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Boost your productivity with more than 200 top-rated Mac apps for less than $70

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Be more productive than ever before with this service of 200+ Mac apps, now less than $70 for a whole year.
It’s your last chance to get the top-rated "Netflix of Mac apps" at this low price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Which Mac apps do you subscribe to — and which would you like to try out, but can’t justify the expense? How about one low-priced subscription that gives you access to more than 200 killer Mac apps?

That’s the concept behind Setapp, dubbed “the Netflix of Mac apps,” and this week is your last chance to grab a one-year subscription for just $69. That’s a 36% discount off the regular price of $107.

Apple begins testing macOS 12.2 with smoother ProMotion scrolling

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Apple begins testing macOS 12.2 with smoother ProMotion performance
macOS Monterey 12.2 beta 1 is out with some welcome improvements.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple began testing macOS Monterey 12.2 beta 1 on Thursday, just days after the release of macOS 12.1. An official list of what’s coming in the new version hasn’t yet been revealed by the Mac-maker, but tests with beta 1 have turned up a few changes. The much-anticipated Universal Control isn’t one of them, though.

This pre-release version seeded to developers was not accompanied by any iOS, iPadOS or watchOS betas on Thursday.

Keep your coffee hot and your phone charged with this set

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Charge your battery and keep your cup warm with this 2-in-1.
This two-in-one gadget keeps your drink hot and your phone at 100%.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There are few things more pleasant than a hot cup of coffee and work you know you can actually get done. The only thing better is when your cup stays perfectly hot and your phone is ready for you when you’re done working.

And that’s what you get with the Ui 2-in-1 Self-Heating Mug & Wireless Charging Pad Set. This double feature keeps your drink hot and your phone charged, and it’s on sale for $84.95 (regularly $94).

New Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 hub expands Mac and iPad Pro connectivity

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The new Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 hub provides 85W of charging power.
The new Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 hub provides 85W of charging power.
Photo: Sonnet Technologies

Sonnet Technologies rolled out its new Echo 5 Thunderbolt 4 Hub on Tuesday to enable Mac and iPad Pro users — or anyone with a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port on their machine — to expand their connectivity to peripherals like displays, input devices and storage. And it offers a robust 85W of charging power.

When you get a computer or tablet and it has fewer ports than you’d like, hubs like this one can come in handy.

Apple staffs up to make its own wireless chips

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An Apple 5G modem might look like this
Apple is hiring experts to design 5G, Wi-FI and Bluetooth chips for its computers.
Artists concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly hiring at a new office in Irvine, California, where the company will make 5G modems and other wireless chips for future devices.

It’s the latest move by Apple to expand the number of critical components for its products that it produces in-house.

Weird Severance trailer will blow your freakin’ mind

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Weird ‘Severance’ trailer will blow your freakin’ mind
Severance also stars Christopher Walken so you know it’s extra creepy.
Photo: Apple TV+

The eerie sci-fi thriller Severance will follow a group of employees who’ve had their work memories surgically severed from their personal ones. It’s a creepy idea, especially as it’s something Apple might consider whenever its top-secret product details leak out.

A teaser trailer for the upcoming Apple TV+ drama series starts the weirdness off.

Jump-start gadgets and cars with mophie’s 3 rugged new portable batteries

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The compact is a jumpstarter for your vehicle that powers up gadgets, too.
The compact is a jumpstarter for your vehicle that powers up gadgets, too.
Photo: Mophie

Accessory-maker mophie launched three new portable batteries in its powerstation go rugged series Wednesday. Each one is capable of charging mobile devices, powering lights and more during a power outage, or even jump-starting a car if necessary.

“The addition of rugged to our existing powerstation go lineup gives customers another option for power while on-the-go,” said Gavin Slevin, managing director of mophie parent company Zagg International, in a press release. “We are excited to equip users with another multifunctional and affordable portable power option for peace of mind while on the road.”

Powerful image editor Pixelmator Photo makes jump from iPad to iPhone

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Powerful image editor Pixelmator Photo makes the jump from iPad to iPhone
Pixelmator Photo offers desktop-quality color adjustments, AI-powered tools and batch editing.
Photo: Pixelmator Team

Pixelmator Photo is one of the best photo editors for iPad, and it got even more mobile with an iPhone version debuting Thursday. It offers desktop-level editing tools on a mobile device.

And to celebrate the iPhone launch, the application is half off.

Shop tech: Best deals of the year on software activation keys, up to 70% off!

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Get a genuine permanent activation Windows 10 key for just $13.30 at Keysbuff. Then get a free upgrade to Windows 11.
Get a genuine permanent activation Windows 10 key for just $13.30 at Keysbuff. Then get a free upgrade to Windows 11.
Photo: Microsoft Edge/Unsplash License

This software activation key sale post is presented by Keysbuff.

Cult of Mac readers always get great deals from software activation keys provider Keysbuff. You can save up to 70% off full prices on Windows 10 and many other Microsoft software titles in the Keysbuff Christmas sale, which runs through December 31. Just use promo code COM at Keysbuff.com to get an extra 30% off already-low prices on keys for Windows 10 Pro Global, Microsoft Office 2021 Pro and others in the list below. You can purchase many products with lifetime licenses.

Swan Song is smart sci-fi done right [Apple TV+ review]

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Mahershala Ali in Swan Song
Mahershala Ali in Swan Song
Photo: Apple TV+

Just before the end of the year, Apple TV+ has one more prestige item to push. New sci-fi movie Swan Song stars multiple Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali and multiple Academy Award nominee Glenn Close.

