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Present Offers: $150 Discount on 1TB M5 MacBook Air, Up to 48% Discount on Apple Thunderbolt 5 Cables, Affordable Prices on Magic Keyboard, and Additional Items

### Today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break: Apple Promotions and Offers

In this edition of the 9to5Toys Lunch Break, we spotlight notable markdowns on Apple products, featuring the 1TB M5 MacBook Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and a range of accessories.

#### Apple’s Most Budget-Friendly 1TB M5 MacBook Air at $150 Off

Amazon is presently providing the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for **$1,149**, reduced from its usual price of **$1,299**. This results in a **$150 savings**, positioning it as the most budget-friendly 1TB M5 MacBook Air on the market. The offer encompasses all four color options of the device, which has become a standard storage choice in the MacBook series.

Other available configurations include:
– 13-inch M5 MacBook Air 16GB/512GB: **$949** (Reg. $1,099)
– 13-inch M5 MacBook Air 24GB/1TB: **$1,349** (Reg. $1,499)
– 15-inch M5 MacBook Air 16GB/1TB: **$1,349** (Reg. $1,499)

#### Official Apple Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cables Discounted by Up to 48%

Woot is providing discounts on genuine Apple Thunderbolt cables, encompassing both Thunderbolt 5 and Thunderbolt 4 variants. Shoppers can apply the code **APPLEFIVE** at checkout for an extra $5 off their purchase. The 1-meter Thunderbolt 5 Pro Cable typically goes for **$69** but can be found for as low as **$31** during this sale.

#### Uncommon $99 Price Reductions on Apple Watch Ultra 3

Amazon has announced uncommon price reductions of **$99** on different configurations of the Apple Watch Ultra 3. This represents the first substantial cash discounts since the last Black Friday season. The following configurations are part of the promotion:
– Apple Watch Ultra 3 (specific models and colors)

Moreover, refurbished choices are available at Best Buy, presenting some savings compared to new units, albeit the difference is slight.

#### Accessories and Charging Promotions

In addition to the featured products, there are ongoing promotions on various accessories and charging options that enhance the Apple ecosystem.

#### Conclusion

With these significant reductions on the latest Apple offerings, it’s a prime opportunity for consumers to consider upgrading their devices or acquiring accessories. Whether you’re searching for a new MacBook, an Apple Watch, or essential cables, these promotions offer considerable savings.

Apple Card’s Shift to Chase: Important Alterations and Ongoing Features Clarified

Apple Card is officially shifting to Chase, with Goldman Sachs retracting over the next year or two. Apple has shared details on what users can anticipate during this shift, outlining features that will stay the same and a few uncertainties.

### What Will Remain Consistent for Apple Card Users Post-Chase Transition

Apple has launched a specific page titled ‘Apple Card Issuer Transition’ to keep users informed about the forthcoming changes. Although numerous details are still being finalized, Apple has affirmed several essential features that will persist:

1. **Daily Cash Rewards**: Users will keep earning up to 3% unlimited Daily Cash back on every transaction.

2. **No Fees**: The Apple Card will uphold its no-fee setup, meaning no annual fees, late charges, or international transaction fees.

3. **Payment Network**: Mastercard will keep functioning as the payment network for Apple Card.

4. **Privacy and Data Security**: Apple’s dedication to user privacy and data protection will remain unchanged, with measures in place to guarantee a seamless transfer of account data between Goldman Sachs and Chase.

### Ambiguities During the Transition

While numerous features will stay the same, some elements of the transition are still not clear:

– **Card Numbers**: It remains uncertain if card numbers will change. Apple has mentioned that details regarding card number alterations will be communicated directly to users as the transition date approaches.

– **Physical Card Modifications**: There is uncertainty about whether the physical Apple Card will change. Updates concerning new physical cards will be shared with users as the transition date gets closer.

– **Apple Card Savings Account**: The ramifications for the Apple Card Savings Account are still to be confirmed.

### Interest-Free Monthly Payments for Apple Products

One favored feature of the Apple Card is the prospect of buying Apple products through interest-free monthly payments. Apple has indicated that users can keep utilizing Apple Card Monthly Installments when completing purchases at Apple Store locations, apple.com, and the Apple Store app. However, the phrasing implies that this may only be valid during the transition phase, leaving some uncertainty about its long-term presence.

### Conclusion

As the shift from Goldman Sachs to Chase progresses, Apple Card users can expect many of their preferred features to remain unchanged. Nonetheless, uncertainties surrounding card numbers, physical card appearance, and the future of monthly payments for Apple products leave room for speculation. Users are encouraged to stay updated as Apple provides more information leading up to the transition.

