More than double your iPad's useful screen area with iPadOS 16.2. Screenshot: Apple
iPadOS 16.2 just launched, and for many users of top-tier iPads, the standout feature is full external display support. This makes Apple tablets far better at multitasking than ever before.
There are other improvements in iPadOS 16.2 as well, including the Freeform collaboration app.
Joining in with song gets a lot easier with Apple Music Sing. Photo: Apple Music
Apple Music Sing gives you the real-time lyrics you need to sing along to your favorite tracks. The upcoming feature will show the words to songs so you can easily join in. It will even adjust the volume of the original singer so you take the lead.
It’s coming in December to Apple Music subscribers worldwide. The feature will work with millions of songs in the streaming service’s catalog, Apple said Tuesday.
Need a great iPad case? Look no further.
Image: Zugu Case
It’s not easy to find the perfect iPad case, whether you’re walking around with a little iPad mini 6, a standard 10.2-inch iPad or the latest 12.9-inch iPad Pro. But it gets a lot easier if you know about Zugu Case. The company’s practical and attractive cases are among the highest-rated and best-reviewed iPad cases in the world for a reason.
So cease your searching. You just found the Zugu iPad case you didn’t know you were looking for.
These are the best Black Friday Apple deals you need to check out. Photo: Rajesh
Black Friday 2022 is now one for the record books, but you can still take advantage of hefty discounts on Apple products.
So, if you have been looking to buy a Mac, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods or other Apple products for a while, take advantage of the best Black Friday deals on Apple gear right now. Just bear in mind that these deals can be slippery as an eel. If you see one you like, jump on it ASAP, because there’s no guarantee it will last.
Strong adhesive lets you stick the sleeve anywhere. Photo: Elago
Even if you have an Apple Pencil 2 that sticks magnetically to the edge of your iPad, that’s not a super-secure storage option for the stylus because it could get knocked off. And it’s not an option at all for the original Apple Pencil. So it’s a good idea to have another, much more secure way to carry your stylus.
That’s where the Elago Apple Pencil Holder comes in. Strong adhesive lets you stick it anywhere.
And right now you can pick it up for just $10.99 in the Cult of Mac Store.
Put the iPad 10 in a very protective case before handing it to child, like this one from OtterBox. Photo: OtterBox
The just-released iPad 10 is a major update, but the design changes mean new cases are required. Fortunately, accessory makers OtterBox and Logitech quickly brought out several of them for designed with children in mind.
Wish you had a great iPad case? Huge numbers of people on Amazon wish for Zugu Case. Photo: Zugu Case
Retail juggernaut Amazon.com keeps running lists of its most-wished-for products that folks want to buy or get as gifts. Consistently at or near the top of the tablet case list, you’ll find Zugu’s popular cases for the 10.2-inch iPad and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
What makes those cases so coveted? There are plenty of reasons. Read on.
★★★★★
The iPad Pro 2022 is Apple's most powerful ever. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The launch of the 2022 iPad Pro in 12.9- and 11-inch versions means current tablet users have new upgrade options. Their M2 processor makes these the most powerful iPads ever made, but they are not right for everyone.
I’ve used an M2-powered iPad Pro for a week now, and that’s given me insight into who should upgrade and who should not. Some people should definitely go for the latest and greatest, but others would be disappointed if they did so.
The Apple M2 chip in the just-launched iPad Pro (2022) really delivers. Screenshot: Apple
Apple put its latest processor in the 2022 iPad Pro and it gave the tablet a significant performance boost. The M2 chip make it almost 20% faster than its predecessor.
And it’s almost 80% faster than the 2018 iPad Pro.
Apple now offers both the iPad 9 and the iPad 10. But which is better for you? Image:
Apple positioned the new iPad 10 as the successor to last year’s iPad 9, but the two are far more different that their names suggest. The just-released tablet has a long list of improvements, including a larger screen. But it also comes at a substantially higher price.
Both models are still in Apple product lineup so you have a choice. Let’s go head-to-head to see how they stack up.
An iPad the size the largest MacBook Pro is supposedly on the way. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple apparently plans to “grande size” the iPad. A version with a 16-inch display is reportedly being developed.
If true, this will be a considerable jump up from the Apple’s largest current tablet, which includes a 12.9-inch screen. And the device – perhaps called iPad Ultra – will have a display the same size as the largest MacBook Pro.
Some people need more than one or two displays. Like software developers. Today’s featured MacBook Pro-and-custom-PC setup manages to rely on five different screens like some sort of mini Mission Control. But launches controlled from here are new software products and updates, not rockets.
The first reviews of iPad 10 show a device with many enhanced features and a noticeably higher pricetag. Screenshot: Apple
Early reviews of iPad 10 compliment its larger display, relocated camera and faster processor. But they also have plenty to say about the steep increase in price.
Read on to see if the new “budget” iPad, which now starts at $449, is right for you.
Updated: In spring 2024, Apple lowered the cost of the iPad 10 to $349.
