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AirTag 2 reportedly launching in mid-2025 with better range

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AirTag
AirTag 2 is coming next year.
Photo: Mark Chan/Unsplash

Apple’s first AirTag upgrade is another step closer to launch, with the tracking tags reportedly progressing to “manufacturing tests.” The company apparently plans to launch the AirTag 2 in mid-2025.

Codenamed B589, the new AirTags reportedly will look the same but provide increased range and improved privacy features.

These $60 Beats earbuds are built for busy music lovers

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Woman wearing the Beats Solo Buds true wireless earbuds.
Get a pair of Beats Solo Buds true wireless earbuds at a great price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Need a good pair of earbuds at an even better price? These Beats Solo Buds have dual-layer drivers, axial-aligned drivers and a custom-built acoustic architecture. They sound expensive, but you can actually get a pair of these earbuds for just $59.99 (regularly $79) in our Beats Solo Buds sale.

Shrinking and Disclaimer stay hits for Apple TV+

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Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in Shrinking season 2
Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in Shrinking on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

The Apple TV+ dramedy Shrinking stayed among the top 10 most popular streaming series for another week, according to two ratings companies. And the sexy drama Disclaimer continues to pull in a large audience, too.

Both have been among the most-watched series on streaming since they debuted.

Use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac with Camo

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A Better Webcam
Even an old iPhone is a far superior webcam to any Mac.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Camo is a powerful app that lets you use your iPhone, and any connected USB camera, as a webcam for your Mac. I use it every week to record videos and livestream podcasts. The camera built into the MacBook — and even the high-end Studio Display — just doesn’t compare to the clarity and quality of an iPhone camera.

Apple built a basic version of this feature into macOS and called it Continuity Camera. But like most apps that have been sherlocked, Camo goes above and beyond with powerful tools and pro features.

Camo also works with Windows PCs, Android phones and most modern cameras, not just Macs and iPhones.

3 Reasons to Watch: Silo, the hit dystopian sci-fi show on Apple TV+

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Rebecca Ferguson in
Rebecca Ferguson's gutsy performance is just one reason to watch epic sci-fi series Silo.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, our hand-cranked Apple TV+ recommendation engine, we’re looking at the dystopian sci-fi show du jour, Silo. While not a full Silo review, it’s a full-throated endorsement of the thrill-packed series and its star, Rebecca Ferguson.

Created by Graham Yost (Justified, Speed), and based on the books by Hugh Howey, the show focuses on the last people on earth, who live in a huge, underground structure and slowly start to learn there’s more to their predicament than meets the eye. The first season of Silo became a bona fide hit. And season two of Silo just started streaming on Apple TV+.

Make it mobile: Set iPad as display for M4 Mac mini [Setups]

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mobile M4 Mac mini with iPad display
Plenty of people are talking about M4 Mac mini as a mobile computer with iPad as a display. But to that, some others just reply, "get a MacBook."
Image: Fernando Silva

Trend alert: Folks are talking on social media sites and YouTube about using iPad as an external display for the new M4 Mac mini. Why? Well, as today’s setup user notes, the combination creates a credible mobile solution. And as others point out, it’s economical. Mac mini is a sensational value. And for a few hundred bucks more you can add an iPad (or you may already have one) and a few other inexpensive elements to make it work. But still, plenty of people see this and just say, “get a MacBook.”

OtterBox makes the best iPad wraparound folio case [Review] ★★★★★

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OtterBox Statement Series Studio iPad case review★★★★★
Your iPad is safe and not too bulky in the OtterBox Statement Series Studio.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The OtterBox Statement Series Studio case for iPad Pro or iPad Air finds a brilliant balance of protection and portability. It’s slim and relatively lightweight, but wraps completely around the tablet to save it from disaster. And there’s a built-in adjustable kickstand and Apple Pencil holder, too.

