Mobile menu toggle

Ed Hardy - page 107

Add Ethernet and 6 more ports to MacBook with this clip-on USB-C hub [Review]

By

HyperDrive Duo Pro 7-in-2 USB-C Hub review
The HyperDrive Duo Pro clips to a MacBook and adds HDMI, USB-A, Ethernet and more.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The HyperDrive Duo Pro 7-in-2 USB-C Hub plugs into the side of a MacBook to add a variety of useful ports. The standout is Ethernet, but there’s also USB-A, HDMI and microSD.

I did real-world testing of the 2022 version of this clip-on hub, and found that it lives up to the hype.

iPhone 14 might be Apple’s first with an autofocus selfie camera

By

iPhone 14 might be Apple's first with an auto-focus selfie camera
The front-facing camera in the iPhone 14 might get a significant upgrade.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The iPhone 14 will have an autofocus front-facing camera, if a reliable source is correct. Previous iOS handsets used a fixed-focus selfie cam instead.

In addition, the front camera will allegedly have a lower f-stop. Both changes will help make the iPhone 14 a better option for narcissists.

There’s recycled gold in them there iPhones

By

Daisy the robot can disassemble up to 1.2 million phones each year.
Daisy the robot can disassemble up to 1.2 million phones each year, helping Apple recover more valuable materials for recycling.
Photo: Apple

For the first time, Apple is putting certified recycled gold in the iPhone. It’s part of the company’s increased use of recycled content across its products. Because of these efforts, nearly 20% of all material used in Apple products in 2021 was recycled, a new high point for the company.

“As people around the world join in celebrating Earth Day, we are making real progress in our work to address the climate crisis and to one day make our products without taking anything from the earth,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, in a press release Tuesday.

Apple also added a new shredderbot that rips apart audio modules to its robot recycling crew.

NFL could pass Sunday football games to Apple TV+

By

NFL could pass Sunday football games to Apple TV+
Apple TV+ might score a touchdown with NFL Sunday Ticket.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple might be about to put down billions to intercept NFL Sunday Ticket, which would allow it to stream out-of-market games every week of future football seasons.

The leak comes just weeks after the debut of Friday Night Baseball on Apple TV+.

Every MacBook and iPad user should carry these 3 adapters

By

Every MacBook and iPad user needs these 3 adapters
A small collection of adapters can really make your life easier.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adapters simplify the sometimes-messy process of connecting things to our computers. I regularly travel, and I’ve found there are three USB adapters that get me through most of my connection problems.

If you, for example, suddenly need to use a new accessory at a client’s office, or get power at an airport, these adapters will get you through. And they are very affordable.

Don’t give up hope for combination Apple TV, HomePod, FaceTime camera

By

Apple TV plus HomePod equals homeOS? Maybe
Apple is still hard at work on a HomePod/Apple TV combo with a FaceTime camera.
Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The next HomePod reportedly won’t be a replacement for the full-size smart speaker. Apple is instead working on a combination Apple TV, HomePod and FaceTime camera.

The device supposedly will be the heart of Apple’s smart home strategy.

Two Apple TV+ shows beat anything on Netflix and Disney+ in Q1 2022

By

Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+
Apple is managing to stand out in the streaming market in Q1 2022.
Photo: Cult of Mac

More streaming viewers watched the drama CODA on Apple TV+ than any other movie or series during the first three months of 2022, according to a ratings tracker. And the thriller Severance on Apple’s streaming service came in third place overall.

That means Apple TV+ streamed two shows with more viewers than anything on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu or Disney+.

Apple preps 9 Macs with new M2 processor

By

M2 MacBook Pro
Is a new M2 chip right around the corner?
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly has half a dozen Macs with the next-generation M2 processor in testing. These are a mix of MacBooks and desktops.

Some supposedly will arrive later in 2022, but Apple won’t release the rest until 2023.

Get inspired by trailer for The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball on Apple TV+

By

Get inspired by trailer for ‘The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball’ on Apple TV+
Makur Maker is the focus of in The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball on Apple TV+.
Photo: Apple TV+

A docuseries about an NBA hopeful determined to take control of his journey premieres on Apple TV+ on April 22. The Long Game: Bigger Than Basketball tells the story of how Makur Maker, a five-star NBA prospect, ended up at Howard University.

A new trailer for the upcoming series gives an early look at his inspirational story.

Apple accuses Meta of ‘hypocrisy’ for nearly 50% commission on metaverse sales

By

Apple accuses Meta of ‘hypocrisy’ for nearly 50% commission on metaverse sales
Selling anything in Meta’s VR metaverse will cost developers quite a bit.
Photo: Meta

Facebook’s parent company Meta will claim almost half of the money third-party developers earn from sales in Horizon Worlds, the VR platform for Quest headsets. An Apple executive says that “lays bare Meta’s hypocrisy,” considering it has criticized Apple in the past for its 30% App Store fee.

Apple helps suppliers more than double their use of clean power

By

Apple helps suppliers more than double their use of clean power
Apple invested in the IP Radian Solar project to help offset the electricity used to charge iPhones, Macs, iPads, etc.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s suppliers have more than doubled their use of clean power over the last year. There’s over 10 gigawatts operational today.  In 2021, these projects avoided 13.9 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

And the iPhone-maker itself is investing in green energy projects.

