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Everything you need to know about iPhone Mirroring on the Mac

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Control Your iPhone From Your MacBook
Save yourself the pain of getting your phone out of your pocket.
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

iPhone Mirroring on the Mac lets you control your phone using your computer — a handy convenience when your iPhone is in your pocket, purse or backpack. All your iPhone notifications can be mirrored onto your Mac as well, letting you triage them and take care of business without touching your phone and interrupting your workflow.

This feature also could come in handy if you shatter your iPhone screen. You can mirror an otherwise unusable iPhone to your Mac to make sure it’s backed up. You could even factory-reset your broken phone before sending it in for repair or replacement.

Here’s how iPhone mirroring works. Keep reading or watch our video.

iPhone 17 may not sport a smaller Dynamic Island

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iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island showing HomePod speakers
The Dynamic Island will look the same on the iPhone 17.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup will not feature a smaller Dynamic Island as previously rumored. The pill-shaped user interface’s size apparently will remain unchanged.

Apple ditched the notch and switched to the Dynamic Island with the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022.

Sleek new Apple Miami Worldcenter store opens [Updated with pix]

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A customer Apple Miami Worldcenter on opening day.
Opening day energy!
Photo: Apple

Apple’s retail footprint in South Florida expanded Friday with the opening of its newest location, Apple Miami Worldcenter. A big opening-day crowd — including Apple execs Deirdre O’Brien and Eddy Cue — swamped the sleek new store, Apple’s 10th retail location in Miami.

“Miami is a city with a history, culture and life all its own, and we are thrilled to capture that energy with Apple Miami Worldcenter in downtown Miami,” said Deirdre O’Brien, Apple’s senior vice president of retail and people, in a press release.

Apple Miami Worldcenter showcases the company’s commitment to sustainability, accessibility and community engagement in the heart of downtown. And it’s the city’s first store with a dedicated Apple Pickup area.

Prepare for emergencies by setting up Medical ID on your iPhone

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This may save your life.
It probably won’t, but it may.
Image: Helitak430/Wikimedia Commons/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

It’s very important to set up your iPhone Medical ID so it’s ready in case you find yourself in an emergency situation. First responders can check your iPhone to get critical information about any allergies or preexisting conditions that could make a huge difference in their ability to help you.

It might be unpleasant to think about, but providing this vital information could prove lifesaving if an accident leaves you unconscious.

If you haven’t yet done so you’ll be happy to know it only takes a couple of minutes to update your medical records in the Health app on your iPhone. Here’s how to do it.

Apple pulls out the big guns to fix Siri and Apple Intelligence

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Apple taps software veteran to fix Siri and Apple Intelligence
At some point Siri will be smarter (really!), Apple implies with its latest move.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Nadezhda Moryak

Apple just appointed seasoned executive Kim Vorrath to spearhead improvements to its artificial intelligence capabilities and Siri virtual assistant, signaling renewed focus on competing with AI leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic, according to a new report Friday.

Find deals on Windows 11 Pro ($22) and more in CdkeySales New Year Sale

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Deals on Microsoft Windows 11 Pro and more extended
Score big savings on genuine Microsoft software in CdkeySales' New Year Sale. Head to CdkeySales.com using these links and enter promo code CULT to get extra savings.
Image: CdkeySales

CdkeySales extended its New Year Sale through January, so you can still get amazing deals on Windows 11 Pro and other Microsoft software. The sale slashes some prices by up to 91%! The latest Windows 12 rumors indicate Microsoft won’t release its next big operating system update until late 2025, so why not update your PC now the quick and easy way? Just buy a Windows 11 CD key on sale during the CdkeySales event.

You also can get great deals on upgrade-ready Microsoft productivity software like Microsoft Office. Savings include Windows 10 Pro for just $17.05 — with a free upgrade to Windows 11 Pro.

Today in Apple history: Apple ships the first Mac

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Apple lays out the strengths of the revolutionary Macintosh 128K in an original Mac ad.
Apple lays out the strengths of the revolutionary Macintosh 128K.
Photo: Apple

January 24: Today in Apple history: Apple ships the first Mac January 24, 1984: Apple ships its first Mac, the mighty Macintosh 128K.

Bringing a mouse and graphical user interface to the masses, and heralded by an acclaimed Super Bowl commercial that’s still talked about today, the first-gen Mac will quickly become one of the most important personal computers ever released.

Innie Tim Cook reports for work at Lumon Industries

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Innie Tim Cook reports for work at Lumon Industries
Apple CEO Tim Cook goes through the elevator transformation as a severed employee of Lumon Industries.
Photo: Apple TV+

In yet another promo for Apple TV+’s intriguing workplace thriller Severance, Apple CEO Tim Cook gets in on the action. Severance director and executive producer Ben Stiller dropped a video Friday morning on X.com starring the mild-mannered tech honcho. Cook reports for orientation as an innie on the severed floor of Lumon Industries.

The video is short, but Cook isn’t bad — especially in the elevator, where he shows his severed transformation in consciousness (with the help of some special effects). Then, near the end of the video, he made me laugh out loud.

