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iPhone 13 whips Samsung Galaxy S22 in performance tests

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iPhone 13 whips Samsung Galaxy S22 in performance tests
No doubt about it, the iPhone 13 is way faster than the Galaxy S22.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Samsung Galaxy S22 has the best chip available for an Android smartphone, but it can’t keep up with Apple’s A-series processor in the iPhone 13 series. Apple’s flagship solidly beats Samsung’s new top-tier models in benchmark tests. It isn’t even close.

And this is despite the iPhone 13 coming out months ago.

Save on a brilliant bumper that keeps Apple Watch looking brand-new

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SwitchEasy bumper for Apple Watch
Buy two SwitchEasy products and get the cheapest half price.
Photo: Adel Neal/Cult of Mac

Keep your beloved Apple Watch looking brand-new with the SwitchEasy protective bumper from just $14.99. Buy it with a band, such as the outstanding Steel Mesh — or any other SwitchEasy product — and enjoy a 50% discount on the more affordable product.

Made from a flexible but sturdy TPU, the bumper covers the back and sides of your Apple Watch to keep them free from dents, dirt, scratches, and shattered screens.

The Sky Is Everywhere delivers a big dose of young adult emotions [Apple TV+ review]

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The Sky Is Everywhere review on Apple TV+: Lennie (played by Grace Kaufman) goes heavy on the grief in this young adult film.
Lennie (played by Grace Kaufman) goes heavy on the grief in this young adult film.
Photo: Apple TV+

The Sky Is Everywhere, the new Apple TV+ film based on the young adult novel by Jandy Nelson, is exactly what you’re picturing based on its title.

Director Josephine Decker steps away from the indie film world to embrace the things a big studio budget can afford (in this case A24 as well as Apple). And she makes sure that every cent is up there on the screen. Decker gives in too much to the sugar high of teen romance, but she and her very committed cast get an A for effort.

Mac users say Zoom is listening in when it’s not in use

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Zoom listening in on Mac: Is Zoom using your microphone when it shouldn't be?
Is Zoom using your microphone when it shouldn't be?
Photo: Franco Antonio Giovanella/Unsplash license

An increasing number of Mac users say Zoom is using their machine’s microphone even when the app is not in use.

Zoom rolled out an update last December for its native Mac app that supposedly resolved “an issue regarding the microphone light indicator being triggered when not in a meeting.” But it doesn’t appear to have worked.

Learn to automate your home office like an IT pro [Setups]

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After seven years working at home, Derek Seaman built this computer setup.
After seven years working at home, Derek Seaman built this computer setup.
Photo: Derek Seaman

Blogger Derek Seaman may be an IT systems architect in his day job, but he also designs and builds advanced computer setups. That is, if his home office is any indication. Which it is.

He shared his MacBook Pro-driven workstation — actually, the whole room — with Cult of Mac recently.

Get Windows 10 Pro lifetime license for $15, discounts up to 91% in Valentine’s Day Sale!

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When you buy Windows 10 at CDKeylord.com, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11.
When you buy Windows 10 at CDKeylord.com, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11.
Image: CDKeylord.com

This discount software activation keys post is brought to you by CDKeylord.com.

In its Valentine’s Day Sale, software seller CDKeylord.com offers more unbeatable deals on genuine Microsoft software. Cult of Mac readers can get 30% off the regular price of a Windows 10 Pro key. And when you buy a Windows 10 key, you can get a free upgrade to Windows 11! Just enter the special discount code CULT when you check out to grab the exceptional savings.

See currently available discounts on various Microsoft software titles in the list below.

Take the pain out of saving Nintendo Switch screenshots on iPhone

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Save Nintendo Switch screenshots to iPhone and iPad
Nintendo's own method is way too slow.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you’ve ever tried saving Nintendo Switch screenshots to your iPhone or iPad, you’ll know it’s a less than seamless experience. It seems Nintendo didn’t put a great deal of thought into designing its rather primitive transfer tool.

Fortunately, someone else did. Developer Filip Němeček has built an app called SwitchBuddy that makes fetching your Switch screenshots on iPhone and iPad faster, easier, and much more enjoyable. Here’s how to use it.

