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4 meditation apps for your mind and body in 2021

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These apps will help your overall health and wellness
These apps will help your overall health and wellness.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Getting fit is a pretty classic New Year’s resolution — but what about improving your state of mind? Aside from boosting productivity, improving rest and encouraging a general sense of wellbeing, meditation is a proven tactic for quelling anxiety and stress.

And after a pretty harrowing 2020, who couldn’t use a little more of that? These four meditation apps help get your mindset right for 2021. Get one them to become the most centered, grounded version of yourself (and to assist with that little mental push you need during the last mile of your morning run).

Bag a bargain iPad from $69.99 in Woot’s spectacular one-day sale

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New 2020 iPad colors
Get yours before they're all gone!
Photo: Apple

Pick up the best tablet money can buy for as little as $69.99 in Woot’s spectacular sale on iPad refurbs. There’s a huge range of models to choose from, and they’re all available at big discounts.

This sale is good for today only, so don’t miss out!

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

1 billion iPhones and other mind-blowing tidbits from Apple’s blowout earnings call

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Apple roars through another record-setting financial quarter, with a massive $111.4 billion in revenue for Q1 2021.
Apple roars through another record-setting financial quarter. Here’s what the number mean.
Image: Vista Wei/Unsplash CC/Cult of Mac

The results of each Apple financial quarter somehow keep topping the one before. This time, the big news is that revenue blew past $100 billion for the first time, buoyed by record-breaking sales of iPhone and other products.

But there’s more to Apple’s announcement than a parade of figures. Here’s what all those number mean for the company, and for users, based on what Apple’s top brass told investors on Wednesday.

How to classify Bluetooth devices and accessories in iOS 14.4

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Classify Bluetooth devices in iOS 14
It's worth the effort.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple’s new iOS 14.4 update, which rolled out to everyone Tuesday, gives us the ability to classify Bluetooth devices and accessories for the first time. Doing so helps make them work even better with iPhone and iPad.

We’ll explain why, and show you how to classify your connected Bluetooth devices in no time at all.

This tiny, travel-ready charger juices 3 devices at once

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You can charge up all of your apple devices at the same time with this sleek charger.jpg
Charge 'em all!
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Apple connoisseurs value minimalism. So do you really want to lug around a bunch of different chargers for your devices? (It can be especially bad if you travel for business and require a wide array of gear to get the job done.)

Luckily, you don’t need to cart around a gaggle of adapters to be able to work on the go. The Mopoint World’s Smallest 65W GaN PD Charger packs a ton of multitasking power into a very petite package. With it, you can charge up to three devices simultaneously with fast-charging ports.

Strong iPhone 12 sales fuel record $111.4 billion quarter for Apple

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Apple’s financial results were all the company could ask for.
Multiple products contributed to Apple having a stellar financial results last quarter.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

As a company, Apple is firing on all cylinders. It pulled in record revenue from iPhone, Wearables and Services during its most-recent financial quarter. And there was healthy growth in Mac and iPad revenue too.

Total quarterly revenue hit 111.4 billion, up 21% year over year. This is the first time Cupertino broke $100 billion, a milestone few companies reach.

These affordable cases protect iPhone 12 against almost anything

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SwitchEasy case for iPhone 12
Prices start at just $14.99.
Photo: SwitchEasy

iPhone 12 may be Apple’s prettiest smartphone to date, so you’ll probably want to keep it looking that way by protecting its glass and metal frame. Do it with a brilliant new case from SwitchEasy.

SwitchEasy’s new lineup is available today from the Cult of Mac Store, with prices starting at under $15. It includes super-slim skins that keep things thin, and rugged cases that protect against almost anything.

Monitor your home in real time with this HD indoor camera

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This indoor camera helps you monitor an entire area of your home from your iPhone or iPad
This indoor camera helps you monitor an entire area of your home from your iPhone or iPad.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There are probably lots of things in your house you want to keep safe — from expensive equipment, like your new MacBook or pricey smart TV, to nostalgic items you can’t possibly think of replacing.

Keep tabs on your precious possessions with a Motorola Focus89 Full HD Wi-Fi Indoor Camera. It helps safeguard your home with real-time alerts and 360-degrees views of wherever you place it.

