n19

Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on n19:

How to control what your iPhone backs up to iCloud

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icloud backup
Keep things safe with iCloud backup.
Photo: Gabriel Wasylko/Unsplash

It’s World Backup Day, a good opportunity to take a close look at the backups your iPhone makes to iCloud. Are you running out of iCloud storage space? Living with a slow internet connection? Worried about privacy? In any of these cases, you might want to exclude some apps from your iCloud backups. Doing so will save iCloud storage space and conserve bandwidth.

The good news is that it’s easy to exclude pretty much anything you like from your iCloud backups in iOS. Here’s how.

Casetify Mirror case for iPhone helps you look good on the go

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Casetify Mirror case for iPhone
An effective mirror that's always with you.
Photo: Casetify

When you want to look good but need to travel light, ditch the compact mirror and slap Casetify’s Mirror case on your iPhone.

Its reflective back will keep you from rushing to the bathroom to ensure your hair is in check, while its shockproof shell protects your iPhone from bumps and scratches. Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store.

How to watch It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown on Apple TV+

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How to watch ‘It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown’ on Apple TV+
Apple TV+ subscribers can now watch It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown. It’s easy.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Nothing says springtime is here like a visit from the Easter Beagle. Snoopy and his friends are back in It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, showing now on Apple TV+. It’s one of many holiday specials appearing on Apple’s streaming video service, the home of all things Peanuts.

Here’s what you need to watch it.

Think vertical? Keep your Mac mini safely out of the way. [Setups]

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You can stand your Mac mini vertically or mount it behind the monitor or under the desk.
You can stand your Mac mini vertically or mount it behind the monitor or under the desk.
Photo: msnl0826@Reddit.com

Redditor mnsl0826 decided to save some space by standing up his M1 Mac mini vertically at the base of his monitor, rather than laying it flat. It worked for him, but posting about it on Reddit generated heaps of concern about whether you’re supposed to do that.

A year of effort goes into a clean and balanced look [Setups]

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Chris Reed's dual-monitor M1 MacBook Pro setup was a long time in the making.
Chris Reed's dual-monitor M1 MacBook Pro setup was a long time in the making.
Photo: Chris Reed

Working student Chris Reed told Cult of Mac he put a year of work into his “slow build” home office and computer setup. In that year he strove to achieve a clean and balanced look, and, judging by his pics and comments, it seems he got there.

Reed said he wanted to go with dual monitors rather than a wide screen display to save some money. He’s pleased with his choice of 32-inch Samsung 1080p curved monitors, run along with his 2020 MacBook Pro and his iPad Pro.

How to get the iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 public betas today

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How to get the iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 public betas today
You can try out iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 today. Here’s how to install the public betas.
Photo: Cult of Mac

iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 are now available to public beta testers ahead of a wider release. Each of these brings a whole bunch of notable changes and improvements. iPhone gets FaceTime enhancements, new controls over notifications, upgrades for Apple Maps, and many more changes. And iPad gets a revamped version of Safari, improvements to Home screen widgets, easier side-by-side multitasking, and more.

Want to try them out for yourself? We’ll show you how.

MagSafe in iPhone 12 makes PopGrips so much better [Review]

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PopSockets PopGrip for MagSafe review
Magnets in the iPhone 12 series means PopSockets PopGrip for MagSafe doesn’t have to use sticky adhesives.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

PopSockets PopGrips are already wildly popular, and the new MagSafe system in the iPhone 12 series improved on the design. Instead of having to attach with adhesive, the pop-up phone handles cling tightly to magnets built into Apple’s handsets.

I tried the standard PopGrip and the wallet version with an iPhone 12, and they stood up brilliantly to real-world use.

Get ready for lossless Apple Music with Belkin Soundform Connect [Review]

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Belkin Soundform Connect review: AirPlay 2 adapter for legacy speakers
The Belkin Soundform Connect brings the high-quality audio of AirPlay 2 to legacy speakers or soundbars.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Belkin Soundform Connect could be just what you need to connect your speakers to Apple Music’s upcoming high-quality lossless audio. The wireless adapter allows iPhone and Mac users communicate with any speaker over AirPlay 2 using Wi-Fi rather than Bluetooth.

