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Apple’s holiday quarter comes in worse than expected

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Apple logo with the text
$117.2 billion in revenue seems like a lot of money, but Wall Street expected more from Apple
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple’s financial results from the December 2022 quarter include revenue and earnings per share that declined compared to the same period of the previous year. The figures did not live up to analysts’ expectations, which is dropping the share price.

Still, CEO Tim Cook stayed positive: “As we all continue to navigate a challenging environment, we are proud to have our best lineup of products and services ever, and as always, we remain focused on the long term and are leading with our values in everything we do.”

Who will be Apple’s next Jony Ive? Nobody, apparently.

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A MacBook Air with ominous red lighting and a giant white question mark.
Apple apparently does not plan to replace departing industrial design chief Evans Hankey.
Photo: Adrian Regeci/Unsplash License

Apple reportedly stopped looking for a replacement industrial design chief. This is surprising, as it’s a high-profile position once held by Jony Ive, who led the team that created the iconic look of the iPhone, iMac and more.

The corporate rearrangement increases the power of Jeff Williams — Apple’s chief operating officer and possibly Tim Cook’s eventual replacement as CEO.

Juice up 4 Apple devices with this modular charging station [Review] ★★★★☆

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Zens 4-in-1 Modular Charging Station★★★★☆
Zens' latest powers up four Apple devices without a lot of cable clutter.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Keep your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods all powered up with the Zens 4-in-1 Modular Charging Station. This one multi-device can take on all the Apple computers and accessories you carry around every day.

I put the charging station in my home office where it replaced the octopus of cables normally required by these devices. And there are built-in stands for iPhone and Apple Watch.

Carry MacBook or iPad plus accessories in style with these new sleeves

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This soft and stylish sleeve works for any 15- to 16-inch MacBook.
This soft and stylish sleeve works for any 15- to 16-inch MacBook.
Photo: Elago

If you like a touch of “soft and comfy” with your style, Elago’s fiber-fill sleeves for MacBook and iPad could be for you. They’re a soft cases for your devices that are also environmentally friendly because the material in them is recycled.

And these sleeves won’t break the bank, either. You can choose from different sizes and colors and pay less than $30 in some cases. Check out the collection in the Cult of Mac Store.

Pick up a rare first-gen iPhone for a mere $50,000

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Pick up a rare first-gen iPhone for a mere $50,000
Is this something you'd play $50,000 for?
Photo: LCG Auctions

You can grow your collection of classic Apple gear with an original iPhone from 2007… if your pockets are deep enough. A first-generation iOS handset doesn’t usually go for that much, but this one is still sealed in the original packaging.

Typically, an iPhone 1 sells for a few hundreds dollars. This one might hit $50,000.

Light up your Valentine’s Day date with this mood-setting LED lamp

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Light up your V-Day date night with this mood-setting LED lamp.
Take over half off this high-tech LED lamp that's perfect for Valentine's Day.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Valentine’s Day only comes once a year, and the pressure to make things special can break even the best of us. No matter how much we spend on fancy dinners, bouquets or thoughtful gifts, it all comes down to the little things. We’re talking stuff like music and lighting — especially when you’re taking that special someone home for the first time.

We’ll leave the playlist to you, but if you’re looking to make a big impression in a small space, it doesn’t get more effective than this minimalist LED floor lamp from Lamp Depot, which is now only $139.99 a pair.

View saved Wi-Fi network passwords on iPhone and Mac [Pro Tip]

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MacBook render with
It is easier than you think to view saved Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone or Mac.
Graphics: Rajesh

Your iPhone automatically syncs the details of any Wi-Fi network you join with other devices linked to your Apple ID. Thanks to this handy feature, your Mac or other Apple devices will seamlessly join that network without you doing anything. And iOS also makes it easy to share Wi-Fi passwords with other people who are using iPhones or iPads. You can even turn your home’s Wi-Fi password into a QR code for easy sharing.

However, there will be situations when you need to retrieve a Wi-Fi password for sharing with friends who don’t use an iPhone. When that’s the case, follow the steps below to discover the password of a saved Wi-Fi network on your iPhone or Mac.

This convenient magnetic iPhone charger can go anywhere you go

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This convenient magnetic iPhone charger can go anywhere you go and keep your phone powered up.
Charge your iPhone anywhere with this discounted wireless charger, now only $39.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The iPhone is an exceptionally popular tool, and plenty of accessories promise to enhance the user experience. Few items are more paramount than a reliable charging option that allows you to power up without pausing your day, though.

