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You can take this portable, powerful monocular telescope anywhere

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high definition monocular telescope
Get a clear view of far-away things with this monocular telescope's 50x60 magnification.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether for birdwatching, sports or simply exploring the world around you, few things are quite as cool as a set of binoculars. But binoculars can be quite bulky. This small yet powerful monocular telescope lets you zoom in on whatever you want — and it’s so small you can take it anywhere.

The High Definition Monocular Telescope from Mesay is a perfect travel companion. It’s totally portable: It measures just 6.69 inches by 2.56 inches by 3.54 inches, and weighs less than a pound. Plus, with the included clip, you can attach it to your iPhone to capture incredible photos and videos.

What to expect from Apple’s ‘Hi, Speed’ event [Cult of Mac Magazine 370]

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Apple Hi, Speed event preview: Get a sneak peek at what's popping out of Apple's magic pipeline next week.
Get a sneak peek at what's popping out of Apple's magic pipeline next week.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The latest leaks and reporting give us a pretty convincing picture of what to expect – and what not to expect – at Apple’s big “Hi, Speed” event next Tuesday.

Plus, now we’re getting word of yet another Apple event possibly coming in November. Let’s hope the hardware hits just keep coming!

Catch up on all the latest Apple news and rumors in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. It’s free, and it’s made to shine on your iOS device. Download it now!

Round out your social distancing digital tool kit

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Social Distancing
Squeeze more from your quarantine computer time, with lifetime language lessons, book summaries, and VPN protection.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Staying in and away from others is part of many people’s daily lives at this point. We rounded up three great lifetime subscriptions that’ll help to make the most of the new normal, from language learning to speed reading and staying secure and anonymous online.

Microsoft Xbox gaming service coming to iPhone as a web app

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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate supposedly is headed for iPhone, not just Android
iPhone could soon play console-quality titles with Xbox Game Pass, as Androids can already.
Photo: Microsoft

Microsoft is reportedly using a workaround to get Xbox Game Pass on iPhone and iPad. Rather than going into the App Store, this cloud-gaming service will be available as a web application.

This is the same strategy Amazon took to get its own streaming game service on Apple handsets and tablets.

Monkey pals build an island paradise in Apple Arcade’s The Survivalists

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‘The Survivalists’ debuted Friday on Apple Arcade
The Survivalists challenges 1 to 4 players to survive after being shipwrecked. But there are monkeys to help.
Graphic: Team17

The Survivalists, which debuted Friday on Apple Arcade, shows that being shipwrecked on a deserted island doesn’t have to be a disaster. Players can train monkeys to make life comfortable. And there’s plenty of adventure to be found in this game for 1 to 4 players.

Jay-Z backs Devialet’s pricey new AirPods Pro rival

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Deviale
Following the, err, Blueprint for successful earbuds.
Photo: Deviale

Devialet, an audio firm backed by superstar rapper Jay-Z, debuted its Gemini wireless earbuds, a rival to Apple’s mega-successful AirPods Pro, on Friday.

The premium $299 earbuds (making them $50 more than the $249 AirPods Pro) aim to appeal to the same high end of the market wowed by Devialet’s speakers, which can cost up to $3,000.

Microsoft takes veiled shots at Apple in its new ‘fairness’ principles

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Microsoft Windows
Windows 1.0 is the operating system you haven’t been waiting for.
Photo: Microsoft

It’s been a hot minute since Microsoft and Apple were the big tech rivalry. But Microsoft is ready to renew cold war hostilities for old time’s sake. At least, if a new blog post is to be believed, that is.

In a new blog post promoting the Microsoft Store on Windows 10, Microsoft takes a few thinly veiled shots at Apple, cashing in on the current rough time Apple is having regarding its allegedly monopolistic running of the App Store.

Translate audio, text and more with one app

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Lingavex
Easily translate text, voice, images, websites and documents in over 100 languages.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

In the Star Trek future, everyone understands one another without any effort thanks to universal translators. We’re not quite there yet, but technology is advancing fast. Today, it’s already easy to convert text, speech and even images instantaneously.

AirTags won’t debut until March 2021, AirPods Studio could cost up to $599

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Apple AirTags could debut Sept. 15.
Apple AirTags are super sleek. But don't expect them just yet.
Photo: Front Page Tech

Apple’s eagerly anticipated AirTags are going to be eagerly anticipated for a while longer, according to Apple tipster Jon Prosser. In a tweet Friday, he said Apple pushed back the launch of its location-tracking tags to March 2021.

He also shared some new information about Apple’s rumored AirPods Studio headphones.

Leaker reveals exactly what to (allegedly) expect at October’s iPhone 12 event

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An iPhone 12 concept video shows off lots of color options.
A realistic iPhone 12 concept shows this upcoming device in all their glory.
Photo: Terquosive Labs

New info from reliable Apple leaker Kang could provide the best look yet at what to expect during Apple’s October 13 event showcasing the iPhone 12 and HomePod mini.

