Plugable’s just-launched Thunderbolt 4 hub makes your Mac more useful by adding accessories that require very fast connections. Photo: Plugable
The new Plugable TBT4-HUB3C hub turns a single Thunderbolt 4 port into three of them, expanding the number of high-speed accessories that can be connected to a Mac or iPad Pro. That includes big displays and large-capacity drives.
And Plugable also launched new 1-meter and 2-meter Thunderbolt cables Thursday.
“Foundation” looks amazing. And apocalyptic. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is shooting for the stars with two new sci-fi series and a film this autumn. The trailers for Foundation, Invasion and Finch all look amazing. And dark. The descriptions for all of them include either “dystopian” or “apocalypse” or both.
Could we get some science fiction that’s a little more upbeat from Apple’s streaming service?
Casetify offers iPhone cases made from recycled and upcycled materials. Photo: Casetify
If you like to use products made from recycled materials, Casetify has you covered when it comes to iPhone 13 covers. Its collection features several styles of MagSafe-compatible cases, both recycled and upcycled, with solid drop protection and options for personalization.
If you thought the war between Apple and epic Games was over, think again. Graphic: Epic Games/Cult of Mac
The first phase of the legal war between Apple and Epic Games is over, and a Federal court agreed with the game developer in some of the major points in their lawsuit. But Apple refuses to reinstate Fortnite and other Epic titles to its App Store during the appeals process.
The iPhone maker says this is the result of “Epic’s duplicitous conduct” leading to the lawsuit.
Tim Cook says Apple is “doing everything in our power” to find iPhone leakers. Photo: Apple
Apple CEO Tim Cook is fed up with employees who leak details of upcoming devices to the press. He sent out a company-wide memo that said, “people who leak confidential information do not belong here.”
Note the difference in size of the camera hump on the iPhone 12 (on left) and the iPhone 13 (on right). Photo: Apple
While the iPhone 13 has drawn some criticism for being a minor update, improvements to the cameras mean that none of the new handsets are compatible with tight-fitting cases designed for earlier models.
This is not unusual. But Apple’s 2021 models look so much like their iPhone 12 equivalents that it might be easy to think the exteriors are identical when they are not.
The new Spigen ArcHybrid Mag power bank offers 7.5W of charging power and strong magnets. Photo: Spigen
Spigen has rolled out its first MagSafe power bank, available for preorder now. The ArcHybrid Mag arrives with a 5,000mAh capacity alongside 7.5W charging speeds and a stronger magnetic force than other models on the market, the company said. All that and a launch discount, too (see below).
If you want a small tablet, iPad mini is the best there is. Photo: Apple
The 2021 iPad mini looks like a spectacular upgrade over its predecessors, with an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display, Apple’s newest A15 Bionic chip and features like USB-C connectivity. But is it worth your hard-earned cash?
Some iPhone and iPad users are being plagued by incorrect “storage almost full” alerts after updating to iOS and iPadOS 15. The message leaves a persistent badge on the Settings app icon that cannot be cleared.
In many cases, users seeing the alert actually have ample free storage remaining. A similar bug tells some iPhone and iPad owners that they have more available storage than their device actually shipped with.
Avoid the latest update if your system isn't set up in English. Screenshot: Cult of Mac
Apple rolled out a new version of iTunes for Windows on Monday alongside iOS and iPadOS 15, but it should be avoided at all costs if your system isn’t set up in English. iTunes no longer works under any other language.
The problem seems to affect the version 12.12.0.6 version of iTunes no matter where it’s downloaded from — the Microsoft Store or directly from Apple — which means it’s not currently possible for some users to sync their devices.
Do Not Disturb is still available inside iOS and iPadOS 15, despite the introduction of a brand-new and infinitely more powerful Focus mode. But the feature is now missing a key settings option that didn’t carry over from iOS 14.
Users have quickly discovered that Apple’s newest update kills the ability to activate Do Not Disturb only when a device is locked — one of its best features for many iPhone and iPad users.
Apple’s newest HomePod beta, issued alongside the iOS and iPadOS 15.1 betas on Tuesday, brings back lossless audio and Dolby Atmos support. Both features can be enabled from inside the Home app, but only if you have an invite.
Apple has been working to bring its newest audio features to HomePod speakers for a while now. It first began testing them shortly after WWDC 2021 in June when the third HomePod 15 beta was made available to testers.
