Level up your Mac window management like I did. Photo: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
As a power user, I find Mac window management clunky and broken when using the options built into macOS. Switching between apps, and snapping apps into desired screen locations, should not be so frustrating.
So, I took matters into my own hands — streamlining how I snap, switch and manage windows to finally make macOS work for me, not against me.
July 26, 2005: Apple debuts the opaque white iBook G4, the last of its laptops to launch under the iBook name.
The portable computer adds Apple’s scrolling trackpad for the first time. It also incorporates Bluetooth 2.0 as a standard feature, and becomes the last Apple laptop with a PowerPC chip.
If you want Liquid Glass now! Image: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
You can download the macOS 26 Tahoe public beta right now. You can get a look at the exciting new design coming to the Mac before the update is shipped to everyone. And you can try out the new super-charged Spotlight.
Of course, there are a few things you should look out for. Beta software is buggy and can lead to data loss or apps that don’t work. This particular beta is a rough one, with lots of broken animations and features. A lot of apps you use probably won’t work correctly. You’ve been warned.
If you’re still sure you want to try it out, you should make sure you have a backup of your most important data with two copies of your photo library before you try installing. I’ll show you how.
The images Apple submitted to the FCC of its new mouse. Photo: Federal Communications Commission/Apple
July 24, 2006: The world gets its first glimpse of Apple’s new wireless Mighty Mouse, a multibutton Bluetooth device with super-accurate laser tracking.
Mac OS 8 gave Apple a much-needed revenue boost. Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
July 22, 1997: Apple launches Mac OS 8, its next-gen operating system for Macintosh computers. The OS introduces a new three-dimensional look and makes surfing the internet easier than ever.
The first major operating system refresh for Macs since System 7’s release in 1991, it gets great reviews and is destined to become a big hit with users. However, it arrives at a very challenging time for Apple.
Did you own one of the 630 series Macintoshes? Photo: Computers.popcorn
July 18, 1994: Apple launches the Quadra, LC and Performa 630 Macintoshes, three similar computers with slight differences tailored for the professional, educational and home markets. Aimed at multimedia use, the new 630 series Macs bring innovative hardware and software at a much more affordable price than previous Apple computers.
The iMac G4 brings a "breathtaking" giant screen to desktops everywhere. Photo: Apple
July 17, 2002: Apple ships a new super-sized iMac G4 with a 17-inch widescreen LCD display that becomes the envy of most computer users at the time.
“The best consumer desktop just got even better,” says Apple CEO Steve Jobs of the company’s new all-in-one computer in a press release. “Having this gorgeous 17-inch flat screen floating in mid-air right in front of you is simply breathtaking. There’s nothing like it in the PC world.”
The easy-to-use iMac spurred Apple's return to dominance in schools. Photo: Apple
July 9, 2001: Apple earns the title of No. 1 computer manufacturer in the education market, with twice as many machines in schools as runner-up Dell Computer.
It marks a big turnaround from a couple of years earlier, when Dell overtook Apple and people accused Steve Jobs of abandoning this important market.
Apple keeps selling more and more Macs each quarter. Photo: Apple
Mac shipments increased 21.4% in the second quarter of 2025, according to a market research firm. Apple has shown strong growth in shipments every quarter since the launch of multiple M4-powered Mac models began last autumn, and the new chip has helped grow the company’s share of the global market.
Most of the top Windows makers also saw growth last quarter, but none can match Apple’s pace.
Apple wants a low-end MacBook that's colorful and more affordable than ever. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Apple reportedly plans to release its cheapest MacBook ever next year. This low-cost laptop might run on an iPhone chip and help Apple convince more people to switch from Windows machines.
Could playful colors — and possibly a plastic case — make this low-end Apple laptop a hit?
Also on The CultCast:
Apple might lean on Anthropic’s Claude or OpenAI’s ChatGPT to power the long-delayed smarter Siri.
A new timeline lays out what to expect from the next three years of Apple Vision headsets and smart glasses.
In the how-to segment, we discuss our picks for the best Apple Watch faces. We also talk about why you might want to change things up.
In the new listener question segment, we explain what to do when you’re low on iCloud storage.
And in an all-new Under Review, Leander describes the benefits of three inexpensive aftermarket CarPlay screens.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video, embedded below.
Steve Jobs' one and only trip to the Soviet Union yielded lots of intrigue. Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
July 4, 1985: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs visits Moscow for the first time, with the aim of selling Macs to the Russians. During his two-day trip to the Soviet Union, Jobs lectures computer science students, attends a Fourth of July party at the American embassy and discusses opening a Mac factory in Russia.
He also reportedly almost runs afoul of the KGB by praising assassinated Marxist revolutionary Leon Trotsky.
Screensavers fell out of fashion a long time ago, but Apple’s Aerial screensaver looks so beautiful, it just might make you reconsider. In fact, with its stunning visuals, it might just be the best Mac screensaver around.
The Aerial screensaver started on the Apple TV, showing gorgeous, sweeping helicopter photography of the world’s greatest natural landscapes, underwater sights and cityscapes — even shots from space. Now, if you have a desktop display set up somewhere prominently in your house, you can get the same beautiful vistas on your computer with the Aerial screensaver for Mac.
