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News - page 276

Apple marks 15 years of fighting AIDS with Product Red

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ProductRed iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7
Apple is going all-out for this year's World AIDS Day.
Photo: Apple

To mark World AIDS Day, Apple celebrated 15 years of fighting AIDS with Product Red on Wednesday. The company also outlined new ways customers can support its ongoing efforts — like buying Red versions of iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7.

Through December 6, Apple will donate $1 to the Global Fund for every purchase made with Apple Pay at an Apple Store, through the Apple Store online and in the Apple Store app.

Check out these crazy translucent AirPods prototypes

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AirPods-Pro-teardown-1
The real translucent AirPods don’t reveal their internal components quite this well.
Photo: iFixit

AirPods come in white, white and also white. But a collector scored a prototype pair in very unusual translucent blue casings.

Taste a rare look at a product that’ll never hit store shelves.

iPhone SE 3 with 5G could be right around the corner

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2020 iPhone SE supports all Apple services.
The second-gen iPhone SE from 2020 will soon be replaced.
Photo: Apple

Apple is on course to introduce its third-generation iPhone SE early in 2022, according to a market-analysis firm. It’s expected to be the first in this budget line with 5G cellular-wireless networking.

But other details on the device are more sketchy at this point.

16-inch MacBook Pro owners suffer strange MagSafe charging problems

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2021 MacBook Pro MagSafe
Is your MacBook Pro charging properly?
Photo: Apple

Some 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro owners are being plagued by mysterious MagSafe charging problems.

A number of users say their machines fail to charge when they are powered off, with the LED light on the MagSafe charger flashing amber, indicating there is a charging problem. At least one has had their MacBook replaced.

This is the feature I’m most looking forward to in 2022 iPad Pro

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This is the feature I’m most looking forward to in 2022 iPad Pro
Bringing MagSafe from the MacBook to the 2022 iPad Pro would be a real jump in the tablet’s usability.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There’s a feature reportedly coming to the 2022 iPad Pro I’m so ready for. Apple’s largest tablet will supposedly include MagSafe, and it’ll be something of a game changer.

However, Apple is allegedly considering using the iPhone version of MagSafe, which makes little sense. The MacBook version would be a better fit for iPad Pro.

Apple TV+ indie film CODA bags two Gotham Awards

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Emilia Jones won a Gotham Award for her role as Ruby in the Apple TV+ film CODA.
Emilia Jones won a Gotham Award for her role as Ruby in the Apple TV+ film CODA.
Photo: Apple TV+

The Gotham Independent Film Awards handed Apple TV+ film CODA two wins on Monday. Stars Emilia Jones and Troy Kotsur each took home a trophy for their roles in the movie, the story of a child of deaf adults (CODA) who must choose between family obligations and her dream of being a singer.

The stars received their awards in person November 29 at the 31st annual Gotham Independent Film Awards in Manhattan. In its film category, the Gotham Awards feature several categories recognizing feature-length American movies made for less than $35 million. Apple spent $25 million to get the streaming rights for CODA, a Sundance film.

Apple celebrates the best and most popular podcasts of 2021

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Apple's best podcasts of 2021
A Slight Change of Plans is Apple's Best Show of the Year
Photo: Apple

Apple on Tuesday published its showcase of this year’s best and most popular podcasts in the United States. It also called 2021 a year for “shows that moved us in ways unlike ever before.”

A Slight Change of Plans with Maya Shankar has been named the Best Show of the Year, while Anything for Selena with Maria Garcia is Apple’s Newcomer of the Year.

Rocket League blasts onto iPhone and iPad, but not as you know it

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Rocket League Sideswipe for iPhone and iPad
The free-to-play game is available to download now.
Photo: Psyonix

Rocket League has finally made its way to iPhone and iPad — but it’s not quite the same game that has proven popular on consoles and PC. Sideswipe is a brand-new take on the formula that’s built specifically for mobile play.

The free-to-play game features 1v1 or 2v2 matches in which players battle it out to get the ball into the opponent’s net. Both “soccar” and “Hoops” game modes are available, and the Rocket Pass and Seasons are coming soon.

