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Roguish Tim Cook stars in ‘Grand Theft Auto Cupertino’ wallpaper

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Oh, if we could just play this version.
Oh, if we could just play this version.
Photo: Basic Apple Guy

Designer Basic Apple Guy has appeared on Cult of Mac a lot lately, but with new wallpaper coming out that makes it looks like Apple CEO Tim Cook and other execs are in a new version of classic game Grand Theft Auto, how can we slam on the brakes now?

Released Friday, “Grand Theft Auto Cupertino” wallpapers are available for free download!

Raft of new Anker Qi2 chargers joins MagSafe-for-all parade

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Anker MagGo Qi2 power bank features a display on the side, plus a kickstand.
Anker MagGo Qi2 power bank features a display on the side, plus a kickstand.
Photo: Anker

Just ahead of iPhone 15’s release, a squad of Anker charging accessories featuring Qi2 wireless charging — like MagSafe, but for everyone — rolled out at IFA Berlin, the company said Thursday.

New and updated products include MagGo magnetic chargers, power stations and banks with Qi2, plus updated USB-C Nano chargers and more.

The new Qi2 spec is said to work with upcoming iPhone 15 series handsets at 15W of fast-charging power without MagSafe certification.

Bright and beautiful Mac Studio rig gets a lot right [Setups]

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A lot of people want to know what that delightful wallpaper is. See below.
A lot of people want to know what that delightful wallpaper is. See below.
Photo: [email protected]

A well-lit and well-equipped computer setup can evoke peace and productivity at the same time. Today’s Mac Studio rig exudes a zen-like calm despite being a total powerhouse.

It features a well-mounted Studio Display, a slick mechanical keyboard with wrist rest, a sleek external drive as well as tidy pegboard storage for AirPods Max.

Prep for school with deep discounts on crucial Microsoft software: Windows 10/11 Pro only $16 at CdkeySales

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Use promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com to score major savings on Microsoft software.
Use promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com to score major savings on Microsoft software.
Photo: CdkeySales.com

There’s no denying it. Summer is almost over and school’s about to start. Get ready with new versions of Microsoft’s crucial productivity software, Windows and Office. You can grab them at bargain-basement prices in the back-to-school sale at CdkeySales.com.

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This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.
Check out the selection at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. To get the most back-to-school savings, enter promo code CULT. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s low, low prices on software keys. And you get a free upgrade to Windows 11 when you buy Windows 10.

Apple explains why it dropped controversial plan to scan iCloud Photos for CSAM

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Apple drops controversial plan to scan iCloud Photos for CSAM
An Apple executive went in depth on why images in iCloud Photos are not scanned for child sexual abuse material.
Image: Apple

Apple gave a more complete explanation of why it cancelled a plan to scan iCloud Photos libraries for child sexual abuse material. It’s the same reason it gave back in 2022, but with more detail.

It all comes down to user privacy, and the potential for the system to be abused by hackers and repressive governments.

Get unlimited lifetime web hosting for less than $50

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Get unlimited lifetime web hosting for under $50 this Labor Day.
Start your web empire with top-rated web hosting, just $49.97 for life during our Labor Day Sale.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to establish a presence on the web? Before you start dreaming up blog posts or even think of a logo, you should set yourself up with a reliable web host. It’s worth paying a little more to lay a quality foundation for your online empire, but thanks to our Labor Day Sale, you don’t have to.

Through Sept. 4, new users can get a lifetime subscription to unlimited web hosting through BonoHost for less than $50.

A pair of 2017 MacBook Pro models slide onto Apple’s vintage list

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MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017)
If this is your MacBook Pro, we have some kind of bad news for you.
Photo: Apple

Two of the MacBook Pros that launched back in 2017 just got a bit harder to get repaired. That’s because they’ve been added to Apple’s official list of vintage devices. This includes the 15-inch model introduced in 2017 and one of the two 13-inch MacBook Pros.

But it’ll be years before they’re listed as obsolete.

Learn in-demand skills with 1,000 online courses for less than $35

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Get a lifetime membership to 1000+ online courses for less than $35 for Labor Day.
Score a StackSkills lifetime membership for a pittance in our Labor Day Sale.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Learning is arguably the best investment you can make. Mastering new skills keeps you curious. Plus, staying up to date on the very latest specialities can add some serious heft to your resume. And that can prove extremely lucrative.

Top-rated online learning hub StackSkills Unlimited allows you to learn a huge range of skills, from IT and graphic design to finance and marketing. And right now, you can grab a lifetime membership for just $34.97 (previously on sale for $44.99).

