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Top stories - page 357

Apple wants to put a holographic display right next to your eyeballs

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Apple glasses
These concept Apple augmented reality glasses might have just taken a step closer to reality.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Rumors that Apple is hard at work on augmented reality glasses got some solid proof today. The company received a patent on a near-eye display design intended for just such an accessory.

And there’s an interesting mention of a “holographic optical element.”

Sleek wireless charger has your iPhone covered in 3 ways [Review]

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Review of RapidX MyPort wireless charger
It's a wireless charging stand as well as a stand-in for on-the-go charging.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

Many wireless chargers are designed to serve three mobile devices. The RapidX MyPort is made to selflessly serve one device in three different ways.

MyPort is first a smartphone stand to wirelessly charge your iPhone. But the vertical charging element has a restless side. It begs to be detached from the base to travel as a companion to your iPhone. It works as a portable wireless charger. And, with its two USB ports (one USB-A, one USB-C), it becomes a quick-charging wired power bank.

2019 Mac Pro isn’t the most expensive Mac ever. Not by a long shot.

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2019 Mac Pro and original Macintosh 128K: Which cost more.
One of these two cost a lot more than the other. Which one might surprise you.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

There has been much handwaving over the $5,999 price tag on the 2019 Mac Pro. It’s often been criticized for being Apple’s expensive computer ever.

But it’s not. And it’s not even close, if you factor in inflation. Many of the early Macs cost much more than $6,000 in today’s dollars.

5 best alternatives to Apple’s $400 Mac Pro wheels

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Smart Car convertible.
Smart Car convertible.
Photo: Public Domain

If you want to add four wheels to your already-expensive Mac Pro, then they’ll cost you almost $100 apiece. Not that you can even buy them separately. You have to specify the $400 option when you buy. The wheels are a part of the Mac Pro’s steel frame, so there’s no way to add them after purchase.

Or is there? We found five good options to let you wheel your Mac Pro around the office, or to perhaps grab the power cable and take the new computer out for a walk like a dog. Or even to sit on the thing and take it for a spin, go-kart-style, down the nearest hill.

10 copies of new Cult of Mac book are now up for grabs

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The Cult of Mac 2E
Enter. You may be one of 10 lucky winners to receive a free copy of The Cult of Mac 2E.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

We want to put free copies of The Cult of Mac 2nd Edition on 10 coffee tables across the United States.

Now through Dec. 20, the Cult of Mac website will accept entries to give away this Mac book that is every bit as beautiful as a MacBook. All you have to do is enter your email in the submission widget below.

Apple prepping separate 4G and 5G iPhone models for next year

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Possible iPhone 2020 mockup
5G iPhone buyers will apparently have plenty to choose from in 2020, and the same goes for those content with 4G.
Photo: @smazizg and @bengeskin/Twitter

Apple could release a half-dozen iPhone models next year. An industry analyst laid out new predictions for the 2020 iPhone lineup, saying some models will bring the latest 5G cellular technology. Other models will stick with slower 4G networking.

Apparently, people not interested in 5G won’t need to pay extra for it. And some top-tier models supposedly will include rear-facing 3D scanners for augmented reality.

How to run iOS shortcuts from your Mac

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Shortcuts on Mac.
Shortcuts on Mac — kinda.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

While it is possible to get the Shortcuts app running in macOS Catalina via Catalyst, you can’t do much with it. But what about the next best thing? How about selecting something on your Mac, then tapping a shortcut on your iPhone, and then having the result show up back on your Mac?

I’ve been doing this for the past few weeks, and it’s not only a workaround, but a genuinely useful — and reliable — way to “run” iOS shortcuts on the Mac. Let’s get right into it.

Want a new Mac Pro? Sell your old machine for upgrade cash!

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The Mac Pro is being
Turn your dusty old Mac into a fat stack of cash.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s all-new Mac Pro is finally ready to order … and it ain’t cheap. But Cult of Mac can help make yours more affordable by offering you a sweet stack of upgrade cash.

Sell your old Mac to us before you upgrade and we’ll give you a great price. We will also make the whole process quick and simple — and we’ll cough up real cash you can spend anywhere you like.

Apple shows you how to properly upgrade your new Mac Pro

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2019-Mac-Pro-upgrade
Don't pull yours apart without watching Apple's videos first.
Photo: Apple

The 2019 Mac Pro is the most customizable Apple computer we’ve seen in years. You can swap and upgrade almost every component — including its GPUs, memory, and more.

But you must do it properly. Apple’s new how-to videos take you through the upgrade process step-by-step to help ensure nothing goes wrong. And they make it look so simple.

