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Apple FineWoven accessories: Not quite dead yet?

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FineWoven Apple Watch bands
FineWoven accessories like Apple Watch bands may not be gone yet, but it seems they will go soon.
Photo: Apple

The same leaker who pronounced Apple’s FineWoven material dead Sunday said Tuesday the leather replacement will live one more “season” in new colors. Apple uses the textile in iPhone cases and wallets, Apple Watch bands and some AirTag accessories like keychains.

Presumably, Apple will find a way to replace the heavily criticized material soon, and probably without returning to leather goods, as the leaker implied in their original post on X.

This advanced jump starter can also charge your iPhone, AirPods and more

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Get a jump on emergency prep with this $69.99 portable jump starter.
Charge your car and your phone with this $69.99 jump starter.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether it’s in your phone or in your car, a dead battery is a problem. Luckily, it’s one you can solve. The Type S is a 12V jump starter and power bank you can use to charge your mobile or jump-start a car battery.

And during this sale, it costs a lot less than calling a tow truck. Normally, the Type S goes for $119. But for a limited time, you can get one for just $69.99.

Analysts see hopeful signs even as iPhone sales slide in China

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iPhone sales in China
iPhone sales in China slumped, but momentum could shift in Apple's favor.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

In the first quarter of 2024, iPhone sales in China slid 19.1% compared to Q1 2023. And that’s mainly due to competitor Huawei taking a bigger bite in the premium segment, according to new research. And yet analysts indicated possible signs of recovery for Apple, too.

How to use Delta, the iPhone game emulator

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Nintendo Games On Your iPhone
A dream years in the making has come true: you can play Pokémon and Mario and all the classics on your iPhone.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

If you want a game emulator on iPhone, the Delta app is now available on the App Store to play games for Nintendo DS, GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, NES, SNES and N64.

That means you can play classic Nintendo games like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, Zelda, Castlevania, and many, many more.

Download it for free on the App Store or from AltStore PAL in the EU. Playing classic Nintendo games on iPhone has never been easier. You don’t need to jailbreak, sideload through a computer or compile the emulator from source code anymore. And it’s legal-ish.

Here’s how to use Delta. Keep reading below or watch our latest video.

New cases come out ahead of 12.9-inch iPad Air

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ESR cases for 12.9-inch iPad Air - Rebound Hybrid Case 360
Rebound Hybrid Case 360 features a shock-resistant clear back and lets you mount Pad Air in landscape or portrait orientations.
Photo: ESR

Rumors say a new 12.9-inch iPad Air will come out soon. And ESR is banking on it early with the release of its new range of cases for the expected tablet — the first time Apple would offer that size outside of its iPad Pro lineup. If you’re looking for a durable and functional esr ipad case, check out ESR’s latest iPad accessories.

KEF speakers drive MacBook Pro outfit’s crystal-clear sound [Setups]

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KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers
The setup's M3 Pro MacBook Pro has six speakers. But who cares when there are also KEF speakers.
Photo: KEF

A more than capable M3 Pro MacBook Pro powers today’s computer setup, but its six-speaker sound system won’t be needed. That’s because the medical student who own the rig has the good taste to include fantastic KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers.

He’ll just have to keep the powerful speakers’ volume in check to avoid having to see an ear doctor.

Why iPhone 16 might dump physical buttons for capacitive ones

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Closeup of iPhone 15’s new Action button.
No more traditional buttons like these. iPhone 16 could use capacitive ones instead.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The upcoming iPhone 16 series will have no traditional buttons at all, according to information leaking out of the company that will supply the capacitive buttons that will supposedly replace them.

If true, the change would make the iOS devices more durable and waterproof.

Undelete and recover lost photos from an SD card

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RECOVER and repair lost photos & videos with Stellar Photo Recovery Premium. Special Offer, Save $10 at $59.99. Get it now, no coupon code required!
Stellar Photo Recovery for Mac is available at $10 off.
Image: Stellar

Recover and undelete lost photos from an SD card with Stellar Photo Recovery Premium, a versatile tool that can rescue your work from corrupt files and formatting.

The worst nightmare of every content creator is getting back to your Mac, plugging in your SD card, only to find all your work from a photo shoot is missing.

Stellar Photo Recovery can save the heartache. This tool for Mac and PC can restore photos and videos that have been deleted or corrupted from all kinds of storage media and all major cameras.

It’s available from Stellar’s website with a free trial. The Premium version typically costs $69.99, but Cult of Mac readers get an extra $10 discount.

Apple might have stopped making FineWoven accessories

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The Apple FineWoven case is the best official Apple case for iPhone 15.
Time to say goodbye to Apple's FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands?
Photo: Apple

Apple reportedly ceased the production of its FineWoven iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands. Announced alongside the iPhone 15 series in September 2023, the woven material replaced leather in Apple’s accessories lineup.

However, users criticized the FineWoven material for its poor durability and in-hand feel. Its shortcomings became especially evident after a few weeks of use.

This no-code website builder costs just $80

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This $90 website builder doesn't require a single line of code.
Skip coding and start creating with this sale-priced site builder.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Ready to take control of your personal branding and make yourself a desirable candidate for jobs and other opportunities by building a jaw-dropping website? You can do it with the Mobirise No-Code Website Builder MegaPack Bundle.

This easy-to-use platform lets you whip up excellent websites with no coding experience. And it’s on sale now for just $79.97.

iOS 18 AI features could run entirely on-device

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iOS 18 concept video
Apple could run iOS 18's AI features on-device on the iPhone.
Concept: Kevin Kall

Apple’s large language model that will power iOS 18’s AI features could run entirely locally. This would prioritize user privacy and offer faster response times.

