Sponsored by Raptic: Get 20% off the new Raptic Shield cases for iPhone 12 with code 9to5MACiP12. Stories discussed in this episode: iPhone 12 repair costs more expensive than iPhone 11 Apple prepares safe iPhone launch season with Express Pickup locations and store reopenings Apple begins shipping first iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro pre-orders ahead of Friday release New photos and videos show MagSafe Charger and cases arriving ahead of iPhone 12 Enjoy the podcast?...

It’s that time of year again: CES, the mega-event in Las Vegas where every company except Apple releases its upcoming product roadmap. 9to5 has six people on the ground this year, and we’re covering big ticket items, as well as searching for the sort of hidden gold nuggets only the massive CES can deliver. Qardio, maker of award-winning, smartphone-connected healthcare accessories including the already-available QardioArm wireless blood pressure monitor, was nice enough to sponsor us this year....

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications. TODAY’S CAN’T MISS DEALS: Last Call Updates: The new AUKEY Waterproof Action Camera can be yours for $65 shipped (Reg. $75) LEGO’s new BrickHeadz feature your favorite Marvel and DC characters Hoover Summer Sale up to 60% off: Windtunnel Bagless Upright Vacuum $55 Binge watch HBO for free this weekend on Sling TV Multi-year magazine subs from $4....

Star Trek: First Contact landed in theaters way back in November 1996, and it still remains one of the better received outings by the crew of the USS Enterprise. The first film in the franchise to focus solely on the cast of the Next Generation TV series, First Contact pits Patrick Stewart’s Captain Picard and his allies against merciless hive mind, the Borg. The stakes have never been higher, either. Indeed, the very existence of the Federation and Starfleet hangs in the balance, due to the Borg’s sneaky scheme to eradicate both by preventing the first meeting between humanity and extra-terrestrial life from happening centuries earlier....

But when you’re working at home without the same resources you’d have in the office or on a shoot, it’s tricky to produce content that checks all those boxes. Whether work from home is new to you or you’re a seasoned remote worker, social media marketing from home is not without its challenges. However, social marketers are nothing if not resourceful. Here at Sprout, our social and creative teams have rethought the process for social media content production to keep content exciting and fresh—all while working as a remote, distributed team....

Determining risk can be a complicated task due to limited resources and a constantly changing threat landscape. Because of this, IT security experts must have a toolset to help them create a comprehensive view with regards to the potential impact of different IT security related threats and attacks. This toolset should be reliable, and cost-effective. Risk management is not a new concept in today’s technological world. Therefore, there are many devices and techniques that are available for overseeing organizational risks....

Sponsored by Crypto Pro: Bitcoin / crypto ticker and portfolio. Get a month of Premium with code 9TO5MAC. Stories discussed in this episode: AirTag review: An easy-to-use item tracker empowered by a network of a billion iPhone users Emails reveal Apple’s attempts to stop Netflix from dropping App Store In-App Purchase support Apple runs App Store with 78% profit margin, according to court testimony Apple and Epic once planned a subscription bundle combining Fortnite Crew, Apple Music, and Apple TV+ New emails show Steve Jobs referred to Facebook as ‘Fecebook’ amid App Store conflict Enjoy the podcast?...

This week Benjamin and Zac welcome a clue that suggests HomePod will soon work with Calendar, new details about the 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus and an iOS 12 Face ID rumor, quick impressions from Google I/O, Hodinkee’s new Jony Ive interview on Apple Watch, and our watchOS 5 wish list. https://9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2018/05/9to5mac-happy-hour-may-10-2018.mp3 Benjamin Mayo Zac Hall HomePod likely gaining Calendar support alongside iOS 11.4 release iPhone X Plus said to be iPhone 8 Plus size, iOS 12 to bring horizontal Face ID support, more...

There are still a couple chances left to enter to win our iPhone XS Max giveaway thanks to our sponsor Zendure! Head below for details on how to enter and check out Zendure’s SuperCord– its brand new premium MFi Lightning and USB cables made from a reinforced kevlar and nylon braided design for ultimate durability. Full details on how to enter below! Zendure’s SuperCord is made to be the ultimate USB cable with a super durable design that the company backs up enough to offer a lifetime warranty on....

