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Apple Watch Series 7 could pack game-changing blood sugar sensor

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Apple Watch Series 6
This year's Apple Watch upgrade could have a pretty massive new feature.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

This year’s Apple Watch upgrade will reportedly add another potentially transformative medical feature: a blood sugar sensor.

That’s according to a new report from ET News, which says both Apple and Samsung will bake the feature into their respective smartwatches — the Apple Watch Series 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 — later in 2021.

This streaming service will soothe you to sleep

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This streaming service will help you develop better sleep habits
Restflix will help you develop better sleep habits.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s a lot going on in the world today that can keep you up at night. Whether you’ve been doom-scrolling the news or just have trouble shutting down after work, it can be exhausting to spend long hours awake, only to start the cycle over again the next day.

When all the old tactics — like meditation apps, white noise gadgets, and good old-fashioned sweat sessions — fail to work, try this Restflix subscription.

Batterygate strikes again: Consumer group sues Apple over planned obsolescence

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iPhone camera
Batterygate issue has been raging for a few years now.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Italian consumer association Altroconsumo launched a massive class-action lawsuit against Apple on Monday, seeking 60 million euros ($73 million) for the alleged planned obsolescence of iPhones.

Specifically, the suit mentions the iPhone 6 and 6s generation of devices. Apple used a software update to slow down these phones’ performance, resulting in the “Batterygate” controversy.

“Planned obsolescence is a deliberate unfair practice to consumers that causes frustration and financial harm,” Els Bruggerman, head of policy and enforcement for consumer right’s group Euroconsumers, told Cult of Mac. (Altroconsumo is a part of Euroconsumers.) “In November 2020, Apple ​announced that it will pay $113 million to settle allegations that it slowed down iPhones to mask battery issues. That settlement clearly demonstrates that Apple resorted to planned obsolescence as a deliberate attempt to increase renewal of phone, hide issues and deceive consumers.”

Apple says it slowed down the iPhones to preserve battery life and avoid crashes of older devices. Between 2014 and 2020, Apple sold approximately 1 million of iPhone 6 and 6s models in Italy alone.

Handy Monochest keeps Apple Watch and spare bands safe and secure while traveling [Review]

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Monowear Monochest for Apple Watch
The ideal Apple Watch accessory for frequent travelers.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you plan to go traveling with your Apple Watch as soon as it’s safe to do so, you’ll want to take with you the handy Monowear Monochest. This book-like accessory securely carries your spare bands, and doubles as a stand that keeps your Apple Watch protected while it’s charging.

The Monochest is compatible with all generations of Apple Watch, and we think it’s a must-have for frequent travelers. What’s more, you can get yours today at 20% off the usual price.

Microsoft disses the MacBook Pro in its latest ad for Surface Pro 7

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Surface ad
MacBook Pro? No time for you!
Photo: Microsoft

There’s something strangely nostalgic about Microsoft taking shots at Apple in a commercial. If you were to add in a post-grunge soundtrack, hair with frosted tips, and a supreme overconfidence in the value of any and every .com business, it could be the ’90s again.

Sadly such vintage touches aren’t present in Microsoft’s latest ad — pitting the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 against the MacBook Pro. Guess which one the folks in Redmond, WA think you’re better off buying?

Don’t worry about losing your data ever again with Starchive Cloud Storage

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This storage plan gives you complete control of your data
A lifetime sub to this storage plan gives you complete control of your data — forever!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

How many important photos and documents have you lost on misplaced USB drives or computers that haven’t worked in years? Confronting the impermanence of so much of our digital data is a frustration we all experience. And the more important the file, the more it hurts when it disappears forever.

For everyone from entrepreneurs to casual web users, losing data is painful, and it’s estimated that if it’s not copied and verified frequently, there’s up to an 8% chance every year that your data will be lost.

The Starchive 1TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription offers an alternative to the stress of constantly worrying that your files might fade. For under $100, you can have a safe place to store all your most important digital possessions.

2021 looks Mac-tastic! [Cult of Mac Magazine 385]

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Big things are brewing in Mac land.
Big things are brewing in Mac land.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

It looks like the MacBook Pro isn’t the only Apple laptop that’s going back to the future. The next-gen MacBook Air supposedly will get MagSafe, just like the MacBook Pro we learned about last week. Plus it should come in thinner and lighter than ever.

Add in the upcoming iMac and Mac Pro redesigns, and this year is looking pretty fantastic for Mac fans.

Meanwhile, this year’s iPhone might be a bit of a welcome throwback as well. You can luxuriate in all the latest Apple news and rumors in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Grab it now to read on your iOS device. Or scroll down for the links to this week’s top Apple news, reviews and how-tos.

This subscription service summarizes bestselling books into 4-minute reads

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Learn more in 2021 than you ever have with Four Minute Books
Learn more in 2021 than you ever have with Four Minute Books.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Socrates once said, “The only true wisdom is knowing you know nothing,” and these words ring true, even today. Those who are truly intelligent seek more learned experts to educate them in areas where they’re lacking. That’s why you often hear about successful entrepreneurs reading multiple books each month.

Even so, our busy lives can leave us exhausted at the end of the day, so having the time or energy to crack open a book is a luxury. There are methods out there to help you read faster, but if you want to get straight to a book’s main point, Four Minute Books can help.

Conquer challenging 3D puzzles in Spire Blast on Apple Arcade

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‘Spire Blast’ launched on Apple Arcade on Friday.
Spire Blast on Apple Arcade asks you to knock down towers with a dragon’s help.
Screenshot: Orbital Knight

Spire Blast, a physics-based match puzzler that debuted Friday on Apple Arcade, is one of those simple games that so many people find addictive.

Strategically use colored balls to knock down towers. It’s a casual game that’s easy to learn but with multiple levels to keep it challenging.

Dickinson weighs the real world and fantasy in enervating party episode [Apple TV+ review]

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Finn Jones & Hailee Steinfeld in Dickinson
Finn Jones and Hailee Steinfeld talk about the future in this week's featherweight episode.
Photo: Apple TV+

Dickinson rocks the party this week on Apple TV+ as Sue hosts a salon and Emily tries to boost her confidence long enough to be proud of herself in public.

The show’s tightrope walk of purposeful frivolity keeps butting up against its desire to say and do things of real substance. It’s the rare show that can pull off such a feat. And so far, Dickinson seems too interested in strained wordplay to quite get there.

Brie Larson to star as frustrated scientist in Lessons in Chemistry on Apple TV+

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Brie Larson
Brie Larson can play more than a superhero. She’ll take on the role of a female scientist in a male-dominated field in “Lessons in Chemistry” on Apple TV+.
Photo: Marvel Studios

Brie Larson, perhaps best know for her role in Captain Marvel, will reportedly take the lead in Lessons in Chemistry, a series about a frustrated scientist in the 1960s who’s forced to take a job on a cooking show.

Go Nuts spying on squirrels in new Apple Arcade game

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‘Nuts — A Surveillance Mystery’ debuted on Apple Arcade on Friday.
Get a taste of what it’s like to be a field researchers in Nuts — A Surveillance Mystery.
Image: Noodlecake Strudios

The squirrels are out there. And no one knows that they’re doing. It’s your job to find out in Nuts — A Surveillance Mystery, which debuted Friday on Apple Arcade as well as other platforms.

It’s a game for everyone who thinks they’d be a good spy. Just not a creepy one.

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.