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Apple makes $50 million commitment to supplier employee development

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Apple supplier development fund
'We put people first in everything that we do.'
Photo: Apple

Apple on Wednesday revealed a new Supplier Employee Development Fund that will offer $50 million to expand access to learning and skills development.

The fund includes new partnerships with leading right advocates, universities, and nonprofits, Apple said. Cupertino will also focus on working alongside supply chain partners to “amplify worker voice” and support rights programs.

$5.5 billion lawsuit accuses Apple of overcharging App Store users

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2021 App Store Awards
Apple just cannot avoid new App Store complaints.
Image: Apple

Apple faces an incredibly pricey lawsuit in the Netherlands, where the company is accused of “market dominance,” “anti-competitive practices,” and overcharging App Store users for apps and in-app subscriptions.

The Consumer Competition Claims Foundation believes Apple has been able to charge “excessively high prices” by excluding all competition and then abusing its “monopoly position.” It says damages could total $5.5 billion.

NFL ‘considers’ its own streaming service for mobile devices

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NFL plans its own streaming service
It could cost just $5 a month.
Photo: Adrian Curiel/Unsplash

There may soon be yet another streaming service to add to your roster. The National Football League is said to be considering a platform of its own, dubbed NFL+, that will stream live games to smartphones, tablets, and laptops.

NFL+ could also provide access to radio, podcasts and team content, according to a new report, which claims teams were briefed on the plans at the annual NFL owners’ meeting that recently took place in Palm Beach, Florida.

Facebook Messenger adds a bunch of handy, Slack-like shortcuts

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Facebook Messenger shortcuts
It's now easier to send silent messages, GIFs, payments, and more.
Image: Meta

Facebook Messenger? Meta Messenger? Just Messenger? We don’t know what it’s supposed to be called these days. But we do know it just added a bunch of useful, Slack-like shortcuts that help you get things done faster.

You can use them to silently deliver messages without notifications, to find the perfect GIF, to send payments and more — all without having to fiddle around inside menus. And Meta says even more are coming later this year.

Historic photos reveal new details about Apple’s first prototype

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Historic photos reveal new details about Apple's first prototype
A careful examination of a photo of an early Apple prototype finds it carries an unexpected name.
Photo: Paul Terrell/Apple-1 Registry

The first computer built by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak is the Apple-1, right? Not quite. Turns out before that was the “Apple Computer A.”

Unfortunately, the actual Apple prototype with that name was not found. But pictures of it from 1976 were. And they show details of this handmade Apple prototype.

Apple stops fixing iPhones reported as stolen

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fixing of taptic engine on iPhone
Be careful who you buy that used iPhone from. If it’s hot, Apple won‘t ever fix it.
Photo: iFixit

An iPhone reported missing or stolen to an industry database can not be repaired at an Apple Store, according to a new company policy.

This means that people need to be careful who they buy from. If they get a deal on a device that turns out to be stolen, they might not able to get it fixed.

Become a full-time NFT entrepreneur with this master class

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Become an NFT expert with 50% off this masterclass.
Want to get in on the NFT action but don't know where to start? We've got some knowledge to drop on you.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Non-fungible tokens show no sign of slowing down. From digital artwork being sold for more than $60 million to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg saying that NFTs are coming to Instagram, there’s never been a better time to break into the NFT space than right now.

The best way to do that? With coursework that gives you a complete overview of the NFT landscape. And right now, you can get an an extra 50% discount on The All-in-One NFT Masterclass for Artists and Entrepreneurs Bundle in our Best of Digital Sale. Simply enter coupon code LEARNNOW at checkout to get this huge e-learning bundle for just $17.50.

Enjoy big bass and 20 hours of playback with Audio-Technica’s new earbuds

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Twenty hours of playback between charges? Not bad.
Twenty hours of playback between charges? Not bad.
Photo: Audio-Technica

One of the impressive features of the growing number of moderately priced, high-quality earbuds on the market is just how long playback lasts between charges. That’s in part because the case where you store them also charges them. But Audio-Technica just rolled out a new set of earbuds that really moves the needle on battery life.

