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Amazing pre-Black Friday deal knocks 15-inch MacBook Air down by $250

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15-inch MacBook Air
15-inch MacBook Air gets a big $250 discount.
Photo: Apple

If you’re in the market for a 15-inch laptop, you need to see this MacBook Air Black Friday deal. With a sleek and svelte design, the 15-inch MacBook Air gives other Windows machines a run for their money.

At $1,299, the 15-inch MacBook Air is not cheap. And that’s why you should take advantage of Amazon’s latest deal, which knocks the laptop’s price by $250.

Tim Cook commits Apple to generative AI

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AI-generated image of Apple CEO Tim Cook sitting on an ornate golden throne.
An AI-generated image of Tim Cook is appropriate for an AI-related article.
Image: Canva

Apple’s CEO made the clearest statement yet about his company’s plans for generative AI. Tim Cook said Thursday that “we have work going on.” And he made additional comments, too.

The executive also promised that Apple’s efforts on artificial intelligence are being carried out responsibly.

5 upbeat takeaways from Apple’s earnings call

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A rainbow Apple logo looms over a cloudy sky with the sun peeking through. The words
Wall Street isn't happy right now, but Apple sees good days ahead.
Image: Cult of Mac, based on photos by Aaron Burden and Sumudu Mohottige/Unsplash License

Apple stock price dropped over 3% after it announced the results of its most recent financial quarter. But there’s good news mixed with the bad, and that shouldn’t be ignored. CEO Tim Cook and other executives stayed upbeat in a call with investors on Thursday, talking up strong iPhone sales, why Tim loves Apple silicon and more.

Here are the reasons for optimism we found in Apple’s quarterly financial results and call.

Holiday gifts for techies: The Digi Pen for iPad 10th Gen, now only $34.97

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Gift idea: Pick up this stylus pen for iPads and other tablets for only $34.97.
This versatile digital pen that works with iPads and other tablets is now under $35.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

An iPad’s best accessory: a stylus

Finding the right holiday gift for a tech-minded friend or family member can be complicated, considering the overwhelming amount of options and routinely expensive price tags. For a limited time, you can find a great gift idea for any iPad or tablet user at a surprisingly low price.

Apple brings in record quarterly iPhone revenue

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Apple money cash
There's good news about iPhone, but less so for Mac.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The question on whether the iPhone 15 is off to a strong start has been answered. Apple just revealed that iOS handsets brought in more revenue in its most recent financial quarter than ever before.

“Today Apple is pleased to report a September quarter revenue record for iPhone and an all-time revenue record in Services,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

Apple accessories blowout sale: Get up to 90% off iPhone cases and more

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Woot Apple accessories sale
Here's your chance to bag great deals on Apple accessories.
Photo: Woot!

Amazon bargain site Woot! launched an Apple accessories sale with something for almost everyone — and deals as good as 90% off certain iPhone cases and 61% off an Apple Thunderbolt 3 Pro cable.

But with 49 products on sale, that’s just a taste. Act fast, the sale ends November 10 at 9:59 p.m. PT.

Stay classy with this supple Italian leather Apple Watch band

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The fine gray leather band will develop a patina over years of use.
The fine gray leather band will develop a patina over years of use.
Photo: Olpr. Leather Goods

Leather is absolutely classic for an Apple Watch band. But do you know what’s even better? Horween leather. And Olpr. Leather Goods offers a great one in a gray color that should develop a character-rich patina over time.

Check out the excellent band in the Cult of Mac Store.

MacBook sleeve streamlines daily carry with iPhone and AirPods charging [Review] ★★★

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As you can see, you have to push the other gear around if you want to use Nexa as a mouse pad.★★★
As you can see, you have to push the other gear around if you want to use Nexa as a mouse pad.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Journey recently unleashed an odd-but-useful beast — “the world’s first 4-in-1 laptop sleeve” with wireless charging, aka the Journey Nexa.

Journey Nexa Laptop Sleeve with Wireless Charging is a 4-in-1 device — MacBook sleeve, wireless charger for iPhone and AirPods, mouse pad and desk mat. But I found space limits it when you try to use it four ways at once, and it could benefit from some other improvements.

