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UK plans to jail tech execs if kids keep seeing nudes on devices

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UK threatens to jail tech execs
We're not saying any of these tech executives would go to jail, but the UK may target anyone whose products let kids see nudity on their devices.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

The UK government plans to compel Apple, Google and other technology companies to block children from encountering any nudity on their devices like iPhones and iPads — and to imprison executives who fail to act for up to 5 years, according to a new report Friday about policy changes in the works.

Seems like the sort of thing that could make incoming Apple CEO John Ternus a little nervous.

Beyond Siri: New Apple Intelligence features to expect at WWDC26

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New Apple Intelligence features beyond Siri
Apple Intelligence and Visual Intelligence should get a jolt of new features at WWDC26.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple WWDC26:Everybody expects Apple’s Siri voice assistant to get a big AI-powered makeover Monday at WWDC26. But there’s more to the picture, in that Apple Intelligence and Visual Intelligence will see a bunch of separate new features, too, according to rumors rounded up in a new report Friday.

Best vintage and retro Apple setups: Old gear, new love

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old and new macs setup
Bask in the warm glow of antique Macs actually being used.
Photo: [email protected]

Apple designs hardware for the ages — sometimes quite literally. The Cult of Mac Setups archive is full of users who never got around to retiring an old Cinema Display. Or who deliberately hunt one down online for new-to-them use. Some keep a 2013 “trash can” Mac Pro running as a daily driver because it still gets the job done. Some love old gear so much they maintain as much as possible — or at least classic posters — in their setup. And here’s the result: the best vintage and retro Setups in our archive.

Apple Card Savings interest rate falls again — here’s why

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Apple Card Savings interest rate in 2026
We explain why the Apple Card Savings annual interest rate just got another cut.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The interest rate earned by cash stored in Apple Card Savings accounts dropped on Thursday, the second time it’s been cut this year. Money in these accounts now earns 3.4% in annual interest.

The bank behind the savings account is responding to changes in the U.S. economy. Plus there’s another possible factor: less desire to bring in new customers.

Today in Apple history: The revolutionary Apple II goes on sale

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Photo of the original Apple II computer at launch
The Apple II's sleek design proved ahead of its time.
Photo: Computer History Museum

June 5 Today in Apple history June 5, 1977: The first Apple II, the personal computer that will put Cupertino on the map, goes on sale.

Previously shown off to a few thousand rabid fans at the West Coast Computer Faire, the Apple II’s arrival means the masses can finally get their hands on the breakthrough machine.  A base unit costs $1,298 — the equivalent of nearly $7,200 today.

Get 88 hours of AI cybersecurity training for less than $20

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Classroom training led by a man wearing a military uniform
You don't need an in-person course to master the latest topics in AI security.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The 2026 AI Security & Cybersecurity Expert Bundle delivers 88 hours of training that covers AI, ethical hacking and real-world defense skills.

This six-course bundle doesn’t assume you’re already a seasoned security engineer (or talk down to those who are). Instead, it builds practical, real-world skills that matter, whether you’re breaking into the field or leveling up inside it. And you get the entire 2026 AI Security & Cybersecurity Expert Bundle for just $19.97 (MSRP $120).

Apple’s Gemini-powered Siri might run on Nvidia’s encrypted chips

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A photo of an iPhone in between an Apple and a Google logo.
Apple's Gemini-powered Siri might process some queries on Nvidia hardware in Google Cloud.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple could soon do something it rarely does: Trust your data with someone else’s hardware. A new report says the Gemini-powered Siri might route some queries through Google Cloud, powered by Nvidia’s chips.

If you are wondering how Apple plans to keep its privacy promise, Nvidia’s Blackwell B200 chip encrypts your data while it processes it.

MacBook Ultra could come sooner than you think

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MacBook Ultra could come sooner than you think
Get ready to pay more for OLED MacBook Pro, which might be called MacBook Ultra.
AI image: ChatGPT

Apple’s long-anticipated high-end MacBook — the OLED-display machine, possibly with touchscreen, that many expect Apple to call the MacBook Ultra — could arrive a lot sooner than expected, according to a new report Thursday. As in, possibly as soon as 3Q 2026, which probably means September. 