The company’s new ATH-CKS50TW Solid Bass Truly Wireless Earbuds claim up to 20 hours of continuous playback on a single charge, or 50 hours counting the case’s charge. All that, plus the new buds feature low latency and active noise-cancellation (ANC).

Moment’s new Filmmaker Cage for iPhone puts pro tools at your fingertips

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You'll look like a real filmmaker carrying this thing around.
You'll look like a real filmmaker carrying this thing around.
Photo: Moment

Moment added to its lineup of MagSafe-compatible accessories for iPhone Tuesday with three new products and two product updates. The marquee event is the rollout of the Mobile Filmmaker Cage to enhance your iPhone video shooting.

The cage co-stars with the new Moment Strap Anywhere Mount and the new Stick-on Adapter, which can help mount your smartphone in a variety of situations.

Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ starts with hotly anticipated matchup

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Get ready to watch some baseball. It's easier than ever to stream MLB playoffs.
Play ball! Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+ starts April 8.
Photo: Paul Lim/Flickr CC

Apple TV+ got lucky with timing of the April 8 debut of Friday Night Baseball. The live sports show will start with the much-anticipated New York Mets debut of three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star Max Scherzer in a matchup with All-Star Juan Soto and the Washington Nationals.

That game will be followed by the Houston Astros versus the Los Angeles Angels. These weekly doubleheaders are free to watch and available to anyone with internet access (in eight countries to start). And they’re only on Apple TV+, with no subscription required (for a limited time).

Charging problems return for Apple Watch Series 7 owners

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Twelve South HiRise Duet iPhone Apple Watch charging dock
Not again.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch Series 7 owners are suffering more charging problems just two months after earlier issues were eliminated. Some owners report that fast charging is broken after installing the latest watchOS 8.5 update.

Faster charging is one of Apple Watch Series 7’s biggest selling points. Top-ups are supposed to be around 33% quicker than on previous models — but only if you’re using the right charging accessories.

Apple should build ‘Find My’ into everything it makes

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Apple should build ‘Find My’ into everything it makes
We should be able to locate every type of Apple accessory with Find My.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

I’ve misplaced my AirPods case. It’s in my house … somewhere. Fortunately, I can use the Find My app to locate it, as though it were a lost AirPod or AirTag.

Ha, ha, ha! No, I can’t. AirPods cases don’t offer Find My support. Just as the feature is missing from far too many other Apple accessories.

This needs to change. Find My is amazing, but limited by not being on devices that need it.

Update: In autumn 2022, Apple built Find My support into AirPods Pro 2, a sign that the tracking system might be coming to more peripherals.

AirBuddy is the Mac app that makes the most of your AirPods

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This on-sale app lets you connect your AirPods to your Mac.
Mac owners: Get more from your AirPods with this discounted app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

AirPods are some of the best wireless earbuds on the market. Once you use them with your iPhone, it’s hard to switch to something else. Unfortunately, all that AirPods magic doesn’t necessarily translate when you use Apple earbuds with a Mac.

There’s a workaround, though. The AirBuddy app adds some of that beautiful, Apple-style simplicity to the “using AirPods with a Mac” equation. And right now the Mac app is on sale for $6.29 with code DOWNLOADNOW.

Apple stock sees 10th consecutive increase for first time in over a decade

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Apple stock sees 10th consecutive rise
AAPL keeps on climbing.
Image: Apple/Google

Apple’s share price was up 0.5% at the end of trading on Monday, marking a 10th consecutive increase for the first time in more than a decade.

That’s despite reports that indicate Apple has been forced to slash iPhone SE 3 orders due to weaker-than-expected demand. But one analyst says investors are more interested in the performance of iPhone 14 later this year.

Cider is the smart way to enjoy Apple Music on Windows

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Cider for Apple Music
Better than iTunes in every single way.
Image: Cider Collective

iTunes has become a slow and bloated mess over the years — which is why it no longer exists on Mac. But for those who are stuck with Windows, suffering iTunes is necessary if you want to enjoy Apple Music. Or is it?

There are other ways to take advantage of your Apple Music subscription on third-party machines. You could use the web app in a browser of your choice, or you could download Cider, a new and far greater iTunes alternative.

