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News - page 314

Belkin rolls out Always-On Laptop Cases for MacBooks and more

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Whether you're feeling super-protective or just lazy, you never have to take the Belkin sleeve off your laptop.
Whether you're feeling super-protective or just lazy, you never have to take the Belkin sleeve off your laptop.
Photo: Belkin

You know that kid in school who never took his jacket off? I think his name was Belkin. The accessories maker launched a pair of Always-On Laptop Cases that pretty much ensure your MacBook always keeps it coat on.

A Mac mini, a PC and a G4 walk into a podcasting primer … [Setups]

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See the G4 peeking out from under the desk? Ah, nostalgia.
See the G4 peeking out from under the desk? Ah, nostalgia.
Photo: omgaporksword@Reddit

It sounds like the setup to a punchline: A strapping young Mac mini, a yoked gaming PC and an elderly Power Mac G4 walk into a podcasting primer. Then what happens?

Well, if we’re talking about Redditor omgaporksword’s recent setup post, you learn a few OS-switching tricks, share some old-school Mac nostalgia and see how to position your USB microphone using a boom arm.

There is no punchline and there are no laughs. But please, people. Not everything is about humor. Except maybe omgaporksword’s Reddit handle.

How Apple uses US Customs and Border Protection to bust bogus AirPods

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AirPods
Not exactly authentic AirPods.
Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection

When you think about the types of items typically seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, you might picture contraband like drugs or weapons. You probably don’t imagine knockoff AirPods as a target.

In fact, bogus earbuds are a big deal. Customs and Border Protection seized “roughly 360,000 counterfeit wireless headphones with a retail value of $62.2 million” since October, according to a story in The Information, citing previously unreported government data.

Apple is one several predominantly larger companies that work with Customs officers to help weed out copycat products upon their entry into the United States. And the counterfeit goods are not necessarily packaged to look exactly like actual Apple products. Here’s how it works.

Improved Alto’s Odyssey, Angry Birds arrive in Apple Arcade

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‘Angry Birds Reloaded’ is coming soon to Apple Arcade.
“Angry Birds Reloaded” is one of the classic games now available on Apple Arcade without the hassle of in-app purchases.
Photo: Rovio

A trio of classic games have been updated just for Apple Arcade. That includes Angry Birds Reloaded, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City and Doodle God Universe.

All three debuted Friday on Apple’s subscription gaming service.

Microsoft just won’t let Clippy die

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It looks like you're digging a shallow grave. Would you like help?
Shockingly, Microsoft’s Clippy has fans. and they’re responsible for bringing it back — in a limited form.
Image: Microsoft

Windows users can’t escape Clippy. The much hated personal assistant is coming back. Fortunately, it’ll be far less prominent than back in 1997. And Mac users won‘t have to see it at all.

Apple has made its share of mistakes over the years. But few of these can compare to Clippy’s irritating attempts to help people using Microsoft Office.

Apple loves Mophie’s new 3-in-1 MagSafe stand

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Apple loves Mophie’s new 3-in-1 MagSafe stand
The Mophie 3-in-1 stand for MagSafe Charger can juice up your iPhone 12, Apple Watch and AirPods.

You can charge an iPhone 12, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously with the just-released Mophie 3-in-1 stand for MagSafe Charger. Apple likes it so much the product is listed on the online Apple Store, an honor that doesn’t go to most accessories.

New emoji will let you salute, melt, gasp and tear up

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New emoji will let you salute, melt, gasp and tear up
These are just some of the proposed emoji that could be coming to your iPhone or Mac.
Graphic: Emojipedia

Soon there could be new emoji that let you show you are melting, have a low battery or are feeling ambivalent or teary-eyed. These and more are on the list for approval in Emoji 14.0. But they might not appear in iPhones and other devices until 2022.

The list appears with World Emoji Day coming July 17.

Affordable Linksys mesh router gets HomeKit support

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HomeKit integration adds security to Linksys' mesh router system.
HomeKit integration adds security to Linksys' mesh router system.
Photo: Linksys

Linksys has rolled out support for Apple’s smart-home platform, HomeKit, in a firmware update for its flagship  affordable Wi-Fi router system. Now users can enjoy high-speed internet access throughout the house with a little extra peace of mind.

Love Ted Lasso? Hate it? Watch this ‘Honest Trailer’

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Whether you love Ted Lasso or hate it, the Honest Trailer will probably make you laugh.
Whether you love Ted Lasso or hate it, the Honest Trailer will probably make you laugh.
Photo: Fandom

With media outlets breathlessly reporting on every movie and TV show trailer that hits the internet, it’s great to see a hilarious one worth watching whether or not you care about the underlying title. That’s the case with the parody series Honest Trailers generally, and all the more so with its latest one about the Apple TV+ hit comedy Ted Lasso, released Wednesday.

