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Become a true master of Microsoft Excel with these master classes

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The Premium A to Z Microsoft Excel Bundle Ft. Alan Jarvis & Chris Dutton
Get a complete tour and education in the many powerful capabilities of Microsoft Excel.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

If you’re a professional who works on a computer, chances are you’ve encountered Microsoft Excel. That’s because it’s one of the most powerful tools for managing data, schedules and more. It’s truly a fundamental part of any modern workplace, so it pays to get familiar with the popular spreadsheet program.

This bundle of courses will make you a master of Microsoft Excel.

Strapa band for Apple Watch puts fine Italian leather on your wrist [Review]

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Strapa band for Apple Watch
A leather band that doesn't disappoint.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you want a leather Apple Watch band that feels great, looks spectacular, and is built to last you years, you should really do yourself a favor and check out the wonderful Ingenium band from Strapa.

It’s made using leather sourced from one of the finest tanneries in Italy, plus 316L surgery-grade stainless steel buckles and adapters. I’ve been using one for months now, and I highly recommend it.

10 reasons why I’ll miss Phil Schiller

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As Phil Schiller steps down from his role as Apple's SVP of worldwide marketing, it's clear the company won't be the same without him.
It won't be the same without him.
Photo: Globovisión/Flickr CC

For long-time Apple fans like myself, Tuesday marked the end of an era. Phil Schiller stepped down from his role as VP of worldwide marketing.

Schiller was the last of the OG — a stalwart onstage companion to Steve Jobs, long before it was fashionable to watch Apple keynotes. Schiller was there at all the seminal moments in Apple history, including the launch of iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Back in the day, he and Jobs were a remarkable double act. Jobs would announce the products, and then Schiller would stride in to perform the demos.

Fortunately, Schiller’s not gone for good. In his new role as an Apple Fellow, he will still keep an eye on the App Store and Apple Events. But I wanted to take this opportunity to remember the man, the legend, that is Phil Schiller. Here are the top 10 reasons why I’ll miss him.

7 features Apple should steal from Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

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Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra vs. Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
There are some features in the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra that Apple should put in the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Samsung’s newly unveiled Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will have to take on the iPhone 12 Pro Max after Apple launches it this autumn.

Samsung’s top-tier handset offers seven features iOS fans should hope will show up in Apple’s next flagship iPhone. But the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra also has some real problems.

Master the many facets of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign

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The Essential 2020 Adobe CC Mastery Bundle
Master the fundamentals and advanced features of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Adobe Creative Suite includes some of the world’s most powerful tools for visual creators. However, the vast array of features in software like Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign mean steep learning curves.

The Essential 2020 Adobe CC Mastery Bundle can help. This bundle of Creative Suite lessons covers everything from the basics to highly advanced usage of Adobe’s most powerful tools.

An introduction to every Apple Fellow in company history

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Phil Schiller
Phil Schiller is far from the only Apple Fellow in company history.
Photo: Apple

On Tuesday, it was announced that Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, will transition into a new role as an Apple Fellow. This honorary position is one that Apple recognizes for a person’s outstanding contribution to the company in some capacity.

But while many newer Apple fans may not be familiar with the role, it’s one that’s been part of Apple dating back to the 1980s — even if this is the first time in more than 20 years that Apple has inducted someone into the club.

Here’s what you need to know about the other Apple Fellows:

How to save a backup of all your Gmail

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Ho
It’s surprisingly easy to make a copy of everything in your Gmail account.
Photo: Killian Bell/Ed Hardy

There are lots of reasons you might want to make a copy of everything in a Gmail account. Maybe you’re done with Google and are switching to an Apple email account. Or you’re leaving a job or school where you were issued a Gmail account. You don’t want to leave behind years of messages.

Fortunately, it’s easy to back up everything in a Google email account. But it’s not quick. Plan accordingly.

Phil Schiller’s new role as Apple Fellow means big promotion for Joz

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Phil Schiller
Schiller has guided Apple's marketing efforts for more than 30 years.
Photo: Apple

Apple on Tuesday said that Phil Schiller, the company’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, will move on to become an Apple Fellow.

Schiller continues to report directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook in his new position, which involves leading the App Store and Apple Events. Greg “Joz” Joswiak takes up Schiller’s previous role.

New iMac packs faster internals into all-too-familiar shell

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2020 iMac: The new iMac looks just like the old one (only faster).
The new iMac looks just like the old one (only faster).
Photo: Apple

The wait for Apple’s newest iMac is over. Cupertino today dropped a faster all-in-one with an even more glorious Retina 5K display, an upgraded 1080p FaceTime camera, and improved speakers and microphones.

You can order your new 27-inch model today, starting from $1,799,

Turn any text into an instant audiobook with this highly rated iOS app

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Speechify
Speechify scans and converts any text to speech so you can "read" faster and retain more.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Reading is essential to daily life and staying informed, but so is listening. In an age of podcasts, audiobooks and multitasking, many of us have adjusted to take in information through our ears while our eyes are busy doing other things.

Plus, some people simply retain information better through listening rather than reading. That was the case with Cliff Weitzman, who struggled with learning because of dyslexia. So he built a simple but powerful tool that makes any text instantly listenable.

Bag PNY’s 240GB portable SSD for less than half price today only

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PNY-SSD
Just $32.99 — down from $79.99.
Photo: PNY

PNY’s ultra-portable 240GB solid-state drive is ideal for anyone who needs extra storage that they can take with them everywhere. And for today only, you can bag yours from Best Buy for less than half price.

