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Why ‘sexist’ Apple Card is Cupertino’s worst nightmare

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Sexist Apple Card accusations are tech's latest example of biased algorithms
Apple Card was meant to be the solution, not part of the problem.
Photo: Apple

Cupertino pitched Apple Card as the greatest credit card in history. Instead, the card generated negative PR based on accusations that the algorithm used to decide credit limits is discriminatory.

Even Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak complained about the supposedly sexist algorithm. Woz said he received 10 times more credit than his wife, despite sharing bank accounts and assets. Here’s how Apple became the latest tech giant to be accused of algorithmic bias — and what that means.

Take a sneak peek at upcoming Apple Lisa documentary

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Take a sneak peek at upcoming Apple Lisa documentary
The Lisa was a crucial machine in Apple's history.
Photo: Auction Team Breker

A forthcoming documentary will tell the story of the Apple Lisa, quite possibly the most important “flop” in the company’s history.

Before Macintosh: The Apple Lisa is planned for release in early 2020. With that date approaching, computer historian and director David Greelish shared some early scenes and the poster with Cult of Mac. Check them out below.

These Go-Tough power accessories will probably outlast your iPhone [Deals]

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Score reinforced Go-Tough power banks and cables to travel-proof power for your devices.
Score reinforced power banks and cables to travel-proof power for your devices.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

We rely on our digital gear for almost every aspect of everyday life, and our devices rely on power. So if there’s a break in the chain, whether a dead battery or a bad cable, it can create a cascade of problems. That’s why we’ve rounded up three of the best super-tough charging accessories from Go-Tough. From rugged batteries to reinforced cables, they can take a licking and keep on … well, charging.

Most importantly, you can rely on them for a constant supply of precious power.

Truth Be Told premieres ahead of Apple TV+ debut next month

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Truth-Be-Told-premiere
Truth Be Told stars Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul.
Photo: Apple

A brand-new Apple original this week premiered in Los Angeles, California, ahead of its Apple TV+ debut. Truth Be Told starring Octavia Spencer will be available for streaming on December 6.

The limited drama series, based on the novel Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber, follows a podcaster who is compelled to reopen the murder case that made her a national sensation.

Disney+ is live and ready to download from the App Store

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Disney+ is live and ready to download from the App Store
Disney+ has the potential to be a leviathan in the streaming game.
Image: Disney

The Disney+ app is officially available to download through the App Store. The subscription service features an extensive back catalog plus new shows, including the Star Wars spinoff The Mandalorian.

And, just like that, the streaming war just got a whole lot more intensive!

New 3D sensor in 2020 iPad Pro could accelerate Apple AR

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There are plenty of AR apps but few people have heard of them. An Apple veteran has been tasked with changing that.
Tablets are a good way to view augmented reality, and Apple’s next AR push could start with the 2020 iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

An iPad Pro in development for next year will be the first with a 3D scanner capable of creating digital representations of real-world objects, according to an unconfirmed report. This will supposedly be used in augmented reality and virtual reality applications.

This scanner will next appear in the 2020 iPhone, and in AR/VR goggles and glasses in coming years.

16-inch MacBook Pro launch could be any day now

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16-inch MacBook Pro concept
An extra-large MacBook Pro could be out this week. Perhaps.
Concept: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Don’t give up hope for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Multiple sources indicate that the launch Apple’s biggest laptop in years could be imminent.

Even if it wasn’t announced in October, as so many people expected.

A used 2015 Retina MacBook Pro might be the best MacBook you can buy today

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Old macbook
Why not buy an old MacBook instead of Apple’s flawed lineup?
Photo: Mark Solarski/Unsplash

Since I wrote about Apple’s ongoing MacBook disaster last week, and then offered a bunch of alternatives to the current MacBook lineup, several readers got in touch to ask which — if any — older MacBooks we’d recommend. I haven’t bought a MacBook in years, so I did a little research, and asked around the Cult of Mac crew.

So, let’s find out which is the best (old) MacBook you can buy today.

Tiny HyperJuice 4-port charger pumps out 100 watts

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Sanho HyperJuice with MacBook, iPad, and more.
Sanho HyperJuice can charge all your Apple gear at once.
Photo: Sanho

Sanho calls its newly-unveiled HyperJuice “the smallest 100W charger on the market.” Despite the svelte design, it has a pair of USB-C ports that can put out 100W, dual USB-A ports that max out at 18W, and swappable power prongs.

It’s on Kickstarter now, available for well below the eventual regular price.

Tap your AirPods Pro case to check if it’s charged

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AirPods supplier confident of booming business through 2021
Tap the AirPods Pro battery case to show the charge status LED.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The AirPods Pro come in a Qi-enabled wireless charging case, which means you can just drop it onto a charging mat, grab them a while later, and everything is topped up and ready to go. But the LED indicator on the case blinks off soon after you start charging. What’s up? How do you find out if your AirPods are full yet?

Apple Watch Series 6 could handle scuba diving

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swimmer wearing apple watch
Apple Watch is already swim-proof, but the next version could take that to new depths.
Photo: Apple

It’s not exactly going out on a limb, but respected Apple expert Ming-Chi Kuo predicts next year’s Apple Watch Series 6 will be offer better performance than the current one, and include improved wireless speeds.  Still, with the launch about likely 10 months away, it’s not surprising that only a few vague generalities can be said about Apple’s next wearable.

What’s more interesting is a mention of enhanced water resistance that raises the possibility of taking this device to the bottom of the sea.

iPhone 11 Pro flexes its muscles in muscle car film

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Carfection episode shot on iPhone 11 Pro
As seen through an iPhone 11 Pro.
Screenshot: Carfection/YouTube

The YouTube channel Carfection is car porn and episodes are shot to hook an auto buff teetering on the brink of addiction.

Undulating roads, sumptuous light, purring engines, a slow pan on every line and curve, Carfection uses an arsenal of cinematic gear to achieve perfect shots.

Would an iPhone 11 Pro used to shoot a recent episode on a special edition Mustang sate Carfection’s car lovers?

Controller support coming to Call of Duty: Mobile ‘soon’

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Call of Duty: Mobile racks up amazing 100m downloads in first week
It may be back, but probably not.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Activision has confirmed that it will bring controller support to Call of Duty: Mobile “soon.”

The game’s publisher says it is finalizing the plans ahead of a future update. It sounds like it will implement special matchmaking measures for those who choose to use physical buttons and sticks.

Here’s to the brave ones: Apple pays tribute to vets on Veterans Day

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Here's to the brave ones: Apple pays tribute to vets on Veterans Day
Apple offers a 10% discount to military veterans.
Photo: Samuel Branch/Unsplash

Apple has changed its home page for Veterans Day, paying tribute to those who fight to keep America free.

Its home page features a banner reading: “Here’s to the brave ones. We’re proud to honor America’s veterans and service members this Veterans Day and every day.” It links to a webpage with a reminder of Apple’s 10% discount for vets.

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.)