First benchmarks back up Apple claims of blazing-fast M3 chip speeds [Updated]

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Apple's M3 chip
In early benchmark testing, Apple's new M3 chip lives up to expectations for speed.
Photo: Apple

New benchmark tests support claims Apple made about the impressive speed of the new M3 chip unveiled Monday in the Scary Fast event.

Geekbench found the new entry-level M3 chip, which appears initially in a new 24-inch iMac and one of three MacBook Pro models, performs as expected compared to M1 and M2 versions.

Update: And after the initial results for M3 came in, further tests showed M3 Max is 42% faster than M2 Max, or about as fast as M2 Ultra. That means a new top-shelf MacBook Pro is as fast as the Mac Pro released earlier this year in June, which Apple said at the time was the “most powerful chip ever created for a personal computer.” That claim lasted about five months.

Work smarter with Geminos’s adjustable dual-screen monitor, now under $680

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Enjoy enhanced productivity with this stacked dual-screen monitor for only $679.97.
Save $120 on the Geminos stacked dual-screen monitor and productivity station.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Working from anywhere means you need better tools and more screen real estate. The Geminos, a stacked dual-screen monitor, not only gives you a larger display, but much more for workplace productivity.

Now, you can get it at a special price through the end of November 9th, just $619.97 (reg. $799) with code GEMINOS. This could be a great holiday gift for a fellow coworker, friend, family member or partner who’s looking to upgrade their work-from-home or office setup.

AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C are now an amazing 24% off [Still available!]

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AirPods Pro with USB-C port and charging cable
The new version of AirPods Pro 2 leaves Lightning behind in favor of USB-C. And it's on sale!
Photo: Apple

A crazy good deal on the new AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C case lets you save $60 off the retail price. And this despite the wireless earbuds being on the market for just over a month.

Apple’s new top-of-the-line wireless earbuds take advantage of all the latest new bells and whistles in iOS 17. Plus, they bring additional new features besides the port change, including additional dust resistance and the promise of high-res audio when paired with Apple Vision Pro.

What to watch for in Apple’s earning report

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Wall Street thinks Apple is just limping along
Be ready for Apple to reveal on Thursday how much it took in during the July-through-September period.
Photo: Anna Nekrashevich/Pexels

When Apple reports the results of its most recent financial quarter later on Thursday, look for Mac and iPad to be a drag on the company’s revenue. Still, analysts are upbeat about the company’s earnings.

Investors will also be watching closely, especially considering AAPL shares are down 9% since the company last reported financial results in August.

Apple quietly nixes the cheapest Apple Music plan

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Apple Music noted its most popular song and artists of 2022.
RIP, Apple Music Voice Plan!
Photo: Apple Music

Apple has quietly discontinued the Apple Music Voice Plan nearly two years after its release. The $5 plan was the cheapest way to subscribe to the company’s music streaming service.

Going forward, you cannot subscribe to the Apple Music Voice Plan. If you are an existing subscriber, your membership will expire at the end of your current billing cycle.

Beat the HR bots with your own AI Resume Builder, now only $33

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Don't wait for Black Friday! Get this AI resume builder for only $32.97.
Create ATS-friendly resumes with AI Resume Builder, now just $32.97.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We’re well into the age where HR software will look at your application before a manager ever does, so it’s more important than ever to have the proper resume. And unless you have time to tweak that resume to hit all the right keywords for each job, you’ll be spending a lot of time on paperwork.

Mark Wahlberg action-comedy The Family Plan hits Apple TV+ in December

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Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan star in The Family Plan.
Image: Apple TV+

In The Family Plan, Mark Wahlberg plays a father with a small secret: he used to be an assassin. His past comes back to haunt him — and his family — in a film that debuts on Apple TV+ in mid December.

With that premise, it could be a gripping drama, but the flick will be an action-comedy instead.

