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iPhone SE is back in stock — and it’s going cheap

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Apple could debut iPhone SE successor as soon as March
It's a bargain!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has seemingly given up on the iPhone SE form factor. However, it’s not given up selling them — as evidenced by the fact that Apple’s diminutive, 4-inch handset just turned up on Apple’s Online Store.

Apple is selling the handsets in silver, gold, silver, and space gray — with prices starting at a mere $249. That’s great news for anyone who doesn’t want to drop the money necessary to pick up an iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or XS Max.

Got AirPower envy? Power up with these charging alternatives

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Our watch store guide to the best chargers while you wait for your beloved AirPower to eventually maybe (one day???) arrive.
Our watch store guide to the best chargers while Apple's MIA AirPower eventually, maybe (one day???) arrives.
Photo: ZENS

With new Apple products released almost everyday last week, the anticipation for AirPower’s long-awaited launch has reached an all-time high. However, will Apple actually deliver this time around? Rumors a-plenty have teased us for long enough.

Save your heartache and pining and opt for tons of great chargers with our speedy Watch Store guide. Your perfect match is just a click away.

Make sure you stick around for the very end of our list. We saved the best of last.

New videos help users get to grips with Apple Watch

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Apple Watch 1
Apple is continuing with the wearables education.
Photo: Apple

Apple has shared five new Apple Watch tips on its YouTube channel, intended to show users how to get the most out of their Apple wearable.

The short, 30-second videos contain tips on changing watchbands, activating Siri, and using the Apple Watch as a fitness trackers. Check them out below.

Apple teases big stars ahead of today’s ‘show time’ event

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Chris Evans1
Nothing to see here: just a call from Chris Evans.
Photo: Apple

Apple is having some fun with frenzied fanboys and gals ahead of today’s “It’s show time” media event. Although the live broadcast won’t officially start until 10 a.m. Pacific, Apple “accidentally” showed a few images of the empty auditorium.

What makes that particularly exciting? Only the fact that the screen is showing images such as an incoming call from “Captain America” star Chris Evans.

How to watch Apple’s ‘It’s show time’ event

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It’s Show Time! Follow the action with us today.
It’s Show Time! Follow the action with us today.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Later today, Apple will pull back the curtain on its upcoming news and video subscription services. Cult of Mac will, as ever, be live-blogging the action, but you can also watch the media event live, and presumably enjoy a roster of TV type people pitching their shows through their permanent hangovers.

Whether you’re watching on your Mac, your iPhone, your iPad or your Apple TV, we’ll show you how to tune in.

You can even show up at an Apple Store and watch it on the big screen!

Map out and eliminate your Wi-Fi’s weak spots [Deals]

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This app creates a heatmap of your Wi-Fi coverage at home or at work, then walks you through the process of fixing the weak spots.
This app creates a heatmap of your Wi-Fi coverage at home or at work, then walks you through the process of fixing the weak spots.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

At home and at the office, we all rely on Wi-Fi. And it’s a real drag to find weak spots in your coverage. The best solution for wireless dead zones is to find them and fix them. But you need the right tool.

NetSpot Home for Mac offers that tool, packed with features for visualizing, optimizing and troubleshooting your Wi-Fi coverage.

iPad Pro finally supports cheaper Apple Pencil alternative

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Save big by getting a Logitech Crayon for your iPad Pro instead of an Apple Pencil 2.
Save big by getting a Logitech Crayon for your iPad Pro instead of an Apple Pencil 2.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

AiPad Pro owners no longer have to pay $129 to get a high-quality stylus. The Apple Pencil 2 isn’t the only option any more.

Apple is changing course by allowing the Logitech Crayon to work with more of its tablets, and this accessory is about half the price of the Pencil 2.

2019 iPhone might charge Apple Watch wirelessly

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Charging your Apple Watch could become as simple as placing it on your iPhone.
Charging your Apple Watch could become as simple as placing it on your iPhone.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The iPhone coming this fall will of course be able to receive power wirelessly, but it won’t stop there: it’ll also reportedly transmit it. This would allow an Apple Watch to be charged just by placing its on iOS handset.

This upcoming device will also reportedly get one of the benefits of USB-C while still holding onto the Lightning connector.

Apple’s unorthodox PR blitz is a total genius move [Cult of Mac Magazine No. 289]

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Apple's PR blitz for new AirPods, iPads and iMacs was more than just surprising - it was brilliant!
Apple's PR blitz was more than just surprising - it was brilliant!
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

So. Many. New. Products. Who would have guessed Apple would roll out multiple hardware upgrades in the week prior to a big media event? Here’s why that was a total genius move!

Read all about the new iPads, iMacs and AirPods in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine for iOS. Plus, you’ll find our latest how-tos and products reviews to help make your tech life easier.

