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Dive into a DJ bootcamp featuring Ableton and Logic Pro [Deals]

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The 2020 Music Production with Ableton Live 10 & Logic Pro X Bundle
Get 56 hours of training in songwriting, recording, production and distribution using the industry-leading music software.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Being stuck at home with your computer doesn’t have to mean you’re not active. If you’ve got a copy of Ableton Live or Logic Pro, your laptop can be your platform for DJing, songwriting and producing music. With this massive bundle of lessons, you’ll get the skills to do all of the above.

Grid Autosport multiplayer beta races onto iOS, but it’s only temporary

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GRID
Take on other racers today.
Photo: Feral Interactive

A brand-new multiplayer mode just entered beta testing for hit racing simulator Grid Autosport on iOS. You can try it out if you own a recent iPhone or iPad running iOS 12.1 or later.

Don’t get too excited about multiplayer, however. Publisher Feral Interactive notes that this test is to “explore the feasibility of online multiplayer for racing games.” It won’t be a permanent fixture.

Apple’s biggest supplier experienced revenue decline even before COVID-19

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Foxconn Wisconsin
Foxconn hasn't given a reason for the decline.
Photo: Foxconn

Major Apple supplier Foxconn’s net profit plummeted 23.7% in the fourth quarter of 2019, the company has revealed.

While Foxconn has been hit hard by COVID-19, this period actually ends before the extent of the coronavirus became clear. The quarter in question ended December. The earliest known infection of coronavirus occurred on 17 November 2019 in Wuhan, China.

Cristiano Ronaldo bought his teammates iMacs after getting red-carded

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Ronaldo
To be fair, he can probably afford it.
Photo: Антон Зайцев/Wikipedia CC

World renowned soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo bought the entire Juventus squad iMacs after getting a red card in a 2018 Champions League match against Valencia.

The Portuguese superstar player was reduced to tears after being sent off for pulling the hair of defender Jeison Murillo. Although Juventus won the match 2-0, club rules stipulated by boss Massimiliano Allegri meant Ronaldo had to buy gifts for the rest of his team. Eventually he settled on iMacs.

Apple leaks new Logic Pro X Live Loops feature

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Logic Pro X Live Loops
This screenshot shows an as-yet unreleased version of Logic Pro X.
Photo: Apple

Sometime before this past weekend, Apple posted a screenshot of what is presumably an upcoming new version of Logic Pro X, its pro music-creation app, onto its education page. It shows a brand new feature, previously only seen in the iOS version of GarageBand: Live Loops. Live Loops is a way to trigger music clips live, on-the-fly, so you can create music like a DJ.

And the Logic version looks great. And more importantly, it finally adds Apple’s take on the Session View from Logic’s biggest rival, Ableton Live.

COVID-19 won’t delay 2020 iPhone, but future products could suffer

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iPhone XS box gold
iPhone might be okay for now, but Apple isn't out of the woods yet.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic won’t stop Apple from launching its 2020 iPhone lineup on schedule, according to a new report published Monday — but it could cause “disruptions” for future Apple products.

Cupertino’s largest manufacturing partner, Foxconn, is slowly recovering after the coronavirus outbreak last month caused huge labor shortages and factory closures. But Bloomberg warns Apple isn’t out of the woods yet.

U.S. government tracks phone location data to monitor spread of COVID-19

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covid.19.coronavirus.graphic1
Other governments around the world are using similar approaches.
Photo: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. government officials are using location data from millions of cellphone users around the country to track movement during the coronavirus pandemic, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The weekend report says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with state and local governments, have begun receiving reports concerning areas of “geographic interest” in the country. This could cover as many as 500 cities around the United States.

Apple Watch needs a Sick Mode [Opinion]

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Apple Watch Sick Mode
The next time you get ill, your Apple Watch should help you get better.
Photo: Cult of Mac

When you‘ve caught a bad cold, the flu or a global pandemic, it’s no help that your Apple Watch keeps urging you to go for a run. That’s why this wearable needs a sick mode.

