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Jennifer Lawrence will star as Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes in Apple TV+ drama

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Elizabeth Holmes
Elizabeth Holmes will be played by Jennifer Lawrence in an upcoming Apple TV+ film.
Photo: Max Morse/TechCrunch/Wikipedia CC

Apple TV+ reportedly confirmed that it’s producing Bad Blood, a film that will have mega-star Jennifer Lawrence portray Elizabeth Holmes, who is currently on trial for fraud committed as the head of medical tech startup Theranos.

It seems appropriate that Apple TV+ should produce the film, as Holmes modeled herself after Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. All the way to the black turtleneck.

Court delays App Store changes as Apple appeals contentious ruling

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App Store
The App Store won‘t see any changes to payment methods. For now.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Developers will have to put plans to steer App Store users to their own direct payments systems on the back burner. A court on Wednesday granted Apple’s request to put the change on hold while the iPhone-maker appeals the Epic Games v. Apple court ruling.

Any modifications to the App Store resulting from the lawsuit are now in limbo… quite possibly for years.

Developer squeezes primo sound out of a solid gaming rig [Setups]

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Premium audio components make this setup a sonic powerhouse.
Premium audio components make this setup a sonic powerhouse.
Photo: [email protected]

Premium computer setups for gaming are known for their eye-popping visuals, of course — but they need great sound, too. Today’s featured setup gets there with a killer display but also a raft of audio gear by companies like Aiyima, Burson, Kanto and Hifiman. The headphones, in particular, may make you green with envy.

Redditor IsTowel is a front-end developer and designer as well as a gamer. Their post about their “Working and listening station” outlines some pretty high-level gaming specs in a Mac and PC, dual-display setup — especially for stellar sound quality.

How to get paid to take online surveys, play games and watch videos

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Find out how to get paid to take online surveys with PrizeRebel.
Find out how to get paid to take online surveys and more with PrizeRebel.
Photo: Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash CC

This online survey post is brought to you by PrizeRebel.

Taking online surveys is great way to earn some extra cash. First of all, it’s easy. All you have to do is give your opinions. Second, it’s convenient. You can do it from anywhere as long as you have a computer or mobile device with a stable internet connection. Third, you can’t go wrong when leaders in the field like PrizeRebel want to help you make the most of your time taking surveys and earning from it.

Even better, PrizeRebel gives you several other easy and fun ways to earn money, too.

Samsung could make iPhone 14’s first ‘hole punch’ displays

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Samsung Galaxy with hole punch display
Samsung already makes 'hole punch' displays for its own phones.
Photo: Samsung

Samsung has reportedly started manufacturing new “hole punch” OLED displays for iPhone 14 that will allow Apple to finally do away with the notch.

The South Korean company already uses hole punch displays in its own Galaxy devices, negating the need for a black bar at the top of the screen. On iPhone, however, they will initially be exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro models.

New Satechi Mac dock adds multiple Thunderbolt and USB-A ports, plus more

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New Satechi Mac dock adds multiple Thunderbolt and USB-A ports, plus more
The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock adds almost a dozen ports. And it enables high-speed data transfers over most of them.
Photo: Satechi

Satechi’s just-launched Thunderbolt 4 Dock includes a whopping eleven ports, including three Thunderbolt 4 and four USB-A ports. And there’s also a range of other ports for connecting additional peripherals.

Plus, Satechi launched a pair of USB-C hubs on Wednesday.

How to stream AirPlay video on the cheap

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How to stream AirPlay video from iPhone to TV on the cheap
The days when you had to pay $150 or more to get an AirPlay-compatible device are over.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

You don’t need cables to stream video from your iPhone or iPad to a TV. Apple’s AirPlay 2 system is wireless and easy to use. That’s been true for years — what’s changed is the necessary equipment has become very affordable.

Here is what you need.

Verizon tracks almost everything you do on iPhone. Here’s how to stop it.

