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iPhone 12 Pro Max looks absolutely gigantic in new mockups

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iPhone 12 Pro Max Is the largest of four 3D mockups
Which of this year's iPhones do you have your eyes on?
Photo: Macotakara

3D printed mockups of all four 2020 iPhone models might surprise some people. Especially the relative sizes.

Word of the first 6.7-inch iPhone first leaked out long ago, and plenty of additional details have since come to light. But even those who fully believe that Apple is prepping a super-size iPhone 12 Pro Max might not realize just how big it’ll be. Especially when compared to the 5.4-inch model the company is also supposedly working on.

Cost of 13-inch MacBook Pro RAM upgrade doubles

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Apple_macbook_pro-13-inch-with-retina-display_screen_05042020
Giving the newest base-model MacBook Pro a RAM upgrade used to be a bargain.
Photo: Apple

In the weeks after the new 13-inch MacBook Pro debuted, upgrading the RAM from 8GB to 16GB cost a mere $100. But no more. The price is now twice that.

However, this isn’t an unprecedented price for the upgrade. Quite the opposite.

Apple rushes out iOS 13.5.1, macOS supplemental update with important security fixes

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The iOS 13.5.1 update brings important security fixes.
iPadOS and iOS 13.5.1 are out and “recommended for all users“ by Apple.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple released iOS 13.5.1 on Monday, along with an iPad equivalent, bringing “important security updates” to its mobile operating systems. The speed of their introduction suggests anyone running the latest version on their iPhone or iPad should upgrade ASAP.

Also Monday, Apple dropped Small updates for Mac, Apple Watch and HomePod. Plus the latest beta versions of iOS and iPadOS for developers.

This once-popular MacBook is about to officially hit the scrap heap

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IMG_0005
This was the top-of-the MacBook Pro in its day. But that day was 8 years ago. Now it’s about to be officially labeled obsolete.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The 15-inch MacBook Pro released in 2012 broke new ground, as it was the first Mac to get a Retina display. But it’s now been discontinued for many years, and is reportedly about to be classified as obsolete.

Anyone still holding onto this classic laptop needs to know what this classification means.

More evidence that iPhone 12 may turn up later than hoped

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iPhone 12 might mix iPhone 11 and iPad Pro designs
Are you excited about the iPhone 12?
Photo: Ben Geskin

The iPhone 12 is likely to ship to ship in October, rather than the usual September iPhone launch time frame, claim a report published Monday by Digitimes.

This would seem to back up a separate recent report from increasingly authoritative Apple leaker Jon Prosser. Prosser also suggested an October, rather than September, launch for the new iPhone.

Security researcher scoops $100,000 bounty for helping squash Sign in with Apple bug

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Sign in with Apple
Now hopefully bug-free.
Photo: Apple

A security vulnerability with “Sign in with Apple” could have allowed hackers to carry out a full account takeover of user accounts accessed using the feature. Fortunately, the bug was spotted by India-based security researcher Bhavuk Jain.

In a blog post published over the weekend, Jain noted that he made Apple aware of the vulnerability back in April. It was subsequently fixed. Thanks to Apple’s bug bounty program, he was then paid $100,000 as a thank you from the Cupertino tech giant.

How Apple tries to strike fear into the hearts of iPhone thieves

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Latest iPhone was 1 out of every 10 smartphones sold in US last quarter
A message warns thieves that stolen iPhones are being tracked.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhones on display in Apple Stores run special software that renders them useless to thieves when removed from a store. Until now, however, we haven’t had a clear glimpse at what this antitheft measure looks like.

That changed over the weekend as one person displayed an iPhone seemingly taken from a looted Apple Store in Philadelphia. Here’s what the message says.

Here’s the memo Tim Cook sent to Apple employees about George Floyd killing

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Tim Cook delivers the goods at Apple's iPhone 11 event.
Cook says that Apple will be making several charitable contributions.
Photo: Apple

As protests roiled the United States following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Apple CEO Tim Cook sent a memo to employees condemning the killing, calling for change, and offering support.

In the note, Cook expressed his wishes for a “better, more just world” for everyone. He also advised employees that are “hurting right now” that they can access mental health resources and other support from Apple. In addition, Cook said Apple will make charitable donations to groups such as the Equal Justice Initiative.

You can read Cook’s entire memo to Apple employees below.

The new king of Apple scoops? [Cult of Mac Magazine 351]

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Jon Prosser: The new king of Apple scoops?
There's an art to spoiling Apple's biggest secrets.

Jon Prosser is the hot new Apple reporter on the scene. On Twitter and his Front Page Tech channel on YouTube, he delivers Apple scoops with a healthy side helping of humor. So, is Prosser the new Mark Gurman?

Read our take in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. As always, the free iOS mag is filled with Apple news, reviews and how-tos.

Jason Sudeikis’ sports comedy Ted Lasso premiers August 14 on Apple TV+

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Bumbling coach Ted Lasso is back, and headed for Apple TV+.
Jason Sudeik stars in Ted Lasso, a fish-out-of-water comedy for Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

Jason Sudeikis is reviving Ted Lasso for new Apple TV+ comedy that’ll debut August 14.

The show, called simply, Ted Lasso, centers on a small-time college football coach from Kansas hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having utterly no experience with soccer.

Powerbeats Pro’s pretty new color options jump from rumor to reality

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2020 Powerbeats Pro comes in four new colors
The wait is over for Powerbeats Pro in summertime colors.
Photo: Apple

Powerbeats Pro comes in four new colors starting June 9. Unconfirmed reports of Glacier Blue, Spring Yellow, Cloud Pink and Lava Red versions of Beats’ truly wireless headset have been circulating for weeks, but today brought the official unveiling.

But it’s still unclear if the upcoming 2020 version is different from the earlier one in any substantive way.

