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Apple TV+ premieres on Nvidia Shield

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Apple TV+ now available through Nvidia Shield too
The already lengthy list of devices that can play Apple TV+ now includes Nvidia Shield media players.
Photo: Nvidia

Add Nvidia Shield to the lengthy list of smart TVs and streaming boxes that can play Apple TV+. A version of the free app for the Android-powered media player debuted Tuesday.

Make your documents more interactive with linkable objects in iWork 11.1

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Apple Pages, Numbers and Keynote make up iWork.
Pages, Numbers and Keynote just scored additional linking and/or Schoolwork capabilities.
Photo: Apple

Newly released versions of the Pages and Numbers productivity apps let users make embedded objects like shapes and images into links. This is true for both the Mac and mobile versions of the iWork apps.

Plus, the iPad and iPhone versions — as well as Keynote — also get additional capabilities for teachers who use the Schoolwork app.

Does being gay make Tim Cook a better CEO?

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Apple CEO Tim Cook calls being gay
Tim Cook calls being gay "God's greatest gift."
Photo: thierry ehrmann/Flickr CC

Since he came out as gay eight years ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook has led the company through the most successful period in its history. Cook once said he wanted to prove you can “be gay and still go on and do some big jobs in life.” He’s certainly done that.

But maybe there’s more to this story than overcoming prejudice. In 2018, Cook told CNN that being gay is “God’s greatest gift to me.” Far from a disadvantage, could being gay actually be an instrumental part of his success?

As a gay man myself, Cook has always been an inspiration for me. So to celebrate Pride Month, here’s why I think being gay made him a better CEO.

Apple is world’s biggest tech giant, but Tim Cook is far from best-paid CEO

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Tim Cook
"I ranked where on the list?"
Photo: Apple

Tim Cook is one of the highest-profile CEOs in the world, currently in his tenth year running what’s currently the most valuable public company in the United States. But Cook is far from the biggest earner when it comes to executive compensation.

According to a ranking by the Wall Street Journal, Cook ranked 171st among S&P 500 CEOs in 2020s, taking into account both pay and compensation packages. While Cook’s take-home was a more-than-adequate $14,769,259 for the year, that’s still considerably under the $211 million raked in by Chad Richison of Paycom, the no. 1 entry on the list.

Linedock MacBook docking station grows to 16 inches, 10 ports, 2TB

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Linedock 16 and Linedock 16 are available for order now.
Linedock adds extra ports, battery life and storage to a MacBook.
Photo: Linedock

Two new, larger versions of the Linedock multi-port USB-C docking station make room for additional capabilities. The Linedock 16” and 15” sit under a MacBook where they take up minimal space but add ten ports, up to 2TB of storage and a 99.9Wh battery.

The new versions can be ordered now and ship later this summer.

Keep cool this summer with your own personal AC

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air conditioner
This portable, personal air conditioner is the perfect companion this summer.
Photo: EvaSmart

Summer is nearly here. Are you ready for the heat? Consider the EvaSmart 2: Smart Personal Air Conditioner, which is not simply a cooling device. This personal all-in-one evaporative air cooler also works as a humidifier and air purifier, providing climate control absolutely anywhere you go.

Currently on sale for just $179 (regularly $269), this popular mobile AC unit will be available for just $161 for a limited time thanks to a price drop.

Apple highlights diversity of winners in this year’s WWDC Swift Student Challenge

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WWDC students winners
WWDC kicks off next week.
Photo: Apple

Ahead of next week’s WWDC 2021, Apple is highlighting the young developers who have won its Swift Student Challenge. The annual contest exists to reward up-and-coming coders who are on Apple’s radar. They typically win some great Apple swag for their troubles.

This year, for its second virtual Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple handed out prizes to 350 next generation Swift coders from 35 countries and regions. They had to submit an original Swift playground in order to win a spot. Apple seizes upon this year’s competition to show off the diversity of the people who entered.

Snag an unlocked iPhone XR refurb for under $320 today only

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The iPhone XR will feature Haptic Touch. But just what is that?
Don't miss out!
Photo: Apple

Want a bargain iPhone that packs some of Apple’s best features? Look no further than a refurbished iPhone XR. You get an edge-to-edge display, Face ID, stereo speakers, and more — and all for less than $320. This sale ends today, so claim yours before it’s too late.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

EU plans digital wallet for driver’s licenses and other crucial docs

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Wallet
A next-gen digital wallet for everything you need.
Photo: Emil Kalibradov/Unsplash CC

The European Union is reportedly working on a mobile digital wallet that could support far more types of identification documents than Apple’s Wallet app. While Wallet can store your credit and debit cards, along with passes and tickets, the EU’s digital wallet will allow EU members to store their driver’s license, access various private and public services, and more.

