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Read 20% faster by mastering a single cognitive trick [Deals]

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Using color coding to connect lines of text, BeeLine's reading system can boost your reading speed and comprehension.
Using color coding to connect lines of text, BeeLine's reading system can boost your reading speed and comprehension.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Ever catch yourself re-reading the same lines, or making it to the end of a page only to realize you don’t remember it? These are the signs of weak reading technique, and if that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Luckily, there’s a way to improve.

Apple may have quietly fixed MacBook Pro’s ‘stage light’ flaw

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MacBook Pro 2018 display cables
It's a small but significant change.
Photo: iFixit

Apple’s latest MacBook Pro lineup may be immune to the “stage light” flaw that has plagued some 2016 and 2017 models.

Slightly longer display cables inside the newer notebooks could help prevent the wear that older units are susceptible to. It’s only a minor change, but it may eliminate nasty $600 repair bills.

Can a social media guru extinguish Siri’s tire fire of complaints?

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Siri Alexa in voice report
Apple is hiring someone to track what everyone says about Siri.
Photo: Apple

Corporation ISO very patient person to listen to endless complaints about its digital assistant. No phonies.

Apple really did post a job opening for someone to monitor what people are saying about Siri, with an eye to turning complaints into improvements to this beleaguered voice-driven assistant.

Nizo blurs the lines between shooting and editing video

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Nizo manages to mix power and ease of use. Take note, Apple.
Nizo manages to mix power and ease of use. Take note, Apple.
Photo: Nizo

Nizo is a new take on video apps. It manages to blend shooting and editing together, so you can edit your movies on the fly as you capture them.

The interface to do this is — like much good design — so clean and obvious that you wonder why it wasn’t done before. Let’s take a look.

Epic promises audio improvements for Fortnite 8.01

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Fortnite
Listen out for the sound improvements this week.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite fans are still enjoying last week’s massive season eight update, but many will have noticed that certain things need fixing. One of those is the audio for a bunch of weapons and items, which Epic Games is already working on fixing.

Seth Weedin, Fortnite’s technical sound designer, has detailed a number of big audio improvements that will roll out in a version 8.01 patch.

See PDFelement 6 Pro for Mac in action and get an exclusive discount [Video]

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PDF editor PDFelement Pro 6 for Mac works wonders with PDFs.
PDFelement works wonders with PDFs.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

This post is brought to you by Wondershare.

PDFs are an increasingly common way to share documents of all kinds. From résumés to entire e-books, PDFs are as common as Word documents are. But unfortunately, they are not always easy to edit.

To really grapple with PDFs, you need good PDF-editing software. Introducing PDFelement 6 Pro for Mac, a powerful and easy-to-use PDF editing app that makes working with PDFs dead easy.

Check out our video below for a quick look at how PDFelement 6 Pro for Mac works. (We also have an exclusive 40 percent discount for Cult of Mac readers.)

USB4 expands Apple’s Thunderbolt 3 to everyone

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A Thunderbolt 3 cable is also a USB4 cable.
A Thunderbolt 3 cable is also a USB4 cable.
Photo: Caldigit

Just a week after USB 3.2 was unveiled, the USB Promoter Group went ahead and took the wraps off the follow up. But if the specs of USB4 sound familiar, that’s because they’re based on the Thunderbolt 3 standard already implemented in most Macs.

So users of other types of computers can finally benefit from the faster connection speeds that Apple devices have been enjoying for years.

Google’s Project Zero discovers ‘high severity’ flaw in macOS kernel

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macOS High Sierra
Apple is said to be working on a fix.
Photo: Apple

Google’s Project Zero team has discovered a “high severity” flaw in the macOS kernel.

The issue, which potentially allows attackers to perform malicious actions on a mounted filesystem, was reported to Apple more than 90 days ago. No fix has been made available yet, but Apple has acknowledged the issue and is working with Project Zero on a patch.

Brilliant watchOS 6 concept gives Apple Watch the love it deserves

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apple watch concept
Apple needs to add these features.
Photo: Matt Birchler

The grand unveiling of watchOS 6 is probably just three months away, but a cool new concept from Matt Birchler suggests some simple features that will hopefully get added in time for Apple Watch lovers.

In his annual watchOS concept, developer Matt Birchler lists all the ways Apple could make the Apple Watch platform even better. Most of the suggestions are pretty simple, such as always on watch faces, and would be easy for Apple to add. Hopefully, Apple’s software engineers are taking notes of these ideas.

iOS 12.2 nears release with fourth beta [Updated]

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New mages could be of the rumored iPad mini 5.
The debut of the iPad mini 5 could depend on iOS 12.2, and both are expected in the near future.
Photo: Mr-white

Update: Hours after becoming available only to developers, iOS 12.2 beta 4 was released to anyone in the general public who’s joined the free Apple Beta Software Program.

Apple has settled into a steady pattern of introducing new iOS 12.2 betas every two weeks. It’s been 14 days since the last pre-release version went to developers, and you can guess what that means.

This version is expected to power three new devices launching later this month. It will also bring additional Animoji and other improvements.

Get the right band when you’re ready for action [Watch Store]

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You're ready for action. Is your Apple Watch? The Twelve South ActionSleeve is made for workouts.
You're ready for action. Is your Apple Watch?
Photo: Twelve South

While the Apple Watch is a great fitness tool, not every band is ready for the rough-and-tumble world of workouts. That black leather band that looks so smashing while you’re out on the town turns a bit sodden when you’re running the streets.

It’s key to get a band that will not only be comfortable, but able to survive whatever you put it through. That’s where the Cult of Mac Watch Store comes in. Check out our selection of Apple Watch sports bands, including the ones highlighted below.

Samsung sends foldable screen samples to Apple

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Foldable smartphone
Apple is serious about creating a foldable iPhone. Above, is a drawing for a patent Apple was granted last year.
Photo: Apple

After being one of the first out of the gate with a folding smartphone, Samsung is trying to entice competitors — including Apple — to join the foldable future.

Samsung, which debuted the Galaxy Fold at its Unpacked event on Feb. 20, has reportedly sent some foldable display panel samples to Cupertino in hopes of attracting Apple as a client.

One app can handle all your graphic design needs [Deals]

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This graphic design platform includes all the tools and features you'd want for a fraction the usual price.
This graphic design platform includes all the tools and features you'd want for a fraction the usual price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Graphic design can seem like an expensive activity, once you start looking at the subscription prices for industry-standard apps. So it’s a relief to find one app that can do most of the same work — at a small fraction of the price.

Researcher provides Apple with details (and fix) for Keychain flaw

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macOS Keychain
Apple still won't cough up a reward.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

A security researcher has decided to provide Apple with details — and a patch — for a serious Keychain flaw in macOS Mojave that allows anyone to access your saved usernames and passwords.

Linus Henze previously withheld the information in protest of Apple’s decision not to offer a macOS bug bounty program. He now believes the problem is too serious for the company to ignore.

Apple’s ‘intrusive’ execs criticized by Hollywood

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Tim Cook and Co. bring the hardware heat at The Brooklyn Academy of Music during the
Tim Cook wants TV shows to be family-friendly.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s “intrusive” executives, including CEO Tim Cook, have been criticized by Hollywood for becoming too involved in ongoing TV projects.

Agents and producers have complained about how “difficult” Apple is to work with, according to a new report. The company’s “nitpicking” has led to delays that mean only a handful of shows will be available when its new streaming service launches.

AirPods 2 might charge faster than you think possible

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AirPower
Apple hasn't given up on wireless charging pads.
Photo: Apple

A highlight of the second generation of AirPods is expected to be a wireless charging case. And a new report indicates that this will power up these earbuds in much less than half an hour.

According to earlier sources, the long wait for an update to this popular accessory is almost over.

Let this highly rated iOS app help keep robocalls at bay [Deals]

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This app uses a community database of spam and scam callers to help keep them from getting through.
This app uses a community database of spam and scam callers to help keep them from getting through.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you thought we were past the age of spam calls, sorry, but no. From intrusive advertising to scam calls, some estimate that billions of scam calls afflict us per month.

Luckily, in the arms race against robocalls, machine learning joins the fight — on your side!

Perk up the Apple Smart Keyboard Folio with Slickwraps [Review]

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Slickwraps for Apple Smart Keyboard Folio review
This is an iPad Pro, believe it or not.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Apple Smart Keyboard Folio for the 2018 iPad Pro is slim, lightweight and very useful. It’s also ugly as a mud fence. Slickwraps makes an array of “skins” designed to improve the appearance with bright colors, simulated wood grain or other options.

We tested this device cover to see whether it really enhances this iPad Pro add-on. Read on to find out how it did.

How to dominate Apple Watch Activity Competitions [Cult of Mac Magazine No. 286]

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Accept the challenge and win with these Apple Watch Activity Competition tips.
Accept the challenge!
Cover: Graham Bower and Marty Cortinas/Cult of Mac

If your fitness-freak friend challenges you to an Apple Watch Activity Competition, don’t recoil in horror. Accept the invitation — and crush the contest with these insights and tips.

Get the lowdown in the latest free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine for iOS. Or hit the links below to get the latest news, reviews and how-tos from our website.

From refurbished iPhones to AirPods alternatives, the top deals of the week [Deals]

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Dig into the four best deals at the Cult of Mac Store this week.
Dig into the four best deals at the Cult of Mac Store this week.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s been a red banner week for deals at the Cult of Mac Store. So we rounded up four of the very best, from refurbished iPhones to affordable AirPods alternatives. We’ve also got a replacement for your Mac’s Dock and more.

Most of these deals are discounted by more than half, so get ’em before they disappear!

Apple ‘rolling the dice’ on its upcoming products

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Tim Cook takes home $125 million for Apple’s best year since 2009
Tim Cook said today he’s “never been more optimistic” about the direction Apple is going.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook is very upbeat about where his company is going. He told investors today that upcoming Apple products will “blow you away.”

Cook also indicated that Apple’s magic pipeline isn’t just brining more of the same. Cupertino is branching out.

Guilty iCloud hacker sent to slammer

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Celebgate hack
Christopher Brannan gets a prison sentence for his part in the crime.
Illustration: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

A judge sentenced a former high school teacher to 34 months in prison Friday after the man pleaded guilty to his role in the “Celebgate” hack of iCloud and other accounts.

Of those convicted for the high-profile hack, Christopher Brannan, 31, received the harshest sentence for breaching accounts. The attack led to the circulation of nude photos and videos of model Kate Upton, actress Jennifer Lawrence and others.