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1Password 8 for iOS is about to get much better

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1Password app sign in with FaceID
Universal search will soon make a comeback in 1Password 8.
Photo: 1Password

1Password is among the best password managers for iOS, and it is about to get even better. Putting a pause on adding new features, 1Password developers have announced several improvements to the app’s fundamentals.

Last year, AgibleBits released 1Password 8 with a new home screen and additional customization options. Based on user feedback, the company is further improving some of these features.

Get 3 years of AI-powered tax help with this $49 app

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Get 3 years of AI-powered tax help for under $50 with this app.
Hack your taxes with the power of AI thanks to this $49 app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

T.S. Eliot had it right: April really is the cruelest month, especially if you’re a freelancer, small business owner or independent contractor. That April 15 tax deadline means you’re either scraping together proof for all your deductions, or paying an accountant to shave a few extra dollars off what you owe.

Being your own boss certainly has its benefits, but the time you spend jumping through IRS hoops is not one of them. Luckily, it was only a matter of time before app developers brought the power of AI to ease the problem of taxes — and FlyFin is a compelling solution that’s tailor-made for the self-employed.

You can already listen to your Apple Music Replay 2023 playlist

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Recapping your top tunes for 2023 is possible if you've streamed enough music.
Recapping your top tunes for 2023 is possible if you've streamed enough music.
Photo: Apple Music

It’s that time of year again. Apple Music made Replay 2023 most-streamed playlists available Monday to anyone who’s listened to enough music in January to have one.

It may be something you associate with the end of a year — Spotify Wrapped comes out only in December, for example. But Apple Music opens up access early with updates on Sundays so you can track your hit list and more continuously, plus a year-end recap.

HomePod 2 wait times stretch out until March

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Apple HomePod 2 in white and midnight
Demand for HomePod 2 has outstripped supply.
Photo: Apple

Order the recently unveiled HomePod 2 from the online Apple store today and it might not arrive until March. Preorders for the revived version of Apple’s full-size smart speaker have surpassed the launch-day supply.
There seems to be some pent up demand for the product.

Apple Music goes big on Rihanna ahead of Super Bowl performance

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Rihanna performs at the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show on Sunday, February 12, 2023.
Rihanna performs at the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show on Sunday, February 12, 2023.
Photo: Apple Music

Apple Music trotted out various ways Monday for fans to get into Rihanna ahead of her Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show in Glendale, Arizona, February 12.

These include a halftime-show press conference on February 9, her catalog in Spatial Audio on Apple Music, Apple Music Sing karaoke and Apple Music Radio commentary, the service said.

Man shed MacBook Pro rig craves Studio Display [Setups]

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Maxed-out M1 Max MacBook Pro, curved 4K display, solid audio ... but a setup is never really done, is it?
Maxed-out M1 Max MacBook Pro, curved 4K display, solid audio ... but a computer setup is never really done, is it?
Photo: [email protected]

To the age-old question “Is a computer setup ever really done?” the answer is obviously “no.” There’s always something to add or something to fix, and once you do that it’s time to update something else (even if you don’t technically “need” the latest thing).

Today’s well-laid MacBook Pro setup has a nice curved monitor, but its user “craves” a Studio Display like he sees in other setups. And for that matter, how about a quieter mechanical keyboard and some plants that won’t die immediately, too.

Emergency SOS saves two women stranded in Canadian wilderness

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No search was needed in this rescue, never mind helicopters.
No search was needed in this rescue, never mind helicopters.
Photo: Robson Valley Search and Rescue

Emergency SOS via satellite on an iPhone 14 took the “search” out of “search and rescue” for two fortunate Canadian women. They got stuck in snow on a logging road in British Columbia, Canada.

Rescuers said they thought it was the feature’s first use in BC. And the way it pinpointed the women’s location may have saved the women’s lives without the need for a time-consuming search.

These discount drones provide impressive range and clear visuals

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These discounted drones provide impressive range and clear visuals.
These drones are the perfect toys for any wannabe pilot, now only $129.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The joys of flying are something many of us recall from childhood, and likely came about when we first looked down from an airplane and saw sprawling clouds, cities and oceans below. Now, even as an adult, you can relive that sense of awe from the comfort of land by exploring the skies with this diverse array of drones.

