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CES 2020 trends: AirPower alternatives, rise of 5G, tasty TVs

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CES-2020-trends
It's shaping up to be an exciting year for tech.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

CES 2020The post-holiday tech fest that is CES shutters its doors today for another year. This week’s event has been as weird and as wonderful as any other, giving us a glimpse of all kinds of innovative gadgets on the way in 2020.

Better AirPods alternatives. Wireless chargers that achieve what Apple couldn’t. iPhone cases you can throw on the compost heap when they’re no longer needed. Here are the biggest trends from CES 2020.

Apple takes a hacksaw to trade-in values for used iPhones and more

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Apple takes a hacksaw to estimated trade-in values for its devices
You won't get as much money for your old devices today as you would yesterday.
Photo: Pictures of Money/Flickr CC

Overnight Apple has chopped estimated trade-in values on a variety of products. It means that users will get less money for their old products when they try and trade them in with Apple.

Note to Cupertino: When people talk about wishing that Apple would cut prices on their products, this isn’t what they generally mean!

Pokémon Go’s best year yet shows novelty doesn’t have to wear off

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Pokémon GO’s best year yet shows novelty doesn't have to wear off
"You mean, people are still playing it?"
Photo: The Pokémon Company

No game dominated the summer of 2016 quite like the augmented reality blockbuster Pokémon Go. Raking in massive bucks and plenty of virtual column inches that summer, the game became a massive smash hit — before fading from view.

At least, that’s the perspective of people who wonder if anyone still plays Pokémon GOIn fact, not only do people still play it; the game just had its best year to date. What’s the secret to its longevity? And why is that a good thing for gamers?

Score 4 hours of full-spectrum Adobe Photoshop training [Deals]

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Adobe Photoshop
Learn the ins-and-outs of Adobe Photoshop with this 4-hour crash course.
Photo: Kerde Severin

Adobe Photoshop is one of the most common and most powerful apps in all of digital photography and design. So if you’re looking to work with digital images, it’s software you’ll want to know well. This bundle of lessons offers an easy way to go from Photoshop beginner to skilled user.

Apple partners with Red Cross to accept donations to fight Australia bushfires

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Apple partners with Red Cross to accept donations to fight Australia bushfires
Apple made a donation back in December.
Photo: Cult of Mac / Picturesofmoney

Apple is making it easier for people to make donations to the Red Cross to help efforts in Australia as it battles back against the terrible bushfires the country has experienced.

Users can make Red Cross donations of between $5 to $200 through iTunes and the App Store. Apple is not taking any commission or processing fees for the donations, which will go entirely to charity.

Fraudster posing as Apple tech support steals $16,000 from Mac owner

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Fraudster steals $16k from victim posing as Apple tech support
"Hello ma'am, this is, ugh, John from your bank. Could you tell me your account number?"
Photo: Donald Tong/Pexels CC

A hacker recently stole $16,000 from a Mac owner in Cape Coral, Florida, by posing as Apple tech support.

The fraudster phoned the targeted individual and prompted the victim to hand over personal information. They said they would use this to solve assorted problems with the person’s Mac. Instead, they stole money that the victim may well never get back.

Wemo WiFi Smart Plug with HomeKit is Belkin’s smallest yet

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The Wemo WiFi Smart Plug both support HomeKit
The Wemo WiFi Smart Plug and Wemo Stage were both unveiled at CES 2020.
Photo: Belkin

CES 2020Belkin’s latest version of its Wemo smart plug with HomeKit support is significantly smaller than its predecessor, making it less obtrusive on wall sockets.

The company also unveiled at CES 2020 the Wemo Stage, a remote than can be used to launch HomeKit scenes with the punch of a button.

Apple Pencil may soon get additional touch-sensitive controls

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A proposed Apple Pencil with more controls.
The second-gen Apple Pencil has a single capacitive button, but Apple is considering several more.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Building on the capabilities of the Apple Pencil active stylus, Apple proposes adding additional touch-sensitive controls to the exterior. This would expand the capabilities of this drawing tool for the iPad without making it more difficult to use.

This is just one of several ways Apple is considering to improve the Pencil.

Front and Center makes the Mac Finder behave like it should

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Front and Center screenshot
The window 'manager' you never knew you wanted.
Photo: John Siracusa

If you’re at your Mac, go ahead and click a window for another app (don’t forget to come back right away). Clicking an app’s window brings it to the foreground, of course. But did you notice that only the window you clicked came forward. If that other app has any other windows open, they will stay hidden. It wasn’t always this way. In pre-OS X days, the default behavior was to bring all those windows to the front. And now, thanks to a new app called Front and Center, from John Siracusa, you can get this behavior on a modern Mac.

Why Apple’s share price should rise another 50%

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Apple share price is on a roll
Apple shares went up 100% over the past years, and there are good reasons why it won‘t slow down.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

If you bought Apple shares on Jan. 9, 2019 then you’ve doubled your money since then. And while Apple certainly had a good year, it’s not done yet.

Analysts are predicting big increases in the share price because of the company’s changing mix of products — it’s not just an iPhone maker any more.

The Morning Show exec producer discusses show’s inspiration

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Apple_The-Morning-Show-Premiere_Jennifer-Aniston-Reese-Whiterspoon_102819
Shows like The Morning Show have been hits. But Apple has to build them from the ground-up.
Photo: Apple

You may not have ever heard of him, but Apple TV+ has a lot riding on Michael Ellenberg.

