15,000mAh of power packed into a backup battery that's probably thinner than your phone. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Part of the appeal of having an iPhone is its slender figure. It feels great in hand, can sit in a pocket without looking funny, and fit in any bag. That makes it annoying when you buy a backup battery that’s got the look and feel of a brick.
The iPhone sure has changed over the years. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The iPhone packed a lot into its first astonishing decade. Not only has the device itself evolved significantly since its promising-but-by-no-means-perfect beginnings, but it’s transformed Apple’s business — and many of our very lives — in the process.
All this week, Cult of Mac’s “iPhone Turns 10” series will look at the innovative device’s massive impact on worldwide culture. The iPhone, which launched on June 29, 2007, truly changed the world.
What iPhone milestones have passed since Steve Jobs introduced this stunning hybrid device, which combined a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device? Check out our handy guide to 10 years of iPhone history.
The best gesture in iOS 11 isn't just for iPad. Photo: Apple
Developers just got an early preview of Apple’s upcoming iOS 11 update for iPhones and iPads today during the company’s WWDC 2017 keynote in San Jose.
The new update packs some huge new features that make iOS more powerful and easier-to-use than ever. Apple’s update is so jam packed that some of the best new additions didn’t even get some stage time at WWDC.
Roberto Hoyos is singing out of desperation. Photo: Roberto Hoyos/YouTube
Roberto Hoyos has a message for Apple that is made in fun but is deadly serious and is said – well, sung – on behalf of many frustrated Mac users.
The founder and CEO of Throwboy, the maker of emoji pillows and other plush toys inspired by digital culture, has made a music video that parodies Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You, but warns Apple that Mac users will soon turn to PCs if they don’t get a major update on iMacs and MacBook Pros soon.
Apple is pledging to do more on the diversity front. Photo: Apple
Apple is stepping up its efforts to become a more diverse workplace this week by promoting longtime employee Denise Young Smith to a new job as the VP of Inclusion and Diversity at Apple.
Apple doesn't say which batteries should be used with its devices. Photo: ATSB
Apple has blamed a third-party battery for the explosion of a pair of noise-cancelling headphones.
Apple does not specify which batteries should be used with its devices, and the owner, who was wearing the headphones when they blew up on a flight between Australia and China, is “disappointed” with the company’s response.
Make sure you never miss an important reply with thread alerts. Photo: Cult of Mac
The VIP mailbox in Apple’s Mail app helps stem the torrent of incoming email alerts by limiting the notifications you see to folks you mark as important. But what about when you want to get an alert for a one-off reply?
Perhaps you’re waiting on an email from an eBay seller about that sweet vintage guitar, or you’re desperate for a reply from your landlord about switching off the heating because, c’mon, it’s almost summer already. Then you need email thread alerts.
If you're running iOS 10, your iPhone is already a PDF-making machine. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
Stop! Don’t download that PDF converter app for iOS. You don’t need it. What if I told you iPhones have come with a built-in PDF-conversion tool since iOS 10?
Once you know where this iOS PDF converter is buried, you can quickly and easily turn anything into a handy PDF on your iPhone or iPad.
Add a layer of armor to your iPhone's lifeline, with these extra tough Lightning cables. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Part of owning an iPhone or iPad is replacing the Lightning cable that keeps them charged and synced. After all, the standard Apple Lightning cable is a short and fragile affair, made with thin plastic and wrapped in soft white rubber that’s prone to tearing and fraying. That’s why it’s good to have a backup, but why not also get one that’s built to last? That’s what the Fuse Chicken offers: an extra long, extra strong Lightning cable that’ll probably outlive the devices you connect to them. Right now you can get a Fuse Chicken Titan Plus for just $29.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.
Learn all you need to know to get the most out of your iPhone's camera. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
While iPhones have pretty much replaced standalone video cameras, they don’t offer the same level of polish that a dedicated video camera or DSLR produces. It’s true that “the best camera is the camera you have with you,” but you can almost always spot a video shot on a phone.
The quality gap isn’t purely due to the lenses and tech within our phones, though. Bad habits make plenty of iPhone videos look lackluster. To show just how good an iPhone video can be, I put all my filmmaking knowledge to use for the montage below.
Instead of using my $3,000 video camera, I picked up my iPhone. With a minimum of accessories, I managed to produce what I think is a pretty cinematic video. You can see the results below — and then I’ll give you some useful tips and tricks for shooting iPhone videos like a pro.
These are the 4 main parts you need. Photo: Strange Parts
Want to save a ton of money on a new iPhone? Try building your own.
Using a bunch of replacement parts bought at a marketplace in China, an ingenious YouTuber proves it’s entirely possible to build your own iPhone 6s. It turns out buying the parts is way cheaper than getting an iPhone 6s directly from Apple, as long as you’re cool assembling the tiny parts on your own.
