Strap on this carry-on with all your tech for your next flight. Photo: WaterField Designs
Although you never know when Covid-19 lockdowns may keep you on the ground, WaterField Designs’ new Air Travel Backpack may make you want to take flight asap. Use it to pack up a couple of laptops, cables and accessories — and maybe a change of clothes or two — and go.
Keep track of links you've received from friends. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iOS and iPadOS 15 make it easier than ever to keep track of web links that are shared with you in Messages by putting them all in one place inside Safari.
Here’s where you can find them — and how to view them all on iPhone and iPad.
There are plenty of ways to tune in. Photo: The Olympics/Cult of Mac
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games officially kicks off on Friday, June 23, and you can enjoy it all on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and Mac. We’ll guide you through who’s hosting the action, and which apps you’ll need to watch it.
The new Anker PowerExpand 9-in-1 USB-C PD Dock offers 60W of charging power. Photo: Anker
Following the release of its 12-port Thunderbolt 4 dock in June, Anker is now rolling out a new addition to the PowerExpand range, the PowerExpand 9-in-1 USB-C PD Dock. It keeps a slimmer profile than Anker’s beefier docks in the range, some with a 12 and 13 ports.
The Targus VersaVu EcoSmart Slim Case for iPad is biodegradable. Photo: Targus
Targus recently launched a trio of EcoSmart cases for iPad made from recycled post-consumer plastic and up to 40% biodegradable materials — with no compromise on protection, the company said. The cases showed up on Amazon in mid-to-late June.
Host casual conversations, share your screen and more. Image: Slack/Cult of Mac
Slack is rolling out its new Huddles feature in an effort to bring the office environment to wherever you might be working. The feature lets you hold “quick, informal discussions” with other members of your team.
You can also use it to share your desktop screen, which makes it great for demonstrations. We’ll show you how to use Huddles on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
HyperJuice chargers can be stacked to provide more power. Photo: Hyper
Accessories maker Hyper has launched 65W and 100W HyperJuice chargers — based on power-efficient gallium nitride (GaN) technology — that you can stack to increase power output.
The 2021 iPad mini might look something like this. Concept: Cult of Mac
The much-anticipated iPad mini 6 will boast the Apple A15 processor, according to an unconfirmed report. That should bring a significant performance increase. And the tablet will allegedly have a USB-C port and a Smart Connector.
Don’t combine your iPhone and hydrogen peroxide. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple recently added hydrogen peroxide to the list of cleansers not to use on its products. The chemical is often employed to disinfect surfaces, but it’s not recommended for wiping down your iPhone, Mac or iPad. Or your Apple peripherals, either.
The warning comes as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on.
Who needs Boot Camp when you can stream Windows to your Mac? Microsoft’s newly announced Windows 365 feature allows you to use Windows 10 and 11 on almost any device — including Mac and iPad.
With a Cloud PC, you get an instant-on experience and access to all your data, software, and settings anywhere. And you’ll be able to configure your setup to suit your needs. The service launches on August 2, 2021.
A Brydge keyboard greater than any other. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
If you want to use your iPad like a laptop, adding a Brydge keyboard has long been the best way to do it. There are other solutions — a lot of them, in fact — and many are more affordable. But none of them are as good as a Brydge keyboard.
And no Brydge keyboard has been better than the new Max+ for iPad Pro. Like its predecessors, the Max+ is beautifully built from anodized aluminum, with a backlit keyboard that delivers a stellar typing experience. The big difference with the Max+ — which makes it even better than the Pro+ — is a larger, more reliable trackpad and a new, much more seamless magnetic docking system for your iPad.
The Max+ is not only the best Brydge keyboard ever made, but also the best third-party keyboard you can buy for iPad Pro. Here’s our full review.
Like the newest iPad Air, only smaller. Concept: Parker Ortolani
Apple’s new iPad mini is on track to launch this fall with its “biggest redesign” to date, according to one reliable reporter.
The sixth-generation device, which could look like a more compact version of the iPad Air, is expected to feature a larger edge-to-edge screen. It could be powered by the lightning-fast A14 Bionic chip.
It's easy (albeit time-consuming) to switch back to iPadOS 14. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
So, you’ve already installed the iPadOS 15 beta beta on your iPad and now some of your favorite apps and features are broken. Don’t worry — it’s really easy (if a little time-consuming) to revert back to iPadOS 14.
