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Dear… returns with more gut-wrenching stories to inspire you [Apple TV+ review]

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Dear... review Apple TV+ season 2: High-minded celebrities like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar get the celebration they deserve in this Apple TV+ series.
Righteous celebrities like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar get the celebration they deserve in this inspiring series.
Photo: Apple TV+

Dear…, the Apple TV+ show about the public figures who inspire millions, returns for a second season Friday with a new roster of guest stars and a renewed purpose.

The filmed segments — during which we see people who write letters to the inspirational celebrities, as well as the celebs themselves — look splashier this time. The stories prove more gut-wrenching, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is nowhere in sight.

This show’s setup is an easy layup, but sometimes there’s satisfaction in that.

Disney+ considers more affordable, ad-supported subscription for US

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Disney+ considers ad-supported plan
Disney's rivals already offer more affordable plan options.
Image: Disney/Cult of Mac

Disney+ is said to be exploring a more affordable subscription plan that will be supported by advertisements for viewers in the United States.

Its current $7.99 per month (or $79.99 per year) price tag makes the service more affordable than Netflix but more expensive than Apple TV+, while rivals like Discovery+ and Paramount+ already offer ad-supported plans from $4.99.

Dropbox update finally brings Apple silicon support

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Dropbox tests native Apple M1 app
A smoother, more efficient Dropbox experience.
Image: Dropbox/Cult of Mac

Dropbox this week rolled out the first stable update that optimizes its app for Apple silicon chips. The version 143.4.4161 release should be significantly snappier and more efficient on M1, M1 Pro and M1 Max machines.

The update, which should also fix a kernel extensions issue that prevents Dropbox from working properly under macOS 12.3, comes hot on the heels of a similar release for Dropbox competitor Microsoft OneDrive.

Apple removes face mask requirements for corporate and retail employees

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Apple's CEO and Spanish singer Rosalía take a selfie with Madrid Apple employees.
Apple employees have a lot to celebrate.
Photo: Tim Cook

Apple is dropping the requirement for most of its corporate employees to wear masks, but there are still limitations. And the company has begun allowing some of its retail employees to take off their face mask at Apple Stores.

The policy change takes place as the surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant is essentially over.

MaskerAid effortlessly masks faces with emoji in your photos

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MaskerAid auto-detects faces in photos and adds emoji in their place
MaskerAid will auto-detects faces in photos and add emoji in their place
Screenshots: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

I rarely share photos of my family – and more specifically, my daughter – online. I believe that she should have the right to choose if, and when her face is shared online.

This means that I typically only share photos with her face cropped out, or I resort to clunky editing processes to obscure her face. With the brand new app MaskerAid, now hiding her face can be done instantly.

Crimea is again part of Ukraine on Apple Maps

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Crimea is again part of Ukraine on Apple Maps
Apple is no longer concerned about angering Russia by saying Crimea is part of Ukraine.
Screenshot: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Maps now indicates that Crimea is part of Ukraine. That shouldn’t be a surprise … it is. But the app reportedly showed the peninsula as part of no country in the wake of the 2014 Russian invasion and subsequent occupation.

It appears Russia’s recent invasion of the rest of Ukraine pushed Apple to change the way it labels the region.

Add a new Level Keypad to your HomeKit-enabled smart lock

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You can install the Level Keypad anywhere near your Level smart lock.
You can install the Level Keypad anywhere near your Level smart lock.
Photo: Level

If you have a Level HomeKit-enabled smart lock, now you can add a nifty new Level Keypad. It’s an especially convenient way to let others — family, friends, neighbors, the dog walker — have access to your home. And you can control when they can use it.

Samsung takes heat for throttling more than 10,000 apps on its phones

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Samsung caught throttling apps
Fans really aren't happy.
Photo: Anh Nhat/Unsplash

Samsung is this week facing backlash from fans after it emerged that the South Korean company is throttling more than 10,000 apps on almost all its phones. It is believed a feature that cannot be disabled is to blame.

The “performance limits” have been in place for years, some reports claim. However, Samsung carefully avoids throttling popular benchmarking apps so that its devices still achieve impressive scores.

In-person ‘Today at Apple’ events resume after 2-year COVID-19 stop

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Today at Apple resumes after COVID-19 stop
Today at Apple is back with Lady Gaga.
Photo: Apple

Apple today confirmed that it will resume in-person “Today at Apple” events in the United States. Beginning March 7, customers will be able to visit their local Apple Store to “explore the art of remixing with GarageBand” — and Lady Gaga.

