Apple removes big financial barrier for new app stores

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Apple App Store NOT
Apple made opening a rival to the iPhone App Store less of a financial burden.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple just removed a significant barrier for opening a rival iPhone app store in the European Union. Submitting a million-euro letter of credit is no longer required. There are still plenty of other requirements, though.

Rival app marketplaces are coming to the European Union — and nowhere else — because of landmark legislation that forced Apple to broaden the options for installing iPhone apps.

Still big in Japan, iPhone slips in China

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iPhone 15 Pro in iPhone market outlook
Tuesday's iiPhone market outlook reports fell short of upbeat.
Photo: Apple

A flurry of iPhone market outlook reports shows Apple’s juggernaut handset is still the top-seller in Japan while slipping to fourth place in China so far in 2024. And that comes as Apple lowers component shipment targets for the year amid supply chain challenges, pointing to a possibly down year.

Try these exciting iOS 17.4 features on your iPhone now

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iOS 17.4 release notes
iOS 17.4 is here with several major changes and features.
Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Apple just dropped iOS 17.4, bringing a plethora of new features — some of which fundamentally change how the iPhone works.

The biggest point update to iOS 17, iOS 17.4 comes almost six months after the operating system’s initial release. It enables support for third-party app stores, browsers and payment apps on the iPhone. The bummer? These major changes are only coming to the European Union. Still, there are a lot of new iOS 17.4 features that will enhance the experience of every iPhone user.

Early benchmarks show M3 chip gives MacBook Air hefty performance boost

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M3 chip gives 2024 MacBook Air hefty performance boost
Dropping the M3 into the 2024 MacBook Air significantly pumps up the performance.
Photo: Apple

The Apple M3 processor in the 2024 MacBook Air brings a 25% increase to the upgraded notebook’s performance, according to early benchmark results. And the increase over the M1-based version is even more spectacular.

The M3 is Apple’s latest processor family, and it’s made using a cutting-edge 3nm production process.

LED floor lamp gives you 16 million color options for just $60

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This smart LED floor lamp comes with 68 dazzling light modes for only $59.99.
Light up your home in 16 million colors with this smart LED floor lamp, now $60.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You don’t need to completely revamp your home to make it feel new and cool again. Just a dash of color can completely change the mood of any space, and that’s easy (and affordable) with this modern LED floor lamp that can be controlled via an app.

Meet the 55-inch RGB LED Remote Floor Lamp, a practical piece of home decor that can help you create the perfect ambiance with its dazzling range of smart lighting features. Right now, it’s only $59.99 (regularly $99) when you shop at Cult of Mac Deals.

MacPaw’s latest app will clean your photo library [Awesome Apps] ★★★★☆

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CleanMyPhone app for iPhone★★★★☆
Clean out years of bad pictures.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

CleanMyPhone is a new app that will tidy up your photo library. Developed by MacPaw, maker of CleanMyMac X, the new app can do a thorough scan of images on your iPhone to clear out years of screenshots, saved TikToks and unusably blurry shots. It’s a simple way to clean up photos on your iPhone.

It also uses artificial intelligence to sort your photos into handy categories. Plus, it makes it simple to periodically look at the last week or month of your photos to sort things into albums and stay organized. As a bonus, the app comes with an internet speed test — good for checking if your connection is solid enough to take an important video call.

The CleanMyPhone app is available today from the App Store, with a free three-day trial. An annual subscription costs $24.99.

Pick your next winner with this easy-to-use stock screener

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Pick smarter stocks with this $119.99 investment screener.
Get expert analytics for your stock portfolio with this $119.99 tool.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Dealing with an investment portfolio can be scary. What factors should you look for in a promising stock? When is the right time to sell? These are all questions that require research, but a stock-screening service like Tykr can make those sorts of decisions easy.

It’s a great tool that cuts through the math to deliver straightforward advice for today’s investors. And it’s not just for times when the market is flying high: Savvy investors can make money even when the market is down or going sideways.

If you want in on that action, jump on this chance to get a lifetime subscription to Tykr for just $119.99.

