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AirPod alternatives last 50 hours and cost less than $60 [Deals]

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These wireless earbuds sport more than double the battery life of AirPods, but they're less than half the price.
These wireless earbuds sport more than double the battery life of AirPods, but they're less than half the price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Seems like everywhere you go, you see people with the white ear fangs known as AirPods. Don’t expect that to change anytime soon – some analysts expect Apple to ship as many as 80 million earbuds next year, and up to 110 million in 2021.

Does your iPhone XS suffer from s-s-stuttering?

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iPhone XS Max
It's thought every handset has this problem.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max owners are reporting animation stutters after leaving their handsets idle for around 10 seconds.

The problem, which is most obvious when opening or closing apps and scrolling pages, has reportedly been present for several months now. It persists in the latest iOS 12.2 betas, which suggests Apple hasn’t yet found a fix.

Apple ‘faces pressure’ to deliver foldable iPhone fast

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Galaxy-Fold-inside
Could it be here any day now?
Photo: Samsung

Apple is said to be under pressure to deliver a foldable iPhone that can compete with upcoming devices from the likes of Samsung and Huawei.

Apple “cannot afford to ignore” the foldable phone trend, according to a new report. If the company doesn’t catch up quickly, industry observers warn Cupertino could lose its reputation as being “a leader of innovation.”

Apple Music sides with artists in battle for higher royalty payouts

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Apple Music
Apple decided not to fight the ruling to pay songwriters more.
Photo: Apple

Every major music streaming service is joining together to appeal a controversial ruling that increases payouts to songwriters. Everyone except Apple Music that is.

Spotify, Google, Pandora and Amazon have teamed up to fight the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board’s decision to increase payouts to songwriters by 44%. Apple is the only major streamer not planning to fight the ruling, causing some artists to heap praise on the iPhone-maker for its stance.

Apple accuses Qualcomm of witness tampering in latest courtroom spat

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Qualcomm headquarters
Lawyers got heated in the courtroom today for the latest Apple v. Qualcomm patent battle.
Photo: Qualcomm

This week’s legal fight between Apple and Qualcomm reached a point generally only seen on TV courtroom dramas: the iPhone maker accused its rival of witness tampering.

The complaint comes after Apple’s star witness decided at the last minute not to testify.

DirectTV Now finally integrates with Apple TV app

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DirecTV Now lets you stream TV on your iPhone.
DirecTV Now lets you stream TV on your iPhone.
Photo: DirecTV Now.

AT&T revealed that it’s finally making it easier to watch DirecTV Now on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV by integrating it into the Apple TV app.

The new update gives DirecTV Now subscribers the ability to keep track of their watching progress for TV series and movies across multiple devices will also bringing custom recommendations on new stuff to watch.

How to create Dropbox-style links in iCloud Drive

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Cloud storage.
Cloud storage.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

If you keep your stuff in Dropbox, it’s easy to grab a link to a file or a folder. Then you can send that link to another person or store it in, say, your to-do list so you can quickly open it with a click. You can even grab the link inside the iOS Files app.

But if you use iCloud, this simple task is no longer simple. In typical Apple style, a clean UI comes at the expense of hiding almost everything behind multiple taps and cryptic pop-up boxes. But all is not lost. You can actually grab a link to any file stored in your iCloud Drive — and use it in any app you please.

Apple’s VR headset could pack motorized headband system

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Apple is definitely designing a head-mounted display like this one, but hopefully less brick-like.
Apple is definitely designing a head-mounted display like this one, but hopefully less brick-like.
Photo: Apple

Engineers are apparently working on an innovative design for the head-mounted display Apple is secretly developing: the company requested a patent for a motorized adjustment system.

Apple doesn’t openly talk about this project but this request, and another the company made recently, leave no room for doubt that the company is researching what will almost certainly be an augmented reality headset.

‘Tim Apple’ becomes the internet’s joke du jour thanks to Trump

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Apple shares suffer biggest decline since August
Apple shares suffer biggest decline since August
Photo: White House

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s appearance alongside President Donald Trump was supposed to be a big moment to tout the work done by the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board. Instead, everyone’s been talking about it because of an enormous blunder made by Trump.

While praising Cook, Trump thanked “Tim Apple” for the company’s big investments in America. Of course, Twitter had a field day at Trump’s expense, busting out an endless stream of memes making fun of the gaffe.

Cook himself had a brilliant reply and changed his Twitter bio name to “Tim ” after the meeting.

Check out some of these other hilarious responses to Trump’s faux pas.

These Apple Watch bands fulfill your need for the caress of steel [Watch Store]

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link
Wiplabs' Link Apple Watch Bracelet is built from the same steel alloy as the Apple Watch.
Photo: Benjamin McKay/Cult of Mac

You don’t have to be an iron man or iron maiden to prefer some metal in your life, especially around your wrist. There are a lot of choices when it comes to holding your Apple Watch, but maybe you’re not hell-bent for leather or a fan of the Plastic Ono Band. You want a metal band and nothing else matters.

The Cult of Mac Watch Store has several metal Apple Watch bands available, from the affordable ($40 for a Rilee & Lo) to the high-end ($149 for a Juuk). Rush to check out a selection of these metal bands below.

Apple’s star-studded video salutes global feminism

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An Apple video uses celebrities to highlight the progress and struggle of feminism around the world.
An Apple video uses celebrities to highlight the progress and struggle of feminism around the world.
Photo: Apple

A new video produced by Apple highlights the achievements made to bring basic human rights to women and girls, but also discusses how for there is still to go.