Finch is a simple tale of a man, his dog and his robot in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. OK, maybe not so simple. Photo: Apple TV+
Given all the apocalyptic storytelling in recent years, it makes sense in a Hollywood way that we’d eventually arrive at a warm-and-fuzzy, feel-good apocalypse movie. According to its first official trailer, that would be Finch, set to premiere on the Apple TV+ streaming service November 5.
Now just $19.99 for a limited time. Photo: SwitchEasy
Getting a new iPhone on Friday? You might need a charging adapter to go with it now that Apple no longer includes one in the box. Check out the handy PowerBuddy from SwitchEasy. It delivers 20W of power, packs USB-A and USB-C ports, and sports a compact design you can take anywhere.
It’s also 20% off in the Cult of Mac Store for a limited time.
That didn’t take long. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple seeded the first beta of iOS 15.1 to developers on Tuesday, just a day after the general public got access to iOS 15. The company also gave devs access to the initial betas for iPadOS 15.1, watchOS 8.1 and tvOS 15.1. These are expected to include some of the features promised earlier but removed from the versions that debuted on Monday to give additional development time.
In addition, Apple released to macOS Monterey beta 7 to developers.
Joel Cohen writes for the stage and directs the Apple TV+ adaptation of Shakespeare's bloody classic. Photo: Apple TV+
A dreary and ominous fog washes over the first Apple TV+ trailer for The Tragedy of Macbeth. That sets a suitably dark tone for the adaptation of the bloody Shakespeare classic from writer and director Joel Cohen. Black birds circle overhead.
The Breathe app on Apple Watch promotes health and well-being. Photo: Apple
Apple is developing new iPhone and Apple Watch software tracking user health data to try to detect signs of depression and cognitive decline in users. The work is a joint effort with partners, The Wall Street Journal and other media outlets reported Tuesday.
If you still can’t decide whether you want to upgrade to iPhone 13 or 13 Pro, perhaps some early feedback from reviewers will help. Unsurprisingly, they all have good things to say about Apple’s newest handsets, which pack big camera upgrades, better battery life, even faster A15 Bionic chips, and wonderfully smooth ProMotion displays (if you buy a Pro model).
But most agree that the changes don’t break new ground for iPhone, so you might be happy to stick with what you already have. But are the 2021 iPhones really “the most incremental update ever,” as The New York Times writes? Here’s our iPhone 13 review roundup.
You're stuck with iOS 14.8 or iOS 15. Image: Cult of Mac
It’s no longer possible to downgrade to iOS or iPadOS 14.7.1 if you’ve already updated your iPhone or iPad to a newer version of Apple’s firmware.
Cupertino stopped signing the update, first rolled out in July, after releasing iOS and iPadOS 15 to everyone on Monday. The move prevents users from reverting to the earlier build, but it won’t affect devices still running iOS 14.7.1.
Not available to existing or previous Apple Music subscribers. Image: Apple
Apple today kicked off a new promotion that offers six months of free Apple Music when you buy AirPods or select Beats headphones. It’s available only to new Apple Music subscribers who claim within 90 days of their purchase.
ProRes and Cinematic video now supported. Photo: Apple
Apple has rolled out a couple of pretty notable updates for its Clips and iMovie apps, adding a number of features for iPhone 13. Both now support ProRes video and the new Cinematic camera mode, as well as ProRAW photos.
It's a big improvement over the last design. Screenshot: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iCloud Mail has a shiny new interface on the web. The new look, which first entered beta testing back in June, is now available to all. It will be instantly familiar to those who use the built-in Mail app on Mac and iPad.
If you want an iPhone 13 anytime soon, procrastination on ordering isn’t such a good idea. Photo: Apple
If you want an iPhone 13 in the next few weeks, you’d probably better order it soon. And for some variations, it’s already too late to have it delivered before October.
And an analyst says the wait times indicate that Apple’s latest is selling better than its predecessor.
The MagSafe Silicone Case is just one of many cases Elago offers for iPhone 13. Photo: Elago
If you’re the proud owner of a new iPhone 13 series smartphone — whether you have it in hand or just set for delivery — don’t forget to protect it. Elago’s new lineup of iPhone 13 cases include past favorite designs and innovative new styles.
You can grab Elago’s new iPhone 13 cases in the Cult of Mac Store — via the direct link under each item below — or at Elago or Amazon.