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Tile is selling its tracking business just 6 months after AirTag’s arrival

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Tile bluetooth tracker
Life360 will pay $205 million.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Tile, the company famous for its Bluetooth tracking gadgets, is selling itself to Life360 for $205 million. The move comes just six months after Tile was forced to face its toughest competition yet — Apple’s popular AirTag.

Life360, which offers a family safety service, said the Tile acquisition will allow it to “provide a unique and all-encompassing solution for finding the people, pets and things.” The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

Choetech is giving away MagSafe charging stands and a 40% discount code [Cult of Mac Giveaway]

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Giveaway: This MagSafe wireless charging stand, charges an iPhone 12 and AirPods at the same time.
This MagSafe-compatible stand charges an iPhone and AirPods simultaneously.
Photo: Choetech

Choetech is giving away three MagSafe wireless 2 in 1 charging stands. These minimalist magnetic chargers are perfect for anybody who pairs a MagSafe-compatible iPhone with wirelessly charging AirPods.

In addition to those three lucky winners, all Cult of Mac readers can get a 40% discount code for one of these sweet charging stands. That brings the price down from $52.99 to just $31.80, shipping included.

You can enter the giveaway below. But if you aren’t feeling lucky, or just like a really good deal, you can purchase a MagSafe wireless 2 in 1 charging stand from Choetech and use Cult of Mac’s special discount code: COMAC575. The charging stand makes a great gift. And with that 40% discount, you can afford to gift a few.

This 5-in-1 portable power bank is 54% off ahead of Black Friday

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Never let your battery die with this Black Friday deal.
Charge five Apple devices at once with this 200-watt battery pack.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Do you frequently use multiple Apple devices and worry about keeping them all charged? With this pocketable 200-watt power bank, you can carry a backup battery that keeps everything juiced. In fact, it can charge five devices at once, from iPhone and Apple Watch to MacBook and AirPods.

Sound too good to be true? It’s not. And the ScoutPro Ultimate All-in-One Charger with LED Display is on sale for just $159 during our Pre-Black Friday Doorbusters sale.

Save 25% on Mujjo’s outstanding iPhone cases and more for Black Friday

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Mujjo-iPhone-cases
Leather cases as good as Apple's ... for a lot less.
Photo: Mujjo

Mujjo’s luxurious leather cases offer great protection without making your pricey iPhone feel cheap and tacky. Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store and save up to 25% for Black Friday.

Also enjoy the similar discount on Mujjo gloves, laptop sleeves, and more. This is a limited-time offer, so enjoy it while you can!

Maximize your iPhone trade-in by cutting Apple out of equation

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Sell your old iPhone today
The quick and easy way to make the most from your old iPhone.
Photo: Aaron Yoo

Apple just gave customers another big reason to avoid its trade-in service by slashing prices on almost all iPhone models. Instead, sell your old handset to Cult of Mac to make more from it, and get real cash you can spend anywhere.

Find out how much your old iPhone is worth today in just a few simple steps, and secure your quote for 14 days.

Helpful Mac app sends alerts when new Apple devices are in stock

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InventoryWatch app for Mac
Don't miss out on fresh Apple stock.
Photo: InventoryWatch

Struggling to get hold of one of Apple’s newest devices ahead of the holidays? InventoryWatch is a free and simple Mac app that sends you an alert when the gear you want is in stock and available for pick up at your local Apple Store.

It currently works in the United States and five other countries and regions. And it tracks availability of a handful of Apple’s most popular devices.

Going from a 27-inch iMac to an M1 Pro MacBook with a 4K external display [Setups]

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This M1 Pro MacBook setup uses a 27-inch Dell monitor and a pumped-up audio rig.
This M1 Pro MacBook setup uses a 27-inch Dell monitor and a pumped-up audio rig.
Photo: Andrew Michletz

Andrew, a customer service experience manager for an internet service provider in Minneapolis, shared his computer setup with Cult of Mac after a big revamp. He replaced a 27-inch 2017 iMac with a 14-inch 2021 M1 Pro MacBook, which he runs alongside his work laptop, a Lenovo ThinkPad T480S. He uses his Apple gear mostly for photo editing and music production.

“With work from home, I needed the ability to use the screen with both my personal computer and my work device,” Andrew told Cult of Mac (he requested we use only his first name). “I had been running Windows on the iMac via Boot Camp and using Miracast to wirelessly extend to the iMac screen from my ThinkPad. When it worked it was great, but it became unreliable over time, and I decided that a monitor with multiple inputs are the way to go.”

