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News - page 306

Apple Watch 7 packs new ‘communications transmitter’ for data transfer

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Apple Watch Series 7
But you probably won't be able to use it.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Series 7 comes with a brand-new “communications transmitter” for wireless data transfer, regulatory documents reveal. The 60.5GHz module works with a “Wireless Serial Dock” that could enable faster transfer speeds.

It seems, however, that the new connectivity option is likely going to be reserved for internal use.

Lego Star Wars Battles explodes onto Apple Arcade

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Grab your blaster: ‘Lego Star Wars Battles‘ shoots toward Apple Arcade
“Lego Star Wars Battles” lets Chewbacca fight Boba Fett. Or have an Ewok take on a Tusken Raider.

The newest addition to Apple Arcade really puts the “war” in Star Wars. Look for a mix of one-on-one real-time combat and tower defense with classic characters in Lego Star Wars Battles.

The game debuted Friday, and is playable on a wide variety of Apple devices.

Apple fans worldwide get their hands on iPhone 13 and new iPad models

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iPhone 13 and new iPads hit the Apple Store
Are you one of the lucky ones?
Photo: Apple

iPhone 13, the 2021 iPad mini and the ninth-generation iPad hit the Apple Store on Friday morning. Cupertino showed off photos of customers getting their hands on its newest devices in Beijing to celebrate the occasion.

Those who preordered online last week also started receiving their new devices today. Twitter and other online platforms have become flooded with images from excited Apple customers with new products to unpack.

Sci-fi epic Foundation premieres a day early on Apple TV+

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Sci-fi epic ‘Foundation’ premieres a day early on Apple TV+
The wait for Apple TV+’s Foundation is almost over.
Photo: Apple TV+

You won’t have to wait until Friday for the much-anticipated debut of Foundation on Apple TV+. The first episode of this adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s sci-fi classic will premiere2 on Apple’s streaming service three hours early, so Americans can watch it Thursday night.

The same goes for everything debuting on Apple TV+, including the latest episode of Ted Lasso.

iOS 12.5.5 update blocks Pegasus spyware from older iPhones

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iOS update blocks Pegasus spyware from iPhones
Install iOS 12.5.5 on your older iPhone to protect it from the Pegasus spyware.
Photo: Андрей Сидоренко/Pixabay/Cult of Mac

iPhone models that can’t install iOS 14 or iOS 15 can still get protection from the infamous Pegasus spyware thanks to iOS 12.5.5. Apple released this update Thursday for devices as old as the iPhone 5s to close a security hole in active use by hackers.

The same update can also be installed on older iPad and iPod touch models.

Brydge’s new Stone Pro Thunderbolt 4 hub expands your connectivity

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The new Brydge Stone Pro TB4 Docking Station has 12 ports.
The new Brydge Stone Pro TB4 Docking Station has 12 ports.
Photo: Brydge

Brydge has unveiled what looks to be a formidable, 12-port Thunderbolt 4 hub to expand your laptop’s connectivity. It’s the Stone Pro TB4 docking station. The only catch is you can’t get it just yet.

You may know Brydge more for its iPad keyboards than its docking stations. Recently Cult of Mac‘s Ed Hardy said the Brydge 12.9+ iPad Pro keyboard beats out Apple Magic Keyboard. But the new Stone Pro TB4 is one of several docks the company makes.

Make Apple Watch workouts more comfortable with ActionSleeve 2

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Twelve South ActionSleeve for Apple Watch
Always comfortable and out of your way.
Photo: Twelve South

Do you find your Apple Watch is uncomfortable on your wrist during intense workouts? Wear it on your arm where it’s out of your way with the superb ActionSleeve 2 from Twelve South — now available from the Cult of Mac Store.

Made from a soft and lightweight fabric, ActionSleeve 2 feels good even when you’re hot and sweaty. It doesn’t prevent Apple Watch from tracking your heart rate and other statistics, and it’s machine washable so you can keep it clean.

