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Tetris Beat puts musical twist on a classic game

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‘Tetris Beat’ is coming soon to Apple Arcade
Tetris Beat isn’t your parents’ version of the game.
Photo: Apple Arcade

Take Tetris and give it some rhythm and you get Tetris Beat, a fresh version of the puzzle classic. It includes music from Alison Wonderland and many other artists.

The game is coming soon to Apple Arcade.

New UK antitrust rules could fine tech giants big bucks for breaking rules

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New antitrust measures are brewing in the United Kingdom.
New U.K. antitrust rules are brewing.
Photo: Colin Watts/Unsplash CC

The United Kingdom is developing new antitrust measures and could fine tech giants up to 10% of their annual revenue for breaking the rules. The Digital Markets Unit’s plan is intended to make it easier for U.K. businesses — such as startups, news publishers and advertisers — to compete with established giants like Apple and Amazon.

“Tech has transformed our lives for the better, whether it’s helping us to stay in touch with our loved ones, share content, or access the latest news,” said Kwasi Kwarteng, the U.K.’s secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy, in a press release Tuesday. “Nobody wants to see an unassailable monopoly, and our common sense reforms will help protect consumers, support ground-breaking new ideas and level the playing field for businesses.”

Apple aims to lease massive production campus in LA for Apple TV+

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Apple TV app lands on PlayStation
Apple is ramping up its Apple TV+ footprint.
Photo: Apple

Apple is looking to lease a massive production campus in movie capital Los Angeles for future Apple TV+ productions, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.

The Cupertino company is looking at several possible locations for the hub, which could exceed half a million square feet. Apple already leases several soundstage in LA and elsewhere.

Everything you need to know about the Pegasus spyware infecting smartphones

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Pegasus spyware FAQ
And how to tell if your iPhone is infected.
Photo: NSO Group/Cult of Mac

NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware is making headlines again after it was reported that a number of governments around the world have been using it to hack the smartphones of activists, politicians, journalists and other individuals.

A list of potential surveillance targets, which includes more than 50,000 phone numbers, was leaked and obtained by a number of news outlets over the weekend, reigniting concerns over government surveillance.

So, what exactly is Pegasus? And who might be a potential target of an attack? How can you tell if your iPhone already fell victim to the spyware? We rounded up everything you need to know about Pegasus.

AirPods manufacturers sleep in factory ‘bubbles’ to avoid COVID-19

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Apple has big plans for the AirPods lineup.
It's all part of the effort to contain COVID.
Photo: Omid Armin/Unsplash CC

In order to quell the spread of COVID-19, at least one Apple supplier set up coronavirus “bubbles” for employees on its production lines, essentially sealing off workers from the outside world.

According to a Tuesday report by Nikkei Asia, several factories in Vietnam — including one owned by AirPods manufacturer GoerTek — took this precautionary measure as COVID-19 cases ramp up in the country.

Coronavirus pushes back Apple’s plans for employees to return to the office

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apple park
Apple Park won't be getting back to normal just yet.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

Apple has delayed its call for employees to return to the office by at least a month, Bloomberg reported Monday. Employees will now return to Apple Park and other locations by October at the earliest.

In June, CEO Tim Cook said that employees should get ready to return by early September. This would be according to a hybrid model in which employees would work at least three days a week in the office, and the rest working from home. But COVID-19 has seemingly (temporarily) scuppered those plans.

Pegasus spyware won’t affect ‘overwhelming majority’ of iPhone users, Apple says

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Fraudster steals $16k from victim posing as Apple tech support
Those misusing the Pegasus iPhone hacking tool allegedly work for governments around the world.
Photo: Donald Tong/Pexels CC

Amnesty International accuses governments around the world of using NSO Group’s Pegasus iPhone hacking tool to illegally spy on journalists and human rights defenders. Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture condemns this type of hacking, but also says that such attacks “are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users.”

Keep hydrogen peroxide away from your Apple devices

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Do not clean or disinfect your iPhone with hydrogen peroxide
Don’t combine your iPhone and hydrogen peroxide.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple recently added hydrogen peroxide to the list of cleansers not to use on its products. The chemical is often employed to disinfect surfaces, but it’s not recommended for wiping down your iPhone, Mac or iPad. Or your Apple peripherals, either.

