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Guides, How Tos, and Tips for New Mac Owners

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MacRumors readers who were lucky enough to receive a new Mac for the holidays will want to check out our collection of Mac how tos and guides to learn the ins and outs of your new machine.

m1 macbook air
Whether you're new to the Mac or are upgrading from an older model, there's likely to be a useful tip or two here for you. These how tos apply to Apple's latest Macs, from desktops to notebooks, and it includes macOS Big Sur tutorials plus some useful info just for the M1 Macs.

Beginner Tips

Just for M1 Macs

Security Tips

Continuity and Other Product Tips

Mac App Features

iCloud

Hidden Tricks

Advanced Features

In-Depth Mac Guides

➜ Click here to read more...

Related Roundups: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now), 13" MacBook Air (Neutral)
Related Forums: MacBook Pro, MacBook Air
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Apple AirPods Suppliers Seeking Funding to Expand Production in Vietnam

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Luxshare Precision and Goertek, two Chinese companies who create components for Apple's AirPods, are in talks with banks for funding to expand production in Vietnam, reports The Information.

The two companies are seeking "hundreds of millions of dollars" to begin moving some production out of China amid continued trade tensions between the United States and China, and have already been trialing AirPods production in Vietnam.

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Though there has been a recent deal between the U.S. and China to stave off additional tariffs, companies in China have no guarantee the deal will last, leading to uncertainty.

According to The Information, manufacturing in Vietnam is a "natural alternative" for Apple, given that Chinese components can be transported to Vietnam via land, sea, or air, and labor costs are roughly one-third of China's. Vietnam's workforce is also said to be "flush with fresh engineering graduates." The Vietnamese government is offering subsidies and tax breaks to manufacturers who want to set up in the country.

Since their 2016 launch, Apple's AirPods have exploded in popularity and there have been many months where Apple's available AirPods supply has been unable to meet demand. Just this year, Apple released the AirPods 2 and the AirPods Pro, both of which have seen strong sales so far. Apple recently asked Luxshare Precision to double production of the AirPods Pro given the "much higher" than expected demand.

Both Luxshare Precision and Goertek have seen strong growth thanks to the AirPods, with their stock tripling on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since the beginning of the year.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

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Tutorials, Tips and Tricks for New iPad Owners

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Get a new iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air or iPad Pro for the holidays? If so, you may want to check out our extensive collection of iPad how tos and guides to learn the ins and outs of your new tablet.

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Even if you've had an iPad before, if you're upgrading to a new model, there are new features to get acquainted with, such as the addition of Face ID and the lack of a Home button in the iPad Pro, the Touch ID power button on the iPad Air, and Apple Pencil support across the entire lineup. Below, we've organized our most useful iPad-related how tos into categories for quick access.

Beginner Tips

Useful iPad Features

App Tips

Using a Keyboard and Mouse

Hidden Tricks

Important Security Tips

In-Depth Guides

If there are iOS and iPadOS features you want to learn more about, make sure to take a look through the list of in-depth guides that we have below. We also have guides covering Apple's most popular services and products.

➜ Click here to read more...

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad Air , iPad Pro, iPad mini
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Neutral), iPad Air (Neutral), iPad Pro (Buy Now), iPad Mini (Neutral)
Related Forum: iPad
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Apple Holding New Year's Shopping Event in Japan on January 2

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Apple today announced that it will be holding a one-day New Year's shopping event in Japan on Thursday, January 2, offering customers an Apple Store gift card worth up to ¥24,000 with the purchase of select Apple products.

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Full details have yet to be revealed, but last year, Apple Store gift card values ranged between ¥3,000 and ¥24,000 for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Beats models. New products like the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, Apple Watch Series 5, and AirPods Pro will likely not qualify.

The event will take place in the Apple Store app and at Apple Stores in Japan. It is similar to Apple's four-day Black Friday shopping event held in the United States and other countries earlier this year.

Apple used to run a "Lucky Bag" promotion in Japan, offering customers an assorted bag of products and accessories, but it stopped doing so after 2015.

Tag: Japan
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How Tos, Guides, and Tips for New AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max Owners

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Since their launch in 2016, Apple's AirPods have become wildly popular and are an oft-gifted item. In 2019, Apple released AirPods Pro, and this year the company debuted a pair of over-ear headphones called AirPods Max, offering more choice for consumers this holiday season.