Grab the mag now. Or go old-school and get all the posts in the links below.

The week’s best deals include language apps, portable wireless chargers and more [Deals]

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Charging, video editing, and language learning round out this week's top deals.
Charging, video editing, and language learning round out this week's top deals.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Another week, another round of great deals on gear and gadgets. This round’s goodies include a premium language learning app, a portable charging hub, a wireless charging stand and a high-end video editor (at a super-low price).

Most of these tech deals are discounted by more than half!

Even Apple’s partners don’t know what its streaming TV service will cost

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AirPlay 2
You’ll be able to subscribe to HBO through the Apple TV service but HBO doesn’t know what it’ll cost.
Photo: Apple

If you’re curious about the cost of the Apple TV service set to debut on Monday, you’re in good company: apparently, the media companies that will provide much of the content are almost equally in the dark. 

Still, they think they might know something about Apple’s plans, and it’s good news for users of iPhone, iPad or Mac.

How to use iOS Spotlight like a launchbar for your iPad

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Let these shortcuts take care of your morning routine, so you can focus more on important things, like breakfast.
Let these shortcuts take care of your morning routine, so you can focus more on important things, like breakfast.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Every morning, after I park my iPad in its desk stand, I start writing the same way: I play the same music playlist; I start the Focus app, which reminds me to take breaks; and I create a new Ulysses sheet to start typing in. And I do all of these almost without touching the screen.

You’d be surprised at how much you can do on the iPad with just the keyboard. Today we’re going to see some cool examples, plus a bonus Good Morning shortcut.

AT&T’s ‘5G E’ speeds are slower than LTE on other networks

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No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says “5G E” is 4G.
No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says “5G E” is 4G.
Photo: Cult of Mac/@Siddavarapu

Customers on AT&T’s ‘5G E’ networks aren’t getting the huge speed gains promised by one of the nation’s largest carriers.

In an attempt to get a headstart on the 5G wave, AT&T has renamed a large portion of its 4G network to ‘5G E.’ The carrier calls it 5G Evolution and says its the first step towards the 20Gbps speeds promised by 5G, but a recent study found that AT&T’s 5G E network is actually slower than LTE Advanced speeds on other carriers.

Look at how mediocre AT&T’s speeds are:

Beats’ version of AirPods rumored to arrive in April

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powerbeats wireless
Bag Powerbeats3 for half the usual price.
Photo: Beats

Apple-owned Beats is about to unleash its wire-free earbuds that will be like a more sporty version of AirPods.

The Beats headphone lineup hasn’t seen a lot of design changes over the last few years but it sounds like fans might finally get a fresh look this spring. According to a new report, the new sport earbuds will be a redesign of the PowerBeats wireless earphones and will be announced in April.

Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell reunite on set of Apple TV series

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stars of the Morning Show
Apple is paying for top talent, like Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell, to make The Morning Show a hit.
Photo: Pikachu/Mega

Former Bruce Almighty co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Steve Carell were spotted reuniting on the set of their new Apple TV series about a morning TV show news crew.

The show started principal photography back at the end of October 31 but this is the first time we’ve seen photos of the two actors on set. Both Aniston and Carell are making their returns to TV after launching successful movie careers following Freinds and The Office.

Japan Display still owes Apple for $1.5 billion factory

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iPhone XR was India’s no. 1 ‘ultra premium’ smartphone in 2019
The LCD iPhone hasn't been the hit some hoped for.
Photo: Apple

Struggling display maker Japan Display reportedly still owes Apple a whole lot of cash for one of its factories.

Apple paid a large chunk of the $1.5 billion in costs to build an LCD factory in 2015. In return, Japan Display would pay Apple a percentage of screen sales. Unfortunately, things have gone south since then — and Japan Display’s factory is running at only half capacity. Due to the way the deal is structured, the company reportedly owes Apple “a majority of the construction cost.”

AirPower could finally arrive in late March

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AirPower image Australia
Hurry up already, AirPower!
Photo: Apple

The lengthy wait for AirPower is almost over — but not yet.

A new report, citing industry sources, claims Apple’s new charging pad will arrive in late March. If the information is accurate, that means the long-awaited launch is right around the corner.

Will we see it during Apple’s March 25 event?

New Macs! New iPads! New AirPods! We break down this week’s releases, on The CultCast

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CultCast 380 MacBook Pro
Apple spent the whole week releasing new hardware.

This week on The CultCast: Apple just released so much new hardware, they had to do it over 3 full days. We’ll break it all down, and react to all the new gear. Plus, the saga of MoviePass continues with yet another new wild announcement… but is their new unlimited plan too good to be true?

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