Apple’s stunning 32″ Pro Display XDR is available with a huge $500 discount. Normally $4,999, the standard version is available from B&H for $4,499. The higher-end offerings, including those with a stand or nano-texture finish, also have the discount applied. The offer ends at 11.59 pm EST on August 29.
Apple Updates iMovie With Comic, Comic Mono, Ink Filters
Apple released an update for Final Cut Pro X for professional video editors. For the editors that are perhaps more casual, iMovie 2.2.10 was also updated. Give your videos a hand-drawn look with 3 new filters: Comic, Comic Mono and Ink; Choose from 25 new soundtracks — in genres including action, chill, and sentimental — that automatically adjust to match the length of your movie; Addresses an issue that could prevent the viewer from updating after duplicating a photo in the timeline; Improves reliability of Redo when editing a trailer; Includes performance and stability improvements.
Richard Hoeg’s YouTube Playlist Covers the Epic v. Apple Case
Lawyer Richard Hoeg made a YouTube playlist that covers the Epic v. Apple case. Each video explains the case for viewers and offers his perspective on it. It’s a great playlist to check out for commentary, especially if you want something more than the boring legal PDFs I’ve been sharing at The Mac Observer.
New Level Touch Lock Lets You Unlock With Your Finger and Voice
Level introduced a new lock on Tuesday called Level Touch that lets you unlock it with your finger, voice, or programmable keycard. It also has an app that works with HomeKit and Siri. Features include auto-lock, auto-unlock, sharing access, recent activity, passes, and audio confirmation. With HomeKit you get features like remote connectivity, voice control, automations, and notifications. You can order one today for US$329.
This ‘Clear Clipboard’ Shortcut Empties Your Clipboard Automatically
Redditor u/SpamSencer created a Clear Clipboard shortcut that does exactly what the name says: It automatically clears your clipboard. With iOS 14 Apple introduced a feature that shows when an app accesses the clipboard, like TikTok and Microsoft. You could even set it up as an automation so that whenever you open any app of your choosing, the shortcut will run (an iOS 14 feature). You’ll just have to painstakingly tap on every app you have installed if you choose to automate it.
Amazon Smart Clock For Echo Flex
Amazon has released a new Smart Clock for the Echo Flex. The new accessory plugs into the Flex’s USB port and is discovered by Alexa. Users can select between a 12 or 24-hour using the Third Reality Skill, and the device clock can support up to 20 different timers simultaneously. The display automatically adjusts brightness using a built-in light sensor, but this can also be altered via Alexa commands.
Batch Rename Files on iOS Using This Shortcut
One task that was always easier on macOS was to rename multiple files at once using Automator. The Files app on iOS/iPadOS doesn’t have a lot of bulk actions. But I finally cracked it with Shortcuts to let you batch rename files on iOS and iPadOS. My shortcut lets you do three specific things: prepend text, append text, and replace text in a file name. If I think of more things to do with file names in the future, I’ll update the shortcut.
The Launch of Apple Music Radio
There is a new clip out to celebrate the launch of Apple Music radio. It features many of the top artists that host shows on the newly rebranded radio outlet, including Elton John and Snoop Dogg, amongst others.
Epic Games Launches Ninteen Eighty-Fortnite Anti-Apple Attack Ad
Epic Games has launched a legal and PR blitz against Apple and the App Store. As Andrew Orr reported on The Mac Observer: “Epic Games hosted an in-game event using the hashtag #FreeFortnite and explained the situation to players.” Part of that campaign involved a new video. Called Ninteen Eighty-Fortnite, it mocks Apple’s famous 1984 advert.
AirFly Pro Bluetooth Transmitter Available Exclusively at Apple
TwelveSouth has released AirFly Pro. The device gives users a wireless connection to items such as an iPhone for 3.5mm audio jack. The AirFly Pro also acts as a wireless headphone splitter, allowing users share audio between two sets of headphones from one source. There is also a Receive Mode that means users can play music wirelessly through any car stereo. The item is exclusively available from Apple Store and costs $54.95.
APP SALE: Sci-Fi Game ‘Implosion’ is Free, Down From $10
A sci-fi game called Implosion just went on sale for free, down from its usual price of US$9.99. Twenty years after the fall of Earth, the remnants of the Human race are once again faced with extinction. The time has come to justify our existence. A mysterious life form known as the XADA squares off against humanity’s last weapon – the War-Mech series III battle suit. Features: Stunning console-quality graphics, first-class voice acting and Hollywood-grade audio production. Full orchestral scores masterfully mixed by Grammy Award winner and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy engineer, John Kurlander.
Meeting The Cast of 'Little Voice' on Apple TV+
In a new video, the cast and creators of Apple TV+ show Little Voice discuss their time on set and how they set about showing young New York life. They talk about the characters and the diversity that makes the series what it is.
Watch Tim Cook Give Evidence to House Antitrust Investigation
Tim Cook is joining Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Sundar Pichai in giving evidence to House Judiciary Committee’s antitrust investigation. The live stream is available on YouTube.
Introducing ‘Facetune Video’ for Video Retouching
Facetune Video is the latest app from Lightricks. It’s a video retouching tool that lets you edit your selfie videos to smooth skin, whiten teeth, reshape facial features, change eye color, and apply lipstick. Of course, the standard video editing tools are there to control aspects like contrast and brightness. Just apply these edits to one frame of the video and the app will apply it to the rest of the video automatically. App Store: Free (Offers In-App Purchases)
‘Fitness Coach by JumpyCat’ Gives You AI Workouts
“Fitness Coach by JumpyCat” is an app I discovered over the weekend. It gives you personalized workouts entirely created by artificial intelligence. You’ll get audio instructions and videos to watch as you power through over 15,000 bodyweight workouts. There’s a workout for everyone and across different categories like cardio, HIIT, stretching, anti-stress, knee-friendly, and more. App Store: Free (Offers In-App Purchases)
'For All Mankind' Season Two Teaser - Space Shuttles And Gun Fights on The Moon
We got a little insight into what to expect from season two of ‘For All Mankind’ with a new teaser clip. It introduces the space shuttle and hints at gun fights on the moon. Ron D. Moore‘s space race drama is set to return to Apple TV+ in the near future. However, there was no confirmed date at the time of this writing.
Creating Beastie Boys Posters on iPad Pro
To celebrate the 22nd anniversary of the Beastie Boys releasing Hello Nasty, Apple released a new video in which artist Geoff McFetridge describes making five new posters related to the Apple TV+ series about the band. The eye-catching posters were made entirely on an iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil. They give some insight into the cultural and musical impact of the rap trio.
‘TempMail’ Gives You Disposable Email Addresses
Temp Mail is the service I use when I need disposable email addresses. No registration is required. You can instantly generate a new address, copy it to the clipboard or use a QR code, receive attachments like regular email, download EML sources (including attachments) and more. There’s also an optional premium subscription that gives you features like custom email names, premium domains, multiple mailboxes, no ads, and extended email storage. App Store: Free (Offers In-App Purchases) You can also use the web tool.
Apple's Climate Change Promise to The Next Generation
Apple has released a new video to accompany its climate change announcement. It emphasizes that the company is making its decisions with future generations in mind.
‘SW-DL’ Shortcut Brings YouTube-DL to iOS
YouTube-dl is a command line tool that lets you download videos from websites, although it’s commonly used for YouTube as the name suggests. With a-shell, a terminal emulator I covered, it’s possible to install the downloader on your iPad and iPhone. Someone also created a shortcut for youtube-dl (Reddit post here, shortcut link below). Note that it currently crashes on the iOS/iPadOS 14 betas. It’s possible to install youtube-dl in a-shell with the command “pip install youtube-dl.” Since I’m running the betas, I’m going to tinker with using a-shell.
Share Contacts on iPhone With ‘EZ Contact Share’
EZ Contact Share is a small app that launches within iMessage. It lets you quickly share your contacts in a message without having to open the Contacts app. The recipient of the contact doesn’t need to download EZ Contact Share. They just have to tap on the message to import it. App Store: US$0.99
Reflections From The Cast of ‘Hamilton’
On Broadway, London’s West End and other places around the world, Hamilton has long been a big deal. With its arrival on Disney+, a whole new set of people have been able to see it. In a new video, the cast and crew, including writer Lin Manuel Miranda, reflect on what the show means to them.
European Space Agency Shares Closest Ever Pictures of The Sun
The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter has taken the closest-ever pictures of the Sun. A whole host of amazing shots have been shared in a gallery. The images revealed ‘campfires’ on the Sun. The image below was produced by the high resolution imager, HRILYA telescope. It shows the solar surface in a particular ultraviolet wavelength.
Pixelmator Pro 1.7 Update Adds Curved Text
In an update dubbed “Sequoia” Pixelmator Pro 1.7 adds text on a path, canvas rotation, a new welcome screen, and version 3 of ML Super Resolution. The text update lets you type text on a path, a circle, or any other shape with Circular Type, Path Type, and Freeform Type. Canvas rotation lets you rotate the canvas at any angle. Improvements to ML Super Resolution improves the quality of the result, adds a progress bar (yay!), and adds support for upscaling RAW files while preserving the RAW data.