Get a taste of what it’s like to be a field researchers in Nuts — A Surveillance Mystery. Image: Noodlecake Strudios
The squirrels are out there. And no one knows that they’re doing. It’s your job to find out in Nuts — A Surveillance Mystery, which debuted Friday on Apple Arcade as well as other platforms.
It’s a game for everyone who thinks they’d be a good spy. Just not a creepy one.
The new iMac refresh is going to be great. But don't expect Face ID just yet. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
People have been using Face ID to unlock their iPhones since 2017, and their iPads since 2018. But don’t expect to unlock your iMac using facial recognition just yet.
According to a Friday report from Bloomberg, Apple has been developing Touch ID for Mac. However, while it was originally planned for the 2021 iMac redesign, it’s now been pushed back to a later update.
Biden is the new President -- and a big Apple News guy, to boot. Photo: The White House
With a new president installed, this has been a big week for the United States — and, to paraphrase Billy Madison, news app are reaping all the benefits.
According to a new report by top app analytics platform Sensor Tower, news apps in the App Store received a nice Inauguration Day bump. Three of the big winners were CNN‘s news app, aggregator News Break, and Newsmax. They respectively jumped 530, 13, and 43 spots in the App Store rankings.
The next MacBook could arrive later this year or early the next. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple’s next-gen MacBook Air will be thinner and lighter than the current version, as well as boasting a MagSafe charger and, possibly, a redesigned display.
According to a Friday report from Bloomberg, Apple is planning to launch these new laptops in the second half of 2021 or in 2022. This would be the second MacBook Air to feature Apple Silicon processors, following the M1 MacBook Air released at the end of last year.
Some iPhone handsets are proving more popular than others. Photo: Cult of Mac
A pair of reports published by Digitimes Friday add more evidence to previous ones claiming that the iPhone 12 Pro series is proving to be the big hits of this year’s iPhone refresh. The iPhone 12 mini? Not so much.
One report claims that Apple manufacturer Foxconn is “expected to see extra momentum in the first quarter of 2021” thanks to Apple increasing orders for the iPhone 12 Pro handsets. A second report, meanwhile, claims that fellow manufacturer Pegatron has seen a slowdown in orders for the iPhone 12 mini. The report blames this on shrinking sales in the US and Europe due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plenty of people tuned in to the first episode of season two of Servant. Photo: Apple
The second season of Servant, Apple TV+’s creepy psychological thriller from Tony Basgallop and M. Night Shyamalan, is apparently off to a strong start.
According to a new report, the first episode of season two, which debuted last week, registered double the audience that watched the show “during the same time frame” during season one. That suggests that Servant has spread through word of mouth, as well as potentially indicating that Apple TV+ has picked up considerably more viewers in the past year.
macOS Big Sur might take care of a pesky Bluetooth problem bothering M1 Mac users. Graphic: Cult of Mac
Apple seeded a macOS Big Sur 11.2 release candidate to developers on Thursday. Among other changes, it promises to improve Bluetooth reliability, which is probably music to the ears of those using the recently released Macs built around Apple’s first-generation M-series processor.
The prettiest case you'll find for AirPods. Photo: Twelve South
Twelve South’s AirSnap is a gorgeous leather case that ensures your beloved AirPods are always within reach. It clips onto any bag or jacket so you’ll never forget where you left it, and it’s nowhere near as expensive as it looks.
With iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4, applications will have to ask if they can track you. Graphic: Apple
Apple seeded to developers the release candidates for iOS 14.4 and the iPad equivalent on Thursday. It’s probably the last step before a public release. Among other changes, these new versions will apparently give iPhone and iPad users the option to block third-party applications from tracking them.
Devs can also install watchOS 7.3 RC and tvOS 14.4 RC, which became available Thursday too. But macOS Big Sur 11.2 is still on Beta 2.
“Mr. President, we have some lovely parting gifts for you.” Screenshot: White House
It’s good to be the president. People just give you things, like the first 2019 Mac Pro assembled in Austin, Texas. Tim Cook gave this pricy computer to Trump, probably after the president toured the factory.
Beeper is a new all-in-one chat app that merges 15 different platforms into one. That sounds pretty interesting already, but what makes Beeper really exciting is its promise to put iMessage on Android and Windows.
The app, from Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky and his team, is “using some trickery” to make the impossible possible. But you’ll have to cough up a monthly subscription fee if you want to take advantage of it.