Feast your eyes on these zany Casely iPhone 13 cases

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Casely's new iPhone 13 cases are a feast for the eyes. If you're into that sort of thing.
Casely's new iPhone 13 cases are a feast for the eyes. If you're into that sort of thing.
Photo: Casely

Apple accessories provider Casely is known for its kooky and colorful designs. That remains true with its new iPhone 13 cases. The new Casely iPhone 13 case collections for Apple’s new handsets are full of zany patterns, prints and textures worthy of an Instagram influencer.

Extend your iPhone’s battery life with myCharge MagLock Superhero

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Keep your MagSafe iPhone going with a myCharge MagLock Superhero battery pack.
Keep your MagSafe iPhone going with a myCharge MagLock Superhero battery pack.
Photo: myCharge

While late-model iPhones have impressive battery life, if you stream a lot of videos or use your handset as a hotspot for hours on end, you’ve probably seen dwindling power. But now you can extend the runtime of your MagSafe-capable iPhone 12 or 13 for up to 48 hours with a new battery pack called myCharge MagLock Superhero.

EU proposes forcing iPhone to switch to USB-C

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Anker PowerLine II USB-C Cable with Lightning Connector
If the European Commission has its way, the iPhone Lightning port will be replaced by a USB-C one.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The European Commission put forward legislation Thursday that would make USB-C the standard port for all smartphones and tablets. The move seems aimed directly at Apple and the Lightning port used in iPhone and the budget iPad. But it also would affect super-cheap Android handsets that still use micro-USB.

The proposal also would unbundle the sale of chargers from the sale of electronic devices.

Add a trio of blazing-fast ports to your Mac with new Plugable Thunderbolt 4 hub

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Add trio of blazing-fast ports to your Mac with new Plugable Thunderbolt 4 hub
Plugable’s just-launched Thunderbolt 4 hub makes your Mac more useful by adding accessories that require very fast connections.
Photo: Plugable

The new Plugable TBT4-HUB3C hub turns a single Thunderbolt 4 port into three of them, expanding the number of high-speed accessories that can be connected to a Mac or iPad Pro. That includes big displays and large-capacity drives.

And Plugable also launched new 1-meter and 2-meter Thunderbolt cables Thursday.

Bring on some less dystopian Apple TV+ sci-fi

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Explosion-packed Foundation trailer will get fans excited for Apple TV+ series
“Foundation” looks amazing. And apocalyptic.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ is shooting for the stars with two new sci-fi series and a film this autumn. The trailers for Foundation, Invasion and Finch all look amazing. And dark. The descriptions for all of them include either “dystopian” or “apocalypse” or both.

Could we get some science fiction that’s a little more upbeat from Apple’s streaming service?

Grab a recycled iPhone 13 case from Casetify’s collection

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Casetify offers iPhone cases made from recycled and upcycled materials.
Casetify offers iPhone cases made from recycled and upcycled materials.
Photo: Casetify

If you like to use products made from recycled materials, Casetify has you covered when it comes to iPhone 13 covers. Its collection features several styles of MagSafe-compatible cases, both recycled and upcycled, with solid drop protection and options for personalization.

‘Duplicitous conduct’ earns Fortnite extended App Store ban

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Epic Games v. Apple is just getting started
If you thought the war between Apple and epic Games was over, think again.
Graphic: Epic Games/Cult of Mac

The first phase of the legal war between Apple and Epic Games is over, and a Federal court agreed with the game developer in some of the major points in their lawsuit. But Apple refuses to reinstate Fortnite and other Epic titles to its App Store during the appeals process.

The iPhone maker says this is the result of “Epic’s duplicitous conduct” leading to the lawsuit.

Apple intensifies its war on leakers

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When will the Apple leaks stop?
Tim Cook says Apple is “doing everything in our power” to find iPhone leakers.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook is fed up with employees who leak details of upcoming devices to the press. He sent out a company-wide memo that said, “people who leak confidential information do not belong here.”

The memo was quickly leaked to the press.

