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Get more from your iPhone with 4 useful accessories [Deals]

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iPhone Main
Protect, sanitize, charge, and get more enjoyment out of your phone with these four accessories.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You can instantly level up your iPhone game with any one of these four great iPhone accessories. Plus, you’ll save as much as 80% on these hot deals.

Come for the noise-canceling headphones and portable UV sanitizer, stay for the solar-powered power bank and lifetime VPN subscription!

The biggest discounts are back on AirPods Pro, Powerbeats Pro and more

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Powerbeats-Pro
Bag yours for under $180 before this discount disappears.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s newest wireless headphones have returned to some of their lowest prices yet, thanks to big discounts from Amazon. You can save up to $50 on AirPods Pro, Powerbeats Pro, and more for a limited time only.

You can also pick up second-generation AirPods for as little as $129, and there are big savings to enjoy on Beats headphones, too.

Huawei overtakes Apple in first quarter to become China’s No. 1 tablet maker

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Huawei MatePad Pro is like an iPad Pro, but cheaper
Unlike most, Huawei had a great first three months of the year.
Photo: Huawei

The iPad no longer rules the tablet roost in China, the country Tim Cook previously claimed is Apple’s future biggest market. According to a Tuesday report from the South China Morning Post, Huawei has overtaken Apple to be the No. 1 tablet maker in China for the first quarter of 2020.

China’s tablet shipments fell a massive 30% in the first three months of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, while most manufacturers (including Apple) shipped fewer units for the quarter, Huawei actually grew 4.3% year on year. In doing so, it claimed 40.2% of the market, next to Apple’s 31.5%.

Amazon slashes a whopping $100 off Apple Watch Series 5

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Next Apple Watch Activity challenge will take place on Veterans Day
Sweet savings!
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Big discounts on Apple Watch Series 5 are back at Amazon. You’ll find up to $100 off some of the most affordable configurations, with a 44mm model with GPS now available for as little as $329 — down from $429.

GPS + cellular options are also available from $399 — down from $499. All are brand-new units that are ready to ship right away, but these discounts won’t last long. Enjoy them today before they disappear.

Former Windows division boss goes all-in on iPad Pro with his new ‘desktop PC’ setup

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iPad-Pro-Magic-Trackpad-3
The iPad is more of a real computer every day.
Photo: Apple

Is the iPad Pro good enough to double as a serious desktop computer? If you ask Steven Sinofsky, former president of the Windows division at Microsoft, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

In a recent tweet, Sinofsky shared a photo of the setup for his “new desktop PC.” And, for a guy who made his name working for one of Apple’s long-time biggest competitors, it’s pretty darn Apple-centric.

No USB-C: Lightning connector will stay until iPhone goes all-in on wireless

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iPhone-Lightning
Lightning isn't going anywhere.
Photo: Tinhte

Apple ditched Lightning for USC-B on the iPad Pro in 2018, but you shouldn’t expect a similar move for this year’s iPhone 12 refresh, according to an Apple leaker.

A Monday tweet by Fudge, aka @choco_bit, suggests that the iPhone 12 will come with a Lightning port. The reliable tipster says Apple will continue to use the proprietary Lightning until the iPhone goes all-in on wireless charging.

Japan will start reopening its shuttered Apple Stores this week

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Apple new store in Japan
Apple's most recent store opened in Tokyo in September.
Photo: Apple

Apple will start reopening Apple Stores in Japan this week, following on from reopening in Australia, Germany, Austria, South Korea, Switzerland, and select stores in the United States and Italy.

Like all other non-China markets, Apple’s Japan retail stores have been closed since the middle of March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

How to perfect your push-ups with Apple Watch and iPhone

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Log push-ups effortlessly with iPhone and Apple Watch
Log push-ups effortlessly with iPhone and Apple Watch
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

The push-up is one of the world’s most hated exercises. In the movies, Marine Corps drill instructors shout: “Drop down and give me 40” as a punishment.

