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Apple gear finds stout home on custom maple standing desk and monitor riser [Setups]

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Both the standing desk and monitor shelf sport 3-inch-thick maple.
Both the standing desk and monitor shelf sport 3-inch-thick maple.
Photo: [email protected]

A great computer setup starts with a solid desk — preferably a standing desk, so you can sit or stand as your aching body requires. Today’s featured setup finds a MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, Studio Display and Dell 4K monitor resting easy on a stout maple standing desk and monitor riser.

Wherever you see wood in the photograph, know that it’s 3 inches thick. That’s one way to reduce monitor wobbling.

CDKeylord 11.11 Sale: Get Windows 10 Pro for $16 and Office for $26

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Be sure to use promo code CULT when shopping for software deals at CDKeylord.com to get the lowest possible price.
Be sure to use promo code CULT when shopping for software deals at CDKeylord.com to get the lowest possible price.
Photo: CDKeylord.com

November 11 (“11.11”) is a special discount day for many products sold all over the world. And so it is for Microsoft software when you visit the 11.11 Sale at software activation keys provider CDKeylord.com. Better yet, as a Cult of Mac reader, you can click on the links below and get an even better deal on Windows 10.

Plus, you can score big savings on plenty of other Microsoft software.

In order to maximize your savings, enter promo code CULT at CDKeylord.com. That will take an extra 30% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and more.

Mac enters third year of two-year transition to Apple chips

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Mac enters third year of two-year transition to Apple chips
The Mac Pro still runs on Intel. It's overdue for Apple silicon... whatever the chip gets named.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

At the launch of Apple silicon in 2020, the Mac-maker committed itself to a two-year transition away from Intel processors. Today marks the first day of year three of that transformation but the Mac Pro still uses Intel chips. Apple missed its deadline.

There has not even been a mention from Apple of a replacement macOS workstation with an M-series processor. A few leaked details are all we have.

There’s limited stock on this early Black Friday deal for two 4K drones

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Grab a two-pack of drones for a limited-time early Black Friday price.
It's your chance to grab two drones for a super-low early black Friday price while we have them.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Trying to get your gift shopping done at a discount? Every Friday this November, we’re releasing early price drops on some of our most popular products so you can get ahead of your shopping list before Thanksgiving.

One example is this two-pack of Ninja Dragon drones that could be an excellent gift for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. The Alpha Z Pro and Flying Fox 4K camera drones are currently $110 during this promotion, but there’s no telling how long they’ll be in stock. 

Mythic Quest returns with even more manic hilarity [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Mythic Quest season 3 recap: Mythic Quest is turning into the Poppy Li show -- and that's a very good thing.★★★★☆
Mythic Quest is turning into the Poppy Li show -- and that's a very good thing.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewMythic Quest — the Apple TV+ sitcom about the world’s most popular role-playing video game company and the kooks who staff it — returns today for a third season of behind-the-scenes insanity and power plays.

Poppy and Ian are nearly at each other’s throats working together at their new company. And David and Carol are panicking now that they have no idea what to do with Mythic Quest.

Give your iPhone a private second number for $25 with this top-rated app

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Get a private second phone number for life for less than $25.
Use a private second phone number on your iPhone with this top-rated app, less than $25 today.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A second phone line has countless benefits. But before you take out another expensive contract or buy a burner phone, consider Hushed. This private phone line service can give your iPhone a second phone number without costly contracts. Right now, you can purchase a lifetime subscription for just $24.99, down from $150.

Charge Apple devices from almost any power source with this 5-in-1 multiport cable [Review] ★★★★☆

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Charge your Apple devices from almost any power source with this 6-in-1 multiport cable★★★★☆
Never find yourself without an iPhone charger if you add inCharge X to your keychain.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

It’s happened to all of us. Your iPhone battery is on empty and there are plenty of chargers around but no Lightning cable. The same thing can happen with a iPad and even a Mac. The inCharge X from Rolling Square is just what you need. It’s tiny enough for you to take it everywhere, but adaptable enough to enable almost any type of Apple device to get power from almost any charger.

Rolling Square also makes inCharge X Max, which is just as flexible but with a 5-foot cable built in.

I tested both. Here’s why I think they’re brilliant.

How to get started using Mastodon

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Leave Twitter, join us! …please
Mastodon is a good Twitter clone, but it needs some more active users like you.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Perhaps you, like many others, would like to move away from Twitter. If you read news, webcomics or blogs, you can follow all the same stuff with an RSS reader. But if you want to follow people in your community and talk to others online with the same interests, there’s a Twitter alternative you may have heard about: Mastodon. It’s a full-blown Twitter clone that a lot of people you may know are moving to.

