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Ingenious ErgoFlip mouse works for righties and lefties [Review] ★★★

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The bulkier Targus ErgoFlip mouse looks like it could take the slender Logitech Anywhere mouse in a fight.★★★
The bulkier Targus ErgoFlip mouse looks like it could take the slender Logitech Anywhere mouse in a fight.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

If you’ve ever suffered hand or wrist discomfort from long sessions at the computer, you probably wished you could switch mousing hands, or maybe use a trackball device. Now Targus has addressed that very issue in ingenious fashion with its new ErgoFlip wireless mouse.

With a magnetic top and a stationary base, the mouse lets you “flip” it anytime you want, using a comfortable, ergonomic grip with either hand, with no need to adjust for right- and left-clicking.

New Miops Spark turns iPhone into DSLR camera

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Miops Spark is a handheld device that gives your iPhone DSLR-like controls.
Miops Spark is a handheld device that gives your iPhone DSLR-like controls.
Photo: Miops

Camera products maker Miops unveiled a Kickstarter campaign Tuesday for Spark, a new camera companion designed to help iPhone users capture photos and video like professionals.

The handheld attachment provides DSLR-camera-like buttons that help you control your iPhone’s cameras.

Hands on with Stage Manager improvements in iPadOS 17

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Hands on with Stage Manager improvements in iPadOS 17
With Stage Manager in iPadOS 17, you can arrange app windows however you like.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is making significant improvements to its Stage Manager multitasking system so iPads can work even more like Macs. The iPadOS 17 version offers additional freedom in window sizing and position.

I’ve been testing the update since Apple began releasing beta versions of iPadOS 17 in June. I already liked the original version of Stage Manager — but the new one is even better.

iPhone 15 Pro’s A17 Bionic chip might sport 6-core GPU, 6GB RAM

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iPhone 15 Concept
iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Bionic chip could sport an extra GPU core.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming A17 Bionic, the 3nm chip that reportedly will power iPhone 15 Pro, could feature a six-core CPU and six GPU cores. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro’s A16 Bionic uses a five-core GPU.

Based on TSMC’s advanced 3nm node, which increases transistor density to boost processing power while simultaneously reducing power consumption, the A17 Bionic reportedly will ship with 6GB LPDDR5 RAM. (That’s the same as the iPhone 14 Pro series.)

Supreme Court refuses to speed up major App Store change

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Is Apple’s deal to make Google Safari’s default search engine anticompetitive?
The Supreme Court won't immediately end Apple's anti-steering policy for third-party app developers.
Photo: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels CC

The U.S. Supreme Court denied a request by Epic Games that would have required Apple to immediately get rid of its “anti-steering” rule for third-party applications — a major change. Instead, the Mac-maker can wait until there’s a final decision by the high court.

This means Apple doesn’t have to change its policy that prevents developers from sending customers from their applications to their websites to pay for subscriptions or services … yet.

Play Nintendo Switch games on TV and other big screens with this mini docking station

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This mini docking station, marked down to $18.99, lets you enjoy Nintendo Switch anywhere.
Don't miss this discount on a versatile Nintendo Switch docking station.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Most Nintendo Switch users love that they can bring gameplay just about anywhere, and the right accessory can enhance that feature. For a limited time, you can pick up a discounted plug-and-play upgrade for your Nintendo Switch setup.

Grab a mini docking station for Nintendo Switch at the low price of $18.99 (regularly $24) with no coupon required. For the cost of a few energy drinks, you’ll be primed to pursue gaming adventures on a variety of monitors no matter where you roam.

Apple’s sweetheart deal with TSMC isn’t as sweet as we thought

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TSMC chip wafer
Not all of the chips on a wafer a good. But who pays for the defective ones?
Photo: TSMC

Apple’s chip-maker TSMC does not absorb the cost of defective processors created in the production process, according to a trusted analyst. That contradicts a recent report that TSMC “eats the cost of the defects.”

Which isn’t to say that Apple and the Taiwanese company don’t have a very close working relationship.

Razer marks International Cat Day with new Kraken Kitty headsets

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If you love cats, not to mention sea monsters, light it up with Razer Kraken Kitty V2 and V2 Bluetooth headsets. Or you could just buy the ears.
If you love cats, not to mention sea monsters, light it up with Razer Kraken Kitty V2 and V2 Bluetooth headsets. Or you could just buy the ears.
Photo: Razer

Gaming brand Razer birthed a new litter of Kraken Kitty headsets Tuesday in recognition of International Cat Day, “so gamers, streamers, and cosplayers alike can celebrate in style.”

It said its original Kraken Kitty headset is one its most popular models.

“When we first released the Kraken Kitty, it really scratched an itch in the market, as there was nothing like it before.” said Alvin Cheung, senior vice president, Hardware Business Unit.