This may be the best use ever for an old MacBook

By

This may be the best use ever for an old MacBook
This is not what you think it is. At all.
Photo: by Pablo Rochat

A clever DIY project found a brilliant way to reuse on old MacBook. At first glance, it just seems like an Apple notebook sitting on a desk. Open it up and…

We’re not going to ruin it for you. Just watch the video on Twitter.

Improved iPhone privacy protections could cost Facebook $20.9 billion and counting

By

Facebook vs. iPhone App Tracking Transparency
Turns out the answer to this question was “do not track” 80% of the time.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A tweak to iOS privacy settings made in 2021 has already cost Facebook $8.1 billion, and the social-networking company’s losses will increase by another $12.8 billion in 2022, according to an industry report.

Forcing applications to ask permission before tracking their users’ online activity hurt other companies, too. But nowhere near as much as Facebook.

Wait for high-end MacBook Pro stretches into June amidst China lockdown

By

2021 MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips
It could be summertime before your MacBook Pro with an M1 Max is delivered. Blame COVID.
Photo: Apple

Order a MacBook Pro with an M1 Max processor and you’ll wait until June for a delivery. Wait times have grown to 7+ weeks because the company that assembles the notebook for Apple is caught in a COVID lockdown.

The same lockdown caught one of the major iPhone assemblers, and also two iPad assemblers. But it’s not affecting handset or tablet deliveries. Not to the same extent, anyway.

Glenn Close makes her Tehran debut in new Apple TV+ trailer

By

Glenn Close makes her ‘Tehran’ season two debut in new Apple TV+ trailer
Espionage thriller Tehran returns to Apple TV+ on May 6 with Glenn Close in a prominent role.
Photo: Apple TV+

Mossad hacker-agent Tamar remains undercover in Iran in Tehran season two. But this time she has Glenn Close to help. But is she really there to help?

Watch the trailer for the upcoming season for more hints of what’s to come. And the wait won’t be long — new episodes of the spy-vs-spy thriller premier May 6 on Apple TV+.

Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects updated for latest M1 processors

By

Apple Final Cut Pro updated for latest M1 processors
Apple Final Cut Pro now fully supports the Mac Studio and M1 Ultra processor.
Photo: Apple

Apple and Adobe added better support for Apple silicon to a couple of their marquee applications for video professionals.

Apple’s Final Cut Pro has been optimized for the new Mac Studio desktop. And Adobe’s After Effects now offers native support for the Apple M1 chip.

DuckDuckGo gives Mac users a privacy-focused browser

By

DuckDuckGo privacy-focused browser is now for Mac too
DuckDuckGo is not just for iPhone and iPad any more.
Photo: DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo for Mac launched as a public beta on Tuesday. The free web browser makes privacy settings the default, and offers private search, tracker blocking and website encryption.

The Mac version joins the one for iPhone and iPad that’s been out since 2018.

Why you should turn off Activation Lock when selling your AirPods

By

How to turn off Activation Lock when selling your AirPods. And Why.
You must turn off Activation Lock when you sell your AirPods. Here’s why, and how.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Apple added Find My to AirPods in 2021, and it’s causing problems for resellers of these wireless headphones. Many people are unaware that their AirPods now support Activation Lock, which means they are locked to their user’s Apple ID. This must be deactivated when selling or giving the devices away or no one else can use them.

Here’s how to turn off Activation Lock on your AirPods.

YouTube picture-in-picture rolling out for all iPhone users [Update: NOPE]

By

YouTube Picture in Picture is back. At least for now.
Watching a YouTube video in Picture in Picture is back!
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

YouTube said Sunday that it is rolling out picture-in-picture support for all users of its iOS app. Then it walked the announcement back on Monday. A mixup by a support person is the problem.

The convenient feature has been in beta testing for many months, and some people say they’ve begun getting access to the non-beta version several days ago. But not according to YouTube.

Apple employees must begin dragging their sad asses back to the office

By

Apple Park Close up
Apple Park will soon be humming with busy employees again.
Photo: Apple

Monday is the day Apple requires its corporate employees to start working in the office some of the time. The pandemic era when most of them could work from home all the time is over.

But everyone doesn’t have to be back in the office five days a week starting today. This is the beginning of a transition period, after which many workers will still be able to work from home a couple days of every week.

For All Mankind season 3 rockets to Mars this June on Apple TV+

By

‘For All Mankind’ season 3 rockets to Mars this June on Apple TV+
The third season of For All Mankind moves forward a decade in time and blasts off for the Red Planet.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ revealed that For All Mankind season 3 will premiere in June, with the alternate-history sci-fi series headed for Mars.

A teaser trailer gives a first look at the new frontier the show will explore.

Upgrade your HomeKit setup with this Thread-compatible smart plug [Review]

By

Wemo Smart Plug with Thread
The Wemo Smart Plug with Thread is both simple and advanced, offering home automation with mesh networking.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Insert the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread into any wall socket and you can use HomeKit to control any plug-in appliance with your iPhone. It’s easy. Plus, this gadget (obviously) offers Thread mesh networking, the future of smart home tech.

I tested in my own home. Here’s why there’s a lot to like.

Mac shipments grow even as PC market declines

By

M-series Macs
People are buying plenty of Macs, despite a slowdown in PC shipments.
Photo: Apple

Mac shipments grew 4.3% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2022. But its biggest rivals dropped — HP shipments plunged almost 18%, for example.

The pandemic boom in computer sales is slowing, but it’s affecting Apple less.