Keep kids' voices out of your remote meetings. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Remote meetings on FaceTime are a lot calmer in iOS and iPadOS 15, thanks to a feature called voice isolation that blocks out background noise. Even better, the feature works in other video-calling applications, including Zoom and Google Duo.
But we don't yet know when we'll get it. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
Apple has prepared a fix for a Safari 15 bug that allows websites to view your browsing habits and Google account details. And, because it’s a bug in WebKit — Apple’s browser engine used by Safari and third-party apps in the App Store — it affects virtually all iOS and iPadOS browsers, including Chrome and Brave.
Unfortunately, Apple’s patch won’t be available until the company rolls out new macOS, iOS and iPadOS updates. There’s currently no word on when that might be. Apple is in the process of beta testing new software updates, but it may be too late for the fix to be implemented into those before they are made available to all.
You have until January 31 to save your games. Photo: Humble
Humble, the subscription service that offers a bunch of popular games for an affordable monthly fee, is dropping support for Mac and Linux.
Starting February 1, the company will roll out a new business model for Humble Choice, which will require a brand-new app that’s only available on Windows. You have until January 31 to download games you already own.
It's now available to all. Image: Dropbox/Cult of Mac
The next-generation version of the Dropbox app for macOS, which finally adds native support for Apple silicon chips, is now available to all in beta.
It comes less than a week after Dropbox began testing Apple M1 support with a small number of users. You can try it out for yourself by enabling “early releases” in your account preferences. We’ll show you how.
Ever wondered what today’s most popular Mac apps might have looked like on earlier Macintosh machines? These incredible design concepts imagine the likes of Google Chrome, Spotify and Zoom running on the 22-year-old Mac OS 9.
Graphic designer Michael Feeney created the collection as part of his terrific (mac)OStalgia project. Check it out in the four-minute video below.
BusKill is a USB kill cord for your laptop that protects your data if someone snatches your computer. Photo: Alt Shift International
Last week a crowdfunding campaign launched for the new BusKill USB kill cord. It’s a dead man’s switch for laptops designed to protect your data by locking or even wiping your computer if someone snatches it away from you while you’re using it.
BusKill is designed for journalists, activists, crypto traders and travelers, the company said. Though it seems it could come in handy for anyone at risk of losing a laptop via smash-and-grab tactics.
It's a lot faster than before. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple is testing an improved version of its Music app that’s built to run entirely natively on Mac. Parts of the app, such as the music library, were native on macOS before, and now the rest of it is catching up for improved performance.
You can try out the new Music app now by installing the macOS 12.2 Monterey beta, which is available to all through Apple’s public Beta Software Program.
macOS Monterey 12.2 beta 1 is out with some welcome improvements. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple began testing macOS Monterey 12.2 beta 1 on Thursday, just days after the release of macOS 12.1. An official list of what’s coming in the new version hasn’t yet been revealed by the Mac-maker, but tests with beta 1 have turned up a few changes. The much-anticipated Universal Control isn’t one of them, though.
This pre-release version seeded to developers was not accompanied by any iOS, iPadOS or watchOS betas on Thursday.
The Aerial app is completely free to use. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple’s new tvOS 15.2 update adds a bunch of stunning screen savers to Apple TV, including three from Scotland’s picturesque Isle of Skye and Loch Moidart, and another six from Iceland. And you can enjoy them all on Mac.
Thanks to a simple app built by developer John Coates, all tvOS wallpapers can be installed on macOS. We’ll show you how.
It's easy to see why Myst is Apple's Mac Game of the Year. Photo: Apple
Myst, the puzzle-adventure game from Cyan, has been named the 2021 Mac Game of the Year by Apple. But this popular classic actually made its debut way back in 1993.
Myst has gone through an incredible transformation since then. What was once a meager 3MB install is now a whopping 11.5GB download that’s packed with puzzles, glorious graphics and immersive sound. Here’s why the game picked up an Apple award — and why you might want to play it.
A highlight of macOS 12.1 Monterey will be SharePlay. Photo: Apple
Apple seeded macOS 12.1 beta 4 to developers on Wednesday. It has a build number that ends in “a,” which suggests the public release is only a week or two away. This version of Monterey will bring SharePlay to the Mac. It might also be the debut of the much anticipated Universal Control.
It is not accompanied by fresh betas of iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2 or watchOS 8.3.
You no longer have to update storage locations for each Shortcut. Photo: Apple
Apple’s newest betas for iOS, iPadOS and macOS make a simple Shortcuts change that greatly improves the user experience across different devices.
Shortcuts now know which storage folders to use automatically — depending on your device — negating the need to manually update them individually for different hardware.
