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News - page 286

Hate the MacBook Pro notch? At least it won’t block your mouse cursor.

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MacBook Pro notch won’t hinder mouse cursor movement
Good news: the MacBook Pro notch doesn’t hinder cursor movement.
Photo: Apple

The recently announced MacBook Pro models are the first with a screen notch. This raised questions about how the cursor handles the cutout. Will the cursor get stuck on the notch? Or will it pass through? Or automatically flow around?

Wonder no more: We have an official answer from Apple.

Twelve South’s PowerPic Mod picture frame juices up your devices

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Twelve South's PowerPic Mod Wireless Charger looks like an unassuming piece of decor.
Twelve South's PowerPic Mod Wireless Charger looks like an unassuming piece of decor.
Photo: Twelve South

Your iPhone charger doesn’t have to look like a charger when it’s off-duty. Twelve South launched its PowerPic Mod Wireless Charger on Wednesday. The Qi-enabled charging stand serves as a picture frame, with a detachable magnetic lucite frame that fits any 4 x 6 photo or graphic.

Blow your ears clean off with perfectly mounted desktop speakers [Setups]

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Ready, aim, fire! Get the perfect sound with mounted desktop speakers.
Ready, aim, fire! Get the perfect sound with mounted desktop speakers.
Photo: [email protected]

These days, you can find computers and monitors with pretty good speakers. Or you can set up a pair HomePod minis or some other nice little Bluetooth speakers for solid computer setup sound.

But some people aren’t happy unless they have massive audio power on the desktop, complete with perfectly positioned speaker stands for maximum balance and clarity — and all of their speakers’ impressive wattage pointed right at their face.

Apple hints at Apple Music for ‘gaming consoles’ after PS5 leak

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Apple Music for gaming consoles
Is a rollout imminent?
Photo: Apple/Sony

Apple’s website has been updating to include a reference to Apple Music for “gaming consoles.” It comes less than a week after the service was first spotted (but unavailable to download) on PlayStation 5.

The reference all but confirms Cupertino is indeed working to bring Apple Music to the latest game systems from Microsoft and Sony, alongside Apple TV, which is already available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X.

27-inch iMac could get big refresh with 120Hz mini-LED display in early 2022

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2020 iMac: The new iMac looks just like the old one (only faster).
It's about time the larger iMac switched to Apple silicon.
Photo: Apple

Apple didn’t deliver the 27-inch iMac refresh many fans were hoping for during its big “Unleashed” event on Monday, but according to one analyst, it will arrive in early 2022 — complete with a mini-LED display and ProMotion technology.

The next-generation all-in-one is also expected to finally ditch its Intel processors for new Apple silicon chips that bring huge performance gains.

Instagram finally lets you upload photos and videos from your desktop

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Instagram uploading on the desktop
Coming later this month.
Photo: Instagram

Instagram is rolling out the ability to upload photos and videos from your desktop through a web browser. You can already access the platform on your Mac or PC, but the experience has always been extremely limited.

Instagram admits that uploading through a web browser is one of its most requested features, and it began testing the upgrade over the summer. The Facebook-owned company has now confirmed it will soon be available to all.

Apple’s new 140W USB-C Mac Power Adapter remains offensively huge

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Apple's very thick 140W Charging block
Apple's solution to fast-charging your new MacBook Pro is a Fiat-sized charging block.
Graphic: Apple / Ian Fuchs

Apple Unleashed event bug Along with the reintroduction of MagSafe in the new MacBook Pro lineup, Apple released a new 140W (!!!) charger Monday to enable faster charging. And while getting 50% battery in a mere 30 minutes sounds impressive, the charging block that enables it looks comically large.

The 140W charger, which comes with all the new 16-inch MacBook Pros rolled out Monday during Apple’s “Unleashed” event, continues that trend.

Oops, some of Apple’s own apps don’t support new MacBook Pro screen notch

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Oops, some of Apple’s own apps don’t support new MacBook Pro screen notch
Apple Logic Pro running on the 2021 MacBook Pro shows a lot of dead space because there’s no support for the screen notch.
Photo: Apple

The just-launched MacBook Pro models are the first with a screen notch. And this apparently came as a surprise to many of Apple’s own software developers as some of the company’s professional apps don’t support the screen cutouts. Which means they can’t fill the new Mac displays and must leave blank areas.

