Apple launched its last iPhone SE in 2020. Photo: Apple
Apple will reportedly debut its third-gen iPhone SE handset in the first half of next year, a Monday report from Digitimes claims.
Apple has been making its (comparatively) low-cost iPhone models for the past five years, releasing its two previous versions in 2016 and 2020 respectively.
Speck's most protective iPhone case yet. Photo: Speck
You know that feeling of dread when you drop you iPhone for the hundredth time? As you slowly pick it up and pray that it’s not cracked, you remind yourself, “I need a better case.” Well, here’s your chance. This week’s giveaway is for a Speck Presidio Perfect-Clear Compatible with MagSafe case, worth $50. It’s Speck’s most protective clear case yet.
Show off your iPhone and keep it crack-free by entering this week’s giveaway. Enter and you could win one of four Presidio Perfect-Clear Compatible with MagSafe cases.
Apple Arcade delivers updated blasts from the past, but there's totally new stuff in the App Store this week as well. Image: Cult of Mac
Some classic iOS games got upgraded for their Apple Arcade debuts this week, but that’s just the start of this week’s roundup. A new iOS app gives you the chance to win prizes for not driving like a jerk. And a new Mac app lets you effortlessly declutter your presentations.
Plus, a couple of heavy-hitter apps got updates — one kind of serious from a privacy perspective, and one almost completely frivolous. Are you ready for your app upgrades?
The iPhone 12’s secret reverse wireless charging capability will work with Apple’s new MagSafe Battery Pack. That’s great and all, but Apple should let the iPhone charge other gear, too.
Think how cool it would be to top off your AirPods Pro simply by setting them atop your iPhone.
It’s a logical next step (and it might even be coming soon). Find out why we think Apple should go all in on iPhone reverse wireless charging in the cover story of this week’s free Cult of Mac Magazine. Read it in the app on your favorite iOS device, or get the links to the stories below.
Apple’s nifty and well-loved AirPods Max headphones are on sale for a full $100 off their $549 MSRP. Available from Adorama, all colors are available for just $449.
ElevationLab's new MagBase makes it easy to grab your iPhone 12 off the charger with one hand. Photo: ElevationLab
ElevationLab launched a deceptively simple accessory on Thursday called MagBase. It helps with one of the more frustrating aspects users find with the Apple MagSafe Charger. Using the base, you can easily pick up your iPhone 12 with one hand, still attached to the charger — or not.
What if you could charge your AirPods just by putting them on your iPhone? Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Turns out the iPhone 12 could do reverse wireless charging all along — Apple just didn’t talk about it until this week. And now that the cat’s out of the bag, Apple should embrace the capability and let iPhones wirelessly charge any other compatible device.
The new Elgato Facecam, at $199, competes with the big boys. Photo: Elgato
Elgato makes a variety of hardware and software for video streamers and content creators. It just launched its first webcam. At the same time, it rolled out a revamped stream deck and a few other products designed to help folks dress up and easily share content.
Whether you're feeling super-protective or just lazy, you never have to take the Belkin sleeve off your laptop. Photo: Belkin
You know that kid in school who never took his jacket off? I think his name was Belkin. The accessories maker launched a pair of Always-On Laptop Cases that pretty much ensure your MacBook always keeps it coat on.
See the G4 peeking out from under the desk? Ah, nostalgia. Photo: omgaporksword@Reddit
It sounds like the setup to a punchline: A strapping young Mac mini, a yoked gaming PC and an elderly Power Mac G4 walk into a podcasting primer. Then what happens?
Well, if we’re talking about Redditor omgaporksword’s recent setup post, you learn a few OS-switching tricks, share some old-school Mac nostalgia and see how to position your USB microphone using a boom arm.
There is no punchline and there are no laughs. But please, people. Not everything is about humor. Except maybe omgaporksword’s Reddit handle.
Not exactly authentic AirPods. Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
When you think about the types of items typically seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, you might picture contraband like drugs or weapons. You probably don’t imagine knockoff AirPods as a target.
In fact, bogus earbuds are a big deal. Customs and Border Protection seized “roughly 360,000 counterfeit wireless headphones with a retail value of $62.2 million” since October, according to a story in The Information, citing previously unreported government data.
Apple is one several predominantly larger companies that work with Customs officers to help weed out copycat products upon their entry into the United States. And the counterfeit goods are not necessarily packaged to look exactly like actual Apple products. Here’s how it works.
“Angry Birds Reloaded” is one of the classic games now available on Apple Arcade without the hassle of in-app purchases. Photo: Rovio
A trio of classic games have been updated just for Apple Arcade. That includes Angry Birds Reloaded, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City and Doodle God Universe.