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Stop Verizon tracking iPhone
Don't let Verizon keep tabs on everything you do.
Image: Verizon/Cult of Mac

If you use an iPhone on Verizon, there’s a good chance your carrier has been tracking everything you do when you’re connected to its cellular network. This includes the websites you visit, the apps you use, your location and more.

It’s all part Verizon’s “Custom Experience” and “Custom Experience Plus” programs, which are designed to “personalize” the carrier’s communications with its customers. In other words, it’s to build a profile about you so Verizon can better serve you targeted ads. (According to Verizon’s typo-riddled website, “The Custom Experience programs help us personalize communications, recommandations [sic] and offers to make them more relevant to you.”

There’s nothing Apple can do to stop this — despite its new privacy protections baked into iOS — because its tracking does not require an app installed on your iPhone. But there is something you can do to prevent it. We’ll show you how.

This golf simulator is a hole-in-one gift for iOS users

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Grab a golf simulator without missing the green.
Happy holidays are par for the course with this ingenious golf simulator.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Golf is fun, but by nature it’s one of the only sports you can’t really carry around. That’s something the golf lovers in your life certainly know and wish wasn’t true. And even when there’s time, the price of joining a country club can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars a month.

If you have a golfer who wishes they could hit the course more often, but doesn’t have the time or spare cash, get them the TruGolf Mini golf simulator, on sale now for $299 (regularly $399).

How to get the Microsoft OneDrive preview that runs natively on M1 Macs

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Get OneDrive for M1 Macs
The preview release is available to anyone.
Image: Microsoft

Microsoft is now testing a new version of OneDrive for Mac that runs natively on Apple M1 chipsets. The update enables faster syncing and better performance — particularly for larger files — with no need for emulation anymore.

Although this release is only a preview build for now, anyone who uses OneDrive on macOS can get their hands on it. We’ll show you how.

Next-gen AirPods Pro could bring new design, better chip in late 2022

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Next-gen AirPods Pro concept
They could look a little like this.
Concept: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

We could be waiting close to a year for Apple’s much-anticipated AirPods Pro upgrade, but according to one analyst, it will be well worth the wait. The next-generation buds are expected to deliver a brand-new design and a better chip.

They could also be Apple’s first headphones with fitness tracking capabilities.

Watch, torrent and more with this bundle of Mac video apps that’s over half off

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Get 4 awesome media apps for $40 with this bundle.
The 2022 Mac Power User Bundle gives you for Mac apps that let you master online video.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Finding quality Mac apps isn’t exactly easy, considering there are nearly 2 million of them on the App Store alone. But if you’re looking for Mac apps that let you download and play videos, you don’t have to search.

You can turn your Mac into an all-in-one media machine with The 2022 Mac Power User Bundle — and it’s on sale for $39 (regularly $79).

AirPods on acid: See the evolution of Apple’s wireless buds like never before

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AirPods Pro CT scan
A CT scan reveals the insides of AirPods Pro in the prettiest way possible.
Photos: Scan of the Month

Ever wondered what your favorite wireless headphones might look like during a weird acid trip? Find out right here (while sober) with these mesmerizing CT scans of AirPods, which showcase the evolution of Apple’s buds on the inside.

AirPods have seen some surprisingly big changes since their initial introduction in late 2016. Here’s how Apple made them better — and even more compact.

macOS 12.1 release candidate brings SharePlay a big step closer to Mac

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SharePlay for Mac iPad and iPhone
A highlight of macOS 12.1 Monterey will be SharePlay.
Photo: Apple

Developers got access to the macOS 12.1 release candidate on Tuesday. This means beta testing of the new Monterey version is almost over, and Mac users will soon be able to start playing with SharePlay. But there’s still no sign of the much anticipated Universal Control feature.

Apple also seeded release candidates for iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 and watchOS 8.3 to developers.

New iPhone security features are almost here

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New iPhone security features are almost here in iOS 15.2
Devs can start testing iOS 15.2. The full release is expected by mid-December.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple seeded the iOS 15.2 release candidate to developers on Tuesday, along with the iPad equivalent. When released to the public, iPhones will alert parents if their children send or receive nudes, there’s a new App Privacy Report, and users will be able to look for AirTags that might be tracking them.

