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Apple doubles Apple Music free trial for students in higher education

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Apple Music student deal
Apple Music
Photo: Apple

With the global pandemic causing many students to rely on remote learning, it’s not a great time to be in higher education. But there is one small bright spot: Cupertino just doubled the free trial period for Apple Music for students in select countries.

Instead of the standard three-month trial, students in higher education can now get six months before they must shell out a monthly fee. The extended trial, only available to new Apple Music customers, runs through April 30.

Apple sensors could help with noninvasive glucose monitoring

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Apple Watch Series 5 LTPO screen
New Apple Watch could have a game-changing new feature.
Screenshot: Apple

Patent applications published Thursday shed new light on Apple’s quest to create a noninvasive blood sugar sensor. Unconfirmed rumors point to the transformative medical feature arriving in this year’s Apple Watch upgrade. If true, it could offer diabetics and others a convenient way to accurately track blood glucose levels.

Get that new Mac feeling with a lifetime sub to this cleaner app

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This new mac cleaning app will reclaim free storage
This new Mac cleaning app frees up storage in a snap.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When you spend so much time on your Mac, it’s inevitable that its performance can suffer. Rather than trying to manually delete files or tweak your system, give BuhoCleaner for Mac a try.

It can optimize your Mac’s performance — and we’ve got a hot deal on a lifetime subscription to BuhoCleaner’s family plan.

Apple TV+ wins rights to sci-fi movie about a robot’s murder trial

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Robot
New movie will tell the story of a robot assistant (not necessarily this one) that kills its owner.
Photo: Alex Knight/Unsplash CC

Apple reportedly acquired the rights to Dolly, a science fiction courtroom drama about a robot companion that kills its owner, then proclaims itself innocent and demands a court trial.

The movie is set to star Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh (Little Women). No director has yet been attached.

Claire Danes replaces Keira Knightley in Apple TV+’s The Essex Serpent

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‘The Essex Serpent’ adapted for Apple TV+ starring Claire Danes
The Essex Serpent is coming to Apple TV+ in an adaptation starring Claire Danes.
Image: Serpent's Tail/Profile Books

Claire Danes will reportedly star in The Essex Serpent, a drama series about a 19th century widow who goes monster hunting. The show will be based on a popular novel.

Previously Keira Knightley was going to take the lead, but she bowed out of the project over COVID-related scheduling problems.

Cut down on desk clutter with this minimalist wireless charger

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These wireless charging docks will keep all of your devices powered up
These spiffy wireless charging docks will keep all of your devices powered up.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re going to be spending so much time at your desk doing remote work, you might as well set yourself up for success. One pro move is eliminating as much needless clutter as you can — and this Wireless Charging Dock for iPhone is a beautiful option.

It not only looks stylish and sleek, it keeps your phone effortlessly charged so you’re ready to use it at all times. And it comes in multiple configurations that can charge an Apple Watch and other devices, too.

5 ways Apple car could change the way we think about automobiles

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Could Apple reinvent the car as we know it?
Could Apple reinvent the car as we know it?
Photo: Austrian National Library/Unsplash CC

Apple’s rumored electric vehicle could be just a nice luxury item that appeals to Apple fans with a lot of disposable income, similar to the HomePod or AirPods Max — but far more expensive. Or it could alter the automotive experience in a far more profound, Apple-esque manner.

I’d bet on the latter option. Apple doesn’t do things by halves. Steve Jobs famously stated that he wanted to build a personal computer that would put a ding in the universe. The iPhone, Apple Stores, the Apple Watch, iTunes and the App Store — those all changed the way that we use technology on a regular basis. They solved a bigger problem than just giving us a nice, Apple-branded version of an existing product to play with.

If Apple makes a car, it will likely remake the way we think about cars. Here are five ways Cupertino could do that.

Apple Maps will let drivers report accidents, speed traps and other hazards

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Apple Maps adds accident reporting in iOS 14.5
Apple Maps in iOS 14.5 will let users report hazards to fellow motorists.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Maps will start collecting crowd-sourced accident reports when iOS 14.5 is released. The beta version already lets users test sharing the locations of accidents, speed traps and other hazards.