Genius MacBook rig makes space with clever wall mounts [Setups]

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MacBook setup with wall-mounted display
While some commenters quibbled with the ergonomics, most people raved about how cool this MacBook setup is.
Photo: [email protected]

You’ve got to love a computer, gaming and TV setup with a big external display that’s so efficiently arranged it barely even takes up any desk space. Today’s featured MacBook Pro workstation manages the feat by mounting a big smart TV as a display on the wall, along with a pegboard for peripherals storage. But the MacBook setup with wall-mounted display took some pretty serious DIY skills, described below.

Why waste space on desk lamps when this one attaches directly to your monitor?

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Product photo shows LED monitor light bar shining onto a monitor on top of a desk.
Class up your setup with this monitor-mounted LED light bar.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Good lighting can completely change the vibe of your workspace. This USB-powered LED monitor light bar is a simple upgrade that makes a big difference. Instead of taking up desk space with a clunky lamp, this sleek light bar clips onto any flat monitor more than 0.55 inches thick.

It also comes with a knob to control the lighting. Whether you’re working, gaming or winding down with a show, this lamp gives you adjustable, focused light exactly where you need it. Plus, it’s on sale for $34.99 (regularly $59).

Lumon deals with Severance outies in Overtime Contingency’s aftermath [Apple TV+ recap] ★★★★☆

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Severance season 2 episode 2 recap - Helly★★★★☆
Britt Lower plays innie Helly R. and outie Helena Eagan on "Severance." We learned in the season's first episode that her outie is the daughter of Lumon's CEO.
Photo: Apple TV+

In our Severance season 2 episode 2 recap, we discover the lengths to which Lumon Industries went to clean up after the Overtime Contingency (OTC) that enabled the rebelling innies to briefly escape to the outside world at the end of season one.

In last week’s season two debut, the Macrodata Refinement (MDR) crew came back to work on the severed floor. This week’s episode, “Goodbye, Mrs. Selvig,” doubles back to show what it took for Mr. Milchick, Helena Eagan and others to get them there. It doesn’t quite have the first episode’s high impact — it brought the show back to us after season one’s climactic cliffhangers three years ago — but it clarifies matters while introducing new questions.

Get a smartphone the size of a credit card for just $95

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Product photo of the Mini 4G dual-SIM, a small Android phone.
Get a Mini 4G dual-SIM phone on sale for just $94.99.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Want a small phone with a price tag to match? This Mini 4G dual-SIM smartphone is fully functional but actually fits in your pocket. This little phone is about the size of a credit card, but comes packed with the features you expect from a smartphone.

It runs on Android 9, however, and can’t be upgraded, so it’s not the greatest from a security perspective. Still, if you just need a quick and tiny backup phone, it’s on sale for just $94.99 (regularly $119).

Apple TV+ might salvage Dick Turpin despite star Noel Fielding’s illness

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Still of Noel Fielding from Apple TV+ comedy
Maybe an Apple TV+ historical comedy starring Noel Fielding isn’t completely over.
Photo: Apple TV+

We might not have seen the last of The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin. Despite the abrupt — and somewhat baffling — departure of star Noel Fielding, the producers of the Apple TV+ comedy series are reportedly trying to convert what was already filmed for season two into a movie of some sort.

But that still leaves plenty of people wondering what the heck is going on with Fielding.

Oscar nominations completely snub Apple TV+

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Fancy Dance trailer
Sorry “Fancy Dance,” no Oscar nominations for you.
Photo: Apple TV+

Nothing produced by Apple Original Films for Apple TV+ can win an Oscar this year. The nominations went out Thursday, and Apple TV+ didn’t score a single one.

Films that seem like Oscar bait — including Fancy Dance and Blitz — got totally snubbed.

Get up to 63% off popular Keychron mechanical keyboards

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Get huge discounts on Keychron mechanical keyboards
A wired version of the customizable Keychron Q3 mechanical keyboard is on sale.
Photo: Keychron

Amazon bargain site Woot! currently offers incredible deals where you can get huge discounts on Keychron mechanical keyboards — up to 63% off normal prices. Plus, you can nab an extra $10 off if you’re a new Woot! shopper. While quite a few of the keebs have sold out, you still have six excellent choices, listed with details and direct links below, and a bit more than a week to grab yours. The sale end January 31 at 10 p.m. PT.

Samsung blows another chance to adopt the MagSafe-like Qi2 standard

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Samsung Qi2: Nope
Despite a promise from Samsung, the Galaxy S25 series doesn’t have Qi2. Not really.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Qi2 wireless charging could have helped the newly announced Samsung Galaxy S25 series better compete with the iPhone. But no — the Korean phone-maker let another opportunity to integrate this useful feature into its products sail by.

Samsung did build a half-assed version of Qi2 in the S25 series, so it might claim it met its promise to adopt the charging standard. But it’s a clunky solution.

iPhone users should care about Samsung’s poor decision because it means accessory-makers are less likely to produce Qi2-compatible products that are also compatible with Apple’s handsets.

