News - page 41

As Apple TV+’s subscriber base continues to grow and the streamer enjoys lots of attention on Friday’s Severance season 2 finale, a new report Thursday suggests the streaming service remains a financial loser for the iPhone giant — to the tune of $1 billion in losses annually. And yet it should come as no surprise Apple TV+ bleeds money.

A fat billion a year in the red sounds bad, but it’s pretty much in line with the plan for losses of up to $20 billion over a decade for the still-nascent streaming service.

We aren’t left wondering what the four models in the upcoming iPhone 17 series will look like — not when a picture of “dummy” units posted Thursday reveals the design of each of them.

These show the rumored move from a camera hump to a camera bar in most of Apple’s upcoming handsets, and the back panel on the two Pro models will employ a new design.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally launched on Thursday, and Mac gamers can play the action-packed, role-playing game from Ubisoft at the same time as players on PCs and consoles. Mac owners won’t face the usual wait of months or years. There’s even a version for iPads with M-series processors in development.

The adventure is set in medieval Japan, and players can choose either a samurai or a shinobi (aka ninja) for very different gaming experiences.

An Apple reorganization reportedly brings new management to the team struggling to develop an AI-enhanced version of Siri. Apple apparently tapped Mike Rockwell, an exec with one successful Apple product launch already under his belt, to shepherd the promised Siri upgrade.

Clearly, the goal is to accelerate a project that’s been significantly delayed — and has become a major embarrassment for Apple.

YouTube videos appearing blurry or excessively buffering on your iPhone? Videos streaming on 144p or 360p resolution despite being on a fast Wi-Fi connection?

You’re not alone in facing these problems. Don’t point fingers at your ISP either — the issue stems from YouTube’s end.

Don’t buy a separate stand and hub for your iPad until you check out the Zagg 6-port Media Hub that launched Wednesday. Add an HDMI port, a USB-A port and more to your tablet without taking up any more space on your desktop than a stand alone would.

Plus, it got a big brother: the Zagg Pro Dock is a stand for MacBooks with 10 ports, including dual HDMI and Ethernet.

These are part of a collection of new hubs from Zagg with a range of port options.

The European Commission issued “guidance” Tuesday on changes it says Apple must make to comply with the interoperability requirements of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The new mandates would open up the iPhone to work more closely with third-party smartwatches, headphones and TVs.

Apple says the new rules will undercut user privacy and slow innovation, and vows to make its case to the EU. It remains to be seen whether the changes will take effect only in Europe or globally.

Soundcore brought the party to CES 2025 this year with two powerful new Bluetooth speakers planned for spring release — and now you can buy one of them. The Rave 3S Karaoke Speaker is a big, powerful party speaker that brings AI-powered karaoke capabilities to any music source. The Boom 2 Pro is a rugged boombox designed for outdoor use.

Both new Soundcore speakers put on light shows, among other things HomePods can’t do.

Update: The new Soundcore Rave 3S Karaoke Speaker went on sale Wednesday.

“It’s a pretty cool Bluetooth speaker and comes with two microphones with a pretty slick Vocal Removal tool that can be controlled on either microphone or from the control panel on the top,” Anker told Cult of Mac. “There are different levels of vocal reduction, so for example if you are a good singer and know the lyrics, you can reduce the vocals off. However, if you need a little help with the vocals, you can make the singer’s vocals come through a little stronger so you can hear it better.”

With Microsoft winding down Windows 10, many companies could take the opportunity to switch to macOS, according to an industry analyst.

The prediction comes as U.S. Mac sales are already spiking, up a whopping 25.9% in the fourth quarter. This made Apple the third-largest computer maker in the U.S. market.

Nanoleaf unveiled its latest innovation Tuesday that should catch the attention of Mac users looking to enhance their desktop aesthetics. The new Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip, available for pre-order at $49.99, offers a simplified approach to ambient lighting. You plug it right into your computer and stick it to the back of your display.

The iPhone 16e marks the debut of Apple’s in-house 5G modem. Despite missing mmWave 5G support, the modem still impresses. Apple touts it as the most efficient modem ever in an iPhone.

Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, has released a detailed analysis of the iPhone 16e’s network performance based on their preliminary data.

