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Foundation doubles down on deception [Apple TV+ review]

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Foundation review: The sci-fi show seethes with big reveals and epic betrayals.
The sci-fi show seethes with big reveals and epic betrayals.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+’s ambitious space opera is getting ready for its final reveal. Foundation‘s epic first season flew by in the blink of an eye, all breathless action and rug pulls. Can all that excitement work its magic and attract a hungry audience for its richly deserved second season?

The sci-fi series based on Isaac Asimov’s fiction had a lot of groundwork to do this season, and somehow found time for several shows’ worth of action and world-building. As the first season winds down, plenty of unanswered questions remain. However, the writers have done a more than adequate job getting viewers excited about what’s to come.

Invasion’s monstrous aliens are ready for their close-up [Apple TV+ review]

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Invasion review: Aneesha (played by Golshifteh Farahani) and her family face multiple monsters this week.
Aneesha (played by Golshifteh Farahani) and her family face multiple monsters this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

Invasion, the sprawling alien-invasion show on Apple TV+, thrusts all of its characters into a brand-new reality this week. There is no denying now that there are aliens on Earth … but what does that mean for everyone? What do the creatures want? And is all hope lost?

This week’s episode puts the focus on the Malik family — and gets us up close and personal with the dreadful threats the Maliks face.

Incredibly rare Chaffey College Apple-1 sells at auction for $500,000

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Only six examples features the koa wood case.
Only six known examples features the koa wood case.
Photo: John Moran Auctioneers

Lots of Apple fans know the company’s first product was the Apple-1 personal computer. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs initially put the machines together in a garage in 1976. Now one unit in their early run of 200, known as the “Chaffey College Apple-1” because its first owner taught there, has sold at auction for $500,000.

Apple Arcade’s collection of classic games grows by leaps and bounds

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Apple Arcade’s collection of classic games grows by leaps and bounds
Crossy Road+ and many other App Store Greats have recently become part of Apple Arcade.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The selection of App Store Greats available through the Apple Arcade subscription service continues to grow. Friday brings the addition of Galaga Wars+ and Kingdom Rush Frontiers TD+.

They join dozen of other classic games that players used to have to pay to play individually but are now all available with a single Apple Arcade subscription. Plus there are many more original games, too.

M1 all around: Mac mini and iPad Pro drive developer’s workstation [Setups]

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The M1 Mac mini is paired with a 32-inch Samsung 4K monitor, a Keychron Q1 mechanical keyboard and a Logitech MX Master 3 mouse.
The M1 Mac mini is paired with a 32-inch Samsung 4K monitor, a Keychron Q1 mechanical keyboard and a Logitech MX Master 3 mouse.
Photo: PJ Flordeliz
Sometimes you see a workstation and you can pretty much tell by the gear what its owner does for a living. Today’s featured setup has an M1 Mac mini, a 12.9-inch M1 iPad Pro and an Acer laptop, plus a custom mechanical keyboard, a network switch and a huge external hard drive. That led me to guess the person might be a IT staffer or a software developer. And I was right.

Swagger scores with unflinching look at personal problems [Apple TV+ review]

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Swagger review: Crystal (played by Quvenzhané Wallis) and Jace (Isaiah Hill) deal with some rough stuff this week.
Crystal (played by Quvenzhané Wallis) and Jace (Isaiah Hill) deal with some rough stuff this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

This week on Swagger, Jace and Crystal come clean — but now what? She’s rent with guilt and pain. He wants to do something, but answers won’t come to him. Meanwhile, family troubles abound for Meg and Phil. And violence seems to be unavoidable in the game and on the streets.

Can Ike save this team and the community around it from itself? Money tends to speak louder than loyalty but Ike’s playing the long game and it might not pay off. The Apple TV+ drama about a Baltimore junior basketball league’s misfit team scores high this week.

We could be waiting almost a year for the next AirPods Pro refresh

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They AirPods Pro fit in their case like nothing ever happened.
Apple doesn't rush its AirPods upgrades.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

We could be waiting almost another year for Cupertino’s second-generation AirPods Pro refresh. A new report — citing sources in Apple’s supply chain — claims the new buds won’t drop until the third quarter of 2022.

Earlier rumors have indicated the upgrade could bring an even more compact design with a more rounded shape, plus motion sensors for fitness tracking.

The Morning Show busts out the eulogies [Apple TV+ review]

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The Morning Show review: Alex Levy drops a bombshell this week.
Alex Levy drops another bombshell this week.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+’s show about a news network is experiencing the calm before the storm as its second season nears its conclusion.

