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Losing Alice starts with a bang, then goes quiet [Apple TV+ review]

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Lihi Kornowski (left) plays an upstart screenwriter who tangles with a veteran filmmaker (Ayelet Zurer) in Losing Alice.
Lihi Kornowski (left) plays an upstart screenwriter who tangles with a veteran filmmaker (played by Ayelet Zurer) in Losing Alice.
Photo: Apple TV+

New Apple TV+ miniseries Losing Alice takes a deep dive into the psychology of two sexually charged rivals. There’s a lot to sink your teeth into with this eight-episode psychological thriller, which premieres Friday on the streaming service.

Losing Alice offers a cautionary tale about the perils of collaboration — and about riding the wave of TV production to series length.

Apple delays plan to bring Face ID to iMac

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Apple plans the 2021 iMac redesign we’ve been dreaming of
The new iMac refresh is going to be great. But don't expect Face ID just yet.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

People have been using Face ID to unlock their iPhones since 2017, and their iPads since 2018. But don’t expect to unlock your iMac using facial recognition just yet.

According to a Friday report from Bloomberg, Apple has been developing Touch ID for Mac. However, while it was originally planned for the 2021 iMac redesign, it’s now been pushed back to a later update.

Read all about it! News apps get nice Inauguration Day bump on App Store

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Joe Biden
Biden is the new President -- and a big Apple News guy, to boot.
Photo: The White House

With a new president installed, this has been a big week for the United States — and, to paraphrase Billy Madison, news app are reaping all the benefits.

According to a new report by top app analytics platform Sensor Tower, news apps in the App Store received a nice Inauguration Day bump. Three of the big winners were CNN‘s news app, aggregator News Break, and Newsmax. They respectively jumped 530, 13, and 43 spots in the App Store rankings.

Want to learn chess after watching The Queen’s Gambit? Get 92% off these courses.

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Take your game to the next level with this fun hobby
Take your chess game to the next level with these discounted courses.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Smash-hit Netflix series The Queen’s Gambit left us with two feelings.

  1. We need a stylish midcentury wardrobe.
  2. Competitive chess is cool and we want to play it right now.

Whether you want to brush up your chess skills to Beth Harmon level or simply learn a fun new hobby over the winter, here are the best courses to do it. Even better, we identified the finest chess courses offering great deals right now, with discounts of up to 92%. Now that’s a smart move.

Next MacBook Air could be thinner and lighter, with MagSafe charger

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MacBook Air M1 2020
The next MacBook could arrive later this year or early the next.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s next-gen MacBook Air will be thinner and lighter than the current version, as well as boasting a MagSafe charger and, possibly, a redesigned display.

According to a Friday report from Bloomberg, Apple is planning to launch these new laptops in the second half of 2021 or in 2022. This would be the second MacBook Air to feature Apple Silicon processors, following the M1 MacBook Air released at the end of last year.

Another report claims iPhone 12 Pro is booming, iPhone 12 mini is a bust

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iPhone 12 Pro parts cost shockingly little
Some iPhone handsets are proving more popular than others.
Photo: Cult of Mac

A pair of reports published by Digitimes Friday add more evidence to previous ones claiming that the iPhone 12 Pro series is proving to be the big hits of this year’s iPhone refresh. The iPhone 12 mini? Not so much.

One report claims that Apple manufacturer Foxconn is “expected to see extra momentum in the first quarter of 2021” thanks to Apple increasing orders for the iPhone 12 Pro handsets. A second report, meanwhile, claims that fellow manufacturer Pegatron has seen a slowdown in orders for the iPhone 12 mini. The report blames this on shrinking sales in the US and Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Servant‘s second season off to a great start on Apple TV+

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Servant on Apple TV+
Plenty of people tuned in to the first episode of season two of Servant.
Photo: Apple

The second season of Servant, Apple TV+’s creepy psychological thriller from Tony Basgallop and M. Night Shyamalan, is apparently off to a strong start.

According to a new report, the first episode of season two, which debuted last week,  registered double the audience that watched the show “during the same time frame” during season one. That suggests that Servant has spread through word of mouth, as well as potentially indicating that Apple TV+ has picked up considerably more viewers in the past year.

Apple tests fix for Bluetooth fault afflicting Apple Silicon Macs

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macOS 11.2 is right around the corner.
macOS Big Sur might take care of a pesky Bluetooth problem bothering M1 Mac users.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

Apple seeded a macOS Big Sur‌ 11.2 release candidate to developers on Thursday. Among other changes, it promises to improve Bluetooth reliability, which is probably music to the ears of those using the recently released Macs built around Apple’s first-generation M-series processor.

Controversial anti-tracking feature is about to go live in iOS 14

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Your iPhone will soon offer a bit more privacy.
With iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4, applications will have to ask if they can track you.
Graphic: Apple

Apple seeded to developers the release candidates for iOS 14.4 and the iPad equivalent on Thursday. It’s probably the last step before a public release. Among other changes, these new versions will apparently give iPhone and iPad users the option to block third-party applications from tracking them.

Devs can also install watchOS 7.3 RC and tvOS 14.4 RC, which became available Thursday too. But macOS Big Sur 11.2 is still on Beta 2.

