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New features that absolutely should be in iPadOS 15 [Opinion]

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iPadOS 14 is good but iPadOS 15 just needs some new features to even better.
It’s not too soon to start an iPadOS 15 wishlist.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple’s developers are surely already thinking about iPadOS 15, and will almost certainly unveil it in June 2021. Considering iPadOS 14 was thin on exciting new features, it’s easy to look ahead. Here are some suggestions from a heavy iPad user of what the devs should have on their to-do list.

Make your way toward financial freedom with this $16 course bundle

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Financial Freedom has never been more important
Kick-start your quest for financial freedom with The 2021 Master Your Finances Bundle.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The pandemic made many of us question our financial stability in 2020. Millions of people lost their jobs, and many more are just barely hanging on as we face a winter surge of COVID-19 infections. Thankfully, the vaccine is finally being distributed, and economic recovery may be just beyond the horizon.

Innovative Apple Watch band lets runners monitor speed and heart rate at a glance [Review]

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EdgeGear Shift review: Seeing your Apple Watch while jogging is far easier with this Apple Watch band for runners.
Seeing your Apple Watch while running is far easier with the EdgeGear Shift.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The design of the wristwatch hasn’t changed in over 100 years, but EdgeGear has an alternative that makes it easier for runners to see their Apple Watch while on the go. The Shift is not like any band you’ve worn before, as the Watch is held near the base of your thumb, not in the middle of your wrist.

I took the EdgeGear Shift on a few runs, and can report on how it performed in the real world.

How to change Apple Watch app layout to a handy list [Pro tip]

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Change Apple Watch app layout from honeycomb grid to list view.
Get ready to say goodbye to the honeycomb app grid.
Photo: Daniel Cañibano/Unsplash CC

Pro-tip-4 By this point, the honeycomb app grid that debuted with the original Apple Watch must have fueled millions of frustrated app hunts.

That swirling sea of apps certainly looked innovative and magical during Apple’s demo in 2014. Apple called the unique interface “fluid and vital,” but in practice, the honeycomb grid often makes it difficult to find the particular app you want.

Luckily, Apple gave you another option. These days, there’s no need to suffer through the search for the app you want. You can easily switch to an alphabetical list view that makes it much easier to find Apple Watch apps.

Latest Apple Pay offer grants 20% off Grubhub orders

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Apple Pay Grubhub
It's not quite a New Year party, but it's not bad.
Photo: Apple

For obvious reasons, New Year’s Eve plans aren’t quite what they normally are in 2020. But thanks to a new Apple Pay offer, at least you can get 20% off a food delivery from Grubhub.

Provided that you pay using Apple’s payment platform, that is.

Go from zero experience to photography master with this $40 training

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Kick off 2021 learning an impactful fun skill
Take your photo skills to the next level with these expert courses.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

A lot of us promised ourselves that we would pick up a new skill before the end of the year, but 2020 is just about over, and you might feel like your time has been wasted. Luckily, the calendar doesn’t determine when it’s time to learn something — you do.

There are plenty of resources on the internet that will help you learn new skills, whether it’s how to build apps or taking gorgeous photos.

Mario Kart Tour bids farewell to 2020 with its last update of the year

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Mario Kart Tour
Bidding farewell to a terrible year!
Photo: Nintendo

Mario Kart Tour is so over 2020, and ready to take on the nothing-can-possibly-go-wrong utopia that is 2021.

With that subtext, the popular Nintendo racing game has released its last update of the year, kicking off the New Year’s 2021 Tour. This tour, which runs through January 12 or 13 (timezone depending), features a plethora of new tracks.

Check out the trailer below.

MacBook shipments could jump to more than 17 million in 2021

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MacBook Air M1 2020
MacBooks are in for a good year in 2021.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

It’s more than 10 years since technology writer Nicholas Carr proclaimed the personal computer dead. But don’t tell Apple — since a new report claims that global MacBook shipments are set to skyrocket next year.

According to data from Finaria, global MacBook shipments are expected to hit 17.1 million units in 2021. That’s a 10% year-on-year increase. The firm claims that global MacBook shipments are likely to hit 15.5 million units this year, a 23% leap during the coronavirus pandemic.

Apple boots secret partying app from the App Store

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Vybe Together
No longer to be found in the App Store.
Photo: Vybe Together

Apple has booted an app from the App Store accused of helping promote secret indoor parties during COVID-19 lockdowns.

The Vybe Together app was connected with a TikTok account (also removed) that promoted New York-area parties. While its creators claim that they weren’t encouraging law-breaking behavior, clearly both Apple and TikTok disagreed.

AirPods Max condensation makes some owners sweat

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AirPods Max users complain of condensation inside headphones: Water collected inside one user’s AirPods Max ear cups after really extended wearing.
Water collected inside these AirPods Max ear cups after extended use.
Photo: Donald Filimon

Apple’s AirPods Max headphones are drawing complaints from some users after drops of water formed inside the earpads after extended use. Condensation is not an uncommon problem with over-the-ear headphones, though the metal ear cups and tight fit of the Apple version might increase the amount.

Track your fat, body mass and hydration levels with this $95 Apple Watch strap

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This Smart Strap is the perfect companion for your Apple Watch
The Aura Smart Strap is the perfect companion for your Apple Watch.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you received a brand-new Apple Watch this holiday season, you’re in luck! There are a ton of third-party accessories on the market, from fashionable watch straps to sleek charging stands.

