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Will Smith action film about escaping slavery heads for Apple TV+

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‘Emancipation’ is coming to theaters and Apple TV+.
The man in this picture made headlines in 1863. His life is being made into Emancipation on Apple TV+.
Photo: Library of Congress

The real-life story of Peter, whose saga of escaping slavery made headlines around the world in 1863, is being made into Emancipation, a film starring Will Smith and directed by Antoine Fuqua. Apple TV+ reportedly bought the worldwide rights for more than $120 million.

Deadline, which broke the news, called it the “largest film festival acquisition deal in film history.”

Apple Card users can defer July payments if pinched by COVID-19

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Even Apple Card charges interest.
Cardholders might be able to defer their July Apple Card payment without accruing interest.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The novel coronavirus continues to hurt the U.S. economy, with unemployment about 13%. With so many out of work, or earning far less than they usually do, Apple and Goldman Sachs are offering to let people people struggling financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic skip their July Apple Card payment without being hit with interest fees.

Yoga app accuses Apple of pushing subscription auto-renewals

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Down Dog's email complaint
The message sent to Down Dog by Apple.
Photo: Down Dog

Another developer is speaking out about Apple’s controlling behavior in the App Store by saying it had an app update rejected because it refused to auto-charge users for its service following a free trial.

“[Apple] can choose to steal from their customers who forget to cancel, but we won’t do the same to ours,” yoga app Down Dog wrote in a recent tweet, saying that this is a line it would not cross.

Apple’s first MacBook Pro with Retina Display is officially obsolete

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MacBook Pro Retina
So long and thanks for all the pixels.
Photo: Outsider.ne.kr/Flickr CC

Time sure passes quickly! Today, Apple added its first-ever MacBook Pro with Retina display to its “obsolete” list around the world, meaning that it can and will no longer provide any hardware support for it.

Obsolete products are ones whose sales were discontinued more than 7 years ago. In the case of the MacBook Pro, it went on sale in June 2012 and was discontinued in February the following year.

Save $55 on Twelve South’s stunning PowerPic charger for iPhone

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Twelve South PowerPic
A wireless charging stand that never looks out of place.
Photo: Twelve South

Not every wireless charger is an ugly black box you’ll want to hide away. Check out Twelve South’s stunning PowerPic stand, which cleverly integrates wireless charging technology into a modern photo frame.

Get yours today on Amazon for just $34.99 — a generous $55 off the usual price.

Apple aggressively trying to reduce delays to iPhone 12 launch schedule

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2020 iPhone 12 concept has a 99% screen to body ratio.
At one point, the iPhone 12 could have been pushed back as far as 2021.
Screenshot: Pallav Raj/ConceptsiPhone

The iPhone 12 is reportedly “facing delays of between four weeks and two months” when it comes to full scale production of its four 5G handsets for 2020, a report published Wednesday by Nikkei Asian Review notes.

However, Apple has been “aggressively” trying to reduce these delays which, at one point, could have pushed the new iPhone back to 2021. Suppliers have supposedly been working overtime to reduce a massive wait for this year’s iPhone refresh.

Effortlessly enhance your photos with intuitive tools [Deals]

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The Smartest, Easiest Photo Editing Software to Turn Shots Into Out of This World Images, Complete with AI Augmented Presets, Tutorial & eBook Guide
The smartest, easiest photo editing software to make your shots shine, complete with AI augmented presets, tutorials, and eBook guide.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

No matter how good your camera is, the photos you get are only as good as what’s on the other side of the lens. Photoshop can work wonders of course, but it’s expensive, and for most people, too complicated to be worth the monthly payments. Not so with this powerful but intuitive photo editing bundle.

New ‘EvilQuest’ ransomware being spread through macOS pirate apps

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EvilQuest message
This is the message you don't want to see on your Mac.
Photo: EvilQuest

A new macOS ransomware called EvilQuest is reportedly doing the rounds, spread largely through macOS pirate apps. A Mac infected with EvilQuest will suffer multiple problems, including the repeated crashing of the Finder. Most significantly, the ransomware will also hold your Mac hostage: encrypting files unless the user pays $50 to unlock them.