Everyone’s got something to hide in Suspicion [Apple TV+ recap]

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Georgina Campbell has fallen under Suspicion
It's a rough week for prime suspect Natalie (played by Georgina Campbell).
Photo: Apple TV+

New Apple TV+ thriller Suspicion spends some quality time with its suspected kidnappers this week. As Natalie’s alibis and facades begin to crumble, Aadesh’s life falls apart. Meanwhile, Katherine, Anderson and Vanessa all get impatient for breaks in the case.

This week’s well-acted and tightly paced episode is all about the little lies we tell to help our families — and what happens when we run out of convincing ones.

Get this app-building bundle for an additional 15% off for Valentine’s Day

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This course bundle offers 9 courses, 576 lessons, and over 71 hours of app development content.
This is the toolkit you need to design, develop and deliver a beautiful, functioning application.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to jump into the app-building world and don’t know where to start? With The Complete Mobile & App Development Bundle, you’ll learn everything there is to know about app design with top-notch courses.

And just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’ve got a deal you’ll love on a soup-to-nuts coding bundle that normally goes for $1,791. For a limited time, you can get it for just $38.24.

Xiaomi wants to beat iPhone by matching its ‘product and experience’

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Xiaomi wants to match iPhone in product and experience
The Chinese company isn't happy Apple is king on its home turf.
Photo: Xiaomi

Xiaomi is in “a war of life and death” with iPhone, according to the company’s CEO, and the only way it’s going to regain its position as the top smartphone-maker in China is by matching Apple’s “product and experience.”

The Chinese company was once famous for taking a little too much inspiration from Apple and rolling out copycat products. It has (mostly) moved away from that in recent years, and it hasn’t helped its market share.

Class-action lawsuit takes aim at iPad mini’s ‘jelly scroll defect’

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iPad mini on table
It seeks damages for all iPad mini owners in the U.S.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple faces a new class-action lawsuit from owners of the latest iPad mini, who apparently aren’t happy with its “jelly scroll defect.”

The lawsuit claims Cupertino acted “in an unethical, unscrupulous, outrageous, oppressive, and substantially injurious manner” by promoting a device that it supposedly knew to be defective. It seeks damages for every iPad mini owner.

Enjoy WeVPN’s secure, fast browsing for $64.95

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WeVPN is a top-rated VPN.
Unlock borderless browsing on 10 devices with one secure VPN.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to stay safe and anonymous online? You can secure up to 10 devices at once with WeVPN, a virtual private network that doesn’t log your data.

WeVPN protects you and your data from the people and organizations that would track it and sell it. And right now, you can get a two-year WeVPN subscription for just $64.95 (regularly $268).

Apple boosts AirTag privacy after criminal incidents

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AirTags seemed so innocent and helpful at first.
AirTags seemed so innocent and helpful at first.
Photo: Apple

Apple said in a statement Thursday it will update AirTags item trackers with new privacy warnings, better warning sounds and smarter Find My tracking. The efforts comes as the company tries to improve security in the wake of criminal activity involving the devices, such as theft and stalking.

To make sure your AirTag has the latest security improvements, check for the AirTag update regularly.

macOS 12.2.1 update ends nasty Bluetooth bug

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macOS 11.2, the latest version of Big Sur, includes a range of bug fixes.
macOS 12.2.1 will help a lot of Mac users who’ve been hassled by a Bluetooth bug.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Intel-based Mac users can stop worrying about a frustrating Bluetooth bug that causes excessive battery drain. macOS Monterey 12.2.1, released Thursday, fixes the problem.

Apple also introduced iOS 15.3.1 and iPadOS 15.3.1 to fix a bug with Braille screens. And watchOS 8.4.2 is out, too.

Protect your AirPods with this sale-priced accessory kit

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Protect your buds with this AirPod accessory kit.
This four-piece accessory kit will keep you from losing your third-gen AirPods or AirPods Pro.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Possibly the only downside of AirPods is that they can break or get lost. You can customize your Apple earbuds, and make them last longer, with a four-piece AirPods accessory kit from Chargeworx.

