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How to install the iOS 17 Developer Beta

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New contact posters, iMessage stickers and voicemail transcription
iOS 17 comes in with some hot new features.
Photo: Apple

How can you install the iOS 17 Developer Beta? While the release is months away, you might want to take it for a test drive or see how your apps work in the new release. Right now, you need to make sure you’re signed into your developer Apple ID and that you have developer betas turned on in the Settings app.

These days, the process is far easier. You no longer need to install a beta profile and reboot your phone a bunch of times to get it working.

Safari 17 in macOS Sonoma beefs up user privacy

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Enhanced Private Browsing helps protect against online trackers as well as folks who gain access to your computer.
Enhanced Private Browsing helps protect against online trackers as well as folks who gain access to your computer.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

Along with macOS Sonoma and its new features will come Safari 17, the new iteration of Apple’s web browser. It brings an enhanced browsing experience with an even greater emphasis than before on privacy, and most changes will probably apply to iOS and iPadOS, as well.

The changes aren’t terribly glamorous, but beefed-up Private Browsing protects against prying eyes online and off, in addition to some other security enhancements.

And in terms of organization, the new Profiles feature helps you keep separate parts of your life separate and website apps keep your favorite sites at your fingertips.

Apple’s Journal app may help you ‘practice gratitude’

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Apple Journal App press images creating new entry and list of past entries
Journal can help you create personalized entries, with content from multiple apps, to help you preserve life’s memories.
Screenshots: Apple
WWDC23

During their WWDC23 keynote, along side the introduction of iOS 17, Apple also previewed their new Journaling app. In line with previous rumors and expectations, the app is designed to make it simple to quickly capture a wide range of aspects about your day.

Go old school with very affordable new USB hub

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Go old school with very affordable new Plugable USBC-HUB4A USB hub
Add four useful ports to Mac or iPad with Plugable's inexpensive USB-C hub.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable just launched a hub for MacBook or iPad users who need to connect to multiple USB-A accessories. It includes four ports for legacy accessories, and connects to the computer via USB-C.

The inexpensive hub is designed for use in an office or on the go.

First looks at Vision Pro: Apple nails the hardware (and the experience)

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Apple Vision Pro
The Vision Pro sizzle reel looks great, of course, but what is the device actually like?
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

First impressions of the Vision Pro headset make it sound like Apple absolutely nailed both the industrial design and the overall “experience” of wearing a mixed-reality headset.

Apple didn’t let most reporters go hands-on (or rather “heads-on”) with the new device following the Vision Pro’s unveiling at Monday’s WWDC23 keynote. However, the company’s handlers let some members of the media into a private area to gawk at the Vision Pro — and a handful of people actually got to strap one on.

The very first glimpses reveal hardware that looks far better than the competition, paired with a compelling visual experience, and triggers only a few negative reactions.

First iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10 developer betas now ready for testing

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iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma are coming to these devices.
Nearly every Apple device has a new beta out.
Photo: Apple

With macOS Sonoma, iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 and tvOS 17 unveiled at WWDC23 on Monday, Apple made the initial betas available to developers. These are major updates for the various operating systems that run all Apple computers.

Beta testing will stretch through summer, with the full release of these OSs not coming until autumn.

Snag a versatile drone that captures 4K images for less than $80

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Save over $30 on this versatile drone that captures 4K images.
Hit the skies in style with more than $30 in savings on this HD drone that provides real-time transmission.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Personal drones have become increasingly popular for users of all ages. Whether you need one for professional or recreational purposes, or as a gift, don’t get priced out — pick up an HD camera-equipped drone for a surprisingly low price.

You can currently purchase the Global Drone 4K Platinum Version for only $79.97 (regularly $119) with no coupon required. This versatile and easily portable flying device is primed to provide new perspectives with 720P, 1080P and 4K HD camera options.

Even at $3,500, Apple’s Vision Pro headset looks like a relative bargain

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A panoramic photo in Apple's Vision Pro headset.
Apple's Vision Pro headset ain't cheap; new technology never is.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

People might be squawking about the $3,499 price tag of Apple’s new Vision Pro headset, but let’s put things in perspective. When Apple introduced the Macintosh — the first computer with a graphical user interface — it cost an eye-watering $7,400 in today’s dollars.

The Apple II — the first truly “personal computer’ — proved even more expensive. In 1977, an Apple II with maxed-out memory (a whopping 48KB of RAM, yes kilobytes) cost the equivalent of $14,400.

All that makes the $3,499 price tag of Apple’s new Vision Pro VR headset seem like a relative bargain. It packs insane 4K OLED screens to mesmerize your eyes, an outside screen that shows your face while wearing it, and an array of sensors to capture your hand movements, facial expressions and more.