Andrew said the Miracast connection with the iMac became unreliable when he got a mesh network. It would sometimes work great, but often fail to connect, despite rigorous troubleshooting. So it was time to do a little shopping.

iMessage reactions now appear as emoji on Android

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iMessage reaction
But only inside the Google Messages app.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iMessage reactions now appear as emoji inside the latest version of the Google Messages app on Android.

Prior to this release, Android users saw somewhat lengthy template messages when they received an iMessage reaction from a contact using an iPhone. This change offers a cleaner, much more streamlined experience.

Get more than $1,000 worth of top-rated Mac apps for just $17.99

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Get these awesome Mac apps for under $20.
The Complete Limited Edition Mac Bundle comes loaded with a dozen excellent apps.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

In a lot of ways, your Mac is only as good as the apps you have on it. You can buy a top-of-the-line M1 Max MacBook Pro that’s barely better than a paperweight if you don’t own the software to take advantage of those insane specs.

The Complete Limited Edition Mac Bundle gives you lifetime access to many of the most useful apps around. And during our Pre-Black Friday Sale, you can get this bundle of fantastic Mac apps — worth more than $1,000 if bought individually — for just $17.99 with coupon code MACBUNDLE40.

New iMac Pro could pack insane ‘M1 Max Duo’ chip with up to 20 CPU cores

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iMac concept inspired by iPad Pro.
It could be twice as fast as an M1 Max MacBook Pro.
Concept: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next-generation iMac Pro could feature an “M1 Max Duo” chip with 20 cores for processing and up to 64 for graphics, according to a new report.

As its name suggests, the chipset is expected to consist of two M1 Max chips combined together for double the performance. It could also feature up to 128GB of RAM — twice that currently available from Apple’s latest machines.

Snag this beloved language app at its lowest price yet

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Babbel is this best-selling language app.
You can learn any (or all) of Babbel's 14 languages with this highly discounted lifetime sub.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Learning a new language not only helps open up new career opportunities abroad. It also can tremendously improve your problem-solving and cognition skills. Babbel is one of the most highly rated language learning apps out there, earning 4.6 stars out of 5 stars after almost 30,000 reviews on the App Store (and rave reviews from publications like PCMag and The Economist).

For only two weeks, you can get this great language app for its lowest price yet — just $179 (regularly $499) for a lifetime subscription to all available languages.

Take control of your video collection with this trio of powerful Mac apps

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This media bundle includes top-rated Mac apps.
This lifetime license to the MacX Media Management Bundle will end your video hassles.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re looking to effortlessly convert and resize videos, watch your favorite DVDs on your iPad, or seamlessly transfer files between your iPhone, iPad and Mac, look no further than this lifetime license for the MacX Media Management Bundle.

This comprehensive three-app bundle offers ways to work with all sorts of media using your favorite Apple devices. Plus, you can enjoy an extra 30% off this pre-Black Friday doorbuster with coupon code APPS30.

Score a lifetime of cloud storage and secure VPN for one low price

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Get black Friday savings on a 10TB backup and lifetime VPN.
Treat yourself and your family to safe browsing and storage with this pre-Black Friday deal.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your files and your data are two things you shouldn’t have to compromise when you go online. With this pre-Black Friday deal on the The Lifetime Backup & Security Subscription Bundle, you can keep your files safe and your data private for $62.99 (regularly $3,799) with code APPS30.

It gives you a massive 10 terabytes of cloud storage to keep all your files safe, and a virtual private network to protect your data and anonymity online — forever!

Navy SEALS doc The Line ducks the big questions about war [Apple TV+ review]

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The Line review: Retired Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher confesses in The Line, and it's chilling.
Retired Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher confesses in The Line, and it's chilling.
Photo: Apple TV+

When Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher was slapped with war crimes charges in 2018, the allegations made a public spectacle of the inexcusable, overzealous violence that had been a staple of U.S. military intervention in Iraq since the first years of the invasion post-9/11.

What followed brought the wrong kind of attention to military operations at a time when the United States needed to sell its continuing involvement in Iraq. In new Apple TV+ series The Line, directors Jeff Zimbalist and Doug Shultz adapt the podcast of the same name as a four-part documentary.

In it, we hear testimony from everyone who felt comfortable stepping forward to talk about really happened in Mosul, where Gallagher led a sniper team and committed acts that shocked his fellow war fighters. And yet the filmmakers ultimately fail to ask the questions that really matter.

Apple passes Microsoft to again become world’s most valuable company

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Apple money cash
Apple is back on top, with a valuation higher than Microsoft. And Google, too.
Photo: Cult of Mac

A sharp rise in Apple’s share price allowed the Mac-maker to regain the title of publicly traded company with the highest market capitalization n the world. It beat out Microsoft, who’d held the top spot for less than a month.

