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News - page 268

Bring Dolby Atmos to your TV with Denon’s affordable new soundbar

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Denon's new soundbar offers Dolby Atmos at a reasonable price.
Denon's new soundbar offers Dolby Atmos at a reasonable price.
Photo: Denon

If your TV sounds a little thin on its own, you might want to beef up that audio with a soundbar and subwoofer. Until recently, sets offering Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound tended to cost quite a bit. But Denon’s got an affordable new outfit for you — the DHT-S517 soundbar.

Known for it AV receivers, Denon now takes on the likes of Sonos Arc with its release of the DHT-S517. You can plug it into any TV to jack up your entertainment experience with Dolby Atmos for $449.

watchOS 8.4 squashes frustrating Apple Watch charging bug

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watchOS 8.4 squashes frustrating Apple Watch charging bug
Apple Watch users can return to happily charging with watchOS 8.4.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch wearers can now install watchOS 8.4. And many will want to do so soon because the new version removes an irritating bug that prevented some third-party chargers from working.

This is just one of a slew of system software updates from Apple on Wednesday, including macOS Monterey 12.2, iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3.

macOS 12.2 is out with smoother ProMotion scrolling … maybe

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macOS Monterey 12.2 is out with smoother ProMotion scrolling… maybe
macOS 12.2 takes care of a few bugs.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Mac users can now install macOS Monterey 12.2. Apple is vague about what’s in the new version. However, prerelease beta testers indicate it brings a rewritten Apple Music app and smoother scrolling for MacBooks with ProMotion displays. It definitely fixes a serious Safari bug.

Apple also released iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3 to the public Wednesday. And watchOS 8.4, too.

iOS 15.3 is here for your iPhone bugs

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Updates is here for your iPhone bugs
iOS 15.7.4 takes care of a long list of security bugs.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Egor Kamelev/Pexels

Apple made iOS 15.3 available to all compatible iPhone models Monday. The update squashes at least one bug that recently made headlines. But there are no new features.

Apple also introduced iPadOS 15.3 to erase many of the same bugs. And macOS Monterey 12.2 and watchOS 8.4 debuted, too. tvOS 15.3 arrived Monday as well.

Dazzled: A tale of two lighting schemes [Setups]

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Thanks to Edison bulbs and Govee light strips for all these colors.
Thanks to Edison bulbs and Govee light strips for all these colors.
Photo: [email protected]

Some computer setups knock your socks off with lighting. It can be tasteful, warm, welcoming and conducive to work without eye strain. It can be bright, inventive and dazzling, like fantastic decorations. Or, as in today’s MacBook Pro-based featured setup, it can be either one of those, depending on both choice of settings and time of day.

The light show in today’s workstation derives from two sources, or schemes. One involves two very different table lamps. The other involves LED light strips.

Apple Watch gets special band, new ‘Unity Lights’ face for Black History Month

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Apple Watch gets new band and face for Black History Month
Get the new face now through the Watch app.
Photo: Apple

Apple celebrates this year’s Black History Month by promoting Black business and innovation, amplifying Black voices, and showcasing Black creatives, the company announced on Wednesday.

It is also introduced a new, limited-edition Black Unity Braided Solo Loop and Unity Lights face for Apple Watch, which you can get yours hands on today.

Beats Studio Buds get instant pairing over iCloud and new controls

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Beats Studio Buds come in white, red and black.
You now have one-tap pairing across all Apple devices.
Photo: Beats

Apple this week rolled out a new firmware update for its Beats Studio Buds that adds a couple of handy new features and controls — including instant pairing for all your Apple devices over iCloud.

Instant pairing, which was already available on AirPods, means users no longer have to connect Beats Studio Buds to all their Apple devices individually.

Apple Maps erects gigantic digital wall to hide Tim Cook’s house

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Tim Cook's house in Apple Maps
Cook's Palo Alto home is hidden from virtual visitors.
Image: Apple Maps

Apple fans who take a virtual stroll through Palo Alto inside Apple Maps and Google Maps no longer get to see Tim Cook’s house. The modern, four-bedroom condo has had a giant digital wall erected right in front of it.

We spotted the change after Apple received temporary restraining order against an alleged stalker, who claimed to be Cook’s wife, threatened the Apple boss and was caught trespassing on his property.

Apple gets temporary restraining order against alleged Tim Cook stalker

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Apple continues to soar under Tim Cook's assured leadership.
An alleged stalker reportedly showed up at Tim Cook's house on more than one occasion.
Photo: Apple

A San Francisco Bay Area court granted Apple a temporary restraining order Friday against a woman who claimed to be Tim Cook’s wife and threatened the Apple CEO. She also allegedly trespassed at Cook’s home in Palo Alto, California.

The 45-year-old woman began tweeting about Cook in late 2020, referring to him as her “bed man,” among other things. She also allegedly emailed him multiple times, sometimes sending photographs of pistols, bullets and MacBooks.

Biden says his ‘right to repair’ order changed Apple policies

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President Joe Biden says his ‘right to repair’ order changed Apple policies.
A recent executive order takes a strong stance on users’ right to repair.
Photo: White House

President Joe Biden says an executive order he signed in mid-January forced companies to loosen restrictions on who can repair their devices.

“Companies like Apple and Microsoft are changing their policies so folks will be able to repair their devices themselves,” he said Monday.

