to that of iPhone 13. It appears to sport the same notch, the same rear-facing camera setup, and the same overall shape.

Netflix cracks down on users who share their accounts with others

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Netflix account sharing
Users will have the option to keep sharing for a small fee.
Image: Netflix

Netflix on Wednesday confirmed new measures to crack down on the sharing of user accounts between multiple households. But rather than putting a stop to it, the company is adding a new “sub account” option for a small fee.

Sharing accounts between households, which goes against Netflix’s terms of service, is “impacting out ability to invest in great new TV and films for out members,” the company said.

YouTube still doesn’t offer promised picture-in-picture feature on iPhone

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YouTube picture-in-picture may finally be close to full iPhone support
The long, long wait for YouTube picture-in-picture support for iPhone could be near its end.
Graphic: YouTube

YouTube has once again pushed back the date when it will apparently follow through on its promise to allow all iPhone users to watch video from its application in a small window while another app is open. The feature is already available for YouTube Premium subscribers, but it in beta testing, and that is scheduled to end on April 8. So that’s that next date that picture-in-picture could become available for all iPhone users.

When it finally launches, PiP will make YouTube videos easier to enjoy because they’ll allow people to use their iPhone to multitask while also watching.

Proposed UK law makes ‘cyberflashing’ via AirDrop a crime

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Proposed UK law makes ‘cyberflashing’ via AirDrop a crime
Cyberflashing could put you behind bars in the UK. That includes using AirDrop to do it.
Image: Cult of Mac/Icons8

Cyberflashing, sharing unsolicited sexual image via social media, could soon be a crime in the U.K. That specifically includes using Apple’s AirDrop to send a nearby stranger a picture of your junk.

Just… don’t do it. For a lot of reasons. Including the fact that you don’t want to spend up to two years in prison.

Major update to Slack for iPad revamps user interface

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Major update to Slack for iPad revamps users interface
Slack for iPad works more like the desktop version.
Graphic: Slack

Slack promises a “major update” for the iPad version of its application. It mixes the mobile and desktop versions into a design suited for a tablet.

With so many people working from home, iPad has become a computer millions depend on for their jobs. And Slack is a part of the daily routine for many of them, leading to complaints about the design of the previous version.

11-inch iPad Pro and Studio Display may have to wait for mini-LED screens

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Despite hopes that Apple's new Studio Display might get mini-LEDs sooner than later, it might not happen.
Despite hopes that Apple's new Studio Display might get mini-LEDs sooner than later, it might not happen.
Photo: Apple

It appears unlikely Apple will roll out any new products with mini-LED displays in 2022 because of concerns about cost, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a tweet Wednesday. That would include hoped-for updates to the 11-inch iPad Pro and the recently released Studio Display.

Kuo clarified that Cupertino’s existing mini-LED products, such as the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, may be updated this year.

Floating app windows could be coming to iPad. Finally.

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Floating app windows could be coming to iPad. Finally.
Apple is allegedly working to make this dream into a reality.
Illustration: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPad users will soon be able to work with applications in floating windows, if an unconfirmed report is correct. This is a highly requested feature from those who want Apple’s tablet to function more like a Mac.

iPadOS will supposedly offer something like tablet mode and laptop mode depending on how it is being used.

3D-render wunderkind Ian Zelbo jacks up performance [Setups]

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Ian Zelbo works on renders on a tricked-out PC in New York City.
Ian Zelbo works on renders on a tricked-out PC in New York City.
Photo: Ian Zelbo

We last wrote about the computer setup of 17-year-old concept creator and render artist Ian Zelbo back in May 2021. As then, the young New Yorker’s 3D renderings of Macs and other leaked tech products continue to amaze viewers online.

But he recently switched things up a bit with the gear he needs to get the job done. Along with a big step up from a 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro to a 14-inch M1 Pro version, he custom-built a PC to do a lot of the heavy lifting in his resource-intensive work.

Lucky shopper receives Mac Studio days early

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Lucky shopper receives Mac Studio days early
Turns out not everyone has to wait until Friday to receive a Mac Studio.
Photo: Simon/Mac4Ever

The Mac Studio is scheduled to start reaching customers on March 18. But a fortunate Frenchman got his Tuesday, three days early!

Seems a store in France missed the note from Apple about not shipping until later in the week.

Xbox Cloud Gaming gets ‘major’ improvements on iPhone and iPad

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Xbox Cloud Gaming gets major improvements
Try them out now and let Microsoft know what you think.
Image: Microsoft

Microsoft this week rolled out a big Xbox Cloud Gaming update that promises “major performance improvements” on iPhone and iPad. They should allow for smoother and more responsive gameplay, the company said.

The changes have already been well-received by Cloud Gaming users, with Microsoft seeing a “significant increase” in positive feedback from players.

Hey streamers, Razer wants you to look and sound better

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Razer's new Key Light Chroma offers adjustable colors and temperatures.
Razer's new Key Light Chroma offers adjustable colors and temperatures.
Photo: Razer

If you want to kick your streaming or vlogging up a notch, Razer has a trio of new products designed to help you look and sound better to your online audience.

On Friday, the gaming peripherals company rolled out the Razer Key Light Chroma, the Razer Seiren BT lapel microphone and the Razer Audio Mixer.

Apple Car team was ‘dissolved’ but vehicle still coming in 2025

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Making a car could produce a massive windfall for Apple.
An Apple autonomous vehicle could still be on the road in just a few years, despite a reorg of the development team.
Photo: Possessed Photography/Unsplash CC

The group at Apple developing a self-driving electric car has been “dissolved for some time,” according to a reliable source of insider information. But the project supposedly hasn’t been canceled — it’s undergoing a reorganization.

This is likely a reflection of the many difficulties Apple has run into with this very complex project.

Apple now sells iPhone 12 and 12 Pro refurbs in the US from $619

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Get your iPhone 12 ready for resale.
Sweet savings on devices that look brand-new.
Photo: Apple

You can now buy official iPhone 12 and 12 Pro refurbs through the Apple Store online in the United States. Prices start at $619 for a regular 6.1-inch model with 64GB of storage. Apple doesn’t yet offer iPhone 12 mini or 12 Pro Max.

A range of color options are available and all units are unlocked for use on any carrier. As is always the case with refurbs, stock levels are likely to fluctuate, so it might be best to bag one soon if you’re interested.

iOS 15.4 lets you restore Apple Watch from iPhone for the first time

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You can now restore Apple Watch with iPhone
Only Apple could restore an Apple Watch until now.
Image: Apple

If you encounter firmware issues on Apple Watch, you can now wirelessly restore its software yourself using an iPhone — provided you’ve updated to iOS 15.4 and watchOS 8.5, which made their official debuts on Monday.

Is it the first time Cupertino has given Apple Watch owners this functionality. Until now, firmware issues often required users to take their device to Apple to be restored, since there is no way to connect the device to a Mac.

A15 Bionic finally gets real competition from an unlikely source

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MediaTek rivals A15 Bionic
Another blow to Qualcomm.
Image: MediaTek

MediaTek looks set to become the first mobile chipmaker to finally give iPhone 13’s A15 Bionic chip a run for its money in processing performance.

The Taiwanese company’s new Dimensity 9000 chipset, announced late last year, is yet to make its way into an Android device. But early benchmarks suggest it will easily outpace rivals from Google, Samsung and Qualcomm.