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Truth Be Told season 2 brings another perplexing murder to Apple TV+ on August 20

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‘Truth Be Told’ season 2 brings another cold case to Apple TV+ on August 20
Kate Hudson and Octavia Spencer in Truth Be Told, season 2, premiering August 20 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Add season two of Truth Be Told to the list of Apple TV+ summer 2021 offerings. Octavia Spencer returns as the star of the crime drama series, and Kate Hudson joins for the new season.

Apple dropped a teaser trailer Wednesday to whet fans’ appetites. Watch it now.

‘Mostly monochrome’ rig focuses on innovative storage, nice lighting, cool keyboards [Setups]

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It's amazing what you can do with a pegboard (left) and some inexpensive but effective lighting.
It's amazing what you can do with a pegboard (left) and some inexpensive but effective lighting.
Photo: carrotcakeblack@Reddit

Redditor carrotcakeblack wins more than a few style points for his “mostly monochrome! Also some keyboards” setup, as he calls it in his post’s title.

But he leaves out one of the factors visitors like most about his well-photographed MacBook Pro-based outfit. Namely, the way he hangs so much of his gear on a pegboard off to one side in such a visually appealing way.

Apple VP hints at ‘potential’ of health-tracking AirPods

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AirPods Pro with black background discounts
Future AirPods might capture vital health data.
Photo: Apple

Smart sensors in future AirPods possess “all kinds of potential” for health tracking, according to Apple VP of Technology Kevin Lynch.

While he surely knows the company’s goals in this area, Lynch doesn’t spill the beans in a new interview with TechCrunch. However, the Apple exec hints (or, rather, doesn’t exactly deny) that the health-tracking technology already found in iPhones and Apple Watch could arrive in next-gen AirPods.

Beats co-founders Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine are starting a public high school

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Jimmy Iovine, Tim Cook, Andre Young, and Eddie Cue. Photo: Apple
Iovine and Dre meets with Tim Cook and Eddy Cue.
Photo: Apple

Beats co-founders Andre “Dr. Dre” Young and Jimmy Iovine, both of whom previously held high profile roles at Apple, are working to transform a public high school to welcome pupils who feel “disconnected from, [or] unmotivated by, the typical school experience.”

The public high school will supposedly mirror the format of the USC’s Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation, which they donated $70 million to start in 2013. The USC academy has since expanded due to its popularity. Some graduates have even gone on to work at Apple.

Apple resolves Apple Card problem stopping customers from making purchases

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Apple Card’s ‘elite card’ status is hitting retailers in the wallet
Poor Marisa Robertson was unable to make purchases. Possibly.
Photo: Apple

Apple has successfully fixed a problem that was stopping some Apple Card users from using Apple Pay with the Apple-branded credit cards in stores. On its System Status page, Apple noted that “Some users were affected,” although it does not provide details of the problem — or the fix that the company employed.

The issue was marked as revolved at 6.41 am ET/3.41 am PT on Wednesday, June 16. This was two days after Apple first noted it had a problem. No other problems were highlighted on the Systems Status page, which showed green lights across the board.

Apple Music Lossless is coming to India, likely for the same $1.35 a month

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Apple Music Spatial Audio could debut on Monday
Coming soon to one of the world's biggest market.
Photo: Apple

Apple has confirmed that its Apple Music Lossless and Spatial Audio features will be coming to India. The features debuted elsewhere for users in May at no added cost.

Apple’s Support Twitter page notes that “We appreciate your interest. Dolby Atmos on Apple Music will be coming to India soon. Keep an eye out here.” Meanwhile, the Apple Music page for India also makes mention of the feature. No official launch date has yet been announced.

This iPhone and iPad stylus will drive your co-workers mad with envy [Review]

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Stand out in the boardroom with Adonit Prime iPhone/iPad stylus [Review]
The Adonit Prime looks like a top-tier writing instrument. But it’s a high-quality stylus for either iPhone or iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adonit Prime is a stylus for iPhone or iPad that combines a premium form with top-quality function. It’s for anyone not satisfied with everyday styli — anybody who wants one that stands out from the crowd.

