Mobile menu toggle

News - page 342

Under-display Face ID could eliminate iPhone’s notch in 2023

By

Face ID
Ready for the next iteration of Face ID?
Photo: Apple

Apple will debut an under-display Face ID setup to debut in 2023, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims in a Wednesday report to clients, seen by Cult of Mac.

Kuo doesn’t elaborate on the feature but, provided he’s accurate, this could potentially mean the end of the “notch” which has been a part of the iPhone design dating back to 2017’s iPhone X.

2021 could mark end of the road for iPhone mini

By

iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12 mini was a great phone. Trouble is that it didn't sell.
Photo: Lyle Kahney/Cult of Mac

The iPhone mini looks unlikely to last longer than one more generation, based on a Wednesday report from a reliable Apple tipster.

Looking forward to the 2022 iPhone, TFI International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests Apple will continue its recent pattern of releasing four models. However, these will include higher-end 6.7-inch and 6.1-inch iPhones like the current Pro lineup, and lower-end models in the same sizes.

The 5.4-inch iPhone mini sounds like it’ll be nowhere to be found.

‘Definitive’ Louis Armstrong documentary trumpets toward Apple TV+

By

‘Definitive’ Louis Armstrong documentary trumpets toward Apple TV+
Apple TV+ will release Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues, giving an in-depth look at the musician’s life and legacy.
Photo: Apple

Apple’s streaming service green lit Black & Blues: The Colorful Ballad of Louis Armstrong. The documentary film promises a “definitive” look at the musician’s life and legacy built on the filmmakers’ access to never-before-seen materials.

It’ll be the latest production of Ron Howard’s Imagine Documentaries, along with Apple Original Films.

Olpr case protects your iPhone with the luscious leather it deserves

By

Olpr leather case for iPhone
It's a lot more affordable than Apple's.
Photo: Olpr

When it comes to protecting your precious iPhone, you may choose not to cheapen its premium design with tacky plastics and subpar silicone. You may instead choose to wrap it in the luscious leather it deserves.

Olpr can help. Its high-end, handmade iPhone 12 case is made almost entirely from genuine leather that’s combined with a microfiber lining. The end result offers impressive protection and sweet sophistication.

Oh, it’s also more affordable than Apple’s own Leather Case for iPhone.

Apple’s ‘Spring Loaded’ event happens April 20: Here’s what to expect

By

Apple Spring Loaded event on April 20.
Cue the 4/20 jokes.
Photo: Apple

The next Apple product-release event will happen April 20. Invites went out Tuesday morning for the virtual “Spring Loaded” event, just hours after Siri leaked the date.

Naturally, Apple didn’t announce what’s on the agenda. But rumors point to multiple new iPads, as well as the possibility of next-gen AirPods, a faster Apple TV and the long-awaited debut of AirTags item trackers.

Roku OS update adds AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to older streamers

By

Roku OS update adds AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support to older streamers
Roku got closer to Apple with AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support. Even the new Voice Remote Pro has an Apple connection.
Photo: Roku

The release of Roku OS 10 brings support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 and HomeKit to several more Roku streaming devices and smart TVs. These streaming options were once reserved for pricey settop boxes but are now available on very affordable devices.

Plugable’s USBC-Vameter diagnoses your charging woes

By

Plugable USBC-Vameter diagnoses your charging woes
Is your iPhone charger working like it’s supposed to? Find out with the USBC-Vameter.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable’s USBC-Vameter voltage and amperage meter shows how much power is moving through a USB-C connection. It helps users see what’s happening when their devices are charging… or not charging.

On Tuesday, Plugable released a new version of the tiny multi-meter with an easier-to-read OLED screen and other improvements.

Stephen King’s Lisey’s Story will find a portal to Apple TV+ on June 4

By

Lisey's Story
Knives, it turns out, are no substitute for an Apple Pencil.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Lisey’s Story, an Apple TV+ series based on a 2006 Stephen King novel, will debut on Apple TV+ on June 4. It’s about the widow of a famous author who discovered a passageway to a parallel dimension that inspired his work.

Unlike many screen adaptations of King’s work, the horror master himself wrote the scripts for Lisey’s Story. The eight-part series stars Julianne Moore and Clive Owen. J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions produced the show.

