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 SE/30 (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer.
That's because he's a "tablet first" type of guy. Rather than use a Macbook, he connects a keyboard case to the iPad. And instead of a desktop Mac, he connects his tablet to a 27-inch display and full-size keyboard. (So don't try to tell him that everyone has to use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
Baldo: The Guardian Owls is an adventure game with a lot of influence from Studio Ghibli movies like Spirited Away. Photo: NAPS team
Baldo: The Guardian Owls is a Zelda-like puzzle adventure that’ll soon be on Apple Arcade. Players explore an open world meeting quirky characters but also fighting ferocious foes.
And this is just one of nine games launching on Apple’s gaming service in the near future, like Super Leap Day.
Here’s how to get a separation alert if you leave behind your Mac, iPhone or other Apple gear. Image: Cult of Mac
With iOS 15, your iPhone can warn you if you’ve left your Mac at the office. Or in a hotel room, restaurant, plane… wherever. Separation alerts are one of the better features of Apple’s operating system upgrade.
Tim Cook is in 8th place on Bloomberg‘s list of highest paid CEOs and executives. Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple CEO Tim Cook is one of the best paid U.S. executives according to a new report. He pulled in a whopping $265 million in 2020 from his salary, bonus, and stock awards.
But that’s chump change compared to what Elon Musk made.
The Apple TV+ version of Come from Away includes an cast with members of the original and current Broadway productions.
The filmed version of the Tony-winning hit musical Come from Away will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on September 10. It will star a cast led by members of the Broadway show, and be directed by Christopher Ashley, who directed the original Broadway production.
The Brydge 12.9 Max+ is stronger competition for the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro than many might realize. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
While the Apple Magic Keyboard is an outstanding way to transform an iPad Pro into laptop, it’s not necessarily the best option. The Brydge 12.9 Max+ is also a very capable keyboard case for Apple’s premier tablet. I use both and pitted them against each other. And I found definite advantages to Brydge’s offering.
The wait for a newest 12.9-inch iPad Pro is fairly short. But there is one if you buy it from Apple and most places. Photo: Apple
Those eager to get the 12.9-inch version of the 2021 iPad Pro still face a week+ wait when ordering from Apple. But the situation has improved — not too long ago, the wait stretched for a month or more.
Kate Hudson and Octavia Spencer in Truth Be Told, season 2, premiering August 20 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Season two of Truth Be Told premieres Aug. 20, and Apple TV+ released a trailer on Tuesday to whet fans’ appetites. True-crime podcaster Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer) has another mystery to solve, and she’s going to get the truth, no mater what it costs anyone. Including herself.
The AMD Radeon PRO W6000X series graphics cards are engineered to a wide variety of demanding professional graphics applications. Photo: AMD
AMD launched new Radeon Pro W6000X series GPUs for Mac Pro on Tuesday. These add-on graphics processing units for Apple’s most powerful macOS desktop are designed for demanding professional applications, including 3D rendering, 8K video compositing, color correction and more.
You can now sign up for a Twitter account a little more privately. Graphic: Twitter
Twitter added the option to ‘Sign in with Apple’ on Monday. This is a privacy feature that lets users hide their email address from the online service. And avoid hassle when signing in.
The social-networking service also implemented support for logging in with Google.
Releasing MacBooks running an M1X processor this autumn would cost Apple so much money. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Rumors point to Apple releasing redesigned MacBooks later this year running an improved version of the M1 processor dubbed the M1X. I don’t believe it.
I completely agree that new MacBooks are on the way. But I don’t see these running an M1X processor. This chip will be called the M2.
Apple earned more profits than any other company in the world. Photo: Pixabay/Pexels CC
Apple made more money in the last year than any other company in the world, according to the new Fortune 500 rankings. With annual profits of $57.5 billion, no other enterprise came particularly close, with the nearest rival earning about $8 billion less.
This goes a long way toward explaining why Apple remains the most valuable publicly-traded company in the world.
The Mophie Snap+ Wireless Charging Stand juices up your iPhone 12 and looks good doing it. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Just place your iPhone 12 on the Mophie Snap+ Wireless Charging Stand and the two will cling together magnetically thanks to the MagSafe system. The stand makes it easier to see the iPhone’s screen on portrait or landscape mode, and your handset is getting recharged at the same time.
I’ve used accessory on my desk for close to a week now. Here’s why I like it.
