The Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro can be your virtual cameraman, whether you're making a TikTok video or simply on a video call. Photo: Belkin
The Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro is the first-ever accessory to work with Apple DockKit. Using this tech, it can hold up an iPhone, rotate and tilt to keep the camera focused on the user during video calls.
After being announced CES 2024 in January, the accessory reached the market on Friday.
This setup replaced big ol' Yamaha speakers with smaller new ones the user said sound just as good. Photo: [email protected]
For those who get by with audio from a laptop or display speakers in their computer setup — as good as that can be these days — an upgrade to desktop speakers offer a real treat for the ears. Today’s MacBook Pro setup from a Florida-based rapper just got a nice set of brand new Yamaha speakers and jacked them in to a huge subwoofer under the desk.
The deceptive iOS trojan GoldPickaxe steals facial-recognition and more to get at your money. Photo: Pexels-Kamal-Hayit
For the first time, an iOS trojan has been spotted in the wild. Adapted from a well-known Android trojan, GoldDigger, the new malware is called GoldPickaxe, according to a new report. And it steals an iPhone user’s facial recognition data to go after money in banking and other financial apps. We’ll show you how below.
"Help Me Write" uses AI to improve your writing online. Image: Google
Google Chrome uses artificial intelligence in a new experimental tool that makes it easier to start writing or improve something already written online. “Help me write” can punch up the content of any text field in the browser.
It’s coming to Mac and Windows, and is just the latest AI addition to Chrome.
The Earthsounds docuseries premieres February 23 on Apple TV+. Image: Apple
Now hear this: Apple TV+ dropped a trailer Tuesday for its upcoming documentary series Earthsounds, narrated by Golden Globe winner and Emmy Award nominee Tom Hiddleston.
The streamer said you’ll “hear our planet like never before in the new 12-part immersive natural history series.” All episodes become available February 23.
One of the best email apps for the Mac is getting even better. Photo: Readdle
Spark, a renowned email client for iPhone and Mac, is getting a new AI-driven My Writing Style feature. While the email app already offers AI-powered writing assistance, the new feature aims to mirror your writing style. This will enable you to use AI to draft emails in your voice and style, giving them a personal touch.
There’s no time like the present to jump on a great deal on a very cool laptop computer — $200 off an M2 MacBook Air. You can get that price on a midnight- or spay gray-colored model at B&H Photo.
Right now you can get the highly rated laptop — 4.9 out of 5 stars at B&H — for just $1,149, down from $1,349. That’s a great deal on a bantamweight machine that packs a powerful punch, thanks to Apple silicon.
Rock Paper Pencil v2 is for artists struggling with drawing on a slick iPad screen. Photo: Astropad
The second-generation version of Astropad’s Rock Paper Pencil includes an improved version of the textured iPad screen protector. Theres also a more durable Apple Pencil tip.
The combo is designed for digital artists who want drawing on an iPad to feel more like using a pen on paper.
iMessage is about to achieve a higher level of security than any of its widely used rivals. Image: Apple
An iMessage upgrade with post-quantum cryptography will make Apple’s instant messaging platform ready to fend off future hackers. Today’s encryption methods likely won’t be able to stand up, which is why Apple is bringing in the cutting-edge protocol.
The new tech will launch in March, making iMessage the most secure, widely used messaging service in the world, according to Apple.
Want your Apple Watch Ultra to be all but indestructible? Try this case. Photo: Elkson
The Apple Watch Ultra is famously rugged and great for endurance sports. But no wearable is truly indestructible. So if you want to make your Ultra even tougher, put it in the Elkson Quattro Pro 2.0 bumper case with band for Apple Watch Ultra.
The case/band combo, which now comes in six colors, is available in the Cult of Mac Store for just $23.99.
Apple has a new iPhone application for sports fans of all types. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
The new Apple Sports app for iPhone gives fans access to real-time scores, stats and more for their favorite teams across a wide range of sports leagues. The free app launched Wednesday on the App Store.