Belkin goes cutting edge with some of the first Qi2 wireless chargers

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Belkin BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand
The BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless Pad to Stand works equally well for iPhone and Android.
Photo: Belkin

Qi2 is the future of wireless chargers and Belkin is already on board. On Thursday, it took the wraps off a pair of accessories that use the emerging standard.

Qi2 was created to bring the advantages of iPhone’s MagSafe to Android. Wireless chargers from Belkin and other companies that support the standard will work equally well for Apple and Samsung, etc. handsets, as long as they support Qi2.

Get a cheap, fast and easy-to-use VPN for just $1.99 per month

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Get yourself and your Mac protection with UltraVPN, just $1.99 a month for two years.
Don’t miss this deal: UltraVPN is just $1.99 per month for two years.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you want an easy-to-use VPN, consider UltraVPN. It ranked highly in a recent review on the vpngeeks subreddit for two simple reasons: “It’s by far the cheapest VPN available and it’s the simplest to use,” according to the reviewer.

And now it’s even cheaper, thanks to a special offer via Cult of Mac Deals.

Zagg’s new Bluetooth keyboard also does wireless charging [Review] ★★★★☆

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Zagg Pro Keyboard 12 review★★★★☆
This new Zagg Pro keyboard uses Bluetooth and wireless charging.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Zagg Pro Keyboard 12 is a slim, lightweight desktop keyboard that uses Bluetooth so no data cable is required. And it also charges wirelessly so it never needs a cable of any kind.

The accessory can be paired with multiple devices, and switch easily between them.

I tested the membrane keyboard in my home office for several weeks. Here’s what it’s like in real-world use.

Eve Play lets you stream to older amps and speakers via AirPlay 2

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Soon you'll be able to stream via AirPlay 2 from your iPhone or iPad to your active speakers, amplifier or streaming-capable soundbar.
Soon you'll be able to stream via AirPlay 2 from your iPhone or iPad to your active speakers, amplifier or soundbar.
Photo: Eve Systems

Eve Play, an audio streaming interface that lets you stream via AirPlay 2 from an iPhone or iPad to an amplifier, active speaker or soundbar, will come out soon, Eve Systems said Thursday.

The little black box — Eve’s first audio device — also integrates with other AirPlay 2 devices like HomePods. But the new device doesn’t ship until November 14, so you’ll have to wait a bit.

Create any type of digital person with AI-powered Human Generator

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Human Generator lets you quickly create a custom digital
Human Generator lets you quickly create a custom digital "person."
Images: Generated Media

The Human Generator, even among the myriad AI tools available in recent months, stands out as a beacon of innovation. The free online tool lets you quickly and easily create lifelike digital humans.

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This post is brought to you by Generated Media.
By selecting certain parameters, you can specify physical attributes like body type, skin color and hairstyle. And you can further customize your creation by trying out various clothing types and backgrounds. Once you finish tweaking your digital human, you can download the image to use as you wish.

But how does the Human Generator fare in real-world usage, and should you integrate it into your creative arsenal? Let’s dive in and explore how this groundbreaking tool works to let you create and easily fine-tune digital “people” for use in a wide variety of applications.

Digitize old film and slides with a Kodak Slide N Scan scanner

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Keep your past Labor Days close with $54 off the Kodak Slide N Scan.
Save $54 on scanning your Labor Day memories with the Kodak Slide N Scan.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’ve got old photos and slides, digital preservation is the best way to make them accessible. The Kodak Slide N Scan makes keeping these memories easy. And it’s on sale now through September 4 for Labor Day. With code KODAK, you can save $54 off the original MSRP.

A lifetime subscription to this password manager costs just $19.97

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Ensure your online privacy with help from Sticky Password Premium for only $19.97.
Upgrade your password protection with Labor Day savings on this proven lifetime service.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

No normal human can keep track of the hundreds of complicated passwords required to avoid falling prey to hackers. To keep them all straight, you need a password manager cable of generating complex passwords and storing them securely on all your devices.

If you’re tired of playing Rain Man, this password manager deal is for you. Protect your identity and your bank account with a lifetime subscription to Sticky Password Premium at a surprisingly low price. During our Labor Day Sale, you can get complete coverage for only $19.97 (regularly $199) with no coupon.