I tested it with my M4 iPad Pro, and haven’t found a wraparound folio case I like better. Here’s why:

Harrowing season 2 ventures outside the Silo [Now streaming]

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Silo season 2 trailer
Dystopian drama series "Silo" returns to Apple TV+ for its second season on November 15.
Photo: Apple TV+

In hit Apple TV+ sci-fi series Silo, Rebecca Ferguson’s engineer character, Juliette, spent her whole life toiling in the bowels of a giant tube sunk into the soil, protected along with the last 10,000 people on Earth from a supposedly deadly outside world. But she’s willing to risk venturing outside to find the truth in the season 2 trailer of dystopian drama. Apple TV+ dropped it Monday.

Update: Silo‘s eagerly awaited 10-episode second season emerged on Apple TV+ Friday, November 15, with the first episode. Tagline: “Juliette finds sanctuary in a silo long ago destroyed by war, thinking she’s alone.” Want a quick taste? Watch the first 5 minutes here.

Print your favorite iPhone photos instantly

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Product photo of the Kodak Step instant smartphone photo printer with printouts.
Whether you’re making custom cards, unique scrapbooks or instant mementos, the Kodak Step instant smartphone printer lets you enjoy your favorite photos anytime, anywhere.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Kodak Step instant photo printer is a fun, easy way to print your iPhone photos without messy ink cartridges. It eliminates the need for expensive ink, toners and ribbons, instead using 2-inch by 3-inch sticky-back paper that’s embedded with dye crystals. In less than 60 seconds, it produces fun, durable prints that resist moisture, rips and smudges.

Whether you’re printing photos for your fridge, locker or scrapbook, these prints are designed to last. And you can get a Kodak Step instant photo printer for just $69.99.

This sturdy magnetic charging cable packs all the connections you need

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Statik 360 Pro multi-charging cable with swappable USB-C, Lightning and Micro USB tips.
Why carry six cables when one can handle all your connections?
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Sick of searching for the right cord with the proper connections to juice up your devices? The Statik 360 Pro is an all-in-one cable that can connect virtually anything. On one end of the multi-charging cable, you’ll find swappable magnetic tips that can handle USB-C, Lightning and Micro USB connections. On the other, you’ll find a USB-C connector as well as a built-in USB-A adapter.

The magnetic head that attaches to the three tips swivels 360 degrees, so you won’t put strain on the cable or your devices. Plus, the Statik 360 Pro comes sheathed in braided nylon for maximum durability. The price for this convenient, 3-foot multi-charging cable is pretty special, too: just $19.99 (regularly $23).

Bigfoot emoji might be sighted next year

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Bigfoot emoji might be sighted next year
Say, what’s that "hairy creature"?
Photo: Emojipedia/Cult of Mac

The list of additions to the official collection of emoji we can use in text message includes an orca, a trombone an Apple core and, wait, is that Bigfoot?!

The industry group responsible for choosing new emoji proposed nine major additions and dozens of tweaks for the next update. If approved, they will come to iPhone, Mac and iPad, as well as Androids, PCs and many social media applications.

Google’s Gemini AI gets its own chatty iPhone app

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Google Gemini for iPhone app
The Google Gemini for iPhone app can generate images with text prompts.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Gemini application for iPhone that launched Thursday gives users direct access to Google’s AI-powered virtual assistant.

Have a conversation, get advice or generate images with the app.

Apple legend Bill Atkinson in treatment for pancreatic cancer

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Bill Atkinson at MacWorld
Bill Atkinson presented at MacWorld in 2010.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Bill Atkinson, a legendary Apple programmer, let the world know Tuesday he’s in treatment for pancreatic cancer, the same disease that killed his boss, Steve Jobs, in 2011. Atkinson published a post on Facebook asking for prayers.

Recruited by Jobs and Macintosh developer and user interface guru Jef Raskin, Atkinson became employee number 51 at Apple. He’s a primary architect of the original Mac. You can see some of his considerable accomplishments and his Facebook post below.

UK consumer group files £3B lawsuit against Apple for iCloud ‘abuse’

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UK consumer group files £3B lawsuit against Apple for iCloud ‘abuse’
A UK consumer-advocacy group claims iCloud is an abuse of Apple’s power over iPhone and iPad users.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The UK consumer-advocacy group Which? accused Apple of forcing iPhone and iPad owners to use iCloud, and then overcharging them for the service.

