It's compatible with Mac ... but not as good. Photo: Microsoft
Microsoft has beaten Apple to delivering a wireless keyboard with biometric security.
Its new Modern Keyboard is built out of aluminum to be slim and strong and features a hidden fingerprint scanner that makes login passwords a thing of the past. It’s also compatible with your Mac.
Backup the files you need for peace of mind. Photo: Google
Google is introducing a new tool to Google Drive that will make it easy to back up and sync the most precious data on your Mac.
You’ll gain the option to upload your most important folders to the cloud — leaving out the data you don’t need to keep — then restore them on a new machine when you upgrade.
Firefox is now more efficient than its rivals. Photo: Mozilla
Mozilla is rolling out its “best Firefox ever,” promising a perfect balance between speed and efficiency.
Firefox version 54 finally uses multiple processes for improved performance just like its rivals, so a complex webpage in one tab won’t impact your experience in another. What’s more, it uses less memory than other browsers on macOS, Mozilla says.
Are you pleased with what you saw at WWDC 2017? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
This year’s WWDC keynote was an early Christmas for Apple fans. It delivered the big updates to iOS, macOS, and watchOS we were eagerly anticipating; a 10.5-inch iPad Pro; updated Macs with Intel Kaby Lake processors, plus nice surprises like the iMac Pro and HomePod.
But is this Apple back at its best, or do we need more out of Cupertino? Are fancy software updates enough to breathe new life into boring hardware? Is Apple’s new push into virtual reality and machine learning too little, too late?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over a bumper WWDC!
Skype's overhaul is coming to iPhone soon. Photo: Microsoft
Microsoft is rolling out a complete top-to-bottom overhaul of Skype in an effort to do battle with the likes of iMessage and Snapchat.
Its revamped service combines familiar Skype features like instant messaging and international calling with third-party service integration, improved group chat, and photo sharing with the ability to add annotations and emoji stickers.
From converting media to transferring giant files, staying on task and more, these are Mac apps any digital professional can use. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Like the content they create, today’s digital creative takes many forms. Whether designing a website or a game, whether editing photos or lines of code, there are some things we all have in common. This bundle of Mac apps offers tools for converting media files of all kind, a powerful file transfer protocol for moving data from place to place, a game-changing productivity tool for completing complex projects, and a digital assistant for studying better and taking rich notes.
No matter what you do at the screen, these Mac apps can help you do it better. And they’re all going for half off or even more. Read on for more details:
Macphun brings its imaging software to Windows. Photo: Macphun
The imaging software company Macphun is about to make its products fun for photographers who use Windows.
The award-winning and, until now, Mac-centric company announced today it will launch a public beta version of its all-in-one photo editing software Luminar for Windows this July.
WannaCry locks down your data until you pay up. Photo: Kaspersky Lab
More than 230,000 computers in 150 countries have been hit by a cyberattack that encrypts data until a ransom has been paid. It’s thought to be the biggest in history, with India, Taiwan, and several European countries being the worst effected.
If you use a Mac, you have nothing to worry about for now, since this particular “ransomware” only targets Windows PCs. However, the number of attacks built for macOS is rising at a rapid rate every year.
So, what exactly is ransomware, and how can it be avoided? Here’s what you need to know.
Eternalromance, one of the hacking tools dumped by Shadow Brokers. Photo: Matthew Hickey
A new batch of classified NSA data was leaked today by the hacker group called Shadow Brokers, revealing malware used by the government agency to break into PCs and servers running Windows.
The leaked software is so powerful, it could give nearly anyone with a bit of technical knowledge the ability to hack millions of Microsoft users.
Are you waiting for the new Mac Pro? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple excited us all this week by revealing it is finally planning a major redesign for the neglected Mac Pro. Although we don’t know much about it just yet, we’ve been promised a modular machine that will be easier to update.
This signals a return to a more traditional desktop form factor with user-upgradeable parts and more flexibility. But is it too little, too late? Has Apple already lost too many pro users, and will its next Mac Pro do enough to win them back?
Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over Apple’s efforts to win back the professionals.
The Surface Pro 4 is starting to catch on. Photo: Microsoft
For the first time ever, Microsoft has beaten the iPad in J.D. Power’s latest tablet satisfaction rankings that found the Surface has a higher number of younger customers than its competitors.
Apple has dominated J.D. Power’s rankings over the last few years, but according to the popular ranking service, Microsoft’s offerings were just a little bit better thanks to best-in-class design, productivity and accessory use.
