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12.9-inch iPad Air, OLED iPad Pro pegged for March release

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iPad Air and iPad Pro
The largest iPad Air yet is on the way.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The long wait for fresh iPads will reportedly come to an end in March 2024. The first 12.9-inch iPad Air will launch then, according a reliable Apple tipster, as will the much-anticipated iPad Pro with an OLED screen.

In addition, new versions of Apple Pencil and the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad will also be unveiled at the same time.

You won’t see a vertical display more nuts than this one [Setups]

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Mac Pro setup with 55-inch curved Samsung display in portrait mode
Can you imagine working on that screen?
Photo: [email protected]

Curved ultra-wide gaming displays have been making their way into Mac setups for quite some time now. But some people want to experiment, maybe push the envelope a bit, so they mount them on top of other displays or sometimes in portrait mode (vertical). But today’s Mac Pro setup takes the cake in that regard.

The user nixed a Studio Display with a high-quality external webam in favor of a truly massive, 55-inch curved ultra-wide Samsung gaming display — mounted vertically. It towers over everything with a pronounced stoop.

The Morning Show leads the pack in Critics Choice TV awards nominations

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'The Morning Show' season 3 on Apple TV+
Add more award nominations to the huge pile already earned by "The Morning Show."
Photo: Apple

No show got more nominations in the 29th annual Critics Choice Awards than The Morning Show, one of the premier offerings on Apple TV+. There are six noms, with stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon both up for best actress in a drama series.

And Lessons in Chemistry and Shrinking also added significantly to the 16 total Apple TV+ nominations in six categories.

MagSafe Gravity case protects iPhone 14 with zero added bulk

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The MagSafe Gravity case is protective yet minimal.
The MagSafe Gravity case is protective yet minimal.
Photo: SwitchEasy

If your iPhone 14 case is a little bulkier than you’d like — maybe a bit tight in the pocket — perhaps it’s time to try SwitchEasy’s MagSafe Gravity iPhone Case.

The incredibly slim case adds zero bulk, works with MagSafe and is available in the Cult of Mac Store for just $25, but is currently on sale for $19.99.

This Mac app directly beams files over the internet [Awesome Apps]

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Blip file transfers
Blip, a new app for Mac and Android, is a better way to transfer files.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

Blip is a delightful utilty that lets you transfer files across the internet — directly from your Mac to theirs. There’s no middleman uploading to and downloading from a cloud, no pesky web app to sign into. It’s like beaming your files onto someone else’s computer.

It’s the easiest and most straightforward way to send someone large folders of files or complex projects from your Mac. And best of all, it’s totally free and secure.

Impress the artist on your list with this precision iPad pen for less than $35

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Gift idea: Turn any Apple lover's iPad into an art or design canvas with this $35 digital pen.
Give the artist, designer or student in your life this $35 pen compatible with iPad and other tablets.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Art is all about the free flow of ideas from the brain onto the canvas. When that canvas is digital, the right tools matter — and we’re not just talking about software. Getting the right iPad stylus makes a big difference.

Now, you can score holiday savings on the Digi Pen, a stylus compatible with iPad and other tablets. Through December 17, it’s on sale for only $34.97 (regularly $99).

With a sleek design and pinpoint sensitivity, the Digi Pen makes the ideal gift for the iPad artist in your life. Be sure to order by December 7 for on-time holiday delivery!

Apple wants to make iPhone 16 batteries in India

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iPhone 11 Pro Max teardown
Apple is encouraging its suppliers to make iPhone 16 batteries in India.
Photo: TechInsights

Apple has reportedly asked its suppliers to make iPhone 16 batteries in India. This is another step by the company to diversify its supply chain and reduce its reliance on China.

The Cupertino giant currently sources iPhone batteries from multiple suppliers located in China. 

Sonic Dream Team races onto Apple Arcade

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'Sonic Dream Team' is one of four games just added to Apple Arcade.
Sonic Dream Team is one of four games just added to Apple Arcade.
Image: Sega

Sonic Dream Team pits the high-speed hedgehog against an evil mastermind with the power to make dreams real.

It’s one of four additions to the Apple Arcade gaming service, including Disney Dreamlight Valley, Puzzle & Dragons Story and Turmoil+.