All three debuted Friday on Apple’s subscription gaming service.
Shockingly, Microsoft’s Clippy has fans. and they’re responsible for bringing it back — in a limited form. Image: Microsoft
Windows users can’t escape Clippy. The much hated personal assistant is coming back. Fortunately, it’ll be far less prominent than back in 1997. And Mac users won‘t have to see it at all.
Apple has made its share of mistakes over the years. But few of these can compare to Clippy’s irritating attempts to help people using Microsoft Office.
Score the sleek new Keychron K7 via the Kickstarter campaign. Photo: Keychron
From Cult of MacSetups articles, we know Keychron mechanical keyboards are popular among Mac users. The company’s sleek new K7 model promises to continue that trend. Better yet, you can be among the first to grab it in Keychron’s Kickstarter campaign.
The Mophie 3-in-1 stand for MagSafe Charger can juice up your iPhone 12, Apple Watch and AirPods.
You can charge an iPhone 12, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously with the just-released Mophie 3-in-1 stand for MagSafe Charger. Apple likes it so much the product is listed on the online Apple Store, an honor that doesn’t go to most accessories.
These are just some of the proposed emoji that could be coming to your iPhone or Mac. Graphic: Emojipedia
Soon there could be new emoji that let you show you are melting, have a low battery or are feeling ambivalent or teary-eyed. These and more are on the list for approval in Emoji 14.0. But they might not appear in iPhones and other devices until 2022.
The list appears with World Emoji Day coming July 17.
Linksys has rolled out support for Apple’s smart-home platform, HomeKit, in a firmware update for its flagship affordable Wi-Fi router system. Now users can enjoy high-speed internet access throughout the house with a little extra peace of mind.
Whether you love Ted Lasso or hate it, the Honest Trailer will probably make you laugh. Photo: Fandom
With media outlets breathlessly reporting on every movie and TV show trailer that hits the internet, it’s great to see a hilarious one worth watching whether or not you care about the underlying title. That’s the case with the parody series Honest Trailers generally, and all the more so with its latest one about the Apple TV+ hit comedy Ted Lasso, released Wednesday.
But you'll need a compatible Wi-Fi router to enjoy it. Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple’s next-generation “iPhone 13” devices could feature Wi-Fi 6E technology for even better connectivity, according to a new report.
The extended version of Wi-Fi 6 — which is already available in iPhone 11 and later — promises even faster speeds and better range using the 6GHz band. But you probably won’t be able to enjoy it out of the box.
AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support is now rolling out to Insignia and Toshiba television sets produced in 2020.
The free firmware update lets you stream content from Mac, iPhone and iPad directly to your TV set. You can also control your TV using Siri voice commands and by using the Home app on Apple devices.
Who needs Boot Camp when you can stream Windows to your Mac? Microsoft’s newly announced Windows 365 feature allows you to use Windows 10 and 11 on almost any device — including Mac and iPad.
With a Cloud PC, you get an instant-on experience and access to all your data, software, and settings anywhere. And you’ll be able to configure your setup to suit your needs. The service launches on August 2, 2021.
Great news for Apple Watch Series 3, in particular. Photo: Apple
Apple’s newest iOS 15, iPadOS 15 and watchOS 8 betas, rolled out to registered developers on Wednesday, allow you to install software updates with less than 500MB of available storage.
The change means that devices with lower storage capacities — like Apple Watch Series 3, which has only 8GB — will now be a lot easier to update.
With the release of iOS 15 beta 3, the Safari Address Bar stays at the bottom of the screen where it belongs. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The just-released iOS 15 beta 3 fixes the bouncing address bar in Safari. Plus, iPadOS 15 beta 3 makes Safari’s Share button much more prominent. Both changes apparently come in response to complaints from beta testers about Apple’s updated mobile web browser.
The latest betas, released Wednesday, also bring other changes to the iPhone and iPad versions of Safari.
At 10 pounds, the Anker Powerhouse II 300 power station can go anywhere with you and your gadgets. Photo: Anker
Anker new Powerhouse II 300 is a small, portable but potent addition to the company’s power station lineup. It’s a convenient device to have on had. It’ll keep your gadgets going if you end up off the grid, whether because of a power outage or a camping trip.
A planned new service will give you more options to pay over time. Photo: Apple
Apple and its Apple Card partner, Goldman Sachs, plan to launch a new pay-in-installments service for all Apple Pay purchases reportedly known internally as “Apple Pay Later.” It resembles other “buy now, pay later” offerings from companies like Affirm Holdings and PayPal.