I ran some tests, and I’m impressed with the usefulness of this tiny accessory.

How to download the Opera GX browser beta on iPhone and iPad

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How to download Opera GX beta on iPhone and iPad
Start testing Opera GX today.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Gaming-focused web browser Opera GX is on its way to iPhone and iPad, almost two years after its initial debut. It comes with a customizable interface, the ability to sync with Opera GX on desktop, and ad blocking.

The browser also offers a number of unique features aimed at gamers, like GX Corner, which highlights gaming news and deals. Anyone can download and try out the Opera GX beta today. We’ll show you how.

Mix and match modular wireless chargers with RapidX Modula5 [Review]

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RapidX Modula5 review
Daisychain RapidX Modula units to build a custom wireless charging station.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Many homes and offices have a collection of iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods that need charging every night. Rather than a collection of these cluttered together, the RapidX Modula5 system offers wireless chargers that magnetically snap together and run off a single cable.

I used Modula5 in my multi-device home. Here’s why I like it.

Mythic Quest fine-tunes its epic comedy for strong second season [Apple TV+ review]

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Mythic Quest review: Rob McElhenney leads an excellent cast in a strong second season.
Rob McElhenney leads an excellent cast in a strong second season.
Photo: Apple TV+

In its second season, Mythic Quest doubles down on characters and lets workplace dynamics subsume the work itself. The creative team that drives the Apple TV+ comedy about game developers found the sweet spots that made the first season above average, then worked on them like mechanics.

The result is a season every bit as strong as the first — and one that portends greatness for the future.

How to enable macOS 11.3’s new ‘Hello’ screen saver on M1 Macs

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Enable M1 Mac's hello screen saver
A brand-new screen saver for your M1 Mac.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s latest macOS update ships with a brand-new “Hello” screen saver, inspired by the very first Macintosh, for M1 Macs. Enabling it isn’t quite as simple as just selecting a new screen saver in System Preferences, however.

We’ll show you how to manually install the new Mac screen saver on an M1 Mac ASAP.

Russo brothers’ victory lap turns sour with excruciating Cherry [Apple TV+ review]

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Tom Holland in Cherry
Even Spider-Man can't save this disaster.
Photo: Apple TV+

After years of shepherding the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its first major climax, directors Joe and Anthony Russo decided to make one of the proverbial “one for us” movies — as in “one for them, one for us.”

It’s a classic Hollywood strategy, where filmmakers follow up a moneymaking blockbuster with a personal project that’s more like an indie flick. The trouble with the Russo brothers “one for us” movie — a drama called Cherry, comes to Apple TV+ today — is that the “us” in this case possess no style, no ideology, no ideas and no ambition. Cherry is a total waste of $10 million and 2-and-a-half hours of screen time.

How to turn your old Apple devices into quick cash today

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iPhone 8 iPad Macbook
Cult of Mac can help you get the best price.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Ready to upgrade some of your old Apple devices? Don’t just let them sit in a drawer collecting dust. Turn your old iPhone, iPad, Mac, and more into quick cash that you can put toward a shiny new model.

Your aging Apple gadgets could be worth a small fortune — and Cult of Mac wants to buy them! We typically pay more than other trade-in services, and we won’t leave you waiting forever for your money.

We’ll tell you how it works.

iOS engineer loves his triple-5K display, except when he doesn’t [Setups]

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Christian Roman's setup is built for beautiful video and audio: 5K screens, massive subwoofer, pro lighting.
Christian Roman built his setup for beautiful video and audio: three 5K screens, speakers with a massive subwoofer and pro lighting.
Photo: Christian Roman

iOS software engineer Christian Roman has a “love-hate relationship” with his impressive triple 5K display setup.

“It’s fantastic when it works,” he told Cult of Mac. “It’s a nightmare when macOS suddenly decides to stop working with triple screens.”

