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watchOS 10.1 beta brings double-tap gesture to Apple Watch 9 and Ultra 2

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Double-tapping index finger and thumb will open a surprising amount of watch functionality.
Double-tapping index finger and thumb will open a surprising amount of watch functionality.
Photo: Apple

The release of the watchOS 10.1 beta to developers on Wednesday brings the cool new “double tap” gesture that allows one-handed use of Apple Watch in certain cases (though it can’t be enabled yet).

In other words, it’s a way to operate the wearable without touching its screen. And once iOS 10.1 arrives in October, Apple Watch Series 9 and second-gen Apple Watch Ultra users can try it. However, even folks with older Apple Watches can try a version of it right now.

First iOS 17.1 beta adds AirDrop over the internet

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iOS 17.1 beta
iOS 17.1 beta
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 17.1 to developers on Wednesday. This signals the start of testing for some iPhone features Apple already announced but didn’t debut in iOS 17, including AirDrop file transfers over the internet.

Cupertino also began beta testing macOS 14.1, iPadOS 17.1, watchOS 10.1 and tvOS 17.1.

This 4-tipped cable does USB-C, Lightning and Apple Watch

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Score this multi-purpose charging cord for all your Apple devices, now only $19.99.
Power up your Apple gear the easy way for less than $20 with this 4-in-1 charger .
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The iPhone 15 lineup switched to USB-C, and eventually that will mean we all get to enjoy the simplicity of using only one cable to charge all our Apple devices. Eventually. Until then, you likely need a variety of different cables to keep your Apple gear charged.

Luckily, the 4-in-1 USB cable — with USB-C, Lightning and an Apple Watch charging puck — is help you through the transition period. For only $19.99, you can charge four of your favorite Apple devices simultaneously.

Apple explains how to use Roadside Assistance via satellite

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Apple explains how to use Roadside Assistance via satellite
Watch a walkthrough of using the new Roadside Assistance via satellite feature on recent iPhone models.
Screenshot: Apple

Recent iPhones offer Emergency SOS via satellite, but not every mishap is life threatening. When non-emergency help is needed, Roadside Assistance via satellite is available. It’s a feature that debuted with the new iPhone 15 series but the iPhone 14 series can use it, too.

A video from Apple Support demonstrates how to use it.

Next year’s standard iPhone won’t get a hand-me-down chip

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In a break, Apple may use
In a break, Apple may use "A18" chips in all four iPhone 16 handsets.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Rather than holding over iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Pro chip for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, the full upcoming iPhone 16 lineup will carry A18 and A18 Pro chips running on an updated TSMC 3-nanometer production process, according to an analyst.

Tricked-out Mac Studio pairs well with curved OLED display [Setups]

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This nicely composed frame shows the M2 Mac Studio as a plant stand.
This nicely composed frame shows the M2 Mac Studio as a plant stand.
Photo: [email protected]

If you want to see a good example of high-end Mac computing, look no further than today’s elegant featured setup. Its powerful M2 Mac Studio desktop computer works alongside a PC gaming rig as they drive a curved OLED display for maximum contrast.

Throw in a rarely seen mechanical keyboard and a standing desk with a big Grovemade desk shelf, and we’re in business.

Extend your MacBook’s battery for years of use with Energiza Pro

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Energiza Pro battery health panel in the Mac menu bar
Energiza Pro gives you full control over your battery health.
Image: appgineers

How can you best save your MacBook battery life for many years of use? Your laptop’s battery is the most likely component to wear out, and one of the biggest problems is keeping it plugged in all the time. Apple offers some built-in controls, but they’re pretty basic and inflexible. Energiza Pro, on the other hand, gives you far more options, extending your MacBook’s battery life for years to come.

It’s the smart battery manager you need to keep your MacBook alive for longer.

New ‘Meet with Apple Experts’ opens labs and more to developers

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Devs can easily find programming tailored to their time zone and language.
Devs can easily find programming tailored to their time zone and language.
Photo: Apple

The new Meet with Apple Experts program helps Apple developers easily find and join workshops, labs and one-on-one consultations to help them build great apps, Apple said Tuesday.

The new dedicated resource builds on other programs for developers, incorporating their programming.

Apple offers 2 fixes for watchOS 10 Weather complication bug

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Instead of seeing the Weather complication with data shown at upper left above, folks are seeing
Instead of seeing the Weather complication with data shown at upper left above, folks are seeing "--".
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Apple suggested two ways Wednesday to fix the Weather complication bug that some Apple Watch users started seeing after upgrading to watchOS 10.

Affected wearables surface a blank reading on the screen rather than weather data, forcing users to click on the Weather app to get the information.

Apple exec says Google is iPhone default search engine because it’s ‘the best’

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Eddy Cue, Apple VP of Services
Apple VP Eddy Cue got the unenviable task of defending Apple's deals with Google.
Photo: Apple

Apple made Google the default search engine for the Safari web browser on iPhone and Mac because it’s the best option, not because Google paid billions of dollars for the prime placement, according to a top Apple executive.

Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, made the claim Tuesday during testimony in the antitrust trial United States et al v. Google LLC. Cue also told the court that Apple’s deal with Google doesn’t violate his company’s oft-stated position on protecting user privacy.

iOS 17.0.2 patch now available to all iPhones

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If you got a new iPhone 15 series phone, install iOS 17.0.2 right away.
iOS 17.0.2 isn't just for iPhone 15 anymore. And iPadOS 17.0.2 is out, too.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A small software update that Apple initially released only for the iPhone 15 series can now be installed by any recent iPhone. iOS 17.0.2 fixes a data-transfer problem between iPhones, and also includes other bug fixes.

iPadOS 17.0.2 is also available for tablets and takes care of some of the same bugs.