Why the dream of Apple buying Disney won’t die

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Disney+ logo
The idea that Apple could buy Disney keeps coming up.
Photo: The Walt Disney Company

As legacy studios like Disney face formidable problems, a new report suggests CEO Bob Iger might revisit a “once-unthinkable option” — that Apple might buy the company, or at least a stripped-down version of it.

After all, in a near-future of even greater tech-company dominance over entertainment, Disney may need deep-pocketed protection. And its longstanding connection with Apple could come into play.

Save big on the mouse most Mac owners prefer and other Logitech gear

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Mac users love Logitech mice like the MX Master 3S for Mac.
Mac users love Logitech mice like the MX Master 3S for Mac.
Photo: Logitech

With summer on the wane and the new school year looming, peripherals giant Logitech — a mainstay in our computer setups coverage, especially for the MX Master 3S mouse and MX series keyboards — is running a site-wide sale through August 16.

Logitech’s back-to-school sale is “filled with cutting-edge technology and exclusive deals to help you embark on your academic journey with confidence and success,” the company said.

Obviously, you don’t need to be a student to get the deals. Anybody can do it. See below.

Mac Studio drives wild 4-monitor formation with Bat-Signal [Setups]

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The Bat-Signal is displayed on a giant screen atop three other monitors in a Batman-themed computer setup.
Gotta love the Bat-Signal.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured Mac Studio setup found an interesting way to arrange its four displays — three little ones in a row and one huge one broadcasting the Bat-Signal on top.

With Batman undoubtedly on his way (OK, maybe it’s just the logo, not the actual signal), the workstation also boasts a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Apple’s Smart Folio and a remarkably affordable mechanical keyboard for use with the desktop machine.

Design tool for Mac: Lunacy explored

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The Lunacy logo.
Free design app Lunacy offers a variety of high-end features.
Image: Icons8

Design tools are the digital artist’s brush, the web designer’s grid paper, and the UX/UI designer’s blueprint. They transmute raw ideas into visually captivating content that can engage, inspire and influence.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by Icons8.
For Mac users, the search for the perfect design tool can be as overwhelming as it is essential. Amid the clamor of options, Lunacy by Icons8 has emerged as a game-changer, bringing a fresh approach to the design landscape. This article takes you on an exploration of Lunacy, a feature-rich design tool built to create, open and edit Sketch files effortlessly, even on Windows!

XuperCable’s 3 retractable connectors quick-charge your gear [Review] ★★★

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It's a funny-looking critter, but it's useful.★★★
It's a funny-looking critter, but it's useful.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

In a world of ever-more-compact-and-potent chargers, Mobfree launched a surprising and innovative entrant Wednesday on Kickstarter. It’s XuperCable, a three-in-one gadget with three retractable connectors to fast-charge a variety of devices at up to a 100 watts

It’s a funny-looking critter with its tentacles (cables), but it’s quite useful. It sticks to surfaces, it rotates and its three cables unspool and retract — what could possibly go wrong? Not much, as it turns out. The company sent me a XuperCable to try out.

Digitize your documents in a snap with iScanner

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Save $20 on lifetime access to iScanner and handle important documents while on the move.
This easy-to-use document scanner works as a phone app and comes at $20 off.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Even in the digital era, papers can pile up and become scattered or lost if you’re not careful. So we’re serving up a solution to keep all those important items accessible.

During our Back-to-School Sale, a lifetime subscription to the iScanner app is marked down to only $39.99 (regularly $59) with no coupon required through Aug. 13. That’s 33% savings on a service that will make digitizing and tracking documents much more manageable for years to come.

Nomad’s new Sport Band for Apple Watch glows in the dark

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You might want to wear a different band to the movie theater. It might distract others.
You might want to wear a different band to the movie theater. It might distract others.
Photo: Nomad

Nomad added a new limited-edition Sport Band for Apple Watch Tuesday, and this one glows in the dark. That’s why it’s called Glow.

By day the waterproof bands appears off-white, but in the dark in glows bright green. It will be tough to misplace it, even at night.

A half-price Sam’s Club membership means big savings on Apple gear and more

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Spend only $24.99 on a 1-year membership to Sam's Club during this Back to School Sale.
Get a 1-year Sam's Club membership for just $24.99 during our Back-to-School Sale.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A fresh school year is suddenly upon us and there is plenty to stock up on, from classroom necessities to lunch supplies. You can avoid becoming overwhelmed financially with discounted shopping on a variety of essential items.

You can claim a one-year membership to Sam’s Club for only $24.99 (regularly $50) during our Back-to-School Sale, which runs through August 13. Featuring nearly 600 locations nationwide, this popular warehouse store implements a limited-item business model that prioritizes high-quality products rather than loading up on as many brands as possible. And that means unique opportunities for shoppers to find value.

