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 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.
A folding iPhone with a very large display might be moving from concept to reality. Concept: Ran Avni
The first iPhone with a folding screen will go into production in 2026, according to an analyst. This is the second such report in recent months, and could be a sign that Apple is really ready to move ahead with the product.
This concept could be an early glimpse of the MacBook of the future. Concept: Astro HQ
A MacBook with a 20.3-inch folding screen will hit the market earlier than expected, according to an analyst. The folding Mac supposedly will go into production in late 2025.
★★★★☆
A digital photo frame makes a great gift. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The GPX Capture 7″ Wifi Photo Frame is ready to display pictures sent from your whole extended family. It’s so easy to use it makes a great gift for the non-techie mom in your life.
The touchscreen looks great, whether it’s showing images or short videos sent in from a free app.
I put digital photo frame in my home office for hands-on testing. And I love it.
Apple and Star Wars come together in these new accessories. Photo: Casetify
Casetify partnered with Lucasfilm to release an exclusive collection of iPhone cases and other accessories in honor of Star Wars Day. It’s all about the Dark Side of the Force, with a range of styles featuring Darth Vader, the Death Star, stormtroopers and more.
These are limited editions so don’t procrastinate about ordering.
Henry Cavill and Dua Lipa in Argylle, now on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The action-comedy romance film Argylle stayed near the top of streaming popularity charts for a third week. The Apple TV+ spy-vs-spy thriller is chock full of celebrities.
Plus, the dark, gritty series Sugar continues to pull in big audiences on Apple’s streaming service for another week, too. It features Colin Farrell as a private investigator solving a mystery.
iPads released years ago are not enough to keep up Apple's tablet shipments. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPad shipments declined 8.5% year-over-year in the first quarter of the 2024, according to a market research firm. The drop can be partially chalked up to the complete lack of new models for the last 18 months.
But it demonstrates Apple’s dominance of the global tablet market that it’s still on top despite a hefty decline during winter quarter.
Tim Cook is betting big on AI. Photo: Andrea De Santis/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac
CEO Tim Cook is very enthusiastic about the artificial intelligence features coming to iPhone, Mac and iPad. On Thursday, he spoke glowingly about Apple’s unique advantages in this area, and talked about the “transformative power and promise of AI.”
iOS 18, macOS 15 and iPadOS 18 are all expected to include new AI features when they launch this autumn.
The future looks bright if you're wearing Tim Cook's shades. Photo: Keming Tan/Unsplash License/Modified by Cult of Mac
Apple saw its revenue drop 4% year over year in the first quarter, the company reported Thursday. But revenue and earnings dropped less than analysts had expected, setting off a surge in the share price.
In a conference call with investors and analysts after the financial results had been announced, CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri talked about this being the quarter of the “challenging compare,” were upbeat about iPhone sales in China, bragged about the M3 MacBook Air, and fended off questions about the company’s AI plans.
Freeware won't be destroyed by Apple's Core Technology Fee. Image: Cult of Mac/Carlos Pernalete Tua
Apple responded to protests about the Core Technology Fee it charges European developers every time one of their applications is installed. It removed the requirement for apps that generate “no revenue whatsoever.”
Currently, the CTF is only charged in the EU, but it has the potential to expand globally so prudent developers should pay attention to any changes no matter where they live.
Wall Street thinks Apple is about to announce weak results, but AI could bring a turnaround. Photo: Anna
Nekrashevich/Pexels
The first three months of 2024 were probably not good ones for Apple. When the company reveals the financial results from its March quarter on Thursday, analysts predict a 5% annual drop in revenue will be one of the announcements.
But part of the reason for weak sales is customers anticipating AI-powered iPhones and Macs later this year. CEO Tim Cook almost certainly will drop hints about what’s coming in a conference call also scheduled for Thursday.
Apple TV+ promises epic adventure with WondLa. Image: Skydance Animation/Apple TV+
The first installment of the animated adventure trilogy WondLa will premiere on Apple TV+ in June. It’s the most ambitious children’s show the streamer has launched.
The series is adapted from a New York Times bestselling book series by Skydance Animation, and has a star-studded voice cast.
iPhone wake-up alarms are failing. Photo: Cult of Mac/NEOSiAM 2024+
No, you didn’t deactivate the wake-up alarm in your sleep this morning. Apple is aware of a problem that sometimes causes the iPhone’s Clock app to fail to set off alarms.
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck will star in an Apple TV+ action comedy this summer. Photo: Apple TV+
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are teaming up again for The Instigators. It’s a buddy action comedy with the two playing thieves stealing from a corrupt politician.
iPad goes into combat in Ukraine fighter jets. Photo: Ukraine Air Force
Ukraine’s Air Force needs to launch modern U.S.-made missiles from Soviet-era fighter jets in combat. The surprise solution to the disconnect? iPad.
Apple tablets reportedly give the vintage aircraft the ability to control a variety of weapons systems supplied by Western countries after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
iPhone 16 Pro Max could be the largest Apple handset ever. Leaked image: Sonny Dickson
Apple reportedly will increase the screen size in the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Two tipsters recently revealed mockups of the 6.9-inch version alongside the smaller models in the iPhone 16 series.
If the rumor of a larger iPhone 16 Pro Max proves true, it’ll be among the more significant changes to the iPhone design in years.
iPad has been designated a gatekeeper by the EU, and Apple has to open those gates. Image: Cult of Mac
The iPad joined the European Union’s list of “gatekeeper” platforms Monday. The designation requires Apple to make the same sorts of sweeping changes to iPadOS that the company already made to iPhone, including allowing sideloading of applications.
Apple has six months to implement the modifications.
Lower cost Beats earbuds and headphone are supposedly on the way. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple is reportedly mere days away from launching Beats Solo Buds truly wireless earbuds. And Beats Solo 4 over-the-ears headphones will also premiere on Tuesday, April 30, according to an unconfirmed report.
Both will supposedly cost significantly less than similar AirPods models, though without all the same features.
Your wireless carrier won't be able to throttle streaming video for much longer. Image: Fox/Cult of Mac
There’s a good chance watching video on your iPhone is about to get better. Net neutrality rules passed by the FCC this week reportedly forbid U.S. wireless carriers from lowering the quality of streaming video to throttle the amount of data its consumes.
So if you watch Apple TV+, Netflix, etc. on your iPhone, your carrier is no longer allowed to reduce the video quality.
2nm processors made by TSMC will be faster while using less power than today's 3nm iPhone and Mac chips. But there's bad news. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Although Apple’s chip-maker TSMC will start making processors with a 2nm process in 2025, production could begin too late for next year’s iPhone.
Still, TSMC says 1.6nm chips will go into production in 2026.
It's not challenging to guess that Apple Pencil 3 is on the agenda for the May 7 Apple event. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple Pencil 3 is apparently right around the corner, and leaks indicate the next iPad stylus will offer several features not in the previous one. That includes a new “squeeze” gesture, haptic feedback and Find My support.
A refurbished Apple Watch Series 9 is as good as new but costs much less. Image: Cult of Mac
Savvy shoppers can now buy Apple Watch Series 9 from Apple’s Certified Refurbished store. It’s a no-risk way to pick up the wearable at up to $110 below the usual price.
These are primarily devices that consumers bought then returned so supplies and selection are somewhat limited.
In a long overdue move, Apple will reportedly integrate a Calculator application into the iPad operating system. The change — which is somehow both minor and monumental — will supposedly come when iPadOS 18 launched this autumn.
In the mean time, there are already several calculators hidden in the iPad.