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JBL has a new party in a box and lots of other big plans for your ears

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The JBL PartyBox Encore is a 100W speaker with a Lightshow and two microphones.
The JBL PartyBox Encore is a 100W speaker with a Lightshow and two microphones.
Photo: JBL

Every year Samsung subsidiary JBL rolls out a tempting raft of updated or new audio products at CES, but you can’t get them right away. CES 2022, held in Las Vegas earlier this month, was no different. The company showed its new JBL PartyBox Encore and a slew of other Bluetooth speakers, earbuds and headphones. We’ll round them up below. Some are coming in spring and others in summer.

Release candidate shows iOS 15.3 will be just bug fixes

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Mac malware is real. Watch out.
Bug fixes aren't exciting, but they're necessary.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple seeded the iOS 15.3 release candidate to developers on Thursday, along with the iPadOS equivalent. Surprisingly, the updates appear to include nothing but bug fixes and security updates. There are no new features. Still, I t’s possible these will take care of a headline-making WebKit bug that leaks user information.

Release candidates for macOS Monterey 12.2, watchOS 8.4 and tvOS 15.3 are also out on Thursday.

The Sky Is Everywhere gets ready to bring you to tears on Valentine’s Day

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‘The Sky is Everywhere’ gets ready to bring you to tears on Valentine's Day
Grace Kaufman and Jacques Colimon in “The Sky Is Everywhere,” debuting February 11 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ will premiere The Sky Is Everywhere, a story of love and loss, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

A trailer for the upcoming film debuted Thursday, giving viewers a first look at a young woman simultaneously dealing with the death of her sister and her first love.

Get unlimited high-quality stock photos for life, now less than $30

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Instantly improve the quality of your site with high-quality stock photos.
Get a lifetime subscription to this Forbes-featured stock photo service.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The quality of the images you use can make or break any marketing materials, business presentation or website — and they’re a direct reflection of your brand. Whatever you create, using a high-quality stock photo service can change everything.

For a limited time, you can grab an unlimited lifetime subscription to Scopio Authentic Stock Photography for just $29 (regular price: $3,480).

Yet another bill calls for Apple to allow third-party app payments

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2021 App Store Awards
Illinois wants new legislation against Apple and Google.
Image: Apple

Illinois is the latest U.S. state to file a bill that could force Apple and Google to accept third-party payment systems inside apps.

The “Freedom to Subscribe Directly Act,” supported by Hey app developer Basecamp, wants to prohibit both companies from requiring developers to use the App Store and Google Play to sell software and subscriptions.

Apple Music is the world’s second-biggest music streaming service

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Apple Music
But Spotify is still way out in front.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

With a 15% share of the market, Apple Music is now the second-biggest music streaming service in the world, according to the latest data. It remains significantly bigger than rivals like YouTube Music and Deezer. Over the years, Apple has consistently evolved its music offerings, with features like apple.music replay allowing users to revisit their favorite songs and discover their listening trends.

However, Apple Music will have to fight to stay ahead of Amazon Music, while catching up with Spotify will be an incredibly difficult task.

iOS 15 fixes security flaw that exposes Apple ID info to third-party apps

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iOS and iPadOS 15
It's time to update if you haven't already.
Image: Apple

iOS and iPadOS 15 fix a pretty serious security flaw that allowed third-party applications to access Apple ID information and recent search terms.

Apple this week confirmed the fix in an update to its security content guide for iOS 15. It does not look like the issue has been eliminated in iOS 14, which is no longer receiving standalone security updates.

Apple: Ability to skip iOS 15 updates was never meant to be permanent

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iOS 15
It's iOS 15 or it's nothing now.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple has confirmed that giving users the option to skip iOS 15 updates and stick with iOS 14 was always intended to be temporary.

Its clarification comes after it last week stopped delivering security updates to those who have chosen not to update their devices since iOS 15 made its debut last September. iOS 15.2.1 is now the only upgrade option.

Win an Invoxia Cellular GPS Tracker and stop losing things [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Invoxia Cellular GPS Tracker
This cellular GPS tracker works with a companion app for easy tracking anytime, anywhere.
Photo: Invoxia

If you live in a big city, you likely suffered the misfortune of having something stolen. Maybe thieves swiped your bike, motorcycle, car or backpack.

Whatever the item, it sucks. But this week’s Cult of Mac giveaway can help you when disaster strikes. Invoxia, an award-winning designer of tracking devices, is giving three lucky winners its Cellular GPS Tracker and a one-year subscription to 4G networks that let the device work its magic.

If you constantly misplace your bag or worry about getting your bike stolen, make sure you enter our  giveaway.

Yes, your 5G iPhone supports new C-band service from AT&T and Verizon

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5G iPhone
C-band 5G is here, and it’s available on every 5G iPhone and iPad.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Both AT&T and Verizon began rolling out a new 5G version on Wednesday. And getting access via C-band doesn’t require getting a new iPhone. If your iOS device supports 5G, it can use the new version.

The same goes for iPad. If it has built-in 5G, it supports C-band.

Improve your golf game with this realistic simulator

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Improve your swing with this realistic golf simulator.
Analyze your golf swing with this 3D simulator.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Golf is one of those games where it’s difficult to improve without real-life practice. But this TruGolf Mini Golf Simulator helps you practice your swing — and enjoy beautifully rendered virtual courses — without going to the range in person.

