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First iOS 13.6 beta brings better option for automatic updates

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iOS 13.6 Developer Beta 2 replaces version 13.5.5
iOS 13.6 will make life easier for people who don’t want to install new iOS versions.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple decided to remove one of the little irritations of iPhone and iPad. Developers on Tuesday got their first look at iOS 13.6 and the iPad equivalent, which give users the option to not download new system software updates.

This is important enough to bring on a new iOS version number.

TSMC stays on track to make 3-nanometer chips for iPhone 14

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Apple A14 processor
Apple’s chipmaker thinks long-term. It’s already prepping for the A14, A15 and maybe even the A16 iPhone processors.
CGI: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s long-term plan to begin producing 3-nanometer processors in 2022 remains on schedule. This company manufactures all Apple CPUs, and the 3nm process is expected to be used to make the A-series chips for future iPhones, iPads and perhaps Macs as well.

In the near term, TSMC is already making chips for the iPhone 12. And the company is close to perfecting the process that’ll make the chips for 2021 iPhones.

Sanitize your phone, keys and more with UV light [Deals]

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UV Shield
Use UV light to kill most common bacteria and viruses on your phone, keys, glasses, and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

With everything else going on the world, there is still a global pandemic. So now is not the time to stop being careful about viruses and germs. That makes this powerful, microbe-killing UV station a great way to minimize exposure to risky bugs.

New Apple webpage showcases the power of iPhone + Apple Watch

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iPhone and Apple Watch a brilliant match.
The best duo in tech?
Photo: Apple

In case you’re still not convinced you need an Apple Watch to go with your iPhone, Apple on Tuesday published a new webpage that reminds visitors how powerful the two can be together.

The page highlights some of Apple Watch’s best features, like the ability to take calls, reply to messages, act as a remote for iPhone’s camera, and its ability to track your heart rate and all your workouts.

Apple could confirm Mac’s transition to ARM chips at WWDC 2020

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Full-screen works great on a MacBook.
The move we've all been waiting for is finally getting close.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly will confirm the Mac’s transition to ARM chips during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on June 22.

The company has been using Intel processors inside the Mac since it ditched PowerPC chips in 2006. But speculation regarding a move to custom CPUs has been growing as Apple’s own chips have become incredibly powerful.

We may not see an ARM-powered Mac this year, however. Sources say Apple plans to announce the initiative, code-named Kalamata, at WWDC 2020. That would give developers time to adjust before the first ARM Macs arrive in 2021.

Grab this refurb Mac Pro for just … $43,000

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President Trump will tour Apple's Mac Pro factory in Texas this week
Prep your credit card for maximum impact.
Photo: Apple

Hey, big spender. Act fast and you can snag a refurbished 28-core Mac Pro — for just $43,859.

It’s totally tricked out, so it’s the most expensive Mac Pro currently in Apple’s refurb store. Grab your credit card, and it can be sitting on your desk by Wednesday!

Sketchy report claims recording iPhone calls will be built into iOS 14

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recording iPhone calls in iOS 14 is easy
It might be as easy as flipping a switch to start recording iPhone calls with iOS 14. Maybe.
Photo: IT Home/Cult of Mac

Recording phone and FaceTime calls with iPhones running iOS 14 could be as easy as flipping a switch, if an unconfirmed report is correct. It’ll supposedly be up to users to do so legally.

That said, the source for this info is a bit questionable.

Support a good cause when you snag this snazzy Apple Watch band

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Icon-Days-Apple-Watch-band
10% of all profits go to plastic awareness charities.
Photo: Icon Days

Icon Days’ first band for Apple Watch is not only beautiful, but it’s helping clean up our planet. It’s also available at a new, more affordable price.

The band is made from genuine leather, finished with unique and snazzy designs. And at least 10% of all profits go to environmental charities on a mission to eradicate single-use materials that are destroying the environment.

Apple should buy privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo, analyst says

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DuckDuckGo offers great image search, plus it doesn’t track you.
Great image search, plus it doesn’t track you.
Image: DuckDuckGo

Even though Google pays a hefty sum to stay the default iPhone search engine, an industry analyst suggests Apple should buy rival DuckDuckGo anyway.

