The iPhone 13 sold well in Q2 2022. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
iPhone shipments grew 3.3% year over year during the second quarter of 2022, according to a market-research firm. That’s in contrast to the global smartphone market, which declined 7%.
Apple made up 16% of the total market, its highest second-quarter performance in more than a decade.
The earnings call wasn't that exciting, but Apple still dropped some tantalizing tidbits on us. Image: Sharon McCutcheon/Unsplash License/Cult of Mac
Apple earnings calls with analysts can offer fascinating glimpses behind the scenes at the iPhone-maker. Most of the time, though, they are dull as toast. That’s true even for the June quarter, when Apple managed to snatch financial success from the jaws of supply constraints.
But we endured the tedium of the call so you don’t have to. Just read on to get the interesting details almost lost in all the talk of basis points and CAPEX.
Against all odds, Apple squeaks out another record-breaking quarter. Image: Cult of Mac
Apple overcame considerable headwinds to set a new revenue record during its most recent financial quarter, the company said Thursday. Cupertino once again beat analysts’ expectations, despite COVID-19 lockdowns in China that slowed Mac and iPad production.
“Our June quarter results continued to demonstrate our ability to manage our business effectively despite the challenging operating environment,” said Luca Maestri, Apple’s chief financial officer, in a press release announcing the Q3 2022 earnings.
The collaboration with artist Futura features his signature atomic symbol. Photo: Beats
Just about a week after collaborating with Twitch streamer Nickmercs, Apple subsidiary Beats is out with another special-edition release of Beats Studio Buds, this time with design firm Futura Laboratories.
This is the second Beats collaboration for the design firm’s founder, the graffiti artist Futura.
Apple sells directly to consumers in India through its website, but still hasn't managed to open its landmark retail store in the country. Photo: Apple
The first Apple store in India won’t open until 2023. Apple has been trying to open the retail location since 2019, but it’s been beset with delays.
The Mumbai store is supposed to be part of an important shift in the way the company does business in India. Another store in the country is also on the way.
The CEO of Meta says his company and Apple are in a "competition of philosophies and ideas." Photo: Cult of Mac
Both Apple and Meta (formerly Facebook) are both building AR/VR headsets, but they’re going about it in dramatically different ways. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly told Meta employees the two companies are in “a competition of philosophies and ideas.”
It’s possible the metaverse is the future of the internet. And Zuckerberg describes Meta as being a leader in creating an open metaverse with multiple companies working together, while he says Apple is creating its own closed version.
But Zuckerberg’s comments ignore another major philosophical difference between the twin companies. Apple believes in protecting user privacy, but Meta makes its money by collecting and selling information about users.
Apple's new hire worked on this model, a Lamborghini Huracan. Photo: Lamborghini
A former Lamborghini executive recently joined Apple to lead design of the company’s long-rumored self-driving car, according to a new report Wednesday.
As Apple works toward releasing an electric vehicle before the end of this decade, the addition of Luigi Taraborrelli, who worked for the fabled Italian automaker for 20 years, could accelerate the project.
Ostrich leather is a whole new animal. Photo: BluShark
Everyone knows leather Apple Watch bands are a timeless class-act, long-popular for a variety of reasons. But which kind of leather matters, too. One type might be quite durable but stiff, needing breaking in. Another type might be incredibly soft and supple from the get-go.
One option for the latter type would be ostrich leather. And while it’s always a premium choice, the Cult of Mac Store has a beautiful band for a surprisingly affordable price.
Eve Hewson, Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle and Sarah Greene in Bad Sisters, coming soon to Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
The Garvey sisters vowed to always take care of each other, which leads them toward murdering their abusive brother-in-law. Their scheme plays out in Bad Sisters, a creation of Irish actress, writer and producer Sharon Horgan, who is known for her darkly funny shows.
The comedy/thriller series debuts on Apple TV+ in August, and a trailer debuted Wednesday.
2021 MacBook Pro models should see a performance boost with the newest Firefox browser update. Photo: Mozilla
The newest update of the Firefox browser includes a performance boost for computers with displays running at a 120Hz refresh rate or higher. That’s good news for anyone with a 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro model from 2021, which have ProMotion displays.
Those MacBook models feature Liquid Retina XDR displays with ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates ranging from 24Hz to 120Hz.
Who is this person, a movie star? A TV reporter? Nope, he's in sales. Photo: [email protected]
Today’s featured setup looks, at a glance, like it sports dual mounted laptops. But one’s an iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard and one’s a MacBook Pro, floating on either side of a 32-inch external Samsung display. Universal Control lets the user work across the screens.
