Ed Hardy - page 2

Sega’s Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop pops onto iPhone and Mac

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'Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop' pops onto iPhone and Mac via Apple Arcade
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop is a new entry in the popular action puzzler franchise.
Photo: Sega/Apple Arcade

Sega’s newest action puzzle game Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop is a falling-object game on which players connect icons to erase them. The latest addition to the Puyo Puyo series is playable on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro, and is an Apple Arcade exclusive.

Plus there are two new classics in the gaming service for young and old.

More mystery iPads outed by Indian regulators [Updated]

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iPad mystery model
Four unknown iPad models were just approved for release in India.
Photo: Cult of Mac

A day after a pair of unknown iPads were found listed on the Bureau of Indian Standards certification website, two more have now turned up. These are almost certainly tablets that have been the topic of many leaks in recent months.

The 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air might have just taken another small step toward release.

Today in Apple history: ‘Magical’ first iPad debuts in stores

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The long wait was finally over. iPad 1 had arrived.
On launch day, people were very excited about the first iPad.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

April 3, 2010: Today in Apple history: ‘Magical’ first iPad debuts in stores April 3, 2010: The first iPad hits store shelves after months of anticipation. The tablet Apple CEO Steve Jobs called “magical and revolutionary” at its unveiling earlier in the year quickly becomes a major success.

Jobs initially showed off Apple’s first tablet on January 27, 2010. And there had been rumors long before then. But the wait for the iPad is finally over … at least for people in the United States. (The iPad’s international debut won’t happen until May.)

Taiwan earthquake seems unlikely to seriously disrupt Apple chip production

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Taiwan earthquake affects TSMC
TSMC appears to have successfully ridden out the earthquake in Taiwan.
Image: TSMC/Cult of Mac

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake that hit Taiwan on Wednesday — the worst in 25 years — killed at least nine people, injured more than 900 and toppled buildings. It also reportedly forced Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company to stop chip production, at least temporarily.

TSMC makes the processors that go into iPhone, Mac and other Apple products.

Apple Card Savings interest rate drops slightly, now at 4.4%

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Apple Card Savings account at 4.4%
The interest rate earned by Apple Card Savings accounts just decreased. But not by very much.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple Card Savings accounts just got their first interest rate decrease. Money stored in on these accounts now earns 4.4% in annual interest.

Previously, Apple and Goldman Sachs had boosted in the rate multiple times since the beginning of December. And it’s still quite high, even after the drop.

How to get latest AirPods Max firmware update

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AirPods firmware update How-To
Here's how to check for the new AirPods firmware update.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

First off: There’s no direct way to update AirPods firmware. When Apple updates AirPods software — as it just did for AirPods Max — the update happens automatically, in the background.

However, there is a way to speed up the update process. Plus, it’s a good idea to manually check you’re running the latest version, which brings bug fixes and sometimes great new features.

As noted, Apple most recently released fresh firmware for AirPods Max, taking the over-the-ears headphones to 6A325. (You can find other current AirPods firmware versions below.)

Here’s how to check if your AirPods are running the latest firmware on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Plus what to do if they aren’t, and how to force AirPods firmware to update.

Apple finally begins beta testing iOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5

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Apple Devices Spring 2024
There are fresh operating system betas for all types of Apple computers.
Photo: Apple

After a wait that stretched out weeks longer than usual, Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 17.5 to developers Tuesday, along with the initial beta of macOS Sonoma 14.5.

And it’s going to be a very busy day for developers because iPadOS 17.5 beta 1, watchOS 10.5 beta 1, tvOS 17.5 beta 1 and visionOS 1.2 beta 1 also all went out.

iWork 14 brings useful tweaks to Pages, Numbers and Keynote

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Apple iWork is Pages, Numbers and Keynote
There are some new improvements out for Apple's iWork suite.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple updated its iWork suite of productivity applications Tuesday with improvements related to shared documents, HEIC photos and iPad keyboards. The updated apps in iWork 14.0 — Pages, Numbers and Keynote — are all available free on Mac, iPad and iPhone.

Here’s the new batch of classic movies on Apple TV+ in April

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Here’s the new batch of classic movies on Apple TV+ in April
Apple TV+ has dozens of classic films for subscribers to watch. And it just added to the collection.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ just added two dozen more classic movies to its limited-time collection, including three John Wick films, the original Ghostbusters, a pair of Transformers movies and more.

They join an existing selection of films available to the streaming service’s subscribers, as well as all the content Apple TV+ itself produces or buys.

Google forced to delete user data by Chrome Incognito mode lawsuit

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The Google Chrome logo with the caption:
A lawsuit revealed that Google allowed users of Chrome's Incognito mode to think the app wasn't tracking them.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Google is reportedly required to delete the data it gathered while millions of users of its Chrome web bowser were in Incognito mode as part of settling a lawsuit.

Moving forward, the company will continue to track Chrome users in Incognito mode — while making it clearer that is what is happening.

Apple Watch could become lifesaving pool attendant

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Apple Watch could become lifesaving pool attendant
What if your Apple Watch could sense if you are drowning and alert people nearby?
Drawing: Apple

Apple is investigating whether its wearable can prevent some of 4,000 drowning deaths every year in the United States. An engineer proposed a system for an Apple Watch to detect if the swimmer wearing it is in distress and send an alert to nearby iPhones.

The plan fits with Apple’s goal to bring more health-related features to Apple Watch.

Best external SSDs for Mac or iPad in 2024

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Best external SSDs for Mac or iPad
The best external SSD options add terabytes of storage, and are designed for portability.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adding high-speed plug-in storage capacity to your computer is so easy it’s something every Mac user should consider. Here are some of the best consumer-oriented external SSDs that are designed for portability.

