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MacBook Pro user finds M4 Mac mini ‘incredibly impressive’ [Setups]

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M4 Mac mini setup
It's just the base model, but this user is over the moon so far.
Photo: [email protected]

Now that the new M4 Mac mini editions are even smaller than before but mightier than ever, plenty of other Mac users might migrate. That could include laptop devotees. Today’s M3 Pro MacBook Pro user, who also has an M1 Pro laptop, “couldn’t be happier” with his “incredibly impressive” new M4 Mac mini (the base model, no less). And he’s doing some intense work on his new desktop machine, too.

iPad Pro easily outsells every other Apple tablet

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How to choose the right iPad for you
iPad Pro sells very well. iPad mini… not so much.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Trying to decide which Apple tablet is right for you? Knowing which is the most popular might help. And there’s no doubt which one earns the top spot: iPad Pro.

You can probably guess the second most purchased iPadOS model.

Have happier holidays with 15 new Apple Arcade games

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15 new Apple Arcade games
Unwrap some holiday gaming this year.
Photo: Apple

Looking forward to some holiday downtime, maybe hunched over your Apple device with a glass of eggnog by the fire? Apple is set to expand its gaming catalog of over 200 titles with 15 new Apple Arcade games this holiday season. They include highly anticipated releases and reimagined classics. That sounds like hours of holly jolly fun.

These bone-conduction headphones might be comfier, and safer, than AirPods

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Man wearing Mezzo+ Bluetooth bone-conduction headphones outside on a sunny day
If AirPods irritate your ears, these bone-conduction headphones make a great substitute.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Have your AirPods been sending you excessive volume notifications because you keep cranking them up too loud? It might be time to do your ears a favor by trying out bone-conduction headphones.

These Mezzo+ Bluetooth headphones, on sale now for just $49.99, protect your eardrums as you listen to your favorite jams. They rest outside your ears and use bone-conduction tech to send audio waves to your inner ear through tiny vibrations along your cheekbones.

Mac mini with M4 Pro is mightier and mini-er than ever [Review] ★★★★★

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Mac mini and various peripherals photographed isometrically★★★★★
M4 Pro Mac mini and various peripherals.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The new Mac mini with M4 Pro chip offers incredible power at an unbelievable price. The diminutive desktop computer reaps the rewards of Apple silicon’s trickle-down performance: It delivers capabilities similar to a Mac Studio (or Mac Pro) with an M2 Ultra, at just a third (or a fifth) of the price of those high-end computers.

We haven’t yet seen what the new M4-series chips will do for the Mac Studio and Mac Pro, but the remarkable Mac mini makes me question how much of a pro user you’d have to be to truly need them. And on top of all that, it’s super-tiny. What’s not to love?

Keep reading or watch our video review.

Apple’s ridiculously complex Gold Link Bracelet for Apple Watch goes on sale

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Gold Link Bracelet for Apple Watch
You can now buy the Gold Link Bracelet for your Apple Watch
Photo: Apple

Apple is now selling a Gold Link Bracelet for the Apple Watch. Listed for $349, the band is made from 316L stainless steel alloy and features over 100 components.

Apple first showcased the band while unveiling the Apple Watch Series 10 at its September “It’s Glowtime” event.

Apple’s next big thing is a wall-mounted iPad?

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Apple’s next big thing is a wall-mounted iPad?
Apple’s smart home device might look just a little bit like this.
Concept: Vivint/Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly developing a “command center” for smart homes. It’ll supposedly be an inexpensive, wall-mounted, tablet-like computer used to control smart devices and make video calls. The device also would serve as an access point for the upcoming AI-powered Siri.

This is not much like anything the company offers now, though it does mix in some of the features of an iPad and a HomePod.

Apple Music Classical adds CarPlay and Siri support

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Apple Music Classical on CarPlay
Now you can strike up Apple Music Classical on your CarPlay screen and tell maestro Siri what to play.
Photo: ChatGPT

You can now enjoy Apple Music Classical on the road per new updates Apple made Tuesday in version 2.1 of the app. It added CarPlay and Siri support to the service, in addition to other minor improvements to raise the quality level.

“Hey, Siri, crank up Brahms’ Sonata for Piano and Violin in G Major, and rip the knob off,” is something you could try saying as you drive around. But will the silence remain?

Cool your iPhone while it charges with this power puck [Review] ★★★★☆

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Aukey MagFusion GameFrost Wireless Charger with iPhone★★★★☆
Protect your iPhone from excess heat with Aukey MagFusion GameFrost Wireless Charger.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Aukey MagFusion GameFrost Wireless Charger cools your iPhone or Android while it juices up, preventing the heat that often results from charging from damaging the battery.