The Pigeon Tunnel trailer investigates the secretive life of author John le Carré

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John le Carré, aka David Cornwell, is the subject of “The Pigeon Tunnel.” It premieres October 20 on Apple TV+.
John le Carré, aka David Cornwell, is the subject of Errol Morris' documentary The Pigeon Tunnel. It premieres October 20 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

The upcoming documentary The Pigeon Tunnel is the final interview with John le Carré, who wrote many best-selling novels about spies and was an MI6 agent himself.

A just-released trailer for the biopic shows the British spy-turned-author discussing his very usual life. The film will premiere on Apple TV+ this fall.

Security researchers can now apply to help Apple defend iOS

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If that screen doesn't intimidate you, this might be the program for you.
If that screen doesn't intimidate you, this might be the program for you.
Photo: Apple

Security researchers can boost their iPhone research, work with security teams and help protect users — all while earning bug bounties for finding credible threats — if they apply to the 2024 iPhone Security Research Device Program, Apple said Wednesday.

File an application by October 31 to get your special iPhone for security research.

Apple tests 3D printing that could revolutionize manufacturing

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Stainless steel Apple Watches are the test case for a new manufacturing process using 3D printers.
Stainless steel Apple Watches are the test case for a new manufacturing process using 3D printers.
Photo: Apple

Apple is testing a 3D-printer-based manufacturing process for some of its upcoming Apple Watches that could radically change how it manufactures products generally, a new report said Wednesday.

In testing, the company is using 3D printers for the stainless steel chassis of some wearables. It may prove more eco-friendly and economical, cutting down on materials needed.

Today in Apple history: Apple hatches secret plan to save the Mac

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Close-up of vintage Apple Keyboard II with rainbow Apple logo
An internal Apple memo outlined four possible ways to combat the increasingly dominant Windows operating system.
Photo: Maurizio Zanetti/Flickr CC

August 30 August 30, 1990: A 112-page confidential Apple memo lays out what the company must do to make the Macintosh division a marketplace contender.

The internal memo comes from Dan Eilers, Apple’s vice president of strategy and corporate development. He boldly says Apple must consider four strategies: licensing Mac OS, licensing both the Mac’s operating system and hardware, creating a spinoff brand for the Macintosh, or starting a totally new company to combat the growing threat of Microsoft’s Windows.

Troubles behind it, iPhone 15 series moves into full production

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Coronavirus-related shutdowns continue to disrupt Chinese factories.
Workers in China and India are now assembling the iPhone 15 series.
Photo: Steve Jurvetson/Flickr CC

Apple and the companies assembling the iPhone 15 reportedly worked through all the significant production problems they faced making the next iOS handsets. They supposedly faced issues with the cameras, LCDs, batteries and titanium frame in upcoming models

After clearing those hurdles, the four models in the iPhone 15 series are now set for the launch that’s almost certainly happening in September.

Mac Studio makes most of new super-ultra-wide display [Setups]

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Lights, camera, action! This Mac Studio rig is ready for videoconferencing and more.
Lights, camera, action! This Mac Studio rig is ready for videoconferencing and more.
Photo: [email protected]

Version:
Some computer setups are bare-bones but functional, others are swanky as all-get-out. Leaning toward the latter, today’s setup rocks a powerful M2 Ultra Mac Studio desktop computer driving a new, 49-inch Samsung G9 super-ultra-wide display. If you’re looking for a mac mini monitor, check out this impressive Samsung ultra-wide monitor setup.

But that’s not all the finery the solid standing desk supports. Festooned with key lights, it’s also a great videoconferencing station, with a premium webcam, a mounted USB microphone and killer speakers.

Apple set to train 12 more ecofriendly minority-owned businesses

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Meet the members of Apple's third Impact Accelerator class (more details below).
Meet the members of Apple's third Impact Accelerator class (more details below).
Photo: Apple

Apple set up its third Impact Accelerator class to help 12 minority-owned green-technology and clean-energy companies develop their businesses, the company said Wednesday.

The training program, in this case for a dozen Black-, Hispanic/Latinx- and Indigenous-owned companies, is part of Cupertino’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative.

Score a 4K dual-camera drone for less than $80

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Save $120 on this advance 4K dual-camera drone during Labor Day pricing.
Pick up this 4K dual-camera drone for only $79.97 during this Labor Day deal.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want an impressive drone at a surprisingly low price? The Ninja Dragon Blade X 4K Dual Camera Drone costs just $79.97 during our Labor Day Sale.

The advanced drone usually goes for $199. Act now to snag 60% savings on a product primed to capture stunning HD footage from high in the sky.