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 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.
★★★★☆
The new version of the mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe is even more capable. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Roll out the mophie 3-in-1 Travel Charger with MagSafe and it’s ready to juice up your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods. Just drop the devices on their appropriate wireless charging mat. And, to make it easier to take on the road, the accessory comes with a carrying case.
I used the original 2022 model, and mophie introduced a new version in late 2023. I retested the multidevice travel charger to see how quickly it wirelessly powers up a variety of Apple products and how easy it is to carry around. Here are my updated results.
Expect a faster Mac Studio in mid-year -- possibly at WWDC2024. Photo: Apple
A third-generation, speed improved version of the Mac Studio is reportedly on Apple’s agenda for around the middle of 2024. An Apple M3 Ultra processor will supposedly be the highlight of the next iteration of the professional-grade macOS desktop.
Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom is one of three games added to Apple Arcade on Thursday. Photo: Apple Arcade/Bandai Namco
Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom promises an epic and nostalgic adventure, while Cornsweeper is a reimagined version of a classic. These are two of the latest additions to Apple Arcade’s extensive catalogue, and are now playable on iPhone, Mac and more.
More are on the way, as are content updates to other popular games in the service.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone star in "Killers of the Flower Moon," coming soon to Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The wait to stream Killers of the Flower Moon on Apple TV+ is almost over. Martin Scorsese’s historical crime drama debuts on Apple’s streaming service on Friday, January 12.
The epic proved is popular with both critics and audiences when it premiered in theaters around the world in October.
To preserve the battery in your iPhone as long as possible, follow the 40-80 rule. Graphic: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
iPhone 15 has a charging trick many users might not be aware of: It can automatically stop charging when the battery level hits 80%. This makes it much easier to follow the “40-80 rule,” which helps increase the long-term useful life of the battery.
Here’s more on how it works, whether you should follow the rule, and how to flip on the setting on your iPhone.
Link History in the Facebook iPhone app can be useful if you don't mind Meta tracking you. Image: Meta/Cult of Mac
To absolutely no one’s surprise, Meta came up with a new way to track its users. Facebook Link History stores a list of websites and webpages that users have gone to from their Facebook feed. The information is used to target advertising.
Fortunately, you can turn off the tracking feature. Here’s how.
You'll be sorry if you buy a wireless router without Wi-Fi 7. Photo: Wi-Fi Alliance/Cult of Mac
Anyone shopping for a wireless router should get one that supports Wi-Fi 7. This new version will finally go mainstream this year, and you don’t want to miss out. Getting a Wi-Fi 7 router now makes sense if you want to have the fastest and most reliable internet connection possible, now and in the forseeable future.
Unlike most of its predecessors, the primary goal for Wi-Fi 7 isn’t more speed. Instead, it’s more about reliability. That said, a speed improvement is expected.
Elkson Quattro Max shields the Apple Watch Ultra from scratches and tones down the orange color. Photo: Elkson
Apple Watch Ultra is amazingly powerful, but many people aren’t thrilled that the design uses orange as an accent color. But put the wearable in the Elkson Quattro Max Bumper Case and much of the orange is hidden. And the case now comes in five color options.
Plus, it’s about more than a pretty color. The case adds a layer of extra protection for Apple Watch Ultra and its display.
The Randa family needs to learn to stay away from the titan tunnels. Screenshot: Apple TV+
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 8 reveals why Lee Shaw is traveling around the world blowing stuff up, and also hits us with a big surprise. Then it drops some central characters down a huge hole.
Read our review/recap for Godzilla-size spoilers about the latest episode, plus some speculation about the show’s future.
Apple, please do what it takes to make "Mac gamer" no longer an oxymoron. Photo: Apple
The Apple A3 series processors make the latest Macs into powerful gaming machines. And macOS Sonoma includes tools to make porting PC games to Mac much easier. As a gamer myself, these are very welcome moves.
But right now, Apple is taking a “build it and they will come” attitude. History shows there’s an important step needed to turn Mac into a serious competition for PC and gaming consoles: CEO Tim Cook and Co. need to put their money where their mouths are and financially encourage top game developers to bring their products to macOS.
