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Price cut: Your Mac has hidden tools — this $25.50 app makes them visible

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MacMagic running on a Mac device.
You save 70% when you get MacMagic: Lifetime Upgrades License now!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

MacMagic is the Swiss Army knife of Mac utilities: It can perform scores of optimization tasks, from clearing gigabytes of storage to batch processing hundreds of files.

A MacMagic lifetime upgrades license is currently on sale for just $25.50 with code SAVE15.

Apple holds the line while rivals jack up prices

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Microsoft and Samsung raise prices, testing consumer demand
Prices for lots of Samsung and Microsoft gear just took a jump. Ouch!
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Rising costs across the global tech supply chain are forcing some of Apple’s biggest competitors — most notably Microsoft and Samsung — to increase prices on smartphones, tablets and notebooks, signaling a potential shift in the competitive landscape for consumer electronics.

Apple has not increased prices. It’s actually recently moved the opposite direction by introducing the most affordable MacBook ever.

Apple seems confident that folding iPhone will be a hit

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Apple increased its bet on folding iPhone success
Apple is allegedly upbeat about demand for the iPhone Ultra, its first foldable.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple is reportedly ramping up its supply of a critical component for the foldable iPhone, even as the broader market for foldable smartphones shows signs of slowing.

According to a supply chain report published Tuesday, the company increased its orders of foldable display panels by roughly 20%, a move that signals growing confidence in the long-rumored device.

Today in Apple history: Macintosh 512Ke further enhances the Mac

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The Macintosh 512Ke muddies the Mac waters just a smidge.
The 512Ke muddies the Mac waters just a smidge.
Photo: Vectronicsappleworld

April 14: Today in Apple history: Macintosh 512Ke launches April 14, 1986: The “low-cost” Macintosh 512Ke brings hardware upgrades — and a bit of confusion — to the low end of the Mac lineup.

The Mac 512Ke is an “enhanced” (hence the “e”) model of the Mac 512K. The upgrade addresses complaints that the original Mac lacked enough memory. The 512Ke adds a double-density 800KB floppy drive and a 128KB ROM to the Mac 512K formula.

New AI voice recorder captures calls even when you wear AirPods

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HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder
You can keep your AirPods in with this one.
Photo: HiDock

A new AI voice recorder promises to solve one of the most persistent frustrations for professionals who live on calls — capturing both sides of a conversation via Bluetooth even when you wear headphones, and without requring bots, subscriptions or complicated setup. It’s the new HiDock P1 AI Voice Recorder.

New 10-port hub brings 8K video and high-speed networking to MacBooks

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Plugable USBC-10IN1E helps reduce MacBook port limitations
The Plugable USBC-10IN1E could be the powerful hub your MacBook needs.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable Technologies on Tuesday launched the USBC-10IN1E, a new 10-in-1 USB-C hub aimed at delivering docking station-level performance in a compact design. The company says the device stands out in a crowded market by combining high-wattage charging, advanced display support and faster networking in a single accessory.

Despite the advanced features, the new product is quite affordable — which is not surprising for Plugable.

Slim MagSafe iPhone power bank is made for wireless charging haters [Review] ★★★★

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Clutch Pro review: Slim power bank without wireless charging★★★★
With Clutch Pro, you can have a slim power bank while avoiding wireless charging.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Clutch Pro is for anyone who wants a very slim power bank that magnetically attaches to their iPhone, but who doesn’t like wireless charging. This tiny 5,000mAh external battery includes a USB-C connector on a cable for easy charging.

I tested it with my iPhone 17 and my iPad too. Here’s why I like it.

Apple-Amazon deal keeps iPhone and Apple Watch satellite features alive

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Apple-Amazon deal keeps satellite features going
As Amazon acquires Globalstar, the Amazon Leo network will meet Apple's satellite needs.
Photo: Amazon

Apple secured a new agreement with Amazon ensuring the satellite features millions of iPhone and Apple Watch users depend on — including Emergency SOS — continue to work, even as the company that currently powers them is set to be acquired, the companies said Tuesday.

“This ensures our users will continue to have access to the vital satellite features they have come to rely on, including Emergency SOS, Messages, Find My, and Roadside Assistance via satellite, so they can stay safe and connected while off the grid,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, in an Amazon press release Tuesday.