EasyPencil Plus is like Apple Pencil lite [Review]

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SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus review: Inexpensive iPad stylus
This isn’t an Apple Pencil, though the SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus looks much like Apple’s iPad stylus.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The SwitchEasy EasyPencil Plus is an iPad stylus that does most of what Apple Pencil does for a lot less money. It even magnetically clings to the iPad Pro, and works with a broad variety of Apple tablets.

I used the stylus for taking notes, sketching and photo editing. Here’s how it stood up to my everyday life.

Automatically make websites faster, easier to read in Safari [Pro tip]

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How to enable Safari's Reader mode automatically
Don't let online bloat weigh you down.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Safari pro tips bugWe want to help you master Safari. Cult of Mac’s Safari Pro Tips series will show you how to make the most of Apple’s web browser on iOS and Mac.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could strip out all the unnecessary bloat from your favorite websites so that they’re easier to read and faster to load? Well with Safari’s built-in Reader mode on Mac, iPhone, and iPad, you can.

What’s more, you can have Reader mode load automatically on every website you visit with a simple settings change. We’ll show you how in this Safari pro tip.

Prioritize wellness in 2021 with this comprehensive health and fitness app

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This all-in-one health and fitness app is what you need to accomplish your new years resolutions
This all-in-one health and fitness app is what you need to accomplish your goals in 2021.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s plenty of ways you can take care of your health in 2021. You could start a steady workout regimen with Apple Fitness+. You could begin being more mindful about nutrition and what you consume. Or you might set aside time in your week to meditate and get away from your iPhone.

While some apps will help you accomplish these things individually, there isn’t a more comprehensive wellness app on the market than Verv Premium Home Workout Planner.

HomePod mini music handoffs just got better

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HomePod Software Version 14.4 debuted January 26.
The littlest HomePod isn’t being overlooked.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The recently released HomePod mini got a raft of new features in a software update released Tuesday. The process of handing off songs from an iPhone to the smart speaker now comes with some visual, audio and haptic effects. And media controls automatically appear on the iPhone when it nears the diminutive HomePod.

iOS 14.4 brings improvements to QR codes and Bluetooth audio

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iOS 14.4 debuted to the general public on Tuesday.
iOS 14.4 isn’t a substantial update, but it does include new features.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple released iOS 14.4 to the general public on Tuesday, along with the iPad equivalent. According to their developer, these allow users to scan smaller QR codes, and to classify their various Bluetooth devices so audio notifications can be routed correctly.

It also closes a security hole that hackers might have actually used to break into iPhones.

Save $100 on Sony’s terrific noise-canceling wireless headphones

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Sony WHXB900N headphones
Bag yours before the discount disappears.
Photo: Sony

If you want headphones that offer noise cancellation and outstanding sound quality, but you don’t want to pay AirPods Max prices, check out Sony’s brilliant WHXB900N. They look great, have Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant built-in, and are now $100 off on Amazon.

Get yours before the discount disappears!

Start a thriving Amazon dropshipping business in 2021

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Learning this skill will help you earn more in 2021
Learning this skill will help you earn more in 2021.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you want to make the most out of your time online and have made your way through productivity and fitness classes, why not consider starting your own online business?

These days, resources abound for starting a successful e-commerce business. Loads of lessons can free you from much of the typical legwork, and set you up for success. One of these programs is the Amazon FBA program, and The 2021 Complete Amazon Dropshipping & Private Label Master Class Bundle includes 97 hours of content taught by some of the top FBA instructors and multimillion-dollar dropshippers. It’s the ideal way to start a successful business online, at home.

Top Apple engineer moves to mysterious new project

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What is top Apple hardware engineer Dan Riccio up to now?
What is top Apple hardware engineer Dan Riccio up to now?
Photo: Apple

Dan Riccio, one of Apple’s top designers, is moving to a mysterious new role in Cupertino.

After joining Apple in 1998, Riccio worked on loads of groundbreaking products, from the first iMac to last year’s AirPods Max and the M1-powered Macs. Now, he’s become Apple’s “vice president of engineering.”

Going forward, Riccio says he will be “focusing all my time and energy at Apple on creating something new and wonderful that I couldn’t be more excited about,” according to a press release Monday.

Sing your heart out with this karaoke-on-demand app

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Bring the karaoke bar to your phone with this amazing app
Bring the karaoke bar to your iPhone with this amazing app.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There are only so many starter sourdoughs and online courses you can take before you start considering other options to keep yourself entertained. Once you’ve powered through your book list, you need to do something else to keep your imagination occupied.

