Learn how to use ChatGPT with this handy prompts guide

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Help someone take full advantage of ChatGPT's potential with $100 off this prompts guide.
This discounted prompts guide allows users to discover more through ChatGPT, now only $20.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

ChatGPT can work wonders, both professionally and personally — if you know how to create the perfect prompts. If you want to learn how to use the white-hot AI chatbot to maximum effect, the Ultimate ChatGPT Prompts Guide is the perfect place to start.

Primed to help users maximize ChatGPT’s mighty potential, it’s available for just $19.97 (regularly $119) through December 25. This resource is packed with advice, unlocking thousands of possibilities from the ever-advancing ChatGPT.

How to set up your new Mac like a pro

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Set Up Your New Mac: Moving to a new Mac is fast — we’ll get your Mac on track in no time.
Let's get that nice new Mac set up, shall we?
Image: Apple

It’s a great season to get a new Mac. Every Mac today is a great buy. If you’re one of the lucky people to get one this year, here’s how to set it up like a pro.

So rip open that box, tear off that plastic and get to the good stuff.

If this is your first Mac with Apple’s powerful new chips inside, you’re in for a real treat. It’s pretty easy to set up whether you have an old Mac to transfer data from or you’re starting from scratch. There are a few choices to make along the way, though, and some essential tricks and apps you’ll want to consider, so we’re here to take you through the process.

Here is Cult of Mac’s guide to setting up your new Mac the right way.

How to set up your new AirTag the right way

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AirTag
Here's everything you need to know about setting up your new AirTag.
Photo: Mark Chan/Unsplash

The Apple AirTag is arguably among the company’s most useful product releases in recent years. Once you set up an AirTag, it gives you powerful options for locating it (and whatever you attach it to). Put one of Apple’s tracking tags on an item like a keychain or luggage, and you can easily track its location from your iPhone, Mac or iPad.

Since AirTag’s launch, numerous reports have detailed how the tracking tag helped owners find lost items. If you recently acquired an AirTag, here’s how you can set it up the right way and use it properly.

How to set up and use your brand-new AirPods

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lost AirPods
Not everyone has the ears for AirPods
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

If you’re a super lucky duck, then Santa may have left a pair of AirPods a) in your stocking or b) under your tree (depending on how good or bad you’ve been in 2023). AirPods are truly one of the best products Apple ever made, because they really do offer a huge upgrade on all previous headphones.

They’re easy to use, and they sound amazing. Here are a few pointers on getting the most out of your new AirPods.

How to set up your new iPad the right way

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Set Up Your New iPad
Let's get your new iPad up and running.
Photo: Apple

Congratulations — you got a new iPad! Whether it’s the entry-level iPad that brings the essential features to an affordable price, the iPad Air with the powerful M1, the pocketable iPad mini or the top-of-the-line iPad Pro, you’ll want to set up your new device with the least amount of fuss.

We’re here to help you do just that with a ton of little tips and tweaks that will make sure you’re off and using that new iPad as quickly as possible. From backing up your old iPad (if you had one already) to getting up and running with a brand-new iPad from scratch, we’ve got you covered.

How to set up your new iPhone the right way

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Set Up Your New iPhone: We can get your new iPhone set up easily — no need to phone it in.
We can get your new iPhone set up easily — no need to phone it in.
Image: Apple

How do you set up your new iPhone the fastest way possible? The iPhone setup process gets easier every year. So easy, in fact, that there are only a few things you need to do to move from your old iPhone to a new one. You can even directly transfer your data from an Android phone. Setting up a new iPhone from scratch isn’t much harder — you just have a few extra steps you need to go through.

There are still a few tricks that will help things run smoothly, though.  Let’s see how to set up your new iPhone the right way.

How to set up Apple Watch and tips for getting the most out of it

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How to Set Up Your Apple Watch
Get your new Apple Watch up and running in no time!
Photo: Luke Chesser/Unsplash CC

How do you set up a new Apple Watch? Whether you got the Series 9 with its brighter screen and advanced sensors or leapt for the rugged and improved Apple Watch Ultra 2 model, you might be wondering how to get started After all, the Watch is unlike any other Apple device, both in its dependence on an iPhone and in the way it works.

The good thing is, Apple has made it really, really easy to get things up and running. Let’s take a look.

How to track Santa from your Mac, iPhone or iPad

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How to track Santa from your iPhone or iPad
Tracking Santa as he flies across the world delivering toys is easy.
Photo: Cult of Mac

It’s Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is on his way. You can find out exactly where he is with the help of NORAD and your Mac or iPhone. You can even track Jolly Old Saint Nick’s progress in real time.

Here’s how to keep an eye on Santa’s progress.

Today in Apple history: Apple’s new tablet is called … iSlate?

