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This deal on Apple’s Pro Display XDR will ease the sting

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Apple Pro Display XDR
Get the stunning Pro Display XDR with up to $300 off.
Photo: Apple

If you are in the market for a 6K display for your Mac, it is hard to beat Apple’s Pro Display XDR. The 32-inch display with nano-texture glass is down to $5,699 on Amazon after a hefty $300 discount. And if you want the standard glass variant, it’s available with a $200 off.

Stocks are limited on this fantastic deal, so pull the trigger on the offer as soon as possible.

Kingston’s securely encrypted SSD unlocks with built-in touchscreen [Review] ★★★★

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Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 80 review★★★★
Unlock the 256-bit encryption on the Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 80 by tapping in a passcode on the convenient touchscreen.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Kingston IronKey Vault Privacy 80 External SSD includes a touchscreen and hardware encryption to protect user data. Unlock it by tapping in a password or numeric passcode onto the touchscreen.

It’s available in capacities ranging from 480GB to nearly 2TB. And it’s accessible from just about any device with a USB port — no special software needed.

I went hands-on with the secure SSD. Here’s why I like it.

Shake it with Samba de Amigo and other new Apple Arcade games

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Coming to Apple Arcade in August:
Coming to Apple Arcade in August: Samba de Amigo: Party-to-Go plus three puzzle games.
Photo: Apple

Apple said Tuesday it will add four new games and more than 30 updates and events to Apple Arcade in August.

New games include a revival of Sega’s classic rhythm game Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go, puzzle games Nekograms+ and Kingdoms: Merge & Build, and indie puzzle-remix game finity.

Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go is coming soon to Apple Arcade with exciting new songs and a series first Story Mode only found on the service,” said Ian Curran, president and chief operating officer of Sega of America.

Apple, Pixar, Nvidia and more form alliance to ‘standardize the 3D ecosystem’

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Apple, Pixar, NVIDIA and more form alliance to ‘standardize the 3D ecosystem’ and back the Universal Scene Description standard
The Alliance for OpenUSD will promote the standardization, development, evolution, and growth of Pixar’s Universal Scene Description technology.
Photo: AOUSD

The newly announced Alliance for OpenUSD is a collection of industry heavyweights — including Apple — putting their influence behind Pixar’s Universal Scene Description technology.

The stated goal of the AOUSD is “to standardize the 3D ecosystem.”

How to get the latest iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 public betas

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iOS 17 and iPadOS 17
Here's how to install the iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 public betas on your iPhone or iPad.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The second iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 public betas became available Monday so anyone who wants to start tinkering with the new features can try these well before the autumn release.

Among the more significant changes in iOS are personalized contact posters in the Phone app, home screen widgets go interactive, and autocorrect is smarter. iPadOS gets many of those same features, as well as signifi can’t Lock screen improvements.

Want to try the changes out for yourself? We’ll show you how.

Change the X icon back to Twitter

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Give me back the bird!
Everyone’s favorite bird icon is back… kind of.
Image: Garrett Heath/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

If you miss the Twitter icon, you’re not alone. But there’s good news: You can easily change the app’s new X icon back to Twitter’s blue bird on your Home Screen by using a shortcut.

While it’s too late for Elon Musk to backtrack on many of the questionable business decisions he made since buying Twitter, you can at least patch over this latest one using my free downloadable Shortcut.

If you’re still using X, née Twitter, you might want the bright blue bird back on your Home Screen. I’ll show you how to get it.

Apple check No. 2, signed by Jobs and Woz, goes up for auction

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Apple check #2, signed by Jobs and Woz, goes up for auction
Both Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak signed this check.
Photo: RR Auction

A unique bit of Apple history just went up for auction: Apple Computer check “No. 2” signed by company co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Bidding for the $116.97 check is already up to more than $55,000.

A number of other rare Apple items are also up for sale, some signed by Jobs.

New ErgoFlip mouse lets you easily switch hands

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Just twist the top to switch from one hand to the other. Here it's in left-handed mode (thumb rest on the right side of base).
Just twist the top to switch from one hand to the other. Here it's in left-handed mode (thumb rest on the right side of base).
Photo: Targus

Known for laptop cases and such, Targus unveiled its new ErgoFlip EcoSmart Mouse last week. You can switch it from right- to left-hand use (or vice versa) with a simple twist of the top.

“This is the first mouse that provides true ergonomics for right- or left-hand use, solving the age old problem of finding a mouse that truly everyone can use,” said Mike Sexton, Targus’ senior director of Global Product Management & Development.