An unconfirmed report of Apple’s aggressive plans to make self-driving cars helped drive a 6% increase over the past week.

This cable easily connects Macs to monitors, and it’s on sale [Review]

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Plugable USB 3.1 Type-C to HDMI 2.0 Cable review
Connect your Mac directly to an HDMI monitor with this one cable.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

You won‘t need a MacBook with an HDMI port if you have Plugable’s USB-C to HDMI cable. Just run the cable between the external display and your Mac or iPad and you have 4K@60Hz. Even better, it’s currently available at a discount that drops the price to less than $17.

I tested this accessory in my home office to be sure it lives up to its promises.

Get this handy 3-in-1 Apple charging cable at a pre-Black Friday price

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This convenient 3-in-1 charger is on sale for Pre-Black Friday.
This Apple-compatible 3-in-1 charging cable is more affordable than ever.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you’re constantly on the move and need a quick way to pack your charging essentials or just want to make the most out of the minimal space you have, this 3-in-1 Apple Watch, AirPods & iPhone Charging Cable lets you charge two Lightning devices and your Apple Watch all at the same time.

If you’re a traveler looking to pack light and stay organized, or just want a simple charging accessory you can toss into your bag to be set for the day, this is the most effective cord you could get.

After a brutal beatdown, Swagger shows its sensitive side [Apple TV+ recap]

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Swagger review: COVID-19 and a beatdown make for a heavy week.
COVID-19 and a beatdown make for a heavy week in the basketball drama.
Photo: Apple TV+

COVID-19 makes its debut in this week’s Swagger, the Baltimore-based Apple TV+ basketball drama inspired by the experiences of Kevin Durant in the junior leagues.

In the episode, titled “All on the Line,” Jace and his teammates cover up a crime. Crystal exhales and figures out how she feels. And Jackie and Jenna have it out. Everyone’s at the top of their game in one of the best episodes of the season so far.

Learn to create apps for any Apple device

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For $20, you can learn to make beautiful functional apps.
With Swift and SwiftUI, you can make eye-catching apps that'll stand out on the App Store.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you want to learn how to write software for Apple devices, you need to know Swift and SwiftUI. Knowing the ins and outs of Apple’s programming language, and its cross-platform user interface framework, means you can build apps that work on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV.

And with this educational bundle, you can learn to design apps that are as beautiful as they are useful for just $19.99.

Smackdown: M1 MacBook Pro vs. $15,000 Mac Pro [The CultCast]

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The CultCast: M1 MacBook Pro vs. Mac Pro: The results will shock you!
The results will shock you!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Just how well does a new $3,500 M1 Max MacBook Pro perform against a $15,000 Mac Pro that’s only two years old? The results from the latest tests and benchmarks are simply insane.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Apple plans to make a totally autonomous car — with no steering wheel or pedals! And it might show up by 2025.
  • Leander’s Cult of Mac, 2nd Edition coffee table book is on sale for just $9.99.
  • And our favorite TV shows in an all-new “What We’re Into” segment.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video livestream, embedded below.

Invasion deals with the reality of an alien incursion [Apple TV+ review]

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Invasion review: At least now everybody knows we're dealing with nasty extraterrestrials.
At least now everybody knows we're dealing with nasty extraterrestrials.
Photo: Apple TV+

We’ve seen our aliens and we’ve got our heroes. Now what dreadful things await for Invasion’s terrified humans?

Apple TV+’s newest sci-fi show is having a pretty terrific season, all things considered. So now, with everyone on the same page, can the series sustain its relentless pace? Can the show’s creators continue this balancing act for the rest of the season?

Apple needs to take the frustration out of AirPods firmware updates

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Apple needs to take the frustration out of AirPods firmware updates
AirPods firmware updates shouldn’t be so frustrating.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

What’s in that firmware update for a couple of AirPods that came out Tuesday. Who the hell knows?!? Apple doesn’t announce updates for its truly wireless headphones — and won’t tell anyone what’s in them. It’s very frustrating.

Apple’s attempt at making AirPods firmware updates simple instead makes them way more complicated than necessary. Currently, they happen in the background, but what’s really needed is an “Update Now” button.

Foundation Season 1 ends with scads of space drama [Apple TV+ recap]

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Foundation recap: The Leap
Lies, treachery and surprises -- in space!
Photo: Apple TV+

The first season of Apple TV+’s epic space opera Foundation winds down this week with a drama-packed final episode.

Terminus has a big shiny weapon to use against the Empire, which is renewed in its conviction that all rebellion must be dealt with. Between a rock and a hard place is a human coffin that spouts wisdom like Yoda. Read on to find out what I mean by that.