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What if your iPhone had Lightning and USB-C ports?

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Are two ports better than one?
Are two ports better than one?
Photo: @Hyphaistos3672

Cult of Mac has reported on how Apple will replace iPhone’s Lightning connector with USB-C soon enough — but what if Cupertino decided to go with both ports on future iPhones, like the 15 series?

One engineer appeared to explore the option, modding an iPhone 12 mini by adding a fully functional USB-C port next to the existing Lightning port.

15.5-inch MacBook Air could arrive in April

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2022 MacBook Air with M2 processor
The 2022 MacBook Air with M2 processor could soon be joined by a bigger brother.
Photo: Apple

A super-size MacBook Air is supposedly right around the corner. An analyst who’s built a solid reputation for accurately predicting Apple products says the next macOS notebook will be out in six weeks or so.

This will be the first time the thin and light line of notebooks has expanded past the current 13.6-inch screen.

iMac with Apple M2 upgrade looks unlikely

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24-inch iMac 2021 with Apple M1 processor. In blue and pink
The M1 iMac could stay in Apple's product lineup for three years.
Photo: Apple

There reportedly haven’t been any signs that a 24-inch iMac with an Apple M2 processor is on the way. And that means the next iMac upgrade might be as much as a year away.

That would leave users of the all-in-one Mac desktop waiting for a total of three years for a faster version.

Stunning Mac Pro rig sees massive audio upgrade [Setups]

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A pair of KEF LSX speakers on Kanto stands adds to this killer setup's high price tag.
A pair of KEF LSX speakers on Kanto stands adds to this killer setup's high price tag.
Photo: [email protected]

There’s nothing like a major upgrade. Today we return to one of the most magnificent computer setups we’ve seen lately, as it somehow found a way to top itself. When you’ve already got a loaded Mac Pro, two Pro Display XDRs and a top Apple laptop and tablet, where do you go from there?

You thank the HomePod mini for its service and welcome new $1,250 speakers to the party.

This $39 AI marketing tool is ChatGPT for entrepreneurs

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This $39 AI marketing tool is ChatGPT for entrepreneurs.
This copywriting app takes AI to the next level for businesses, now only $39.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Even if you somehow haven’t heard of ChatGPT, you’ve probably read the AI chatbot’s “work.” OpenAI’s resourceful text generator and others like it have been used to write everything from chicken recipes to term papers. While many users still regard these tools as curiosities, entrepreneurs are already putting artificial intelligence to work in a field it’s tailor-made for: marketing.

SalesKingPin is the perfect example of how far this tech has come in a very short time. And it could be just the thing your business needs for greater growth. Right now, this AI-powered software is on sale for only $39 (Growth Plan) and $49 (Professional Plan).

Apple refuses to give up on iPhone hardware subscription service

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iPhone 14 Plus vs. iPhone 14
Multiple Apple financial services efforts have hit engineering hurdles.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple continues working on its long-rumored iPhone hardware subscription service despite hitting several roadblocks. The service was first rumored to launch in late 2022.

With a subscription service, Apple will allow customers to get the latest iPhone by paying a monthly fee. This would save them from shelling out the total device cost upfront.

Shrinking is the biggest hit on Apple TV+ since Severance and Black Bird

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'Shrinking' is a big hit for Apple TV+.
An Apple TV+ show starring Jason Segel and Harrison Ford is drawing plenty of viewers.
Image: Apple TV+

The new comedy Shrinking has become a standout success for Apple TV+, according to two audience-tracking companies. The last new shows on the streaming service to attract so much attention were Black Bird and Severance. Not that the three series have much in common, besides being able to pull in large numbers of viewers.

Shrinking, which stars Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, is about a therapist who throws out the rulebook and tells his clients what he really thinks they should do.

iPhone Ultra? Take our money now! [The CultCast]

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Concept art shows what the iPhone Ultra might look like in a promo image for The CultCast, Cult of Mac's weekly Apple podcast.
If the "iPhone Ultra" looks like this, we're in. (Or at least one of us is.)
Concept art: Jonas Daehnert

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple’s squinty supreme leader Tim Cook sees room to push the high end of the iPhone market, and you know what that means … iPhone Ultra incoming! We know at least one feature this thing will pack — a big, fat titanium price tag.

Also on The CultCast:

  • A cool mockup shows what that rumored iPhone Ultra might look like.
  • We could get reverse wireless charging on iPhones after all.
  • Insiders explain the messy breakup between Apple and Intel (and reveal the best time to buy a Mac … sorta).

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.

Our sponsors: Lectric eBikes and CultCloth

  • The Lectric XP 3.0 electric bike will take you up to 45 miles — and up to 28 miles per hour! Get out there and find adventure with Lectric eBikes!
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Snag premium Japanese chef’s knives for less than $140

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For under $140, you can snag these premium Japanese chef knives.
Choose your set of high-carbon stainless steel Japanese chef's knives.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A premium set of kitchen knives is one secret ingredient to a solid kitchen. Whether you’re a master of the culinary arts or just want to evenly dice an onion, quality cutlery is a worthwhile investment.

