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Pocket a wireless charging powerhouse [Deals]

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This portable battery sports massive capacity, tons of connections and even wireless charging.
This portable battery sports massive capacity, tons of connections and even wireless charging.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

One thing that’s always good to have on hand is extra power for our mobile devices. But as we carry more, and more power-hungry devices, the typical portable battery won’t cut it. So, it’s time for a better battery.

Student faces lengthy prison spell for drug-dealing iOS app

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Mascot 2
The app was named after UC Santa Cruz's banana slug mascot.
Photo: Mike Fernwood/Flickr CC

Drugs on a college campus? To paraphrase an old Apple slogan, it turns out there’s an app for that.

Created by 18-year-old University of California, Santa Cruz student Collin Riley Howard, the Banana Plug app allegedly allowed customers to place orders for drugs — including cocaine, “Molly” and “shrooms” — from the comfort of their iOS devices. Howard then communicated with buyers via Snapchat to set up the sale, authorities say.

Apple’s latest ad will make believe an Apple Watch can fly

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Flight 2
Apple's best commercial of 2019 so far.
Photo: Apple

The latest Apple Watch ad likens the Apple Watch Series 4’s cellular capabilities to the power of flight.

It features 29-year-old Finnish-American athlete Inka Tiitto, best known to U.S. audiences for her appearance in America’s Got Talent. It depicts Tiitto running through woods and mountainsides, before eventually being hurled upward into the sky for a dazzling skydiving display.

Check it out below.

Apple plans to merge iOS and macOS apps by 2021

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Office Mac App Store
Your favorite apps could soon be available on any Apple device.
Photo: Apple

Apple plans to make it easy for developers to merge iOS and macOS apps into one by 2021, according to a new report.

The project, dubbed “Marzipan,” hopes to encourage development and boost App Store revenue. It will start with a new software development kit that will let developers port their iPad apps to Mac later this year.

HomePod sold 1.6 million units over the holidays

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The HomePod is a lot smarter than you might think. Just take a look at these tips!
HomePod is Apple's take on the smart speaker.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s HomePod smart speaker experienced 45 percent growth in the holiday quarter, according to new figures. Strategy Analytics’ report suggests that Apple sold 1.6 million HomePod speakers over the three month period.

Those numbers still put it firmly behind market leaders like Amazon and Google. Nonetheless, they show that Apple is continuing to benefit from the explosion of interest in smart speakers.

Take control of your Apple Pencil 2

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Like everything else, the new Apple Pencil is better.
Like everything else, the new Apple Pencil is better.
Photo: Andrea Nepori

The Apple Pencil 2 is way better than version 1.0. It’s always charged. It’s always there on the side of your iPad, ready to use. And now that it supports tap gestures, it’s also a lot more powerful. But it doesn’t stop there.

Check out these excellent Apple Pencil 2 tips and tricks to take your Apple stylus usage to the next level.

iPhones are about to get interesting again [Opinion]

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TCL folding phone designs
These are just some of the possible designs a folding iPhone might use.
Photo: TCL/Cnet

Apple picked a design for the iPhone more than a decade ago and has gradually improved it with each successive model. But that‘s all over and done. We have no idea what the 2020 iPhone will look like. Literally no clue

That’s because the era of foldable displays is about to kick off, and they are going to bring profound changes to phones of all types.

iPhone discounts ease Apple’s pain in China only briefly

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China iPhone sales
Apple CEO Tim Cook meets with Apple Store employees in China.
Photo: Apple

Temporary price cuts in China offered only a temporary boost in iPhone sales, according to industry analysts watching how Apple would follow up dismal year-end figures in the depressed Chinese smartphone market.

To start 2019, Apple revealed unexpected revenue shortfalls, blaming it mostly on a sharp drop in demand for iPhones in China.

Triqtraq turns your iPhone into an amazing groovebox [Review]

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Triqtraq is almost too much fun.
Triqtraq is almost too much fun.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

A week or so back, I took a long trip, and I figured I’d make some music on the journey. I wanted an app that would be simple to use, but powerful enough to get some real expression into these musical sketches. Plus, I wanted something called parameter locks, which I’ll explain below.

I quickly narrowed in on Triqtraq. It’s not a new app, but it’s so good you should check it out ASAP.

iPhone SE returns — grab one before they disappear

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iPhone SE
Two new iPhone SE models for 2020?
Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac

The iPhone SE is making a rare appearance on Apple’s clearance page. This discontinued model was already inexpensive, and it’s available now for $100 or $150 less than the usual price, depending on the model.

But don’t dither; it’s likely to sell out again quickly.

Control devices with a wave of your hand using this sci-fi ring

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Litho
Litho is an input device for the real world.
Photo: Litho

Ever wish you could control your smart home devices without reaching for your iPhone? A new finger-worn controller is trying to make that a reality and it could be a total gamechanger for ARKit apps.

Litho, a small controller you wear on two fingers, gives wearers the ability to control iPhone connected devices by pointing, swiping and taping. It also doubles as a controller for AR apps so you don’t have to keep tapping on the screen.

Prepare to be amazed:

Media mogul says Apple is foolish to challenge might of Netflix

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Barry Diller
Barry Diller doesn't see the competition catching up to Netflix.
Photo: J.D. Lasica/Wikimedia CC

Apple can try to compete with Netflix for video streaming subscribers, but Barry Diller says Apple and others are “fools” to chase Netflix.

Diller, a studio executive turned tech entrepreneur, does not see any company gaining the number of subscribers as Netflix, which began building a base by sending DVDs of choice movies by mail.