“Maybe you are busy looking for a way to recover your files,” reads an on-screen notification. “Do not waste your time. Nobody can recover your files without our decryption service. We guarantee however that you can recover your files safely and easily and this will cost you 50 USD without any additional fees. Our offer is valid for 3 days (starting now!)”

Former Apple Music marketing boss Bozoma Saint John joins Netflix

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Bozoma Saint John
Bozoma Saint John on stage at an Apple event in 2016.
Photo: Apple

Bozoma Saint John, the former head of global consumer marketing for Apple Music, is joining Netflix as its new Chief Marketing Officer, Deadline reports.

Saint John joined Apple with the Beats acquisition in 2014. She left Apple in 2017 to join Uber as its Chief Brand Officer, before jumping to Endeavor to become its CMO.

This rig streamlines communication [Setups]

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MacBook Pro Setup
This setup was designed to get work done.
Photo: Luke Peluso

Luke Peluso runs a mid-sized IT company from his desk so organization is essential. He has to be in constant communication with his team and his clients. That is why he uses both a MacBook and an iPad: the MacBook for work, and the iPad for communication.

His MacBook is a 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro and he primarily uses it for “agency management type software and few Windows-only apps.” The iPad is the 2019 iPad Pro that he uses with a Brydge Pro+ Wireless Keyboard. The iPad is for “iMessage and Zoom meetings,” Peluso says, and that having “separate large device just for communications is very helpful.”

Apple TV+ locks in Defending Jacob‘s creator for more new shows

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Chris Evans plays a conflicted district attorney in Defending Jacob on Apple TV+.
The man who brought “Defending Jacob” to Apple TV+ will develop more shows for the new streaming service.
Photo: Apple

The writer, director and showrunner of Defending Jacob reportedly agreed to a long-term deal to make additional shows for Apple TV+. Their first collaboration went so well that Mark Bomback signed a exclusive agreement with Apple.

Apple Arcade pulls plug on games that don’t keep players hooked

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‘Grindstone’ is a hit on Apple Arcade
Apple Arcade allegedly cited Grindstone as the sort of gripping game it’s looking for.
Photo: Capy Games

Apple reportedly stopped paying for the development of multiple titles that had been headed for its gaming subscription service. The iPhone makers allegedly told the developers this spring that their creations just weren’t engaging enough.

Boys State trailer somehow makes politics look like summertime fun

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First Boys State trailer makes politics look fun.
Who says politics needs to be nasty?
Image: Apple TV+

It might seem totally impossible in 2020, but upcoming Apple TV+ documentary Boys State makes politics look fun. The first trailer, which Apple released Tuesday, introduces some of the real-life young men who engage in an annual Texas tradition that’s basically summer camp for citizens.

That might sound nerdy and dry, but the first promo spot crackles with energy. It feels almost like a mashup of Election, Dazed and Confused and Napoleon Dynamite (with a little bit of Little America and, hopefully, Meatballs, thrown in to spice things up).

Verizon or T-Mobile might be best option for your 5G iPhone

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T-Mobile 5G service
T-Mobile offers 5G in more areas than any of its rivals. But Verizon is faster.
Photo: T-Mobile

It’s not too soon to pick out the best 5G network for your 5G iPhone. And right now, there are two top contenders, according to testing dozen by an analytics firm. Verizon offers the fastest download speeds by a wide margin. And T-Mobile offers 5G in a much broader area.

But AT&T is in there swinging too.

Connect your Mac and TV at 5G speeds with Hyper Mirror

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Hyper Mirror includes a transmitter and a receiver.
Hyper Mirror plugs into a computer and wirelessly streams video to a TV.
Photo: Hyper

There’s no need to string HDMI cables between your Mac and TV with Hyper Mirror. This accessory streams video with the mmWave technology normally found in 5G networks.

Connect a computer to an external display with no wires or additional software. A Wi-Fi network also isn’t necessary.

Here’s how iOS 14 could be paving the way for ‘glassOS’

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glassOS concept 3
This is how notifications and widgets could look on glassOS.
Photo: Jordan Singer

It’s still not clear exactly when Apple’s AR glasses are going to be available, but 25-year-old product designer Jordan Singer says that Apple has left enough breadcrumbs in its code to offer a compelling glimpse of what a possible glassOS might look like.

