Customize apps without changing everything. Image: Cult of Mac
iOS and iPadOS 15 give you the ability to specify accessibility settings for individual apps. The change lets you adjust things like text size, increase contrast, invert colors and more only where you need to.
Giving you the best possible download and upload speeds. Photo: Apple
If you’re lucky enough to get strong and speedy 5G coverage where you live, you’ll be pleased that it gets prioritized over Wi-Fi in iOS and iPadOS 15 when your usual network is slow.
The new feature expands your 5G capabilities on iPhone 12 and M1 iPad Pro and could make certain tasks — like downloading high-resolution movies and music or uploading data to iCloud — significantly faster.
All the storage you need, free of charge. Photo: Apple
Apple is making iPhone and iPad upgrades easier by giving users a temporary boost in iCloud storage free of charge.
The change, which comes with iOS and iPadOS 15 this fall, will allow you to backup the entire contents of your device and transfer it all to a new one — even if you’re using the free 5GB storage plan.
iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 give users the ability to place the same app on multiple Home screens (or multiple icons for the same app on one screen) for the first time.
Simply drag any app out of the App Library and onto your Home screen as many times as you like.
... if you have a spare iPhone or iPad. Photo: Apple
Itching to get your hands on iOS and iPadOS 15 as soon as possible? The first developer betas are out now, and although we definitely don’t recommend installing them just yet, we’ll still tell you how to do it.
All you need is an Apple Developer account and an iPhone or iPad.
Turning your iPad is no longer necessary. Image: Cult of Mac
iPadOS 15 brings a big improvement to iPhone apps on a larger screen, finally allowing you to use them in landscape mode. The change even supports app that don’t have their own landscape view, like Instagram.
Its new interface better resembles the new Siri Remote that ships with the latest Apple TV 4K, introduced back in April, and offers greater functionality over the old design.
Siri will soon be able to handle many of your questions and requests offline. When Apple’s next-generation software updates roll out this fall, on-device speech recognition will negate the need for a data connection.
Apple is also opening Siri up to third parties, paving the way for its virtual assistant to be integrated into all manner of smart devices in the future.
Safari extensions are finally coming to iPhone and iPad this fall with iOS and iPadOS 15. You’ll have access to all the same extension options you’re used to seeing on your Mac, with developers getting the ability to create universal extensions that work across all devices.
iPadOS gets widgets you can place anywhere — just like iPhone. Photo: Apple
Apple today gave iPad owners their first peek at iPadOS 15 with a revamped Home screen and more powerful multitasking. The update also introduces bolstered privacy controls and some welcome changes to notifications.
iPadOS 15 makes its public debut this fall alongside iOS 15 and other software updates for Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. Developers can get their hands on the very first betas later today.
The current iPadOS multitasking system is useful but limited. Improvements are expected in iPadOS 15. Photo: Apple
The iPad software upgrade expected to be unveiled Monday will improve the way users work with multiple on-screen applications, according to a last-minute report from a reliable source. iPadOS 15 also will include widget improvements and other changes.
Not interested in likes? Get rid of them. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Facebook and Instagram have added the ability to hide likes and view counts — a feature that’s been in the works for a while. You can block counts on your own posts and well as on those from others.
We’ll show you how to enable the setting inside Facebook and Instagram for iPhone and iPad.
Pick up Anker’s awesome 5-in-1 USB-C hub and charger on Amazon today and get a generous $40 off the usual price.
The PowerPort hub keeps your iPad, MacBook and more topped up while allowing you to connect up to four USB devices and a 4K monitor over HDMI. It’s now at its lowest-ever price for a limited time only.
Apple wants to keep its iPad line hot coming out of the pandemic. Photo: Apple
Apple is planning some exciting new additions for its iPad line. According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to bring wireless charging to the iPad Pro, along with the first iPad mini redesign in six years.
The wireless charging iPad will supposedly debut in 2022. The redesigned iPad mini — complete with narrower bezels and possible removed Home button — will meanwhile arrive later this year.
The safe and easy way to share HomeKit control. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
If you’re going away this summer and leaving your home in the hands of someone else, you might want to give them control of your HomeKit devices. And it’s really easy to do that inside the Home app.
