Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
Samsung already makes 'hole punch' displays for its own phones. Photo: Samsung
Samsung has reportedly started manufacturing new “hole punch” OLED displays for iPhone 14 that will allow Apple to finally do away with the notch.
The South Korean company already uses hole punch displays in its own Galaxy devices, negating the need for a black bar at the top of the screen. On iPhone, however, they will initially be exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro models.
Don't let Verizon keep tabs on everything you do. Image: Verizon/Cult of Mac
If you use an iPhone on Verizon, there’s a good chance your carrier has been tracking everything you do when you’re connected to its cellular network. This includes the websites you visit, the apps you use, your location and more.
It’s all part Verizon’s “Custom Experience” and “Custom Experience Plus” programs, which are designed to “personalize” the carrier’s communications with its customers. In other words, it’s to build a profile about you so Verizon can better serve you targeted ads. (According to Verizon’s typo-riddled website, “The Custom Experience programs help us personalize communications, recommandations [sic] and offers to make them more relevant to you.”
There’s nothing Apple can do to stop this — despite its new privacy protections baked into iOS — because its tracking does not require an app installed on your iPhone. But there is something you can do to prevent it. We’ll show you how.
The preview release is available to anyone. Image: Microsoft
Microsoft is now testing a new version of OneDrive for Mac that runs natively on Apple M1 chipsets. The update enables faster syncing and better performance — particularly for larger files — with no need for emulation anymore.
Although this release is only a preview build for now, anyone who uses OneDrive on macOS can get their hands on it. We’ll show you how.
They could look a little like this. Concept: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
We could be waiting close to a year for Apple’s much-anticipated AirPods Pro upgrade, but according to one analyst, it will be well worth the wait. The next-generation buds are expected to deliver a brand-new design and a better chip.
They could also be Apple’s first headphones with fitness tracking capabilities.
A CT scan reveals the insides of AirPods Pro in the prettiest way possible. Photos: Scan of the Month
Ever wondered what your favorite wireless headphones might look like during a weird acid trip? Find out right here (while sober) with these mesmerizing CT scans of AirPods, which showcase the evolution of Apple’s buds on the inside.
AirPods have seen some surprisingly big changes since their initial introduction in late 2016. Here’s how Apple made them better — and even more compact.
Apple CEO Tim Cook “secretly” struck a deal with China in which he agreed to invest around $275 billion of Apple’s money to boost the country’s economy and “technological prowess,” according to a new report.
The five-year agreement was allegedly made during a series of visits Cook made to China in 2016 amid growing regulatory hostilities toward Cupertino. Since then, Apple has become China’s biggest smartphone brand.
Download the update today to start chatting. Screenshots: Google
You can now place calls and join remote meetings from right inside the Gmail app on iPhone and iPad.
Google Chat integration, with support for both voice and video calls, has been added in the app’s latest update. But it comes with one big limitation that means you’ll probably still need to keep the Google Chat app.
iPhone demand has reportedly fallen in recent weeks — but it may not be down for long. Photo: Apple
Apple is expected to increase iPhone shipments by 30% during early 2022, according to a new report, which cites multiple sources familiar with the plan. It is believed Cupertino hopes to ship 300 million throughout next year.
A recent report claimed Apple had cut iPhone orders going into the holiday season as a result of weakening demand for its newest models — thanks in large part to the component shortages that have made some options hard to obtain.
A rare Apple Easter egg, just for the holidays. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Get into the festive spirit by making it snow inside the Apple Store app while you do some last-minute shopping. Apple has once again added this cool animation Easter egg, which you can activate in an instant, ahead of the holidays.
It could be another great year. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly plans ambitious upgrades for a number of its hottest products in 2022, including major revamps for iPad Pro and MacBook Air — as well as an Apple silicon boost for the Mac Pro. Mac mini is also expected to see a refresh.
What’s more, the next-generation Apple Watch will come in a “ruggedized version aimed at extreme sports athletes.”
It's easy to see why Myst is Apple's Mac Game of the Year. Photo: Apple
Myst, the puzzle-adventure game from Cyan, has been named the 2021 Mac Game of the Year by Apple. But this popular classic actually made its debut way back in 1993.
Myst has gone through an incredible transformation since then. What was once a meager 3MB install is now a whopping 11.5GB download that’s packed with puzzles, glorious graphics and immersive sound. Here’s why the game picked up an Apple award — and why you might want to play it.
A smart and simple fix. Photo: Unnecessary Inventions
Don’t you just hate it when you show someone a photo on your iPhone and they rudely assume it’s okay to start flicking through your gallery? This bulky but brilliant iPhone case was designed to prevent that from happening.
The 3D-printed accessory features a detachable screen cover that blocks touch input, so you don’t have to worry about other people accidentally stumbling across your nudes — and then having to work through that trauma.