Get your friends organized with 'Who's In' Photo: Microsoft
Microsoft is dipping its toes back into the social game with a brand new app for iOS users that aims to make it easier than ever to organize group events.
The app is called “Who’s In” only instead of launching as a standalone iPhone or iPad app, Microsoft’s new software can only be accessed via iMessage.
Windows can no longer claim the crown as the most popular operating system on the internet thanks to the rise of smartphones.
During the month of March, Microsoft finally saw its share of worldwide OS internet get eclipsed by Google’s Android operating system, marking the first time a mobile OS is more popular than the software powering PCs.
Beware untrusted Word macros. Photo: FortiGuard Labs
Another form of Microsoft Word malware that infects both macOS and Windows machines has been detected.
The malicious VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) code is buried in a Word document macro and automatically adapts its attack depending on the operating system used. Once installed, it can be used to download more payload files to your computer.
Tim Cook has repeatedly dissed Microsoft’s Surface tablets by comparing them to a toaster-refrigerator, but during his trip to China this week the Apple CEO was forced to spend some up-close time with the convertible tablet.
Winclone 6 makes it even easier to back up and copy your Mac's Windows partition. Image: Twocanoes Software
This post is brought to you by Twocanoes Software, which is releasing the sixth version of its popular Mac utility Winclone.
One of the great things about owning a Mac is how easily you can run Windows. But while there’s no need to hack anything together, that doesn’t mean running Windows on a Mac isn’t tricky.
With million of apps at your fingertips, there’s little you can’t do with an iPhone. You can even get one to run Windows XP without jailbreaking — as demonstrated in the video below — but don’t expect it to replace your desktop.
The Genius Bar is one of the best things about buying a Mac. Photo: Apple
If you want to get the absolute best tech support for your laptop, pay the Apple tax and get a Mac.
In the latest annual Tech Support Showdown rankings, Laptop Magazine has awarded Apple the number one spot for the third straight year. Apple beat out nine other companies, but it’s starting to get some serious competition from companies like Acer that are focusing more on online service.
Twitch on desktops has all web features and more. Photo: Twitch
Game streaming platform Twitch today unveiled its new desktop app for Windows and Mac.
It will offer all the features you expect from the service, including voice and video calling, and you’ll be able to get your hands on the beta later this month.
The entire hacking arsenal of the CIA has been dumped online and the entire internet is freaking out.
WikiLeaks dropped a data bomb Tuesday with its massive document dump, which it claims is one of the biggest in history. Secrets on how the CIA hacked devices made by Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft are now available for all to see. But should you start freaking out just yet?
Cult of Mac talked to a number of iOS security experts to make sense of all the new info. While it’s tempting to panic, there’s a lot more you need to know first.
Wikileaks' "Vault 7" data dump allegedly reveals CIA hacking tools used to compromise iPhones, Android phones and other devices. Image: Gordon Johnson/Pixabay
The Central Intelligence Agency has been using malware to spy on iPhone and Android users, according to the largest-ever publication of confidential documents from WikiLeaks — and the spy tools are now in the hands of others.
As part of a covert hacking program, the CIA created a “malware arsenal” and dozens of “zero day exploits” to infiltrate smartphones, tablets and even smart TVs to extract data and turn them into covert microphones.
But the agency recently lost controls of these tools. Those who have obtained them now have “the entire hacking capacity of the CIA” at their disposal, according to WikiLeaks.
Nintendo’s newest console was by far the hottest product. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Nintendo’s long-awaited Switch gaming console packs an surprisingly cool feature: You can use its unique Joy-Con controllers to play games on your Mac.
Apple wants you to replace your printer with an iPad Pro.
In the company’s latest ad touting the iPad Pro as the perfect laptop replacement, Apple takes aim at the hassles of having to use a printer.
Created in the same vein as Apple’s last batch of iPad Pro commercials, the new ad features a real tweet complaining about having to print personal stuff at work. Apple’s solution is simple: get an iPad.
Gates answered fans' questions on Reddit. Photo: Bill Gates
Among questions on his favorite sandwiches (“Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger”) and whether he can still jump over a chair (probably not), Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates got asked whether his company had copied Steve Jobs during a Reddit Q&A on Monday.
Gates denied copying Cupertino — but reminded everybody that Microsoft and Apple both borrowed liberally from another Silicon Valley pioneer.
Beware bogus Word macros. Screenshot: Patrick Wardle.
After spreading viruses among Windows PCs for years, malicious Microsoft Word documents are now infecting Macs.
The files contain a macro that silently executes in the background and downloads an application that can monitor webcams, steal passwords, read browser history and more.