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5 things to know about Bluetti’s versatile batteries for Power Week 2022

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Bluetti Power Week features great deals on premium power stations, backup batteries and more.
Bluetti Power Week features great deals on premium power stations, backup batteries and more.
Image: Bluetti

This post on power stations is brought to you by Bluetti.

Electricity, one of the most widely used forms of energy in the world, is one of modern life’s necessities. As summer burns on with record heat throughout much of the world, even a brief power outage can have catastrophic consequences.

To ease your worries about maintaining electrical power this summer, Bluetti plans a Power Week from August 18 to 28, with major savings on the company’s products. Power Week will feature Bluetti’s B230 and B300 batteries, versatile power sources that can save the day when the lights go out.

Recession fears could push iPhone 14 launch forward

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iPhone 14 Pro concept in white
Of course, purple won't be the only option.
Concept: Jon Prosser/Ian Zelbo

Apple’s plan to unveil the iPhone 14 earlier than usual is to get the handset on the market before customers get nervous about buying big-ticket items in a poor economy.

According to a recent unconfirmed report, the 2022 flagship iPhone models will be unveiled in less than three weeks.

Today in Apple history: ‘Misunderstood’ iPhone ad wins Emmy

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The heartwarming
"Misunderstood" earns Apple its second Emmy.
Photo: Apple

Aug 18: Today in Apple history: Apple's Christmas-themed 'Misunderstood' iPhone ad wins Emmy August 18, 2014: A Christmas-themed iPhone ad lands Apple an Emmy for “Most Outstanding Commercial of the Year.”

The prize-winning spot is Apple’s “Misunderstood” iPhone 5s ad. It depicts a silent teenager who won’t spend time with his family at Christmas because he’s too busy with his iPhone. At the end of the ad, he reveals that he’s not actually being a misanthrope. He used his iPhone and iMovie to shoot and edit a heartwarming family montage!

New Keychron Q9 mechanical keyboard is miniscule

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With just four rows of keys, the new Keychron Q9 mechanical keyboard features an unusually small 40% layout.
With just four rows of keys, the new Keychron Q9 mechanical keyboard features an unusually small 40% layout.
Photo: Keychron

The ninth entrant in Keychron’s custom mechanical keyboard line came out Wednesday, making it abundantly clear the company wants to cover every corner of the market. The new Q9 is for folks who want a tiny keyboard they can customize — maybe one that’s smaller than anything they’ve ever used.

As a 40% layout mini keyboard with just four rows of keys, the all-aluminum Q9 makes even a compact 60% keyboard look big.

Improve your swing with $60 off this at-home golf simulator

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Leave those ugly golf swings in the past by picking up this at-home practice tool.
This affordable solution will place you on a path toward improved golf scores.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The end of summer is the perfect season to reinvest learn a new skill or get better at an old one. So, if you’ve decided it’s time to focus on golf, consider a home golf simulator like the SwingLogic SLX MicroSim.

Regular practice with the affordable system can shave points off your golf score and add consistency to your game. During our Back to Education sale, you can equip yourself to learn golf like never before by picking up this package for only $189 (regularly $249).

Preserve paper documents with this iOS scanner app and donate to kids in need

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iScanner adds a machine-learning powered scanner to your iPhone.
Ditch paper for good with iScanner, the AI-powered scanner app for iPhone.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If modern life has taught us anything, it’s that the more backups you have, the better off you are, especially if you’re going to school or learning new skills. The iScanner app for iOS makes it easy to back up anything on paper as a digital file, making it easy to edit and share.

Believe it or not, The Greatest Beer Run Ever is based on a true story [Trailer]

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Believe it or not, 'The Greatest Beer Run Ever' is based on a true story [Trailer]
Zac Efron stars in a coming-of-age story about war and beer. But mostly war.
Image: Apple TV+

Chickie Donohue had a great idea: He wanted to bring some beer to his friends fighting in the Vietnam War. Surprisingly, it didn’t go well.

What is truly amazing is that Chickie’s story is based on real events. And it’s being turned into a coming-of-age tale called The Greatest Beer Run Ever, starring Zac Efron, which will debut September 30 on Apple TV+.

A trailer previewing Chickie’s crazy experiences premiered Wednesday.

September 7 might bring iPhone 14 unveiling

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This concept shows the new iPhone 14 in purple.
This concept shows the new iPhone 14 in purple.
Photo: Jon Prosser/Ian Zelbo

Apple’s next big product event — the release of the iPhone 14 series — will take place on September 7, according to a new report.