The macOS 12.1 RC and watchOS 8.3 RC also went to devs on Tuesday.

Razer’s colorful cooling fan keeps iPhone cool when the gaming gets hot

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Razer Phone Cooler Chroma keeps iPhone cool when the gaming gets hot
The Razer Phone Cooler Chroma blows away the heat that can build up during long gaming sessions.
Photo: Razer

The Razer Phone Cooler Chroma is a fan designed to cool smartphones that heat up when playing demanding games. And it has colorful LEDs to make it look even cooler.

An iPhone version uses MagSafe. There’s also one for handsets without built-in magnets.

Bowers & Wilkins’ iconic Zeppelin wireless speaker flies again

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Bower & Wilkins revamped its powerful Zeppelin wireless speaker for today's streamers.
Bower & Wilkins revamped its powerful Zeppelin wireless speaker for today's streamers.
Photo: Bower & Wilkins

UK-based audio specialist Bowers & Wilkins first released its Zeppelin speaker as an iPod dock in 2007. Following a couple of other iterations over the years — the most recent one released six years ago — the airship-shaped powerhouse is back, and refitted for the streaming age.

Tim Cook allegedly pledged $275 billion to China in ‘secret’ investment deal

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Tim Cook's secret China investment deal: The agreement is said to have helped settle tensions with Chinese authorities.
The agreement is said to have helped settle tensions with Chinese authorities.
Photo: Fortune Global Forum/Flickr CC

Apple CEO Tim Cook “secretly” struck a deal with China in which he agreed to invest around $275 billion of Apple’s money to boost the country’s economy and “technological prowess,” according to a new report.

The five-year agreement was allegedly made during a series of visits Cook made to China in 2016 amid growing regulatory hostilities toward Cupertino. Since then, Apple has become China’s biggest smartphone brand.

Do more with your Mac with this media editing bundle

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This media bundle will improve your Mac experience.
Edit, record and convert videos with these discounted Mac apps!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

As much as we see them constantly, many people don’t realize how difficult it is to capture and edit pictures and movies. And if the skill required isn’t enough, sometimes it’s hard even finding software that can do all that without breaking the bank.
The Essential 2022 Movavi Multimedia Software Bundle gives you everything you need to capture, record and edit video and images, and it’s on sale for $79 (regularly $219).

Google adds voice and video calls to the Gmail app on iPhone and iPad

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Gmail adds voice and video calls
Download the update today to start chatting.
Screenshots: Google

You can now place calls and join remote meetings from right inside the Gmail app on iPhone and iPad.

Google Chat integration, with support for both voice and video calls, has been added in the app’s latest update. But it comes with one big limitation that means you’ll probably still need to keep the Google Chat app.

Apple expects iPhone demand to bounce back in early 2022

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iPhone 13 and new iPads hit the Apple Store
iPhone demand has reportedly fallen in recent weeks — but it may not be down for long.
Photo: Apple

Apple is expected to increase iPhone shipments by 30% during early 2022, according to a new report, which cites multiple sources familiar with the plan. It is believed Cupertino hopes to ship 300 million throughout next year.

A recent report claimed Apple had cut iPhone orders going into the holiday season as a result of weakening demand for its newest models — thanks in large part to the component shortages that have made some options hard to obtain.

Win a Wacom Intuos Pro creative pen tablet [Cult of Mac giveaway]

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Intuos Pro
This slim pen tablet is designed to create.
Photo: Wacom

If you fancy yourself an artist, this giveaway is for you. Cult of Mac is giving one lucky winner an Intuos Pro tablet with pen from Wacom, the global leader in the pen display and tablet market. You can connect it via Bluetooth or USB to your Mac (or PC), and use it to draw, paint or retouch photos.

Art is excellent for mental health. So boost your self-esteem by drawing and painting on your Mac. If you want a sense of accomplishment that a finished creation can give, make sure to enter our giveaway.