macOS Mojave's dynamic wallpapers are gorgeous. Photo: Apple
The fourth beta of macOS Mojave is already here after Apple seeded a new update of the upcoming Mac update to developers this morning.
macOS Mojave is the first of Apple’s big 2018 software updates to get a fourth beta build. The company came out with iOS 12 beta 3 and macOS Mojave beta 3 less than two weeks ago, but some fresh fixes for the Mojave build is already here.
A new petition accuses the MacBook 'butterfly' keyboard of failing when a single speck gets in the wrong place. Photo: Apple
Worldwide personal computer shipments are finally making a comeback after a six-year slump in sales.
The latest report from Gartner estimates that during the second quarter of 2018 PC shipments finally grew year-over-year for the first time since the first quarter of 2012. With 1.4% overall growth for the market, PC makers have a lot to be happy about, and Apple’s shipment numbers were some of the best in the bunch.
Beats and MacBooks Pros are a great combo. Photo: Apple
Apple is back with a new back to school promotion that hooks students up with free or discounted pair of Beats headphones.
The 2018 promo is pretty similar to last year’s deal. Only instead of only being available in North America initially, this year Apple launched it simultaneously in the US, Mexico, Canada, EU and Asian countries.
A new Mac Mini is finally on the way! Photo: Apple
Apple is preparing to unleash some huge upgrades across its entire product line this fall, according to one of the most reliable analysts in the game.
Mac fans hoping for upgrades will be pleased to hear that the long-neglected Mac mini and iMac are set to get some much-needed updates, based on analyst Ming-Chi Kuo’s latest report. And most of Apple’s other products are going to get some love this fall, too.
AirPods with a classic Mac twist. Photo: Colorware
Do you love your AirPods but wish they looked like they came out in the 80’s?
ColorWare has come out with a new customization of Apple’s AirPods that look like the could have been paired with the original Macintosh. The Pantone 453 finish makes the buds look more retro, but they’re anything but cheap.
Apple has this week registered new iPads and Macs with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).
The filings hint that a big refresh could be just around the corner. Recent reports have promised that Apple is preparing a slew of new devices for a late 2018 launch alongside the next-generation iPhone lineup.
macOS Mojave gives the Mac a lot of love. Photo: Apple
Hot on the heels of Apple’s big batch of beta software released this morning, the company has also seeded the third beta of macOS Mojave to developers.
macOS Mojave brings a number of UI changes to the Mac, including a new Dark Mode and Dynamic Wallpapers. It also comes with a new way to install updates.
You can now play at 120Hz on iPad Pro. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Fortnite’s staggering rise in popularity has inevitably attracted a large number of cheaters who use third-party hacks to gain an in-game advantage.
The hacks they’re using help them aim faster, fire their weapons quicker, and even slow down enemy players. They’re also spreading malware all over the web.
It’s thought tens of thousands of Fortnite players have been affected, but you have nothing to worry about if you play on Mac or iOS.
Yes, you'll need a Samsung to play Fortnite for Android. Photo: Epic Games
You might soon be able to team up with friends on PlayStation 4 when playing Fortnite on rival consoles.
Sony has finally said that it is exploring the possibilities of a cross-play “solution” that it hopes will make everyone happy. Microsoft and Nintendo are already allowing gamers to play together, regardless of the device they’re using.
Students and teachers can start using Schoolwork today. Photo: Apple
Apple’s free Schoolwork app, which lets students and teachers collaborate on school assignments, is available now.
Schoolwork makes it easy to create assignments, take advantage of third-party apps for learning, and view student progress. It will work alongside the Classroom app to provide teachers around the world with the tools they need to “enhance the learning experience.”
You no longer need to be a developer to try Apple’s biggest software updates of 2018.
Public testers can now get their hands on the first public beta builds of iOS 12 and tvOS 12 that bring tons of UI changes and feature improvements to the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance can no longer be enjoyed on Mac after the studio that ported the game to macOS shut down.