Score 4 essential elements for starting your own podcast [Deals]

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Podcasting
Scoop up some heavily discounted podcast gear and lessons.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Podcasting is well-established as a premier new medium. But it’s still a wide-open frontier, so there’s plenty of opportunity to make your mark on the podcasting landscape. If you’re just getting started, or already creating content and want to boost your toolkit, this roundup of four podcasting essentials is for you.

macOS Catalina 10.15.2 improves Apple News+, Stocks, Photos and more

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MacOS Catalina Jamf
Your Mac and your MacBook can be updated today with macOS Catalina 10.15.2.
Photo: Apple

There’s a fresh update for macOS Catalina out today. Version 10.15.2 allows an iPhone to remote control a Mac’s music and video playback. And there are also other enhancements for the utilities Apple bundles with this operating system, including Photos, Music and Mail.

Last chance: Save 20% on Noreve leather bands for Apple Watch

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Noreve-Apple-Watch
Handmade in a bunch of gorgeous color options.
Photo: Noreve

Treat yourself to a beautiful leather Apple Watch band from Noreve this fall.

Handmade in France by master craftsman using only the best materials, they’re immensely tough and even more attractive. And you can get yours for 20% less from the Cult of Mac Store — if you act fast!

Keychron K2 is the only mechanical keyboard you should get for iPad [Review]

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keychron k2
Clickety-clacky, there's no going back
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

You probably need a keyboard. If you have an iMac, then you already have the one Apple included the box. If you have an iPad or a MacBook, then you should have that thing up on a stand at eye level, with a keyboard and mouse/trackpad attached so you don’t kill your neck/back/wrists. And if you want a clicky keyboard that works great with all three, then pretty much your best (and only) option is the Keychron K2, a beautiful, solid little device that can work with just about any device you have.

Vertical panoramas are the iPhone camera’s hidden jewel

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It's not a vertical panorama, but at least if fits at the top of this post.
It's not a vertical panorama, but at least if fits at the top of this post.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Panoramas are those super-wide, letterboxed strips of photos that look spectacular, and that are impossible to fit into Instagram. Maybe you already shoot a lot of panoramas, and maybe you even use the pano camera to create amazing glitch photos.

But did you consider that panoramas don’t have to be super-wide? They don’t even have to be horizontal. Let’s take a look at vertical panoramas — the iPhone photographer’s surprisingly great secret weapon.

A maxed-out Mac Pro costs an eye-watering $53,000

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2019-Mac-Pro-insides
And a 16-inch MacBook Pro!
Photo: Apple

The 2019 Mac Pro is finally available to order, with prices starting at $5,999. That’s not cheap … until you compare it to the cost of a maxed-out model with all the bells and whistles.

Add every available upgrade and Apple’s newest machine suddenly skyrockets to an eye-watering $52,748.

That’s $12,848 more than a Tesla Cybertruck!

Apple’s powerful Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR arrive at last

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The new Mac Pro is a beautiful beast.
The 2019 Mac Pro workstation and 6K Pro Display XDR display can be ordered today.
Photo: Apple

The wait for the most powerful — and the most expensive — macOS computer ever just ended. Apple began taking orders for the 2019 Mac Pro this morning, after announcing the workstation that boasts a 28-core processor way back in June.

The companion 32-inch Pro Display XDR went up for sale today, too, also at a price that only professionals can afford.

Apple Card offers double cash back on holiday Apple purchases

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Apple-Card
Just in time for the all-new Mac Pro.
Photo: Apple

Apple Card customers can enjoy 6% daily cash back on Apple purchases over the holidays.

Apple’s newest promotion arrives just in time for the all-new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR, which go on sale today. But it applies to any Apple Store purchases — online and in-store — made through December 31.

No longer receiving App Store and iTunes receipts? You’re not alone.

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Appstore
You can request them manually if you need to.
Photo: Apple

Some Apple customers have stopped receiving email receipts for their App Store and iTunes transactions.

The issue appears to have arisen in late October, and it affects all purchases made through Apple’s digital storefronts — including subscriptions. But there is a way you can request receipts manually.

Take a sneak peek at a rack-mounted Mac Pro

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The rack-mounted version of the Mac Pro as seen in Apple's FCC filing.
IT managers can drool over the rack-mountable version of the Mac Pro.
Photo: Apple/FCC

Not every model of the uber-powerful new Mac Pro will sit under someone’s desk. The appearance of the “cheese grater” Mac attracted so much attention that people might want to see what the version designed for rack-mounting looks like.