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Samsung Galaxy S21 plummets to half its original value in 3 months

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The Samsung Galaxy S21 series is not a good investment.
The recently released Samsung Galaxy S21 series drops in value as much as $281 a month.
Photo: Samsung

Those planning to resell their handset someday might want to steer clear of Samsung latest flagship models. The Galaxy S21 series reportedly lost between 44.8% and 57.1% of its original value since in debut in January 2021.

Of course, every smartphone depreciates over time. But iPhones hold their value better than their rivals.

Apple opens Find My network to third-party gadgets

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The iPhone Find My app just got a lot more open and useful.
The Find My application can finally be used to locate items not made by Apple. There’s a crop of them coming soon.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The Find My application built into iOS and macOS finally opened up to device trackers made by other companies, not just Apple. Wednesday’s move allows iPhones, Macs and iPads to locate lost items produced by third-party accessory makers without needing to install additional software.

The first supported non-Apple products come from Belkin, Chipolo and VanMoof.

The Problem with Jon Stewart tackles current affairs on Apple TV+ in fall 2021

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Jon Steward headed to Apple TV+
Jon Stewart has interviewed a lot of people over the years, including former president Obama.
Photo: The White House

Jon Stewart is coming back on TV this fall. After 6 years off the air, the acclaimed comedian will star in The Problem with Jon Stewart exclusively on Apple TV+.

This is his first show since The Daily Show with Jon Stewart came to a close in 2015 after winning twenty Emmy Awards.

Should you use both a MacBook and an iPad? Well, duh. [Setups]

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Do you really need both a MacBook and an iPad? Of course you do. Don't ask silly questions.
Do you really need both a MacBook and an iPad? Of course you do. Don't ask silly questions.
Photo: BasicAppleGuy@Reddit

The setup showcased in a recent Reddit post consists of just a MacBook Air, an iPad, an iPhone and some peripherals and accessories, but it brings up a puzzling conundrum: Should you use both a MacBook and an iPad, even though their functionality overlaps to a great extent?

According to most of the comments, the answer is yes — even if it makes you feel like a sucker.

90% of US teens plan to get an iPhone

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The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 price is now the same for all the top US telecoms.
Many teens weren't even born when the first iPhone debuted.
Photo: Apple

A massive 88% of U.S. teenagers own an iPhone, and 90% expect their next phone to be an iPhone, a new Piper Sandler survey of more than 7,000 teens suggests.

It’s an impressive showcase of just how popular Apple is among young people — especially so considering that this is a relatively fickle demographic that frequently shies away from things their parents are into. The oldest teen today was only 5 when the first-gen iPhone debuted in 2007. The youngest weren’t even born yet.

The average smartphone app harbors 6 different trackers

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Privacy
Privacy has been a big deal for Apple for years.
Photo: Apple

Ahead of the launch of the new App Tracking Transparency iOS 14 feature, Apple on Wednesday published a report titled A Day in the Life of Your Data.

It details the “$227 billion-a-year industry” made up of websites, apps, social media companies, data brokers, and more who harvest user personal data for profit — and what Apple is doing about it.

Retailers slash $100 off 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

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iPad-Pro-Magic-Trackpad
This discount won't last long — don't miss out!
Photo: Apple

The biggest ever discount on the outstanding 12.9-inch Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro is back. Order yours from Amazon or Best Buy today for just $249 — down from $349 — before the price returns to normal.

You can also save $100 on the 11-inch model for iPad Pro and the newest iPad Air, which is now just $199.

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

Triple your learning rate with this speed-reading bundle

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speed-reading
This is one way to unlock your brain's true potential.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Can’t remember where you last left your phone or car keys? Short-term memory loss is incredibly common (and actually not so harmful). But in order to preserve your precious memory, you should start sharpening the skills you need to improve your recall.

Strengthening your memory is like any other skill. The more you work at it, the better it gets. With The Become a Super-Learner & Speed Reading Bundle, you can learn the best speed-reading techniques and triple your learning rate, helping you improve your memory and more.

