Top stories - page 283

Prime Day (or at least the first day of this misnamed two-day shopping event) has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find great deals on iPhone accessories. Cult of Mac Deals rounded up of some of the best to ease your post-Prime Day shopping withdrawal — and we’re still offering an extra 20% off almost everything in our store.

You can use coupon code “OCTSALE20” at checkout to get the extra savings on almost all of these must-have iPhone accessories. But the savings madness can’t go on forever. In fact, the extra 20% discount ends today.

Ready for an Apple Watch upgrade? Treat yourself to a new model on Amazon today and enjoy stellar Prime Day savings. A bunch of models — including Apple Watch 3 and Apple Watch 6 — are discounted.

Get yours before they sell out!

I imagine Tim Cook seething with rage.

And I imagine workers in Apple’s marketing department filled with a gut-churning mixture of righteous anger, paranoia and dread.

What could cause such unpleasantness inside the pristine glass walls of Apple’s spaceship HQ (or within remote employees’ home bubbles)? Tuesday morning, images of the entire iPhone 12 lineup and HomePod mini leaked just hours ahead of Apple’s “Hi, Speed” event.

Apple’s “Hi, Speed” event included the company’s most critical release of 2020: the much-anticipated iPhone 12 series. And a long-awaited cheaper HomePod, too.

Here are the most important takeaways from Tuesday’s event to put these new products in context.

It happens before every Apple event. The rumor mill, tech blogs (hello), and iPhone-obsessed nerds pin every hope, dream and desire on the next version of Apple’s devices.

More often than not, those desires are dashed, pushing those wants off to another event. While Apple’s iPhone 12 event showed the steps the company is taking toward iterating on its most popular device, there were also some things left on the wish list.

Apple’s beloved MagSafe branding made its return at Tuesday’s “Hi, Speed” Apple event. And, if it’s not quite like it was before, isn’t that the same as every single story about something being brought back from the beyond?

The new, different version of MagSafe will allow users to snap on accessories to the back of their iPhones. Think wallets, cases and — in a new move for Apple — its first official wireless charging pads for iPhone.

The wait for iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max is over. During its big “Hi, Speed” keynote on Tuesday, Apple showcased its latest flagships with a dazzling new design inspired by iPad Pro, super-fast 5G connectivity, and the latest A14 Bionic chipset.

The lineup also brings new color options, improved cameras, and MagSafe — but not as you know it. You can preorder yours this Friday, October 16, before the new handsets make their official debut one week later on October 23.

Apple showcased the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 handsets Tuesday, showing just how powerful an “entry level” smartphone can be.

While these don’t pack as many features as Apple’s Pro phones, there’s a whole lot to get excited about. Here’s what you get with Apple’s “regular” iPhone 12 phones.

Apple took the wraps of the HomePod mini Tuesday, showcasing a pint-size smart speaker that promises high-end audio at a lower price than its big brother. But the most interesting parts might have nothing to do with music.

With Apple’s custom U1 ultra-wideband chip inside, the HomePod mini also can serve as an advanced hub for home automation. A new Intercom feature promises to connect family members wherever they are. And, in typical Cupertino fashion, the speaker will work closely with other Apple devices.

AirPods aren’t the only wireless headphones that are seeing big discounts for Prime Day. Amazon is also offering its biggest savings so far on Beats, with $75 off Powerbeats Pro, up to $120 off Solo Pro, and more. Bag yours before the sale ends!

Amazon is offering its biggest discounts yet on AirPods and AirPods Pro as part of its huge Prime Day sale. You can save up to $50 on the latest models for a limited time, with prices starting at just $114.99.

Get yours before they sell out!

Woot is offering big discounts on a huge range of refurbished iMac and iMac Pro units today only. You can bag yours for as little as $399.99. Bag one before they’re all gone!

Every year, Amazon’s Prime Day opens the floodgates on digital deals. Prime Day might be the ultimate shopping holiday, but Amazon doesn’t really need your money. Here at Cult of Mac Deals, we’re offering other ways to save, with massive discounts — and four full days of savings!

For example, we discounted each of these iPhone accessories by half or more. And continuing through October 14, you can save an extra 20% off nearly everything in our store by entering coupon code “OCTSALE20” at checkout.

Apple Watch got an update Monday that fixes a couple of bugs, including one that’s a real doozie. The bug could drain the smartwatch’s battery rapidly, so anyone experiencing that problem should quickly install watchOS 7.0.2.

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.

The tyranny of the squircle, a cross between a square and a circle, has been a part of iOS icons since the very beginning. But thanks to iOS 14 — and the enterprising efforts of 24-year-old, London-based designer Tobias Whetton — you can finally change up your Home screen icons and go with another shape of your choice.

(So long as it’s a rectangle, that is.)

Backpacks are great for getting from point A to point B, but they’re basically the same simple cloth bags they’ve been for decades. Today, backpacks are where we carry all our digital gear, so it makes sense that they evolve to meet the digital age.

Apple’s upcoming HomePod mini smart speaker and sixth-gen Apple TV will both function as ultra wideband base stations, according to Apple tipster Jon Prosser.

This means they will be able to track your location as you move inside your house, if you are carrying another device boasting an Apple U1 chip (like an iPhone 11 or Apple Watch Series 6).

Whether for birdwatching, sports or simply exploring the world around you, few things are quite as cool as a set of binoculars. But binoculars can be quite bulky. This small yet powerful monocular telescope lets you zoom in on whatever you want — and it’s so small you can take it anywhere.

The High Definition Monocular Telescope from Mesay is a perfect travel companion. It’s totally portable: It measures just 6.69 inches by 2.56 inches by 3.54 inches, and weighs less than a pound. Plus, with the included clip, you can attach it to your iPhone to capture incredible photos and videos.

The latest leaks and reporting give us a pretty convincing picture of what to expect – and what not to expect – at Apple’s big “Hi, Speed” event next Tuesday.

Plus, now we’re getting word of yet another Apple event possibly coming in November. Let’s hope the hardware hits just keep coming!

Catch up on all the latest Apple news and rumors in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. It’s free, and it’s made to shine on your iOS device. Download it now!

Staying in and away from others is part of many people’s daily lives at this point. We rounded up three great lifetime subscriptions that’ll help to make the most of the new normal, from language learning to speed reading and staying secure and anonymous online.

The first Mac running an Apple processor reportedly won’t take the stage at Apple’s big product event next Tuesday. Instead, the initial macOS computer with Apple Silicon supposedly won‘t see the light of day until November.

Treat your 12-inch MacBook to Apple’s fine Leather Sleeve and enjoy a whopping $81.57 off the usual price for a limited time. This is the biggest discount we’ve seen on this accessory, and it won’t last long!

In the Star Trek future, everyone understands one another without any effort thanks to universal translators. We’re not quite there yet, but technology is advancing fast. Today, it’s already easy to convert text, speech and even images instantaneously.

Apple’s eagerly anticipated AirTags are going to be eagerly anticipated for a while longer, according to Apple tipster Jon Prosser. In a tweet Friday, he said Apple pushed back the launch of its location-tracking tags to March 2021.

He also shared some new information about Apple’s rumored AirPods Studio headphones.