The events were stopped two years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which also forced most Apple stores to close. “We can’t wait to welcome more of our communities back to our stores,” said Apple retail chief Deirdre O’Brien.

Samsung will make OLED displays for new iPad models coming in 2024

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iPad Black Friday deals
Apple reportedly cancelled plans for an OLED iPad this year.
Photo: Apple

Samsung has begun developing “tandem” OLED panels for new iPad models that are scheduled to be released in 2024, according to a new report.

Sources say that after Apple has begun transitioning to OLED displays for iPad — which was supposedly scheduled to begin this year before the move was shelved — it will follow with new OLED MacBook and iMac models.

Learn everything you need to know about crypto for $25

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Get into Crypto with this $25 bundle.
Learn the fundamentals of cryptocurrency, blockchain and more with this bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Cryptocurrency is growing every day, but learning how to personally benefit from the digital revolution is difficult if you don’t have a well-informed source.

The 2022 Blockchain Development Fundamentals Bundle can teach you how to mine crypto, create NFTs, and more. And right now it costs just $25.

Apple now fixes Face ID faults without replacing your entire iPhone

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Michael Cohen Face ID
A more affordable, environmentally friendly option.
Photo: Apple

A Face ID fail isn’t going to get you a new iPhone anymore. Apple has begun distributing the components that its own in-store technicians and authorized service providers need to fix Face ID faults without replacing an entire device.

The cost of the repair depends on the service provider, location, and iPhone model, according to one report. And it is only available for iPhone XS or later, with iPhone X — the first to ship with Face ID — left out in the cold.

Get CompTIA-certified and show employers you mean business

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This CompTIA certification training is only $30.
This $30 IT training bundle is the best place to get started on your career.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Skill-based certification is one of the best ways to show potential IT employers that you’re a good investment. The 2022 Complete CompTIA Exam Certification Labs & PBQs Training Bundle will help you get certified and become a competitive candidate. And right now, it’s on sale for just $30.

This half-size card makes SD slot in 2021 MacBook Pro useful

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This half-size card makes SD slot in 2021 MacBook Pro useful
The JetDrive Lite 330 fits flush in the newest MacBook Pro.
Photo: Transcend

The 2021 MacBook Pro includes an SD slot, but cards don’t insert all the way into the notebook. But that’s not a problem with Transcend’s JetDrive Lite 330 — it is smaller than the standard SD card so it sits flush in the slot.

Once inserted, the card acts like any other drive. And data transfers are fast enough for Time Machine backups.

Beats Pill+ speaker returns from the dead for skull-encrusted encore

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The limited-edition Beats Pill+ features a skull-and-bones design.
The limited-edition Beats Pill+ features a skull-and-bones design.
Photo: Study

In a crowded Bluetooth speaker market a few months ago, Apple and its subsidiary Beats by Dre discontinued the Beats Pill+ portable speaker. They gave no word of a replacement. But now, suddenly, it arises from the dead for what appears to be one last encore. And it’s all dressed up in skulls.

The limited-edition speaker crawls from the grave on Friday at the clothing brand Stüssy’s website. But it’s a limited-time offer.

How to see the AR Easter egg hidden in Apple’s spring event invite

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How to see the AR Easter egg hidden in Apple’s spring event invite
Have some augmented-reality fun with the invitation to the Apple spring event.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Concealed in Wednesday’s invite to the Apple spring event is an augmented reality Easter egg. It’s a bonus to make the invite seem cool, and perhaps get Mac fans excited about what’s coming.

The graphic for the March 8 event has an Apple floating in space. And it looks even better in AR.

Experience ‘peek performance’ at Apple spring 2022 event set for March 8

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It's official: Apple 2022 spring event, dubbed
It's official: Apple's spring event, dubbed "Peek Performance," will happen on March 8.
Image: Apple

An Apple VP used Twitter to reveal the date for the company’s much-anticipated product-release event. Apple soon after began issuing invitations. As had been rumored, the streamed event will take place Tuesday, March 8.

While Greg “Joz” Joswiak, global head of marketing, announced the date, he didn’t post an itinerary. Still, leaks and rumors point to an improved 5G iPhone SE and iPad Air. And a new Mac is possible, too.