Expect to wait longer for high-end M3 MacBook Pro and iMac

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Late-2023 MacBook Pro with M3
Whether you can get your hands on the latest MacBook Pro with M3 chip on launch day depends on which configuration you want.
Photo: Apple

Preorder some heavily loaded configurations of the newly announced M3 MacBook Pro models and you’ll be waiting until later in November to receive them. But Apple still has plenty of other configurations ready to go on launch day.

The same is true for the new M3-powered iMac — load it up and the result is a somewhat longer wait.

Affordable new Apple Pencil with USB-C goes on sale

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You'll have to charge the inexpensive new Apple Pencil via USB-C cable.
You'll have to charge the inexpensive new Apple Pencil via USB-C cable.
Photo: Apple

Apple put its new budget Apple Pencil with USB-C connectivity on sale Wednesday for all your sketching and note-taking needs. Just $79, it’s now available in 33 countries, including the United States.

That price saves you $50 compared to Apple Pencil 2, but it also buys you fewer features.

Go retro with nostalgic Elago cases for Apple accessories

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The W5 AirTag case looks like an old-school gaming console.
The W5 AirTag case looks like an old-school gaming console.
Photo: Elago

Elago excels at making nostalgic cases for Apple accessories that look like other things. Not long ago the company put out the Elago W5 AirTag Keychain Case, which looks like an old-school Super Nintendo home-gaming console. You can also get an airpod case with airtag slot, as well as AirPods cases that look like original Mac computers and much more.

The Cult of Mac Store has 25 great Apple accessories at great prices in its Elago Retro Collection. We highlight a few examples below.

Using external webcam and mic instead of MacBook for video calls [Setups]

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This MacBook Pro user would rather leave the laptop in clamshell mode and use something else for his video calls.
This MacBook Pro user would rather leave the laptop in clamshell mode and use something else for his video calls.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s M2 MacBook Pro user sports a great-looking setup and poses a question. They prefer to use their laptop in clamshell mode, or closed, so what do they do to ensure decent sound and video for work calls?

Hate stuff in your ears? Try Soundcore’s new open-ear wireless buds [Review]

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Soundcore's AeroFit (left) and AeroFit Pro open-ear buds keep the hardware out of your ear.
Soundcore's AeroFit (left) and AeroFit Pro open-ear buds keep the hardware out of your ear.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Some people just hate having anything in their ears, like earplugs or earbuds that insert in the ear canal. Others love having music during workouts, but despise sweating all over their earbuds or headphones. For them, Soundcore rolled out the bold-sounding AeroFit and AeroFit Pro open-ear, true-wireless earbuds Wednesday.

The new buds are good at what they do, but they’re not for everyone. I tried out both sets.

Apple Arcade getting 8 more fun new games in 2023

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Apple Arcade games
There are plenty of upcoming games and recent additions to Apple Arcade.
Image: Apple

Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition, Football Manager 2024 Touch, Sonic Dream Team and Puzzle & Dragons Story are among the eight games on the way to Apple Arcade in November and December. They’ll join the 200+ already on the service.

In addition, more than 50 of the already available games will get content updates.

Create e-books with ease with this ChatGPT-powered tool, now less than $25

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My AI eBook Creation Pro can help you publish e-books for only $25.
This AI-powered tool makes creating e-books a breeze.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

AI technology is changing the way we approach content creation, and if you can find the right outlet, it can help launch a lucrative online income. Fortunately, there’s now an incredibly user-friendly e-book creation tool that utilizes ChatGPT to make developing e-books far more manageable than you might have imagined.

Build professional tools and learn new languages with $590 savings on this educational bundle

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Save almost $600 on this lifetime learning bundle that includes Rosetta Stone.
Pick up this lifetime learning bundle, complete with Rosetta Stone, for nearly 80% off.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Ready or not, the holiday season is right around the corner, but you still have some time to find the right gifts. Time is limited, however, when it comes to the availability of this comprehensive educational bundle featuring the top-rated Rosetta Stone language-learning app for only a fraction of the price.

Lifetime access to the Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle is discounted to only $159.97 (regularly $749) through Oct. 31 with code ROSETTA, meaning you don’t have long to pounce on nearly 80% savings.