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Apple explains why Stage Manager is not coming to non-M1 iPads

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Why the best iPadOS 16 features are limited to M1 iPads
You can't have iPadOS 16's Stage Manager multitasking system without one of the capabilities of the M1 processor.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
WWDC22 - Brought to you by CleanMyMac X

Many of the best features of iPadOS 16 like Stage Manager are only coming to the M1 iPads. This angered a lot of non-M1 iPad users since they believe Apple is intentionally trying to limit the feature to newer devices.

The company has now provided an in-depth technical explanation behind Stage Manager not coming to older iPads.

The Essex Serpent comes to its all-too-tidy conclusion [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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The Essex Serpent recap: The Apple TV+ period drama comes to a tidy conclusion.★★★☆☆
A convenient ending seems out of place, but that's only because the whole miniseries was so satisfying.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ period drama The Essex Serpent draws to an orderly close this week after five episodes of disorderly conduct, serpents (both metaphorical and real ones), love, death, betrayal, discovery and friendship.

The miniseries ends on a note that’s a bit of a letdown for how nicely it treats its pack of sinners, but I guess sometimes you have to give “the people” what they want. Ultimately, a great old-school tale of adventure and lust settles for neatness. Though that’s a hair upsetting to me, it was well worth the time it took to get here.

Now and Then’s scheming friends descend into desperation [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★

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Now and Then recap: Rosie Perez gets to strut herself as the young version of Detective Flora Neruda this week.★★★★
Rosie Perez gets to strut herself as the young version of Detective Flora Neruda this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

Now and Then, the delightfully trashy Apple TV+ series about guilty friends committing new crimes to cover up old ones, heads straight into the gutter of desperation this week.

Sofia’s loan is due. Marcos’ wife is leaving him. Pedro’s lover is in jail, and he wants to throw the campaign. Ana is watching her future slip away. Hugo’s still in a coma. And Flora is off the case.

No one’s coming to these poor sinners’ rescue.

15 amazing Apple Watch accessories at insanely low prices

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Apple Watch accessories at low prices
Each will cost you $40 or less.
Photo: Elago, Laut, Elkson, SwitchEasy

Bored of looking at the same old Apple Watch on your wrist? Give yours a makeover by adding a brand-new band or bumper case. There are a wide range of awesome Apple Watch accessories available at surprisingly affordable prices.

We’ve rounded up some of the best that are currently priced at $40 or less to help you out. Check out all 15 right here!

Get a MagSafe-compatible iPhone battery pack for convenience on the go

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This lightning fast wireless charger is amazing (and on sale).
This wireless charger works seamlessly with iPhone 12 and 13.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The best charger is one you barely notice you’re using. And the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone is a super-convenient magnetic battery pack that sticks to the back of your iPhone to refill your battery while you use it.

It’s a lot like Apple’s own MagSafe Battery Pack, but a lot less expensive. For a limited time, the Speedy Mag is on sale for $48.99 (regularly $119).

New MacBook Air is thin enough to make original iPhone look chunky

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New MacBook Air is thin enough to make original iPhone look chunky
It's a MacBook that makes an iPhone – even an old one – look hefty.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Surely you already know that the newly redesigned MacBook Air is super thin. But you might not have realized just how  very sleek it is. It’s actually slimmer than the original iPhone.

In fact, the macOS laptop is much, much thinner than a lot of other classic and recent Apple devices.

Physical just can’t make aerobics look interesting [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Physical recap: An aerobics demo goes wrong for Sheila (played by Rose Byrne) this week.★★☆☆☆
An aerobics demo goes wrong for Sheila (played by Rose Byrne) this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

Physical, Apple TV+’s series about a fitness pioneer and the collection of damaged people in her orbit, hits the fairgrounds for a protest, a demonstration and a cat fight this week. Dramatic stasis and some awkward meetings fill a rootless episode of the enervating drama.

Unfortunately, there’s just no getting around the hollow center of this show: Aerobics don’t make good TV.

Find your sole mate with Amazon AR shoe-shopping via iPhone

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Turns out you can try on shoes with your iPhone.
Turns out you can try on shoes with your iPhone.
Photo: Amazon

Amazon already had a try-before-you-buy program for Prime members, where you can send an article of clothing back after trying it at home. On Thursday it added Virtual Try-On, an augmented reality (AR) experience where you can try on shoes without ever touching them via iOS.

All you need it the Amazon app and an iPhone to see how a pair of kicks will look on your feet.

Tehran races ahead with more death and betrayals [Apple TV+ recap] ★★☆☆☆

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Tehran recap: We're off to the races this week.★★☆☆☆
Nobody can put the brakes on this spy thriller's never-ending deceptions.
Photo: Apple TV+

This week on Tehran, the Apple TV+ spy thriller narrows its options until there’s only one thing remaining: Mossad agent Tamar and Revolutionary Guard leader Faraz, face to face, heading to a party to carry out an assassination.