Many people think Apple’s refusal to buy Tesla when the car-maker was struggling was a serious mistake. But it turns out there might have been a previously unknown condition of the deal that made Apple immediately end negotiations: Tesla’s Elon Musk reportedly wanted to become Apple CEO.
Trust Dr. Boom when he says, “Driving a racing car round an exploding race track is a pretty hazardous thing to do.” Photo: Electric Square
Detonation Racing bills itself as “the most dangerous, least sensible racing series ever devised.” Gameplay involves skillfully maneuvering around a track, but also maybe throwing a nuclear submarine at your opponents.
You probably can’t guess one of the reasons why Apple wants people to stop leaking the specifications of upcoming iPhone models. Image: the Hacker 34/Cult of Mac
Apple hates it when people leak details about its upcoming devices. No surprise there. But an order to stop spreading rumors about unreleased iPhone models that the company reportedly sent to a Chinese citizen gives an unexpected reason.
iPad shipments last quarter are up about 50% from where they were two years ago. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
iPad sales kicked onto high gear in 2020 and haven’t slowed down since. In the April-through-June quarter of 2021,
Apple shipped around 15 million tablets, roughly 50% higher than shipments in the same period two years ago.
macOS Big Sur 11.5.1, iOS 14.7.1 and iPadOS 14.7.1 each take care of the same dangerous bug. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Three of Apple’s biggest products received security patches Monday — and another got its version on Thursday. You should probably install them as soon as possible.
The company started with macOS Big Sur 11.5.1, iOS 14.7.1, and iPadOS 14.7.1 to fix a security hole reportedly used by at least one hacker already. That’s why they are “recommended for all users,” according to Apple.
Apple followed up Thursday by releasing watchOS 7.6.1 to patch the same bug on Apple Watch. It’s also recommended.
GarageBand now includes an expanded Sound Library with new Sound Packs from top artists and music producers. Graphic: Apple
Apple wants to help people get over the hump of learning art of music remixing with its free GarageBand application for iPad and iPhone. Two new Remix Sessions offer step-by-step video instruction in the app itself. Thy use hit songs from Grammy-winning artists Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga.
Musicians can also now create tracks with seven new Producer Packs full of beats, loops and instruments.
Many of these features are expected to be in the real iPhone 13. Some are just wishes, though. Screenshot: the Hacker 34
The next iPhone is just a couple of months away, but an artist has given us an early glimpse of what it might look like. His iPhone 13 concept combines new features revealed leaks and rumors, but there are also a couple that are just hopes.
Watch his high-quality video to see a handset Apple might unveil soon.
Professional photog Maria Lax shares tips on taking eerie pictures with an iPhone’s Night Mode. Screenshot: Apple
Explore some of the more exotic possibilities of your iPhone’s camera with a free tutorial from a professional photographer. An video Today at Apple session shows how to use Night Mode to take and edit “otherworldly” images.
Apple broke records in multiple types of revenue last quarter, from Macs to Services. And its installed base of user hit a new record, too. Photo: Cult of Mac/EverythingSuperMario
Apple just revealed that its made heaps of money last quarter. It broke all kinds of revenue records, and Mac, iPhone and iPad contributed strongly to the total.
But there are also some dark clouds in Apple future. Read on to get the good news and bad from the company’s most recent financial earnings results.
Apple had another record-breaking quarter, with strong growth in iPhone, Mac, iPad, Services, etc. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple took in $81.4 billion in revenue during its most recent financial quarter, up 36% from the same quarter of last year. And profits were up as well, with earning per share hitting $1.30.
Market analysts just can’t keep up with how well the iPhone-maker is doing. These results beat expectations handily.
The iPad Air 5 could look quite a bit like its predecessor while also getting upgraded features. Screenshot: Apple
The difference between the current 10.9-inch iPad Air and the 11-inch iPad Pro is relatively slim. And now it seems more of the features of the Pro tablet are moving to the Air. Apple is reportedly going to build on the powerful 2020 model with an iPad Air 5 that offers a dual-lens camera and optional 5G. Plus, the tablet is getting a processor upgrade.
These changes would make it a stronger mid-range tablet in Apple’s product lineup.
Apple isn’t exactly walking back some of the biggest changes in iPadOS 15. But it’s giving users to option to do so. Screenshot: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apparently responding to criticism of the Safari redesign in iPadOS 15, a beta released Tuesday makes significant changes to the layout of the Safari web browser. The newest iteration gives users the option to view the Address Bar very much like it looks in iPadOS 14. But those who prefer can keep the new compact view.