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Opal Tadpole could be just the webcam your older MacBook needs [Review] ★★★★☆

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Opal Tadpole Mac webcam review★★★★☆
Get big video from the tiny Opal Tadpole webcam.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Opal Tadpole acts as a replacement for the webcam in your laptop or tablet. Clip the well-built gadget to an older MacBook and you’ll look better on video calls.

I tested one with multiple computers to see how Tadpole stands up in real world use — and whether it might make a good gift this holiday season.

Prime Day brings the best sale ever on Apple Pencil Pro [Extended and improved!]

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Apple Pencil Pro vs Apple Pencil 2
Now is a great time to buy an Apple Pencil: Prime Day!
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Pencil Pro boasts just about every feature an iPad user could want, and during Amazon Prime Day that includes a more affordable price. A discount knocks 25% off the cost, bringing it below $100 for the first time.

Alternatively, you can get a 15% off deal on the Apple Pencil (USB-C), or save 30% on the older Apple Pencil 2.

UPDATE: While Prime Day is over, these deals are not. Amazon actually improved them so these styli cost even less. Read on for the latest prices.

5 stealth iOS 18 features you don’t want to miss

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Five Awesome Hidden Features
Apple buried these great features in iOS 18's accessibility settings.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iOS 18 is getting a bunch of cool new accessibility features this year, including bringing eye tracking to the iPhone for the first time. You also can feel haptic music, control your phone with custom voice commands, use your phone in the car without suffering from motion sickness, and improve the accuracy of Siri and dictation.

Check out our video to see it in action or keep reading below.

End of an era: iPod is officially ‘obsolete’

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ipod-nano-new
Goodbye, iPod nano!
Photo: Apple

The iPod music player, a product that was once the definition of tech coolness, rode off into the sunset on Tuesday. The last iPod nano and iPod shuffle models went on Apple’s list of obsolete products, which means the classic iPod lineup officially obsolete.

The music player that transformed Apple and the worldwide music culture will no longer be supported or serviced by Apple. It’s the end of an era.

The same is true for iPhone 6.

Prepping for Hurricane Milton? Install iOS 18 with Messages via satellite.

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Messages via satellite in iOS 18
Messages via satellite can help you stay in touch with loved ones even when power and other services are knocked out.
Photo: Apple

With Hurricane Milton taking aim at nearly the entire Gulf Coast of Florida, with a probable late Wednesday landfall, evacuees and others might want to make sure they download iOS 18 — specifically to get the new Messages via satellite capability.

That way, if power, Wi-Fi and cellular coverage all get knocked out, you can still communicate via satellite on your iPhone with family and friends. And of course you’ll also have the option of using the related Emergency SOS via satellite if you need to reach emergency services.

How court-ordered changes to Google Play could affect Apple’s App Store

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Google Play vs Apple
How will a major court ruling against Google Play affect Apple?
Image: Google/Apple

A U.S. federal judge ordered sweeping changes to Google Play, the default source for Android applications. Rival Android software marketplaces will get a big boost as a result.

While the iPhone App Store is similar, Apple’s and Google’s situations are different enough that iPhone users shouldn’t expect similar changes anytime soon. Long term? That’s a different story.

Don’t miss Bluetti’s Prime Day blowout on solar power stations

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Save up to $3,600 off portable power stations and generators from Bluetti during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days fall sale.
Save up to $3,600 off portable power stations and generators from Bluetti during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days fall sale.
Photo: Bluetti

With Amazon Prime Day on October 8 and 9, power solutions provider Bluetti gets in on the savings action with exclusive deals on its portable solar power stations. With tons of power generators designed for outdoor enthusiasts, RV campers and home-backup needs, Bluetti’s lineup promises reliable power, anytime and anywhere.

And with these huge Prime Day savings, you can’t lose. Power up with Bluetti for amazing Prime Day savings.

iOS 18.1 beta 6: All the new features and changes

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iOS 18.1 beta 6 is here with small but important refinements.
Apple Intelligence is finally here!
Photo: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple continues beta testing iOS 18.1 ahead of its potential public release on October 28. Besides Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.1 will pack several other changes and improvements.