PSA: iPhone 13 series is incompatible with most earlier cases

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PSA: iPhone 13 series is incompatible with most earlier cases
Note the difference in size of the camera hump on the iPhone 12 (on left) and the iPhone 13 (on right).
Photo: Apple

While the iPhone 13 has drawn some criticism for being a minor update, improvements to the cameras mean that none of the new handsets are compatible with tight-fitting cases designed for earlier models.

This is not unusual. But Apple’s 2021 models look so much like their iPhone 12 equivalents that it might be easy to think the exteriors are identical when they are not.

Charge up for less with Spigen’s new ArcHybrid MagSafe power bank

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The new Spigen ArcHybrid Mag power bank offers 7.5W of charging power and strong magnets.
The new Spigen ArcHybrid Mag power bank offers 7.5W of charging power and strong magnets.
Photo: Spigen

Spigen has rolled out its first MagSafe power bank, available for preorder now. The ArcHybrid Mag arrives with a 5,000mAh capacity alongside 7.5W charging speeds and a stronger magnetic force than other models on the market, the company said. All that and a launch discount, too (see below).

Some users see spurious ‘storage almost full’ alerts in iOS and iPadOS 15

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storage almost full alert in iOS 15
Huh?
Photo: @3_Blind_Moose

Some iPhone and iPad users are being plagued by incorrect “storage almost full” alerts after updating to iOS and iPadOS 15. The message leaves a persistent badge on the Settings app icon that cannot be cleared.

In many cases, users seeing the alert actually have ample free storage remaining. A similar bug tells some iPhone and iPad owners that they have more available storage than their device actually shipped with.

Apple breaks iTunes for Windows for anyone who doesn’t speak English

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iTunes for Windows
Avoid the latest update if your system isn't set up in English.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

Apple rolled out a new version of iTunes for Windows on Monday alongside iOS and iPadOS 15, but it should be avoided at all costs if your system isn’t set up in English. iTunes no longer works under any other language.

The problem seems to affect the version 12.12.0.6 version of iTunes no matter where it’s downloaded from — the Microsoft Store or directly from Apple — which means it’s not currently possible for some users to sync their devices.

iOS 15 kills one of Do Not Disturb’s best features

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Do Not Disturb
Sad face.
Photo: Apple

Do Not Disturb is still available inside iOS and iPadOS 15, despite the introduction of a brand-new and infinitely more powerful Focus mode. But the feature is now missing a key settings option that didn’t carry over from iOS 14.

Users have quickly discovered that Apple’s newest update kills the ability to activate Do Not Disturb only when a device is locked — one of its best features for many iPhone and iPad users.

Lossless audio and Dolby Atmos return to HomePod in 15.1 beta

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Apple Music lossless audio coming to HomePod, HomePod mini
But you need an invite to get it.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s newest HomePod beta, issued alongside the iOS and iPadOS 15.1 betas on Tuesday, brings back lossless audio and Dolby Atmos support. Both features can be enabled from inside the Home app, but only if you have an invite.

Apple has been working to bring its newest audio features to HomePod speakers for a while now. It first began testing them shortly after WWDC 2021 in June when the third HomePod 15 beta was made available to testers.

Finch trailer makes you feel good about a very Tom Hanks apocalypse

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Tom Hanks sci-fi charmer ‘Finch’ premieres on Apple TV+ Nov. 5
Finch is a simple tale of a man, his dog and his robot in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. OK, maybe not so simple.
Photo: Apple TV+

Given all the apocalyptic storytelling in recent years, it makes sense in a Hollywood way that we’d eventually arrive at a warm-and-fuzzy, feel-good apocalypse movie. According to its first official trailer, that would be Finch, set to premiere on the Apple TV+ streaming service November 5.

Save on this compact USB-C charger that’s perfect for iPhone

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SwitchEasy PowerBuddy charger for iPhone
Now just $19.99 for a limited time.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Getting a new iPhone on Friday? You might need a charging adapter to go with it now that Apple no longer includes one in the box. Check out the handy PowerBuddy from SwitchEasy. It delivers 20W of power, packs USB-A and USB-C ports, and sports a compact design you can take anywhere.

It’s also 20% off in the Cult of Mac Store for a limited time.