Vast majority of iPhone users now run iOS 14

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iOS 14 adoption. It’s a good thing.
Nine out of 10 users now using iOS 14.
Photo: Apple

iOS 14 adoption tops 90%, according to figures published by analysts at Mixpanel. The firm’s most recent data shows 90.45% of users with an iPhone or iPad run either iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 on it. That’s an incredibly impressive feat, considering Apple only made the operating systems available in mid-September.

Last time Apple released its own figures, back in late February, the company reported that 80% of iPhones and 70% of iPads ran the new operating systems. Those figures increased to 86% and 84% respectively when focusing on devices from the past four years.

10.2-inch iPad hits brand-new low with up to $50 off

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New 2020 iPad colors
A terrific tablet at a really terrific price.
Photo: Apple

The 10.2-inch iPad’s affordable price tag and impressive features make it an easy sell even at full price. But you don’t need to pay full price. Best Buy now offers the biggest discount seen so far on new units.

Order yours today to enjoy up to $50 off the usual price.

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

Brilliant MacBook Pro concept packs in the features we want

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This 14-inch MacBook Pro concept is by Renders by Ian
A new 14-inch MacBook Pro concept is based on leaks about this upcoming macOS laptop.
Concept: Ian Zelbo/Renders by Ian

A 14-inch MacBook Pro reportedly will join Apple’s product lineup, and a concept artist merged all the rumors into a design that might hit store shelves later in 2021.

It includes more ports than any MacBook in years, but even important is what’s missing: the Touch Bar and most of the screen bezels.

This $59 premium learning subscription can help you develop new skills for life

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Skills
A single, affordable sub gives you access to 1,000-plus premium online courses.
Photo: StackSkills

It’s pretty inevitable that not all the skills you picked up in school stuck — especially since you might have been less than interested in the material back then. That might mean that now you find there are moments where you wished you paid a little more attention in your college business courses or looked more carefully into marketing.

Luckily, you can relearn old lessons while picking up entirely new skills with this StackSkills Unlimited: Lifetime Access subscription.

How to record video while playing music on your iPhone

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Record video while playing music on iPhone
No third-party apps required.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

You’ve probably noticed that your iPhone stops playing music as soon as you switch to Video mode inside its Camera app, which prevents you from easily adding a soundtrack to your recordings. But there is a simple trick that lets you shoot video while your music continues to play.

The trick works in all versions of iOS 14 (including the latest iOS 14.5 betas) and requires no third-party apps. We’ll show you how to use it.

iPad mini 6 mockup shows edge-to-edge screen so many hope for

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An iPad mini 6 mockup from xleaks7.
An iPad mini 6 mockup could show that a significant redesign is one the way.
Photo: xleaks7/Pigtou

There’s a bit more evidence that the iPad mini 6 will feature a dramatic redesign. A mockup of the tablet leaked out, showing an edge-to-edge display and an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

Other sources previously pointed to Apple’s smallest tablet getting a size upgrade in the near future.

Mythic Quest crew dives into post-pandemic life in bonus episode next week

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You don’t have to wait until May for new ‘Mythic Quest.’
“Everlight” is a bonus pre-season Mythic Quest episode premiering in April. It takes a funny look at returning to work after the pandemic.
Photo: Apple TV+

Fans of Mythic Quest won’t have to wait until May for season two of the comedy series to return to Apple TV+. A special pre-season episode will debut Friday, April 16.

It will explore the challenges the quirky characters experience returning to their office after the COVID-19 pandemic. Anthony Hopkins will have a voice role.

ScoutPro power bank promises easy Mac, iPhone and Apple Watch charging

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Intelli ScoutPro can charge up to five devices at once.
The Intelli ScoutPro Max includes 24,000mAh of power and can send it to 5 devices at once.
Photo: Intelli

Intelli ScoutPro boasts features few other power banks do. There’s built-in wireless Apple Watch and iPhone chargers. And its USB-C ports can output up to 100W.

The external battery holds up to 24,000 mAh and powers up to five devices at once. It’s ready to handle almost every type of Apple device simultaneously while on the go.

App Store, licensing deal with Google could supercharge Apple services

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As the world shifts from web browsers to apps, tensions may rise between Apple and Google over search.
Google is a major source of Apple's revenue.
Photo: Solen Feyissa/Unsplash CC

In a Tuesday note to clients, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty raised her services-related revenue forecast for Apple through 2022 even as she lowered the overall price target for AAPL stock.