Why not imagine you’re singing to your adoring fans on a stage with this Karaoke on Demand: Lifetime VIP Subscription?

Coronavirus game dev blasts Apple’s blanket ban of COVID-19 apps

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Corona Control Game
Too hot for the App Store? That's what temperature checks are meant for.
Photo: Florian Mueller

When Florian Mueller submitted his latest game to the App Store, he didn’t think it would end with him filing a complaint against Apple with the European Union, the U.S. Department of Justice and other antitrust authorities around the world.

But that’s exactly what happened after Apple rejected his Corona Control Game due to its COVID-19 theme. Google, which barred Mueller’s game from the Google Play store, is also named in his complaints.

Germany-based Mueller, who has another career as a blogger on legal issues, is not happy with how Apple and Google handled his game submission.

“When [Apple and Google] rejected the game at the beta-testing stage, I was indeed surprised that they took issue with it in such a fundamental way they wouldn’t even let us distribute it to testers,” Mueller, 51, told Cult of Mac.

Snatch a stainless steel Apple Watch Series 4 for less than $235 today only

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Apple
Don't miss out!
Photo: Apple

Want an affordable Apple Watch that has (almost) everything? Check out Woot’s deal on refurbished stainless steel Series 4 units, which pack an edge-to-edge display, built-in ECG, and more for under $235.

This sale is good for today only, so enjoy it while you can!

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Palmer is here for your tears. Better just hand them over. [Apple TV+ review]

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Justin Timberlake and Ryder Allen in Palmer
Justin Timberlake is a star, but Ryder Allen steals the show in Palmer.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ makes an awards bid with the well-meaning Palmer, a drama of recovery, change and tolerance. It might not set the world on fire, but the film proves uniquely difficult to resist.

Justin Timberlake is in fine form as a hardened convict who grows soft and open to love thanks to the charms of a little boy. His accent might not last the whole movie, but his commitment to the part is nevertheless most endearing.

This streaming service will soothe you to sleep

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This streaming service will help you develop better sleep habits
Restflix will help you develop better sleep habits.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

There’s a lot going on in the world today that can keep you up at night. Whether you’ve been doom-scrolling the news or just have trouble shutting down after work, it can be exhausting to spend long hours awake, only to start the cycle over again the next day.

When all the old tactics — like meditation apps, white noise gadgets, and good old-fashioned sweat sessions — fail to work, try this Restflix subscription.

Batterygate strikes again: Consumer group sues Apple over planned obsolescence

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iPhone camera
Batterygate issue has been raging for a few years now.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Italian consumer association Altroconsumo launched a massive class-action lawsuit against Apple on Monday, seeking 60 million euros ($73 million) for the alleged planned obsolescence of iPhones.

Specifically, the suit mentions the iPhone 6 and 6s generation of devices. Apple used a software update to slow down these phones’ performance, resulting in the “Batterygate” controversy.

“Planned obsolescence is a deliberate unfair practice to consumers that causes frustration and financial harm,” Els Bruggerman, head of policy and enforcement for consumer right’s group Euroconsumers, told Cult of Mac. (Altroconsumo is a part of Euroconsumers.) “In November 2020, Apple ​announced that it will pay $113 million to settle allegations that it slowed down iPhones to mask battery issues. That settlement clearly demonstrates that Apple resorted to planned obsolescence as a deliberate attempt to increase renewal of phone, hide issues and deceive consumers.”

Apple says it slowed down the iPhones to preserve battery life and avoid crashes of older devices. Between 2014 and 2020, Apple sold approximately 1 million of iPhone 6 and 6s models in Italy alone.

Handy Monochest keeps Apple Watch and spare bands safe and secure while traveling [Review]

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Monowear Monochest for Apple Watch
The ideal Apple Watch accessory for frequent travelers.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you plan to go traveling with your Apple Watch as soon as it’s safe to do so, you’ll want to take with you the handy Monowear Monochest. This book-like accessory securely carries your spare bands, and doubles as a stand that keeps your Apple Watch protected while it’s charging.

The Monochest is compatible with all generations of Apple Watch, and we think it’s a must-have for frequent travelers. What’s more, you can get yours today at 20% off the usual price.