Add 10,000mAh of power to your iPhone with this magnetic stand

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MagSafe 10,000mAh Battery Pack with Foldable Kickstand
Get two full recharges for your iPhone from Ugreen’s MagSafe power bank.
Photo: Ugreen

The name for the Ugreen MagSafe 10,000mAh Battery Pack with Foldable Kickstand is a mouthful, but it’s also a full description of what the new accessory has to offer. Magnetically clip the power bank to the back of an iPhone and it’ll wirelessly recharge the handset. And the kickstand means it also functions as a stand.

The accessory can even recharge two other devices at the same time.

Grab steep discounts on iPad Pro before they disappear

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These 2021 iPads are
These 2021 iPads are "new" in that they're not used.
Photo: Apple

Amazon deals site Woot! is at it again, offering great prices on Apple gear. This time the steals are big discounts on 2021 iPad Pro — 11-inch and 12.9-inch sizes, with or without cellular coverage along with Wi-Fi.

They may not be new-new, but they’re not used and they could be new to you. The sale goes through August 14 at 10 p.m. PT.

College students, you don’t need a MacBook Air

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2022 iPad Pro gets speed boost from Apple M2 processor but no new ports
An iPad Pro or iPad Air with a Magic Keyboard is a better choice for most students than a MacBook Air.
Photo: Apple

Dear university students: While it’s tempting to buy the hot new MacBook Air, doing so would mean a huge loss of flexibility. You simply don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars more for a laptop that’s less versatile. An iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard and Pencil fits your needs much better, especially now that it has the very same M2 chip inside.

And beyond the versatility, the whole iPad lineup can do just about everything you can expect a Mac to do every day.

To be clear, there are exceptions to this — some students really do need a Mac. But odds are you’re not one of them.

The Changeling trailer reveals supernatural horror show

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You weren't going to sleep well ever again, anyway.
You weren't going to sleep well ever again, anyway.
Photo: Apple

The new Apple TV+ trailer for the upcoming drama series The Changeling starts off lightly enough — LaKeith Stanfield’s character, Apollo, can’t get a date with Clark Backo’s Emma in New York City because she’s moving to Brazil.

But once she’s there, dark magic soon reveals this Big Apple-based “drama” to be an absolute supernatural horror show. It premieres Friday, September 8.

New quad dock drives extra displays and other gear [Review] ★★★★☆

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This slim dock does a lot. You can run three external displays with your MacBook and hook up several other peripherals.★★★★☆
This slim dock does a lot. You can run three external displays with your MacBook and hook up several other peripherals.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Advanced computer docking stations keep getting better. The new Alogic Quad Display DV4 Universal Docking Station is a fine example, easily connecting up to four screens and several other peripherals to a computer.

That’s important for anyone relying on a laptop with limited ports — like many MacBook Pro and MacBook Air users over the years — who can appreciate a good docking station that broadens limited connectivity options.

College students, you don’t need a MacBook Pro

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M2 MacBook Air comes i 13-inch and 15-inch versions
A MacBook Air with either a 13-inch or 15-inch display is a better choice for most students than a MacBook Pro.
Photo: Apple

Dear university students: While it’s tempting to buy the top-tier MacBook Pro, it would be a huge waste of money. You simply don’t need to pay an extra $1,000 or more for a notebook that powerful. A MacBook Air fits your needs much better, especially now that there’s a 15-inch version.

And beyond the higher price, the increased performance of the MacBook Pro comes with a drawback you’ll notice every day.

To be clear, there are exceptions for this — some students really do need a MacBook Pro. But odds are you’re not one of them.

Let this AI writer crank out your ad copy, blogs and more

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Let this $49.99 AI writer effortlessly handle ad copy, blogs and more.
Save time and convert more customers with a lifetime subscription to this AI writing tool that's focused on marketing and SEO.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you already know that AI platforms like ChatGPT can mimic just about any kind of writing style. In fact, they can even code iPhone apps. It doesn’t take much imagination to realize what kind of a boon that can be for entrepreneurs, and there’s finally a tool that can harness the power of AI specifically for marketing and search engine optimization.

Whether you need SEO-focused ad copy, blog posts or almost other any kind of content, you owe it to yourself to give Linkdelta a try.

Apple’s M3 Max chip spotted with 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU

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Apple M3 processor
Apple could bump the CPU and GPU core count on the M3 Max.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next-generation M3 Max could feature a staggering 16-core CPU and 40 GPU cores. A third-party Mac developer spotted the chip in test logs running inside a high-end MacBook Pro.

This new high-end Apple silicon should find its way inside the 2024 MacBook Pro. It should also power other high-end Macs due to launch in 2024.