That likely wouldn’t be the end of Google and Apple’s cooperation on search, according to AllianceBernstein’s Toni Sacconaghi. But it would strengthen Apple’s bargaining position.

A 49-inch UltraWide is just the beginning of this incredible setup [Setups]

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MacBookPro Setup
Because a 49-inch UltraWide wasn't enough, he added a second monitor on top.
Photo: @chau_codes

If most UltraWide monitors are impressive, then a 49-inch UltraWide is jaw-dropping. That is just the start of programmer Justin Chau’s amazing setup, which took years to assemble. Above his 49-incher, he has a 32-inch Dell S Series Monitor, which gives him an insane amount of screen real estate.

Apple dreams up tech for a social distance group selfie

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iPhone X Portrait selfies
Social distancing and group selfies don’t mix. But Apple might have a solution: the synthetic group selfie.
Photo: Apple

Even in the age of social distancing, the group selfie doesn’t have to be an endangered species. For several years, Apple has been investigating automatically merging multiple images into a group selfie.

And now that the company has a patent on the idea, it could be part of iOS 14 or a later version.

Blackmagic discontinues eGPU Pro with Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics

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Blackmagic eGPU Pro for Mac
The more affordable eGPU is still available ... for now.
Photo: Blackmagic/Cult of Mac

Blackmagic today confirmed to Cult of Mac that its eGPU Pro has been discontinued after AMD dropped its Radeon RX Vega 56 graphics chip.

The eGPU Pro was previously available to purchase from Apple before it was removed from the company’s store last week. You can still buy the more affordable Blackmagic eGPU, but it’s out of stock at the moment.

Apple Card users could get interest-free payment plans for iPad, Mac

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Apple Card
Apple hopes the service will boost sales.
Photo: Apple

Apple Card users could soon be offered interest-free payment plans for iPad, Mac, AirPods, and more, one report claims.

Sources say Apple is planning to roll out the new service, which will make many of its pricey products more accessible, in the coming weeks. Users will be able to spread the cost of their purchase over as many as 12 months.

This minimalist setup packs more than meets the eye [Setups]

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MacBook Setup: The Pro Display XDR delivers crystal-clear quality.
The Pro Display XDR delivers crystal-clear quality.
Photo: @Canoopsy/Twitter

At the beginning of the year, the owner of this striking setup decided to start from scratch. He abandoned his two-monitor config and went with something more minimal — the impeccable $6,000, 32-inch Apple Pro Display XDR. Thats why, for him, scaling down to one monitor is actually an upgrade.

Play along to a massive sheet music database on all your Apple devices [Deals]

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Tomyplay Music App
Learn and play your favorite musical works with Tomplay.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Learning music is a great way to sharpen your mind and deepen the enjoyment of life. However, even some experienced musicians find reading music intimidating. Interactive sheet music player Tomplay offers accessible, readable scores of thousands of songs — for all instruments.

With it, you can play along with more than 18,000 songs on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. (It works on Android and Windows, too.)

Every iMac design, ranked! [Cult of Mac Magazine 352]

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Every iMac design ranked.
Over the years, Apple designers came up with plenty of ingenious iMac designs.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Which iMac design stands as the best ever? Apple has unleashed some pretty radical revisions to its all-in-one computer over the years, and we ranked them all.

Find out which iMac came out on top in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. You can download it now from the iOS App Store. It’s stuffed with the latest Apple news, reviews and how-tos (plus some cool new Apple concepts). Or you can read the week’s top stories in the link roundups below.

Stay active and fit at home with a smart iOS app digital trainer [Deals]

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Onyx Fitness App
This smart digital trainer uses 3D motion capture to track and offer real-time feedback on your daily workouts.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Stuck at home, glued to our screens, it’s easier than ever to miss the daily activity our bodies need. Fitness apps all seem to offer the same uninspiring routines, so this smart workout app adds active feedback to help you start moving and stay moving.