Handwritten notes make messaging more personal. Photo: Apple
iOS 10 makes messaging even more personal by giving iPhone owners new ways to communicate through stickers, effects and giant emojis. It’s also super simple to send handwritten notes straight from the heart. Here’s how.
This week on The CultCast: Leaks point to exciting upgrades coming to the smaller iPhone 7 — we’ll give you the scoop. Plus, get ready for iPhone 7, we have a launch date; Apple Watch 2 might be getting a sorely needed feature; new models and “revolutionary” upgrades are coming to the iPad line; and stick around for CultCast Choices, the game that pits one bad choice against another.
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Don't slap people with your iPad. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
A Connecticut man has filed a lawsuit against an EMT after being hit on the head with an iPad while in the back of an ambulance. Robert Alix, who is seeking $15,000 in damages, also claims that he was beaten and told to “get a haircut and join the military.”
A new size of iPad Pro is on the way, apparently. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple will ship three new iPads next year, according to well-connected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo — including a low-cost 9.7-inch iPad, upgraded 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro variant as well.
But the really big changes, he claims, are planned for the year after…
Now is a great time to buy the iPad Pro. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Buying a gigantic new iPad Pro just got a bit more affordable because Apple has finally made refurbished units of the 12.9-inch model available online.
This is why you shouldn't take pics with an iPad. Photo: Deklyn Kai
Next time you visit SeaWorld make sure to keep one eye on the dolphins and the other on your Apple products.
It turns out one of the most intelligent species of the ocean is just as crazy about iPads and iPhones as humans are, as seen in a new video from Orlando, Florida where a dolphin jumps out of his pool to steal a spectator’s iPad while she’s taking a photo.
iPads are proving more popular than ever with people in business and government. Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac
A growing part of Apple’s iPad business is coming from governments and corporations, with almost half of the tablets (particularly high-end models) being bought by this audience, according to a new report from The New York Times.
“Apple is stronger in the enterprise market with its devices than it is with consumers,” Forrester analyst Frank Gillet told the newspaper.
Apple needs help squashing bugs. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s head of security and engineering architecture, Ivan Kritic, revealed yesterday that the iPhone maker is finally creating a bug bounty program that will offer rewards of up to $200,000 to security researchers who find vulnerabilities on the company’s various software platforms.
The news came during a keynote at the annual Black Hat Conference in Las Vegas where Kritic also gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at iOS 10 security as part of Apple’s effort to become more open about its architecture in hopes of improving it.
Android makers are finally ripping off Night Shift! Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 7 ships with its latest TouchWiz software, which finally includes a blue light filter. The feature was obviously inspired by Night Shift mode, which Apple introduced to iPhone and iPad with iOS 9.3 back in March.
Is the iPad Pro a true PC replacement? Photo: Apple
What’s a computer?
That’s the latest brain buster Apple is asking fans in its latest iPad Pro ad that showcases how the giant tablet can replace a PC thanks to its keyboard, touchscreen and Apple Pencil. The short new ad covers iPad Pro’s multitasking capabilities, too, with shots of Slide Over and picture-in-picture that reimagine what you can do on an iPad.
Say hello to the new Remote app. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Controlling the new Apple TV just got a lot easier today now that Apple has finally released a brand-new version of its Remote app for iOS.
The all new Remote app can completely replace the Siri Remote that comes with Apple TV, allowing watchers to take full control of their viewing experience, without having to put down their iPhone.
Apple has rolled out a new iTunes update to fix a bug that could prevent playlist changes from syncing between Macs and iOS devices. The version 12.4.3 release is available to download now from the Mac App Store.
iOS 10's new emoji have more gender diversity. Photo: Apple
iPhone and iPad owners are set to get a big batch of new emoji when iOS 10 lands on devices later this fall thanks to the addition of over 100 new characters that promote gender equality.
The latest beta build of iOS 10 seeded to developers this morning brings more gender options to existing characters like the surfer, runner, weightlifter, detective, construction worker and much more.
Apple Watch’s digital crown is yet to make its way to other Apple devices, but that could soon be about to change. According to a recent patent application, Apple is already exploring the idea of bringing the feature to the likes of the iPad.
But would a digital crown make sense on a larger device, or will it feel out of place? Will it actually add useful functionality that enhances the user experience, or would it be little more than a useless gimmick that’s there for the sake of it?
Join is in this week’s Friday Night Fights as we battle it out over whether the digital crown deserves a place on the iPad and other Apple products.
