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What you need to know about 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s swanky new mini-LED display

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There’s more 2021 iPad Pro RAM than in any previous Apple tablet.
The larger iPad Pro packs a mini-LED screen, but what exactly does that mean?
Photo: Apple

The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro boasts a swanky mini-LED display, making it the first Apple tablet without a traditional LCD screen.

Apple calls the mini-LED screen in the 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro a “Liquid Retina XDR display.” The new technology brings a welcome boost to the iPad’s display quality. And it seems likely that mini-LEDs will show up in MacBook Pros and other Apple gear in the near future.

“This is the display you have to see to believe,” said iPad marketing manager Raja Bose during Apple’s mind-blowing “Spring Loaded” event on Tuesday.

But what exactly are mini-LED displays, and how do they differ from LCD or even OLED or micro-LED screens? Don’t worry: We’ve got the answers to your questions.

Want a purple iPhone 12? Sell your old model today for fast upgrade cash

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purple iphone 12
Find out how much your old iPhone is really worth.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iPhone 12 and 12 mini is now available to preorder in purple for the first time. If the new color option has encouraged you to upgrade, it’s time to turn your old model into fast upgrade cash.

Sell your old iPhone (and other Apple devices) to Cult of Mac today and we’ll send you a fat stack of cash to make your upgrade more affordable.

Computer science student’s M1 rig is a pile of Schiit [Setups]

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This MacBook Pro M1 setup is all about quality audio.
This MacBook Pro M1 setup is all about quality audio.
Photo: The-deluxe@Reddit

Call it a “nice pile of Schiit.” Or a “Schiit stack.” That’s what admiring commenters said about computer science student and Redditor the-deluxe’s M1 MacBook Pro-centered setup.

“You fulla Schiit,” one audiophile enthused.

Why? Well, people who are into Schiit audio components are really into them. Game recognize game, after all.

AirDrop flaw potentially reveals users’ email and phone number

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Airdrop ios iPad iPhone
Turns out it's not "contacts only."
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Strangers can see the email address and other personal info of AirDrop users due to a security flaw in Apple’s file-sharing system, security researchers say. All that is required for this exploit to take place is physical proximity to an AirDrop user and a Wi-Fi device.

The researchers reportedly disclosed the flaw to Apple in May 2019, but it remains unfixed. That potentially leaves more than 1.5 billion Apple devices vulnerable.

Spotify could take on Apple’s premium podcast service … with a twist

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Spotify is adding 2x as many monthly subscribers as Apple Music
Spotify reportedly won't take a cut of creators' subscription revenue.
Photo: Spotify

Earlier this week, Apple opened up its Podcasts service to subscriptions, calling it a “global marketplace for listeners to discover premium subscriptions offered by their favorite creators.” Now, The Wall Street Journal reports that Spotify is set to jump in with a rival premium podcast feature.

However, unlike Apple, Spotify supposedly won’t take a cut of podcasters’ subscription revenues.

New Apple TV remote is not compatible with some tvOS games

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Apple's new Apple TV 4K with redesigned Siri Remote
The new Siri Remote doesn't pack the proper hardware for some games.
Photo: Apple

The redesigned Siri Remote that comes with the next-gen Apple TV 4K won’t work with certain games available on tvOS.

Since it doesn’t come with an accelerometer or gyroscope sensor, it won’t be compatible with games that rely on spatial positioning data from the controller as an input.

Mario Kart Tour rakes in more than $200 million, most of it on iOS

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Mario Kart Tour has the second best debut month ever on mobile
Now that's a reason for Mario to be happy!
Photo: Nintendo

Nintendo’s mobile game Mario Kart Tour has surpassed 200 million downloads and $200 million in lifetime revenue, a new report from app analytics firm Sensor Tower says.

The United States remains the biggest market for Mario Kart Tour, representing 37.4 million downloads and $76 million in revenue across iOS and Android. According to Sensor Tower, Google Play makes up 56.2% of global installs, compared to 43.8% on iOS. However, the App Store comes out on top in generating revenue — making up a whopping 63.4% of total lifetime spending.