Some, like this nifty Aura Smart Strap, give your Apple Watch additional functionality that complements its fitness-tracking capabilities. Normally retailing for $118.99, you can get an Aura Smart Strap for just $95.19 using coupon code HOLIDAY20 at checkout.

iPhone utterly dominates Christmas phone activations

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iPhone 12 packaging
Lots of iPhone activations show that Apple handsets were the most popular to gave and receive this Christmas.
Photo: Apple

Nine of the top ten handsets activated on Christmas Day in the U.S. were iPhones, according to a market-analysis firm. Only a single Android slipped onto the list… and in last place.

But it’s not Apple’s newest that dominated holiday sales. Older, more affordable models were the top sellers.

Another company in iPhone supply chain faces accusations of using forced labor

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iPhone 12 box
Lens Technology makes glass used in the iPhone.
Photo: Marco Verch/Flickr CC

Lens Technology, a Chinese company that makes glass for the iPhone, has allegedly made use of Uighur Muslim forced labor, according to a Tuesday report in The Washington Post.

Documents about the use of alleged forced labor were discovered by the Tech Transparency Project. The research organization detailed how “thousands of Uighur workers from the predominantly Muslim region of Xinjiang were sent to work for Lens Technology.”

Keep your AirPods safe and secure with this tracker

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Never lose your AirPods again with Air Fob
Never lose your AirPods again with Air Fob.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

What would you do without your AirPods? They’re perfect for everything from tuning into your favorite learning app or wearing during a sweaty workout. Unfortunately, they can fall out during almost any activity, whether you’re moving around too much while taking a class, or even while you’re in transit from your doorstep to the side street.

Luckily, there’s Air Fob — an AirPods tracker that both protects your precious earbuds from damage and helps you locate them in case they slip out.

Customers spend almost $279 million in the App Store over Christmas

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app-store
Apple had a gold-plated holiday season.
Photo: Apple

It’s been a great, record-busting year for mobile apps — and, unsurprisingly, that translated to a strong Christmas as well.

According to app analytics platform Sensor Tower, customers spent a total of $407.6 million across both the iOS App Store and Google Play over Christmas. This represents a massive 34.5% increase from the $303 million spent this time last year.

Of that, the App Store represented 68.4% of all spending — or $278.6 million in total.

Leaked prototype turns the clock back to early days of Apple Watch

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Apple Watch
The Apple Watch has come a long way since its early days.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

A Twitter user by the name of @AppleDemoYT has posted images online they claim to be an early Apple Watch prototype, built as part of the pre-production process before Apple introduced the device in 2015.

Such prototypes are very rare, with Apple preferring not to show images that shed light on how it develops products. Somehow this one made it out in one piece — provided it’s legitimate, of course.

Netflix could spend a massive $19 billion on shows and movies in 2021

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75% of Netflix users have no plans to jump ship to Apple TV+ (right away)
Netflix spends a whole lot of cash on programming.
Photo: Stock Catalog/Flickr CC

Netflix could spend an estimated $19.03 billion on video content in 2021, data presented by investment bank Bankr suggests.

That would be an increase of 10% from the estimated $17.3 billion it spent this year. It’s also a massive ramp-up from the $2.4 billion Netflix spent in 2013 when it started moving into original productions with shows like House of Cards.

This mobile charger quickly juices up MacBook and iPhone simultaneously [Review]

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Aukey Omnia Mix3 Charger review
The Aukey Omnia Mix3 Charger is smaller than Apple’s MacBook one, but boasts 3x as many ports.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Aukey Omnia Mix3 90W 3-Port PD Charger can juice up your MacBook Pro at nearly full speed. Or it can power your iPad, iPhone and Apple Watch all at the same time.

Since Apple stopped bundling chargers with its iPhones, but they do come with a Lightning to USB-C cable, now is a good time to consider a multi-port USB-C solution like this one.

I put the Aukey wall charger to the test powering up my devices. Read on to see how well it did.

AirPods Pro sale: This is the lowest price we’ve ever seen! [Update: It’s back]

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AirPods Pro sale: This is the lowest price yet
What are you waiting for?
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

How low can they go?!? Once again, Woot is offering the lowest price we’ve ever seen for brand-new AirPods Pro. You can pick up a set of these noise-canceling Apple earbuds for just $189.99.

Woot’s AirPods Pro sale goes for just three days or until they sell out. And, while you’re there, you might as well look at all the open-box iPhones and other electronics that Woot is selling at extremely low prices.

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

Power through your reading list with this subscription

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This convenient app condenses books and fosters personal development
This convenient app condenses books and fosters personal development
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re smart, you’re always looking for ways to sharpen your cognition and improve your brain’s processing power. After all, being able to consume more information and digest it quickly means you can be more efficient and productive.

You can take speed-reading courses and employ tactics to improve your memory, but there’s also a way you can work smarter (and not harder): Instaread Book Summaries let you tackle your reading list quickly.

With this app, you can consume full books in just minutes. And, for a limited time, you can save an extra 20% on already-discounted subscription prices when you use coupon code HOLIDAY20 at checkout.

Pick up these gold-plated AirPods Max for a mere $108,000

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Caviar takes Apple products and makes them even more expensive.
Caviar saw the complaints about the AirPods Max’s $550 price and said “Hold my beer.”
Photo: Caviar

The $550 price tag for Apple’s AirPods Max raised no few eyebrows, but the Russian luxury brand Caviar blows that out of the water. It just launched a version of these over-the-ear headphones that is 200x more expensive.