Apple partnered with LG to create a new 5K Thunderbolt 3 display last year to go with the new MacBook Pro, but according to a new report, the iPhone-maker is working on a new 8K display just for the next generation of Mac Pros.
Theater Mode finally makes its way to Apple Watch in watchOS 3.2. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The new Theater Mode in watchOS 3.2 can do more than keep you from annoying others when you’re at the movies. If you track your sleep with your Apple Watch, Theater Mode can help you get some extra shut-eye.
The iPhone’s Live Photos feature is one of the funnest innovations Apple’s brought to photography. There’s just one annoying problem with the moving pictures: you can’t choose which frame it uses for the final image.
Thanks to a third-party app there’s finally a way to do just that, making Live Photos more versatile than ever.
Here's how to watch March Madness games on iPhone, iPad or Apple TV. Photo: Amir Fazlic/Unsplash CC
By Chris Brantner, guest blogger
March Madness is upon us. For the next month, college basketball will take over the sports world, and fans can catch all the action on their Apple devices. Whether you’re a cable subscriber or a cord cutter, here’s how to watch March Madness games on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.
If you lost an audio file due to the dreaded QuickTime crash, this tip could save the day. Image: PSD.Graphics/Ste Smith
When you’re recording audio in QuickTime, there’s nothing more frustrating than a crash before you’ve had time to click Save. But all is not lost: This handy trick can help you recover lost recordings in the QuickTime app.
It might just save you a whole lot of effort. Here’s how to use it.
This single, slim battery packs enough power to juice up almost anything, from an iPhone to a MacBook. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
If you travel with any number of devices, you know that a backup battery can prevent being powerless at just the wrong time. But carrying a bunch of batteries doesn’t exactly make for traveling light. That’s why you should look into a single slim battery like ToughJuice from ZeroLemon. It can bring a charge to a number of devices, from iPhones to MacBooks. And right now, at less than half price, you can get a 30,000mAh ToughJuice for $59.99 at Cult of Mac Deals.
A new Apple TV could be on its way later in 2017. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s fifth-gen Apple TV will reportedly be capable of streaming ultra-HD 4K images, according to a new report. The new box is codenamed “J105” and could launch later this year.
The article also notes a couple of previously unrevealed details about the current fourth-gen Apple TV, such as the fact that Apple engineers debated packaging it with a dedicated gaming controller as a way to compete more directly with the PlayStation and Xbox.
Clessant's Blue Batik Strap is a beautiful blend of ancient Indonesian art, batik, and French leather-making. Photo: Clessant
Make Apple’s most personal device as unique as you are with a truly distinctive, statement-making strap worthy of a double take. The exotic Batik Strap for Apple Watch from Clessant is a refreshing take on an everyday accessory. No two are ever alike. And, you can get ahold of it now in Cult of Mac’s new Watch Store!
It's crunch time for your fitness resolutions. Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
It’s the fourth and final week of our CultFit Home Workout. Congratulations if you have made it this far. (If you missed it, it’s still not to late to start with Week 1).
For this easy home workout, all you need is your iPhone and some everyday objects you’ll find around your home or office (plus your Apple Watch if you have one). No gym membership is required. It’s a great way to get started with your fitness journey — and it only takes 10 minutes a day.
Put away your wallets for now. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is expected to launch three new iPad models in various sizes in 2017, but we may have to wait until the second half of the year to get our hands on them.
Sources in Apple’s supply chain have confirmed earlier reports that three new models are coming — but they’re unlikely to arrive this spring as previously anticipated.
Some MacBook users have reported finding coins when taking apart their machines. Photo: Greg Kilpatrick/YouTube
You love your MacBook Pro and think it can do just about anything, even make change.
That is literally true for some MacBook users, who have been reporting on tech forums of the odd placement of a random quarter or penny in their machine’s SuperDrive, discovered when the bottom plate was removed.
The ultimate companions for your iPhone. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
This year’s iPhone upgrade might have been a little dull, but we saw plenty of exciting accessories for Apple’s iconic smartphone in 2016.
From awesome new AirPods to ultraportable virtual reality headsets, they all helped make iPhone 7 more exciting. Here are our favorite iPhone accessories of the year.
These are our favorites! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Accessory makers churned out some awesome new gadgets for the iPad in 2016. From cases to Star Wars toys, loads of new gear came along to boost the capabilities of the world’s favorite tablets.
Whether for the Pro line or the less-powerful Air or mini models, these are the best iPad accessories of 2016.
The iPhone 7 Plus made 2016 a memorable year for photography. Illustration: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
We roll our eyes when Tim Cook introduces a new iPhone and says, “This is the best iPhone ever” each year. But the iPhone 7 Plus will be different.
Sure, ambitious upgrades remain in the pipeline, but the remarkable camera in the iPhone 7 Plus will make this year’s model memorable. Fifty years from now, photography historians will talk about the iPhone 7 Plus they way they do the first Leica or the first Polaroid.