14-inch M3 MacBook Pro gains multi-display support

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M3 MacBook Pro multi-display support
Updates will soon enable all M3 MacBooks to drive multiple displays in clamshell mode.
Photo: Apple

The new M3 MacBook Air laptops Apple rolled out Monday support up to two 5K (or lower rsolution) external displays in clamshell mode. And now the base 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro will add multi-display support, according to a report.

In the case of the entry-level MacBook Pro, which uses the same chip but lacks multi-display functionality, support will come in the form of a software update. M3 Pro and M3 Max MacBook Pro models already support the feature.

Slash $120 off Magic Keyboard case for 11-inch iPad Pro/iPad Air

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Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro and iPad Air
Grab this steep discount on Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro and 10.9-inch iPad Air.
Photo: Apple

Apple is famous for quality products as well as the high prices that go with them. That’s true of its input devices like keyboards — including the excellent, $299 Magic Keyboard for 11-inch iPad Pro and 10.9-inch iPad Air (4th and 5th generations). But what if you could get that Magic Keyboard for $120 off?

Right now Amazon is offering Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro/Air — which offers case-like protection for the tablets and much more — for just $179.99

Today in Apple history: CFO Peter Oppenheimer retires from Apple

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Peter
Peter Oppenheimer oversaw a decade of explosive growth at Apple.
Photo: C-SPAN

March 4: Today in Apple history: Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer retires March 4, 2014: Peter Oppenheimer, the Apple chief financial officer who presided over a decade of skyrocketing growth, steps down from the company.

After becoming Apple CFO in 2004, Oppenheimer saw the company’s valuation soar from $8.8 billion to $471 billion. Luca Maestri, current Apple senior vice president and chief financial officer, replaced Oppenheimer in this crucial position.

Mac Studio and Studio Display refurbs seem new [Setups]

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Mac Studio and Studio Display refurbs in setup
This user said it's hard to tell his Mac Studio and Studio Display aren't new.
Photo: bucketofmonkeys@reddit.com

When new Apple gear comes out, sometimes it pays to wait a bit and grab it when the iPhone giant and other sellers start offering refurbished versions of it. Today’s setup boasts a Mac Studio desktop computer and a Studio Display, both refurbished, and the user said he had a hard time telling they’re not actually new.

EU fines Apple 1.8 billion euros over ‘abusive’ treatment of Spotify

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EU sides with Spotify in long-running battle with Apple.
The EU agreed with Spotify that Apple's 'anti-steering' rule is illegal.
Photo: Sora Shimazaki/Pexels CC

The European Commission fined Apple more than 1.8 billion euros Monday for “abusing its dominant position on the market for the distribution of music streaming apps.”

The ruling follows complaints by music streaming service Spotify. In a lengthy response to the fine, Apple said Spotify pays absolutely nothing for the array of services Cupertino provides. Apple also said it will appeal the EC’s decision.

No Apple March event for new iPad and MacBook [Update]

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Get ready for new MacBook and iPad models at Apple March 2024 event
No March Apple event in the pipeline for new iPads and Macs?
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is preparing to launch new M3 iPads and MacBooks this month. But don’t expect an Apple March event for their unveiling. Instead, the company reportedly will announce the devices through a “series of online videos and marketing campaigns.”

Update: This is now confirmed, as Apple unveiled the M3-powered MacBook Air on Monday via a press release.

New M3 MacBook Air gets big specs boost with same awesome battery life

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The new MacBook Air with M3
Looks familiar, but there’s a lot of new specs inside.
Photo: Apple

The 2024 MacBook Air lineup launched Monday by Apple runs on the company’s M3 chip, bringing a significant performance boost to the laptop. It also benefits from Wi-Fi that’s up to twice as fast. Plus, the new MacBook Air can support two external displays. This all comes in the same thin design, with the same two display sizes and four colors.

Apple’s press release says that “with a faster and more efficient Neural Engine in M3, MacBook Air continues to be the world’s best consumer laptop for AI.”

The M3 MacBook Air starts at the same $1,099 price as the outgoing M2 model, which remains on sale starting at $999. You can order the new MacBook Air now from the Apple Online Store and it will be available this Friday.

