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.
Each AirPods 3 battery offers less capacity than the ones in AirPods Pro. Photo: 52audio
Apple’s recently released AirPods 3 have a longer battery life than either AirPods 2 or AirPods Pro. But a teardown of the new truly wireless headphones finds batteries that can’t fully explain the extra time between charges.
Watch a video of the teardown showing why along with some other internal details of AirPods 3.
The A16 is expected to be the heart of the iPhone 14. Graphic: Apple/Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly won‘t be able get chips made with a cutting-edge 3nm process for the iPhone 14, so it supposedly might switch to 4nm. The change would result in an iPhone that’s not as much an improvement over the current one as had been thought.
This isn’t a result of the global shortage in processors. Chip-maker TSMC is allegedly having problems with its 3nm process.
iCloud Private Relay is really offline. Photo: Cult of Mac/Mabel Amber/Pexels CC
iCloud Private Relay, a privacy feature that recently debuted, is temporarily offline. The service for iPhone, Mac and iPad is a public beta so a few hiccups are to be expected.
Apple promises the optional, for-pay add-on feature will be back online soon.
Update:Private Relay is back after being offline for 7.5 hours on Wednesday.
HomePod Software 15.1.1 brings a small update to Apple smart speakers. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
If your HomePod has had problems playing podcasts recently, it might need the software update Apple released Wednesday. It brings the full-size and pint-size audio devices up to version 15.1.1.
Brydge 11 Max+ is a premium keyboard case for the 11-inch iPad Pro with a large trackpad. Photo: Brydge
The Brydge 11 Max+ is a clip-on keyboard designed to make an 11-inch iPad Pro into a very portable clamshell notebook. It magnetically attaches to the tablet and adds a backlit keyboard and trackpad.
After being announced earlier this year, the product is now available in stores starting Wednesday.
A combination Apple TV and HomePod might need a new operating system. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
An Apple job listing has people scratching their heads because it mentions an operating system that doesn’t exist. It references “homeOS” alongside iOS, watchOS and other known operating systems.
It’s possible this is something Apple is working on. But there’s a less exciting possibility: if could be another name for something millions of people use every day.
Netflix is now also a game service. At no additional cost. Screenshot: Netflix/Cult of Mac
Netflix’s promised mobile game service launches Wednesday. It’s initially only for Android but the company promises a version for iPhone and iPad is “on the way.”
It will launch with five downloadable games available to everyone with a Netflix subscription. At no extra cost.
TSMC might be unable to provide Apple with a 3nm A16 chip for the iPhone 14. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
TSMC is reportedly struggling to get its 3nm chip production process working. And the problems might force TSMC to make the A16 processor for the upcoming iPhone 14 with the current 5nm process. That would mean the chip won’t be as much an improvement over the A15 as it otherwise would be.
The production problems, if real, will also likely affect Mac and iPad processors, as all Apple computers use variations of the same processor core.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the third year of Apple’s streaming video service. Graphic: Cult of Mac
Apple TV+ is two years old and there are plenty of new films and series to look forward to in the third year. The streaming service has us eagerly awaiting two comedies, a tragedy, two murder mysteries and an animated movie, all premiering in just the next four months.
Here are the Apple TV+ additions we’re having the hardest time waiting for.
iPad shipments are up. The same can’t be said about Android tablets, though. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
iPad shipments boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic but there were predictions of steep declines as people returned to offices and classrooms. If that’s going to happen, it didn’t start in the third quarter of 2021 as iPad shipments actually rose year over year.
Shipments of Android tablets did drop during the July-to-September period, however.
Despite strong iPhone sales, Apple revenues fall short of analyst expectations. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple revenue during the July-to-September quarter totaled $83.4 billion, up 29% year over year and a new record for the quarter. That lead to an dramatic increase in net income. Revenue from iPhone was up significantly, while iPad, Mac, wearables and services revenue grew by smaller percentages.
But analysts had been expecting more. The consensus was for Apple’s total revenue to be nearly $85B. It’s rare for the company to not exceed these expectations. Apple execs said in a conference call after the announcement that component supply constraints cut revenue by $6B.
macOS 12.1 might bring some much anticipated Monterey features.
Developers just got their hands on macOS 12.1, the initial major update to Monterey. It’s Apple’s first opportunity to test features missing from macOS 12, like SharePlay and Universal Control.
But the beta is so new it’s not yet clear whether these features are in it yet.
Developers can start testing iOS 15.2 beta 1, iPadOS 15.2 beta 1 and watchOS 8.3 beta 1 on Wednesday. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 15.2 beta 1 and iPadOS 15.2 beta 1 have been seeded to developers. When available to everyone, the updates will bring an App Privacy Report for tracking what third-party application are doing. It’ll show users, each app’s sensor, data and internet usage in a simple chart.
The 2021 MacBook Pro can run Rise of the Tomb Raider as well as a top-tier Windows laptop. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max processors in the new MacBook Pro offer powerful graphic performance. That’s intended for artists rendering video and other professional tasks, but tests show that it translates to excellent gaming performance.
Of course, that doesn’t remedy the lack of high-end games for Mac.
Russia joined the voices around the world demanding Apple loosen its grip on the App Store and in-app purchases. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Add Russia to the list of countries investigating the App Store. It is reportedly looking into whether Apple’s policy forbidding iPhone developers from telling customers about alternate — and possibly cheaper — payment options is a violation of its antitrust laws.
The U.S. and other countries are asking that same question.
One of Scandinavia’s largest solar arrays powers Apple’s Viborg data center. Photo: Apple
As part of its goal to become completely carbon neural, Apple says that 175 of its suppliers will transition to using renewable energy, more than double the number that had previously committed to using 100% clean power.
It’s part of the Mac-maker’s plan to be carbon neutral across its supply chain and products by 2030.
This isn’t something beyond man’s power to create. Apple could, and should, make a 16-inch MacBook Air. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Some of the criticism leveled at the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro should inspire Apple to make a MacBook Air with the same size display. It would be the largest Air ever, but there seems to be a market for a very big, yet very slim, Mac notebook.
And that’s not something Apple offers in its current product lineup.
Copy a raw image off your camera and open it in Photoshop 3.0 for iPad. Graphic: Adobe
The just-released version of Photoshop on iPad lets users work with raw photos, making adjustments to images right out of the camera. And the new Illustrator on iPad adds a Vectorize feature, converting any image into a crisp, vector graphic.
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.