The warning comes as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on.

FCC leak suggests Bose QuietComfort 45 headphones coming soon

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The Bose QuietComfort 45s look like 35s on the outside, but audio and Bluetooth improvements are expected on the inside.
The Bose QuietComfort 45s look like 35s on the outside, but audio and Bluetooth improvements are expected on the inside.
Photo: FCC/Bose

A Federal Communications Commission certification reveals Bose may be about to roll out a long-awaited new version of its classic noise-canceling headphones. The company’s popular but long-in-the-tooth QuietComfort 35 and 35 II headphones appear to have a new sibling or, more likely, replacement: new Bose QuietComfort 45 over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation.

And the new headphones could arrive quite soon, bringing no telling what sort of upgrades to ANC, Bluetooth and audio quality.

iOS 14.7 adds first taste of reverse wireless charging to iPhone 12

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iOS 14.7 will bring Apple Card tweaks, Apple battery pack support
iOS 14.7 brings some tweaks, but isn’t a major update.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhone users can now download iOS 14.7. The update, released Monday, adds reverse wireless charging to the iPhone 12 series, albeit in a limited way. It also includes some promised improvements to the Apple Card, and allows users to manage timers on a HomePod.

In addition, Apple released watchOS 7.6.

Think vertical? Keep your Mac mini safely out of the way. [Setups]

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You can stand your Mac mini vertically or mount it behind the monitor or under the desk.
You can stand your Mac mini vertically or mount it behind the monitor or under the desk.
Photo: [email protected]

Redditor mnsl0826 decided to save some space by standing up his M1 Mac mini vertically at the base of his monitor, rather than laying it flat. It worked for him, but posting about it on Reddit generated heaps of concern about whether you’re supposed to do that.

Apple’s VP of Technology buckles up to join Team Apple Car

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Apple Car: Hyundai Ioniq Electric x Apple Mouse
Apple Car continues to roll. Slowly.
Concept: LeaseFetcher

Apple’s VP of Technology Kevin Lynch, one of the key figures in bringing the Apple Watch to market, is now working on the Apple Car project, Business Insider reports.

Lynch, who joined Apple from Adobe in 2013, will be taking on a leading role on the project, which has been going on for almost as long as he’s been at Apple. At present, the Apple Car project is under the leadership of Apple’s AI and machine learning boss John Giannandrea. Giannandrea in turn took over from Bob Mansfield, who retired in 2020.

Affordable EarHooks ensure your AirPods never leave you

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AirPods Pro EarHooks
Get yours from just $10.99.
Photo: Elago

Breaking up is hard and painful, unless you’re an AirPod. They’re far from loyal, and they will leave you any time and anywhere. That’s why you need Elago’s awesome EarHooks.

EarHooks prevent an ugly breakup by ensuring AirPods and AirPods Pro always stay in your ear — whether you’re working out or squeezing onto a busy train. And you can get yours today from just $10.99.

iPhone users are more loyal to their brand than Android buyers

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market share
iOS and Android are now neck-and-neck in the US.
Photo: CIRP

iOS has clawed back enough market share in the US that it is now approximately even with Android in terms of number of buyers, claims a Monday report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), seen by Cult of Mac. The results, which cover the calendar quarter ending June 30, are a far cry from just four years ago, when US mobile market share approached 70% in Android’s favor.

It speaks to the greater level of loyalty of iPhone users over their Android-loving brethren and sistren.

Apple TV+ racks up 4 Daytime Emmy Awards

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Apple TV+'s newest animated series Stillwater
One of Apple's big winners in the kids' category.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ won four Daytime Emmy Awards over the weekend, with Here We Are: Notes For Living on Planet Earth picking up Outstanding Special Class Daytime Animated Program and an Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for 3D animator Anne Moth.

Apple also won Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program for editors Jill Calhoun and Jack Paulson on Stillwater. And Helpsters picked up the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Multiple Camera Editing.

In total, Apple’s streaming service earned 25 Daytime Emmy nominations this year. The four wins is two more than Apple TV+ received last year, when it won for Ghostwriter and Peanuts in Space.

