News - page 268

The holidays are finally over, and if you were lucky enough to receive an Apple Watch, iPhone or AirPods as gifts, this latest giveaway is for you. Journey, a maker of innovative consumer electronics, is giving three lucky winners its 3 in 1 Wireless Charging Station.

This minimalist charger takes up little space and will charge your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch at the same time. If you want to simplify your life by cutting out cords and charging hassles, make sure to enter this Cult of Mac giveaway.

At CES 2022, Satechi debuted two new accessories designed for the new M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBooks. Both the USB-4 Multiport Adapter and the Pro Hub Max expand the ports available on the new laptops, opening up possibilities for connectivity.

And, in the case of the adapter’s 8K HDMI support, one port goes a bit beyond Mac laptops’ current comfort zone.

Jim Henson’s fun-loving and musical Fraggles return in Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock. The series will debut January 21 on Apple TV+. ‘80s kids, you can introduce your children to a show you loved back in the day.

A little fuzzy on the Fraggles? Watch a trailer released Wednesday to start the fun.

Remember when transparent watch bands were some of the coolest things you could slap on your wrist? Elago does, which is why it is bringing them back with its Clear band for Apple Watch.

Made from a sturdy TPU that’s almost indestructible, the Clear band is ideal in any situation. It’s also a steal at just $11.04 with 15% off. Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store.

Photos purporting to show an Apple MagSafe Battery Pack prototype surfaced Wednesday, revealing an earlier design with a glossy finish and a repositioned charging LED. The device also features internal identification markings.

The device looks genuine, but it’s very different from Apple’s final product, which went on sale last July at $99.

The new 32-inch UltraSharp monitor Dell introduced at CES 2022 looks like a home-office videoconferencing powerhouse. The 4K display has a 4K webcam with microphones built in for those WFH meetings. And the monitor serves as a USB-C hub with decent port selection and 90W of power for your MacBook or other laptop, too.

If Apple takes something away, people tend to want it more. We see this in the persistent coveting of space gray peripherals — Magic Trackpad, Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse 2 — that the Cupertino tech giant stopped selling separately last year after the iMac Pro’s discontinuation.

Following the space gray iMac Pro’s launch in 2018 with matching peripherals exclusive to it, owners found they could sell the dark-hued input devices for mad money. So Apple jumped on that market, charging a slight premium over the silver versions, though not forever. But space gray gear still carries a certain cache.

Belkin unveiled the Wemo Smart Video Doorbell that uses Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video. It’s built around a 4MP, wide-angle lens.

Also at CES 2022, Belkin announced redesigned smart plugs and lighting solutions with support for Matter over Thread, which means they’ll also support HomeKit.

Plus, the wraps came off Belkin SoundForm Immerse noise cancelling earbuds with support for Apple’s Find My system.

A future WhatsApp update will bring contact photos to your notifications on iPhone. The feature, which requires iOS 15 or later, is already being tested among beta users in version 2.22.1.1 of the app.

This is just one of many improvements WhatsApp has started working on for its iPhone app. Others include revamped contact pages, and a Community feature that gives admins more control over their groups.

Google’s deal with Apple, which ensures that it remains the default search engine in Safari across all Apple devices, is the subject of a new class-action lawsuit against both companies and their CEOs, Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook.

A lawsuit filed in California this week alleges that the two Silicon Valley giants have a non-compete agreement in internet search that violates U.S. antitrust laws and prevents Apple from launching a search engine of its own.

Plugable used CES 2022 to unveil a dock that can handle up to three 4K external monitors using either HDMI or DisplayPort. The UD-6950PDZ also has ports for Ethernet, USB-A, audio and more.

In addition, Plugable also announced the USB4-HUB3A, a small hub with three Thunderbolt ports and more.

Apple’s first mixed reality headset will feature “pancake” lenses that allow for a lighter, more compact design, according to a new report. The device is still on track to make its debut in late 2022, despite early production delays.