Shopping for Apple stuff on iPhone is about to get better. Photo: Milo Kahney/Cult of Mac
A major redesign is coming soon to the Apple Store iOS app that will bring Amazon-like shopping suggestions to users based on customers’ buying history.
Apple’s redesign will reportedly include a new “For You” tab that suggests products based on previous orders, arming the tech giant with a new tool to create more sales right before the launch of the iPhone 7 in September.
Could the digital crown be a valuable addition to iPad? Photo: Apple
Apple has considered bringing the Apple Watch’s digital crown over to other iOS devices such as the iPad, according to a newly-published patent application.
An iPad-specific digital crown could be used for a variety of functions — including controlling the device’s volume, resizing text, zooming in on photos or with the Camera app, and much more.
Do you find it difficult to choose Apple products? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s product portfolio has expanded quickly since Tim Cook replaced Steve Jobs as CEO, what with the launch of larger iPhones, Apple Watch and the 12-inch Retina MacBook. But are things getting out of hand?
Some fans might argue Apple has too much on its plate, and that other products — particularly its software — are suffering as a result. Others might argue that Apple needs everything in its current lineup — and more! — to keep up with the competition.
So, who’s right? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we exchange insults and virtual blows over whether Apple desperately needs to streamline its product lineup.
Get your hands on the new iOS 10 beta. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The second public beta of iOS 10 has been made available to testers today, coming just two days after Apple seeded the third beta to developers.
The final version of the update isn’t expected to launch until fall but Apple is getting eager fans a sneak peek of the new features coming to Siri, Messages, Notifications, Photos, Apple Music and much more.
Apple made a lot of improvements to iOS 10. Photo: Apple
Apple’s jam-packed iOS 10 update has gotten even better in its third beta, which brings a bunch of tiny new features that start to make iOS 10 feel like a polished product.
The list of changes in iOS 10 beta 3, which was seeded to developers this week, isn’t as long as the last update. But Apple has added some really nice tweaks to the lock screen, Apple Music, iCloud Drive and Messages, in addition to a ton of bug fixes and stability improvements.
Check out the most important new additions to Apple’s upcoming mobile OS, which is slated to launch on iPhones and iPads this fall:
Following the launch of three new beta builds this morning, Apple has now made a new beta of macOS Sierra beta 3 available to developers this afternoon.
The new beta is available for download directly from the Mac App Store and comes two weeks after Apple dropped the second beta build of macOS Sierra that brings a ton of new features, including Siri for Mac, auto-unlock with Apple Watch, Apple Pay, better iCloud integration and more.
iOS 9.3.3 has arrived. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Along with seeding a batch of new beta builds for developers, Apple has a slew of new updates for the public this morning, bringing bug fixes and other software improvements to every single one of its platforms.
The public release of OS X El Capitan 10.11.6, iOS 9.3.3, watchOS 2.2.2 and tvOS 9.3.3 are now available to Apple users, after five beta builds were seeded to developers.
ARM just sold for an arm and a leg. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
ARM Holdings, a.k.a. the company responsible for the mobile processor architecture which powers the iPhone and iPad, looks set to be bought by Japan’s SoftBank for an eye-watering (iWatering?) $32 billion, it has confirmed.
ARM’s board will recommend that shareholders accept the deal, which represents 43 percent over the company’s closing market value as per Friday. The news caused shares in ARM to leap up by 45 percent to 1,742.85p per share when the London Stock Exchange opened this morning.
Gaming isn't great on most Apple devices. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Less than two weeks after making its debut, Pokémon Go is already the most popular mobile game in U.S. history, earning developer Niantic millions of dollars every day. Apple takes a 30 percent cut of that, but is it doing enough to make gaming great on its own platforms?
It’s hard to argue gaming could be better on iPhone and iPad — though we could use better gaming accessories — but platforms like tvOS and macOS seem somewhat neglected. With Mac sales finally falling, should Apple do more to appeal to gamers?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we throw virtual hands over gaming on Apple devices.
Pokémon Go players might want to switch to T-Mobile. Photo: The Pokémon Company
Pokémon Go players have been busy laying lures at Pokéstops across the globe for the past week, but T-Mobile CEO John Legere just baited his own trap to draw in new customers.
Starting on July 19th, T-Mobile will offer all Pokémon Go players free data when playing the game for the entire year, giving you no excuse to not catch ’em all.
The iPhone 7's dual-lens camera could be a game changer. Photo: Martin Hajek
France will soon host a new Apple research center, according to local reports that claim the iPhone maker plans to lease a new R&D facility in Grenoble.