A place for everything and everything in its place [Setups]

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Behold a computer setup where everything appears in its proper place. And even the printer works reliably.
Behold a computer setup where everything appears in its proper place. And even the printer works reliably.
Photo: [email protected]

Not all “before and after” posts showcasing computer setups on social media are created equal. Sometimes the description and commentary leave out too much information. Sometimes the photographs are inconclusive. And sometimes the improvements just don’t have much “wow” factor.

Today’s featured setup splits the difference. The “before” photo, below, doesn’t offer much to go on. But the “after” photo, above, shows a well-planned setup with a place for everything and everything in its place. And the gear list, below, supports that.

It might not get a “wow” out of you, but it could be instructional.

Remedial MI5 agents bumble and thrill in Slow Horses Apple TV+ trailer

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Actor Gary Oldman plays the fairly dissipated man in charge of the MI5 unit.
Actor Gary Oldman plays the fairly dissipated man in charge of the MI5 unit.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ released its first trailer for Slow Horses, its darkly comic espionage thriller series starring Gary Oldman and Kristin Scott Thomas. And judging by the 2+ minute preview, the show looks like it will be both hilarious and thrilling — a rare feat — as it depicts the fates of “screw-up” MI5 agents sent to “Slough House.”

“Bringing you up to speed’s like trying to explain Norway to a dog,” section chief Jackson Lamb (Oldman) says to a group of his hapless charges at one point. The scene is intercut with the Scott Thomas character explaining, with characteristic elegance and wit, that no agent has ever returned from Slough House to respectable duty.

Tim Cook tells employees Apple will match donations to help Ukraine

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Tim Cook delivers the goods at Apple's iPhone 11 event.
"This moment calls for unity, it calls for courage," Cook said.
Photo: Apple

After Apple on Tuesday confirmed that it ceased product sales in Russia, CEO Tim Cook sent out an email to all employees that promises to match donations made to help Ukraine during the ongoing Russian invasion at a rate of 2:1.

“With each new image of families fleeing their homes and brave citizens fighting for their lives, we see how important it is for people around the world to come together to advance the cause of peace,” the email read.

This M1 Mac mini is just as speedy as the real thing — but 78% smaller!

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Smaller M1 Mac mini custom build
Looks like an Apple TV, but packs all the power of an M1 Mac mini.
Photo: Quinn Nelson/Snazzy Labs

Apple could make the Mac mini, its smallest desktop, even smaller if it really wanted to. One YouTuber proved that by taking the machine’s internals and packing them into a custom shell that’s 78% more compact than the original.

It’s just as fast as an unadulterated M1 Mac mini, but looks more like an Apple TV (in size, at least) than a powerful desktop. And it has MagSafe charging!

Make picture-perfect Instagram Stories and more with Pixlr — on sale for 58% off

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Pixlr Premium is on sale for $79 for 2 years.
Make art you can use with this photo editor and template software.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With the right software tools, you can create professional-quality photos even if you aren’t an experienced photographer. And, if you get the really right software, you can create eye-catching images perfect for sharing on social media, advertising your business and more.

Ready to give your Instagram Stories a serious upgrade or start cranking out click-worthy YouTube banners and brochures? Pixlr Premium is an easy-to-use photo editor that comes with loads of tools for producing the best images around. Plus, it’s on sale for just $79 from Cult of Mac Deals.

‘You’ll just have to wait.’ Siri won’t spill a date for Apple’s big spring event.

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Siri Apple spring event 2022
Siri's lips are sealed.
Image: Aaron Zollo

We’re still yet to see an official invite for Apple’s big spring event, which all but rules out the rumored March 8 date. So, when is it likely to happen? Don’t bother asking Siri. As usual, the digital assistant proves less than helpful.

“You can’t hurry news” is the response you get when asking what will be announced at the next Apple event. “No, you’ll just have to wait.”

Apple puts its own embargo on Russia (and you can help Ukraine, too)

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Caviar Putin iPhone
This Putin-themed iPhone from Caviar seems painfully ironic now.
Photo: Caviar

Apple has stopped selling its products in Russia as the country’s war on Ukraine stretches on. The Mac-maker is taking other steps as well, like removing the state-backed news applications RT and Sputnik from the App Store.

“We are deeply concerned about the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” Apple said Tuesday in a statement. “We are supporting humanitarian efforts, providing aid for the unfolding refugee crisis, and doing all we can to support our teams in the region.”