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First M1 Max and M1 Pro MacBooks hit Apple’s refurb store

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2021 MacBook Pro review roundup: Just what we hoped for
New isn’t always the best option. Save big by buying a refurbished 2021 MacBook Pro from Apple.
Photo: Apple

Just added to Apple’s refurbished offerings are the MacBook Pro models that in launched fall of 2021 with the blazing fast M1 Max and M1 Pro processors. These refubs offer welcome cost savings — especially on such recent notebooks — but they can not be reconfigured. Buyers can only choose from the configurations Apple has in stock.

But again, savings are considerable: a refurbished 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max is up to $350 off.

Flashbacks and a funeral propel The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey [Apple TV+ recap]

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The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey recap Apple TV+: Astounding acting makes for another compelling episode.
The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey recap Astounding acting makes for another compelling episode of this touching show.
Photo: Apple TV+

Ptolemy starts tying up loose ends in this week’s episode of The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, the Apple TV+ series based on the book of the same name by Walter Mosley.

We see reconciliation and revelations for almost everyone this week, in a finely acted and carefully directed hour of television. Ptolemy’s memories are fading, but before they do, he remembers his days as a boy. And he realizes he wants his nephews to feel protected the way he used to.

Wyze knew of its security cameras’ vulnerability for 3 years and told no one

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A Wyze V2 security camera.
A Wyze V2 security camera.
Photo: Wyze

Media outlets are reporting that Wyze knew for three years about a security flaw that rendered its security cameras vulnerable to hackers. But in all that time, it did not tell its customers about the problem.

News of the flaw broke on Tuesday. Wyze, long know for its inexpensive but useful security cameras, has since responded to the controversy, as noted below.

Pachinko packs an emotional wallop [Apple TV+ recap]

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Pachinko recap Apple TV+: This is what memorable television looks like.
This is what memorable television looks like.
Photo: Apple TV+

Pachinko, the epic, time-hopping Apple TV+ series about a Korean family’s struggles, hits its stride in a truly unbelievable fourth episode.

The show started strong enough, but it reaches pantheon level in this incredible installment, which sees Solomon renouncing his capitalist training, Sunja saying goodbye in the past and hello in the future, and a climactic singalong uniting people, eras and cultures.

This is the kind of thing you’re lucky to get out of serialized TV.

Laut’s stylish aluminum stands cradle your Apple devices in style

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Laut stand for iPhone
And they're more affordable than you might think!
Photo: Laut

If you’re looking for a clean way to charge your beloved Apple Watch, or somewhere to place your iPhone so that it’s easy to see while you’re working, check out these elegant, super-sturdy stands from Laut.

They’re made from robust, anodized aluminum and designed to look good anywhere. They’re also available in a range of color options to match your Apple devices.

‘Mac setups are cool but Lego Technic is cooler’ [Setups]

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Those Lego Technic race cars flying across the wall in the back are almost as complicated as real cars.
Those Lego Technic race cars flying across the wall in the back are almost as complicated as real cars.
Photo: [email protected]

Who doesn’t like to have a little fun on a Friday, especially when it’s also April Fools’ Day? Not that today’s featured setup is a joke or fake in any way. It’s real. It’s serious. Not as serious as a heart attack, maybe. But it’s a working setup that likes to have a good time, let’s say.

The seriousness stems mainly from a late-model MacBook Pro and a killer ultra-wide LG display. The good time comes from the super-cool Lego Technic racing cars on the wall — two for now, with a third to come. Each one of these things has thousands of pieces.

Roblox sides with Apple in App Store battle against Epic Games

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Roblox
Roblox has a good relationship with Apple it wouldn't want to ruin.
Image: Roblox

It would appear that large sections of the developer community are firmly behind Epic Games in its battle for a fairer, more open App Store. But not Roblox, which believes Apple’s strict controls enhance safety and security.

The online game platform, which calls itself a metaverse company and boasts almost 55 million daily active users, said in a legal filing this week that the App Store review process adds “greater legitimacy in the eyes of users.”

Lumon’s drones plot their escape this week on Severance [Apple TV+ recap]

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Severance recap Apple TV+: Lumon Industries doesn't know what lies ahead.
Lumon Industries doesn't know what lies ahead.
Photo: Apple TV+

The plan is set on this week’s episode of Apple TV+’s dark comedy thriller Severance. But will our heroes make it out of Lumon Industries? Will anyone believe Mark, Helly and Irving when they wake up from their regular lives and emerge their work selves?

This week’s magnificently tense episode, directed by series executive producer Ben Stiller, is a real nail-biter. It’s wonderfully edited and excellently performed.

Severance has abandoned its early crux — the depressing lives of office drones who literally have no souls because they’ve been surgically stripped of them — for a more fast-paced approach to the show’s thriller aspects.

