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Apple wants its Mac mini developer transition kits back early

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Mac mini with ARM chip
The time of the Mac mini Developer Transition Kit is rapidly drawing to a close.
Photo: Apple

Apple told developers on Wednesday that they are expected to soon return the Mac mini that they used to test macOS Big Sur running on Apple Silicon. This is less time than the one-year lease of the Developer Transition Kit was supposed to last.

The devs paid $500 to lease the specially modified desktops in 2020. They aren‘t getting that money back, but Apple will compensate them for returning the unit. Still, some developers are peeved.

Tiny iPhone and iPad charger will surprise you with its power [Review]

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Aukey Minima 18W PD Charger
Aukey’s 18W USB-C power adapter has definite advantages over Apple’s offerings.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Aukey makes a USB-C charger that’s about as small at the standard 5 watt iPhone charger but provides far more power. The Minima 18W PD Charger can quickly juice up an Apple phone or tablet, as well as other devices. With it, that old 5W charger can go in a drawer where it belongs.

It’s a low-cost option, plus I tested the product with an iPhone and an iPad so you can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Bag an iPhone 11, 11 Pro refurb for as little as $529.99 today only

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Analyst complains iPhone’s average selling price is slipping
Get yours before they're all gone!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Woot is blowing out iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max refurbs again — and this time, they’re even more affordable. Prices start at just $529.99 for unlocked devices that work on any carrier.

All units are tested and in full working order, and they’re backed by a 90-day Woot warranty. The sale runs for just one day, so claim yours before they’re all gone!

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

Cut your design costs with lifetime access to vector icons for just $19

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Icon54 allows you to access 5,000 unique vector icons in 101 different categories
Icon54 packs 5,000 unique vector icons in 101 different categories.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Any entrepreneur knows the importance of great branding. But if you’re trying to run a startup or small business on a limited income, you know how expensive it can be to hire a professional designer.

That’s where this unlimited membership to Icon54 comes in handy. This deal gives you access to line and glyph vector icons, drawn by hand and approved by top designers. With it, you can feature beautiful designs on your website or app without breaking the bank.

How to pair and customize a PS5, Xbox Series X controller in iOS 14.5

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Pair PS5, Xbox controllers with iPhone and iPad
A better way to play your games on iPhone and iPad.
Photo: Microsoft/Cult of Mac

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X controllers can finally be used to play games on iPhone and iPad in Apple’s newest iOS and iPadOS 14.5 betas, seeded to developers on Monday.

We’ll show you how to set them up so that you’re ready to go as soon as iOS 14.5 rolls out to everyone.

Not just you: Apple suffers massive iCloud outage [Updated]

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if you use an iCloud service, there’s a good chance it’s down right now.
Many of Apple’s most-used online services went offline Wednesday.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple reports that virtually all its iCloud services are down Wednesday. That includes very frequently used ones like Drive, Contacts, Keychain and Mail. And many more.

UPDATE: Apple restored all its services, though it took most of Wednesday.

Phonebot: Best deals on Apple iPhone 11 in Australia

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An array of quality refurbished devices. like iPhone 11s, await at Phonebot.
An array of quality refurbished devices, like iPhone 11s, await at Phonebot.
Photo: Phonebot

This refurbished device post is presented by Australia-based reseller Phonebot.

Every year, millions of people around the world flock to stores and wait online for the biggest sales events of the year: end of financial year sales, Boxing Day deals and Black Friday. These beloved events have become synonymous with massive discounts. Retailers everywhere offer attractive sale prices on electronics, smartphones and a ton of other products.

For many retailers, the focus these days tends to be on electronics. So if you are in the market for a new smartphone, these sales events are an optimal time to get one. You can count on seeing some significant discounts on the latest refurbished Android and iPhone models in different storage options.

Check your credit limit before preordering Kensington’s StudioDock for iPad

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The Kensington StudioDock was named a CES 2021 Innovation Awards Honoree.
Kensington StudioDock could be the iPad productivity tool you’re looking for.
Photo: Kensington

iPad users wowed by Kensington’s StudioDock at CES 2021 should be happy to hear it took a big step toward release on Wednesday. It’s now possible to preorder this stand that boasts an extensive collection of built-in ports and wireless charging mats. The product is good enough to take home a CES 2021 Innovations Award.