As first noted by the Financial Times, the app will centralize access to a whole lot of information using a single online ID. Up until now, EU member states have had their own digital IDs. However, these have not all been compatible with one another and adoption has been low. Now the EU is looking at creating one unified solution.

Man fishes dropped iPhone from canal using its MagSafe connector

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MagSafe charger for iPhone
Handy for charging. Handier for retrieving your dropped iPhone from a canal in Germany.
Photo: Apple

What do you do when you drop your iPhone 12 Pro in a canal and can’t find it? Simple: You take advantage of one of its neat new features to fish it out of the murky depths.

That’s what Twitter user and developer Frederik Riedel recently did — crafting a fishing rod with magnet that allowed him to latch on to the MagSafe charging magnets on the back of the device. Impressively, it worked. As did the iPhone continue to do.

Possible unreleased AirTag accessories appear in eBay listing

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eBay airtags
It's not 100% clear that they're the genuine article.
Photo: Chargerstore/eBay

A new eBay listing from a seller in China, known for selling genuine Apple prototypes in the past, is selling what appear to be unreleased-but-authentic AirTag accessories. These include pink and surf blue versions of the AirTag Loop, joining the electric orange, sunflower, deep navy, and white color options Apple already sells.

It also sells the California poppy leather loop, another accessory that appeared in promotional images, but has yet to be released by Apple. At time of writing, the surf blue and California poppy options are out of stock. However, the pink is still available. It’s not clear whether the others will be restocked.

Master Adobe Creative Cloud with this all-in-one bundle for just $20 this Memorial Day

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adobe
This Adobe bundle will boost your creativity.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If there’s one editing toolkit that all digital creators have at hand, it’s Adobe Creative Cloud. Trusted by professional artists, designers and programmers, virtually every industry thrives on one or more aspects of the Adobe’s software suite.

Learning Photoshop is a must for aspiring photographers, but it’s also useful for PR professionals looking to assemble a press kit or brochure on their own. Journalists wield Adobe Premiere in newsrooms, but so do amateur filmmakers looking to complete their first feature-length film.

Basically, anyone working in the digital creative world needs to learn all of Adobe CC. And, for a limited time, you can — with the 2021 Complete All-in-One Adobe Creative Cloud Suite Certification Course Bundle. And it’s priced at just $20 for Memorial Day.

Intel urges gamers to dump Mac for Windows

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Intel urges Mac gamers to switch to Windows
Intel seriously disses Mac gaming.
Photo: Intel

Intel struck a blow against Apple by pointing out how weak Mac gaming is. The chip-maker held a presentation at Computex 2021, during which it said Windows laptops offer a “better gaming experience than 100% of Mac laptops.”

This will likely damage any remaining relationship the Intel has with Apple. But this was already in tatters as macOS transitions to Apple’s M-series processors and away from Intel ones.

Why interactive widgets might be the best improvement in iOS 15 [Updated]

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iOS 15 widgets concept
The single best change Apple could make in iOS 15 is interactive widgets.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Update:  iOS 15 was unveiled at WWDC 2021 and there was no mention of interactive widgets. Maybe in 2022…


It’s high time iPhone Home screen widgets grew up. They were one of the best additions to iOS last year, but they are still too limited. Fortunately, iOS 15 will reportedly make widgets much more interactive.

There are a few other changes expected in the new iPhone system software update, but none are as important as this one.

Here come the new M1 iMacs [Setups]

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A pretty blue M1 iMac makes a great first impression.
A pretty blue M1 iMac makes a great first impression.
Photo: 17parkc@Reddit

It’s Christmas in May, June and July. Many people are taking delivery on the colorful new M1 iMacs. Others are jealously awaiting delivery while drooling over photographic evidence on social media of others’ recent shipments.

And computer setups everywhere are being refreshed with the dazzling new all-in-one machines (see Cult of Mac’s M1 iMac review roundup). Redditor 17parkc is just one example, sporting a brand-spanking-new blue iMac. They even posted a video showing off the upgrade.

This is all the cloud storage you’ll need — and it’s $129.99 for Memorial Day

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degoo
Never worry about losing your files again.
Photo: Degoo

As the years go by, your computer storage will only get bogged down with more photos, more work documents and more assorted files that you’ll want to keep stored forever. And if you have space-stealing projects like edited videos or audio files, forget it. No computer will ever have enough space for all your saved files.

That’s why lifetime cloud storage is becoming a smart buy. It allows you to purchase terabytes of storage for a one-time price, so you’ll never have to worry about running out of space again. If you’re in the market for A.I.-based cloud storage, look no further than Degoo Premium. And this Memorial Day, you can get a lifetime subscription to Degoo Premium with 15TB of storage for just $129.99. That’s an astonishing savings off the retail value of $4,320.

