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.
Will Apple's "Wonderlust" event be wonderful? Image: Apple
Apple sent out invites Tuesday to its annual September product launch event, which will happen September 12. The tagline is “Wonderlust,” so Apple is apparently hoping we’ll all be feeling both wonder and lust when it unveils the iPhone 15 series.
We’re also expecting to see the next generation of Apple Watch models.
Don't worry about rumors that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be delayed. Concept: Antonio De Rosa/ADR Studio
Despite earlier reports that customers might have to wait additional weeks for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, a trusted analyst says the companies in Asia assembling Apple’s top-tier handset will begin mass shipments this week.
It and three other iPhone 15 versions are expected to hit store shelves near the end of September, as usual.
Students have better options for textbooks than this. Photo: cottonbro studio/Pexels
Adobe wants to help students accustomed to old-fashioned paper textbooks get over the transition to PDF textbooks. The company points out that its free reader for the digital format does a lot more than display text and images, and many of these features are ideal for students.
The software developer highlighted five of the benefits of the free Mac application for those going to class with a PDF textbook.
A draft for an Apple-1 advertisement that Steve Jobs handwrote in 1976 just sold at auction for a whopping $175,759.
Other rare Jobs-related items also sold for princely sums, including Apple Computer check “No. 2” signed by company co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
The USB-C port in the iPhone 15 series could be blazing fast. Photo: Cult of Mac
Good news for those hoping iPhone 15 Pro will support very high-speed data transfers: Images supposedly showing a Thunderbolt cable specifically for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max just leaked out. This offers yet another indication that Apple’s next handsets will be able to move data at up to 40Gbps.
Whether the iPhone Thunderbolt cable will be released is open to question — it’s almost completely redundant.
Rock Paper Pencil might make you a better digital artist. Photo: Astropad
Astropad’s Rock Paper Pencil is designed for digital artists who want drawing on an iPad to feel more like using a pen on paper. It achieves this effect with an unusual combination: a screen protector and an Apple Pencil tip.
Notetakers can also appreciate not having to use the slippery glass screen of an iPad.
The third season of The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon premieres globally on September 13 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
A new trailer for The Morning Show‘s upcoming third season depicts a major crisis hitting the show-within-a-show — but the solution might be worse than the problem.
That solution? A gigantic cash infusion from tech executive Paul Marks, a new character played by Mad Men star Jon Hamm. He dangles the money after the UBA TV network suffers a massive hack attack. The trailer, which Apple TV+ released Thursday, gives us a better look at Hamm as he joins Morning Show stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Billy Crudup.
The USB-C cable that comes with iPhone 15 might not be very fast. Photo: Apple
USB-C cables that will ship with the iPhone 15 series allegedly will support only USB 2.0. If true, that will limit data transfers to a relatively poky 480Mbps, far below the maximum speed of the more recent USB 3.2 Gen 2.
However, other reports say the actual USB-C port in the iPhone 15 is much faster.
Apple's Vision Pro labs let developers test their apps on the upcoming headset. Some devs reportedly came away impressed. Photo: Apple
Developers who visited Apple’s special labs to test their Vision Pro apps on the upcoming headset came away impressed, according to a cheery new Apple press release. The labs, which let devs test third-party apps on the AR headset Apple plans to release next year, are reportedly not well-attended. So, Apple seems intent on drumming up interest.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, developers who went to Apple’s labs offered some very positive comments about the hardware and software.
3DPets uses the Lidar scanner in an iPhone 14 Pro to make a custom prosthetic for Trip the dog. Screenshot: Apple
The latest “Shot on iPhone” film is the heart-warming story of Trip the dog receiving a prosthetic leg. It came from a company that uses lidar built into Apple handsets to scan his body to make sure it fits.
Watch The Invincibles to see how the process works.