Apple's first headset could be around the same size as Oculus Quest. Photo: Oculus
Don’t expect too much from Apple’s first virtual reality headset. A new report warns that Cupertino’s first stab at a wearable VR system, which could come in 2022, will be expensive with a limited set of capabilities.
The device is believed to be designed primarily as a “niche precursor” to more ambitious AR/VR glasses that Apple plans to launch later.
We're used to the notch now, but we wouldn't say no to a smaller one. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple will finally shrink iPhone’s notch for its next-generation devices, according to a new report citing sources in the company’s supply chain. Plus, all of the devices will pack even greater sensor-shift stabilization cameras.
It is believed design changes and upgrades to the iPhone’s front-facing Face ID camera and sensors will make the notch shrink possible.
Download all the files you'll need today. Photo: Corellium
It’s now possible to run Ubuntu Linux on an M1 Mac, thanks to an early build made available by Corellium. The operating system is booted from a USB stick, leaving macOS completely unchanged.
All the files you need can be downloaded now from GitHub, and Corellium says an installation tutorial is on the way.
Slamming its way into the App Store soon. Photo: Wrestling Empire
Edit: Like the creepy girls intoning the return of The Undertaker at Judgment Day 2000, “He’s here.” Or, at least, the game is. You can download it for free from the App Store, with in-app purchases.
There are plenty of subjects I’ll happily geek out about. But pro wrestling and Apple are both prominent players in the top tier. Imagine, then, my excitement when the two get brought together like some odd-couple tag team.
The latest example in this limited convergence genre? A new game called Wrestling Empire, which is set to superkick its way into the App Store soon. Check out the trailer.
This wouldn't be better. Photo illustration: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A reliable source says Apple is considering stripping the Lightning port from future iPhone models and replacing it with … nothing. Hopefully, it’s not too late to stop this terrible, terrible idea.
A portless iPhone is possible. And there are even a few advantages. But the significant drawbacks make the idea something that should be dropped like a burning bag of poo.
Is the number 13 too unlucky to be in an iPhone name? Photo: Cult of Mac
The followup to the iPhone 12 might not be called the iPhone 13. Instead, a reliable source says it will such a minor update it’ll be dubbed iPhone 12s.
And triskaidekaphobia could cause Apple to skip straight to the iPhone 14.
iPhone 12 mini isn't as popular as its bigger brothers. Photo: Apple
Apple reportedly cut iPhone 12 mini production so it can meet stronger demand for the pricier iPhone 12 Pro.
Cupertino’s smallest handset apparently accounted for just 6% of all sales during the iPhone 12 series’ launch period last fall. And it suffered from lackluster demand ever since.
The 2021 iPad mini could be about to get a lot less mini. Photo: Pigtou/xleaks7
Apple’s smallest tablet is allegedly about to get the redesign so many people have hoped for. The screen bezels in the 2021 iPad mini will shrink significantly, supposedly allowing the display to increase to over 9 inches and become nearly edge-to-edge.
The computer will also reportedly get in-screen Touch ID and a hole-punch camera.
Samsung’s new Smart Monitor lineup combines productivity and entertainment in new ways to make your work-from-home setup even better. The M5 and M7 ship with Smart Hub — which includes an Apple TV app and AirPlay 2 compatibility — built-in.
LG lost out on orders for the newest iPhone SE. Photo: Apple
LG is reportedly ending its production of LCD displays for iPhone after posting losses of $4.5 billion over the last five years. The South Korean company is also said to be considering leaving the smartphone market.
The news comes as LG continues to suffer steep declines in smartphone shipments, with its devices now accounting for just 2% of the worldwide smartphone market, according to the latest estimates.
Get yours in flame blue and smoke gray today. Photo: Apple
Apple quietly introduced two new color options for its affordable Beats Flex wireless headphones Wednesday. The $49.99 buds, introduced last October, now come in smoke gray and flame blue.
ParcSlope props up either a MacBook or an iPad, making them easier to work on. Photo: Twelve South
Some stands are designed for laptops, others for tablets. The ParcSlope from Twelve South is both. The desktop accessory, announced Tuesday, elevates the back edge of either a MacBook or iPad, allowing the user to either type more easily or draw on the touchscreen.
An AirPods Max Teardown wouldn’t be complete without an X-ray of Apple’s new over-the-ears headphones. Photo: iFixit
iFixit took a deep dive into AirPods Max, fully disassembling Apple’s over-the-ear headphones. What they found in the teardown was a startling number of different types of screws. But also a craftsmanship that helps justify the hefty price tag.