This is hardly cutting edge, of course. Google Waze has included the feature for years.

Health care exec cures cable outbreak threatening healthy work and play station [Setups]

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Dr. Edward Wang's setup features an ultra-wide monitor.
Edward Wang's setup features an ultra-wide monitor. (Note the eye-strain-reducing BenQ Screen Bar lighting atop the monitor.)
Photo: Edward Wang

Basking Ridge, New Jersey-based Edward Wang, Ph.D., is an executive director with Quest Diagnostics. He took some serious time and effort making his setup a clean and powerful tool for health care work and audiovisual play. Once he diagnosed and treated a cable-management malady stemming from several separate pieces of computer and audio equipment, his setup delighted him.

Micro OLED displays might make Apple’s AR glasses super-thin and light

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Taeyeon Kim
Coming soon to a face near you?
Photo: Taeyeon Kim

Apple and A-series chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. teamed up to develop “ultra-advanced display technology” at a special facility in Taiwan, a Wednesday report claims.

The Micro OLED displays measure less than 1 inch in size, according to Nikkei Asia. Apple potentially could use the displays for its long-rumored augmented reality glasses.  However, it seems likely it will take “several years” to bring the hardware to market.

Bye, Hyundai! Nissan looks like ‘most likely’ Apple car partner now

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Nissan
Apple's next manufacturing partner?
Photo: Jonathan Gallegos/Unsplash CC

Nissan is the latest automaker mentioned as a possible manufacturing partner to produce the rumored Apple car.

Makoto Uchida, Nissan’s CEO, was asked about teaming with Apple at a press conference Tuesday. Uchida responded that Nissan should be looking to “work with companies that are knowledgeable, with good experience, through partnership and collaboration,” according to The Wall Street Journal.

That’s not exactly a “yes,” but it’s certainly not a “no,” either.

Drive safer with one of these discount iPhone car mounts

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These car mounts on sale will keep you and your iPhone safe
Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Road trips are definitely surging in popularity as COVID-19 strangles air travel. But before you pack your favorite snacks and plan your sightseeing journey, you should be sure you have everything you need to stay safe on the road.

Your iPhone will most certainly be your command center when you pop your vehicle in drive, and any of these 10 car mounts can put it right where it needs to be. They all offer surefire ways to keep your iPhone in view without looking away from the road — and they’re all on sale.

Plus, you can keep your phone conveniently charged at all times, so you can stay connected while barreling down the highway.

Apple will replace batteries on faulty MacBook Pros that won’t charge beyond 1%

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15-inch-MacBook-Pro
Apple will swap out the battery for free.
Photo: Apple

According to Apple, a “very small number” of MacBook Pros sold in 2016 and 2017 have an issue that stops the battery charging beyond 1%.

As a result, Apple has launched a free battery replacement program to swap out these faulty batteries — so that customers can join the rest of us in the exclusive “our batteries charge up to 100%” club.

TikTok sale to Walmart and Oracle looks like it’ll never happen

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U.S. investigations of TikTok gather steam.
The clock is no longer ticking for TikTok.
Photo: Kon Karampelas/Unsplash CC

The forced sale of TikTok’s American operations to a group of U.S. buyers including Walmart and Oracle has been indefinitely postponed, The Wall Street Journal reports.

TikTok became a major target of former President Donald Trump, who claimed the Chinese-owned video-sharing service posed a security risk. However, it seems that President Joe Biden’s administration is not so dead-set on banishing the super-popular app from the United States.

Miniature Satechi charger juices up both Apple Watch and AirPods

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The Satechi USB-C Watch AirPods Charger takes on two Apple wearable devices.
The Satechi USB-C Watch AirPods Charger is two, two, two accessories in one.
Photo: Satechi

A clever trick by designers at Satechi combines an Apple Watch charger and an AirPods charger into a single small accessory. On one side is a charging mat for the wearable, but flip it over to power up the case for Apple’s wireless earbuds.