It’s no longer a show about the drudgery of both lives lived by lost people. It’s about the race to get back some measure of its characters’ personhood.

Apple ‘actively testing’ 9-inch foldable, but don’t expect foldable iPhone before 2025

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Apple tests 9-inch foldable
Could Apple's first foldable be a lot like the Galaxy Fold?
Photo: Matt Baumeister/Unsplash

Apple is “actively testing” a 9-inch foldable device, but it won’t be taking on Samsung with a foldable iPhone until 2025 at the earliest, one analyst claims.

The company’s “priority order” for foldables is said to be medium, large and then small devices. Its current prototype is being used to test new technologies and may not be indicative of an upcoming product.

Windows 10 lifetime license for $14, Office for $28 — get 90% off in Easter Sale

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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 is presented by Keysbuff.

The Easter holiday is often associated with chocolate bunnies and candy eggs, but this year it also means big savings on software. Cult of Mac readers can get great discounts from software activation keys provider Keysbuff. You can save up to 90% off the full price on Windows 10 and get great savings on lots of other Microsoft software.

Just use promo code COM at Keysbuff.com to get 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 products with lifetime licenses.

Modded Android phone steals iPhone’s Lightning port

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First Android phone with Lightning port
Why? Why not?
Photo: Ken Pillonel

This Samsung Galaxy A51 is almost certainly the only Android phone in the world that uses a Lightning port. That’s thanks to engineer Ken Pillonel, who hacked the handset to use Apple’s connector instead of USB-C.

The port is fully functional, with support for charging and data transfer — despite the fact that Apple designs its cables to work only with its own devices. Why go through all that effort? Well … why not?

Spy series Slow Horses comes out of the gate fast and sarcastic [Apple TV+ recap]

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Slow Horses recap: Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, head of a group of screwup spies in new thriller series Slow Horses.
Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, head of a group of screwup spies, in new thriller series Slow Horses.
Photo: Apple TV+

Slow Horses, based on the first book in the Slough House series by author Mick Herron, is the newest addition to the Apple TV+ roster of thrillers.

In the series, which premieres Friday, Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the leader of a group of misfit spies who work cases in secret while MI5 looks down its nose at the scrubs.

Directed by James Hawes and created by Will Smith (no, not that Will Smith), the first two episodes of this oddball spy show prove reasonably diverting.

Host unlimited websites for life with this top-rated service 

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Grab unlimited web hosting for life.
Lock in web hosting for life with one of these heavily discounted iBrave subscriptions.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether in your personal or professional life, everyone needs great web hosting. Now’s the perfect time to grab a lifetime deal for hosting unlimited websites with the well-reviewed iBrave Cloud Web Hosting.

We’ve got a deal on it now for just $99.99 — that’s a 96% discount off the regular price of $2,997.

Apple teams up with LG to build foldable iPad and MacBook devices

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An iPhone concept shows a realistic folding iPhone design
Just don't expect to see one any time soon.
Image: ConceptsiPhone

Apple is said to be collaborating with LG on new foldable iPad and MacBook models with flexible OLED displays. LG is already gearing up to supply similar displays to HP for a foldable laptop scheduled to launch this year.

The report corroborates earlier claims from one display analyst, who claims Apple is exploring foldable/rollable display technologies for future devices. It warned, however, that a foldable iPhone won’t come until 2025 at the earliest.

Avengers assemble! Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans will reunite in Apple TV+ film

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Apollo 11 wallpaper
Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans are set to star in Project Artemis, a film about the 20th century’s space race.
Photo: NASA

Two Avengers stars are making a movie for Apple TV+. Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans — perhaps best known as Black Widow and Captain America — are working on a mysterious Project Artemis.

The news started out as a leak, but Evans has since confirmed it.

The 6 best VPNs for your Apple devices

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Choose from 6 of the best VPNs for your Apple devices.
Take your pick of these VPNs to secure all your Apple devices.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether it’s for keeping your private data totally secure while online or for streaming new TV series with zero geographical restrictions, everyone needs a reliable virtual private network for their internet-connected devices.

So, if you still haven’t gone anonymous online, now’s the time to invest in a VPN that will protect you for life. Right now, you can grab some incredible deals during Cult of Mac Deals’ Best of Digital Sale. Simply enter the coupon code DOWNLOADNOW at checkout to take 30% off every single one of these top VPNs.

Now all small US companies can sign up for Apple Business Essentials

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Apple Business Essentials supports small businesses through the entire device management life cycle, beginning with streamlined employee onboarding. At Espresso Services Inc., an employee begins onboarding with the Apple Business Essentials app.
Apple Business Essentials supports small businesses through the entire device management life cycle, beginning with streamlined employee onboarding. At Espresso Services Inc., an employee begins onboarding with the Apple Business Essentials app.
Photo: Apple

Apple said Thursday all small businesses in the U.S. can now sign up for its new Apple Business Essentials service. Previously in beta testing, the new service brings together device management, 24/7 Apple support and iCloud storage into flexible subscription plans.

