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.
Looks like Musk will buy Twitter after all. Photo: Elon Musk/Twitter/Cult of Mac
Elon Musk reportedly has stopped his efforts to get out of buying Twitter. He’s going to purchase the social media platform at his original price from April.
He spent the intervening months trying back out of the deal, which forces him to pay much more for the company than its current value.
★★★★☆
Play games on the Gamevice Flex without taking off your iPhone case. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Gamevice Flex is an iPhone game controller that mimics the design of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con with the controls set on either side of the display. Similar iPhone controllers make you take the case off your handset to play but the Flex wraps around the handset even if it’s in a protective case.
The wired controller includes a full set of buttons, sticks, bumpers, etc. so you can enjoy games like Fortnite from Xbox Cloud Gaming or similar services, or almost anything from Apple Arcade.
I spent quite a few hours testing Gamevice Flex – here’s why I like it.
The original AirPods Pro don't have the hardware for Adaptive Transparency. Photo: Apple
The hopes of AirPods Pro users were raised recently when evidence pointed to the original version of these wireless earbuds getting Adaptive Transparency, one of best features of the second-generation model. Turns out it’s probably just a mistake.
Will Smith stars in Emancipation, coming to theaters and Apple TV+ in December. Screenshot: Apple TV+
Still remember why you’re mad at Will Smith? Apple TV+ hopes you’ve forgotten about the “The Slap” by December because that’s when Emancipation staring Smith will reach theaters and the streaming service.
The historical drama is based on the real-life story of a man named Peter, whose saga of escaping slavery made headlines around the world in 1863. A just-released teaser trailer gives a first look.
AirPods Pro 2 aren't larger than their predecessor, but they do have bigger batteries. Image: Apple
Apple promises that AirPods Pro 2 offer a longer battery life that the original version, and now we know part of the way this is accomplished. The 2022 version uses batteries with 16% more capacity.
But the truly wireless headphones manage to pull off a 33% increase in time between changes.
There are now a whopping 100 million songs available to stream on Apple Music.
That’s “more music than you can listen to in a lifetime, or several lifetimes,” says Rachel Newman, Apple Music’s global head of editorial. “More music than any other platform. Simply the biggest collection of music, in any format, ever.”
You'll need patience when ordering an iPhone 14 Pro. Photo: Apple
The two iPhone 14 Pro models have been on the market for several weeks now but demand still outstrips supply. As a result, anyone shopping for the handsets should expect to wait until November to get one, especially the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The iPhone 14 Plus is set to launch October 7 and already has a short wait time beyond that date. Those shopping for the basic iPhone 14 face no wait.
It's time for iPhone 6 to ride off into the sunset. Photo: Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 6 is now a “vintage” product. That doesn’t mean it’s now cool for hipsters to use one – it’s the classification Apple uses for products it stopped selling five years ago, and somewhat limits the repair options.
The iOS handset was hugely successful in its day, and probably still holds the title of the best-selling smartphone ever.
Jon Stewart is no Apple Genius, but he plays one on TV. Screenshot: Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Ever wondered what the + in Apple TV+ stands for? According to Jon Stewart, it means you can go into an Apple Store and find him and other Apple TV+ stars working at the Genius Bar.
Watch this clip to see the former host of The Daily Show utterly failing to provide tech support.
While Apple is producing fewer iPhone 14 units, it's making a lot more iPhone 14 Pro Max ones. Photo: Apple
Reports that Apple is making fewer iPhone 14 units than its predecessor are true… but that’s not the whole story. Apple is producing many more units in the entire iPhone 14 series than it did the earlier models, according to an analyst.
And the change will be a benefit for Apple’s bottom line.
Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao return for season three of the gamer-oriented comedy. Photo: Apple TV+
Gamer-themed workplace comedy Mythic Quest returns to Apple TV+ on November 11. That’s the date the third season of the hilarious show premieres, Apple said Thursday.
Apple’s streaming video service also announced the launch dates for new seasons of Slow Horses and Little America.
Ethan Hawke and Ewan McGregor are Raymond and Ray. Photo: Apple TV+
Raymond and Ray is a film about two half-brothers who reunite at the funeral of their terrible father. The dark comedy starring Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke will reach theaters and the Apple TV+ streaming service in October.
The trailer released Thursday gives a glimpse of the difficulties the two men face coming to terms with their father – whose last wish was for them to dig his grave.