Emily searches for the cure for wellness in a spirited Dickinson [Apple TV+ review]

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The ladies of Dickinson hit the spa in this week's episode.
The ladies of Dickinson hit the spa in this week's episode.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this week’s episode of Dickinson, Emily and company disembark to a health spa so everyone can unwind, though that’s not really what happens. Apple TV+’s millennial melodrama enjoys a mostly off week of batty jokes and ignoring the characters’ problems.

For Dickinson, a night at the opera elicits a ‘bravissimi’ [Apple TV+ review]

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Dickison
Emily Dickinson (played by Hailee Steinfeld) learns a lesson in immortality in this week's episode.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this week’s episode of Dickinson, Emily veers nearer to romantic destruction as the whole cast decamps to the Boston opera house to see a show. The episode makes time for everyone in the cast to take a solo. And the show finds its strengths renewed in simply detailing Emily’s emotional inner life.

Kensington’s brilliant StudioDock adds USB-C hub to iPad desk stand

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The Kensington StudioDock was named a CES 2021 Innovation Awards Honoree.
Kensington StudioDock could be the iPad productivity tool you’re looking for.
Photo: Kensington

CES 2021 bugThe Kensington StudioDock turns an iPad into a desktop. The tablet magnetically attaches to the stand, and then a USB-C connection brings access to a range of ports, including HDMI, Ethernet, USB-A, and more. Plus, there are wireless chargers for iPhone and AirPods built in.

The stand is impressive enough to be named a CES 2021 Innovation Awards Honoree.

Connect AirPods to almost anything with AirFly Pro [Review]

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Twelve South AirFly Pro with AirPods Pro
Twelve South AirFly Pro is the perfect companion for AirPods Pro.
Photo: Twelve South

AirFly Pro can wirelessly connect your AirPods to a plane’s entertainment system. Or the machines at your gym. If it has a 3.5 mm audio jack, this Bluetooth adapter lets it communicate with your AirPods. Even two pairs at once.

And the same easily pocketable gizmo can connect your iPhone to a car stereo’s AUX port to play music off your iPhone.

I tested both these features — find out how well they work in this AirFly Pro review.

Watch Strap Co’s high-end bands make Apple Watch even greater

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Watch Store Co Vengeance band for Apple Watch
Vengeance is one of many brilliant leather options.
Photo: Watch Store Co

Watch Strap Co’s impressive lineup of high-end Apple Watch bands is now available from the Cult of Mac Store. There are great nylon, leather, and stainless steel options to choose from — all brilliantly made and available in a range of color options.

We couldn’t be more delighted to have added them to our collection, and we think you’ll love them just as much as we do.

All I want for Christmas is Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special on Apple TV+ [Review]

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Apple TV+
Festive fierceness incoming.
Photo: Apple

Let’s be honest, you already know whether you’re going to watch Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special on Apple TV+.

This isn’t an early Apple Silicon Mac where you need to read up on whether the transition to a new chip architecture has worked before making your purchasing decision. You either heard the words “Mariah” and “Christmas special” and thought “that’s an easy skip,” or immediately set about making space on your calendar to enjoy it in all its festive fierceness.

Nothing I write here is going to change your mind on either of these polarized takes. But, for the record, I enjoyed the show, which premiered today on Apple TV+.

Ghostwriter stays totally chill in sleepy second season [Apple TV+ review]

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The gang gets back together for Ghostwriter's sleepy second season.
The Ghostwriter gang gets back together.
Photo: Apple TV+

One of the first Apple TV+ shows for a younger audience, Ghostwriter was both a reboot of a ’90s cult hit and a shoo-in to get renewed. With precious little to choose from, the streaming service’s execs had little choice but to put their muscle behind a show with cheap production costs and limitless potential for story ideas.

Like Apple TV+’s initial batch of Ghostwriter episodes, the second season is in no hurry to go anywhere or say much. However, it’s agreeable company — and its heart is in the right place.