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.
The Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter V2 lives up to its name. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A USB-C hub really adds capabilities your computer. The Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter V2 was created with Macs in mind but it expands the capabilities of Apple’s iPad Pro as well.
It’s slim and portable, but still has room for many of the most-used ports.
A reboot of Amazing Stories is coming to Apple’s TV service, but one analyst says it needs much, much more content. Photo: Cult of Mac
The best way for Apple’s upcoming streaming video service to compete against already established competitors like Netflix is to buy a movie studio, according to an industry analyst.
Apple is reportedly going to introduce its video service in the first half of this year, and the analyst recommends buying Sony Pictures, Lionsgate or another studio to increase its offerings.
A USB-C hub can’t make an iPad Pro into a full desktop but Satechi‘s really tries. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Satechi Aluminum Type-C Mobile Pro Hub was designed specifically for the 2018 iPad Pro. It adds all the the most-useful ports to Apple’s latest tablet. With it, you can add headphones, an external monitor and other USB-A accessories. All in a tiny package.
Those who want even ports can choose instead this company’s slightly larger but still slim USB-C hub designed for laptops. This also works with the new iPad.
Don’t miss our hands-on review of the Satechi Alumiunium Type-C Mobile Pro Hub.
Could the multi-year wait for AirPower be almost over? Maybe so. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Production of the long-overdue AirPower charging mat has begun at last, according to a report from Apple’s Asian supply chain.
Apple first showed off the multidevice wireless charger way back in 2017, but it remains hopelessly MIA. If this latest supply chain rumor proves true, the wait for AirPower could end soon.
You’ll connect to Wi-Fi access points much faster with the 2019 iPhone. Photo: Alan Levine/Flickr
The next-generation iPhone will reportedly include a version of Wi-Fi that’s up to 30 percent faster than the current one. And that’s not even its biggest improvement in this upcoming wireless networking standard.
This is just one of the details of the 2019 iPhone that’ve leaked out in recent days.
iPhone sales are slowing because the Chinese economy is, not because Apple made a dud. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Sales of iPhones seem to be weaker than in previous years, and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve has an explanation: a drop in consumer spending in China.
The implication is that the slowdown in iPhone sales isn’t a result of anything Apple has done.
The fourth beta of iOS 12.1.3 doesn’t offer much, but it’s available to everyone. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
After seeding new beta versions ofiOS and macOS on Monday, there are already replacements.The team at Apple responsible for updating iPhone, iPad, and Mac clearlystarted the year off in high gear.
This is the forth version of these betas, and the fast pace of new releases may be because they only offer bug fixes.
The FCC is currently shut down. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
You’ll have to wait until the government shutdown is over to get your hands on many of the products unveiled at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show. Without FCC approval, they can’t go up for sale.
There are three types of lies: lies, damned lies, and marketing. Photo: AT&T
Some Android phones already claim they’re connected to a 5G network. This is the result of some fairly shady rebranding on the part of AT&T, which is pretending that improvements to its LTE network make it no longer 4G.
This is raising protests, especially from the other Big 4 wireless carriers.
Your phone company constantly tracks your location, and that information is for sale. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
It’s not hard to get learn the location of almost any phone, according to a new report. All that’s required is some cash and the right contacts in a web of companies with access to the geolocation data collected by mobile phone companies.
More people have an iPhone XR than an XS, and soon the XS Max. Photo: Apple
The iPhone XR is Apple’s newest handset but more of its units are already in use than the iPhone XS which launched two months earlier. And the XR is on course to pass the XS Max in the near future.
That said, all three are still trailing the installed base of 2017 iOS models, especially the iPhone X.
Brydge for 2018 iPad Pro makes this tablet into a notebook. Photo: Brydge
The wait for Brydge’s sweet add-on keyboard for the new iPad Pro is almost over. The company today began taking pre-orders for an accessory that fully embraces the concept of turning this tablet into a laptop.
This premium keyboard has an all-aluminum casing and ships with a magnetic cover that protects the back of the iPad.
The Satechi 75W Dual Type-C PD Travel Charger has ports for all your gadgets. Photo: Satechi
Unlike Apple’s wall chargers that have just a single USB-C port, the Satechi 75W Dual Type-C PD Travel Charger has a pair of them. It also boasts two USB-A ports.
Satechi also just used the Consumer Electronic Show to launch a cheaper 30W Dual-Port Wall Charger.
Apple and some iPad Pro customers are debating “How bent is too bent?’ Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
A recent support document from Apple describes a manufacturing process that’s apparently the cause of complaints that 2018 iPad Pro units sometimes arrive new from the store already slightly bent.
While acknowledging that this is possible, Apple stands by its earlier statements that its inspection process eliminates any units that are bent more than 0.016 inches.
New betas are out for Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch. Photo: Apple
Apple just released the third beta versions of iOS 12.1.3 and macOS Mojave 10.14.3 to developers and the public. The same is true for a new tvOS 12.1.2 beta. Only developers got access to the new watchOS 5.1.3 beta introduced today, though.
But don’t get your hopes up for exciting new features.
Don’t expect the screen cutouts in many smartphones to go away, despite a big announcement made today. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
AMS, a company that makes iPhone sensors, caught many people’s attention today with it’s just-announced sensor it says has the possibility of “potentially eliminating the bezel entirely.” Bezels are the dead space around phone screens that device makers are trying to eliminate.
This new sensor can sit under OLED displays so it doesn’t clutter up the front of the phone. Unfortunately, AMS’s latest offering only does some of the jobs done by front-facing sensors currently located in display bezels, or in a screen notch in the iPhone’s case.
A Zagg Slim Book Go keyboard case for the 12.9- and 11-inch iPad Pro is in the offing. Photo: Zagg
Zagg is using the Consumer Electronics Show to unveil a trio of clip-on keyboards for the newest iPad Pro and iPad models: the Slim Book Go, Rugged Book Go, and Messenger Folio. These range from lightweight to more rugged options.
In addition, Zagg subsidiary InvisibleShield launched advanced screen protectors for the 2018 iPads that won a CES award.
Better cameras, batteries, and more. Render: OnLeaks/Digit.in
The 2019 iPhone will have a trio of camera lenses in an unusual configuration, if an unconfirmed report is correct.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumors that Apple’s next model will have three rear-facing camera lenses but the way they’ll supposedly be arranged on the device is new.
Update: With the iPhone 11 series now official, turns out this image from January is almost completely accurate.
This year’s iOS 13 could bring dramatic benefits to the iPad Pro in multitasking and USB-C support. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Expect 2019 to be a big year for Apple’s iPad tablets. And for professional-grade Macs, too. The next 12 months won’t be as significant for the iPhone and Apple Watch lines, though there will certainly be some improvements.
Services and software are as important to Apple as hardware, so expect the long-awaited video service to arrive, and we predict a resurgence in augmented reality games too.
Read on for all our predictions for the most important changes in the Apple ecosystem this year.