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News - page 67

Finally, Silo season 2 details arrive — in a couple of weeks

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Silo season 2 details
"Silo " star Sarah Ferguson peers at you mysteriously in this season 2 teaser image.
Photo: Apple TV+

Release dates for new seasons of hit Apple TV+ shows like Severance and Slow Horses are in the news, and now we can add Silo to that list — maybe. The show’s stars and producers will discuss season 2 details at San Diego Comic-Con July 27, Apple TV+ said Friday. And a release date — and maybe more, like a trailer — will probably come out of that panel discussion.

Get a deal on USB-C Apple Pencil refurb from Apple

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Apple Pencil (USB-C) on iPad
Save on Apple Pencil (USB-C) as a refurb or new.
Photo: Apple

Apple began offering refurbished Apple Pencil (USB-C) units Thursday. The stylus, which works with all recent iPads, is available at 12% below the regular cost as a refurb.

Alternatively, you can buy a new one at the same discount price from major retailers. Or even better, get a new, open-box Apple Pencil (USB-C) from Cult of Mac Deals for just $59.99.

Apple’s Vision Pro headset launches in Europe, Canada and Australia

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Vision Pro Apple store demonstration
Vision Pro is now available in five more countries.
Photo: Apple

Vision Pro launched in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the U.K. on Friday. Interested buyers can now go to an Apple retail store in any of those countries for a demonstration. Or just put in an order online.

This comes two weeks after the product arrived in Asia. The U.S. launch was in February.

Rumor: iPhone 16 Pro to use iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x telephoto camera

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The iPhone 15 Pro Max camera array, pictured in front of a green plant.
I just couldn't resist that 5x telephoto zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will seemingly use the same 5x tetraprism camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This move will benefit the company’s current prisms supplier, Crystal-Optech.

Apple plans to use a larger tetraprism sensor with 48MP resolution on the iPhone 17 Pro lineup in 2025.

Add USB-C ports to your Mac with these 4-port travel hubs

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Satechi and Zagg 4-port USB-C hubs.
Both Satechi (left) and Zagg (right) offer small travel hubs with additional USB-C ports.
Photo: Satechi/Zagg

The new Satechi 4-in-1 USB-C Hub With 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet expands a Mac with a trio of high-speed USB-C ports and fast networking. It launched Thursday at an affordable price. Alternatively, there’s the Zagg 4-Port Hub, which offers a pair of USB-C ports, USB-A and HDMI.

Either of these hubs can make a MacBook into the center of an extensive office setup on the go.

Rashida Jones investigates a mystery with creepy robot in Sunny [Now on Apple TV+]

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Apple TV+ mystery thriller 'Sunny' stars Rashida Jones and a robot
Rashida Jones and her robot star in Sunny on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Suzie’s Japanese husband and son are missing and possibly dead, so her husband’s secretive company gives her a creepy robot named Sunny as a consolation prize. Together they’ll uncover the dark truth of what’s really going on. Intrigued? Stream the newly released Apple TV+ mystery series Sunny now.

It’s already earned a high score from Rotten Tomatoes.

iPhone opens to rival digital wallets and tap-and-go systems in EU

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Apple Pay Tap-to-Pay
Apple Pay isn't the only tap-and-go payment option in the EU.
Photo: Apple

Apple and the European Commission came to an agreement on opening up iPhone to rival digital wallets and tap-and-go systems. The days of the iPhone’s NFC capabilities being limited to just Apple Pay are at an end. In Europe, anyway.

But in the rest of the world, it’s Apple Pay or nothing.

Omnivore looks like a feast for the eyes [Apple TV+ trailer]

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How did that tasty food wind up on your plate? Watch Omnivore to find out.
Image: Apple TV+

Upcoming Apple TV+ docuseries Omnivore looks like a visually stunning deep dive into key ingredients that feed the world. The globe-hopping trailer takes us on a whirlwind tour of farmland, fisheries and more. It’s a tasty tease for a show that delivers an international perspective on humanity’s common denominator: food.

Each episode of the show, which arrives July 19 on Apple TV+, focuses on a single ingredient — salt, pork, bananas, etc. — and explores the long path it takes to wind up on hungry diners’ plates.

Moving pics from Google to iCloud Photos just got easy

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Moving pics from Google to iCloud Photos just got easy
Transferring from Google Photos to iCloud Photos is as easy as asking.
Image: Cult of Mac

It’s now possible to transfer images and videos stored on Google Photos directly into iCloud Photos. Apple and Google cooperated to make this possible.

Wow, these two rivals actually worked together on something.

Apple Ring is the health accessory we need

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Apple Ring is the health accessory we need
An Apple Ring should join Apple Watch as a way to let wearers monitor their health.
Concept: Victor Soto/BluePoly

Apple’s next new product should be a smart ring. No, not so you can scroll through Instagram on a teeny-tiny display. The Apple Ring would be packed with health sensors that allow wearers to track their exercise and fitness goals while carrying no other device.

It wouldn’t even require developing new technology. All that’s needed is for Apple CEO Tim Cook to make the decision to offer a new type of health tracker.

Samsung unveiled Galaxy Ring on Wednesday, showing that this type of wearable is going mainstream. It’s time for Apple to step in and show its rivals how it should be done.

Mac shipments shoot up a whopping 20%

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The new MacBook Air with M3
The new MacBook Air with M3 likely helped push up Mac shipments.
Photo: Apple

No PC maker is growing faster than Apple. Mac shipments increased 20.8% year over year in Q2, according to market analysts. That’s a growth rate that dwarfs larger rivals.