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Today in Apple history: December 24, 2009: Pre-iPad rumors indicate Apple will call its tablet the
Pre-iPad rumors indicate Apple will call its tablet the "iSlate."
Illustration: Apple/Cult of Mac

December 24: Today in Apple history: Apple's new tablet is called ... iSlate? December 24, 2009: As rumors of a possible Apple tablet reach the boiling point, word spreads online that the new device will be called the iSlate.

The news is based on the fact that Apple quietly acquired the domain name iSlate.com a few years earlier. Since Apple did the same thing for the iPhone back in the late 1990s, years before the iPhone actually debuted, it makes total sense that the company would follow suit with the naming of its tablet.

Of course, that didn’t end up happening.

Apple Watch sales ban … how did this happen?!? [The CultCast]

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Apple Watch banned - The CultCast episode 626
We honestly never thought this day would come. What's next for Apple Watch?
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: You maniacs! You blew it up! A patent dispute nukes Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra from Apple’s website. And by Christmas, the smartwatches will disappear from Apple Store shelves in the United States.

Who knew it would come to this? And what’s next for Apple Watch in this long legal battle?

Also on The CultCast:

  • There’s more bad news for Apple Watch fans. A redesign might render your Apple Watch band collection obsolete!
  • Two luxury automakers show off next-gen CarPlay interfaces, and they look awesome.
  • We’ve got more picks for the best stuff of 2023.

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 live stream, embedded below.

Today in Apple history: Apple invents ‘slide to unlock’

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Apple didn't invent the Slide to Unlock gesture.
"Slide to unlock" drew audible gasps from the audience when Steve Jobs first showed it off.
Photo: Jared Earle/Flickr CC

December 23: Today in Apple history: Apple invents slide to unlock gesture for iPhone December 23, 2005: Apple files a patent application for its iconic “slide to unlock” gesture for the iPhone.

At this point, the iPhone remains a secret research project. However, the ability to unlock the device by sliding your finger across it signifies Apple’s big ambitions for its smartphone. Cupertino wants the iPhone to be easy to use, intuitive and miles ahead of the competition technologically.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 7 lays groundwork for future battles [Apple TV+ recap]

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'Monarch: Legacy of Monsters' episode 7 -- Lee Shaw blows stuff up
Colonel Lee Shaw gets to blow stuff up in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 7.
Photo: Apple TV+

TV+ ReviewMonarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 7 might not be the most exciting entry in the series, but it offers up important backstory for one of the best MonsterVerse films.

Read our review/recap for Godzilla-size spoilers about the latest episode, plus some speculation about the show’s future.

Get a lifetime of AI, ChatGPT and Python courses for less than $30

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Take advantage of holiday savings for this $30 bundle focused on AI, ChatGPT and Python advancement.
A smart gift idea: Pick up this AI, ChatGPT and Python course pack for only $29.97.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The technology sector is loaded with lucrative job possibilities, and you can get career-boosting assistance in the form of a comprehensive educational package built around artificial intelligence and coding.

Through December 25, pick up The 2023 Ultimate AI, ChatGPT and Python Programming Bundle for only $29.97 (regularly $154). Use it to advance your career in 2024 — or as a last-minute present that can benefit your giftee for years to come.

Best free weather apps for iPhone and iPad in 2023

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The Best Weather Apps
There are SO MANY weather apps to choose from, but these are the best free ones.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

In a world with about 10,000 weather apps — that’s an actual estimate, not a huge exaggeration — how do you choose the best free weather app for iPhone or iPad that you can trust and that includes the features you want most? It’s not easy. But a mix of full-featured free weather apps (most with premium versions) and specialty apps can cover all the bases for you.

We’ll go over some of the best weather apps below, whether you just want to avoid getting wet or if you’re a total weather freak who can’t get enough data, visual or otherwise.

This AI assistant can help with virtually any task

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Producti is the AI business assistant that every professional deserves, now under $50.
Multitalented AI assistant Producti can write, code, transcribe and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

At this point, we all are aware of the power of artificial intelligence. Now, you can apply AI as your own personal assistant with a productivity-boosting program called Producti.

Whether you’re a freelance writer, business owner, marketer or casual user, there are plenty of tasks you can streamline with lifetime access to Producti’s AI. And, through December 25, a lifetime subscription to Producti’s Pro Plan costs just $49.99 (regularly $647).

Today in Apple history: iPhone comes to the world’s biggest carrier

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china-defends-its-new-anti-encryption-law-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201512Screen-Shot-2015-12-23-at-164347-png
China is a massive market for Apple.
Photo: Weibo/Tim Cook

December 22: Today in Apple history: iPhone comes to China Mobile, the world's biggest carrier December 22, 2013: After months of false starts, Apple finally secures a deal with China Mobile to bring the iPhone to the world’s largest telecom company.