If you received AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max as a gift, make sure to take a look through all of the how tos in this guide, because there are plenty of tips and tricks worth knowing.

airpods family

Basic Features

Must-Know Tutorials

Connectivity With iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac

Tips and Tricks

Troubleshooting

Just for the AirPods Pro

Just for the AirPods Max

AirPods Guides

➜ Click here to read more...

Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Max, AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods (Neutral), AirPods Max (Buy Now), AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods
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Useful Tips, Tricks, and Walkthroughs for New Apple Watch Owners

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If you got a new Apple Watch for the holidays, this is the article for you. We've collected all of our Apple Watch-related how tos and guides to help you learn the ins and outs of your new wrist-worn device.

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Even if you've had an Apple Watch before, the newest Series 6 models have updated features like blood oxygen monitoring and an always-on display that you might not be familiar with, and the Apple Watch SE is an all-new model that many people new to the Apple Watch might be receiving.

Below, we've organized our Apple Watch-related how tos into quick access categories, so browse through to see if there's something new to learn.

For Beginners

Useful watchOS Tips

Hidden Features

Advanced Tricks

Apple Music and Apple Watch

Using Apple Watch with AirPods

In-Depth Guides

Apple Fitness+

Apple introduced a new Apple Watch-focused service this year that's designed to help Apple Watch owners get fit. Apple Fitness+ lets you watch workouts on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, with your Apple Watch tracking your progress. As you work out, your Apple Watch metrics are displayed right on the screen so you can keep an eye on how you're doing. Make sure to check out our how tos to get up and running, and for more details, we have an Apple Fitness+ guide.

Must-Watch Videos

We've created a selection of useful videos that highlight tips, tricks, and other information that's useful if you're a new Apple Watch owner. Make sure to check them out!

More Info

Do you have useful Apple Watch tips and tricks that we've missed in our how tos and that new Apple Watch owners should know? Make sure to share them in the comments.

If you want to know more about the Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and watchOS 7, the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch, make sure to check out our Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, and watchOS 7 roundups.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Helpful Tips, Tricks, and How Tos for New iPhone Owners

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Did you get a new iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, or 12 Pro Max for the holidays? If so, make sure to take some time to browse through this article, which is packed with helpful tips, tricks, and guides for the iPhone 12, 12 mini 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, and earlier iPhone models.

Whether you're new to iPhone or have upgraded to a new model, there's likely to be something in here for you. There are hundreds of features and hidden tricks available on the iPhone, so it can be easy to forget the full range of what the iPhone can do.

iphone 12 colors lineup
Below, we've rounded up our most useful iPhone-related how tos and tutorials, both for general iPhone usage and for getting used to iOS 14.

Tips for Beginners

Using iOS 14

iOS 14 in More Detail

For iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Owners

Must-Read Security Tutorials

Hidden Tricks and Tips

In-Depth Guides

We have in-depth guides on many of the features found on the iPhone as well as Apple's services and iOS features, so make sure to check those out if there's a particular aspect of the iPhone that you're interested in learning more about.

Selling Your Old iPhone

If you're planning to sell or give away your old iPhone now that you have a new model, make sure to check out our detailed guide on how to cleanly erase your old devices to get rid of all your data.

➜ Click here to read more...

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Track Santa's Journey From the North Pole Using Google's Santa Tracker

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MacRumors readers with children who believe in Santa Claus may be interested to know that Google today launched its annual Santa tracking feature, allowing Santa to be tracked in real time on his journey to the North Pole as he prepares to deliver presents to kids around the world.

Google has provided its Santa tracking feature for a total of sixteen years now, giving children around the globe access to a little digital magic.

santatracker
Santa can be tracked using a web browser on iPhone, iPad, or Mac by visiting Google's official Santa Tracking website. The site offers up a live map of Santa's current location, his next stop, a live video feed of his journey, and the estimated time that he will arrive in each specific location.

The Santa site provides pictures of locations that Santa has already visited, a live count of gifts that have been delivered, and Santa's current distance from your location. There are also a selection of games to play and videos to watch.

Other Santa tracking services are also available, such as the NORAD Tracks Santa Claus app and website, but Google's site is often the most interactive and detailed.

Tag: Google
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How to Use the YouTube App's New Voice Search Feature When Casting to a Smart TV

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The official YouTube app for iOS has gained a new voice search feature that aims to make searching for content easier when you're casting YouTube video to a smart TV.

youtube app voice search
Once you've connected your iPhone or iPad to a smart TV, you can search with your voice via the mobile app, as well as use it to pause, play, and adjust the volume on your TV. Here's how it works.

