Mobile menu toggle

Mac - page 32

Trippy puzzler Manifold Garden lands on Apple Arcade

By •

manifold garden
You've never played a game quite like this.
Photo:

Apple Arcade recently added yet another title to its massive library of games and it’s one of the trippiest games we’ve played.

Manifold Garden puts players in an Escheresque world where repeating geometry is used to make you question the very laws of physics. Your task is to solve puzzles to restore vegetation to the barren landscape. The weird geography makes you feel like you just took a high dose of LSD making all the puzzles that much harder.

Check out the trippy teaser:

Option-tap the Touch Bar to open all kinds of preferences

By •

option Touch Bar Mac
Option-tap these icons to open Preferences.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

If you have a Mac with a Touch Bar, do this right now. Hold down the Option key (⌄), and tap the volume icon in the Touch Bar. For non-Touch Bar-using readers, this is what happened: The Mac’s Sound Preferences launched instantly.

This is such a typical Mac feature that it should be obvious. But when I shared this tip with fellow Touch Bar aficionado and Cult of Mac writer Graham Bower, he was all like, ā€œOh!ā€ and, ā€œThat’s pretty neat!ā€

So, what other tricks can be done with the Option key and the Touch Bar?

How to unlock your Mac with Apple Watch

By •

Apple Watch Unlock in action.
Apple Watch Unlock in action.
Photo: Apple

Maybe my favorite Continuity feature is Apple Watch Unlock for the Mac. Once you set it up, you’ll never need to enter your password to unlock your Mac ever again — not until you restart it, anyway. It’s one of the best examples of Apple’s It Just Worksā„¢ philosophy, and it will change the way you use your Mac.

Trump’s China deal may stop Apple hiking prices of iPhones and iPads

By •

Trump’s China deal may stop Apple hiking prices of iPhones and iPads
That's good news for Apple and its customers.
Photo: White House

Apple has been given a welcome reprieve on tariffs for the iPhone, iPad and Mac after President Donald Trump agreed to a limited trade deal with China on Thursday.

The phase one agreement means rolling back existing tariff rates on Chinese goods and canceling new tariff rates that would have gone into effect Sunday.

Opera GX is the world’s first ā€˜gaming browser’ for Mac

By •

Opera-GX-Mac
Try Opera GX on Mac today.
Photo: Opera

There’s a brand-new version of the Opera web browser aimed at gamers — and it’s out today on Mac in early access. Opera GX offers a unique set of tools designed to enhance your desktop gaming experience.

The browser lets you free up important resources that you need while gaming. It can also put your favorite Twitch streams right on top of your games, so you can watch while you play.

Edison Mail makes the leap to Mac for the first time

By •

Edison-Mail-Mac
Sign up for access today.
Photo: Edison Mail

Edison Mail, a popular third-party email client on iOS, is finally making the leap to Mac.

It ships with a number of nice features that give it an edge over the built-in Mail app. And it sports a cleaner, more modern user interface with a number of customization options.

There’s just one catch.

Apple Card offers double cash back on holiday Apple purchases

By •

Apple-Card
Just in time for the all-new Mac Pro.
Photo: Apple

Apple Card customers can enjoy 6% daily cash back on Apple purchases over the holidays.

Apple’s newest promotion arrives just in time for the all-new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR, which go on sale today. But it applies to any Apple Store purchases — online and in-store — made through December 31.

How to arrange your iPad’s window in Catalina’s Sidecar

By •

Yes, that's Logic Pro X 'running' on an iPad.
Yes, that's Logic Pro X "running" on an iPad in Sidecar.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Sidecar, which lets you use an iPad as an external display for your Mac, is an unexpectedly amazing new feature in macOS Catalina. You just move any window to the iPad, and there it is. You can either mouse over to that window with the Mac, just like using any other external display, or you can pick up an Apple Pencil, and use it in the Mac app, directly from the iPad’s screen. And, like any regular external display, you can choose where the iPad’s screen exists.

Today we’re going to see how to move the iPad’s screen from left to right in the Sidecar setup.

