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Universal will sell digital movies just weeks after their theatrical debut

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Some analysts think Apple should snap up a movie studio. Bad idea!
Or you could watch them from the comfort of your own home.
Photo: Naoya Fujii/Flickr CC

A new deal means that movie fans won’t be waiting as long to see Universal Pictures movies pop up for sale on iTunes and other digital platforms after their theatrical debut.

According to a Wall Street Journal article, an agreement between theater chain AMC Entertainment and Universal means that the theatrical exclusivity window will be cut from 75 days to just 17 days. This means certain titles will be available after just 2.5 weeks after they first arrived in theaters.

The good, the bad, and the Wario: Mario Kart Tour goes to the Wild West

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Mario Kart Tour
Mario Kart Tour is going west.
Photo: Nintendo

Get ready for some high plains drifting because Mario Kart Tour is headed west. To the Wild West, more precisely!

Having travelled all over the world in previous updates, the mobile-focused version of Mario Kart is now going back in time to frontier country with its latest update. And it’s brought some appropriately themed characters along for the ride over yonder.

Read Tim Cook’s opening remarks for his antitrust testimony Wednesday

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Tim Cook
Far from gatekeepers, Tim Cook will argue that Apple is opening doors.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook will argue that his company does not dominate any market in which it does business when he appears before the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee Wednesday, according to his opening statement released ahead of time (.pdf).

While Cook will say that “scrutiny is reasonable and appropriate,” he will assert that Apple refuses to make “concession on the facts” by agreeing that it is a monopoly. If anything, Cook will argue that Apple is no gatekeeper, but, through the App Store, has actually opened the gate to developers.

Congress, keep your mitts off the App Store. It’s fine. [Opinion]

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Apple exec Phil Schiller calls the App Store a good deal for devs. That's just one of the reasons Apple deserves a fair commission for powering the App Store.
Apple exec Phil Schiller calls the App Store a good deal for devs. That's just one of the reasons Apple deserves a fair commission for powering the App Store.
Photo: Globovisión/Flickr CC

When Apple CEO Tim Cook takes questions from Congress on Wednesday, he’ll surely get an earful of software developers’ complaints about how the App Store operates. Chief among the criticisms will likely be the fact that Apple charges a percentage of revenue earned from in-app sales.

There’s not a bit of justification for any of these highly publicized complaints. They come from companies that want to have their cake and eat it, too.

The Morning Show leads Apple TV+ to 19 Emmy nominations

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New video take viewers behind-the-scenes of The Morning Show
Both Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell received Emmy nominations for their work on Apple TV+’s The Morning Show.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ earned 19 Emmy Awards nominations, including several for The Morning Show, a star-studded drama that was a highlight of the streaming service’s launch last autumn.

That’s not bad for the first year of eligibility for Apple TV+. However, Netflix totally dominated the 72nd annual Emmy Awards nominations, which were revealed Tuesday by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The world’s biggest streamer took home an astonishing 160 Emmy noms. HBO limited series Watchmen scored the most nominations of any single series with 26.

7 stellar Apple Watch charging stands for under $30

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AW-charging-stands
Give your Apple Watch a great place to rest.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Your beloved Apple Watch deserves more than to be slapped on top of its included charging cable every night. Treat yours to an actual charging stand without breaking the bank and give it a better place to rest.

Here are seven stellar options, handpicked by Cult of Mac, for $30 or less.

Plugable’s USB-C Multiport Adapter rivals Apple’s, but costs way less

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Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter offers HDMI, USB-A and USB-C ports.
The Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter provides access to frequently used laptop and tablet add-ons.
Photo: Plugable

The just-released Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter offers the same video and USB ports as an Apple adapter, but at a much lower price.

Both products include HDMI, USB-C, and USB-A ports, and can be used with a MacBook or iPad Pro. But the Plugable version is better suited for those on a tight budget.

Airbnb and ClassPass join chorus of complaints about Apple’s 30% sales fee

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Money on Unsplash
Apple is demanding its usual fee for in-app sales.
Photo: Pepi Stojanovski/Unsplash

Airbnb and ClassPass are the two latest companies to clash with Apple over the tech giant’s demands for a percentage of in-app sales.

According to the The New York Times, the two companies — reeling from the effects of COVID-19 on their businesses — are upset that Apple demands a 30% cut of sales for their sale of online experiences.

Make every photo pop with a powerful AI powered Mac app [Deals]

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Luminar 4 Bundle
This intuitive photo editing app turns your shots into polished images, complete with AI augmented presets, tutorial and eBook guide.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s easier than ever to take photos, but making them look their best still takes skill. That is, unless you’ve got a powerful, intuitive photo editing app like Luminar. It’s packed with powerful photo editing tools, but this bundle includes tons of extras so you can get the absolute most from it.

Bag an insanely powerful iMac Pro at its lowest-ever price, today only

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Get ready to go dark with macOS Mojave Dark Mode.
Don't miss out!
Photo: Apple

Treat yourself to one of the most powerful all-in-ones money can buy. Woot is offering beefy iMac Pro units, refurbished by Apple, for under $3,600 today only. That’s $1,399 off the usual price!

