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PSA: New episode of Ted Lasso comedy lands on Apple TV+

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Ted Lasso
Here's what's new on Apple TV+ this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

It’s a relatively lean week for Apple TV+ subscribers this week as the streaming VOD service added just one new episode of comedy series Ted Lasso to its offerings. The preview for episode five of Ted Lasso reads as follows:

“With his wife and son visiting from America, Ted makes drastic changes to the lineup during a critical match.”

Fortnite no more: Epic sends email to Apple users about end of updates

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Fortnite-Battle-Lab
TL;DR: Epic wants fans to know Apple's the one responsible.
Photo: Epic Games

It’s the end of the line for Fortnite on iOS and Mac. For now, at least. In an email sent to users, Epic Games says that users on Apple platforms will no longer be receiving new content for the game.

And, you know, to drum home the point that, as Epic is keen to suggest, Apple’s the one entirely at fault.

Too many Chrome tabs open? Tame browser chaos with tab groups.

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Use Google Chrome Tab Groups to declutter your browser.
If you've got too many tabs open in Chrome, you can declutter things with the new Tab Groups feature.
Photo: Luca Bravo/Unsplash CC

Hey there, all you tab hoarders: Google Chrome just gave you a handy tool to bring some order to the nightmare lurking at the top of your web browser. A new Chrome feature lets you group tabs together with custom names to tame the chaos.

Unfortunately, it’s not completely obvious how to get in on the tab-grouping action. Here’s how to make it work for you.

Production resumes on Apple TV+’s sci-fi epic Invasion

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‘Invasion’ is big-budget sci-fi for Apple TV+.
Invasion on Apple TV+ imagines aliens attacking the Earth.
Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC

Filming of Invasion, an ambitious alien invasion series for Apple TV+, is reportedly back on. It halted in March at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, but production resumed in the UK last week.

It’s been called “a large budget, ambitious, character driven genre show” by Deadline, and the cast includes Sam Neill.

World’s smallest iMac will make you feel like freaking Goliath

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This iMac mini is smaller than an iPad mini.
A custom-built iMac mini looks like Apple's desktop but it's so little!
Screenshot: Michael Pick/The Casual Engineer

If you never looked at the iMac and wished it was way, way smaller, then you’re not Michael Pick. He built what he calls the “world’s smallest iMac.”

The modder filmed a video demonstrating the process of creating this tiny, yet fully functional, computer. Watch it now:

TikTok CEO bails after 3 months in the job

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U.S. investigations of TikTok gather steam.
TikTok has had something of a turbulent year.
Photo: Kon Karampelas/Unsplash CC

TikTok is all about short-form videos, but who knew it was about short-form chief executives as well? That’s one possible takeaway from the news that TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer has resigned after just three months at the helm.

Mayer cites the massive disruption resulting from President Trump’s attack on the platform, and the possibility of a sale to Microsoft or Oracle.

Apple will give iPads and scholarships to students at leading deaf university

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Gallaudet University Sign
The Gallaudet University sign in Washington, D.C.
Photo: Mr.TinDC/Flickr CC

Apple has partnered with Washington D.C.’s Gallaudet University — the world’s leading university for deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind students — to offer all students and faculty Apple devices. Learners and teachers alike will receive an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and SmartFolio for iPad Pro.

The offer is also available to students and teachers at the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center, Gallaudet’s partner program for students in grades K-12.

Score a massive library of royalty-free icons and stock images

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The Ultimate Design Assets Bundle
Bolster any design project with thousands of royalty-free and licensed flat icons, stock images, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For digital designers, assets are everything. They put flesh on the framework of your site, application or other design projects. So access to a massive library of royalty-free icons, stock images and other assets is an invaluable resource. The Ultimate Design Assets bundle includes three libraries, with lifetime access to thousands of assets.

Leaked iPad Air 4 images suggest it will get an iPad Pro-style makeover

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2020 iPad Air Concept with Apple Pencil 2
This proposed 2020 iPad Air concept is mostly a scaled-down iPad Pro.
Photo: svetapple.sk

Images that appear to show training manuals or marketing images for the forthcoming iPad Air 4 were posted by an Apple leaker posted Wednesday.

The images, posted by Twitter user DuanRi, show off a design similar to the iPad Pro. If the images are real, the iPad Air 4 will be the first in this series without a Home key. And there’ll be a single rear-mounted camera.

Interestingly, the images also suggest Apple will stick with Touch ID, rather than adopting Face ID for the next-gen iPad Air. The Touch ID sensor will be incorporated into the power button, not under the display (as some previous rumors suggested).

Antitrust chairman says tech giants ‘crush’ competitors, charge ‘monopoly rents’

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Tim Cook answers questions about App Store business practices.
Tim Cook answered questions about App Store business practices last month.
Photo: C-SPAN

Congress’ big tech antitrust hearings are done and now, weeks later, investigators are gearing up to deliver their findings.

According to David Cicilline, the Democrat leading the House antitrust investigation into tech giants including Apple, the investigatory committee could reveal its recommendations next month. And things aren’t looking too rosy for the companies involved.

Plugable USB-C multiport hub costs way less than Apple’s [Review]

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Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter review
The Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter adds three frequently used ports to MacBook or iPad Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There’s no reason to watch a movie on your MacBook or iPad when the world is full of external displays you can connect to. Of course, to make the connection you’ll need something like the Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter. Not only does it have an HDMI port, there’s a USB-A port for connecting an external drive. And a USB-C port for keeping your computer powered.

It was obviously designed to copy Apple’s Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter but at a much lower price. Here’s how it stands up.