I tried both the Prime – Dash (the version for iPhone) and the Prime – Note (for iPad). Here’s why they would be at home on any executive’s desk.

With Father’s Day coming up, the Adonit Prime might be just right for the dad who has everything.

No cloud, no problem: How to auto-store your photos and videos

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backup stick
This backup stick protects and stores your photos and videos from virtually all devices.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We all go through a similar thought process when our phones, laptops or iPads break, get lost or are stolen. Somewhere between trying to remedy the situation and coming to terms with the loss comes the sharp realization that all your content is gone. Saying goodbye to your photos is never fun, but you can prevent this nightmare from happening by taking precautions now.

What’s better than using cloud storage? Keeping your photo and video content in the palm of your hand. While the cloud can be convenient, the Photo Backup Stick automatically backs up pictures and videos — without having to rely on an internet connection. It can eliminate the need to pay for monthly cloud-storage fees.

Angry Birds, Alto’s Odyssey jump to Apple Arcade

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‘Angry Birds Reloaded’ is coming soon to Apple Arcade.
Angry Birds Reloaded is one of the classic games that’ll soon be available on Apple Arcade without the hassle of in-app purchases.
Photo: Rovio

Three classic games are are getting updated and becoming part of the Apple Arcade subscription service. That includes Angry Birds Reloaded, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City and Doodle God Universe.

All are set to debut soon.

How to install the watchOS 8 developer beta today

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How to install the watchOS 8 beta
You'll need a spare Apple Watch and an iPhone running iOS 15.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

watchOS 8 isn’t the most significant update Apple Watch has seen over the years, but it’s certainly no snoozefest. Improvements to a number of key apps and a new face will be welcomed by Watch wearers this fall.

And you don’t have to wait until this fall to get yours hands on it. If you have a spare Apple Watch and an Apple Developer account, you can download and install watchOS 8 today. We’ll show you how.

Keep your Mac going strong with this high-end Thunderbolt gear

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Expand the life and capability of your Mac setup with OWC Thunderbolt products.
Expand the life and capability of your Mac setup with OWC Thunderbolt products.
Photo: Other World Computing

This post is presented by Other World Computing, owner of MacSales.com.

For 30 years, Other World Computing and its website, MacSales.com, have offered Mac users great ways to upgrade and extend the life of their equipment rather than buying a new computer.

That goes for practically any product an Apple customer could want or need. But when it comes to Thunderbolt connectivity equipment — external drives, docks, hubs, cables — OWC really goes the distance.

Get ready for more musical fun with Central Park Season 2 trailer

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Get ready for more musical fun with Central Park Season 2 trailer
The Tillermans are back to sing and dance their way through Central Park Season 2, coming next week.
Photo: Apple TV+

The trailer for the second season of Central Park debuted Tuesday to get fans ready for the imminent return of the musical comedy to Apple TV+. The first season of the animated series scored an Emmy nomination and praise from critics.

Check out the trailer for a taste of what to expect in season two.

9 great but easily overlooked features in iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey

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9 great features you might have overlooked in iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey
There are so many big changes in Apple’s upcoming iPhone, Mac and iPad operating system updates that it might be easy to miss some smaller ones.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple made an enormous number of changes in its 2021 operating system updates. Many of these drew plenty of attention — like the FaceTime upgrade — but some useful improvements might have been overlooked in all the hoopla.

Here are nine new features in iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey you might have overlooked.

Apple sells 33% more iPads in 2020 than it did the year before

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iPad
How tablet shipments break down.
Photo: Counterpoint Research

The global pandemic was bad for many industries. One sector it was good for was the worldwide tablet market, led by Apple’s iPad. According to a new report by Counterpoint Research, Apple sold a third more iPads in 2020 than it did in 2019. In the first quarter of 2021, it expanded its share to a massive 37% of the global tablet market — including hitting an all-times sales record in Japan.