The months-long wait for iOS 17 is almost over. Image: Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
The launch of iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 is drawing close, as the many steps of beta testing for these operating systems are almost finished. The same holds true for tvOS 17, and watchOS 10 is nearly as close. Apple likely will release them all in September.
macOS Sonoma, however, isn’t expected to debut until later.
Strange things happen to people who haven't slept in weeks. Screenshot: Apple TV+
Still Up is about the hijinks of a pair of chronic insomniacs who aren’t aware they’re falling in love. Apple TV+ released the trailer Tuesday showing Danny and Lisa’s struggles to sleep and find someone who understands them.
The romantic comedy series will debut on Apple TV+ in a few weeks.
★★★★☆
The Plugable USBC-4IN1 can connect a 4K HDMI TV to a Mac or iPad, and add more high-speed USB accessories, too. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The movies and shows on a MacBook or iPad can be easily played on a full-size TV, but many computers need an adapter to add the HDMI port. The Plugable USBC-4IN1 has just what’s needed, offering 4K video at 60Hz. Or Plugable’s USB-C dock is well suited for using an HDMI monitor to get work done.
Plus, it stands out from the pack with a USB-C port that supports simultaneous 100W power pass-through charging and 10Gbps data transfers. There’s a couple of high-speed USB ports, too.
I put the surprisingly affordable accessory through a series of test to see if it lived up to its promises. Here’s what I found.
The iPhone 15 Pro models might cost noticeably more than the two basic ones. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The price of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will jump by at least $100, if an unconfirmed report coming out of Asia is correct. The increase could go as high as $200.
This is the latest in a series of predictions that the cost of the two top-tier iPhones coming this autumn will increase.
The new subscription analytics tab in Apple Podcasts Connect shows how listeners use subscriptions. Screenshot: Apple
Apple Podcasts Connect has been upgraded with subscription analytics, a new feature intended to allow podcast creators to see how listeners engage with premium subscriptions.
In addition, Apple Podcasts has additional Delegated Delivery partners. And Linkfire for Podcasts is coming in the autumn.
The iPhone 15 USB-C cables might look something like this. Photo: Cult of Mac
iPhones traditionally come with white USB cables, but an unconfirmed report says they are about to become a lot more colorful. They’ll supposedly be matched to the hue of the handset.
And the quality of the cables will allegedly be improved, too.
Your Apple Watch band is almost certainly disgusting. Possibly dangerously so. Photo: Cult of Mac/Wikipedia
Your Apple Watch band could be a breeding ground for potentially dangerous pathogens, according to a new study.
Scientists found that 95% of the watchbands they tested were contaminated with “bacteria of public health importance.” This proved especially true for rubber and plastic bands.
But there’s good news. The scientists also found that cleaning an Apple Watch band (or any watch band) removes all the potentially dangerous bacteria.
Apple Card works hand-in-hand with iPhone. Photo: Apple
For the third year in a row, Apple Card has been named the Best Co-Branded Credit Card for Customer Satisfaction with No Annual Fee in J.D. Power’s study of U.S. credit cards.
It's a hub, an SSD enclosure and a stand. Photo: Satechi
Satechi’s Dual Dock Stand packs in an unusual number of features. It’s a nine-port USB-C hub, and also an NVMe SSD enclosure. And it’s designed to prop up a MacBook for easier typing.
The multifunction MacBook accessory launched Thursday.
That's one angry-looking giant lizard. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ just gave its first look at Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, an upcoming series set in the MonsterVerse that contains Godzilla and other classic kaiju.
The sci-fi series will star Kurt Russell, and will feature a family searching for their link to the secretive Monarch organization.
The USB-C port in the iPhone 15 series could be blazing fast. Photo: Cult of Mac
A new leak adds weight to a previous report that the iPhone 15 series will support Thunderbolt. If true, this will allow their USB-C ports to transfer files, updates and other data at up to 40 Gbps.
A tremendously faster data transmission speed would especially benefit those recording high-resolution video on Apple handsets.