‘iPhone 13’ could feature Wi-Fi 6E for even better connectivity

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iPhone 12 Pro Max review: The industrial design will leave you breathless.
But you'll need a compatible Wi-Fi router to enjoy it.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next-generation “iPhone 13” devices could feature Wi-Fi 6E technology for even better connectivity, according to a new report.

The extended version of Wi-Fi 6 — which is already available in iPhone 11 and later — promises even faster speeds and better range using the 6GHz band. But you probably won’t be able to enjoy it out of the box.

Microsoft’s new Cloud PC feature streams Windows to Mac and iPad

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Microsoft Windows 365 Cloud PC
Windows anywhere, on any device.
Photo: Microsoft

Who needs Boot Camp when you can stream Windows to your Mac? Microsoft’s newly announced Windows 365 feature allows you to use Windows 10 and 11 on almost any device — including Mac and iPad.

With a Cloud PC, you get an instant-on experience and access to all your data, software, and settings anywhere. And you’ll be able to configure your setup to suit your needs. The service launches on August 2, 2021.

iOS 15, watchOS 8 let you install updates with less than 500MB of available storage

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iOS 15 brings welcome enhancements to FaceTime, Notifications, more
Great news for Apple Watch Series 3, in particular.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s newest iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 betas, rolled out to registered developers on Wednesday, allow you to install software updates with less than 500MB of available storage.

The change means that devices with lower storage capacities — like Apple Watch Series 3, which has only 8GB — will now be a lot easier to update.

New iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 betas fix some of Safari’s biggest problems

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New iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 betas fix some of Safari’s biggest problems
With the release of iOS 15 beta 3, the Safari Address Bar stays at the bottom of the screen where it belongs.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The just-released iOS 15 beta 3 fixes the bouncing address bar in Safari. Plus, iPadOS 15 beta 3 makes Safari’s Share button much more prominent. Both changes apparently come in response to complaints from beta testers about Apple’s updated mobile web browser.

The latest betas, released Wednesday, also bring other changes to the iPhone and iPad versions of Safari.

Anker’s new pint-size power station keeps your gadgets going

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At 10 pounds, the Anker Powerhouse II 300 power station can go anywhere with you and your gadgets.
At 10 pounds, the Anker Powerhouse II 300 power station can go anywhere with you and your gadgets.
Photo: Anker

Anker new Powerhouse II 300 is a small, portable but potent addition to the company’s power station lineup. It’s a convenient device to have on had. It’ll keep your gadgets going if you end up off the grid, whether because of a power outage or a camping trip.

Cupertino plans ‘buy now, pay later’ offering called ‘Apple Pay Later’

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A planned new service will give you more options to pay over time.
A planned new service will give you more options to pay over time.
Photo: Apple

Apple and its Apple Card partner, Goldman Sachs, plan to launch a new pay-in-installments service for all Apple Pay purchases reportedly known internally as “Apple Pay Later.” It resembles other “buy now, pay later” offerings from companies like Affirm Holdings and PayPal.

Let Apple teach you to draw yourself as a Peanuts character

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Let Apple teach you to draw yourself as a Peanuts character
Kids of all ages can enjoy learning to draw themselves as a Peanuts character.
Screenshot: Apple

Free training sessions at Apple Stores ended with the pandemic, but have now moved to YouTube. The first of these online Today at Apple sessions shows how to draw yourself as a Peanuts character.

It’s not complicated — Peanuts characters are relatively simple shapes. Even so, there’s plenty of room for customization. Plus, all the software is free and not even a stylus is required.

Apple pumps $1 billion into affordable housing for California

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Apple's affordable housing initiative invests $1 billion
Taylor Mestres and Keteria Lara bagged a new home with Apple's help.
Photo: Apple

Apple on Wednesday confirmed it has deployed more than $1 billion for affordable housing initiatives across California. The company calls this a major milestone in its $2.5 billion commitment to combat the housing crisis.

And now, after its initiative has helped thousands of people across the state become homeowners for the first time, Apple says it is accelerating its support for affordable housing..

Apple plans to build 90 million next-generation iPhone units this year

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Next-generation iPhone 13 Pro concept is exactly what we’ve been hoping for
Apple seems to be expecting big things from "iPhone 13."
Photo: Ran Avni/ConceptsiPhone

Apple has tasked its manufacturing partners to deliver 90 million next-generation iPhone units by the end of 2021, according to a new report.

Scheduled to launch in September or October, the new lineup — which many refer to as “iPhone 13,” although the name remains unclear — is expected to be even more of a success than last year’s popular iPhone 12 models.