If Apple is right, and the headset represents the dawn of a new era of 3D spatial computing, then 3,500 bucks isn’t so much to be at the cutting edge. New technology is always pricey … and it could have been even worse. Given the amount of new tech involved, and the high price of nearly a decade of development, the Vision Pro could have been even more expensive. It’s no $10,000 Apple Watch Edition!

Apple’s biggest reveals at WWDC23

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Here's everything you need to know about WWDC23, Apple's
Here's everything you need to know from the WWDC23 keynote, the beginning of Apple's "best ever" developer event!
Image: Cult of Mac
WWDC23

The Keynote from WWDC23 was unusually jam-packed with huge announcements. Naturally, the first official details of new iOS, macOS, iPadOS and watchOS versions came to light, as is traditional. But Apple also used its annual developer conference to take the wraps off quite a bit of hardware.

And CEO Tim Cook used Apple’s classic “One more thing” line to unveil Vision Pro, the augmented-reality headset that was the absolute star of Monday’s Keynote.

tvOS 17 takes FaceTime to the big (TV) screen

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With the tvOS 17 update, FaceTime comes to Apple TV 4K for the first time.
With the tvOS 17 update, FaceTime comes to Apple TV 4K for the first time.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

Apple said Monday in the WWDC23 Keynote that tvOS 17 brings FaceTime to Apple TV 4K for the first time. So you can put your calls with family, friends and colleagues on the biggest screen you have.

“tvOS 17 transforms the biggest screen in the home with FaceTime and new video conferencing capabilities, giving Apple TV 4K users the ability to easily connect with anyone right from their living room,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

“New features and enhancements make Apple TV simpler to use and even more enjoyable, reinforcing it as the absolute best option in the living room for Apple customers,” he added.

AirPods Pro 2 software update will bring awesome new features

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AirPods Pro 2 internal view
An AirPods Pro 2 software upgrade will add important new audio features. And all Apple wireless earbuds are getting some enhancements.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

An upcoming software update will add multiple new listening modes to AirPods Pro 2. These are designed to make it easier for the user to listen to music while also hearing what’s going on around them.

Apple also announced at WWDC23 that all AirPods will get better at switching connections between devices, plus a change intended to make conference calls easier.

Apple gives the nitty-gritty details on new software features and Vision Pro

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A focus on Experiences, Hardware, Values, Tools and visionOS.
The Platforms State of the Union focused on experiences, hardware, values, tools and the new visionOS that powers the Vision Pro headset.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

At today’s Platforms State of the Union, Apple went into more depth on the updates coming to their software: interactive widgets for iOS, iPadOS and now on the macOS desktop; big updates to watchOS; and the introduction of visionOS, the operating system that runs on Apple’s new Vision Pro.

There are loads of new features that developers will be able to take advantage of that Apple didn’t highlight in the main Keynote. Thus far, they’ve covered improvements to the in-app camera, a standard tips balloon, and an easier way to make animations in SwiftUI.

‘For $3500,’ Apple’s Vision Pro headset better …

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Apple Vision Pro price tag: $3,499.
That $3,500 price tag certainly got people's attention.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

One key feature of Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset certainly made a splash after Monday’s unveiling. But it wasn’t “spatial computing” or the way you dial in reality while wearing the sci-fi-looking goggles — it was the Vision Pro’s eye-popping $3,499 price tag.

Shortly after the big reveal during the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, “For $3500” trended on Twitter, with people jumping on the chance to take the piss out of Apple’s pricey new product.

This might be the future of computing, but some of these jokes are hilarious.

Get quick charging for 5 devices at once on this $54.99 power bank

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Get quick charging for 5 devices at once on this $54.99 dock.
You can top up iPhone, Apple Watch, AirPods and more (wired and wireless) with this $54.99 charging station and power bank.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For many of us these days, the office isn’t even at home. It’s a handy seat during your commute or wherever the Wi-Fi is reliable. That means people need to get a little more creative when it comes to charging up their devices.

It doesn’t get more versatile than the Bellboy 5-in-1 portable wireless charging station and power bank. It’s a dock that makes room for all your handhelds, on a charging stand you can take anywhere, with a built-in battery that holds plenty of juice.

Widget fans and cyclists and will love watchOS 10

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watchOS 10 will work with Apple Watch Series 4 and newer.
watchOS 10 will work with Apple Watch Series 4 and newer.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

watchOS 10 will introduce widgets and bring a new look for many built-in Apple Watch apps. But the biggest changes come to the Workout app, which adds features that serious cyclists have been demanding for years, including support for third-party Bluetooth power and cadence meters.

Will your devices run Apple’s latest operating systems?

