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Apple Studio Display firmware update squashes pesky audio bug

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Apple Studio Display
A firmware update for the Apple Studio Display is hopefully the end of the monitor's audio problems.
Photo: Apple

A firmware update released Thursday fixes an audio problem that has afflicted the Apple Studio Display. Users of the pricey monitors have been complaining of choppy playback, audio that cuts out unexpectedly and playback speed issues.

Previously, Apple’s only solution to the problem was a variation on “turn it off and then back on again.”

Mophie’s new 20,000 mAh power bank quickly charges two devices on the go

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Carry 20,000 mAh with with Mophie Powerstation Pro
The Powerstation Pro external battery is just one of several charging accessories from Mophie that just debuted on the Apple store.
Photo: Zagg/Mophie

The Mophie Powerstation Pro boasts 20,000mAh of power, and dual USB-C ports to quickly deliver it to a MacBook or other computer at up to 45W. Apple likes the new power bank enough to launch it Thursday on its online store.

For a deeper look at its performance and features, check out our Mophie Powerstation Pro review.

The same is true of the Mophie Speedport 120, a 4-port charger that can provide up to 120W of power.

In addition, a collection of car chargers from Mophie also just debuted on the Apple store.

Stop struggling to create effective marketing emails

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Hit send on this email marketing premium subscription.
A lifetime subscription to this email marketing tool can save you tons of time and anguish.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Email marketing delivers some of the highest returns on investment, but it’s also hard to get right. If you’re trying to get more eyes on something you have to offer, you could spend a few years mastering email outreach. Or, if you want to save time and still get great results, you could try EmailWritr, a marketing tool designed for email outreach.

If the convenience isn’t enough, maybe this deal will sell you. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime subscription to EmailWritr’s premium plan for just $59 (regularly $3,480).

iOS 16.5 could enhance iPhone 14 with reverse wireless charging

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Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini review
Soon, other MagSafe power banks besides Apple might be able to receive power from an iPhone, not just transmit it.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple will add support for wirelessly charging accessories to the iPhone 14, according to a tipster. iPhones already have limited support for reverse wireless charging, but the capability is supposedly being expanded.

This would make a range of third-party MagSafe accessories more useful.

Geek taxidermy: Get wall art in the form of a disassembled iPod Classic or iPad mini

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The fourth-generation iPod Classic is iconic because it introduced the Click Wheel.
The fourth-generation iPod Classic is iconic because it introduced the Click Wheel.
Photo: Grid Studio

Grid Studio disassembles well-loved gadgets and presents their rearranged innards as framed wall art. And its nostalgic collection for Apple fans just got two new entries.

The collection now includes a fourth-generation iPod Classic and a first-generation iPad mini for your aesthetic consideration.

Flash sale: Get Microsoft Office for just $39.99 — the cheapest it’s ever been!

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A Microsoft Office Lifetime license for Mac just dropped its price down to $39!
Grab a forever license to Microsoft Office for Mac or Windows for the lowest price yet!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Exclusive to Cult of Mac readers, we have a massive price drop on Microsoft Office for just $39.99 until 11:59 p.m. PDT tonight.

Cult of Mac has an exclusive on this deal. No one else is offering MS Office for this low. Office is normally priced at $349, but we have it for less than a few gallons of gas. Act fast, though, because the Cult of Mac MS Office sale ends in a few hours.

Soundcore Motion Boom Plus speaker sports sound as big as all outdoors [Review] ★★★★☆

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Those bits on the end press in and out, as if moved by waves of bass. But they only seemed to move when actually pushed.★★★★☆
Those bits on the end press in and out, as if moved by waves of bass. But they only seemed to move when actually pushed.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

The Soundcore Motion Boom Plus is a powerful, portable outdoor speaker you might want to nab before summer’s over. The boombox-style Bluetooth speaker brings the brawn — 80 watts of power — along with a bit more heft than some competitors.

When you factor in the excellent sound quality, some sporty features and the relatively low price of $179.99, it’s a worthy choice for outdoor use. Some folks might even use it indoors, but many never would because of its black plastic design. It might look at home in a college dorm, but probably not in most living rooms.

