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Ed Hardy - page 5

Tiny snap-on iPhone game controller is always ready to play [Review] ★★★★

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Abxylute M4 review: Tiny iPhone game controller★★★★
Your iPhone is always ready to have fun with the Abxylute M4 game controller.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Abxylute M4 game controller is genuinely pocket-size, but clip it to your iPhone and you’ll have all the buttons and sticks you want to play retro and modern games.

It clings to your iPhone’s MagSafe connector, plus it includes a stand for detached gaming.

I enjoyed testing out the pint-size game controller with my iPhone 17, as long as I accepted the reasons for its necessary limitations. The affordable price helped a lot, too.

The real reason Apple turned to Intel chips again

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The real reason Apple turned to Intel chips again
Apple and Intel are patching things up. Here's why.
Image: ChatGPT

Your next Mac might run on an Intel processor, which is a gigantic surprise, considering Apple dropped the chipmaker years ago in favor of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

But there’s a standout reason why Apple needs Intel — and it might not be what you think.

Apple replaces AI chief, taps ex-Googler to fix Apple Intelligence

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Apple replaces AI chief, taps ex-Googler to fix Apple Intelligence
Apple found an expert with extensive AI experience to put in charge of some of its AI efforts.
AI image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

John Giannandrea, the man responsible for making Apple Intelligence what it is today, is out. It’s an expected change, as senior management reportedly didn’t think Giannandrea could provide the leadership needed to develop critical AI products.

Amar Subramanya, who Apple poached from Microsoft, will replace Giannandrea. Prior to his short stint at Microsoft, Subramanya spent many years at Google — most recently as head of engineering for the Gemini AI chatbot.

Cyber Monday deal drops iPad mini to record-low price

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Cyber Monday 2025 iPad mini deal
The latest iPad mini 7 with A17 Pro has never been more affordable. Never.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

The iPad mini 7 is a standout in this year’s Cyber Monday sales, with the steepest price cut the compact tablet has ever seen. You can get the powerful yet ultra-portable iPad at an amazing 30% off, dropping the cost way, way down to $349.

Whether you want a travel-friendly device, a sleek tablet for reading and note-taking, or a capable companion for school or work, this iPad mini Cyber Monday deal is one of the most compelling tablet bargains of 2025.

Cyber Monday alert: Deals slash prices on portable SSDs from Sandisk, Samsung and Kingston

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Portable SSD Black Friday deals
Upgrade your MacBook storage with a deal on a portable SSD this Cyber Monday.
Image: Google Gemini

Cyber Monday has arrived, and with it come amazing deals on portable SSDs. If you’ve been constantly running out of space on your laptop, desktop or tablet, this is your moment.

There are deals from top brands: Sandisk, Samsung and Kingston that shouldn’t be missed.

Live now: Best Cyber Monday 2025 iPad deals — iPad 11, M3 iPad Air, M5 iPad Pro

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Best Black Friday iPad deals 2025 — mega price drop alert!
Save an amazing 25% on a new Apple tablet. Do not miss these Cyber Monday iPad sales.
Image: Cult of Mac

Cyber Monday is officially here, and for iPad fans, the deals are looking good. Lots of iPads are on sale for their lowest-ever prices. Whether you’re hunting for a dependable workhorse, a powerful all-rounder, or a pro-level device, the iPad deals hitting the market shouldn’t be ignored.

The budget-friendly iPad is now 21% off, making it a steal for students, casual users, or families. Meanwhile, the sleek M3 iPad Air is discounted by an amazing 25%, bringing high-performance efficiency at an even more tempting price. And for creative pros, the brand-new M5 iPad Pro is also seeing an early discount — a rare opportunity to grab cutting-edge power and graphics capabilities without paying full retail.

macOS Finder needs a name that reflects what it actually does

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macOS Finder needs a name that reflects what it actually does
The days when it made sense for the Mac's file manager to be called "Finder" are long gone.
Image: Cult of Mac

iPhone has the Files app. Windows has File Explorer. macOS has … Finder? The Mac’s file manager got that odd name decades ago, and it made sense back then. Today, it’s an anachronism. It’s time to rename the macOS Finder to something less silly.

I’m not suggesting Apple remove the Mac’s file manager. There is a far better name for it, though.

Apple Watch Series 11 Black Friday deals — get ’em while they’re hot!

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Apple Watch Series 11 Black Friday deals — get 'em while they're hot!
There's never been a better deal on Apple Watch Series 11.
Image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Black Friday has arrived early, and the savings on Apple Watch Series 11 are making headlines. The much-talked-about smartwatch is seeing its deepest discounts to date, with GPS models now starting at $339 — $60 off list price — and cellular versions dipping below $440.