Facebook censors Power Mac G4 for being too darn sexy

By •

Power-Mac-G4-censored
"Overtly sexual" images ahead.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Apple is responsible for some of the most attractive computers ever made. So attractive, in fact, that Facebook’s algorithms seem to be censoring some models for being too darn sexy.

One Power Mac G4 owner recently listed their machine for sale on the social network. But the perfectly innocent post was taken down for including ā€œovertly sexual content.ā€

These are Apple’s picks for the year’s best apps

By •

These are Apple's picks for the year's best apps
This has been a great year for the App Store, Apple says.
Photo: Apple

As 2019 draws to a close, Apple has revealed its picks for the year’s best apps and games. All available through the App Store, of course.

ā€œWe are excited to announce such a diverse group of 2019 App Store winners, showing that great design and creativity comes from developers large and small, and from every corner of the world,ā€ said Phil Schiller, Apple’s SVP of Worldwide Marketing. ā€œWe congratulate all the winners and thank them for making 2019 the best year yet for the App Store.ā€

Check out Apple’s picks below.

Wonderful gifts for any Mac fan [Gift Guide 2019]

By •

Mac-Gift-Guide-2019
Shopping for a Mac fan? Start here!
Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you’re buying for an Apple fan who loves their Mac, there are loads of awesome gifts you should consider. We’ve rounded up the best to make your holiday shopping a little easier.

Gift-Guide-2019-bugWe’ve picked out the best headphones, mice, keyboards, and more so that you don’t have to spend hours hunting down the perfect purchase. And many of them are on sale today for Cyber Monday.

Now all you have to do is break out your wallet.

Get the best Cyber Monday deals on Apple gear [Deals & Steals]

By •

CoM-Cyber-Monday-blog
There's still time to save big!
Image: Cult of Mac

Black Friday might be over now, but Cyber Monday has only just started, which means there’s still time to save big! There are some terrific deals to be had on the hottest Apple devices and awesome accessories.

Our special Deals & Steals roundup will help you seek out the biggest discounts. Whether you’re shopping for iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, or a brand-new Mac, we’ve got you covered.

Today’s highlights include:

Find all these deals and more in our roundup below.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Apple Watch Series 3 hits a new low at $170! [Deals & Steals]

By •

DS-Nov-29-19
And find up to $80 off Apple Watch Series 5!
Photos: Apple, Casetify, Amazon

Retailers just can’t stop slashing prices on Apple Watch Series 3. Amazon is now offering brand-new units from just $169.99 — the lowest price to date! Go grab yours now before they all sell out.

And if you’re after the new Apple Watch Series 5, you will also find up to $80 off that in today’s Deals & Steals roundup. Plus, there’s up to 47% off Anker’s brilliant charging accessories, 50% off the Fire TV Stick 4K, and up to 30% off at Casetify.

Finally, look out for the biggest discounts yet on second-generation AirPods, with prices starting at just $134.

Apple offers $200 gift card in latest Black Friday promotion

By •

Apple-Store-gift-card
The event kicks off this Friday.
Photo: Apple

Apple is offering customers a free gift card worth up to $200 as part of its latest Black Friday promotion.

You won’t find any discounts on its products during the four-day event, so you’ll need to shop elsewhere if that’s what you’re looking for. But you will get store credit for eligible purchases.

Apple Stores trial extended eligibility periods for AppleCare+

By •

AppleCare
79 Apple Stores are part of the pilot.
Photo: Apple

Some Apple Stores in the U.S. and Canada are trialling extended eligibility periods for AppleCare+, according to a new report.

The trial, which started this week, allows Apple’s extended warranty plan to be purchased beyond the usual 60-day window. But devices must be inspected by the Genius Bar first.

Steam for iOS lets you join friends on PC for local multiplayer

By •

Valve Steam
Enjoy Remote Play Together today.
Photo: Valve

Gamers using the Steam Link app on iOS can now enjoy multiplayer games with friends who use a PC.

Valve’s new Remote Play Together feature, announced last month, is already out of beta and available to all. And it works across Windows, macOS, and Linux — as well as Android and iOS.

