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Belkin’s stylish MagSafe stand quickly powers up iPhone 12 and AirPods [Review]

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Belkin Boost↑Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe review
Belkin Boost↑Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand makes your iPhone ready to use hands free, and it quickly juices up the handset with MagSafe.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Belkin Boost↑Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe holds your iPhone 12 up so it’s ready for FaceTime calls or just checking email. And it powers up the handset twice as fast as traditional wireless chargers. Plus, it comes with a built-in AirPods charger. If you’re looking for a Belkin iPhone mount with MagSafe for Mac notebooks, there are additional options available that provide seamless integration.

I put this stylish iPhone accessory to the test. Here’s how it performed in the real world.

Apple VP of developer relations retires as the role gets more challenging

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Developer relations is getting more complex
The App Store is critical to Apple, and that makes developer relations an important role.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Ron Okamoto quietly retired after two decades as Apple’s vice president of Developer Relations. He helped oversee the tools provided to third-party iPhone and Mac application developers, and helped set policies for the App Store.

His retirement comes as governments around the world are investigating whether Apple treats fairly the third-party developers who depend on the iPhone and Mac App Stores.

This all-in-one portable power bank is on sale for 25% off

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Chargehub
Charge all your gear on the go with this all-in-one power bank.
Photo: Limitless Innovations

When you’re on the go, a traditional power bank provides the juice you need — but can mean carrying a tangle of cables to connect all your power-hungry devices. The ChargeHubGo+ All-in-One Power bank minimizes the mess. It comes with built-in cables with Lightning and USB tips, plus a wireless charging pad. And now, you can get one of these versatile power banks at 25% off with coupon code LIMITLESS25.

Lawsuit over much-maligned MacBook butterfly keyboard gets class-action status

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MacBook butterfly keyboard
A new petition accuses the MacBook 'butterfly' keyboard of failing when a single speck gets in the wrong place.
Photo: Apple

A Federal judge granted class-action status to a lawsuit accusing Apple of putting defective keyboards in various MacBook models made between 2015 and 2019. These laptops all use the butterfly keyboard design which uses a key mechanism that is allegedly prone to sticking.

Apple defends speedy App Store review process

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App Store
Apple is "surprised" to hear about the complaints.
Photo: James Yarema/Unsplash CC

Since the very start of the App Store, some developers have criticized Apple for being opaque with its decision-making. Apple, it seems, doesn’t agree with these claims.

In a response to formal complaints made to Australia’s antitrust watchdog by Epic Games and others, Apple defends its reviews process. Far from being slow and tough to deal with, Apple argues that it works quickly, and provides all the information it needs to in a swift and open manner.

Sometimes breaking a new product results in a huge upgrade [Setups]

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Lynch's nice, neat setup helps with iOS development and YouTube content creation.
Lynch's nice, neat setup helps with iOS development and YouTube content creation.
Photo: Stewart Lynch

Canadian iOS developer and YouTuber Stewart Lynch got lucky when he broke the USB-C port connector on his brand new 27-inch LG monitor the first day he had it. Huge-upgrade lucky.

Lynch, who hails from North Vancouver, British Columbia, took the stricken display, under warranty, to a repair shop.

“About a week later LG called me and said they did not have any 27-inch monitors in stock so they offered me a 38-inch upgrade at no cost,” Lynch told Cult of Mac. “I took it and sold my dual monitor arm that was holding the 27- and 24-inch monitors and went with the setup I have now.”

iPhone 13 may boast 1TB storage, LiDAR on all models

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iPhone 13 might sport a 120Hz display.
This year's iPhone could be a big update for Apple.
Concept: ConceptsiPhone

The iPhone 13 will boast a maximum storage capacity that’s double that of the iPhone 12, claim Wedbush analysts Strecker Backe and Daniel Ives in a new note to clients, seen by Cult of Mac.

Unlike the iPhone 12, which tops out at 512GB, the iPhone 13 could offer up to 1TB. That’s also 62 times the storage of the original iPhone, which topped out at 16GB.

Save $15 on Zagg’s antimicrobial screen protector for iPhone 12 mini

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Zagg VisionGuard iPhone 12 mini
Kills up to 99.9% of bacteria!
Photo: Zagg

Want to ensure your iPhone 12 mini isn’t harboring nasty germs? Pick up the InvisibleShield VisionGuard+ antimicrobial screen protector from Zagg at $15 off its usual price for a limited time only.