“This, along with its gaming-level performance and precision, and sustainable benefits, including its long battery life, makes it the mouse that does it all,” he added.

Why you’re probably spending too much on cellular data

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iPhone 12 Pro parts cost shockingly little
You might be wasting money on your unlimited data plan.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Most Americans pay for more cellular data than they need or ever use, according to a recent study. Dropping to a plan that offers less data would benefit 72% of subscribers for an obvious reason: These plans are more affordable.

In short, unlimited data plans usually aren’t a good value.

That’s one way to get 50% off a Studio Display [Setups]

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Can you spot the chip/crack in one of the displays?
Can you spot the chip/crack in one of the displays?
Photo: [email protected]

The owner of today’s MacBook Pro setup chose two Studio Displays over one Pro Display XDR to suit his workflow and because he realized he could bag one of the monitors at half price. Lucky him.

Several folks on social media noticed the damage, and some said they’d grab that deal, too, if they could.

Grab a refurbished MacBook Air for just $299.99

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Looking to save ahead of back to school? This refurbished MacBook Air is just $299.99.
Avoid the back-to-school rush and grab this $300 refurbished MacBook Air for a limited time.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It happens every year. The summer flies by, and before you know it, the words “back to school” are popping up everywhere. We know that pain.

It’s smart to get ahead of the back-to-school shopping game and snag supplies early, especially when those supplies are a great deal, like this refurbished MacBook Air. Get one through August 13 for just $299.99 and cross one thing off your list now.

Why it’s time to grab your wand and play Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery again

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Why it’s time to play ’Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery’ again
The new Beyond Hogwarts expansion pack to Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery lets players grow up and start careers.
Image: Jam City

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery just got its largest-ever game expansion. Dubbed Beyond Hogwarts, it offers 50% more content as players leave the hallowed halls of Hogwarts and visit the magical haunts of London.

With the expansion, those who played the original game when it launched 5 years ago can come back and find plenty more to enjoy.

iPhone 15 Pro’s massive upgrades could cost you

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iPhone 15 Concept
More premium in-hand feel? Customizable Action button? iPhone 15 Pro is shaping up to be a big upgrade.
Photo: Cult of Mac

This year’s iPhone 15 Pro models will feature “stronger, lighter and more premium” titanium edges, according to a reliable source. And a customizable Action button could be another highlight, letting users quickly enable Focus mode, launch the Camera app or perform other common tasks.

All those new features could jack up the cost of the iPhone 15 Pro line considerably.

Quickly learn to code your own AI chatbot for less than $30

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Take advantage of this Back-to-School Sale and study AI programming for under $30.
Study AI programming in this unique coding course that's heavily discounted in our Back-to-School Sale.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s a lot more to AI than telling ChatGPT to write a paragraph or tell a joke. With a little coding experience, you can program your own AI chatbot. Even if you’re a beginner programmer, you can start your education independently with the 2023 Ultimate AI ChatGPT and Python Programming Bundle.

This course pack gives you 86 hours of expert instruction, culminating in a tutorial to help you craft a chatbot. And it’s on sale for only $29.97 until August 13 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

3 Reasons to Watch: Apple TV+ sci-fi epic Foundation

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An outer space shot from “Foundation,” now streaming on Apple TV+.
Imagined on an epic scale, Foundation delivers the classic sci-fi combo of otherworldly vistas and mind-bending ideas.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewIn this installment of 3 Reasons to Watch, blast off with Apple TV+’s spectacular Foundation, a space opera worthy of the classics of the genre. After a stellar first season of the show, which is based on the timeless novels of Isaac Asimov, the second season is even more tremendous!

Here’s why you should check out this epic sci-fi show if you haven’t already.

More big iPhone leaks, including one we really don’t like [The CultCast]

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Wor$t iPhone 15 rumor yet! With The CultCast logo, episode 605.
Not all iPhone rumors are created equal.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Not all iPhone rumors prove exciting. In fact, a big one this week — possible iPhone 15 price hikes — sounds downright depressing. But it’s not all bad news. The “normie” iPhone 15 might get some trickle-down camera tech that could make it easier not to go Pro this year.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Think of all the interesting ways you could use an Action button like on Apple Watch Ultra’s on an iPhone. Well, the iPhone 15 Pro might get in on that action.
  • Apple’s Vision Pro loaners for developers come with some absolutely ridiculous restrictions.
  • We’ve got an Apple Watch tip that we bet you don’t know — how to get the time with a tap on your wrist. Perfect for those long, boring meetings when you don’t want to peek at your watch.
  • Hang around for the great Apple Music versus Spotify debate of 2023.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Win a posh leather iPad Pro sleeve from Harber London [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Keep your iPad protected in luxurious Leather
Keep your iPad protected in luxurious leather.
Photo: Harber London

For this week’s giveaway, we partnered with Harber London to offer you an opportunity to win an exquisite, handmade Magnetic Envelope Sleeve for iPad Pro valued at $118.

