Mobile menu toggle

Killian Bell - page 18

Apple celebrates the best and most popular podcasts of 2021

By

Apple's best podcasts of 2021
A Slight Change of Plans is Apple's Best Show of the Year
Photo: Apple

Apple on Tuesday published its showcase of this year’s best and most popular podcasts in the United States. It also called 2021 a year for “shows that moved us in ways unlike ever before.”

A Slight Change of Plans with Maya Shankar has been named the Best Show of the Year, while Anything for Selena with Maria Garcia is Apple’s Newcomer of the Year.

Rocket League blasts onto iPhone and iPad, but not as you know it

By

Rocket League Sideswipe for iPhone and iPad
The free-to-play game is available to download now.
Photo: Psyonix

Rocket League has finally made its way to iPhone and iPad — but it’s not quite the same game that has proven popular on consoles and PC. Sideswipe is a brand-new take on the formula that’s built specifically for mobile play.

The free-to-play game features 1v1 or 2v2 matches in which players battle it out to get the ball into the opponent’s net. Both “soccar” and “Hoops” game modes are available, and the Rocket Pass and Seasons are coming soon.

The Weeknd and Olivia Rodrigo win big in 2021 Apple Music Awards

By

The Weeknd picks up 2021 Apple Music Award
The Weeknd picked up the coveted Global Artist of the Year award.
Photo: Apple

The Weeknd and Olivia Rodrigo are among the biggest winners in the 2021 Apple Music Awards. This year, Apple Music also added Regional Artist of the Year awards, which recognize “artists who made the greatest impact culturally.”

Apple called the past 12 months “a remarkable year for music.” You can watch its Awards celebration through Apple Music and the TV app on December 7.

Apple launches MacBook upgrade program for small businesses

By

Apple Mac Upgrade Program
Prices start at just $30 a month.
Image: Apple

Small businesses can now purchase new MacBooks for as little as $30 a month through Apple’s new Mac Notebook Upgrade Program.

The scheme, facilitated by Apple financing partner CIT, allows businesses partners to return or swap their machines after just three months if a new model is released. It’s a little like the iPhone Upgrade Program, but more flexible.

Apple News+ subscribers are sick of seeing ads and paywalls

By

Apple News+ trial
"Apple News sucks."
Photo: Apple

Some Apple News+ subscribers are reportedly unhappy that they see so many ads — and are blocked from accessing certain publishers — despite paying a monthly fee for supposedly unlimited access to magazines and newspapers included in the service.

Many users say they already canceled their subscriptions, with some criticizing Apple for not paying publishers enough to remove ads.

Apple is China’s biggest smartphone brand for the first time since 2015

By

Apple is China's biggest smartphone brand
Apple is bigger than Oppo and Vivo on their home turf.
Photo: Apple/Counterpoint Research

Apple has overtaken local firms Oppo and Vivo to become the biggest smartphone brand in China for the first time since 2015, according to the latest market data from Counterpoint Research.

Mobile vendors have been fighting for the top spot since the mammoth downfall of Huawei, and it seems the success of iPhone 13 — which is more affordable than iPhone 12 was in China — helped Apple bag the crown last month.

Apple hasn’t given up on making a do-it-all charger for multiple devices

By

AirPods on AirPower
AirPower might be dead, but the dream lives on.
Photo: Apple

Apple continues to work on a wireless charger, similar to the abandoned AirPower mat, that will allow users to charge multiple devices simultaneously, according to a new report. The company also hopes to develop truly wireless charging in the future.

Cupertino reportedly is working on “short and long distance” charging solutions that don’t require physical contact. It also wants to give all major Apple devices the ability to charge each other.

The best Cyber Monday deals on Apple’s hottest devices

By

Apple Cyber Monday deals
Enjoy the discounts before they disappear.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Black Friday is over for another year, but Cyber Monday has just begun, which means there’s still time to enjoy big discounts on Apple devices.

AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad and more are currently available at tasty discounts from third-party retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. And to make shopping a little easier, we rounded up all the best deals on Apple’s hottest gear.

It’s not too late to get big Black Friday discounts on great Apple accessories

By

Cult of Mac Store Black Friday 2021
Save on Mujjo, Carterjett, HEDocks, and more.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

The Cult of Mac Store’s biggest sale of the year continues, with fresh new deals offering up to 30% off Apple accessories from Mujjo, Carterjett, HEDocks and more. That’s in addition to the previous savings unveiled earlier this Black Friday weekend.

Shop now to save on great iPhone cases, Apple Watch bands, MacBook sleeves and lots of other great accessories. U.S. customers also will enjoy free shipping on orders over $40. However, this promotion ends soon — so bag a bargain before it’s too late!

Save up to 50% on Apple accessories you won’t find in the Apple Store

By

Cult of Mac Store Black Friday 2021
The sale that keeps on giving.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Save up to 50% on the hottest Apple accessories from Elago, Elkson, Just Mobile and more in the Cult of Mac Store’s big Black Friday sale.

You can pick up great cases for all your Apple devices, brilliant Apple Watch bands, and lots more at bargain prices — and enjoy free shipping when you spend $40 or more. The sale ends soon, so notch some savings while you can. It’s the perfect time to pick up Apple accessories for yourself or for people on your holiday shopping list.

Apple’s first AR headset could arrive late next year with super-speedy chip

By

Apple Glasses
It could pack as much power as an M1 Mac.
Concept: Taeyeon Kim

Apple’s much-anticipated augmented reality headset could finally drop late next year, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The device is expected to pack a surprisingly powerful chip that would put it on par with an M1 Mac in processing performance. A second low-power processor will reportedly handle the headset’s many built-in sensors.

