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Thinner, lighter 2019 iPhone will be made possible by Samsung

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iPhone X
Proprietary Samsung display technology could bring improvements to a 2019 iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A 2019 iPhone model reportedly will sport a display made by Samsung that has the touch panel integrated into the OLED, rather than layered on top. 

If true, the technology will make one of next year’s iOS handsets thinner and lighter, but not all of them.

Toasty touchscreen gloves let you swipe and scroll in the bitter cold [Review]

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touchscreen gloves
Mujjo touchscreen gloves keep you warm and connected.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

The last time I tried to use touchscreen gloves, I had made the decision to just never use my phone outdoors in the dead of winter. The damn things just weren’t warm.

I’m recalling this from my home in Minnesota, where this week’s lows are forecast to dip below zero for the first time this winter and I am wearing touchscreen gloves.

How to control the dark mode in iOS 12’s Books app

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Books dark mode
Some books, with night-mode disabled.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Apple’s iBooks app became the Books app in iOS 12, and got a whole lot better. From the library through to the built-in book store, it’s better in every way. It even has a dark mode, perfect for browsing and reading late at night.

But Books’ dark mode doesn’t work the way you might think. For instance, how in the dickens do you switch the dark mode on and off?

Try these powerful 2018 iPad Pro keyboard tricks

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The iPad loves a nice bit of keyboard action.
The iPad loves a nice bit of keyboard action.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Did you know that the Smart Keyboard Folio you just bought for your new iPad Pro can do a lot more than just type letters and words into your apps? Just like the Mac, the iPad can use keyboard shortcuts to make life a lot easier. In fact, the iPad shares many keyboard shortcuts with the Mac, so once you’re through with this list, you should try out your favorites.

And don’t worry if you don’t have a Smart Keyboard. These shortcuts work with any connected keyboard, be it Smart, Bluetooth, or USB. In fact, most keyboards actually do more for the iPad than Apple’s own.

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.

How to download and visualize your Apple Music listening habits

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Apple Music Analyser
Analyze this.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You know how you can download a copy of all the data Apple holds on you? For many folks, this is an academic issue — it’s interesting to know about, but of little practical value. But a tool from developer Pat Murray lets you visualize your Apple Music listening habits, using a browser-based tool.

All you need is one small file from your Apple data dump — and Murray’s Apple Music Analyser.

6 ways to stream NBA games on Apple devices

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Find out how to stream every NBA game on your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV.
Find out how to stream every NBA game on your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV.
Photo: tommy bebo/Unsplash CC

By Chris Brantner

With the NBA season’s arrival, it’s time to figure out how to watch your favorite teams. Whether you subscribe to cable or you’ve cut the cord, there are plenty of ways to watch pro basketball on your favorite Apple device.

You can opt to watch on Apple TV or you can choose a mobile device. Luckily, most cable apps and other streaming services work pretty much the same way. As long as you know the network the game is on and the time, it’s just a matter of pulling it up and rooting for your favorite team.

Forget Twitter, Fiery Feeds is the best way to read the news

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Fiery Feeds adds Pinboard support, finally lets you ditch Instapaper.
Fiery Feeds looks great in black.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Fiery Feeds is an iOS news-reading app that lets you subscribe to any sites you like, and read all their new stories in one place. It’s way better than relying on Twitter for you news, because important stories never get lost in a sea of doggy GIFs. And the new v2.1 gets a visual overhaul, plus support for using Pinboard as a read-later service. I love it.

How to export GarageBand stems on iPad

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It's super-easy to export GarageBand stems on iPad with AudioShare once you know the trick.
It's super-easy to export GarageBand stems once you know the trick.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

If you use Apple’s magnificent GarageBand for iOS, you will come up against one frustration over and over again — exporting stems. Or rather, not exporting stems. “Stems” is a cool music-producer term for the individual tracks in a song, and it is common practice to export them separately to either edit them in another app or send them to other people.

GarageBand on iOS doesn’t do this. It’s inexplicable. But there’s a fast and easy way to grab the stems right from your GarageBand project. You just need a copy of the magnificent AudioShare app, which costs just $3.99. Here’s how to export GarageBand stems.