The whole staff of The Morning Show is still reeling from Mitch Kessler’s death and everyone’s putting up a brave front. But with a tell-all book about the show’s sleazy inner workings on the way, the mood is panicked and stricken.

This pro-level animation software is over 80% off ahead of Black Friday

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Whether you’re looking to animate images for fun or start a career, this bundle is for beginner and experienced artists alike. 
You can use this award-winning software to create your own animation.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Have you ever dreamed of being a cartoon animator? Make your dreams a reality with The Complete Cartoon Animator 4 Pro Mac Bundle, on sale ahead of Black Friday for over 80% off.

Bring your visions to fruition with this professional-grade 2D creativity and animation software. Whether you’re looking to animate images for fun or start a career, this bundle is for beginner and experienced artists alike.

iPhone X with USB-C port fetches over $86,000 on eBay

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iPhone X with USB-C port
It could have sold for even more!
Photo: Ken Pillonel

An iPhone X that’s been modded to use a USB-C instead of Lightning connector has sold for a whopping $86,001 on eBay.

Built by robotics engineering student Ken Pillonel, the device — which still functions perfectly normally — was shown off in October before being listed for sale earlier this month. It had received a bid of $99,000, but that was retracted.

Apple Store’s new ‘lists’ feature lets you keep track of things you want

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Apple Store app gets new 'lists' feature
Grab the newest update now.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The latest update to the Apple Store app adds a brand-new “lists” feature that makes it easier to keep track of all the things you want.

You can then share and discuss your lists with in-store Specialists, Apple says — then get a recap of your conversation sent to the app so it’s easy to find later. Lists also make it faster to buy what you want when you’re ready to check out.

10 digital early Black Friday deals for the Apple lover in your life

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Get great deals on Apple software during the Pre-Black Friday Sale.
The Pre-Black Friday Sale is the perfect time to grab these Mac apps.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Friendship, love, awesome deals on software — some of the best gifts you can give a person can’t be put in a box. If you’ve been trying and struggling to find a gift for the Apple fanatic in your life, then we finally have the answer for you, and it isn’t expensive new hardware or a fancy phone case. Check out these digital deals for the Apple lovers in your world. During the Pre-Black Friday Sale, everything here is on sale if you use code SAVE15NOV. And if the techies in your life won’t be satisfied with only software, you can take a peek at even more awesome deals for hardware and wearables.

Anker 310 Magnetic Ring makes any iPhone 12 or 13 case MagSafe-compatible

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The Anker 310 Magnetic Ring turns your regular iPhone 12 or 13 case into a MagSafe-compatible one for $8.
The Anker 310 Magnetic Ring turns your regular iPhone 12 or 13 case into a MagSafe-compatible one for $8.
Photo: Anker

Is your regular iPhone 12 or 13 case keeping you from enjoying Apple’s MagSafe technology? Anker now offers an inexpensive fix for your case — the Anker 310 Magnetic Ring — so you don’t have to buy a new, MagSafe-compatible one. The ring is $8, whereas a new case would probably cost you well over $20.

Mujjo makes the best iPhone 13 leather wallet case [Review]

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Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 13 review
Mujjo’s iPhone 13 leather wallet case is slim and saves the hassle of carrying a separate wallet.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Mujjo Full Leather Wallet Case for iPhone 13 shields your valuable handset while also giving you an easy way to carry your credit cards and driver’s license. Plus, it looks gorgeous while doing so.

Here’s why I love this case. Despite a notable drawback.

Awesome, affordable Apple TV alternatives on sale right now

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Awesome, affordable Apple TV alternatives
Get yours from just $19.99.
Photos: Amazon, Roku

You don’t have to splash out on an Apple TV to enjoy Apple TV+ and Apple Music alongside all your other favorite streaming services. They’re now available on a whole host of brilliant third-party devices — many of which are on sale now.

Unlike Apple, the likes of Amazon and Roku are offering big Black Friday discounts that are already live. Here are our picks of the best Apple TV alternatives that you can buy today from just $19.99.

AdGuard is an ad blocker, a VPN and a security app in one — and this deal makes it a steal!

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Make your internet a safe place for $30.
This unbeatable deal gets you a lifetime subscription to AdGuard for just $30 -- with a bonus!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

AdGuard combines a potent ad blocker with the best privacy and security features of a virtual private network and a parental-control app. And right now, you can get a lifetime subscription to the AdGuard Family Plan for only $30. Plus, to make this deal even sweeter, it comes with $20 in store credit to spend on other Cult of Mac Deals!

So, basically, 10 bucks for a lifetime of ad-free web browsing with additional privacy and security benefits (and $20 to spend on something else to make your life more joyful and carefree).