They pack insanely fast Intel Xeon W processors, 32GB of RAM, and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 graphics with 8GB of memory. Stock is limited, so claim yours before it’s too late.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Congress may scrutinize Apple’s ‘copy-acquire-kill’ strategy

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Tim Cook goes to Washington
This is one of the questions Tim Cook could field tomorrow.
Screenshot: Apple

Lawmakers reportedly will quiz Apple on its “copy-acquire-kill” strategy during Wednesday’s congressional antitrust hearing.

According to the Washington Post, this will be one of the areas that Apple will be scrutinized on to see if it has engaged in anti-competitive behavior. “Copy-acquire-kill” refers to buying companies to acquire their innovative features, before killing them to stop other platforms from having access to them.

From Apple TV+ to Apple Arcade, Cupertino’s new services fail to bring in big money

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Share Apple TV+
Apple services may not be bringing in the cash, Bloomberg says.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

As Apple’s services division grows in importance, the company’s newest services — Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+ and Apple Card — are failing to bring in significant revenue, according to a new report.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman writes that, while services likely will increase yet again when Apple announces its Q3 earnings this week, most of these gains will come from older services like the App Store.

Apple dragged into territory dispute over how Kosovo is presented in Apple Maps

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Updated Apple Maps rolls out in Pacific Northwest and Midwest
This isn't the first time something like this has happened.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Kosovo’s foreign minister Meliza Haradinaj recently wrote to Tim Cook to ask Apple to make changes to Apple Maps to reflect a disputed border with Serbia.

Haradinaj’s letter notes that: “The Apple Maps service does not show the Republic or Kosovo in its internationally recognized borders. Instead, the Republic of Kosovo is shown as part of Serbia. This is direct contradiction of the political and legal realities. It is felt as a hurt by our citizens who suffered immense loss in our independence struggle. It is also perceived as an insult to our State.”

These were the top video steaming apps on iOS in June

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75% of Netflix users have no plans to jump ship to Apple TV+ (right away)
Netflix is continuing its momentum in the age of Disney+ and others.
Photo: Stock Catalog/Flickr CC

There might be more streaming services than ever, but Netflix seems like it’s continuing to maintain momentum in the age of Disney+, HBO+, and others.

According to a new report by Sensor Tower, Netflix was the second-most downloaded iOS app in the App Store. The number one streaming video app? YouTube, of course.

iPad mini concept shows why it really needs to lose the bezels

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iPad mini concept is cool but not happening.
An iPad mini concept drops the size of this tablet even more by cutting the bezels.
Concept: Parker Ortolani

The iPad mini has a 7.9-inch screen surrounded by bezels. Big ones. So a concept artist drew up some images that show how much smaller this tablet could be with an edge-to-edge display. The result is a device that’s nearly 20% smaller.

But Apple might be going in the opposite direction: making a mini with a larger screen.

How to report bugs you find in iOS and iPadOS 14

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How to iPadOS 14
Help make iOS and iPadOS 14 more stable.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you’ve already updated to the iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 public betas, you have an opportunity to help ensure they are as stable as can be by the time they roll out to everyone this fall.

Found a bug? Report it to Apple to increase the chances of it being fixed in a future beta release. It’s quick and simple, and it will make using iPhone and iPad better for everyone.

Here’s how to file effective bug reports for iOS and iPadOS 14.

New series The Oprah Conversation brings big thinkers to Apple TV+

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Oprah Winfrey interviews thought leaders in an Apple TV+ series debuting Thursday, July 30. ‘The Oprah Conversation’ hits Apple TV+ this week.
Oprah Winfrey interviews thought leaders in an Apple TV+ series debuting Thursday, July 30.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ and Oprah Winfrey on Monday announced a new series to explore racism and other relevant topics. The goal of the The Oprah Conversation is to offer perspective on a range of topics shaping our world, and reveal gripping stories of human connection.

The topical show is coming in hot, too. The first episode, titled “How to Be an Antiracist,” airs Thursday, July 30.

Apple’s new Thunderbolt 3 cable costs a mere $129

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Is the Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable the best on the market? Or just the most expensive?
Is the Apple Thunderbolt 3 cable the best on the market? Or just the most expensive?
Photo: Apple

The Apple Thunderbolt 3 Pro Cable comes at a price that should make even the most devoted Mac fan blink. At $129, it costs at least $50 more than comparable cables.

Not everything Apple sells is extraordinarily expensive. But it’s undeniable that the company occasionally adds on the “Apple Tax.”

Photoshop on iPad takes a big step toward desktop parity

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Photoshop on iPad takes a big step toward desktop parity.
The Refine Edge Brush jumped from desktop to Photoshop on iPad on Monday.
Photo: Adobe/Cult of Mac

Adobe added Refine Edge Brush to Photoshop on iPad on Monday. Already a major feature of the desktop version, it allows users to select the edges of subjects covered in hair or fur, or with other very complex shapes.

In addition, the iPadOS version of this professional image-editing application can now easily rotate the canvas while editing.

Leaked image suggests Apple has no plans to nix the notch on iPhone 12

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the notch on the iPhone x
The notch isn't going anywhere, a new image suggests.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Images posted to Chinese social media depict what could be the notch and display for the upcoming 5.4-inch iPhone 12.

It’s tough to tell too much from the picture. However, if accurate, it contradicts previous reports that Apple could reduce the size of the notch or eliminate it completely on the new iPhones. On the contrary, since the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 could be the smallest Face ID iPhone yet, the notch might be comparatively larger than ever!