How to let Dashlane and 1Password autofill passwords in iOS 12

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Dashlane password manager vs web browser: Don't rely on your web browser to keep track of your passwords.
Now you can replace the iCloud Keychain with the app of your choice.
Photo: FirmBee/Pixabay CC

One fantastic new feature of iOS 12 is that password manager apps can integrate into the built-in password autofill. You know how when you tap a password field in Safari, and it offers to fill the password in from your iCloud Keychain? It’s pretty handy right?

Now it can also serve up passwords form third-party apps like Dashlane and 1Password. And that’s not all.

How Apple Watch apps’ death spiral nearly killed my iPhone app

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Developing watch apps ain't easy
Developing watch apps ain't easy
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Two years ago, my partner and I launched an Apple Watch app to complement our iPhone fitness app. Little did we know that our embrace of Apple’s smartwatch would threaten the very existence of the gym app we’d been developing since 2012.

Each year since we launched Reps & Sets, we updated it to keep up-to-speed with all the cool new features Apple rolled out at its Worldwide Developers Conference. That all changed last year, though. That’s when we discovered that, by adding support for Apple Watch, we had inadvertently taken a poison pill that could effectively kill our iPhone app.

It doesn’t have to be this way. With a few key changes, Apple could turns things around and reinvigorate the Apple Watch app ecosystem.

Brydge keyboard seeks to turn your iPad Pro into a MacBook [Review]

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Brydge 12.9 is almost a touchscreen MacBook
The Brydge 12.9 Series II does a better job of transforming an iPad Pro into a keyboard than any rival add-in keyboard.
Photo: Brydge

The whole purpose of clip-on iPad keyboards is to make this tablet function like a laptop. The Brydge series takes that idea and runs with it: it does everything possible to make the iPad into MacBook.

This company — also called Brydge — just released an improved version of its eponymous keyboard for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Don’t miss our hands-on review. 

Moodo lets you control the way your home smells from your iPhone

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Moodo
Want to make your home smell nice? There's an app for that.
Photo: Moodo

Entrepreneurs are tripping over themselves to make “smart” versions of every product we already own. As such, it was only going to be so long before someone made a smart scent dispenser. That product is called Moodo. It’s a smart home fragrance box that lets you control how your home smells from your iPhone. Or your smart speaker.

But does it smell like a winner, or is this one gadget we’re turning our nose up at?

Learn a new language on your commute with the uTalk app [Deals]

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Score lessons in 6 languages on any mobile device, for 92 percent less than the usual cost.
Score lessons in 6 languages on any mobile device, for 92 percent less than the usual cost.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

As the world shrinks, the reasons for learning a new language are growing. But the time and consistency for language study can be elusive. So this deal on portable, flexible, lifelong language lessons is a must-see for any aspiring polyglot.

Save your reading list for later with Pocket [50 Essential iOS Apps #49]

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Pocket app article view
Pocket makes it easy to catch up on the articles in your reading list on your own schedule.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

50 Essential iOS Apps: PocketStaying informed and up-to-date with the latest news is tough. Scrolling through Twitter or browsing the web can often lead to news stories that you want to read, but can’t be bothered to read RIGHT NOW. With Pocket, you can save those stories for later and catch up on the stories you want to read on your schedule.

Channel your inner Steve Jobs by learning public speaking skills [Deals]

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This bundle of lessons will sharpen your public speaking skills so you can convey your ideas more effectively.
This bundle of lessons will sharpen your public speaking skills so you can convey your ideas more effectively.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Think for a second about Steve Jobs. What do you see? Most likely, it’s an image of the bespectacled, black turtlenecked tech titan talking on a stage. That’s because one of his greatest gifts was public speaking.

iOS 12 beta hints at wireless AirPods charging case launch

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AirPower
The long-delayed wireless AirPods charging case could finally be out soon, along with the AirPower charging mat.
Photo: Apple

Last September, Apple unveiled an AirPods case that can be wirelessly charged. We’re still waiting for it almost a year later — but there’s fresh evidence that it’s coming soon.