  1. Download and launch the YouTube app on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.
  2. Tap the Cast button at the top of the Home tab.
  3. Launch the YouTube app on your smart TV.
  4. If you haven't connected your iOS device to your smart TV before, select Link with TV code and then tap LEARN NOW under "Learn how to get a TV code." Otherwise, tap YouTube on TV to connect.
    youtube

  5. When your iOS device is connected to your TV, you'll see an overlay on your device's screen with a volume slider, a Remote button, and the new Voice search button – tap it.
  6. Tap the red microphone icon, and when you hear the audible prompt, say the word or phrase that you want to search on YouTube.
    youtube

You should see the results of your voice search appear on your TV. And don't forget, you can use the Remote option in the YouTube app's mobile interface to navigate and select the content that shows up on your TV.

According to German site SmartDroid, YouTube is currently working on improving the remote interface for controlling YouTube casting. The updated controls are said to include quicker access to captions and playback quality settings, but there's no word on when we can expect them to roll out for the iOS YouTube app.

Tags: TV, YouTube
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Twitter Bans Animated PNG Image Files After Attackers Target Users With Epilepsy

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twitterlogoTwitter has banned the use of animated PNG image (APNG) files on its platform, after attackers targeted the Epilepsy Foundation's Twitter account using images that could potentially causes seizures in photo-sensitive individuals.

The company said it had discovered a bug that allowed users to bypass its autoplay settings and enabled several animated images to be attached to a single tweet using the APNG file format.

"We want everyone to have a safe experience on Twitter," the company said in a tweet sent from its Accessibility account on Monday.

"PNGs were fun, but they don't respect autoplay settings, so we're removing the ability to add them to tweets. This is for the safety of people with sensitivity to motion and flashing imagery, including those with epilepsy."


The attacks on the Epilepsy Foundation's Twitter account occurred in November, which was National Epilepsy Awareness Month. Twitter said that it was not aware that APNG files had been used, but the bug meant that they had the potential to be harmful, so it had decided to ban them on the social media platform.

It's unknown how many people may have been affected by the animated images, which exploited strobing light effects with malicious intent. The Epilepsy Foundation said it had filed criminal complaints against the accounts believed to have been responsible.

In addition to the seizure risk, Twitter said the APNGs also used up a lot of data and in some cases could be a direct cause of app crashes. As such, from now on only GIFs will be able to animate images.

Twitter also said that it would look into building a similar feature in the absence of APNGs, such as adding alt-text to GIFs, which will help make them more accessible to people who depend on screen readers to navigate the internet.

Tag: Twitter
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Apple Promotes Holiday Bonuses in Games like Fortnite and Minecraft

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Apple this evening sent out emails promoting holiday content in a selection of games that include Fortnite, PUBG, Candy Crush Saga, Minecraft, Homescapes, and Clash of Clans.

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Some of the available bonuses are free, while others appear to be holiday-themed in-app purchases, as outlined below:

  • Fortnite - Get an exclusive holiday outfit pack for a limited time, starting December 24.
  • PUBG - Limited-edition Santa suit and supply crates are now available.
  • Candy Crush Saga - Get extra-special items that last two times longer than normal.
  • Minecraft - Claim 1 free skin and 1 free world right now.
  • Homescapes - A free small-size pack of coins and items is all yours!
  • Clash of Clans - Receive 5 times more goodies with limited-edition Christmas bundles.

Apple's promotional email also highlights other games, such as Pocket City and Knights of Pen & Paper 2, though there are no specific holiday bonuses in these games.

Apple is going to be offering a separate bonus on December 24, as discovered in Australia and New Zealand this morning. In those countries, Apple is highlighting "surprises" from December 24 to December 29, with the first two being a discounted in-app purchase bundle for Looney Tunes World of Mayhem and a three-month subscription for the price of one month in Canva.

The "Surprise" bonuses will likely be live in the United States when December 24 rolls around.

Tag: App Store
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Apple Requiring Notarization for Non Mac App Store Apps Starting February 2020

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Apple this afternoon announced that developers who create Mac apps outside of the Mac App Store will need to submit them for the notarization process starting on February 3, 2020.

Apple temporarily relaxed the notarization requirements for non ‌Mac App Store‌ apps in September after the launch of macOS Catalina, and at the time, said developers would have until January 2020 to get used to the new rules.

apple mac notarized
The January 2020 deadline has been extended to February 2020, but at that time, developers will need to adhere to Apple's requirements.

