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.
Many are pinning hopes for AirPods Pro noise cancellation improvements on a new firmware update. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Apple introduced a firmware update for AirPods Pro on Tuesday. There’s no word yet on what this does, but many users of these truly-wireless headphones hope it improves active noise cancellation.
Americans pay mobile data costs well above the global average. Photo: Polina/Pexels
Americans pay far more for 4G service than much of the world, according to a report released Tuesday by a price-comparison firm. The cost for 1 gigabyte of LTE data in the United States costs almost twice the global average. And U.S. 4G service costs more than similar offerings in a whopping 187 other countries.
Instead of standard hinges, consider a bendable MacBook. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
A proposed MacBook design change is radical while at the same time preserving the traditional clamshell design. Apple received a patent today for a notebook computer without standard hinges. Instead, it’s flexible enough to bend in the middle.
The MacBook butterfly keyboard could be horribly frustrating. But now it’s gone. Mostly. Photo illustration: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
MacBook buyers, your long nightmare is over. It’s now safe to buy a new Apple laptop without having to worry that someday the butterfly keyboard will jam up, rendering your computer useless without a significant repair. Monday’s release of a redesigned 13-inch MacBook Pro means every new laptop available through the Apple Store includes the more-reliable Magic Keyboard.
Still, Apple held onto the flawed design for too long. Anybody with a MacBook that uses the older design must live in fear of potentially jammed butterfly keys for years to come.
A new case for your iPhone SE is a great way to celebrate Star Wars Day. Photo: Otterbox
May 4 is Star Wars Day, and OtterBox is having a sale on iPhone cases with Jedi, droids and Sith aplenty. Plus, there are great Star Wars iOS games to play, and movies and TV shows to watch on your iPad or iPhone.
With Apple embracing digital keys, this Tesla Watch app concept shows what might soon be a standard feature. Photo: Eleks Labs
Apple is a charter member of the Car Connectivity Consortium, which on Monday unveiled a new version of its system to enable phones to act as digital keys.
This meshes with an unconfirmed report from February that Apple plans to add this feature to iOS 14.
The Google Drive Privacy Screen helps you limit access to your personal files. Photo: Google/Cult of Mac
Support for Apple’s biometric security systems just appeared in the Google Drive iOS/iPadOS application. With this update, users can lock access to this cloud-storage system, and then unlock it with Face ID or Touch ID.
An Apple Watch pulse oximeter could potentially warn of COVID-19 infections. Screenshot: Apple
Apple Watch Series 6 will be able to take blood-oxygen readings, according to an unconfirmed report. Word of this upcoming feature has leaked before — and COVID-19 makes adding it a bit more urgent.
The source for this rumor also claims the 2020 Apple Watch will usher in numerous other new features as well.
You could have your Apple Card interest fee waived for May if you’re in financial trouble because of COVID-19. Photo: Apple
Apple and Goldman Sachs might cut you some slack on your credit card bill if you lost your job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Users of the Apple Card were notified today that they can apply to skip their May payment without interest charges being added.
The first quarter of 2020 wasn’t great for iPad Sales but Q2 might be much better. Photo: Apple
Revenue from iPad sales dropped 10% during the first quarter of 2020. And shipments dropped 3%, according to a market-research firm. But analysts say that people working and studying from home during the pandemic could bring a burst of purchases this quarter.
Anyone searching Apple Arcade for something a bit grim can turn to Neversong. Photo: Serenity Forge/Apple
Apple’s gaming service focuses more on lighter fare, but Friday brought the release of Neversong. Players take on the role of Peet, a boy just awoken from a coma as he searches for his missing girlfriend through an asylum while battling monsters and zombies.
Can nothing stop the Cupertino juggernaut? Image: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
While COVID-19 certainly overshadowed Apple’s most recent financial quarter, the company actually saw an annual increase in revenue, with the growth primarily coming from services and wearables.
Looking ahead, the company predicts that Mac and iPad sales will be strong. And CEO Tim Cook remains confidant about Apple’s future.
The Morning Show stars Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Screenshot: Apple
Apple released three new advertisements for its streaming video service on Thursday. These highlight the big stars that appear on Apple TV+, as well as the original stories told by the over two dozen shows and movies that have debuted since autumn.
I bet you didn't know your iPhone could be so dirty. Photo: OtterBox
OtterBox’s latest screen protectors not only prevent scratches, they also contain an antimicrobial agent. The Amplify Glass line is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and manufactured by Corning. These screen protectors debuted Thursday for the iPhone 11 series as well as earlier models.
It took 12 years, but CleanMyMac is on the App Store. Photo: MacPaw
The popular utility CleanMyMac debuted way back in 2008, but MacPaw is finally bringing it to the Mac App Store all these years later. This will make it easier to find, buy and install.
The developer admits it did only direct sales of this product for business reasons. But the App Store version will also lack some features of the version sold on the MacPaw website for technical reasons.
Sick of those taking on Group FaceTime growing in size? iOS 13.5 beta let's you disable it. Photo: Apple
A Group FaceTime feature some people find irritating can be disabled in the upcoming iOS version. Currently, the tile showing the face of the person speaking gets larger, pushing everyone else aside. The iOS 13.5 beta introduced Wednesday gives users the option to turn this off.
All kinds of people are wearing masks these days, and it’ll soon be easier to access your iPhone while wearing one. Photo: cottonbro/Pexels
Unlocking your iPhone while wearing a protective mask might get a little quicker in iOS 13.5. Apple released a new beta of this upcoming version Wednesday, and it includes a neat trick that skips Face ID to immediately ask for a passcode if it detects the user is wearing a mask.
The third beta of iOS 13.5 released on Wednesday gives developers their first look at the coronavirus contact-tracing tool that Apple is creating in cooperation with Google.
iPadOS 13.5 Developer Beta 3 was also debuted today, along with the initial beta of Xcode 11.5.
Oak Felder uses Apple equipment and software for music production. Screenshot: Apple
Oak Felder writes and produces music for some of today’s top artists. In a new Apple video, he talks about the importance of technology that makes it easy to turn musical ideas into reality.
Microsoft says Thunderbolt is secure. Virtually every other computer maker apparently disagrees. Photo: Caldigit
Microsoft claims it won’t adopt the Thunderbolt standard for its Surface laptops and tablets because it’s inherently insecure, according to an internal company video leaked onto Twitter recently.
Thunderbolt was developed by Intel and Apple, and it’s widely used on Macs. It’s also been adopted by virtually every PC maker. But not Microsoft.
If you use your tablet outside more than in an office, you really need to consider the OtterBox Defender for 2020 iPad Pro. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPad Pros used in the field require hard-core protection, and there’s no better option than the OtterBox Defender. The case wraps the tablet in layer upon layer of plastic to cushion it from serious accidents. There’s even a built-in screen protector.
I encased my 2020 iPad Pro in the latest version of the OtterBox Defender to do some real-world testing. Here’s what I found out.
This is an early concept drawing from Apple for a folding iPhone. Photo: Apple
It would be easier to make a foldable iPhone or iPad if it could include a flexible battery. Apple is investigating these as a power source, and was granted a patent on the technology on Tuesday.
In recent years, the company received many patents related to computers built around folding displays. They’re proof that Apple is actively exploring using these in future products.
The iPhone SE can take a 2D image and make it into a Portrait Mode picture with the bokeh effect. Photo: Apple
The 2020 iPhone SE is the first Apple smartphone to offer Portrait Mode photos created entirely with software techniques rather than hardware. That’s not true of any previous iOS device, not even the one you think it is.
Lux Optics, maker of Halide, examined how Apple’s new budget phone adds the bokeh effect to 2D pictures.