It still doesn't have a release date yet. Photo: WABetaInfo
WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new app that will work on both iPad and Mac. It’s thought to take advantage of Apple’s Catalyst platform, which makes it easier for developers to build universal applications.
The popular messaging service is already available on macOS, but this would be the first native WhatsApp client for iPad. WhatsApp has already started rolling out improved multi-device support that is less reliant on a smartphone.
Well, that's a shame. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Samsung has confirmed that it is dropping support for its official DeX app for Mac (and Windows 7) in January.
The move means Galaxy smartphone owners will no longer be able to connect their device to a macOS machine to turn it into an Android-powered desktop. However, the awesome DeX feature itself isn’t going anywhere.
Apple today confirmed that it will continue to accept App Store submissions over the holiday period for the first time.
The company usually takes a short break in December, during which App Store submissions are closed and developers must scramble to get their updates out. That changes this year, but Apple warns that reviews may be delayed.
Download it today for free. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
TestFlight, Apple’s own platform for distributing beta software, is now officially available on Mac for the first time. It gives developers the opportunity to invite up to 10,000 people to test early versions of their apps ahead of their release.
Apple first confirmed TestFlight would be coming to Mac back in June at WWDC. It was previously only available on iPhone and iPad.
Learn everything you need to know about Macs with this affordable course bundle. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
It pays to know your way around a Mac. Whether you want to keep your home or office machines humming, or become a fully qualified tech professional with a lucrative new career, the Apple Certified Support Professional macOS 11 Course can teach you everything you need to know.
And during our Pre-Black Friday Sale, you can get this ACSP course for only $25.49 (regularly $295) if you use the code SAVE15NOV.
macOS Monterey brings powerful new features to Macs. Photo: Apple
Mac users can now upgrade to macOS Monterey. This new version offers improvements to Safari and FaceTime, and new Focus mode. But two of its biggest features — Universal Control and SharePlay — won’t debut until later.
It’s free to download and install on all compatible computers.
It will be free for all compatible machines. Photo: Apple
Apple today confirmed after its big “Unleashed” event that macOS Monterey will make its public debut on October 25. It will be free to download and install on all compatible machines.
The next major upgrade to macOS brings a revamped Safari interface, Focus mode, and some big enhancements to the Notes app. It also paves the way for Universal Control, which lets you seamlessly control both a Mac and iPad.
Working with multiple Macs and iPads get a lot easier with Universal Control. Screenshot: Apple
Apple released the tenth and possibly final beta of macOS Monterey on Wednesday and it still doesn’t allow testers to try out Universal Control. Apple will either have to delay the introduction of one of the highlights of macOS 12 or release it without it having gone through the usual beta testing program.
Apple normally announces when the debut of a major feature has been delayed. But it has not done so with Universal Control.
Frequent crashes have become the norm for some users. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
If you haven’t yet upgraded to Safari 15 for macOS, you’re one of the lucky ones. The latest version of Apple’s web browser is frustrating users with a plethora of bugs that cause repeated crashes. However, there are fixes you can try.
Safari 15 comes bundled with macOS Monterey, which is still in beta testing ahead of its public debut later this fall. It’s also available as a standalone upgrade for those running macOS Big Sur and Catalina.
The OS upgrades for almost every Apple device are nearly ready. But an important one is missing. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
The moment we’ve been waiting for since June is almost here. Apple seeded Release Candidates for iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8 and tvOS 15 to developers on Tuesday. This means the beta testing process is almost over.
The final versions will reach users in under a week. Apple promised the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch updates will launch on Monday, September 20. And the Apple TV one could be out the same day.
Microsoft has dashed hopes that Windows 11 might one day be available on Apple Silicon machines. The company says running its newest operating system on an M1 Mac is “not a supported scenario.”
The statement comes after Parallels Desktop 17 users ran into hardware compatibility errors when running Windows 11 on newer Apple devices.
Fewer than 300 new apps hit the Mac App Store last month. Photo: Apple
Developers are seemingly losing interest in bringing their titles to the Mac App Store, with new submissions steadily declining since the beginning of 2021. There were fewer than 300 new releases for the first time ever in July.
And research indicates August could prove even worse for new Mac App Store submissions.
It's a major win for developers and users, and other countries are expected to follow suit. Image: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
South Korea has become the first country to tell Apple that it must open up the App Store to third-party payment platforms. The same law also applies to Google, and other countries likely will implement similar rules.
The amendment to South Korea’s Telecommunications Business Act prevents large app market operators from forcing their own payment systems on users and developers. It also bans unreasonable delays in app approvals.