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iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma are coming to these devices.
Apple is dropping support for several devices with iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

Apple announced iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma at the opening keynote of WWDC23. While these OS’s won’t launch anytime soon, when they do land, your old Apple device might be incompatible.

Below is a list of all the iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch, and Macs compatible with iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma.

iPadOS 17 brings Lock Screen customization and interactive widgets to iPad

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iPadOS 17 Home Screen
Interactive widgets are one of the highlights of iPadOS 17.
Screenshot: Apple
WWDC23

iPadOS 17 will give iPad users the Lock Screen enhancements that debuted for iPhone last year. Another major addition for tablet users is interactive Home Screen widgets, a long-requested feature. And these are just a few of the changes coming in the iPadOS version announced at WWDC23.

“With interactive widgets on the Lock Screen, updates to PDFs and Notes, as well as enhancements to Messages and FaceTime, iPadOS gives users even more ways to get things done easier and faster than ever,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, in a statement.

macOS Sonoma brings better gaming, new AR features and souped-up Safari

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Apple software chief Craig Federighi laid out what's new in macOS Sonoma.
Apple software chief Craig Federighi laid out what's new in macOS Sonoma.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

Apple unveiled macOS 14 — aka macOS Sonoma — at WWDC23 Monday. It brings new gaming functionality, desktop widgets, video screensavers and Safari browser upgrades. That’s in addition to cross-device compatibility reflecting some of the new iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 features.

“Introducing macOS Sonoma a big new release that will make your Mac more delightful and even more productive,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.

“First, many of the features we talked about earlier on iOS and iPad OS are going to be great on the Mac. And macOS Sanoma brings a rich set of features that elevate the experience of macOS,” he added.

Apple’s pricey Vision Pro headset ushers in era of ‘spatial computing’

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Apple Vision Pro
Apple Vision Pro
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

Apple’s long-awaited Vision Pro headset features all of Apple’s apps in a floating, immersive 3D space that’s designed to let wearers interact seamlessly with the real world, rather than walling them off in a virtual one.

“Vision Pro will introduce us to spatial computing,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook during the recorded WWDC23 keynote Monday as he unveiled the pricey device. “This marks the beginning of a journey that will bring a powerful new dimension to personal technology.”

The company described it as “the first Apple product you look through, not at.” Vision Pro starts at $3,499 and will be available early next year.

Mac Pro finally gets updated to Apple silicon, is 3X faster

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The new Mac Pro features Apple's powerful M2 Ultra chip with PCI expansion.
The new Mac Pro features Apple's powerful M2 Ultra chip with PCI expansion.
Photo: Apple
WWDC23

Apple’s transition to its own silicon is finally complete with the launch of a new Mac Pro, which combines Apple’s powerful M2 Ultra chip with PCIe expansion.

The new Mac Pro features the “most powerful chip ever created for a personal computer,” and is up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Intel-based model.

Mac Studio updated with ‘most powerful chip ever made for a personal computer’

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Screenshot of Apple introducing the new Mac Studio at WWDC23.
The Mac Studio has been updated with the powerful M2 Ultra chip.
Screenshot: Apple
WWDC23

The Mac Studio just got its first update, and it’s a screamer.

The desktop machine now comes with Apple’s new M2 Ultra chip — the “most powerful chip ever created for a personal computer,” according to Apple.

The new chip, based on Apple silicon, triples the performance of the previous M1 machine.

iOS 17 brings big changes to Phone, Messages and AirDrop

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IMG_3998
WWDC23

iOS 17 will bring major improvements to the Phone app, FaceTime and Messages on your iPhone with new customization options. In the Phone app, you can now set personalized contact posters or memoji to make the call screen a lot more vibrant.

“Our next release iOS 17, delivers more expressive communication, simplified sharing, more intelligent input and all new experiences for your iPhone,” said Craig Federighi on stage during the WWDC23 keynote.

New super-size MacBook Air is ‘world’s thinnest 15-inch laptop’

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New super-size MacBook Air is 'world's thinnest 15-inch laptop'
A 15.3-inch version of the MacBook Air joins the 13.6-inch one.
Screenshot: Apple
WWDC23

The 15.3-inch MacBook Air 2023 starts at $1,299 and is available in several stunning colors, including starlight, silver, midnight, and the ever-popular space gray MacBook Air. For a closer look at how space gray compares to silver, check out this detailed review.

The newest macOS notebook boasts a long battery life, comes with an Apple M2 processor, and the price is only $1,299.

“With its incredible performance and striking design, the new MacBook Air is the world’s best 15-inch laptop. And it’s only possible with Apple silicon,” said John Ternus, Apple’s SVP of hardware engineering, in a statement.