Own a 4K eye in the sky with nearly 50% off this high-tech drone

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Own your 4K eye in the sky with nearly 50% off this high-tech drone.
Get a 4K camera drone with a 50x capable zoom lens for less than $90.
Photo: StackCommerce

For way too long, there have been two kinds of drones: those built for expert hobbyists and pro videographers, and those that are nothing more than glorified toys built for first-time users.

In the Ninja Dragon Blade K, there’s finally a drone that’s easy to fly right out of the box, with features that will satisfy the biggest drone aficionado. The really good news? It’s now available for only $86.99 (regularly $169).

Here’s a great way to get your personal information off the internet

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You can use Incogni to remove your vulnerable personal information online.
You can use Incogni to remove your vulnerable personal information from the back alleys of the internet.
Image: Surfshark

With corporate data breaches and identity theft on the rise, people are justifiably worried about how to keep their sensitive personal data safe online. Fortunately, the Incogni personal information removal service can reduce your exposure in multiple ways — with little effort on your part.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by Surfshark.
And even better, Cult of Mac readers can get a 55% discount on subscriptions to the Incogni personal information removal service for a limited time.

iPhone 15 Pro overheating may arise from Apple ‘compromises’

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Apple might fix iPhone 15 Pro overheating with a software update.
Apple might fix iPhone 15 Pro overheating with a software update.
Photo: Apple

Widespread reports of iPhone 15 Pro handsets overheating probably don’t stem from the new 3nm manufacturing process for the A17 Pro chip but from shortcuts Apple may have taken with the thermal system, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Tuesday.

He also noted software updates may address overheating.

macOS Sonoma is out — here’s how to install it on your Mac

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Apple software chief Craig Federighi laid out what's new in macOS Sonoma.
Time to update your Mac to Sonoma!
Photo: Apple

The next major macOS release is here. Dubbed macOS Sonoma, the update packs several usability changes that will help further boost your productivity.

macOS Sonoma is now available as a free software update, bringing a rich set of new features to the Mac that make work and play even more powerful,” Apple said in a press release Tuesday. “With macOS Sonoma, desktop widgets unlock a new way to personalize the Mac and get more done, while stunning new screen savers, big updates to video conferencing and Safari, along with optimized gaming make the Mac experience better than ever.”

Apple typically drops major new macOS builds in October. But this time, it is releasing macOS Sonoma in September, possibly because it is a relatively minor update.

Portable new iPhone game controller is ready to play wherever you go [Review] ★★★★

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Turtle Beach Atom Controller for iOS review★★★★
Don't struggle with on-screen controls when gaming on your iPhone. The Turtle Beach Atom Controller is the way to go.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Clip the Turtle Beach Atom Controller for iOS on either side of an iPhone to add the physical buttons and sticks that make high-end gaming much more fun. It mimics the brilliant design of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con with the controls set on either side of the display.

It’s ready for Apple Arcade games and cloud-gaming services, too. And don’t forget the console games Apple has promised to port to the iPhone 15 Pro.

I spent hours testing the controller (it’s a hard job I have) and I really like it. Here’s why.

Apple adds 100+ podcasts with improved access

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iOS 17 gives Apple Podcasts users a refreshed player and queue, episode art, search filters and the ability to connect subscriptions to top apps.
iOS 17 gives Apple Podcasts users a refreshed player and queue, episode art, search filters and the ability to connect subscriptions to top apps.
Photo: Apple

Now you can listen to more than 100 new podcasts from various apps and services in Apple Podcasts, the company said Tuesday.

“Subscribers to Apple Music, Apple News+ and participating apps like Calm and Lingokids can connect their subscriptions to access new shows and more,” Apple noted.

How to block unsolicited dick pics in iMessage in iOS 17

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Text: “Don’t Send Me That” with screenshot of blocked image in iMessage
Block unwanted images from iMessage.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

If you’ve ever been the victim of unsolicited dick pics, or “cyberflashing,” you can now automatically hide obscene images in iOS 17. Censoring NSFW sexts can give you an extra line of defense against unwanted, creepy texts. This feature, new in iOS 17, puts suspected nude images and videos behind a blurred gray background.

Unsolicited dick pics are a widespread problem. Among adults who reported receiving nude images, 91% of respondents say they were sent without their consent, according to Indiana University research. And one shocking study published in the Journal of Sex Research found 50% of heterosexual men admitted to sending them!

This new Sensitive Content Warning feature in iOS 17 isn’t just for protecting children. A lot of people likely will find it useful.

Get the best price online for a lifetime of TV made just for your dog

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Get the best price online for a lifetime of TV made just for your dog.
Get the lifetime streaming service that's therapy for your dog for $149.99.
Photo: StackCommerce

Lots of people wish for a dog’s life, but longtime pet owners know that pups get anxious, too. When humans get stressed, we can binge a few of our favorite shows to relax — and now dogs have that option too.

DogTV is exactly what you think it is — and more. Yes, it’s a streaming channel where all the content is geared to get your dog’s attention. But it also can help them shake those doggie blues. A lifetime subscription is on sale for just $149.99 (regularly $838).

iPhone 16 could feature a new capacitive Capture Button

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iPhone 15 in hand
Apple could also switch to a capacitive Action button with the 2024 iPhones.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple reportedly plans to introduce a new capacitive button on next year’s iPhone 16 lineup. Known as the “Capture Button” internally, the button is currently in the testing phase.

With the iPhone 15 Pro, Apple replaced the mute switch with the Action button. It enables additional functionality that was previously not possible.