Today is World Backup Day, which seems a good opportunity to explore external storage options. Especially as there are deals on some of the best SSDs available.

1TB iCloud storage plan would be a win for both Apple and users

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1TB iCloud storage plan would be a win for both Apple and users
Adding a 1TB iCloud storage plan makes so much sense.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple offers iCloud plans for iPhone and Mac users who need a bit of extra storage capacity, and other plans for those who want a huge amount. But there’s a noticeable gap in the middle the company should really fill.

The lack of a 1TB iCloud+ storage plan is painfully evident. Adding it would be a boon to many users, and to Apple, too.

Today is World Backup Day — a fine opportunity to lobby for the additional tier.

iMessage getting RCS for better cross-platform texting in fall 2024

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iMessage vs. RCS ends in last 2024
The feature-limited version of texting available between iPhone and Android will come to an end in about six months.
Image: Apple

Google let slip that Apple will fulfill its promise to add support for Rich Communication Services to the iPhone Messages app “in the fall of 2024.”

That almost certainly means iPhone and Android users will enjoy higher quality cross-platform texting with the release of iOS 18 and not before.

Apple Pencil for Vision Pro might be in development

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Apple Pencil for Vision Pro might be in development
Vision Pro users could someday grab an Apple Pencil for fine drawing.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A version of Apple Pencil stylus that can be used with the Vision Pro AR headset is in testing, according to an unconfirmed report.

And there’s proof that Apple is at least considering the idea — it filed for a patent on methods of using a stylus to create virtual objects while wearing a headset.

New iPads won’t arrive until May and we can’t stop crying

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iPad 2024 release date: May
The 2024 iPad Pro and Air release date supposedly won't be in March or April.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A release date for much anticipated 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air will come in early May, according to a reliable source of Apple information. Fans of Apple tablets have been on tenterhooks as the announcements for these had been expected weeks ago.

This will reportedly be the debut of the first iPad Pro with an OLED display plus the largest iPad Air model yet.

Redesign could give Apple M3 Ultra processor wicked performance boost

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Apple M3 Ultra chip
The M3 Ultra could be the high-performance chip that so many professionals need.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming M3 Ultra chip won’t consist of two M3 Max processors merged together, according to information leaking out of Cupertino. The change from its predecessors would free up designers to make the next-gen Apple silicon even more powerful.

It even raises the possibility of an M3 Extreme, a workstation-level processor that would give the Mac Pro a reason to exist.

iPhone 12 got Qi2 wireless charging support on the down-low

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Apple’s MagSafe fuels new Qi2 wireless charging standard
Your iPhone 12 just got better -- it can use Qi2 accessories.
Photo: WPC/Cult of Mac

Add the iPhone 12 to the list of handsets that support the new Qi2 cross-platform wireless charging standard that’s based on MagSafe. Apparently, Apple gave the older phones support for the newest chargers without mentioning it.

More recent iPhone models already can use Qi2 accessories.

Apple Maps might gain customizable routes, topographic maps in iOS 18

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Apple Maps
Useful new features are reportedly coming to Apple Maps in iOS 18.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple Maps could receive a pair of big updates this year: “Custom routes” and topographic maps. A developer from Argentina spotted the two new features recently in Apple code, saying they could arrive in iOS 18 and macOS 15.

If true, the changes will make Apple’s navigation application more useful for both drivers and hikers.

New iPadOS version might finally usher in 2024 iPad Pro and Air [Updated]

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2024 OLED iPad Pro mockup
Apple expects the larger 2024 iPad Pro model to be the more popular.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple reportedly released a tiny, tiny update to iOS and iPadOS on Wednesday. It’s possible this is the new version of the operating system supposedly needed for the much rumored — and much anticipated — 2024 iPad Pro and iPad Air models.

Don’t go looking for the updates on your iPhone or iPad, however.

Update: The latest leak indicates that Apple’s next tablets won’t reach customers until May. They allegedly aren’t just waiting on software; production challenges are also supposedly pushing back the launch.

China’s Tencent throws its massive weight behind Vision Pro

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China's Tencent throws its massive weight behind Vision Pro
Tencent support is a serious boost for Apple's Vision Pro AR headset in China
Photo: Apple/Tencent/Cult of Mac

Apple CEO Tim Cook’s trip to China apparently scored a big win: Tencent will reportedly bring some of its biggest apps to the Vision Pro AR headset. The company developed both the hugely popular WeChat super app plus a wide array of successful games.

Vision Pro has not yet launched in China but the debut is expected soon.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak calls TikTok ban ‘hypocrisy’

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Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak calls TikTok ban 'hypocrisy'
The Woz calls out U.S. politicians for a proposed TikTok ban.
Photo: Paweł Piotrowski

The U.S. move toward banning the hugely popular TikTok video service is “hypocrisy.” That’s the opinion of Steve Wozniak, a co-founder of Apple.

He sees no difference between a Chinese company tracking users and U.S. companies doing the same thing.

‘See what you’re missing’ with Apple’s new iPhone comparison tool

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‘See what you’re missing’ with Apple’s new iPhone comparison tool
Apple wants you to know all the ways iPhone 15 is better than your current handset.
Screenshot: Apple/Cult of Mac

The new “Why Upgrade” page on Apple’s website shows users of some older iOS models what features they’d get if they traded up to the latest iPhone 15 series.

The tool says “See what you’re missing“ in hopes of convincing shoppers that it’s time to move on from handsets introduced in 2019 or 2020.