The drive works with both Macs and Windows machines, as well as iPad Pro. Get yours for just $32.99!

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

Ted Lasso’s heart is too big to bench [Apple TV+ review]

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Jason Sudeikis is the titular Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis is the titular Ted Lasso in the mostly winning comedy series.
Photo: Apple TV

Created for a diverting if not particularly funny web short, Jason Sudeikis‘ clueless coach Ted Lasso now has his own Apple TV+ series. The question is: Is there enough meat on the bones of the premise to support a comedy series?

Like the NBC Sports promos that spawned the character, Ted Lasso is about an American coaching football in England — and being sorta kinda unfit for the demands. Fish-out-of-water, culture-clash comedies are as old as film comedy itself. And there’s certainly potential in the idea of an old-fashioned Southern gentleman dropped into tough-as-nails, hyper-masculine soccer culture. But ultimately, the high-concept stuff isn’t what works in Ted Lasso’s favor. You must get past the show’s premise to get to the good part.

Surging iPad sales help Apple stay world’s No. 2 computer-maker

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MacBook, iMac and iPad are all computers
All of these are computers, and all contributed to Apple’s growing share of the global computer market.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Strong sales of iPad and Mac during Q2 2020 propelled Apple closer to taking the lead in the worldwide computer market. But they weren’t quite enough to push Lenovo out of the top spot, according to a market-research firm.

Still, the Mac-maker stayed ahead of rivals HP, Dell and Samsung as the global computer market grew 14% year over year.

Turn your old iPad into quick cash for a bargain upgrade

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iPad Pro
It might be worth more than you think.
Photo: Apple

It’s a great time to replace your aging iPad, with up to $500 off brand-new iPad Pros for a limited time only. And we can help make your upgrade even cheaper.

Sell your old tablet to Cult of Mac and we’ll pay you the money you deserve. We offer real cash — and fast — and we typically cough up more than other trade-in services.

Instantly triple your MacBook’s screen real estate with this add-on

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Mobile Pixels Trio
Perfect for presentations, mult-screen workflows, gaming and more, this USB add-on instantly expands your laptop's screen space.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Few things improve productivity like having more screen space to play with. Plenty of us rely on two screens to keep our workflows straight. And if you’re a gamer, you might want even more screen so your experience is truly immersive. With this lightweight add-on, you can get all of the above straight from your laptop.

Best Apple Pencil alternatives for your iPad

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Adonit Note+ review
Apple Pencil isn’t the only iPad stylus. With Adonit Note+, you can draw Tippy. Or take notes, sign PDFs, and more.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iPadOS 14 includes Scribble, finally allowing you to hand write text on an iPad with a stylus. If you don’t already have a stylus, there are some great options out there besides the very expensive Apple Pencil.

Here are some of the best available, so you can take full advantage of your iPad’s capabilities without paying too much.

Make quarantine a little easier with Rosetta Stone, VPN protection and more

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Social Distancing Bundle
Learn new languages, expand your knowledge and dodge online restrictions with lifetime access to three trusted apps.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Being stuck at home can be a drag, so we’ve rounded up three things that can make it more bearable. With language lessons, VPN protection, and a library of short reads, you can pass the time productively and safely.

It’s time to get back in shape with Apple Watch [Cult of Mac Magazine 360]

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Time to get back in the game! Here's how to get back in shape with Apple Watch.
Time to get back in the game!
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

If you put your fitness goals on the back burner due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s time to turn up the heat. And if you own an Apple Watch, the wonderful wearable is your ultimate post-lockdown fitness pal.

These tips will help you get back in shape, post-lockdown, with a little help from your friend. Find out how in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now to read on your iOS device, or follow the links below to read this week’s top Apple news, how-tos and reviews in your browser.

This week, you’ll get the scoop on another surprisingly good Apple earnings call. Plus, a full rundown of Tim Cook’s relatively painless appearance during a congressional antitrust hearing.

Unwind with streaming content designed to calm your mind

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Restflix
Get unlimited access to video and music that will put an end to sleeplessness and anxiety.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

More than ever, it’s easy to carry stress throughout the day and into the night. Research shows that sleep quality is one of the most important indicators of overall health. And if you want a reliable way to feel your best, it’s getting a good night’s sleep.

This streaming service, loaded with content designed to calm your mind, will take you to the Land of Zzzzs …

Delete downloaded podcasts to free up storage space on iPhone

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How to delete Podcasts from iPhone
Don't let Podcasts eat up all your storage.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

For most podcast listeners, there comes a time when you have way too many unplayed shows, taking up way too much space on your iPhone or iPad. Fortunately, this is a problem with an easy fix.

Take back precious storage space by deleting episodes you don’t need to have saved locally, and prevent the Podcasts app from hoarding content in the future. We’ll show you how.

How to get back in shape after lockdown with Apple Watch

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Time to dust off your Apple Watch and start closing those rings again
Time to dust off your Apple Watch and start closing those rings again.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

If you’ve let your fitness slide during the lockdown, you’re not alone. The Activity app’s constant nagging to close your rings is not very helpful when all the gyms are closed and you’re stuck at home.

Skipping workouts for a few months is understandable under the circumstances, but you don’t want to become a permanent couch potato. So now that we’re all adjusting to the “new normal,” it’s the ideal time to dust off your Apple Watch and get back in shape.