Surprise! Apple isn’t done with iOS 13 yet

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iOS 13.7 developer beta: iPhone's use in the fight against COVID-19 continues to grow.
iPhone's use in the fight against COVID-19 continues to grow.
Photo: Brian McGowan/Unsplash CC

Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 13.7, along with an iPadOS equivalent, to developers on Wednesday. These include a coronavirus-related change Apple considers important enough to justify a system-software update that includes no other new features.

With iOS 14 expected to launch soon, it would be easy to assume that Apple is done releasing new versions of iOS 13. Nope.

No Apple device can play the new Fortnite season

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No ‘Fortnite’ for you, Apple users.
Epic Games won’t let iPhone or Mac users play the next Marvel-themed season of Fortnite.
Photo: Epic Games

The court battle between Epic Games and Apple will really start affecting Fortnite players on Thursday. That’s when the next season of the wildly-popular game will drop, but not for anyone using an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

New iPad, Apple Watch Series 6 leak via Eurasian database

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The new iPad Air adds support for Apple Pencil and the Smart Keyboard.
Apple could have a 2020 iPad Air on the docket with an even larger display.
Photo: Apple

A listing of multiple unknown tablets by the Eurasian Economic Commission seemingly confirms that Apple will soon introduce a range of new 2020 iPad models.

The same source also says multiple Apple Watch models running watchOS 7 are about to be released.

Facebook Messenger’s Zoom competitor gets custom backdrops, tweaked UI

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Messenger Rooms
Can Facebook's answer to Zoom triumph?
Photo: Facebook Messenger Rooms

Whether it’s socially distanced family quizzes, interminable work meetings or virtual conferences, video chat apps are big business in 2020.

Not wanting to be left out of the surge of popularity enjoyed by Zoom and Google Meets, Facebook is updating its video chat competitor Messenger Rooms app. The update makes it easier to find Rooms you’ve been invited to, to arrange future meetings, and to use custom backdrops of your choosing.

Apple shares could rocket even further in next 12 months

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Apollo 11 wallpaper
It's a metaphor.
Photo: NASA

Apple shares could jump by more than a third in the next year, following next week’s 4-to-1 stock split, an analyst for social trading brokerage company eToro claims.

Alongside Tesla, which will undergo a 5-to-1 stock split on the same day, Adam Vettese suggests Apple’s stock split “could act as a tailwind” for the value of its shares.

Spotify’s ‘Wish You Were Here’ feature is the virtual vacay everyone deserves

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Spotify
Harry Styles on the beach, anyone?
Photo: Spotify

Missing out on a proper vacation this summer? Aren’t we all! While Spotify can’t change that, it has introduced a really fun new feature that promises you the virtual vacation you deserve. For about three minutes or so, at least.

Called “Wish You Were Here,” the feature lets users pick from a handful of summer songs and have them play in the background of a vacay audioscape.

Want to hear Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” as it would sound on the beach? Fancy The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” around a campfire? Spotify has you covered!

Get equipped to build the website you’ve been waiting for

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Flux 7
Easily create beautiful, useful websites without coding, using simple drag and drop.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Building a website is a must for plenty of reasons, whether it’s selling goods, promoting your brand or just getting your ideas out there. But under the hood of even the simplest websites are codes and languages few of us have the time to learn. Luckily, there are tools available so that even the least internet-literate among us can create beautiful, useful sites.

Apple could start introducing AR bonus content to Apple TV+ shows

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Appletvpluslogo
Could this be a nice boost to grow Apple TV+ subscribers?
Photo: Apple

Apple reportedly plans to start adding augmented reality (AR) content to Apple TV+ programming, Bloomberg claims in a report published Wednesday.

The AR feature, which will supposedly debut next year, aims to find “new ways to attract and retain” subscribers for Apple’s VOD subscription service. Apple also hopes to use it to show off its AR tech.

Apple’s stunning Pro Display XDR hits new low after $500 discount

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Apple Pro Display XDR
Get both the standard and nano-texture glass models for less.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s stunning Pro Display XDR is now slightly more affordable after B&H Photo slashed $500 off the usual price. The discount applies to the standard glass model, which features a 32-inch 6K display.

Those who want the same display with nano-texture glass should order from Amazon, which is offering the same $500 discount on that model. These are by far the biggest discounts we’ve seen so far.

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iPhone shipments remain stable while rivals sink in submerged economy

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iPhone light tunnel image
iPhone shipments remain steady. That's all anyone can hope for right now!
Photo: Youssef Sarhan/Unsplash CC

You know that badass cliché where one person staggers out of a room, slightly worse for wear, only to utter the words, “You should see the other guy”?

That’s pretty much the role Apple plays when it comes to second-quarter smartphone shipments, as reported by research firm Gartner. While Apple’s 0.4% dip year-over-year means iPhone sales remain flat, that’s certainly a whole lot better than the overall 20.4% decline across the industry.

Why Bill Gates says he was ‘so jealous’ of Steve Jobs

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Microsoft should have been Apple's biggest mobile challenger, Bill Gates says.
Gates says that, unlike Jobs, he wouldn't have been able to turn Apple around in the late 90s.
Photo: Statsministerens kontor/Flickr CC

The companies they helped found might have been sworn enemies at times, but Steve Jobs and Bill Gates didn’t hate one another. In fact, as the former Microsoft boss admitted on a recent podcast, he was actually jealous of Steve Jobs.

Appearing on the Armchair Expert podcast, Gates told actor and podcast host Dax Shepard that Jobs was a “wizard” when it came to motivating people. “I was a minor wizard so I couldn’t fall under his spells,” Gates said. “But I could see him casting the spells, and then I would look at people and see them mesmerized … I was so jealous.”