All of these and hundreds more and playable with a single subscription fee.

iOS 17.2 will add Qi2 support to iPhone 13 and iPhone 14

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iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max brought big-time camera-system upgrades.
Apple will bring Qi2 support to older iPhones with iOS 17.2.
Photo: Leander

The upcoming iOS 17.2 update will add Qi2 support to older iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 models. Based on MagSafe, Qi2 is the next-generation wireless charging standard.

Announced at CES 2023 by the Wireless Charging Consortium, Qi2 uses a Magnetic Power Profile with an Extended Power Profile for faster charging and better efficiency.

Gift alert: This $46 wireless magnetic battery pack can charge all your Apple gear

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Get quick, wireless charging for iPhone, AirPods and more for just $45.99.
An Apple lover's dream: This magnetic wireless power bank can charge Apple devices for only $45.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s common for Apple fans to get a ton of new tech around the holidays. And after about a month of heavy use, we find out exactly how far those iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods can go on a full charge. That’s when we all wish we’d gotten the same thing: a reliable battery pack for recharging on the go.

The ZeroLemon MagJuice+ wireless battery pack is that, and then some. And just in time for the holidays, it’s on sale for just $45.99 (regularly $59).

Did we mention that it’s small enough to fit into a pocket — or a stocking?!?

New Apple Journal app is right around the corner in iOS 17.2

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Apple Journal on iPhone 15
Journal will arrive in iOS 17.2.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple seeded the release candidate for iOS 17.2 to developers Tuesday, signaling that beta testing for the upcoming operating system is almost over. The highlight of the update will be the new Journal app that Apple announced last summer.

The release candidates for macOS Sonoma 14.2, iPadOS 17.2, watchOS 10.2 and tvOS 17.2 were also seeded to devs Tuesday. The final versions are all expected to be publicly available to install on December 12.

Beeper Mini app brings iMessage to Android, blue bubbles included

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Beeper Mini messaging app
Beeper Mini may be the first app to reliably make Android users' text appear in blue bubbles on iPhone.
Photo: Beeper

Believe it or not, a 16-year-old high school student may have been the first to fully reverse-engineer iMessage and turn green Android text bubbles blue on iPhones with the new Beeper Mini app, released Tuesday.

The text messaging world is buzzing over it, wondering how it may avoid security pitfalls like other recent attempts to merge the two texting worlds — and puzzling over whether Apple may put a stop to this incursion into its “walled garden.”

Stay dry with Rainbow Weather’s hyper-local AI forecasts [Awesome Apps]

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Rainbow Weather: AI Forecast app
Avoid the raindrops -- or hurricanes, if it comes to that -- with the Rainbow Weather app.
Photo: Rainbow Weather
Awesome Apps

Tired of getting caught in the rain? Startup Rainbow Weather released its hyper-local rain-alert and hurricane-tracking app Rainbow Weather in November, giving you a great way to track weather tied to your precise location at all times via your iPhone.

iOS 17 adoption grows strongly, passes 60%

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Downgrading iPhone from iOS 17 beta to iOS 16
Most iPhone users are now running iOS 17.
Image: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

The number of iPhones running some version of iOS 17 passed a milestone. The total recently topped 60%, according to an analytics firm.

Users were initially slow to make the jump past iOS 16, but a solid majority have now done so.

Ingenious new 2-in-1 Butterfly fast-charges iPhone and Apple Watch

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Twelve South's Butterfly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger in hand
Twelve South's Butterfly 2-in-1 MagSafe charger couldn't be much more portable.
Photo: Twelve South

Twelve South’s new 2-in-1 Butterfly MagSafe Charger folds into a tiny footprint, fast-charges MagSafe iPhones and Apple Watches, and can serve as a kickstand for your handset, as well.

The cool gadget, which you can get directly from Twelve South or Apple, looks like a winner and is priced as such, at a steep $129.95.

Apple TV+ renews sci-fi epic Foundation for third season

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Sci-fi epic series
"Foundation" will return for season 3 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Epic sci-fi series Foundation, a wildly successful adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s award-winning stories of a galactic empire in decline, will return for a third season, Apple TV+ said Tuesday.

And that’s causing much rejoicing on our own humble planet.

