What you need to know

Citi analyst Jim Suva has been speaking with CNBC.
The analyst thinks Apple’s wearables category will surprise investors this holiday quarter.
AirPods and Apple Watch are expected to see strong sales in particular.

Big numbers mean big money.

Citi analyst Jim Suva has been speaking with CNBC today and he thinks that Apple’s wearables category is in for a big holiday quarter. In fact, Apple Watch and AirPods are two products that were singled out specifically.

As part of the bullish outlook (via 9to5Mac), Suva currently has AAPL set at a price target of $300 with 2020 expected to be the beginning of its march towards that goal. And as has become clear, AirPods are going to be a big part of that. Particularly the recently released AirPods Pro.

”Some of their products are selling out and you have to wait to get them,” Suva said on ”Squawk Alley,” referencing a ”several-week delay” to get AirPods Pro around the holiday shopping season.

”It’s not due t…

Say goodbye to the old and hello to the new with these fun apps!

As another year comes to a close, we start to ponder on what the upcoming year will bring. We have hope that things will be better or trust that things won’t change. We set new resolutions that we’re determined to keep and reflect on what came before us. Before the new year begins, we all celebrate the end of the old one.

To make your New Year’s Eve its most joyous, check out these apps to help ring in the new year.

New Year’s Eve Counter
Ham Horn
Jackbox Party Pack
Halide
Streaks
Cocktail Flow

New Year’s Eve Counter

It’s getting closer and closer to the countdown, you’ve gathered with your friends and family, and you’re ready to toast the new year. Sure, you could stare at the clock, like an animal, or you could let the New Year’s Eve Counter help you celebrate.

Once the timer strikes zero, you can also send festive iMessage stickers to friends and family that couldn’t be with you this year.

There’s even a L…

What you need to know

Russia has new laws coming into play next year that could affect Apple.
One existing law could see Apple TV+ banned if it gets too popular.
No foreign streaming service is allowed more than 50% of the market.

There’s a sweet spot to be found.

We already know that Apple could be forced to install Russian apps on iPhones following the passing of new Russian law, but things could get even worse. If Apple TV+ gets too popular it could be banned in the country altogether.

According to The Hollywood Reporter (via Cult of Mac) Russia’s laws won’t allow any foreign streaming service to have a market share higher than 50%. The law is supposed to help protect Russian businesses.

But Russian firm tvzavr doesn’t seem too concerned by the arrival of Apple TV+.

Since its launch, Apple TV+ has kept a low profile, which apparently satisfies local streaming services.

”At this point, we don’t see Apple TV+ as a competitor, since they have a totally different conte…

But they are super sketchy…

What you need to know

Rumors are circulating that Apple plans to announce a high-end gaming Mac.
A Taiwanese outlet says Apple plans to launch an ”Esports PC” next year.
The expected release is reportedly WWDC 2020, and it could be anything from a laptop to an all-in-one desktop.

Some very suspect rumors have started floating around over the Christmas period, suggesting that Apple is planning to release some kind of gaming Mac/Esports PC/all-in-one/maybe a laptop at WWDC 2020.

As you may have gathered, the details are super murky, and the source is not held in very high esteem. Back on December 22, Taiwanese outlet Economic Daily News reported the following (translated):

According to market reports, Apple plans to launch an e-sports PC next year with a unit price of up to $ 5,000 (about NT $ 152,100), which will be the first time that Apple has entered the e-sports PC field. It is both a new product and a high unit price. The industry expects t…

The amount of data we consume has skyrocketed in the past decade, and it’s only expected to increase as we enter 2020. Thankfully, cloud storage services are more affordable and reliable than ever. If you’re looking for a reliable cloud storage service to use for work or storing precious family photos, we have four amazing deals that you can get at massive discounts.

ThunderDrive Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription

If you’re looking for a way to store extra movies, projects, or even entire system backups, ThunderDrive’s massive 2TB plan is the way to go. You can upload anything from small to large files with blazing-fast speeds, plus your data is kept secure in Tier IV data centers using 256-bit AES encryption.

