Top stories - page 24

Every time you leave your desk, the battery clock starts ticking. Which of your Apple devices will need to recharge first? Luckily, you can recharge three at once with this 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad.

It looks a lot like Apple’s MagSafe Duo, but it can handle three devices, not just two, which makes it an even more convenient travel charger. Plus, it costs a fraction of what Apple’s charger does. And now it’s even cheaper, thanks to a limited-time deal that drops the price to just $32.99 (regularly $69.99).

Being productive in 2023 means having the tools required to create digital content. Microsoft Office provides the most popular and accessible programs for writing, organizing, presenting and communicating. And despite Apple’s best efforts, MS Office continues to dominate the field.

Want lifetime access to this top-rated productivity software? For a limited time, you can get Microsoft Office for Mac or Windows on sale for just $29.97.

Apple finally released iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 to the public, but you won’t get to enjoy all the new features and enhancements immediately.

Certain features will be released in a future point release of the OS. Below is a look at all such iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 features that won’t be available at launch.

What do the buttons on the Apple Watch do? The Apple Watch borrows a lot from the iPhone, but the biggest difference between the two devices comes down to the extra buttons. They do different things whether you click, double-click or hold them down.

In watchOS 10, Apple changed a lot of these features. The software update added a new Widgets view, assigned Control Center to the side button and changed what double-clicking the dial does. (For older devices, consult our article about what Apple Watch buttons do in watchOS 9.)

Here’s a guide to the buttons on the Apple Watch.

Apple just released iPadOS 17 to the public. There’s a lot to like, including a new customizable Lock screen, interactive widgets, a Health app, significant Stage Manager improvements and much more.

Here’s everything you can expect from loading the new version on your iPad.

After eight beta releases and months of testing, Apple has released iOS 17 to the public. It works with iPhone XS and newer devices and brings several new features and usability improvements.

You can grab the iOS 17 OTA update by diving into your iPhone’s Settings menu.

September 18, 2013: iOS 7 launches with a radical redesign that divides the tech world.

The biggest overhaul Apple’s mobile operating system has seen in years, iOS 7 ditches the skeuomorphic objects, dials and textures of previous iterations. Instead, it boasts stark patches of white space, simpler icons and more abstract controls for settings. The Jony Ive era of software design is truly underway.

Staying charged means staying productive. To keep all your precious Apple devices humming, consider picking up a versatile charging cable that can juice up just about anything you throw at it.

The InCharge X Max 100W six-in-one charging cable is now only $16.97 (regularly $39). You can also get a two-pack for only $31.97 (regularly $78).

What’s new in iOS 17? This is a big year for iPhone and iPad. You should definitely check out the biggest new features — Contact Posters and Standby — first. But there are dozens of other great features for you to learn, explore and take advantage of, too.

iOS 17 is out now. I have all the 50 best tweaks and changes organized in this overview.

September 17, 2012: On the back of record iPhone 5 preorders of 2 million in 24 hours, Apple’s stock price hits a new all-time high. For the first time in history, AAPL breaks the $700 mark in after-hours trading. Passing the milestone cements Cupertino’s place as the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

Amazingly, the new record is $270 a share higher than at the start of the year. Apple stock rose 65% in just nine months.

Whether you’re a remote worker, student or seasoned professional who travels to and fro constantly, you need a laptop that can come with. This refurbished Intel MacBook Air is totally portable — and priced to move!

With this deal, you can score this refurbished MacBook Air for only $369.99. How’s it so affordable, you ask? For starters, it’s a model that came out before Apple silicon was a thing. Plus, it’s a refurb … but don’t sweat it. It comes with a Grade B rating, meaning it might have light scratches or scuffs on the exterior, but performance won’t be impacted.

This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We dissect all the biggest reveals from Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, which brought us new iPhones, Apple Watches and more. And we stare unafraid at the results of our Wonderlust predictions. We have a winner!

Also on The CultCast:

• Yes, we got new iCloud+ storage plans. And Erfon’s still complaining?!?
• The new iPhone colors are … 🤷
• The iPhone’s USB-C enables some cool new stuff.

Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.

Apple TV+’s epic science fiction series Foundation concludes its second season this week and it goes out on a remarkable high note.

Who knows what the future holds for the Second Foundation? But I’ve greatly enjoyed this season. The hours I’ve spent getting sucked into this excellent sci-fi show were well worth the investment.

September 16, 1985 and 1997: Twice on this day, Steve Jobs makes significant moves with regard to his career at Apple. In 1985, he quits the company he co-founded. Then, a little more than a decade later, he officially rejoins Apple as its new interim CEO.

