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Inexpensive iPhone game controller also connects to Switch and PC

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GameSir X5s Wireless Mobile Game Controller
The GameSir X5s Wireless Mobile Game Controller offers tri-mode connectivity.
Graphic: GameSir

Wrap the brand-new GameSir X5s around your iPhone to play high-end games. But that’s only the start — the controller also works with iPad, Nintendo Switch, PC and Android.

It’s lightweight with a portable design but includes Hall Effect sticks and triggers, a gyroscope and rumble motors.

Even better, the GameSir X5s costs under $50.

Save hundreds with this Microsoft Office + Adobe Acrobat bundle

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Adobe Acrobat Classic PDF reader/editor and Microsoft Office Professional 2021 bundle
Get all these leading productivity apps in one bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Everyone knows that when you need to get a serious report or presentation done, you’ll be reaching for Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office. With this Microsoft Office Professional and Adobe Acrobat Classic bundle, you get a lifetime license to Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and five more Office apps, plus a three-year subscription to Adobe’s powerful PDF reader and editor.

Right now, it’s on sale for just $89.99 — an 83% discount off the MSRP of $543.99.

Combine emoji to make your own fun creations in iOS 26

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Mix and Match Your Own
I highly recommend saxophone + duck.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can combine two or more emoji into your own custom creation in iOS 26 using Apple’s upgraded Genmoji tool. In my testing, it’s great at adding sunglasses and cowboy hats to other emoji. It’s also pretty good at converting ordinary yellow-face emoji into cats, frogs, skulls, etc.

You can easily make a pumpkin cowboy, keyboard cat, pregnant Santa, banana phone or Easter Island statue snowman … the possibilities are endless. Well, not entirely endless — as fun as it would be to play geopolitics by combining national flags, all the flag emoji are restricted.

The best Apple Intelligence feature gets even more fun in iOS 26. Here’s how to use Genmoji‘s fun new feature.

Apple invites the world to ‘Awe dropping’ event

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Apple September Event: Awe dropping
All we officially know about Apple’s September event is that it’ll be “Awe dropping.”
Image: Apple

Invitations went out Tuesday for a much-anticipated Apple press event on September 9. The theme is “Awe dropping,” and the unveiling of the iPhone 17 series should be the highlight.

Also likely on the agenda are the launch of Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Avoid getting hacked while charging with these data-blocking USB-C cables

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Photo of Plugable data-blocker USB-C cable
Protect your computer from juice jacking with a data-blocking cable.
Photo: Plugable

Accessory maker Plugable just launched a collection of USB-C data-blocker charging cables. The cables transfer only power, not data, and therefore prevent “juice jacking” attacks at public charging ports.

The cables handle up to 240W and come in variety of lengths. Plus, a launch deal drops the prices!

Apple Watch Series 11 rumors: Blood pressure detection, 5G connectivity and more

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Apple Watch Series 11 rumors
Apple Watch Series 11 might bring a rush of new features. Or maybe not.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

With the launch of Apple Watch Series 11 likely just weeks away, rumors about what to expect remain surprisingly rare. Still, we know a fair amount about what’s coming, based on watchOS 26 and Apple’s usual moves. Additionally, some rumored Apple Watch Ultra 3 features might arrive on the regular model, too.

So, will Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 bring only minor upgrades, as in the last few years? Or will 2025 be the year Apple recaptures the buzz surrounding its smartwatch, adding exciting new features?

Here’s what we know about Apple Watch Series 11 so far.

New tool lets you easily transfer music from Spotify to Apple Music

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Apple Music migration tool
The Apple Music migration tool makes it easy to transfer music from services like Spotify to Apple Music.
Photo: Apple/Spotify/Rajesh Pandey

Apple significantly expanded availability of its Apple Music migration tool, bringing the service to the United States and eight other major markets this week after months of limited testing. It helps users transfer their music libraries from competing streaming services like Spotify.

