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Exciting ‘iPhone 12’ concept imagines dramatic design changes

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iPhone-12-concept
It's like an iPhone 4 for the modern day.
Photo: PhoneArena

Your brand-new iPhone 11 is about to look outdated already thanks to these exciting “iPhone 12” concept images.

The renders imagine what next year’s refresh will look like based on the rumors that have surfaced so far. It takes design cues from the iconic iPhone 4 while improving on what we have today.

These iPhone-controlled robot vacuums are on sale today [Deals]

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Robot Vacuums
Give your home a sci-fi upgrade and pick the robo-vacuum that picks your needs and budget.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

One of the few pure and good things technology has brought is the ability to release a personal R2-D2 in our homes to keep the carpets clean. Personal robots are automatically cool, and even better when they make life tidier. So we rounded up three of the best robo-vacuums on the market, from entry-level to deluxe models.

Snag one today — at a big discount — to take some of the drudgery out of your housework.

Billionaire’s son who bought Apple Watches for his dog lands on China’s credit blacklist

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Billionaire's son who bought Apple Watches for his dog lands on China's 'discredited' list
He seemed so careful with his cash, too.
Photo: Wang Sicong

The son of a Chinese billionaire who infamously bought two luxury Apple Watch Editions for his pet dog has been placed on the country’s official list of financially discredited individuals.

A court decision means that he can no longer fly first class, go on expensive vacations, or buy luxury products. Unless he’s bought new Apple Watches in the meantime, that should severely curtail his pet’s future time-keeping abilities!

Apple Watch owners get Roku controls on their wrist

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Roku-Apple-Watch
Leave that phone in your pocket.
Photo: Roku

Roku just debuted a new Apple Watch app that lets you control its streaming devices from your wrist.

You can use the app to launch your favorite Channels and control media playback. You can also use its voice recognition capabilities to search for movies and TV shows.

iPhone 11 triumphs during Alibaba’s record-breaking Singles Day in China

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Apple boots smelter and refiners in crackdown on conflict minerals
Today is one of the biggest shopping days of the year.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Today is Singles Day in China, the Alibaba version of Amazon’s Prime Day — and, from the sound of things, Apple has done pretty darn well out of it.

This year’s 24-hour shopping event has surpassed last year’s 213.5 billion yuan (more than $30 billion) record for gross merchandise value sold. The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max were reportedly two of the top-selling items during Singles Day.

Woz: Apple should ‘share responsibility’ for sexist Apple Card

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Apple Card’s ‘elite card’ status is hitting retailers in the wallet
Some users suggest that a discriminatory algorithm may be determining Apple Card scores.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak is one of a number of Apple Card owners concerned about a possible sexist algorithm used for determining credit limits.

On Twitter, Woz said that he received 10x more credit on the card than his wife. “We have no separate bank or credit card accounts or any separate assets,” Wozniak clarified. “Hard to get to a human for a correction though. It’s big tech in 2019.”

Want to build something? These 4 deals will get your creative juices flowing today [Deals]

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Weekend project
Stop putting off ideas and start that weekend project.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Walt Disney said it best: “The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing.” If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I knew how to do that,” then this is your wakeup call.

Whether you want to build your own app or a microcomputer, a website or an e-commerce hub, these four deeply discounted educational offerings will inspire you to stop thinking about building something great, and just jump in and get it done. Expand your horizons today! (These courses are all over 93% off right now.)

The great MacBook disaster [Cult of Mac Magazine 322]

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MacBook disaster: Can Cupertino fix this sorry state of affairs?
Can Cupertino fix the sorry state of the MacBook?
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

That butterfly keyboard. Those missing ports. The annoying lack of easy upgrades. Cult of Mac’s Charlie Sorrel makes a good case that the current MacBook lineup is a disaster. Can Apple turn it around?

Get his take (as well as his list of the top MacBook alternatives) in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. You’ll also get plenty of Apple news, reviews and how-tos — all for free.

Mophie charging pad easily powers all your mobile gear at once [Review]

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Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods
Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad can handle iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods at once.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Anyone who’s all-in on Apple has an iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch. Recharging that combination every night can be a hassle, but the Mophie 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad can handle them all at the same time.

Apple likes it enough to put it on the Apple Store, so take a look to see if you need one on your nightstand.

Browse an awesome roundup of Bluetooth headphones under $100 [Deals]

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Wireless Headphones Under $100
We've rounded up some of the best Bluetooth headphones out there, each for well under 100 bucks.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Bluetooth headphones are the best way to enjoy personal audio. Obviously, they’ve got no wires to untangle. And the technology has advanced to the point where they sound as good as cabled alternatives — plus they add tons of additional features.

There are also many models to choose from — including those high-priced new AirPods Pro — so we rounded up some of the best deals we could find. Even better, each one of these great Bluetooth headphones costs well under $100.

macOS Mail bug exposes portions of encrypted emails

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MacMail
Your encrypted emails on Mac might not be as private as you think.
Photo: Apple

Apple failed to kill a bug in the Mail app for macOS for months despite its potential to expose private details in emails that the user thought was encrypted.

