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A handy USB hub by day, a colorful mechanical keyboard by night [Review] ★★★★☆

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Kebohub EE01 sitting on a very scratched up desk with a Magic Trackpad★★★★☆
It’s useful having ports right at your keyboard. Even if I’m not using any of them in this picture.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

A utilitarian and professional-looking keyboard by day, the 3inus Kebohub EE01 turns into a light show for streaming Fall Guys or whatever on Twitch by night.  Live now on Kickstarter, it’s a full RGB-backlit customizable mechanical keyboard with a handy-dandy hub for your USB accessories and HDMI display.

To put it in car terms, it’s like the BMW X5 M, a practical, midsize luxury SUV that’s also trying to be a performance car. Or, in a less generous metaphor, a mullet.

I’ve had a few weeks with the Kebohub EE01; here’s why it’s a good mechanical keyboard plus a good desktop dock for a MacBook.

New Crystal Palette cases add whimsical color to iPhone 14

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The four Laut Crystal Palette iPhone 14 cases are colorful indeed.
The four Laut Crystal Palette iPhone 14 cases, which come in sizes to fit the four iPhone 14 handsets, are colorful indeed.
Photo: Laut

Tired of subtle, utilitarian iPhone cases that make your handset look like everyone else’s? Take a peek at the Laut Crystal Palette cases for the iPhone 14 series.

You might find they’re worth checking out in the Cult of Mac Store. They don’t skimp on colorful, whimsical designs and even metallic flashes of rainbow foil.

Heirs duel over wine trove in Drops of God trailer

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The drama series, adapted from Japanese manga, premieres April 21 on Apple TV+
The drama series, adapted from Japanese manga, premieres April 21 on Apple TV+
Photo: Apple TV+

When a young Parisian woman flies to Tokyo after learning of her estranged father’s death there, she finds something unexpected. He has left her the world’s greatest wine collection. It’s worth $148 million. But she can only have it if she defeats a brilliant young wine expert in a series of wine-tasting tests.

That’s the premise neatly poured in the trailer Apple TV+ released Tuesday for Drops of God. The live-action drama series, adapted from a popular Japanese manga (comics), premieres April 21 on Apple TV+.

iPhone still reigns supreme among US teens

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6.1-inch iPhone 14 and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus
In other news, the kids can't get enough of Nike, Amazon or Goldfish.
Photo: Apple

A whopping 87% of U.S. teens own an iPhone, according to a recent survey. This continues a long trend of iPhone reigning supreme in high schools.

The survey also shows that Apple Watch and Apple Pay prove quite popular with teens.

Instantly separate vocals from music tracks with this top-rated AI app

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Instantly separate vocals from music tracks with this top-rated AI app, now just $30.
Musicians love this AI vocal remover app, and it’s now on sale for $30.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Anyone who makes music knows the painstaking struggle of manually removing vocals from a song. Thankfully, in 2023, one of the latest uses for AI technology is to do precisely this, saving you headaches and precious time.

The software in question is EasySplitter, an AI-powered vocal remover application. And a lifetime subscription to the EasySplitter Pro Plan is now only $29.99 (regularly $599)

Ridley Scott’s action epic Napoleon invades theaters in November

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Ridley Scott’s action epic 'Napoleon' invades theaters in November
"To the cineplex!" -- Napoleon, probably.
Photo: Apple TV+

Ridley Scott’s epic starring Joaquin Phoenix as French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte as he conquers Europe will premiere in theaters this autumn. It will later appear on Apple’s streaming service.

The film will tell the story of Napoleon’s ruthless rise to power and his obsessive love for his wife, Empress Josephine.

Select from 3 comprehensive VPN subscriptions at discounted costs

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Select from three comprehensive VPN subscriptions at discounted costs.
Remain anonymous online and avoid regional restrictions with this low-priced VPN service.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you rely on a consistent internet connection for professional purposes or spend your nights camped on the couch gaming, we all have the motivation to maximize our online experience. From the standpoint of ensuring personal security and unlimited access, the right VPN service can provide a considerable boost.

For a limited time, you can pick up a subscription to a Windscribe Pro plan for only a fraction of the normal cost of this highly rated VPN. And you’ve got three incredible options: Choose from a one-year plan for $39 (regularly $69), a two-year plan for $59 (regularly $138) or a three-year plan for $69 (regularly $207).

These are the best prices online, but you’ll have to act fast. The price drops only last until April 22.