Buried in the iOS 12 beta released today are a couple of images that seem to show this new case.

Save 98 percent on a 5-course coding education [Deals]

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This bundle of coding courses will give you the basic skills you need to build great things on and for the web.
This bundle of coding courses will give you the basic skills you need to build great things on and for the web.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Coding is key to so many careers these days. It’s also just a valuable skill, whether for creative projects, building a website, gathering data, the list goes on. But learning to code can be daunting, so this massively discounted bundle of coding lessons is a must-see.

Refuel for less with GasBuddy [50 Essential iOS Apps #36]

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GasBuddy makes it easy to see where refueling will cost you less.
GasBuddy makes it easy to see where refueling will cost you less.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

50 Essential iOS Apps: GasBuddy gas app It’s road trip season, and that means gas prices can have a big impact on your vacation. Sometimes what seems like a decent gas price is actually a ripoff because you don’t know about the local station around the corner that’s selling fuel for far less.

If you want to get the best gas price, use GasBuddy for iPhone. The app shows you where all the nearby gas stations are. Better still, GasBuddy helps you find the best prices on gas, wherever you are.

Security cameras are ugly, so use this Bluetooth speaker instead [Deals]

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LizaCam: This Bluetooth speaker is also a security cam.
This Bluetooth speaker is also a security cam.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Protecting your home and valuables is important, but setting up security cameras in your living room can feel downright dystopian. Luckily, the internet of things is changing how our devices operate. So these days, home security looks and sounds a little more pleasant.

Leather case gives iPhone X a racing stripe and a vintage vibe [Review]

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Sena Racer review: An iPhone X case with a vintage rock 'n' roll and hot rod vibe.
If you want to give your iPhone X a vintage vibe strap it into a Sena Racer case.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Best List: Racer iPhone X case by Sena

Even someone who doesn’t suffer from a Jony Ive-style obsession with slimness wants an iPhone case with style. The Sena Racer — a leather iPhone X case with a rad racing stripe running up its back — adds bulk for sure. But its pleasantly puffy profile throws off a vintage ’70s vibe that looks killer and feels good in your hand.

It offers protection, sure. But, more importantly, it makes your iPhone stand out in a sea of svelte sameness.

Avoid road hazards and slowdowns with Waze [50 Essential iOS Apps #22]

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Waze on iPhone in a car GPS mount
Waze provides clear turn-by-turn navigation and alerts you to potential hazards.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

50 Essential iOS Apps: Waze map and navigation All across the country (and the world), people depend on cars to get from place to place. Unfortunately, not knowing where traffic is slow, or where a police officer is hiding, can cause serious delays. The Waze navigation app takes out the guesswork.

It tells drivers where traffic, construction or the 5-0 might turn a drive into a total bummer. Better yet, the navigation app’s huge user base means real-time data that lets you change course to avoid slowdowns.

PDF Viewer supercharges the native iOS 11 Files browser [Review]

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PDF Viewer uses iOS 11's Files browser to do its work.
PDF Viewer uses iOS 11's Files browser to do its work.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

A month or so back I was searching for a PDF app that would use the native Files browser on the iPad, but add features not available in Files app’s built-in PDF viewer. The result of that search was PDF Viewer, an app that is almost impossible to find on Google, but which is simple enough to be perfect for many people.

Celebrate Memorial Day with huge savings on Apple Watch bands

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We've selected many of our best brands for this sale including Nomad, Twelve South, Noreve, Strapa, Just Mobile. Trilotac and many more!
Photo: Noreve

Memorial Day weekend is no exception to the epic sales typically found on holiday weekends. In addition to a little R&R, why not spend a minute treating yourself to some great scores on Apple Watch bands?

Cult of Mac Watch Store’s Memorial Day Weekend Sale will offer up to 25 percent off the majority of our vendors. You’ll find great discounts on some of our most popular brands for Apple Watch straps, chargers and stands. Sale ends Monday, so check out these stellar discounts while they last, and see some of our featured brands below.