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Blast from the past: 2021 iMac could bring back multiple color options

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iMac 2021
But will it come in Bondi blue?
Photo: Jon Prosser/FrontPageTech

For the first time since the iMac G3 in the late 1990s, Apple’s all-in-one desktop computer might come in a range of color options, Apple leaker Jon Prosser says.

In a video published Wednesday, Prosser says 2021’s redesigned Apple Silicon iMac will come in black, white, green, blue and rose gold colors. Those are the same color options the latest iPad Air comes in.

Tim Cook remembers Steve Jobs on what would have been his 66th birthday

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Today would have been Jobs' birthday.
Photo: Ben Stanfield/Flickr CC

Tim Cook has tweeted about Steve Jobs on what would have been his former boss’s 66th birthday. Jobs passed away 10 years ago this year, the same period of time that Cook has now been running Apple.

“Celebrating Steve on what would have been his 66th birthday,” Cook wrote. “Especially in a year where so much kept us apart, technology brought us together in limitless ways. That’s a testament to Steve’s life and the legacy he left, which continue to inspire me every day.”

This awesome charging dock will power all your Apple products at the same time

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Wireless charging station
This inexpensive, all-in-one charging station checks all the boxes.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Being more organized can make you more productive and improve your motivation. What’s one super-easy and cool way to make your workspace more organized? This four-in-one wireless charging station. And it just so happens to be on sale at a huge 26% discount right now, for just $32.88 (regular price $45).

Developers get new rules for filling out App Store privacy labels

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App Store privacy labels are new, and there have been criticism.
The purpose of the App Store privacy labels is to help users understand what data is collected and how it is used.
Photo: Apple

Developers have updated instructions for filling out the privacy “nutrition labels” shown in the App Store. There are additions and clarifications.

Apple asks developers to submit the information for these privacy labels shown to users. There’ve been questions about how accurate the devs’ responses are — including some from a Congressional committee — and the new instructions might be part of Apple’s response.

OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip unites iPhone with Xbox controller [Review]

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OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip review
Securely mount your iPhone on an Xbox controller with the OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Playing fast-moving games on a touchscreen is often frustrating. And while iOS supports external game controllers, combining one with an iPhone can be cumbersome. But not with the OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip. It attaches an iPhone to an Xbox controller in a surprisingly usable setup.

I did some gaming with the phone mount to see how it stands up to real-world use. Spoiler: it performed far better than the many cheap alternatives.

Anker’s magnetic iPhone battery pack looks like MagSafe but it’s not

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Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K doesn’t fully support MagSafe.
The Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K is the clip-on power bank we’ve been hoping for. Mostly.
Photo: Anker

Anker will apparently launch the first power bank that uses the MagSafe system to magnetically attach to an iPhone 12 series model. The PowerCore Magnetic 5K will be able to transmit 5000mAh to Apple’s latest handsets through inductive charging.

However, the external battery doesn’t fully support the new MagSafe system so it doesn’t offer enhanced charging speeds.

This speaker charges your iPhone while blasting your favorite playlist

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wireless speaker
Are you ready to rumble in the jungle?
Photo: HyperGear

People who love hopping into their cars and going for an outdoor adventure know that few things compare to an open road and being in nature. Whether you’re taking a short hike or enjoying a long weekend camping, it’s important to have the right gear on hand to ensure you can fully relax and immerse yourself in your surroundings.

The HyperGear Quake Wireless Speaker with Built-in Power Bank is the perfect outdoor companion, and it serves two functions: It keeps your phone fully charged (just in case you need it). And it can stream your favorite playlists for fireside entertainment.

SnapDownloader lets you download videos from YouTube and 900 other websites in HD

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This easy-to-use Mac app SnapDownloader lets you quickly download and trim videos from your favorite websites.
This easy-to-use Mac app lets you quickly download and trim videos from your favorite websites.
Image: SnapDownloader

This video download post is presented by SnapDownloader.

So many videos online, so little time. If you want some help downloading videos to your heart’s content from a tremendous number of popular websites — even simultaneously — you might want to try SnapDownloader for free. If you like it, you’ll be glad to know it’s inexpensive and super-easy to use, whether your computer’s operating system is macOS or Windows.

Tim Cook says Apple creates products ‘that make us proud’

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Tim Cook WWDC 2020 earnest
Tim Cook told Apple shareholders that, “technology should help us leave the world better than we found it.”
Screenshot: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday that his company is “made up of people who want to spend their lives making things that enrich the lives of others.” He described Apple’s identity at length in response to a question during the company’s annual shareholders meeting. Cook also answered questions about privacy and other topics during the virtual meeting.

¡Olé! Apple Pay finally debuts in México

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Apple Pay Tap-to-Pay
Citibanamex is one of the banks that now supports Apple Pay in Mexico.
Photo: Apple

Add Mexico to the lengthy list of countries where Apple Pay can be used. Support for the iPhone and Apple Watch contactless payment system began Tuesday — which is quite a delay considering Apple Pay began rolling out in 2014.

This is a benefit both to citizens of Mexico and also to the many tourists who visit.

Ultra-affordable 2-in-1 stand neatly charges Apple Watch, AirPods Pro

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Elago Duo Pro stand
Charges Apple Watch and iPhone (or AirPods).
Photo: Elago

Don’t spend hundreds on Apple Watch and AirPods Pro then leave them to get all scratched up on your bedside table while they’re charging. Keep them tidy and protected with Elago’s Duo Pro stand.