If she fails, dozens of people will die. If she succeeds, her target will be dead — but so will Faraz (and probably his wife).

The season’s penultimate episode rests on a climactic car race, with Tamar’s boyfriend Milad making life-or-death decisions and her hands tied. This slightly dodgy second season still time to straighten itself out.

New LG DualUp display is like nothing you’ve seen before

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That 16:18 aspect ratio looks odd but could be great for multitasking.
That 16:18 aspect ratio looks odd but could be great for multitasking.
Photo: LG

LG’s new DualUp Monitor with Ergo is a 28-inch panel with a 16:18 aspect ratio — tall and nearly square. The seemingly unique display features 90W USB-C passthrough charging and more.

Essentially, it’s like two stacked 1440p monitors in one display. And it could be a multitasking powerhouse.

Not feeling poor enough? Check out this guy’s ‘temporary’ setup. [Setups]

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Believe it or not, the main setup has three Pro XDR Displays in it.
Believe it or not, the main setup has three Pro XDR Displays in it.
Photo: [email protected]

Sometimes looking at computer setups is all about practicality, as in finding the right tools for the job at the right price. But other times it’s like ogling other cool stuff you wish you had, like pimped-out cars or beachfront real estate.

Today’s featured setup is a funny one, in that regard. It’s a “temporary” setup, just getting by in lieu of a bigger, better setup. But its gear could make many people drool with desire.

Buy Windows 10 Pro license for $15 and Office for $28 in Big June Sale (save up to 91%)

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Keysbuff offers great deals on Microsoft software activation keys.
Keysbuff offers great deals on Microsoft software activation keys.
Photo: Keysbuff.com

This post on discount Microsoft software is brought to you by Keysbuff.

The Big June Sale at Keysbuff gives you the opportunity to get great deals on software. Cult of Mac readers will find deep discounts from the software activation keys provider. You can save up to 91% off the full price on Windows 10 — and uncover significant savings on lots of other Microsoft software, as well.

To score these great bargains, just use promo code COM at Keysbuff.com. That will save you an extra 25% off the site’s already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and others in the list below. You can purchase many of these products with lifetime licenses.

Today in Apple history: App Store developers earn $10 billion and counting

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In its first five years, the App Store becomes an unstoppable money machine, paying out $10 billion to app developers.
In its first five years, the App Store becomes an unstoppable money machine.
Photo: Apple

June 10 Today in Apple history: App Store developers earn $10 billion and counting June 10, 2013: Apple passes a major milestone in iOS history, as payments to app developers top $10 billion on the App Store’s fifth birthday.

Speaking at WWDC 2013, Apple CEO Tim Cook reveals that the company paid out half of this money in the previous year. He also notes that this outrageous total is three times more than all other app store platforms combined. With 575 million user accounts registered, Apple has more credit cards on file than any other company on the internet.

People have downloaded 50 billion apps in total out of a collection of 900,000 available, Cook says, with 93% of the apps downloaded at least once every month.

JBL noise-canceling earbuds: An affordable AirPods Pro alternative

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These JBL noise-cancelling earbuds sound fantastic.
These JBL wireless earbuds pack a big sound -- and active noise cancellation -- for a small price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Every year, the standard for wireless earbuds gets higher while the price gets lower and lower. A few years ago, it was hard to find anything even close to competing with AirPods Pro, but now you can pick up a pair of affordable wireless earbuds with many of the same refined features.

JBL Live Free NC+ in-ear noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones are on sale for only $74.99 (regularly $149) — and it’s amazing what they can do.

For All Mankind season 3 premiere embraces schlock and awe [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★☆☆

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For All Mankind recap: A space wedding goes wrong in the season three opener.★★★☆☆
A space wedding goes wrong in the For All Mankind season three opener.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ alt-history space saga For All Mankind splashes down in the go-go ’90s in its not-really-merited third season. After another decadal jump, Nirvana is king, Bill Clinton is running for office, and we’re apparently going to Mars.

This show’s absurd single-mindedness has not been softened by its premature renewal for a fourth season, by which point presumably we’ll be traveling to the sixth dimension on a rocket sled while Avril Lavigne runs for Congress. Anyway … let’s rip off this Band-Aid.

Colin Farrell will bring a little Sugar to Apple TV+

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Colin Farrell will bring a little 'Sugar' to Apple TV+
Colin Farrell is set to star in a new Apple Original series from creator Mark Protosevich.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ bought the rights to Sugar, a new genre-bending mystery series starring Colin Farrell and created by Mark Protosevich.

There was a lot of interest in the project, with Netflix also reportedly bidding on it.

iOS 16 will allow you to uninstall more built-in apps from your iPhone

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The Find My app has been hiding a secret.
You can remove the Find My app from your iPhone in iOS 16
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 16 will let you to delete the built-in Find My, Health, and Clock apps from your iPhone (or iPad) for the first time.

