Cult of Mac

Apple’s repair program for AirPods Pro, which addresses hardware issues that can cause crackling and static sounds, has been quietly extended.

The program originally covered faulty buds for two years after their initial purchase. It has now been extended to three years, with affected customers getting free replacements if they pass an Apple inspection.

If you just got an iPhone 13, this week’s giveaway is for you. Popular case-maker Smartish is giving one lucky winner a bundle that will keep their new iPhone protected, organized and charged.

Smartish makes inexpensive iPhone cases that people like, and the company racked up more than 30,000 five-star reviews to prove it. This bundle includes three popular iPhone 13 cases and two must-have accessories.

Apple released the tenth and possibly final beta of macOS Monterey on Wednesday and it still doesn’t allow testers to try out Universal Control. Apple will either have to delay the introduction of one of the highlights of macOS 12 or release it without it having gone through the usual beta testing program.

Apple normally announces when the debut of a major feature has been delayed. But it has not done so with Universal Control.

The Kingston DataTraveler Max is blazing fast. It supports USB 3.2 Gen 2 so the new flash drive can transfer data at up to 1,000MBps. And it uses USB-C so can be plugged into any Mac and most iPads.

I tested Kingston’s speed claims under real-world conditions. And data transfers are so quick it made me want to pitch out all my old flash drives.

Knowing how to code in a variety of languages can land you some great gigs. Take the first step with the Learn to Code 2021 Certification Bundle.

But do it soon: The bundle is on sale for $20 (regularly $34.99) for this week only.

Alto, which specializes in leather accessories for Apple products, offers a 10% launch discount and extra rewards points for purchases of its new iPhone 13 cases through the end of the month.

The Taiwan-based company launched four leather phone case series for Apple’s latest handsets. Each series offers products fitting iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Soundcore Frames look like typical glasses, but they come with a stealth capability: They let you listen to music.

The new “audio eyewear” product packs tiny drivers into the glasses’ temples, so wearers can listen to audio streaming from a Bluetooth device. Plus, a smart design choice that rips a page from the Apple Watch playbook makes them fashionable. But don’t expect augmented reality or other “smart” features.

Cult of Mac got an early look (and listen) during an advance demo of Soundcore Frames.

Luna Display 5.0 allows Windows PC users to make their iPad into a second screen. A hardware/software combination from Astropad lets the two disparate computers communicate via a wireless adapter for USB-C or HDMI.

The app could already turn an iPad into a Mac display with a dongle.

Apple TV+ released the first trailer for its adaptation of the children’s classic Harriet the Spy. The animated series about the irrepressible Harriet M. Welsch is set to debut on the streaming service on November 19.

Plenty of talent is involved. It’ll star Golden Globe and SAG Award nominee Beanie Feldstein, and include Emmy winner Jane Lynch. The series will be produced by The Jim Henson Company.

Folks often endure work-from-home situations where space is at a premium. Maybe they have a big house full of kids and pets. Maybe they live a tiny studio apartment in a big, expensive city. In either case, sometimes the whole computer setup sits where they eat, and it has to go away at dinnertime. Today’s setup solved the problem by turning a dining table into an easy-stash U.K. office.

Amazon’s discount on the M1 Mac mini is now bigger than ever, with up to $149.01 off the usual price. Bag yours today to enjoy one of Apple’s fastest desktops at its lowest price yet.

Apple will finally introduce its third-generation AirPods refresh during next week’s “Unleashed” event, according to one reliable leaker. We’ve been waiting for them to appear for over a year now, and an upgrade is long overdue.

AirPods 3 are expected to look a lot like AirPods Pro, with shorter stems that result in a slightly more compact design. However, they will skip “Pro” features — like active noise cancellation — to remain more affordable.

Apple appears to be looking into new ways to expand its health-related features. This time it focuses on its popular AirPods, according to a new report. In the future, in addition to filling your head with tunes and podcasts, the earbuds may take your temperature, monitor your posture and help improve your hearing.

iOS is safer than Android because you cannot sideload apps onto an iPhone, Apple says. The company this week published a document in response to the European Commission’s proposal that could force Apple to allow third-party app marketplaces, which points out the many risks (as Apple sees it) with that plan.

Titled “Building a Trusted Ecosystem for Millions of Apps,” the 31-page PDF argues that allowing the sideloading of apps on iPhone “would cripple the privacy and security protections that have made iPhone so secure.”

The larger screen in the Apple Watch Series 7 is the highlight of the upcoming wearable, according to the first reviews out today. And reviewers praise faster charging, too.

Even so, the consensus is that the new model will be a welcome upgrade for those with an older Watch but not a significant jump for those with Series 6.

Data collection, use and visualization prove key to many jobs in the digital age. But making data visualizations can be time-consuming and frustrating. That’s why many workers are turning to MyDraw Advance Diagramming Software. It comes loaded with templates, which makes visually displaying their findings easy with just a few clicks.

Snag a perpetual license for MyDraw now for 33% off. For just $69.99, you gain unlimited access to MyDraw’s suite of data-visualization tools.

Apple is being forced to cut iPhone 13 orders by as many as 10 million units due to ongoing chip shortages, according to a new report. Cupertino had planned to produce 90 million handsets before the end of the year.

It is now telling partners that the final figure will be lower as partners Broadcom and Texas Instruments — which supply parts related to iPhone’s wireless connectivity and display — struggle to deliver enough components.

Pick up Apple’s most impressive AirPods headphones today to enjoy $100 — the biggest discount yet — off the usual price. AirPods Max are now available in select color options for just $449.

The discount won’t last long, so enjoy it while you can!

Adobe promised Tuesday that Photoshop on the iPad will soon be able to work with images in a variety of raw formats.

Ryan Dumlao, product manager for this application, gave a sneak peek at the power of the upcoming feature for Apple tablets. Watch it now.

If you want the job of the future, you’d better learn to code. This bundle of courses will teach you a variety of crucial computer languages so you can build your own apps, games and more.

The Premium Coding Skills Bundle is your ticket to mastering the coding skills you need to succeed. Plus, this bundle helps prep you for the exams you’ll need to pass to gain key qualifications employers are looking for.

If you just bought the latest iPhone 13 and need some new cases, this week’s giveaway is for you. Case-Mate is giving away five of its most popular cases that are both pretty and protective.

This excellent bundle will keep your new iPhone 13 looking good. If you’re our lucky winner, you can keep all five iPhone cases for yourself or split up the bundle and share with a friend. Whatever you choose to do, make sure to enter this week’s giveaway.

The 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro models expected soon will offer more storage and RAM that their most recent predecessor, according to a tipster. And an expert claims they’ll have 120Hz displays.

Both notebooks will have mini-LED screens and M1X processors, and are likely to be unveiled at the Apple event on October 18.

As announced at Apple’s WWDC conference earlier this year, Siri voice support has come to the Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control — the first hardware not made by Apple to get it, with many others to follow. Ecobee said a new software update bringing the change rolls out over the coming weeks.

If you’re looking to save a few bucks on true wireless earbuds with active noise cancellation, you could certainly do worse than the recently released EarFun Air Pro 2 ANC Wireless Earbuds. They deliver quality sound and a solid feature set for $79.99 — much cheaper than a lot of premium buds. And sometimes you can get them at an even lower price (see below).

Concealed in Tuesday’s invite to the Apple October event is an augmented reality Easter egg. It’s a bonus to make the invite seem cool, and perhaps get Mac fans excited about what’s coming.

The graphic for the Oct. 18 event has a “zooming into hyperspace” effect. And it looks even better in AR.