But the push-up doesn’t deserve its bad reputation. It’s actually a versatile, effective and enjoyable exercise. Better still, you can do it anywhere, anytime, without any special equipment. Which makes it an indispensable part of any quarantine home workout routine.

Here’s how your iPhone and Apple Watch can help you give your push-ups a push in the right direction.

Remember: Always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise activity. Don’t exercise if you feel any discomfort, nausea, dizziness or shortness of breath.

Ring in Memorial Day with 4 awesome iPhone apps [Deals]

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Memorial Day Sale iPhone
We rounded up four great apps for getting more out of your iPhone.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For our big Memorial Day sale, we pulled together deals on four excellent iPhone apps that will put powerful capabilities in the palm of your hand. From taking control of your finances to mastering languages, these apps will expand your horizons and boost your bottom line. And if you just want to relax, we’ve got apps that will let you master meditation and catch up on important reading.

There’s something for everyone in this Memorial Day roundup. All these apps are on sale today, with most offering lifetime subscriptions.

Enhance your MacBook with 4 awesome accessories on sale this Memorial Day weekend [Deals]

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Memorial Day Sale- MacBook Accessories
Ring in Memorial Day by upgrading your MacBook game.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Lots of us are spending more time at our laptops than ever before, so even a little enhancement goes a long way. That’s why we put together this roundup of four great MacBook accessories.

Any one of them can take your work-from-home setup to the next level. And all four of them are on sale right now.

Demystifying Apple’s COVID-19 efforts [Cult of Mac Magazine 350]

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Here's how Apple's COVID-19 contact-tracing system works.
Here's how Apple's COVID-19 contact-tracing system works.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

When Apple released iOS 13.5 this week, it paved the way for privacy-focused contact-tracing apps to fight COVID-19. However, these apps don’t yet exist. And, despite some panicked reports online, your iPhone isn’t going to start snooping on you as soon as you upgrade your operating system.

We set out to clear up some misconceptions about how this whole contact-tracing thing is going to work. You can read all about it in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine.

Elsewhere in the free iOS mag, you’ll get the scoop on our podcast interview with Jon Prosser, the Apple leaker who’s making headlines. Plus, the usual Apple news, reviews and how-tos. Download it now and get to reading, or get the stories in the links below.

Apple’s bouncy AirPods ad wins major award

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Bounce ad for AirPods1
Apple’s “Bounce“ AirPods advertisement took home numerous accolades at the 99th ADC annual awards.
Photo: Apple

A slick, black-and-white ad showcasing AirPods won Best in Show at the prestigious ADC Annual Awards.

Titled “Bounce,” the ad shows an AirPods wearer springing through the streets, evoking the unencumbered, wireless freedom of these earbuds.

iOS 14 leaks come from early build obtained by hackers

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iOS 14 on an iPhone 11
Hackers reportedly got an iPhone 11 running iOS 14 months ago.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Details on iOS 14 started leaking out in February, with sources claiming to have a leaked copy of the next iPhone operating system. An investigation by Vice apparently confirms that researchers and hackers really got access to an iOS version more than half a year before its release.

Battle through the Towers of Everland in Apple Arcade’s new RPG

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Towers of Everland hit Apple Arcade on Friday. Hit back.
Towers of Everland fulfills your sword-and-sorcery game needs.
Photo: Cobra Mobile/Apple

Towers of Everland offers all the traditional RPG elements: battling, fighting and combat. And Friday’s addition to Apple Arcade includes magic spells, quests to complete, levels to explore, monsters to slay… everything one could want in a role-playing game.

Even activating a suspect’s phone lock screen could be illegal, judge rules

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iPhone X lock screen notifications
You need the right warrant to do this.
Photo: Apple

Judge John Coughenour of the U.S. District Court in Seattle has ruled that FBI is not allowed to even look at the lock screen on a suspect’s smartphone without a warrant, Ars Technica reports.