Apple’s brutal holiday ad is a snowman bloodbath shot on iPhone 13 Pro

By

Apple snowman ad
The look of a young girl who just witnessed her best friend's murder.
Photo: Apple

If you’re the kind of person who gets pleasure out of destroying other people’s snowmen, you’ll love Apple’s new “Shot on iPhone” ad for the holiday season.

“Saving Simon” tells the story of a young girl who saves a beloved snowman from a mass stomping, keeps it alive all year long by shutting it inside a freezer, then helplessly watches on as it gets brutally obliterated in a hit and run.

This $8,400 iPhone 13 contains a real piece of Tesla car

By

Tesla Electro iPhone 13
It also includes a portrait of Elon Musk.
Photo: Caviar

Caviar is back with another crazy (and wildly expensive) custom iPhone. Its latest model, which is dubbed the Tesla Electro, contains a real piece from a Tesla car and is available in iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max versions.

You can get yours with up to 1TB of storage, but be warned that prices can reach an eye-watering $8,380.

Simple thermal mod makes M1 MacBook Air as fast as a MacBook Pro

By

M1 MacBook Air thermal mod
That's a big performance boost!
Image: High on Tech/Apple

Some M1 MacBook Air models pack exactly the same chipset as the 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, but they don’t offer the same level of performance. Why? Because the MacBook Pro has a cooling fan and the MacBook Air doesn’t.

But with a quick and easy thermal mod, you can give the more affordable MacBook Air a rather significant speed boost that makes it very nearly as fast as its sibling. Check out the video below that explains it all.

$39 mod kit turns an iPhone XR into iPhone 13 with MagSafe support

By

iPhone XR to iPhone 13 mod kit
The most affordable iPhone 13 upgrade.
Photo: Combo Fixing

Getting a little bored of your iPhone XR’s aging form factor? Make it look like an iPhone 13 and add MagSafe support with this $39.50 mod kit.

The kit includes a complete chassis and tools, so all you have to do is transfer the screen and internal components from your existing iPhone. The video below walks you through the process — and shows the impressive final result.

Apple will send threat alerts to users targeted by Pegasus spyware

By

Apple threat alert for Pegasus spyware
You'll see the alert by text message, email, and on the Apple ID website.
Image: Apple

Apple says it will send threat alerts to customers who potentially targeted by the NSO Group’s controversial Pegasus spyware.

Cupertino on Tuesday announced that it is suing NSO Group over the tools the Israeli company develops and sells to governments to spy on iPhone owners. Apple’s alerts to affected iPhone users are another effort to prevent software like Pegasus from going unnoticed.

Apple chipmaker will start building iPhone’s custom 5G modems in 2023

By

Apple 5G modem chip
Qualcomm is slowly but surely getting the boot.
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Apple’s primary chip production partner, will start manufacturing custom 5G modem chips for iPhone in 2023, according to a new report, which cites four different sources familiar with the plan.

TSMC reportedly will build the chips using a 4-nanometer manufacturing process. The proprietary modems would allow Apple to reduce its reliability on rival chipmaker Qualcomm.

Windows could come to M1 Macs with Qualcomm exclusivity ending ‘soon’

By

Apple MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon running Windows
Apple would likely be open to the idea.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

A version of Windows built to run on Arm processors could eventually come to M1 Mac models, with Qualcomm’s current exclusivity deal with Microsoft “set to expire soon,” according to a new report.

The deal, which wasn’t public knowledge until this week, could explain why there are only a limited number of Windows devices powered by Arm chips — all made by Qualcomm — on the market today. But that’s set to change.

Tile is selling its tracking business just 6 months after AirTag’s arrival

By

Tile bluetooth tracker
Life360 will pay $205 million.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Tile, the company famous for its Bluetooth tracking gadgets, is selling itself to Life360 for $205 million. The move comes just six months after Tile was forced to face its toughest competition yet — Apple’s popular AirTag.

Life360, which offers a family safety service, said the Tile acquisition will allow it to “provide a unique and all-encompassing solution for finding the people, pets and things.” The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.

Save 25% on Mujjo’s outstanding iPhone cases and more for Black Friday

By

Mujjo-iPhone-cases
Leather cases as good as Apple's ... for a lot less.
Photo: Mujjo

Mujjo’s luxurious leather cases offer great protection without making your pricey iPhone feel cheap and tacky. Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store and save up to 25% for Black Friday.

Also enjoy the similar discount on Mujjo gloves, laptop sleeves, and more. This is a limited-time offer, so enjoy it while you can!

Maximize your iPhone trade-in by cutting Apple out of equation

By

Sell your old iPhone today
The quick and easy way to make the most from your old iPhone.
Photo: Aaron Yoo

Apple just gave customers another big reason to avoid its trade-in service by slashing prices on almost all iPhone models. Instead, sell your old handset to Cult of Mac to make more from it, and get real cash you can spend anywhere.

Find out how much your old iPhone is worth today in just a few simple steps, and secure your quote for 14 days.

Helpful Mac app sends alerts when new Apple devices are in stock

By

InventoryWatch app for Mac
Don't miss out on fresh Apple stock.
Photo: InventoryWatch

Struggling to get hold of one of Apple’s newest devices ahead of the holidays? InventoryWatch is a free and simple Mac app that sends you an alert when the gear you want is in stock and available for pick up at your local Apple Store.

It currently works in the United States and five other countries and regions. And it tracks availability of a handful of Apple’s most popular devices.