The awards were handed out Saturday night.

iPhone 13 could be Apple’s first with an ‘always on’ display

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A signature feature of the iPhone 13 might be an always-on display.
One of many hot features that could make the iPhone 13 a big winner?
Artist’s concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple could bring an “always-on” screen, which it debuted in the Apple Watch Series 5 in 2019, to the iPhone for the first time this year. The latest rumor says the display on at least some 2021 iPhones might show information on the screen at all times.

Already a prevalent in Android devices, such a display lets users see time, date, notifications, missed calls and more when their phone is locked. Bringing the feature to iPhone could be one factor driving Apple’s high expectations for sales of its next-gen handsets.

Third-gen iPhone SE will launch in first half of 2022

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The budget 2020 iPhone SE comes in a range of colors.
Apple launched its last iPhone SE in 2020.
Photo: Apple

Apple will reportedly debut its third-gen iPhone SE handset in the first half of next year, a Monday report from Digitimes claims.

Apple has been making its (comparatively) low-cost iPhone models for the past five years, releasing its two previous versions in 2016 and 2020 respectively.

Last chance! Win a MagSafe-compatible Perfect-Clear case from Speck [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Presidio Perfect-Clear iPhone 12 case
Speck's most protective iPhone case yet.
Photo: Speck

You know that feeling of dread when you drop you iPhone for the hundredth time? As you slowly pick it up and pray that it’s not cracked, you remind yourself, “I need a better case.” Well, here’s your chance. This week’s giveaway is for a Speck Presidio Perfect-Clear Compatible with MagSafe case, worth $50. It’s Speck’s most protective clear case yet.

Show off your iPhone and keep it crack-free by entering this week’s giveaway. Enter and you could win one of four Presidio Perfect-Clear Compatible with MagSafe cases.

Play god. Drive safe. Flip birds. Search secret. [Awesome Apps of the Week]

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Apple Arcade delivers blasts from the past, but there's new stuff in the App Store this week as well.
Apple Arcade delivers updated blasts from the past, but there's totally new stuff in the App Store this week as well.
Image: Cult of Mac

Some classic iOS games got upgraded for their Apple Arcade debuts this week, but that’s just the start of this week’s roundup. A new iOS app gives you the chance to win prizes for not driving like a jerk. And a new Mac app lets you effortlessly declutter your presentations.

Plus, a couple of heavy-hitter apps got updates — one kind of serious from a privacy perspective, and one almost completely frivolous. Are you ready for your app upgrades?

Why we want iPhone wireless charging in reverse [Cult of Mac Magazine 410]

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iPhone reverse wireless charging. We want more.
We want more!
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 12’s secret reverse wireless charging capability will work with Apple’s new MagSafe Battery Pack. That’s great and all, but Apple should let the iPhone charge other gear, too.

Think how cool it would be to top off your AirPods Pro simply by setting them atop your iPhone.

It’s a logical next step (and it might even be coming soon). Find out why we think Apple should go all in on iPhone reverse wireless charging in the cover story of this week’s free Cult of Mac Magazine. Read it in the app on your favorite iOS device, or get the links to the stories below.

Steady your MagSafe Charger with ElevationLab’s new MagBase

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ElevationLab's new MagBase makes it easy to grab your iPhone 12 off the charger with one hand.
ElevationLab's new MagBase makes it easy to grab your iPhone 12 off the charger with one hand.
Photo: ElevationLab

ElevationLab launched a deceptively simple accessory on Thursday called MagBase. It helps with one of the more frustrating aspects users find with the Apple MagSafe Charger. Using the base, you can easily pick up your iPhone 12 with one hand, still attached to the charger — or not.

Apple should go all in on iPhone 12’s reverse wireless charging

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Apple should go all in on iPhone 12’s reverse wireless charging
What if you could charge your AirPods just by putting them on your iPhone?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Turns out the iPhone 12 could do reverse wireless charging all along — Apple just didn’t talk about it until this week. And now that the cat’s out of the bag, Apple should embrace the capability and let iPhones wirelessly charge any other compatible device.