The Satechi USB-C Watch AirPods Charger debuted on Tuesday exclusively from the online Apple Store.

There should never be another iPhone mini

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iPhone 12 mini
The iPhone 12 mini is a great little device ... that almost no one wants.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

iPhone 12 mini is the worst selling of the new iOS handsets by a wide margin. Apple should be embarrassed because there was plenty of evidence before the launch that sales would be poor. Take note: Another super-small iPhone would just compound the mistake.

No more 5.4-inch iPhones. Ever.

Cupertino puts pedal to the metal on Apple car road tests

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The Apple Car won‘t look anything like this. At all.
Apple test cars drove more miles in 2020 than the previous year. And they were apparently more reliable.
Illustration: Cult of Mac

Apple Car on-road testing increased substantially in 2020. The number of miles driven went up 2.5 times. It’s another sign the company is getting more serious about its self-driving vehicle.

Create amazing animations in just a few clicks with this Mac app

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This app allows you to create stunning morph animations with just a few clicks
This Mac app allows you to create stunning morph animations with just a few clicks.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you’re dabbling in creative pursuits or whipping up eye-catching images for your company, sometimes a simple edited photo just isn’t powerful enough to capture your audience’s attention. That’s where Morph Age: Image Morphing & Warping for Mac comes in handy. With this Mac app, you can create unique, interesting animations by altering faces, drawings and other objects in a few simple clicks.

macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 fixes pesky MacBook Pro charging bug

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macOS Big Sur public release ushers in huge design changes
Put macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 on your older MacBook Pro if it’s been having charging problems.
Photo: Apple

Apple introduced macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 to the public on Tuesday, taking care of a bug that prevented some MacBook Pro models from charging.

The update also removes security problems. Plus, Apple also released updates for macOS Catalina and Mojave to remove the same security bugs.

AirPods Pro covers protect your little buds, provide a better fit

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Elago earbuds covers for AirPods Pro
Bag a pack of 6 for just $15.99.
Photo: Elago

You’re probably already protecting your AirPods Pro charging case, but what about the beloved little buds themselves? Elago’s new earbuds covers help keep them free from grime and provide a more secure fit.

They’re ideal for running, cycling, and other workout activities. They also come in a number of cool color options — including one that glows in the dark!

D&D gaming comes to life via Mac mini and magical screen [Setups]

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A 43-inch curved monitor is the highlight of Duncan Shultz's gaming setup.
A 43-inch wide curved monitor is the highlight of Duncan Shultz's gaming setup.
Photo: Duncan Shultz

Brisbane, Australia-based defense contractor Duncan Shultz loves Dungeons & Dragons. And that’s the main action his Mac-mini-and-wide-screen setup sees, although he also admits to using it to work for a living. An Aasimar Sorcerer’s got to eat, after all.

“The wide screen is simply awesome for my uses,” Shultz told Cult of Mac. “Specifically in running online D&D games. I can have video conferencing, multiple browsers, streaming software and other tools all open and accessible.”

In addition to the aforementioned sorcerer character — goes by the name of Selinth, BTW — Schultz is a dungeon master for Curse of Strahd campaigns, one online and one in person. Online he uses the Roll20 website and in person he uses EncounterPlus for iOS and macOS.

Qualcomm’s 10 gigabit 5G modem likely to show up in future iPhones

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The next iPhone might use the speedy Snapdragon X65 5G modem
The Snapdragon X65 modem has just about everything the next 5G iPhone could need.
Graphic: Qualcomm

Qualcomm unveiled a 5G modem that potentially could increase the network speed of future iPhones. The new Snapdragon X65 promises 10 gigabit per second connections, as well as reduced battery drain.

In its announcement Tuesday, the chip maker didn’t specifically say the modem is headed for Apple products, but the iPhone 12 uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 modem for 5G. And the two companies have a multiyear chipset supply agreement.