Not waiting around, Apple seeds iOS 14.6, iPadOS 14.6 beta 1 to devs

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Not waiting around, Apple seeds iOS 14.6, iPadOS 14.6 beta 1 to devs
Not one to let moss grow under its feet, Apple quickly began testing follow-up operating systems for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple already began testing the first betas of iOS 14.6, iPadOS 14.6, watchOS 7.5 and tvOS 14.5. Developers were seeded these on Thursday, even though the versions that were previously in beta testing have yet to be introduced to the public.

Apple must defend iTunes ‘Buy’ button in court

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Apple must defend iTunes “Buy” button in court
Is buying something in iTunes or Apple TV really buying it?
Photo: Cult of Mac

A federal judge gave the go ahead to a lawsuit that claims Apple is tricking customers with the iTunes “Buy” button. There are questions about whether what’s happening qualifies as a purchase of the movie or TV show.

Apple was hoping to have the suite completely dismissed. As it is, the company may have to make a change to the way it offers this type of content.

Enough key rings, we need an AirTag pet collar

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An AirTag pet collar is a product that’ll sell
Attaching an AirTag to a beloved pet makes at least as mucgh sense as putting an item tracker on your keys.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Bad news AirTag shoppers: there’s no hole in Apple’s item-tracker. You have to buy an add-on to attach it to anything. Accessory makers have rushed to put out key rings and luggage tags. But no one makes the item I want: an AirTag pet collar.

Macs run iPad apps. It’s time for iPads to run Mac apps.

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iPad should run Mac apps, like Xcode.
Xcode is just one of the Mac applications that should be available for iPad now that it has an M1 processor.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The Apple M1 processor in the 2021 iPad Pro could make it the most productive tablet ever. But only if Apple takes the logical next step and lets iPads run Mac apps.

M1-powered Macs can run iPadOS applications. The reverse should be true.

Belkin’s new remote puts HomeKit at your fingertips

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Belkin Wemo Stage Scene Controller remote puts HomeKit at your fingertips
The Belkin Wemo Stage Scene Controller replaces light switches with a much more powerful option.
Photo: Belkin

A wall switch can turn on a light or two, but the Wemo Stage Scene Controller from Belkin can activate an entire scene, controlling lights, thermostats, music and other devices all around the house.

It ties into Apple’s HomeKit home automation system allowing someone to press a single button to launch their movie night scene, or wake their house up in the morning, for example.

AirTags early hands-on roundup: Smart, tiny and … scuffable?

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AirTags could become a big hit for Apple
AirTags could be a big hit for Apple.
Photo: Apple

The first AirTags reviews and unboxing videos paint a pretty positive picture of Apple’s new tracking tags. After a short time using AirTags, reviewers praise the tiny trackers’ design as “classic Apple” and their precise finding capabilities as “utility-driven augmented reality.”

However, they also point out some limitations — including surprising scuffability!

Apple celebrates Earth Day across its various platforms

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Earth Day
From App Store to Apple Music, every Apple platform is going all-in on Earth Day.
Photo: Apple

Today is Earth Day and, to celebrate the occasion, Apple’s introduced a plethora of “Earth Day programming” across its various platforms, including the App Store, Apple TV+, and Apple Watch. For today, at least, no matter where you go for your Earth Day reminders, Apple’s got you covered.

iOS 15 will feature updated Lock Screen, notifications, more privacy features

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iPadOS 14 is good but iPadOS 15 just needs some new features to even better.
What to expect from iOS 15.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 15 will include tweaked user notifications, an updated Lock Screen, an iMessage overhaul, additional privacy features and a redesigned iPad Home Screen, according to Bloomberg.

Until now, little has been reported about iOS/iPadOS 15 ahead of its likely debut at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference this June. Thursday’s report says Apple refers to the upcoming upgrade internally as “Sky.”

Devs can soon pay to get their apps in App Store’s ‘Suggested’ section

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App Store image
Apple's got a potentially huge new revenue stream in the works.
Photo: James Yarema/Unsplash CC

Apple is ramping up the advertising side of its App Store business, according to the Financial Times.