The move would "distort Arm's incentives," the FTC said. Image: Arm/Nvidia/Cult of Mac
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has filed a lawsuit to block Nvidia from acquiring Arm. It believes the move would “distort Arm’s incentives in chip markets” and allow the combined firm to “unfairly undermine Nvidia’s rivals.”
Nvidia is already one of the largest chip companies in the world, while Arm’s technology is licensed to some of the biggest and most powerful brands, including Apple, Samsung, and Qualcomm.
His Royal Highness Prince William will be the next guest on Time to Walk for Apple Fitness+. It will be a “special holiday episode” that closes out the series on December 6, Apple said on Friday. A free version will also be available.
During the episode, Prince William reflects on “a lighthearted moment when he was drawn out of his comfort zone, the value of listening as a way to empower others, and an experience that led him to prioritize mental health.”
Starting with a special EP from Coldplay. Image: Apple
Apple Music subscribers will receive “exclusive gifts” as part of a new holiday promotion. The gifts include a special EP from Coldplay — exclusive to Apple Music — as well as playlists and other “goodies” from A-list artists.
Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Elton John, and DJ Khaled are a few of the names who are onboard. Gifts will be rolled out every day over the next week, and you must have a valid Apple Music subscription to receive them.
Get the AluBase wireless charger and more at a big discount. Photo: Just Mobile
Looking for big discounts on great accessories for the holidays? Just Mobile has slashed up to 60% off all its essentials for iPhone and Apple Watch for a limited time.
You can save on cases, screen protectors, charging pads, and portable power banks for a limited time only.
Pandora become one of the first third-party iPhone apps. Photo: Pandora
Scott Forstall, a former senior vice president at Apple, allegedly encouraged Pandora to jailbreak the original iPhone so it could get a head start on building a native music streaming app, according to a new report.
Forstall met with Pandora co-founder and CEO Tim Westergren during iPhone’s early days — before it had an official App Store — and encouraged the company to use “back door toolkits” while “we get our act together at Apple.”
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Tuesday that claimed Apple has a monopoly over app distribution on iOS.
The makers of Coronavirus Reporter sued Cupertino for rejecting their title from the App Store. But U.S. District Judge Edward Chen published a 34-page ruling that says the developers’ arguments “failed to pass muster.”
iPhone 13 is just too difficult to obtain. Photo: Apple
Apple is warning component suppliers that demand for iPhone 13 has weakened, according to a new report that cites people familiar with the matter.
Cupertino’s newest smartphone lineup got off to an incredibly strong start when it landed. But thanks to chip shortages that have made some models difficult to obtain, consumers appear to be avoiding them altogether as the holidays near.
This year's Trend of the Year is "Connection." Photo: Apple
Carrot Weather, LumaFusion, and Apple Arcade hit Fantasian are some of the titles recognized in the 2021 App Store Awards, announced on Thursday.
Apple also identified “Connection” as the Trend of the Year, thanks to games like Among Us! and apps like Bumble, which “brought people together in meaningful ways — while meeting social, personal, and professional needs.”
It's not quite the end of the road just yet. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
iPhone 6 Plus will be added to Apple’s vintage products list at the end of this month, according to a leaked internal memo. The device, which made its debut in 2014, may be more difficult to repair as official parts dry up.
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were the first to introduce Apple Pay and significantly larger displays to Apple’s smartphone lineup. They remain two of the company’s most successful devices to date.
It charges up to 50% faster than Apple's own MagSafe Charger. Photo: Zike
How do you make MagSafe charging even better? Add a cooling fan that allows for the fastest possible charge over a longer period, of course. The Zike 2-in-1 does just that to become the “world’s fastest” MagSafe charger.
Zike promises 15W of power — the most MagSafe charging can offer right now — for significantly longer to enable up to 50% faster top-ups for iPhone 12 and 13. It also charges a second device, like AirPods, simultaneously.
Download the update to start enjoying SharePlay streams. Photo: Twitch
The newest Twitch update for iPhone and iPad adds SharePlay support on iOS and iPadOS 15.1. The feature allows users to watch synchronized streams together over FaceTime, but all participants must have Twitch installed.
Twitch is one of the first third-party platforms to adopt SharePlay, which made its debut in October after it missed the initial iOS 15 rollout.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk thinks you should avoid wasting your money on a “silly” Apple Polishing Cloth and instead spend it on his company’s $50 Cyberwhistle.
Inspired by Cybertruck, the limited-edition collectible — which is not a joke — is made from medical-grade stainless steel with a polished finish. It also features “an integrated attachment feature for added versatility.”
Apple is going all-out for this year's World AIDS Day. Photo: Apple
To mark World AIDS Day, Apple celebrated 15 years of fighting AIDS with Product Red on Wednesday. The company also outlined new ways customers can support its ongoing efforts — like buying Red versions of iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7.
Through December 6, Apple will donate $1 to the Global Fund for every purchase made with Apple Pay at an Apple Store, through the Apple Store online and in the Apple Store app.