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Screen calls on iPhone and you, too, can live in interruption-free bliss

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What Do You Have To Say
Decide before you waste your time.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Screening calls on iPhone has finally gotten good. It’s now possible to block and screen all calls from unknown numbers and lead a life of peaceful zen. Apple has added a trio of features to iPhone to screen calls: one aptly named Call Screening, as well as Live Voicemail and Silence Unknown Callers.

Using these features together gives you a great way to stop unknown callers on iPhone. The Call Screening feature pairs very well with Live Voicemail. With both of these turned on, unwanted calls will be far less intrusive, but you will still be able to pick up important calls as they come in.

Here’s how to screen calls and other annoyances without missing any crucial conversations.

8 best Sony headphones for iPhone users

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Best Sony headphones for iPhone
Choose the best Sony headphones to use with iPhone.
AI image: Grok

Finding the perfect Sony headphones for iPhone might seem challenging when Apple pushes its own audio ecosystem so heavily. This comprehensive guide examines each model’s features, pros, cons and pricing to help you find the perfect match for your specific needs and budget. Let’s dive into what makes these Sony headphones exceptional companions for your iPhone.

Today in Apple history: Apple’s sapphire dreams shatter

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Apple is gobbling up sapphire supplies at an alarming rate of knots. Photo:
A sapphire glass screen was the most-requested possible feature for iPhone 6.
Photo: GT Advanced Technologies

8 October: Today in Apple history: Apple's sapphire dreams shatter as iPhone 6 sapphire glass screen is a no show October 8, 2014: Apple says it is “surprised” after GT Advanced Technologies, the supplier previously rumored to make ultra-strong sapphire glass displays for the iPhone 6, files for bankruptcy.

The announcement appears to mark the end of the road for sapphire glass iPhone screens, a highly anticipated upgrade that promised to make devices more durable but never arrived.

Don’t miss these great deals on portable SSDs for Mac or iPad

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SSD deals
Now is the time to save on that portable SSD you’ve wanted.
Image: Samsung/Cult of Mac

Thanks to generous deals, the portable SSD you’ve been wanting is probably available at well below the usual cost. There are top-quality ones available at low prices — we found deals on portable SSDs from Samsung, Kingston and more. Save up to 33%.

You can easily increase the storage capacity of your Mac, iPad, etc., without over-stressing your credit card.

With this smart clipboard manager, your Mac remembers everything you copy

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Mac screenshot showing CopyMagic smart clipboard manager
Get CopyMagic and never lose anything you ever copied onto your Mac's clipboard!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Do you use a Mac clipboard manager? If the answer’s no, you’re missing out.

If you’re anything like most Mac power users, you’re constantly copying bits of text, links and code snippets across apps all day long. But the built-in Mac clipboard? It’s always been a bit of a goldfish — copy something, and the last thing you grabbed disappears forever. And while macOS 26 Tahoe added a clipboard management feature, it’s rudimentary at best.

Not so with CopyMagic, a smart clipboard manager for Mac that boasts advanced features. This offline, privacy-first tool transforms your clipboard into a lightning-fast, searchable archive you’ll actually want to use. And right now, you can snag a lifetime subscription to CopyMagic for just $29.99.

WhatsApp for iPhone finally adds built-in translation for 21 languages

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WhatsApp gets a native translate tool.
Translate messages natively in WhatsApp.
Photo: WhatsApp/Rajesh Pandey /CultOfMac

Meta began rolling out in-app translation support Tuesday for WhatsApp on iPhone. In its initial phase, the feature supports 21 languages, making it easier for users to chat with their loved ones without worrying about language barriers.

Keeping security and privacy in mind, the translations happen on-device, ensuring the messages remain private.

Save big on 3 travel essentials from Twelve South

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Twelve South deals
Pick up a Twelve South AirFly Pro 2, ButterFly and PlugBug at sweet discounts.
Photo: Twelve South

Twelve South knocked as much as 44% off some of its most popular travel accessories. You can save significantly on the brilliant AirFly Pro 2 wireless audio adapter, the PlugBug wall charger with Find My, and the ButterFly 2–in-1 wireless charger.

But these sales are part of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, so don’t delay. They might not last long.