On the other side of the coin, Kensington is just now revealing the price. And it’s not cheap.

One more year: Apple’s VR headset could debut in early 2022

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Apple could take on the likes of Oculus with a VR headset as early as 2022.
Apple could take on the likes of Oculus with its debut VR headset.
Photo: Minh Pham/Unsplash CC

Apple’s debut virtual reality headset could arrive in the first quarter of 2022, JPMorgan Chase Securities tech analyst Yang Weilun claims in a new note to investors.

The report says Apple’s VR headset will supposedly boast six lenses, lidar and a time-of-flight sensor. It will allegedly retail for upward of $500.

Ted Lasso and 2 Apple TV+ movies earn Golden Globes nominations

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Jason Sudeikis plays a clueless college football coach in the comedy series.
Jason Sudeikis, center, plays a clueless college football coach in the Apple TV+ comedy.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ hit Ted Lasso, animated movie Wolfwalkers and Bill Murray — one of the stars of On the Rocks — all received nominations Wednesday for the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards.

Rewarding the best movies and TV shows of the past year, as voted on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the prizes will be handed out at an awards show on February 28.

This audio reading app turns anything into a personal podcast

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This app allows you to turn newsletters and articles into a podcast
This app allows you to turn newsletters and articles into a podcast.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We all wish we had more time to sit down and read. But when even book summaries won’t cut through your massive reading list, you need to bring in the big guns.

Thankfully, there’s an app out there that’s made for all you multitaskers. This drastically discounted lifetime subscription to the Elocance Audio Reading App lets you convert all your work articles, documents and emails into an easy-to-listen-to podcast.

Apple wins trademark for Apple Card in Canada

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Apple Card’s ‘elite card’ status is hitting retailers in the wallet
Does this mean Apple Card is coming to Canada?
Photo: Apple

Apple launched its Apple Card credit card back in 2019 but, so far, it’s only been available to customers in the United States.

That may soon change, however, with eagle-eyed Apple watchers spotting that Apple has been granted two trademark applications in Canada, covering both Apple Card and Apple Cash.

Apple settles antitrust dispute in South Korea with ‘voluntary correction scheme’

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Apple South Korea Store
Dispute has been running in South Korea since 2016.
Photo: Apple

Apple has settled a long-running antitrust dispute in South Korea. The country’s Fair Trade Commission announced Wednesday that it has accepted Apple’s offer to spend $89.83 million in the country as part of a voluntary correction scheme.

“This is the first time that a correction scheme [to make up for unfair market practices] actually provides direct benefits to consumers such as repair and warranty cost discounts,” said FTC Chairwoman Joh Sung-wook in a press briefing. “[The FTC] shall thoroughly keep watch on whether Apple carries out the promised actions to contribute to the domestic ICT ecosystem.”

Apple gears up to sign $3.6 billion deal with Kia to build Apple Car

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Kia
Cars could then hit the road by 2024.
Photo: Nils Bogdanovs/Unsplash CC

Apple could be poised to sign a $3.6 billion deal with Kia Motors to build Apple Car, Bloomberg reports Wednesday, citing Korean news outlet DongA Ilbo.

The report says Apple and Kia, which is owned by Hyundai, could sign a deal as soon as February 17. It would then aim to “introduce Apple cars in 2024,” with a possible target of produce 100,000 electric vehicles per year, according to DongA Ilbo.

First macOS 11.3 beta brings tweaks to Safari and Reminders

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First macOS 11.3 beta brings tweaks to Safari and Reminders
Those in the Apple Developer Program can begin testing macOS Big Sur 11.3.
Image: Cult of Mac

A mere day after the release of a fresh macOS version, Apple went ahead and seeded to developers macOS 11.3 beta 1. The company isn’t one to sit on its hands.

The new beta includes small improvments to Safari and Reminders. And enhancements to a range of other features too. Plus bug fixes, of course.