How to hide all the menu bar icons in macOS Tahoe

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Graphic: Hide macOS Tahoe Menu Bar Icons
Get rid of all those distracting icons.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

The macOS Tahoe menu bar icons are one of the more universally panned changes in Apple’s redesigned Mac operating system. They clutter the interface, making it hard to find what you’re actually looking for. And on top of that, different apps use different icons for different actions — it’s not remotely consistent. 

You don’t need to live your life this way, though. Developer and hacker Steve Troughton-Smith figured out a quick way to disable the icons. You need to crack open the Mac’s Terminal app, but luckily, you can paste a single command in to bid (most of) the icons adieu. 

Get 88 hours of AI cybersecurity training for less than $20

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Classroom training led by a man wearing a military uniform
You don't need an in-person course to master the latest topics in AI security.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The 2026 AI Security & Cybersecurity Expert Bundle delivers 88 hours of training that covers AI, ethical hacking and real-world defense skills.

This six-course bundle doesn’t assume you’re already a seasoned security engineer (or talk down to those who are). Instead, it builds practical, real-world skills that matter, whether you’re breaking into the field or leveling up inside it. And you get the entire 2026 AI Security & Cybersecurity Expert Bundle for just $19.97 (MSRP $120).

Save on Apple’s Silicone, Clear and TechWoven cases for iPhone 17 lineup

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Photo of a cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro in an orange Apple silicone case, sitting on a bathroom sink.
Apple's silicone cases feel silky smooth and come in a variety of vibrant colors.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple’s iPhone cases provide stylish protection, and a new deal cuts $9.01 off the price of various Silicone, Clear and TechWoven models for iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

As you might expect, the company’s cases fit its smartphones perfectly. This sale applies to cases for various models in multiple colors and sizes. And if you happen to own an iPhone Air, you can currently save a whopping 54% on a bumper case.

Find big discounts on practically the full range of official Apple iPhone 17 cases in Amazon’s sale.

Today in Apple history: Early iPad rumor gets Apple fans buzzing

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iPad Pro 2
According to a 2005 rumor, Apple planned to launch a 15-inch tablet.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

April 13: Today in Apple history: Early iPad rumor gets Apple fans buzzing April 13, 2005: The tech world gets excited when a sketchy rumor suggests Apple is building a tablet computer.

The Chinese-language report claims Quanta will build a 15-inch touchscreen tablet PC with a detachable keyboard. Apple will supposedly ship the device in the first quarter of 2006. Things don’t turn out quite like that, but the rumor offers the first hint about Apple’s secret iPad project.

Convert bitmap images into vector art instantly

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Woman creating vector artwork app Super Vectorizer Pro on her laptop
Gussy up those old image files the easy way.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You can convert any bitmap image — think logos, clip art and scanned sketches — into clean, scalable vector graphics with Super Vectorizer Pro. It’s great for rescuing old artwork from the digital trash heap so it can be used for modern pursuits.

A lifetime license to the app, available for Mac and Windows, is on sale now for just $19.99 (MSRP $120).

How Apple’s folding iPhone will crack the crease problem

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folding iPhone concept = How Apple's folding iPhone will crack the crease problem
A folding iPhone concept shows open and closed versions of the new handset.
AI image: ChatGPT/Sonny Dickson/Cult of Mac

If you’ve ever looked at a foldable phone and winced at the visible crease down the middle of the screen, you’ll want to know what Apple has reportedly been working on as its first foldable iPhone approaches.

The industry’s approach to eliminating that unsightly fold line has fundamentally changed — and materials in development go well beyond clever hinge engineering, according to a new report. It’s how Apple’s fast-approaching folding iPhone will crack the crease problem.

Apple smart glasses could stand out in more ways than one

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Apple smart glasses could come in multiple designs.
Apple smart glasses may come in multiple designs.
AI image: ChatGPT

Apple’s sleek, simple smart glasses without a display, internally dubbed “N50”, reportedly will launch in 2027. The company is testing four designs for the wearable, in multiple finishes.

The smart glasses supposedly will integrate tightly with the iPhone and Siri to offer an experience like no other.

Today in Apple history: Apple co-founder quits and cashes in his stake for $800

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Ron Wayne: today, and when he co-founded Apple in 1976
Ron Wayne today and when he co-founded Apple in 1976.
Photo: Ron Wayne

April 12: Today in Apple history: Apple co-founder Ron Wayne quits and cashes in his stake for $800 April 12, 1976: Apple’s third co-founder, a former Atari colleague of Steve Wozniak’s named Ron Wayne, cashes in his Apple shares for just $800.

