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How Apple blocked $2.2 billion in App Store fraud in 2025

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App Store blocked $2.2 billion in fraudulent transactions
Apple showcased its 2025 efforts to keep the App Store safe for users and developers alike.
Image: Apple

Apple stopped more than $2.2 billion in potentially fraudulent App Store transactions last year and rejected over 2 million problematic app submissions, the company reported Wednesday. It’s all part of what it said is a sustained, multilayered effort to keep the App Store safe for both users and developers.

What to expect from iOS 27 at WWDC26

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iOS 27: Customizable camera app and rebuilt Siri
iOS 27 could support an upgraded Camera app with a Siri camera mode plus an overall overhaul of the voice assistant.
Photo: Chat GPT/Cult of Mac

Apple WWDC26:Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference kicks off June 8, and all eyes are on iOS 27 — the software update that could define the iPhone experience for the next several years.

Given a steady drumbeat of reliable rumors, a surprisingly complete picture of the update has already emerged. Here’s what to expect in iOS 27 regarding the big Siri revamp and more. We’ll see if the keynote confirms it all.

Power up Apple gear with new pocket-size Ugreen chargers

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Ugreen Nexode and MagFlow Air chargers
Ugreen's Nexode Air 65W mini chargers come in some fun colors.
Photo: Ugreen

A new lineup of ultra-compact charging accessories under Ugreen’s Nexode and MagFlow Air Edition banners comes tailor-made for iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air and AirPods users who want serious power in a minimal footprint, the company said Wednesday.

Apple hardware chief reshuffles product design leadership

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Apple Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouhi
Apple Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji is making big changes.
Photo: Apple

Recently promoted Apple Chief Hardware Officer Johny Srouji will reorganize his division and shift oversight of product design in a move aimed at speeding up development of future devices, according to a new report Tuesday.

Apple Intelligence supercharges suite of new accessibility features

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VoiceOver with Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence makes VoiceOver more powerful than ever in helping users who are blind or have low vision explore their surroundings and onscreen images.
Photo: Apple

Apple previewed a sweeping set of accessibility upgrades Tuesday that weave Apple Intelligence into some of its most relied-upon features — VoiceOver, Magnifier, Voice Control and Accessibility Reader. We can expect to see all changes arrive later this year.

The company also announced auto-generated subtitles for uncaptioned video, a new eye-tracking wheelchair control feature for Vision Pro and the launch of an adaptive MagSafe accessory called Hikawa Grip & Stand for iPhone.

“Apple’s approach to accessibility is unlike any other,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “Now, with Apple Intelligence, we are bringing powerful new capabilities into our accessibility features while maintaining our foundational commitment to privacy by design.”

Govee TV Backlight 3 brings 4MP camera smarts and Apple Home support

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Govee TV Backlight 3
Govee TV Backlight 3 brings new levels of crisp, bright reactive lighting to track with onscreen action.
Photo: Govee

The new Govee TV Backlight 3 camera-based TV ambient lighting system sets a category record for imaging resolution, the company said Monday. And, crucially for Apple users, it works natively with Apple Home via Matter right out of the box.

Best ergonomic Mac setups: Comfort-first workstations done right

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best ergonomic Mac setups
If you're going to sit there for 10 hours a day, you better make some changes, for health's sake.
Photo: [email protected]

Sitting at a computer for eight or 10 hours a day will eventually catch up with you. Stiff necks, sore wrists, aching backs, eye strain — the toll of a poorly designed workstation is real. And the Cult of Mac Setups archive is peppered with users who know it firsthand. But it also shows an increasingly thoughtful community that  does something about it. Here are 10 of the best ergonomic Mac setups from the past several years.

iPhone 17 Pro beats 32 smartphones in charging speed test

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iPhone 17 Pro wins charging speed test
iPhone 17 Pro particularly excels at wireless charging, according to the tests.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s flagship handset — iPhone 17 Pro — claimed the crown as the fastest-charging phone in a rigorous new lab test, beating out rivals from Samsung, Google, Motorola, and more, according to a new report.

iPhone bucks trend as US smartphone market stumbles

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iPhone 17 Pro on desk
The iPhone 17 series has been a huge hit. But that's not the only factor.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

New data shows how Apple’s iPhone bucks a US smartphone sales slump. Apple grew U.S. iPhone sales by 1.3% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, even as the broader American smartphone market contracted sharply, according to a new report.

For iPhone owners and fans of the Apple ecosystem, the numbers paint a picture of a brand that continues to tighten its grip on the U.S. market despite a challenging environment for the industry as a whole.

