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Create social videos while saving tons of time and money [Deals]

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Creating social video has never been as easy or affordable as it is with Wave.Video.
Creating social video has never been as easy or affordable as it is with Wave.Video.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

These days, video is in vogue. From vlogs to music videos to product reviews and on and on, social video makes for content people love. But not everyone has time to master industry standard platforms, let alone the money to buy them. So intuitive, affordable alternatives go a long way.

8 details Apple better get right on new 16-inch MacBook Pro

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00B716CC-0F4A-4469-80F3-03BD2E44B4A0
CultCast host Erfon Elijah dishes up some sage advice for Apple.

Creative Pros across the web are salivating after a recent rumors claimed Apple is preparing to launch a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Details about the machine are scarce, but it could be the most amazing new Apple releases in 2019. It could also be a disaster.

CultCast host Erfon Elijah is out with a hilarious and informative new video that takes Apple to task for precious missteps on the MacBook Pro line. He also warns Apple that there are 8 things MacBook Pro-lovers are especially anxious about.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro could be a disappointment if it messes up these features:

Apple Watch’s GPS helps track down burglars

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
Crime doesn't pay. At least, not if the person owns an Apple Watch.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

The GPS function on a stolen Apple Watch helped retrieve the device for its rightful owner, says a report from The Sacramento Bee.

After arriving back home to find her house had been burgled, the 25-year-old rightful owner contacted the police. They tracked the Apple Watch down to a local Walmart, where two suspects were arrested. It turns out that it’s never a good look to deny a crime while carrying a stolen watch in back pocket!

Here’s how Apple plans to stop your foldable iPhone from breaking

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Folding iPhone 2
Be sure to keep it warm!
Photo: Foldable News

With foldable smartphones becoming the hot new trend for 2019, iPhone fans are wondering when we’ll see something from Apple. It’s likely to be a while before a foldable iPhone hits the market, but there’s no question Apple is looking into it.

The company’s latest patent application details how it might prevent a foldable smartphone from breaking in cold weather.

New AirPods could arrive on March 29

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AirPods 2 might look something like this artist’s concept.
Are you ready for the follow-up to Apple's AirPods?
Photo: Caviar/Cult of Mac

Apple’s AirPods 2 are coming March 29 — at least, if a slightly sketchy new report is to be believed.

The report comes from Spanish Apple rumor site Applesfera. It claims that it has received data from “several different” sources saying that Apple’s new AirPods will land on shelves at the end of this month.

How to replace Apple’s annoying Reminders app

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Memento is way, way better than Apple’s own Reminders app.
Memento is way, way better than Apple’s own Reminders app.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

It seems like Apple’s Reminders app was made by a surly teenager who would rather have been watching YouTube videos than coding that afternoon. It offers the bare minimum of everything.

Our hypothetical teen developer clearly never actually needed to be reminded of anything, because entering something as obvious as a task with a due date takes four taps at various spots on the screen just to get to the date picker. And remember that this is a reminders app, the purpose of which is to remind you of things. Imagine a text editor where you had to press each letter key several times to type that letter.

Fortunately, you can pick from a zillion other iOS reminders apps, and all of them use the same central Reminders lists you already probably utilize. Today we’ll see how to set a reminder way, way quicker than with Apple’s built-in abomination. Today we’ll check out how to use Memento.

EFF pushes Apple to ‘fix’ iCloud encryption

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Hacker who tried to extort Apple for $100k is spared prison
Your iCloud data isn’t truly secure because Apple can always access it.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

In a campaign called “Fix it Already!,” the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is urging tech giants to remedy nine security and privacy problems in their products. 

In Apple’s case, it wants the iPhone maker to encrypt iCloud backups so that only users can access them. 

Bag a MacBook for $830, Apple Watch for $150 [Deals & Steals]

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12-inch MacBook lineup
Don’t pay full price for a 12-inch MacBook.
Photo: Apple

The 12-inch MacBook remains Apple’s smallest and most portable notebook, and it’s a great machine — especially when you get it at a big discount. Woot is currently offering refurbished 2017 models for just $829.99. It’s just one of the awesome offers in today’s Deals & Steals roundup.

You will also find refurbished Apple Watch Series 2 units for under $150, a delicious discount on the amazing Instant Pot, and more than half off Powerbeats3 wireless headphones. Plus, Amazon has knocked $17 off the Apple Magic Keyboard with numeric keypad again.

Just Mobile lets you get your hands on real power [Watch Store]

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AluBase-charger
AluBase is a wireless charger that actually looks good.
Photo: Just Mobile

The Cult of Mac Watch Store loves the Apple Watch, yes, but what we really desire is power. While we might never get the power to do whatever we want, there is plenty of power that we can acquire for a reasonable cost. Yes, we’re talking about chargers and electricity here, not dominion over all things.

The store recently added some slick ways to keep your devices full of juice from our friends at Just Mobile. See those below, and be sure to check out all our other power options.

This amazing shoulder bag is just big enough to empty your pockets into

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Who needs pockets when you have the Sutter Sling?
Who needs pockets when you have the Sutter Sling Pouch?
Photo: SF Bags

Only in the United States do men try to carry all their essential out-of-home possessions in their pockets. Wallet, keys, phone, spare battery, AirPods, Leatherman. So wedded are men to this principal that they ridicule small bags by calling them “murses.” Either that, or they use things like cellphone holsters or fanny packs, which are pretty much social death.

