This is our first look at Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Surface, coming this summer to Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ revealed that the psychological thriller Surface from Veronica West will premiere on July 29. It stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, best known for appearing in Apple’s critically acclaimed The Morning Show.
The upcoming series asks, what if you woke up one day and didn’t know your own secrets?
WWDC Bingo is back ahead of next week’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. The crew behind the Flighty flight-tracking app put together the contest, which doubles as a survey about what participants expect during Monday’s WWDC22 keynote.
Unlike your granddad’s bingo, where something like five correct numbers in a row constitutes a win, WWDC Bingo serves up 74 possible outcomes to vote on. Contestants strive to achieve the highest percentage of correct answers.
And both the biggest winner and the biggest loser get prizes, sort of.
Pit yourself against the demonic forces of Skarn, Lord of Damnation in Diablo Immortal. Photo: Blizzard Entertainment
Grab your sword and your iPad to battle the demonic forces of evil in Diablo Immortal. Blizzard Entertainment created the massively multiplayer online action role-playing game for iPhone, Android and Apple tablets.
It’s also out for PC, and players will be able enjoy the game across platforms.
Apple launched a "Beyond WWDC" webpage listing all sorts of fun events. Photo: Apple
In addition to promoting the new #WWDC22 hashtag this week, Apple has made a special webpage highlighting community-hosted events set to happen during or after its Worldwide Developers Conference next week.
The events are a good opportunity for “learning, networking, and fun,” Apple said.
Apple's press materials led with this graphic. Photo: Apple
Apple distributed a new set of fraud analysis data Wednesday. It indicated the App Store prevented 1.6 million “risky” and “untrustworthy” apps from defrauding users in 2021, stopping “nearly $1.5 billion in fraudulent transactions.”
As with other recent data compilations, Cupertino released the news at a time when the App Store’s strict policies have come under fire.
New renders show a sleek and colorful New MacBook Air. Image: Darvik Patel
Sources have begun to doubt Apple will unveil its realityOS and AR/VR headset at next week’s Worldwide Developers Conference, but some folks still believe a colorful new MacBook Air could still be in the offing.
Whether or not Apple rolls out a new version of its slimmest laptop at WWDC22, here’s what you should expect to see soon enough, from the latest rumors to new renders by concept artist Darvik Patel.
No need to always be plugging and unplugging. Photo: [email protected]
These days, more people than ever have more than one computer. That’s because many people work from home or do the “hybrid” work thing, toiling at an office part time but working remotely, too. And that means they probably tap away on both a work laptop and a personal one.
Today’s featured setup follows that trend. And its owner succinctly explained how they go about switching between the two machines on the same external display with the press of a button.
Never lose your Apple TV Siri remote again. Photo: Nomad
When Apple revamped the Siri Remote along with Apple TV in 2021, many people thought it odd the remote didn’t get Find My support. It is, after all, almost inevitable you’ll lose the sleek little device in the couch cushions.
Fortunately, Nomad just made it easier to find the remote — and to hold onto the slippery thing better when you do. The company’s new leather cover adds a touch of heft while also providing a space to insert an AirTag.
COVID-19 lockdowns in China force Apple to diversify iPad production. Photo: Apple
The lockdown in Shanghai and nearby regions, and China’s strict zero-COVID policy, have forced Apple to move some iPad production out of the country and to Vietnam for the first time.
The company already expects to take an $8 billion revenue hit in the ongoing quarter due to supply chain disruptions caused by the Chinese lockdowns.
Apple Watch sales increasingly dominate globally. Photo: Apple
Global sales of smartwatches grew 13% in the first quarter of 2022 compared to last year, with Apple Watch gobbling the largest slice of the pie by far, new research indicates.
Apple’s wearable led in 2021, but new numbers show its lead continues to grow.
Apple's first headset could be around the same size as Oculus Quest. Photo: Oculus
Apple could use ultrasonic sound waves to deliver haptic feedback to wearers of its upcoming AR/VR headset when they interact with virtual objects.
Most consumer AR/VR headsets do not provide haptic feedback like that, but some high-end ones feature a basic vibration motor that does not give the desired effect. However, Apple’s new patent filings suggest it wants to solve this issue on its AR/VR headset by using ultrasonic sound waves.
The Apple Design Awards recognize apps in six categories. Photo: Apple
With its Worldwide Developers Conference coming up, Apple revealed the finalists Tuesday for this year’s Apple Design Awards.
The Apple Design Awards, to be bestowed at WWDC22 next week, showcase apps with outstanding design, innovation, ingenuity and technical achievement, the company said.