You can double the adventure with a discounted deal on the Alpha Z Pro drone bundle, which is now on sale for just $129.99.

Foldable iPad with carbon-fiber kickstand could launch in 2024

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AI rendering of a folding iPad.
Are you ready for a foldable iPad?
Render: Midjourney/Lewis Wallace

Apple’s rumored foldable iPad could feature a carbon-fiber kickstand. While expensive, carbon fiber is durable and would help keep the device’s weight in check.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks the foldable iPad might launch in 2024 with an all-new design.

Save on this wireless Nintendo Switch controller

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Save on this wireless Nintendo Switch controller.
Step up your Nintendo Switch play with a discounted Bluetooth controller.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Remember the days when you’d battle your friends on Nintendo for endless hours? While Nintendo products have progressed significantly and you may have more responsibilities as an adult, there’s no reason you can’t relive those good times you had growing up.

You can indulge your inner child with this Bluetooth controller for Nintendo Switch for only $32.99. It’s time to upgrade the way you game as a grown-up.

The specs check out on new MacBook Pro and Mac mini [The CultCast]

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We're talking the many pros and a couple of cons about the brand-new MacBook Pro Mac mini and HomePod models Apple just released.
We're talking the many pros and a couple of cons about the brand-new MacBook Pro Mac mini and HomePod models Apple just released.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: The first reviews and early benchmarks reveal impressive performance boosts from the new MacBook Pro and Mac mini. We’re talking the pros and cons of upgrading — including one very important “buyer beware” scenario.

Also on The CultCast:

  • What’s new in iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3 and macOS Ventura 13.2? We walk through the updates.
  • A great giveaway from Goldenerre, maker of fine Apple Watch bands.
  • Our beloved old-school HomePods just got some upgrades — including one Erfon’s been dreaming of for years.

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.

What to check before you power on an old Macintosh

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An unexpected find in this room was a Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh.
Hold up, you don’t want to ruin a rare Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh — take some precautions first.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

When you pick up a classic Macintosh (or a vintage computer of any kind) that hasn’t been used in a while, you need to check it out before plugging it in and turning it on. Capacitors on old motherboards fail and leak over time; you DO NOT want to run power to a computer if this has happened; you could easily fry the motherboard.

Collecting old computers is a lot of fun. You can use old versions of Mac OS in emulators online, but it’s nothing compared to the experience of setting up a heavy machine on your desk, hearing the fans and disk drives whir to life and watching a fuzzy CRT display fade in from black. If you’re new to this (rather expensive) hobby, you can also check out my earlier piece on how to get started — what to look for, what to watch out for and where to shop.

So, you are the new custodian of a classic computer. What should you do before you power it on for the first time?

Make toys for your kids (or yourself) with this easy 3D printer

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Make toys for your kids (or yourself) with this easy 3D printer.
Take 25% off this 3D printer that's perfect for your inner child.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Has there ever been a better time to be a kid? Superheroes rule the big screens, video games are experiencing a new golden age and even so-called “educational toys” are so advanced they’re like gear out of a mad scientist’s lab. To prove our point, meet the Toybox 3D Printer.

Yes, we know that 3D printers are nothing new. But Toybox takes a completely different angle on this popular creative tool, re-imagining it as the limitless toy factory we all knew it could be.

App Store prices going up in the UK and other countries in February 2023

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App Store
Apple motion for a delay has been denied.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

App Store prices will soon go up in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Colombia, Egypt, and a few other countries. The hike will come into effect starting February 13, 2023.

The changes will apply to both prices of apps and in-app purchases (IAP). Recurring subscriptions are not affected, though.

Leaked Apple documents confirm iPhone 15 Pro to feature Wi-Fi 6E and A17 Bionic

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iPhone 15 already in trial production
The differences between the regular and Pro iPhones will only increase with iPhone 15.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac/Pixabay/Pexels

A leaked internal Apple document confirms the company will adopt Wi-Fi 6E on this year’s iPhones. However, only the iPhone 15 Pro lineup will support the faster Wi-Fi standard.