However, running AI features on-device will have downsides, as they might not be as powerful as on some Android phones.

Mac mini might skip Apple M3 processor

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Mac mini might skip Apple M3 processor in favor of M4
With no M3 version on the way, iMac mini M2 will stay around until the M4 chip arrives.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

There will never be a version of the Mac mini with the Apple M3 processor, according to a reliable tipster. Instead, the inexpensive desktop will wait for the next-generation chip.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that the wait supposedly won’t be terribly long.

Grab great deals on EarFun headphones and earbuds

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EarFun headphone and earbud deals
EarFun Wave Pro headphones are a steal at this price.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

If you love a good set of earbuds but you don’t want to spend a ton on Apple’s AirPods or Beats products, EarFun is worth a look. And on Sunday the company runs its first EarFun headphones and earbud deals through Amazon’s Deal of the Day.

Those special prices combined with coupons give you ridiculously low prices on these solid products. See below.

iPhone 16 Pro camera could bring major upgrades [The CultCast]

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iPhone 16 Pro camera rumors on The CultCast episode 643
The iPhone 16 Pro camera might knock our socks off with new upgrades.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The latest rumors about the iPhone 16 Pro’s camera make it sound better than ever. That’s no surprise, considering Apple makes a big deal out of the iPhone camera every year. But we couldn’t be happier to have even finer photographic tools at our disposal.

Also on The CultCast:

  • A new retro game emulator for iPhone called Delta is a … game changer! And this is just the start of a revolution brewing in the App Store.
  • Griffin knows some Mac settings you should change for a better experience.
  • There’s lots of big Apple TV+ news, from a new show from the writer behind Slow Horses and extensions of popular series including Silo and For All Mankind.

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.

Save big on Apple Watch Ultra 2 refurbished by Apple

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Apple Watch Ultra 2 is designed for sports enthusiasts.
An Apple refurb is a great way to save.
Photo: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 2 joined the official Apple Certified Refurbished store. This lets buyers save $120 on the top-of-the-line smartwatch that hit the market just a few months ago.

Buying refurbs from Apple is a popular way to save on used electronics that can be relied on.

5 reasons your Mac might be running slow

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Why Is My Mac Running Slowly?
Are you seeing the spinning beachball a lot?
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

If your Mac is running slow, there are a few things you can do to speed it up and better understand what’s slowing it down.

It’s not just that your Mac is old — although that is an important factor. It could be that you don’t have enough memory, especially if you like to use Google Chrome. You may have a bunch of apps running in the background. There also might be dust in the vents, keeping your Mac from running nice and cool.

Check out our latest video or keep reading to learn why your Mac is slow and how to speed it up.

Picture your purchases with new Best Buy Vision Pro app

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Best Buy Envision app
Uh-oh, buying expensive stuff just got a whole lot easier with Best Buy's new app for Vision Pro.
Photo: Best Buy

The new Best Buy Envision app helps you find new purchases through a Vision Pro AR/VR headset and picture how they’ll look in your living space, the company said Friday.

“Today we’re announcing a new way that our customers can explore, discover and bring new technology to life in their own living space,” the big box store noted. “Best Buy Envision is an app exclusively available on the Apple Vision Pro that helps users plan their ultimate home technology setup.”

M3 MacBook Pro serves as charming rig’s third display [Setups]

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M3 MacBook Pro setup
The space black M3 MacBook Pro sits open on a stand rather than in clamshell mode.
Photo: [email protected]

A medical school student’s charming dual-display setup adds an M3 MacBook Pro as a third display by keeping it open on a stand. And the three displays form a pleasingly staggered formation, with one in portrait on the left, one in landscape at center and then the laptop’s screen.

Get Windows 10 for only $14, Windows 11 for $21 in huge Spring Sale at CdkeySales

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CdkeySales Spring Sale extended - Windows logo
Head to CdkeySales.com to score major savings on Microsoft software (and use code CULT to save an additional 30%).
Photo: CdkeySales.com

As spring has sprung, and with the CdkeySales Spring Sale extended, software deals continue to blossom through late April and into May. So go ahead and pick your favorite Microsoft deals. Many stunningly low prices await on Microsoft productivity software like Windows and Office. That includes a lovely Windows 10 Pro deal for just $17.05. And a free upgrade comes with it!

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.

You can find surprisingly low prices at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com now and throughout the year. To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s low prices on software keys. And when you buy Windows 10, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11!

Anker’s portable power station gets you through blackouts and campouts [Review] ★★★★☆

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Anker Solix C800 Plus Portable Power Station★★★★☆
As a condo owner, I don't need more than Anker Solix C800 Plus (now called X) to keep the place going in a power outage.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The Anker Solix c800 Plus Portable Power Station is a capable and versatile portable power station that can get you through a power outage or let you live like a king on a camping trip.

With a stout 768Wh lithium-ion battery, the device packs a punch. It allowed me to charge multiple devices simultaneously and power various appliances in a simulated blackout. Now I’m just waiting for the power to go out for real, or for someone to invite me camping.

Apple pulls WhatsApp and Threads from China’s App Store

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Apple Store logo in Chengdu, China with two people standing in front of it
WhatsApp and Threads are no longer available for download in China's App Store.
Photo: Unsplash

Following a request from the Chinese government, Apple has reportedly pulled WhatsApp and Threads from China’s App Store. Other Meta apps, like Facebook and Instagram, are still available for download in the country.

The Cyberspace Administration of China asked Apple to take down the two Meta apps, citing national security concerns.