That’s the case with this handy wireless iPhone charger. And currently, you can pick up one for a fraction of the typical cost. Typically $119, the stylish and sleek Speedy Mag charger is available for only $39.99.

Wall Street thinks Apple is just limping along

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Wall Street thinks Apple is just limping along
While the final quarter of 2022 looks to have been a poor one for Apple, the future looks brighter.
Photo: Anna Nekrashevich/Pexels

Analysts don’t expect to be wowed when Apple announces the results of its most recent financial quarter Thursday. They predict the company’s revenue declined slightly during the October-through-December period.

Feeding into the prediction is the struggle Apple had meeting iPhone demand during the quarter, which a top market-analysis firm says could have caused a double-digit drop in shipments. Plus, Apple broke tradition by not introducing new Macs.

Jony Ive creates ‘perfect’ schnoz for Comic Relief’s Red Nose Day

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Has Jony Ive sniffed out a new sideline? His new paper nose looks pretty good on this guy.
Has Jony Ive sniffed out a new sideline? His new paper nose looks pretty good on this guy.
Photo: Comic Relief

Legendary Apple design chief Jony Ive, responsible for the look and feel of iconic products like iPhone, grabbed headlines Wednesday for a new creation — a big, red paper nose. That may sound odd, but it’s for a good cause.

Ive and his team came up with the nose to go along with Red Nose Day, March 17. That’s charity Comic Relief’s day of giving in the U.K. and around the world to help end poverty, particularly among children.

Punch up productivity and gaming alike with new feather-light mouse

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Keychron's new M3 wireless mouse weighs just 79 grams.
Keychron's new M3 wireless mouse weighs just 79 grams.
Photo: Keychron

Best-known for keyboards, Keychron rolled out its new ultra-lightweight M3 wireless mouse Tuesday, touting its strong build and robust features for Mac users and others.

“To accompany it, we have designed the smallest Type-C 2.4 GHz receiver for M3, which is compatible with MacBook and other laptops,” Keychron said.

And at $49, the svelte new optical mouse is affordable, too.

Rock on with Marshall’s rugged new flagship Bluetooth speaker

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The new Middleton carries some heft, but it's still portable.
The new Middleton carries some heft, but it's still portable.
Photo: Marshall

Legendary in rock’n’roll history for its Marshall stacks of amplifiers, the English company recently added a rugged Bluetooth speaker to the top of its growing lineup — the Middleton.

Like Marshall’s other portable wireless speakers — which all have proper English names, by the way — it looks like a guitar amp.

And this top-of-the-line number not only “goes to 11,” but it’s weatherproof and features multidirectional sound, too.

Dream job leads to ultimate home workstation [Setups]

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Maybe the right job will land you a tricked out MacBook Pro, Studio Display and all the other treats in this setup.
Maybe the right job will land you a tricked out MacBook Pro, Studio Display and all the other treats in this setup.
Photo: [email protected]

Wouldn’t it be great if the right job opened the door to building a killer computer setup? It happened for design and product lead Jaime Creixems.

Today’s featured setup is his M1 Max MacBook Pro and Studio Display-driven wonderland, complete with excellent audio equipment and fun sidelights like Lego sets.

Why UPDF is a top choice among PDF editors (53% off now)

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Find out how UPDF stacks up against popular PDF editors PDF Expert and Adobe Acrobat in terms of feature sets and price.
Find out how UPDF stacks up against popular PDF editors PDF Expert and Adobe Acrobat in terms of feature sets and price.
Image: Superace

Most people must deal with PDF files online at some point, like when they fill out forms, sign documents or save files they don’t want others to easily modify. But if you think your only choices for easy-to-use, feature-rich PDF editing software are big, expensive products, you haven’t met UPDF yet.

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by Superace.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how UPDF stacks up against major PDF editors — PDF Expert and Adobe Acrobat — in terms of feature sets and price. Then you can make your best choice. At the end of this article, a special discount will be provided for Cult of Mac readers.

Spatial audio comes to many more Netflix movies and shows

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Spatial audio for Apple TV in tvOS 15
Lean back and enjoy a film on Netflix in spatial audio.
Photo: Apple

Netflix greatly increased the amount of its most-popular content with support for spatial audio, which lets the tv shows and films offer a surround sound-like experience but without all the speakers.

But the enhanced sound is not for every subscriber. The streaming service is using spatial audio as a way to tempt viewers to its Premium plan.

