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.
The 2021 iMac could dump the huge screen bezels of the current version. And move to Apple Silicon. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Trusted tipster Mark Gurman says the 2021 iMac all-in-one desktop might be the next to get the M1 processor. The announcement could be only a few days away.
And that’s only the beginning. There’s plenty more evidence that an upgraded iMac will launch at Apple’s April 20 event.
Combine the Elago Charging Tray with an Apple MagSafe puck for an organized desk or nightstand. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Slip an Apple MagSafe puck into the Elago Charging Tray to create an iPhone 12 charger with a built-in tray. The combination quickly powers up your handset while also helping to organize your desk or nightstand.
The accessory has been beside my bed for several weeks. Here’s why I like it.
Two scientists study humpback whale communication in Fathom, exclusively on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ landed the rights to Fathom, a documentary about the quest to unravel the mystery of why humpback whales sing. And maybe even how we can communicate with them.
It’ll premiere on Apple’s streaming service this summer.
A new Time to Walk episode featuring Jane Fonda lands just in time for Earth Day. Photo: Apple
Apple Fitness+ added screen legend Jane Fonda to the Time to Walk feature for Earth Day. She discusses her life as well as the fight against climate change.
Time to Walk promises interesting and encouraging audio stories to liven up walking for exercise. It’s part of Apple Fitness+, a $9.99-a-month subscription workout service built around Apple Watch.
Apple Fitness+ is adding several new workout categories on April 19. Photo: Apple
Apple Fitness+ will introduce new workouts geared specifically toward pregnant women and older adults next week, the company said Thursday. There will also be new Yoga, High Intensity Interval Training and Strength workouts for beginners coming soon to Apple’s subscription fitness service.
Skydance Animation produced Blush about a stranded astronaut meeting an ethereal visitor. Coming soon to Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple and Skydance Animation teamed up to create Blush, a short film about a stranded astronaut. It’s written and directed by Joe Mateo, whose credits include Big Hero 6 and Prep & Landing.
The upcoming film is the first in a multiyear partnership to create animated movies and shows for Apple TV+.
Parallels Desktop 16.5 for Mac lets you have the best of both words: macOS and Windows. Photo: Parallels
Parallels Desktop 16.5 for Mac debuted Wednesday, bringing full native support for computers with Apple Silicon. It allows users to run Windows 10 ARM Insider Preview and its applications on Macs with an Apple M1 processor.
Running a virtual version of Windows 10 on Apple Silicon is up to 30% faster than in an Intel-based Mac, according to Parallels. And it uses 2.5x less power.
The Apple logo looks like this because it’s a spring. Get it? Spring loaded. Now forget about it. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
It’s temping to look for hints about what Apple is going to announce during its April 20 event somehow hidden in the invite sent out Tuesday. But that’s surely an utter waste of time.
Apple TV+ will release Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, giving an in-depth look at the musician’s life and legacy. Photo: Apple
Apple’s streaming service green lit Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong. The documentary film promises a “definitive” look at the musician’s life and legacy built on the filmmakers’ access to never-before-seen materials.
It’ll be the latest production of Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries, along with Apple Original Films.
Bring the logo from the just-announced Apple April event to your own home with the magic of augmented reality. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Hidden in Tuesday’s invite to the Apple April event is an augmented reality easter egg. It’s part of the company’s ongoing move to draw more attention to AR.
The graphic for the event invite is the Apple logo made out of a swirling line. iPhone and iPad users can transfer that design to the real 3D world, and put it in motion.
The next Apple product-release event will happen April 20. Invites went out Tuesday morning for the virtual “Spring Loaded” event, just hours after Siri leaked the date.
Naturally, Apple didn’t announce what’s on the agenda. But rumors point to multiple new iPads, as well as the possibility of next-gen AirPods, a faster Apple TV and the long-awaited debut of AirTags item trackers.
Roku got closer to Apple with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support. Even the new Voice Remote Pro has an Apple connection. Photo: Roku
The release of Roku OS 10 brings support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit to several more Roku streaming devices and smart TVs. These streaming options were once reserved for pricey settop boxes but are now available on very affordable devices.
