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Newest iPhone 12 rumor hints at 4 new models, including ’12 mini’

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iPhone-12-concept
An iPhone 12 for everyone?
Photo: LetsGoDigital

The newest iPhone 12 rumor claims Apple will introduce four brand-new handsets this fall, including a compact “iPhone 12 mini.”

The smallest model could be different to the rumored iPhone SE 2, but not much bigger in size. It is expected to pack Apple’s latest technology — just like its larger siblings — inside the same design.

A decade ago, iPad blindsided Windows team

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Steve Jobs with the original iPad
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs unveiled the iPad 10 years ago today. It wasn‘t good news for Microsoft.
Photo: Apple

Steven Sinofsky has an unusual perspective on the iPad. On the the 10th anniversary of Apple unveiling this tablet computer, the former president of the Windows Division at Microsoft looks back at his reaction to this breakthrough computer.

5 big questions heading into Apple’s first earnings report of 2020

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Earnings call
Apple's Q1 2020 earnings report will probably break some records.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple’s first earnings report of the decade is barely 24 hours away, and Wall Street is praying for another historic quarter.

After defying gravity for the last 12 months, Apple’s soaring stock price suffered its biggest single-day loss in more than six months today. Tuesday’s Q1 2020 earnings, which will cover sales from the 2019 holiday season, could provide the jolt AAPL shares need to start jumping up the charts again. However, certain hot topics — and what Apple says about them — could signal a downturn ahead.

Buying MGM could prove crucial to Apple TV+ growth

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Apple TV+ could acquire MGM, including James Bond.
Apple TV+ could become the new home of James Bond.
Photo: MGM/Cult of Mac

Everything on Apple TV+ today was released in the past few months. But Apple is reportedly in talks to buy MGM, which would bring a catalogue of classic and modern movies to the iPhone maker’s streaming video service.

How to switch off iCloud backups, and why you might not want to

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iCloud backups locker room
Apple might keep iCloud backups locked in rooms like this one.
Photo: Liz Weddon/Unsplash

Last week’s revelation that iCloud backups can be accessed by Apple, and are regularly given to law enforcement agencies, came as a big surprise to many people. Isn’t Apple the company that claims to protect your data? While your iPhone or iPad is locked down, much of your iCloud data, including1 your iMessages, is available to Apple. The only way to prevent Apple, and government agencies, from accessing that data is to switch off iCloud backups, and make local backups instead.

10 years on: How the iPad changed mobile computing

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IPad Pro one week review
The iPad changed mobile computing forever.
Photo: Andrea Nepori

There were tablet computers before the iPad, but they were thick plastic laptops with the screens reversed, with awful, bendy TFT screens. The first iPad seems thick and clunky now, compared to the latest ultra-thin iPads Pro, but at the time it felt like a slice of the future.

When Steve Jobs introduced the iPad a decade ago today, some critics wrote it off as “just a big iPhone.” The only thing was, a lot of people really wanted a big iPhone. And ultimately, the iPad changed mobile computing as we know it.

Apple teases Beastie Boys Story ahead of April debut

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Beastie-Boys-Story
'Here's a little story they're about to tell...'
Photo: Apple

Apple just dropped a brand-new trailer for its original live documentary on the Beastie Boys.

Beastie Boys Story is scheduled to hit Apple TV+ on April 24. It will feature stage shows with Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz, and is directed by Spike Jonze, who first collaborated with the band on the music video for Sabotage.

2020 is the year Apple gets serious about augmented reality

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Apple augmented reality has business potential
Hardware changes in the 2020 iPad and iPhone could noticeably improve augmented reality’s usefulness.
Photo: Apple

Apple CEO Tim Cook called augmented reality “the next big thing” this week. But he kept quiet about his company’s specific plans for this emerging technology. So Cult of Mac reached out to industry analysts, who predict that this year’s iPhone and iPad will come with AR equipment built in. And, for the future, they’re optimistic about Apple’s rumored AR glasses.

Good news about iOS 14 compatibility leaks out

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iOS 14 will reportedly run on many older iPhone models
Older models like the iPhone 6S Plus will reportedly get an iOS 14 upgrade.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

iOS 14 almost certainly won’t be unveiled before June, but information leaking out of Apple indicates this next version will offer very wide compatibility for current devices.

News about iPadOS 14 compatibility isn’t quite as good.

Apple donates to coronavirus relief efforts

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Mac attacks are on the up!
Apple is doing what it can to help those affected by the Wuhan coronavirus epidemic.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Thousands of people in China contracted the Wuhan coronavirus, and several cities are been locked down in attempts to keep it from spreading during the Lunar New Year. Apple CEO Tim Cook promises his company will donate to relief efforts in China.

Music tips from guy who made Steve Jobs dance [Cult of Mac Magazine 333]

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After writing tons of Apple tunes, Jonathan Mann launches a podcast.
After writing tons of Apple tunes, Jonathan Mann launches a podcast.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

After finding fame for getting Steve Jobs to dance to his Antennagate song, Jonathan Mann went on to write tons more tunes (many about Apple). Now Mann, aka the Song a Day Guy, has a new podcast that delves into his creative process. He gave Cult of Mac some insight into the gear he uses to power his musical empire.