Grab M1 MacBook Air at its all-time low price after $250 off

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MacBook Air M1 2020
Need a new MacBook ahead of Christmas? M1 MacBook Air is again down to its all-time low price.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Looking to gift a new MacBook to your loved one this Christmas? The M1 MacBook Air is the perfect gift, and you can grab one right now at its lowest-ever price of $749.99 after a $250 off.

This includes an additional $50 discount after applying a coupon on Amazon’s listing. You could not get the laptop at this tempting price even during Black Friday.

Nab any SwitchEasy iPhone 14 case for 20% off

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What's classier than marble?
What's classier than marble?
Photo: SwitchEasy

Attention iPhone 14 owners: Don’t miss the SwitchEasy sale on all iPhone 14 cases and accessories in the Cult of Mac Store. You can save 20% on any of 10 different cases to protect and dress up your fabulous Apple handset.

The cases cover the bases from tough and functional to highly decorative. There are regular cases as well as MagSafe options. Check out some highlights below. And 20% off saves you about $6 on many of the cases.

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus named Apple podcast of 2023

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'Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus'
Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus was picked by Apple as the year's best podcast.
Photo: Apple

Apple honored Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus with the Apple Podcasts Award, given each year to honor a show that demonstrates quality and innovation in podcasting.

In the series, the actress and comedian interviews older women about their lives.

These $23 noise-canceling earbuds do something AirPods can’t

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Just in time for the holidays, these noise-reducing earbuds are only $23.
Save some cash with Bluetooth earbuds that cost a fraction of what Apple charges.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We love everything about AirPods Pro except their price. If you, too, balk at spending $249 for Apple’s finest, give the incredibly affordable Flux 7 TWS noise-canceling earbuds a shot.

They’re waterproof and sweatproof, so they’re perfect for the gym. And they even boast a feature AirPods don’t: Their high-capacity charging case doubles as a power bank that can give your iPhone a boost.

They make a perfect stocking stuffer for anybody with an iPhone or Android device, and you can pick up a pair for less than $23 until December 17!

London’s Battersea Power Station lights up for Christmas with giant ‘Drawn on iPad’ animation

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London's Battersea Power Station transformed for Christmas with giant 'Drawn on iPad' animation
The "Bigger Christmas Trees" art installation lives up to its name.
Photo: Battersea Power Station

Battersea Power Station, home of London’s latest Apple retail store, is decorated for Christmas with an enormous moving art display projected on the front. Reasonably named “Bigger Christmas Trees,” it was created by artist David Hockney on an iPad.

The art installation will continue each evening until December 25.

Meow! Stray proves great gaming can happen on a Mac [Review] ★★★★★

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Photo of the Stray title screen on a Mac, with two cats sitting on the desk nearby★★★★★
Stray is a game for Mac gamers and cat lovers.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

In Stray, you play as a cat wandering through a cyberpunk version of the Kowloon Walled City, the most densely populated city in the world (and a fascinating footnote of history). In this future, though, the city teems with robots who dream of visiting the outside world.

It’s been out for PC, Xbox and PlayStation for a while, but the Mac version is out now on the Mac App Store.

Stray is a gripping game in an exquisitely designed and immersive world that proves gaming on the Mac is on the rise once again.

Apple TV+ axes critically acclaimed series Central Park and Swagger

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The musical comedy of ‘Central Park’ on Apple TV+
Being highly praised by critics wasn't enough to save "Central Park" from the chopping block.
Photo: Apple TV+

Two of the best shows on Apple TV+ have been canceled. Animated musical comedy Central Park and basketball drama Swagger have not been renewed for new seasons.

The creators of the shows confirmed the cancellations on social media over the weekend.

Software engineer defends Apple’s pricey Studio Display [Setups]

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Computer setup with M2 Pro MacBook Pro and Studio Display
Software engineer says his Studio Display's 60Hz refresh rate doesn't bother him (much).
Photo: [email protected]

A software engineer drives a Studio Display with an M2 Pro MacBook Pro in their enviable computer setup. And while some folks questioned the use of Apple’s pricey 5K display because of its relatively low refresh rate, the setup’s user praised the monitor highly.

Check out the advice the engineer got about setup improvements and see all their gear in the list below.