New Tom Holland thriller hits Apple TV+ in June

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'The Crowded Room' stars Tom Holland in a thriller with a surprise ending.
The Crowded Room stars Tom Holland in a thriller with a surprise ending.
Photo: Apple TV+

Tom Holland is coming back to Apple TV+ with The Crowded Room, a 10-part limited series about a very unusual murder investigation.

It was created and written by Akiva Goldsman, best known as the screenwriter of A Beautiful Mind.

In Jane trailer, Goodall inspires globe-trotting kids to save animals

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"Jane" premieres on Apple TV+ April 14.
Photo: Apple TV+

Kids inspired by famous primatologist Jane Goodall go on epic quests to help protect wild animals in the upcoming Apple TV+ show Jane.

The first Jane trailer, which Apple released Monday, offers a glimpse of the new “live action/CGI blended” series. In it, 9-year-old character Jane Garcia says, “Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Jane Goodall said that.”

“I know,” her mother replies, drily, at her bedside. “You recite it every morning.”

Last chance: Snag a Microsoft Office license for Mac or PC forever — just $39.99

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Your very own Microsoft Office license for Mac or PC forever — just $39.99.
Owning a copy of Microsoft Office is simply essential in today’s world.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Owning a copy of Microsoft Office is simply essential in today’s world. Set yourself up to work from home or anywhere with a lifetime license for Microsoft Office for Mac or Windows, on sale now for just $39.99 (regularly $349).

This deal, part of our Spring Digital Blowout sale, ends tonight!

Tim Cook sees augmented reality as tool for collaboration, not isolation

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Tim Cook sees augmented reality as tool for collaboration
Tim Cook is very optimistic about the potential for augmented reality once practical AR glasses become possible.
Illustration: Open AI/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook sounds very upbeat about the potential for augmented reality in a new interview. He says the technology “could greatly enhance people’s communication, people’s connection.”

Cook stayed mum about a related tech, virtual reality, though.

First-gen iPhone with rare ‘Lucky you’ sticker could (not) break auction record [Updated]

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The packaging's not perfect, but the rare
The packaging's not perfect, but the rare "Lucky you" sticker could add value.
Photo: Wright

Last week we asked if you were lucky enough to have about $65,000 to spend on an iPhone that can’t connect to anything. Now we know you didn’t need that much money after all.

The original, sealed iPhone (1st generation) that went up for auction Thursday sported a rare “Lucky you” sticker on the box. But that wasn’t enough to vault the handset into the record books ($63,356). Bidding started at $32,000.

Update: And … bidding ended at $40,320, the low end of the projected range of $40,000 – $60,000. Too many old iPhones up for auction lately? Maybe.

Non-Pro iPhones get always-on, 120Hz screens in 2025

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iPhone 14 Pro includes an always-on display.
The always-on display will apparently stay a Pro feature for years.
Photo: Apple

Some of the best features of iPhone 14 Pro screens won’t trickle down to future non-Pro versions until the iPhone 17 series, according to a reliable source for Apple information.

If correct, the prediction means we shouldn’t expect the iPhone 14 Plus or basic iPhone 14 to come with a 120Hz ProMotion display or an always-on screen. Apple will reserve these features for iPhone Pro models until 2025.

Apple classics: If it ain’t broke, don’t replace it [Setups]

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You can't see it, but a Mac Pro from 2013 drives this trio of Cinema Displays.
You can't see it, but a Mac Pro from 2013 drives this trio of Cinema Displays.
Photo: [email protected]

As the old saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” And if “it” refers to cool old Apple gear, you should reconsider replacing it, too — especially if it’s still going strong. Today’s featured setup boasts a “trash can” Mac Pro from 2013. It drives not one, not two but three Cinema Displays of yesteryear.

And that’s not all for the workstation’s retro wares. It also features Apple’s old iSight webcam, a Mighty Mouse and a Thunderbolt 2 hard drive for Time Machine backups. And how often do you see a solar-powered keyboard? It has one of those, too.

Steve Jobs’ Make Something Wonderful comes out April 11 (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’s first major release — a digital book titled Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs in his own words — will arrive April 11.

Despite the announcement coming in an email from the archive on April Fools’ Day, the news appears to be genuine. And that includes the part about the e-book, which is filled with Jobs’ emails, conversations, photos and more, being free online for all.

Cut down on cords with this 3-in-1 retractable cable

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Cut down on cords with this 3-in-1 retractable charger, now only $18.
Always have the tip you need with this 3-in-1 retractable cable.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

As much as we love our Apple products, whether that’s our iPhones for calls, Apple Watch for keeping track of our health or AirPods for constant jamming out on the go, there’s an age-old problem: How to charge them all without the problem of head-inducing, tangled cords? But what if we told you there’s a solution?