Save on the stunning polished Revo from Juuk, and lots, lots more. Photo: Juuk
The Cult of Mac Store just kicked off its big Fourth of July sale, offering 15% off all items when you spend $50 or more.
Take your pick from some of the best iPhone, iPad and AirPods cases, stands, Apple Watch bands and more — all hand-picked and approved by members of the Cult of Mac team.
If you would like to see your setup featured on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to [email protected]. Please provide a detailed list of your equipment. Tell us what you like or dislike about your setup, and fill us in on any special touches or challenges. Photo: randomo_redditor@Reddit
Randomo_redditor runs her MacBook Pro and iPad with a monstrously wide Dell monitor, at 49 inches. But even that curved showstopper fails to provide enough real estate for all she does. So she added a 27-inch Dell display in portrait mode on the side. If you’re searching for the best monitors for Mac Mini, you might find this Samsung ultra-wide monitor setup to be a great option.
Now she can fit everything on the screens. And we do mean everything. Randomo already made the most of her widescreen by using an app to split the screen into thirds, for different uses.
Apple plans to bring OLED displays to iPad next year, with iPad Pro to get the same treatment in 2023, according to a new report.
The switch will begin with a 10.68-inch rigid panel, likely destined for iPad Air, sources say. Apple has already transitioned its iPhone lineup to OLED screens after first bringing the technology to iPhone X in 2017.
Eos Bridge gives almost any positioning instrument iOS Bluetooth compatibility. Photo: Eos Positioning Systems
Montreal-based Eos Positioning Systems, known for its Arrow Series GNSS receivers, has released Eos Bridge. The device clips on your belt and gives almost any positioning instrument iOS Bluetooth compatibility.
Just by way of background, GNSS stands for Global Navigation Satellite Systems. As such, it underlies the better-known Global Positioning System (GPS) used in the U.S. and elsewhere. GPS is one of five GNSS constellations in play around the world, and the oldest one. You can learn more here.
Big upgrades for the MacBook Pro and iPad mini are still on track for a 2021 release. A new entry-level iPad, aimed primarily at students, will also appear this year, according to a new report.
Apple is said to be fully focused on new iPhone and Apple Watch upgrades coming this fall for now, but other hardware revisions are expected before the end of 2021.
Apple might take the iPad line past the 12.9-inch mark, possibly creating an iPad Pro Max. Graphic Cult of Mac
Someday, Apple could make tablets as large as the biggest MacBooks. The company is reportedly investigating making super size iPad models with displays larger than the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, according to a reliable source for insider info.
Powerful iPad graphics apps will have access to more RAM on iPadOS 15. Photo: Apple
iPadOS 15 lets applications request more than the usual amount of RAM. This removes a limitation in iOS 14 that kept apps from taking full advantage of the 2021 iPad Pro models with more RAM than any of their predecessors.
Convert your iPad Air 4 into a detachable laptop with Logitech Combo Touch. Photo: Logitech
Logitech’s Combo Touch keyboard case just launched for iPad Air 4. It includes a detachable keyboard and trackpad, as well as a protective case with kickstand. And Bluetooth is unnecessary.
There are versions for other iPad models out already. And there is a new color option for these.
You’ll get the 2021 iPad Pro far quicker if you order it from somewhere other than Apple.com. Photo: Apple
The online Apple Store might not be the best place to buy the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Place an order for 2021’s hottest tablet on Apple.com on Wednesday and you could wait a month or more to have it shipped to you. But other stores have the device in stock now.
You can continue using Apple TV+ until your trial ends. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The one-year free trial of Apple TV+ comes to an end later this month, which means you will be charged soon to keep your subscription going. If you don’t want to use Apple TV+ going forward, you need to cancel it.
How tablet shipments break down. Photo: Counterpoint Research
The global pandemic was bad for many industries. One sector it was good for was the worldwide tablet market, led by Apple’s iPad. According to a new report by Counterpoint Research, Apple sold a third more iPads in 2020 than it did in 2019. In the first quarter of 2021, it expanded its share to a massive 37% of the global tablet market — including hitting an all-times sales record in Japan.
“The basic iPad models accounted for 56% of the overall iPad shipments in Q1 2021,” said Senior Analyst Liz Lee said. “The iPad Air and iPad Pro series came next with 19% and 18% shares, respectively. Since consumers are constantly concerned about prices and portability, the latest iPad 8 emerged as the top-selling model. Launched in October 2020, the iPad Air 4 ranked second on the bestseller list as it was a huge hit with consumers looking for cost-effectiveness as well as high specifications.”