Make your setup shine with these great deals on Logitech gear

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Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Logitech
Now a Logitech product, the Blue Yeti USB microphone stands tall among streamers' favorites.
Photo: Logitech

Many a Mac computer setup relies on Logitech peripherals and accessories — some of the best gear in the business. Whether you need a reliable keyboard, a blazing fast gaming mouse, a shortcuts console, a powerful webcam or a great USB microphone, our guide to five great Logitech sale items from Amazon Prime Big Deal Days can help. 

Grab these top MacBook dock and charger deals from Anker

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Prime Day Anker
The Anker Prime Docking Station is a formidable tool for your laptop charging and connectivity needs.
Photo: Anker

Anker’s a top accessories maker for Apple users — maybe most of all for charging needs related to MacBooks and other devices. As usual, Anker Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days sale items could fill a dense catalogue. So we thought we’d put together some top picks for MacBook users. Namely, a choice multiport charger with solid wattage, a great portable power bank with retractable cables and a highly functional docking station with fast transfer speeds and ample connectivity. Check them out below.

iPad mini 7 sale trims tiny tablet to its lowest price ever

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iPad mini 7 sale
Don’t pay full price for the iPad mini 7.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

A iPad mini deal knocks a sweet $120 off the cost of the 7th-generation tablet. That’s up to 25% off, the best price we’ve ever seen for the ultra-portable computer. And the sale includes a range of colors and storage capacities.

The special price is timed to be part of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days but is also available from rival retailer Best Buy. 

Grab a Beats Pill speaker for less than $50 — the lowest price we’ve ever seen!

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Beats Pill deal
You can nab the lightweight-yet-powerful Beats Pro on sale.
Photo: Apple

This hot Beats Pill deal lands you one of Apple’s great-sounding portable Bluetooth speakers for just $49.99. That’s a whopping 67% discount off the $149.95 list price — just be aware that not all colors are available at that astonishingly low price.

It’s part of Amazon’s Big Deal Days, and it might not last long. And don’t worry if those big product showcase boxes on our page don’t show the sub-$50 price — things are changing so fast that sometimes tech can’t keep up!

How Backbone enhances mobile gaming for iPhone users

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Photo of a person using a Backbone gaming controller to enhance mobile gaming on iPhone
A Backbone game controller makes iPhone gaming much more like using a console.
Image: Gemini

Nothing makes playing advanced games on an iPhone better than a Backbone game controller. Clip one to your phone, and it basically turns the handset into a mobile gaming console, ready to play wherever you go.

There are many top-quality first-person shooters and RPGs available for iPhone. Don’t waste your time playing these great games with just a touchscreen. Get a Backbone One or a Backbone Pro controller and snap it onto your iPhone. You’ll be glad you did.

Don’t miss killer Prime Big Deal Days prices on MacBooks

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prime day macbook
MacBook Pro deals abound on Amazon Prime Day.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

As with Amazon Prime Day in July, Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (Tuesday and Wednesday) bring excellent deals on Apple’s popular laptops, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In fact, you can nab the very same M4 Pro MacBook Pro I have for $250 less than I paid — my exact model with 24GB RAM at $1,799. And you can get the base M4 MacBook Pro for an incredibly low starting price of $1,399. Plus some Prime Day MacBook Pro deals net you hundreds off higher-end models.

As for MacBook Air, the entry-level model now sells for a low $799. And you can add some bells and whistles for a bit more. Scroll down to see Prime Day MacBook Air deals.

Today in Apple history: iPhone 4s opens for Siri-ous preorders

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iPhone 4s
The iPhone 4s was the last iPhone that Steve Jobs directly worked on.
Photo: Apple

October 7: Today in Apple history: iPhone 4s preorders begin and they are Siri-ous October 7, 2011: Two days after the death of Steve Jobs, Apple opens preorders for its next-gen iPhone 4s.

The last iPhone that Jobs worked on directly, the 4s boasts a speedier A5 chip, improved 8-megapixel camera with 1080p HD video recording, and — most significantly — Apple’s new AI virtual assistant, Siri.

The Underdogs learn about Mac security in funny new Apple film

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The Underdogs in BSOD video
A new video shows the hapless Underdogs discovering the advantages of Mac security.
Screenshot: Apple

The Underdogs are back in BSOD (Blue Screen of Death)! The fictitious team of nerdy Apple users once again star in a video demonstrating how Macs and iPhones get real work done. This time, the focus is on Mac security.