Laut’s Inflight Folio case offers slim, stylish protection for iPad Pro — save 15%

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Laut Inflight Folio for iPad Pro
All-around protection that won't weigh you down.
Photo: Laut

Need an iPad Pro case that offers all-around protection without unnecessary bulk? Look no further than the slim, stylish Inflight Folio from Laut. It’s robust, versatile and plays nicely with Apple Pencil.

Get yours today from the Cult of Mac Store and save 15% with a limited-timedeal.

Get a vintage outdoor vibe with Philips Hue’s new smart lights

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The Inara's exposed filament harkens back to Thomas Edison.
The Inara's exposed filament harkens back to Thomas Edison.
Photo: Philips Hue

In time for upcoming spring and summer evenings, smart lighting company Philips Hue offers some cool retro-lighting options for you to try when it’s warm enough to gather outside. Or anytime you want to give your house’s exterior a vintage vibe, really.

Philips Hue owner Signify said three new additions to its outdoor smart lighting line launch on March 1. In addition, two new lighting effects for indoor smart bulbs will arrive on the Hue app later this year, the company added.

Indie dev made $20,000 a day turning iPhone into a frosty beer

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iBeer app on iPhone
Who could have thought drinking beer from an iPhone would be such a hit?
Photo: Hottrix

Steve Sheraton is one of the App Store’s original success stories. He was crashing on a friend’s couch when he first got the idea of making a funny video that made it look like he was drinking beer out of his iPhone, and a little while later, he was pulling in up to $20,000 a day in App Store revenue.

Here’s how Sheraton’s “iBeer” app, which celebrated 90 million downloads in 2014, became one of iPhone’s most popular apps and made a ton of cash.

Apple calls for magnificent macro snaps in latest Shot on iPhone Challenge

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Apple Shot on iPhone Challenge
Can you take macro photos this good? Prove it in the Shot on iPhone Challenge.
Photo: Apple

Apple today unveiled its newest Shot on iPhone Challenge, which calls upon iPhone 13 Pro owners to share their most magnificent macro photos.

The challenge starts today and runs through February 16. You can take part simply by uploading your macro photos to Instagram and Twitter using the hashtags #ShotoniPhone and #iPhonemacrochallenge.

iCloud syncing problems frustrate devs and users alike

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iCloud Passwords land on Windows
An ongoing problem.
Image: Apple

A growing number of developers report persistent CloudKit connectivity issues that break iCloud syncing inside their apps.

It seems the problem has been ongoing since at least November. Many developers say they reported the situation to Apple but have yet to see improvements — or even a response in some cases.

WhatsApp adds support for Focus mode, notification photos in iOS 15

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WhatsApp logo
WhatsApp embraces iOS 15.
Image: WhatsApp

The latest WhatsApp update on iPhone brings a number of neat improvements for those who have updated to iOS 15. The app is now fully compatible with Focus mode, while contact photos now appear in notifications.

WhatsApp has also made it possible to pause and resume while recording voice messages. The version 22.2.75 is now available to all, though it could be a few weeks before the improvements are rolled out to everyone.

Apple TV+ share of streaming market just keeps growing

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Appletvpluslogo
Apple TV+ has a growing chunk of the U.S. streaming market. Netflix does not.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ garners 5% of the U.S. streaming video market, according to a company that follows the industry. While that makes Apple TV+ a small player, the service started 2021 with just a 3% share, so the year saw significant growth.

Its two largest rivals, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, saw drops in their shares of the streaming market in 2021.

Get in the game with Audio-Technica’s new hi-fi headsets

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The new Audio-Technica ATH-GDL3 gaming headset features an open-back design. The ATH-GL3 gaming headset features a closed-back design (not pictured).
The new Audio-Technica ATH-GDL3 gaming headset features an open-back design. The ATH-GL3 gaming headset features a closed-back design (not pictured).
Photo: Audio-Technica

A pair of new featherweight gaming headsets from Audio-Technica feature high-fidelity audio, detachable boom microphones and other features designed to give gamers goosebumps.

The ATH-GL3 comes with a closed-back design to reduce ambient noise. The ATH-GDL3 features an open-back design, offering a wider soundstage.

Apple faces $57 million fine for pathetic approach to third-party payments

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Apple.logo.paris.store
Apple's "evasion" of the rules is "gross," according to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney.
Photo: Josh Davidson/Cult of Mac

Apple will be fined up to €50 million (approx. $57 million) by Dutch regulators for its rather pathetic attempt at allowing third-party payments for apps and subscriptions in the Netherlands.

Although Cupertino took half-hearted steps to comply with new legislation, it ensured that it was incredibly difficult for developers to implement third-party payment systems. It also demanded fees for payments it wasn’t processing.

Pristine design workstation’s keys to clean cable management [Setups]

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Does this look like a designer's setup, or does this look like a designer's setup.
Does this look like a designer's setup, or does this look like a designer's setup.
Photo: [email protected]

Leave it to a digital product designer to work their magic in a tastefully pristine workstation with an absolute minimum of cable clutter. “Cable management gets a 10 out of 10,” one person said of today’s featured computer setup. And all that walnut wood doesn’t hurt, either.

But how did they manage to tame the cable monster?

iPhone 13 owners report strange pink screen issue, Apple calls it a bug

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iPhone 13 pink screen issue
Why hasn't Apple fixed it already?
Photo: DPigar/Apple Support Communities

A growing number of iPhone 13 owners are reporting a mysterious issue that causes their displays to turn pink. The problem seems to be arising after a device restart — sometimes after the iPhone has frozen.

According to Apple, the problem is a software bug rather than a hardware issue. However, some users have been experiencing it since iPhone 13 made its debut.