Recent changes at Twitter did not instill confidence in the platform’s future. That’s about the shortest and most diplomatic way I can summarize the cavalcade of poor decision-making that has trickled down from their new CEO, he-who-shall-not-be-named, Rocket Car Tunnel Guy. It’s the last straw for a lot of people.

Despite the memes you may have seen, signing up for Mastodon isn’t that hard. There are just a few things you need to consider. Let me show you how to use Mastodon.

New ‘Shot on iPhone’ video touts super-stable Action Mode

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Normally this shot would be shaky enough to turn your stomach. But Action Mode makes it smoothe.
Normally this shot would be shaky enough to turn your stomach. But Action Mode makes it smoothe.
Photo: Apple

A new YouTube video commissioned by Apple demonstrates how well Action Mode in iPhone 14 stabilizes tricky, action-packed video shots without any special equipment.

And every handset in the iPhone 14 series has the feature, so you, too, can be an action movie director.

iPhone Emergency SOS via satellite on track for November launch

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Globalstar satellites
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models will soon be able to use satellites to exchange emergency texts.
Photo: Globalstar

Apple is investing $450 million into satellite infrastructure to insure its Emergency SOS via satellite service for the iPhone 14 series launches in November as scheduled.

A majority of the funding goes to Globalstar, a global satellite service based in Louisiana.

Last chance! Save $20 on magnetic mount that makes your iPad stand tall

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You can easily bring your tablet up to eye level with SwitchEasy's MagMount stand.
You can easily bring your tablet up to eye level with SwitchEasy's MagMount stand.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Have you noticed yourself slouching as you look down at your iPad, even when it’s on a stand and resting at a decent viewing angle? SwitchEasy offers an option that raises your tablet up to eye level, improving your posture and keeping those pains in the neck from happing.

It’s the SwitchEasy MagMount Magnetic iPad Stand. And Thursday is your last chance to get 20% off the stand in the Cult of Mac Store. The flash sale ends November 10.

New Philips Hue smart lights get festive for the holidays

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You can get the colorful new lights strings starting November 15.
You can get the colorful new lights strings starting November 15.
Photo: Signify

With the Christmas holiday season fast approaching, Philips Hue, owned by Signify, broke out its new Festavia string lights. They work with HomeKit, the Home app, Siri voice commands and the Hue app.

They’re not cheap, however. A 65-foot cord with 250 LED lights goes for $160.

Windows 11 Photos app can now access images in iCloud

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More Apple services coming to Windows 11
Windows users get get a touch of sweet iCloud Photos goodness
Screenshot: Microsoft

Thanks to cooperation between Apple and Microsoft, the Windows 11 Photos app is now able to access photos and videos from iCloud.

This is one of several recent cross-platform collaboration moves by the two tech titans.

Make packing easier with the best price online on this Apple-compatible 3-in-1 wireless charger

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Grab a three-in-one Apple-compatible wireless charger for the best price online.
We've got the best price online for this folding triple wireless charger.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It might be time to start packing for your holiday trip. You can cut down on cluttered cables in your luggage with the MagStack, a wireless charger that can power three Apple devices at once. The MagStack can power your Apple Watch, iPhone and AirPods, and you can get it for the best price online at just $44.99 (reg. $69). 

Apple restricts AirDrop’s ‘Everyone’ visibility to 10 minutes in China with iOS 16.1.1

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The new
Apple has limited AirDrop's visibility window in iOS 16.1.1.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

With iOS 16.1.1, Apple has limited the window during which iPhone users can receive AirDrop files from non-contacts in China. The move comes after Chinese protesters used AirDrop to spread anti-government images to other iPhone users.

Currently, you can accept AirDrop from iPhone users not in your phonebook for 10 minutes. After that, your phone will only remain discoverable to your contacts.

Colorado becomes third state to support driver’s license in Apple Wallet

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Colorado joins US states that support Digital ID in Apple Wallet
Residents of three U.S. states can now store their driver license and digital ID information in Apple Wallet.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Colorado just became the third U.S. state to support digital driver’s licenses and IDs stored in an iPhone’s Wallet app. Residents of the state can now show their handset instead of a physical card in many situations where ID is required.

Apple launched its digital ID initiative back in 2021, but adoption is moving slowly. Still, multiple states have committed.

