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David Snow - page 6

Next iPhones’ satellite connectivity could rocket way beyond SOS

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advanced iPhone satellite features
iPhone 18 models and beyond could feature much more than emergency SOS satellite features.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s satellite connectivity journey began as a lifesaving emergency feature with the iPhone 14 in 2022. But the company’s ambitions go far beyond distress signals to more advanced iPhone satellite features. Experts see a dramatic expansion of satellite capabilities coming to transform how we think about smartphone connectivity. iPhone 18 in 2026 and later handsets could see satellite features evolve from emergency backup to everyday uses.

Get to know Bad Bunny before his Super Bowl halftime show

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Get to know Bad Bunny before the Super Bowl
Apple offers plenty of ways to hear, and learn about, the Puerto Rican superstar.
Photo: Apple

Apple Music rolled out the red carpet Monday for Bad Bunny as the Puerto Rican superstar prepares to headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. So here’s your chance to get to know Bad Bunny before the Super Bowl with a variety of special programming.

3 reasons to watch suspenseful Apple TV spy thriller Tehran

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Tehran Apple TV series review
Tehran may be the most gripping thriller on Apple TV.
Photo: Apple

In the crowded landscape of spy shows and movies, Apple TV’s Tehran cuts through the noise with a visceral intensity few titles can match. This Israeli thriller, which started airing season three on January 9, doesn’t just tell a spy story. It grabs you by the throat from the first frame and doesn’t let go until the credits roll.
For anyone who’s ever found themselves disappointed by the too-fast or too-slow pacing or predictable plotting of typical spy dramas, Tehran, now streaming season three (with a fourth on the way), offers a masterclass in sustained tension and genuine surprise. That makes it easy to forgive the subtitles, which most people will need for the Farsi (Persian) and Hebrew spoken on the show. 

Apple Intelligence on the edge: How privacy shapes its AI features

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Apple Intelligence privacy
Privacy is a requirement for Apple Intelligence.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

When Apple entered the artificial intelligence race, the company faced a fundamental challenge: how to deliver powerful AI capabilities while maintaining its long-standing commitment to user privacy. The result is Apple Intelligence, a system designed around a simple but revolutionary premise — your personal data should work for you without leaving your control. Basically, that’s how privacy shapes Apple Intelligence features on “the edge,” meaning the furthest reaches of a computer network, where user devices dwell. 

Apple Watch hypertension alerts: How reliable are they?

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How reliable are Apple Watch Hypertension Notifications
Apple Watch Ultra 3 is one of the models featuring Hypertension Notifications.
Photo: Apple

For millions of Apple Watch owners, the Hypertension Notifications Feature available on recent models is a big leap in wearable health monitoring. It promises to alert users to potential high blood pressure before it leads to serious health problems. But how reliable are the alerts, and what should Apple users realistically expect?
I’ve had measurably high blood pressure for years. I wear Apple Watch 10, one of the models with hypertension alerts. And yet I’ve never seen one up close and personal. Apparently my meds are working!

Get 3 months of Apple Music free in limited-time Super Bowl offer

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get 3 months of Apple Music free
The promotion ties to the Apple Music Super Bowl LX Halftime Show with Bad Bunny.
Photo: Apple

Apple just gave new subscribers an extended opportunity to try its music streaming service, offering three months of Apple Music completely free. The promotion to get three months of Apple Music free — which runs through February 24 — greatly expands the standard one-month trial period.
The new offer coincides with Apple’s sponsorship of the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show with musical act Bad Bunny.

All the new features of Keynote, Pages and Numbers — and how to get them

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updates to Keynotes Pages and Numbers
If you want the latest updates to the iWork apps, you may need a fresh download and install.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

With the launch of Apple Creator Studio Wednesday, Apple also updated its suite of productivity apps otherwise known as iWork. That’s Keynote, Pages and Numbers, which were always free and are now “freemium.” Some features will only work for Creator Studio subscribers, but others work for anyone using free versions of the productivity apps.

Apple showcases Final Cut Pro upgrades in Apple Creator Studio bundle

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Apple showcases upgrades in Final Cut Pro
Director and choreographer Kyle Hanagami uses new AI tools in Final Cut Pro in his productions.
Photo: Apple

Apple released significant updates to Final Cut Pro alongside the debut of Apple Creator Studio software bundle for creatives Wednesday. And in a new feature story, it showed how video director, dance choreographer and Blackpink collaborator Kyle Hanagami uses new AI-powered tools for video editing.

