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.
Take 4TB of additional storage wherever you go with this tough SSD. Photo: Samsung/Cult of Mac
The Samsung T7 Shield rugged SSD launched in 2022 with a maximum of 2TB of capacity and is now available with twice that.
T7 Shield is a a credit-card size external SSD intended for outdoor content creators or travelers. It works with Mac and iPad plus a wide variety of devices.
★★★★☆
That's not a fountain pen. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Adonit Star is the stylus for iPad users who love antiques; it’s designed to look like a fountain pen, not the usual plastic pencil. Despite the traditional design, it’s a fully functional stylus that’s ready for handwritten notes or sketching out ideas.
I used it with my iPad Pro, and it works as good as it looks. Even better, it is surprisingly affordable.
iPhone 16 Pro buyers reportedly won’t get the “periscope” camera previous rumors suggested. A camera with the new type of high-end lens will be restricted to only the iPhone 16 Pro Max, according to a reliable source of Apple info.
The new hardware actually will arrive with the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023. But it supposedly won’t come to the regular-size iPhone Pro in 2024, despite what earlier reports indicated.
The pop-up lens should bring a noticeable jump in image quality while also shrinking the thickness of the iPhone’s notoriously large camera hump.
There's no need for a separate iPad stand and USB-C hub. Plugable just launched a combination device. Photo: Plugable
The Plugable USB-C Stand Dock goes beyond just holding up an iPad so the display can be seen — it’s also an 8-port hub with HDMI, two USB-A ports and many more.
The design reduces clutter on the user’s desk. And the stand/hub is also portable.
Demand for HomePod 2 has outstripped supply. Photo: Apple
Order the recently unveiled HomePod 2 from the online Apple store today and it might not arrive until March. Preorders for the revived version of Apple’s full-size smart speaker have surpassed the launch-day supply.
There seems to be some pent up demand for the product.
Make your MacBook more useful, not bulky. Photo: Satechi
The Satechi Pro Hub Slim connects plugs directly into the side of a MacBook to greatly expand the range of ports available to the user while adding minimal bulk. It’s slim enough for Apple’s latest notebooks.
There’s nevertheless room for HDMI, two full-size USB-A ports, memory card readers and more.
Apple will have to keep outsourcing Wi-Fi chips. Photo: Alan Levine/Flickr
Apple’s drive to make all its own processors hit a bump in the road. It’s reportedly stopped development on chips to add Wi-Fi to its devices, and will instead keep outsourcing these.
The reason is simple: Apple doesn’t have enough talented engineers to design all the chips it wants. It’s putting most of its available resources into Mac and iPhone processors.
Believe it or not, Apple will give you actual money for that iPhone 7 stuck in a drawer. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple dropped its trade-in values for many older iPhone models. The decrease is as much as $80 for some.
Even so, used iPhones retain for value for a long more time, and can be worth hundreds of dollars off the price of a new model. Or just trade them in for an Apple gift card.
Eva the Owlet is part of a wave of fresh children's programming headed for Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ has a trio of new children’s shows coming this spring. There’s Eva the Owlet and Frog and Toad, plus Jane, inspired by the work of primatologist Jane Goodall.
And that’s not all. Apple’s streaming service already has many shows for children, and several of these will get new seasons soon. Apple is also bringing back A Charlie Brown Valentine in February.
This concept might be very close to the VR/AR headset that Apple unveils later in 2023. Concept: Ahmed Chenni/Freelancer.com
Those eager for their first glimpse at Apple’s VR/AR headset should check out a concept design that might well be our best look yet at a product supposedly coming later this year.
It’s heavily based on leaked info about the upcoming virtual reality/augmented reality device — possibly called the “Reality Pro” — but with style added.
Here's how to take advantage of the temperature and humidity sensors in HomePod 2 and HomePod mini. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
HomePod 2 and (surprise!) HomePod mini both include temperature and humidity sensors. These can be used by Apple’s Home app to control HomeKit accessories. Or just tell you how hot or cold it is in your living room.
Here’s how to use the sensors in Apple’s large and small smart speakers.
"Emancipation" will not be the second Apple TV+ film to win a Best Picture Oscar. Graphic: Apple TV+
The Apple TV+ Christmas special The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse earned an Oscar nomination Tuesday in the Animated Short Film category. And Brian Tyree Henry picked up a best supporting actor nom for his role in Causeway, the indie film starring Jennifer Lawrence as a wounded Afghanistan vet returning to her hometown.
However, Apple’s streaming service will not be earning back-to-back Best Picture Oscars. It’s big Oscar bait release — Emancipation, the Civil War-era movie starring Will Smith as a slave fighting for his freedom — was completely shut out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The hardware for Apple's VR/AR headset might be better than science fiction. Photo: Warner Bros. Entertainment
New leaked details about Apple’s upcoming VR headset show the company is learning from mistakes made by makers of rival devices. Most notably, it’s reportedly creating a headset — possibly called “Reality Pro” — that will offer more realistic avatars, and won’t require the user to hold controllers in their hands.
Here are five ways Apple’s not making the same errors as Meta and other companies.
2023 MacBook Pro is the same but faster. Screenshot: Apple
The new 16- and 14-inch MacBook Pro models that are about to hit shelves have reached reviewers early, giving the world its first independent look at the newest macOS notebooks. The reviewers’ consensus is that the only noticeable change is the performance gain coming from the new M2 Max or M2 Pro processors.
That means the highlights of their reviews are benchmark scores for the much-improved CPUs and GPUs in Apple’s latest chips.
Leaks indicate Apple's Studio Display will soon be joined by an improved version. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
An enhanced version of the Apple Studio Display is expected soon with a better, brighter LCD. The “Pro” version be out before the end of March, according to a reliable source.
Any Mac user in the market for a new external monitor should know what is about to join Apple’s product lineup.
A California couple was reunited with their dog after he went through a harrowing experience. Photo: San Bernardino County Fire Department
Seamus the Australian Shepherd was swept away in floodwaters in San Bernardino, California, after recent storms. He was carried downstream almost a mile, but was rescued with the assistance of the Apple AirTag attached to his collar.
Cult of Mac interviewed Emilie Brill, Seamus’ owner. Here are the details of the pup’s rescue in her own words.
Android 13 is out of the reach of most users. In contrast, virtually all iPhone owners can install iOS 16. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
It’s considered somewhat controversial that iOS 16 has been installed on only about 70% of iPhones four months after its release. But that’s a problem Google can only dream of. A full six months after the debut of Android 13, it’s on a whopping 5.2% of devices.
A year ago, Samsung has promised users more Android updates. Clearly, it’s not having much of an effect.
★★★★☆
You don't need an old-fashioned wallet when MagWallet can do the job better. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
SwitchEasy’s MagWallet carries a pair of credit cards and snaps onto the back of your iPhone so it’s easy to keep with you. It’s much less bulky than a traditional wallet, and is just right for someone whose New Year’s resolution is to simplify their life.
I tried the leather MagWallet with my iPhone 14 Plus. It’s simply convenient.