Below is everything new in the latest iOS 18.1 and iPadOS 18.1 beta 6.

Apple Watch Series 10 teardown highlights its poor repairability

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Apple Watch Series 10 teardown
The Apple Watch Series 10 does not rank high in iFixit's teardown.
Photo: iFixit

Apple made huge strides towards improving repairability with the iPhone 16. Sadly, despite getting a big internal redesign, the Apple Watch Series 10 is not as repair-friendly as the new iPhones.

A teardown from iFixit details the wearable’s innards and all the changes Apple made to slim down its design.

Developer finds ‘sweet spot’ with 34-inch curved display [Setups]

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curved ultra-wide monitor setup
A 34-inch curved ultra-wide monitor with 1440p resolution perfectly suits this developer.
Photo: [email protected]

When it comes to Mac-centric computer setups, not every external display is Apple’s 6K Pro Display XDR or 5K Studio Display — far from it. And users’ choices come in various shapes and sizes. Today’s M1 Max MacBook Pro-using developer settled on a 34-inch Alienware curved ultra-wide monitor that hits his “sweet spot.” Find out why below. And don’t miss that nostalgia-inducing iPod Classic!

Hate iPhone cases? Try a barely-there Totallee case and screen protector. [Review] ★★★★☆

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Totallee thin iPhone cases★★★★☆
The thin case in frosted black is on my iPhone 16 Pro next to the clear case.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

As a longtime iPhone user — now with a new iPhone 16 Pro — I like to flirt with the idea of going naked, with no case at all. But then I usually wimp out and go minimal instead. Totallee has built its reputation on barely-there minimalism, so I thought I’d give the Totallee Super Thin Case, Clear Grip Case and tempered glass screen protector a try. And true to form, Totallee iPhone cases offer protection without bulk. To my surprise, I liked the thin case and screen protector combo the most. It just seems like my black titanium iPhone, but with more grip and added peace of mind.

M4 MacBook Pro allegedly unboxed weeks before release

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Leaked M4 MacBook Pro
Watch the M4 MacBook Pro getting unboxed weeks before its official unveiling. Maybe.
Photo: Wylsacom

An alleged unboxing video of the M4 MacBook Pro went live on YouTube over the weekend. The early hands-on, if real, shows that Apple’s next MacBook will pack impressive performance improvements over the M3 version.

The video supposedly reveals the M4 MacBook Pro’s specs, featuring a 10-core CPU, 16GB RAM, and an unchanged design but with a color twist.

Boost your Mac’s storage on the cheap during Samsung external SSD sale [Still going!]

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Samsung T9 portable SSD
The Samsung T9 SSD is small but holds terabytes of data.
Photo: Samsung

The Samsung T9 SSD is quick and it’s very portable. Plus, for a short time, it’s up to 45% off.  Opt for 1TB, 2TB or even 4TB of additional storage for your Mac or iPad.

For an even more affordable option, the older Samsung T7 series is available for as much as 44% off.

Apple Intelligence AI-powered features could launch Oct. 28

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Apple Intelligence at WWDC24
After a big announcement in June, Apple Intelligence is right around the corner.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple’s big step into artificial intelligence is scheduled for this month, and a prediction from a generally reliable source may have just named the release date: October 28. This will reportedly be when new iOS, macOS and iPadOS versions usher in Apple Intelligence.

These AI capabilities were unveiled in June at the company’s developers conference and have been in public beta testing for weeks, so it’s now a waiting game for the full launch.

M4 Macs lead parade of upcoming Apple products [The CultCast]

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The CultCast episode 667 features discussion of M4 MacBook Pros
Sounds like new Macs will pop out of Tim Cook's magic pipeline in the very near future.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If Apple does host a big October event, M4 Macs and iPads likely will steal the show. We talk about what to expect from the upcoming Apple products.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Other Apple gear is on a longer timeline, including iPhone SE 4, upgraded iPad Airs and a next-gen Vision Pro.
  • There’s also a rumored low-end smart display running a mysterious new operating system called “homeOS.”
  • And finally, Erfon gives us an in-depth, ears-on review of one week with AirPods 4. He’s not crazy about the fit, and the active noise cancellation is a mixed bag.

