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Forrest Gump’s investment in Apple would be worth $28 billion today

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Forrest Gump finds out he owns part of Apple
Forrest Gump finds out he owns part of a “fruit company.”
Screen cap: Paramount

In the Oscar-winning movie Forrest Gump, there’s a short scene in which Tom Hanks’s character opens a letter of thanks from Apple after his former military colleague and business partner Lieutenant Dan invested some of the profits from the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company in “some kind of fruit company.”

It’s been 25 years since that movie debuted. If Gump was real and if he was still clinging on to his investment today, his investment in the Cupertino company would worth around $28 billion.

Guard your home with night vision and motion detection [Deals]

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Sance Security Camera
This compact security camera sports night vision and motion detection so nothing escapes its gaze.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For the security-minded, a home security camera offers a lot of benefits. For one, when something bad happens to or around your house, it helps to have the video receipts. And sometimes a camera can help prevent theft or vandalism in the first place.

Best summer tech: Turn up the heat with these great gadgets [Reviews]

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Summer tech
Summertime and the living is easy if your iPhone has the right gear.
Photo: Pexels

Summertime means everything from hitting the pool to heading out on vacation. And, of course, your tech is coming along for the ride.

We’ve compiled a collection of accessories you might find turn up the heat on summertime fun. There are smart glasses, travel chargers, wireless speakers and headphones, and more.

Apple revs up CarPlay at last in iOS 13 [Cult of Mac Magazine No. 303]

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Apple revs up CarPlay - Cult of Mac Magazine
CarPlay moves into the fast lane in iOS 13.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple finally gives CarPlay some love in iOS 13, adding loads of new features and a much better user interface. The long-overdue upgrade shifts Apple’s in-car platform into high gear at last.

Find out everything new in CarPlay in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now from the iOS App Store. Or read the rest of the best Apple news, reviews and how-tos in your browser by clicking on the headlines below.

Apple should sue Xiaomi for its blatant copying — but it won’t

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Xiaomi Mimoji look very familiar.
Mimoji is one of many products Xiaomi has ripped from Apple.
Photo: Xiaomi

Xiaomi has a history of shamelessly ripping off bigger brands, and nine times out of ten, its chosen target is Apple.

The Chinese company has previously cloned the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and more — without a single shred of fear that it might one day feel the wrath of Apple’s legal department.

Xiaomi’s latest ripoff is its own version of Memoji, and it brazenly stole Apple’s own commercials to promote it on a number of retail channels this week.

Here’s how Xiaomi gets away with it.

Jony Ive’s successor could someday replace Tim Cook at Apple’s helm

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Apple COO Jeff Williams
Williams is next in line for the CEO’s office.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s COO Jeff Williams won’t take on the departing Jony Ive’s title of Chief Design Officer but he’s nevertheless stepping into the role.

A new profile in The Wall Street Journal quotes sources who question whether Williams has the vision to take Ive’s place. Even so, some are looking at this executive to someday replace CEO Tim Cook.

Sony’s answer to AirPods boasts one big advantage

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Sony-wireless-buds
But they’re not cheap.
Photo: Sony

Sony’s new wireless earbuds are ready to take on AirPods.

The horribly named WF-1000XM3 promise the same impressive audio quality as Sony’s best-selling headphones — but in an earbud form factor. And they boast one big advantage.

Here’s why you might want to avoid Apple’s hottest accessory and pick up these instead.

Apple allegedly considering a foldable 5G iPad

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Folding iPhone 2
Are you in the market for a folding iPad?
Photo: Foldable News

Apple’s planning the biggest design change to the iPad in its near-10 year history, a new report claims.

According to a report from IHS Markit, Apple is developing a folding iPad. This future tablet will boast a MacBook size screen, but foldable into something a fraction of the size. Oh, yes, and it’ll supposedly have 5G capabilities, too.

Score extended July 4th deals on gear, apps and lessons [Deals]

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photo-1531718748519-a5fbb6cf972d
July 4th is over but the deals roll on at the Cult of Mac Store.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

July 4th has come and gone. The tanks are back in their garages. But the deals roll on at the Cult of Mac Store. We’ve got big discounts on a 3-in-1 charging pad, a five-part course in Microsoft Excel, and a powerful, intuitive photo editing app. Most are discounted by about half or greater, read on for more details:

Why’d Jony Ive quit Apple? Troubling details emerge … this week on The CultCast

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CultCast 395
Just why did Jony call it quits?

This week on The CultCast: A new report details why Jony Ive is departing Apple, and it paints a troubling picture. Plus, Leander tells us about the “fiddle factor,” the unique quality that made Ive our time’s greatest designer.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain..

Minit is an adventure game with a 60-second time limit

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Minit
Minit has a decidedly vintage feel.
Image: Devolver Digital

In an age of open-world sandbox titles, many games try to get you playing for hours on end. That’s not the case with Minit, an adventure game which just arrived in the App Store.

As its name implies, Minit is a title in which each game lasts, well, one minute. That means that you’ve got just 60 seconds to try and complete each stage. Check out the trailer below.