Its 2-in-1 design, available in four pretty color options, securely holds both your devices while they’re charging and keeps cables organized so they don’t get in the way. It’s even compatible with iPhone.

Get yours today for just $14.99.

This top-rated cooling pad could extend your laptop’s life

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cooling pad
Keep your MacBook totally chill ...
Photo: Havit

If you use your laptop all day, excessive heat could damage it over time. Thankfully, a cooling pad is all you really need to prevent overheating and extend the life of your laptop. The Havit Laptop Cooling Pad is one such accessory, and it’s on sale now for just $32.95. That’s 13% off the regular price of $37.

Apple says it doesn’t have Scott Forstall’s phone number

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Scott Forstall 2
Scott Forstall left Apple in 2012 after the Apple Maps debacle.
Photo: Philosophy Talk

It wasn’t all that long ago that Scott Forstall, Apple’s former SVP of iOS software, was being talked about as a possible CEO successor to Steve Jobs. Then came the disastrous Apple Maps launch in 2012, and Forstall’s subsequent departure from the company.

Forstall has shown up a couple of times since then, but otherwise maintained a low profile. Now, as unearthed by the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit, the Cupertino company says it doesn’t even have a current phone number for Forstall — only a Twitter account and P.O. Box reference.

Evidence mounts that next iPad Pro will boast mini-LED display

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2020 iPad Pro with official wallpaper
Are you excited about the next iPad Pro?
Photo: Apple

Another report published Tuesday adds more volume to the number of stories claiming that the next-gen iPad Pro will boast a mini-LED display.

The report, from Digitimes, notes that Taiwanese company Ennostar is gearing up to begin production of mini-LED backlight units. This will reportedly start at the end of the first quarter or second quarter of 2021.

Vintage 1978-era Apple signboard goes up for auction

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Apple sign
What better centerpiece to your Apple collection?
Photo: Nate D. Sanders

Today, the Apple logo is up there with the Nike “swoosh” as one of the world’s most recognizable corporate icons. But, back in 1978, it was the just another logo belonging to an early stage startup that had recently released its first mass-market product, the Apple II computer.

Memorabilia from these early days of Apple is few and far between. However, if you want to get your hands on a piece, an early Apple Retail sign has just come up for auction. It’s not cheap, but it would certainly make a nice addition to any Apple collection.

App Store spending could more than double by 2025

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App Store spending
How the App Store could rise in the next few years.
Photo: Sensor Tower

After booming during lockdown in 2020, the App Store isn’t likely to slow down over the next five years, according to a new report.

App analytics platform Sensor Tower’s projections indicate App Store spending could hit $185 billion per year in the next half-decade. That’s compared to $72 billion in 2020.

HDMI port and SD card reader supposedly will return to MacBook Pro this year

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Apple_macbookpro-13-inch_screen_05042020
MacBook Pro is getting a big redesign this year.
Photo: Apple

From the sound of things, Apple is going back to the past for its next-gen MacBook Pro — and, depending on who you ask, that could be a very good thing.

The next MacBook Pro is already rumored to bring back the MagSafe charger and kill off the LED Touch Bar in favor of a row of physical keys.

Now, in a new note to clients, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says this year’s pro laptop will come with a built-in SD card reader and an HDMI port. These have been MIA since 2016, when Apple went all in on USB-C — and started ditching MacBook ports like they were going out of style.

How to tell if Silver Sparrow malware is hiding on your Mac

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How to tell if Silver Sparrow malware is hiding on your Mac
Silver Sparrow could be in your M-series or Intel Mac. Here’s how to find out.
Graphic: Cult of Mac/Red Canary

Some of the first malware targeting both M-series and Intel Macs has affected thousands of computers. At this point, the malicious code — called “Silver Sparrow” — is not dangerous, and Apple may have pulled its teeth. But users of the latest macOS computers still might want to know if their device has it. And the same goes for owners of Intel-based Macs.

Here’s how to find out if your computer has been hit.

Female tech entrepreneurs get guidance from Apple at upcoming camp

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iPhone app development can be very profitable, and Apple has a new program to help more women get in the business.
Female founders and developers can apply to attend an Apple Entrepreneur Camp in summer 2021.
Photo: Apple

Women are underrepresented in tech, but Apple hopes to change that. On Monday, it began taking applications for an Entrepreneur Camp for female founders and developers to be held summer of 2021.

Previous such camps have been in Apple’s home town of Cupertino, but this one will be online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even beginners can learn to code with this massively discounted bundle

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This course is perfect to kickstart your coding career
This inexpensive course is perfect to kick-start your coding career.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want to start an exciting new career in coding or land the promotion you’ve always wanted? The Master Learn to Code 2021 Certification Bundle will teach you everything you need to succeed, and it’s on sale right now for just $34.99. That’s a huge 98% discount off the regular price of $2,594.

No throttling here: T-Mobile promises truly unlimited 5G phone plan

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T-Mobile Magenta Max is all the 5G you can eat.
T-Mobile commits to no-fooling unlimited 4G and 5G wireless data with Magenta Max.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

T-Mobile’s new 5G plan isn’t limited by data caps or throttling. Its Magenta Max offers unlimited 4G and 5G data to smartphone users. And it includes high-definition video streaming and Netflix on Us.

The plan seeks to stand out from rivals that promise unlimited data but slow down data transfers under certain conditions.