As the executive producer of The Morning Show, Ellenberg’s unproven production company was the first to score a multi-season deal for Apple TV+. In a recent interview with Variety, Ellenberg discussed how ’90s morning TV shows inspired The Morning Show along with the pressure of developing two more shows for Apple TV+.

How to check AirPods battery life from your Apple Watch

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Apple Watch AirPods battery
The Apple Watch can tell you about the batteries in your AirPods.
Photo: Cult of Mac

There are several ways to check the remaining battery life on your AirPods and AirPods Pro. You can flip open the AirPods’ case, and wave it near your iPhone or iPad to see a pop up battery screen. Or, if the AirPods are currently connected to your iPhone, you can swipe to the batter widget in the Today widget screen. But did you also know that you can check your AirPods’ battery from your Apple Watch?

Apple closing in on its 2 billionth iPhone sale

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iPhones at MacPaw museum
Apple sure has sold a lot of iPhones over the years.
Photo: MacPaw

Apple will sell its 2 billionth iPhone in 2020 or 2021, a poll of analysts suggests.

They suggest that Apple will sell close to 195 million iPhones in fiscal 2020. That would bring the total number of iPhones sold since launch to around 1.9 billion units. Provided that they are talking about Apple’s fiscal 2020, which ends in September, that could conceivably mean pushing past the 2 billion milestone this calendar year.

Dubai fan has one of the most impressive Apple collections you’ll find

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Jimmy Grewal Apple collection
75 computers, a bunch of Newton MessagePads, and more.
Photo: Jimmy Grewal

A large white room filled with row upon row of just about every Apple computer you can imagine, all in pristine condition. On the walls are framed copies of Apple’s black-and-white “Think Different” ads. Sunlight streams through the large windows, giving everything a warm glow.

Is this heaven? The world’s greatest Apple Store? Nope, it’s Dubai, actually. Home to Jimmy Grewal, a collector of vintage Apple computers and one of the most impressive collections you’re likely to find anywhere.

Ireland will award Tim Cook for 40 years of Apple investment

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Tim Cook talks diversity, sustainability, and coming out as gay
Cook’s award shelf is quickly running out of room.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook is set to receive a Special Recognition Award for the company’s 40 years of investment in Ireland, the IDA confirmed to Cult of Mac.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will present Cook with the accolade on January 20 in Dublin. It may be met with criticism from some as Apple continues to pay back €13 billion in unpaid Irish taxes.

Mythic Quest co-creator says Apple is opinionated, but ‘helpful’ partner

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Apple TV+ comedy Mythic Quest coming to PAX South gaming expo
Coming soon to Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

Rob McElhenney, co-creator of Apple TV+’s upcoming video game comedy Mythic Quest, says that Apple was “very helpful” in the creative process involved in making the show. But he noted that the company was more than willing to push back on issues it felt strongly about.

“Deference would assume we always know what we’re doing and when we walk into the room everyone should just be quiet,” McElhenney told Variety. “That is dangerous because then you have no opposition, and it doesn’t make for the best process.”

TiVo might not release an Apple TV app after all

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TiVo might not release an Apple TV app after all
TiVo's probably not getting an Apple TV app. Not in the future -- or whenever this picture was taken.
Photo: TiVo

TiVo’s plans for an Apple TV app are “currently on hold,” according to an executive at the company. Speaking with TechHive, Ted Malone, TiVo’s VP of consumer products and services, described the promised app as being “in limbo.”

A spokesperson later said that this is because the company has, “re-prioritized several projects in order to focus on the launch of TiVo Stream 4K.” It sounds as if Roku and Fire TV apps may also be set to suffer a similar fate.

Glitch causes some Apple Pay Express Transit users in NYC to be overcharged

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Glitch causes some Apple Pay Express Transit users to be overcharged
NYC commuters can now use Apple Pay to pay at busy Penn Station.
Photo: Gryffindor/Wikipedia CC

Some Apple Pay Express Transit users are being overcharged during travel in the New York subway. That’s because the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s OMNY tap-and-go fare readers are picking up their iPhones — even when users aren’t intending to use them.

According to the New York Post, the issue has resulted in a small number of users receiving an extra $2.75 charge. Here’s how you can avoid the problem if it’s happened to use.

JBL enters Dolby Atmos space with Airplay 2-ready, wireless soundbar

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JBL Bar 9.1
Speaker company JBL week announced this week the JBL Bar 9.1, a new soundbar with AirPlay 2 support.
Photo: JBL


CES 2020
JBL used CES this week to introduce an AirPlay 2-ready soundbar with Dolby Atmos support and a unique take on wireless rear speakers.

Instead of cables running through the room or wireless speakers plugged into the wall for power, the JBL Bar 9.1 uses wireless, battery-powered rear speakers.

Spending on Apple services grows much faster than new iPhone sales

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The App Store is important to Apple Services
Surprisingly, the App Store makes up less than half of revenue from Apple Services.
Photo: Apple

Revenue from Apple services reportedly grew 16% year-over-year in 2019 even as sales of iPhones declined. This indicates this company’s growth doesn’t depend on increasing handset sales, according to a market analysis firm.

Investor optimism about Apple’s services may have helped increase its share price almost 2% in the last month.

Satechi launches 108W dual USB-C desktop charger

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Satechi has introduced a new 108W Pro USB-C PD desktop charger
Satechi's new hub charges everything — and fast!
Photo: Satechi

CES 2020Tech accessory maker Satechi announced Wednesday its 108-watt Pro USB-C PD desktop charger which can power multiple devices simultaneously without needing to share power between ports.

The unit simultaneously charges four devices and includes two USB-C PD (90W, 18W) and two USB-A (a total of 12W) ports.