The VisionGuard+ promises to be four times stronger than traditional glass protectors, and it features revolutionary ClearPrint technology that makes fingerprints near-invisible. It also kills up to 99.9% of bacteria.

Bag yours before the price returns to normal.

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

HomePod mini features ‘secret’ sensor that’s waiting to be activated

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First HomePod mini reviews: Better late than never
Apple recently pulled the plug on the full-size HomePod to focus on its smaller sibling.
Photo: Apple

The HomePod mini has a hidden capability that Apple has yet to put into action: a sensor that measures both temperature and humidity.

According to Bloomberg, the sensor could be used to trigger smart home actions, such as turning a fan on or off depending on the temperature. It’s not clear why Apple has not yet activated the sensor so customers can utilize the feature — or when it might do so.

Learn to take beautiful photos with your iPhone with this top-rated course

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photography
Are you ready to take your iPhone photography up a level?
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If digital makes the world go round, then content is definitely king. With 2.6 billion people on Facebook, 1 billion Instagram users as of January 2020 and 800 million people staring at TikTok, there’s no end to the demand for quality content.

Whether you’re building your own brand using social media or developing professional assets for your company, it’s not enough to know the best social media strategies to grow your following. You need to create and deliver beautiful content. Learn how to give your products and services the exposure they need with this Mobile Photography Course by Phil Ebiner — and do it all using just your iPhone.

iPhone 12 series could be Apple’s bestselling iPhones of all time

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A fix is coming for the iPhone 12 green screen glitch.
The iPhone 12 has been a massive hit for Apple.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 12 is on course to give Apple its best-ever year for iPhone sales, according to Wedbush analysts Strecker Backe and Daniel Ives. In a new note to clients seen by Cult of Mac, they predict Apple could sell between 240 million and 250 million iPhones this year.

That would “easily eclipse” Apple’s previous record, set in fiscal 2015, in which it sold 231 million iPhones. That year’s super-sized lineup — the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus — remain the top-selling models in history. However, it looks like that record could soon fall.

Save $51 on Sony’s brilliant AirPods Pro alternatives

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Sony WF-1000XM3 wireless buds
The best wireless buds not made by Apple?
Photo: Sony

Sony’s terrific WF-1000XM3 earbuds are widely regarded as the best alternatives to AirPods Pro. Some say they’re even better, despite their silly name. Bag yours today for just $178 — down from $229.99 — for a limited time only.

The buds offer up to 24 hours of playback with their included charging case, plus active noise cancellation, built-in Amazon Alexa, and all-around terrific sound.

Ted Lasso nets pair of prizes at 2021 Writers Guild of America Awards

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Ted Lasso
Lasso shoots and scores.
Photo: Apple TV+

Ted Lasso is the gift that keeps giving when it comes to racking up awards for Apple. On Sunday, the hit Apple TV+ comedy — about a hapless football coach who journeys to England to ply his trade with a soccer team — was honored with a pair of 2021 Writers Guild of America Awards.

Ted Lasso won both the Best New Series and Best Comedy Series prizes, adding a couple more accolades to the impressive collection the popular show has racked up since debuting.

This power bank charges your iPhone and AirPods simultaneously

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Powerbank
Keep your gear charged up and organized when you're on the go.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

This new year has arguably been the best one to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. With campsite bookings increasing a whopping 500% in 2021 from previous years, it’s pretty evident that the desire to explore nature isn’t going away soon.

While one of the best parts about getting away is the opportunity to disconnect for a little bit, the reality is that it’s important to be able to reach out in case of an emergency. Or even take a work meeting if you absolutely must. This Chargeworx 10,000mAh Power Bank with AirPods Holder will help keep you connected when you need to be. And unlike other power banks, this one can charge both your iPhone and your AirPods at the same time.

R.I.P HomePod [Cult of Mac Magazine 393]

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R.I.P. HomePod.
Apple buries another beloved product.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Pour one out for our homie, the HomePod.

Apple recently pulled the plug on its sweet-sounding smart speaker, and the move is definitely not music to our ears. In fact, it calls into question Apple’s strategy of releasing — and then rudely abandoning — expensive, niche products. Maybe it’s time to throw in the towel on that.

Find out why we hope that never happens again in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it to enjoy on iPhone or iPad, or get the stories below in your browser.