The company first added the ability to delete pre-installed system apps in iOS 10. It has since expanded the list of supported apps over the years. Why? Threats of antitrust legislation.

Grab AirTag at its lowest price yet

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Grab AirTag at its lowest price yet with these Black Friday AirTag deals
Don't miss your chance to get AirTags at one of the best prices we've seen.
Photo: Kehn Hermano/Pexels

Apple’s AirTag item tracker is available at 17% off the usual price. This is a rare opportunity to get a discount on a single one rather than a bundle of them. But if you prefer a 4-pack, that’s available at 10% off.

It’s good timing: Father’s Day is coming up fast and AirTag makes a nice present.

Win a multi-device charger with built-in MagSafe battery pack [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Pitaka MagEz Slider with MagEZ Battery Pack
The MagEZ Slider charger includes a magnetic battery pack for charging on the road.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

This week’s Cult of Mac giveaway is a sleek multi-device wireless charger that includes a removable battery pack for juicing on the go.

Worth $130, the MagEZ Slider from Pitaka is great way to charge your iPhone and AirPods on your desk or nightstand. But better yet, the charger has an integrated battery pack that attaches magnetically to your iPhone to continue charging away from home.

“The MagEZ Slider is hands down the best charging apparatus I’ve ever used!” said one satisfied customer on Pitaka’s website. And we’re giving away three of them.

Apple hasn’t given up on macOS Big Sur

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macOS 11.1 beta 1 was seeded to developers on November 17.
Macs with Big Sur should upgrade to macOS 11.6.7.
Photo: Cult of Mac

If your Mac is still running macOS 11, there’s a software update you need. Apple released macOS Big Sur 11.6.7 to fix an email bug that prevents email applications from opening attachments.

The new version is available to download now.

Become an urban sketch artist with these digital workshops

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Learn to sketch your world with this course bundle.
These urban sketching workshops are led by a real pro.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Urban sketching is the practice of drawing the world around you, even if it’s the world you’re used to seeing all the time. You can learn to see, appreciate and render the world you live in with the 2022 Urban Sketching Course Bundle. This 20-hour training bundle is on sale for only $39.99 (regularly $319).

Apple pushes ahead with 15-inch M2 MacBook Air and 12-inch M2 MacBook

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Apple may broaden its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineup to capture more market share.
Apple appears to want to broaden its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lineup to capture more market share.
Photo: Apple

Apple is developing new form factors and planning upgrades for its MacBook lineup, Bloomberg reported Thursday. That should result in a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air and a new version of a 12-inch M2 MacBook arriving by late 2023 or early 2024.

And, likely sooner than that, we could see faster chips in the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.

Photos from WWDC22: Apple Park, the Apple Developer Center and more

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Looking back through the doors from outside.
Developers, students and press enjoyed a rare opportunity to visit the Apple Park campus during WWDC22.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
WWDC22 - Brought to you by CleanMyMac X

CUPERTINO, California — For the first time, a big group of developers, students and media were allowed inside the very heart of Apple’s spaceship HQ during WWDC22.

The central office building, known as the Ring, is bigger than the Pentagon. Teams at Apple move in and out between other buildings as projects change — I met several ARKit engineers who recently moved in and were a bit vague on what they were working on. Interesting.

Previously, members of the media had been escorted to the Steve Jobs Theater for press events, which is another building off to the side of the sprawling Apple Park campus. However, the theater would have been much too small to fit the 1,000 developers, 350 students and hundreds of employees attending the WWDC22 keynote viewing party.

This special day for developers — an invitation-only, in-person event at this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference — marked a big step in Apple’s efforts to boost developer trust. Apple also gave attendees a first look at the new Apple Developer Center located just across the street from the Ring.

See the full gallery below for more than 80 pictures of Apple’s campus.

Apple may launch 14.1-inch mini-LED iPad Pro with M2 chip

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Whatever it's called, a 14.1-inch M2 iPad Pro could be coming fairly soon.
Whatever it's called, a 14.1-inch M2 iPad Pro could be coming fairly soon.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple is working on an iPad Pro with a 14.1-inch mini-LED display, ProMotion and Face ID, sources suggested Thursday.

Unfortunately for folks who are already salivating at the idea of such a big Apple tablet, it probably won’t arrive until early 2023.

Hands on: 5 best new features of iOS 16

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A highlight of iOS 16 is a new Lock Screen
The new Lock Screen is just one of the best new features in iOS 16.
Image: Apple

There’s a lot to like in iOS 16, so I couldn’t resist installing the first beta to test the best new features. Here’s my hands-on experience with the new Lock Screen, improvements in the Messages and Mail apps, and more. These are just my favorites from the couple of days I’ve had to test the initial beta.

Plus, the next version of iOS adds other features that might be great — when Apple gets them working right.