Many teens weren't even born when the first iPhone debuted. Photo: Apple
A massive 88% of U.S. teenagers own an iPhone, and 90% expect their next phone to be an iPhone, a new Piper Sandler survey of more than 7,000 teens suggests.
It’s an impressive showcase of just how popular Apple is among young people — especially so considering that this is a relatively fickle demographic that frequently shies away from things their parents are into. The oldest teen today was only 5 when the first-gen iPhone debuted in 2007. The youngest weren’t even born yet.
No third-party apps required. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
You’ve probably noticed that your iPhone stops playing music as soon as you switch to Video mode inside its Camera app, which prevents you from easily adding a soundtrack to your recordings. But there is a simple trick that lets you shoot video while your music continues to play.
The trick works in all versions of iOS 14 (including the latest iOS 14.5 betas) and requires no third-party apps. We’ll show you how to use it.
Apple isn’t the only company combining iPhone with magnets to do magical things. Xvida was offering snap-on charging pads and other accessories long before MagSafe came along. And now its entire ecosystem is compatible with the iPhone 12 lineup.
Changing Siri's accent is easy. Photo: Cult of Mac
Most folks refer to Siri as “she,” but that’s not always true. The original British English Siri, for example, was male-only up until iOS 7.1 added a female version. And in the latest iOS 14.5 beta, a female Siri is not the default option.
No matter what, you don’t have to stick with your local version of Apple’s comically bad voice assistant. U.S. English speakers, for example, can currently choose from American, Australian, British, Indian, Irish and South African accents for Siri, and also pick male or female versions — with more voices coming soon.
So, if you’re a U.S. native who views the U.K. Standard English accent as quaint, cute, respectful, sexy or reproachful, it’s easy to set your iPhone or iPad to sound like a Brit or whatever you want. And your choice of Siri accent will follow you on all Apple devices logged into with your Apple ID. (In addition to iPhone and iPad, Siri works with just about everything now: Mac, AirPods, iPod, Apple Watch, CarPlay, HomePod and Apple TV.)
What if you could interact with your Apple Watch by blowing on it? Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Your hands are full and you need to look something up on your Apple Watch. Engineers at Apple dreamed up a system that would allow you to control the wearable by blowing on it. A newly filed patent application also imagines a breath-controlled iPhone.
So far, there’s no sign this is an April Fools’ Day joke. But it’s possible.
Happy birthday, Apple! The company turns 45 today. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Today marks 45 years since a little outfit called the Apple Computer Company was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Apple set out to build and sell personal computers. Since then, it’s risen from a hobbyist startup to a tech giant valued at more than $2 trillion.
In the last four and a half decades, Apple changed the tech world in all kinds of ways — some big, some small. Here, in no particular order, are 45 of the most notable ways Apple put a ding in the universe.
Bag brilliant iPhone cases from as little as $14.99. Photo: SwitchEasy
Keep your shiny new iPhone 12 protected and in pristine condition with some high-quality cases from SwitchEasy. They’re brilliantly designed and well-built. And when you buy one from the Cult of Mac Store right now, you’ll get another absolutely free.
This deal ends Friday, April 2, so enjoy it while you can!
Back in my misspent youth I pumped no shortage of spare (and non-spare) change into arcade machines to play Mortal Kombat II. Jump forward more than a quarter-century and MK fans eager to empty their pockets faster than that can shell out for a new custom iPhone 12 Pro model.
Made by the company Caviar, the handset features an image of the Kunai harpoon weapon belonging to everyone’s favorite undead yellow-clad ninja Scorpion. It’s also emblazoned with the immortal words “Get over here!”
And all it will cost you is somewhere north of $6,140.
What better way to protect your pricey iPhone than to wrap it in high-quality leather? Limited77’s gorgeous Ultra Leather case is made from a soft and specially tanned European hide, complete with a microfiber lining, that keeps your beloved smartphone looking brand-new.
And you can get yours right now at 29% off the usual price.
Here's what we know so far. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
It seems early, but we’re already deep into rumor season when it comes to this year’s iPhone. This week alone, we heard tantalizing tidbits about a massive storage upgrade, a cool black finish and more.
And that’s just for the iPhone. We’re also knee-deep in rumors about upcoming upgrades for AirPods, iMacs and Apple Watch, as well as as-yet-unconfirmed products like AirTags and Apple’s AR headset.
Get up to speed on the latest Apple rumors in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. It’s packed with Apple news, reviews and how-tos. Download it to read on iPhone or iPad, or get the stories below in your browser.
And you thought the iPhone 12 Pro Max was big. Photo: เอาไปแบ่งกันดู/Facebook
We’ve all been there. You eagerly place an order for a new iPhone online, then eagerly wait by the door for its arrival, only to have your fun ruined when it turns out that your new iPhone is, in fact, a table.