Trump snagged the very first 2019 Mac Pro

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Apple CEO Tim Cook talked Mac Pro with President Trump
“Mr. President, we have some lovely parting gifts for you.”
Screenshot: White House

It’s good to be the president. People just give you things, like the first 2019 Mac Pro assembled in Austin, Texas. Tim Cook gave this pricy computer to Trump, probably after the president toured the factory.

Beeper app promises to bring iMessage to Android and Windows

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Beeper brings iMessage to Android and Windows
15 different chat platforms in one.
Photo: Beeper

Beeper is a new all-in-one chat app that merges 15 different platforms into one. That sounds pretty interesting already, but what makes Beeper really exciting is its promise to put iMessage on Android and Windows.

The app, from Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky and his team, is “using some trickery” to make the impossible possible. But you’ll have to cough up a monthly subscription fee if you want to take advantage of it.

Start a new career as a cloud practitioner with this AWS training

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This skill can help you get a raise this year
Mastering AWS can earn you a fat(ter) paycheck this year.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you want to learn a new language, get fit or start a whole new career, make 2021 your year to do something new. If you’re looking to learn a highly profitable skill from the comfort of your home — and all on your own time — BitDegree Academy’s AWS Online Courses & Practice Exams is just the ticket.

Amazon Web Services is the world’s most prominent cloud platform. And if you learn how to use it, you can improve your chances of earning a full-blown career or even boosting your annual earnings in other development roles.

Apple’s first VR headset could be an expensive disappointment

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Oculus Quest
Apple's first headset could be around the same size as Oculus Quest.
Photo: Oculus

Don’t expect too much from Apple’s first virtual reality headset. A new report warns that Cupertino’s first stab at a wearable VR system, which could come in 2022, will be expensive with a limited set of capabilities.

The device is believed to be designed primarily as a “niche precursor” to more ambitious AR/VR glasses that Apple plans to launch later.

Next iPhone lineup may bring smaller notch, better sensor-shift cameras

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iPhone 12 review
We're used to the notch now, but we wouldn't say no to a smaller one.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple will finally shrink iPhone’s notch for its next-generation devices, according to a new report citing sources in the company’s supply chain. Plus, all of the devices will pack even greater sensor-shift stabilization cameras.

It is believed design changes and upgrades to the iPhone’s front-facing Face ID camera and sensors will make the notch shrink possible.

You can now run Ubuntu Linux on an M1 Mac via USB

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Linux on an M1 Mac
Download all the files you'll need today.
Photo: Corellium

It’s now possible to run Ubuntu Linux on an M1 Mac, thanks to an early build made available by Corellium. The operating system is booted from a USB stick, leaving macOS completely unchanged.

All the files you need can be downloaded now from GitHub, and Corellium says an installation tutorial is on the way.

Wrestling Empire brings mobile grappling hijinks to App Store [Updated]

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Wrestling Empire image
Slamming its way into the App Store soon.
Photo: Wrestling Empire

Edit: Like the creepy girls intoning the return of The Undertaker at Judgment Day 2000, “He’s here.” Or, at least, the game is. You can download it for free from the App Store, with in-app purchases.

There are plenty of subjects I’ll happily geek out about. But pro wrestling and Apple are both prominent players in the top tier. Imagine, then, my excitement when the two get brought together like some odd-couple tag team.

The latest example in this limited convergence genre? A new game called Wrestling Empire, which is set to superkick its way into the App Store soon. Check out the trailer.

Why a portless iPhone would be a nightmare

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Apple, please don’t saddle us with a portless iPhone. This wouldn't be better.
This wouldn't be better.
Photo illustration: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A reliable source says Apple is considering stripping the Lightning port from future iPhone models and replacing it with … nothing. Hopefully, it’s not too late to stop this terrible, terrible idea.

A portless iPhone is possible. And there are even a few advantages. But the significant drawbacks make the idea something that should be dropped like a burning bag of poo.

These headphones are perfect for your fitness goals in 2021

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TREBLAB headphones will help you accomplish your fitness goals
These sporty earbuds can help you achieve your fitness goals.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Getting fit can be hard. From early morning alarms to get your Apple Fitness+ workouts in to making sure you’re getting the proper nutrition to fuel your body, it can take a lot to keep you motivated to stick with your new 2021 fitness routine.

Luckily, there’s one thing you can always rely on: Your music will power you through your next sweat session. These workout-ready Bluetooth earbuds offer crisp, clear audio and thrumming bass so you can get through your next run or HIIT session with ease.

Apple cuts iPhone 12 mini production to meet stronger Pro demand

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Get the Phone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini with no extra wait.
iPhone 12 mini isn't as popular as its bigger brothers.
Photo: Apple

Apple reportedly cut iPhone 12 mini production so it can meet stronger demand for the pricier iPhone 12 Pro.

Cupertino’s smallest handset apparently accounted for just 6% of all sales during the iPhone 12 series’ launch period last fall. And it suffered from lackluster demand ever since.

iPad mini 6 might get the big redesign it deserves

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2021 iPad mini is about to become a lot more useful.
The 2021 iPad mini could be about to get a lot less mini.
Photo: Pigtou/xleaks7

Apple’s smallest tablet is allegedly about to get the redesign so many people have hoped for. The screen bezels in the 2021 iPad mini will shrink significantly, supposedly allowing the display to increase to over 9 inches and become nearly edge-to-edge.

The computer will also reportedly get in-screen Touch ID and a hole-punch camera.