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Beats Studio Buds get an atomic makeover

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The collaboration with artist Futura features his signature atomic symbol.
The collaboration with artist Futura features his signature atomic symbol.
Photo: Beats

Just about a week after collaborating with Twitch streamer Nickmercs, Apple subsidiary Beats is out with another special-edition release of Beats Studio Buds, this time with design firm Futura Laboratories.

This is the second Beats collaboration for the design firm’s founder, the graffiti artist Futura.

The long wait for India’s first Apple store continues

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India Apple Online Store
Apple sells directly to consumers in India through its website, but still hasn't managed to open its landmark retail store in the country.
Photo: Apple

The first Apple store in India won’t open until 2023. Apple has been trying to open the retail location since 2019, but it’s been beset with delays.

The Mumbai store is supposed to be part of an important shift in the way the company does business in India. Another store in the country is also on the way.

Tykr stock screener helps you put your money somewhere it will grow

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Make a low-risk investment with Tykr Stock Screener.
Take stock of your investments with this stock market screener.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Shouldn’t it be exciting to invest in the stock market? Unfortunately, when you have to process so many fail-safes, you could lose quite a bit of that enjoyment.

Get the thrill of investment back by letting an app do the safety screening for you. Stock screener Tykr helps you quickly find great investments, so you don’t accidentally pick from the bottom of the barrel when you’re plunking down a huge sum. And lifetime Pro plans are currently on sale for only $119 (regularly $900).

Zuckerberg says Apple and Meta are battling over the internet’s future

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Apple versus Meta
The CEO of Meta says his company and Apple are in a "competition of philosophies and ideas."
Photo: Cult of Mac

Both Apple and Meta (formerly Facebook) are both building AR/VR headsets, but they’re going about it in dramatically different ways. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told Meta employees the two companies are in “a competition of philosophies and ideas.”

It’s possible the metaverse is the future of the internet. And Zuckerberg describes Meta as being a leader in creating an open metaverse with multiple companies working together, while he says Apple is creating its own closed version.

But Zuckerberg’s comments ignore another major philosophical difference between the twin companies. Apple believes in protecting user privacy, but Meta makes its money by collecting and selling information about users.

Former Lamborghini exec will help steer Apple car design team

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Apple's new hire worked on this model, a Lamborghini Huracan.
Apple's new hire worked on this model, a Lamborghini Huracan.
Photo: Lamborghini

A former Lamborghini executive recently joined Apple to lead design of the company’s long-rumored self-driving car, according to a new report Wednesday.

As Apple works toward releasing an electric vehicle before the end of this decade, the addition of Luigi Taraborrelli, who worked for the fabled Italian automaker for 20 years, could accelerate the project.

You may not be fluent in 112 languages, but this portable translator is

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Get text or spoken translations from 112 languages in an instant with this scanner.
This text and speech translator may be able to read faster than you.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Traveling abroad might be intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. Just a few years ago, if you wanted to talk to someone in another language, you’d either have to spend months studying or cling to a dictionary and try your best.

Now, you can land in another country and use the Newyes Scan Reader Pen 3 to read or live-translate in another language for you. For a limited time, this portable language translator is on sale for $124.99 (regularly $199).

Level up to a genuine ostrich leather Apple Watch band

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Ostrich leather is a whole new animal.
Ostrich leather is a whole new animal.
Photo: BluShark

Everyone knows leather Apple Watch bands are a timeless class-act, long-popular for a variety of reasons. But which kind of leather matters, too. One type might be quite durable but stiff, needing breaking in. Another type might be incredibly soft and supple from the get-go.

One option for the latter type would be ostrich leather. And while it’s always a premium choice, the Cult of Mac Store has a beautiful band for a surprisingly affordable price.

Apple TV+ trailer shows Bad Sisters trying to get away with murder

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Bad Sisters focuses on a very unusual family
Eve Hewson, Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle and Sarah Greene in Bad Sisters, coming soon to Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

The Garvey sisters vowed to always take care of each other, which leads them toward murdering their abusive brother-in-law. Their scheme plays out in Bad Sisters, a creation of Irish actress, writer and producer Sharon Horgan, who is known for her darkly funny shows.

The comedy/thriller series debuts on Apple TV+ in August, and a trailer debuted Wednesday.

Bluetti jacks up the portable power with new flagship solar station

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The Bluetti AC500 delivers power however you need it, thanks to 16 versatile output ports.
The AC500 delivers power however you need it, thanks to 16 versatile output ports.
Image: Bluetti

This post is brought to you by Bluetti.