In Europe (but not in the U.K.), men just carry small bags. And they call them “bags,” or whatever the local name is. Whatever, it’s definitely not el murse. Now, men in the U.S. can catch up to the the rest of the world with WaterField Designs’ Sutter Sling Pouch, a gentleman’s handbag that’s just big enough for you to empty your pockets into.

Qualcomm might miss out on 5G iPhone

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Qualcomm headquarters
Analysts recommend Qualcomm make up with Apple soon.
Photo: Qualcomm

Qualcomm needs to settle its lawsuits with Apple soon if it wants to be in the first 5G iPhone. Time is running out on this chip maker to supply 5G modems for Apple’s 2020 offering, according to an industry analyst.

And that would hurt Qualcomm more than Apple.

Brilliant iPhone camera app takes long exposures without tripod

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Capturing the path of light and motion with Spectre Camera.
Ex-Spectre the unexpected.
Photo: Spectre

Halide, an iOS camera app that entered a flooded photo app category in 2017, quickly rose above most of the others as a must-have tool for serious iPhone photographers.

The creators, wanting manual camera settings and a RAW shooting option, rolled out a new app this week bringing ease to the otherwise complicated task of light and motion painting with long exposures.

The new app, Spectre, requires no technical skill – or even a tripod – to bring the streams of light to urban scenics shot on iPhone.

Apple warns podcasters not to use numbers in episode titles

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Apple's podcasts app is deeper than you might imagine.
Apple has contacted podcasters with guidelines.
Photo: Incase/Flickr CC

Apple is contacting podcast producers requesting that they optimize the metadata for their shows — or risk having them removed from Apple’s podcast service.

The cautionary email mostly concerns guidelines on including detailed, nonredundant written descriptions of episodes. However, the Apple Podcasts email contains a few surprising directives — like the fact that titles should not include numbers. Provided that’s read as intended, this could cause a few problems!

Score premium wireless earbuds for a fraction the price [Deals]

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AirDops
These AirDops are the perfect budget wireless earphones.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s amazing how quickly AirPods caught on. In just a couple years, they catapulted from slightly obnoxious accessory of the tech elite to essential part of the Apple experience.

Of course, they retail for about $159, so it’s also amazing how expensive they are. AirDops True Wireless Earbuds offer almost all the features of their expensive cousins from Cupertino — and they cost a whole lot less.

Slam Mania brings 1980s wrasslin’ action to the App Store

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Slam Masters
Get your retro wrestle on!
Photo: Easy 8 Software

I’m an unabashed fan of pro wrestling — and pro wrestling games, too. As much as I can enjoy the highly polished WWE 2K19, however, my heart belongs to the 2D grapplers of days past.

If you also have fond memories of pumping quarter after quarter into the WWF WrestleFest cabinet at your local arcade, a new iOS game is sure to have you tearing off your America-loving t-shirt in elation. Check out the trailer for Slam Mania below.

iPhone hacking tools sell for as little as $100 on eBay

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Cekkebrite
One of Cellebrite's hacking devices.
Photo: Tryc2/ebay

The Cellebrite hacking tool used by law enforcers for pulling data off locked iPhones costs $6,000 new. However, used units now show up on eBay for as little as $100.

That’s a big discount from the full price. And it seems that Cellebrite, a security firm based in Israel, isn’t too happy about the situation — with very good reason.

Worst could be over for iPhone sales in China

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
iPhone sales have had a tough time in China.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Slowing iPhone sales in China was a major concern for Apple. However, things may be back on the upswing, claims UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri.

According to Arcuri’s latest note to investors, Apple is clearing inventory in the country. This is partially thanks to price reductions. While it would be foolish to suggest that there won’t be more struggles, it seems that the worst could be behind Apple.

Fortnite season 8 blasts into action with cannons and volcanos

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Fortnite season 8
Drop into today to enjoy all the new content.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite season eight has landed, bringing new locations, new weapons, and explosive changes. Players can launch themselves across the map using the new cannon, explore the scorching volcano, and more.

There’s also a brand new Battle Pass with 100 levels, and more than 100 new rewards.

Apple Watch continues to be the biggest player in smartwatches

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App Home Screen Apple Watch Series 4
More than half of holiday smartwatch sales were Apple Watches.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

A record 18 million smartwatches sold in the final three months of 2018 — and Apple Watch made up more than half of them.

That’s according to the latest global sales research figures from Strategy Analytics. The firm suggests that Apple Watch represented 51 percent of global smartwatch sales. Samsung took second place, followed by Fitbit, and Garman.

Noted analyst lists four ways that 5G will be a huge win for Apple

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No matter what your AT&T iPhone says, everyone else says “5G E” is 4G.
Apple has years to get a real 5G iPhone on the market, according to a well-known analyst.
Photo: Cult of Mac/@Siddavarapu

The faster cellular data networks being rolled out now will bring tremendous benefits to Apple, according to a well-known industry analyst. Gene Munster even said today, “Apple will be one of 5G’s biggest beneficiaries.”

He listed a number of current and future products that will see gains from this nascent wireless tech.

Trust is a vital component in Apple Health Records initiative

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Health records firm worried policy supported by Apple will hurt patients
Apple’s CEO says people know their iPhone can be trusted to securely hold their health records.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s CEO is optimistic about his company’s plan to have the iPhone store all our health records, even though it got a black eye recently: turns out some third-party iOS apps leaked health-related data to Facebook. 

But Tim Cook says that people trust Apple because the company has a deep commitment to user privacy, and people know that.