Apple TV+ kicks off MLS Season Pass for soccer fans in 100 countries

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With MLS Season Pass, soccer fans can watch every MLS match via the Apple TV app from February 25 through the league championship.
With MLS Season Pass, soccer fans can watch every MLS match via the Apple TV app from February 25 through the league championship.
Photo: Apple

Major League Soccer fans in more than 100 countries can now sign up for the MLS Season Pass subscription service via the Apple TV app and Apple TV+, Cupertino said Wednesday.

This comes ahead of the 2023 season’s launch on February 25. The new service will air all MLS and Leagues Cup matches, plus hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT games, Apple said.

Free your earholes with these affordable bone-conduction headphones

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Hear what you need and what you want with these headphones boasting bone conduction technology.
These open-ear headphones don't block out the real world.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

AirPods are great and all, but what if you don’t want earbuds jammed into your earholes? These open-ear headphones use increasingly popular bone-conduction tech to deliver audio without plugging up your ears.

These wireless bone-conduction earphones work with iPhones, Macs and iPads. And they let you mix your Apple Music playlist into your soundscape while keeping your ears open for what you need to hear.

You don’t need to pay a fortune for these fancy, futuristic headphones, either. Right now, they’re on sale for just $33.99.

Get the most out of your Xbox with this Game Pass Ultimate deal, now just $8.99

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Get the most out of your Xbox with this Game Pass Ultimate deal, now just $8.99.
Game like you mean it with a cut-rate Xbox Game Pass Ultimate sub.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The twilight of games as physical media is truly upon us. Apologies to those who like the smooth feel of those fragile little discs, but this is a good thing. You may be paying a little more for your console’s subscription plan, but in return, you get access to perks that include a virtual warehouse worth of games.

With a two-month subscription to Xbox’s Game Pass Ultimate, you can access hundreds of games (including some true classics) for just $8.99.

Rugged Samsung SSD expands to 4TB of storage

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Rugged Samsung SSD expands to 4TB of storage
Take 4TB of additional storage wherever you go with this tough SSD.
Photo: Samsung/Cult of Mac

The Samsung T7 Shield rugged SSD launched in 2022 with a maximum of 2TB of capacity and is now available with twice that.

T7 Shield is a a credit-card size external SSD intended for outdoor content creators or travelers. It works with Mac and iPad plus a wide variety of devices.

Adonit Star brilliantly merges iPad stylus with fountain pen [Review] ★★★★

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Adonit Star iPhone stylus review★★★★
That's not a fountain pen.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adonit Star is the stylus for iPad users who love antiques; it’s designed to look like a fountain pen, not the usual plastic pencil. Despite the traditional design, it’s a fully functional stylus that’s ready for handwritten notes or sketching out ideas.

I used it with my iPad Pro, and it works as good as it looks. Even better, it is surprisingly affordable.

Pump up Mac audio quality with new Sound Blaster X5

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In addition to jacking up speaker sound, the X5 should make most headphones sound better.
In addition to jacking up speaker sound, the X5 should make most headphones sound better.
Photo: Creative

Creative’s new Sound Blaster X5, a USB sound card, digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier, promises to jack up your Mac’s audio quality.

It’s not cheap at $280. But the device launched Tuesday might make big difference in the sound flowing from speakers and headphones alike.

‘Periscope’ camera might remain iPhone 16 Pro Max exclusive

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Not this type of periscope.
Not this type of periscope.
Photo: US Navy

iPhone 16 Pro buyers reportedly won’t get the “periscope” camera previous rumors suggested. A camera with the new type of high-end lens will be restricted to only the iPhone 16 Pro Max, according to a reliable source of Apple info.

The new hardware actually will arrive with the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023. But it supposedly won’t come to the regular-size iPhone Pro in 2024, despite what earlier reports indicated.

The pop-up lens should bring a noticeable jump in image quality while also shrinking the thickness of the iPhone’s notoriously large camera hump.

Apple’s super-expensive Pro Display XDR gets a $300 discount

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Pro Display
Apple's Pro Display XDR is impressive but very, very expensive.
Photo: Apple

Looking to buy Apple’s 32-inch Pro Display XDR? Amazon is taking a whopping $300 off the stunning display, reducing the hole the purchase would otherwise make in your wallet.

With an MRP of $4,999, the Pro Display XDR is an expensive piece of tech. But you can take advantage of the deal on Amazon to get the display for $4,699.99.