I put the accessory through its paces to see how quickly it charges an iPhone 16, and how well it cools the handset.

Get an inside look at Bad Sisters season 2 [Apple TV+ video]

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Sarah Greene, Eva Birthistle, Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff and Eve Hewson in
In season two of Bad Sisters, the Garvey women deal with the aftermath of their actions.
Photo: Apple TV+

Accomplished Irish actor Fiona Shaw joined the cast of Bad Sisters in an “inside look” at season two video Apple TV+ released Monday, ahead of the new season’s Wednesday debut. And this Bad Sisters season 2 video, really just a promo, is pretty entertaining.

“Thanks very much for welcoming me into your dangerous, hostile little world,” Shaw quips to the group of woman seated around a table. And later in the chat, she says of the Garvey sisters: “When they’re all together they become a kind of phalanx of meerkats.”

That line provokes gales of laughter from the “Garveys” in a video that is, essentially, a season one recap, a look ahead to the imminent season two and, maybe above all, a celebration of women.

Apple Music turns its 100 Best Albums list into $450 coffee-table book

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Apple Music 100 Best Albums book
Got a coffee table? Here's your next conversation piece.
Photo: Apple Music/Assouline

Back when Apple Music put out its 100 Best Albums of all time list, some people expressed shock at the No. 1 pick — 1998’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. And now they might be shocked they’re being asked to pay a whopping $450 for a fancy-schmancy, limited-edition coffee-table book version of the whole list. That seems like an Apple move, doesn’t it? But if you’re into it, act fast — only 1,500 copies exist.

However, before you do … you know you could buy an M1 or maybe an M2 Mac mini with that $450, right? Just sayin’.

Learn cloud computing with this $29.99 course bundle

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Product photo of the The 2024 Cloud Computing Course Bundle (CompTIA and AWS).
Grab this six-course cloud computing e-learning bundle today for $29.99 and start building a career in one of the fastest-growing sectors in tech.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re thinking about a lucrative tech career or want to expand your existing skill set, these affordable cloud computing courses give you what you need to level up. With more than 52 hours of content covering AWS, Azure, cloud security and microservices, this course bundle is a powerhouse for anyone serious about mastering the cloud.

For just $29.99, you’ll gain lifetime access to a comprehensive suite of cloud computing courses. This professional knowledge will prepare you for some of the industry’s most sought-after certifications.

With the M4 iMac, you don’t have to pick between fast or fun [Review] ★★★★☆

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Green iMac sitting on a light wood table★★★★☆
A bright, colorful computer with impressive power.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The 2024 iMac with the M4 chip is a stunning and powerful all-in-one. The desktop computer is an endangered breed, but if you have room for one in your life, the new iMac offers a beautiful design and some impressive performance. 

Power users might find the base model M4 iMac’s small number of ports and skimpy storage capacity limiting. But the amount of powerful creative work you can get done on this thing speaks to the golden age of the Mac we find ourselves in. There’s not a single bad computer in Apple’s lineup. Everything can edit video or produce a professional podcast or develop apps. So, why not do it from a colorful iMac that sparks joy?

Keep reading or watch our video review.

Apple could launch a smart home camera in 2026

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Apple Store logo in Chengdu, China with two people standing in front of it
Apple might enter a new product category in 2026.
Photo: Unsplash

Apple could enter a new product segment in 2026 with the launch of a smart home IP camera that lets users keep an eye on things when they’re away. The company is seemingly looking to start mass production two years from now.

The smart home camera should integrate seamlessly with other devices in Apple’s ecosystem.

iOS 18.2 beta 3: All the new features and changes

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iOS 18.2 Beta 3: All the changes and features
iOS 18.2 takes another step towards its public release.
Photo: Cult of Mac

With iOS 18.3 due for release in early December, Apple continues beta testing the OS. The third beta build is now out for developers, bringing some small changes and enhancements.

Below is a roundup of all the new features and changes in iOS 18.2 beta 3.

UPDATE: These became available to all beta testers on Tuesday. Just be aware that this is the only second round of public beta testing and the updates are labeled as such. Nevertheless, public beta 2 is the same as developer beta 3.

Find lost luggage by sharing your AirTag location with your airline

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Find lost luggage by sharing your AirTag location with your airline
Now you can temporarily share the location of your lost bag with your airline.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Share Item Location lets AirTag users securely share the location of their tracking tag with an airline. The goal is to help find and recover lost luggage.