In terms of the emotions associated with those historic occasions, it’s hard to think of two more polarizing days in Jobs’ life.

Yes, Apple pulled the plug on the Lightning cable when the iPhone 15 switched to USB-C. But plenty of existing gear still uses the proprietary cable that charged the last decade of Apple devices.

If you still need Lightning in your life, don’t miss this deal on a three-in-one cable that comes with two Lightning connectors and one Apple Watch charging puck. It costs just $24.99 (regularly $34), and it lets you charge three Apple devices at once. Plus, you can save even more with a two-pack!

Whether you want to boost your professional skills or branch out by mastering something a little less serious, Skill Success makes learning simple and fun.

Loaded with thousands of expert-driven online courses, Skill Success is your lifelong pass to personal enrichment. And for a limited time, you can get a Skill Success lifetime membership for only $119.99 (regularly $540).

September 15, 2014: Responding to its disastrous U2 album giveaway, Apple provides iPhone owners with a tool for wiping all signs of Songs of Innocence from their phones.

It comes after one of the strangest PR debacles in Apple history. After putting a free copy of U2’s latest release on every iPhone owner’s handset as a special promotion, millions find themselves with an album they didn’t order in their iTunes library. Many weren’t happy about it.

Need a compact and potent MagSafe charging station to replace a slow 3-in-1? Coming out just after iPhone 15’s release, Ugreen’s unusual new Nexode 100W GaN Charging Station could fit the bill, charging up to four devices at once.

Rolled out Thursday, the speedy charger takes up a small space by putting a MagSafe platform for iPhone that tilts up on top and USB-C and USB-A ports in the squat body. The company sent me one to try.

Shopping on a budget isn’t easy, especially when you have to run from store to store to get all your errands done. That’s a waste of gas and a waste of time! Cut down on trips without limiting your selection by shopping at Costco instead.

With a Costco membership, you’ll save on high-quality items, from groceries to Apple gear. And now, you can get a one-year Costco Gold Star Membership plus a $30 Digital Costco Shop Card* for just $60.

Anyone who even slightly delayed ordering the new iPhone 15 Pro models when they went on sale Friday morning faces a lengthy wait for their devices to be delivered. The delays extend into November for some handsets and configurations.

In addition, problems marred the preorder process via the online Apple Store, possibly due to high demand for the new titanium Pro phones.

Apple is about to launch a cool new watch face for the Apple Watch Ultra called “Modular Ultra.”

The new face does a lot: It allows up to eight complications, including the customizable bezel that can show water depth, elevation or seconds. I think it looks super-cool. And just wait until you see the night mode.

If you saw the new watch face during the Apple Watch Ultra 2 segment of Apple’s “Wonderlust” event Tuesday and want it right now, you’re in luck: It works with the original Apple Watch Ultra and is already available in the latest watchOS 10 beta.

Here’s how to download, install and customize it.

Just like artificial intelligence, which exploded into the mainstream recently, machine learning is the future. While most of us have heard about AI and how it’s changing how everything works with programs like ChatGTP, machine learning might not be as well-known.

Machine learning is a specific branch of AI that focuses on using data and algorithms to imitate how humans learn, with a gradual improvement in accuracy. According to an article on LinkedIn, both are rapidly growing fields. This Machine Learning for Absolute Beginners program can give you a solid foundation if you’re considering a career in either area. It’s now only $29.99 (regularly $300).

The entire iPhone 15 lineup goes up for preorder from Apple’s online store tomorrow morning. They might be pricey — in fact, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most expensive iPhone yet — but there’s an easy way you can earn some quick cash to help you pay for them.

Sell your old Apple devices to Cult of Mac!

Our buyback program makes it incredibly easy to turn your old iPhone, Apple Watch and other gear into real cash. And we typically pay more than any other service. What’s more, you can get a quote now and hold onto your device until your upgrade arrives.

Find out how much you could save on your next upgrade today.

September 14, 2010: Security workers reportedly stop Steve Jobs at Japan’s Kansai International Airport. The reason? The Apple CEO supposedly tried to bring ninja throwing stars onto his private plane while heading home from vacation.

It’s one of the most bizarre Jobs stories ever. Apple, however, quickly spoils the internet’s fun. Cupertino issues a statement describing the reports as “pure fiction” (although Apple acknowledges that Jobs visited Japan over the summer).

From hackers to trackers to regional restrictions, going online without a VPN can be annoying, limiting and even dangerous.

Operating securely on the web is essential in the modern world. And right now, you can get a three-year subscription to Surfshark VPN for $83.99 (regularly $330).