Fortnite goes high plain driftin’ with the new Driftboard

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Fortnite 2
The day has finally arrived.
Photo: Epic

Bored of traveling around on foot in Fortnite? There’s some good news: Epic has finally introduced the new, eagerly awaited Drifboard” into the game. It allows players to catch some air and pull a few tricks while they’re going about their running and gunning business.

The Driftboard allows you zoom past your fellow players and competitors with impressive speed. You can even loot and revive allies without having to set foot off the board. Check it out in action below.

Don’t expect a major redesign for this year’s iPad mini 5

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iPad mini
The new iPad mini could just just like the old one.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

The iPad mini hasn’t gotten a sequel since 2015. However, if you’re expecting this year’s rumored refresh to be a massive leap forward, you might want to think again.

At least that’s the take based on an alleged CAD render seen by noted leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer, aka @OnLeaks. While he did not share the image, he suggests the supposed leak indicates the next-gen iPad mini will not see any major external design changes. iPad mini lovers — brace yourself for a simple spec bump.

Today in Apple history: Mac creator complains about Steve Jobs

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Jobs
Young Steve Jobs wasn't exactly easy to work with!
Photo: Esther Dyson/Flickr CC

February 19 Today in Apple history: Mac creator Jef Raskin complains about Steve Jobs February 19, 1981: Jef Raskin, creator of the Macintosh project, sends a memo to Apple CEO Mike Scott, listing his many complaints about working with Steve Jobs.

He claims that Jobs, who joined the Mac team the previous month, is tardy, shows bad judgment, interrupts people, doesn’t listen and is a bad manager.

Huawei spies reportedly tried to get their hands on Apple secrets

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Chinese company Huawei wants the media buzz that would come with releasing the world's first foldable phone.
Report claims that Huawei tried to get information from Apple suppliers.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

Huawei may have overtaken Apple in terms of overall smartphone sales, but it apparently believes it’s still got a lot to learn from the Cupertino giant.

According to a new report, Huawei tried to glean information about future Apple products from supply chain sources. This information included details about the Apple Watch’s heart rate-tracking tech and MacBook Pro connector cables.

Apple hits pause on some projects to ‘reassess priorities’

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Apple adds 5 new vice presidents to its executive lineup
Times are a-changin'.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple is currently undergoing an executive team shakeup, a new report from the Wall Street Journal claims. As a result of the reorganization and personnel changes, several projects have had the pause button hit.

This is reportedly so that managers can “reassess priorities.” While no specific projects are named, some workers are supposedly “rattled” by the changes.

Apple Pay launches in Saudi Arabia and the Czech Republic

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Apple in talks to bring Apple Pay to Israel
Apple Pay continues its rollout around the world.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay has rolled out in Saudi Arabia and the Czech Republic, marking its 33rd and 34th markets.

In Saudi Arabia, Apple Pay is supported by the Saudi Payments Network (MADA), Alinma Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, Bank Aljazira, the National Commercial Bank, and Riyad Bank.

In the Czech Republic, it is supported by Air Bank, Ceska sporitelna, MONETA Money Bank and Twisto.

Gorgeous MacBook Pro concept borrows iPhone’s best features

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A proposed MacBook Pro concept boasts an edge-edge-screen, Face ID and other features from the iPhone.
A proposed MacBook Pro concept boasts an edge-edge-screen, Face ID and other features from the iPhone.
Photo: Viktor Kádár

Take the MacBook Pro and stir in some of the best features of the iPhone and you’d get a small notebook with a big screen, facial recognition and a processor made by Apple.

Watch a video of this proposed uber-sleek device:

Lightweight iPad Pro folio won’t drain your wallet [Review]

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EasyAcc Ultra Slim Folio Case with 12.9 iPad Pro
EasyAcc’s Ultra Slim Folio Case is very inexpensive but functional.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Anyone who choked at the $99 pricetag on the Apple Smart Folio cover for the latest iPad Pro should consider EasyAcc’s rival. This is slim and light, and costs less than half what Apple’s does.

We put this budget folio case through weeks of daily use and bring you our findings.

How to get 1080p YouTube videos in iPad Safari

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Safari can now show 1080p video on YouTube
Safari can now show 1080p video on YouTube.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Up until recently, the only way to get 1080p YouTube videos on the iPad was to use the YouTube app. Now, and possibly for a limited time (knowing YouTube’s fickle support of features), you can view full 1080p video in Mobile Safari on your iPad.

It looks amazing on the 2018 13-inch iPad Pro screen, and it’s one tap away on every YouTube page.

Celebrate Presidents Day with new gear, lessons and apps [Deals]

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Observe President's Day by saving big on some awesome gear, apps and lessons.
Observe Presidents Day by saving big on some awesome gear, apps and lessons.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Happy Presidents Day! If it’s not an occasion that brings you joy, well, we can’t blame you. But that can change in round two of our roundup of deals on gear, apps and lessons. From a head-up display for your car to a powerful video processor and a massive course in iOS 12, we’re leading the free world in deals.

We’ve updated our Presidents Day sale with even more deals!

Apple ‘fixes’ Group FaceTime bug by hobbling the app

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2018 iPad Pro Animoji
Apple took the easy way of removing a problem in FaceTime: it yanked out the affected feature.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s hasty fix for the serious Group FaceTime bug that was discovered last month apparently just disables the feature in this video-chatting software that was causing the problem.

We’ve reached out to Apple to see if they’re in the process of restoring full functionality.