With 760 million potential iPhone customers in the offing, the deal shapes up as Apple’s most important yet for growing its brand in China. In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook says the country soon will become the company’s biggest market.

For All Mankind episode 7 finds crisis across the picket line ★★★

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For All Mankind season 4 episode 7★★★
Ed Baldwin and Samantha Massey represent Helios workers in strike negotiations.
Photo: Apple TV+

For All Mankind, season 4, episode 7 — “Crossing the Line” — wastes no time getting into rancorous strike negotiations between Helios workers and NASA management at Happy Valley, Mars, as forecast by the previous episode.

That “line” in the episode title is a picket line, or maybe a reference to the disastrous result of management trying to bust a strike in space.

Santa brings Windows 10 Pro for $16 and other software deals from CdkeySales

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CdkeySales windows logo 12-22-23
Use promo code CULT at CdkeySales.com to score extra holiday savings on Microsoft software.
Photo: CdkeySales.com

Santa Claus brings more than just wooden toys these days — he also brings techie holiday gifts. His sleigh is loaded with Microsoft software like Windows and Office. By which we mean you can seek out major bargains on those products and more in CdkeySales.com’s Merry Christmas Sale!

SPONSORED
This post is brought to you by CdkeySales.
You can always find fantastically low prices at software activation keys provider CdkeySales.com. To get the most savings in the Merry Christmas Sale, enter promo code CULT. That cuts an additional 30% off the site’s low prices on software keys. And what’s more, you get a free upgrade to Windows 11 when you buy Windows 10.

Why Apple can’t replace your broken Apple Watch

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Broken Apple Watch
If you have a broken Apple Watch, you have a bigger problem than usual.
AI image: Cult of Mac

The ban on selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 affects Apple’s ability to replace broken units, too. Starting December 25, the company won’t be able to send customers replacement units for smashed Apple Watch models going back to Series 6.

Apple stands accused of patent infringement due to a health-related sensor in the smartwatches. The years-long dispute between Cupertino and a medical tech company finally reached the point of an Apple Watch sales and import ban.

Explore worlds old and new with Aztec Mystery Magic AI app [Awesome Apps]

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Ancient Aztec Mystery app
It's a fun way to engage with an AI chat.
Photo: Zviadi Tumanishvili

Awesome AppsThe new Aztec Mystery Magic app for iPhone and iPad released Thursday dresses up artificial intelligence (AI) chat in a cool Aztec costume.

It doesn’t do a whole lot, but it looks cool and it’s free. It answers questions, makes predictions and offers ancient Aztec riddles you can solve to get amulets. And hey, you might learn something.

Sleek steel mesh Apple Watch band now comes in 7 colors

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With the new green option, you can now choose from seven colors.
With the new green option, you can now choose from seven colors.
Photo: Laut

Laut’s Steel Loop Apple Watch Band boasts a stainless-steel-mesh look and feel that’s elegant enough for a festive gala but would not look out of place at a football game.

And you can get it in seven cool colors, now that the new green option is available in the Cult of Mac Store.

AnyTrans lets you migrate data between iOS and other devices with a tap

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Gift easy management of data and content between iOS devices, iTunes and iCloud with AnyTrans®, now only $20.
Make data management a breeze with AnyTrans.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

AnyTrans is a file-management app every Apple user should own. Users can effortlessly transfer and manage all their digital content between their Apple devices and accounts with this tool, whether they have every Apple device on the market or are simply trying to streamline their lives.

Through December 25, it’s on sale for only $19.97 (regularly $79).

How to record 3D spatial video on your iPhone

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3D Video for the Future
You might not be able to play 3D video back now, but you'll be glad you have it in the future.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

This holiday season, with all the family together, Apple has a new feature that may future-proof the video you take: 3D video that Cupertino calls spatial video. With your iPhone, you can record stereoscopic 3D video that you will one day be able to replay on an Apple Vision Pro headset as an immersive way to relive your memories.

Update to iOS 17.2 and you can start. Here’s how it works.

Today in Apple history: Marathon is Mac’s answer to Doom

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First-person shooter Marathon gave Mac gamers something to be proud of.
First-person shooter Marathon gave Mac gamers something to be proud of.
Photo: Bungie

December 21: Today in Apple history: Marathon game is Mac's answer to Doom December 21, 1994: Mac gamers get their hands on Marathon, a sci-fi first-person shooter designed as an answer to the massive success of PC title Doom.

Created by Bungie, the team that would later make the Halo games, Marathon introduces important features to the FPS genre. Just as importantly, it isn’t available on PC. Marathon quickly becomes a favorite among Mac gamers.