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Apple Card Savings accounts might finally debut next week

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Apple Card Daily Cash can go straight into 'high-yield' savings account
The upcoming savings account for Apple Card holders includes a Savings dashboard to track progress.
Image: Apple

Apple Card Savings, the next financial service from the Mac-maker, might be right around the corner. The company announced the service last autumn without a launch date. But now an Apple tipster claims it’s coming in only a few days.

When it debuts, the service will provide Apple Card users with savings accounts.

Apple AR glasses might not launch before 2026

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Apple Glass
Don't expect 'Apple Glass' AR glasses before 2026.
Image: Jon Prosser/Front Page Tech

Apple’s wear-anywhere augmented-reality glasses that so many people are looking forward are still at least three years away, according to a reliable source.

Don’t confuse these with the bulkier VR/AR headset that leaks say will launch in June. AR glasses are expected to be much smaller… once the necessary technology is available.

Get a Costco membership + $30 Digital Shop Card for only $60

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A 1-year Costco membership + $30 Digital Costco Shop Card will help you shop on a budget.
You'll save big (and we mean really big) when you shop at Costco.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you don’t shop at Costco, you don’t know what you’re missing. We’re talking big discounts on everything from Apple gear to those famous rotisserie chickens. And if you’re trying to cut food costs during these inflationary times, Costco is your ticket to eating well on a budget.

With a Costco Gold Star Membership, you’ll find shelves of enticing ingredients and premade delectables to help you create amazing meals. For a limited time, you can get a one-year Costco Gold Star Membership for just $60 — and it comes with a $30 Digital Shop Card you can use on your favorite Costco items.

6 ways to avoid ‘juice jacking’ at public iPhone charging stations

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A suitcase with an iPhone charging on top and the words
Don't take any chances when you're traveling with your iPhone.
Photo: Benjamin Rascoe/UnsplashLicense/Modified by Cult of Mac

As the old saying goes, there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch — there’s usually a trick. And the same goes for phone charging sustains in airports. These can be used to hack your device, according to a recent warning from the FBI about “juice jacking.”

Here are six ways to safely charge up your iPhone when you’re on the go.

iOS 17 features revealed in sketchy leak

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iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island when playing music
iOS 17 could make the Dynamic Island a lot more useful.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

A new leak reveals several new changes and features coming to iOS 17. The source claims Apple will focus on “performance, efficiency, stability, and long-term support” for older devices with the release.

Interestingly, the leaker also suggests that iPhone 15 Pro will ship with capacitive volume and power keys. This contradicts recent rumors that suggested Apple’s plans have changed.

It’s sex, lies and despair this week on The Big Door Prize [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★

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Gabrielle Dennis, Chris O’Dowd, Rory Keane and Emily Topper in ★★★
What could go wrong with a romantic rendesvouz?
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewThe Big Door Prize, the Apple TV+ sci-fi/comedy about a mysterious machine that reveals people’s potential, reaches deeper into despair and goofiness this week.

Dusty and Cass’ daughter Trina celebrates a depressing milestone and is acting out to make sure everyone knows it. Plus, Dusty and Cass try a romantic getaway and find nothing but surprises, both welcome and unwelcome, waiting for them.

In the episode, entitled “Trina,” The Big Door Prize flexes its tonal muscles.

Schmigadoon! uncorks a showstopper this week [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Jane Krakowski in ★★★★☆
Now that's a legal defense!
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ musical comedy Schmigadoon! lets its hair down this week as Josh goes on the lam and Melissa goes on the hunt for clues. Plus, Jane Krakowski gets an MVP moment that caps a very fun outing for the cast and writers.

The musical numbers in this week’s episode, entitled “Bells and Whistles,” prove stellar. And Schmigadoon! delivers more laughs per minute than usual, which means the second season of the feather-light show totally found its groove.

Last call for Easter Sale savings on fantastic Apple accessories

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These elegant Milanese mesh bands from Laut are 25% off.
These elegant Milanese mesh bands from Laut are 25% off.
Photo: Laut

The Cult of Mac Store’s Easter Sale is winding down. Before it ends, don’t miss your chance to get up to 60% off a variety of accessories, including Apple Watch bands, iPhone and AirPods cases and more.