This gorgeous, full-grain leather iPad sleeve exudes elegance and durability, boasting a sleek design and robust construction. Crafted in either black or tan, the sleeve is made of top-quality leather, with 100% wool felt on the back and inner sleeve. This combination ensures comprehensive protection for your prized iPad, shielding it from potential scratches and impacts while providing a comfortable touch.

Apple TV+ film and series catalog grew over 50% in the last year

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Appletvpluslogo
There’s a lot more to watch on Apple TV+ than there was this time last year.
Photo: Apple

Apple aggressively added to its catalog of original films and TV shows between June 2022 and June 2023. The Apple TV+ total hit almost 200, and has since surpassed that milestone.

And some of the shows are very popular, appearing near the top of the ratings list always every week of 2023.

Brilliant Brydge iPad keyboard selling for a mere $30

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Brydge-Pro-iPad
Turn your 11-inch iPad Pro into an MacBook Lite with Brydge Pro+, now available at a rock-bottom price.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Clip the Brydge Pro+ keyboard to an 11-inch iPad Pro to make an ultraportable laptop ready for school or work. And the useful add-on is available now for just $29.99.

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your first, second or third-generation iPad Pro 11-inch with a keyboard and trackpad, there’s never been a better time.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Get the ChatGPT of job applications, just $59.97 for life

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This Back-to-School deal is like the ChatGPT of job applications, and it's only $59.97 for life.
Turbocharge your job hunt with this AI-powered assistant, only $59.97 during our Back-to-School Sale.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Searching for a job is hardly fun, especially if you have to repeatedly enter all the information from your application materials into various online questionnaires. Thank heavens you can save yourself some time — and open up new professional opportunities — with the help of AI.

LazyApply is a job-hunting AI assistant that inputs your information for you, then helps you generate and track your application materials. Don’t waste time hunting blindly! Get a lifetime license to LazyApply during our Back-to-School Sale, while it’s just $59.97 (regularly $149).

Arc is a bold new web browser for Mac

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Arc web browser
The Arc web browser is an all-new approach to the web.
Image: The Browser Company

Arc is a new kind of web browser that recently launched for Mac. It breaks free of the conventional tabbed window design with an all-new approach to organizing your internet activity without slowing you down along the way.

The top talent at The Browser Company, Arc’s developer, are taking bold approaches behind the scenes as well. The Windows version won’t be rewritten in C++ as with most Windows programs. Instead, the team is creating a custom toolkit to compile its code in Apple’s Swift language on Windows.

You can download Arc here for free from The Browser Company.

Study IT fundamentals with this $40 course bundle

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Study IT fundamentals with this $40 course bundle.
This is your chance to take your IT education into your own hands.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The back-to-school season is about more than returning to the classroom. It’s about taking your education into your own hands. If you want to become an IT professional, you don’t need to wait for a class you can take in person.

Instead, you can enroll in the Complete 2023 CompTIA Certification Course Super Bundle by Iducate. This comprehensive IT and cybersecurity study bundle can be used as an independent educational tool or to help you prep for formal CompTIA certification. Either way, it costs just $39.97 — but only until August 13 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. 

Everyone’s on an epic mission this week on Foundation [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

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Jared Harris in ★★★
Everyone's looking for answers in strange places this week on Foundation.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+’s epic space opera Foundation shores up its defenses this week as everyone prepares for the second crisis.

Hari and Gaal have a crucial appointment with an ancient power. Cleric and Day both need to rescue the last men in the galaxy that either of them wants to ask for help. And new and greater puzzles wait behind every corner.

Great pacing, great character work and a couple of welcome additions to the Foundation cast make this week’s episode, “King and Commoner,” appointment television.

iPhone keeps on dominating US smartphone market

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iPhone 14 in purple
More people in the U.S. unboxed an iPhone than an Android last quarter.
Photo: Unsplash

iPhone shipments made up 55% of the U.S. smartphone market in the second quarter of 2023, according to a market-analysis firm. That’s the third quarter to a row that Apple handsets have made up more than half of the market.

iPhone shipments actually declined slightly in the April-though-June period, but not as much as some Android-makers — Samsung shipments dropped almost 40%.