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Apple wants to put a holographic display right next to your eyeballs

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Apple glasses
These concept Apple augmented reality glasses might have just taken a step closer to reality.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Rumors that Apple is hard at work on augmented reality glasses got some solid proof today. The company received a patent on a near-eye display design intended for just such an accessory.

And there’s an interesting mention of a “holographic optical element.”

Sleek wireless charger has your iPhone covered in 3 ways [Review]

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Review of RapidX MyPort wireless charger
It's a wireless charging stand as well as a stand-in for on-the-go charging.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

Many wireless chargers are designed to serve three mobile devices. The RapidX MyPort is made to selflessly serve one device in three different ways.

MyPort is first a smartphone stand to wirelessly charge your iPhone. But the vertical charging element has a restless side. It begs to be detached from the base to travel as a companion to your iPhone. It works as a portable wireless charger. And, with its two USB ports (one USB-A, one USB-C), it becomes a quick-charging wired power bank.

Analyst claims iPhone shipments collapsed 35% in China last month

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
But is it accurate?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPhone shipments in China reportedly had a rough time in November. According to Credit Suisse analyst Matt Cabral, iPhone shipments declined “meaningfully” last month — to the tune of approximately 35.4% year-on-year.

If true, that’s lagging far behind the rest of the Chinese smartphone market, which increased 0.2% year-on-year.

Opera GX is the world’s first ‘gaming browser’ for Mac

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Opera-GX-Mac
Try Opera GX on Mac today.
Photo: Opera

There’s a brand-new version of the Opera web browser aimed at gamers — and it’s out today on Mac in early access. Opera GX offers a unique set of tools designed to enhance your desktop gaming experience.

The browser lets you free up important resources that you need while gaming. It can also put your favorite Twitch streams right on top of your games, so you can watch while you play.

Apple’s support helps Japan Display nail down an extra $830 million bailout

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International governments plan to rethink tax rules for the ‘digital age’
Japan Display is getting some help from Japanese asset manager Ichigo Asset Management.
Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC

Struggling Apple display maker Japan Display claims it has nailed down an extra $830 million in bailout financial support from Japanese asset manager Ichigo Asset Management.

Ichigo joins Apple and Apple contract manufacturer Wistron in the effort to save the beleaguered business. And it wouldn’t have done it without Cupertino’s support.

The Last Remnant Remastered gets a surprise release in the App Store

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The Last Remnant Remastered gets a surprise release in the App Store
From the company that brought you the Final Fantasy games.
Photo: Square Enix

The Last Remnant Remastered, an updated version of Square Enix’s 2008 RPG for Xbox 360, has received a surprise release on iOS.

The game depicts a world divided into multiple city-states, inhabited by four different species. The player controls Rush Sykes, a human who is searching for his sister during a war between the different groups, who are battling over magical artifacts. It was developed by many of the team members who worked on the SaGa and Final Fantasy games.

Check out a teaser trailer below.

Apple requests DMCA removal of iPhone security tweet, then changes its mind

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Apple requests DMCA removal of iPhone security tweet. Then changes its mind
Apple has a complex relationship with security researchers.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple recently filed a DMCA takedown request relating to information posted by an independent iPhone security researcher. The researcher, Siguza, posted a tweet featuring a possible encryption key for the iPhone’s Secure Enclave Processor.

Apple later backtracked and allowed the tweet to be reposted. Even so, security researchers are accusing Apple of abusing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

NYC commuters can now use Apple Pay at busy Penn Station

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Glitch causes some Apple Pay Express Transit users to be overcharged
The northbound local platform at Penn Station.
Photo: Gryffindor/Wikipedia CC

Commuters can now use Apple Pay, along with other contactless payments systems, to pay for their travel at New York’s Penn Station.

That’s because the subway station has adopted the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s OMNY contactless fare payment system. The 34th Street-Penn Station is one of the busiest transport hubs in North America. This should help make travel from there a little bit more bearable.

2019 Mac Pro isn’t the most expensive Mac ever. Not by a long shot.

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2019 Mac Pro and original Macintosh 128K: Which cost more.
One of these two cost a lot more than the other. Which one might surprise you.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

There has been much handwaving over the $5,999 price tag on the 2019 Mac Pro. It’s often been criticized for being Apple’s expensive computer ever.

But it’s not. And it’s not even close, if you factor in inflation. Many of the early Macs cost much more than $6,000 in today’s dollars.

The Morning Show nabs 3 SAG Awards nominations

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New video take viewers behind-the-scenes of The Morning Show
New video take viewers behind-the-scenes of The Morning Show
Photo: Apple

Hot on the heels of scoring multiple Golden Globes nominations, The Morning Show earned three nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Jennifer Aniston added to her nomination pile with a nomination for best female actor in a drama series. And Steve Carell and Billy Crudup both earned nominations for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series.