This kit, which works with AirPods Pro as well as third-gen AirPods, comes with four items that combat common problems. And right now, it’s on sale for $22.99, a full 54% off the regular price of $49.

Make your house a little smarter with updated Home Widget for HomeKit

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Home Widget for HomeKit updates just made your house a little smarter.
Home Widget for HomeKit updates just made your house a little smarter.
Photo: Home Widget for HomeKit

If you’d like to improve your experience using HomeKit-enabled accessories on iOS, it might be time to try Home Widget for HomeKit. It already provides quick access to the Home app from your Home Screen, and it got a refresh on Wednesday, adding sensor support, different panel sizes and more.

Canadian celeb ‘Strombo’ runs Apple’s new book club

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First up on the reading list is Neal Stephenson's Termination Shock.
First up on the reading list is Neal Stephenson's Termination Shock.
Photo: Apple Books

In the tradition of media personalities helming book clubs — Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon — Apple Books welcomes a new book club with a new host. The Canadian is not exactly a household name in the U.S., but he has a track record with Apple. It’s Apple Music Hits live radio host George “Strombo” Stroumboulopoulos, who said in a tweet on Tuesday he’s going literary.

The new club is called Strombo’s Lit. Bookworms in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia can check it out now on the Apple Books app.

Apple Music for Android leaks ‘Apple Classical’ app ahead of launch

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Apple Classical
Will next month's Apple event bring a new music service?
Photo: Julio Rionaldo/Unsplash/Apple

A reference to the unreleased “Apple Classical” service this week appeared in a new Apple Music beta for Android. The discovery suggests that the service is nearing its official debut ahead of an Apple event in March.

Apple last year acquired (then closed down) Primephonic, the streaming platform for classical music. Fans have been waiting for it to be integrated into Apple’s services lineup ever since — and that wait could soon be over.

YouTube TV is finally embracing Picture in Picture on iPhone and iPad

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YouTube TV
It's about time.
Image: YouTube/Cult of Mac

YouTube TV is finally giving users the ability to use Picture in Picture on iPhone and iPad. The feature, which has long been available inside YouTube TV on Android, will roll out “hopefully in the next few months.”

And that’s not all users can look forward to. YouTube chief product officer Neal Mohan this week also promised expanded surround sound support.

This password manager will protect all your accounts, on all your devices — and it’s 50% off

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Keep all your accounts protected with this award-winning password manager.
Get 50% off military-grade password manager Dashlane.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’ve been reusing the same old password across multiple websites and accounts, you need to stop what you’re doing and get a password manager immediately. Cybersecurity experts recommend password managers as the best way to protect yourself and your private data.

And right now, you can grab a year’s premium subscription to the top-rated Dashlane — the official password manager of Cult of Mac — while it’s on sale for just $29.99. That’s 50% off the regular price of $59. Or, boost your savings even further by grabbing a one-year subscription to the Dashlane Password Manager Family Plan, which lets you create six premium accounts, on sale for 64% off.

Microsoft does what Apple won’t and opens up its Windows Store

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Microsoft Store
Developers can accept third-party payments without punishment.
Image: Microsoft/Cult of Mac

While Apple fights to maintain its strict App Store rules and its 15-30% cut of all purchases and subscriptions, Microsoft is taking the opposite approach. The company on Wednesday announced major changes to the Microsoft Store that will make it fairer, more open, and more transparent.

Its new Open App Store Principles — which include allowing developers to accept alternative payments systems without fear of retribution — are designed to show that Microsoft (unlike Apple) is committed to adapting to new regulation that promotes competition in app markets.

Stronger back glass is the only feature iPhone 14 should steal from Samsung S22

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Stronger back glass is the only feature iPhone 14 should steal from Samsung S22
Apple should make it harder for this disaster to happen to the iPhone 14.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S22 series on Wednesday, and there’s not much for Apple users to be jealous of. The iPhone 13 series from 2021 is as good or better in almost every way.

But there is an exception. The latest Androids from Samsung are almost certainly less likely to break when dropped than iPhone. But the iPhone 14 can — and should — steal a feature from the S22 that will fix that.