It’s the second quarter in a row of double-digit growth for Apple.

iPhone 16 could get twice as fast charging

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iPhone 16 rumors
iPhone 16 rumors
Photo: Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 lineup could see a significant boost in charging speeds, potentially doubling the current fast-charging capability to 40W when using a compatible power adapter, according to a recent rumor.

While late-model iPhones are already pretty fast chargers, twice as fast is a serious improvement.

Code for HomePod with large touchscreen found in tvOS 18

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HomePod with a larger Display concept
A HomePod with a larger touchscreen -- perhaps something like this concept -- is supposedly on the drawing board at Apple.
Concept: Apple/Cult of Mac

A bit of the user interface for a rumored HomePod smart speaker with a large touchscreen reportedly turned up in the latest beta for tvOS 18.

We’ve heard leaks and rumors about such a smart home device since at least 2021, but now the product seems to be moving nearer to release.

Catch a scary glimpse of Severance season 2, coming in January

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Severance season 2 trailer
This glimpse of Adam Scott carrying balloons down a Lumon Industries hallway appeared during the WWDC24 keynote.
Photo: Apple TV+

Just as we thought when Apple put out a Severance teaser Tuesday in Morse code saying nothing but “tomorrow,” word of a season 2 air date arrived Wednesday, along with a spooky teaser trailer. But our wishful thinking that the air date would come in fall 2024 was just that. It’s actually slated for January 17, 2025. And in the meantime, the short trailer below is worth a watch. It brings eerie Severance vibes.

iPhone 17 may get cutting-edge 2nm chip from TSMC after all

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TSMC looks ahead to super-speedy 2nm processors
2nm processors made by TSMC will be faster while using less power than today's 3nm iPhone chips.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s chip-maker TSMC will begin trial production of 2 nm processors next week. This is months earlier than expected, and raises the possibility that the company’s next generation production process will be ready in time for the A19 chip in the iPhone 17.

The improvement over the current 3nm process should bring a jump in performance without affecting battery life.

Handheld DockKit-enabled gimbal keeps iPhone camera pointed at you

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Insta360 Flow Pro: Hand held DockKit-enabled gimbal keeps iPhone pointed at you
Insta360 Flow Pro helps make more exciting videos.
Photo: Insta360

Hold the Insta360 Flow Pro and walk around and the stabilizer always keeps your iPhone camera pointed at you or your subject thanks to Apple’s DockKit and Deep Track 3.0. It’s designed for content creators on the move.

The gimbal includes a selfie stick, tripod, power bank and tracking ring light.

Apple TV+ Morse code video hints at big Severance season 2 news

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Severance Morse code teaser video
The WWDC24 keynote featured an Apple TV+ reel with Severance season two footage of Adam Scott walking down a Lumon Industries hallway with balloons.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ dropped an odd Severance Morse code teaser video Tuesday that simply spells out “tomorrow,” suggesting news about the workplace thriller’s second season will arrive Wednesday. We expect an air date announcement for fall 2024, and perhaps more.

Apple offered a scant first look at the upcoming season of the hit show during the WWDC24 keynote in June. But other than that, fans of the funny and disturbing workplace thriller have had little to go on — until now (or until tomorrow, that is).

Microsoft mandates employees in China dump Android, use iPhones

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Microsoft employees in China must use iPhones
Microsoft will make its employees in China use iPhones for security purposes.
Photo: Nomad

Starting in September, Microsoft will require its employees in China to use iPhones for work-related activities, effectively banning Android devices from work use, according to a new report. And of course the irony of a new policy stating that Microsoft employees in China must use Apple devices isn’t lost on us.

Affordable new gaming headset aims high on audio, comfort

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OXS Storm G2 Wireless Gaming Headset on gamer
Whether you're gaming, taking a call or listening to tunes, this affordable headset might do the trick.
Photo: OXS

The new OXS Storm G2 Wireless Gaming Headset comes equipped with a 50mm full-range dynamic driver and 7.1 virtual surround sound technology for wired, wireless and dongle connectivity to Macs, PCs, consoles, tablets and more, OXS said Monday.

And despite aiming high on audio quality for gaming, music and calls, the new cans go low on price. You can buy them on Amazon for $59.99 (with 25% off coupon), or just $49.99 for Prime Day, July 16 and 17. The regular price is $79.99.

F1 teaser trailer puts you in driver’s seat with Brad Pitt

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Brad Pitt and Damson Idris in Apple's F1 Formula 1 racing movie.
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris are two of the stars of Apple's F1 Formula 1 racing movie.
Photo: Warner Bros.

A revving engine drowns out the thunderous sound of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” in the first teaser trailer for F1, Brad Pitt’s upcoming Apple TV+ film about Formula One racing.

You’ll hear precious little dialogue in the trailer, released Sunday by Warner Bros. Pictures. Instead, the promo spot focuses on harrowing racetrack footage shot during actual Grand Prix weekends in collaboration with Formula One teams.

iOS 18’s smarter Siri won’t arrive until 2025

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Upgraded Siri experience in iOS 18.
You will have to wait to enjoy some of Siri's best upgrades in iOS 18.
Photo: Apple

Apple reportedly will make us wait until next year for the smarter Siri the company showcased during June’s WWDC24 keynote. According to a new report, the updated voice assistant won’t enter developer beta testing until January, with a public release slated for next spring in iOS 18.4.