This won’t make it easier for Apple to convince third-party developers to fully support the latest macOS notebooks.

Apple TV+ Snoopy in Space season 2 trailer lifts off in search of life

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Astronaut Snoopy goes where no beagle has gone before.
Astronaut Snoopy goes where no beagle has gone before.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ released its trailer on Tuesday for season two of it Daytime-Emmy-nominated series Snoopy in Space. After the first season’s visits to the moon and the International Space Station, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang get ready for a journey across the universe in search of life.

Season 2 of Snoopy in Space premieres all 12 episodes on Friday, November 12, on Apple TV+.

I got Sherlocked at Apple’s ‘Unleashed’ event!

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Apple Polishing Cloth sherlocks CultCloth. I did not expect to see this new product in Apple's online store.
I did not expect to see this new product in Apple's online store.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Apple Unleashed event bug Like most of you, I sat glued to my screen Monday during Apple’s “Unleashed” event. I was tickled to see the new MacBook Pros finally revealed — laptops that resurrect tons of useful ports, bring massive performance improvements, and benefit from great battery life (thanks in part to a slightly thicker design).

Excited, I fumbled my way through the preorder process in Apple’s online store. But as I got toward the end, something stopped me dead in my tracks. There, on the screen where Apple presents an array of accessories for the MacBooks, I saw a jaw-dropping product … Apple’s new Polishing Cloth.

You gotta be kidding me. There I sat there, stunned, mouth agape. Tim Cook just Sherlocked me!

Bidding on super-rare Chaffey College Apple-1 computer starts at $200,000

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Only six examples features the koa wood case.
Only six known examples features the koa wood case.
Photo: John Moran Auctioneers

As many Apple fans knows, the company’s first products was the Apple-1 personal computer, initially put together in a garage by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs in 1976. Now one unit in their early run of 200, known as the “Chaffey College Apple-1” because its first owner taught there, is going up for auction November 9 with a starting bid of $200,000.

Head for a galaxy far, far away in Lego Star Wars: Castaways on Apple Arcade

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‘Lego Star Wars: Castaways‘ will debut on Apple Arcade in November, 2021.
You and your friends can each design a minifig and join the fun in Lego Star Wars: Castaways.
Photo: Gameloft/Apple Arcade

Explore a mysterious new planet with friends in Lego Star Wars: Castaways. It will be the first social, action-adventure Lego Star Wars game, so it’ll offer chances to relive great moments from the movies or have dance parties.

The upcoming Gameloft title will be available only on Apple Arcade.

M1 Max chip could deliver even greater graphics than PlayStation 5

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Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PlayStation 5
Spider-Man: Miles Morales on PlayStation 5.
Photo: Marvel

MacBook Pro’s mind-blowing M1 Max chip could deliver even greater graphics than Sony’s newest PlayStation 5 console, according to early estimates. It has even more raw GPU power, at least on paper, with up to 32 graphics cores.

Apple already promised that it would offer “similar performance” to a “high-performance discrete GPU” in competing laptops. But whether Mac users actually get similar gaming experiences is another matter.

Apple’s first mixed-reality headset already faces production delays

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Apple could take on the likes of Oculus with a VR headset as early as 2022.
The wait drags on.
Photo: Minh Pham/Unsplash CC

Apple’s mixed-reality headset will launch later than previously anticipated due to delays surrounding its complex design, an analyst says. Previously expected to enter mass production during the second quarter of 2022, the much-anticipated device’s time line reportedly has been pushed back to late 2022.

Cupertino supposedly wants to deliver a product far better than anything seen in the augmented reality or virtual reality spaces so far. That means pairing a groundbreaking design with high-end specifications and a solid ecosystem of software and services.

Apple delays Universal Control for macOS Monterey until ‘later this fall’

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macOS Monterey Universal Control
Hardly surprising.
Photo: Apple

Apple has finally put us out of our misery and confirmed Universal Control for macOS Monterey will be delayed until “later this fall.”

The new feature, which lets you seamlessly control a Mac and iPad with a single keyboard and mouse, has been missing from most macOS Monterey betas. It has popped up in more recent builds, but it still cannot be activated.