Kang — a leaker with a 97.8% accuracy rate, according to AppleTrack — published the iPhone 12 details on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Here’s what Apple is set to announce, according to Yang.

More free Apple TV+ with subscriptions extended through January

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Apple gives away up to 3 more months of Apple TV+.
All who received a free Apple TV+ subscription last autumn just got an extension.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple added up to three months to the free Apple TV+ subscriptions it gave many of its customers in 2019. And it’s giving monthly rebates to some of those who paid for an annual subscription.

Apple did not give a reason for the extension. But it might give the service time to start the second seasons of its original slate of programs. These likely would be beginning already, but the COVID-19 pandemic shut down production for months.

Wolfwalkers animated adventure strides onto Apple TV+ on December 11

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Wolfwalkers launch date on Apple TV+ is December 11, 2020.
Put Wolfwalkers on the list of potential Academy Award nominees.
Screenshot: Apple

Apple TV+ finally named a release date for its first animated feature film. Wolfwalkers will debut exclusively on Apple’s streaming video service December 11, 2020.

The film is from the studio that created Oscar-nominated The Secret of Kells. It’s set in medieval Ireland, and tells the story of two girls who transform into wolves.

A full-length trailer was released by Apple on Thursday.

Apple TV+ already commits to third season of award-winning comedy Dickinson

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‘Dickinson’ season two release date is Jan. 8, 2021.
The next season of Dickinson will be on Apple TV+ in three months.
Screenshot: Apple

The debut of season two of the Apple TV+ comedy series Dickinson has been scheduled for early January. But Apple is so pleased with this award-winning program based on the life of rebellious young poet Emily Dickinson it went ahead and committed to a third season on Thursday.

Comply Foam Tips promise a more comfortable AirPods Pro

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Comply Foam Tips 2.0 are less inclined to fall off than the originals.
Comply Foam Tips 2.0 make AirPods Pro fit better and work better.
Photo: Hearing Components

Comply Foam Tips 2.0 replace Apple’s standard silicon AirPods Pro tips with memory foam ones. These are designed to do a better job of blocking out ambient noise, while also giving the in-ear headphones a more comfortable and secure fit.

US is pushing hard to cut China out of the tech supply chain

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AllOfUS says Apple helps censorship in China
Locking China out of the supply chain.
Photo: AllOfUs

It’s not just Apple that’s piling on the pressure when it comes to getting Taiwanese tech companies to move their manufacturing out of China.

According to a report published Thursday, the American Institute in Taiwan, the “de facto U.S. embassy,” is visiting companies and asking why they’re not moving more quickly in exporting their production capacity outside China.

Let AI help you create perfect music playlists

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beaTunes music app: This Mac app analyzes your songs to create compelling playlists just for you.
This app analyzes your songs to create compelling playlists just for you.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

These days many of us let Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming services build our playlists for us. But lots of people also maintain music libraries of their own, so what can we do with all those tracks and albums?

Apple Maps’ fantastic Look Around feature comes to Phoenix

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Phoenix Look Around
Apple's answer to Street View continues to expand to new locations.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Want to check out Chase Field, Wrigley Mansion or the Mystery Castle without actually traveling to Phoenix, Arizona? Thanks to Apple Maps’ Look Around feature, now you can.

As Apple continues to roll out cities supported by its answer to Google Street View, Phoenix joins the list of places you can explore on the ground. (Or, at least, a virtual version of it.)

Former App Store review boss says Apple creates ‘arbitrary’ rules to hurt rivals

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Apple Arcade game icons
Apple Arcade gets preferential treatment. Allegedly.
Photo: Apple

Ex-App Store review boss Phil Shoemaker told the congressional antitrust subcommittee that Apple creates “arbitrary” rules which it uses as a “weapon” against competitors. One such example is allowing Apple Arcade, while blocking Xbox Game Pass.

Shoemaker’s testimony appears in the antitrust subcommittee’s 449-page report published this week.

It’s not better to be a pirate: Apple TV+ joins anti-piracy Hollywood group

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Pirate Flag
Steve Jobs' old mantra about "It's better to be a pirate than join the navy" probably wasn't on Apple's application form.
Photo: George Hodan/Public Domain Pictures

Showing its continuing closeness with the entertainment industry, Apple TV+ is joining a Hollywood industry group trying to crack down on piracy. Variety describes the move to sign up for the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) as a “strengthening” of the bond between Apple and other studios

Apple will be part of the group’s governing board. This also includes Amazon, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount, Sony Pictures and Warner Bros. ACE was set up in 2017, marking a combining of forces between traditional studios and streaming giants.