The internal document shows the antenna architecture of devices codenamed “D8x” (the iPhone 15 Pro) and “D8y” (the regular iPhone 15).

Friday only: $300 off 14-inch 2021 MacBook Pro with 32GB RAM

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The 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro will last you even longer with 32GB of RAM.
The 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro will last you even longer with 32GB of RAM.
Photo: Apple

The 2021 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro with added memory is a popular choice, and Friday you can get a configuration with 32GB of RAM for about $300 less than usual prices at Woot!, owned by Amazon.

The configuration is a winner because folks know you can’t easily add integrated memory later to most Macs, so why settle for the base 16GB for that model?

Beware, though, the sale ends just after midnight in Saturday’s wee hours.

Truth Be Told goes deeper into our crime-fighter’s crusade [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Haneefah Wood, Octavia Spencer and Tracie Thoms in ★★★★☆
This case isn't getting any easier.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewThere’s a funeral this week on true-crime-inflected Apple TV+ show Truth Be Told. Drea is dead, and everyone’s guilty — whether they pulled the trigger or not.

The more Poppy, Eva and Markus pull up rocks looking for clues, the more insects they find running around in the darkness. “Her, Armed With Sorrow Sore” stands out as a strongly performed and nicely paced episode of the show about a podcaster’s crusade to help her city.

World Surf League names Apple Watch ‘official wearable’

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Pro surfers won't have to strain to see and hear on-shore announcements.
Pro surfers won't have to strain to see and hear on-shore announcements.
Photo: Brent Bielmann, WSL

The World Surf League adopted Apple Watch as its official wearable Friday. The move enables pro surfers to use the water-resistant smartwatch with a certain app to track crucial metrics during competitions.

This marks the first time Apple Watch has become official equipment for a pro sport.

Servant shakes things up with a séance [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★

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Leanne (played by Nell Tiger Free) in a seance scene from Apple TV+ chiller ★★★★
Just light the candles and let 'er rip!
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewWe’re having a séance this week on Apple TV+ chiller Servant, the wonderfully cracked show about a magical nanny who uses murder and mayhem to maintain her grip on the Philadelphia family who summoned her.

Leanne hates the two new nurses Dorothy hired to look after her during her recovery, but she’s losing her favor with Sean and Julian by acting so suspicious. Sean desperately wants Dorothy to go back to her old self, and is realizing Leanne might be the problem.

It’s a tense and sharply directed episode of the best show on Apple TV+.

IT engineer’s MacBook Pro and Studio Display quietly get the job done [Setups]

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One in landscape, one in portrait. It's what the cool kids do with displays.
One in landscape, one in portrait. It's what the cool kids do with displays.
Photo: [email protected]

Aspects of Apple silicon chips replacing Intel processors in Macs that you don’t always hear about are how quiet and cool the M1 and M2 machines are by comparison. In today’s featured computer setup, an IT engineer sings his M1 Pro MacBook Pro’s praises in that regard, not to mention its habit of sipping battery power rather than gulping it.

And he’s also got a popular dual-display configuration going. In this case it’s a Studio Display in landscape mode and a Dell 4K display in portrait mode.

Slim new hub adds the ports a MacBook needs

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Slim new hub adds the ports a MacBook needs
Make your MacBook more useful, not bulky.
Photo: Satechi

The Satechi Pro Hub Slim connects plugs directly into the side of a MacBook to greatly expand the range of ports available to the user while adding minimal bulk. It’s slim enough for Apple’s latest notebooks.

There’s nevertheless room for HDMI, two full-size USB-A ports, memory card readers and more.

CdkeySales.com: Fulfill your new year’s resolution to save money on Windows 10 and Office

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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

Even if you’re already giving up on your New Year’s resolutions to eat better and exercise more, you can still fulfill the one about saving money — with huge discounts on Microsoft software. Just check out the big sale at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com to save on Windows, Office and more.

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This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.

Any Cult of Mac reader who wants a great deal on Windows 10 (and other Microsoft software) 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.