Cupertino poaches Porsche chassis expert for Apple car

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The Apple Car could be partially designed by a man who designed this Porsche.
A man who helped design this Porsche is allegedly now working on the Apple Car.
Photo: Porsche

Apple reportedly hired Manfred Harrer for its top-secret self-driving vehicle project. It’s a telling move because Harrer previously was head of chassis development at Porsche. This is a clear sign that the Mac-maker is planning an Apple car, not simply an autonomous vehicle system to be licensed to automakers.

Amplify your reading comprehension with this powerful iOS app

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This tool allows you to read and annotate web pages more productively
This tool allows you to read and annotate web pages more productively.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether you’re a student plowing through tons of online material for school, or just constantly have massive amounts of reading for work, don’t let important information slip past you and affect your performance. Become your most productive self with this lifetime subscription to Markup iOS Pro Lite, a tool for reading and annotating web pages and PDF documents.

Apple developing mystery health hardware products

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Probably not the Apple health hardware products in development.
Probably not this.
Screenshot: NBCUniversal

A job posting leaves no room for doubt that Apple plans more health-related devices. The company seeks to hire a project manager to develop “Apple-branded Health Hardware products.”

The company doesn’t have anything like this now. It’s instead mostly concentrated on building wellness features into Apple Watch, iPhone and AirPods. And selling third-party health devices.

Music to your ears? This Mac setup is part workspace, part soundscape [Setups]

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An audiophile's setup includes not just computers and a killer sound system, but sound enhancers on the walls and in corners.
An audiophile's setup includes not just computers and a killer sound system, but sound enhancers on the walls and in corners.
Photo: Ed Yoon

Ed Yoon has a job many music fans and players would covet. He’s chief operating officer of high-end electric guitar maker and distributor Strandberg Guitars USA in Riverside, California. As you might guess from his line of work, he’s a major audiophile. And his office setup makes a lot of noise to that effect.

OK, not “noise.” Beautiful music.

Even before the pandemic, Yoon had been working a lot from home to manage the company’s operations. Then, as COVID-19 spread, remote work became the norm. Unlike most of us, he needed more than just a desk and a computer with decent speakers. He had to have mind-blowing audio.

Tim Cook faces 7-hour grilling in Apple vs. Epic legal battle

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Tim Cook goes to Washington
Tim Cook will chime in on Apple vs. Epic Games case.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook must participate in a seven-hour deposition during his company’s upcoming legal battle with Epic Games. Epic reportedly wanted Cook for eight hours, while Apple lawyers tried to whittle it down to four hours.

Seven hours is the compromise that was ultimately ruled on by Judge Thomas S. Hixon.

Little Buddy case keeps iPads safe around clumsy kids

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Little Buddy case for iPad
No more shattered screens!
Photo: Laut

Every parent knows that one of the most effective ways to appease an unhappy child is to hand them an iPad. And with the brilliant Little Buddy case from Laut, it’s finally safe to do so.

The Little Buddy’s lightweight yet rugged design, made from impact-resistant EVA foam, makes an iPad easy to carry around, and prevents it from shattering into pieces when it inevitably gets dropped.

It’s compatible with a wide range of iPad models, and it’s a bargain at under $35.

Metroidvania game Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night gets speed run mode, more

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Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
A spiritual successor to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
Photo: Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, the “spiritual successor” to the excellent Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, just got a big update on iOS.

The game made its debut back in 2019. It’s a Metroidvania type video game, set in 18th century England during the time of the Industrial Revolution. It started life as crowdfunding venture led by Symphony of the Night assistant director, Koji “Iga” Igarashi.

Take charge of your fitness routine with this GPS-powered Fitbit

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This GPS-powered Fitbit will help you accomplish your fitness goals
You don't necessarily need an Apple Watch to achieve your fitness goals.
Photo: Fitbit

Ready to take control of your health and wellness? Whether you like to cycle outdoors, go on hikes, or work up a sweat with a fitness app, if you’re not wearing an Apple Watch or similar fitness tracker, it can be hard to tell whether the plan you set for yourself is actually working

If you don’t want to shell out for Apple’s smartwatch, this Fitbit Ionic GPS Fitness Smartwatch is just what you need to help guide you in your fitness goals. it’s packed with helpful features that help you refine your plans and keep up with your progress.