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Case X protects your MacBook while adding extra storage and ports

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Case X protects your MacBook while adding extra storage and ports. It's three accessories in one.
Case X from Byrdbyte Creations is three MacBook accessories in one.
Photo: Byrdbyte Creations

There are cases for MacBooks. And there are USB-C hubs. And external hard drives, too. Case X is all three of these. It clips to the top of the laptop, adding six extra ports and up to 4TB of additional storage.

Byrdbyte Creations’ product is still at the crowdfunding stage, though.

Amazon tries invite-based PS5 and Xbox orders amid supply chain woes

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The very first product availably only by invitation will be the Sony PlayStation 5 console.
The very first product availably only by invitation will be the Sony PlayStation 5 console.
Photo: Amazon

As COVID-19 lockdowns complicate technology products’ ongoing supply-chain issues and consumers compete to find scarce products, Amazon is trying something new.

The behemoth hopes its new invitation-based ordering option will help keep robot traffic from causing inventory shortages, as well as price gouging, for in-demand items.

The new system launches for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X orders. Then it will expand to other products. If it works well, it could end up helping consumers lay hands on hard-to-get Apple hardware, too.

Sexy psychological thriller Surface premieres on Apple TV+ in July

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Sexy psychological thriller 'Surface' premieres on Apple TV+ in July
This is our first look at Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Surface, coming this summer to Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ revealed that the psychological thriller Surface from Veronica West will premiere on July 29. It stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, best known for appearing in Apple’s critically acclaimed The Morning Show.

The upcoming series asks, what if you woke up one day and didn’t know your own secrets?

Price is right for potent, 3-port Ugreen GaN Fast Charger [Review] ★★★★☆

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UGreen's 65W GaN charger can top off three devices at once.★★★★☆
UGreen's 65W GaN charger can top off three devices at once.
Photo: DAVID SNOW/Cult of Mac

Strange to think that until quite recently, people carried around separate chargers for each device. And some people still do. But if you’re on the go for work or leisure, wouldn’t it be much better to bring one compact charging device and a few cables?

With compact and potent gallium nitride (GaN) chargers, you can — if yours has the requisite power and ports.

The Ugreen 65W GaN Fast Charger seems like a Goldilocks type, in that regard. At 65W of power output, it’s strong, but not as big as even more-potent chargers. And it has three ports to cover your basic charging needs.

Ready to play WWDC22 bingo? See developers’ predictions.

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Time to play WWDC22 bingo!
Time to play WWDC22 bingo!
Photo: Peter Rimar/Wikimedia Commons CC
WWDC22 - Brought to you by CleanMyMac X

WWDC Bingo is back ahead of next week’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. The crew behind the Flighty flight-tracking app put together the contest, which doubles as a survey about what participants expect during Monday’s WWDC22 keynote.

Unlike your granddad’s bingo, where something like five correct numbers in a row constitutes a win, WWDC Bingo serves up 74 possible outcomes to vote on. Contestants strive to achieve the highest percentage of correct answers.

And both the biggest winner and the biggest loser get prizes, sort of.

Battle the Lord of Damnation in Diablo Immortal on iPad and iPhone

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Battle the Lord of Damnation when 'Diablo Immortal' debuts for iPhone and iPad in June
Pit yourself against the demonic forces of Skarn, Lord of Damnation in Diablo Immortal.
Photo: Blizzard Entertainment

Grab your sword and your iPad to battle the demonic forces of evil in Diablo Immortal. Blizzard Entertainment created the massively multiplayer online action role-playing game for iPhone, Android and Apple tablets.

It’s also out for PC, and players will be able enjoy the game across platforms.

This MagSafe iPhone charger costs less than half as much as Apple’s

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This ultra-fast Magsafe charger is only $17.
Why pay the Apple tax?
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

This MagSafe-compatible charger from Tech Zebra works just like Apple’s, but costs less than half as much. Just like Apple’s pricey accessory, this thin wireless charging puck uses magnets to attach to the back of an iPhone.

But rather than paying $39 (the list price for Apple’s charger), you can get this one on sale for only $16.99.

