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How to pick the best iPad Pro storage option for you

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If you buy the 64GB iPad Pro, you're getting ripped off.
If you buy the 64GB iPad Pro, you're getting ripped off.
Photo: Apple

I’m a pretty seasoned iPad buyer. I’ve been using them since the very first iPad back in 2010, and I’ve always known exactly how much storage to buy. Back in the early days it was easy — never buy the lowest storage tier, and if in doubt, always buy more than you think you’ll need. But today, the issue is a lot less clear. With cheap iCloud storage, and a pretty-decent entry level of 64GB, how do you decide how much space you need? Let’s see.

Feeling drunk or gaseous? Woozy face is a versatile emoji

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woozy face emoji
What's with this face? The possibilities are many.
Photo: Apple

A word of caution to fans of Dwayne Johnson should he ever use the woozy face emoji, just released in iOS 12.1: you may not want to “smell what The Rock’s got cookin.’”

Bemused by the puzzlement of the masses on social media, the former wrestler-turned-actor dropped his theories on Twitter on just what the half-cocked face might be expressing.

YouTuber takes us inside the Mac-lined hallways of MacStadium

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MacStadium Mac mini server racks
MacStadium supports thousands of Mac mini, Mac Pro, iMac Pro, and xServe servers for applications around the globe.
Photo: Apple

The Mac serves many roles for many people. Whether it’s used for creativity, research, development, content consumption, or as a server, there is a Mac for the job. During Apple’s October “More in the Making,” the company highlighted several of these key roles the Mac plays, and gave a shoutout to MacStadium’s incredible Mac server farm.

But what is MacStadium really doing, and what does it actually look like to be surrounded by hundreds of Mac mini? YouTube technology entertainer Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs had a chance to visit their Las Vegas facility to find out more.

Why Apple is smart to stop playing the iPhone numbers game [Opinion]

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Queue in Singapore
The obsession with iPhone sales numbers is now a thing of the past. Probably.
Photo: Apple

Apple shocked Wall Street yesterday when it revealed that it will no longer share information about how many iPhones sell each quarter. Instead, the company will provide the average sale price, which Cupertino claims is a far more useful figure to investors.

It’s a big change in strategy from a company that used to make a point of crowing about its landmark sales figures. But, while this move might disappoint some fans, it’s totally the right call. Here’s why.

Spotify could finally be on its way to Apple Watch

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Apple Watch Series 4 Music App
It's about time!
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

It seems Spotify is finally gearing up to deliver the one feature iPhone fans have been calling for: Apple Watch support.

Screenshots from a preview version of the app have been posted online ahead of its official release. They suggest the wearable component will allow users to navigate their playlists, control music playback, and even stream to other devices.

What we loved and what we didn’t — catch our ‘More in the Making’ hardware reax on The CultCast

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360 CultCast MacBook Pro
New Macs, new iPads, new specs, new prices. We break it all down.
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: Apple’s “There’s More in the Making” keynote was an action-packed ride stuffed with one hardware update after another! We’ll tell you what we like (and what we don’t) about Apple’s newest product updates. Plus: Apple quietly offers a big “screw you” to 2018 MacBook Pro owners. Prepare for a rant!

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first hosting plan or domain.

Everything you need to know about Apple’s Q4 2018 earnings call

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Apple is worth more than the entire US energy sector combined
Apple is worth more than the entire US energy sector combined
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple just had its best September quarter of all-time and CEO Tim Cook couldn’t have sounded happier when he got on the phone with investors today. The company is heading into the holiday season with its best lineup ever and expects to set more records next quarter.

Investors did not seem to be too impressed with the results though. Apple’s stock price dropped from $222.22 to as low as $206 in after-hours training. Despite Wall Street’s worries about Apple, there was plenty of achievements for Tim Cook and Luca Maestri to boast about on today’s call.

There were the biggest revelations from today’s call:

Apple posts record-breaking Q4 2018 earnings

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apple
Q4 is another record-breaker.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple just posted its Q4 2018 earnings report and, per usual, it was another record-breaking quarter for the iPhone-maker.

Revenue and iPhone sales came in slightly higher than Wall Street’s expectations, while Services revenue hit an all-time high of $10 billion. Another record-breaking quarter looks like it’s on the horizon, too. Apple CEO Tim says the company is heading into the holiday season with its strongest lineup ever.

Live blog: Apple gives investors first look at iPhone XS sales

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Apple earnings
Apple's Q2 earnings are expected to be a bit of a downer.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s last earnings call of 2018 kicks off in an hour, and it’s shaping up to be the company’s biggest Q4 report ever.

Shares of Apple stock have been on an upward trend the last few days as investors eagerly await their first glimpse at iPhone XS sales figures. Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are set to get on the phone with investors at 2 p.m. Pacific this afternoon. We’ll be right here live-blogging all the action with as much witty analysis as we can must.

Come join the fun!

How to quit the iOS 12 beta program

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Now that iOS 12.1 has officially added bagel emoji, it’s time to exit the beta program.
Now that iOS 12.1 has officially added bagel emoji, it’s time to exit the beta program.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Not everyone who signs up for the iOS beta program is a developer. There are journalists testing new features, and regular folks who just want to try the latest additions (despite the bugs). But what happens when the final version ships? You’re left running the beta, while everyone else is on the regular version.

Today we’ll see how to exit the iOS beta program and switch back to regular updates.

2019 iPad could sport revolutionary 3D scanning tech

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LEGO AR Studio
Apple's adding its laser-scanning tech to the next iPad.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple is all-in on augmented reality. This requires sensing the objects around the computer and user, which is why Apple reportedly intends to build its new “Time of Flight” laser scanning technology into the back of the next iPad.

The 2018 iPad Pro isn’t even out yet and there’s already a possible reason to wait on its replacement .

5 things to watch for during Apple’s last earnings report of 2018

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Tim Cook earnings apple
Tim Cook likes his currency the old-fashioned way.
Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Hot on the heels of Tuesday’s big keynote, Apple is set to unleash its final earnings report of 2018 on Thursday, November 1. The report will give investors their first glimpse into how well the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max are selling.

Apple shares are trading up again today after climbing Tuesday, signaling that Wall Street is pretty optimistic about Apple’s ability to rake in the cash. Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri are set to get on the phone with investors at 2 p.m. Pacific today — and there are some key areas investors will be watching intensely.

How to make Group FaceTime calls on iPhone, iPad or Mac

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Group FaceTime is super easy to use.
Group FaceTime is super easy to use.
Photo: Apple

With the new Group FaceTime feature in iOS 12.1 and macOS Mojave 10.14.1, you can call up to 32 people and chat with them all at the same time.

Apple took some extra time getting this feature working perfectly. Now that’s it’s here, let’s see how to use Group FaceTime on iOS devices and Mac to get in on those massive group chats.

2018 iPad Pro runs faster than some MacBook Pros

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One of these computers is faster than the other. Which it is will surprise you.
One of these computers is faster than the other. Which it is will surprise you.
Photo: Apple

Benchmark scores for the 2018 iPad Pro announced this week show that this tablet is faster than the 13-inch MacBook Pro released this summer.

Unfortunately, these same benchmark tests don’t clear up the some other mysteries about the new iPads.

Halloween iPhones trump candy as ultimate treat

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Halloween iPhones
No tricks. You're getting a smartphone, kid.
Screen shot: GizmoSlip/YouTube

Brandon Baldwin normally hurls iPhones from a couple of stories up to see if they survive as a way to entertain the 3.2 million followers of his YouTube channel, GizmoSlip.

But on Halloween night, Baldwin and his co-hosts decided to see what would happen when you drop an iPhone into the candy bag of a trick-or-treater.

Use solar energy to recharge your devices anywhere [Deals]

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This tough, lightweight, foldable solar charger can charge up two USB devices at once.
This tough, lightweight, foldable solar charger can charge up two USB devices at once.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

You never know when you’re going to need to recharge your devices. It’s annoying enough when your phone dies at the office, but on a long hike or far from outlets it can be more than inconvenient. So it’s worth having a charger that works even when there’s no outlet to be found.

Apple won’t repair your ‘obsolete’ iPhone 5 any more

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iPhone 5 1
The iPhone 5 was one of the best iPhones Apple ever built.
Photo: Apple

The iPhone 5 may be 6 years old at this point, but for many Apple fans this remains one of the greatest iPhone models ever built, and a genuine classic.

Sadly, there’s a bit of bad (if predictable) news from Apple: According to the company’s latest update of “vintage” and “obsolete” devices, the iPhone 5 is now considered too old for Apple repairs.

With a 14-hour battery, these new sports earbuds go the distance [Review]

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Tarah Pro sports earbuds are up to almost any adventure.
Tarah Pro sports earbuds are up to almost any adventure.
Photo: Jaybird

Tarah Pro earbuds, the latest wireless sports headphones from Jaybird, take adventure audio to new extremes. With smart new features and an astonishing 14 hours of battery life, these sweat-proof earbuds can go the distance — even if you’re a marathoner.

If you’re a fitness fanatic who constantly crushes your Activity goals during epic outdoor adventures, these might be the perfect Bluetooth earbuds for you.

Apple Watch shipments could grow 40 percent next year

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Man’s brand new Apple Watch turns out to be toilet plunger
The Apple Watch Series 4 could help push this wearable to more than 80 percent growth over two years.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The original Apple Watch got off to a slow start and was even labeled a flop. But years later, this wearable has really turned things around.

A market analysis firm says shipments are up significantly this year, and will be even stronger in 2019, with 83 percent growth over a two-year period.

Bag a MacBook Air for $490, iPhone 7 for $330 [Deals & Steals]

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Macbook Air Refurb
Buy an older MacBook Air to save a fortune!
Photo: Apple

Apple’s gorgeous new MacBook Air is the upgrade we’ve all been waiting for, but it’s incredibly pricey. If you need a more affordable notebook, you can pick up an older model at a great price from Woot, which has 13-inch units available now for under $490.

That’s just one of the awesome offers in today’s Deals & Steals roundup. We also have refurbished iPhone 7 units for under $330, 14 percent off the terrific Amazon Fire TV Stick, and more!

New iPad Pro nearly sold out for launch day

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Enough people were willing to pay $1899 for a tricked out iPad Pro that Apple sold out of them very quickly.
Bag yours today and pay $100 less.
Photo: Apple

Virtually every configuration of the new iPad Pro models sold out in the first day of pre-orders. Many went within a few hours, including the most expensive options.

This isn’t a guarantee that demand for these tablets is heavy because we don’t know how many units Apple had prepared for release day. Still, it’s a good sign.

Avoid blowing your budget this holiday season with this app [Deals]

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Get a bird's eye view of your spending without the need to sync with your bank account.
Get a bird's eye view of your spending without the need to sync with your bank account.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

It’s easy to lose track of spending during the holidays. As the gift wrapping stack up, a lot of us could use a little help keeping an eye on the bottom line. But no matter the time of year, financial discipline is something everyone can benefit from.

Apple pulls new watchOS 5.1 update

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watchOS 5 Face
Is your Apple Watch still running with watchOS 5.1?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has pulled the watchOS 5.1 update just hours after making it available to the public.

The move came after reports that the release was “bricking” Apple Watch Series 4 units. Apple has advised those who are experiencing a constant boot loop to contact AppleCare.