MSRP: $1,200

Sale Price: $39

ThunderDrive Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription – $39

See Deal

Polar Backup Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription

Polar Backup is the cloud storage provider of choice if you’re looking for unparalleled reliabil…

Apple’s AirPods are a fantastic companion to your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, with super-fast pairing, superior functionality with touch controls, and access to Siri. AirPods are bound to please a lot of iPhone fans, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other options out there; in fact, there’s a sort of wireless earbuds that can help you bring sound on the go. Here are the best alternatives to AirPods.

Closest to the original

Powerbeats Pro

Staff Favorite

If you’ve always wanted a pair of truly wireless headphones, but the AirPods weren’t right for you, the Powerbeats Pro are your salvation. With all the glory of Apple’s H1-chip, you can the same amazing pairing process and compatibility that you’ve come to expect.

$200 at Amazon

W1-chip enabled

BeatsX

Apple’s cheaper wireless W1 headphones are the best option for users who need a more customized fit for their everyday earbuds and don’t mind a neck wire. Eight hours of battery life should be more than enough for mos…

Looking for the best of the best screen protectors out there for your brand new iPad mini 5 (2019)? Well, look no further! These are the toughest and highest-rated screen protectors out there that’ll be sure to save your screen in one way or another! Here are the best screen protectors for iPad mini 5.

Tempered glass trophy

amFilm Glass Screen Protector

Make sure your iPad mini’s screen is safe and secure with help from the amFilm Glass Screen Protector. This ultra-clear and highly durable screen protector is designed to protect against scrapes and scratches while still being super responsive to touch. The amFilm Glass Screen Protector is incredibly easy to install.

$8 at Amazon

2 for the price of 1

Supershieldz Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Keep it safe and keep it secure with the protective and reliable Supershieldz Tempered Glass Screen Protector. This particular screen protector is designed with rounded edges and 99.99% HD clarity. You get two screen protectors in on…

It’ll cost $49.99.

What you need to know

Anker is set to be released an LED flash for iPhone 11.
It will be certified under Apple’s Made-for-iPhone (MFi) program.
It costs $50 and will connect to your iPhone via the Lightning connector.

Popular iPhone accessory maker Anker is set to release an external LED flash for iPhone 11 in January, according to reports.

According to The Verge, the new LED flash for iPhone 11 will be released in January as part of Apple’s Made-for-iPhone (MFi) program.

The report notes:

Anker says its new flash product should be available next month from its website and from Amazon. It costs $49.99 and is designed to be a native Apple accessory, so the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro should recognize it and be able to trigger the flash from within the main camera app as well as in third-party ones.

This isn’t the first such flashes on the market, but it is the first certified MFi by Apple. The LED flash connects to your iPhone via the Lightning connecto…

What you need to know

YouTuber iJustine has the 28-core monster Mac Pro.
It’s been put through its paces in recent weeks.
Her latest video shows how powerful this thing is.

You can’t do that on a 12-inch MacBook.

The examples of how powerful the 2019 Mac Pro just keep on coming. And YouTuber iJustine is the latest to give us a glimpse at the kinds of things the 28-core almost-maxed-out monster is capable of.

The machine iJustine has been using for the last few weeks probably isn’t the one most people will buy. With 28 cores and 384GB of RAM, only those who need it for video editing and advanced mathematics are going to use something like this. And her latest video shows that all happening, simultaneously.

During the video we see iJustine running a complicated project that takes RAW images and then stitches them together to create a 3D render. Just listening to how that works broke my brain, and it’s something that reportedly normally takes a couple of days to complete. Wit…

Smart home automation products like smart plugs save energy and make controlling your devices much easier. Whether you’re a newbie or have gone all-in on HomeKit-enabled devices, this list can help you track down the perfect HomeKit-enabled plug for your smart home.

Best for most

Wemo Mini

Staff Favorite

Belkin’s Wemo Mini features a slim profile that won’t block the receptacle outlet, allowing two of them to be used in a single outlet. The Mini is UL safety certified, and it also includes a three-year warranty, protecting your investment for years to come.

$20 at Amazon

Monitor it

Elgato Eve Energy

The Elgato Eve Energy is a Bluetooth-connected smart plug. With in-depth energy monitoring stats, it can help you keep a lid on your utility bills. Thanks to the device’s Bluetooth LE connection, you won’t need to struggle with a Wi-Fi setup process or crowd your network with another device — the Eve Energy communicates directly with your phone.

$42 at Amazon

In-wall desig…