Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 26 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh SE/30 (which he still owns), 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 must use a Mac to be productive.)
Before coming to Cult of Mac, Ed wrote for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
The Health app tracks how much you exercise and when. Police sometimes find that useful. Photo: Apple
A mere 18 steps recorded in an iPhone’s Health app helped send an Alabama man to prison for 16 years. He claimed he was sleeping when his webcam model wife was accidentally killed. But his iPhone said differently.
The first folding iPhone might look something like this. Screenshot: Front Page Tech
Apple could have decided on the look of the first folding iPhone. Previously, the company was thought to be considering two options, but the winner is a “flip phone” design, according to a trusted Apple prognosticator.
The same source also has a hint that the folding iPhone might cost less than rival flexible phones. But it supposedly will not arrive before 2023 (and could come even later). With Apple’s focus on durability, the foldable iPhone could incorporate an advanced Liquidmetal hinge to improve longevity. Read more about Apple’s potential innovation here.
Jane is an upcoming Apple TV+ children's show about animal rescue. Photo: Apple
Apple is growing its slate of children’s programming with Jane, which is inspired by the mission of Dr. Jane Goodall. However, it won’t be a biopic of the famed chimpanzee researcher. Instead, it’s about about a little girl, her active imagination and a desire to rescue animals.
A new version of Dolly Parton’s 5 to 9 gets you an extra-long Apple Music trial. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple turned to country music legend Dolly Parton, Squarespace and the Super Bowl to promote Shazam and a new deal on Cupertino’s streaming music service.
You can use Shazam when listening to Parton’s just-released 5 to 9 advertisement to get five free months of Apple Music. That’s two months more than the usual offer.
An illustration from a recent Apple patent filing shows a possible VR headset. Graphic: Apple
Dan Riccio, one of Apple’s top designers, is reportedly now concentrating all his efforts on the company’s virtual-reality visor and augmented-reality glasses.
Previously, he headed Apple’s hardware engineering team. Then Cupertino revealed in January that Riccio was transitioning to a new role. But it wouldn’t say what that role will be.
Apple more than doubled the trade-in on the early return of the Mac mini Developer Transition Kit. Photo: Apple
Apple sweetened the deal offered to developers for the early return of the Mac mini that they used to test macOS Big Sur running on Apple Silicon. Friday, the company responded to complaints that it wasn’t offering enough for the Developer Transition Kits by more than doubling the amount of money previously offering for the units.
Is metal or plastic really the best material to make computers out of. How about sandstone? Photo: Hank Beyer/Alex Sizemore
Concept designers are supposed to think outside of the box. Hank Beyer and Alex Sizemore created some Mac designs that are so far outside of the box you sometimes can’t tell there ever was a box. Their computers are encased in stone, ice, beeswax and other exotic materials.
These possible Apple augmented-reality glasses aren’t all that sexy, but they also aren‘t a huge visor strapped to your face. Illustration: Apple
Apple filed a patent application that could give a first glimpse of the AR glasses the company is developing. An image included with the filing shows a small, lightweight augmented-reality device about the size of a standard pair of eyeglasses.
The primary focus of the patent is the ways the glasses might detect what its wearer is doing. These will allow the wearer to interact with the head-worn device in a variety of ways.
The Moft Snap-on Stand & Wallet for iPhone 12 Series is svelte even holding an Apple Card and a drivers license. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Accessories that take on more than one task are the best. Like Moft’s clip-on iPhone wallet that’s also a stand. It can hold three cards, but is very slender. And it uses magnets to cling tightly to the handset.
I tested the Moft Snap-on Stand & Wallet for weeks, so I can share what it’s really like in daily use.
iOS 14.5 beta 1 lets Apple Watch wearers unlock their iPhone without Face ID. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple has a solution for the hassle of unlocking an iPhone while wearing a face mask. iOS 14.5 beta 1, which was seeded to beta testers in the general public on Thursday, enables users to unlock their iPhone when their Apple Watch is nearby.
Plus, there are other new features. And this wasn’t the only fresh beta introduced. The first pre-release versions of iPadOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 are also available for the public and developers to begin testing.
Finding just the right emoji to say what you mean gets easier in iPadOS 14.5. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
iPhone fans were first able to search for emoji last year, and Apple is finally bringing this feature to iPads. It’s built into the iPadOS 14.5 beta 1 released to public beta testing on Thursday.
Also, those with the Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad get a horizontally-oriented boot screen.