Twelve South PowerClip: An emergency charger you might actually carry 24/7

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Twelve South PowerClip
Clip it on a napsack or stick it in your pocket. It's tiny!
Photo: Twelve South

New charging gadgets rarely excite me, but this one does. Twelve South built its new PowerClip, a 2,000mAh emergency power bank, around a simple premise. Most people already own a backup charger, but they rarely have it with them when they really need it. The tiny, lightweight PowerClip fixes that by living on your keychain, pocket or bag rather than in a drawer at home, the company said Tuesday.

And it’s only about the size of a container of dental floss — complete with two built-in cables! I would forget I had it with me — but hopefully remember it when my iPhone battery dropped into the red zone. 

Ransomware gang claims theft of Apple files in Foxconn attack

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Nitrogen ransomware attack on Foxconn
The attack struck a slew of major tech companies, including Apple.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Foxconn, a critical supplier for major hardware companies including Apple and Nvidia, confirmed Tuesday that a cyberattack struck its North American operations. And the group behind the attack claims to have walked away with a trove of sensitive data touching some of the world’s biggest tech companies.

That could include Apple files, but it’s difficult to say which ones and how important they are.

Apple plans customizable Camera app and rebuilt Siri in iOS 27

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iOS 27: Customizable camera app and rebuilt Siri
iOS 27 could support an upgraded Camera app with a Siri camera mode plus an overall overhaul of the voice assistant.
Photo: Chat GPT/Cult of Mac

For the upcoming iOS 27 update, Apple will introduce a fully customizable Camera app, a ground-up redesign of Siri and visual changes across a range of built-in apps, according to a new report Tuesday.

Apple will showcase the update and other operating system changes at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. 

Bluey comes to Apple Arcade in massive, multigame crossover

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Bluey Apple Arcade game crossover
Bluey will drop in on five Apple Arcade games including "stitch."
Photo: Apple

Apple Arcade subscribers are in for a treat this month, as the beloved characters from the Emmy-winning animated series Bluey take over five popular games on the platform in a limited-time crossover event kicking off May 21.

“As we continue to grow Bluey in interactive, it’s important that each experience reflects what families love about the brand — its playfulness and creativity, and how it brings people of all ages together,” said Marina Mello, BBC Studios’ global director of Gaming & Interactive.

Apple TV’s The Studio becomes most-awarded new comedy in history

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The Studio: Most awarded new comedy ever
On Sunday The Studio became the first new comedy to sweep all major awards.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV’s Hollywood satire The Studio cemented its place in television history, claiming the International category at Sunday’s 2026 BAFTA Television Awards in London — the final major prize needed to complete the most dominant awards run ever achieved by a debut comedy series.

“The historic journey of ‘The Studio’ has been nothing short of astounding,” said Matt Cherniss, Apple TV’s head of programming. “The show’s sweeping success is a testament to the extraordinary talent, creativity and innovation of Seth, Evan and the entire creative team and cast.”

“The series has resonated deeply with audiences worldwide, bringing laughter to millions,” he added. “We couldn’t be prouder of the team’s monumental achievement and the way ‘The Studio’ has redefined what’s possible for comedy on a global scale.”

New Denon Home speakers bring Siri smarts and audiophile sound

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Denon Home series speakers
Denon demonstrated some market smarts in releasing this speaker lineup while Apple fans wait for better HomePods.
Photo: Denon

Apple users have long faced a frustrating paradox in home audio. Stay within the HomePod ecosystem and enjoy seamless Siri integration, or stray to better-sounding third-party options and sacrifice native Apple Home features. Denon’s new trio of Denon Home series speakers — Home 200, Home 400 and Home 600 — may finally have cracked that particular problem.

New Perplexity AI app opens Personal Computer to all Mac users

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Perplexity Personal Computer AI app for Mac
A new Perplexity app brings the Personal Computer AI agent to more Mac users.
Photo: Perplexity

Perplexity’s new Mac app brings its Personal Computer AI agent to a much wider audience, expanding access beyond the group of high-level subscribers who first gained entry to the service in April, the company said Thursday.

Try these brilliant ways to use an iPad in a Mac setup

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studio-display-ipad
This user's setup changed a lot since the one we showcased in early 2024.
Photo: [email protected]

In some ways, iPad is the most versatile computer Apple makes — which makes it an unusually rich ingredient in a Mac workstation. And as iPadOS grows ever more capable, more users find new, smarter roles for their tablet. The following 10 examples drawn from the Cult of Mac Setups archive represent the best uses of iPad in Mac setups. They show just how many ways the tablet can earn its place on a desk.