OK, so we’ve not all been there. But an unnamed Thai man apparently has, after he bought what he thought was a cheap iPhone 7 that turned out to be a novelty desk.
An iPhone emerged fully functional from the bottom of a Canadian lake. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Canadian Angie Carriere dropped her iPhone into a lake while she was ice fishing. A month later, she retrieved off the bottom of the still-frozen lake. And it works.
Fans of Crash Bandicoot can now get their fix on the go with Crash Bandicoot: On the Run, a brand-new game from Activision and King.
The free-to-play runner features stacks of original Crash content — including new characters and an awesome soundtrack — as well as material you’ll recognize from previous entries in the series.
There are 50 bosses to take on across 12 different lands, and a bunch of skins to collect. Get the game on iPhone and iPad today.
There's an easy way to identify a genuine Apple product. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Wondering whether that MagSafe Charger you bought on Amazon or eBay is as genuine as the seller claimed? There’s a quick and easy way to find out if it was really made by Apple. We’ll show you how.
Worried your iPhone might be picking up all kinds of nasty germs while you’re out and about? Sterilize with ultraviolet (UV) light while it charges with this 2-in-1 stand from Limited77 — now on sale for a limited time.
The device promises to kill 99.99% of bacteria, and packs a removable sterilization stick that you can use to clean almost anything. Order yours today from the Cult of Mac Store to save 17%.
A simple calculation is all you need. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Looking for an iPhone charger that will deliver the fastest possible charging speeds? Forget the one that came bundled with your old iPhone and pick up a super-speedy 20W adapter instead.
If you can’t find the wattage of an adapter in its product description, we’ll show you a quick and easy way to calculate it yourself so you don’t waste your hard-earned cash on the wrong one.
Law could mean mandatory filters in Utah. Photo: PornHub
Conservative lawmakers in Utah want to put a legally mandated default block on pornography on all phones and tablets sold in the state.
They have previously referred to porn as a “public health crisis.” However, the main focus of the would-be legislation would supposedly be to stop kids from accessing adult material online. Adults would be able to turn off the filter should they so wish.
iPhone loyalty is strong. The same can‘t be said for users of Samsung handsets. Graphic: Cult of Mac
Apple users are more likely than ever to buy a new iPhone, according to survey results released Tuesday. Nearly 92% of current iOS users intend to stick with the platform.
But the situation isn’t so rosy for archrival Samsung, as 26% of Galaxy smartphone users plan to switch to another platform. And most of these switchers have their eye on an iPhone.
Its ultra-compact design with foldable plug means you can take it anywhere, while its 20W of power delivery will have your favorite devices topped up in no time. Get yours on Amazon today for under $8.
The iPhone 13 could be Apple’s first with an in-display Touch ID scanner. Concept image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A growing number of voices predict that the next-generation iPhone will come with a fingerprint scanner built into its screen. If true, it will mark the welcome return of Touch ID to Apple’s premium models after several long years.
Apple’s new MagSafe Duo Charger for iPhone and Apple Watch just got its first discount — and it’s a big one. Bag yours from Best Buy today for just $99.99, down from $129, before the price returns to normal.
Riots broke out at the factory in December. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple contract manufacturer Wistron has reopened the iPhone factory in Karnataka, southern India. The factory was temporarily closed late last year after riots broke out over unpaid wages.
According to the Economic Times, it is currently operating with a reduced workforce of around 6,000 people. This is around half the number that it had late last year. Wistron will reportedly gradually scale back up the numbers.
The iPhone camera setup is set to get even better. Photo: Apple
The iPhone will get a periscopic telephoto lens in 2023, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims in a new research note seen by Cult of Mac.
Although Kuo doesn’t provide much in the way of details, this would greatly improve the zoom capabilities of the iPhone. Currently the best iPhone for camera zoom is the iPhone 12 Pro Max. That handset features a 2.5x optical zoom in, and 2x optical zoom out. Digital zoom goes up to 12x.
A periscope zoom could increase this significantly. For example, the 2019-era Huawei P30 Pro and Oppo Reno offer 10x zoom capabilities using a periscope lens.
The future of the iPhone is coming into focus. Cover: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
An unusually deep and detailed report from one of the world’s most reliable Apple analysts gives us a possible look at where the iPhone is headed in the next few years.
From no-brainers like bigger batteries (coming later this year) to more mysterious possibilities like a folding model (2023 at the earliest), this week’s top stories offer a glimpse of what the next generation of iPhones might bring.
Get up to speed with this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now to read on iPhone or iPad, or get all the top headlines in the link lists below. And let us know if the features you’re craving are on Apple’s agenda.
If you’ve been paying attention to cutting-edge smartphones, you probably noticed a trend — foldable screens. And while folding phones might seem gimmicky, I think they present the perfect solution to a market-inflicted problem.