App Store tops $1.4 trillion as AI apps fuel record developer earnings

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AI apps fuel record App Store developer earnings
App Store developer sales hit $1.4 trillion in 2025, thanks in part to AI-focused apps.
Photo: Apple

The App Store ecosystem generated more than $1.4 trillion in developer billings and sales during 2025, Apple said Thursday. The figure nearly triples what the platform posted in 2019 and underscores how central the App Store has become to digital earnings. And artificial intelligence-boosted apps played a huge role. 

Affordable new open earbuds bring stamina, comfort — and a few problems [Review] ★★★☆☆

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Baseus Bowie MC2 Open-Ear Earbuds review★★★☆☆
Baseus Bowie MC2 open-ear clip-on earbuds make a solid case for value. But they suffer from a few limitations.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

At $79.99, Baseus’s new Bowie MC2 enters a crowded field of clip-on open-ear earbuds looking to challenge better-known names. Are they worth a try? My Baseus Bowie MC2 Open-Ear Earbuds review finds they might fit the bill for for users who hate having anything in their ears and for those who want an unobtrusive workout buddy. But they have some shortcomings to work out. Here’s what you actually need to know before buying.

3 exercise tips every Apple Watch wearer should know

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Apple Watch exercise tips every wearer needs to be aware of
You'll find it easier to close your Apple Watch exercise rings with these tips.
Photo: Atlantic Ambiance/Pexels

The Apple Watch helps people stay more active by encouraging wearers to stand, move around and exercise. But its workout tracking has a few quirks that users should understand.

Knowing about these Apple Watch exercise oddities — and how to work around them — can help you avoid frustration as you get fit.

Today in Apple history: Mac clone-maker peaks before a dizzying decline

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Power Computing clone Macs sounded like a good idea at first.
Power Computing's clone Macs were built for speed.
Photo: Antnik

June 4: Today in Apple history: Mac clone-maker Power Computing peaks, begins rapid decline June 4, 1997: Mac clone-maker Power Computing hits its high point as the company’s top exec reaches an agreement with Apple concerning the forthcoming Mac OS 8.

The deal allows the company to start making moves toward an IPO as the fastest-growing PC company of the decade. Things don’t turn out well, though.

Google’s new Mac app keeps your AI chats off the internet

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Run Gemma models locally on your Mac using Google's AI Edge app.
Use Google's new Mac app to run its AI models locally.
Screenshot: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Google’s new AI Edge Gallery app for macOS lets you run Gemma models locally on your Mac. Instead of relying on the cloud, the app taps into Apple Silicon’s power to process AI tasks directly on your machine.

The app is already available on Android and iOS, with the macOS release bringing the same on-device AI experience to Macs.

A new Apple Pencil could give the Vision Pro a sense of touch

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A photo of the Apple Vision Pro with an Apple Pencil.
A special Apple Pencil could bring a sense of touch to the Vision Pro headset.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

While the Apple Vision Pro is one of the best spatial computers money can buy, touch is one sense it can’t fake. But a newly granted Apple patent hints at a new stylus that can simulate the texture of virtual surfaces on your hand.

The Apple Vision Pro is capable of showing virtual surfaces with great clarity, but it lacks haptic feedback. But the new sort of Apple Pencil could close that gap and make the headset’s XR experiences physical for the first time.

Microsoft will break Office apps on older iPhones, iPads and Macs next month

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A photo of Microsoft Office files on an iPhone.
Old iPhones and Macs will soon be unable to edit and create Microsoft Office files.
Photo: Microsoft

If you use an older Mac, iPhone or iPad, Microsoft might be about to break your Office apps. Starting July 13, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote will stop letting you edit, save or create new files unless you meet certain requirements. You’ll still be able to open and print documents, but that’s it.

The move affects more people than you might think. If you’re running anything older than iOS 17 or macOS 11 Big Sur, your Office apps will mostly be defunct. Microsoft calls it “reduced functionality mode,” which is a fancy way of saying your Office apps will lose editing functionality.