Watch the shortfilm now and have fun while learning about what your Apple gear can do for you.

This highly adjustable monitor will make a perfect addition to your setup

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Image of a Mobile Pixels rotating desktop monitor
Save on this gorgeous and highly adjustable monitor.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Mobile Pixels’ 23.8-inch rotating desktop monitor is a full-HD display that’s sleek and highly adjustable. Its frameless design makes it perfect for multi-monitor setups, and it’s so tweakable that you can easily get your setup just right for maximum comfort with minimal effort.

Whether you’re a creative pro, a productivity power user or a casual Netflix binger, this is a great monitor, made to enhance your workflow and entertainment. And it’s on sale for just $149.99 (regularly $199.99) with code DISPLAY30.

M5 MacBook Pro and iPad Pro could launch any day now

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MacBook Pro with chip on top
MacBook Pro's M5 refresh might land this month.
Photo: David Snow/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Supplies of iPad Pros and 14-inch MacBook Pros powered by M4 chips are running low across Apple Stores. This indicates the imminent arrival of M5-powered models.

While reports of an M5 iPad Pro refresh surfaced before, this marks the first solid indication that Apple could launch an M5 MacBook Pro this year as well.

OpenAI struggles to create its iPhone killer

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OpenAI companion AI
The AI companion from OpenAI might look something like this concept.
AI concept: ChatGPT

OpenAI’s efforts to create and sell an “AI companion” device reportedly have serious obstacles to overcome. These are existential, including how the company can find enough computing resources to enable the artificial intelligence devices to function.

That’s good news for Apple, as there have been predictions that products designed specifically for AI might someday take the place of the iPhone and other smartphones.

Today in Apple history: Michael Dell says he’d shut down Apple

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Steve Jobs took issue with Michael Dell's comments about Apple
Steve Jobs took issue with Michael Dell's comments about Apple
Photo: Oracle PR/Hartmann Studios/Flickr CC

October 6: Today in Apple history: Michael Dell says he'd shut down Apple October 6, 1997: Michael Dell makes an incredibly bleak appraisal of Apple’s fortunes, uttering a quote that will become notorious. Asked what he would do with the struggling company, the founder of Dell Inc. says he would “shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.”

As incorrect forecasts go, this ultimately will go down as one of the more notable in tech history. But it doesn’t seem that way at the time.

Live Translation with AirPods: A hands-on test

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Two people, one wearing AirPods, smiling at each other, with an image of AirPods in the middle
AirPods can now connect you to talk to people who speak other languages.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

I put AirPods’ new Live Translation feature to the test and came away impressed with the results. 

I tested the feature with the help of Niléane, a native French speaker and fellow tech blogger. While we hit a few stumbling blocks in our conversation, we were able to have a perfectly good chat for a solid 10 minutes.

I cut it down to a seven-minute video, where you can see it for yourself. Keep reading for my full thoughts and analysis of the fantastic new feature. 

iPhone 17 ends Apple dry spell in China

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iPhone 17 sales in China outpace iPhone 16.
iPhone 17 appears to be a huge hit in China.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple’s iPhone 17 lineup has taken China by storm, with first-day sales reportedly far outpacing the iPhone 16.

In the first week alone, Apple moved an estimated 1.03 million iPhone 17 units — a massive 47% jump over its predecessor.

What to expect at Apple‘s October product-launch event

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Apple October event rumors
Apple CEO Tim Cook could soon be taking to the stage with more product announcements.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple isn’t done lunching new products this year, even though the iPhone 17 family and Apple Watch Series 11 reached customers in September.  There are so many new products coming out of Cupertino this fall that rumors point to an Apple October event.

For some Apple fans, the best is yet to come: the Apple M5 processor, a new iPad Pro and (hopefully) the next MacBook Pro. And there could be more.

Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs dies at 56

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Steve Jobs, creator of the iPad and created on the iPad.
Steve Jobs leaves an enduring legacy at Apple.
Portrait: Jeremy Martin

October 5: Today in Apple history: Steve Jobs dies at 56 October 5, 2011: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dies at the age of 56 in his home in Palo Alto, California.

Jobs’ official cause of death is respiratory arrest arising from complications related to a rare type of pancreatic cancer. He was diagnosed with cancer eight years earlier, and officially stepped down from his role as Apple CEO in August 2011, just weeks before his death.