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Amazon adds Apple Podcasts on Echo speakers

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Echo
You can now play Apple Podcasts on Amazon Echo devices and link your Apple ID for easier control.
Photo: Amazon

Amazon has added support for Apple Podcasts on Amazon Echo devices, enabling users to stream more than 800,000 shows.

Users can link their Apple ID to the Alexa app, giving them the ability to not only play, but pause and resume podcasts where they left off.

AT&T opens 5G network to consumers in 10 cities

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AT&T logo
AT&T just began offering low-band 5G to consumers.
Photo: Luismt94/Wikipedia CC

Starting today, AT&T consumers in 10 cities can connect to this telecom’s 5G network. While faster than 4G, this is low-band 5G, a slower form though with greater range than mmWave.

At this time, only one handset supports this service.

iPad magician uses fan art for Christmas-themed tricks

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iPad magician Simon Pierro
Merry Christmas from the iPad magician.
Screenshot: Simon Pierro/YouTube

Instead of writing to Santa Claus, a 10-year-old boy named Aiden sent a message to iPad magician Simon Pierro asking for a few Christmas-themed magic tricks in a YouTube video.

Pierro not only came through with Aiden’s request, but he also used the kid’s drawing of Olaf, the snowman character from Disney’s Frozen, in his unique iPad magic.

Tim Cook’s tasty street food odyssey continues in Thailand

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Tim Cook’s tasty street food odyssey continues in Thailand
The crab omelette's good and Apple's worth $1.2 trillion. Could life get better?
Photo: Tim Cook/Twitter

Tim Cook’s street food tour of East Asia continues. Earlier this week, Cook enjoyed a traditional breakfast in Singapore’s Tiong Bahru Market. Now he’s hopped over to Thailand, where he chowed down on some “five star” crab omelette in Bangkok with food bloggers Yota and Jira.

Oh, and visited some developers and Apple users, too. But, you know, that crab omelette!

Apple offers free genetic tests for its employees

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Apple is now offering genetic tests for its employees
And all employees got before was a discount on the new iPhone!
Photo: MIKI Yoshihito/Flickr CC

Apple is offering its employees free genetic testing for diseases, courtesy of a deal with California genomic testing lab Color Genomics.

Cupertino offers these tests through AC Wellness, the company’s employee health clinics. The hope is that genetic testing could help employees understand potential health problems they face — and take steps to reduce risk.

Trump’s China deal may stop Apple hiking prices of iPhones and iPads

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Trump’s China deal may stop Apple hiking prices of iPhones and iPads
That's good news for Apple and its customers.
Photo: White House

Apple has been given a welcome reprieve on tariffs for the iPhone, iPad and Mac after President Donald Trump agreed to a limited trade deal with China on Thursday.

The phase one agreement means rolling back existing tariff rates on Chinese goods and canceling new tariff rates that would have gone into effect Sunday.

Wirelessly charge your iPhone twice over with this pocketable power bank [Deals]

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Hypercharger
This 6,000mAh charger works as a wireless charging pad, traditional and wireless power bank.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Wireless charging is super convenient. Even more so when you can bring it with you. This powerful, portable charger is no exception, working as a wireless charging pad and power bank. Not only is it super useful, you also get two of them.

Apple promises to fix big bug in iOS 13’s new parental controls feature

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iOS-13-Communication-Limits
Communication Limits doesn't work as intended.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

iOS 13.3 dropped this week, bringing a brand-new parental controls feature called Communication Limits. But it comes with a serious flaw that allows kids to bypass any rules set by adults.

Apple says a workaround is available, and it is working on a fix that will be included in a future software update.

The new Mac Pro proves Apple’s still got it! Plus, our best of the year picks, on The CultCast

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CultCast 418
Apple's back, and the Mac Pro proves it.
Photo: @YSR50

This week on The CultCast: The Mac Pro isn’t just a beauty, it’s also a beast. We cover our first impressions, plus discuss some of the insane upgrades available for Apple’s new powerhouse Mac. Plus, we reveal more of our favorite tech, shows, movies and more in our Best of the Year picks, part 2!

This episode supported by

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.

It’s Friday: 4 new episodes of Apple Originals land on Apple TV+

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Truth Be Told on Apple TV+
Well, that's your weekend viewing sorted!
Photo: Apple

It’s Friday, which means Apple just unleashed new episodes of Apple TV+ shows. Apple today debuted new installments of The Morning Show, For All Mankind, Truth Be Told and Servant. That should be enough to keep you entertained over the weekend.

Here’s what this week’s new Apple TV+ episodes have in store.

PewDiePie’s newest game is too disgusting for the App Store

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Poopdie
Poopdie is an Android exclusive for now.
Photo: Bulbware

YouTube’s biggest star just dropped a brand-new game for mobile devices, but you won’t be playing it on iPhone. Poopdie is a “poopcrafting adventure” from PewDiePie that’s too disgusting for the App Store.

Its developers this week confirmed the title was rejected by Apple for “crude imagery” — despite its cartoon visuals aimed at kids.

