Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
We might be waiting until 2024 for an iPhone SE with an edge-to-edge display and hole-punch camera. Artists concept: Cult of Mac
The first iPhone SE with an edge-to-edge display won’t launch until 2024, according to a new report. And the third-generation model in the budget line, expected in 2022, supposedly will come with an unexpected name.
Dr. Brain risks madness to discover what killed his family. Photo: Apple TV+
Dr. Brain will be the first Korean Apple Original when it launches on Apple TV+ in early November. It tells the story of a scientist so desperate to find out how his family was killed that he’s willing to connect his brain to theirs to access their memories.
A trailer released Monday gives a first look at how intense the six-episode series will be. Watch it now!
The new AirPods are resistant to both sweat and water, with an IPX4 rating for both the earbuds and the case. Photo: Apple
The first wave of AirPods 3 reviews just came out, and they’re full of good news for those considering Apple’s latest truly wireless earbuds. Sound quality draws praise, as does battery life. But reviewers don’t seem as happy about the lack of active noise cancellation. And some would have preferred silicone ear tips.
Read on for reviewers’ specific comments about AirPods 3.
macOS Monterey brings powerful new features to Macs. Photo: Apple
Mac users can now upgrade to macOS Monterey. This new version offers improvements to Safari and FaceTime, and new Focus mode. But two of its biggest features — Universal Control and SharePlay — won’t debut until later.
It’s free to download and install on all compatible computers.
The 2021 MacBook Pro draws praise, and just a bit of criticism, from reviewers. Photo: Apple
The first reviews of the 2021 MacBook Pro just dropped, and they’re generally quite positive. There’s praise for the mini-LED display, the return of useful ports, and the sheer power of Apple’s new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.
However, some reviewers harbor mixed feelings about the screen notch. Here’s a summary of comments about the features.
Blood glucose monitoring could be a major change in Apple Watch Series 8. Photo: Apple
Rumors that Apple Watch 7 would include be able to sense the wearer’s blood glucose didn’t pan out. But Apple is reportedly collaborating with a pair of Asian companies to add non-invasive blood sugar monitoring to the 2022 model.
This would add to the already lengthy list of health-monitoring features available in Apple’s current wearable.
The 2022 MacBook Air could be the crazy slim macOS notebook many people have been hoping for. Photo: Front Page Tech /Renders by Ian
A new series of renders based on rumors about the 2022 MacBook Air show just how slim it might be. And how it might borrow many of the features of the recently announced MacBook Pro.
The upcoming model reportedly will include an M2 processor, a MagSafe connector and a mini-LED display with a screen notch. But not the wedge design of previous MacBook Airs.
Sketch a picture and turn it into a vector graphic with Vectorize, coming soon to Illustrator for iPad. Screenshot: Adobe/Cult of Mac
Adobe shared a sneak peek of the new Vectorize feature coming to Illustrator on the iPad. It will let users turn any hand drawn sketch into a vector graphic.
The developer shared a video demonstrating the capabilities of the upcoming featuere. Watch it now.
The Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter lets you add additional storage and peripherals to your Mac or iPad. Photo: Satechi
Because you can never have too much storage or too many ports, the just-launched Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter includes an SSD storage compartment as well as four additional ports.
The multiuse Mac or iPad accessory launched Friday.
The M1 Max chip will offer a ‘High Power Mode’ for really intensive tasks. Photo: Apple
Everyone should be familiar with Low Power Mode on their iPhone, but top-tier configurations of the new MacBook Pro will reportedly have “High Power Mode.” This will give the macOS notebook even better performance when taking on “resource-intensive tasks.”
But the feature will only be available in the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max processor.
The dysfunctional but lovable developers of Mythic Quest are coming back for two more seasons. Photo: Apple TV+
The gamer-themed workplace comedy Mythic Quest has been picked up for seasons three and four on Apple TV+. Not surprising: season two of the show enjoys a 100% critics approval score from Rotten Tomatoes.
The ensemble cast will return for more dysfunctional but somehow warm hearted office shenanigans.
Shop at the Apple Store with an Apple Card and you’ll reportedly get double the usual cash back. There has been no announcement, but unconfirmed reports indicate that the usual 3% Daily Cash back jumped to 6%.
The HDMI port, MagSafe charger and SD card reader in the new 2021 MacBook Pro models prove Apple design is back on track. Photo: Apple
In 2016, Apple proudly unveiled a new MacBook Pro that rejected the HDMI port, the MagSafe charger and the SD card reader of the past. Fast forward to 2021, and the company just released new MacBook Pro models with an HDMI port, MagSafe and SD card reader.
Why the reversal? Apple’s head of design Jony Ive left in 2019 after decades with the company. His tendency to push form over function led Cupertino down the wrong path in many ways. And Apple is just now undoing mistakes Ive was responsible for. Like taking out ports that most buyers wanted.