It’s asking for a hefty £3 billion ($3.8 billion) in compensation. That’s about £70 per consumer.

New Apple Magic Keyboard is still a high price to pay for Touch ID [Review] ★★★☆☆

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Green compact Magic Keyboard stacked on top of Black full-size Magic Keyboard.★★★☆☆
The new Magic Keyboards.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The new Apple Magic Keyboard, updated with USB-C, is a fine option if you want Touch ID and if you like laptop-style membrane keyboards. It’s not my preferred typing experience. It also, unfortunately, only comes in a limited number of colors and only two sizes.

It’s the stock keyboard that comes if you order an iMac. It’s also available if you want an external keyboard on your Mac mini, Mac Studio or a desktop-docked MacBook.

The Magic Keyboard is the only way to get Touch ID on the Mac, which is a pretty excellent experience. You just have to pay the rather high price for it — and the even greater sacrifice of giving up on a clicky mechanical keyboard.

Keep reading or watch our latest video.

New Apple Magic Mouse has all the same problems, but Lightning ain’t one [Review] ★★★☆☆

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Black and Green Magic Mouse★★★☆☆
It comes in Black and White, with matching color accents if ordered with an iMac.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The Magic Mouse has been updated with USB-C, and … well, that’s about it. You can ditch the Lightning cable on your desk, but that’s where the changes end.

It still has a design that’s uncomfortably thin for my hands and lacks modern niceties like Force Touch and multi-device pairing.

The Magic Mouse is, however, still the best (and maybe only) mouse that uses trackpad-style swiping and scrolling gestures in place of a traditional scroll wheel. If you can set all else aside, it’s a great experience.

Keep reading or watch our latest video.

New Apple Magic Trackpad is still the best ever [Review] ★★★★

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Black Magic Trackpad sitting on a desk next to a black Magic Keyboard and Mac mini.★★★★
The new Magic Trackpad. It photographs like a black void.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The new Apple Magic Trackpad with USB-C still holds the crown for the best Mac peripheral. It’s the best trackpad in the world and the best input device for macOS.

I was hoping for a little more out of this update, like built-in Touch ID or multi-device pairing. I also wish there were a neutral silver color, not just black and white.

But even without either, it has features that are still unparalleled anywhere else. Force Touch and Apple’s perfected multitouch gestures make the Magic Trackpad the king.

Keep reading or watch our video review.

Will Bad Sisters face the music in season 2? [Now streaming!]

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Bad Sisters season 2 trailer
Darkly funny thriller series Bad Sisters returns November 13!
Photo: Apple TV+

Bad Sisters season two sees the Garvey women scrambling in the aftermath of the darkly funny thriller’s first season, a new trailer Apple TV+ dropped Tuesday shows. Will they get away with the “accidental death”? Or will they break ranks and trip up as the law and nosey strangers close in?

Season two of the popular and acclaimed series debuts on Apple TV+ November 13. Watch out for season one spoilers below, by the way, in case you haven’t streamed it yet (and you really should).

Update: The first pair of episodes of Bad Sisters season two premiered Wednesday.  It’s two years after J.P.’s death, and it might be time for what the Garvey women did in season one to catch up to them.

New Ted Lasso book aims to tell the whole story of the hit Apple TV+ show

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new Ted Lasso book
The book contains a lot of interview material as well as episode recaps.
Photo: Dutton/Amazon

Beloved soccer comedy series Ted Lasso, considered Apple TV+’s biggest hit, is the subject of new book by no less than Jeremy Egner, a TV critic for The New York Times. He titled his new tome, released Tuesday, Believe: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way into Our Hearts.

The book, published by Dutton, purports to tell the whole story of the show, from its unlikely conception based on a TV commercial to its surprising, and now ongoing, success. (Production for season four of Ted Lasso kicks off in January.)

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.