Do you dream of achieving power independence? Whether that means living off the grid or just keeping your home lit when the power goes out, Bluetti’s got a new, top-of-the-line solar power station for you.

Just last year the company put out its modular AC300 solar station and B300 battery module combo. Now it’s back with a worthy successor — the even more powerful AC500 and B300S combo.

Macs with ProMotion displays get Firefox performance boost

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2021 MacBook Pro models should see a performance boost with the newest Firefox browser update.
2021 MacBook Pro models should see a performance boost with the newest Firefox browser update.
Photo: Mozilla

The newest update of the Firefox browser includes a performance boost for computers with displays running at a 120Hz refresh rate or higher. That’s good news for anyone with a 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro model from 2021, which have ProMotion displays.

Those MacBook models feature Liquid Retina XDR displays with ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates ranging from 24Hz to 120Hz.

Floating iPad and MacBook are ready for close-ups in well-lit workstation [Setups]

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Who is this person, a movie star? A TV reporter? Nope, he's in sales.
Who is this person, a movie star? A TV reporter? Nope, he's in sales.
Photo: [email protected]

Today’s featured setup looks, at a glance, like it sports dual mounted laptops. But one’s an iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard and one’s a MacBook Pro, floating on either side of a 32-inch external Samsung display. Universal Control lets the user work across the screens.

His only problem seems to be that silver Magic Trackpad sticking out like a sore thumb in darker surroundings. Naturally, social media came to the rescue with possible fixes.

Regulatory scrutiny starts before Apple Pay Later even launches

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A major regulator points at Apple Pay Later to express concern over Big Tech entering the short-term loan business.
A major regulator points at Apple Pay Later to express concern over Big Tech entering the short-term loan business.
Photo: Apple

When Apple said in July at WWDC22 it would launch Apple Pay Later with iOS 16, it effectively said it would enter the short-term loan business, known for “buy now, pay later” plans.

So it’s no big surprise that the Cupertino tech giant — accustomed to regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and abroad — is now facing it from financial industry regulators.

But what’s somewhat surprising is that regulators are making noise about a host of concerns even before Apple Pay Later comes out.

Keep iPhone and Apple Watch charged on the go with folding wireless charger

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Could this folding iOS-compatible charger be the travel companion you're been looking for.
Get this wireless magnetic charger for your favorite Apple devices.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re packing a charger for the road, you probably don’t want it to take up too much space, much less carry more than one for your iPhone and Apple Watch. That’s where this Two-in-One Folding Wireless Magnetic Charger comes in handy.

This iPhone, Apple Watch and Qi-compatible charger can power two devices at once, and it folds into a compact square. It looks almost exactly like Apple’s MagSafe Duo charger, which retails for $129.

But you don’t need to pay that much. For a limited time, you can get this wireless folding charger for $69.99 (regularly $114).

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Get a year of Sam’s Club plus a free $10 e-gift card for less than $25

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Shop until you drop with this $24.88 membership to Sam's Club.
Stock up with a Sam's Club membership for only $24.88.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Sometimes you’re only up for one trip. Unfortunately, that doesn’t change if you need to grab groceries, a new shirt for work and your prescription meds. But, with a Sam’s Club membership, you can fit all that and more into one trip. You could even grab a new microwave while you’re at it.

For a limited time, you can get a one-year membership for Sam’s Club plus a $10 e-gift card for only $24.88 (regularly $55).

Save up to 33% on Olpr’s real leather accessories for AirTag

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Olpr AirTag accessories
AirTag's missing piece.
Photo: Olpr

Olpr’s awesome AirTag accessories are all beautifully made from genuine leather. The company sells a bag charm, a luggage tag and a keyring, all of which come with a side helping of class. And you can bag yours at up to 33% off the usual price in the Cult of Mac Store for a limited time.

During the sale, prices start at just $25 for these luxe AirTag accessories that let you securely attach one of Apple’s trackers to your precious belongings.

OtterBox’s new MagSafe charger juices up iPhone and Apple Watch

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It's a full MagSafe charger with 15W of power for your iPhone.
It's a full MagSafe charger with 15W of power for your iPhone.
Photo: OtterBox

OtterBox rolled out its new iPhone and Apple Watch charger Tuesday — the 2-in-1 Charging Station with MagSafe. Not just “MagSafe-compatible,” it offers your iPhone a full 15W charge and your Apple Watch a 5W charge.