RapidX MyCharging Station can wirelessly charge your iPhone in a vertical tray. And power four other devices at the same time. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Mount the RapidX MyCharging Station on a wall socket and it can juice up all your gear without taking up counter space.
I added the accessory to my office and have been using it to keep my phone and tablet going. Here’s what it’s like to use the MyCharging Station in real life.
Series of online sessions and one-on-one conversations will support developers. Photo: Apple
Apple will provide one-on-one guidance to developers in a series of online events dubbed Tech Talks 2021. There will be presentations from Apple experts, each followed by a Q&A session. Plus experts will open their virtual doors in “office hours” meetings.
The free series will include more than 100 live sessions and 1,500 office hours. All coming from Apple locations around the world in multiple time zones.
Good news: the MacBook Pro notch doesn’t hinder cursor movement. Photo: Apple
The recently announced MacBook Pro models are the first with a screen notch. This raised questions about how the cursor handles the cutout. Will the cursor get stuck on the notch? Or will it pass through? Or automatically flow around?
Wonder no more: We have an official answer from Apple.
Apple Logic Pro running on the 2021 MacBook Pro shows a lot of dead space because there’s no support for the screen notch. Photo: Apple
The just-launched MacBook Pro models are the first with a screen notch. And this apparently came as a surprise to many of Apple’s own software developers as some of the company’s professional apps don’t support the screen cutouts. Which means they can’t fill the new Mac displays and must leave blank areas.
This won’t make it easier for Apple to convince third-party developers to fully support the latest macOS notebooks.
You and your friends can each design a minifig and join the fun in Lego Star Wars: Castaways. Photo: Gameloft/Apple Arcade
Explore a mysterious new planet with friends in Lego Star Wars: Castaways. It will be the first social, action-adventure Lego Star Wars game, so it’ll offer chances to relive great moments from the movies or have dance parties.
The upcoming Gameloft title will be available only on Apple Arcade.
Play some serious basketball with NBA 2K22. Photo: 2K/Apple Arcade
Basketball season kicks off Tuesday and that brings the launch of NBA 2K22 Arcade Edition on Apple Arcade. It promises authentic action starring top players. And also a new mode that lets you run your own NBA franchise.
The just-launched game is exclusive to Apple’s gaming service. There are versions for Mac, iPhone and other Apple platforms.
You can still get the 16-inch MacBook Pro before Christmas, if you hurry. Photo: Apple
You might find yourself waiting months to get the just-announced MacBook Pro. Order one of the standard configurations and it’ll arrive in this month or November at the latest. But upgrade the configuration and the wait time slips back to mid-December.
Anyone hoping to get a redesigned 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro with the powerful new M1 Pro or M1 Max processor with a minimal wait should get their order in soon. Those who want a top-of-the-line configuration before Christmas really ought to hurry.
If you wish, you can make Safari in macOS Monterey look like it does in macOS Big Sur. Photo: Apple
Apple threw in the towel on its efforts to change the way Mac users interact with the Safari web browser. Most of the design modifications unveiled at this summer’s Worldwide Developers Conference to emphasize tabs are now completely optional as a result of protests from beta testers.
The latest revisions appear in the release candidates for macOS Monterey, which went to developers Monday.
iOS 15.1 could be only a week away. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple seeded Release Candidates for iOS 15.1, iPadOS 15.1 to developers on Monday, adding the long-awaited SharePlay feature. The release candidates for watchOS 8.1 and tvOS 15.1 were also seeded. This means the beta testing process for all of these is almost over.
In addition, developers also got access to the macOS Monterey Release Candidate. Apple promised to introduce the final version to Mac users on October 25.
HomePod mini will soon debut in three new colors: orange, yellow, and blue. That’s in addition to white and space gray. Photo: Apple
There’s good news for those bored by the HomePod mini’s color options. Apple just announced at Monday’s “Unleashed” event that its smart speaker will soon be available in three additional hues.
The price isn’t going up. But there’ll be a wait to order the fresh options.
Plenty of new Macs are possibly on the agenda for the Apple October event. Concepts: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac/Antonio De Rosa
Apple’s “Unleashed” event on Monday is likely to bring what Mac fans have been eagerly anticipating for over a year: redesigned MacBook Pro models with upgraded displays and the return of traditional ports. But that’s just the start. We could see the debut of two more models, all powered by a new Apple M-series processor.
Here are the computers that leaks and rumors say are coming. But we could always be surprised. Again.
Wouldn’t this be great? Too bad it’s only a dream. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
People around the world are receiving their new Apple Watch Series 7, and every single one of them includes a band whether the buyer wants it or not. Over successive versions, many Watch wearers have built a collection of bands and don’t need another. But Apple doesn’t give them a choice when it comes to buying a new Watch.
At a time when Apple says it’s trying to fight waste, it really should offer the Apple Watch without requiring a new band.