Team Rocket hot air balloon signals Pokémon Go arrival

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Pokémon GO’s best year yet shows novelty doesn't have to wear off
Pokémon GO’s best year yet shows novelty doesn't have to wear off
Photo: The Pokémon Company

A Team Rocket hot air balloon flown over Dortmund, Germany, this week all but confirms the evil gang’s imminent arrival in Pokémon Go.

Emblazoned with a Team Rocket logo, the balloon appeared on day one of Europe’s first ever Pokémon Go Fest. It’s the latest in a number of teasers Niantic has put out to signal Team Rocket’s introduction.

But what will it mean for Pokémon Go?

New hope for Apple Stores finally making it to India

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iPhone sales are showing signs of life in India
Apple has been trying for its own retail stores for years.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s much-delayed dreams of opening an official Apple Store in India may finally be close to coming true.

In Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s maiden budget speech, the minister announced the relaxation of laws concerning single brand stores. These rules stated that 30% of goods sold in these stores had to be sourced locally. However, it seems they may no longer apply.

Apple paid Samsung $683 million for missing OLED display targets

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iPhone XS crazy performance means speed at your fingertips.
Samsung makes the displays for the iPhone XS and XS Max.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple paid Samsung 800 billion won ($683 million) during the second quarter of the year. The payments covered the cost of display panels after Apple missed a sales target both companies had agreed on.

The cash influx represents a rare bright spot during a three-month period in which Samsung’s profits are forecast to plunge an overall 56%.

PhotoGrip Qi is a camera grip and wireless charger in one [Review]

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Adonit PhotoGrip Qi
The Adonit PhotoGrip Qi is charging this iPhone XS Max while taking this picture.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adonit actually found a way to make taking vacation pictures with your iPhone easier. The PhotoGrip Qi turns your phone into an old-school point-and-shoot. Plus it includes a tripod with a remote shutter button. On top of that, its flexible iPhone clamp wirelessly charges the handset.

I still remember the days before phone cameras. Come see how well Adonit did re-creating that experience.

Stranger Things x Fortnite crossover skins leak out early

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Fortnite-x-Stranger-Things
Yes, you can play as a Demogorgon.
Photo: Netflix

Stranger Things season three is finally here, and according to early impressions, it might just be the best one yet. It’s also going to mean big things for Fortnite Battle Royale fans.

The hit Netflix show has already started making its mark inside the game, with portals to the Upside Down recently appearing in Mega Mall. And now we’ve got our first glimpse at new Stranger Things skins.

How to create smart playlists in Apple Music on iOS (finally)

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Cassette tapes
Let's do this.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

It’s impossible to create smart Apple Music playlists directly on the iPhone. Or rather, it was impossible. Previously, you had to fire up iTunes on your Mac or PC, create a smart playlist there, and then let it sync to your iPhone over iCloud.

Even in iOS 13, this is still the case. But now there’s another way. A new iOS app called Miximum can create smart playlists, and even sync them to the regular Apple Music app. It is, as they say, a game-changer.

It’s not just you, Apple online services hit with multiple problems [Updated]

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Out of Order
This sign should be posted on many of Apple’s iCloud services.
Photo: publicdomainpictures.net

Apple reports that every iCloud service is currently experiencing problems. This affects users of iCloud Drive, Keychain and many more.

However, this doesn’t seem to be cropping up for every user. And many of this company’s other online services are running fine.

Update (3:40pm): All today’s issues with Apple services have been cleared up.

Every USB device I’ve plugged into an iOS 13 iPad so far

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Pile of usb junk
Now you can plug in almost everything, including the kitchen sink
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The USB port on your iPad has gotten a massive update in iOS 13/iPadOS. You can now plug in pretty much everything except a printer, and have it Just Work™. We already know this from Apple’s own PR and WWDC announcements. But what exactly does work when you plug it in? I decided to try it. I took my old test iPad (a 1st-generation iPad Pro) on a tour around various friends’ homes, and plugged stuff in. Here’s what happened.

Fund containing Apple’s giant EU tax bill lost $18 million last year

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Image of the old Apple Inc. rainbow logo atop American cash money.
The escrow contains Apple's massive $16 billion fine.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The escrow fund containing the massive $16 billion fine Apple was commanded to pay by the EU declined by $18 million last year.

The funds are being held in an escrow account while appeals by Apple and Ireland make their way through the court. In the meantime, the money is invested — but, at least based on last year, not as successfully as hoped.

Ring in July 4th with new headphones, PDF editors and more [Deals]

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Fourth of July
Ring in the 4th with these deals on workout-ready earbuds, PDF Reader, and resume-boosting lessons.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For most people, July 4th is a time to relax, barbecue, and watch some fireworks. Here at Cult of Mac, it’s a time to share the best deals of the summer so far. This go-around, we’ve got a set of workout-ready wireless earbuds, a powerful PDF editor, and a certification course in product management. There’s plenty here to enjoy, and more to come, so read on: