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Apple starts new round of iOS, macOS, tvOS ‘bug fix’ betas

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There are new iOS 12 beta versions for developers and the public, as the same is true for macOS Mojave.
New betas of OS upgrades for all these Apple computers were just seeded to developers.
Photo: Apple

Every type of Apple computer got an operating system upgrade yesterday, but the company’s coding team apparently never rests. New betas for phones, tablets, Macs, and TVs were just seeded to third-party software developers.

There’s no new beta for Apple Watch because its OS update yesterday had to be pulled.

Sleek sling bag lets you carry iPad Pro with style

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iPad Pro bag
The iPad Pro has a secure home in the Sutter Tech Sling.
Photo: WaterField Designs

If you’re going to move all of your personal computing to a new iPad Pro or MacBook Air, you may want to consider a bag made to fit Apple’s newest devices.

WaterField Designs, makers of bespoke tech cases, has a one-shoulder solution with its all-new Sutter Tech Sling.

New iPad Pro nearly sold out for launch day

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Enough people were willing to pay $1899 for a tricked out iPad Pro that Apple sold out of them very quickly.
Bag yours today and pay $100 less.
Photo: Apple

Virtually every configuration of the new iPad Pro models sold out in the first day of pre-orders. Many went within a few hours, including the most expensive options.

This isn’t a guarantee that demand for these tablets is heavy because we don’t know how many units Apple had prepared for release day. Still, it’s a good sign.

Add USB ports to MacBook Pro with this awesome power-adapter hub

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Hyperdrive
Get more USB ports for your Mac with this brilliant accessory.
Photo: HyperDrive

Apple is on a mission to kill all MacBook ports that aren’t USB-C, but thanks to an ingenius new power adapter accessory, you can get back the old school USB ports you’ve been longing for.

HyperDrive revealed its new USB-C Hub for the new MacBook Pros power adapters today. The little attachment connects to your power adapter to add two USB-C ports that can be used to connect USB-A devices, peripherals and hard drives to the USB-C only MacBook Pro.

Take a closer look:

TV stars grab fat paychecks thanks to Apple’s spending spree

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Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon could earn a massive payday from Apple.
Photo: HBO

Apple is spending upward of $1 billion on its original TV shows, and it’s not skimping when it comes to star salaries. According to a recent report, Apple is paying out some of the highest salaries to any actors in television shows. It’s even exceeding the amount paid to the stars of shows like The Walking Dead.

It’s another example of how, when you’re a company the size of Apple, you can afford to throw around some serious cash to bring in top talent.

Apple Pay could land in Belgium next month

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doxo Apple Pay
Apple Pay is gradually expanding its reach.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple Pay is coming to Belgium in November, Belgian newspaper De Tijd reports. It will supposedly be available initially as an exclusive for customers of BNP Paribas Fortis, Belgium’s most popular major bank.

The country already has widespread usage of contactless payments, and has been using Android Pay since early 2017.

Avoid blowing your budget this holiday season with this app [Deals]

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Get a bird's eye view of your spending without the need to sync with your bank account.
Get a bird's eye view of your spending without the need to sync with your bank account.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s easy to lose track of spending during the holidays. As the gift wrapping stack up, a lot of us could use a little help keeping an eye on the bottom line. But no matter the time of year, financial discipline is something everyone can benefit from.

Apple pulls new watchOS 5.1 update

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watchOS 5 Face
Is your Apple Watch still running with watchOS 5.1?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has pulled the watchOS 5.1 update just hours after making it available to the public.

The move came after reports that the release was “bricking” Apple Watch Series 4 units. Apple has advised those who are experiencing a constant boot loop to contact AppleCare.

Why Apple is Facebook’s ‘biggest competitor by far’

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Face ID
iMessage gives Apple a big advantage.
Photo: Apple

Mark Zuckerberg says that, when it comes to messaging apps, Apple is Facebook’s “biggest competitor by far.”

That’s because, while apps like Facebook Messenger and the Facebook-owned WhatsApp have to be purposely installed, iMessage comes pre-installed on every iOS device. And that’s not good news for Facebook.

New iPad Pro reminds us how far tech has advanced in 8.5 years

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Photoshop on iPad
It's amazing what 8.5 years will do!
Photo: Adobe/YouTube

Visually, the new iPad Pro brings back some of the design elements of the original 2010 iPad, especially noticeable with the flattened edges for the device. But how does it stack up in terms of computing power?

Frankly, it blows the original iPad out of the water — which is exactly what you’d expect from 8.5 years of Moore’s Law and engineering prowess. But some of the stats are pretty mind-boggling. Here’s how the 2018 iPad Pro measures up to the O.G. iPad:

Top-tier 2018 iPad Pro might get more RAM

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The 2018 iPad Pro might have more RAM than its predecessor, but only if you buy one of the most expensive versions.
The 2018 iPad Pro might have more RAM than its predecessor, but only if you buy one of the most expensive versions.
Photo: Apple

Apple has reportedly pegged the amount of RAM in the new iPad Pro to the amount of storage capacity. If this is true, it will be a significant departure for the company. Even on the pricy MacBook Pro line, RAM is consistent between versions of the same model, no matter how much storage is included.