Here’s where to find this beautiful Mac screensaver, plus some setup tips that will really help it shine.
Learn how to get around the keyboard and edit text faster. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
You want to get faster at typing? Sure, you can hold down the Backspace key or mash it really fast. But there’s a better and more precise way to backspace and delete text on the Mac, using the Option (⌥) and Command (⌘) keys. These Mac typing shortcuts can make editing text lightning-fast and seamless. Here’s how you can be a keyboard wizard.
All of these work on the iPad, too, if you have a physical keyboard connected.
A 64-bit CPU powered Apple's stunning "cheese grater" Power Mac G5. Photo: Bernie Kohl/Wikipedia CC
June 23, 2003: Apple launches its gorgeous Power Mac G5, a powerhouse desktop computer with a perforated aluminum chassis that earns it the affectionate nickname “the cheese grater.”
Starting at an affordable $1,999 (nearly $3,500 in today’s money, adjusted for inflation), the Power Mac G5 is the world’s first 64-bit personal computer. It’s also Apple’s fastest machine yet.
The Power Macintosh 9500 was the iMac Pro of its day. Photo: Übernommen/Wikipedia CC
June 19, 1995: Apple releases the Power Macintosh 9500, a high-end Mac that boasts a second-generation PowerPC chip that’s much faster than its predecessor.
The Power Mac 9500 is also significant for having six Peripheral Component Interconnect, or PCI, slots. They allow owners to attach hardware using Intel’s industry-standard connection. Along with seven bays for internal drives and a swappable daughterboard, this makes the 9500 the most expandable Power Mac ever produced.
You might think your Mac is secure from all threats. But you'd be wrong. Illustration: Planet Free VPN
By Alex from Planet Free VPN
Long a VPN professional and Apple ecosystem enthusiast, I have seen a marked shift in Mac users’ perspective of online privacy and security. Though macOS is frequently hailed for its built-in protections and user-oriented design, it does not mean Mac users are free from tracking, monitoring or data leaks. The increase in privacy incursions at the network level emphasizes the need for considering your connection to the web, rather than only the device you use.
The Apple Games app is a new all-in-one destination for games and playing with friends on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Photo: Apple
A major new addition to Apple’s software lineup at WWDC25, the Games app, centralizes gaming experiences across all Apple devices, the iPhone giant said Monday. And it adds powerful social features that turn even single-player games into shared experiences with friends.
“The Games app is going to be a game changer for playing on iPhone, iPad and Mac,” said Tim Garbos, creative director and cofounder of game brand Triband. “The app makes it easy for us to create moments just for groups of friends. The new challenges feature works great and feels natural for our games on Apple Arcade, including our latest release, What the Clash?, and we’ve been having a lot of fun with it!”
But that’s not it. macOS 26 Tahoe includes a redesigned Control Centre, a revamped Spotlight, and, for the first time ever, brings the Phone app to the Mac.
“macOS is the heart and soul of the Mac, and with Tahoe, we’re building on what users love most. Whether you’re a power user or just getting started on Mac, there’s something for everyone, with even more features to turbocharge productivity and make working across Mac and iPhone more seamless than ever before,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering.
June 8, 2009: Apple introduces OS X Snow Leopard, a version of its Mac operating system that ranks among the company’s finest desktop updates.
Showcased at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco, Snow Leopard doesn’t seem as flashy as some other Mac operating system upgrades. In fact, Apple famously includes a slide in its WWDC presentation touting “0 new features.” However, OS X Snow Leopard more than delivers on Apple’s core values, paving a path to a bright future for the Mac.
Bad news for anyone hoping for an M4 Ultra Mac Pro. Photo: Apple/Cult of mac
Apple won’t show off any new hardware at its developers conference this week, according to a reliable source. There are apparently no Macs or other products ready to launch.
Instead, WWDC25 will focus entirely on operating system upgrades and other software.
Inside its beefy chassis, the PowerBook 180c packed a beautiful color screen. Photo: Wikipedia CC
June 7, 1993: Apple debuts the PowerBook 180c, a solid upgrade that brings a world of dazzling colors to the company’s laptop line.
The 180c’s big improvement over the grayscale PowerBook 180, which launched the previous October, is its active-matrix, 256-color screen. Such a screen is something of a novelty for laptops in the early 1990s.
The transition to Intel was a big achievement for Steve Jobs. Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr CC
June 6, 2005: Steve Jobs reveals that Apple will switch the Mac from PowerPC processors to Intel.
Speaking at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Jobs’ revelation reminds the tech world that he is a leader who can get things done. Given Intel’s focus on mobile computing, the move also offers a hint at what Apple’s CEO has planned for the second half of his reign.
The next major macOS release could pack bigger changes than anticipated. Illustration: ChatGPT
WWDC25 is nearly here, with iOS 19 and iPadOS 19 possibly set to steal the spotlight. However, the latest rumors indicate you shouldn’t count macOS 16 out just yet, as it might bring more upgrades than expected. It might not even be called macOS 16, if Apple’s rumored switch to year-based release names happens. (We’ll refer to it as macOS 16 until the big switch happens.)
With June 9 fast approaching, here’s a breakdown of what macOS 16 could bring to the table.