Is Jon Prosser the new Mark Gurman?

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Jon Prosser, the up-and-coming Apple reporter.
Jon Prosser, the up-and-coming Apple reporter.
Photo: Jon Prosser/Front Page Tech

In the space of three short months, Jon Prosser went from an obscure YouTube nobody pumping out videos barely anyone watched to becoming one of the hottest Apple reporters on the internet.

On Twitter and YouTube, he’s unspooled a string of accurate predictions, including the exact dates and launch times of two of Apple’s newest products, the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the 2020 iPhone SE. That’s no mean feat, given Apple’s obsessive secrecy.

Prosser’s latest leak — revealed on last week’s episode of Cult of Mac’s podcast, The CultCast — claims Apple is working on a special pair of Steve Jobs Heritage Edition AR glasses. That wild revelation drew skepticism from none other than über-Apple reporter Mark Gurman.

“Do I even need to say that this (along with the rest of the Apple AR glasses stories in the past week) is complete fiction?” Gurman tweeted.

Jon Prosser makes headlines

Perhaps Gurman, who made his bones at 9to5Mac before moving up to Bloomberg, is feeling the heat. Prosser is starting to nip at his heels.

Tile takes complaints about Apple to the EU Commission

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Tile trackers help find lost dogs.
Apple is accused to making Tile trackers harder to use as it prepares to launch a competing product.
Photo: Tile

Tile, a startup that makes location-aware tracking tags, told the European Commission’s Competition department that Apple isn’t playing fair. It claims the iPhone maker has moved to “completely disadvantage” its smaller rival, even as Apple prepares to launch its own tracking tags.

The accessory maker told the U.S. government the same thing earlier this year.

iPad demand surges due to teleworking and online learning

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iPad neck
Students attending classes at home brought an increase in iPad demand.
Photo: R. Marsh Starks/UNLV Creative Services

Apple reportedly placed multiple rush orders for iPad screens with LG Display. The tablet saw increased demand in Asia this quarter, with COVID-19 forcing so many people to attend classes and work from home.

We talk AirPods with health features, and Apple TV+’s hits and misses, on The CultCast

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CultCast 442: AirPods with health sensors
Can you handle some hot, hot beta action?
Image: The CultCast

This week on The CultCast: AirPods with new sensors could be on the horizon, and that would fit perfectly with Apple’s always-on approach to health. Find out why we can’t wait for in-ear health trackers. Or for Apple to revamp the musty Messages app for Mac.

Plus, we discuss the aftermath of last week’s controversial chat with hotshot Apple leaker, Jon Prosser. And finally, Cult of Mac TV reviewer Scout Tafoya tells us why you probably ought to queue up Defending Jacob (and why you might want to skip Central Park).

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Get 30% off custom Ray-Ban eyewear when you use Apple Pay

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Ray-Ban promo
Brighten your day by, err, wearing sunglasses.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s latest Apple Pay promo will get you 30% off custom sunglasses or eyeglasses from leading brand Ray-Ban.

Since prices for glasses are over $100, that means a saving of at least 30 bucks. Not bad, considering all you need to do is pay online using Apple Pay, and use a special code.

Judge throws out plagiarism lawsuit involving Apple TV+ show Servant

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Apple TV+ Servant promo image.
Not a copycat, judge rules.
Photo: Apple

A federal judge has thrown out a copyright lawsuit against Apple and director M. Night Shyamalan claiming that Apple TV+ series Servant stole its core idea from a 2013 independent movie.

As with the spooky Servant, the movie The Truth About Emanuel is the story of a traumatized parent who hires a babysitter to look after a baby that (spoiler alert) turns out to actually be a doll.

AirPods helped Apple stay king of the wearables in Q1 2020

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Earphones
AirPods made up for some of the Apple Watch shortfall in Q1.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple remains the king of the wearables, according to IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, published Thursday. In total, the analytics firm claims that total device shipments for all wearables hit 72.6 million in the first three months of 2020. Of these, Apple shipped 21.2 million units.

Apple Watch remains the world’s no. 1 smart watch by a wide margin. However, shipments declined as a result of coronavirus-related challenges in the supply chain. Nonetheless, the continuing might of Apple’s AirPods — helped by Apple’s Beats “hearables” — was more than enough to offset the decline.

Trump executive order targets social media’s ‘selective censorship’

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President Trump signs the executive order.
Pres. Trump signs an executive order that seeks to overturn protections for Twitter, Facebook, etc.
Photo: White House

Days after Twitter labeled a Tweet by President Trump as false, Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that seeks to overturn liability protections for social media services.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the president’s most powerful political opponent, called the move “a desperate distraction” on the day U.S. deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic reached 100,000.

Apple TV+ picks up Hedy Lamarr biopic starring Gal Gadot

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Wonder Woman in 2017! Photo:Warner Bros. Pictures
Gal Gadot will put down the magic lasso and appear on Apple TV+ as Hedy Lamarr.
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures

Apple nipped a 8-episode biography of Hedy Lamarr away from Showtime. The drama will star Gal Gadot as the 20th-century actress who was also an inventor who helped lay the groundwork for some of today’s wireless technologies.

The show will appear on Apple TV+, the company’s streaming video service that’s taking on the likes of Netflix and Disney+.

Threatening bag of apples shuts down Apple Store in Oregon

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A protest at an Apple Store in Oregon turned out to be not dangerous.
Apple Bridgeport Village was shut down Wednesday because of a possible bomb.
Photo: Apple

A protester wrote a cryptic message on the window of the Apple Store in Tigard, Oregon, on Wednesday, and left a mysterious package. Police shut down the shopping center and sent in the bomb squad.

Fortunately, the bundle at the center of the furor turned out to be a non-dangerous bag of apples.