Revive your dying AirPods on the cheap with Podswap

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Revive dying AirPods for less with the PodSwap receycling service.
AirPods get a new life and you get a fresh pair on the cheap thanks to the PodSwap recycling service.
Photo: Podswap

Podswap takes AirPods nearing the end of their useful life and replaces them with a fresh pair. And the recycling service costs considerably less than Apple charges to replace these wireless earbuds.

Plus, anyone using the service can take comfort knowing that their old AirPods will be recycled, not thrown away.

Edit your videos like a pro with Movavi

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Movavi
Get four powerful tools for working with videos and images in one inexpensive bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The demand for engaging videos isn’t going away anytime soon — in fact, there are 2.3 billion YouTube users waiting for their next fix.

That means whether you’re a marketer or an entrepreneur, it’s a good idea to use videos to get your message out. While your MacBook might come with iMovie, you’ll probably find that app a little lackluster as your video editing needs grow more robust. Ramp up your video game with The Essential Movavi Mac & Windows Software Bundle. It includes enough tools to meet all your video editing needs, whether you want to educate an audience about your services or boost your sales with a product demo.

And so it ends: iMac Pro disappears from Apple’s website

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iMac Pro is gone with the wind.
It’s no longer possible to buy a new iMac Pro from the online Apple Store.
Photo: Apple

Two weeks after Apple discontinued the iMac Pro, the company pulled the powerful all-in-one desktop from its website Friday.

The computer hadn’t been updated in three years and there have been no reports of a new version in the works. This may be the last iMac Pro … just as it was the first.

This subscription service will help you launch your startup in 2021

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Startups
Get crucial advice you'll return to throughout your career.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Starting your own business can be incredibly difficult, especially if you’re doing something no one else has done before. Entrepreneurs who launch startups can feel incredibly lonely or lost day to day — mostly because there’s not the same support system that exists for people who are breaking into established industries.

If you’re a budding business owner who’s looking for education, support and tools to help your startup launch successfully, a lifetime subscription to Startups.com Unlimited will provide the resources you need to get your operation off the ground.

Grammarly’s free app warns you before sending rude texts

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Grammarly tone detector is now available for iPhone or iPad
The Grammarly tone detector for iPhone or iPad lets you know how your writing is likely to be perceived.
Graphic: Grammarly

Never again send a text or email you think is fine but enrages a coworker or your spouse. Use the tone detector Grammarly just added to its iPhone keyboard app to learn what impression your messages will make on readers. The app alerts you if something you’ve typed sounds rude or hostile before you hit send.

For All Mankind wonders how to mend a broken heart [Apple TV+ review]

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Michael Dorman in For All Mankind
Gordo (Michael Dorman) is getting his groove back at last.
Photo: Apple TV+

The characters in For All Mankind, Apple TV+’s space-race melodrama, all try to find their sea legs … or, uhh, space legs … in this week’s tense episode. Astronaut Ed Baldwin is under the sea. And his wife, Karen, is losing her cool. Meanwhile, Tracy Stevens is on the moon, and her ex Gordo is losing his mind!

Tim Cook tackles COVID-19 and racial justice in pandemic essay

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“The Big Night In” was raising funds for charity, and Tim Cook dropped by the help.
Tim Cook has penned a new editorial for the Wall Street Journal.
Photo: BBC TV

Apple CEO Tim Cook reflects on COVID-19 and how it heightened racial injustice in the United States in an op-ed he wrote for The Wall Street Journal.

Cook’s opinion piece, published Thursday, is titled “The Urgency of Racial Justice.” It’s just one of several — written by big names like actor Tom Hanks and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson — published in the Journal’s “What I’ve Learned From the Pandemic Year” package.

Retro screen and audio play nice with new M1 MacBook Air [Setups]

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Goulielmos' retro screen and audio gear work fine with his MacBook Air.
Goulielmos' retro screen and audio gear work fine with his MacBook Air.
Photo: Alex Goulielmos

Alex Goulielmos, based in Piraeus, Greece, works as a software engineer for a maritime shipping company. He keeps it steady as she goes with his WFH setup, figuring, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Or don’t go buying expensive new gear to replace it, anyway.

Good thing his recently acquired and “very snappy” MacBook Air works just fine with a 12-year-old Apple Cinema Display and audio equipment that dates back to the turn of this century. His new M1-powered laptop replaced a 2017 MacBook. But the monitor and audio gear may go on forever.