“We created Apple Sports to give sports fans what they want — an app that delivers incredibly fast access to scores and stats,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, in a statement.
OLED iPad Pro could stand out with its slim design. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple’s rumored OLED iPad Pro will reportedly be significantly thinner than existing models. The switch to slimmer Organic Light-Emitting Diode panels will make this possible.
Besides the thinner chassis, the 2024 OLED iPad Pros will have slightly bigger dimensions than its predecessors.
iOS 17.4 will bring in a new Battery Health screen for iPhone showing the number of charge cycles. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The batteries in the iPhone 15 series are even better than Apple realized. It takes twice as many charge cycles to wear one out than previously thought, greatly expanding the time before the battery needs to be replaced.
We already knew Apple’s latest goes a long time without needing a recharge. And now we know the battery itself is good for years of heavy use while remaining healthy.
It's not like your fingerprint is being read off the screen. It's recreated from sound and friction. Photo: Pixabay@Pexels
New research suggests attackers can use the sound of a user’s finger swiping on a touchscreen to recreate their fingerprint pattern, according to a report Tuesday. And that biometric security risk could lead to trouble, of course.
All it takes is casual swiping in popular apps while a device microphone is on.
Great. As if we didn’t have enough to worry about, biometic-security-wise.
"See, I told you I loved that album. Here it is with 1 minute of listening in May, 2021!" Photo: Apple
Tuesday is the first day Apple Music users can see their Apple Music Replay 24 favorites so far for the new year — but that’s not all. There’s a fresh new feature to help you obsess over past listening.
Apple Music Replay now gives you monthly stats, including month-by-month lists of your top artists, albums and songs going back to through your history with Replay. So now you have even more proof of your listening habits (good or bad).
2nm processors made by TSMC will be faster while using less power than today's 5nm iPhone and Mac chips. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Getting 2nm processors into Mac and iPhone is reportedly proceeding as scheduled, and TSMC will begin making these in 2025.
The on-schedule progress report comes as very good news. Especially considering that the Taiwanese chipmaker ran into significant delays developing the 3nm processors currently in use.
Now you can pick from five colors, including orange and green. Photo: Mifa
Mifa’s Every-Day-Carry (EDC) Nylon Sports Leather Apple Watch Band is a favorite item in the Cult of Mac Store for its cool, tactical look. And now you can get it in two eye-catching new colors — orange and green.
It doesn’t matter if your Apple Watch is made of aluminum or stainless steel, Mifa’s rugged EDC band can be a great complement to it.
Humane's AI Pin projector in action. Photo: Humane
So far, all the demos of Humane’s supposedly iPhone-killing Ai Pin have been underwhelming.
Humane pitched the small, screenless device — which ships next month — as a successor to smartphones. However, it is garnering almost no buzz at all, no thanks to its lackluster marketing. The Ai Pin’s first introductory video looked especially bad. It proved so head-scratchingly awful, it made you wonder if the company wants the device to bomb, like some kind of high-tech The Producers investor/insurance scam.
But a new video just emerged that actually makes the device look cool. It’s the demo Humane should have made.
Buy refurbished and save big on your new M3 Pro/Max MacBook Pro. Photo: Apple
Apple’s Certified Refurbished store in the US is now selling MacBook Pros with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. Refurbished models are available in 14-inch and 16-inch displays.
Buying a refurbished unit can help you save up to $300 on the M3 Pro MacBook. On laptops with the M3 Max chip, the savings can be as high as $530.
Eight teams will receive custom Beats headphones to start, with the 22 other clubs to follow. Photo: Major League Soccer
Beats and Major League Soccer (MLS) struck a multi-year deal Monday to make the Apple headphones subidiary the official consumer audio products partner of the league. That will include eight custom-branded Beats headphones for MLS teams delivered initially. Headphones for the other 22 clubs will follow.
“We are extremely excited to join forces with the MLS, one of the fastest growing and most dynamic sports leagues in the world,” said Chris Thorne, Beats CMO. “Beats will be working closely with the MLS clubs and top players to deliver amazing experiences throughout the upcoming season.”