Apple suggests that developers upload their software and review the developer log for warnings, as these warnings will become errors starting on February 3. Apple says that all errors will need to be fixed by that date for software to be notarized.

In June, we announced that all Mac software distributed outside the Mac App Store must be notarized by Apple in order to run by default on macOS Catalina. In September, we temporarily adjusted the notarization prerequisites to make this transition easier and to protect users on macOS Catalina who continue to use older versions of software. Starting February 3, 2020, all submitted software must meet the original notarization prerequisites.

If you haven't yet done so, upload your software to the notary service and review the developer log for warnings. These warnings will become errors starting February 3 and must be fixed in order to have your software notarized. Software notarized before February 3 will continue to run by default on macOS Catalina.

As a reminder, all installer packages must be signed since they may contain executable code. Disk images do not need to be signed, although signing them can help your users verify their contents.

Apple has been requiring new software distributed with a Developer ID outside of the ‌‌Mac App Store‌‌ to be notarized in order to run since macOS Mojave 10.14.5, with the notarization process designed to protect Mac users from malicious and harmful apps.

For the notarization process, Apple provides trusted non ‌‌Mac App Store‌‌ developers with Developer IDs that are required to allow the Gatekeeper function on macOS to install non ‌‌Mac App Store‌‌ apps.

Notarization is not required for apps that are distributed through the ‌‌Mac App Store‌‌. More information on notarization can be found on Apple's developer site.

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Anker's Latest Sale Has Discounted Portable Batteries Perfect for Holiday Traveling

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On Amazon, a new Anker sale has kicked off today and it's offering solid discounts on a range of Anker's best portable batteries. You can get everything from the PowerCore 5,000 mAh to the 26,800 mAh model at a discount this week.

anker holidayNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Most of the accessories will remain on sale through December 29, making this a perfect opportunity to purchase a reliable portable battery for anyone preparing for a trip over the holidays.

Anker Sale

Head to our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more discounts on Apple products and related accessories.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Apple Offering an App Store 'Surprise' From December 24 to December 29 [Updated]

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Apple is planning to offer some kind of holiday App Store promotion that may see the company giving away free apps and games.

In Australia, where it is December 24, ‌App Store‌ users are waking up to an App Store story that mentions a "surprise" for Tuesday and explains that users can expect a treat every day from December 24 to December 29.

appstoresurprises

Tuesday's surprise isn't live yet, but it will be shortly! Make sure you come back soon to check it out.



Have you seen today's goodies? Look for the unwrapped presents on the App Store's Today, Games, and Apps tabs.

From December 24 to 29, you'll find a new surprise every day on the App Store. Come back daily to discover which treat we have waiting for you!

The wording of the story suggests that Apple is planning to give away free apps and games in a promotion similar to the 12 Days of Christmas promotion that the company used to run several years back.

We don't know yet what app or game Apple plans to give away on December 24, but we should find out soon from Australian users. ‌App Store‌ users in other countries like the United States can expect to see the same promotions when December 24 rolls around.

Update 10:39 a.m.: The surprises have gone live in New Zealand, and MacRumors readers tonyduffe and @Ldeverell report that the deals include a special in-app purchase bundle Looney Tunes World of Mayhem and a three-month subscription for the price of one month in Canva. We'll have to see if offers are the same around the world.

app store 2019 surprise

Update 2: Based on reader reports, the daily surprises appear to only be available in Australia and New Zealand, with a subset of them also seen in India.

Tag: App Store
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Apple Offers Free Two-Hour Holiday Delivery on Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch Orders

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Apple is offering free two hour delivery when customers purchase any Apple Watch, iPad, iPhone, or Mac, which is ideal for last minute shoppers.

Through December 24 at 4:00 p.m. local time, customers who live in an area where courier delivery is available can get their orders for free. Apple normally charges $9 for same-day courier delivery.

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Apple says that its courier delivery is available "in most metros," and it applies to the total order whenever an Apple Watch, ‌iPad‌, ‌iPhone‌, or Mac is ordered. AirPods aren't available for free courier delivery on a standalone order basis, but can be included with other purchases.

For deliveries that do not include an Apple Watch, ‌iPad‌, ‌iPhone‌, or Mac, courier options are still available, but Apple is charging the standard $9 fee. Delivery cutoff is December 24 in most areas, but Apple says that December 25th delivery is available in New York City, Las Vegas, and Hawaii.

Those who are not in an area where courier delivery is available can still get items before Christmas by using in-store pickup options.

