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Frozen Mac Touch Bar? Here’s how to fix it.

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To an iPad user, four USB-C ports are a luxury.
Fix a frozen Touch Bar.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Just like anything else on your MacBook Pro, the Touch Bar can freeze and become totally unresponsive. And, just like with every other frozen process on the Mac, there’s an easy way to fix it: You just have to force the Touch Bar to restart.

Today we’ll see how to fix a frozen Touch Bar so you can keep using the MacBook Pro’s best feature.

Apple might snap up Broadcom’s RF chip business

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Broadcom
Broadcom has been supplying Apple with chips for years.
Photo: Florian Knodt/Flickr

Apple might be in the market to acquire the radio-frequency chip division from one of its biggest parts suppliers.

The Wall Street Journal reported today that Broadcom Inc is working with Credit Suisse to find a possible buyer of its RF wireless-chip unit in an effort to diversify its business and move more toward software. Although the names of companies potentially interested in the division haven’t been named, Apple observers are quickly pointing out that the iPhone-maker scooping it up makes the most sense.

Spotify’s Tastebuds feature will show you what friends are listening to

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Spotify Premium update October 2018
Try it out today.
Photo: Spotify

Spotify is gearing up to add a new social feature to its apps that could give it another edge over Apple Music.

Prototype screenshots of an upcoming feature called “Tastebuds” were unearthed on Twitter this week. From the looks of it, Tastebuds will build off Spotify’s underlaying social networking features, giving users a new way to discover music through what their friends are listening to.

Pixelmator Pro can now upsize tiny images without losing detail

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Pixelmator Pro's new ML Super Resolution tool
New Pixelmator Pro feature keeps the sharpness in upsized images.
Screenshot: Pixelmator

Pixelmator Pro, an increasingly popular macOS photo-editing program, has a new tool its creators say will let you blow up an image and maintain detail and sharpness “like they do in all those cheesy police dramas.”

ML Super Resolution lets users increase the resolution up to three times without the muddy, pixelated mess normally associated with upscaled images.

How to use Ableton Live or Logic Pro X on your iPad

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Ableton Live on the iPad
Yes, that's Ableton Live on the iPad.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Sidecar is the new iOS 13/macOS Catalina feature that lets you use an iPad as an extra display for your Mac. But it also lets you send any app off to your iPad. Then you can wander off and use that app on the iPad, pretty much independently, with the Apple Pencil.

This means you can use some high-level Mac music apps, like Logic Pro X and Ableton Live, on the iPad. There are a couple of catches, but it’s easy to use. In fact, Sidecar is so good that using Mac apps on the iPad like this is actually a viable, sensible option. It’s not just a neat trick that you’ll use once and then forget about.

Apple drops first iOS 13.3.1 public beta

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

Public beta testers can already get their hands on the new beta for iPhones and iPads that was just seeded to developers yesterday.

iOS 13.3.1 public beta 1 is available to all members of Apple’s Public Beta Testing program starting today, bringing a bunch of performance improvements, including some crucial fixes for Screen Time.

AirSnap Pro adds colorful protection to AirPods Pro

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AirSnap Pro for AirPods Pro
AirSnap Pro brings a more organic look to AirPods Pro.
Photo: Twelve South

Apple’s charging case for AirPods Pro is fine if you like shiny white plastic, but Twelve South today launched AirSnap Pro with a very different look. This leather case wraps around Apple’s new hearables, both protecting them and adding more color options.

Crime ring allegedly makes millions selling defective iPhones

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Apple supplier will start building crucial iPhone component in India
Employees allegedly made and sold iPhones out of discarded components.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Foxconn has launched an investigation after a group of “management staff” were accused of a $43 million iPhone scam. The scam, which ran for three years, involved a Taiwanese businessman and staff at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou, which manufactures iPhones.

The alleged “crime ring” assembled iPhones out of rejected components, and then sold them on to customers.

Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant

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Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant
Siri is found on a whole lot of devices.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Thanks to Amazon’s Echo devices, Alexa is probably the AI assistant most likely to come up in a conversation. But Siri is still the most popular virtual assistant of them all.

According to a new report by Futuresource Consulting, Siri currently leads the virtual assistant pack with a 35% global marketshare. Google Assistant follows behind with 9% of the marketshare, while Alexa makes up just 4% of AI assistants.

Early Mac Pro benchmarks won’t blow you away

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

Early benchmarks for the 2019 Mac Pro have now started surfacing online — and they might be a disappointment for some.

The scores achieved by entry-level and mid-tier machines are similar to those you will get from a 2017 iMac Pro. In fact, iMac Pro and even the budget Mac mini achieve significantly higher scores in some tests.

Apple Music offers up to 6 months of free music for the holidays

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Streaming services like Apple Music dominate the US music market
And it's open to existing subscribers, too!
Photo: Apple

Apple Music’s standard free trial offer is a generous 90 days. But, for the holidays, someone in Cupertino has decided to double this.

By using the Shazam app, would-be Apple Music subscribers can get a total of 6 months Apple Music for free. And you can even get some free months it if you’re currently, or have previously been, an Apple Music subscriber.

Use SmartDNS to dodge annoying content restrictions [Deals]

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KeepSolid SmartDNS
Watch your favorite shows anywhere, free of location restrictions with this easy-to-use DNS proxy app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

When you travel, your TV shows might not be able to go with you. That’s because some content is legally only viewable in certain countries. So, if you’re not in the right country for that Netflix or Hulu show, you can’t watch it until you get home. But with KeepSolid SmartDNS, location-based content restrictions aren’t a problem.

