YouTube videos can look a lot better thanks to macOS Big Sur Beta 4. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple released the public beta of macOS Big Sur beta 4 Thursday, and the hottest new feature is very high-resolution YouTube videos. Once Mac users get their hands on the OS upgrade this autumn, they’ll be able to stream video from this service in 4K.
Just tap on the Apple TV widget to jump to your favorite shows in iPadOS 14. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
A highlight of iOS 14 beta 4 is a TV widget on the Home screen, giving users easy access to shows in the Apple TV app. And the Weather widget returns for iPad users, among a handful of other tweaks.
Apple released the public beta Thursday after seeding it to developers earlier this week.
There’s new evidence the iPhone 12 notch will be the same size it’s been for years. Photo: Apple
A supposed image of the iPhone 12 display hardware shows that the screen cutout in the upcoming handset remains the same size as in its predecessors.
Earlier this year, we heard unconfirmed reports that this feature, usually called the notch, would shrink considerably in the iPhone 12. That’s not going to happen, if the image that leaked out Thursday is legit.
The latest update to the Twitter app for iOS allows users to limit who can reply to their tweets. Twitter started testing the feature with a small number of users in May. Thursday’s update rolls it out to everyone.
Update: Twitter admitted Thursday that it got ahead of itself. It announced this feature in the release notes of its latest iOS app, but then told The Verge “the ability to limit replies on tweets is not currently available to everyone.”
Apple's AI boss says machine learning is being used in more places than ever. Photo: Apple
Apple is using machine learning technology in more and more of its features, John Giannandrea, the company’s senior vice president for machine learning and AI strategy, reveals in a new interview with Ars Technica.
Giannandrea, who joined Apple from a job at Google, said “there are increasingly fewer and fewer places in iOS where we’re not using machine learning.” This stands in strong contrast to a few years ago — and even the point at which Giannandrea landed his Apple job.
TikTok may only be the first app targeted. Photo: Apple
The Trump administration wants to eliminate “untrusted” Chinese apps from the App Store as part of a multiphase “Clean Network” plan to cut down on potential security risks from China.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the United States will crack down on apps with parent companies based in China. The two specific apps mentioned are TikTok and WeChat. However, Pompeo simply used these to illustrate the kinds of apps that could get the boot.
Coming soon to an Apple Music show near you. Photo: Lady Gaga/Apple Music
The song “Radio Ga-Ga” gave Lady Gaga her stage name, and now, years later, she has her own radio show. And it’s debuting this week on Apple Music.
Gaga Radio will premiere at 11 a.m. Pacific on Friday, and run every Friday for the whole of August. In a tweet announcing the new show, Gaga invited listeners to hear her and her Chromatica collaborators “talk about the inspirations, making the record & more!”
You don't need widescreen vistas to tell an amazing story. Photo: Apple
People who shoot iPhone videos vertically are often mocked for having committed some nigh-unforgivable sin. Well, you count Academy Award-winning director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land) among the guilty. And he’s far from embarrassed about it.
Apple Wednesday debuted a short film shot by Chazelle using his iPhone 11 Pro. In the “Vertical Cinema” short, the Oscar-winning filmmaker shows how vertical shooting can be used to breathe new life into existing movie tropes. Lots and lots of movie tropes. Check it out below.
This might be the most unusual iPad Pro stand yet. Photos: Craig Smith
For law teacher Craig Smith, working from home meant improvising. And the inexpensive but effective DIY setup he concocted throws together a couple of strange Apple bedfellows: He uses a vintage PowerBook G4 to elevate his main computer, an 11-inch iPad Pro.
“I needed a little more room to spread out and not feel claustrophobic,” Smith told Cult of Mac. “So, I moved my setup to the dining room table that seats six, as I have little need these days to use it as a spot to actually dine.”
That’s when he got creative with ergonomics and pressed his vintage PowerBook into service as an iPad stand.
New iMac concept will make you ask, why isn‘t the base of the iMac already an iPhone charger? Photo: Daniel Bautista
A new iMac concept design offers good suggestions for where Apple should be taking this Mac desktop. But also included is a small-but-genius improvement: make the base of the iMac an iPhone charger.
Robert Downey Jr.’s production company created a crime drama for Apple TV+. Photo: Team Downey
A detective drama from Robert Downey Jr.’s production company is reportedly headed to Apple TV+. The series centers on a down-at-the-heels cop trying to solve a decades-old cold case.
Downey, best known for playing Iron Man in numerous Marvel movies, might take a role in the show.
For long-time Apple fans like myself, Tuesday marked the end of an era. Phil Schiller stepped down from his role as VP of worldwide marketing.