“Following strong March quarter App Store results and an analysis of the key drivers of Apple’s Licensing & Other segment, we raise our already above-street FY21 and FY22 Services revenue estimates by 3% and 5% respectively, and are increasingly convinced that consensus Services forecasts over the next 2+ years are too low,” Huberty wrote.

Apple debuts war crimes podcast The Line

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The Line
There's a line. And on this side of it, people listen to Apple Podcasts.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s foray into podcasting continues with a new series called The Line that debuted Tuesday.

The podcast, which follows the true-crime blueprint successfully laid out by Serial, tells the story of former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was accused of war crimes. The first two episodes are now available to listen to.

Get great wireless coverage and no hidden fees for 3 months for just $49 with Boost Mobile

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boost mobile
This is one of the most economical cellphone plans out there.
Photo: Boost Mobile

Wireless plans tend to be filled with lots of fees and charges that run up the bill you pay at the end of every month. Why not get the coverage you need at a much lower price paid upfront, with no hidden charges to worry about?

That’s exactly what you’ll get with this three-month prepaid deal from Boost Mobile.

Apple manufacturer earnings soar on massive iPhone 12 demand

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Totallee's thin, light but protective clear case for iPhone 12 is like having no case at all.
Foxconn's earnings are through the roof thanks to iPhone 12.
Photo: Totallee

Apple manufacturer Foxconn’s first quarter revenue soared by 44%, Bloomberg reports. The publication pins the increased cashflow on “robust demand” for the iPhone 12.

Revenue for the first three months of 2021 increased to $47 billion, Foxconn reported Tuesday. In addition to the massive success of the latest iPhones, the high earnings also reflect demand for devices like video games consoles, servers, electric vehicles as well.

How Steve Jobs unwound by looking at future Apple products

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Steve Jobs only turned off his phone while hanging out with Apple design chief Jony Ive.
Steve Jobs only turned off his phone while hanging out with Apple design chief Jony Ive.
Photo: Ben Stanfield/Flickr CC

Steve Jobs didn’t turn off his phone often. But if he did, it probably meant that he was in Jony Ive’s Industrial Design department, where Jobs relaxed by scouring prototypes of future Apple products.

That’s according to Jobs’ former assistant, Naz Beheshti, in a new book titled Pause. Breathe. Choose: Become the CEO of Your Well-Being. While the book focuses mainly on Beheshti’s practice as a wellness coach, it includes a few memories of her time at Apple. Including how Apple staffers would go into meltdown when they couldn’t reach Jobs — and how they eventually figured out where this meant he was.

TikTok tops the App Store charts yet again in March

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U.S. investigations of TikTok gather steam.
TikTok's dominance of the App Store isn't slowing down.
Photo: Kon Karampelas/Unsplash CC

TikTok topped the App Store charts for another month as the top non-gaming app worldwide. Across both iOS and Android, the popular video-sharing app racked up more than 58 million installs.

The No. 1 audience for TikTok is China, where the app is called Douyin. China accounted for 11% of downloads, followed by the United States with 10%.

Apple warns devs that App Tracking Transparency is almost here

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App Tracking Transparency will be part of iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5 and tvOS 14.5. It’s already showing up in betas.
Developers need to get their software ready for App Tracking Transparency. iPhone and iPad will soon prevent apps from tracking users without permission.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

Apple reminded developers on Monday that new iOS, iPadOS and tvOS versions coming soon will block applications from tracking users without specific permission. It’ll no longer be possible for networks of apps to surreptitiously track what people use their devices for.

The same note includes a warning that its also is also forbidden to try to find a workaround for this block by “fingerprinting” devices.

Microsoft takes potshots at iPad Pro in Surface Pro 7 ad

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Surface Pro 7 vs. iPad Pro: the Microsoft perspective
No matter what it looks like, don’t mistake a new video for a fair comparison of the Surface Pro 7 and iPad Pro.
Screenshot: Microsoft

Microsoft pretends to compare its Surface Pro 7 with the iPad Pro in a video released Monday. Not surprisingly, the Windows product comes out way ahead. But to make that happen, Microsoft had to leave out some facts and distort reality a bit.

To see all the ways Microsoft stretched the truth, watch its video now: