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- Take total control of Control Center with these tips
Take total control of Control Center with these tips
If you looked at the site this week, you saw loads of news about the release of iOS 14.5 (with its controversial App Tracking Transparency feature) and about Apple's astonishing earnings.
But did you miss all the useful tips in our Control Center Week series?
For those not familiar, Control Center is one of the most powerful and underutilized features on Apple devices. The how-tos, written by our own Killian Bell, explain how to get the most of this useful toolbox on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.
In case you didn't see them all -- and there are a lot of them! -- we rounded them up in one place.
Time to seize control with Control Center!
-- Lewis Wallace, managing editor
P.S. Don't miss Cult of Mac writer Ed Hardy's review of AirTag. He's a longtime Tile user, and was hoping that Apple would revolutionize tracking tags. Unfortunately, it sounds like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Control Center Week roundup
Get all our Control Center Week tips in one place. Even if you already use Control Center, you'll probably find something on this list you didn't already know about.
News and opinion
The first three months of 2021 brought a flood of revenue for Apple, up 54% from last year. And profits, too. The company had a successful quarter all around, with double-digit growth in Mac, iPhone, iPad, wearables and services revenue.
A trusted Apple analyst recently predicted MacBooks would never use OLED displays, shutting macOS laptops out from the best-looking type of screen. But an expert in display technologies disagrees.
If you updated your iPhone or iPad, and haven’t seen a flurry of alerts about apps wanting to track you, don’t be concerned. The new privacy feature is working as advertised.
You don’t need to bury yourself in spreadsheets to get the lowdown on what this week's legitimately crazy Apple earnings call means.
The beautiful new iMacs, and their color-coordinated accessories, definitely caught our eye. But when it comes to a longstanding design flaw, Cupertino blew it.
Most of the attention went to the speedy M1 processor and gorgeous mini-LED display, but some other changes shouldn’t be overlooked.
How-tos
iPhone and iPad just got a significant new privacy protection, preventing third-party apps from tracking you without permission. Here’s how to use App Tracking Transparency, debuted in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5. it.
This new feature is perfect for when Face ID fails due to wearing a mask.
Anyone with AirPods Pro or AirPods 2 will want the just-released firmware update for these in-ear headphones.
Deals
Enter to win a wonderful Wonderboom 2 speaker from Ultimate Ears [Cult of Mac giveaway] — www.cultofmac.com
This week, Cult of Mac is giving away one Ultimate Ears’ fantastic Wonderboom 2 portable speakers. You have a chance to win this small-but-mighty outdoor speaker that costs $99 and is available in four colors. If you win, you can take the Wonderboom 2 on all your outdoor adventures this summer.
AirPods are famous for their seamless multi-device syncing ability. But there’s one snag that can annoy Mac users: The AirPods experience is optimized for iPhones and iPads, not macOS. Fix it!
If you’ve ever accidentally deleted some of your most important Mac files, keep reading. This data-saving app might just change your life.
Plus, more software deals:
Make your MacBook charger even more useful by adding two USB ports that you can use to charge your iPhone, iPad and other accessories on the go.
Reviews
Apple’s AirTag sales pitch is that you can attach the item tracker to your keys and you can find it with your iPhone, whether it’s in the couch or Canberra. That’s true, but the wireless range of these gizmos is so limited that finding an AirTag in the next room isn’t easy.
The original cautionary fable about off-the-grid living gets a shiny new update on Apple TV+ just as we’re all itching to get back out in the world after a year in quarantine.
SanDisk’s 2-in-1 flash drive lets iPhone, Mac, iPad securely exchange files [Review] — www.cultofmac.com
The SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe includes both Lightning and USB Type-C connectors, so it plugs into almost any computer. Plus, it's small and comes in an all-metal casing.
Keep your iPad stylus free from scuffs and scrapes, and ensure it’s always easy to find, with the stylish and affordable Pencil Case from Laut.
It's two popular desktop accessories in one. It’s both a laptop/tablet stand and a USB-C hub with 13 ports.