The event kicks off a busy release period before the end of the year, with new Macs, iPads and Apple Watches expected.

iOS 15.6.1, macOS Monterey 12.5.1 close security holes

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iOS 15.6.1, macOS Monterey 12.5.1 close security holes
Apple recommends iOS 15.6.1 for anyone with the earlier version.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult off Mac

iPhone users can update to iOS 15.6.1 starting Wednesday, and the same is true for Mac users and macOS Monterey 12.5.1. These are simply security patches with no new features, but still important.

iPadOS 15.6.1 is also out to take care of the same issues. Plus there’s watchOS 8.7.1 with security fixes.

Last chance: Save $25 on compact stand that charges 4 devices at once

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Charge four devices at once with the stand.
Charge four devices at once with the stand.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Who doesn’t love saving money, saving space and saving your gadgets from running out of juice? Well, you can do all three at once when you buy a SwitchEasy 4-in-1 MagPower Charging Stand.

The compact charger powers up four devices at once. And you can get it at 30% off in the Cult of Mac Store through 11:59 p.m. PDT Wednesday, August 17, 2022. That’s a savings of about $25 on something you’re likely to use every day.

Enjoy Apple TV+ free for 3 months from Best Buy

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Enjoy Apple TV+ free for 3 months from Best Buy
You could watch all these shows for the low, low price of $0.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The best way to make Apple TV+ better is to make it free. And that’s exactly the deal Best Buy is offering right now: three months of Apple’s streaming service for $0.

If you want to try Severance after the psychological thriller scored 14 Emmy nominations, you probably won’t get a better chance.

Free new GarageBand sessions teach you to remix tunes by Katy Perry and Seventeen

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Using GarageBand on iPhone and iPad, aspiring musicians can learn how to remix hit songs from Katy Perry and K-pop supergroup Seventeen.
Using GarageBand on iPhone and iPad, you can learn how to remix hit songs from Katy Perry and K-pop supergroup Seventeen.
Photo: Apple

Apple released two new GarageBand in-app Remix Sessions Wednesday for iOS and iPadOS featuring Katy Perry and K-pop phenom Seventeen.

So now’s your chance to learn how to remix hit songs by superstars on your iPhone or iPad (and you don’t need to be any sort of music pro to do it).

‘The perfect computer doesn’t exist’ [Setups]

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The biggest iPad doesn't look so big next to that mechanical keyboard.
The biggest iPad doesn't look so big next to that mechanical keyboard.
Photo: Steve Troughton-Smith

App developer Steve Troughton-Smith raised a few eyebrows recently when he tweeted a photograph of his iPad Pro propped up on a stand and hooked up to a mechanical keyboard that dwarfed it in size. It looked like some ungainly desktop machine of yesteryear.

“The perfect computer doesn’t exist,” the title read.

It would be a stretch to say Troughton-Smith does all his work on that iPad setup, but he does some of it via the tablet, he told Cult of Mac.

Some iPhone 14 models jumping in price, but not all

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Why the iPhone 14 looks like the iPhone 12
Grab your wallet: the iPhone 14 Pro is supposedly going up in price.
Concept render: souta

An analyst believes he has the answer to one of the few remaining mysteries of the iPhone 14 series: price. Supposedly, the two iPhone 14 Pro models are in for a price hike. But there’s good news for those interested in the basic iPhone 14.

The cost of the new iPhone 14 Plus is still a closely-held secret, though.

Adonit’s inexpensive new iPad stylus offers on-tablet wireless charging

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Adonit's inexpensive new iPad stylus offers on-tablet wireless charging
The Adonit Neo Pro gets power from the side of a compatible iPad, just as Apple Pencil does. But it costs much less.
Photo: Adonit

Place the Adonit Neo Pro on the side of an iPad and the stylus will start charging. The Apple Pencil 2 can do the same trick, but the Neo Pro costs less than half as much.

Adonit’s stylus can do most of what Apple’s can, as it offers tilt sensitivity and palm rejection. All it’s missing is pressure sensitivity.

Why pay $179 for AirPods when these Flux 7 Earbuds cost just $26?

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These wireless earbuds pair perfectly to any device and cost just $25.99.
These wireless earbuds are a great and affordable AirPods alternative.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Unless you’ve been living under a rock the past few years, you likely already know that the iPhone no longer comes with a headphone jack. And Apple certainly doesn’t ship its smartphones with a free set of AirPods — the third-generation wireless earbuds retail for $179.

