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Files app in iOS and iPadOS 18 has two hidden power features

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Files app in iOS and iPadOS 18 has two hidden power features
The Files app has some new tricks.
Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 let users reformat external drives as well as keep a copy of a file on iCloud permanently stored locally.

Both features were found by developers tinkering with the first betas of these operating systems, and should make the Files app on iPhone and iPad more useful.

New version of Final Cut Pro for iPad and Mac now available [Updated]

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Final Cut Pro for iPad and Mac
Big updates to Final Cut Pro will boost mobile production capabilities.
Image: Apple

UPDATE: The new versions of Final Cut Pro for iPad and Mac — and the new Final Cut Camera app — launched Thursday on the App Store.

Apple updated its video editing application Final Cut Pro with live multi-camera recording on iPad and powerful new AI color correction on Mac. Plus, Final Cut Camera, a free new app for iPad and iPhone, allows for professional video capture in multicam mode or on its own. These updates “take creativity to the next level,” said Will Hui, project manager for creative applications at Apple when they were announced in May.

The wait for them is now over.

Why Steve Jobs would love the Calculator app for iPad

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iPadOS 18 includes a Math Notes calculator
iPadOS 18 includes the Calculator app that iPad deserves.
Photo: Apple

iPad never before included a built-in Calculator app because there wasn’t one Steve Jobs felt was worthy of a tablet. That all changes with iPadOS 18, which boasts a new Apple Calculator app that you can write into with Apple Pencil.

Here’s why it’s something Jobs would be proud of.

Hands-on with Smart Script in Notes in iPadOS 18

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Hands-on with Smart Script in Notes in iPadOS 18
Smart Script can make your handwriting easier to read, while staying your handwriting.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s Notes app in iPadOS 18 includes a new feature called Smart Script that allows users to handwrite text and then have it smoothed and straightened in real time. It promises to make text scrawled on the tablet with an Apple Pencil more readable and aesthetically pleasing.

I tested Smart Script on my iPad Pro with Apple Pencil. It’s not doing exactly what you might think — let me explain.

Download new iOS 18, iPadOS 18 and macOS 15 wallpapers

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new wallpapers for Apple devices
This macOS 15 wallpaper features retro icons.
Photo: Basic Apple Guy

Apple Let Loose Event: We found more precious nuggets in new software releases from WWDC24: new wallpapers for Apple devices. They include Mac versions that reference old-school icons, iPad landscape and portrait wallpapers in various colors, and similar pretty images for iPhone.

“This new dynamic wallpaper floats over old Macintosh iconography, Control Panel, and applications like the Calculator and MacWrite, Apple’s early word processor,” Basic Apple Guy said of the new-old Mac wallpaper he found.

Apple’s Calculator app finally comes to iPad

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iPadOS 18 includes a Math Notes calculator
iPadOS 18 sports a Calculator app worthy of an iPad.
Photo: Apple

Apple Let Loose Event:Pigs must be flying and hell has frozen over because the official Apple Calculator application is headed for iPad.  It’s a feature missing from the tablet since its launch in 2010 but iPadOS 18 will include one.

It goes beyond simply an expanded version of the iPhone app. Apple built in a Math Notes calculator that allows users to write equations with a stylus and have the iPad solve them.

Instantly share photos, videos, links and more with AirDrop

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How to AirDrop: Drop It My Way
AirDrop is right up there with iMessage as a great Apple-exclusive feature. Learn how to use it.
Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

If you want to know the fastest and easiest way to send someone photos, videos, files and so, so much more, you should know how to AirDrop. There’s no need to send an iMessage — Apple’s slick AirDrop feature will immediately send and open the content on someone else’s iPhone (or other Apple device). There’s no middle step.

AirDrop works iPhone-to-iPhone, iPhone-to-Mac, iPhone-to-iPad, Vision Pro-to-Mac — any combination and permutation of two Apple devices.

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about how to take advantage of AirDrop.

How and why to use an external webcam with your iPad

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External webcam with iPad How To
There are good reasons to use an external webcam with your iPad. Here's why and how.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A trick you might have missed with the release of iPadOS 17 is support for external USB-C webcams. As good as the tablet’s front-facing camera is, it’s now possible to use a webcam with an iPad.

Here’s why you might be interested, and how to connect a webcam to your iPad with a USB-C port.

First Apple Store in Malaysia sports wild, tiered-pyramid roof

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First Apple Store in Malaysia
This rendering shows the unusual tiered-pyramid roof design of the new store.
Photo: Apple

Apple continues its retail expansion in Southeast Asia with its first store in Malaysia — Apple The Exchange TRX. It’s set to open June 22 in Kuala Lumpur at The Exchange TRX mall. And you should check out the roof on this thing. It looks like a tiered pyramid.