Transgaming decided it would be a good idea to protect the title with DRM that required a constant online connection to one of its own servers to confirm the game was genuine. Now that those servers are no longer available, the game is worthless.
iCloud backups are just about the best thing ever. Not only is all your data safe if your iPhone is lost, or dies, but you can also use it to setup a new iPhone with minimal fuss. But iCloud is in the cloud, and local backups also have their uses. For instance, maybe you don’t like the idea of all your data on someone else’s computer? Or perhaps you just want double-protection in case you can’t access iCloud some time.
Or maybe you just have slow internet, or you’re on a long trip away and there’s no Wi-Fi, only data-capped cellular?
For the Mac there’s Time Machine, which automatically makes incremental backups. For iOS, you can use iMazing, a multi-purpose Mac app which can backup your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, and do it automatically, and wirelessly, so it should be as seamless as Time Machine or iCloud Backups. Let’s see it in action.
Preview files before you open them with QuickLook for Windows 10. Photo: Paddy Xu
It’s okay to use a PC alongside your Mac, but you’ll find that some of the best macOS features aren’t available in Windows. One of those is Finder’s awesome preview function, but you don’t have to live without it.
QuickLook is a free app that brings the same preview feature to Windows 10’s File Explorer.
Ever wanted to know would it be like to learn to play a musical instrument from A-list artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Sting, John Fogerty and Fall Out Boy? Want to find out for free?
Thanks to the 10.3 update of Apple’s GarageBand software, you can now do exactly that. And that’s just one of the big updates!
macOS Mojave didn't fix this one crucial flaw. Photo: Cult of Mac
One of the most useful features of macOS could potentially leak some of your most important data.
Security researchers have discovered a flaw with the Quick Look feature on macOS that exposes document text and photo thumbnails from a user’s files. And the flaw works even if the drive has been encrypted.
Save us, Google Maps! Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Good luck finding your way with Apple Maps today.
The service is suffering a widespread outage that is preventing many users from using search or directions. The problem seems to be affecting iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac users around the world, but Apple says all services are operating normally.
UPDATE: As of Friday afternoon, whatever the earlier problem was, this service appears to be working normally again.
Legally blind photographer Bruce Hall is one of the many people who use Macs. Photo: Apple
Apple’s latest ad campaign focuses on how the Mac can be used by regular people to create music, make art, develop apps and more.
Like classic Apple campaigns such as the “Switch” ads of the early 2000s, or the long-running “Shot on iPhone” ads, the “Behind the Mac” ads focus on real Apple users — thereby making them feel more authentic. They also embrace Apple’s accessibility push, demonstrated through stories like legally blind photographer Bruce Hall, who uses Apple devices.
If you don’t already know it, then this tip is about to blow your mind. It’s the paper roll for the Mac’s Calculator app, which has been a feature since, like, forever. You may have been using the Calculator since the very beginnings of Mac OS X, and yet you may still have never seen it.
There’s an old proverb: “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is today.” That totally applies to the Mac Calculator’s paper toll. Let’s check it out.
The Apple Support app makes it easy to get help on iOS. Photo: Apple
The official Apple Support app for iOS has expanded its reach to 20 new countries and regions.
Free to download, the app provides users with technical support for Mac, iOS, and other Apple devices. It also provides the option to call, chat, or email an Apple Support representative.
Siri Shortcuts in iOS 12 are super-useful. Photo: Apple
Apple fans that have been complaining for years that Siri is dumb might be a little creeped out by how much better the digital assistant is in iOS 12.
With the new Siri suggestions Apple introduced this week, your iPhone will now be able to prompt you about events you haven’t even told it about. One developer posted his experience of Siri learning about a lunch just through iMessage.
Apple is making life a lot harder for smaller game studios. Photo: Cult of Mac
A big change Apple is making with macOS Mojave could make it more difficult for indie developers to build cross-platform games.
Apple is pushing game creators to drop OpenGL in favor of its own Metal API, which isn’t supported by third-party platforms. It may mean smaller game development teams are forced to choose between releasing on macOS or other operating systems.
Apple seemingly has a new relationship with Tencent. Photo: Cult of Mac
Website favicons have finally returned to Safari in macOS Mojave. The teeny-tiny icons, which make it easier to distinguish between sites in open tabs, are also coming to iPhone and iPad for the very first time with iOS 12.