Score a lifetime license to PDF Expert for Mac at 50% off

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Upgrade your Mac's PDF-handling capabilities this Cyber Week for only $70.
Get PDF Expert, an Apple Editor's Choice winner, for less than $80.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

PDFs are arguably one of the most-used document formats by professionals, students and casual users alike. However, while they might be the best way to transmit documents, they’re not entirely easy to work with unless you own a capable PDF editor for Mac like PDF Expert.

Fortunately, this app makes handling, organizing, annotating, merging and editing PDFs effortless. And you can get a lifetime license to this award-winning Mac app for just $69.97 (regularly $139.99).

4 reasons to get excited about iPadOS 27

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iPadOS 27 rumors give tablet users plenty of reasons for optimism
Rumors of iPadOS 27 give iPad users so much to be excited about.
Image: Cult of Mac

Apple WWDC26: With Apple’s WWDC26 keynote just days away, the latest iPadOS 27 rumors should give iPad owners plenty of reasons to pay close attention. Beyond the new artificial intelligence features for all Apple devices, tablet users can look forward to Monday’s keynote unveiling of iPadOS 27 enhancements that should make tablets easier to use in multiple ways.

Here are four reasons for iPad users to be eager for these announcements, whether you use your tablet for writing, creative projects or daily multitasking.

Nvidia finally gives Apple silicon a real competitor

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A photo of RTX Spark chip used in a story about Nvidia's new Apple silicon competitor.
RTX Spark laptops will arrive this fall, potentially offering all-day battery life on Windows laptops.
Image: Nvidia

Apple has been making some of the best laptop chips for years, but Nvidia’s new ARM-based RTX Spark processor might finally give the MacBook a real fight.

For Mac users, the announcement of an ARM-based rival to Apple silicon could be good news. Not because they will switch to Windows, but because this kind of competition could pressure Apple to step up its game and keep innovating.

Today in Apple history: iOS overtakes BlackBerry OS

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A BlackBerry device running BlackBerry OS that shows an empty battery icon on its screen.
Time was running out for BlackBerry.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns/Flickr CC

June 3: Today in Apple history: iOS overtakes BlackBerry OS for first time June 3, 2011: iOS overtakes Research in Motion’s BlackBerry operating system for the first time, with Apple’s mobile operating system inching past BlackBerry OS.

While Android remains comfortably in the lead in terms of market share, the news marks the beginning of the end for BlackBerry as a smartphone powerhouse.

Apple brings its first European Developer Center to Berlin

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Apple opens its first Developer Center in Europe
A new Apple Developer Center is coming to Berlin. It's the first of its kind in Europe. This is the auditorium.
Photo: Apple

Apple will open a new Developer Center in Berlin later this year. It’s the first of its kind on the continent and its fifth worldwide, the iPhone giant said Wednesday.

“Europe is home to an extraordinary community of developers who are building apps that create connections, encourage creativity and drive innovation,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “We have always believed that when developers have the right tools and resources to do their best work, incredible things follow. That belief is what this center is built on, and we look forward to seeing what the community continues to develop.”

Pet owners, reclaim your floors with this robot vacuum and mop, on sale for just $170

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Product shot showing Yeedi Vac Station K781+ robovac with iPhone app.
Leave the cleaning to this very capable robovac.
Image: Cult of Mac Deals

The Yeedi Vac Station K781+ vacuums, mops and maps your home — and even empties itself! It’s about as close to a hands-off cleaning experience as you can find.

While supplies last, you can get this self-sufficient robovac for just $169.99. That’s a massive 60% disccount off the retail price of $428.99.

iOS 27 might finally bring split-screen multitasking to the iPhone

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A photo of a concept showing split screen multitasking on the iPhone.
With the iPhone Ultra, Apple might finally bring multitasking to the iPhone.
Photo: Techblood.in

Apple is reportedly working on new multitasking features in iOS 27 that would automatically adapt any iPhone app for landscape and split-screen layouts.

With the rumored folding iPhone on the horizon, a lack of multitasking would translate to a waste of screen real estate. But this rumored capability could mean your entire app collection would work instantly, without Apple waiting for developers to redesign their apps.