Visit the Easter Savings collection for all the deals and see some cool highlights below.

Huge OLED TV makes ‘perfect’ display (for some) [Setups]

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That's a 42-inch OLED HD TV for a monitor.
That's a 42-inch OLED HD TV for a monitor.
Photo: [email protected]

New computer displays tend to get not just better over time, but bigger — within reason. Unlike TVs, they’re designed to be viewed from just a few feet away at most. But increasingly, we see people using smart TVs as external monitors to get that extra size into their desktop setups.

Today’s featured setup sports an M2 MacBook Pro driving a 42-inch LG OLED smart TV that the user describes as “perfect.”

Pixelmator Photo gets new name and AI-powered features

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Pixelmator Photo gets new name and AI-powered features
Photomator is for both iPad and iPhone.
Photo: Pixelmator

The powerful image-editing application Pixelmator Photo is now Photomator. Beyond the name change, the app for iPad and iPhone has been redesigned, and also now lets users easily select and edit specific areas of a photo.

In addition, a public beta of Photomator for Mac is now available.

Winners, losers and surprises propel this week’s Ted Lasso [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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Juno Temple in ★★★☆☆
Keeley (played by Juno Temple) makes some power moves this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewApple TV+ smash hit Ted Lasso needs a win this week, as AFC Richmond’s losing streak makes the team a laughing stock.

Ted’s not thinking clearly. Rebecca is seeing evidence everywhere that a psychic prediction about her is coming true — and it’s freaking her out. Keeley handles an unruly employee and makes a new friend. Nate has a minor victory off the pitch.

The episode, entitled “Signs,” is a perfectly good outing of the perennially upbeat football show.

Power up all your devices with this 7-port charging station

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Get power for all your devices with this 7-port charging station, now only $60.
Keep everything juiced up and organized with this $60 multiport charger.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you constantly struggle with a spaghetti tangle of wires taking up space on desks, kitchen counters and bedside tables, there’s a better way to charge you and your family’s precious devices.

This seven-in-one charging station can power up an entire household’s worth of gadgets in a compact hub that takes up less than 8 inches of space. Even better, it’s now on sale for only $59.99 (regularly $89).

Fix your posture with this redesigned, height-adjustable iPad stand

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An office desk with the MagFlött Pro adjustable-height iPad stand.
The MagFlött Pro is a rare adjustable-height iPad stand.
Photo: CharJenPro

A popular magnetic iPad stand is about to be relaunched, better than ever.

The MagFlött Pro is one of the few iPad stands that is height-adjustable, making it versatile as well as ergonomic. It launched on Kickstarter on April 11, and you can get a whopping 26% discount by ordering now.

iPhone 15 Pro’s rumored solid-state buttons reportedly shelved

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Leaked CAD images show iPhone 15 Pro mute button could prove problematic
iPhone 15 Pro will have regular, physical buttons.
Image: chenwen1987

Apple may not ship the iPhone 15 Pro series with the rumored unified solid-state capacitive buttons. TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple abandoned the plan due to “unresolved technical issues.”

Previously, multiple rumors indicated Apple would replace the physical buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro with capacitive keys. The design also would have added two new Taptic Engines to simulate the feeling of pressing physical buttons.

Save over 50% on an AI piano teacher that could be key to your music education

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Save over 50% on an AI piano teacher that could be key to your music education.
A lifetime of AI-powered piano lessons is possible with Skoove Premium, now $140.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You don’t need to shell out for a piano teacher if you want to learn to play a tune on the ivory keys. With Skoove Premium, you can get hundreds of lessons and thousands of instructional videos to help you learn everything from the basics to improv and chart hits. Get a lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons for only $139.97. That’s over 50% in savings and the best price online. 

The Afterparty murder mystery comedy returns to Apple TV+ in July

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Elizabeth Perkins, Ken Jeong, Zach Woods, Poppy Liu and Paul Walter Hauser will all star in the second season of The Afterparty.
Photo: Apple TV+

An Apple TV+ series that turns a murder mystery into a genre-mixing comedy will soon return. Season two of the The Afterparty premieres in July.