Read all about it in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. We’ve also got hot tips for Mac, iPod and AirPods owners, plus a couple of juicy product reviews and recommendations. It’s all yours for free in our weekly iOS mag (or you can get the links below).

Save more than half off a new iPad mini 3 [Deals]

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Score a solid Apple tablet at a 52% discount.
Score a solid Apple tablet at a 52% discount.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The iPad mini 3 is one of those older-generation Apple devices that holds up well. For an e-reader, web browser or just all-around mobile media player, the tiny tablets offer all the features you want. But they come with one real advantage over the newest model: They’re a lot less expensive.

Add rad text captions to your Instagram photos without an app

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Captions
I couldn’t find any good cat pictures in my photo library.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Do you want to overlay captions onto your Instagram photos? Of course you do. How else can express your inner poet, while simultaneously re-creating the worst of history’s inspirational posters? Where would humanity be without the “Hang in there, baby” cat poster? Doomed, that’s where.

Today we’re going to see how to add captions to any photo, without using an app. I won’t even force you to use a Siri Shortcut (although that’s a good option). And, of course, you don’t ever have to post the result to Instagram.

Apple Arcade’s Butter Royale is a Fortnite-like food fight

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Butter Royale on Apple Arcade is a multi-player food fight
Mix food fights with Fortnite to get Butter Royale.
Photo: Mighty Bear Games

Plenty of games drop players into an arena to battle friends or rivals over the internet, but Butter Royale takes a much lighter tone than most. It’s a food fight, not a desperate struggle for survival.

This game for players age 9 and up debuted today on Apple Arcade.

Palm-size pillows will have you dreaming about that first Mac

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new Pocket Pillows from
Robert Hoyos has developed new software.
Photo: Throwboy

On this day in 1984, the first Macintosh computers started shipping. Who could have imagined that 36 years later to the day, this iconic machine would be commemorated with a tiny plush pillow that fits in your hand?

Only one person possesses this kind of vision – Roberto Hoyos. His Throwboy brand is launching a crowdfunding campaign today for two new plush Mac toys.

Broadcom lands $15 billion deal with Apple to sell it iPhone components

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Broadcom.logo.on.building
Broadcom has multiple chip deals with Apple. Two new ones increase its partnership value to $15 billion.
Photo: Brad Gibson/Cult of Mac

Chipmaker Broadcom has inked two multi-year deals with Apple to sell it some $15 billion in wireless components for its iPhone product line, the company announced in an SEC filing on Thursday.

The announcement did not specify which components Broadcom would provide to the iPhone maker. The deals apply to “Apple products launched during the three and a half year period beginning in January 2020,” the chipmaker said.

Why everyone’s upset about AirPods Pro, and Tim Cook’s favorite shower tech, this week on The CultCast

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CulCast 424
Finally, you too can shower like Tim Cook. We'll tell you how.
Photo: YSR50

This week on The CultCast: It’s not your imagination — Apple changed AirPods Pro and made them worse! We’ll tell you what’s going on. Plus: A new report says Apple caved to FBI pressure to keep your iCloud backups less safe. And stay tuned to hear about about Tim Cook’s favorite new … shower tech? Rub-a-dub-dub, my friends.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast, and use offer code CultCast at checkout for 10% off your first purchase.

Profile focuses on Apple’s cutthroat buying practices and ‘The Blevinator’

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A new profile of Apple purchasing executive Tony Blevins gives an inside perspective on the company's tough negotiating tactics.
A new profile of Apple purchasing executive Tony Blevins gives an inside perspective on the company's tough negotiating tactics.
Photo: North Carolina State University

In a feature piece based largely on background sources, The Wall Street Journal on Thursday profiled Tony Blevins, Apple’s vice president of procurement, giving a unique insight into the dog-eat-dog business of buying components from third-party suppliers for Apple products.

Doqo turns iPad Pro into MacBook with 7 ports [Review]

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Doqo keyboard with 12.9-inch iPad Pro
The Doqo keyboard with 12.9-inch iPad Pro has advantages even over a MacBook.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Anyone who longs for the days when MacBooks came with tons of ports can look to the Doqo, an iPad Pro keyboard case that includes a pair of USB-A ports, HDMI, memory card readers, and more. There’s also a trackpad and full-size keyboard. This could be the touchscreen laptop you’ve been hoping for.

I’ve extensively used the Doqo keyboard with a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and explore its advantages and problems in this review.

Apple finally ends Safari support for Adobe Flash

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Adobe Flash is almost dead
Ding dong, Adobe Flash is dead. Almost.
Photo: Adobe/Cult of Mac

Adobe Flash, once a hugely popular way for web browsers to provide multimedia, is almost dead. And Apple is helping bring on the funeral by completely removing support for the Flash plugin from the latest Safari Technology Preview.

This Command key shortcut will change how you use your Mac

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command key
Take command.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

There are two kinds of Mac users. The sad, harried folks who don’t know how to use this easy, essential, life-changing Command key trick. And the happy, efficient, relaxed people who learned it years ago. If you’ve seen the movie Back to the Future, it’s like the difference between the two 2015 versions of George McFly, before and after Marty screws around with the 1950s. This trick will change your life.

Are you ready?