Fly with these highly affordable new power banks in your carry-on bag

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Pisen power banks
Certified for airline travel, these new power banks keep devices running on the go and won't break the bank.
Photo: Pisen

Pisen unveiled two new portable power banks Thursday aimed at users who need fast, reliable power on the go — including solid support for iPhones and other Apple devices, plus certification for airline travel.

How AI helped 4 Swift Student Challenge winners bring great app ideas to life

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Swift Student Challenge winner apps
Left to right: Swift Student Challenge winners Yoonjae Joung, Karen-Happuch Peprah Henneh, Anton Baranov and Gayatri Goundadkar.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s 2026 Swift Student Challenge produced some of its most socially conscious code yet, with four Distinguished Winners using Apple’s developer tools — and a lot of AI assistance from Claude, among others — to build apps that address tremors, presentation anxiety, flood safety and music education. Apple showcased them in a feature story Thursday. 

10 best computer speakers, from dirt cheap to $399

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Top budget computer speakers - Audioengine A5+ speaker setup
You can't really go wrong with Audioengine A5+ speakers, especially if you add a subwoofer.
Photo: [email protected]

Your computer monitor’s built-in speakers aren’t doing your music, movies or video calls any favors. Whether you work from home, game a lot or simply stream your favorite playlist, a good pair of desktop speakers transforms the experience for the better. The good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to hear a real difference. Here are my picks for top budget computer speakers under $399 (with many way under that price).

I found that the around-$300 bracket has quietly become one of the most exciting categories in consumer audio. Brands like Audioengine, Edifier, Creative and Onkyo compete fiercely. That means the quality on offer today would have cost twice as much just a few years ago.

Apple settlement will pay out $250 million over delayed Siri AI — see if you qualify

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Apple may reinvent Siri as a conversational AI in iOS 27
What if Siri was actually (gasp!) useful?
Image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing it of false advertising and unfair competition, after the personalized Siri features it promoted when launching iPhone 16 saw significant delays. Now, many iPhone users can lay claim to payouts. 

Bose guns for HomePod 2 and Sonos with revived Lifestyle speaker collection

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https://www.cultofmac.com/airplay-2
The collection competes with HomePod 2, but even more so with Sonos components, directly matching pricing in some cases.
Photo: Bose

Bose brought back one of its most iconic product lines with the launch of the Lifestyle Collection on Tuesday. The trio of premium home audio devices — which put the brand squarely in competition with Apple’s HomePod 2 and Sonos’ popular lineup — are Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ($299), Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar ($1,099) and Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer ($899).

All three go on sale May 15 and are available for preorder now.

Homebridge 2.0 lets more smart devices work with Apple Home

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Homebridge 2.0 adds Matter support
Smartbridge 2.0 with Matter support will allow Apple users to add all sorts of new devices.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

After more than three years in beta, Homebridge 2.0 officially launched Monday. And for Apple Home users, it’s one of the most meaningful smart home software updates in years. The new release adds support for the Matter smart home standard, significantly expanding what devices you can use within Apple’s ecosystem.

Apple Manufacturing Academy brings AI to America’s factory floors

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Apple Manufacturing Academy Spring Forum
Block Imaging hosted forum attendees at is facility.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s push to modernize U.S. manufacturing took a visible step forward late last week at the inaugural Apple Manufacturing Academy Spring Forum in East Lansing, Michigan. It was the academy’s largest gathering to date, Apple said.

Hundreds of manufacturers, industry leaders and academics converged on Michigan State University’s campus to share how the program is already changing the way American businesses operate. That includes a push for artificial intelligence in supply chains and on factory floors.

“We created the Apple Manufacturing Academy with Michigan State because we wanted to bring advanced manufacturing techniques to American manufacturers,” said Priya Balasubramaniam, Apple’s vice president of product operations, in a press release Tuesday. “Our goal was to create real-world applications that help companies enhance their productivity and efficiency.”

Apple unveils new Pride Collection Sport Loop, watch face and wallpapers

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Apple 2026 Pride Collection
The new wallpapers for devices complement the other Pride Collection items.
Photo: Apple

Apple introduced its latest Pride Collection Monday. It includes a new Apple Watch Pride Edition Sport Loop, a matching watch face and complementary iPhone and iPad wallpapers. The iPhone giant timed the release to celebrate Pride Month in June and LGBTQ+ communities year-round.

The reception online so far seems positive, if not jubilant. 

“Omg they did such a good job with them for once,” one user wrote.