A 20% discount at BaubleBar with Apple Pay might brighten your Valentine’s Day. And there are more deals. Photo: BaubleBar
Apple makes it easier to give your sweetie shiny baubles, pictures and flowers for Valentine’s Day. (What, no candy?) All that’s necessary is to use Apple Pay at 1-800-Flowers, BaubleBar or Shutterfly for various discounts.
You may someday ride in an Apple Car but you’ll never drive one. You’ll program it instead. Photo: Torsten Dettlaff/Pexels CC
No one will ever drive an Apple car, according to leaked information. Apple is reportedly planning a vehicle that’s completely autonomous. It’ll be programmed, not driven.
That would make it less like what Tesla offers and more like what Alphabet’s Waymo is developing.
The time of the Mac mini Developer Transition Kit is rapidly drawing to a close. Photo: Apple
Apple told developers on Wednesday that they are expected to soon return the Mac mini that they used to test macOS Big Sur running on Apple Silicon. This is less time than the one-year lease of the Developer Transition Kit was supposed to last.
The devs paid $500 to lease the specially modified desktops in 2020. They aren‘t getting that money back, but Apple will compensate them for returning the unit. Still, some developers are peeved.
Aukey’s 18W USB-C power adapter has definite advantages over Apple’s offerings. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Aukey makes a USB-C charger that’s about as small at the standard 5 watt iPhone charger but provides far more power. The Minima 18W PD Charger can quickly juice up an Apple phone or tablet, as well as other devices. With it, that old 5W charger can go in a drawer where it belongs.
It’s a low-cost option, plus I tested the product with an iPhone and an iPad so you can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.
Many of Apple’s most-used online services went offline Wednesday. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple reports that virtually all its iCloud services are down Wednesday. That includes very frequently used ones like Drive, Contacts, Keychain and Mail. And many more.
UPDATE:Apple restored all its services, though it took most of Wednesday.
A decades-old Game Boy Color finds fresh purpose as an Apple TV remote. Screenshot: Otto Climan
Otto Climan decided his 90s-era Game Boy Color should have a new life. Rather than hacking it into a more powerful handheld gaming platform, he went in a completely different direction. He converted the device into an Apple TV remote.
Kensington StudioDock could be the iPad productivity tool you’re looking for. Photo: Kensington
iPad users wowed by Kensington’s StudioDock at CES 2021 should be happy to hear it took a big step toward release on Wednesday. It’s now possible to preorder this stand that boasts an extensive collection of built-in ports and wireless charging mats. The product is good enough to take home a CES 2021 Innovations Award.
On the other side of the coin, Kensington is just now revealing the price. And it’s not cheap.
Those in the Apple Developer Program can begin testing macOS Big Sur 11.3. Image: Cult of Mac
A mere day after the release of a fresh macOS version, Apple went ahead and seeded to developers macOS 11.3 beta 1. The company isn’t one to sit on its hands.
The new beta includes small improvments to Safari and Reminders. And enhancements to a range of other features too. Plus bug fixes, of course.
A man who helped design this Porsche is allegedly now working on the Apple Car. Photo: Porsche
Apple reportedly hired Manfred Harrer for its top-secret self-driving vehicle project. It’s a telling move because Harrer previously was head of chassis development at Porsche. This is a clear sign that the Mac-maker is planning an Apple car, not simply an autonomous vehicle system to be licensed to automakers.
A job posting leaves no room for doubt that Apple plans more health-related devices. The company seeks to hire a project manager to develop “Apple-branded Health Hardware products.”
The company doesn’t have anything like this now. It’s instead mostly concentrated on building wellness features into Apple Watch, iPhone and AirPods. And selling third-party health devices.
Justin Timberlake‘s Palmer helped give Apple TV+ the best weekend it’s ever had. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ just experienced its best weekend ever. And a big part of the reason was Palmer, a new drama starring Justin Timberlake that premiered on the streaming service Friday.
Apple Card Family could let parent and teens share access to the Mac-maker’s credit card. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple Card holders might soon be able to share access with their family. Users of the credit card will reportedly be able to give their spouse or children access to a pre-established amount of money.
Apple called special attention to a Bluetooth bug fix in its release notes for macOS 11.2. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple released macOS Big Sur 11.2 to the public Monday, bringing more reliable Bluetooth connections. That should warm the hearts of those using recently released Macs built around Apple’s first-generation M-series processor.
The Mac update brings other bug fixes as well, but the release notes make no mention of new features.