Practice your golf swing at home with this smart simulator, $80 off ahead of Black Friday

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For an extra 15% off you can work on your golf swing indoors with our Pre-Black Friday sale.
Don't let lousy weather or pricey green fees keep you from perfecting your golf swing!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’ve been wanting to practice golf in the house, but without breaking everything in sight, we have a safe and easy way to do that. This golf simulator stick allows you to work on your swing indoors. That way, when the weather is unfavorable, you can still get in some practice.

For a limited time, you can get the PhiGolf: Mobile and Home Smart Golf Simulator with Swing Stick for a full $80 off thanks to our Pre-Black Friday Sale, making it just $169. Better yet, you can get a two-pack for you and a friend for only $350.

Love Keychron keyboards? Behold the company’s first mouse!

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The new Keychron M1 Mouse is billed as slim, lightweight and customizable.
The new Keychron M1 Mouse is billed as slim, lightweight and customizable.
Photo: Keychron

Over the past several years, Keychron has gained justifiable fame for its affordable mechanical keyboards, which appeal to a variety of users. Now it plans to release its first mouse, the M1 (not to be confused with Apple’s world-beating Silicon chipset).

Keychron said its M1 mouse comes with the “strongest, most competitive grade” sensor chip available — as well as a raft of RGB light effects.

How to publish an ebook on Apple Books with Pages

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How to turn a Pages document into a stunning ebook.
Turn your Pages document into a stunning ebook.
Image: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Creating a killer app isn’t the only way to make an honest buck in the Apple ecosystem. You can publish an ebook quickly and easily on Apple Books.

It’s a straightforward way to sell your ideas, and doesn’t require any coding. In fact, the only software you need is probably installed on your Mac already: Pages. You still need to do the heavy lifting when it comes to the writing. But publishing an ebook using Pages takes very little effort. And the ebooks you create support a surprising amount of functionality.

This guide will show you how to publish an ebook to Apple Books using Pages.

Part 1: From PC pigsty to prim M1 Pro MacBook workstation [Setups]

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Before: A fine Dell Inspiron laptop perched atop a mess.
BEFORE: A fine Dell Inspiron laptop perched atop a mess.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Not long ago I sold, gave away or trashed most of my possessions and moved across the U.S. Soon after arrival, I found my computer unresponsive. The ol’ HP Pavilion laptop stopped powering on reliably. So I borrowed a perfectly good Dell laptop from my brother and kept on writing, mainly for Cult of Mac. I just happened to be “between Macs” at the time. But now I have a brand new 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook.

Thanks to the swanky new Apple laptop plus a few other bits and pieces I quickly acquired, as of today I no longer wallow in a PC laptop pigsty (yeah, the photo above is genuine, though I swear it wasn’t always quite that messy). I’ve got a proper Mac computer setup for the first time in a while.

Apple Business Essentials gives companies tools to manage employee devices

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The new Apple Business Essentials service brings device management, support and storage into one subscription for small businesses.
The new Apple Business Essentials service brings device management, support and storage into one subscription for small businesses.
Photo: Apple

Apple launched a new service aimed at small businesses Wednesday. Now in beta, Apple Business Essentials bundles device management, Apple support and iCloud storage into flexible subscription plans for companies with up to 500 employees.

Cupertino also unveiled an app for the service that enables employees to install apps for work and request support.

Apple’s entrance into comprehensive small business tech services by subscription could spell trouble for companies already in the space, such as Jamf and Hexnode.

Mophie 10,000 mAh MagSafe battery is ideal for video creators [Review]

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Mophie Snap+ Powerstation Stand review
The Mophie Snap+ Powerstation Stand looks good on a desk but is ready for on the go, including as part of a video setup.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Mophie Snap+ Powerstation Stand offers 10,000 mAh — enough to come close to recharging an iPhone 13 twice. It uses MagSafe so handset and charger cling together. And it has a kickstand, making it useful even when your handset is fully charged. If all that wasn’t enough, a tripod socket lets you make this power bank part of your video setup.

I tested all the features of the external battery to be sure there’re ready for real-world use. Here’s how this accessory stood up.

The next Mac revolution: Companies rush to buy new M1 machines

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Adobe Photoshop does support the MacBook Pro notch.
"Engineering hours are much more expensive than laptops."
Photo: Apple

The new MacBook Pro lineup is an exceptional upgrade over its predecessors, with new M1 Pro and M1 Max chipsets that offer more mobile computing power than ever before. And big companies are scrambling to reap the benefits.

The likes of Reddit, Twitter and others are rolling out 2021 MacBook Pro units to employees so that they can take advantage of the massive performance gains. “Engineering hours are much more expensive than laptops,” one said.