Learn to play piano with a lifetime sub to a premium app

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Piano
This excellent piano app is on sale for Memorial Day.
Photo: Skoove

What is the No. 1 instrument in most U.S. music schools? The answer may not surprise you: It’s a classic, alluring and highly versatile instrument that can make a variety of sounds. As of 2019, “The piano/keyboard is the most requested instrument to play by young musicians at least in the U.S.,” according to the Los Angeles Music Teachers website.

If you missed your chance to learn piano in school, don’t worry. There’s a new way to learn to play, and it makes the instrument more accessible than ever. Typically retailing for $299, and usually offered by us at a 50% discount at $149.99, our lifetime subscription to Skoove Premium Piano Lessons will drop down to just $113 for a limited time this Memorial Day weekend.

Killer Mac concepts [Cult of Mac Magazine 403]

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Killer Mac concepts: Ready to visual the future?
Ready to visual the future of Mac?
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Mac concept-makers are really strutting their stuff lately. This week we saw two eye-catching concepts that ring true. Get a glimpse of what the next-gen Mac Pro and MacBook Pro might look like in this week’s top stories.

And don’t miss our interview with one of the concept artists, who tells what he uses to make his realistic images.

You’ll find those stories and more in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Read it on iOS or hit the links below for browser fun. If you want slightly less fanciful stuff, we’ve also got the latest Apple news, reviews and how-tos to keep you busy this long Memorial Day weekend.

Kids can design and print their own toys with this 3D printer, on sale for Memorial Day

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3D Printer
This 3D printer lets families design and create their own toys at home.
Photo: Toybox

With the school year drawing to a close and summer almost upon us, parents everywhere will be looking for ways to keep their kids occupied. Like it or not, some of that will revolve around technology. That isn’t a bad thing; there are many new options that will make kids and adults both happy. Outdoor movie nights are one example the whole family will enjoy. Another could be letting children use their imagination to create and print their own toys.

The Toybox 3D Printer Bundle will do just that, and for less money right now during our Memorial Day sale. It typically retails for $469, but you can pick up this awesome gift for just $299.99 with our limited-time price drop.

Access hundreds of 12-minute micro books for $29 this Memorial Day

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micro books
You can power through hundreds of interesting books in just 12 minutes each with this lifetime subscription.
Photo: 12min Micro Books

Too many books, too little time.

It’s true: There are more books that exist in the world than one person could possibly read in a lifetime. That being said, there’s still time to read titles that personally interest you. If you’ve got a busy schedule, though, it can be challenging to find time to read new books or thumb through classics. But there is a way to digest novel ideas in very little time.

Prevent hacks to preserve your business’s valuable reputation

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A password manager like Dashlane can keep you from losing your business's good reputation.
A password manager like Dashlane can keep you from losing your business's good reputation.
Photo: Dashlane

This business cybersecurity post is brought to you by Dashlane.

The hard work you put into building your business and managing your business’s reputation should not be compromised by an avoidable hack.

Cyberattacks on businesses and other entities may seem inevitable, but many are avoidable. Given the importance of reputation — which amounts to everything anyone and everyone thinks or feels about your operation — preventing cybersecurity breaches is crucial to defending the overall perception of your business’s trustworthiness to consumers, clients and investors.

Implementing use of a password manager like Dashlane for you and your employees, whether they work remotely or onsite, is among the easiest and most effective ways to protect your business’s reputation, explains J.D. Sherman, CEO of Dashlane. Its web and mobile app simplifies password management for people and businesses.

Designer dazzles with MacBook Pro MX1 concept [Setups]

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Designer Antonio De Rosa uses his setup to render Apple products and more.
Designer Antonio De Rosa uses his setup to render Apple products and more.
Photo: Antonio De Rosa

Designer and concept artist Antonio De Rosa came out with a drop-dead gorgeous rendering of a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an MX1 chip earlier this week that Cult of Mac reported on as a look at something possibly close to the real thing, based on recent leaks and rumors.

A substantially modified 16-inch MBP could be announced as soon as the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on June 7.

As for the designer of the speculative Apple concept, we decided to chat him up, much like we did recently with another render-master we know.

Apple has a pair of intriguing HomePod devices in the works

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HomePod speaker
Apple's not given up on HomePod it seems.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A proposed HomePod speaker with a built-in screen, and another device combining HomePod, FaceTime camera, and Apple TV, remain in “early development” at Apple, a Bloomberg report Friday states.

The report, which also includes details of Apple’s AirPods roadmap, describes the pair of devices as being part of Apple’s “broader home, audio and accessories strategy.” Unfortunately, there’s no word on when either might arrive.