Severance promo almost reveals Lumon’s keys to maximizing innies’ glee

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Lumon Industries management training video
Lumon has 127 steps for "maximizing glee and enforcing a productive workplace," but unfortunately, they've been redacted.
Photo: Apple TV+

In yet another creative promo for its hit workplace thriller series Severance, Apple TV+ dropped a new video Wednesday that masquerades as a Lumon Industries management training video.

“Lumon Industries is proud to present the Lumon Management Program — otherwise known by its breviloquent moniker of LUMP,” Apple TV+ wrote on X, announcing the video. “Today’s practicum: Integrating New Team Members.”

Today in Apple history: Macintosh Office gets down to business

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Macintosh Office delivered on the dream of Macs that could talk to one another.
Macintosh Office delivered on the dream of Macs that could talk to one another.
Photo: Apple

January 23: Today in Apple history: Macintosh Office gets down to business January 23, 1985: Apple introduces The Macintosh Office, a combination of hardware and software that represents the company’s first real attempt at cracking the business market dominated by IBM.

Macintosh Office allows Macs to talk to one another. And Apple introduces amazing new devices like the LaserWriter printer that work with the business-oriented platform. Sadly, things won’t work out quite as Apple hopes.

3D holographic display will make your eyes pop [Review] ★★★★☆

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Looking Glass Go★★★★☆
Don’t be fooled; Looking Glass Go is like no other digital picture frame.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Your iPhone takes beautiful bokeh images, and these look truly astonishing on Looking Glass Go, a display that turns your pictures into 3D holograms. Children, pets, whatever you send to the screen seems to be floating in the frame. No headset or special glasses are necessary.

As cool as the 6-inch photo frame is — and it’s very cool — my time with the product turned up limitations you should consider before purchase.

Math unlocks conspiratorial mayhem in Prime Target [Now streaming!]

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Prime Target trailer
A brilliant math postgrad finds himself in the middle of a conspiracy in thriller series Prime Target, debuting January 22 on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

When a brilliant math postgraduate verges on sussing out a certain pattern in prime numbers, he finds himself in between unseen enemies and government forces in a burgeoning conspiracy. That’s according to the new Apple TV+ trailer, below, for series Prime Target. After all, the whiz kid’s discovery could unlock every computer and unravel digital security worldwide, apparently.

“A brilliant mind is a dangerous weapon,” notes the tagline on the new series’ key art. The eight-episode conspiracy thriller debuts January 22 on Apple TV+. Watch the trailer below.

Update: Prime Target started streaming on Apple TV+ Wednesday. While The New York Times calls it a “charming popcorn thriller,” other reviews are less charitable. And “rotten” ratings on Rottentomatoes.com — critical rating of 43% and viewer rating of 56% (60% and up is “fresh”) — don’t appear too promising, either.

Samsung showcases the Galaxy S25 Edge, its iPhone 17 Air rival

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An image from the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 22, 2025, shows the Samsung Galaxy Edge coming together.
Here's your first official look at Samsung's iPhone 17 Air competitor.
Image: Samsung

After unveiling its Galaxy S25 lineup Wednesday during its Galaxy Unpacked event. Samsung pulled a “one more thing” to tease its iPhone 17 Air competitor: the Galaxy S25 Edge.

Although the company didn’t disclose the phone’s exact thickness, it showcased the S25 Edge’s thinness by putting it alongside its Galaxy siblings.

Apple seems determined we use its new artificial intelligence features

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Apple Intelligence at WWDC24
Apple Intelligence will soon be on by default on compatible handsets.
Screenshot: Apple

iPhone users who install iOS 18.3 after the upgrade launches next week will find that Apple Intelligence is now on by default for those who use a compatible handset.

Previously, using the suite of AI-powered functions required opting in, but no longer. It’s a seemingly subtle but important change.

Increasingly budget-conscious consumers pick iPhone 16 over 16 Pro

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iPhone Series 16 day in photos
Shoppers considering the basic iPhone vs. the Pro went for the cheaper option more often.
Photo:

When buying an iPhone 16 series model in the December quarter, a higher percentage went for Apple’s cheapest variant than they in the previous year, according to a market research firm. The basic iPhone 16 even beat out the 16 Pro.

Some of that growth was siphoned from the 16 Pro Max, just not quite enough to keep it from being Apple’s most popular during last quarter. And sales of older models without Apple Intelligence also lost ground.

New Shure smart mic doubles as audio interface

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Shure MV7i Smart Microphone and Interface
The new mic makes two-channel recording so easy you don't even need a separate audio interface.
Photo: Shure

A potentially big development for Apple-focused content creators is on display at 2025 NAMM Show, as Shure shows off the new MV7i Smart Microphone and Interface it first unveiled earlier this month at CES 2025, calling it a first of its kind.

The innovative $350 mic brings professional-grade two-channel recording capabilities to Apple’s ecosystem, eliminating the need for a separate audio interface. You can plug an XLR mic or instrument right into Shure’s new mic. And you can connect it to Apple devices via USB-C to work with tracks using Shure’s MOTIV audio and video apps.