And if you want to charge your AirPods case instead of your iPhone, you can.

The sleek wireless charging stand, featuring a white-and-silver combo colorway called “Future,” is sold by both OtterBox and Apple.

Why Apple never shipped M1 Mac Pro when it was ready

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Mac shipments skyrocket as pandemic drags on
'M2 Extreme' Mac Pro could launch later this year.
Photo: Apple

Apple reportedly had an M1-powered Mac Pro ready to ship months ago but decided against launching it. Instead, the company decided to unveil an M2 Extreme-powered version later this year.

The Cupertino giant is seemingly also not working on redesigning the Mac mini anytime soon.

SpyBuster app keeps iPhone data out of Russia’s hands

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The app helps you weed out iOS apps that may be transmitting data to Russia or Belarus.
The app helps you weed out iOS apps that may be transmitting data to Russia or Belarus.
Photo: MacPaw

The new SpyBuster iOS app scans your iPhone for other apps that may be surreptitiously sending your data to Russia or Belarus.

The privacy-oriented app comes from Ukraine-based developer MacPaw, which released a version of SpyBuster for macOS in the spring of 2021, not long after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Take a peek at the brand-new Apple Brompton Road store in London

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Apple Brompton Road, Apple’s newest store in London, opens Thursday, July 28, in the city’s bustling Knightsbridge neighborhood.
Apple Brompton Road, Apple’s newest store in London, opens Thursday, July 28, in the city’s bustling Knightsbridge neighborhood.
Photo: Apple

Apple previewed its newest retail outlet in the U.K. Tuesday, Apple Brompton Road in London’s Knightsbridge neighborhood. The store, set to open Thursday afternoon local time, claims a few “firsts.”

They include the first mirrored ceiling in an Apple Store, the first dedicated pick-up area in a U.K. Apple Store and the first time Apple has used a certain type of sustainable flooring.

Located a stone’s throw from Hyde Park and featuring design inspired by local flora, the store also boasts a brand-new augmented reality (AR) experience about William Blake.

VistaCreate makes beautiful graphic design easy

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This free, easy-to-use graphic design software lets you quickly create eye-catching images for social media and more.
This free, easy-to-use graphic design software lets you quickly create eye-catching images for social media and more.
Image: VistaCreate

This post is brought to you by VistaCreate.

Graphic design software VistaCreate offers an array of tools that can help anyone create effective images for their business or project — design skills optional.

To do that, the easy-to-use graphic design software offers a huge array of templates, free access to a massive library of images and videos, and handy tools, like a new background remover that helps open up your image options.

Even better, the free version of VistaCreate is feature-rich on its own. But if you want even more, you can try the Pro version for a few dollars a month.

What to expect from Apple’s quarterly earnings report

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Some analysts think Apple will beat earnings expectations, but others are doubtful.
Some analysts think Apple will beat earnings expectations, but others are doubtful.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next quarterly earnings report and call with analysts take place on Thursday. (It’s Q3 for Apple’s fiscal year despite being Q2 on your calendar.) And the company has already warned it may take an up to $8 billion revenue hit for several reasons.

As usual, after the fiscal results come out and the stock market closes for the day, Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will talk with financial analysts on a public call about the results and future expectations.

Make the switch to this compact 3-in-1 Nintendo Switch-compatible docking station

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Your Nintendo Switch could feel like new with this 3-in-1 dock hub.
Give your Nintendo Switch an upgrade with this compact docking station.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

After its launch in 2017, the Nintendo Switch became a massive hit, beloved by gamers everywhere. There have been few updates to the popular console since then, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your own revisions.

With this Nintendo Switch-compatible docking station, you can ditch the clunky original Switch Dock for an upgrade that’s as sleek and portable as the console itself. For a limited time, you can get a 3-in-1 Nintendo Switch Docking Station for $19.99 (regularly $24).

Apple and Koss avoid trial by settling AirPods-related patent dispute

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Apple and Koss settled the dispute just two days ahead of the trial.
Apple and Koss settled the dispute just two days ahead of the trial.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Court documents submitted Saturday indicate Apple settled a patent-infringement lawsuit related to AirPods with audio manufacturer Koss.

The company had accused the maker of AirPods and Beats earbuds and headphones of infringing on Koss wireless headphone technology patents.