These are our favorites! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Accessory makers churned out some awesome new gadgets for the iPad in 2016. From cases to Star Wars toys, loads of new gear came along to boost the capabilities of the world’s favorite tablets.
Whether for the Pro line or the less-powerful Air or mini models, these are the best iPad accessories of 2016.
Apple's 2016 wasn't exactly inspiring. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
2016 hasn’t been Apple’s best year by a long shot. While the company is still making money hand over fist and has seen its Services division go from strength to strength, Apple also consistently stumbled for the first time in years.
While we remain loyal to the Apple brand, here are our picks for the year’s biggest disappointments.
Truffles served on an iPad plate. Photo: Richie Nakano
A restaurant in San Francisco has begun serving food on iPads. Quince is using the popular tablets as plates in an apparent effort to appeal to younger diners. Each iPad plays a video of a water dog searching for truffles while you eat your meal off its screen.
Handbrake is our favorite video converter. Photo: Michael Steeber/Cult of Mac
Handbrake has been our go-to tool for all types of video conversion how-tos for years and now after 13 years in ‘beta’ the free software is officially ready for its official launch.
'Appy holidays everyone! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
If you find yourself at a loose end today, perhaps after overindulging on the eggnog and looking to sit down for a few minutes, why not check out our picks for the top apps of the last week?
Whether you own an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or MacBook, we’re confident you’ll find something to enjoy on our list!
New iPads could be delayed. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
A new report claims that the next-gen iPad Pro, set to be unveiled early in 2017, could be delayed due to lower-than-expected yield rates on the 10-nanometer A10X chips used in the device.
You want innovation? Look no further than Apple's advertising. Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple may not have launched its most innovative products in 2016, but when it comes to marketing, Cupertino is still killing it.
By utilizing celebrities, musicians, athletes and everyday iPhone owners, Apple created some of its most memorable ads ever in 2016. Whether they were touting Apple TV with Kobe Bryant, or using the story of an autistic boy to show how technology can change the world, Apple ads entertained us and gave us all the feels.
Would you buy an Apple console? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s product portfolio is crying out for something new. Fans and investors are itching to see where the company will go next, and whether it can revolutionize yet another industry. Should a games console be top of its list?
Some fans may not know this, but Apple has produced a console before. It wasn’t too successful, but Apple is a different company now, and it’s already serving hundreds of millions of avid gamers with its Apple TV and iOS devices. In some ways, a console makes a lot of sense.
But could Apple really topple the PlayStation or Xbox? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether Apple should build its own console!
A new iOS beta is here! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Developers received a fresh new batch of beta software from Apple today, just two days after the company launched iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 to the public.
The new first betas for macOS 10.12.3, iOS 10.2.1 and tvOS 10.1.1 all come with a number of bug fixes and performance enhancements, but they likely don’t contain any major new features.
Backing up your iPhone to Google Drive. Photo: Google
Google is giving iPhone users yet another easy way to switch to Android.
The latest update to its Google Drive app for iOS brings the ability to backup some of your most important data in just a few taps before migrating it all to a new Android smartphone.
A hot new iOS update is out! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The long wait for iOS 10.2 is finally over. After weeks of beta testing, Apple made the big iOS 10.2 update available to the public this morning, adding a host of new features that make the iPhone and iPad better than ever.
Ain't that just the way that sales go down, down, down, down. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is reportedly set to launch new iPad Pros in the first half of 2017, but that may not be enough to stop iPad demand slipping to its lowest level to a new record low, claims a new report.
Citing sources in the supply chain, the report claims that chip demand for the iPad has continued to slow, meaning that shipments of iPad devices for 2016 may struggle to hit 40 million units in total. And things are likely to get even worse.
Christmas is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start shopping for your loved ones. If one of them is a hardcore Apple fan, that might be easier than you think.
Apple products aren’t cheap, but there’s something sweet at every price point, from maxed-out Macs that cost an arm and a leg, to the latest iOS devices for someone really special, and awesome accessories that fit into any budget.
In this week’s Friday Night Fight, we’re putting away our pitchforks for one week only and focusing on great gifts for every Apple fan.
Apple's 'new hit product' mindset is demoralizing for employees. Photo: Apple
The days of Apple busting out hit new products every few years may be over. According to one of the best Apple analysts, Apple has been trying to de-emphasize the “home-run” mindset that made it the most enviable company in tech.
Speaking at the recent UBS Tech Conference, Horrace Dediu claimed Apple’s cultural identity is undergoing a dramatic shift.
When it was introduced in iOS 7, Apple called Activation Lock "a really powerful theft deterrent." Photo: Apple
Since its introduction with iOS 7, Activation Lock has gotten stronger and stronger. But every so often, researchers stumble across a bug that allows it to be cracked. The latest is found in iOS 10.1.1, and it makes it surprisingly easy to get into a locked iPhone or iPad.
With split-screen multiplayer! Photo: Andreas Illiger
Tiny Wings, one of the most addictive games you’ll ever play on iOS, is now available on the fourth-generation Apple TV. It costs just $2.99, and it comes with a new two-player game mode that lets you battle it out with a friend for the first time.
Is there a link between bullying and iPads in class? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Bullying in schools? Blame iPads, claims U.K. politician Edward Timpson, the Minister for Children and Families.
Speaking to the House of Lords Communications Committee, Timpson said that iPads are “forming too much” of kids’ school days, and as a result are being increasingly used inappropriately for “bullying and harassment.”
These are the deals you're looking for. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Black Friday is over, but the killer deals aren’t dead yet. It’s time to slap yourself out of that food coma, reach for your wallet, and grab yourself some sweet Cyber Monday deals on Apple products and other premium gear.
Our liveblog is where you’ll find them. We’ve got big discounts on Apple products from Amazon, B&H Photo and plenty of others, plus stellar savings on accessories and other gadgets from the likes of Twelve South, Slickwraps and many more.
Cult of Mac will keep digging through all the Cyber Monday ads to find the best deals on Apple products, electronics and gifts for your holiday shopping list. Get ready to go bananas.
Get closer to your subject with Blips. Photo: Blips
Place your iPhone’s camera too close to your subject and it loses its ability to focus, but not if you turn it into a microscope. That’s possible with a simple Blips sticker that’s placed over your iPhone’s camera lens — and you can preorder yours right now.
iPads were the big sellers, apparently. Photo: Target
Target had a record-breaking day of online sales on Thanksgiving — and Apple devices were one of the big movers.
The retailer singled out the iPad as a particularly hot seller. The Apple tablets helped Target achieve traffic and sales that blew past numbers for last year’s Cyber Monday event.
Are you ready for Apple to make Macs "pro" again? Photo: Cult of Mac
This week on The CultCast: Is a secret Apple project stalling Mac updates? It wouldn’t be the first time. Plus: Apple teases Black Friday deals; AirPort routers are walking dead, and the Mac Pro might be next; the future of Time Machine; why iPad should be an iOS/OS X hybrid; and Jony Ive’s new role designing Apple itself.
Apple’s one-day Black Friday event is now live in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and other markets around the world. Just as expected, there are no discounts to take advantage of, but Apple is giving away free gift cards with eligible orders.
The company’s promotion has already gone live in Australia and New Zealand and it brings free gift cards with eligible purchases rather than tasty discounts. But don’t expect to get those gift cards with the latest Apple products.