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Why iPhone NameDrop feature is not a security risk

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NameDrop in iOS 17
See that "Share" button? It's important.
Photo: Apple Support

Parents are mistakenly being warned that they need to quickly deactivate iOS 17’s NameDrop feature on their children’s iPhones. The warnings claim that it’s causing the devices to broadcast their contact information to anyone nearby.

This simply isn’t true.

Belkin extends top Cyber Monday deals on Apple accessories all week

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Belkin BoostCharge Pro charging pad with MagSafe
Belkin's BoostCharge Pro charging pad with MagSafe is an elegant (and portable) charging solution.
Photo: Belkin

Belkin, a big name in Apple accessories, is extending Cyber Monday deals on some of its best-selling products through Sunday, December 3, on Amazon.com (but note that some deals end Saturday. The company’s Amazon storefront showcases a diverse selection of tech accessories at discounts of up to 50% off.

So whether you need something for yourself or for someone on your holiday shopping list, check out Belkin’s sale. Everyone needs things like MagSafe chargers and iPhone mounts!

Last chance: Save on mega deals this Cyber Monday in the Cult of Mac Store

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Cyber Monday savings on Elago, Mifa, Laut and many more
Score Cyber Monday savings on Elago, Mifa, Laut and many more.
Photo: Adel/ Cult of Mac

Cyber Monday at the Cult of Mac store is a massive event you won’t want to miss. We’ve got deals on all kinds of accessories for all your Apple gear.

Get ready for incredible discounts, with savings of up to 75% on selected brands including Elago, Elkson, Mifa, Rilee & Lo, Laut, and many others. Don’t miss out on these fantastic offers!

6-display rig rocks Sonos home-theater sound [Setups]

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5-display Mac Studio and MacBook Pro setup with Sonos home-theater sound.
This expansive Mac Studio and MacBook Pro setup provides an audio-visual feast.
Photo: [email protected]

Some home computer setups go extra-large on visuals, others pump up quality sound — and some go nuts with both in equal measure.

Today’s featured Mac Studio and MacBook Pro setup features not only six exceptional displays — including Apple’s vaunted, $5,000 Pro Display XDR — it also adds a bonus sound system to its complete Sonos home-theater audio array.

Podurama app uses AI to make podcasts better than ever

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It's hard to find great podcasts, but not if you use the Podurama app.
It's hard to find great podcasts, but not if you use the Podurama app.
Image: Podurama

The world of podcasts is wide and deep, so finding great ones in the wilds of the internet can be daunting. But with the AI-powered Podurama app, you can find and organize podcasts to your heart’s content — and sync them for listening on various devices.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by Podurama.
Better yet, you can use Podurama for free. And if you want all the features, you can buy the lifetime premium version for half off right now!

Last call for 30% off great Laut accessories for iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and more

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It comes in a nice array of colors.
It comes in a nice array of colors.
Photo: Laut

It’s that time of year when Black Friday and Cyber Monday seem to stretch for days and days. The Cult of Mac Store is offering 30% off a range of wonderful Laut accessories for Apple products through the end of the day Monday.

You can pick up a protective and colorful folio for your iPad, a luxurious steel mesh Apple Watch band, an iPhone 14 camera lens protector or a bike saddle mount for AirTag at great prices. See the whole Laut collection and some highlights below.

Best Cyber Monday Apple Deals: MacBooks, AirPods, Apple Watch and more

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Best Cyber Monday Apple deals
Check out these amazing Cyber Monday discounts on some popular Apple products.
Photo: Rajesh

Did you miss buying your favorite Apple gear or accessory during Black Friday? Do not worry, as Cyber Monday is here. This is probably your last chance to get a new MacBook, iPad, or Apple Watch at its lowest price before the holidays.

You can get the recently launched M3 MacBook Pro with a 10-core GPU for just $1,449 ($150 off). You can score even bigger discounts of up to $250 on the 15-inch MacBook Air. The Apple Pencil 2 is also down to its new lifetime low price of $79.99 after a massive $49 off.

While Apple is running its own shopping event for Cyber Monday, you should look at deals from third-party retailers, as they are offering bigger discounts. However, as always, these prices could change at any time and/or the products could sell out.

Monarch is a Godzilla-size hit for Apple TV+

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Godzilla in
Godzilla fans pushed "Monarch: Legacy of Monsters" to near the top of the popularity chart.
Photo: Apple TV+

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters stomped onto the list of most popular shows on any streaming service this week. Even better, the Apple TV+ series with Godzilla and other kaiju debuted near the top of the list, according to a market analysis.

At the same time, Brie Larson’s Lessons in Chemistry continued to draw a big audience, week after week.

Block ads and trackers to speed up your web browsing

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Control D protects the privacy of your whole family for $27.99.
Save on a five-year sub to Control D, which works with any internet-connected device.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

No one likes being tracked across the web and bombarded with ads. If you want to restore some privacy, Control D offers complete protection across all your devices — and you can get a five-year subscription today for only $27.99 using coupon code CONTROL.