There’s a new mystery to solve with a fresh cast of suspects, though Tiffany Haddish and some of the other stars of season one will be back.

Apple doubles money going into natural carbon removal projects

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Apple doubles money going into natural carbon removal projects
Sustainably managed tree farms help the environment and investors.
Photo: Apple

With Earth Day coming up, Apple says it’s doubling its total commitment to “nature-based carbon removal projects” with an additional $200 million investment. In less technical terms, it’s backing projects to plant trees.

And it’s not just trees for trees’ sake. Part of Apple’s Restore Fund goes to agricultural projects that generate income from sustainably managed tree farms.

This low-cost, clip-on hub adds the ports your MacBook needs [Review] ★★★★

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Plugable AMS-5IN1E USB-C hub★★★★
Plugable's new hub is small and lightweight, and adds handy ports to MacBooks.
Photo: Plugable

The just-released Plugable AMS-5IN1E is a USB-C hub that attaches to the side of a MacBook and adds ports that Apple won’t, including USB-A and Ethernet. And it does so without blocking one of the USB-C/Thunderbolt ports and MagSafe charging.

I tested the five ports in this affordable hub to see how well they perform in the real world.

2023 MacBook Pro gets massive $150 discount

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2023 MacBook Pro.
Get a flat $150 discount on Apple's 2023 MacBook Pro lineup.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s 2023 MacBook Pro lineup is available with a massive $150 discount on Amazon. The deal applies to all configurations of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.

This fantastic deal is unlikely to last long, so buy the MacBook you want before stocks run out.

Get Steve Jobs’ new ‘memoir’ for free

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The new digital book comes out April 11 for free.
The new digital book comes out April 11 for free on the Steve Jobs Archive website and Apple Books.
Photo: Steve Jobs Archive

The Steve Jobs Archive released its first book Tuesday, Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs in his own words. It’s a memoir of sorts because almost everything in it comes directly from Jobs, from major speeches and interviews to emails he sent to himself. It covers the Apple co-founder’s life from a young age until he passed away in 2011.

The new book includes never-before-seen content, the archive said, and it’s free from multiple sources.

The 6 best science fiction shows on Apple TV+

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A collage showing scenes from the best sci-fi shows on Apple TV+.
These sci-fi shows make Apple TV+ better, smarter and more fun.
Image: Cult of Mac

Looking for your next science fiction binge? Apple TV+ offers some excellent sci-fi series to keep your eyes popping and (more importantly) your brain humming.

From mythic procedurals to New Testament space operas, Apple TV+ gives viewers a number of exciting science fiction series worthy of a watch. Some seem hilariously literal, while others prove truly fantastical. No matter your tastes, there’s something for every sci-fi fan.

Here are our picks for the best science fiction shows on Apple TV+.

Make instant transcripts for podcasts, videos and meetings with MacWhisper

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Instant video & podcast scripts
There’s an easy and free way to use Whisper to generate subtitles and transcripts.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

MacWhisper is a great way to get text transcriptions for podcasts, live streams, meetings, videos — whatever you may need. Just drag a file onto the Mac app’s window and you’ll get a transcription generated on the fly. You can even use the microphone to make transcriptions live as you’re talking.

You can easily edit the transcription like a Word document and export it as a subtitle file for a video, a text file for reference or an HTML file for publishing online.

Apple’s next 27-inch display is not coming anytime soon

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A table of desktop Macs. Going clockwise around the table, starting at the front: the Mac Studio with Studio Display (height-adjustable stand and nano texture glass), the iMac, Mac Pro with Pro Display XDR (with Pro Stand) and Mac mini with Studio Display (tilt stand).
Apple's next Studio Display could be a lot slimmer.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next-gen Studio Display might not ship with a 120Hz ProMotion mini-LED panel as initially rumored. It’s reportedly still in development though, and the monitor could debut in 2024 or early 2025 with all the features of a “high-end monitor.”

Apple’s current 27-inch display features a 5K 60Hz panel. With its next upgrade, it could switch to a mini-LED backplane for thinner bezels.