ICYMI: 8 awesome features in Apple’s new Photos for Mac

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Steve would have been 60 years old this past week. Cover design: Stephen Smith
Photos is out, and we've got the lowdown. Cover Design: Stephen Smith

It’s time for another weekly dose of all the great stuff from our intrepid news hounds and reporters within the digital confines of Cult of Mac Magazine.

Buster has the lowdown on eight of the hot new features in Apple’s upcoming Photos for Mac, and he also takes a good long look at the mysterious vans owned by Apple that have been spotted around the San Francisco area. If you need to protect your precious new iPhone, Stephen drops a video spotlight on five cases you’ll want to consider for your fancy Apple smartphone. Rob digs deep into a new digital comic — companion to the Midnight Star video game — and how the award-winning team brings the game world to life. Jim drops in on a hip retro gaming shop in Portland, too, coming back with some stunning pictures of this old boys (and girls!) club.

All that and more in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine – check out our top stories below, and then click on through to get your own copy for free.

Photo: Apple
Photo: Apple

8 awesome features in Apple’s new Photos for Mac

The public launch of Photos isn’t expected until spring, but we took the beta for a spin today to get acquainted with the future of Apple photo software. We found eight new features you’re going to love.

Get an early look inside Cult of Mac Magazine February 6 Edition, Free on iTunes

Photo: Claycord
Photo: Claycord

Is Apple working on a self-driving car?

File this under “unbelievable,” but according to reports from the Bay Area, multiple black vans owned by Apple have been spotted driving around San Francisco with a fancy camera array on top that may indicate the company is developing a self-driving car.

Drive on in to Cult of Mac Magazine February 6 Edition, Free on iTunes

Photo: Stephen Smith
Photo: Stephen Smith

5 cases to keep your iPhone 6 safe and stylish

iPhones are expensive, and leaving your new, shiny iPhone 6 or 6 Plus without a case on is akin to driving a car without insurance. Why risk it? Let us show you our favorites that keep you stylish while still protecting that magical pocket device.

Protect your iPhone with Cult of Mac Magazine February 6 Edition, Free on iTunes

Photo: Industrial Toys
Photo: Industrial Toys

Midnight Rises uses video game tricks to supercharge comics

Most digital comics are just a reformatting of traditional print comics to fit on a touchscreen. Midnight Rises goes further, using the tricks of video games to tell a comic-book style story.

“We hate motion comics,” said Choi. “This was way more work than just turning the canvas on its side.”

See the future of comics with Cult of Mac Magazine February 6 Edition, Free on iTunes

Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Ms. Pac-Man, Frogger and beer, all on tap at Ground Kontrol

Portland, Oregon’s Ground Kontrol arcade was launched in 1999 by a couple of record store workers. With one location change and a remodel, it’s been going gangbusters ever since. By day it is a family-friendly, quarter-sucking fun land, but every night at 5 p.m. the bar opens and the crowds line up to get their game on.

Drop in just one more quarter to Cult of Mac Magazine February 6 Edition, Free on iTunes

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