Swan Song, which premieres Friday on Apple TV+, is a number of things: an inspirational disease drama, a sleek sci-fi parable, a clone movie, and the feature debut of an Academy Award-winning short film director, Benjamin Cleary.

Arriving so soon after Tom Hanks’ ho-hum Finch, viewers could be forgiven for preparing for the worst. Thankfully, there’s no need.

Apple building smaller, more affordable alternatives to Pro Display XDR

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Apple Pro Display XDR
That's good news.
Photo: Apple

Apple is currently building two smaller, more affordable alternatives to its 32-inch Pro Display XDR, according to a leaker. The company is also said to be working on a new high-end display with a built-in A13 chipset.

The new screens in early development reportedly use LG panels. And it remains unclear when they might hit the market.

Master e-commerce with this Amazon dropshipping bundle

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Learn how to run a store online in 60 hours!
Run a successful store online with this Amazon bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Running a great online store takes more than simply offering a great product. You must consider marketing, inventory management, sourcing and so much more to make sure yours is the store that people click on, buy from and return to.

If you want to learn how to make your online store the best it can be, then you’ll want to jump on The 2022 Premium Amazon FBA Dropshipping Bundle while it’s on sale for $34.99 (reg price: $1,400). And to save even more with an extended Green Monday discount, use code GREEN20.

Apple delays return to offices indefinitely, gives all employees $1,000

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Apple Park Close up
Apple's headquarters will remain empty for the foreseeable future.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook emailed corporate employees on Wednesday to confirm the company is yet again delaying its return to offices. He also said Apple will give all employees $1,000 to spend on home office equipment.

Apple told employees in November that they were expected to return to their workstations on February 1. But with Covid-19 cases again on the rise around the world, that date is now “yet to be determined.”

Apple rolls out Swift Playgrounds 4, allowing you to build apps on iPad

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Swift Playgrounds 4
Download the update and start building today.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Swift Playgrounds 4, the newest version of Apple’s official development app for iPad, is now available from the App Store. The update lets you build iOS and iPadOS apps using nothing but your iPad for the first time.

When you’ve finished building, you can upload directly to the App Store. And if you also use a Mac, it’s now easy to transfer projects back and forth between Swift Playgrounds and Xcode using App Projects.

Ted Lasso loses his mustache in Apple’s animated Christmas short

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Ted Lasso loses his mustache
Ted just isn't the same without his mustache.
Photo: Apple

Ted Lasso is back like you’ve never seen him before in a new Christmas movie from Apple. The animated short sees the world’s most lovable soccer coach mysteriously lose his mustache ahead of the holidays.

Ted’s team members — voiced by the series’ original actors — come together to find his missing facial hair before he has a FaceTime call with his son. And, as you might expect from the Ted Lasso cast, hilarity ensues.

How can Mac users find a forex trading platform?

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You, too, can become a forex trader using your Mac.
You, too, can become a forex trader using your Mac.
Photo: Joshua Mayo/Unsplash License

This forex trading post is brought to you by Compare Forex Brokers.

“Forex trading” refers to trades of national currencies on the foreign exchange market, aka forex or FX. Most forex trading platforms for average investors were built for Windows computers, however. So what are Mac users who want to get into forex trading supposed to do? We describe some options below.

Yobybo X-Boat Pro ANC earbuds: If the buds fit, (maybe) wear them [Review]

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The Yobybo X-Boat Pro earbuds come with a USB cable and a sleek
The Yobybo X-Boat Pro earbuds come with a USB cable and a sleek "open" charging case.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

I think it was a Kickstarter campaign that first drew my attention to the Yobybo X-Boat Pro noise-cancelling earbuds, “the first open-casing true wireless stereo headphones with LDAC,” the company said, referring to Sony’s hi-res codec. Well, while the sleek “open” case is super-cool and the buds’ sound is vibrant, some earbuds just aren’t for everyone.

Servant heads back to Apple TV+ for two more seasons of creepy fun

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‘Servant’ Season 2 debuted in January 2021 on Apple TV+.
Look forward to two more seasons of psychological thrills from “Servant” on Apple TV+.

The third season of Servant is now scheduled to premier on Apple TV+ in January. And the streaming service is so pleased with the horror (and sometimes darkly humorous) show it went ahead and committed to a fourth season.

A new trailer should whet fans appetites for the upcoming new season.

Disney+ gets SharePlay support on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV

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Disney+ gets SharePlay support
You must be running iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1 or tvOS 15.1 to use it.
Image: Disney

Disney+ just got a new update that adds SharePlay support on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. The feature allows up to 32 people to get together and watch the same TV shows and movies simultaneously over FaceTime.

SharePlay is available across content from all Disney brands, including Marvel, National Geographic, Star Wars, and more. But you’ll need a device running iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1, or tvOS 15.1 to take advantage of it.

Grid Studio’s framed iPhone is a teardown in a box [Review]

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Framed original iPhone from Grid Studio
Score up to 20% off on Grid Studio frames for Earth Day
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

I have two original iPhones in my possession. One sits in a junk drawer, untouched and unloved for many years.

The other has been carefully disassembled and the parts arranged in a handsome black frame that hangs on my office wall. Made by Grid Studio, the Grid 1 is my own personal iPhone teardown in a box.