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications. 9to5Toys Lunch Break delivers the best deals every day of the week at 12:30PM EST. This includes price drops on all sorts of Apple products from iPad to MacBook and everything in between, as well as HomeKit gear, accessories of all kinds and so much more....

Now’s a great time to give your Apple Watch a whole new look with Monowear’s latest range of bands – with our exclusive deal. Shop now at Monoweardesign.com and use promo code 9to5mac20 to get 20% off your order. All Monowear bands are designed to look great, fit well on your wrist, and built to last. The range features a multitude of styles, made from canvas and high-quality genuine leather, so you can find something to match your personal style and taste....

While cable companies are managing to stay in business, streaming services like Netflix have been able to dominate the small screen with unique TV shows like Stranger Things. This series began in 2016 and is one of Netflix’s many original TV shows that have been critically acclaimed. Taking place in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things focuses on the disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and the discovery of supernatural forces that are behind his disappearance....

One of the most prominent characters during the Golden Age of Comic Books, Captain America made his debut in March 1941. The character’s inception was a direct reaction to the start of World War II, and Captain America was meant to represent the ideals of the allied forces. But after the war ended, the character saw a dip in popularity, leading to the comic book being discontinued. Of course, Marvel ended up bringing the character back into the mainstream during the Silver Age, where Steve Rogers was brought up to present day, eventually sending him on a journey to become the leader of the Avengers....

The 2019 Oscars broadcast’s ratings were considerably higher than 2018’s all-time low numbers. Over the past few years, the Academy Awards have seen continually declining viewership, which is what led to a number of proposed changes to revamp the proceedings in 2019. In an effort to make the show more appealing and accessible to mainstream audiences, the Academy toyed with the possibility of introducing a Best Popular Film category, cutting the presentation of a handful of awards to commercial breaks, and limiting the number of Best Original Song performances....

Over the past few years, TikTok has turned into a source of viral dance challenges that sweep across the world. From celebrities to influential content creators – everyone’s participating in these popular challenges. Even brands can be seen joining in on the fun and using these dance challenges to connect with their fans. These dance challenges are great to capitalize on because people can conduct searches using TikTok sounds. That means if someone clicks on the song, some of the top videos featuring the song will turn up in the search results....

Energizer AA and AAA batteries with charger Who’s better than Energizer? These batteries have an excellent capacity that competes with standard alkaline batteries in terms of duration. This charger holds up to four batteries, and you get four AA batteries in the package. The charging dock is the star of the show. With overcharge protection to keep your batteries safe, four-hour charging to take your batteries from empty to full and a plug-out design, Energizer hits all the design points on the head....

Do you ever play a game where it shows a dynamic plot? Or the ones that deliver the best details? The questions represent the ways to pull the player engagements. There are some aspects that people may think forward before designing one: People love novel yet understandable stories. The technical sides should be upfront. Besides the story, a good deliverance has a better impact. Other than that, a better design development brings luck to the rates....

Following is a handpicked list of Top Free CAD Software, with their popular features and website links. The list contains both open source (free) and commercial (paid) software. Best Free CAD Software Programs for Windows PC & Mac #1) Adobe Substance 3D Adobe Substance 3D is a bunch of smart, creative apps that include Painter, Designer, and Sample app. This bunch of apps provides access to thousands of customizable models, lights, and materials created by s world-class guest artists....

After five incredibly divisive movies, the Transformers movies (aka BayFormers, named after series director Michael Bay) finally got it right with its first spin-off movie Bumblebee. Focusing on the titular Autobot soldier who’s best known for transforming into a Volkswagen Beetle or a 1977 Chevrolet Camaro, Bumblebee showed how it was possible to have a Transformers movie that would appease both fans and critics alike. The movie proved to be a hit, and word of a sequel immediately circulated....

As one of the first spin-offs in the Star Trek franchise after Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager had an incredible amount of freedom in its writing, story-telling, and overall presentation. The franchise was boldly going where no one had gone before with the series, featuring an exciting plot about a Federation ship being lost in the Delta Quadrant, its ragtag crew comprised of Starfleet officers and guerrilla fighters forced to work together to figure out a way home....