NBA 2K22 hits the court at Apple Arcade

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Apple Arcade going big with ‘NBA 2K22’ and ‘Transformers: Tactical Arena’
Play some serious basketball with NBA 2K22.
Photo: 2K/Apple Arcade

Basketball season kicks off Tuesday and that brings the launch of NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition on Apple Arcade. It promises authentic action starring top players. And also a new mode that lets you run your own NBA franchise.

The just-launched game is exclusive to Apple’s gaming service. There are versions for Mac, iPhone and other Apple platforms.

Buying a new MacBook Pro? Apple offers up to $1,000 in trade-in credit for M1 machines

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An M1 Mac like the new MacBook Pro has some drawbacks.
Send in your M1 MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for a juicy discount.
Photo: Apple

Apple Unleashed event bug Apple is offering a rather generous trade-in deal on the exciting new MacBook Pro, with up to $1,000 in credit available for those who send in an M1 MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. The credit could reduce the price of your new notebook to as little as $999 — or $1,499 if you opt for the larger 16-inch model.

The value of your existing machine depends on its condition and specifications, however, it seems RAM capacity doesn’t make a difference.

Some MacBook Pro wait times stretch nearly to Christmas

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Some MacBook Pro wait times already stretch nearly to Christmas
You can still get the 16-inch MacBook Pro before Christmas, if you hurry.
Photo: Apple

Apple Unleashed event bugYou might find yourself waiting months to get the just-announced MacBook Pro. Order one of the standard configurations and it’ll arrive in this month or November at the latest. But upgrade the configuration and the wait time slips back to mid-December.

Anyone hoping to get a redesigned 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro with the powerful new M1 Pro or M1 Max processor with a minimal wait should get their order in soon. Those who want a top-of-the-line configuration before Christmas really ought to hurry.

Apple walks back many contentious Safari for Mac changes

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Apple walks back most Safari for Mac redesign changes
If you wish, you can make Safari in macOS Monterey look like it does in macOS Big Sur.
Photo: Apple

Apple threw in the towel on its efforts to change the way Mac users interact with the Safari web browser. Most of the design modifications unveiled at this summer’s Worldwide Developers Conference to emphasize tabs are now completely optional as a result of protests from beta testers.

The latest revisions appear in the release candidates for macOS Monterey, which went to developers Monday.

iOS 15.1 with SharePlay moves a big step toward release

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Don’t install the iOS 15.1 beta if you plan to get an iPhone 13 ASAP
iOS 15.1 could be only a week away.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple seeded Release Candidates for iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1 to developers on Monday, adding the long-awaited SharePlay feature. The release candidates for watchOS 8.1 and tvOS 15.1 were also seeded. This means the beta testing process for all of these is almost over.

In addition, developers also got access to the macOS Monterey Release Candidate. Apple promised to introduce the final version to Mac users on October 25.

HomePod mini breaks out in a burst of colors

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HomePod mini breaks out in a burst of colors
HomePod mini will soon debut in three new colors: orange, yellow, and blue. That’s in addition to white and space gray.
Photo: Apple

Apple Unleashed event bugThere’s good news for those bored by the HomePod mini’s color options. Apple just announced at Monday’s “Unleashed” event that its smart speaker will soon be available in three additional hues.

The price isn’t going up. But there’ll be a wait to order the fresh options.

macOS Monterey will be available to all on October 25

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macOS Monterey turns a second Mac into an external display
It will be free for all compatible machines.
Photo: Apple

Apple Unleashed event bug Apple today confirmed after its big “Unleashed” event that macOS Monterey will make its public debut on October 25. It will be free to download and install on all compatible machines.

The next major upgrade to macOS brings a revamped Safari interface, Focus mode, and some big enhancements to the Notes app. It also paves the way for Universal Control, which lets you seamlessly control both a Mac and iPad.

Apple unveils next-gen Apple Silicon: M1 Pro and M1 Max

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M1 Max chip
Apple's M1 Max is the biggest Apple has made with 57 billion transistors.
Photo: Apple

Apple Unleashed event bug At Apple’s “Unleashed” event Monday, the company unveiled a pair of new “pro” Apple Silicon chips: the M1 Pro and M1 Max processors.

The two new chips were described by Apple executives as “breakthrough” and “groundbreaking.” The M1 Max “is by far the most powerful chip we’ve ever built,” said Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, during the “Unleashed” presentation.

At first glance, they appear to be a pair of wicked-fast but battery-sipping beasts that blow Intel out of the water.