While Safari offers a small amount of built-in protection, the internet is becoming harder and harder to use without an ad blocker. There are simply too many ads, pop-ups and trackers to navigate easily. No matter what browser you use, Control D can make the web better. Rated a perfect five stars on Product Hunt, this powerful privacy app is packed full of useful features.

Apple Store hands out $200 gift cards during Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale

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Apple Store Black Friday Deal
The Apple Store Shopping Event runs through Black Friday to Cyber Monday.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s own Black Friday/Cyber Monday special offers bundle gift cards of up to $200 with selected products. There are bargains on these devices available from other retailers but some prefer to buy straight from Apple.

The Apple Store Shopping Event started on November 24 (Black Friday) and runs through November 27 (Cyber Monday).

Pick up Microsoft Office Pro for your Windows partition for just $59.97

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Get Microsoft Office Pro for your Windows partition for $59.97.
Get the Windows version of Microsoft Office Pro at a fraction of its normal cost.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you need to run Windows on your Mac for work purposes, you still need the right software to get things done. Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is the perfect toolbox, and you can get it for just $59.97 in a Black Friday/Cyber Week price drop.

Of course, the world’s most popular software suite works on PCs, too!

Apple Black Friday deals: AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad and more [Held over!]

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Illustrative graphic with the text 'Best Apple Black Friday deals'
There are some great deals to be had on Apple gear and accessories during the 2023 Black Friday sales.
Photo: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

Update: Black Friday might be over but the deals certainly are not. Many of the best deals on Apple products are still live and you can score some hefty discounts on them this shopping season. In fact, some of these deals disappeared for a while on Black Friday — like the iPad (9th gen) for just $229 (save $100) — then reappeared at some point!

For starters, don’t miss this killer deal on AirPods Pro 2 (with USB-C) for just $189 (save $60) — this is the best price we’ve seen on the best AirPods you can get. Plus, Apple Watch SE (2nd gen., 2022) is down to just $179 (save $70) — the SE is a great gift for someone this Xmas. Or, if you are shopping for yourself, the latest Apple Watch Series 9 is just $329 (save $70).

There are lots of great Apple deals to be had on Black Friday 2023 — just not from Apple itself. Apple is usually pretty stingy when it comes to Black Friday (Tim Cook loves his margins!). This year, you can get an Apple gift card worth up to $200 when you splash out on select products, but the latest and greatest — iPhone 15, M3 MacBook Pros, iMac, and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 — are not included.

However, there are great savings on Apple products from third-party retailers like Best Buy, B&H Photo, Target and Walmart. All these stores offer significant discounts on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPads, iPhones and more. Here are the best deals on Apple gear we’ve found.

Napoleon stands tall as one of Ridley Scott’s finest films [Apple TV+ review] ★★★★☆

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Napoleon (played by Joaquin Phoenix) leads the charge on a grim battlefield.★★★★☆
Napoleon (played by Joaquin Phoenix) leads the charge on a grim battlefield. But Ridley Scott's Napoleon isn't all about war.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ Review Apple TV+ took its biggest gambles this year as a distributor of theatrical features with gargantuan budgets and run times to match, hoping that America will want to return to the epics of yesteryear in time for the holidays.

With Martin Scorsese’s heartbreaking Killers of the Flower Moon garnering headlines and climbing toward recouping its budget, here comes Ridley Scott’s Napoleon. The Apple Original biopic about the diminutive French emperor — in theaters now, and coming to Apple’s streaming service at some point in the future — proves Apple TV+ is a safe bet for good movies.

Coupling unfliniching violence with a keen sense of the absurd, it’s one of Scott’s finest films.

Who will lead Apple when Tim Cook steps down? [The CultCast]

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Who will take over when Tim Cook finally steps down as Apple CEO? Apparently, he has some ideas.
Who will take over when Tim Cook finally steps down as Apple CEO? Apparently, he has some ideas.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Tim Cook recently said Apple has “very detailed” succession plans for when he eventually steps down as CEO. Plus, the company definitely plans to hire from within. That got us thinking … who’s next in Apple’s game of thrones?

Also on The CultCast:

  • OLED screens might come to iPad Air and iPad mini somewhat soonish.
  • Europe’s busybody technocrats have some more grand plans for Apple and other manufacturers. We’ve got mixed emotions.
  • Sonos reportedly wants to take on Apple TV and AirPods Max with rival products.

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.

Black Friday drone deal: Get a foldable 4K drone for just $69.97

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Take off with this foldable 4K camera drone for $69.97.
Capture amazing views with this 4K camera drone, just $69.97 for Black Friday.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Many of us would love to own a drone, but can’t justify the huge price tag. Well, now you don’t need to. The ProVision Foldable 4K HD Camera Drone is packed full of features, and you can get it for only $69.97 (including two batteries) in a special Black Friday deal.

It’s pretty amazing what kind of images you can capture with a camera in the sky. A good drone helps you frame landscapes, follow action sports, and take the most epic mountain-top selfies imaginable. The ProVision Foldable 4K HD Camera Drone makes these possibilities truly affordable, without sacrificing features.