Wayne, who owns a 10% stake in the company, throws in the towel after worrying that he doesn’t have the time or energy to properly invest in Apple. He later receives an extra $1,500 check to seal the deal. When he cashes it, he loses out on an investment that could have been worth billions.

“I was 40 and these kids were in their 20s,” Wayne told Cult of Mac decades later, referring to Apple co-founders Wozniak and Steve Jobs. “They were whirlwinds — it was like having a tiger by the tail. If I had stayed with Apple, I probably would have wound up the richest man in the cemetery.”

Why MacBook Neo 2 will boast 50% more RAM

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12GB of RAM in MacBook Neo 2 looks locked in — here’s why
The way Apple will source chips for the MacBook Neo 2 means it's getting a RAM boost.
AI image: Apple/ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Anyone still dissatisfied with the amount of RAM in the MacBook Neo should be pleased to learn that the second-generation version of Apple’s hit entry-level notebook will almost certainly boast 50% more RAM.

And that’s not a guess. Apple is already making the processor/RAM combos to go into the notebook, even though the release is not expected for almost another year.

To understand why, you need to know where Apple gets the chips for this popular computer. And once you know that, you’ll realize why we can confidently say the 2027 MacBook Neo will include 12GB of RAM.

Why Apple pulled high-end Mac mini and Mac Studio models from sale

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Mac Mini and Mac Studio sold out on Apple store.
You can no longer buy high-end Mac Mini or Mac Studio variants from Apple.
Image: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple no longer accepts orders for certain high-end Mac mini and Mac Studio models. As of Sunday, the company’s online store lists the computers as “currently unavailable.”

This comes after delivery times for most Mac mini and Mac Studio models slipped to a few months.

Is MacBook Neo too successful for its own good? [Cult of Mac podcast No. 15]

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A photo of the MacBook Neo (citrus color) with the words,
The MacBook Neo is shaking up the industry, but it might be too successful.
Photo: Apple

This week on the Cult of Mac podcast: The MacBook Neo looks like a runaway success. And Apple’s clever use of binned chips in the budget laptop is textbook Tim Cook — magically turning slag into gold.

However, the brilliant tactic might have paid off too well.

Also on the Cult of Mac podcast:

  • Dummy units of the rumored folding iPhone and iPhone 18 Pro give us a better look at what Apple has planned for later this year. But will the foldable be called the iPhone Fold, the iPhone Ultra or something else? And do we really need a folding iPhone?
  • Try to buy a Mac mini or a Mac Studio and you’ll likely be waiting quite some time (up to five months!). What’s going on?
  • There’s a simple way to add gorgeous moon shots from the Artemis II mission as wallpaper on your iPhone.
  • Griffin gives us an update on his AirPods Max 2 review.
  • And finally, we check out a gorgeous Mac Studio setup that’s one of the best we’ve seen.

Listen to this week’s episode of the Cult of Mac podcast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video version, embedded below.

Swap your iPhone’s standard Lock Screen buttons for something more useful

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iPhone Lock Screen Buttons graphic, showing button options with a photo of a big sound switchboard
Switch the buttons for whatever you want.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You can change out your iPhone Lock Screen buttons from the standard flashlight and camera icons to whatever you want. There’s a huge selection of buttons you can swap in their place. Just about any button you can put in Control Center is a button you can put on your iPhone’s Lock Screen.

Plus, you can assign different shortcut buttons on different Lock Screens, making them context-dependent (and tied to a Focus Mode if you like). Apple offers a standard selection, but your options will vary depending on what apps you’ve installed.

Here’s how to swap out the iPhone Lock Screen buttons to put whatever you want at your beck and call.

Reclaim gigabytes with the iPhone cleanup app that actually works

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CleanMy®Phone opened on an iPhone device
This is the smart, easy way to free up storage space on your iPhone or iPad.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

MacPaw’s CleanMy®Phone app frees up storage space on your iPhone by scanning for duplicate photos, massive videos, screenshots you forgot about and other silent space-eaters.

CleanMy®Phone offers a smarter, more Apple-like way to take control of your storage on your iPhone or iPad. And one year of access is on sale for just $19.99 (MSRP $44.99) for a limited time. Alternatively, you can grab a lifetime sub for just $59.99.