Redesigned 2022 iPad might hold on to Home button

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Redesigned 2022 iPad might hold onto Home button
A side-by-side comparison with iPad 9 (right) shows the upcoming iPad 10 (left) will be wider.
Photo: Mysmartprice/Cult of Mac

The 10.2-inch iPad expected in fall 2022 supposedly will get a facelift. Leaked CAD drawing indicate the upcoming tablet will have a larger screen and the flat edges Apple includes in its other tablets.

But the low-cost iPad 10 reportedly will remain the last iPadOS device with a Home button after the redesign. The audio jack could be out, though.

Get your home security on lock with this smart, app-controlled deadbolt

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Check your door from your iPhone with this smart lock.
Lock your door from your iPhone with the Bosma Aegis.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Do you ever arrive at work and have that little panicky moment where you’re unsure if you locked the door? Do you go back? Call a neighbor? Hope your autopilot self was responsible today?

Why not just pull out your phone and check to be sure? With the Bosma Aegis, you can control your deadbolt with an app, but that’s not all you can do. For a limited time, the Bosma Aegis Smart Door Lock is only $79.99 (regularly $119) with code SMARTLOCK. If you’re interested, act fast though — this sale only lasts through August 2022.

Slap some color on almost any surface with these color-changing LEDs

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Light up your garden or pool with 12 waterproof LEDs.
Light up your home and garden with this 12-pack of remote-operated LEDs.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Flowers aren’t the only way to add a pop of color to your garden. Whether you want a rainbow road or just some colorful flavor throughout your greenery, this 12-pack of decorative LED lights could be the next beautiful addition to your outdoor aesthetic.

With 16 rotating color options and a smart design, these outdoor LEDs are on sale for only $39.99 (regularly $79).

Keep up with the latest home automation tech with Wemo Smart Dimmer with Thread

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Keep up with the latest smartphone tech with Wemo's Smart Dimmer with Thread
Wemo’s latest dimmer switch uses HomeKit over Thread for fast, reliable connections.
Photo: Belkin/Wemo

Dimming your lights is just the most obvious feature of the newly announced Wemo Smart Dimmer with Thread. It uses mesh networking to provide fast, reliable connections to your HomeKit home-automation system so you can control the switch from anywhere – across the room or across the country.

Plus, the wall dimmer switch doesn’t require a neutral wire so it can be installed in older homes as easily as new ones.

Microsoft Teams adds native Apple silicon support at long last

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Microsoft Teams is getting native support for M1 and M2 Macs ... pretty soon.
Microsoft Teams is getting native support for M1 and M2 Macs ... pretty soon.
Photo: Microsoft

Apple first said it would transition from Intel chips to Apple silicon more than 2 years ago. Then Cupertino launched the first M1 Mac in November 2020. And, finally, today Microsoft said its Teams app will now run natively on M1 and M2 Macs.

So it’s about time.

But don’t get greedy and expect the upgrade immediately. The Redmond tech giant said the rollout to users will be incremental.

iPadOS 16 might be delayed until October

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iPadOS 16 Stage Manager
iPad users could be waiting longer than expected for iPadOS 16.
Image: Apple

iPadOS 16 reportedly won’t be introduced in September, as expected. Instead, the next major iPad upgrade has supposedly been pushed back by a month.

The upcoming version is packed with new features, including giving iPads with an M-series processor support for floating app windows on the tablet screen and on external displays

M1 MacBook Pro and custom PC split dual gaming displays [Setups]

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The owner tried to set this whole thing up to roll into another room.
The owner tried to set this whole thing up to roll into another room.
Photo: cjeffe10

Some computer setups will make you green with envy, considering their gear’s quantity as well as quality. Take today’s featured setup, a delight for both gamers and podcasters.

It sports not just a new M1 MacBook, but also a powerful custom gaming PC. It boasts not just a solid 27-inch full HD display, but a monster 49-inch super-ultra-wide screen. And it relies on not just a good webcam, but a premium mirrorless digital camera.

And the list goes on, extending to audio and even a new mechanical keyboard. Read on.