“The Find My network and AirTag have proven to be a powerful combination for users while traveling, providing invaluable location information when bags have been misplaced or mishandled,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, in a press release Monday. “With Share Item Location, we’re excited to give users a new way to easily share this information directly with third parties like airlines, all while protecting their privacy.”

Pitaka’s new iPad mini folio folds into 4 viewing angles

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Pitaka MagEZ Folio 2 for iPad mini
The new Pitaka MagEZ Folio 2 is well-suited to iPad mini 6 or the new iPad mini 7.
Photo: Pitaka

Pitaka designed the protective and stylish new MagEZ Folio 2 for iPad Mini 6 and the new iPad Mini 7 with A17 Pro chip, the company said Monday.

“The MagEZ Folio 2 is designed to enhance the portability, versatility and protection of the latest iPad Mini models,” Pitaka told Cult of Mac. “With a focus on flexibility and user convenience, this new folio cover is set to redefine the iPad experience and is available in black, white and blue color options.”

How to add fonts to an iPad

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How to add fonts to an iPad
iPad comes with a useful selection of fonts, and you can add more.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Anyone getting real work done on an iPad might need to add a font to their word processor or image creation app. The process is more complicated than it should be, but you can bring the huge numbers of fonts available for Mac or Windows to your tablet, too … if you know how.

I’ll walk you step-by-step through the installation.

New Apple TV+ docuseries peeks into ‘secret lives’ of animals

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The Secret Lives of Animals docuseries on Apple TV+
This colobus monkey is one of the stars of the show.
Photo: Apple TV+

Does “incredible never-before-seen footage of rare and remarkable animal behaviors, highlighting the brilliant intelligence of the natural world” sound good to you? Then get excited for the new 10-part nature documentary series Apple TV+ unveiled Monday with that description, The Secret Lives of Animals.

And no, the series doesn’t come with David Attenborough narration. But you still get a great English accent. SAG Award winner Hugh Bonneville, of Downton Abbey fame, plays that role for this one.

PlugBug Travel wall charger with built-in Find My goes international

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Twelve South PlugBug
Twelve South PlugBug is hard to lose wherever it goes.
Photo: Twelve South

Twelve South introduced PlugBug Travel, a version of its USB-C wall charger with six power adapters so it can be used around the world. Taking it internationally makes its support for Apple’s Find My technology even more useful.

There are versions with two ports and four ports with outputs appropriate for iPhone and/or MacBook.

Powerful M4 Pro MacBook replaces trusty M1 Pro laptop [Setups]

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M4 Pro MacBook Pro setup
It's a beautiful laptop, and yet I've pretty much hidden it in my computer setup. It's on the vertical stand behind the right-hand display.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

I’ve focused on my own workstation just a few times in several years of handling Cult of Mac setups coverage (this is setups article number 569 for me, by the way). Well, now it’s that time again, thanks to two major new upgrades in my personal rig. First, I replaced my trusty silver M1 Pro MacBook Pro with a brawny M4 Pro model in space black. And second, I installed a set of bookshelf speakers right in the workstation for the first time.

iPhone does a new trick that makes it harder to hack

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Apple Security Encryption
Install iOS 18.1 to make your iPhone more challenging to hack into.
Image: Apple

Anyone hoping to hack into an iPhone now finds it more difficult thanks to a change in iOS 18.1. Whether this is police, foreign espionage agents or criminal hackers, there’s now much less time to crack the security on Apple handsets because of a simple trick.

It’s another example of Apple being serious about protecting user privacy.

My MacBook Pro quantum leap from M1 Pro to M4 Pro [Review] ★★★★

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M4 Pro MacBook Pro review★★★★
It looks like pretty much any M-series MacBook Pro since 2021, but this 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro is a powerhouse.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

I took the leap from the 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro to the new M4 Pro MacBook Pro. As you’ll see from my review, having used the M1 Pro model for the past couple of years, I was eager to see how Apple could improve on the already-impressive machine. And, despite the lack of redesign, I’m impressed, to say the least.

While the M1 Pro and M4 Pro laptops could be the same exact machine judging from the outside — same as all M-series MacBook Pro models — the new one takes some big steps forward in performance. That should future-proof me on this daily driver for at least a few years.

Apple could double iPhone production in India within two years

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iPhone 14 Pro in India
Trade war between US and China could force Apple to make more iPhones in India.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple could further expand its iPhone manufacturing efforts in India over the next two years. This shift would likely occur if newly-elected US President Donald Trump implements heavy tariffs on Chinese imports.

India is already the second major iPhone production hub for Apple outside China.