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Photoshop for iPad shows that Adobe totally still has it

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30% of tablets sold last quarter were iPads
30% of tablets sold last quarter were iPads
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Adobe’s Photoshop is now available in the App Store, ready for you to try. You have to sign up for a $10 monthly subscription, even just to test it out, but there’s a one-month free trial included in the sub. With that out of the way, how is it? Extremely limited, but very promising.

If you’re familiar with Photoshop on the Mac or PC, then you will feel immediately at home. You will also feel immediately frustrated, because the app does almost nothing. We learned earlier this month that Photoshop for iOS would offer a cut-down feature set compared to the full desktop version. Still, this app is so basic that — if you want to actually get any work done — you should grab something like Affinity Photo instead.

But as an example of an iPad app, Photoshop is stellar. It’s easy to use, and yet most of the basics are there. And there’s a new UI innovation, called the Touch Shortcut, that should be in every app. Let’s take a look.

This is the affordable Apple Pencil rival you’ve been looking for [Review]

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Adonit Note+ review
With Adonit Note+, you can draw Tippy. Or take notes, sign PDFs, and more.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adonit Note+ is a pressure-sensitive iPad stylus that stands up well in a head-to-head competition with Apple Pencil, and even beats it in some areas. It offers tilt detection and pressure sensitivity, as well as shortcut buttons. All at a price definitely lower than Apple’s stylus.

We used this Apple Pencil alternative for both writing and drawing — read our Adonit Note+ review to see how it handles in real-world use.

Apple Pencil with a built-in screen is genius

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Apple Pencil with touchscreen patent filing
Not resting on their laurels, engineers are looking for ways to improve Apple Pencil.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A next-generation Apple Pencil could have a built-in touchscreen. And it’s apparently an actual improvement, not just something bolted on to make it cost more. The display would let the user know what color they’re about to draw with.

iPad sketch app Paper adds brilliant creative templates [Review]

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These exquisitely designed digital journals in Paper by WeTransfer will get anyone’s creative juices flowing.
These exquisitely designed digital journals will get anyone’s creative juices flowing.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Looking for some fun stuff to do with your Apple Pencil? Then you should definitely check out today’s update to Paper by WeTransfer, which introduces a new Paper Store.

Despite its name, the Paper Store doesn’t actually sell paper. Instead it offers a range of 28 digital journals created by brilliant designers and illustrators. These journals are filled with creative prompts, exercises and drawing tutorials that will get your creative juices flowing. And they’re a whole lot of fun to use.

Doodling has never been so easy or productive.

All the ways to take a screenshot in iPadOS

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An iPad Pro case can prevent your Apple Pencil from charging.
The Apple Pencil can now take screenshots!
Photo: Apple

Like skinning a cat, there’s more than one way to take a screenshot on the iPhone and iPad. And with the launch of iPadOS 13, there’s now one more way to snap a picture of your screen on the iPad.

Let’s check out all the ways to take a screenshot on an iPad running iOS 13.

MIA at Apple event: Tracking tags, reverse charging and more

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AirPods 2 pairing with iPhone
Sadly, your AirPods can’t charge off your iPhone 11.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

Apple’s press event today included the iPhone 11 series as well as updated iPad and Apple Watch versions. However, some rumored devices, features and accessories failed to materialize.

Most notably, the company didn’t announce a line of item-tracking tags, and the latest iPhones can’t wirelessly charge other devices. And there are other predictions that didn’t come true.

Live chat: Watch Apple’s iPhone 11 keynote with us

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iPhone-11-watch-party
Get ready for Apple's latest innovations.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The stage of the Steve Jobs Theater is set for the biggest Apple keynote of the year — and we can’t wait to watch the iPhone 11 unveiling with you.

Rather than live-blogging the Apple “By Innovation Only” event, Cult of Mac is hosting a live chat so all our writers and readers of the site alike can nerd out on all the glory Tim Cook and the gang have in store. We know for sure we’re getting new iPhones but there’s still plenty of room for some surprises.

Could we see a new Apple TV set-top box? A Tile-style tracking device called Apple Tags? An Apple TV+ price tag and launch date? The anticipation is killing us. Apple’s iPhone 11 keynote kicks off Tuesday at 10 a.m. Pacific. Of course, we’ll be getting wild in the chat beforehand, so come in and join the fun.

What to expect from next month’s iPhone 11 refresh

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what-to-expect-iPhone-11
Here are all the things we think Apple has up its sleeve.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

The 2019 iPhone lineup is just weeks away from getting its grand unveiling. And according to recent rumors, it could be a lot more exciting than we first anticipated.

Faster chips and an extra camera sensor may not be the only reasons to upgrade this year. Two-way wireless charging, improved Face ID, and Apple Pencil support could also be on Apple’s list.

Here’s everything we expect from next month’s iPhone refresh.

10.2-inch iPad may launch as soon as September

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iPad
New iPads are on the way.
Photo: Apple

iPad lovers may not have to wait much longer for the next big update to Apple’s most affordable tablet.

According to a new report out of Asia, Apple’s new 10.2-inch iPad — the expected successor to the current 9.7-inch iPad — could launch as soon as the end of September.

Apple Pencil might work with 2019 iPhone

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An iPad Pro case can prevent your Apple Pencil from charging.
Apple Pencil support might get added to 2019 iPhones.
Photo: Apple

The days of Apple Pencil being only supported on iPad could soon be numbered.

