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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.

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.

Audiophiles will rejoice over this setup [Setups]

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Audio-focused setup
This WFH setup has audiophiles drooling.
Photo: Jody Whitesides

Jody Whitesides is a television and film composer so naturally his setup is audio-focused. Even with all the high-tech audio gear, it is hard to out-stage his epic 34-inch ultra-wide monitor.

He rocks both the Apple Magic Trackpad and a Logitech mouse. He has both because some tasks are easier to edit using a mouse and others with a trackpad, so it gives him the best of both worlds. The keyboard — a Komplete Kontrol Controller — gives him an additional 88 keys right above his Apple Magic Keyboard.

To handle all of his audio, Whitesides uses a PreSonas monitoring station to easily switch audio outputs. And the Apollo 8 Recording Interface gives him the power to handle all of this gear at once.

For the actual audio itself, he has a pair of KRK V4 Series Speakers to accompany a pair of Genelec 8020D Studio Speakers.

Driving all this is a 2013 “trashcan” Mac Pro, out of shot.

Apple snaps up podcasts — to turn them into TV shows

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home podcasts
Apple is on the lookout for podcasts that would make great television.
Photo: Jonathan Farber/Unsplash

Apple is reportedly buying exclusive rights to podcasts that could someday become movies or shows on Apple TV+.

Turning podcasts into television programs is becoming increasingly common. A popular podcast starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd is being made into into a Apple TV+ show, for example.

Become a wiz at Apple’s Clips multimedia app in online Today at Apple session

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Apple Clips is the focus of Today at Apple.
Anyone unfamiliar with Apple Clips can watch a quick tutorial to start having fun with it.
Screenshot: Apple

An online Today at Apple at Home session released Thursday introduces using Apple Clips. This free software lets iPhone and iPad users combine video clips, photos and music into fun videos.

And because this is Global Accessibility Awareness Day, the session is taught in American Sign Language by Gus from Apple Carnegie Library in Washington, D.C. Subtitles and audio narration are also included.

How to customize your CarPlay setup and ditch apps you don’t need

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BMW could ditch its pricey annual subscription cost for CarPlay
Don't settle for the default CarPlay layout.
Photo: Sony

CarPlay makes it safe to use some of your favorite iPhone apps on the road, and by default, anything with CarPlay support will automatically appear in your car. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Simplify your experience and make CarPlay even easier to use by customizing your layout and ditching apps you don’t need.

Apple plans a pair of ‘Steve Jobs Heritage Edition’ AR glasses

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Steve Jobs AR Glasses
Apple is planning special edition AR glasses modeled on the specs Steve Jobs wore.
Photo: Sebastian Errazuriz

Apple is working on a special pair of AR glasses that resemble the spectacles Steve Jobs famously wore, white-hot Apple leaker Jon Prosser told Cult of Mac.

Called the “Steve Jobs Heritage Edition,” this limited-edition version of Apple Glass would be round like a classic pair of John Lennon-style glasses. Cupertino would position it as a special edition of the core AR glasses, much like the original $10,000 gold Apple Watch.

We talk Apple leaks with Jon Prosser, the man Tim Cook wants to silence, on The CultCast

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We talk Apple leaks with Apple leaker Jon Prosser on The CultCast.
It's the leaker Apple loves to hate, this week on The CultCast.
Photo: The CultCast

This week on The CultCast: We talk Apple leaks with the man who’s driving Tim Cook crazy … Front Page Tech‘s Jon Prosser! And we cover it all, including juicy new details on Apple Glass, Apple Car, Apple’s master plan for the next iPhone, the next Apple TV, Apple’s secret VR gaming headset, which big leaks are coming next, and more.

After a series of uncannily accurate leaks, there’s no doubt Prosser has become Public Enemy No. 1 in Cupertino. (Just ask Apple Senior VP Phil Schiller, who blocked Prosser on Twitter.) You don’t want to miss this discussion about his methods, his motivations and his sources deep within Apple’s organization. The ProsserCast is real!

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

Adobe’s AI-powered iPhone camera app debuts June 9

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new camera app from Adobe
Raise the cool factor on your iPhone photos with the Adobe Photoshop Camera app.
Photo: Adobe

The wait for Adobe Photoshop Camera is almost over. When it hits the App Store on June 9, the free iPhone application will let users add filters and effects before they even take a picture. And it will employ artificial intelligence to clean up images.