Score up to 40% off Ultimate Ear’s killer portable speakers

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The UE Boom 3 and Megaboom 3 color names -- Sunset, Lagoon and Night -- could be more straightforward but whatever.
The colorful names -- Sunset, Lagoon and Night -- could be more straightforward but whatever.
Photo: Ultimate Ears

Here’s a genuine killer deal on some killer products. Save up to 40% on Ultimate Ears portable speakers, many offered at $50 off the regular prices. The company said these are the best prices of the year. We’ve reviewed a lot of these speakers and rank them among the best you can get.

Just use code BLACKFRIDAY at checkout.

Save 30% on sweet Elago accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch through Cyber Monday

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Save on Elago's new Apple Pencil cover
Get the new Apple Pencil cover for just $10.49.
Photo: Elago

Elago’s awesome accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods are now available at 30% off through the Cult of Mac Store. All you need to do is add Elago products to your cart and 30% discount will automatically be added.

You can save on brilliant retro charging stands inspired by iconic devices like the original Macintosh and Game Boy, Apple Watch bands, iPhone cases, AirPods bumpers, and lots more. There’s also 30% off Elago’s new Apple Pencil cover.

This discount ends at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Monday, November 27 (Cyber Monday), so enjoy it while you can.

Save up to 50% on big brands in Cult of Mac Store’s Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale

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Black Friday 2023 in the Cult of Mac Store
Black Friday 2023 in the Cult of Mac Store
Photo: Adel/ Cult of Mac

The Cult of Mac Store’s big Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale is now in full swing, offering big discounts on awesome accessories for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and more.

Enjoy up to 50% off everything from HEDocks, 30% off Laut and Rilee & Lo, and 15% off Mifa and Elkson. The sale ends Monday, so check it out today and bag yourself a bargain before it’s too late!

New ‘Shot on iPhone’ video gives you all the holiday feels

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New 'Shot on iPhone' video gives you all the holiday feels
"Creativity has the power to change the way we see each other." -Apple
Image: Apple

Apple started the holidays off with Fuzzy Feelings, a combination of stop-motion animation and live action that tells a heart-warming story about reaching out to other people during the holidays.

Apple also released a “making of” video to show how the short film was produced with an iPhone 15 Pro Max and MacBook Air.

CleanMyMac X gets an irresistible 30% off for Black Friday

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MacPaw CleanMyMac X update better monitors your Mac's health
CleanMyMac X is heavily discounted this Black Friday.
Photo: MacPaw

CleanMyMax X is a must-have app for your Mac to keep it running in its best condition. The app has over 30 tools to help manage your Mac’s performance and disk space by removing unwanted junk and large files, uninstalling old apps, and more.

This Black Friday, you can get 30% off CleanMyMac X‘s yearly license, making it an instant buy!

These 10 coding courses will teach you Python for $24

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Enjoy early Black Friday savings on this Python programming certification bundle, now only $23.97.
This Python programming certification bundle costs less than $24 ahead of Black Friday.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Those exploring the potential for a computer programming career likely already understand the importance of having a firm grasp of Python. The programming language powers a growing number of popular apps and websites. And because of that, knowledge in this field is highly valued.

If you’re looking to gain comprehensive knowledge of Python programming skills, a major educational investment isn’t required. This Python certification bundle is price-dropped to only $23.97 (regularly $120) through December 3.

Ridley Scott’s Napoleon storms into theaters

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Ridley Scott’s action epic 'Napoleon' invades theaters in November
"To the cineplex!" -- Napoleon, probably.
Photo: Apple TV+

Napoleon, a historical epic from director Ridley Scott, is now in theaters around the world. It’s a creation of Apple Original Films, and there are hopes it will clean up at the Oscar awards.

The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who conquered much of Europe. It details the tyrant’s ruthless rise to power and his obsessive love for his wife, Empress Josephine.

Black Friday Babbel deal: Learn languages the easy way

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Get a lifetime of language learning for $139.97 before Black Friday.
Take $60 off a lifetime of language learning for Black Friday.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s truth to the maxim that if you stop learning, you stop living — and learning a new language can be one of the best ways to open new doors for your personal and professional life. And while that may not be the sort of thing you’d normally shop for on Black Friday, it turns out self-improvement is on sale along with the rest of this year’s hot items.

For a limited time, acclaimed language learning app Babbel is offering lifetime subscriptions for $139.97, a full $60 off the previous sale price.

See for yourself just how easy and effective this AI writing tool is

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This $40 tool is like ChatGPT for writing, click to see sample text.
Write Bot mimics human writing, and you can get lifetime access for less than $40 with this early Black Friday deal.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

What once seemed at least mildly dystopian is now being used in the everyday workplace to save time, money and brain power: artificial intelligence. ChatGPT comes to mind first, but it’s not the greatest AI for generating written content.

Enter Write Bot, an AI-powered tool designed to mimic human writing. With this pre-Black Friday deal, you can grab lifetime access for only $19.97 (regularly $539.40) for a limited time. That’s the web’s lowest price!