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.
Apple still can’t keep up with heavy demand for AirPods Pro. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The holiday shopping season is behind us, but demand for AirPods Pro still exceeds supply. Orders placed on Apple.com won‘t ship before early February.
But those who live in a large metropolitan area have an option that could get them Apple’s new in-ear headphones much sooner.
Suit up and help save the environment in the post-apocalyptic Doomsday Vault on Apple Arcade. Photo: Apple/Flightless
In the just-launched Doomsday Vault, the Earth’s climate has collapsed and it’s up to you to save the few remaining plants. This Apple Arcade title promises puzzles suitable for all ages.
The Nanoleaf Learning Series seeks to make your home not just smart but also intelligent. Photo: Nanoleaf
The upcoming Nanoleaf Learning Series home-automation products are designed to learn users’ needs and react proactively. These smart switches and smart bulbs support Apple’s HomeKit, so they can be controlled from an iPhone, too.
A Wemo WiFi Smart Plug is a simple way to learn more about home automation with Apple’s HomeKit. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Controlling the lights and other gadgets in your home from your iPhone is convenient and fun, too. There are plenty of HomeKit and Alexa accessories that make home automation a snap.
I’ll go over some of the best options I’ve found that will get you started with as little trouble as possible.
Hailee Steinfeld isn’t your typical Emily Dickinson. Photo: Apple
In a new video, the creator and a star of Dickinson discuss how this Apple TV+ series uses events from the life of a 19th Century poet to discuss problems women still face.
Big camera improvements are top of the list for the 2020 iPad Pro. Photo: OnLeaks/iGeeksBlog
The 2020 iPad Pro is expected this spring, and professional leaker OnLeaks created a video of this upcoming tablet based on rumors and unconfirmed reports.
No content with one display, an iPhone concept suggests a pair — one removable. Screenshot: Caviar
Rejecting the idea of flexible screens, an artist at Caviar dreamed up an iPhone concept with a detachable secondary display instead. This allows for real multitasking, or the handset to be snapped into a tablet or netbook.
Not stoping there, the artist created a concept video with multiple other innovative iPhone designs that might debut in next decade.
The 2020 Motorola Razr joins the other phones with flexible displays that were delayed. Photo: Motorola
Today was supposed to be the debut of an expensive new version of the Motorola Razr with a folding screen. But it didn’t happen.
Earlier this year, handsets from Samsung and Huawei with flexible displays were delayed because of design problems. Motorola, by contrast, says it pushed back the launch of the redesigned Razr to give it more time to meet high demand.
Lego Builder’s Journey isn’t what you’d usually expect from a Lego game. Photo: Apple/Lego
Lego’s latest Apple Arcade entry builds an atmospheric puzzler brick by brick. Lego Builder’s Journey is “a story about play, connections and adventure.”
It’s available only to those who subscribe to Apple’s gaming service.
Apple’s gaming service offers 100+ titles for a wide range of interests. Photo: Apple
As your loved ones gather for the holidays, have some family fun with Apple Arcade. A new video shows off games that can be enjoyed no matter your age.
This Apple Watch Charging Dock plugs right into an iPad Pro. Photo: Satechi
The Satechi USB-C Magnetic Charging Dock for Apple Watch offers a USB-C connector that enables it to plug directly into MacBooks and iPad Pros. It’s also designed to be used on the go.
There are plenty of good USB-C hubs, but here are Cult of Mac’s favorites. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Nothing expands the capabilities of your Mac or iPad Pro more than a good USB-C hub. Plug one in and you can connect to TVs and tons of other peripherals, including external storage.
There’s an immense variety of these, depending on whether you want portability or a huge number of ports. There are even hubs designed specifically to clip to the side of an iPad.
To help you find the best USB-C hubs, Cult of Mac compiled this list of our favorites.
AirSnap Pro brings a more organic look to AirPods Pro. Photo: Twelve South
Apple’s charging case for AirPods Pro is fine if you like shiny white plastic, but Twelve South today launched AirSnap Pro with a very different look. This leather case wraps around Apple’s new hearables, both protecting them and adding more color options.
Photoshop for iPad now has Select Subject powered by Artificial intelligence. Photo: Adobe/Cult of Mac
A promised update to Photoshop on iPad debuted today. A notable new feature employs artificial intelligence to enable users to easily select the subjects of images. The latest version also makes accessing cloud storage much faster.
This is the first in a planned series of improvements for the iPad version of this professional image-editing software
Apple’s CEO took Pres. Trump on a tour of the US Mac Pro assembly plant. Screenshot: White House
The 2019 Mac Pro is famously assembled in the United States. Apple CEO Tim Cook took President Trump on a tour of the plant in Texas where these powerful computers are put together.
But the situation is reportedly quite different if you place an order in Europe.
Lewis Carroll’s White Rabbit is one of the literary characters brought to life in Ghostwriter. Photo: Apple
The new Apple TV+ series Ghostwriter is more than entertainment for children. A new video gives cast and crew a chance to talk about the role classic literature plays.
AT&T just began offering low-band 5G to consumers. Photo: Luismt94/Wikipedia CC
Starting today, AT&T consumers in 10 cities can connect to this telecom’s 5G network. While faster than 4G, this is low-band 5G, a slower form though with greater range than mmWave.
At this time, only one handset supports this service.
Don’t underrate AirPods. They are as iconic as the iPod ever was. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
AirPods contribute as much to Apple’s bottom line as the iconic iPod did at its peak, according to an industry analyst. And Apple Watch long since passed that milestone.
Combined, Apple’s Wearables and Home products are expected to far outsell Mac and iPad this quarter.
The iPhone 8 and other Apple handsets see real benefits from iOS 13.3. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
There are sometimes concerns that new iOS versions will cut the battery life of older iPhone models, or slow down performance. Tests on a variety of Apple handsets with the just-released iOS 13.3 show just the opposite — this update not only speeds up these devices, it increases the time between charges.
These concept Apple augmented reality glasses might have just taken a step closer to reality. Photo: Martin Hajek
Rumors that Apple is hard at work on augmented reality glasses got some solid proof today. The company received a patent on a near-eye display design intended for just such an accessory.
And there’s an interesting mention of a “holographic optical element.”
Apple just lost the title of world’s most valuable publicly traded company. But not because it had a terrible day on the stock market. The change happened when Aramco, a huge Saudi Arabian oil company, went from private to public.