With Face ID, Apple invented a truly superb authentication system.

It's secure. It recognizes your face, of course, but does so using depth information, so it won't be fooled by a simple photo or 2D print.

It's not infallible, but it is pretty darn good. I don't recall any stories of Face ID being systematically compromised.

It's convenient. Nothing could be simpler than simply looking at your device to unlock it. For me, Face ID works 95% of the time (as long as I'm not wearing a mask).

It's ubiquitous. Oh, hang on -- it's not!

For some inexplicable reason, Face ID works only on iPhone and iPad Pro.

It's high time for Apple to change that.

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

No Face ID in MacBook Pro is a missed opportunity — www.cultofmac.com

Saying the 2021 MacBook Pro’s screen notch is controversial is putting it mildly. But Apple could have made it easier to bear. Building in Face ID would have better justified the display cutout — and also made the newest macOS notebooks easier to use.

App Store rules could force Netflix to deliver subscription games individually — www.cultofmac.com

It is believed users will still be able to discover and launch titles through the main Netflix app, but they’ll need to download each one first.

Apple TV+ draws tiny but growing share of US streaming market — www.cultofmac.com

Apple's service remains a small player in the streaming wars, with only 4% of the U.S. market. Still, it’s beating out some rivals even if it’s well behind the front-runners.

This Mac utility is an extra 15% off with this pre-Black Friday code — www.cultofmac.com

A MacPilot Lifetime License is your ticket to supercharging your workflow. MacPilot will help you unlock more than 1,200 advanced features, and access them all with the intuitive and familiar Mac user interface. In our Pre-Black Friday Sale, you can get a lifetime license for just $33.99 with code SAVE15NOV.

'Hollywood at Home' video demonstrates filming big scenes with tiny props and iPhone 13 — www.cultofmac.com

Find out how to use everyday objects and an iPhone 13 to film action scenes and create otherworldly landscapes or monster movies.

WhatsApp rolls out multi-device support to all iPhone users — www.cultofmac.com

The upgrade finally makes WhatsApp a little less reliant on your smartphone.

2021 MacBook Pro owners suffer kernel crashes when playing HDR video — www.cultofmac.com

The problem appears to be happening inside Safari and third-party web browsers. It’s not yet clear what the root cause is — or if it will be fixed with the upcoming macOS 12.1 update.

Going ‘ergo everything’ with an M1 MacBook Pro rig [Setups] — www.cultofmac.com

Proper attention to ergonomics can yield comfort, good posture and repetitive-strain avoidance. This “ergo everything” setup pairs a MacBook Pro with a big external monitor and a nice set of peripherals, furniture and accessories.

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One more thing ...

"You go to your TV when you want to turn your brain off. You go to your computer when you want to turn your brain on. Those are not the same." -- Steve Jobs