5 best alternatives to Apple’s $400 Mac Pro wheels

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Smart Car convertible.
Smart Car convertible.
Photo: Public Domain

If you want to add four wheels to your already-expensive Mac Pro, then they’ll cost you almost $100 apiece. Not that you can even buy them separately. You have to specify the $400 option when you buy. The wheels are a part of the Mac Pro’s steel frame, so there’s no way to add them after purchase.

Or is there? We found five good options to let you wheel your Mac Pro around the office, or to perhaps grab the power cable and take the new computer out for a walk like a dog. Or even to sit on the thing and take it for a spin, go-kart-style, down the nearest hill.

10 copies of new Cult of Mac book are now up for grabs

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The Cult of Mac 2E
Enter. You may be one of 10 lucky winners to receive a free copy of The Cult of Mac 2E.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

We want to put free copies of The Cult of Mac 2nd Edition on 10 coffee tables across the United States.

Now through Dec. 20, the Cult of Mac website will accept entries to give away this Mac book that is every bit as beautiful as a MacBook. All you have to do is enter your email in the submission widget below.

Apple prepping separate 4G and 5G iPhone models for next year

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Possible iPhone 2020 mockup
5G iPhone buyers will apparently have plenty to choose from in 2020, and the same goes for those content with 4G.
Photo: @smazizg and @bengeskin/Twitter

Apple could release a half-dozen iPhone models next year. An industry analyst laid out new predictions for the 2020 iPhone lineup, saying some models will bring the latest 5G cellular technology. Other models will stick with slower 4G networking.

Apparently, people not interested in 5G won’t need to pay extra for it. And some top-tier models supposedly will include rear-facing 3D scanners for augmented reality.

How to run iOS shortcuts from your Mac

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Shortcuts on Mac.
Shortcuts on Mac — kinda.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

While it is possible to get the Shortcuts app running in macOS Catalina via Catalyst, you can’t do much with it. But what about the next best thing? How about selecting something on your Mac, then tapping a shortcut on your iPhone, and then having the result show up back on your Mac?

I’ve been doing this for the past few weeks, and it’s not only a workaround, but a genuinely useful — and reliable — way to “run” iOS shortcuts on the Mac. Let’s get right into it.

Pricey 5G parts won’t bring price hike to 2020 iPhones

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This iPhone SE 2 concept based on the iPhone 5.
The 2020 iPhone lineup can't come soon enough.
Photo: Hubert Jarechowicz/ ConceptsiPhone

Apple’s highly anticipated addition of 5G modems to the 2020 iPhone lineup may not end up costing customers extra after all.

TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that his supply chain sources indicate that the four 5G-capable 2020 iPhone models will be priced similar to the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro, even though 5G components are more expensive.

Want a new Mac Pro? Sell your old machine for upgrade cash!

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The Mac Pro is being
Turn your dusty old Mac into a fat stack of cash.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s all-new Mac Pro is finally ready to order … and it ain’t cheap. But Cult of Mac can help make yours more affordable by offering you a sweet stack of upgrade cash.

Sell your old Mac to us before you upgrade and we’ll give you a great price. We will also make the whole process quick and simple — and we’ll cough up real cash you can spend anywhere you like.

Apple’s secret AI sauce gets a new ingredient

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Apple's secret AI sauce gets a new ingredient
Apple’s special AI creates smarter devices without sharing your data.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Today’s machine learning AI technologies frequently rely on the free flow of user data. That puts Apple in a tough spot.

While it wants to stay on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence, it doesn’t want to do anything to get in the way of its privacy-first approach to technology. Fortunately, there’s a way around that issue.

Michelle Obama and Ellen DeGeneres hand out Apple gifts to students

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Ellen and Michelle Obama hand out Macs and iPads to elementary school students
Imagine being off at a doctor's appointment the day they get the former First Lady to give out free iPads!
Photo: TheEllenShow

Former First Lady Michelle Obama and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres teamed up with Apple to give away Macs and iPads to students at Randle Highlands Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

The gift-giving marked the premiere of Ellen’s Greatest Night of Giveaways on NBC. Apple’s donation means that every teacher at the school will receive a MacBook Air and every student will get an iPad. The school itself will get new iMacs. DeGeneres is also donating $100,000 and equipping the school with a new basketball court.

You can watch the heart-warming segment below:

Apple shows you how to properly upgrade your new Mac Pro

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2019-Mac-Pro-upgrade
Don't pull yours apart without watching Apple's videos first.
Photo: Apple

The 2019 Mac Pro is the most customizable Apple computer we’ve seen in years. You can swap and upgrade almost every component — including its GPUs, memory, and more.

But you must do it properly. Apple’s new how-to videos take you through the upgrade process step-by-step to help ensure nothing goes wrong. And they make it look so simple.