Breakthrough audio and cooling tech could optimize Apple’s smart glasses

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xMEMS Sycamore microspeaker in AR glasses
The xMEMS Sycamore microspeakers sit in the stems of AR glasses near the ear.
Image: xMEMS Labs

As rumors continue to swirl about Apple’s potential entry into the smart glasses market, xMEMS Labs plans to unveil innovations that could address some of the biggest challenges facing next-generation wearable devices, the company said Tuesday. At September events it will roll out new xMEMS Labs smart glasses prototypes featuring ultra-thin speakers and active cooling technology that promise to make AI-powered eyewear more comfortable and practical for everyday use.

Elon Musk sues Apple and OpenAI over ‘unfair competition’

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Elon Musk vs. Tim Cook
Elon Musk and Tim Cook appear headed for court.
Image: ChatGPT

Elon Musk’s xAI filed a lawsuit on Monday against Apple and OpenAI claiming they’re conspiring to stifle competition in artificial intelligence apps.

This comes two weeks after Musk took to social media to complain that the No. 1 Top Free App in the iPhone App Store at the time was OpenAI’s ChatGPT, not the Grok app from xAI, an AI startup that the billionaire owns.

iPhone 17 rumors: A preview of Apple’s next basic handset

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iPhone 17 rumors
Stay informed ahead of the release of the basic iPhone 17.
Image: Cult of Mac

The iPhone 17 is less than a month away, and early rumors are already stirring excitement. It may be Apple’s basic model, but it’s still expected to get a better, larger screen, enhanced selfie camera, as well as a faster processor and a new range of color options.

Those interested in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max should read our roundup of rumors describing those premium models. And we have an iPhone 17 Air rumor roundup, too. Plus one for the budget iPhone 17e.

iPhone 17 Air could revive Apple’s bumper case

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iPhone 17 Air render
Would you use a bumper case with the iPhone 17 Air?
Photo: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple internally tested launching an iPhone 4-style bumper case for the upcoming iPhone 17 Air, according to an unconfirmed report. The slim case would have covered the phone’s edges, leaving the back exposed.

Such a thin case would highlight the iPhone 17 Air’s super-thin design. However, it’s unclear whether Apple will launch the case.

Foldable iPhone might bring back Touch ID

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Folding iPhone concept
A folding iPhone might be in short supply for a long time.
AI concept: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

The first folding iPhone reportedly will utilize Apple’s in-house C2 modem, switch to an advanced display technology to improve touch accuracy and make the screen crease less visible, and bring back a classic feature: Touch ID.

Codenamed V68, the book-style foldable is on track to debut in 2026

Can TechWoven reverse the FineWoven curse? [The CultCast 713]

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Image showing supposed TechWoven iPhone cases, along with
The latest TechWoven leaks trigger us a little with memories of FineWoven.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: A string of leaks from Majin Bu showcase a new line of “TechWoven” iPhone cases. This looks to be Apple’s replacement for the hated FineWoven cases, with a new material that will make the whole thing less sucky.

But does the world really need a replacement for leather iPhone cases?

Also on The CultCast:

  • iPhone 17e might take a welcome trip to the Dynamic Island, and the Apple Watch might add Touch ID.
  • An eye-popping eight-display setup leaves us slightly amazed and full of questions.
  • Anker’s brand-new iPhone power bank is super-slim and super-cool.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.

iPhone 17 desperately needs these Pixel 10 AI features

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An image of Google's Pixel 10 lineup, with the words,
When it comes to AI, the iPhone severely lags Google's Pixel phones. Swiping these AI features would be a great start.
Image: Cult of Mac

Google’s new Pixel 10 lineup shows just how much fun (and just how useful) AI can be on a phone. If Apple really wants the iPhone 17 lineup to shine, it should steal a few pages from Google’s playbook.

The iPhone 17 needs more than impressive new hardware to stand out from the crowd. It needs new AI features to make an impact, especially with the Pixel 10 raising the bar.

Google Gemini might give Siri the AI boost it needs

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Google Gemini Siri
Google Gemini could get baked into an upcoming Siri version.
Graphic: Apple/Google/Cult of Mac

Add Google Gemini to the list of AIs that might go into the promised revamp of the Siri voice assistant if Apple can’t develop the tech itself.