Alleged iPhone SE 4 renders show an iPhone 14-like design

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iPhone SE in Red
iPhone SE could get a big design and size upgrade
Photo: Filipe Alves

Apple last refreshed the iPhone SE in 2022. While the model is begging for an update, the company apparently plans to launch one only in 2025.

Despite the iPhone SE 4 a year away from launch, its alleged CAD renders have leaked online. They reveal its iPhone 14-inspired design and the addition of a 6.1-inch display with a notch.

Today in Apple History: CarPlay goes for its first drive

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Apple CarPlay in 2014 Volvo
At launch in 2014, CarPlay appeared in Volvo cars, as well as Mercedes-Benz and Ferrari models.
Photo: Volvo

March 3: Today in Apple history: CarPlay goes for its first drive March 3, 2014: With the CarPlay launch, Apple introduces iOS functionality for iPhone users behind the wheel via the car’s in-dash screen.

Showcasing the new car infotainment platform at the Geneva International Auto Show, Apple calls CarPlay “a smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone in the car.” Vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo are the first off the line to incorporate it.

Apple car comes to a screeching halt [The CultCast]

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An AI-generated Apple-branded electric car, with The CultCast logo and
After Project Titan crashes and burns, Apple goes all in on artificial intelligence.
Image: Cult of Mac

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple pulled the plug on Project Titan, its not-so-secret, decade-long effort to build a self-driving electric car. After spending a reported $10 billion on R&D, the moonshot Apple car project winds up canceled — in favor of generative AI!

Let’s just say we have some opinions.

Also on The CultCast:

  • Apple’s FineWoven iPhone cases don’t seem to hold up so well. In fact, a high-profile journo says hers is “browning like a rotten banana.” What gives?
  • Apple Arcade’s shifting mission means kids will be winners (but indie devs will be losers).
  • Waiting for a second-gen Vision Pro that will be lighter, brighter and less expensive? You might want to rethink that plan.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Ridley Scott’s historical epic Napoleon invades Apple TV+

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Napoleon streaming on Apple TV+
The historical action film Napoleon will be available to stream globally on Apple TV+ in March.
Photo: Apple TV+

Napoleon, a historical epic from director Ridley Scott, began streaming on Apple TV+ on March 1, after having its global premier in theaters in November.

The movie stars Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte, the French emperor who conquered much of Europe. It details the tyrant’s ruthless rise to power and his obsessive love for his wife, Empress Josephine.

Today in Apple history: Here comes the Macintosh II

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The Mac II was an enormously impressive machine for its day.
The Mac II was an enormously impressive machine for its day.
Photo: Apple

March 2: Today in Apple history: Macintosh II launches March 2, 1987: Three years after releasing the original Macintosh 128K, Apple launches a proper sequel, the almighty Macintosh II.

Although four Mac models already have been released, the definitive, full-number name of the Macintosh II makes clear that this is a major upgrade for the product line. With a massive hardware boost, optional color display (!) and a new open architecture, it does not disappoint!

6 cool things you can do with an old Mac

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6 Things To Do With An Old Mac
What can you use it for? Quite a lot, actually.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

There are lots of things you can do with an old Mac. No one will fault you for upgrading to Apple’s latest and greatest, but your old Mac can still find a job to do, too.

It used to be that when your old iMac kicked the can, you hollowed it out and made an aquarium or a desk lamp. These days, Macs have a much longer shelf life. The right model can give you years upon years of loyal service. (Not to mention, modern Macs are too thin to house a fish.)

Here are the six best things you can do with an old Mac. Watch our latest video or keep reading below.

Get up to $150 off Beats headphones and earbuds

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Beats Studio Buds+ in transparent case
Love that transparent look to Beats Studio Buds+.
Photo: Apple

It’s a rare day you see big price drops at Apple.com, but Friday saw Beats headphones and earbuds price drops there and at retailers like Amazon.

So here’s your chance to grab Beats Studio Pro headphones at $349.99 $199.95 and Beats Studio Buds+ at $169.95 $129.95, among other great deals. See below.