How to partition your Mac hard drive for the macOS beta

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Partitioning your Mac storage is very easy with the built-in tools.
Partitioning your Mac storage is very easy with the built-in tools.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

A good way to separate your data is to partition your Mac hard drive. A partition splits your storage into two spaces, like putting a trunk divider in your car. The most common use case is to install a second operating system on the same computer. In college, I had a separate partition so I could boot into Ubuntu, and a third partition with Windows. With today’s Macs running Apple silicon, there’s no easy way to natively install Windows or Linux… yet.

But you’re probably here so you can install the beta version of macOS 13. The developer beta is anticipated for release the first week of June at WWDC22, Apple’s annual developer conference. The smart way to install it — especially with the developer betas, which can be notoriously rocky — is to use a separate partition.

The Mac comes with a very handy tool to partition your hard drive for free. Read on to partition your hard drive with Disk Utility.

Apple touts events ‘Beyond WWDC,’ from watch parties to hackathons

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Apple launched a
Apple launched a "Beyond WWDC" webpage listing all sorts of fun events.
Photo: Apple
WWDC22 - Brought to you by CleanMyMac X

In addition to promoting the new #WWDC22 hashtag this week, Apple has made a special webpage highlighting community-hosted events set to happen during or after its Worldwide Developers Conference next week.

The events are a good opportunity for “learning, networking, and fun,” Apple said.

App Store stopped nearly $1.5 billion in fraud in 2021, Apple says

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Apple's press materials led with this graphic.
Apple's press materials led with this graphic.
Photo: Apple

Apple distributed a new set of fraud analysis data Wednesday. It indicated the App Store prevented 1.6 million “risky” and “untrustworthy” apps from defrauding users in 2021, stopping “nearly $1.5 billion in fraudulent transactions.”

As with other recent data compilations, Cupertino released the news at a time when the App Store’s strict policies have come under fire.

Here’s what the new MacBook Air might look like

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New renders show a sleek and colorful New MacBook Air.
New renders show a sleek and colorful New MacBook Air.
Image: Darvik Patel
WWDC22 - Brought to you by CleanMyMac X

Sources have begun to doubt Apple will unveil its realityOS and AR/VR headset at next week’s Worldwide Developers Conference, but some folks still believe a colorful new MacBook Air could still be in the offing.

Whether or not Apple rolls out a new version of its slimmest laptop at WWDC22, here’s what you should expect to see soon enough, from the latest rumors to new renders by concept artist Darvik Patel.

Make switching between 2 laptops on an external display a breeze [Setups]

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No need to always be plugging and unplugging.
No need to always be plugging and unplugging.
Photo: [email protected]

These days, more people than ever have more than one computer. That’s because many people work from home or do the “hybrid” work thing, toiling at an office part time but working remotely, too. And that means they probably tap away on both a work laptop and a personal one.

Today’s featured setup follows that trend. And its owner succinctly explained how they go about switching between the two machines on the same external display with the press of a button.

Nomad’s new Apple TV remote cover adds 2 features Cupertino missed

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Never lose your Apple TV Siri remote again.
Never lose your Apple TV Siri remote again.
Photo: Nomad

When Apple revamped the Siri Remote along with Apple TV in 2021, many people thought it odd the remote didn’t get Find My support. It is, after all, almost inevitable you’ll lose the sleek little device in the couch cushions.

Fortunately, Nomad just made it easier to find the remote — and to hold onto the slippery thing better when you do. The company’s new leather cover adds a touch of heft while also providing a space to insert an AirTag.

Recharge anywhere with Bluetti’s new ultraportable solar power station

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Take your tune and everything else outside. Way outside.
Take your tunes and everything else outside. Way outside.
Photo: Bluetti

This solar power station post is brought to you by Bluetti.

Here’s some good news for campers and RV enthusiasts, as well as anyone who likes to have ready backup power. Bluetti jolted CES 2022 with news in January it would soon launch its ultraportable power station EB3A Solar Generator with 268Wh capacity and 600W inverter. Well, now that time has come.

