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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.

Protect your precious MacBook with these slim cases from SwitchEasy

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Protect your precious MacBook with these slim cases from SwitchEasy
The SwitchEasy EasyStand MacBook Carry Case does two important jobs: it’s both a case and a portable stand.
Photo: SwitchEasy

Don’t tote your MacBook around without a case. It’s just not a good idea. SwitchEasy has a couple of new offerings that bring sleek protection while also adding some color. There’s the EasyStand MacBook Carry Case and the SwitchEasy Thins MacBook Sleeve.

Plus, the EasyStand case props up your laptop for more ergonomic typing.

Dr. Brain just keeps getting weirder and wilder! [Apple TV+ review]

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Dr. Brain review: Things just keep getting wilder in this action/sci-fi stunner.
This action/sci-fi stunner looks unstoppable!
Photo: Apple TV+

In this week’s episode of Dr. Brain, neuroscientist Sewon Koh discovers a powerful ally as he chases new leads while searching for his son and his wife’s killer. Reality and the imaginary begin to blend in a way that suggest he soon may not be able to tell them apart.

Oh, and Sewon’s new ally? It’s in his brain! Apple TV+’s trippy new South Korean sci-fi/mystery series just keeps getting wilder.

Dickinson queues up a consequential sing-along [Apple TV+ review]

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Dickinson review: Young poet Emily Dickinson (played by Hailee Steinfeld) gets some good news this week.
Young poet Emily Dickinson (played by Hailee Steinfeld) gets some good news this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

It’s an old-fashioned family sing-along on this week’s Dickinson, Apple TV+’s show about the Belle of Amherst and the tempestuous times in which she lived.

Lots of talk about legacy and darkness cloud an evening’s celebration during the episode, titled “Sang from the Heart, Sire.” Can Mr. Dickinson’s birthday party (or his reputation) survive?

‘Safari feels snappier with two Mac Pros’ [Setups]

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Cool wash: Note the two Mac Pro machines at lower left.
Cool wash: Note the two Mac Pro machines at lower left.
Photo: [email protected]

You see a lot of people busting on each other for “flexing,” or bragging, about their computer setups shown in social media posts. We came across a doozy today with a dual-display setup bathed in a cool wash of color. But it’s not really about the double luxe displays; lots of people have that. It’s about the two expensive Mac Pros tucked under the desk.

Apple Watch could miss out on a big redesign again next year

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Apple Watch Series 7 review roundup: Bigger is a bit better
Copy and paste.
Photo: Apple

Those hoping for a major Apple Watch overhaul could again be disappointed next year, with a new report claiming only minor design changes are planned for Apple Watch Series 8 — which could be almost identical to Series 7.

Many fans had expected an Apple Watch revamp this year after months and months of speculation and leaks. But it’s beginning to look like those weren’t just badly timed, but perhaps entirely inaccurate.

Grab a lightsaber and play Lego Star Wars: Castaways on Apple Arcade

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‘Lego Star Wars: Castaways‘ will debut on Apple Arcade in November, 2021.
You and your friends can each design a minifig and join the fun in Lego Star Wars: Castaways.
Photo: Gameloft/Apple Arcade

Have fun with your friends in Lego Star Wars: Castaways, the first social, action-adventure Lego Star Wars game. Players explore a mysterious new planet, fight in battle arenas, race through flight simulations or relax with a dance party.

The game launched Friday on the Apple Arcade gaming service.

The Shrink Next Door takes an ugly turn toward cringe comedy [Apple TV+ review]

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The Shrink Next Door review: Ike (played by Paul Rudd, left) can't stop taking advantage of his patient, Marty (Will Ferrell).
Ike (played by Paul Rudd, left) can't stop taking advantage of his patient, Marty (Will Ferrell).

Apple TV+ comedy The Shrink Next Door takes a step toward chaos and a step away from reconciliation this week. Marty and his psychiatrist, Ike, start a business together, which means they’re financially tied to each other. Marty has finally stopped giving in to everyone’s demands, but Ike is there to step in and replace every demanding person in Marty’s life.

This is not going to end well.

This powerful Mac PDF editor costs just $30 for life

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Edit, sign and annotate PDFs on your Mac with PDF Expert -- forever! This Mac PDF editor is on sale for Black Friday.
Edit, sign and annotate PDFs on your Mac with PDF Expert -- forever!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

PDFs are one of the most commonly used file types in the workplace and beyond. If you’re a Mac user, you should have a way to open, edit, annotate and alter PDFs without needing to go to one of those ad-filled online PDF editors.

PDF Expert lets you edit PDFs as easily as Word docs. And this powerful Mac app is on sale now for just $29.99.

The Morning Show comes down with a terminal case of COVID-19 [Apple TV+ review]

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Everybody's anxious for a reminder of the early days of COVID-19, right?
Everybody's anxious for a reminder of the early days of COVID-19, right?
Photo: Apple TV+

In The Morning Show season two finale, COVID-19 finally arrives, in case you missed that news cycle so much you needed to see it covered again on Apple TV+’s show about a news show.

If you were secretly hankering for such a thing, you’re in luck. Alex comes down with COVID-19, and Cory doesn’t want to cancel the launch of the network’s streaming app. Our interest has waned, so whatever, right? Let them do whatever they want. Just put down this sick dog of a show already.

New animated show Harriet the Spy takes one for the tweens [Apple TV+ review]

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Harriet the Spy review: The new kids show serves up some important life lessons.
This one's for the tweens!
Photo: Apple TV+

The Jim Henson Company and Apple TV+ teamed up to resurrect Harriet the Spy, Louise Fitzhugh’s teen sleuth who’s out to help her friends and neighbors.

Can new animated series Harriet the Spy, which premieres today, secure itself the fanbase other Apple TV+ kids shows have yet to accrue? And is there any way this show could be as big as the books that spawned the series?

Belkin’s new 3-in-1 charger brings faster top-ups for Apple Watch Series 7

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Belkin Boost Charge Pro
Up to 33% faster charging for Apple Watch Series 7.
Photo: Belkin

Belkin’s new BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad is one of the first third-party accessories to support Apple Watch Series 7’s faster charging speeds. It also tops up your iPhone and a third device, like AirPods, simultaneously.

The charging pad even includes MagSafe to prevent your iPhone from getting knocked off it during the night — and it’s only a little more expensive than Apple’s far less versatile MagSafe Duo Charger.

Michel Gondry shoots his latest short film entirely on iPhone 13 Pro

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A Dozen Eggs, shot on iPhone 13 Pro
By French director Michel Gondry.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” campaign continues with “A Dozen Eggs,” a whimsical short film captured entirely on iPhone 13 Pro by award-winning French film director Michel Gondry.

The one-minute video, like other films from the series, does a terrific job of showcasing iPhone’s camera performance and movie-making prowess.

watchOS 8.1.1 removes charging bug on Apple Watch Series 7

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watchOS 8.1.1 removes charging bug on Apple Watch Series 7
watchOS 8.1.1 is out, but it might not be for you.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple Watch Series 7 wearers should install a small “bug fix” update that debuted on Thursday. If you don’t have that model, don’t waste time looking for the new version — watchOS 8.1.1 is apparently only for the recently released Series 7.