Troubadour’s durable Pioneer Backpack suits the office or the gym [Review] ★★★★

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The Troubadour Pioneer won't look out of place at the gym or in the office.★★★★
The Troubadour Pioneer won't look out of place at the gym or in the office.
Photo: Troubadour Goods

It might be time to get a new backpack. The British company Troubadour Goods makes just just what you need. It recently released four of its sustainable bags in a limited-edition color, a dark khaki.

They sent me the Troubadour Pioneer Backpack to try out. And it’s a stunner, fit for taking to work or outdoor hikes and trips to the gym in between.

OWC’s rugged, waterproof SSD with Thunderbolt expands to 4TB capacity

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OWC Envoy Pro FX was unveiled at CES 2021.
The OWC Envoy Pro FX portable SSD is designed for the urban jungle or a chaotic movie set.
Photo: OWC

The OWC Envoy Pro FX is a very rugged external SSD that previously topped out at 2TB, but is now available with 4TB of storage capacity.

The solid state drive is dustproof, drop-proof, and waterproof. It’s compatible with Mac, iPad, and many other devices. Plus, it supports Thunderbolt as well as USB connections.

Why Apple is (nearly) recession-proof

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Apple’s financial results were all the company could ask for.
Analysts expect consumers to keep buying Apple products, no matter what the global economy does.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

Although economists can’t agree whether a global recession is on the way, it’s definitely a possibility. But Apple execs don’t seem to have a lot to worry about – market analysts remain generally upbeat about the company.

Here are comments from a range of experts that are sure to warm Apple CEO Tim Cook’s heart.

Tune into AM, FM, shortwave and more with this compact travel radio

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We've got an Amazon's Choice radio for an even lower price.
This travel radio even comes with a swank leather cover.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your smartphone isn’t the only way to stay connected to the world of music, sports and news. Even before TVs, people had a fun, portable, convenient way of staying tuned in their interests: radio.

It turns out that video didn’t completely kill the radio star, because the medium is making a comeback. And you can tune into a world of music and more with the Eton Elite Traveler. This compact radio is an Amazon’s Choice product, but we’ve got a better price at $49.99!

M2 MacBook Air blows away other Macs in speed test

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M2 MacBook Air review roundup: The fast and the beauteous
The Apple M2 chip gives the 2022 MacBook Air a crazy fast web browser.
Photo: Apple

The new M2 MacBook Air got an amazing score on the Speedometer 2.0 benchmarking app. Apple’s latest notebook solidly beat other Macs in this test of web browser speed.

The performance boost comes from the new Apple M2 processor – the MacBook Pro with the same chip scores equally well.

Here’s your chance to get a lifetime of Curiosity Stream for less than $200

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Stock up on documentaries with this lifetime of CuriosityStream: limited time availability.
Stop repeating Netflix documentaries and get this lifetime of CuriosityStream, limited time deal.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

How’s that Netflix documentary list looking lately? Still pretty sparse? You could watch the Bob Ross documentary again, or you could check out a streaming service that lives and breathes documentaries.

Curiosity Stream offers thousands of incredible documentaries, educational television and more, all in one location. That means no more bouncing between streaming services as you burn through the paltry selection. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime Curiosity Stream HD Plan for only $179 (regularly $250).

Apple Maps extends cycling directions to all 50 states

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With the addition of Hawaii, now you can get turn-by-turn biking directions in all 50 states.
With the addition of Hawaii, now you can get turn-by-turn biking directions in all 50 states.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

If you ride a bike, now you can now get turn-by-turn navigation from Apple Maps in all 50 states. That’s because cycling directions recently arrived in Hawaii.

If you get rolling now, there’s just time to bike through the whole country in … never. Not gonna happen.

But it’s nice to know directions are available all over if you ever need them.

Are you worthy of Nomad’s new golden Base One chargers?

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Nomad's Gold Base One Max looks so money.
Nomad's Gold Base One Max looks so money.
Photo: Nomad

Nomad’s refined and costly Base One and Base One Max MagSafe chargers are widely considered to be of excellent quality,  even “high-end” status. But now you can feel even more like a king — maybe King Midas — by snagging one with a rich golden hue.

That’s right, Nomad just rolled out golden gear for you, the Gold Base One and Base One Max.