It’s a futuristic way to enjoy the game of golf without gambling on clear weather (or spending money on green fees). It’s fun, it’s perfect for both newbies and regular golfers alike, and its built-in analytics will help you boost your game.

BookBook Cover turns iPad and keyboard into a medieval tome

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BookBook Cover turns iPad and keyboard into a medieval tome
Adds some library camouflage to your iPad and keyboard with the Twelve South BookBook Cover.
Photo: Twelve South

While there are a lot of generic iPad cases, the new BookBook Cover from Twelve South is completely eye opening. It turns an iPad and keyboard into a leather-bound book. While making the tablet look medieval, it’s also protecting the valuable computer inside from bumps and blows.

Unlike the standard BookBook Case for iPad, this version has room to hold an Apple Magic Keyboard.

WeCrashed Apple TV+ trailer shows heady days before epic fall of WeWork

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‘WeCrashed’ Apple TV+ trailer shows heady days before epic fall of WeWork
Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway will star in WeCrashed on Apple TV+, premiering spring 2022.
Photo: Apple TV+

The first trailer for the Apple TV+ series WeCrashed focuses on the eerie cult of personality that WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann built before his company crashed. The series will star Jared Leto as Neumann, with Anne Hathaway playing his wife (and fellow WeWork exec), Rebekah.

The series will portray “the love story at the center of it all,” according to Apple. The streaming service also revealed on Wednesday the premiere date for the WeWork series: March 18, 2022.

Canon unveils ‘true hybrid’ full-frame camera for stills and video

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The new Canon EOS R5 C keeps the R5's still-photo chops but adds unlimited video recording.
The new Canon EOS R5 C keeps the R5's still-photo chops but adds unlimited video recording.
Photo: Canon

On Tuesday Canon rolled out its new EOS R5 C camera. It called the device a “true hybrid” full-frame mirrorless camera for still photography as well as unlimited video recording. The camera combines the company’s stills-focused EOS technology with Cinema EOS into one thick, actively-cooled camera body.

Apple Watch gets crazy colorful with this bright Candy band — save 15%

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SwitchEasy Candy band for Apple Watch
It's significantly more affordable than Apple's.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Is your Apple Watch beginning to look a little drab and boring? Give it a brightly colored makeover with SwitchEasy’s tasty Candy band, made from a soft, braided nylon that’s just as comfortable as it is attractive.

Despite its brilliant built quality, it’s also significantly more affordable than Apple’s own braided bands for Apple Watch — especially when you can get it for 15% less.

M1 Max MacBook Pro ‘an absolute beast’ for music production [Setups]

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The audio engineer who uses this setup calls their 16-inch M1 Max MacBook
The audio engineer who uses this setup calls their 16-inch M1 Max MacBook "an absolute beast" on the music production front.
Photo: [email protected]

Here at Cult of Mac Setups Central, we’ve looked fairly closely at quite a few audio-centric workstations used by the likes of sound designers, video mavens and plain ol’ music fans. Today’s featured setup, with a souped-up 16-inch M1 Max MacBook at its core, belongs to an out-and-out audio engineer from Canada named James.

How to clean your Apple Polishing Cloth without ruining it

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How to clean Apple's Polishing Cloth
Dish soap will do the trick.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you have to spend $19 on Apple’s fancy Polishing Cloth, you should know how to properly look after it so that it doesn’t get ruined. You can’t just throw it in the washing machine with your mucky laundry when it starts to get dirty.

Fortunately, Apple has now provided official instructions on keeping the Polishing Cloth clean. Here’s what you need to know.

iPhone SE 3 displays enter production ahead of April or May debut

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iPhone SE
Apple's first product of 2022 edges closer.
Photo: AB/Unsplash

Apple will this month begin manufacturing display panels for the next-generation iPhone SE ahead of its launch in late April or early May, according to a new report.

The new entry-level handset is expected to bring 5G connectivity to the iPhone SE series for the first time — as well as the same A15 Bionic chip found inside Apple’s latest flagships. But don’t expect a new design.

Apple slashes trade-in prices on a bunch of Android phones

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Apple cuts Android trade-in prices
Some Mac and iPad models have also seen reductions.
Photo: Onur Binay/Unsplash

We have disappointing news for anyone currently thinking about swapping their Android smartphone for an iPhone. Apple just cut its trade-in prices for a bunch of popular handsets from Google and Samsung.

The reductions are pretty significant in most cases. A Galaxy S21+ 5G, previously worth up to $435 according to Apple, now fetches $325 max. The Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, previously valued at up to $545, will now get you only $405 at most.

Apple cut the trade-in values of some Mac and iPad models, too. Luckily, you have other options for recovering more cash from your old gear.

Protect yourself online with this all-in-one security bundle

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Protect yourself from viruses
Safeguard all your devices and data with this discounted security bundle loved by experts.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Who said you needed a ton of different subscriptions to protect your privacy, fight viruses and shield your devices from harm? You can keep things simple and do it with a single account with Surfshark One: VPN, Antivirus, Search, & Alert.

And, for a limited time, a year’s subscription to this security bundle is on sale for just $47.76. That’s a 72% discount off the regular price of $173. You can also drive the savings down even further with a two-year subscription, on sale now for just $89.99 (regularly $346).