Apple is working hard on its own large language models to provide Siri with a much-needed intelligence boost. But Cupertino is reportedly covering its bases by talking to other companies about using their AI instead. Google joined the list, according to an unconfirmed report published Friday.

Belkin’s gorgeous new iPhone stands do 25W wireless charging

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Belkin UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock
The UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock (center) is the highlight of Belkin’s new iPhone stands.
Image: Belkin

Forget about the old 15W limitation on wireless charging. Belkin took the wraps off a trio of iPhone stands on Friday that support the new Qi2 25W standard, offering a 66% increase in speed.

The new models include the UltraCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock for use in the office, plus a pair of multidevice wireless chargers for travel.

Recover deleted files on Mac and fragmented videos with Disk Drill 6

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macOS data recovery software
Disk Drill 6 gives you advanced camera recovery.
Photo: CleverFiles

CleverFiles just launched Disk Drill 6, a major update to its popular data recovery Mac software. (It works on Windows, too.) Among other things, it can now recover deeply fragmented videos. Plus, it boasts significant performance improvements.

The new version, which can recover footage from almost any camera, addresses some of the most challenging data recovery scenarios while delivering up to 25% faster scan speeds and improved success rates.

“We’ve re-engineered Disk Drill 6 to solve some of the toughest recovery cases our users face,” said Roman Kropachek, co-founder and CEO of CleverFiles. “From fragmented video footage to encrypted or lost partitions, Disk Drill 6 brings professional-grade recovery technology to every desk.”

Invasion season 3: Now the real war starts [Now streaming!]

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Invasion season 3
Invasion season three debuts August 22 on Apple TV+. Watch the new trailer.
Photo: Apple TV+

Ready to face the end of the world as we know it? The new 10-episode season of Apple TV+’s epic alien onslaught series Invasion streams its first episode Friday. A new one follows each Friday through October 24.

And you can watch the recently released Invasion season three trailer below. It shows the evolving face of the alien menace. And it looks like the horrific inroads the extraterrestrials made in seasons one and two of Invasion, seemingly slowed by a determined but disconnected human effort, might be just a preview of much worse to come.

Try Røde’s studio-worthy wired on-ear headphones for $99 [Review] ★★★★☆

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Rode NTH-50 headphones review★★★★☆
The headphones and cable bring some serious quality.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

While Røde built its reputation on microphones, the Australian company’s first on-ear wired headphones deliver surprising audio quality for everything from studio monitoring to casual listening. This Røde NTH-50 headphones review finds the $99 wired cans challenge what we expect from professional headphones at this price point.

Is Røde’s entrance into the headphone market worth your attention? Let’s find out if these newcomers deserve a spot in your audio setup.

Create brilliant infographics without lifting a finger

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Photo of infographics generator InfographsAI on a smartphone screen.
Get lifetime access to this AI infographics generator and skip the freelance designer.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

An AI-powered infographics generator can save you tons of time when pulling together these specialized — and extremely effective — images for visual communication.

If you have ever tried designing an infographic from scratch, you know how quickly it can eat up your time (and your patience). Between formatting data, picking the right color palette, and wrangling fonts, it’s way more complicated than it should be.

That’s where InfographsAI comes in — and it’s currently available for a lifetime price of just $49.99 (regularly $360). No subscriptions, no recurring fees, and no more losing your mind trying to create infographics on your own.

How to use the new Games app for iPhone, iPad and Mac

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Image of Apple Games with the caption, “Got Any Games On Your Phone?”
Launch games and find new ones in Apple Games.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The Games app is a new all-in-one destination for gaming on your Apple devices. You can create a custom profile, track your achievements, and add friends (and set challenges for them). It’s also a quick way to launch games you’re playing and discover new ones.

It doesn’t entirely replace Game Center, a few vestiges of which reamin in the Settings app. But if you care at all about iPhone gaming, you should check out the new Games app. It’ll help you find new games to play and let you know about exciting events in your old favorites.

Here’s everything you need to know about Apple’s new Games app.