Apple The Exchange TRX will be Apple’s sixth store in Southeast Asia. And it already has wallpapers for your device screens.

M2 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Air: Should you upgrade?

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M2 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPAd Air comparison
Should you ditch your Pro for the newest Air?
Image: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac

Apple’s recently released M2 iPad Air packs modest upgrades over its predecessor and the same processor as 2022’s M2 iPad Pro. How do the two Apple tablets with identical M2 chips compare? Find out in our M2 iPad Pro vs. M2 iPad Air comparison.

While the new midrange tablet seems tempting, an iPad Air is still an Air, not a Pro.

Save $155 on a Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad 10

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Gift an Apple lover this Magic Keyboard Folio for only $99.
Accessorize your iPad 10 with this hot open-box deal on Apple's Magic Keyboard Folio.
Photo: Apple

iPads are great for many things, but there’s one obvious drawback to using a tablet — the lack of a keyboard for typing out notes and performing similar tasks. Fortunately, if you need an iPad 10 accessory to maximize productivity, we’ve get one in this Apple Magic Keyboard Folio sale.

Apple’s outstanding iPad keyboard is perfect as a treat for yourself, but it’s not cheap. It retails for $249. But Cult of Mac Deals customers don’t need to pay full price to get the ultimate iPad 10 accessory. This open-box Magic Keyboard Folio for the 10th-gen iPad is on sale for only $94.97 with free shipping.

Apple Magic Keyboard expands M4 iPad Pro to its full potential [Review] ★★★★

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Apple Magic Keyboard for M4 iPad Pro★★★★
Every M4 iPad Pro buyer should at least consider getting the Apple Magic Keyboard.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

With its cool cantilever design, Apple Magic Keyboard was a standout iPad Pro accessory even before its recent upgrade. Now that Apple fixed some of the original’s problems by adding a glass trackpad, a row of function keys and an aluminum palm rest, it’s even better. Especially with an improved USB-C port.

But does the functionality (and sheer coolness) justify the epic price of the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro? Read on to find out.

Snag the best Memorial Day deals on Apple gear and accessories [Updated]

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Memorial Day deals on Apple gear
Memorial Day weekend is a great time to bag bargains on Apple gear, peripherals and accessories.
Photo: Apple

Memorial Day weekend has arrived in the United States, and you know what that means — widespread sales on Apple gear and accessories (and pretty much everything else you can buy). Memorial Day deals on Apple gear can be irresistible.

We’re building a list, below, of solid deals at major retailers for Apple deals on gear, peripherals and accessories. Check back, because you might find something new.

iPad mini with OLED screen on course for release

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OLED iPad mini concept
Add iPad mini to the list of Apple devices getting an OLED screen.
Image: Cult of Mac/Apple/Paul Inkles

An OLED screen intended for iPad mini is active development, according to an unconfirmed report coming out of Asia. Apple’s smallest tablet will get the improved display in a couple of years.

The news comes on the heels of the launch of the M4 iPad Pro, the first in this line of tablets with an OLED screen.

Take a deep dive into the best parts of M4 iPad Pro [Review] ★★★★★

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M4 iPad Pro review★★★★★
I explain why iPad Pro M4 is so brilliant.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

You already know the latest iPad Pro looks pretty and runs fast. Rather than an M4 iPad Pro review that simply goes over those points again, I talked to experts on why the tablet’s new tandem OLED display looks so beautiful. And I also explain why an iPad needs a high-end processor.

Plus, this M4 iPad Pro review serves up the results of my real-world battery life tests, plus my thoughts on The iPadOS Question.

M4 iPad Pro teardown reveals smaller-capacity battery

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An M4 iPad Pro teardown shows the two batteries
An M4 iPad Pro teardown shows the two batteries and other internal components
Photo: iFixit

A teardown of the new M4 iPad Pro shows that achieving its super-slim redesign required trimming the battery capacity. But there’s good news about replacing that battery.

Disassembling an iPad isn’t for the faint of heart, but iFixit did the honors. Now we can all what’s inside the shiny new iPad Pro.

Learn all these gestures and you’ll master your iPad

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The Guide to iPad Gestures
No more mad swiping at the screen — learn the details of how your iPad works.
Image: Leander Kahney/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Gestures are a great way to become an iPad power user. They help you easily navigate through apps, switch between pages, access controls, and reduce multiple taps to a single swipe. iPad gestures prove especially useful for Stage Manager, the iPad’s alternative multitasking environment.

