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.
Pick up the iPad Air 4 at $80 below its regular price. But don’t wait — this deal won‘t last long. Screenshot: Apple
If you hoped Amazon’s annual Prime Day would bring a bargain on the 2020 iPad Air, you’re in luck. The online giant dropped the price of this 10.9-inch tablet by 13%.
The iPad Air 4 borrows so many features from the iPad Pro series that it’s all the tablet lots of people need.
iOS 15 brings the many advantages of boredom to the iPhone.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 15 is kind of boring. It brings some welcome new features, but nothing that will change the way you use your iPhone forever.
Some people might find the lack of earth-shaking new features dull. But the bottom line is, when it comes to something as integral to our daily lives as the way you interact with your iPhone, “boring” is shorthand for “good.”
Picture-in-Picture video from YouTube will soon be back for everyone. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
YouTube will reportedly soon allow all iPhone users to watch video from its application in a small window while another app is open. This feature has come and gone several times since Picture in Picture support debuted in iOS 14. Now it’s apparently coming back to stay.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro has a super-fast M1 processor and a gorgeous mini-LED display. Photo: Apple
The 12.9-inch version of the 2021 iPad Pro is such a hot item that Apple can’t keep it in stock, but that didn’t stop Amazon from having a sale. Buyers can pick up this tablet with 256GB of storage for the same price the 128GB configuration ordinarily sells for.
Hurry, hurry, hurry. Those Frenzic Industries Power Cores won’t build themselves, you know. Photo: The Iconfactory
Frenzic: Overtime, an arcade-style puzzle game, is the latest addition to Apple Arcade. Match the colorful pieces and shapes before the clock runs out.
And that’s not all. Game Dev Story+, an updated version of the App Store classic, debuted on Apple’s gaming service on Friday as well.
Attach the Sanho HyperDrive USB-C 6-in-1 Hub to your iPad to use a wide variety of accessories. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Sanho HyperDrive USB-C 6-in-1 Hub clips to an iPad and adds a collection of ports, allowing the tablet to make use of a variety of popular accessories, from mice and headphones to external displays. The multiport adapter offers outstanding functionality in minimal space.
The original version is one of the best iPad accessories ever. I tested the followup and it’s even better.
The SurfacePad wraps an iPhone 12 in leather and provides slots for two cards. All without getting in the way of MagSafe charging. Photo: Twelve South
The Twelve South SurfacePad is a folio leather wallet case for iPhone 12. It’s designed to hold ID and credit cards and protect the handset’s screen. And it does so without interfering with MagSafe wireless charging.
Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd will play the leads in “The Shrink Next Door,” premiering autumn 2021 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ gave a first look at a hotly anticipated comedy starring the brilliant Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd. A trailer for The Shrink Next Door premiered on Thursday, and the streaming service revealed that the limited series will debut November 12.
You’ll get the 2021 iPad Pro far quicker if you order it from somewhere other than Apple.com. Photo: Apple
The online Apple Store might not be the best place to buy the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Place an order for 2021’s hottest tablet on Apple.com on Wednesday and you could wait a month or more to have it shipped to you. But other stores have the device in stock now.
Tim Cook (shown here at WWDC 2021) is not a fan of sideloading iPhone apps. Screenshot: Apple
Apple’s CEO told the audience at France’s VivaTech conference that a critical part of the European Union’s proposed Digital Markets Act isn’t in the best interests of iPhone users. The proposal would require Apple to allow users to sideload applications, something CEO Tim Cook and the company are adamantly opposed to.
Kate Hudson and Octavia Spencer in Truth Be Told, season 2, premiering August 20 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Add season two of Truth Be Told to the list of Apple TV+ summer 2021 offerings. Octavia Spencer returns as the star of the crime drama series, and Kate Hudson joins for the new season.
Apple dropped a teaser trailer Wednesday to whet fans’ appetites. Watch it now.
The Adonit Prime looks like a top-tier writing instrument. But it’s a high-quality stylus for either iPhone or iPad. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Adonit Prime is a stylus for iPhone or iPad that combines a premium form with top-quality function. It’s for anyone not satisfied with everyday styli — anybody who wants one that stands out from the crowd.
