Facebook is planning to make its first foray into hardware next year and according to a new report it may start competing directly against Apple.
The social network is reportedly building a stand-alone video chat device with a built in touch screen that is focused on helping bring Facebook users closer together.
Apple could be a $2 trillion company by end of 2021 Photo illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is set to unveil its latest earnings report on Tuesday, and Wall Street analysts predict it will probably be the most boring earnings call of 2017.
This will likely be Apple’s last public announcement before it unveils the next generation of iPhones. Apple CEO Tim Cook might drop some hints on what to expect, and when, as investors look forward to Apple’s next big blockbuster quarter. As usual, Cult of Mac will be here liveblogging the entire event with all the analysis and wit we can muster.
You won’t be able to stop grooving. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
If you’re looking for a way to lose a few hours later today, you could do a lot worse than Groovebox, a free music-making app for iPhone and iPad. It’s simple enough to start making music as soon as you launch it, but offers enough depth (and enough in-app purchases) to keep you going for quite a while.
Apple's A8 processor violated University of Wisconsin's patent. Photo: Apple
Apple has been ordered to pay $506 million in damages after infringing a patent owned by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
A U.S. judge ruled that the Cupertino company was guilty of using processor technology it did not own in its A-series chips for iPhone and iPad. The sum of damages is more than double that awarded by a jury last October.
The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad. Photo: Apple
Members of Apple’s public beta software program can now test the latest builds of iOS 11, tvOS 11, and macOS High Sierra just one day after Apple dropped the last big batch of beta updates on developers.
The third public beta of iOS 11 contains all of the changes Apple seeded to developers yesterday with iOS 11 beta 4. Along with a number of new bug fixes, the new iOS 11 update brings some new UI improvements like new icons for some stock apps and some changes to the notification center.
After a month of solid use, here's my thoughts on iOS 11. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Ever since Apple released the first iOS 11 beta to developers, I’ve run each version on my primary iPhone 7 and my 9.7-inch iPad Pro. While iOS 11 doesn’t bring a radical redesign, it’s been great, with several extremely useful new features (especially for iPad).
To get the full rundown on what I like, what I don’t like, and my general thoughts on iOS 11 after a month’s use, watch the video below.
iOS 11 Beta 4 brings a slew of new updates to the iPhone and iPad. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
iOS 11 beta 4 was rolled out to developers Monday. Alongside the usual bug fixes you’d expect in a beta release, it brings some nice changes and surprises we did not anticipate. Find out what’s new in the video below.
iOS 11 beta 4 brings a host of bug fixes and performance improvements, plus a few key changes that make Apple’s mobile operating system even better. New beta builds are also available for macOS High Sierra, tvOS 11 and macOS High Sierra.
But there's a definite chance of further delays. Photo: Foxconn
Foxconn, Apple’s largest manufacturing partner, could this week announce its plans to open new manufacturing facilities in the U.S.
Sources say the Chinese company could hold an event in Washington, D.C. to announce new electronics plants in Detroit and Wisconsin — but it’s not yet clear whether those plants will be making goods for Apple.
When it comes to Apple deals, it doesn't get much better than "free." Photos: Apple, Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Whether you need some new tunes for a summer road trip or an iPad to take along to the beach, it’s a good time for Apple deals. This week, get an Apple Music trial subscription for free, the lowest price ever on an iPad Pro and more.
Apple rolled out its latest iOS 10.3.3 update on Wednesday, and you should install it as quickly as possible if you haven’t already.
This release fixes a serious vulnerability in the Wi-Fi chips used in iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, which allows an attacker to remotely take control of your device over a wireless network.
Apple made big changes to Control Center in iOS 11 beta 3. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Live broadcasting your home screen to other iPhone owners may soon become possible, thanks to a new addition spotted in iOS 11 beta 3.
Apple added a new button to Control Center that hints at the upcoming functionality. The button doesn’t do anything right now, but it shows Apple could add live broadcasting in one of its next beta builds.
Omnigroup has started offering 2-week trials on its $50-100 iOS apps. Photo: Cult of Mac
Omnigroup launched Omnigraffle 3 for iOS today, and it looks like a fantastic update to the diagramming, chart-making, flow-chart-creating app. But that’s not nearly the most important thing about this release, because Omni may have changed the way paid software works on iOS, and may be making it possible for “expensive” pro-level apps to be viable on the cheap-o app store at last.
The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad. Photo: Apple
Members of Apple’s public beta software program can get their hands on the second public build of iOS 11 today.
The new beta build was made available this morning, bringing a host of performance improvements, UI changes and new features that take the iPhone and iPad to an all-new level. macOS High Sierra public beta 2, watchOS 4 beta 2 and tvOS 11 beta 2 are also available to download.
See the iOS 11 beta 3 changes in action. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple squashed a few bugs in iOS 11 beta 3, released for developers today, but the update also adds new iPad multitasking features, Siri upgrades and more. Check out our video below to see everything that’s new.
Sure, there are a ton of great new games available for both macOS and iOS, but sometimes it pays to revisit the classics. That’s what users get with Battlezone 98 Redux, a remastered version of one of the best sci-fi strategy first-person shooter games of all time.
This was hot stuff back in the halcyon days of 1998, back when the iMac G3 was the hottest computer going. And now that it’s landed on both Mac and iPad, it remains pretty darn good!
Apple's latest iPad is ready for the grabbing! Photos: Apple, SuperGoodDeals.com, Asmodee Digital
We’ve got a mix of hardware, accessories and downloads this week. So whether you need an iPad, a charging cable, a game or a MacBook Pro, check out this week’s best Apple deals.
Siri will answer you, no matter how stupid your question. Photo: Cult of Mac
Siri translation seems like the most obvious thing in the world. You probably already asked him/her the meaning of a foreign word, or how to say an English phrase in another language. Under iOS 11, though, this will actually work.
All you have to do is to ask Siri how to say something, and s/he will respond with an answer. Even better, you can use Type to Siri to make the query, which may come in handy when you’re in a line at the market and you don’t want to start talking into your iPhone.
Imagination has been building GPUs for Apple since the iPod. Photo: Apple
Imagination Technologies, the company that has been making graphics chips for Apple’s mobile devices for well over a decade, says it has made no progress in its ongoing dispute with the iPhone maker.
Imagination is still in talks with potential buyers after putting itself up for sale, but it is adamant that it will continue its fight with Apple after the company’s “unsubstantiated claim.”
Is Apple's design team losing its way? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is famous for its iconic designs, but is the company slowly losing its way?
Products like the Apple Pencil and Smart Battery Case suggest that Apple’s design team might be missing a certain spark. Even the iPhone, once the prettiest smartphone by a long shot, is now being outshone by rivals from the likes of Samsung and LG.
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether Apple design has become lazy and boring. And be sure to have your say!
Unlike most Apple Pencil accessories, this little sleeve doesn't fetishize a basic tool. Photo: FRTMA
With the Apple Pencil getting so useful in the upcoming iOS 11, you might consider purchasing one for use with your iPad Pro. There are already a slew of accessories for the Pencil, most of which are utterly ridiculous, like this leather case — from Apple itself, no less.
As a longtime Apple Pencil user, though, one accessory has caught my eye. It’s the FRTMA magnetic sleeve, and it solves a whole bunch of Apple Pencil “problems” all at once.