“I don’t usually like to speculate on what Apple is going to do next, but this time I found too many coincidental examples of new UI in iOS 14 that seems to be able to translate nicely to a pair of glasses,” Singer told Cult of Mac. “I’d like for this concept to give insight into how Apple is foreshadowing the future.”

Struggling Apple display-maker enjoys its first profitable quarter in more than 3 years

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iPhone sales
Japan Display makes LCD displays for iPhones.
Photo: Apple

Apple display-maker Japan Display has just eked out its first quarterly profit in more than three years, Reuters reports. The firm made an $87.26 million net profit for the quarter. That’s compared to an almost $900 million loss in the same quarter last year.

The last time Japan Display recorded a net profit was in the October through December quarter way back in 2016. Since then, Apple has lent a hand to keep the display-maker — which once made the majority of Apple’s iPhone screens — afloat.

Supercharge your Mac with 8 powerful apps [Deals]

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Limited Edition iMazing Bundle
Turn your Mac into a productivity powerhouse with 8 top-rated apps for desktop optimization, photography, privacy and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Your Mac is a productivity powerhouse. But to tap its full potential, you need the right apps. So whether for managing iPhone data, touching up photos, or staying safe online, we recommend checking out this bundle of eight awesome apps to make the most of your Mac.

Loaded with trusted, top-quality apps, the Limited Edition Mac Bundle packs something for every Mac owner. And right now, it’s on sale for a whopping 93% off.

Sketchy report claims weak orders for 5G iPhones in 2020

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Render shows iPhone 12 camera with three lenses
There may be more to the story than initial report claims.
Photo: Pigtou/xleaks7

The iPhone 12 isn’t even out yet, and already the first report is out suggesting that it’s disappointing in terms of order numbers from Apple. A report published by Digitimes Tuesday says that mmWave-enabled 5G iPhone orders this year are likely to reach only around 15-20 million units. That’s half the previous supply chain estimate of 30-40 million units.

The paywalled report said that this is “intensifying competition” among Apple suppliers who bank on the iPhone as a large piece of their business.

macOS Big Sur’s Digital Color Meter icon is a little off and it’s driving people crazy

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Digital Color Meter Big Sur 1
Spot anything weird about that pipette?
Photo: Roel Van Gils/Apple

When it comes to design, Apple’s not a lazy company. Cupertino sweats the small details, which — like that anecdote about Van Halen’s “no brown M&Ms” concert rider — shows it sweats the big details, too.

That’s why Apple fans seem so surprised to see that the icon for macOS Big Sur’s Digital Color Meter has something, well, just a little off about it. Can you see what’s wrong?

Belkin Thunderbolt 3 dock is ready for a professional office on the go

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Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core includes 8 ports.
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Core can be the hub of your mobile office.
Photo: Belkin

Belkin’s newly-unveiled multiport adapter uses Thunderbolt 3, not just USB-C, and can drive two 4K monitors at 60 Hz. But that’s just the start, as the Dock Core can also transfer data over a USB-C connection at up to 40 Gbps. Plus it includes Gigabit Ethernet, a pair of USB-A ports, audio in/out, and more.

It’s designed to be part of high-performance mobile office, as it does not need a second power source.

A dual-monitor rig can still be minimal [Setups]

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MacBok Pro Setup
You won't find much clutter on this desk.
Photo: @ jordanpulmano

Jordan Pulmano is a professional cinematographer and photographer so he wanted a desk with style, specifically minimalist style. He has two LG 27-inch FreeSync monitors. He got his first in 2017 and liked it so much he decided to get a new one. They are both held up by a pair of North Bayou Monitor Stands. He thought about getting a dual monitor stand but he rearranges his desk a lot and did not want to remove a monitor and have one arm exposed.

He has both the Magic Mouse and Keyboard. The setup is MacBook-run but he stows his laptop in a VIVO Sliding Laptop Tray. This gives him a convenient place to store his MacBook while freeing up space on his desk.