The case involves a man from Washington state arrested in May last year, indicted on charges of robbery and assault. During the investigation, the FBI took a photo of the suspect’s phone lock screen, which had information they considered to be of interest. However, this behavior has been classed as unlawful.

Defending Jacob turns over its final card in penultimate episode [Apple TV+ review]

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Defending Jacob review: The Apple TV+ crime drama hurtles toward its horrible end.
The Apple TV+ crime drama hurtles toward its horrible end.
Photo: Apple TV+

Defending Jacob closes in on its shocking and horrible conclusion this week. It’s been clear for a while that things will never get straightened out fully for the Barber family after Jacob’s murder trial. Whether the teen lands in jail or not, things will end badly.

The Apple TV+ crime drama’s seventh episode, titled “Job,” proves this in spectacularly agonizing fashion.

Bargain iPhone refurbs are back! Get yours for under $130 today only

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Analyst complains iPhone’s average selling price is slipping
Stock is selling fast!
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you missed out on cheap iPhone refurbs the last time Woot had a huge blowout, it’s time to redeem yourself. A whole host of models — from iPhone 7 to iPhone 11 Pro — are now available, with prices starting at a mere $129.99.

This sale is good for today only, so act fast!

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

Apple’s hated butterfly keyboard could make a comeback

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Taking it out on your problematic MacBook butterfly keyboard will only make things worse.
The question is: does anyone want it to?
Photo illustration: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Despite it vanishing from Apple’s MacBook line, Apple hasn’t given up on its controversial (read: hated) butterfly keyboard design, claims Apple leaker L0vetodream.

In a Friday tweet, L0vetodream said that Apple is “trying to improve on the structure, and solve the [issues]” faced by users. Should it manage to do so, “we might see it comes back again in future.”

Apple TV+ kids’ shows rack up 17 nominations for Daytime Emmy awards

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FireWire lands Apple its first Emmy.
Apple will surely be happy with this slew of nominations.
Image: The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple TV+ has racked up 17 nominations for the 2020 Daytime Emmy awards. That’s more than established names including Hulu, HBO, and fellow tech newcomers like YouTube Originals and FaceBook Watch.

Kids’ series Ghostwriter got eight nominations. Preschool show Helpsters picked up five. Snoopy in Space and Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10 also received their share of awards.

Ireland’s data protection boss questions Apple over Siri privacy

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Siri Lights
How private are your conversations with Siri?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission is questioning Apple over privacy concerns raised by an ex-contractor who transcribed users’ Siri requests in an effort to improve the voice assistant’s functionality.

Former Apple contractor Thomas le Bonniec this week said Apple should be “urgently investigated” over Siri data collection. It seems that the EU’s data protection authorities are listening.

PSA: Brand new episode of Defending Jacob and Mythic Quest debuts on Apple TV+

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Defending Jacob
Defending Jacob is starting to wrap up.
Photo: Apple

Friday means new content on Apple TV+ — and this week that takes the form of the penultimate episode of Defending Jacob and a new quarantine episode of comedy Mythic Quest.

The preview for the Defending Jacob episode reads: “As the trial begins, Jacob’s fate hangs in the balance.” Meanwhile, the special quarantine edition episode of Raven’s Quest is described like this: “As the MQ staff works from home, Poppy struggles with solitude, while Brad and David start a charitable competition.”

Sara Bareilles’ music will propel new Apple TV+ drama Little Voice

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Little Voice on Apple TV+ stars Brittany O’Grady.
Brittany O’Grady stars in an upcoming Apple TV+ musical drama that’s a “fresh, intensely romantic tale of the search to find your true voice,” according to Apple.
Photo: Apple

Apple just revealed the debut date for Little Voice, a collaboration between Sara Bareilles, J.J. Abrams, and others. The show about “a uniquely talented performer struggling to fulfill her dreams,” hits Apple TV+ on Friday, July 10.