Want a more affordable option? Then you might consider these Flux 7 TWS Earbuds, which are on sale now for a wallet-friendly sum of just $25.99 (regularly $99).

Your next Apple Watch could be made in Vietnam

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Apple Watch sales increasingly dominate globally.
Apple is looking to make the Apple Watch in Vietnam.
Photo: Apple

Apple is looking to assemble MacBooks and Apple Watches in Vietnam to diversify its supply chain. The company’s vendors have so far manufactured these products in China.

Apple suppliers already assemble AirPods, iPads, and iPhone chargers in Vietnam. After China, it is the second largest manufacturing hub for the company.

Sidney Poitier doc explores legendary actor’s legacy [Trailer]

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First Sidney trailer explores Poitier’s powerful legacy
Sidney honors a legend and his legacy as an iconic actor, filmmaker and activist.
Photo: Apple TV+

Sidney Poitier was the first Black man to win an Oscar for Best Actor. His willingness to stand up to racism made him both loved and hated in 1960s America. An Apple TV+ documentary honoring his life and legacy premieres September 23.

A trailer for the film, called simply Sidney, debuted Tuesday.

Turn your iOS device into a scientific tool with this $56 digital microscope

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This Wi-Fi microscope helps kids get a better education.
Use this digital microscope to get an up-close look at the tiny world with your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

iPhones and iPads offer plenty of valuable features, but with the right accessories, you can turn them into bonafide educational tools. For example, this Wi-Fi microscope adds a new dimension to your iOS devices and Macs, turning them into a fun way to explore the world in miniature for $55.95 (regularly $69).

iOS 16 beta 6: All the new features and changes

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iOS 16 beta 4: All the new features and changes
iOS 16 beta 6 is a little light on changes.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

With iOS 16 likely just a month away from release, Apple is picking up the tempo of beta releases of the operating system. Apple seeded iOS 16 beta 6 Monday, a mere seven days after the fifth beta. Along with that increase in release speed, the latest beta packs only minor changes.

As iOS 16 nears its stable launch, we are going to see Apple focus more on squashing bugs and improving the overall stability instead of adding new features or tweaking things around.

Go everyday glam at 66% off with Goldenerre’s Starburst Apple Watch Band

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It's glamorous, but it's not over-the-top glamorous.
It's glamorous, but it's not over-the-top glamorous.
Photo: Goldenerre

Sometimes you want to glam it up a bit, but not so much that you look silly at the laundromat. If you’d like an Apple Watch band that you can look good wearing at the burger joint, the French restaurant and the gala black-tie benefit, look no further. Goldenerre’s Starburst Apple Watch Band has you covered.

And it’s available now for a staggering 66% off in the Cult of Mac Store. That’s a savings of $56!

Wrap iPad in 6 feet of drop protection with new Zagg keyboard case

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Wrap iPad in 6 feet of drop protection with new Zagg keyboard case
Drops and spills are no problem for the Zagg Rugged Pro Connect.
Photo: Zagg

The Zagg Rugged Pro Connect keyboard and case for iPad can take what life dishes out. It has 2 meters of drop protection, it is water resistant, the keys won’t pop off, and there’s a snap-on screen protector.

The case fits multiple generations of the 10.2-inch budget iPad, and is available starting Tuesday.

Add a convenient handle to your iPad with this unique case [Review] ★★★★☆

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Add a handy handle with Pitaka FlipBook Case for iPad★★★★☆
One of the few features an iPad Pro is missing is a handle. FlipBook Case has that handled.
Photo: Pitaka

The Apple Magic Keyboard is a great way to get work done on your iPad, but it’s not a particularly secure way to transport the tablet. The Pitaka FlipBook Case wraps around the Apple Magic Keyboard and iPad Pro or iPad Air to both protect them and add a handle. It even includes a pocket.

I took the leather-and-carbon-fiber case for a spin. Here’s what I found.

2021 MacBook Pro models sink to lowest-ever prices

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If you've been wanting an M1 Pro MacBook, don't miss this opportunity.
If you've been wanting an M1 Pro MacBook, don't miss this opportunity.
Photo: Apple

Amazon surfaced the lowest prices ever on certain 2021 MacBook Pro laptops Tuesday, including 14-inch and 16-inch models. Specifically, there are three options featuring the M1 Pro chip and different sizes of solid state drive (SSD).

If you’re in the market for one of those, act fast. Deals where you can lop $300 off the the usual prices don’t usually last long.