Apple is currently working on multiple new external monitors powered by Apple silicon. This includes a replacement for the Pro Display XDR that launched in 2019.
There’s no confirmed timeline for the launch of the new monitors.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: If the EU does indeed force Apple to open up the iPhone to allow alternative app stores, is that a bad thing? Some people think sideloading apps will be fantastic.
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Fans of My Little Pony have a new game to enjoy. It’s up players to help the Mane 5 save Equestria, and they’ll do so by solving multiple puzzles.
My Little Pony: Mane Merge debuted Friday on Apple Arcade, and is playable on a wide range of Apple computers.
“These go to 11,” says lead guitarist Nigel Tufnel about his specially modded guitar amplifiers in music mockumentary classic This Is Spinal Tap. And today’s featured computer setup probably rocks just about that hard, too.
The Mac Studio, dual Studio Displays and array of killer audio gear in the home-basement setup belong to a working New York City-area rocker. Check out details about his chest-thumping rig, below.
Continuity Camera in macOS Ventura upgrades video calls by bringing the iPhone’s high-res camera to the Mac. It’s necessary to mount the iPhone on the computer though, but Belkin has just what’s needed for desktop Macs.
The accessory-maker released a very similar iPhone mount designed for MacBooks this fall.
Apple TV+ said Thursday its hit show Mythic Quest, a workplace comedy about a gaming company, will hatch a spinoff series called Mere Mortals.
Calling the new show an “extension series,” Apple TV+ said it “will explore the lives of employees, players and fans who are impacted by the game.”
The giveaway this week is slightly different, as we teamed up with Zagg to give five lucky winners the opportunity to choose their own prize from the extensive lineup of mophie products.
If you’re one of the randomly selected winners, you’ll get to select whatever you like from mophie’s many popular products, including wireless chargers, power banks and more. Read on to see some highlights from the mophie catalog — and to get your name in the hat for this roll-your-own giveaway.
In a brief new trailer Apple TV+ dropped Thursday for an upcoming documentary, moist-eyed tennis legend Boris Becker more or less admits to the camera that his life might be as good as over. His sentencing took place just days later. He went to prison for hiding assets to avoid paying debts.
“It’s Wednesday afternoon,” Becker said in the interview. “Friday I will know the rest of my life.”
The interview footage, which you can watch at the link below, comes from an as-yet untitled, two-part film about Becker’s life made by two Oscar-winners — director Alex Gibney and producer John Battsek.
A 15.5-inch MacBook Air is on Apple’s agenda for the first half of 2023, according to a reliable source.
This would be the first time the traditionally thin and light line of notebooks has expanded past the current 13.3-inch screen.
WhatsApp is finally catching up to FaceTime and adding support for video calls with up to 32 participants. You can also mute or message an individual on a group call.
Up until now, you could use WhatsApp for group voice calls with 32 people. Video calls were limited to 8 people.
And support for Picture-in-Picture is in testing.
Apple already began beta tests for the next versions of iOS, macOS, iPadOS and watchOS. These were seeded to developers on Wednesday, just a day after the public release of their predecessors.
Even with the holidays coming up, Apple continues working on its operating systems.
Apple’s M2-powered 2022 MacBook Air is down to its lowest-ever price of $999. That’s a massive discount of $200 from its retail price.
If you place your order today, you can get the MacBook Air before Christmas.
If you’re the proud owner of a car, you’re already dealing with maintenance, parking and other hassles. But you’ve got one less thing to worry about if you take advantage of the Cult of Mac Store’s SwitchEasy Flash Sale and pick up one of its handy car mounts for iPhone at 20% off the regular price.
They make it easy to see, access and charge your iPhone while you’re behind the wheel. And through December 21 you can get about $6 off your choice of the three of them with different mounting mechanisms. See below.
A computer setup run by a doctoral degree candidate had better be damned smart, and today’s featured setup doesn’t disappoint. It’s got a powerful M1 MacBook Pro, a recent (but not the latest) iPad Air, a very slick 4K display and a trio of whipsmart input devices boasting plenty of customization options.
And it’s got all that and pretty clever cable management, too. But does the future Ph.D.’s rig smoke a pipe and pretentiously hold forth on esoteric topics? No, it’s actually somewhat modest (down to the nice but not top-shelf headphones).
A new documentary series is coming to Apple TV+ January 13 — Super League: The War for Football. Its trailer, dropped Wednesday, makes it look like a spy thriller filled with betrayals is currently unfolding in the world of international soccer.
And it’s good timing on the streaming service’s part, promoting it during the world’s most-popular sport’s biggest event, the World Cup.
Alongside iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1, Apple also dropped watchOS 9.2 for all compatible Apple Watch models. Besides packing several new features, the update improves the Apple Watch Ultra’s battery life.
Interestingly, Apple does not mention this improvement in the watchOS 9.2’s release notes.
Apple has launched a major project to allow alternative app stores on iPhones and iPads by 2024. The effort is meant to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which comes fully into force then, and other possible national or regional laws that will make Apple allow sideloading of apps, according to new report Tuesday.
The end result should see Apple allowing people to download third-party software to iPhones and iPads from somewhere other than the App Store for the first time.
macOS Ventura 13.1 launched Tuesday, giving Mac users access to Freeform, a collaborative brainstorming application that’s also for iPhone and iPad.
In addition, the new macOS version ushers in important new iCloud encryption options, including the ability to encrypt images on Apple’s cloud-storage service.
iPadOS 16.2 just launched, and for many users of top-tier iPads, the standout feature is full external display support. This makes Apple tablets far better at multitasking than ever before.
There are other improvements in iPadOS 16.2 as well, including the Freeform collaboration app.
iOS 16.2, which Apple released Tuesday, brings many new features that make it a must-have update for all iPhone owners. From security advancements and productivity boosters to cosmetic tweaks and other fun stuff, it’s positively loaded with upgrades.
Here are the top new iOS 16.2 features you should try right now. (Note: Many of these features also appear in iPadOS 16.2, which Apple also released today.)
Need ideas for practical stocking stuffers that friends and family will actually use? The SwitchEasy Flash Sale in the Cult of Mac Store is on through 11:59 p.m. PST on December 13.
You can pick any of three compact wall chargers with USB-C and USB-A ports. There’s a potent 30W version, another 30W with cable storage and a tiny 20W version. Check them out.
It’s no longer possible to order a new top-tier iPhone from Apple and have it delivered this year. The iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max are both backordered until early January 2023.
The delay is the result of strong demand for these handsets coupled with production problems in China.
Apple is expanding iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS via satellite feature to more countries. The feature is now available to iPhone 14 owners in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Ireland starting today.
Emergency SOS was only available in the United States and Canada so far. Apple previously confirmed the feature would expand to more countries in December.
The holiday season is fast-unfolding, and Christmas will be here before Hermey the elf from the classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer can say “Well, sir, someday I’d like to be a dentist.”
So it’s time to act fast if you want to get a gadget-y gift for the techie or geek in your life in time for deliveries by December 25. Check out some cool ideas below.
They’re all small enough to fit in a stocking; prices range from a cheap $20 to a few hundred bucks (for those very special stockings). And there’s plenty more good stuff in the Cult of Mac Store.
Apple TV+ earned Golden Globe nominations in five important categories, including Best Drama. The creepy, very popular series Severance earned two of the nominations, and the prison thriller Black Bird got the rest.
Winners will be named in early 2023.