However, it is believed the headset — which is expected to offer both augmented and virtual reality experiences — will be in short supply initially. Availability is set to increase substantially in early 2023.

You won‘t have to attach an AirTag tracker to the upcoming Targus Cypress Hero Backpack to locate it because it’ll have Apple’s Find My tracking technology built in.

The bag, which can hold a MacBook as large as 16 inches, can also be used to locate a misplaced iPhone.

Devices that track your pet’s whereabouts aren’t exactly new. Your pooch might have a chip embedded right now. But Invoxia is looking to be best in show of a different sort at CES 2022. The company’s new Smart Dog Collar can monitor your pet’s vital signs via advanced technology as well as track via GPS in case he or she gets lost. Like an Apple Watch for their furry necks.

Apple’s upcoming virtual reality and augmented reality headset will have three displays, according to a new report by display-industry analysts. They also have a prediction for what the third screen will be used for.

Rumors indicate the VR/AR headset finally will surface in 2022.

The vegan leather Moft Smart Desk Mat beautifies your desk, but that’s just the start. It unfolds into an angle-adjustable stand that can can hold one or more Apple computers and accessories in a range of configurations.

Moft also announced at CES 2022 a fold-flat, cooling laptop stand. And a case and stand for the iPad mini 6, as well.

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Schlage introduced the first smart lock in North America to support Apple Home Key — the Encode Plus Smart WiFi Deadbolt — on Tuesday at CES 2022.

So first there was an app for that … key. And now there’s a lock for that key.

TP-Link unveiled a collection of HomeKit-compatible smart home accessories at CES 2022. It includes smart plugs, switches smart lighting and more.

With nine new products coming out this year, it’s a big push into supporting Apple’s HomeKit home automation system.

Accessories-maker Scosche launched a series of MagSafe-compatible products Monday ahead of CES 2022, including two Bluetooth speakers that can boost your iPhone’s sound on the go.

The company also rolled out new car mounts and a wireless charger, among other items.

Apple TV’s slim and subtle design means that it looks incredibly clean no matter where you keep it, but my goodness, isn’t it boring? Transform and protect yours with this awesome T4 silicone skin from Elago.

Priced at under $22 while it’s on sale, the skin makes your Apple TV look like a classic Super Nintendo Entertainment System. And you can get a Siri Remote skin inspired by a SNES controller to go with it.

AT&T and Verizon have agreed to postpone major 5G expansion plans at the request of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Both carriers initially rejected a delay. They argued that it would be “an irresponsible abdication of the operating control required to deploy world-class and globally competitive communications networks.” But statements released Monday evening confirm they changed their minds.

Oral-B is adding three new brushes, previewed this week at CES 2022, to its smart iO lineup that all work alongside your iPhone to give you cleaner, healthier teeth.

With features like real-time feedback, pressure control, multiple brushing modes, and the ability to monitor your brushing habits, the iO4, iO5 and iO10 brushes promise greater plaque removal and improved gum health.

Apple is said to be close to securing its first original movie of 2022. The company is in negotiations to acquire a Formula One film that stars Brad Pitt as a racing driver who comes out of retirement to mentor a young teammate.

The movie, which will be directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer — who are working together on Top Gun: Maverick — is worth around $140 million, according to a Monday report.

A newly discovered HomeKit bug can render unsuspecting iPhone and iPad users with a completely unresponsive device. All it takes is for a smart home gadget to be given a super-long name.

Once the bug affects an iOS or iPadOS device, the gadget will continually freeze and restart itself. The only way to fix it is to factory reset the iPhone or iPad — and avoid logging into your iCloud account.

Despite Apple’s lengthy and ongoing efforts to deliver much-improved charging technologies, archrival Samsung has beaten Cupertino in the race for truly wireless charging. Except you won’t find it in a smartphone … yet.

The South Korean company’s next-generation TV remote — announced this week ahead of CES 2022 — cleverly uses radio waves emitted from your Wi-Fi router to stay topped up so you don’t have to worry about charging it.