If you’re looking to upgrade, you’ve got two options with these Japanese knives from Seido. Both the five and eight-piece sets of these chef’s knives are on sale (for $99.99 and $139.99, respectively). But wait until you see what makes these blades a cut above the rest.

Find out what’s killing your iPhone battery

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R.I.P. iPhone, 8 AM to 6:30 PM
R.I.P. iPhone, who died tragically just a few hours before the end of the day.
Image: Jonatan Svensson Glad/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iPhone battery dying faster than you’d like? You can see exactly what’s using up your iPhone battery in the Settings app. It will show you which apps use more power than others, what services run in the background, and what drains your battery most over the course of the week.

If you suspect your phone doesn’t last as long as it used to, or notice that it’s charging very slowly, this will help you diagnose the problem.

Keep reading to find out whether you should quit all your iPhone apps when you’re done using them (you shouldn’t) and how you can keep apps and email from running in the background.

It’s Leanne against the world in a shockingly good episode of Servant [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★

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Leanne (played by Nell Tiger Free) shows off a chef's knife in a particularly arty scene from Apple TV+ horror series ★★★★
Let's cut to the chase: This is a very sharp episode of Servant.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewSean and Dorothy throw a party this week on Servant, the Apple TV+ show about a nanny who is more than she seems and the family harboring her. Leanne is starting to notice that her adopted family isn’t being quite as familial and loving as she’d like. And she decides something must be done about it.

As the neighborhood gathers in the Turner household, Leanne plots her own pincer maneuver in a brilliantly directed installment of the best series on Apple TV+.

This 3-in-1 wireless charging station is a perfect piece of travel gear

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This 3-in-1 wireless charging station doubles as a stand, and is now on sale for just $45.
Save big on this versatile charging station for popular Apple products and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

From iPhones and Apple Watches to Mac accessories and AirPods, many of us have plenty to keep powered up on a daily basis. If you’re tired of dealing with low batteries while on the move, or spend too much time using stationary charging options that keep you tied down, consider exploring new solutions.

This three-in-one wireless charging station from WonderCube is a proven product that streamlines your process of powering up, no matter where the day takes you. Typically sold for $69, you can score this nifty device for only $44.99.

Truth Be Told uncovers a conspiracy that goes straight to the top [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Octavia Spencer plays podcaster Poppy in Apple TV+ drama ★★★★☆
The search for a missing girl intensifies this week on Truth Be Told.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewWe’ve got a fugitive on our hands on this week’s Truth Be Told, the Apple TV+ series about a true crime podcaster and her little corner of Oakland, California.

Trini is missing and Poppy’s solutions all involve a lot of risk. Markus and Zarina are sweating and at each other’s throats while searching for their daughter. Eva learns something about her lover and runs into an old acquaintance. And Leander tries hard to stay on Poppy’s good side.

The episode, entitled “Never Take Your Eyes Off Her,” serves up another gripping 45 minutes of television from this crew.

Take up rocket-powered water racing in Riptide GP: Renegade+

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Take up rocket-powered water racing in 'Riptide GP: Renegade+'
Don't go street racing, try hydrojet racing instead.
Screenshot: Vector Unit

Nothing gets the heart pumping like a good racing game. Riptide GP: Renegade+ challenges players to try hydrojet racing at breakneck speeds, alone or in groups of up to eight.

The game from Vector Unit first debuted several years ago, and was named an App Store Best of 2016. Starting Friday, it’s included with the Apple Arcade subscriptions service for iPhone and other Apple devices.

Dear Edward’s grief bomb will leave you befuddled [Apple TV+ recap] ★☆☆☆☆

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Colin O’Brien in ★☆☆☆☆
After surviving a plane crash, getting called "Miracle Boy" by bullies just makes things worse.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewNew Apple TV+ series Dear Edward takes our hero to school this week. The show — about a boy who survives a plane crash and the relatives of people who weren’t so lucky — doubles down on all of its intricate absurdities in the episode, entitled “Chrysalis.”

Dee Dee learns more about her dead husband than she ever wanted to know. Edward receives fan mail. Audrey and Kojo keep getting closer. And multiple funerals loom. It’s another impressively confused episode of the grief-based drama.

Bare-bones mobile workstation is ready for anything, anywhere [Setups]

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At home or in a fast-food joint, work is getting done.
At home or in a fast-food joint, work is getting done.
Photo: [email protected]

Sure, you only need a MacBook Air or Pro to get things done almost anywhere. Or maybe an iPad with a stand and keyboard. But if you want to be more comfortable (and productive), wouldn’t you want a fuller computer setup? Today’s incredibly spare featured setup gets the job done.