The Weeknd and Olivia Rodrigo win big in 2021 Apple Music Awards

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The Weeknd picks up 2021 Apple Music Award
The Weeknd picked up the coveted Global Artist of the Year award.
Photo: Apple

The Weeknd and Olivia Rodrigo are among the biggest winners in the 2021 Apple Music Awards. This year, Apple Music also added Regional Artist of the Year awards, which recognize “artists who made the greatest impact culturally.”

Apple called the past 12 months “a remarkable year for music.” You can watch its Awards celebration through Apple Music and the TV app on December 7.

Lucy’s New Year’s Eve party bombs in trailer for new Peanuts special

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Lucy’s New Year’s Eve party bombs in trailer for new Peanuts special
Lucy takes center stage in Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne on Apple TV+.
Photo: WildBrain/Apple TV+

For Auld Lang Syne will be the first new Peanuts holiday special since 2002, and a trailer released Monday gives a preview. Lucy puts on a New Year’s Eve party but must deal with nothing going right.

The special, set to start streaming in December, looks like a turnaround for Lucy, whose arrogance, bossiness and cruelty generally gets her cast as the villain.

Apple launches MacBook upgrade program for small businesses

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Apple Mac Upgrade Program
Prices start at just $30 a month.
Image: Apple

Small businesses can now purchase new MacBooks for as little as $30 a month through Apple’s new Mac Notebook Upgrade Program.

The scheme, facilitated by Apple financing partner CIT, allows businesses partners to return or swap their machines after just three months if a new model is released. It’s a little like the iPhone Upgrade Program, but more flexible.

Headless ‘SlaBook Pro,’ or ‘MacStein,’ lives on with external monitor [Setups]

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It lives! A
It lives! A "SlaBook Pro" is a screen-less MacBook Pro hooked up to an external monitor.
Photo: [email protected]

Ever wonder what to do if you damage your laptop’s screen? If you have no insurance or warranty coverage, is it simply time to lay that laptop to rest? No. Not necessarily. The rest of that laptop’s body can be reanimated like the creature from Frankenstein — only more productive, as you would expect from a Mac whose time has not yet come. Call it a “SlaBook” or maybe “MacStein.”

Twinkly smart holiday lights get HomeKit support

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Thanks to a firmware update, Twinkly smart holiday lights now have HomeKit support.
Thanks to a firmware update, Twinkly smart holiday lights now have HomeKit support.
Photo: Ledworks S.R.L.

Your winter festivities just got a little brighter if you’re looking for smart holiday lights to use with HomeKit. Thanks to a firmware update, Twinkly smart holiday lights have gained HomeKit support, allowing control with Apple’s smart-home system for the first time.

Twinkly’s new update — firmware version 2.8.3 — brings long-awaited HomeKit support to select models of smart holiday lights. The update is available through the Twinkly iOS app.

Apple News+ subscribers are sick of seeing ads and paywalls

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Apple News+ trial
"Apple News sucks."
Photo: Apple

Some Apple News+ subscribers are reportedly unhappy that they see so many ads — and are blocked from accessing certain publishers — despite paying a monthly fee for supposedly unlimited access to magazines and newspapers included in the service.

Many users say they already canceled their subscriptions, with some criticizing Apple for not paying publishers enough to remove ads.

Apple is China’s biggest smartphone brand for the first time since 2015

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Apple is China's biggest smartphone brand
Apple is bigger than Oppo and Vivo on their home turf.
Photo: Apple/Counterpoint Research

Apple has overtaken local firms Oppo and Vivo to become the biggest smartphone brand in China for the first time since 2015, according to the latest market data from Counterpoint Research.

Mobile vendors have been fighting for the top spot since the mammoth downfall of Huawei, and it seems the success of iPhone 13 — which is more affordable than iPhone 12 was in China — helped Apple bag the crown last month.

Apple hasn’t given up on making a do-it-all charger for multiple devices

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AirPods on AirPower
AirPower might be dead, but the dream lives on.
Photo: Apple

Apple continues to work on a wireless charger, similar to the abandoned AirPower mat, that will allow users to charge multiple devices simultaneously, according to a new report. The company also hopes to develop truly wireless charging in the future.

