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Mophie redesigns Juice Pack iPhone battery case to make it universal

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The Mophie Juice Pack Connect
A revamped Mophie Juice Pack Connect charges your phone with a removable battery.
Photo: Zagg/Mophie

There’s no longer a need to buy a new Mophie Juice Pack battery case when upgrading your iPhone. A version launched Tuesday adds 5,000mAh of power to any handset that supports wireless charging, both iOS and Android.

In addition, Juice Pack Connect includes a phone grip that’s also a stand for the phone.

Samsung rumored to drop earbuds and charger from next phone after mocking Apple

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Samsung ad
But for how much longer?
Photo: Samsung

Samsung immediately mocked Apple when the company elected not to include EarPods and a charger with the iPhone 12. So of course rumors now suggest Samsung may follow suit by ditching a charger and earphones from its forthcoming Galaxy S21 box.

Samsung has not confirmed that this will be the case. But according to SamMobile, some observers think Samsung will leave out a charger and earbuds from its new handset. Others think Samsung might get rid of only the earphones.

Sharpen your mind with brain-training games and more

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CogniFit Premium: Make the most of your mind with this collection of personalized games and exercises.
Make the most of your mind with CogniFit's collection of personalized games and exercises.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s not just you — everybody’s feeling a bit slow these days. The world is full of reasons to tune out and feel overwhelmed, so we can all use a little help keeping our minds sharp. That’s just what you can do with this app’s collection of games, exercises and more.

New ‘A14T’ chip could power first Apple Silicon iMac

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Apple Silicon
Apple announced the transition to Apple Silicon at this year's WWDC.
Photo: Apple

A version of the A14 processor in the new iPhone 12 handsets and iPad Air 4 could power the upcoming Apple Silicon iMac, a report published Tuesday claims.

The so-called A14T chip is reportedly code-named “Mt. Jade.” Like Apple’s other A14 processors, it will be made using the 5-nanometer process. Apple is also developing its own self-contained GPU, which is known inside the company as “Lifuka.”

Phone operators in the UK won’t be allowed to sell locked handsets from 2021

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Know how to hard-lock your iPhone in a hurry.
Locking phones to one carrier made it tougher for customers to switch.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Mobile phone operators in the United Kingdom will be banned from selling locked handsets from December 2021. This will stop companies from selling phones or other devices that are locked to one network and can only be unlocked for a fee.

Telecoms regular Ofcom first suggested the ban in December 2019, although it has only been made official today. This should make it easier for customers to switch networks if they wish.

Crash Bandicoot: On The Run comes to iOS in early 2021

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Crash Bandicoot
Coming soon to an App Store near you. Well, relatively soon.
Photo: King/Activision

Crash Bandicoot’s first game on iOS in a decade will arrive on the App Store on March 25, 2021, the game’s developers have revealed.

The game, which is an endless runner entitled, appropriately, Crash Bandicoot: On the Run, is available to pre-order in the App Store now.

AirPower is apparently dead. Again.

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AirPower cancelled.
The Apple AirPower charger, which reportedly was brought back to life, is now allegedly dead again.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Development has reportedly once again halted on Apple’s own multi-device wireless charger. This is part of the complicated saga of AirPower, which was publicly announced, publicly canceled, allegedly resumed, and is now allegedly canceled yet again.

Microsoft Office embraces trackpad for iPad users

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Microsoft Powerpoint for iPad has a new home screen.
The iPad versions of Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint are getting facelifts.
Photo: Microsoft

Updates to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iPad bring greater support for trackpads and mice. The new versions, which began rolling on Monday, also includes updated start screen and a new ribbon of feature menus.

Young robot learns about being human in Doug Unplugs on Apple TV+

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‘Doug Unplugs’ is an upcoming show based on ‘Doug Unplugged.’
Doug Unplugs shows children there’s more to life than what one gets from computers.
Photo: Apple

Preschoolers will soon be able to learn about life in a computer-animated Doug Unplugs show on Apple TV+. It’s based on a popular book series about a robot boy and his human friends, and makes the jump to TV in mid-November.

A trailer released Monday gives kids and their parents a peek at what to expect from this series developed by DreamWorks Animation.

Apple TV+ might save James Bond film No Time to Die [Updated]

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Does Apple TV+ have James Bond film 'No Time to Die' in its sights?
Does Apple TV+ have James Bond in its sights?
Photo: MGM Studios

Rumors are swirling that Apple TV+ might scoop up No Time to Die, the James Bond film currently languishing in box office limbo. The movie — the 25th 007 flick, and the last to star Daniel Craig as the British spy — has seen its release date slip repeatedly as many cinemas remain closed due to COVID-19.

Now, MGM Studios reportedly might pull the trigger on a streaming debut rather than waiting out the pandemic. If Apple TV+ added No Time to Die to its growing library, it would be the streaming service’s biggest coup yet.

iPhone 12 Ceramic Shield display proves far tougher than iPhone 11

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An iPhone 12 drop test shows that it’s very, very hard to break.
Don’t try this at home.
Screenshot: PhoneBuff

A new type of screen protection built into the iPhone 12 series helped it survive a brutal drop test better than its predecessor. Both the standard model and the Pro went through multiple drops directly onto the display without breaking.

That wasn’t the case when the identical test was done on the iPhone 11 Pro Max in 2019. But that model older doesn’t have Ceramic Shield.