The user is a journalist who takes their work on the road, like the fast-food joint in the photo above. They use just an M1 MacBook Air on a stand, a mini mechanical wireless keyboard and mouse, and sometimes a clamp-on light and iPhone mount to handle quality video calls via Continuity Camera.

Get huge deals: Microsoft Windows 10 Pro and Office reduced by 91% at CdkeySales!

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Get great deals on Microsoft software by using promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com.
Get great deals on Microsoft software by using promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com.
Photo: CdkeySales.com

The big February Sale with massive discounts on Microsoft software is well underway at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. You can save big on Windows, Office and more.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.

Any Cult of Mac reader who wants a great deal on Windows 10 and more can click on the links below. And as a bonus, Windows 10 comes with a free upgrade to Windows 11. To get the most savings, enter promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com. That will chop an extra 30% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.

Get 8 gadgets in one with this $21.99 flashlight multitool

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Get 8 gadgets in one with this $29.99 multi-tool flashlight.
Be prepared with this clever flashlight and multitool, now on sale.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Don’t get us wrong, apps are great. But no matter how much they push the envelope of your iPhone’s technology, there’s only so much they can do for you on a camping trip. That’s when we gadget lovers have to go a little more analog with tools like this nifty 8-in-1 utility flashlight from WonderCube.

While this light is incredibly small, you’ll be surprised how many uses you can find for it, on the trail and off.

Shrinking serves up happiness, secrets and potatoes [Apple TV+ recap] ☆☆☆

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Christa Miller, left, and Jessica Williams in a scene from Apple TV+ comedy ☆☆☆
Gossip leads to nothing good this week on Shrinking.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewShrinking, the hit Apple TV+ show about a therapist unraveling, sees James starting to suffer the consequences of his crazy new practices this week.

Paul is still mad at him for his radical ideas and the way they’re putting James’ daughter Alice in danger. But Paul’s own daughter Meg is in town, so he’s got bigger fish to fry. Meanwhile, Liz finds herself in the crosshairs of James’ ire — and only Gabrielle’s intervention saves them from hurting each other.

It’s another episode of a surprisingly popular show, in which no one’s problems are ever as big a deal as they seem.

M1 iPad Pro and iPad mini 6 hit Apple’s refurbished store

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iPad Pro 2022 Back View
Go the refurbished route and save big on the M1 iPad Pro and iPad mini 6.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has started selling refurbished iPad mini 6 and M1 iPad Pro models through its Certified Refurbished store in the US. Both these tablets launched in 2021.

Depending on the iPad you want, you can save up to $320 by buying a refurbished unit.

Classic puzzle adventure Myst makes the jump to iPhone and iPad

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'Myst Mobile' brings a classic from 30 years ago to iPhone and iPad
Myst's graphics were spectacular in 1993, and are still beautiful today.
Photo: Cyan

The best-selling PC game of the 20th century has been reborn as Myst Mobile. Anyone who wants to relive the classic, or play an amazing game for the first time, can install it on iPhone and iPad and start playing for free.

This isn’t a knockoff. Cyan, the developer of the original, calls its new version “the definitive mobile port.”

This stock screener analyzes stocks and the market to help you make risk-free investments

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This stock screener analyzes stocks and the market to help you make risk-free investments.
Score the Tykr stock screener to start investing intelligently for just $119.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you’re new to the stock market or a seasoned investor, managing your investments is a lot of work. There’s research and analysis involved if you want to build wealth and gain passive income. You could try doing it manually yourself, or you could make the process easier with this stock screener and educational platform from Tykr.

Tykr analyzes stocks so you can see which investments are low or high-risk, then choose where to safely put your money. A lifetime subscription for Tykr is now only $119.99.

HomePod 2 teardown reveals it’s far easier to repair than the original

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HomePod 2 teardown reveals it's far easier to repair than the original
Disassembling a HomePod 2 requires a screwdriver, not a saw.
Screenshot: iFixit/Creative Electron

A teardown video from iFixit shows that getting into the recently launched HomePod 2 is dramatically easier than opening up its predecessor. That’s going to make repairing the new smart speaker far simpler.

The video is an interesting deep dive for anyone who just wants a glimpse inside the latest HomePod.

Buy any 2 SwitchEasy accessories, get 20% off both

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SwitchEasy's MagMount stand helps turn your iPad into a desktop computer.
SwitchEasy's MagMount stand helps turn your iPad into a desktop computer.
Photo: SwitchEasy

The Cult of Mac Store opened up a new sale Thursday, offering a discount of 20% off purchases of any two SwitchEasy accessories. With 98 products to choose from, that covers a wide variety of needs any Apple user might have.

Check out the SwitchEasy collection as a whole, and read more about some product highlights for iPad, iPhone and more below. The sale goes through Thursday, February 16.