Tag: Apple Store
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AirPods Pro Offer 'Close to Seamless' Audio Experience Thanks to Improved Bluetooth Latency

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Software developer and composer Stephen Coyle published a new article on his blog recently, intent on measuring the Bluetooth latency of Apple's new AirPods Pro and comparing their performance to previous-generation AirPods. As Coyle pointed out, Bluetooth audio latency in wireless earphones can cheapen the user experience of these devices, and can particularly cause major issues for certain accessibility features reliant upon audio accuracy.

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Coyle measured latency by testing how much time passes between a user triggering a sound and when they hear it in the earphones. The developer pointed out that these user-initiated sounds "are the most commonly encountered example" of Bluetooth audio latency, because they are unpredictable and therefore difficult for most platforms to respond to with finesse. These include keyboard clicks, accessibility features like VoiceOver, and sound effects in games.

latency chart

Image via Stephen Coyle

Using the default iOS keyboard and his own game Tapt as means of measuring this latency, Coyle discovered that the AirPods Pro have the lowest average audio latency (measured in milliseconds) among the entire AirPods line. AirPods 1 measured in at 274ms between the time the sound was triggered and the time the sound was heard, then AirPods 2 was at 178ms, and AirPods Pro clocked in at 144ms. Coyle called this "tantalizingly close to seamless."

If it's possible for the trend line to continue in the same direction, the next generation or two of AirPods will be very exciting. Not being a VoiceOver user, I'm unsure how much AirPods Pro improve its user experience in real terms, but I think this general trend can only be for the good. Similarly, for mobile gaming and general user experience, this trend means that what is, in my opinion, the primary downside of Bluetooth earphones may be gradually disappearing.

Coyle's test also included the Beats Studio3 Wireless Headphones and Sony WH-CH700N, which measured in around 250ms and 225ms, respectively. The developer included these two devices for context and explained that they represent the general state of Bluetooth headphones as it stands right now, with devices like the third-generation Amazon Echo and a JBL Bluetooth speaker also measuring in at about the same level as the Beats and Sony devices.

Check out Coyle's full article on the AirPods Pro Bluetooth audio latency right here.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods
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eBay Offers Your Last Chance to Get an iTunes Gift Card on Sale Before Christmas ($100 for $85)

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PayPal has returned with the latest 15 percent discount on App Store and iTunes gift cards this week, offering customers a chance to get the $100 gift card for $85 on eBay. This could be your last chance to save on iTunes gift cards before Christmas, and with e-mail delivery you will get the card delivered to your inbox within four hours.

iTunes Card 100Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with eBay. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

To get the discount, head to eBay and click "Buy it Now" on the iTunes gift card's page. The 15 percent discount is automatically applied, and once you complete your order it will be delivered to the e-mail address of your choice within a few hours. The sale is only available to customers in the United States.

App Store and iTunes gift cards can be used to pay for iCloud storage, to rent films on iTunes Movies, and even on subscriptions to Apple Music, Netflix, Hulu, and more. Thanks to sales on the gift cards, you're able to save a little bit of money on these purchases, so be sure to visit PayPal on eBay this week if you've been looking to stock up on iTunes credit.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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How to Get Up to 6 Months of Free Apple Music Access This Holiday Season

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Apple is offering up to six months of Apple Music for free to Shazam users, in what looks like a limited-time deal for the holdays.

apple music note
First spotted by Macworld UK, the trial offer currently available appears to vary in length depending on where you're located and whether you've redeemed a free trial of ‌Apple Music‌ in the past.

However, if you're in the U.S., Canada, or the United Kingdom, then you should be able to get at least a month of free access out of it – and perhaps more – even if you've used an ‌Apple Music‌ free trial before. Here's how it works.

  1. Download the free Shazam app for iOS from the App Store.
  2. Launch the app on your iPhone or iPad.
  3. Swipe right to enter the Library screen, or tap the Library icon in the top-left corner of the screen.
    apple music shazam free trial

  4. Tap the Try Now pane offering a free trial of ‌Apple Music‌ for a 'Limited Time.'
  5. Tap the Try it Free button.
  6. You'll be switched to the ‌App Store‌ to redeem a pre-entered code. Tap Redeem, and you'll be notified of the length of your free trial and the date from which you'll make your first monthly payment if you continue with the subscription.

If you're wary of over-running the free trial, put a date in your diary to remind you when to cancel it. For steps on how to cancel an ‌Apple Music‌ subscription, click here.

Tag: Apple Music Guide
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