Roku is dominating the streaming wars. Photo: Roku
Apple’s plan to dominate the 4K TV streaming market is up against some tough competition from the top company in the game.
Fresh off its IPO, Roku revealed its brand new lineup of streaming dongles today and while they may not pack as much processing power as the new Apple TV 4K, they have one killer feature that will lure in tons of buyers: a cheap price tag.
Cult of Mac talked with Troughton-Smith and Rambo to find out how they uncovered some of Apple’s most closely kept secrets. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
When Apple execs stepped onstage for September’s big iPhone X unveiling, they had precious few surprises up their sleeves. This year’s iPhone keynote became one of the most spoiled in history, thanks to major software leaks — and a pair of industrious young developers who dug into Apple’s code to pierce the veil of Apple’s vaunted secrecy apparatus.
In this week’s issue, you’ll find that stories and more. Find out why Control Center no longer turns off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Check out our roundups of the best new cases for your iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus as well as the best straps to outfit your new Apple Watch Series 3. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.
Sound sync woes will be a thing of the past. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple TV has finally caught up with the 4K revolution.
It may be late to the game, but Apple’s newest set-top box pulls out all the stops to be the best on the field. It’s packing incredibly powerful new hardware that leaves competitors in the dust, and a much-improved tvOS platform that is years ahead of its rivals.
It may seem pricey starting at $179, but with amazingly sharp videos and great apps and games all rolled into one, Apple TV 4K is well worth the upgrade.
Amazon's new Echo devices are ready to invade your home. Photo: Amazon
Amazon revealed not one, not two, not three, not four, but five Echo-based products at a huge event today at its headquarters in Seattle.
The wave of gadgets, which also included a new TV dongle, is ready to take on Apple’s HomePod speaker and Apple TV 4K with some pretty impressive features. Even more impressive, though, are their incredibly low price tags. It makes you wonder how Apple possibly can compete.
You can buy the new Apple TV 4K from Amazon. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Amazon’s boycott on Apple TV sales appears to finally be over.
After removing Apple’s set-top box from its website in 2015, the online retail behemoth has given in and created a listing for the new Apple TV 4K this morning.
You don't even own an Apple TV 4K yet. These folks have already broken one. Photo: iFixit
The new fifth-generation Apple TV 4K brings impressively sharp ultra HD video to Apple’s set-top box, but what changes has Apple made the internals of its latest Apple TV model?
To answer that question, our friends over at iFixit have carried out a complete teardown of the new device to find out what makes it tick. Or, in this case, quietly whir.
Apple's best set-top box yet. But still not perfect. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Embargoed reviews of the new Apple TV 4K have lifted, and the feedback is… pretty good. With an emphasis on the “pretty,” thanks to the Apple TV’s newfound 4K viewing capabilities.
More iPhone buyers selected a newer phone, like the iPhone 8, than when the iPhone 7 line was new. Photo: Apple
Apple has begun shipping early orders for iPhone 8, Apple Watch Series 3, and Apple TV 4K.
All three devices make their official debut tomorrow, September 22 — one week after they were made available to pre-order. If you haven’t already claimed yours, you’ll now have to wait at least three weeks for it to ship from the Apple online store.
Apple TV 4K may look amazing, but its sound doesn't quite match. Yet. Photo: Apple
Apple’s new Apple TV 4K set-top box doesn’t currently support Dolby Atmos surround sound, an early review reveals. However, this is something Apple plans to add in a future update.
Atmos, along with competitor DTS:X, are next generation surround sound formats, referred to in the industry as “object-based surround.” In contrast to regular surround sound, which sends specific audio tracks to different speakers, Atmos lets sound engineers place their sound “objects” in 3D space, and then makes your sound system work out how to replicate this.
Apple has begun shipping early orders for the iPhone 8, Apple Watch Series 3, and Apple TV 4K. All three devices were made available to pre-order on Friday, September 15, and they’re scheduled to reach customers on September 22.
More iPhone buyers selected a newer phone, like the iPhone 8, than when the iPhone 7 line was new. Photo: Apple
Note: This post, originally published at 2:44 a.m. Pacific, has been updated.
For the first time since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, the company’s latest models failed to immediately sell out.
More than 12 hours after pre-orders opened this morning, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus remain generally available for pickup at Apple stores next Friday, the first day they go on sale to the public.
Typically, new iPhones sell out within minutes because demand far outstrips Apple’s ability to produce its latest devices in massive quantities. Is iPhone 8’s surprising availability a total Apple fail that shows nobody wants one? Or is it a sign of Cupertino’s mastery of the supply chain and production?
Tim couldn't resist using Steve's favorite line in his new theater. Photo: Apple
Apple’s first ever keynote at the Steve Jobs Theater was one for the ages as the company took the wraps off some of its most innovative products ever.
Tim Cook and his crew of executives delivered some exciting new technology today from an iPhone that unlocks just by looking at it, to an Apple Watch that isn’t dependent on an iPhone to make calls and texts. There was a lot to unpack in Apple’s two-hour long keynote, so we’ve broken down the highlights on all the new products.
With a photo of Steve Jobs in the background, Tim Cook talks about Apple's goal to "inspire the next generation of creators and innovators" in the new Steve Jobs Theater. Photo: Apple
Today at 10 a.m. Pacific in Apple Park’s shiny new Steve Jobs Theater, the most futuristic smartphone to ever come out of Cupertino will finally be unveiled. Over a year’s worth of rumors have led to this moment. Even though there’s almost nothing we don’t know about the new smartphone, anticipation is still off the charts for Apple’s $1,000 iPhone.
Cult of Mac will be right here live-blogging all the action with up-to-the minute analysis and insight. We’ll break down all the new features and surprises. The iPhone X won’t be the only star of today’s show, either: We’re expecting a new Apple Watch, updated Apple TV and much more!
Tim Cook and Co. are set to hit the stage soon, so grab some popcorn and come join the party below:
You’ve written your wish-list and sent it off to Santa, and now it’s time to hit the hay before you wake up to find out if you’ve been good enough this year. In other words, the Apple store is now down ahead of today’s special event.
The Apple TV remote is getting a big upgrade. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The Apple TV is set to get some big upgrades during Apple’s huge keynote tomorrow, but one unexpected surprise could bring some big changes to the Siri remote.
After doing some digging into the code from the leaked iOS 11 GM, developer Guilherme Rambo found new references indicate the Siri remote will be upgraded as well. This time it could gain haptic feedback.
Apple TV 4K will boast the same processor as iPad Pro. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
The new Apple TV, expected to make its debut alongside iPhone X at a special event on Tuesday, will need powerful new internals to drive super-sharp 4K video.
According to the latest discoveries in Apple’s own code, “Apple TV 4K” will have just that. It will rock the same processor as the latest iPad Pro — plus ample RAM — to become by far the most powerful Apple TV yet.