The company currently sells App Store ads, allowing developers to pay for top spots. But soon Apple will roll out another advertising spot for sale in the “Suggested” apps section. This will allow developers to more widely promote their apps, rather than having them show up only in response to certain search terms.

David Attenborough The Year Earth Changed docu breaks records on Apple TV+

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Penguins too fill us in on The Year Earth Changed
Penguins too fill us in on The Year Earth Changed
Photo: Apple TV+

Ninety-four-year-old David Attenborough is a beloved institution — and he may have helped Apple rack up one of its biggest viewership wins for Apple TV+ thus far.

According to Deadline, the Attenborough-narrated The Year Earth Changed documentary special is the most-viewed documentary currently on Apple TV+ in the United States. That’s ahead of high profile titles like Beastie Boys Story, Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry, and Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You.

Sundance winner CODA premieres on Apple TV+ on August 13

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CODA is headed for Apple TV
“CODA” did very, very well at Sundance Film Festival, and Apple TV+ subscribers will be able to see it summer 2021.
Photo: Apple

CODA cleaned up at the 2021 Sundance film festival, and the film is now headed for Apple TV+. It’ll debut on the streaming service on August 13, and in theaters on the same day

Hackers’ leak confirms big changes coming to MacBook ports

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This 14-inch MacBook Pro concept is by Renders by Ian
Hackers leaked details that help confirm that a 2021 MacBook Pro model will look much like this.
Concept: Ian Zelbo/Renders by Ian

Hackers reportedly stole plans for two upcoming 2021 MacBook Pro models from Quanta and leaked details. These help confirm earlier reports that Apple’s next notebook will see a return of MagSafe, the HDMI port and an SD card reader. But no Touch Bar.

Cases and keyboards for 2021 iPad Pro are ready for launch

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Logitech Combo Touch supports the 2021 iPad Pro
Buyers of the 2021 iPad Pro will have keyboards and cases to choose from when the tablet launches, including the Logitech Combo Touch.
Photo: Logitech

For all its many improvements, the basic design of the 2021 iPad Pro changed hardly at all. That’s good news for anyone in the market for a case or keyboard for Apple’s new tablet, as it means there’s a wide variety available.

But a change in the thickness of the 12.9-inch version mans that many existing products aren‘t compatible. That said, there are already options from Logitech, Brydge, Otterbox and Apple itself that are confirmed to work with the new computer. And likely more that’ll still fit.

Work/podcasting/gaming setup sees major upgrades [Setups]

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Nothing like a big new display and new furniture to put the
Nothing like a big new display and new furniture to put the "set" in "setup."
Photo: WRM2@Reddit

After working remotely as a digital marketer for a startup for more than a year, EU-based Redditor WMR2 decided it was time to upgrade the ol’ MacBook Pro-based work/podcasting/gaming setup. Enter new desk, chair and external display.

What, you were expecting a new computer? That’s not always necessary.

ECG device-maker accuses Apple Watch of infringing on its patents

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Apple Watch heart rate monitor
They want Apple blocked from importing Apple Watches into the U.S.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

AliveCor, a company which makes Apple device-compatible, FDA-cleared ECG devices, has sued Apple for allegedly infringing on three of its patents with the Apple Watch. An ECG — or electrocardiogram — records the rhythm, the rate, and the electrical activity of the heart.

The health-conscious startup claims, in a press release, that Apple is trying to “eliminate” it as competition in this space. Until the matter is settled, it wants a judge to stop Apple from importing the Apple Watch into the United States. That would, in essence, stop Apple from selling the Apple Watch in its biggest market.

Pick up an Intel-powered iMac refurb from just $439.99 today only

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iMac
Bag yours before they're all gone!
Photo: Apple

Not interested in a new iMac powered by Apple’s M1 chip? Or simply shopping for an upgrade on a budget? Check out Woot’s latest sale on Intel-powered iMac refurbs, where prices start at a mere $439.99.

The sale is good for today only so don’t miss out!

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