I tried both the Prime – Dash (the version for iPhone) and the Prime – Note (for iPad). Here’s why they would be at home on any executive’s desk.
With Father’s Day coming up, the Adonit Prime might be just right for the dad who has everything.
Angry Birds Reloaded is one of the classic games that’ll soon be available on Apple Arcade without the hassle of in-app purchases. Photo: Rovio
Three classic games are are getting updated and becoming part of the Apple Arcade subscription service. That includes Angry Birds Reloaded, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City and Doodle God Universe.
The Tillermans are back to sing and dance their way through Central Park Season 2, coming next week. Photo: Apple TV+
The trailer for the second season of Central Park debuted Tuesday to get fans ready for the imminent return of the musical comedy to Apple TV+. The first season of the animated series scored an Emmy nomination and praise from critics.
Check out the trailer for a taste of what to expect in season two.
There are so many big changes in Apple’s upcoming iPhone, Mac and iPad operating system updates that it might be easy to miss some smaller ones. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple made an enormous number of changes in its 2021 operating system updates. Many of these drew plenty of attention — like the FaceTime upgrade — but some useful improvements might have been overlooked in all the hoopla.
Here are nine new features in iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and macOS Monterey you might have overlooked.
Apple provided a security update for an iPhone introduced in 2013! Photo: Cult ofMac
Apple released iOS 12.5.4 and iPadOS 12.5.4 on Monday. These contain security patches for iPhones or iPads old enough that they can’t upgrade to 2019’s iOS 13 or iPadOS 13 but are still in use.
If you’re heading to the store with an Apple Card on Monday, you’d better bring a second form of payment. An ongoing technical glitch means that it might not be possible to make in-store purchases with the credit card.
Beats Studio Buds offer noise cancellation, Find My for $150. Photo: Beats
Beats Studio Buds just became a strong competitor for AirPods Pro. Which is odd, as they’re both made by Apple.
Studio Buds are truly wireless headphones that offer active noise cancellation and access to Apple’s Find My network. They come in a variety of colors for $149.99.
Magnets in the iPhone 12 series means PopSockets PopGrip for MagSafe doesn’t have to use sticky adhesives. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
PopSockets PopGrips are already wildly popular, and the new MagSafe system in the iPhone 12 series improved on the design. Instead of having to attach with adhesive, the pop-up phone handles cling tightly to magnets built into Apple’s handsets.
I tried the standard PopGrip and the wallet version with an iPhone 12, and they stood up brilliantly to real-world use.
It’s simple to drag and drop text, images and files between applications in iOS 15. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iOS 15 makes it a whole lot easier to move images, text and files between applications. The familiar drag-and-drop action makes the jump to iPhone, and it’s surprisingly simple to use.
I’m testing the first iOS beta on an iPhone 12, and this new sharing system is one of the best additions. There are even benefits for iPad users.
The iPad mini 6 will reportedly be revamped to add features from the iPad Pro and Air series. Photo: RendersbyIan/ Front Page Tech
A significantly redesigned iPad mini 6 could drop its Lightning port in favor of USB-C, according to a new unconfirmed report. And a smaller Apple Pencil could be produced for it.
The tablet already drew quite a bit of attention because it’s expected to offer a nearly edge-to-edge screen, dumping the hefty bezels in the current version.
The App Store might have to become a separate company from Apple. Photo: James Yarema/Unsplash CC
A bipartisan bill expected to be proposed in the U.S. congress would, if passed, have an enormous effect on Big Tech. The legislation, reportedly called the Ending Platform Monopolies Act, might force Apple to make the App Store a completely separate business not under its control.
Go on an epic adventure in Legends of Kingdom Rush on Apple Arcade. Photo: Ironhide
Legends of Kingdom Rush just became the first new game to debut on Apple Arcade since early April. The medieval fantasy RPG is available for iPhone and Mac.
And more games are scheduled to appear on Apple’s subscription gaming service.
The Apple Design Awards celebrate the best iOS and iPad apps in a range of categories. Photo: Apple
The annual Apple Design Awards honor excellence in innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement in iOS and iPadOS application and game design. A dozen winners were named Thursday in categories ranging from outstanding Interaction to apps that are just fun.