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Master any PDF document with one multifaceted converter and editor

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PDFBEAR
Get all the tools you need to convert, organize, edit and protect PDFs.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The world is changing fast, but PDFs remain a fundamental part of every digital workplace. The ubiquitous digital document format is as common as ever, but they’re also as tricky as ever to edit and convert.

This powerful toolkit offers a welcome and easy way to work with PDFs.

Logitech’s new Ergo M575 wireless trackball earns a thumbs up [Review]

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The new Ergo M575 trackball puts your cursor under your thumb.
The new Ergo M575 trackball puts your cursor under your thumb.
Photo: Logitech

Logitech just unleashed a new entry-level wireless trackball that feels good, looks fine and works wonderfully. The new Ergo M575 adds some features previously found only in its high-end MX Ergo trackball, including one that port-deprived MacBook owners will appreciate.

Plus, at $49.99 list, it won’t break the bank. If you’re interested in trying a trackball, for whatever reason, this is a smart choice.

Apple battles rocky relationship with biggest manufacturing partner

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Apple's relationship with Foxconn on the rocks
Apple's partnership with Foxconn isn't as rosy as it seems.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s partnership with Foxconn, its largest manufacturing partner, is “eroding” as a result of the supposedly shady tactics that Foxconn is using in an effort to boost profits, according to a new report.

It is claimed that Foxconn has exaggerated hiring counts, used Apple equipment to produce orders for other companies, and cut corners on component and product testing.

iPhone 12 is so good, there’s no real reason to go Pro [Review]

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iPhone 12 review
The 6.1-inch iPhone 12 is the “Goldilocks” of Apple’s four new handsets.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There’s no need to struggle to decide which of the four iPhone 12 versions is the best. The 6.1-inch “standard” version packs all the features most people need — like 5G and a great camera — while coming in at a price far lower than the Pro series.

After plenty of real-world use, here are all the reasons why the iPhone 12 (non-Pro, non-mini) is the right choice.

Sharpen your mind with brain-training games and more

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CogniFit Premium: Make the most of your mind with this collection of personalized games and exercises.
Make the most of your mind with CogniFit's collection of personalized games and exercises.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s not just you — everybody’s feeling a bit slow these days. The world is full of reasons to tune out and feel overwhelmed, so we can all use a little help keeping our minds sharp. That’s just what you can do with this app’s collection of games, exercises and more.

iPhone 12 Ceramic Shield display proves far tougher than iPhone 11

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An iPhone 12 drop test shows that it’s very, very hard to break.
Don’t try this at home.
Screenshot: PhoneBuff

A new type of screen protection built into the iPhone 12 series helped it survive a brutal drop test better than its predecessor. Both the standard model and the Pro went through multiple drops directly onto the display without breaking.

That wasn’t the case when the identical test was done on the iPhone 11 Pro Max in 2019. But that model older doesn’t have Ceramic Shield.

Build the site of your dreams without any coding experience

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The Complete RapidWeaver 8 Bundle: Get everything you need to build a pro website from scratch.
Get everything you need to build a pro website from scratch.
Image: Cult of Mac Deals

Everything is changing in the world, but one thing that’s holding strong is the value of a good website. Whether you’re trying to sell your wares and services, connect to an audience or just create a place for your thoughts and creativity, nothing beats a good website.

If you don’t know how to build one, this bundle of tools and resources is here to help. The Complete RapidWeaver 8 Bundle includes everything you need to build and launch a beautiful, successful site.

Score a dozen subscriptions to PlayStation Plus and other awesome streaming services

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The Complete Entertainment Bundle packs subs to a dozen services, including PlayStation Plus, at one low price.
The Complete Entertainment Bundle packs subs to a dozen services, including PlayStation Plus, at one low price.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

For many of us, everything we do happens at home now, from work to exercise entertainment, thanks to the internet. So we should equip ourselves to get the most out of our new online home life. That’s just what this massive bundle offers.

The Complete Entertainment Bundle includes 12 subscriptions to top streaming services, VPN protection, fitness classes and more — all at one affordable price!

Boost your career and become an Excel expert with two days’ worth of training

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Complete Excel Excellence Bundle
Learn the basic and advanced functions of Excel with 8 courses covering Excel functions, Power Query, PivotTables, and VBA.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Excel is a fundamental part of the modern workplace. It’s ideal for crunching numbers, managing relationships, and all kinds of other important tasks. If you want to be an asset to your office, mastering Excel is a great way to do it.

Cool MagSafe chargers and cases are ready for iPhone 12

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This MagSafe charger from Belkin might be the coolest iPhone 12 accessory.
The Belkin Boost↑Charge Pro MagSafe 3-in-1 Wireless Charger might be the coolest accessory with the new version of MagSafe.
Photo: Belkin

A selection of accessories that use the new MagSafe wireless charger are ready for Friday’s launch of the iPhone 12 series.