Schiller was the last of the OG — a stalwart onstage companion to Steve Jobs, long before it was fashionable to watch Apple keynotes. Schiller was there at all the seminal moments in Apple history, including the launch of iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Back in the day, he and Jobs were a remarkable double act. Jobs would announce the products, and then Schiller would stride in to perform the demos.
Fortunately, Schiller’s not gone for good. In his new role as an Apple Fellow, he will still keep an eye on the App Store and Apple Events. But I wanted to take this opportunity to remember the man, the legend, that is Phil Schiller. Here are the top 10 reasons why I’ll miss him.
There are some features in the new Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra that Apple should put in the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Samsung’s newly unveiled Galaxy Note 20 Ultra will have to take on the iPhone 12 Pro Max after Apple launches it this autumn.
Samsung’s top-tier handset offers seven features iOS fans should hope will show up in Apple’s next flagship iPhone. But the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra also has some real problems.
Samurai Jack is back in a new adventure. Adult Swim Games is bringing Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time to Apple Arcade in the near future.
In this platformer game, the star of the Cartoon Network series will face new enemies and rejoin allies to track down the evil Aku once more and defeat him once and for all.
Contact-tracing app is now live. Photo: Virginia Department of Health
Virginia launched its COVIDWISE contact-tracing app Wednesday, becoming the first state to use Apple and Google’s Exposure Notifications API to fight COVID-19.
The app uses Bluetooth Low Energy to anonymously track people’s interactions. Then it notifies users who have likely been exposed to infected individuals so they can take appropriate precautions, such as isolating themselves.
Wireless charging could be easier on iPhone 12. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The new iPhone 12 chassis could include a mysterious circular array of 36 magnets inside its chassis, possibly to help with wireless charging, suggest new images posted to Weibo and shared by the EverythingApplePro Twitter account.
Apple has yet to release a native wireless charger for iPhone. Its most notable move in this direction was the AirPower wireless charging mat, which was announced by Apple and then canceled. Rumors since then suggest that Apple might be continuing work on the project.
Phil Schiller is far from the only Apple Fellow in company history. Photo: Apple
On Tuesday, it was announced that Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, will transition into a new role as an Apple Fellow. This honorary position is one that Apple recognizes for a person’s outstanding contribution to the company in some capacity.
But while many newer Apple fans may not be familiar with the role, it’s one that’s been part of Apple dating back to the 1980s — even if this is the first time in more than 20 years that Apple has inducted someone into the club.
Here’s what you need to know about the other Apple Fellows:
At a time when travel is difficult, this may legitimately be your best way to look around Japan. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple Maps’ Look Around feature, the company’s answer to Google Street View, has expanded to its first international market. Look Around is now available for four of Japan’s biggest cities — including Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Osaka.
An iPhone and an Apple Watch could be important tools for diagnosing depression. Photo: Negative Space/Pexels CC
UCLA launched a new study on Tuesday, sponsored by and in collaboration with Apple, designed to help revolutionize detection and treatment of depression.
It’ll follow the daily routines of Apple Watch and iPhone users, and examine the relationship between this data and symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Schiller has guided Apple's marketing efforts for more than 30 years. Photo: Apple
Apple on Tuesday said that Phil Schiller, the company’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, will move on to become an Apple Fellow.
Schiller continues to report directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook in his new position, which involves leading the App Store and Apple Events. Greg “Joz” Joswiak takes up Schiller’s previous role.
The iMac Pro just got a bit more powerful as standard. Photo: Apple
Alongside the new 27-inch iMac, Apple gave its iMac Pro line a minor modification Tuesday. The pro-level desktop now comes with a 10-core Intel Xeon processor as standard.
Winfrey and Apple have been working together for two years now. Photo: Alan Light/Flickr CC
Oprah Winfrey will be Apple News’ first ever “guest editor,” Apple said Tuesday. The role shows Apple deepening its relationship with the iconic TV host and entrepreneur.
The new iMac looks just like the old one (only faster). Photo: Apple
The wait for Apple’s newest iMac is over. Cupertino today dropped a faster all-in-one with an even more glorious Retina 5K display, an upgraded 1080p FaceTime camera, and improved speakers and microphones.
You can order your new 27-inch model today, starting from $1,799,
Warren Buffet is Apple's biggest investor. Photo: CNBC
Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and big-time Apple booster, now has a share of the company worth upward of $100 billion.
Even more impressive? Buffett’s firm Berkshire Hathaway reportedly spent on around $35 billion to secure its 5.7% stake in Apple. That’s a pretty darn great return on investment — and Apple’s only climbing higher.