The company said the lightweight EB3A power station and an available solar input that lets you stay powered up almost anywhere will go on sale June 14.

And even better, an early bird price could get you 23% off!

Your next iPad could come from Vietnam

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iPad Air 5
COVID-19 lockdowns in China force Apple to diversify iPad production.
Photo: Apple

The lockdown in Shanghai and nearby regions, and China’s strict zero-COVID policy, have forced Apple to move some iPad production out of the country and to Vietnam for the first time.

The company already expects to take an $8 billion revenue hit in the ongoing quarter due to supply chain disruptions caused by the Chinese lockdowns.

Apple Watch dominates growing smartwatch market

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Apple Watch sales increasingly dominate globally.
Apple Watch sales increasingly dominate globally.
Photo: Apple

Global sales of smartwatches grew 13% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to last year, with Apple Watch gobbling the largest slice of the pie by far, new research indicates.

Apple’s wearable led in 2021, but new numbers show its lead continues to grow.

Save big on air travel with a Dollar Flight Club lifetime subscription

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This service sends cheap flights straight to your inbox.
Get cheap flights sent to your inbox with this subscription.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Travel is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have. However, everything leading up to your trip can be so stressful you might think planning your next vacation isn’t worth it. If you want your travels to be fun from planning to return, check out Dollar Flight Club.

With a Dollar Flight Club Premium Plus+ lifetime subscription, you can get alerts for cheap travel deals and save up to $2,000 on business, premium economy and economy flights. And it’s all on sale for just $99 (regularly $1,690).

Apple’s AR/VR headset could use ultrasonic sound waves to simulate a breeze in mixed reality

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Oculus Quest
Apple's first headset could be around the same size as Oculus Quest.
Photo: Oculus

Apple could use ultrasonic sound waves to deliver haptic feedback to wearers of its upcoming AR/VR headset when they interact with virtual objects.

Most consumer AR/VR headsets do not provide haptic feedback like that, but some high-end ones feature a basic vibration motor that does not give the desired effect. However, Apple’s new patent filings suggest it wants to solve this issue on its AR/VR headset by using ultrasonic sound waves.

Clear space on your Mac for betas, photos, movies and more

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Clear up storage using the macOS System Information tool and CleanMyMac X.
Clear up storage using the macOS System Information tool and CleanMyMac X.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Death, taxes and running out of storage on your Mac; few things in life are as certain.

But now is the time to do something about it. Apple is about to unveil the next version of macOS at its Worldwide Developers Conference next week, and if you want to install the public beta, you’ll need at least 3GB of free space to install it. You’ll need even more if you follow our recommendation to install it on a separate partition. (Our guide on that will be out soon.)

Whatever the reason you need more storage, read on to learn how to tidy up your Mac.

Apple Design Awards finalists unveiled ahead of WWDC22

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The Apple Design Awards recognize apps in six categories.
The Apple Design Awards recognize apps in six categories.
Photo: Apple
WWDC22 - Brought to you by CleanMyMac X

With its Worldwide Developers Conference coming up, Apple revealed the finalists Tuesday for this year’s Apple Design Awards.

The Apple Design Awards, to be bestowed at WWDC22 next week, showcase apps with outstanding design, innovation, ingenuity and technical achievement, the company said.

Keep cool this summer with nearly $30 off this portable AC

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This mini AC unit can cool your bed.
Enjoy a chill summer with this portable AC.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The warm weather is officially here. There are many ways you can make your home a nicer place to be, but in the summer, there’s only one thing that really counts. How are you going to stay cool?

The evaChill EV-500 is a portable air conditioner that can bring cool air wherever you go. And for a limited time, it costs only $69.99 (regularly $99.99).

Working Apple-1 signed by Woz could fetch $485,000

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Wozniak autographed the Apple-1's CPU in Dubai in 2021.
Wozniak autographed the Apple-1's CPU in Dubai in 2021.
Photo: The APPL Collection

A restored Apple-1 in good working order might see a winning bid of $485,000 in an upcoming auction. That’s not just because the antique computer is nearly all original and actually works. It’s also because Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak signed it.