Mario Kart’s final tour of 2019 brings holiday cups, courses and more

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Mario-Kart-Tour-holidays
The holidays have arrived in Mario Kart Tour.
Photo: Nintendo

Mario Kart Tour is closing out 2019 in style with new characters, cups, and courses for the holidays.

There are a variety of locations to enjoy, from historic cities to iconic rainbow roads, plus the wonderful Jingle Bells sleigh. It should keep racers going over the holiday break while we wait for online multiplayer.

Apple Watch’s ‘Ring in the New Year’ challenge will kickstart your 2020

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Apple-Watch-New-Year-Challenge
Start the Roaring Twenties on the right step.
Photo: Apple

This time of year isn’t great for health and fitness. With a constant barrage of holidays, comprising stodgy meals and plenty of snacks, we talk lots about New Year resolutions — but don’t necessarily act on it.

However, your trusty Apple Watch is ready to nudge you in the right direction, courtesy of Apple’s upcoming “Ring in the New Year” challenge. Here’s what you need to know about it:

Apple joins rivals to create open standard for smart home devices

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Abode Iota is a security system by itself
Building your smart home is about to get a whole lot easier.
Photo: Abode

Apple is teaming up with Amazon, Google, and the Zigbee Alliance to create a new open and royalty-free standard for smart home devices.

Project “Connected Home over IP” aims to increase compatibility among smart home gadgets and make development easier for device manufacturers. It should also simplify smart technology for consumers.

Fortnite’s brand-new Battle Lab lets you decide the rules

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Fortnite-Battle-Lab
Download the 11.31 update today to get started.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite’s newest update is out with a brand-new Battle Lab that lets you create the rules for your own Battle Royale matches.

You can select from your favorite limited-time game (LTM) pools, set up custom combat scenarios, and specify your own settings. The version 11.31 update also brings a bunch of bug fixes across all platforms.

Some publishers report that Apple News+ isn’t a ‘huge boon’ for business

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Some publishers report that Apple News+ isn't a 'huge boon' for business
News+ offers more visibility, but doesn't bring in masses of cash for publishers.
Photo: Apple

Compared to the likes of Apple Music and Apple TV+, Apple News+ doesn’t exactly seem to be setting the world on fire, publishers say.

A new report claims that, nine months after its launch, publishers are not viewing News+ as the “cure-all” they might have hoped for. While the subscription service is helping them reach wider audiences, some publishers report seeing “little impact” on their bottom line.

This is your best shot at snagging AirPods Pro today

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Apple reportedly adding another supplier for its ultra-popular AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro aren't easy to come by right now, but don't give up hope!
Photo: Apple

Even though AirPods Pro are basically sold out everywhere, there’s still a chance you could snag a pair today. And with a simple Siri trick, Apple makes it easy for you to snag 2019’s hottest gift.

If you absolutely want to get AirPods Pro by Christmas, and don’t want to pay a reseller a premium, here’s your best shot for finding a pair ASAP.

Wanda Sykes’ LGBTQ docuseries lands on Apple TV+

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Visible
Wanda Sykes is coming to Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ added a new docuseries to its roster of upcoming content after striking a deal with actress and comedian Wanda Sykes’ production company this week.

Visible: Out on Television is set to debut on Apple TV+ on February 14, 2020. The five-part series will examine how television shaped the LGBTQ movement and vice-versa and will include a lot of familiar faces you’ll probably recognize.

How to remove Memoji stickers from your keyboard in iOS

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Want to remove Memoji stickers from your keyboard? It's easy to switch them off.
Have Memoji stickers taken over your keyboard?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

iOS 13 introduced a new love/hate feature: Memoji stickers. Now, whenever you open the emoji keyboard on your iPhone or iPad, these stickers take up the leftmost space. That alone would be fine. However, the stickers also replace the panel showing your recently used emoji (or at least shifted that panel right).

If you don’t like the current state of affairs, don’t fret. You can quickly remove those pesky Memoji stickers from your keyboard.

Steal Samsung’s sweet Star Wars wallpapers for your iPhone

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Star-Wars-wallpaper-iPhone
They look great on OLED screens.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Samsung just dropped its new Galaxy Note 10+ Star Wars Edition, and it looks awesome. But if you’re not ready to ditch your iPhone and spend $1,300 on something else, just steal its sweet wallpapers instead.

There are eight in total, and they’re ideal for any Star Wars fan. They also look terrific on iPhone.

iPhone 11 Pro can’t outshoot a $250,000 TV camera

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iPhone v. TV camera
Sometimes size does matter.
Screenshot: Zebra Zone/YouTube

The iPhone may replace other cameras in many homes. But it won’t send professional still and video cameras to their grave like some believe.

To make this case, YouTuber Zebra Zone created a ridiculous video showing an iPhone 11 Pro in a shootout with a $250,000 broadcast TV camera.

Disable Turbo Boost to keep your MacBook cool

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disable Turbo Boost
Turbo Boost enabled.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Compared to an iPad, even the new 16-inch MacBook Pro runs pretty hot. In my first impressions post about the latest Apple laptop, I noted that the fans went crazy pretty much any time I switched it on. That has stopped now, thanks to two things: One is that my photo library is fully indexed, and the other is that I have disabled Turbo Boost.

But how?

Developers get their hands on first iOS 13.3.1, macOS 10.15.3 betas

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iOS 13 on an iPhone X
Have you upgraded yet?
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple today made its first iOS 13.3.1 and macOS 10.15.3 betas available to developers.

The minor updates don’t have patch notes yet. But they likely fix a serious flaw in Communication Limits, which can allow messages to be received from unauthorized contacts, among other bugs.

New betas are also available for HomePod, iPad, and Apple TV.