Apple TV+ wins on quality, but severely lags on quantity

By

Apple TV app lands on PlayStation
Apple TV+ has some impressive quality control.
Photo: Apple

Apple TV+ may be only a bit-player in the streaming wars, but on a pound-for-pound quality basis, it could actually be outperforming its competitors.

That’s according to a new study by Self Financial, which compared TV and movie data from Netflix, HBO Max, Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu and Apple TV+ to find out which offered the best quality viewing experience.

Proposed bill would stop Apple and other tech giants from acquiring companies

By

iPhone 12 Pro parts cost shockingly little
Bill would stop tech giants splashing the cash.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Sen. Josh Hawley introduced a bill Monday that would ban mergers and acquisitions by companies with market caps in excess of $100 billion. If passed, the bill could have a massive impact on technology companies, including Apple.

Apple, for the record, currently has a market cap of $2.2 trillion. Other tech giants worth upward of $100 billion include Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook, Uber, Airbnb and Netflix.

Siri leaks April 20 date planned for Apple’s next special event

By

April
Oh, Siri! Tim Cook won't be happy with you.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Siri may have just revealed the date for Apple’s rumored April event. According the voice assistant, Apple’s next event will take place one week from now on April 20.

This is likely to be the event at which Apple debuts its next-gen iPad Pro, the eagerly anticipated AirTags item trackers and a new iPad mini.

Get ready for high-stress hilarity in Mythic Quest season two

By

Get ready for high-stress hilarity in ‘Mythic Quest’ season two
Mythic Quest session two starts in May, and things are going well. Too well.
Screenshot: Apple TV+

Mythic Quest season two is right around the corner, and Apple TV+ whet everyone’s appetite Monday with a fresh trailer. In the upcoming episodes, the game developers face the pressure of building a critical expansion pack, and some people are handling the stress far, far too easily.

Watch the hijinks now.

Mac shipments skyrocket as pandemic drags on

By

Mac shipments skyrocket as pandemic drags on
Mac demand was extremely strong in the first three months of 2021. The M-series processor almost certainly played a big role.
Photo: Apple

The pandemic continues to drive up demand for notebooks and desktops, and Mac shipments saw a triple-digit annual increase in Q1 2021 according to a market research firm. Apple also almost certainly also benefitted from the release of the first M-series computers near the end of 2020.

Mac mini and PC setup: Best of both worlds? [Setups]

By

Browsing, remote tech support work, gaming, videoconferencing, podcasting -- this setup does it all.
Browsing, remote tech support work, gaming, videoconferencing, podcasting -- this setup does it all.
Photo: LincHayes@Reddit

Web developer LincHayes recently showed off the M1 Mac mini-and-PC-based setup he put together to restart a live tech support business and do some podcasting. It did not fail to impress lots of folks on Reddit.

After all, this is LincHayes’ first time as a Mac owner. And a lot of people relate to running both Macs and PCs in a complex, multifunctional setup with a lot of moving parts.

Microsoft buys speech recognition company that helped power Siri

By

Apple’s AI-driven voice-controlled digital assistant Siri
Nuance tech helped give rise to tools like Siri.
Image: Apple

Microsoft has acquired Nuance Communications, the speech recognition AI company which helped* power Siri.

Microsoft snapped up Nuance for a massive $16 billion ($19.7 billion, inclusive of Nuance’s net debt). That’s the most it has spent on a company since buying LinkedIn for $26 billion in 2016.

Apple and Google block UK contact-tracing app update over privacy concerns

By

The NHS COVID-19 app relies on a framework jointly developed by Apple and Google.
Apple and Google teamed up to build their contact-tracing API last year.
Screenshot: NHS

Both Apple and Google have blocked an update to England and Wales’ Department of Health contact-tracing app, built using the tech giants’ API.

The update was intended to be released to coincide with the relaxation of lockdown measures in the United Kingdom. However, it apparently breached one of Apple and Google’s main rules: Apps built with the contact-tracing technology are not allowed to gather location data that could track users.

