Cult of Mac

Who doesn’t love the idea of being more productive? And, while there’s certainly a way to work smarter or more efficiently, what about simply tracking the amount of time you spend on any given task? TimeFlip2 Interactive Time Tracker is a helpful gadget that logs your time spent on everything from sending an email to working out. And it works the old-fashioned way, by giving you important visual cues to boost your time-management skills.

AirPods Max are only the second Apple device to adopt Apple Watch’s brilliant Digital Crown. And you might be surprised by just how powerful that little button can be, from adjusting volume to controlling playback.

Here are four useful things you can do with the Digital Crown on AirPods Max.

Anker took the wraps off an wireless charging stand that can power up an iPhone 12 and a pair of AirPods. It also began offering a small charging pad.

Both cling to the handset with magnets built into Apple’s latest iOS device. But they don’t fully support MagSafe.

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I love the idea of good-sounding, comfortable, high-quality headphones. And Apple’s new AirPods Max definitely check those boxes.

They offer great sound and they’re super-comfortable to wear, even for longer periods of time. On top of that, they pack all the things that make AirPods magical in a very premium package.

But even with those awesome features, AirPods Max aren’t for everyone, and that includes me. As much as I’ve loved my AirPods and AirPods Pro, these kind of let me down.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office is not happy about certain international digital tax laws, which it claims is unfair to American tech giants.

According to Reuters, taxes on digital services imposed by France, India, Italy and Turkey are “inconsistent” with international tax principles. They could, in turn, result in retaliatory tariffs being put in place by the United States.

Satechi redesigned its iPad desktop stand to provide a more stable, hands-free option. The device includes a pair of hinges to offer a wide range of viewing angles.

The accessory maker also introduced a pair of slim keyboards Thursday that can be used with MacBooks or iPads.

Apple would only need to capture 2% of the mobility market with a possible Apple Car to equal the revenue that it currently gets from the iPhone, according to Morgan Stanley researchers.

While that’s certainly easier said than done, it’s an interesting observation when considering Apple’s chances of turning its automotive plans into a potential financial windfall.

After a tough year, we can finally be optimistic: All signs point toward the job market slowly recovering. Whether you’re looking to transition from your current role, upgrade with a promotion or change jobs entirely, now’s the perfect time to start hunting for the dream job you actually want.

This Rezi Résumé Software: Pro Lifetime Subscription makes sure your resume will get considered for the job you’re applying for — and actually increases your chance of landing the interviews you want.

The iPhone 12 reportedly costs at least 21% more to manufacture than the iPhone 11, Counterpoint Research claims.

In a recent post, the publication totted up what it believes are the materials cost for the 128GB iPhone 12 and found them to add up to around $415. That’s due not only to the 5G components, but also other new components for the 2020 device versus the previous year’s model.

Facebook sent out a message to businesses recently pointing out how Apple’s new privacy features could hurt them by clamping down on targeted advertising.

It also claims that personalized ads that utilize user data to target individuals can coexist with user privacy online.

Apple CEO Tim Cook decried the shocking scenes that took place Wednesday in Washington, D.C., as supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building.

“Today marks a sad and shameful chapter in our nation’s history,” Cook wrote on Twitter. “Those responsible for this insurrection should be held to account, and we must complete the transition to President-elect Biden’s administration. It’s especially when they are challenged that our ideals matter most.”

Pick up a pair of AirPods at their lowest ever price today only. Woot is offering refurbished units for as little as $84.99, while Amazon can hook you up with renewed AirPods Pro buds for just $193.

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Can’t wait for the second season of Dickinson? Then quickly sign up to watch an advance screening. A one-time stream will allow viewers to see the comedy/drama on Thursday, January 7, the day before it debuts on Apple TV+.

Update: The screening is now full. “Registration for this event is now closed,“ says Apple.

Sometimes it can feel like there’s just too much work to accomplish all on your own. And while speed-reading courses and memory-retention exercises can certainly help improve your productivity, it can help to have what feels like a second pair of hands to help you out.