Apple designed these iPad gestures to mimic natural, real-world movements, making them intuitive to use and learn. Swiping, pinching, tapping and other moves feel familiar. You should find them easy to master.

If you use your iPad a lot, these gestures are well worth learning. Your fingers will thank you!

Should you buy a MacBook or iPad?

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MacBook VS iPad
Which is the better choice these days?
Image: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

Should your next computer be a MacBook or an iPad? Apple is making the iPad more powerful and capable every year — it might be good enough that you don’t need a traditional computer in your life.

While macOS is still more powerful and versatile, the iPad’s hardware offers unique capabilities that no Mac can match. The iPad is easier to pick up and use, more portable and more reliable. It’s worth considering over a laptop if you don’t do a lot of specialized work.

Here are the pros and cons, MacBook vs. iPad: Price, easy of use, portability and more. Keep reading below or watch our video.

Folks hold onto iPads longer than ever these days

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iPad buying cycle slows - M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air now on sale
Folks may have just been waiting for the new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air.
Image: Apple

The iPad buying cycle has slowed because iPad owners increasingly hold onto their old tablets for longer periods than in the past, a new analysis showed Wednesday.

However, the just-ended wait for the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air could be a big reason why. It was a long one. The previous generations both came out in 2022.

Confirmed: Redesign makes M4 iPad Pro incompatible with older cases, keyboards, styli

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M4 iPad Pro with older Apple Magic Keyboard
M4 iPad Pro absolutely does not work with previous Apple Magic Keyboard.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

A change in the location of magnets built into the M4 iPad Pro breaks compatibility with a wide array of accessories designed for earlier models. That includes many folio cases, clip-on keyboards, and styli. Many of Apple’s own previous offerings are on the incompatible list, too.

Apple had already warned of this, but Wednesday’s launch of the tablet allows real-world tests to confirm the full extent of the affect.

Apple showcases amazing new accessibility features like Eye Tracking

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Apple accessibility features
With Eye Tracking, a user can navigate iPhone or iPad using just their eyes.
Photo: Apple

Apple showcased some remarkable new accessibility features for people with disabilities Wednesday, including Eye Tracking, Music Haptics and Vocal Shortcuts.

The new features, coming later this year to Apple devices, harness Apple silicon, artificial intelligence and machine learning. They will come mainly to iPhone and iPad, though some new ones will appear in Vision Pro’s visionOS, too.

“We believe deeply in the transformative power of innovation to enrich lives,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook in a press release. “That’s why for nearly 40 years, Apple has championed inclusive design by embedding accessibility at the core of our hardware and software. We’re continuously pushing the boundaries of technology, and these new features reflect our long-standing commitment to delivering the best possible experience to all of our users.”

M4 iPad Pro review roundup: Slim, gorgeous but a bit limited

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M4 iPad Pro in use
Early reviews of M4 iPad Pro are full of positives with some negatives.
Screenshot: Apple

The first reviews of the M4 iPad Pro praise its slim design, its beautiful screen and its speedy new processor. But there’s also some criticism of the limitations imposed by iPadOS.

Read on for the highs and lows of early reviews of Apple’s new top-of-the-line tablet.

Save up to $50 on new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air

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M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air design
We don't have to wait for deals on the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air.
Photo: Apple

M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air are so new they haven’t even reached customers yet and there are already deals on many configurations. There are discounts on a variety of screen sizes and built-in storage options.

Savvy shoppers can save up to $50 by buying these hot new tablets from Amazon.

Super-slim M4 iPad Pro won’t be super-bendy, Apple says

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M4 iPad Pro: Slim but not fragile
Apple VP John Ternus (shown) explains why M4 iPad Pro isn't as fragile as it might look.
Photo: Apple

Apple brags that the 13-inch version of the M4 iPad Pro is “the thinnest Apple product ever,” but the company took steps to be sure the new tablet isn’t fragile and easily bendable.

In an interview, Apple’s head of hardware engineering describes a “central rib” that makes the computer more stiff.

Should you upgrade to the 2024 iPad Pro with M4 chip?

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Should You Upgrade to the M4 iPad Pro?
Is your iPad Pro old enough to justify buying the new iPad Pro?
Photo: Apple/D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac

You own an iPad Pro, and you’re wondering if you should upgrade to the new iPad Pro with M4. We feel your pain. Announced on May 7, 2024, the new iPad Pro features the brand-new M4 chip. It’s the top-of-the-line iPad with a gorgeous Tandem OLED display and a radical thin-and-light design.

It’s easily upgradable with the new Apple Pencil Pro and refreshed Magic Keyboard. But whether it’s worth upgrading depends on which iPad Pro you use right now. We put together a guide to help you decide. Check the infographic below or watch the video.