First new Sonos hardware since 2024 drives big home sound systems

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Sonos Amp Multi
Sonos Amp Multi could be the beating heart of a large home's customizable sound system.
Photo: Sonos

The first new Sonos hardware product in over a year is the Sonos Amp Multi, a professional-grade multi-channel streaming amplifier designed specifically for large-scale residential audio installations, the company said Tuesday.
“Sonos Amp is the most widely used two-channel streaming amplifier in residential installation because it’s powerful, dependable, and intuitive,” said Tom Conrad, CEO of Sonos. “Amp Multi takes that same philosophy and applies it to larger systems. It makes ambitious designs more efficient to build and install, and easier to live with.”
The announcement marks a significant expansion of Sonos’ product lineup into the custom integration market, targeting professional installers rather than typical consumers. And it’s the first hardware to come out in a while following shakeups at the company.

This guy fed years of Apple Watch health data to ChatGPT — with disastrous results

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Apple Health ChatGPT integration
You might want to reconsider handing your health data to an AI bot.
Photo: OpenAI

When Washington Post tech columnist Geoffrey A. Fowler gave ChatGPT access to a decade of his Apple Watch data, he expected useful insights. Instead, the AI delivered wildly inconsistent health assessments that left him questioning the readiness of AI-powered health tools.

Snowmageddon? Why weather apps like Apple’s tend to mislead users.

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How weather apps mislead users
Only a couple days out, this forecast for up to 17 inches of snow might actually come true. But 10 days out, or even five? Not so much.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

As a major winter storm barrels across the United States this weekend, iPhone users have once again noticed something peculiar. Well ahead of the actual precipitation, Apple’s Weather app seems to predict wildly different snowfall totals from day to day. It might forecast 18 inches of snow one day, then drop that to 8 inches the next. What’s up with how weather apps mislead users? A new report sheds some light. 

Plug almost anything into this new 140W Qi2 charging station

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Pisen 140W Mega Charging Hub
It has magnetic wireless charging, USB-C and USB-A charging and AC outlet charging via good ol' plugs.
Photo: Pisen

The new Pisen Qi2 8-in-1 140W Mega Charging Hub — just launched on Amazon — offers Apple users a comprehensive desktop charging solution that combines wireless charging for iPhone and Apple Watch with high-power wired charging for MacBooks and iPads, the company said Thursday. 
It features not only a Qi2 MagSafe charging platform for recent iPhones, but a magnetic Apple Watch charger, USB ports and even power outlets for plugs. And you can get it not only in basic black, but in a surprising yellow!

Stay juiced up with my favorite portable power station at $250 off

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Anker Solix C800 Plus Portable Power Station
As a condo owner, I don't need more than Anker Solix C800 Plus (now called X) to keep the place going in a power outage.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Whether you’re working remotely from a coffee shop, camping with your MacBook or preparing for the next power outage, the Anker Solix C800 X Portable Power Station delivers reliable backup power for all your Apple devices. And it’s currently available as a killer deal with savings of $250.

F1 with Brad Pitt takes pole position on Apple TV Oscar hopes

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Photo of Damson Idris and Brad Pitt in Apple TV movie
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris star in F1, Apple TV's Oscar-nominated racing movie.
Photo: Warner Bros.

In a bit of a shocker, Apple Original Film F1: The Movie earned a Best Picture nomination plus three other nods when the 98th Academy Awards nominations came out Thursday. Four out of Apple TV’s six nominations went to the racing drama, while the documentary film Come See Me in the Good Light and the wildfire drama The Lost Bus drew two others.

“With F1, Joe, Jerry, Brad, Lewis and the entire creative team delivered something only they could — the most authentic, visceral and entertaining racing film ever made,” said Jamie Erlicht, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video. “They pushed technical boundaries at every turn, and it’s been a privilege to partner on a project of this ambition. Seeing F1 nominated for Best Picture is a testament to their remarkable artistry, vision and unwavering passion.” 

Major data breach could expose Apple secrets

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Luxshare data breach
The alleged breach culled huge amounts of secret date, attackers claim.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A major ransomware attack on Luxshare, one of Apple’s most critical manufacturing partners, allegedly exposed over 1TB of confidential data from the iPhone giant and other tech behemoths. Stolen information in the Luxshare data breach includes product designs, engineering documents and employee information spanning from 2019 to 2025, according to a new report.