If you don’t want to hire your own personal assistant (but still feel like you have moments where you need one), check out this lifetime subscription to Dictanote Pro.

An AirPods 3 concept video brings together rumors and hopes for redesigned Apple in-ear headphones that are anticipated for later in 2021. The result is a video showing earbuds that merge aspects of AirPods Pro with the more basic version, and mix in some new features as well.

Watch the video now:

Worried that snapping your MagSafe charger onto iPhone 12 will one day damage its glass? Elago’s awesome new Charging Tray solves that problem by being the ultimate MagSafe accessory.

Made entirely from soft and sturdy silicone, the Charging Tray holds your MagSafe charger to give iPhone 12 a place to rest while it’s being topped up. The Charging Tray Duo also makes space for Apple Watch.

Bag yours today from just $29.

The 2021 iPad is apparently going on a diet. The 9th generation of Apple’s basic tablet will reportedly be slimmer and lighter than the current version.

But the same unconfirmed report says Apple doesn’t plan to change the size of the 2021 iPad Pro models.

Apple customers spent a record $540 million-plus in a single day on digital goods and services on New Year’s Day, Apple said Wednesday.

This followed a monster holiday season in which App Store customers splurged $1.8 billion in the App Store between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Users spent much of this astonishing amount of money on games.

There’s no better time than the new year to start thinking about a new skill to learn. And while you might be considering changing careers by learning how to code, or developing a passion side project in photography, don’t count out learning a new language.

Mastering a second language can open up all kinds of doors, from getting you a new job (possibly even in a new country) or earning you a promotion. This lifetime subscription to Babbel Language Learning gives you access to 14 different languages and more than 10,000 hours of intuitive lessons.

One of the big new features of iOS 14 is a privacy focused one that lets users know which apps are tracking them. But while it’s starting to roll out to beta users, developers are trying to find ways to continue tracking users without them necessarily being clued in.

According to a Wednesday report for the Financial Times, some devs are so concerned about the possible financial impact of Apple’s new feature that they will try and find ways around restrictions — even though being caught could result in them being booted off the App Store.

Need an affordable Apple notebook? Check out Woot’s spectacular one-day sale on a range of refurbished MacBook models. Prices start at just $499.99, but stock is selling fast. Don’t miss out!

Prototype “Apple Glass” augmented reality glasses are reportedly set to enter the second phase of testing, Digitimes reported Wednesday.

The paywalled report cites “industry sources” but doesn’t reveal how many phases are involved in Apple’s testing of its AR glasses. However, since Digitimes’ sources are seemingly located predominantly in the supply chain, rather than inside Apple, this suggests that the long-rumored AR specs have moved beyond Cupertino’s initial internal mockups.

TikTok, the ultra-popular short-form video app, finished 2020 on a high note as December’s top-grossing non-gaming app. According to app analytics platform Sensor Tower, TikTok pulled in $142 million that month across iOS and Android.

That’s 3.3 times the revenue TikTok produced in December 2019. The overwhelming majority of this money (86%) came from China, where TikTok is known as Douyin. The United States ranked second for TikTok spending, accounting for 7% of revenue.

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s pay rose by a massive 28% in the company’s fiscal 2020, a regulatory filing reveals.

Cook took home the same $3 million basic salary he earned in 2018 and 2019. However, his non-equity incentive plan compensation increased from $7.7 million last year to $10.7 million. That brought his earnings for the year to $14.8 million — on the back of a spectacular year for Apple.

Apple plans to announce on January 27 the financial results from last quarter. This includes the launch of the iPhone 12 series, so it’ll offer the first hard numbers on how well the latest iOS handsets are selling.

The quarter also contains the holiday-shopping season, which traditionally adds enormously to Apple’s bottom line. But 2020 wasn’t a normal year and it’s not yet known how the COVID-19 pandemic affected gifting of Mac, iPad and other products. Apple financial results should clear away the mystery.