Series 11 just launched in September, so it’s amazing you can already get 15% off the price.

This $30 TV sound bar lights up parties, too [Review] ★★★★☆

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iLive Portable Bluetooth Multimedia Sound Bar/Speaker review★★★★☆
The iLive Portable Bluetooth Multimedia Sound Bar/Speaker helps out an old TV, or perks up your parties.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The iLive Portable Bluetooth Multimedia Sound Bar/Speaker is ready to bring quality sound back to an old TV. Or connect it to your iPhone to add a soundtrack to your life. It’s portable and offers a multicolor light show when being used at a party.

Connect via Bluetooth or 3.5mm audio jack, and there are more options, too.

The speaker is only $30, and you’re probably reading this review to see if it’s terrible. Have no fear, I tested it out and you can expect decent quality sound, as long as you manage your expectations.

Apple’s Prehistoric Planet docuseries replaces dinosaurs with saber-toothed tigers [Now streaming!]

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Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age Season 1: saber-toothed tiger
A saber-toothed tiger in Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age, now on Apple TV.
Photo: Apple TV+

Liven up your Thanksgiving week with woolly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers. The next chapter in the Apple TV award-winning natural history series Prehistoric Planet leaves dinosaurs behind in favor of megafauna that lived during the last ice age, when glaciers covered much of the Earth’s surface.

The streaming service premiered Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age on Wednesday.

New Black Friday deal makes AirPods 4 shockingly cheap — almost 50% off!

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Black Friday 2025 deal cuts AirPods price by almost 50%
Black Friday 2025 deal cuts AirPods price to the lowest ever!
Image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Black Friday 2025 delivers some of the steepest discounts yet on Apple’s latest AirPods 4, giving shoppers a chance to grab the wireless earbuds for well below their regular prices. A deal knocks a stunning 47% off the cost, making them just $69 — an amazing price! Or there’s the version that adds active noise cancellation, which is currently 44% off, dropping it below $100 for the first time ever.

These deals make Apple’s earbuds one of this year’s standout tech bargains.

Black Friday 2025 brings big savings on iPhones — if you know where to look

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Black Friday 2025 brings big savings on iPhones — if you know where to look
We help you find the Black Friday iPhone deals you want.
Image: Cult of Mac

As Black Friday 2025 rolls in, Apple fans and deal hunters are looking to save some cash on iPhone. We’re here to help by pointing you to savings on a variety of models.

And speaking of helping, we can also explain why you’re struggling to find big discounts on the iPhone 17 series.

iOS 27 focuses on the one feature every iPhone user wants most

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iOS 27 goes on a bug hunt
iOS 27 reportedly will focus on eliminating iPhone bugs.
AI image: Google Gemini

Apple’s iOS 27 developers have reportedly been tasked with bringing to iPhone a feature many users have asked for, and every one actually wants. And it’s not AI. No, it seems the focus of the next major upgrade will be on removing bugs and improving the performance of the operating system.

The same supposedly goes for the next major version of macOS, iPadOS and other Apple OSs.

Pebblebee’s tracker tag just became a better AirTag rival [Review] ★★★★

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Pebblebee Clip 5 tracker tag just became a better AirTag rival [Review]★★★★
Pebblebee Clip 5 offers features AirTag can't beat.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The newly upgraded Pebblebee Clip 5 Bluetooth tracker tag sends out louder alerts, and its built-in LEDs got brighter. That should help it compete with Apple’s AirTag, as both use the same Find My network.

Plus, it has bonus features, like one that helps you find your iPhone.

I put the accessory through real-world testing — here’s how it came out.

File sharing breakthrough: Android Quick Share now works with Apple AirDrop

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Android Quick Share now works with Apple AirDrop
Surprise! Androids and iPhones can now AirDrop/Quick Share files back and forth.
Screenshot: Google

Sharing holiday pictures with the whole family just got easier. Google found a way to make Android’s Quick Share feature cross-compatible with Apple AirDrop. This means Android and iPhone users can wirelessly transfer images and other files between their handsets.

The feature was announced Thursday, and currently only works with a few Android handsets, but Google promised wider availability is in development.

Why you might want to pass on Apple’s Black Friday deals

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Apple Store Black Friday Shopping Event 2025
Black Friday brings a rare sale from the Apple Store. But don't get too excited.
Image: Apple

Apple is kicking off the holiday shopping season with a Black Friday promotion: from November 28 through December 1, customers who purchase select Apple products will receive an Apple Gift Card worth up to $250.

While that sounds sweet, you might want to shop elsewhere.