Becoming You’s epic toddlers will clobber you with cute

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Apple TV+ Becoming You
This kid can surf better than I can.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ looks to continue building its sterling reputation with the upcoming six-part documentary series Becoming You. Narrated by Oscar-winner Olivia Coleman, the series will tell the story of the first 2,000 days of life for 100 kids from around the world.

It hits me, as the kids say, “right in the feels.” Check out the trailer below.

Some users complain about scratched screens on iPhone 12 [UPDATED]

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iPhone 12 pricing is lower for Verizon and AT&T customers.
Evidence isn't conclusive.
Photo: Apple

Apple says the iPhone 12’s Ceramic Shield display makes it 4x less likely to break when dropped than previous iPhones. But, within days of the first iPhone 12 and 12 Pro handsets arriving, some buyers are complaining about scratches on their screens.

UPDATE: A rigorous test shows that Apple’s latest handsets are not easily scratched.

So what’s going on?

Build the site of your dreams without any coding experience

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The Complete RapidWeaver 8 Bundle: Get everything you need to build a pro website from scratch.
Get everything you need to build a pro website from scratch.
Image: Cult of Mac Deals

Everything is changing in the world, but one thing that’s holding strong is the value of a good website. Whether you’re trying to sell your wares and services, connect to an audience or just create a place for your thoughts and creativity, nothing beats a good website.

If you don’t know how to build one, this bundle of tools and resources is here to help. The Complete RapidWeaver 8 Bundle includes everything you need to build and launch a beautiful, successful site.

Score a dozen subscriptions to PlayStation Plus and other awesome streaming services

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The Complete Entertainment Bundle packs subs to a dozen services, including PlayStation Plus, at one low price.
The Complete Entertainment Bundle packs subs to a dozen services, including PlayStation Plus, at one low price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For many of us, everything we do happens at home now, from work to exercise entertainment, thanks to the internet. So we should equip ourselves to get the most out of our new online home life. That’s just what this massive bundle offers.

The Complete Entertainment Bundle includes 12 subscriptions to top streaming services, VPN protection, fitness classes and more — all at one affordable price!

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro teardown reveals smaller battery

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An iPhone 12 teardown wouldn’t be complete without a cool X-ray.
Dive deep into the iPhone 12 standard and Pro with an X-ray.
Photo: Creative Electron

Open up the standard iPhone 12 and and you’d be hard pressed to find a difference between it and the iPhone 12 Pro. An iFixit teardown shows these handsets so similar internally that they can share many parts.

But the news isn’t all good. Another tidbit revealed by cracking open Apple’s latest is that that have smaller batteries than their predecessors.

Hey, Apple … don’t be evil! [Cult of Mac Magazine 372]

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Why Apple needs a
This is how Apple could avoid Google's fate.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

As Apple faces increasing scrutiny from governments around the world, the company should take a lesson from Google. We think Apple really needs to implement its own “don’t be evil” policy — and stick with it.

Also, with the new iPhone 12 and 12 Pro arriving this week alongside iPad Air 4 it’s time to take a look at reviewers’ first impressions. (It’s also a good time to revisit best practices for setting up and optimizing a new iPhone).

Read it all — along with reviews of new Apple TV+ movies On the Rocks and Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You — in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.

Download it now to read on your iOS device.

Boost your career and become an Excel expert with two days’ worth of training

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Complete Excel Excellence Bundle
Learn the basic and advanced functions of Excel with 8 courses covering Excel functions, Power Query, PivotTables, and VBA.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Excel is a fundamental part of the modern workplace. It’s ideal for crunching numbers, managing relationships, and all kinds of other important tasks. If you want to be an asset to your office, mastering Excel is a great way to do it.

Cool MagSafe chargers and cases are ready for iPhone 12

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This MagSafe charger from Belkin might be the coolest iPhone 12 accessory.
The Belkin Boost↑Charge Pro MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger might be the coolest accessory with the new version of MagSafe.
Photo: Belkin

A selection of accessories that use the new MagSafe wireless charger are ready for Friday’s launch of the iPhone 12 series.

MagSafe used to be for MacBooks, but Apple rebranded it and built it into its newest handsets. Accessory makers are integrating it into wireless chargers and cases. Some of these are pretty cool.

iPhone 12 first impressions, and HomePod gets crazy new features, this week on The CultCast (now in video!)

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Dolby Atmos on Apple TV 4K: HomePod's new Apple TV features look like game-changers.
HomePod's new Apple TV features look like game-changers.
Image: Apple

This week on The CultCast: The reviews are in, so let’s talk about iPhone 12! Plus: The honest truth about iPhone 12’s 5G; the original HomePod gets powerful new features, and Jony Ive gets a brand-new job.

And now, The CultCast has video! Or subscribe to our audio episodes if you don’t like our faces.

Lack of COVID-19 contact-tracing apps shows limits of Apple’s power

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iOS 13.7 contact tracing feature: Life-saver, or NSA spy tool?
It's not Apple's fault. But it's certainly frustrating.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple and Google moved fast to develop a COVID-19 contact-tracing solution that was both smart and privacy conscious. Unfortunately, more than six months after the companies announced the cross-platform approach to contact tracing, few places in the United States use it.

It’s a tough lesson for the world’s biggest tech company. And one that everyone is a little bit poorer for having learned.