Is your iPhone charger working like it’s supposed to? Find out with the USBC-Vameter. Photo: Plugable
Plugable’s USBC-Vameter voltage and amperage meter shows how much power is moving through a USB-C connection. It helps users see what’s happening when their devices are charging… or not charging.
On Tuesday, Plugable released a new version of the tiny multi-meter with an easier-to-read OLED screen and other improvements.
Between its multiple USB ports and charging coils, Intelli ScoutPro can juice up five Apple devices at once while on the go. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
There are so many external batteries that it’s hard to stand out from the pack, but the Intelli ScoutPro manages it easily. There’s magnetic wireless Apple Watch and iPhone chargers. Plus the dual USB-C ports can output up to 100 watts each. All told, the accessory can hold up to 24,000mAh and handle up to 240 watt.
I put this power bank through its paces, testing all the ways it can recharge Apple devices. Here’s how it stood up.
Mythic Quest session two starts in May, and things are going well. Too well. Screenshot: Apple TV+
Mythic Quest season two is right around the corner, and Apple TV+ whet everyone’s appetite Monday with a fresh trailer. In the upcoming episodes, the game developers face the pressure of building a critical expansion pack, and some people are handling the stress far, far too easily.
Mac demand was extremely strong in the first three months of 2021. The M-series processor almost certainly played a big role. Photo: Apple
The pandemic continues to drive up demand for notebooks and desktops, and Mac shipments saw a triple-digit annual increase in Q1 2021 according to a market research firm. Apple also almost certainly also benefitted from the release of the first M-series computers near the end of 2020.
Tim Cook answers questions about App Store business practices at a Congressional hearing in 2020. Photo: C-SPAN
A Senate subcommittee wants to ask Google and Apple antitrust-related questions about their software stores, but the iPhone-maker reportedly turned down a request to testify.
Apple told Senators it could not do so because of ongoing litigation. That’s probably a reference to the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit currently in the pre-trial phase.
The Cardlax EarBuds Washer is an honest-to-god real product. You might even want one. Photo: Cardlax Team
Cleaning AirPods is kind of a disgusting job, but Cardlax has a solution. It’s an itty-bitty washing machine to clean the crud off your earbuds in a couple of minutes.
Before you ask, April Fools’ Day was last week. This is a real thing.
Samsung reached out to iPhone users with iTest — a web app that simulates a Galaxy smartphone on an iOS device. The device maker says it’s hoping some people “might find the grass a shade greener.”
The iTest app isn’t a simple static image — it offers samples of some commonly-used Android applications, including phone calls and texts with marketing messages.
The Chipolo One Spot boasts an advantage over every other Bluetooth item tracker. Photo: Chipolo
The upcoming Chipolo One Spot could rise to be a top Bluetooth item tracker. And if that happens, it’ll be with Apple’s help. The product will be one of the very first accessible through Apple’s Find My network, which means iPhone, Mac and iPad users can locate it without having to install any software from Chipolo.
The same is true of AirTags, Apple’s own much-rumored item tracker expected to be released soon.
Tom Holland stars in Cherry and will soon make The Crowded Room for Apple TV+ Photo: Apple TV+
The Crowded Room is an upcoming Apple TV+ series exploring true and inspirational stories of those who have learned to successfully live with mental illness. The first season will star Tom Holland.
It’s a car. It’s a mouse. It’s a mashup of a car and a mouse. But it’s probably not the Apple Car. Concept: LeaseFetcher
It’s an open secret that an Apple Car is on the drawing board, but no one has a clue what it’ll look like. A new collection of concept designs doesn’t make serious suggestions but takes the idea for a fun spin. The designs combine popular car models with Apple products
Aukey Aircore 15W uses Apple’s MagSafe system to clip to an iPhone 12 series model and power it up. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Say goodbye to plugging in Lightning cables with the Aukey Aircore 15W. Touch this wireless charger to the back of an iPhone 12 and it’ll cling there, juicing up the battery.
I tested this low-cost accessory in real-world conditions. Here how it handled.
The recently released Samsung Galaxy S21 series drops in value as much as $281 a month. Photo: Samsung
Those planning to resell their handset someday might want to steer clear of Samsung latest flagship models. The Galaxy S21 series reportedly lost between 44.8% and 57.1% of its original value since in debut in January 2021.
Of course, every smartphone depreciates over time. But iPhones hold their value better than their rivals.