That might even include buying one or more game developers.
2024 will be a big, colorful year for iPad. Image: Cult of Mac
Get ready for big changes in the iPad 2024 lineup. Apple plans to shake things up next year, offering new versions of every tablet model, from the basic budget offering to the largest iPad Pro.
Details of the upcoming changes leaked out early, so we can tell you now what’s coming to the iPad in 2024.
Colonel Lee Shaw gets to blow stuff up in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 7. Photo: Apple TV+
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters episode 7 might not be the most exciting entry in the series, but it offers up important backstory for one of the best MonsterVerse films.
Read our review/recap for Godzilla-size spoilers about the latest episode, plus some speculation about the show’s future.
If you have a broken Apple Watch, you have a bigger problem than usual. AI image: Cult of Mac
The ban on selling the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 affects Apple’s ability to replace broken units, too. Starting December 25, the company won’t be able to send customers replacement units for smashed Apple Watch models going back to Series 6.
Apple stands accused of patent infringement due to a health-related sensor in the smartwatches. The years-long dispute between Cupertino and a medical tech company finally reached the point of an Apple Watch sales and import ban.
Put Apple Arcade under your Christmas tree this year. Photo: Apple
A recent survey shows that what most kids want for Christmas is video games. Let me suggest you give the gift of Apple Arcade this holiday season.
Apple’s game service offers over 200 titles in a wide variety of genres at a single, low price, and it’s especially well suited for kids. But there’s fun for the whole family, too.
An Apple Card Savings account is now an even better deal. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Money stored in Apple Card Savings accounts just started earning more interest. Goldman Sachs, the bank that backs these accounts, raised the interest rate to 4.25%.
This is a far higher rate than most savings accounts available to consumers. If you’re interested in learning more about the Apple Savings APY, check out the latest details on Apple Card’s savings interest rate.
The Vision Pro release date could come in only two months. Photo: Apple
Apple promises that its Vision Pro will be out “early next year,” but a noted tipster has the release of the cutting-edge AR headset narrowed down to February.
The product is supposedly already in full production in China.
Apple Watch Series 9 is going fast. And not in a good way. Image: Apple
Sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Apple’s website will stop on December 21. So Wednesday is the last day to purchase these wearables from Apple.com.
Apple retail stores will continue to sell them until December 24, but then those also will halt because of a patent dispute over an important feature in the devices. Apple, which previously appealed the U.S. International Trade Commission’s ruling on the matter, asked for a stay on the ban on U.S. imports and sales of the smartwatches. But in a Wednesday filing, the ITC denied Apple’s request (.pdf).
Take a couple minutes and install iOS 17.2.1. Your iPhone will be free of some bugs. Image: Cult of Mac
iPhone users can now install iOS 17.2.1. And macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 is out as well. These are minor bug fix updates, though. The changes are so small Apple didn’t bother to describe them.
These are the only updates introduced Tuesday. There’s no iPadOS version, nor one for Apple Watch. And no new betas, either.
These four Apple TV+ series all draw big audiences. Photo: Apple TV+/Cult of Mac
Four of the top 10 most popular streaming series are all on Apple TV+, according to a market analysis. That’s a new milestone for Apple’s streaming service.
The list includes British spy thriller Slow Horses and Godzilla series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, as well as other shows that both audiences and critics like.
Grab a recent-model Apple Watch while you can still get one. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple will temporarily halt sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 starting December 21. This is the result of a decision made by the International Trade Commission that the wearables infringe on patents held by two medical device-makers.
Apple argues that the companies are “patent trolls,” but it’s not that simple. And the question now is whether Apple will pay to license the patents, or if it will continue to fight in court.
All Systems Red from Martha Wells is coming to Apple TV+. Image: Tor/Cult of Mac
The Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Murderbot novels by Martha Wells are getting adapted into a series on Apple TV+. The sci-fi show will star Emmy winner Alexander Skarsgård, perhaps best known for his role on Succession.
Wells’ action-packed bestsellers center on a robot that breaks the programming that forces it to kill. The move allows the android to go freelance as a security specialist. Fans eagerly awaiting theMurderbot TV series release date can find all the latest details about the adaptation.