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See what personal info strangers can find about you online

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A photo of a man wearing a black hoodie, peering ominously at a laptop screen
Incogni's free exposure scanner can reveal what websites know about you — and the results can be shocking.
Photo: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels CC

Your name, home address and phone number are likely sitting on websites you’ve never heard of. Behind those listings are data brokers that collect and sell your personal information — to marketers, scammers and anyone else willing to pay.

Incogni’s free exposure scanner searches hundreds of these sites and reveals what personal information they publicly list about you. And it does it in less than a minute, with no account or credit card required.

Price cut: Convert PDFs easily on your Mac with this pro tool, just $23.97 for life

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Photo of a person using PDF Converter Pro on a laptop
Try out this Mac-compatible PDF editor and converter instead of the pricey Adobe Acrobat Pro.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Ever been annoyed when someone sends you a PDF instead of a file you can edit? An all-in-one PDF editor like AcePDF Converter & Editor can help, and it doesn’t need to cost a fortune.

Lifetime licenses for the Mac PDF app are on sale for $23.97 (regularly $99.99).

Wow, iPhone Duo is selling fast

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Ship dates for iPhone Duo on Apple's online store.
Demand for iPhone Duo is high on first day of preorders.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The new iPhone Duo is selling out fast, with deliveries already slipping into late January, three months after they were supposed to be available. The sellout is unprecedented, even for a new iPhone, which is always in high demand.

The first folding iPhone was meant to be ready for delivery on Friday, October 23. But preorders backed up by months within 15 minutes of the new handset going on sale this morning.

Currently, the checkout at Apple’s online store shows the iPhone Duo, which starts at $1,999, won’t be delivered until January 25 at the earliest. Customers hoping to pick up a handset before Christmas might still be able to get one, however.

iPhone Duo preorders open ahead of October 23 launch [Updated]

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iPhone Duo launch date
Preorder now and get your iPhone Duo on October 23.
Photo: Apple

You can now preorder the iPhone Duo from Apple. The company’s first foldable iPhone will reach customers and Apple Stores in a week, on Friday, October 23.

In the initial launch wave, the iPhone Duo will be available in more than 70 countries and regions. Another 28 countries will get the foldable on October 30.

Today in Apple history: Apple offers ice water to Windows users in hell

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Screenshot of iTunes for Windows app.
On this day in 2003, Steve Jobs revealed his plan to bring iTunes to Windows.
Image: Apple

October 16: Today in Apple history: iTunes Music Store comes to Windows October 16, 2003: Six months after opening the iTunes Music Store for Mac owners, Apple expands the service to Windows computers. This gives PC owners a new, legitimate way to download — and pay for — songs at a time when digital piracy threatens the music industry.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs later quips that making iTunes available to Windows owners is akin to “giving a glass of ice water to somebody in hell.”

Meta and Apple team up to bring powerful open-weight AI to Macs

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Meta and Apple partner on Muse Spark Open
Meta and Apple collaborated to put Muse Spark Open on high-end Macs.
Image: Meta

Meta and Apple are working together to bring a powerful new open-weight AI model to high-end Macs.

Meta announced Muse Spark Open on Thursday, describing it as “the most capable US open-weight model to date.” For its part, Apple updated its MLX machine-learning framework for the model.

“Leveraging the latest version of MLX, Muse Spark Open was optimized to run on Mac Studio with M5 Ultra, and together they’re the best way to run a powerful model on your own desktop,” said Meta in a statement.

Apple TV 4K 4th gen vs. 3rd gen: More capable, harder to justify

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Apple TV 4K (4th generation) in front of a TV.
Don't ditch your trusty Apple TV 4K (3rd gen) just yet.
Photo: Apple

The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K comes four years after its predecessor. While the streaming box retains almost the same design as its third-generation sibling, it packs some notable usability upgrades. That’s in addition to faster internals for a better overall experience. 

Do these improvements make the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) a worthy upgrade from the third-generation model?

Apple quietly sends invites to Oct. 28 Mac event

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Apple's busy Fall apparently carries on with October Mac event
Mark your calendars, Mac fans!
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly sending select journalists invitations to a product launch event that will be held on October 28. The company has yet to make an official announcement of the event, though.

Still, what’s on the agenda already leaked out. The highlight will be the first touchscreen MacBook, but two M6-powered Macs are also expected, as is an OLED iPad mini.