The video is narrated any Annie Lennox, and includes Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith, Beverley Knight, and many more.

Watch it now:

Nintendo doesn’t want you to spend too much on its mobile games

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Nintendo iPhone
Nintendo wants some of your cash, but not all of it.
Photo: Cult of Mac/Nintendo

Nothing pleases Nintendo more than fans enjoying its game, but the Japanese company doesn’t want them spending too much on in-app purchases.

Nintendo has reportedly told development partners like DeNA that it wants them to limit micro-transactions to prevent its loyal fanbase from dumping too much of their hard-earned cash into free-to-play titles.

VO2 max: The Apple Watch metric that reveals your aerobic fitness

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Max-out your aerobic fitness with Apple Watch by checking the VO2 max metric.
Max out your aerobic fitness with Apple Watch.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Want to know how fit you really are? Apple Watch provides loads of insightful metrics you could check. So many, in fact, that there is not enough space for them all in the Workout app. Instead, you’ll find much of this crucial data buried away in the Health app on your iPhone.

One of the most interesting is VO2 max, which is basically the ultimate test of your aerobic fitness. If you’re into endurance sports, VO2 max is a metric you’ll want to check out.

Here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know about VO2 max on Apple Watch: What it is, how to use it, and how to improve yours.

Take the pain and expense out of photo editing [Deals]

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Movavi Photo Editor
Bring the best out of your photos with the help of this Mac app
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Digital photos are one of the most effective and enjoyable forms of content of our time. Want in on the fun? Great, but you might get overwhelmed by the complexity and cost of standard platforms.

If that’s the case, this affordable, intuitive photo editor is worth a look.

Flagship iPhones one step closer to being built in India

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iPhone 8 Plus
iPhone 8 could be the next Apple handset manufactured in India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is one step closer to manufacturing flagship iPhones in India for the first time.

India’s IT ministry today signed off on plans to build a local Wistron factory that is expected to produce the iPhone 8. It should make the device significantly more affordable to local consumers in the future.

Take flight with a Captain Marvel iPhone case from OtterBox

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Go Higher Further Faster with a Captain Marvel iPhone case.
Go Higher Further Faster with a Captain Marvel iPhone case.
Photo: OtterBox

Captain Marvel can defend your iPhone with a case that just launched from OtterBox. This superhero-themed hardcase is available for a range of Apple’s devices going back years.

It’s part of this company’s Marvel Avengers line, which offers designs with favorite heroes… and a villain or two.

Hackers good and bad depend on stolen iPhone prototypes

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iPhone 8 prototype
Dev-fused iPhone units are a mainstay of the hacking community.
Photo: Benjamin Geskin

Anyone who wants to do serious research into hacking iPhones needs to get their hands on a “dev-fused” unit — a prototype that can be used to ferret out iOS secrets.

These are used by both malicious hackers and security researchers alike.

Captain Marvel star signs TV series deal with Apple

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Brie Larson
Brie Larson will suit up for the CIA in the new TV show.
Photo: Marvel Studios

Brie Larson has scored a sweet new TV deal with Apple the day before her new movie, Captain Marvel, is set to light the box office on fire.

Larson will both star and executive produce a new TV drama series for Apple under the new deal. The TV show will be based on an intriguing spy novel that hasn’t even been published yet.

Apple plans to hire 1,200 for San Diego engineering hub

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Kevin Faulconer
San Diego mayor Kevin Faulconer announcing Apple's expansion plans.
Photo: Kevin Faulconer/Twitter

Apple is beefing up its plans for expansion into San Diego and revealed today that it plans to hire 1,200 people for its tech hub in the SoCal city.

After revealing late last year that it planned to open a site in San Diego, Apple gave new details on what it says will be a principle engineering hub. The move will put Apple directly in rival Qualcomm’s backyard, but Tim Cook isn’t worried about attracting talent to Apple’s offices.

iPhone crushes Androids on resale value

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Ex-student sentenced to 3 years in prison for massive iPhone scam
iPhones cost a bit more to buy but they are worth a lot more later on.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Although Apple makes some of the most expensive smartphones, these devices also depreciate in value far less than their rivals.

In other words, iPhones cost more to buy but much less to use.

How to sign PDFs on your iPhone or iPad

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Apple Pencil vs dumb stylus: This old Wacom Bamboo is more than enough
Signing and returning PDFs on your iPhone is easier than doing it on paper.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Scenario: Your divorce papers finally came through, and you can’t wait to sign the things. The trouble is, your spouse already took your office and your home, and you have no way to print or fax the documents.  Or perhaps you need to stick your autograph on some other document, but all you have is your iPhone or iPad.

 No worries. With recent versions of iOS, it’s easier than ever to sign a PDF form and return it to the sender. In fact, you don’t even need to leave the Mail app to do it. If you’re looking for a PDF converter iPhone users can rely on, check out this guide for more details.

This company sells gorgeous custom iPhones for less than Apple

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Remade iPhone
They look even better in real life.
Photo: Remade

Buying a refurbished iPhone is a great way to save a pretty penny, and now there’s another reason why you should consider avoiding the Apple Store.

One French company is selling rebuilt models that have been painted in pretty colors as part of its “Better Then Refurbished” program. They’re gorgeous, and they cost a lot less.