Win a small but powerful SuperMini Go MagSafe wireless power pack [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Zendure's SuperMini Go battery pack features wireless MagSafe and Qi charging, plus a fast-charge USB-C port.
Zendure's SuperMini Go battery pack features wireless MagSafe and Qi charging, plus a fast-charge USB-C port.
Photo: Zendure

This week’s giveaway is a mini MagSafe wireless power pack with a ton of features.

Worth $70, the SuperMini Go from Zendure has MagSafe, Qi-charging, and a USB-C port that can recharge an iPhone 14 Pro to 50% in less than 30 minutes.

The power pack is compact enough to fit in your pocket, yet powerful enough to simultaneously charge three devices. And we have three to give away to lucky readers.

86% off a lifetime of online music courses might strike a chord with you

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learn from the pros in 90+ music courses.
Take note of this great deal on a lifetime of music courses.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re looking for gifts for a new music student, you probably don’t want to buy something extravagant like a new instrument, and more sheet music might be overwhelming. Instead, you could help them hone their craft by grabbing a lifetime subscription to an expert-led music-learning platform they can control and explore at their leisure. Punkademic covers production theory, sound design and more, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for 86% off, the best price you’ll find online.

New bug fix patches are out for iOS, macOS and iPadOS

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iOS 16.1
An update to iOS 16.1 is out. The same is true for iPadOS 16.1 and macOS Ventura.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple on Wednesday released iOS 16.1.1, iPadOS 16.1.1 and macOS 13.0.1 to fix bugs and close a couple of security holes. These updates don’t add any new features, but are nevertheless recommended for all users.

There are no such patches for watchOS or tvOS.

Apple TV+ will bring back murderously fun Bad Sisters for season 2

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The Garvey sisters shall return, Apple TV+ said.
The Garvey sisters shall return, Apple TV+ said.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ said Wednesday its murderously fun dark comedy Bad Sisters, which ended its first season in October, will return for a second go-round.

That’s good news for fans of the show — myself included — but you have to wonder what will happen with the story. The Belgian show it’s based on, Clan, had only one season. And at the end of season one of Bad Sisters, the Garvey women get what they want regarding their jerk of a brother-in-law.

But perhaps his demise won’t turn out to be the perfect crime it looked like. And that’s no spoiler. You know he’s dead from episode 1.

Bad Bunny named Apple Music 2022 Artist of the Year

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Bad Bunny named Apple Music 2022 Artist of the Year
In celebration of his chart-topping album and his impact on global pop, Bad Bunny is Apple Music’s Artist of the Year for 2022.
Photo: Apple Music

Bad Bunny is Apple Music’s Artist of the Year for 2022. The award came because of “the musician’s artistic excellence and influence on global culture,” according to Apple.

After being released in May, Un Verano Sin Ti, the artist’s sixth project in four years, is Apple Music’s most streamed album of 2022 and now the biggest Latin album of all time.

Folding iPhone is here! Too bad there’s only one.

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Folding iPhone is here! Too bad there's only one.
This proof-of-concept device is the world's first folding iPhone.
Photo: KJMX

Those dreaming of a folding iPhone can look enviously at group of clever hackers in China who made one just to prove it could be done.

What they made isn’t simply a concept video. Their device is fully functional, and even uses a screen originally from an iPhone.

Stick this stylish sleeve for Apple Pencil anywhere

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Strong adhesive lets you stick the sleeve anywhere.
Strong adhesive lets you stick the sleeve anywhere.
Photo: Elago

Even if you have an Apple Pencil 2 that sticks magnetically to the edge of your iPad, that’s not a super-secure storage option for the stylus because it could get knocked off. And it’s not an option at all for the original Apple Pencil. So it’s a good idea to have another, much more secure way to carry your stylus.

That’s where the Elago Apple Pencil Holder comes in. Strong adhesive lets you stick it anywhere.

And right now you can pick it up for just $10.99 in the Cult of Mac Store.

Graphic designer trades up to Mac Studio and Studio Display [Setups]

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That's some moody lighting. The guy who owns this setup is a photographer.
That's some moody lighting. The guy who owns this setup is a photographer.
Photo: Allen Williams

Las Vegas-based graphic designer, video editor and photographer Allen Williams recently made the move from an older iMac to a brand new Mac Studio and Studio Display combo.

He shared his updated computer setup — and a bit about what a difference it makes in his work — with Cult of Mac this week.