Apple also unveiled new AppleCare+ for Business Essentials insurance options. Cupertino also made a two-month free trial available to all customers, including those who used the service in beta.

Apple puts iPhone game controller on the drawing board

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Apple puts iPhone game controller on the drawing board
It’s undeniable: Apple is at least considering an iPhone game controller. And one for iPad, too.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple is showing interest in making a clip-on iPhone or iPad game controller. It filed a patent application for various permutations of exactly that sort of accessory on Thursday.

This would be a new product category for the company. But it could be a boon for Apple Arcade subscribers.

Mic drop: Rode breaks into premium headphones market

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Rode's wired, over-ear headphones promise great sound and supreme comfort.
Rode's wired, over-ear headphones promise great sound and supreme comfort.
Photo: Rode

Popular microphone brand Rode, based in Australia, dropped the mic Tuesday with major news: It’s getting into the premium headphones business.

The company rolled out its first pair of high-end cans, the Rode NTH-100 Professional Over-Ear Headphones.

Run the show with this new wireless intercom headset system

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If your team is within 1,000 feet, you can talk to them.
If your team is within 1,000 feet, you can talk to them.
Photo: Hollyland

Anyone who works in event management — weddings, conferences, film sets — knows that fluid communications are key. But rather than run around with your iPhone glued to the side of your head while everything goes to pieces, why not invest in a wireless intercom headset system? Hollyland launched a new set Thursday that could fit the bill.

That way, you and your team can keep in constant touch and you’ll look super-important, too.

iOS 15.4.1 improves iPhone battery life, macOS 12.3.1 fixes Bluetooth bug

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iOS 15.4.1 release improves iPhone battery life, macOS 12.3.1 fixes Bluetooth bug
If you have an Apple device, it probably got an OS update on Thursday.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple introduced bug fix updates for every one of its operating systems on Thursday. These updates should improve the battery life on iPhone and iPad. And for Mac users, the new version fixes well-publicized bugs recently introduced by macOS 12.3.

However, there are no new features in macOS Monterey 12.3.1, iOS 15.4.1, iPadOS 15.4.1, watchOS 8.5.1 and tvOS 15.4.1 — Apple just fixed small problems. All five updates are available to download immediately.

Saving a single flower spurs big changes in trailer for new Peanuts Earth Day special

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Saving a flower spurs big changes in trailer for Peanuts Earth Day special
Earth Day is April 15. Celebrate with the Peanuts gang in a new special.
Photo: Apple TV+

It’s the Small Things, Charlie Brown, the first-ever Peanuts Earth Day special, premieres April 15 on Apple TV+. It tells the story of how a single flower inspires the Peanuts gang to start caring for the environment, and features an original song by American singer-songwriter Ben Folds.

A trailer for the upcoming special debuted Thursday.

Safely carry your cameras with this magnetic locking strap

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Keep that expensive camera secure.
Keep that expensive camera secure.
Photo: Dora Goodman Cameras

Most of us take pictures with our phones, but if you walk around with one or more actual cameras from your fancy collection, a boutique camera maker has a new strap that could change your life.

The Goodman Camera Strap with Mag-Lock takes the tensile strength of Kevlar cord and marries it to a quick-release magnetic locking harness system attached to a handmade leather camera strap.

Up your game with a new Keychron Q3 custom mechanical keyboard

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mechanical keyboard deals -- Keychron's tenkyeless Q3 follows the popular Q1 and Q2 custom keebs.
Keychron's customizable, tenkyeless Q3 followed release of the popular Q1 and Q2 custom keebs.
Photo: Keychron

Keychron launched its Q3 80% tenkeyless (TKL) full metal custom mechanical keyboard on Tuesday. Following sold-out initial runs of its Q1 and Q2 customizable keebs, the Q3 is a full aluminum mechanical keyboard with gasket mount design. It features hot-swappable switches, a high-grade aluminum case, QMK/VIA mapping support and more, the company said.

Exclusive 60% discount! Run Windows programs on Mac with Parallels Pro

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It's the best of both worlds: run Windows on Mac with this app.
Grab this discounted subscription to Parallels Pro before it disappears.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Choosing between Mac and Windows isn’t hard: Mac is clearly better. Apple’s computers have an intuitive user interface, fantastic apps and much better hardware. But Windows is ubiquitous, and there are a ton of Windows-only apps that Mac users sometimes need.

Fortunately, you don’t need to choose between Mac and Windows because Parallels Desktop Pro Edition lets you run Windows and macOS at the same time. And right now, it’s on sale for just $32 (regularly $99) if you use Cult of Mac Deals’ exclusive discount code GET60NOW.

But hurry: This outrageous deal must end at 11:59 p.m. PDT on March 31, 2022.