Cider, which is also available on Mac if you aren’t happy with the default Music app, offers a clean and simple user interface and almost all of the features we’ve come to expect from Apple’s streaming service — plus extras.

TikTok tests new feature that will finally make it easier to find lost videos

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TikTok on iPhone
A new 'watch history' feature is in testing.
Photo: Solen Feyissa/Unsplash

Don’t you just hate it when you accidentally refresh TikTok and lose the video you were watching? It can be incredibly difficult to track down the video again if you don’t know which account posted it. But a solution could be on the way.

TikTok is finally testing a new “watch history” feature where you’ll find all the clips you’ve recently consumed. It’s only available in the beta version of the TikTok app for now — but it could soon roll out to everyone.

This medical-grade blue light filter may help you sleep

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Save on this anti-blue light screen protector for iPhones.
Protect your sleep and your phone with this blue light filter.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Blue light from your iPhone display can make it difficult to fall asleep. And that’s especially true if you’re the type to lie in bed scrolling through social media at all hours.

Many devices come with built-in blue light filters that tint the screen yellow. However, those can actually make sleeping even harder. The Ocushield Anti-Blue Light Screen Protector is an attachable blue light filter for the iPhone 12 mini, Pro, Pro Max and older models. And right now it’s on sale for $29.99 (regularly $63).

‘The Slap’ shows why Apple should shake up its events

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Will Smith slaps Chris Rock:
"The Slap" won the Oscars.
Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

Will Smith slapping Chris Rock during Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony shows why Apple should go back to doing live events.

No, not because we need to see deranged audience members assaulting Apple execs onstage. However, the mere possibility that something can go seriously sideways gives live events an undeniable advantage over the type of canned productions Apple began cranking out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m sure this goes against Cupertino’s deeply ingrained cultural bias toward controlling absolutely everything within its power. But if Apple doesn’t get back to putting on live events, its product launches will drift deeper into the uncanny territory of the overproduced infomercial. That’s boring — and it’s bad for both Apple and Apple fans.

Go hands-on with amazing Apple AR glasses running realityOS in this concept video

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Go hands-on with Apple AR glasses running realityOS in this concept video
Don’t keep glancing at your phone — realityOS puts the directions in front of you.
Concept: The Hacker 34

Anyone wondering why they’d want Apple’s much-rumored augmented-reality glasses should watch a new concept video. Rather than focusing on hardware, the concept explores daily use of realityOS, the operating system Apple is apparently creating for its AR glasses.

Watch it now to see what it might be like to wear Apple’s Next Big Thing.

Apple Studio Display not right for you? Try Samsung Smart Monitor M8 instead.

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Apple Studio Display not right for you? Try Samsung Smart Monitor M8 instead.
The Samsung M8 isn’t as high-res as Apple’s new monitor, but costs half has much. And is loaded with other features.
Photo: Samsung

The $1,599 price for the new Apple Studio Display makes it somewhat controversial. Samsung’s response is the $700 Smart Monitor M8, which measures 32 inches and has a UHD resolution.

Samsung clearly has its eye on Mac users. It built Apple AirPlay 2 into the screen. And an image of the display playing Apple TV+ is a prominent part of the press release.

Save 20% on Limited77 iPhone cases, MagSafe chargers and more

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Wooden Bumper for iPhone 12 review
Prices start at just $20!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Limited77 is now running one of its biggest-ever sales in the Cult of Mac Store. You can enjoy 20% off all the company’s products for a limited time only.

iPhone cases, MagSafe chargers, charging docks and more are available from as little as $20. Check out the full lineup and bag a bargain before this sale ends.

M1 Max MacBook drives engineer’s dual-display, dual-HomePod rig [Setups]

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What do you make of the inspirational plaques on the walls around this M1 Max MacBook Pro-driven setup?
What do you make of the inspirational plaques on the walls around this M1 Max MacBook Pro-driven setup?
Photo: [email protected]

We haven’t seen a tremendous number of computer setups centered on powerhouse 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pros — much less such workstations featuring both dual displays and paired original HomePods!

But today’s featured setup is an exception. It boasts those impressive characteristics as well as a useful lesson about not judging a book by its cover as well as striving to be kind online.