Lewis Wallace is the managing editor of Cult of Mac and author of our weekly newsletter, The Weekender.
He's a San Francisco-based writer and editor specializing in technology and culture. He loves his iPhone, hates Siri, and appreciates any hardware that combines form and function.
Prior to Cult of Mac, he juggled words and ideas as culture editor at Wired.com, homepage editor at TechTV, news product manager at NBCi, copy editor at PC World, reporter at The (Hayward) Daily Review and editor in chief of EveryBody's News in Cincinnati.
He earned a bachelor of general studies degree with a journalism certificate from the University of Cincinnati. While in school, he worked as the entertainment editor of The News Record and as editor in chief of Clifton Magazine.
Turns out these tiny frogs are grapplers. Photo: Apple TV+
New Apple TV+ nature docuseries Tiny World was definitely not shot on iPhone.
Documentarians who captured those pint-size critters’ everyday adventures show off some of their crazy camera rigs in a new behind-the-scenes video. And the photo gear looks absolutely crazy. The clip also shows off some of the incredible footage in the series, which debuted Friday on Apple TV+.
Are you ready to get in shape from the comfort of your own home? Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
When Apple Fitness+ arrives later this year, it will live or die on the motivational skills of its talented team of high-energy trainers. Our cover story this week offers introduces you to the pace-setting athletes Apple enlisted to whip us all into shape.
Plus, with iPhone 12 right around the corner, we’ve got more rumors to peruse. And with iOS 14 and watchOS7 already here, we’ve got some timely how-tos. All that good stuff comes wrapped up in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it for free and enjoy it on your iOS device, or get the links below.
When it comes to Apple earnings, CEO Tim Cook seems to operate a reality distortion field of his own. Photo illustration: Cult of Mac
When Apple holds its fiscal Q4 2020 earnings call on Oct. 29, can the company deliver another pandemic miracle?
We’ll all find out at 2 p.m. Pacific that day, when Apple live-streams its earnings call. (Actually, we’ll undoubtedly find out a half-hour earlier than that, when Cupertino issues its press release outlining its quarterly results).
Following last quarter’s record-setting results, Wall Street will be waiting with bated breath to see if Apple once again found a way to spin gold amid the economic disaster caused by COVID-19.
The world's a little blurry, and so is this photo of Billie Eilish. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ just landed another star for its ever-growing galaxy. The service will stream upcoming documentary Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry in February 2021, the same month the film makes its theatrical premiere.
The “highly anticipated documentary” is being produced by Apple Original Films and directed by R.J. Cutler, Apple said in a press release Monday. Cutler made a name for himself with documentaries The War Room and The September Issue as well as TV shows American High and Nashville.
Home screen themes are definitely a thing now. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Customizing iPhone Home screens is all the rage right now, thanks to a cool new feature in iOS 14 (and a hacky workaround using the Shortcuts app). See what this new craze is all about, and find out how you can do it yourself, in our top stories this week.
Now that you've upgraded, it's time to take advantage of all the new features. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
If you downloaded iOS 14 — and you really should — you probably know it’s packed with tons of new features. Find out how to make the most of all the latest additions with our roundup of iOS 14 tips and how-tos.
And, naturally, we’ve got plenty of coverage of this week’s big “Time Flies” event. Get the scoop on the new Apple Watches, iPads and Apple services in the latest edition of Cult of Mac Magazine. It’s free, and it’s a blast to read on your iPad or iPhone.
You’ll also get the rest of our Apple how-tos and product reviews. And, if you don’t want to download the mag (did I mention that it’s free?), you can get the week’s top stories in your browser below.
With watchOS 7, you're just a couple quick toggles away from maximum handwashing effectiveness. Photo: Apple
The new Handwashing app in watchOS 7 gives you a handy reminder to keep your mitts clean. Thoroughly, COVID-19-fighting clean. However, you need to make two quick tweaks to maximize the effectiveness of this new handwashing tool.
Tim Cook can't be happy about Jon Prosser's latest hits. Photo: Apple
For Apple leaker Jon Prosser, Tuesday’s “Time Flies” event was a make-or-break situation.
Prosser, the Front Page Tech YouTuber whose reputation took a hit last week after he claimed Apple would launch new Apple Watches and iPads via press release, staked his continued relevance on his predictions for the event.
When the dust finally settled Tuesday, Prosser did not find himself slurping up a hot bowl of claim chowder. In fact, he pretty much nailed it.
For the first time, there's a Product Red Apple Watch. Photo: Apple
With a built-in blood-oxygen sensor, the new Apple Watch Series 6 puts health front and center, making it the perfect smartwatch for a pandemic.
The new Apple Watch also comes in several new colors, including blue and red, and naturally it comes with multiple new watch faces. There’s even several new types of bands, including the stretchy Solo Loop, which comes in seven colors.
Get ready to make your Workout app work for you. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
If you’re an Apple Watch fitness freak and you’ve never tweaked the Workout app’s settings, you’re in for a treat. You can heavily customize the way it displays data, so you can make the most of your workouts.
We’ll show you how in Cult of Mac Magazine. Also in this week’s free issue, find out everything you need to know about Apple’s big Sept. 15 event.
Download the iOS mag to read it on your iPad or iPhone. Or head below to get the headlines in your browser.