How to add your ID to Apple Wallet

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Get a gorgeous ID in Apple Wallet.
Get a gorgeous ID in Apple Wallet.
Image:

In several states, Apple’s state ID initiative enables iPhones and Apple Watches to hold a digital copy of the user’s driver’s license, in the same way these devices store credit cards and airline tickets. And across the United States, you can create an Apple Digital ID based on your passport that can get you through some airport security checks. 

The day when an iPhone can completely take the place of an old-fashioned wallet remains years away, but it’s a goal Apple is working toward. Apple Pay is making progress on replacing credit cards, you can put airline tickets in the Wallet app, and the same goes for loyalty cards.

But no wallet is complete unless it can hold an ID. And that’s where Apple’s digital ID initiative comes in. Here’s what you need to know to add your driver’s license, state ID or federal passport to your Apple Wallet.

This Sandisk SSD is so tiny it can live on your MacBook [Review] ★★★★

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SanDisk Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive★★★★
Add a terabyte of storage to your older MacBook with this affordable SSD.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Sandisk gives its new Extreme Fit USB-C Flash Drive the crown as “the world’s smallest 1TB USB-C flash drive.” It’s undeniably very, very small — so tiny that you can leave it plugged into your MacBook. That means it can semi-permanently boost the storage capacity of your older notebook — and at quite a good price.

I tested the miniature external SSD with a variety of Apple devices, including my iPhone. Here’s how it stood up to real-world use.

Illinois drivers can add their digital license to iPhone

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Illinois drivers can add a digital license to iPhone
An Illinois digital drivers license is a benefit to travelers.
Image: Illinois Secretary of State/Cult of Mac

Illinois motorists can securely add a digital driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet, which enables them to present their ID using their iPhone or Apple Watch. The option was announced Tuesday and becomes available on Wednesday.

That makes the Prairie State the fourteenth U.S. state or territory to support Apple’s digital ID program.

New iOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2 betas show testing is nearly over [Updated]

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iOS 26.2 beta 3 is here
iOS 26.2 beta 3 is here!
Graphic: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple continues to quickly push ahead with development of its next round of operating system updates. The result: the third betas of iOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2 reached developers on Monday, and the public on Tuesday. The same goes for iPadOS 26.2 beta 3, watchOS 26.2 beta 3, tvOS 26.2 beta 3 and visionOS 26.2 beta 3.

Expect the full versions to be ready in only a few weeks.

Why Apple killing the Mac Pro makes sense

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Mac Pro: Rest in Peace?
Apple silicon makes towers like the Mac Pro a thing of the past.
AI Image: Google Gemini/Cult of Mac

A new report says Apple has “largely written off the Mac Pro,” but before you get mad, you need to understand why Mac tower desktops don’t make sense anymore, and haven’t for years.

It all comes down to the architecture of Apple’s M-series processors.

Clever phone lanyard is also a convenient USB-C charging cable [Review] ★★★★☆

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Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable★★★★☆
This lanyard lets you keep a convenient iPhone charging cable with you all the time.
Photo: Satechi

Crossbody iPhone slings are in style, and the Satechi OntheGo USB-C Lanyard Cable is a unique addition to the category. It’s both a strap to make carrying the iPhone easy and a USB-C charging cable.

I put the accessory to the test with my iPhone 17. I especially liked that I can easily swap it between iPhone cases.

How to watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving for free

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Don’t miss ‘A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving‘ on Apple TV
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is available for free later this month. Here’s how to watch it.
Photo: Apple TV

With Thanksgiving coming in a few weeks, it’s time to watch the beloved Peanuts special that celebrates this holiday, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. While Apple TV subscribers can watch it anytime, Apple will also make the special free for anyone to stream one weekend this month.

You do not need an Apple device to enjoy either. It’s easy on Windows and Android.

Apple’s most controversial product in years is a huge hit

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Apple's most controversial product in years is a huge hit
iPhone Pocket: Gone in a flash.
Screenshot: Cult of Mac

If you didn’t get up before dawn on Friday, you sadly missed your chance to buy an iPhone Pocket, an accessory that divides Apple fans. It’s been relentlessly mocked online — but sold out immediately on launch day.

Love it or hate it, it’s hard to argue with results like that.

Apple TV scores: MLS matches now included at no extra cost

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Apple TV scores: MLS matches now included at no extra cost
Every Apple TV subscriber can now watch the entire 2026 MLS season.
Photo: Apple/MLS

Watching Major League Soccer just got cheaper and easier. Starting in 2026, anyone with a subscription to Apple TV can enjoy every regular-season MLS match.

“We’re thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world next season on Apple TV,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, in a press release Thursday. “Every match, all in one place, alongside incredible Apple Originals — it’s a win for fans everywhere.”