Sell your old Apple devices now for bargain Black Friday upgrades

By •

iPhone 8 iPad Macbook
Cult of Mac can help you get the best price.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Retailers have already started slashing prices on some of Apple’s hottest products ahead of Black Friday. And Cult of Mac can help make your next upgrade even more affordable.

Simply sell your old iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac to us when you upgrade and you’ll receive a fat stack of cash toward its replacement.

We typically pay more than other buyback services and we make the entire process quick and simple. Get your quote today in just a couple of minutes.

Save $700+ on 5K iMac and MacBook Pro [Deals & Steals]

By •

Oct-31-19
Some of these are Lightning Deals, so you'll need to act fast!
Photos: Apple, Amazon

Amazon is blowing out refurbished 15-inch MacBook Pro units today only. You can save up to $709 on mid-2018 models with beefy specifications. And there’s a whopping $700 off a 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display.

There’s even more to enjoy in today’s Deals & Steals roundup. You can bag a stellar USB-C hub for iPad Pro at 41% off its usual price if you act fast, and pick up a two-pack of anti-spy screen protectors for iPhone 11 Pro for under $8.

Plus, there are sweet savings to be had on Case-Mate accessories for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods.

This post contains affiliate links. Cult of Mac may earn a commission when you use our links to buy items.

Everything you need to know before Apple’s last earnings call of 2019

By •

Earnings call
Get ready for another record breaking quarter.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Apple is ready to unveil its last earnings report of 2019 this week, and investors are anxiously waiting to hear some good news on iPhone sales.

All early indications point to sales of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro performing even better than expected. But because the new devices were only on sale for the very tail end of the quarter, they might not have given Apple the growth Wall Street is desperate to see.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are set to divulge all the details for Apple’s fiscal Q4 2019 earnings on Wednesday, October 30, at 2 p.m. PDT. Per usual, Cult of Mac will be analyzing all the data right when it drops and there are a couple of areas and metrics that are key to keeping Apple’s stock price soaring.

Apple’s 2020 vision: Whole lotta hardware [Cult of Mac Magazine 320]

By •

Apple's 2020 vision: Whole lotta hardware
Next year looks like it's going to be a blockbuster.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

If the rumors prove true, next year will bring a wave of new Apple hardware. We’re talking a major iPhone revamp, new Macs and Apple Watches, and even (possibly) augmented reality glasses.

Read all about the latest Apple hardware rumors and predictions in this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it free from the iOS App Store. The latest issue also explains why we’re hooked on Apple Arcade, along with reviews of several tasty bits of gear. Plus, as usual, you’ll find how-tos for iPhone, Apple Watch and other Apple products.

Bonus: Enter our Apple giveaways

Enter our latest giveaways for your shot at winning some awesome Apple gear. First, we’re giving away a great prize consisting of an iPhone 11, AirPods and a custom Belkin charging pad. And second, our Apple Watch Series 5 giveaway ends next week. Enter both giveaways now!

Catalina update bricks some unlucky Macs

By •

Mac-bricked
That's not what you want to see.
Photo: Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

A seemingly small number of Mac users are reporting that their machines have been bricked after upgrading to macOS Catalina.

It is believed a potentially unsuccessful EFI firmware update is responsible for the issue. All affected users see nothing but a folder icon when attempting to boot up their Mac.

2020 will deliver Apple’s ā€˜most impressive hardware’ in years

By •

Apple Glasses
Next year could bring Apple's long-rumored AR glasses.
Concept: Taeyeon Kim

2020 will be the year Apple unveils its ā€œmost impressive hardware in some time,ā€ according to a new report.

Alongside big upgrades for iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac, Cupertino also is expected to deliver its first augmented reality glasses. And they could kick-start an AR revolution.

How to enter Mac passwords with your Apple Watch

By •

Apple Watch password
Is there anything the Apple Watch can’t do?
Photo: Jens Kreuter/Unsplash

You know how you can double-press the side button on your Apple Watch, and then wave it over a contactless terminal to pay with your credit card? Wouldn’t it be great if you could do the same with your Mac login password? Instead of having to type your password to authenticate yourself, you’d be able to double-tap the Apple Watch’s side button to do it instantly.

Well, now you can do exactly this — if you’re running macOS Catalina.