Citi Research’s Apple analysts published their predictions of new features for the new 2019 iPhones and while most of the list is pretty ho-hum, there’s one new addition that hasn’t been on our radar: Apple Pencil.

iWork apps for iOS and Mac get a massive update

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iWork
iWork could expose user data to U.S. authorities.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s suite of iWork productivity apps received a big batch of updates today for both the Mac and iOS versions.

Keynote, Numbers and Pages for the two platforms added a bunch of new features. The biggest addition is some new outline styles. There are also a couple of new customization options for Apple Pencil and a face detection feature that intelligently positions people in placeholders and objects.

Adobe Fresco will make iPad painting more realistic than ever

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example of painting in Adobe Fresco
An artist's self-portrait made in Adobe Fresco.
Illustration: Jin Jin Sun

Spontaneous creativity is built into the centuries-old painting style known as fresco.

It is also the fitting name of Adobe’s developing drawing and painting program for iPad Pro and Apple Pencil artists who must quickly begin to create when inspiration strikes.

Adobe Fresco, a fraction of its power previewed by Adobe last year under the name Project Gemini, is on target for release this fall, according to a post on the Adobe blog.

Adonit Note is the affordable stylus your iPad needs [Review]

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Adonit Note review
Adonit Note costs half and much, looks twice as good as Apple Pencil.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

More than artists want to draw on their iPad, and Adonit has just introduced a stylus for the rest of us. This lightweight accessory offers most of the features of the Apple Pencil, while costing far, far less.

We fully tested the Adonit Note iPad stylus, so be sure to read our review.

Apple Pencil and QuickPath floating keyboard revolutionize iPad typing

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What can't the iPad do in iPadOS?
What can't the iPad do in iPadOS?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Were you ever drawing a diagram in the Notes app, and then realized you needed to type a note? Did you then find yourself frustrated at having to drop the Apple Pencil and type on the huge, half-screen QWERTY keyboard?

With iPadOS 13, Apple has removed that frustration. You still can’t do Newton-style handwriting and have it turn into text. But you can shrink the keyboard to a tiny floating panel, and use the Apple Pencil to swipe-type on it.

iPadOS makes Apple Pencil much faster and better [Opinion]

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Apple Pencil in iPadOS 13 decreased latency
At WWDC, Apple VP Craig Federighi revealed one of the ways iPadOS 13 improves the Apple Pencil.
Screenshot: Apple

Without changing the hardware, iPadOS 13 manages to decrease the latency of the Apple Pencil. And that’s just the start: there are also new features for non-artists to take advantage of this active stylus.

Check out our first impressions of using an Apple Pencil with the initial beta of Apple’s next operating system.

Military-grade iPad Pro case also protects your Smart Keyboard

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UAG iPad pro 2
The new Scout series offers military-grade drop protection.
Photo: UAG

If one of your prerequisites for an iPad case is that it’s hard-wearing enough to take whatever life throws at it, Urban Armor Gear promises to be your hook-up.

Urban Armor Gear’s new Scout series for iPad Pro offers rugged, lightweight mobile device cases designed to fit Apple’s iPad Pro devices. What’s more, it’s compatible with Apple’s Smart Keyboard, while also offering a place to store your Apple Pencil when not in use!

iPad sales were the hero of Apple’s latest earnings report

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iPad Air 10.5
The new iPad Pro is officially a hit!
Photo: Apple

Apple surprised Wall Street with a better-than-expected Q2 earnings report this afternoon and one of the biggest factors was the iPad.

With revenues topping $58 billion Q2 (down 5% YoY), Apple is trying to become less reliant on its iPhone business. Services are expected to pick up most of the slack, but this last quarter Apple got some unexpected help from its iPad business that is experiencing a resurgence just at the right time thanks to the new iPad Pro.

Charging Apple Pencil doesn’t play nice with car key fobs

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Are you drawn to draw with your new Apple Pencil 2?
Apple Pencil is great for many things. Playing nice with your key fob isn't one of them.
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

Apple devices famously “just work.” There are occasional lapses, however.

According to an updated support document, Apple has revealed one slightly unusual (and annoying) interaction. Users who are charging the Apple Pencil 2 with their iPad Pro may run into issues unlocking their cars using a key fob.

Apple unleashes barrage of fun new iPad Pro videos

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IPad Pro
You’ve never seen iPad tricks like these.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s campaign to convince everyone that the iPad Pro is a true PC replacement continued today with a barrage of six new videos extolling the tablet’s many uses.

Everything from wedding planning to music making has been highlighted in Apple’s new series of iPad Pro videos. Most of the new video are how-to videos, but there is a fun new ad that features a ton of fancy iPad Pro twirling and keyboard flipping as one iPad Pro lover takes his beloved device on an important trip.

Watch all six right here:

2019 iPad mini holds up in brutal bend test

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2019 iPad mini bend test
That’s gotta hurt.
Photo: JerryRigEverything

Apple’s efforts to make the iPad as thin as possible mean that their fragile aluminum frames have been known to bend easily. But the new iPad mini holds up surprisingly well in a brutal bend test.

Unlike its larger siblings, the fifth-generation slate remains perfectly intact when shaped to look like a banana.

How to change your Apple Pencil tip

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Apple Pencil tips are as easy to swap as they are to lose.
Apple Pencil tips are as easy to swap as they are to lose.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Ounce for ounce, Apple’s replacement Apple Pencil tips are probably more expensive than gold1. It will cost you $20 for four of the tiny things, all of which are ridiculously easy to lose.

But if you use your Pencil for anything more than the odd casual stroke, sketch or swoosh, you’ll eventually need to replace a worn tip. The good news is that it’s easy. The bad news? That price.