“The basic iPad models accounted for 56% of the overall iPad shipments in Q1 2021,” said Senior Analyst Liz Lee said. “The iPad Air and iPad Pro series came next with 19% and 18% shares, respectively. Since consumers are constantly concerned about prices and portability, the latest iPad 8 emerged as the top-selling model. Launched in October 2020, the iPad Air 4 ranked second on the bestseller list as it was a huge hit with consumers looking for cost-effectiveness as well as high specifications.”

Meet all your smartwatch needs with this incredible, low-priced watch

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smartwatch
This fitness-oriented smartwatch packs 15-high tech functions.
Photo: Ineedmeone

These days, a high-end timepiece is more a fashion statement than anything else. The fact that a traditional watch only tells time doesn’t seem as impressive when stacked up against smartwatches, which can monitor health, set reminders and connect you to the world with calls and messages.

There are plenty of Apple Watch alternatives that look like but cost less than Cupertino’s killer wearable. If you want an affordable device dedicated to health monitoring, look no further than this 1.3-inch color screen smartwatch from Ineedmeone. For a limited time, this functional, fashionable take on the smartwatch costs only $36.95.

Tim Cook calls Apple’s privacy features a ‘fundamental human right’

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Privacy
Privacy is baked into everything Apple does.
Photo: Privacy

In a new video aimed at the European market, Apple CEO Tim Cook talks about how “privacy is a fundamental human right” that his company works hard to embed into every new product it makes. The six-minute video comprises various clips from Apple’s recent Worldwide Developers Conference related to the topic of privacy. Cook also recorded new bookends in which he shares some of his own thoughts.

Check it out below.

Apple Podcasts Subscriptions make their official debut

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Podcasts
Creators can now charge subscription fees.
Photo: Apple

Apple Podcasts Subscriptions went live Tuesday, allowing podcasters around the world to charge monthly subscriptions for their shows. When announced at Apple’s Spring Loaded event in April, the company billed the feature as a “global marketplace for listeners to discover premium subscriptions offered by their favorite creators.”

The premium podcasts show up in Apple’s Podcast app, complete with the ability to subscribe, in more than 170 countries and regions, Apple said. And the new option gives podcasters a fresh way to cash in on the craze Apple helped start.

Cupertino quietly cuts full-year Apple TV+ trial to just 3 months

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Apple TV app lands on PlayStation
If you want to get the 12-month trial, you'd better move now!
Photo: Apple

Apple quietly reduced the one-year Apple TV+ free trial for customers who buy new Apple devices to three months.

The company made the change in a note on its Apple TV+ website. While customers who buy and activate an eligible device (that’s an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac) before July 1 will get the one-year trial, those who do so from July 1 onward will qualify only for three months.

Enter our $5,000 gaming giveaway for your shot at the ultimate gamer bundle

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gaming giveaway
Your donation to a great cause gives you a chance to win $5,000 worth of gaming goodness.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Still waiting for a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X? You’re not alone. Console restocks are still making headlines, with Best Buy reportedly selling out of new PS5 stock in just 11 minutes.

If you’re one of the millions worldwide waiting for the latest gaming console, there may be a way to skip the line and land the gaming setup of your dreams. For a limited time, you can enter the Big Summer of Gaming Giveaway and win more than $5,000 in the best gaming gear on the market.

Save on some of the best accessories for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch

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Elago-Apple-Watch-stand
Get sweet, retro stands from just $11.04.
Photo: Elago

Save on some of the best accessories money can buy for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac in the Cult of Mac Store’s big Father’s Day sale. Enjoy up to 72% of cases, bands, charging stands, and more from the likes of Elago, Elkson, Monowear, and SwitchEasy.

These are limited-time offers, so enjoy them while you can!