Today in Apple history: Former CEO John Sculley bids Apple a $10 million farewell

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Photo of former Apple CEO John Sculley talking at Web Summit 2015 in Dublin, Ireland.
After Steve Jobs and Tim Cook, John Sculley is Apple's most memorable CEO.
Photo: Web Summit/Flickr CC

October 15: Today in Apple history: CEO John Sculley forced out of Apple October 15, 1993: John Sculley, the former CEO responsible for forcing Steve Jobs out of Apple, is forced to leave the company himself. When Sculley resigns as Apple’s chairman, he leaves with a golden parachute.

His parting gifts include $1 million in severance pay, a one-year consulting fee of $750,000, a commitment from Apple to buy his $4 million mansion and $2 million Learjet, and $2.4 million in stock options. Total take: around $10 million.

Sprout iPod motherboard brings Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to old models

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Sprout iPod motherboard lets you switch your old iPods logic board without any soldering.
The Sprout replacement iPod motherboard brings a range of updates to Apple's beloved music player.
Photo: Sprout

A new replacement iPod motherboard is promising to bring your old click-wheel player into the modern era. It adds Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and USB-C, all while keeping the classic look.

Called Sprout, the open-source board is designed so that it drops into select iPods with no soldering required. It is still in development, but if it works as promised, it could be a dream upgrade for retro fans.

Record your Mac’s screen, then edit and share the videos in seconds

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Glooin screen recorder running on a laptop placed on a purple desk and with purple background
Record your screen and easily share the awesome results with Glooin.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your Mac already provides a screen recorder to capture what’s happening on your display. The annoying part often comes later: getting that screen recording edited, uploaded, organized and in front of the person who actually needs to see it.

Advanced screen recorder Glooin streamlines that entire process. It lets you record, edit and instantly share your screen, webcam and audio. If you’re tired of hassling with screen recordings on your Mac or PC, grab lifetime access to Glooin’s Starter plan, with 25GB of lifetime storage, for just $24.99 (regularly $99).

Original HomePod mini won’t get Siri AI

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No Siri AI for you, original HomePod mini!
The original HomePod is just as good as it was before. It's just not getting smarter.
Photo: shyam mishra/Pexels

We have confirmation that Apple’s original HomePod mini will miss out on a Siri AI upgrade, even as the company prepares to bring the technology to older Apple TV 4K models. The same apparently goes for the larger HomePod 2.

To be clear, Apple never said the previous versions of its smart speakers would get the new AI-enabled version of Siri. And the devices still include classic Siri and work as AirPlay speakers, just like they did before.

Control your Apple TV from your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch

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Image of an iPhone with the Apple TV Remote app on its screen, and the words,
The Apple TV remote is easy to lose, but you have other options.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can use your iPhone, iPad or even your Apple Watch as a remote for your Apple TV. It’s a convenient feature when you’ve lost the remote in the couch cushions.

And even if your remote hasn’t gone missing entirely, sometimes it’s sitting on the table way over there and you don’t want to interrupt a show by asking for someone to pass it to you. Or maybe someone is intentionally hogging the remote, and you want to pause the video on the Apple TV yourself. Either way, it’s really easy to do from an iPhone or an Apple Watch.

Save $299: Your old Apple TV 4K gets the best new features

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Why you might not need to buy the new $299 Apple TV 4K
Do you really need the latest Apple TGV 4K? Maybe not.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

The Apple TV 4K (4th Generation) is raising eyebrows and dropping jaws, but not with amazing new features. It’s the price: $299. Fortunately, owners of older versions of the streaming box can get many of the biggest upgrades without buying new hardware.

And for a small investment, the improved Siri Remote can also upgrade a current Apple TV 4K.

Here’s how you might save yourself almost $300.

Today in Apple history: Tim Cook becomes Apple’s chief operating officer

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Photo of Apple CEO Tim Cook onstage at a conference
Tim Cook was on his way to the top spot at Apple.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

October 14: Today in Apple history October 14, 2005: Tim Cook takes the reins as Apple’s chief operating officer. His new role as Apple COO continues his climb through the company’s ranks and will lead to his appointment as CEO less than six years later.

“Tim has been doing this job for over two years now, and it’s high time we officially recognized it with this promotion,” Apple CEO Steve Jobs says in a statement. “Tim and I have worked together for over seven years now, and I am looking forward to working even more closely with him to help Apple reach some exciting goals during the coming years.”

Carve your path to a lifetime of financial freedom for just $69.99

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Person using Sterling Stock Picker, which is part of the Financial Freedom Bundle, on a mobile device
Set yourself up for a lifetime of success with the Financial Freedom Bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Making smarter financial decisions isn’t just about picking the right stocks. It’s also about understanding the bigger picture — budgeting, saving, investing and planning for what’s next. The Financial Freedom Bundle tackles both sides of the equation, combining lifetime access to Sterling Stock Picker with the Pro$per financial education platform.