Here’s how to invite anyone with an iPhone, iPad or Mac to control your smart home gadgets as a guest.
Keep your iPhone, iPad, Mac and more topped up and connected with generous discounts on Amazon Basics charging cables and USB-C hubs.
Prices start at just $6.31 for a three-foot fast charging cable, while a 30W USB-C charger with GaN technology can be yours for $17.29. Amazon’s 3-in-1 USB-C hub is down to just $25.49.
The discounts are good for a limited time only, so enjoy them while you can.
A 15-inch MacBook Air was on the cards for Apple in 2008. It never shipped. Photo: Markus Spiske temporausch.com from Pexels
As CEOs of Apple, both Tim Cook and his predecessor Steve Jobs pride or, in Jobs’ case, prided themselves on the ability to say “no” to ideas. For obvious reasons, most of the time the world never gets to hear what those shot-down ideas actually were.
However, emails disclosed as part of the discovery for the Epic vs. Apple trial, now adjourned, shows one of the ideas that was talked about internally — but ultimately abandoned. That ideas was for a 15-inch MacBook Air, discussed as far back as 2007, the year before Apple debuted its ultra-thin notebook.
Make texting quicker and easier. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Make replying to messages on iPad even quicker by activating its hidden floating keyboard with Slide-to-Type support. It’s baked right into iPadOS, so no third-party apps or hacks are required.
Some astounding closeup images should make you stop laughing at iPad photography. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Professional photog/developer Sebastiaan de With accidentally discovered that the rear-facing camera in the 2021 iPad Pro can focus on objects very close to the lens. This allows the tablet to capture close-up images not possible with an iPhone.
Cult of Mac did a bit of experimenting and confirmed the results.
Give others the ability to use your Apple Card. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple Card now gives users the ability to add a co-owner from their Family Sharing group. Co-owners share the same credit line and have the ability to add the card to Apple Pay, view their own spending activity, and more.
It’s also possible to share Apple Card with other members of your family (aged 13 years or older) and give them their own spending limit. Here’s how to start sharing yours on iPhone and iPad.
Turn your iPad into a laptop — one that can survive a 6-foot fall — with the Zagg Pro Keys. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Zagg Pro Keys wraps a range of iPad models in a very protective case, and includes a removable keyboard that makes the tablet even more productive. It’s a full-featured accessory that comes at a relatively low cost.
I used the Pro Keys with my work/personal iPad for several days. Here’s what I found out.
Brydge iTrack might complete your iPad-centric desktop setup. Photo: Brydge
Brydge iTrack may be the first trackpad designed specifically for iPad. That allows the desktop accessory to take full advantage of the support for trackpads Apple added to iPadOS.
And while it uses Bluetooth, Brydge promises minimal connection hassles.
How do we love the iPad Pro? Let us count the ways. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
If you loved the old iPad Pro, you’re really gonna love the new one. Cult of Mac writer (and veteran iPad user) Ed Hardy lays out all the ways Apple turned its pro tablet up to 11 this year. Heck, maybe even all the way up to 12.9.
From iPad Pro to iMac to Apple TV 4K, it seems like all Apple’s new gear delivered the goods this week. And the new Spatial Audio coming soon to Apple Music sounds absolutely awesome, at least in theory. (The fact that lossless audio won’t play on AirPods … not so much.)
Catch up on it all with this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Read it on iOS or hit the links below to read in your browser. Oh, and if you haven’t seen the video of how Assistive Touch will work on Apple Watch, take a minute to do it. It’s a wild new way that Apple’s wearable will work for people with certain disabilities.
3D games, video editing, a million browser tabs -- how would you try to jam up a MacBook Air M1? Photo: Typical_Andrew@Reddit
If you owned a new MacBook Air with an M1 chip and 16GB of unified memory, how much would you have to do at once for it to freeze, bringing up the spinning beach ball of death?
Enjoy Apple Music anywhere. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
If you are unable to play Apple Music tracks when you’re driving or out and about, it’s probably because you need to enable streaming over a cellular connection. We’ll show you how.