When it comes out this autumn, watchOS 7 should include a mode that gives good advice for people ill enough to need bed rest rather than a trip to the gym.

Compact wireless charger juices all your Apple devices at once [Review]

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Native Union Drop XL Wireless Charger (Watch Edition)
The Native Union Drop XL wireless iPhone charger also has a Apple Watch Edition.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Anyone packing iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods doesn’t have to deal with charging them separately. The Native Union Drop XL Wireless Charger (Watch Edition) can handle all three of these at once. And it won‘t take up much room on your nightstand.

I tested this multidevice wireless charger from a top-notch brand in my daily use to see if it lived up to its promises.

Stay sanitary with a Roomba for bacteria [Deals]

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Rockubot
This robot uses UVC-light and ultrasonic waves to kill 99.9% of bacteria, germs and viruses.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Did you know that ultraviolet light can kill germs? It can, and that’s good news, because it means there are better ways of sanitizing your home than constantly spraying and wiping it down with chemicals. With this tool, keeping a sanitary space is as simple as powering up a little Roomba-style robot.

This Apple Watch bumper case solves a very specific problem [Review]

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The Elkson Apple Watch bumper case solved a problem that drove me crazy, and it looks good too!
Elkson's Apple Watch Case solves a problem that drove me crazy, and it looks good too!
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

For the longest time, I had a particular problem with my Apple Watch. When I rode my bicycle, the watch’s Digital Crown would rub against my wrist, playing havoc with the sound coming through my AirPods. Suddenly it would get very loud, or very low. It drove me crazy.

I tried everything I could think of, including wearing my watch backward so the Digital Crown was reversed, or on the inside of my wrist. Nothing worked, so I disabled Now Playing on my Watch, which I missed because it’s great for controlling music when doing something like riding a bike.

Then I came across Elkson’s Quattro Series Bumper Case for Apple Watch. This inexpensive cover surrounds the Digital Crown and prevents it from spinning when I ride my bike. Problem solved.

Master these iPad trackpad gestures immediately [Cult of Mac Magazine 342]

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Master these 6 iPad trackpad gestures now.
These handy gestures will change the way you use your iPad.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

If you use (or plan to use) a trackpad with your iPad, you definitely need to know these six handy gestures. From the three-finger swipe to the slammer, they will transform the way you use your tablet.

Get the lowdown on those essential iPad gestures, plus the rest of what’s new in iPadOS 13.4, iOS 13.5 and macOS Catalina 10.13.4, in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it for easy reading on your iPad or iPhone. You’ll also get the rest of the week’s top Apple news, reviews and how-tos.

Got some extra time? Use it to Master Adobe Creative Cloud [Deals]

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Adobe Creative Cloud Suite
Boost your earning potential from home with 60 hours of courses in Adobe Creative Cloud.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Whether to stay creative or to broaden job prospects, Adobe’s Creative Cloud is one of the best tools to have under your belt. Lots of us are at home wondering what to do right now, so it’s a good time to sharpen your skills. And with this deal, you can get more than 60 hours of training in Adobe CC for less than $35.

Amazing Stories delivers solid shot of escapism with ‘Signs of Life’ [Review]

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Michelle Wilson in Amazing Stories
Michelle Wilson anchors a solid outing of the new Amazing Stories.
Photo: Apple TV+

After a bumpy start, the Apple TV+ reboot of Amazing Stories headed off in an agreeable direction. Between its heart-on-the-sleeve emotional core and the very modern, depressive look at the deflation of the American dream, this is a show that understands why people need to believe in the impossible today.

Episode 4, titled “Signs of Life,” might not be a perfect hour of television. However, it’s got its heart in the right place. And a host of excellent elements make its story beats hit with extra force.

Quarantined photographer executes fantastic FaceTime fashion shoot

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Alessio Albi FaceTime model shoot
Alessio Albi makes screenshot magic on FaceTime.
Screenshot: Alessio Albi/Instagram

Quarantined photographers across the internet have used the lockdown to come up with personal projects they could shoot within the same confines of their home.