If you’re ready to tackle your financial situation once and for all, grab the Financial Freedom Bundle while it’s on sale for just $69.99 (regularly $598).

Apple HomeView turns web recipes into hands-free cooking instructions

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A picture of Apple HomeView used in a story about the device being useful for recipes.
With Apple HomeView, recipes appear as a visual step-by-step guide.
Photo: Apple

Using recipes on the new HomeView will apparently be even easier than Apple’s pitch suggests. Handoff will be able to move a recipe straight from your iPhone to the display, and then the smart screen can automatically display step-by-step instructions with hands-free timers.

That matters a lot in the kitchen, where messy hands and a locked phone rarely mix.

Surprise app icon change has Apple Music fans seeing red

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Image showing Apple Music black-and-white app icon in iOS 27.2 beta 4
Black and white looks classy, but Apple Music users aren't happy with the new app icon in iOS 27.2 beta 4.
Image: Apple

In iOS 27.2 beta 4, Apple changed the Apple Music app icon from white musical notes on a vibrant red background to similar black notes on a white background.

The reaction was immediate and overwhelmingly negative after the beta came out Tuesday. Apple Music fans slammed the change, with some calling it one of the company’s worst design choices ever.

Today in Apple history: Bono’s (Product) Red iPod nano fights HIV/AIDS

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Photo of Product Red iPod nano sitting on wooden table with Apple EarPods in the background.
Did you own this special edition iPod?
Photo: Wikimedia Commons CC/Modified by Cult of Mac

October 13: Today in Apple history: Bono's (Product)Red iPod nano fights HIV/AIDS October 13, 2006: Apple launches a limited-edition iPod nano (Product) Red Special Edition music player in collaboration with U2 lead singer Bono and activist/attorney Bobby Shriver, with 10% of profits going to fight AIDS in Africa.

It’s the first of many Apple philanthropic products. “We’re ecstatic that Apple is giving their customers the choice to buy a red iPod nano and help women and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa,” the U2 singer says in a statement.

Cool new Siri Remote can upgrade your old Apple TV 4K

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Lost Apple TV 4K Siri Remote (4th Generation) gets easier to locate.
Ah-Ha! It was between the couch cushions!
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s new Siri Remote adds a long-requested feature that makes it easier to track down the little controller when it goes missing… which you know it will. And you don’t have to buy the company’s new Apple TV 4K to get it.

The updated remote, announced Tuesday alongside Apple’s latest streaming box, adds an audible alert sound to make the device more findable. And it has Precision Finding, too.

The Siri Remote (4th Generation) is sold separately, so owners of older Apple TV models can upgrade to it.

Apple HomeView: 7 features and catches worth knowing

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Apple HomeView with Apple Podcasts and Apple Music running.
There’s more to Apple HomeView than music and smart home controls.
Photo: Apple

Apple is making a big push in the smart home segment with HomeView. The smart home hub, introduced Tuesday, brings Siri AI, smart home controls and FaceTime to a dedicated display for your home.

But there’s more to HomeView than its headline features. From differences between the two models to extra installation costs and requirements for personal Siri requests, these are the things you should know before ordering one.

Apple TV 4K gets Siri AI and a remote you can actually find

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A photo of the new Apple TV 4K used in a story about the same.
The new Apple TV 4K comes with the Siri remote and brings Siri AI to the big screen.
Photo: Apple

The new Apple TV 4K lets you ask Siri AI what to watch from across the room, no remote required.

The A19-powered box arrives November 13 for $299, making it $100 more expensive than the previous model’s starting price. It’s the first Apple TV 4K refresh since 2022.

The new Apple TV supports four-speaker surround sound, and it finally gets perhaps the most-requested feature ever: The new Siri Remote gets Find My — making a lost clicker a thing of the past.

Apple wants HomeView at the heart of your smart home

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Apple HomeView: Personalized, AI-enabled display for the whole family
Apple HomeView brings music, video calls and smart home controls together.
Photo: Apple

Apple intends its new HomeView hub to be permanently at the center of a digital home. It’s intended to offer “entertainment, connection, and smart home management,” said the official announcement. It features a 7-inch screen and a built-in speaker system.

“Apple HomeView is designed to be shared by everyone in the home yet feel completely personal to each user,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in a statement. “It recognizes your face to shift from a household screen to your own experience, fills the room with incredible sound, keeps you connected to the people who matter most with FaceTime, and makes it easy to control your smart home. And it’s powered by Apple Intelligence with Siri AI at its core, drawing on personal context from your iPhone to help you find what you need and get more done, all while keeping everyone’s information private and secure.”

The hub was announced Tuesday alongside a range of other smart home accessories.