RIP Google Stadia: Apple users lose an option to play console games. Photo: Google/Cult of Mac
Google Stadia cloud gaming service is being shut down. It allowed Mac, iPad and iPhone users to play console-quality games, but its developer admits it never found an audience.
Other cloud-gaming services remain, including Microsoft’s online version of Xbox and Amazon Luna.
★★★★☆
You're ready to play Xbox Cloud Gaming on your iPhone with the RiotPWR Controller for iOS (Xbox Edition). Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
RiotPWR teamed up with Microsoft on an Xbox-licensed game controller for iPhone. It’s nearly identical to one of Microsoft’s own but the RiotPWR Controller for iOS (Xbox Edition) connects through a Lightning cable and includes a mount to hold your handset. And it comes with a month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to get you started playing console games online.
I’ve enjoyed a couple of weeks of gaming on RiotPWR’s iPhone controller. Here’s why.
Add Moving Elements to photos in Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023. Photo: Adobe
Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023 and Premiere Elements 2023 launched Thursday. These are the latest versions of apps intended to simplify photo and video editing simple for users at any skill level.
They offer new AI-powered features, as well as new step-by-step Guided Edits. Plus, it helps users add animation to photos.
The Adonit LOG wooden iPad stylus combines sustainability and functionality. Photo: Adonit
The Adonit Log is a new iPad stylus that skips the usual plastic or metal body and instead uses sustainably-sourced wood. It’s like using a pencil with your tablet.
But the stylus still includes high-tech features, including a 1-millimeter tip for high accuracy, palm rejection and a long-lasting battery.
Apple users may be freed from CAPTCHA with the help of Cloudflare's Turnstile. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s Automatic Verification system for websites is getting a big boost from Cloudflare. The web security company just unveiled Turnstile, a free alternative to those irritating CAPTCHA image tests. This has Apple’s system built in.
Turnstile, now in open beta testing, is available to anyone, not just Cloudflare customers.
Retailers that use Square's POS software can now accept contactless payments directly on an iPhone. Photo: Square
Square now offers Apple’s Tap to Pay on iPhone system to sellers in the U.S. With it, businesses can accept contactless payments directly on their iPhone – no additional hardware required.
Apple launched its new payment method earlier in 2022, and already uses it in its own stores.
Some non-M1 iPads will support Stage Manager too. Image: Apple
Apple listened to a chorus of user complaints by bringing support for Stage Manager to some older iPad models that don’t have the M1 processor. That gives more tablets access to the system that puts iPadOS applications in resizable, floating windows.
But the news isn’t all good. The company also decided to delay full support for external displays until later. The feature won’t be part of iPadOS 16.1 when it launches.
Dr. Jordan Rogers uses iPad Pro to conduct a 3D scan of the pit his team is excavating in an ancient Roman kitchen in Pompeii. Photo: Apple
The iPad has joined the traditional tools of archeology. Along with shovels, brushes and buckets, the team excavating Pompeii uses Apple’s tablet to record what they find.
“iPad is the perfect archaeology machine,” says Allison Emmerson, who is leading the dig at the long-buried Roman city.
More USB-C ports would make the 2022 iPad Pro far more capable. Concept: Apple/Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The 2022 iPad Pro that almost certainly will launch in October raises hopes among tablet fans for significant hardware improvements. The basic iPad design is great, but there are nevertheless a few changes that need to be made.
Here’s a handful of suggestions that would make the iPad Pro easier to use without mucking up the best tablet on the market.
★★★★★
Easily turn an M.2 NVMe or SATA SSD into a drive for your Mac or iPad with this enclosure from Satechi. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The Satechi USB-C Aluminum Tool-Free Enclosure allows M.2 PCIe NVMe and SATA solid state drives to be easily added to a Mac or iPad. The rugged enclosure includes a USB-C port for wide compatibility.
I installed an SSD into Satechi’s enclosure and tested it in my home office. It was as simple as one could hope.
Take the battery out of the Apple Watch Ultra and there's a lot of room inside. Photo: iFixit
To find out what’s inside the new Apple Watch Ultra, you could smash it with a hammer. Or you could do what iFixit did, which is carefully disassemble the new wearable.
Among the items found is a battery that dwarfs the one in Apple Watch Series 8.
The iPhone 15 Ultra might have double the number of front cameras. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Details on Apple’s 2023 top-tier handset are starting leak out. It will supposedly be dubbed iPhone 15 Ultra and include a pair of front-facing cameras and USB-C. Plus, the base model will have more storage capacity.
Although the iPhone 14 series is still brand new, it’s never too soon to start looking ahead.