Zugu's iPad cases are top-rated on Amazon for good reasons. Photos: Zugu
You don’t find many brands on Amazon with an average rating of 5 stars, but Zugu is one of them. The company focuses intently on making the best iPad cases it can, and if rave reviews are anything to go by — and they certainly are — Zugu is wildly successful at its endeavors.
After all, seeing all 5 stars filled in for thousands of ratings of each iPad case has got to be reassuring for shoppers looking to protect their tablet. And that includes cases for iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro, in all sizes.
We’ll take a closer look at Zugu’s iPad cases and how the company got to where it is today below.
Elago's R1 strap is perfect for your new AirPods Pro 2 charging case. Photo: Elago
Halloween is the time for kooky costumes, candy-induced belly aches and frighteningly good deals on Apple accessories in Cult of Mac‘s Super Sweet Deals sale. You can get anything made by Elago for 15% off this week.
Just head to the Cult of Mac Store to take 15% off all Elago accessories. That’s 162 products that go along with pretty much everything Apple. See some highlights below.
iPad users get many new features in iPadOS 16.1 without Stage Manger ever being activated. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple finally released iPadOS 16.1. The debut of the Stage Manager multitasking system has drawn most of the attention, but plenty of other new features are worth checking out, too.
Monday’s launch is extra-significant because iPadOS 16 never launched. Version 16.1 is the first replacement for last year’s iPadOS 15.x.
Not too bad for an Apple product launch event that never actually happened, I guess. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: For once, Apple’s new products leave us scratching our heads more than reaching for our wallets. We let loose our first impressions of this week’s new iPads, the surprisingly affordable Apple TV 4K, that ridiculous Apple Pencil dongle and more.
Also on The CultCast:
Is the new Magic Keyboard Folio really all that magical? Some features sound great, but we don’t think it will turn your iPad into a laptop — at least not one you can use on your lap!
What’s up with that USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter? Like everyone else in the Apple universe, we’re not diggin’ the dongle.
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.
Our sponsor: Squarespace
Special thanks to this week’s sponsor, Squarespace. Get all the tools you need to set up your very own website and commence selling anything online. Start your free website trial today at squarespace.com/cultcast (no credit card required). Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain with code cultcast at checkout.
Should you buy the iPad 10 or pay more and get the M1 iPad Air? Photo: Rajesh
Apple’s newest iPad features a redesigned chassis, a bigger 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display and faster internals. Thanks to these changes, the iPad 10 carries a significantly higher starting price tag of $449.
Meanwhile, Apple sells the M1 iPad Air, with more powerful internals, for $599. So, should you spring for the Air and pay that additional $150, or save your money and buy the new 10th-gen iPad?
Since the new entry-level iPad utilizes USB-C rather than Lightning, you can’t plug the Apple Pencil into the tablet to charge the stylus. And Apple’s “fix” — the $9 USB-C to Apple Pencil Adapter that will come packaged with old-school Apple Pencils — sent some Apple fans into an accelerated version of the five stages of grief.
The Logitech Crayon could be a better option for iPad 10 buyers. Photo: Logitech
The latest version of the Logitech Crayon iPad stylus charges via USB-C, just like the new iPad 10. That makes it a simpler option than the Apple Pencil 1 that still uses Lightning.
Momax Vertical Laptop Stand Holder is a good place for your MacBook and your iPhone or iPad. Photo: Momax
This post on unique MacBook, iPad and iPhone stands is brought to you by Momax.
It can pay to place your most important devices on stands, like your MacBook, iPad and iPhone. It usually makes them easier to view and use while also creating some extra space on the desktop for other items or uses, and out of the way of spills and other workstation calamities.
If you need a stand for a laptop, tablet or smartphone, Momax features a whole lineup. And better yet, as a Cult of Mac reader, you can get 10% off any purchase, plus an extra 5% off if you buy more than one item. See below.
Pretend you're watching Apple's "Take Note" event with a video touting the M2 in the new iPad Pro. Screenshot: Apple
The much-anticipated Apple October event never happened. Apple took the rare step of unveiling the latest iPads and Apple TV via underwhelming press releases. But the company apparently did preliminary work to hold an event that would have been called “Take Note,” and some of this is still available.
Most notably, there’s a glitzy 9-minute video preview for the 2022 iPad Pro and iPad 10, just like the ones for other products at previous such events.
It looks like a nice iPad 10 accessory, but it's not cheap. Photo: Apple
Along with the redesigned 10th-gen iPad that Apple released Tuesday, the company rolled out the first Magic Keyboard Folio to go with the entry-level tablet. The new iPad accessory adds function keys — a first for Apple’s iPad keyboards.
While the iPad 10 costs much more than previous versions, starting at $449 instead of $329, if you want the detachable keyboard and stand Apple now makes for it, you have to add another $249.
That completes your basic iPad experience for a pretty penny. And the new Magic Keyboard Folio only comes in white, by the way.