Apple TV+ will get at least 10-12 original movies per year

By

It's the perfect time for Apple TV+ to makes its move with movies.
Apple's embracing original movies in a big way.
Photo: riviera 2005/Flickr CC

Apple TV+ is looking to ramp up its investment in original movies, and has hired a former WarnerMedia executive to help it, according to The Information.

The report cites “two people familiar with the situation” as saying that Apple wants to “beef up its original film production” to better compete in the streaming stakes.

Apple could combine HomePod speaker, Apple TV and smart camera for ultimate smart home device

By

HomePod in China
Apple's got an intriguing concept for a next-gen smart home device.
Photo: Apple

Apple is working on a new smart home product that would combine Apple TV, a HomePod speaker and a camera for FaceTime or Zoom-style video conferencing, Bloomberg reported Monday.

The company “has been a laggard in the smart-home space, but [this] versatile new device in early development could change that,” according to the story, which describes the in-development product as “Apple’s most ambitious smart-home hardware offering to date.”

Mini-LED iPad Pro is on the way this month, but good luck getting it right away

By

2020 iPad Pro with Apple Smart Keyboard Folio.
The next iPad Pro will get a fancy new screen. Not that you'll necessarily be able to see it right away.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple continues to run into production challenges with its next-gen iPad Pro, but they won’t stop the tablet from debuting later this month, reports Bloomberg.

If you plan to get one, you might want to brace yourself for a wait, though. The next iPad Pro — notably, the larger, 12.9-inch model — could prove tough to get your hands on in the early days.

These new apps will keep you productive and entertained [Awesome Apps of the Week]

By

Whether you're tweaking your Mac or playing around, these apps will help.
Whether you're tweaking your Mac or playing around, these apps will help.
Image: Cult of Mac

It’s Sunday, and you’re staring at your computer. What’s it gonna be? Work or fun?

Some of the new and upgraded apps in this week’s roundup put an array of clever tools at your disposal if you’re feeling productive. You can free up space on your Mac’s hard drive, download YouTube videos or give your Home app a makeover.

Others focus on fun. They give you new ways to flex your creativity and stay entertained — and maybe even get paid while doing so. Time to dig in!

Apple Arcade makes a power play [Cult of Mac Magazine 396]

By

Apple Arcade looks ready to be a major player.
Apple Arcade looks ready to be a major player.
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Adding dozens of new games is great and all, but embracing the past might be the smartest move Apple Arcade made this month.

Now Apple’s subscription gaming service includes two new categories — Timeless Classics and App Store Greats — that showcase just how fantastically fun mobile gaming can be.

The expansion is a real boon for casual gamers who might be more into sudoku than an arty indie game they’ve never heard of. And it makes Apple Arcade’s $4.99-a-month subscription look like an unbeatable deal.

If you haven’t tried Apple Arcade, now might be the time to take the plunge. And if you haven’t checked out Apple One subscription bundles — all of which include Apple Arcade — you might be missing out some real savings.

Read all about Apple Arcade’s power play (and get the rest of the week’s top Apple news) in Cult of Mac Magazine. Download the free app to read on your iOS device, or get the links below.

Apple gives Senate antitrust testimony a hard pass

By

Tim Cook answers questions about App Store business practices during the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee hearing.
Tim Cook answers questions about App Store business practices at a Congressional hearing in 2020.
Photo: C-SPAN

A Senate subcommittee wants to ask Google and Apple antitrust-related questions about their software stores, but the iPhone-maker reportedly turned down a request to testify.

Apple told Senators it could not do so because of ongoing litigation. That’s probably a reference to the Epic Games v. Apple lawsuit currently in the pre-trial phase.

Last chance! Enter to win a lux leather iPhone case from Mujjo [Cult of Mac giveaway]

By

Mujjo iPhone case giveaway: Mujjo cases are some of the finest leather cases to ever cradle an iPhone.
These are some of the finest leather cases to ever cradle an iPhone.
Photo: Mujjo

This week, Cult of Mac is giving away two snazzy iPhone 12 cases from our friends at Mujjo. You get a chance to win either a leather wallet case or a slim profile case in your choice of color.

Mujjo’s leather cases are among the best iPhone cases we’ve reviewed here at Cult of Mac.

If your iPhone needs a spring makeover, be sure to enter this giveaway.