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 live stream, embedded below.

Wolfs immediately becomes most popular film on streaming

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George Clooney and Brad Pitt star in Wolfs streaming on Apple TV+
George Clooney and Brad Pitt star in “Wolfs,” now drawing a crowd on Apple TV+.
Image: Apple TV+

The Apple TV+ team-up between George Clooney and Brad Pitt hit number one on a ratings company’s popularity chart the first week the film is available to stream.

It’s not surprising: the two superstars could probably take the leads in Uncle Wiggly and the Runaway Cheese and it would be a hit.

Hands-on with the first 10 Apple Intelligence features

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Hands-On With Apple Intelligence
Here’s what Apple Intelligence is like in action.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple Intelligence makes its debut with 10 new features — and some of it is fantastic. Apple Intelligence has some genuinely impressive new features, and some of it will have a big impact on daily life.

Apple Intelligence is the name for Apple’s next-generation AI and machine learning-powered features that are coming to iPhone, iPad and Mac. These first 10 features are available in iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1 right now. Some of the biggest features like Visual Intelligence, Image Playground and the all-new Siri aren’t here (and might not ship for a while) but Apple has still managed to make a good first impression.

Here’s what you can expect. Keep reading or watch our video to see it in action.

Quickly change file formats for free with Movavi’s Online Video Converter

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Image showing features of Online Video Converter by Movavi
Whether you shot the video or not, sometimes it's just in the wrong file format.
Image: Movavi

When you need to convert a video to a different file format, what’s a quick, easy way to do it? Movavi’s free Online Video Converter. This incredibly intuitive tool makes the tedious task simple.

And if you need to convert really big video files, or edit them, Movavi’s desktop converter software can help. More than 70 million users in more than 190 countries enjoy software from Movavi, which turned 20 years old in 2024.

Find out how to use the free online video converter below.

New Aqara Smart Lock U300 brings Home Key to more doors

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Aqara Smart Lock U300
Introduced at CES in January, the new Aqara Smart Lock 300 is now on sale at a 20% discount.
Photo: Aqara

The new lever-based Smart Lock U300 brings Apple Home Key functionality to a wider range of doors you might want to unlock with your iPhone or Apple Watch, including those without traditional deadbolts, Aqara said Thursday. It previewed the lock back at CES in January. Now it’s finally on sale — with a nice launch discount (see below).

Soundcore Space One Pro headphones score with cush comfort, epic battery life [Review] ★★★★

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Soundcore Space One Pro headphones review★★★★
Despite all the plastic, Soundcore Space One Pro cans look pretty nice. And the comfort level is off the charts.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The new Soundcore Space One Pro wireless noise-canceling headphones generated some buzz in the audio community, promising top-notch sound quality and advanced features for a typically reasonable price from Anker’s audio brand. Keen to see if they’d live up to expectations, I tried them out. And I found that they’re great at the list price of $200. But when the price dips — and it usually does — they’ll become an absolutely fantastic value. Read my Soundcore Space One Pro headphones review below for more information.

iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 13 comparison: Upgrade if you can

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iPhone 16 vs. iPhone 13 comparison
Time to ditch your iPhone 13 for iPhone 16?
Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey

If you own an iPhone 13, should you upgrade to the iPhone 16 for its faster performance, better cameras and Apple Intelligence support? Or should you wait another year?

Three years is a long time in the tech world. The iPhone 13 launched in 2021 with cutting-edge specs. But in 2024, it is showing its age, especially when compared to the iPhone 16. Find out if this is the year to upgrade in our in-depth buying guide, which pits iPhone 16 versus iPhone 13.

iPhone SE 4’s in-house Apple 5G modem could deliver major power savings

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iPhone SE 4 rumors
iPhone SE 4 will be a big upgrade over the iPhone SE 3.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple’s next iPhone SE might use the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16 and 8GB RAM. It will also use the same cameras as the iPhone 15.

The upcoming iPhone SE 4 will reportedly sport a new design that will see Apple ditch the physical Home button. It will also stand out for being the first product in Apple’s portfolio to use its in-house 5G modem.