This 3-in-1 retractable charging cable gives you three standard tips in one compact package. You won’t have to pick and choose which of your devices gets the battery it needs when you can charge up to three at once. Even better, it’s now on sale for only $17.99 (regularly $39).

How to make Apple Passwords a standalone app

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•••• ••••••• •• ••• ••••!
This feature is the best!
Image: Santeri Viinamäki/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

There’s much more to iCloud Keychain than meets the eye. Apple’s password-management system suggests strong passwords, autofills them whenever you need to sign in later, and syncs across all your devices. But you also can use iCloud Keychain to keep two-factor authentication codes (instead of relying on Google Authenticator) and access your passwords on Windows.

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about how Apple should make a standalone Passwords app. That’s because a lot of the more advanced features in iCloud Keychain are pretty hard to find. You have to dig into Settings to locate them.

There’s a workaround: I have a Shortcut that will add a convenient Passwords icon to your iPhone’s Home Screen. Using iCloud Keychain becomes a lot easier.

Create amazing images using AI and this award-winning photo editor

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Create amazing images using AI and this award-winning photo editor, now under $72.
Score an additional discount on the award-winning Luminar Neo AI photo editor.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Artificial intelligence is the future of photo editing, allowing you to create the beautiful images you’ve always dreamed of more quickly and easily than ever before. Luminar Neo’s AI-powered photo-editing software empowers you to edit photos like a pro, and even better, it’s now on sale.

As part of the Spring Digital Blowout, this award-winning photo editor is only $79 (regularly $400), but you can now grab it for just $71.10 with code TAKE10NOW (which gives you an additional 10% discount). This is an exclusive Cult of Mac discount and the best price on the web.

How to make text larger on iPhone or iPad

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How to make text larger on iPhone or iPad
It's easy to make text on iPad or iPhone larger or smaller.
Photo: Apple

Maybe your eyes aren’t as good as they used be. You can increase the text size on your iPhone or iPad so don’t have to put on reading glasses.

The process is easy. And a new video from Apple walks users through the process of enabling even larger text size on these devices.

AdGuard can keep you and your family safe online, now only $26.49

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AdGuard can keep you and your family safe online, now only $26.49.
Protect your online privacy with an AdGuard Lifetime Subscription, now only $26.49.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Aside from a certain high-profile football game, it’s hard to think of a time when anyone is happy to see an ad. Companies like Apple know how much you hate those pop-ups and intrusive banners, but you can’t expect big tech to get proactive about curbing them, especially when they’re the internet’s bread and butter.

Luckily, there are ways you can take matters into your own hands. AdGuard is one of the best ad blockers around, and thanks to our Spring Digital Blowout, you can see how big a difference it makes on your own devices. With code SPRING15, you can get the AdGuard lifetime family plan for only $26.49 through April 3.

Apple’s mixed-reality headset is about to get real [The CultCast]

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A woman wearing a VR headset outside, plus The CultCast logo.
There's no way anybody's gonna wear Apple's AR/VR headset outside, is there?
Photo: Thoroughly Reviewed/modified by Cult of Mac
WWDC23

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The invites for WWDC23 just went out, so maybe … just maybe … we have a date certain upon which we will cast our eyes upon Apple’s mixed-reality headset. The more we hear about it, the more intrigued we are. And at least part of that is who in the devil will buy one of these things if they cost $3,000?!?

Also on The CultCast:

  • New features arrive in iOS 16.4, including Voice Isolation for iPhone calls.
  • This AI crap is getting creepier by the minute — even Woz and Elon Musk are spooked!
  • How to spot AI deepfakes.
  • We’ve got a nice magnetic iPad stand for this week’s giveaway.

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.

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Build your Amazon and Shopify empire with this $25 course bundle

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Build your own Amazon store with this $25 course bundle.
Learn to earn a passive income through dropshipping for just $25.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Having a side income that generates extra cash each month can be the key to unlocking greater financial stability, exploring your creativity and, ultimately, finding the freedom to do the things you’re passionate about. One of the best ways to do that is through online selling on Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) and by dropshipping on Shopify. And you can learn exactly how to do both with this 2023 Business Model & Strategies course bundle.

Even better, you can now grab this course pack for only $24.97 (regularly $597) during our Spring Digital Blowout. You’ll have to act fast, though, as this limited-time deal only lasts until April 3.