Michael Dorn Breaks Record in Star Trek Franchise History

(the Kelvin Timeline films, perhaps?), every series that ventured into uncharted territory featured a selection of superbly crafted characters that facilitated our journey. In 1987, one prominent individual within Starfleet, alongside personalities like La Forge (LeVar Burton) and Data (Brent Spiner), was Chief Security Officer Worf, portrayed by Michael Dorn. A product of conflict, who experienced the loss of his parents during a Romulan raid, Worf was the inaugural Klingon to enlist in Starfleet and emerged as a vital member of Jean-Luc Picard’s team aboard the Enterprise in “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” From this point, he evolved into a beloved character and significant contributor on the series, thus attaining a recognition that no other “Star Trek” figure has achieved either before or afterward.

Even at this moment, following a multitude of “Star Trek” series and films that have appeared and disappeared, Worf, son of Mogh and of the Rozhenkos lineage, has been featured more frequently in “Star Trek” than any other character throughout the franchise’s timeline. Following his tenure in “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” he made his comeback in Season 4 of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and remained until Season 7, then reunited with his prior captain in “Picard.” This culminated in Dorn achieving a total of 284 appearances on “Star Trek” TV episodes, surpassing any other actor (he also featured in various franchise films, though not in the finest “Star Trek” film, according to Rotten Tomatoes). A not-so-close second is another “Next Generation” actor who also transitioned to the iconic “DS9” space station and acquired a more significant role as a consequence.

Colm Meaney and Patrick Stewart Were Not Far Behind

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The Lifebelt’s Voyage Following Shark Tank: Updates After Season 1

Way back in Season 1 of “Shark Tank,” the Sharks were introduced to the Lifebelt, an automotive safety device designed by Robert Allison. When fitted, the Lifebelt stops a car from starting unless all occupants have buckled their seatbelts. If a seatbelt is unfastened while the engine is on, it deactivates the radio and triggers an alarm that continues until the seatbelt is secured.

Motivated by a personal tragedy, Allison developed Lifebelt as a means to avert future incidents, especially those involving young drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that nearly half of the fatalities from car crashes in 2023 occurred among individuals not wearing seatbelts. They also estimate that over 2,000 of nearly 24,000 victims might have survived if they had been buckled up. The straightforward yet potentially life-saving design of Lifebelt piqued the interest of several Sharks.

Allison received bids from Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec, with Herjavec presenting the first million-dollar offer in the series’ history, although both were interested in acquiring the patent to negotiate with major auto manufacturers for the integration of the technology into their cars. Nonetheless, in a surprising turn, Allison rejected both offers, expressing his intention to market Lifebelt directly to consumers and build it as a national brand. Ultimately, Allison left without a deal, but Lifebelt was set to persist—for a time.

What transpired with Lifebelt after its appearance on Shark Tank?

Shortly after “Shark Tank,” reports surfaced that Allison had sealed a $1.7 million deal with a prominent automotive dealership group in Texas known as Gillman Automotive Group, allowing the chain to retail Lifebelt to consumers. However, all available information stems from Allison, who later appeared in a brief follow-up segment in Season 1, Episode 14, discussing Lifebelt’s status at that moment. Additionally, Gillman’s official website makes no reference to either Lifebelt or Allison.

It is evident that Lifebelt is no longer operational. Its Facebook page has not been updated since 2010, and the product’s former URL, www.nobucklenostart.com, now redirects to a site centered on vehicle safety topics. According to Robert Allison’s LinkedIn profile, his tenure as the owner of LIFEBELT Inc. concluded in 2016, after which he took on a new role as CEO of AQSWW. There is no further information provided about the company, leaving us unable to verify the accuracy of this claim or whether he remains employed there as of 2026.

Regarding the offers from O’Leary and Herjavec, they faced criticism from other investors for attempting to acquire a patent that might lack substantial value. As noted by David S. Rose of Rose Tech Ventures, the technology to prevent a vehicle from starting when occupants are unbuckled has been available for many years. For a short period, it was even a requirement for new vehicles to feature this technology, although Congress quickly overturned the mandate due to significant public opposition, which even prompted action from then-President Gerald Ford. In retrospect, the offers for Lifebelt on “Shark Tank” appear to be a missed chance for Allison yet a significant escape for the Sharks.

Demis Hassabis Reveals DeepMind’s Return to Startup Culture Post-Brain Merger

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Jury to Decide Ticketmaster’s Fate

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