Condé Nast shooter Alessio Albi has one of the more interesting bodies of work to emerge from staying at home. He is using FaceTime for remote fashion shoots.

Boxy iPhone 12 Pro concept packs ProMotion XDR display and PowerDrop

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iphone-12-pro
Would you buy the iPhone 12 Pro if it looks like this?
Photo: The Hacker 34

Another iPhone 12 Pro concept landed on YouTube this week to satiate Apple fans who just can’t wait for the real deal to be revealed this fall.

Created by the Hacker 34, the new iPhone 12 Pro concept offers a couple features not included on the drool-worthy concept we posted yesterday. Armed with a ProMotion XDR display, new quad-camera setup and two-way charging, this boxy concept will have you ready to open your wallet for the 5G iPhone, whenever it actually comes out.

Check it out:

Customize your Apple Watch workouts for effective home exercise

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Can't go to the gym? Customize your Apple Watch to fit your home workouts.
Can't go to the gym? Customize your Apple Watch to fit your home workouts.
Photo: Meghan Holmes/Unsplash CC

If you’re stuck at home due to COVID-19 self-isolation, you’re probably not getting enough exercise these days. Still, you should try to keep yourself in shape, for both your mental and your physical wellbeing. The Apple Watch can definitely help, and you can customize the data it displays during workouts so you only see what you need.

Maybe you don’t need to know the current pace for your indoor walk, or you don’t care to be distracted by your calorie burn during a yoga session. Let’s see how to customize Apple Watch workouts to fit your personal needs.

Apple Watch might get Touch ID for easier unlocking

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Apple-Watch-Touch-ID
Is Touch ID really necessary?
Mockup: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple is working to bring Touch ID to Apple Watch for the first time, according to new reports out Friday. The company is said to be exploring two methods of integrating the technology into its wearable for easier unlocking.

The new model may prove particularly interesting to Apple Watch Series 2 owners, who are expected to miss out on Apple’s upcoming watchOS 7 update this fall.

Zoom shares data with Facebook even about non-Facebook users [Updated]

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Zoom video conferencing for Mac
Zoom became very popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has some sketchy privacy practices.
Photo: Zoom

The Zoom video conferencing app has been a lifesaver for many people unexpectedly forced to work from home during the coronavirus outbreak. But privacy experts have raised concerns that this app shares more user data than many might realize. That includes the iOS version reportedly sending information to Facebook, even about users who don’t have a Facebook account.

Update: Zoom has removed this controversial code.

Disney+ racks up 5 million downloads on launch day in Europe

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disney.plus.uk.2
Disney+ has finally landed in the UK.
Photo: Apple

The Disney+ mobile app is off to a roaring start in Europe and the UK just days after it launched earlier this week.

Third-party app analytics firm App Annie revealed that the Disney+ app has been downloaded over 5 million times on launch day, possibly thanks to millions of residents having to shelter-in-place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This setting makes Mac System Preferences way easier to use

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Arrange your Mac System Preferences alphabetically.
Arrange your Mac's System Preferences alphabetically.
Photo: Jessicah Hast/Unsplash

Are you forever opening up your Mac’s System Preferences app and searching for the section you need? If so, it’s because by default, all those Preference Panes are ordered by category, which — to me at least — makes little sense.

Luckily, changing a single setting in the Mac’s System Preferences app can make this essential tool far easier to use. There’s a much better way to sort them — alphabetically. Let’s check it out.

Hackers see COVID-19 as a big opportunity for new exploits

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hacker
We should be even more vigilant online.
Photo: Clint Patterson

A new report published on Friday by the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) details the many ways hackers are using the COVID-19 pandemic to exploit unsuspecting targets.

It includes new social engineering attacks that convince email users to give up sensitive data, and an increase in malware distributed via malicious links. Europol calls for law enforcement agencies to be vigilant and prepared.