His only problem seems to be that silver Magic Trackpad sticking out like a sore thumb in darker surroundings. Naturally, social media came to the rescue with possible fixes.
A major regulator points at Apple Pay Later to express concern over Big Tech entering the short-term loan business. Photo: Apple
When Apple said in July at WWDC22 it would launch Apple Pay Later with iOS 16, it effectively said it would enter the short-term loan business, known for “buy now, pay later” plans.
So it’s no big surprise that the Cupertino tech giant — accustomed to regulatory scrutiny in the U.S. and abroad — is now facing it from financial industry regulators.
But what’s somewhat surprising is that regulators are making noise about a host of concerns even before Apple Pay Later comes out.
Olpr’s awesome AirTag accessories are all beautifully made from genuine leather. The company sells a bag charm, a luggage tag and a keyring, all of which come with a side helping of class. And you can bag yours at up to 33% off the usual price in the Cult of Mac Store for a limited time.
During the sale, prices start at just $25 for these luxe AirTag accessories that let you securely attach one of Apple’s trackers to your precious belongings.
It's a full MagSafe charger with 15W of power for your iPhone. Photo: OtterBox
OtterBox rolled out its new iPhone and Apple Watch charger Tuesday — the 2-in-1 Charging Station with MagSafe. Not just “MagSafe-compatible,” it offers your iPhone a full 15W charge and your Apple Watch a 5W charge.
And if you want to charge your AirPods case instead of your iPhone, you can.
The sleek wireless charging stand, featuring a white-and-silver combo colorway called “Future,” is sold by both OtterBox and Apple.
'M2 Extreme' Mac Pro could launch later this year. Photo: Apple
Apple reportedly had an M1-powered Mac Pro ready to ship months ago but decided against launching it. Instead, the company decided to unveil an M2 Extreme-powered version later this year.
The Cupertino giant is seemingly also not working on redesigning the Mac mini anytime soon.
The app helps you weed out iOS apps that may be transmitting data to Russia or Belarus. Photo: MacPaw
The new SpyBuster iOS app scans your iPhone for other apps that may be surreptitiously sending your data to Russia or Belarus.
The privacy-oriented app comes from Ukraine-based developer MacPaw, which released a version of SpyBuster for macOS in the spring of 2021, not long after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Apple Brompton Road, Apple’s newest store in London, opens Thursday, July 28, in the city’s bustling Knightsbridge neighborhood. Photo: Apple
Apple previewed its newest retail outlet in the U.K. Tuesday, Apple Brompton Road in London’s Knightsbridge neighborhood. The store, set to open Thursday afternoon local time, claims a few “firsts.”
They include the first mirrored ceiling in an Apple Store, the first dedicated pick-up area in a U.K. Apple Store and the first time Apple has used a certain type of sustainable flooring.
Located a stone’s throw from Hyde Park and featuring design inspired by local flora, the store also boasts a brand-new augmented reality (AR) experience about William Blake.
Some analysts think Apple will beat earnings expectations, but others are doubtful. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s next quarterly earnings report and call with analysts take place on Thursday. (It’s Q3 for Apple’s fiscal year despite being Q2 on your calendar.) And the company has already warned it may take an up to $8 billion revenue hit for several reasons.
As usual, after the fiscal results come out and the stock market closes for the day, Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will talk with financial analysts on a public call about the results and future expectations.
Rob McElhenney and Charlotte Nicdao in “Mythic Quest” season three, premiering fall 2022 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Fans of the office comedy Mythic Quest on Apple TV+ will be relieved to hear the show’s coming back for season 3. That news was confirmed and a teaser trailer was unveiled Saturday at a special panel about the show at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
The show’s cast and creators confirmed that the series will return this fall. And they rolled a first-look teaser for the third season that suggests it’ll be just as funny as the first two seasons. Have a look and a laugh at it, below.
This is Ian Zelda's render of a purple iPhone 14. The Pro and Pro Max models may also sport faster memory. Image: Ian Zelbo
While all iPhone 14 series handsets are expected to sport 6GB or RAM, an increase over the current standard, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will also come with a newer and faster type of memory, according to a new report.
Brighten up your wrist with a pastel Apple Watch band. Photo: Laut
Delicate pastel hues aren’t just for Easter eggs and watercolor paintings. When applied to your Apple Watch as a band, a pastel color can seriously brighten up your wrist and freshen up your whole look.
If you’ve had enough of the basic blacks and browns, you can get the Laut Huex Pastels Apple Watch Band for just $30 in the Cult of Mac Store.