Apple Watch finally gets cellular support in New Zealand

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Apple Watch Series 5 California Face
It could be one of many new faces.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch users in New Zealand can now take advantage of cellular connectivity on compatible devices.

Local carrier Spark has become the first to roll out eSIM support and a new plan aimed specifically at wearables. It only serves Apple Watch Series 5 for now — but support for other devices will come later.

Apple Arcade gets a star-studded sports franchise with Ultimate Rivals

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Ultimate Rivals on Apple Arcade
This isn't your everyday sports franchise.
Photo: Apple/Bit Fry Game Studios

Apple Arcade is getting a sports franchise — and it sounds all kinds of intriguing. Ultimate Rivals brings together all-star athletes from different pro sports eras and leagues, including the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, WNBA and US Women’s National Soccer Team.

Boasting a cartoony style, the game series will let you pit athletes from different sports against one another. The first game in the series? A two-on-two hockey game called Ultimate Rivals: The Rink.

Check out the trailer below:

Apple scoops up UK startup that could boost iPhone camera’s powers

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iphone11promax
The iPhone 11 Pro's excellent camera is about to get even better.
Photo: Apple

Future iPhone cameras could get some big upgrades thanks to the latest company Apple purchased in the U.K.

Spectral Edge, a start-up that combines image processing with machine learning to create sharper smartphone photos, has quietly been acquired by Apple, giving the iPhone a potentially huge advantage over its competitors.

Crazy-popular AirPods match ‘peak iPod’ sales

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AirPods-Pro-vs-AirPods
Don’t underrate AirPods. They are as iconic as the iPod ever was.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

AirPods contribute as much to Apple’s bottom line as the iconic iPod did at its peak, according to an industry analyst. And Apple Watch long since passed that milestone.

Combined, Apple’s Wearables and Home products are expected to far outsell Mac and iPad this quarter.

Latest iOS update gives older iPhones longer battery life, better performance

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iPhone
The iPhone 8 and other Apple handsets see real benefits from iOS 13.3.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

There are sometimes concerns that new iOS versions will cut the battery life of older iPhone models, or slow down performance. Tests on a variety of Apple handsets with the just-released iOS 13.3 show just the opposite — this update not only speeds up these devices, it increases the time between charges.

Which buttons should Apple bring back next?

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Buttons. Who doesn't love them? What buttons should Apple add to its products going forward?
Buttons. Who doesn't love them?
Photo: Diomari/Unsplash CC

It may have nothing to do with Jony Ive leaving the company, but Apple has been adding buttons back to its devices. It’s a slow start, but hopefully it’s the beginning of a trend. The new 16-inch MacBook Pro added an Escape key, and a separate power button (you can press the Touch ID button). Plus, the recently introduced iPhone 11 battery case added a dedicated camera button.

After what seems like decades of removing useful hardware features, is Apple finally seeing the error of its ways? And, if so, what buttons would we like to see next? Let’s take a look at the current lay of the land.

Little America gets second season deal for Apple TV+

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Kumail Nanjiani
Kumail Nanjiani speaking at Apple's big media event in March 2019.
Photo: Apple

Apple is so confident in one of its upcoming TV shows that it’s already been greenlit for a second season before the first season has even debuted on Apple TV+.

Season one of Little America, an anthology series about the lives of American immigrants, is set to air on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. Created by The Big Sick writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, along with Lee Eisenberg, the season is comprised of eight 30-minute long episodes and Apple just shared snippets on what each one is about.

Orangetheory Fitness launches workout tracker for Apple Watch

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Orangetheory Fitness rower
The Orangetheory Fitness franchise has created a small accessory that attaches to an Apple Watch band to track your heart rate during exercise.
Photo: Orangetheory Fitness

The nation’s 13th-largest health club chain, Orangetheory Fitness, will begin supporting Apple Watch in its 1,300 franchise studios by March, the company said Thursday. That will make it the first fitness brand to officially partner with Apple on a fitness studio solution.

The fitness franchise created a small accessory, called the OTbeat Link, that attaches to an Apple Watch band to track the heart rate of customers during exercise classes.

Continuity Sketch turns the iPad into a graphics tablet for your Mac

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Continuity Sketch is like having an Apple Pencil for your Mac.
Continuity Sketch is like having an Apple Pencil for your Mac.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You can sign a PDF on your Mac using the giant MacBook trackpad, and you can mark up PDFs and screenshots, too. But all that stuff is much easier on the iPad, especially if you have an Apple Pencil. The problem is getting it there. But in macOS Catalina, you don’t have to “get it” anywhere. Screenshots and PDFs magically show up on nearby iPads, where you can sign them or mark them up. Then you can return them to your Mac. These features are called Continuity Sketch and Continuity Markup, and they’re killer.

You know how the UPS guy holds up his brown scanner box for you to sign? PDF markup is like that, only on your iPad — and you never feel guilty about ordering too many parcels.

Apple starts shipping first Mac Pro orders

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Mac Pro cheese grater
You might be better off with iMac Pro instead.
Photo: Apple

You will soon have something to show for that $5,999+ you just handed over to Apple. The first Mac Pro orders have today started shipping out to customers. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this Friday, December 13.