Why modern iOS apps hog so much space (and what you can do about it)

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Why iOS apps take so much space
Does it seem like iOS apps keep getting bigger and heavier? It's not your imagination.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

If you’ve noticed your iPhone storage filling up faster than it used to, you’re not imagining things. Modern iOS apps now routinely consume hundreds of megabytes, with some reaching multiple gigabytes in size. What’s behind this relentless growth? Why do iOS apps take so much space? And what can you do about it? Read on. 

Some AI apps leak loads of your data — see the worst offenders

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AI-generated image of a dark server room with glowing computers, with the words,
Now you can find out if your new AI apps leak your personal data all over the place.
AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac

New security research repository Firehound uncovered widespread data leaks affecting millions of iPhone users who downloaded AI-powered apps from the App Store.

If you’ve downloaded AI apps lately, as millions of others have, you might want to check to see if they made Firehound’s list.

Apple dedicates homepage to Martin Luther King Jr.

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Apple homepage honors MLK Jr.
The Apple homepage takeover honors civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.
Photo: Apple

Apple dedicated its website homepage to Martin Luther King Jr. Monday, as it has done on his national holiday each year since 2015. This year a free book of the slain Civil Rights movement icon’s essential works and a Time to Walk podcast with King’s daughter, Bernice A. King, are included.

“We honor Dr. King and reflect upon his life and legacy,” Apple said in print alongside a pixellated, constellation-like image of a smiling MLK against a black background filled with stars.

How these brilliantly lit setups strike a mood for work or gaming

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RGB lighting in retro Apple setup
Three types of RGB lighting set the mood in this retro setup.
Photo: [email protected]

Desk lighting plays a surprisingly transformative role in creating memorable workspaces. Here are seven Mac setups where lighting — whether RGB gaming effects, professional video illumination or ambient mood enhancement — elevates the entire experience.

Setapp Mobile shuts down, blaming Apple’s complex EU marketplace terms

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Setapp Mobile shuts down
Setapp Mobile's demise in the EU could be a cautionary tale for other developers.
AI image: Grok/Setapp/Cult of Mac

Setapp Mobile, MacPaw’s ambitious alternative iOS app store for European Union users, will close its doors in February after just over a year of operation, the service said Thursday.

On a support page, MacPaw cited Apple’s “still-evolving and complex business terms that don’t fit Setapp’s current business model” as the reason.

Get great deals on 2 powerful Ugreen chargers — and why you need both

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Great deals on Ugreen chargers
One charger is a great desktop station while the other is more portable.
Photo: Ugreen/Cult of Mac

When it comes to keeping your devices powered up, the right charger makes all the difference. Right now, Amazon offers compelling deals on two exceptional Ugreen Nexode 100-watt chargers that serve different but complementary purposes in your charging arsenal. So get both while they’re cheap!

Tiny Soundcore AI recorder redefines note-taking for iPhone users [Updated] ★★★

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Soundcore Work AI Note Taker review★★★
This tiny recorder can transcribe and summarize meetings.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac

Update: Anker renamed the Soundcore Work AI Voice Recorder reviewed below as Soundcore Work AI Note Taker to more directly reflect the main use of the product, the company said Tuesday. Its listings tend to put it down now as “note taker/voice recorder.” Soundcore also noted the problem I had with Find My functionality should be fixed now on production units. 

Original review: In an ecosystem where seamless integration matters most, the new Soundcore voice recorder and note taker arrives with a compelling proposition for Apple users. As this Soundcore Work AI Note Taker review finds, the coin-sized device promises to transform how iPhone and Mac users capture, transcribe and organize voice recordings.

After examining its features through an Apple-centric lens, here’s what you need to know about whether this $159.99 recorder deserves a spot in your productivity arsenal.

New Apple Creator Studio subscription gives you 6 incredible apps for one low price

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Apple Creator Studio bundles 6 apps
The Apple Creator Studio suite of apps gives professionals, emerging creatives, entrepreneurs, students and educators the features they need to realize their artistic vision, Apple said.
Photo: Apple

A new Apple Creator Studio subscription bundles six major professional creative apps into a single monthly or yearly plan. The new bundle, announced Tuesday by Apple, includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor and MainStage, plus premium artificial intelligence features in other Apple apps.

“There’s never been a more flexible and accessible way to get started with such a powerful collection of creative apps for professionals, emerging artists, entrepreneurs, students and educators to do their best work and explore their creative interests from start to finish,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of internet software and services, in a press release.