Developers can connect with Apple staff and other attendees in Digital Lounges. Photo: Apple
Ahead of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference next week, the company has opened registration for its Digital Lounges. The virtual spaces let developers and other WWDC22 attendees connect with Apple engineers and designers as well as other conference-goers.
Wozniak autographed the Apple-1's CPU in Dubai in 2021. Photo: The APPL Collection
A restored Apple-1 in good working order might see a winning bid of $485,000 in an upcoming auction. That’s not just because the antique computer is nearly all original and actually works. It’s also because Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak signed it.
Safari now has more than 1 billion users. Photo: Apple
Apple’s Safari web browser recently topped 1 billion users, a new study indicates, making it the second browser to do so. Even so, it still lags well behind Google Chrome in popularity.
“1,006,232,879 internet users (19.16% of all internet users) now use the Safari browser, making it the second browser with over a billion users,” the Atlas VPN report said.
Dreadnoughtus shown in Prehistoric Planet, now streaming on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple’s five-episode dinosaur documentary Prehistoric Planet pulled in plenty of viewers. Amazing archosaurs recreated with cutting-edge CGI effects helped the series hit number five on a list of most-watched TV shows on all the streaming services in the United States.
And Severance continues to draw a big audience almost two months after the season finale on Apple TV+.
Don't expect Apple's AR/VR headset to show up at WWDC22 Photo: RendersbyIan
Apple is unlikely to showcase its long-rumored AR/MR headset — or even demo the realityOS that powers it — at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
His mood-dampening remarks follow lots of buzz in recent weeks that indicated Apple finally would take the wraps off the secret project at WWDC22.
The reason? There’s still a lot of time before the headset enters mass production. And Apple doesn’t want its competitors to steal its ideas and rush a copycat to market, Kuo said.
Mifa's Apple Watch band might have people thinking you work for NASA. Photo: Mifa
Tired of searching for a utility band for everyday wear to match your space gray Apple Watch? Maybe something with a bit of a “tactical” look to it? Want to look like you’re going on patrol when you’re just headed to the flower shop? Well, stand down, because your mission may be accomplished.
It doesn’t matter if your Apple Watch is made of aluminum or stainless steel, Mifa’s rugged Nylon Sports Leather Apple Watch Band can be a great complement to it.
And it’s 20% off in the Cult of Mac Store through the end of May. That’s a savings of $5.
An Xbox in the under-desk drawer handles the gaming chores. Photo: [email protected]
If you’re one of the many, many people waiting longer and longer periods for your Mac thanks to supply-chain delays, we apologize in advance. We don’t mean to rub your face in your misfortune.
But when we find a great computer setup featuring an exciting new 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro splitting time with an Xbox on a 40-inch, curved ultra-wide display, we’ve just got to talk about it.
More details emerge about Apple’s upcoming headset. Photo: RendersbyIan
On Sunday, when people noticed “realityOS” trademarks set for international filing on June 8, mad speculation flew that at least the software platform for Apple’s planned AR/VR headsets could be rolled out at WWDC22, which gets underway June 6.
And while it’s tantalizing speculation with other supporting evidence, there is reason for doubt, too. Especially since a reputable analyst threw cold water on the idea on Tuesday, contradicting others.
iOS 16 could give the iPhone's lock screen much-needed usability boost Photo: the Hacker 34
Apple could introduce major enhancements to the iPhone’s lock screen in iOS 16, with wallpapers that offer widget-like functionality, according to a new report. The OS reportedly will add always-on display support for the iPhone 14 Pro series as well.
Apple is expected to showcase iOS 16 — code-named “Sydney” — during the WWDC22 keynote on June 6.
We're scrutinizing these new purple iPhone 14 Pro renders. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: After eyeballing the latest iPhone 14 Pro renders from John Prosser and Ian Zelbo, we’re left with two big impressions. One, that iPhone looks awfully familiar. Two … purple? Really?!?
Also on The CultCast:
Please let the latest cryptic HomePod rumor be true.
Can your eyes handle the even-fancier Studio Display that’s supposedly coming soon? And can your wallet?
This week’s giveaway features a mophie 3-in-1 travel charger that makes us wish we could enter. (Don’t worry. You can, and we’ll try to hid our jealousy.)
Erfon’s got a bit of a crush on Soundcore Frames, the Bluetooth sunglasses you can hear.
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 livestream, embedded below.
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Apple Cumberland Mall will not become the first Apple store with a union. Photo: Apple
Employees of an Apple store in Atlanta won’t be voting to form a union after all. They withdrew their request with the National Labor Relations Board, and said Apple had carried out “a systematic, sophisticated campaign to intimidate them.”
It remains unknown how this will affect employees trying to unionize at an Apple retail store in New York