Little critters face enormous challenges in the first trailer for Tiny World, a new nature documentary series coming to Apple TV+.
The trailer, released Thursday, shows small creatures on land, at sea and in the air as they struggle to survive in a world filled with threats both large and small. As is the way with all successful trailers, the eye-grabbing footage makes the tiny beings’ encounters look larger than life.
From its massive glass dome to a “secret passage” with a stunning view, a virtual private tour posted by a YouTuber is the closest you’ll get to the real thing — at least for now. You’ve got to watch it! (And if you’re lucky enough to be in Singapore for opening day, be sure to check out the YouTuber’s pro tips for visitors.)
In case you just can't get enough of Oprah's Book Club ... Photo: Lewis Wallace/Cult of Mac
Oprah Winfrey’s famous book club is now an Apple podcast. The show, which launched Tuesday, bears a predictable name: Oprah’s Book Club. And the subject matter might sound familiar, too.
The eight-episode series features Winfrey talking with Isabel Wilkerson, author of Caste: The Origins of our Discontents. Winfrey called it essential reading when announcing it as her book club pick last month.
It's that time of year again. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
It’s officially Apple hardware season. With new gear coming as early as next week, the rumors and leaks are coming in fast and furious. Read the latest to get an idea what to expect in the near future from iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Apple TV and maybe even some high-end Apple headphones.
Get those rumors, plus the rest of the week’s top Apple news, how-tos and reviews, in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it to read for free on your iPad or iPhone. Or scroll below to get the headlines in your browser.
Niv Sultan plays an Israeli spy behind enemy lines in Tehran. Screenshot: Apple TV+
The first trailer for upcoming Apple TV+ series Tehran delivers a healthy jolt of Homeland-style tension. The Israeli spy thriller, which centers on a female Mossad agent working undercover inside Iran, looks filled with dangerous scrapes, technical spycraft and some serious double-crosses.
Apple Pencil is not just for artists anymore. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Cult of Mac’s Ian Fuchs says new features in iPadOS 14 make the Apple Pencil an indispensable tool — even for people who aren’t artists.
That’s the cover story in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now for that story, plus the latest Apple news, leaks, how-tos and reviews. (In case you hadn’t noticed, Apple’s battle with Fortnite dev Epic Games is getting nasty.)
If you've got too many tabs open in Chrome, you can declutter things with the new Tab Groups feature. Photo: Luca Bravo/Unsplash CC
Hey there, all you tab hoarders: Google Chrome just gave you a handy tool to bring some order to the nightmare lurking at the top of your web browser. A new Chrome feature lets you group tabs together with custom names to tame the chaos.
Unfortunately, it’s not completely obvious how to get in on the tab-grouping action. Here’s how to make it work for you.
The new Level Touch smart lock opens with a touch -- and other ways, too. Photo: Level Home
Level Home’s second HomeKit-compatible smart lock lets you use your fingertip as a key. But you won’t even really need that finger tap to open your door. The new lock, called the Level Touch, offers a variety of entry methods — including fully automatic (triggered by your smartphone’s Bluetooth connection when you arrive home).
“With Level Touch, keys are optional,” the company said in a press release Tuesday unveiling the new device. “You can enter and exit in any way that is most convenient for you, with the touch of a finger, using your voice or even an included programmable keycard. All of this while maintaining the highest level of residential security of any smart lock to date.”
In the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games, which one is Thanos? Image: Whelsko/Flickr CC
In an order issued Monday night, a U.S. district judge blocked Apple from revoking Epic Games’ developer accounts as the legal battle between the two companies moves toward trial.
The move protects Unreal Engine, Epic’s software suite that is widely used by other game developers, from becoming collateral damage in the high-profile legal battle.
From meetings and home automation to dispute resolution, these apps make things easier. Image: Cult of Mac
You can get a comprehensive overview of all your HomeKit cams with Eve’s latest app update. And if you spot neighbors doing something fishy on your property, you can use Jury to settle the dispute virtually rather than taking them to court (or throwing fists like a barbarian).
Those are just two of the featured apps in our roundup of the week’s best new apps and updates.
This is a unbeatable deal on a great iPhone charger. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
This Logitech Powered charger is a fantastic way to top off your iPhone. Its unique design lets you slide your phone in vertically or horizontally, so you can watch videos, take FaceTime calls or do whatever it is you do while you juice up your device.
Jason Sudeikas shoots! He scores! Photo: Apple TV+
Ted Lasso, the Apple TV+ comedy about a clueless American football coach who lands a job in Britain leading a team that plays that other kind of football, will come back for a second season, Apple said Wednesday.
Jason Sudeikas plays the lead in the show, which debuted on Apple TV+ last week. We’re only three episodes in to season 1, but so far, it looks like a winner. (Don’t take my word for it. Read the Cult of Mac review: Ted Lasso’s heart is too big to bench.)
We love Apple Watch the way it is. And we can't wait for Cupertino to make it even better. Cover: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
When Apple Watch Series 6 arrives — early next month, if history and this week’s leak are any indication — what new features will it bring?
As usual, Cupertino’s pretty locked down. But we hope we’ll get some or all of the bells and whistles in this week’s cover story: What do you add to the smartwatch that has everything? It’s our wish list for Apple Watch Series 6.
Read it in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine or get the links below. (There’s plenty of other Apple news, reviews and how-tos in it as well.).