MagSafe used to be for MacBooks, but Apple rebranded it and built it into its newest handsets. Accessory makers are integrating it into wireless chargers and cases. Some of these are pretty cool.

iPhone 12 first impressions, and HomePod gets crazy new features, this week on The CultCast (now in video!)

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Dolby Atmos on Apple TV 4K: HomePod's new Apple TV features look like game-changers.
HomePod's new Apple TV features look like game-changers.
Image: Apple

This week on The CultCast: The reviews are in, so let’s talk about iPhone 12! Plus: The honest truth about iPhone 12’s 5G; the original HomePod gets powerful new features, and Jony Ive gets a brand-new job.

And now, The CultCast has video! Or subscribe to our audio episodes if you don’t like our faces.

Lack of COVID-19 contact-tracing apps shows limits of Apple’s power

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iOS 13.7 contact tracing feature: Life-saver, or NSA spy tool?
It's not Apple's fault. But it's certainly frustrating.
Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac

Apple and Google moved fast to develop a COVID-19 contact-tracing solution that was both smart and privacy conscious. Unfortunately, more than six months after the companies announced the cross-platform approach to contact tracing, few places in the United States use it.

It’s a tough lesson for the world’s biggest tech company. And one that everyone is a little bit poorer for having learned.

What to do when your iOS backup is newer than your iPhone’s OS

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What to do when your iOS backup is newer than your iPhone's OS
Running an iOS beta can cause problems when you get a new device.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Everyone in Apple’s beta program is running a pre-release version of the next iOS version. Which is great, until you get a new iPhone or iPad. Then you can’t restore the new device from the backup made on your previous one because the old device is running a newer OS.

If you find yourself in this situation, don’t panic — there are a couple of possible solutions. We’ll walk you through both.

Go beyond mindfulness with a multifaceted meditation app

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Omvana Meditation App: This customizable meditation app will help you focus on what matters to you.
This customizable meditation app will help you focus on what really matters.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Mindfulness is all the rage these days. And while there’s a lot more to mindfulness than just “clearing your mind,” let’s be honest: It’s not the one solution to all our problems. Living and working with a better mindset takes many forms — and this meditation app takes many approaches.

On the Rocks is a warmhearted comedy about all kinds of infidelity [Apple TV+ review]

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Rashida Jones and Bill Murray in On The Rocks
Rashida Jones and Bill Murray On The Rocks.
Photo: Apple TV+

On the Rocks, the first Apple TV+ arthouse film, is an extremely winning combination of midlife crisis, comedy of remarriage, and road-trip movie.

Writer/director Sofia Coppola’s charmingly cynical, shaggy-dog anti-romance — which stars Bill Murray and Rashida Jones, and debuts today on Apple TV+ after a brief theatrical release — is a smart step toward filling out the streaming service’s growing library of original movies.

Quibi’s crash and burn makes the slow, steady approach of Apple TV+ look smart

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Tortoise
Apple's not in a rush with Apple TV+.
Photo: Magdalena Kula Manchee/Unsplash CC

In the words of Ron Burgundy, “That escalated quickly.” A day after short-form video streamer Quibi pivoted from a mobile-only approach to launch an Apple TV app, the beleaguered service announced it will shut down for good.

What lesson can we learn from Quibi’s glitzy, high-profile launch, only to crash and burn six months later? That the slow-but-steady, tortoise-like Apple TV+ strategy looks smarter than ever.

Save $400 on a speedy 2019 MacBook Air today

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2019 MacBook Air
Don't miss out!
Photo: Apple

Pick up an ultraportable MacBook Air with beefy internals and enjoy $400 off the usual selling price today only.

B&H Photo is offering a 2019 model with Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for just $1,299 — down from $1,699. Or you can save up to $100 on newer 2020 options.

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

Apple needs a ‘don’t be evil’ policy (and here’s what that might look like)

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Apple, just ‘Don’t be evil.’
In general, Apple is good company. But some policies make it look a bit malevolent. These need to go.
Composite: Cult of Mac/Mitja Juraja/Pexels CC

Apple must avoid following a path blazed by Google. Years ago, the search giant touted its “don’t be evil” policy. But somewhere along the line, Google lost track of that — and ended up getting sued Tuesday by the Justice Department.

Apple, which faces similar scrutiny by a variety of governmental bodies, has a chance now to drop some of its questionable policies. If it doesn’t, Cupertino could end up facing its own lawsuit(s).

The encouraging news is, Apple is mostly a good company, so a few tweaks now could easily head off much larger adjustments down the line. Court-ordered changes — like a forced sale of the App Store — could prove painful.

Here’s why Apple needs its own “don’t be evil” policy, along with some concrete steps Cupertino can take to prove that it’s actually a force for good in the world.

iPad Air 4 review roundup: This is the tablet to beat in 2020

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iPad Air 4 launches later this month.
The iPad Air 4 offers a big speed boost over its predecessor.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s iPad Air 4 will make its way into the hands of customers this Friday. Ahead of that date, embargoes on the first wave of “first impression” reviews have lifted.

The TL;DR conclusion? That this could well be Apple’s best tablet yet.