Security researcher Bob Gendler first discovered the flaw in July and notified Apple of it. Despite releasing four updates for macOS since that time, the privacy flaw still hasn’t been fixed. Apple says it’s working to resolve the issue soon though.

The best alternatives to Apple’s disastrous MacBooks

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Macbook alternatives: The Surface Book comes with a 100%-working keyboard.
Unlike MacBooks, the Surface Book comes with a 100%-working keyboard.
Photo: Clint Patterson/Unsplash

Apple’s current line of MacBooks is probably its worst laptop lineup in years. The keyboards are so broken that even the newest MacBook Air is covered under Apple’s keyboard repair program. There are too few ports, and too much heat. And if you want to upgrade any internal parts? You’ll have to buy a new MacBook. But what are the best MacBook alternatives?

If you want to ditch the MacBook, you will find plenty of options. However, none of them offer one essential element: macOS. Switching to another operating system is like moving house and having to leave everything but your clothes behind. But there are workarounds even for that. Let’s check out the best alternatives to the MacBook in 2019.

Slickwraps Skins bring style to plain AirPods Pro

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Slickwraps Skins for AirPods Pro
Retro, snakeskin and camo are just a few of the Slickwraps Skins available for AirPods Pro.
Photo: Slickwraps

Although AirPods Pro still come only in white, users can add color with Slickwraps Skins. These are thin layers of vinyl that decorate not just the in-ear headphones but also the case, and there are dozens of options.

They’re available now for under $20.

The Morning Show blitzes viewers with Apple product placement

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The Morning Show blitzes viewers with Apple product placement
"How many times do you want us to reference Apple products in the show?" "Yes."
Photo: Apple

It was always going to be difficult for Apple to resist peppering Apple TV+ shows with Apple products. But even with that said, the amount of times Apple product placement pops up on The Morning Show surely sets some kind of record. It’s basically a 10-episode long Apple commercial.

Apple Store employee fired after stealing personal photo from customer’s iPhone

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Apple Store employee fired after stealing personal photo from customers' iPhone
Incident happened at Valley Plaza Mall Apple Store in California.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has fired an Apple Store employee after they stole a personal photo from the iPhone of a customer.

The employee in question worked at the Valley Plaza Mall Apple Store in Bakersfield, CA. Apple has said the employee in question “acted far outside the strict privacy guidelines to which we hold all Apple employees”. They confirmed that the employee is no longer working for Apple.

You can shop inside WhatsApp, just in time for Black Friday

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shop-WhatsApp
Download the latest update to get started.
Photo: WhatsApp

WhatsApp today added the ability to shop without leaving the app — just in time for Black Friday.

Its new Catalogs feature provides virtual storefronts for small businesses. It lets them showcase their latest products, and it’s especially handy for those that don’t run their own websites.

This highly rated VPN keeps your internet data safe [Deals]

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Windscribe VPN
This VPN works as a combination of desktop app and browser extension, for layers of protection on unlimited devices.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’ve spent any time on this site, you know we’re big fans of VPNs. That’s because they’re an essential tool for making sure your private information stays private. But they can sometimes be confusing to use, and limited in what devices they’ll work on. So we recommend this versatile VPN as a way of staying safe and anonymous online, on any device.

Apple Watch now makes up almost half of all smartwatch shipments

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Apple Watch thieves arrested after owner 'pings' device during police search
Apple Watch has been a massive hit for Apple.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple Watch continues to cement its position as the undisputed ruler of the smartwatch industry. According to new research from Strategy Analytics, overall smartwatch shipments grew 42% year-on-year in Q3 2019 to reach 14 million units. Of these, Apple Watch accounted for 6.8 million devices.

That means that approximately one out of every two smartwatches shipped in the quarter was an Apple Watch.

Catch our spoiler-free Apple TV+ show reviews, this week on The CultCast

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CultCast 413
Get our first (spoiler-free) impressions of Apple TV+ shows.
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: We watched See, The Morning Show and For All Mankind — here are our spoiler-free snap reviews of Apple’s new TV shows! Plus: The one part of Apple TV+ that needs a total overhaul; and Apple’s HomePod update includes a new hidden talent.

Our thanks to NETGEAR for supporting this episode. The Orbi WiFi 6 router gives you ultra-fast speeds and wider coverage throughout your home — it’s the biggest revolution in Wi-Fi ever. Check it out today at your local Best Buy and at Netgear.com/bestwifi6.

Apple delves behind the scenes of See in new featurette

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Apple delves behind the scenes of See in new featurette
In a break from his usual casting, Jason Momoa plays a muscular man mountain in See.
Photo: Apple

How do you make something that’s exciting visually when it’s depicting a world populated by people who can’t see? That’s one of the challenges that the creators of Apple TV+ series See faced when developing the Apple Original show.

That question and a few others are answered in a new behind the scenes featurette Apple released Thursday.