Cupertino reportedly is working on “short and long distance” charging solutions that don’t require physical contact. It also wants to give all major Apple devices the ability to charge each other.

The best Cyber Monday deals on Apple’s hottest devices

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Apple Cyber Monday deals
Enjoy the discounts before they disappear.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Black Friday is over for another year, but Cyber Monday has just begun, which means there’s still time to enjoy big discounts on Apple devices.

AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad and more are currently available at tasty discounts from third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. And to make shopping a little easier, we rounded up all the best deals on Apple’s hottest gear.

It’s not too late to get big Black Friday discounts on great Apple accessories

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Cult of Mac Store Black Friday 2021
Save on Mujjo, Carterjett, HEDocks, and more.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The Cult of Mac Store’s biggest sale of the year continues, with fresh new deals offering up to 30% off Apple accessories from Mujjo, Carterjett, HEDocks and more. That’s in addition to the previous savings unveiled earlier this Black Friday weekend.

Shop now to save on great iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, MacBook sleeves and lots of other great accessories. U.S. customers also will enjoy free shipping on orders over $40. However, this promotion ends soon — so bag a bargain before it’s too late!

Get an extra $20 when you trade in your old Apple gear

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Apple gear buyback: How's a $20 sweetener sound?
How's a $20 sweetener sound?
Photo: Alexander Mils/Unsplash CC

We interrupt your Black Friday weekend shopping spree for this important bulletin: Cult of Mac’s buyback program is offering an extra $20 on every piece of Apple gear you sell to us. That’s on top of the already generous cash-back opportuni ties we offer every day of the year.

Head to our buyback page now and enter code BFCM to get that sweet extra cash — but do it fast. This special offer ends Monday night.

Save up to 50% on Apple accessories you won’t find in the Apple Store

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Cult of Mac Store Black Friday 2021
The sale that keeps on giving.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Save up to 50% on the hottest Apple accessories from Elago, Elkson, Just Mobile and more in the Cult of Mac Store’s big Black Friday sale.

You can pick up great cases for all your Apple devices, brilliant Apple Watch bands, and lots more at bargain prices — and enjoy free shipping when you spend $40 or more. The sale ends soon, so notch some savings while you can. It’s the perfect time to pick up Apple accessories for yourself or for people on your holiday shopping list.

Next year’s iMac Pro sounds like a screamer! [The CultCast]

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An iMac Pro with 2x the processing power of the M1 Max? Is Apple crazy?!?
An iMac Pro with 2x the processing power of the M1 Max? Is Apple crazy?!?
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If you thought the M1 Max MacBook Pros were powerhouses, wait till you hear about the iMac Pro that might be coming down the pike. Apple reportedly wants to double up the world-beating chip to amp up the performance even more. Prepare to be amazed!

Also on The CultCast:

  • Black Friday deals on Apple gear and The Cult of Mac, 2nd Edition coffee table book.
  • AirPods are not for late-night snacking!
  • And new products we love in “Under Review.”

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.

Apple’s first AR headset could arrive late next year with super-speedy chip

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Apple Glasses
It could pack as much power as an M1 Mac.
Concept: Taeyeon Kim

Apple’s much-anticipated augmented reality headset could finally drop late next year, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The device is expected to pack a surprisingly powerful chip that would put it on par with an M1 Mac in processing performance. A second low-power processor will reportedly handle the headset’s many built-in sensors.

Apple’s brutal holiday ad is a snowman bloodbath shot on iPhone 13 Pro

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Apple snowman ad
The look of a young girl who just witnessed her best friend's murder.
Photo: Apple

If you’re the kind of person who gets pleasure out of destroying other people’s snowmen, you’ll love Apple’s new “Shot on iPhone” ad for the holiday season.

“Saving Simon” tells the story of a young girl who saves a beloved snowman from a mass stomping, keeps it alive all year long by shutting it inside a freezer, then helplessly watches on as it gets brutally obliterated in a hit and run.