If this report isn’t true, than every version of the 2018 iPad Pro will have 50 percent more RAM that the tablet Apple released last year.

All the ways the 2018 iPad Pro blows away its predecessors

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Apple compared the size of last year's 12.9-inch iPad Pro to the new, smaller model.
During its October press event, Apple compared the size of last year's 12.9-inch iPad Pro to the new, more portable model.
Photo: Apple

Since the first iPad was unveiled back in 2010, each successive model has looked nearly that same as all its predecessors, with most changes coming from faster processors and more storage.

Not any more. The iPad Pro just revealed includes several dramatic improvements, any one of which would be a game changer.

Don’t miss our comprehensive comparison of this tablet with the 2017 version.

New iPad Pro repair costs make AppleCare+ a no-brainer

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Don't break your 2018 iPad Pro.
Don't break your new iPad Pro.
Photo: Apple

No matter what you plan to do with your beautiful new iPad Pro, make sure you never break it. Or if you do, you better buy AppleCare+.

Apple published the pricing for replacing a broken iPad Pro on its website today and the out-of-warranty costs are so high you could nearly buy an entirely new iPad Pro.

macOS Mojave 10.14.1 makes Group FaceTime available to all

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Group FaceTime Mac
With macOS 10.14.1 you can make Group FaceTime calls with dozens of people.
Photo: Apple

Apple has introduced a fairly significant update for macOS Mojave. This isn’t just some bug fix tweak — version 10.14.1 brings fun new features.

The most significant of these is Group FaceTime. Updates released today for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch also support this group-calling feature for the first time.

MacBook smackdown: Which laptop is right for you?

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MacBook Air 2018
If you need a new laptop, you won't want to miss this deal.
Photo: Apple

Apple finally dusted off the MacBook Air. The 2018 model sports a brand new design, a gorgeous Retina display, and powerful upgraded internals. All of sudden, Apple’s most affordable notebook is up there with its best.

In fact, the new ultraportable is so good, you would be crazy to buy a 12-inch MacBook right now. So, how does the new MacBook Air stack up against the rest of Apple’s laptop lineup? Which model best suits your needs, and which delivers the best bang for the buck?

Find out right here in our comprehensive MacBook comparison.

New MacBook Air’s T2 chip protects your mic from hackers

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T2 chip
Apple's most secure laptop yet.
Photo: Apple

Tapping into a Mac’s microphone is about to get a lot harder for hackers thanks to Apple’s new T2 chip.

Apple didn’t dedicate much time to its new T2 chip during today’s ‘More in the Making’ keynote, but the company’s newest security guide gives an in-depth look at the chip. Not only is it designed to prevent MacBook Air users from getting malware but it also makes it physically impossible for hackers to access your microphone when you’re most vulnerable.

New line of free Apple seminars will make your brain bulge

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Today at Apple
Apples Stores will sell you the iPads and Apple Pencils. "Today at Apple" will show how to use them.
Photo: Apple

More than 60 new sessions to teach Apple users how to get the most creatively from their apps and devices will be added to the “Today at Apple” program, the company announced in New York today.

Held at Apple Stores around the world, the sessions offer primers on essential hardware and software in the Apple ecosystem. Each workshop is headed by local creative professionals teaching coding, digital drawing, photography, video and making music.

5 things we didn’t get at Apple’s ‘More in the Making’ event

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The new iPads and Macs that have been in so many rumors will apparently be unveiled in less than two weeks.
While the Apple's October press event wasn't disappointing, not everything people had hoped for showed up.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s press event this morning was jam packed with new devices, including redesigned iPad Pros, an updated MacBook Air, and a faster Mac mini. But we still didn’t get everything we were expecting.

There were some notable absences from the ‘More in the Making’ event, and at least one glaring omission.

No, watchOS 5.1 doesn’t add ECG to Apple Watch Series 4

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Apple Watch ECG
Apple says the ECG app is still "coming later this year" to Apple Watch Series 4.
Photo: Apple

Apple just released watchOS 5.1, an update that brings new features to this wearable. But one of these is not the software needed for Apple Watch Series 4 users to take an electrocardiogram. Other sites are incorrectly reporting that the ECG app is part of this update.

New MacBook Pros with updated graphics are coming next month

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macbook pro
The new graphics will be a big boost the video editors.
Photo: Apple

Apple didn’t totally leave out the MacBook Pro from receiving some new features today, even though the company didn’t give its most powerful notebook any stage time at today’s event.

While the MacBook Air, Mac mini and iPad Pro were the stars of today’s keynote in New York, Apple quietly revealed on its website that the MacBook Pro is getting a spec bump too.

What’s new in iOS 12.1

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iOS 12.1 brings live depth control preview to the camera app.
iOS 12.1 brings live depth control preview to the camera app.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

iOS 12.1 is now available to download, and it brings a surprising number of neat new features to iPhones and iPads.

We get to enjoy Group FaceTime, live Depth Control when we’re taking photos — and the essential bagel emoji.