Thanks to AirPods 4 with noise cancellation, actor Pedro Pascal beats heartbreak and the big city’s wintry deep freeze in the colorful new Spike Jonze short film Someday.

Jonze’s second ad for Apple, the new short released Tuesday evokes what an immersive listening experience can do, waking memories of better times — and stirring hope for better ones to come.

Capcom brought Resident Evil 3 to Mac, iPad and iPhone on Tuesday. The latest AAA game to arrive on Apple’s platforms, the 2020 survival horror title lets players use a variety of weapons to fight zombies.

The new Big Time podcast, a fresh take on true crime with captivating stories of audacious dreamers and rule-benders hosted by actor Steve Buscemi, premieres March 24, Apple TV+ said Tuesday.

“I think a lot of people, myself included, are fascinated by folks who look at the rules and think, ‘No, I’ve got a better idea,'” Buscemi said. “Big Time isn’t just true crime — it’s a carnival of chaos, and I’m excited for listeners to tune in.”

In a major expansion, Apple’s Tap to Pay to iPhone has launched in several European countries. This includes Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Poland and others.

With Tap to Pay, retailers and small businesses can accept contactless payments directly using their iPhones.

Apple seemingly plans to use 24MP selfie cameras across its entire iPhone 17 lineup. The higher resolution sensor should lead to a noticeable improvement in image quality.

All current iPhone models sport a 12MP TrueDepth camera.

Apple’s 2026 flagship iPhones could use its in-house second-gen modem. The C2 baseband should be a big upgrade over the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem in terms of performance.

More importantly, it will supposedly support mmWave 5G connectivity, fixing a major shortcoming of the current C1 modem.

Apple started selling two sleek new chargers from wireless charging specialist Zens, the Dutch company said last week. Zens Quattro Charger Pro 4 and Zens 4-1 Wireless Charger are on sale at apple.com and in Apple Stores worldwide. They pretty much look like Apple products. The Quattro seems to remind folks of Apple’s unreleased AirPower charging mat.

“We’re extremely proud to be the only Dutch brand collaborating with Apple,” says Johan Plasmans, CEO of Zens. “Apple has challenged us from the outset to deliver stylish, innovative charging solutions that make daily life easier. This partnership strengthens our shared mission to combine design, usability, and technology in an elegant way.”

New JBL Bluetooth audio options — updates on the popular JBL Flip 7 and Charge 6 portable speakers — bring artificial intelligence-enhanced sound quality and battery life for on-the-go users, the audio giant said last week.

“We’re immersing ourselves in the heart of cultural moments,” said Carsten Olesen, president of Consumer Audio at Harman, which owns JBL. “The introduction of AI Sound Boost highlights our dedication to delivering dynamic solutions that shape the soundtrack of consumers’ lives.”

Apple will soon manufacture AirPods in India for export purposes. The move comes amidst the company’s push to grow its manufacturing presence in the country.

Apple already makes iPhones in India to meet local demand and export to other markets.

Apple’s rumored iPhone 17 Air will be more than just a slim new iPhone. A report says “it’s really a new beginning for the iPhone.”

The super-slender device reportedly will pack cutting-edge technologies not used in other iPhones.

The head of the team developing the promised AI-enhanced Siri had to admit the recent decision to significantly delay the release gave Apple’s reputation a major black eye, according to a report published Friday.

Robby Walker, Apple’s senior director of Siri and information intelligence, reportedly called the delay “ugly” during a recent all-hands meeting with his team. He gave an update on how close Apple is to having the technology ready, but couldn’t promise when it will ship. At present, the “smarter” Siri reportedly still fails to work correctly a significant percentage of the time.

Apple’s 27-inch 5K Studio Display continues to impress users — aside from its steep price tag. Lots of folks look for affordable alternatives. Today’s Mac mini user owns a Studio Display, but he wanted to try an ultra-wide Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED display. Well, guess what. He keeps going back to the Studio Display. See below for all the reasons why.

Two lifelong friends have a good thing going, posing as DEA agents and ripping off small-time drug dealers in Philadelphia — until they shake down the wrong house, according to the Dope Thief trailer Apple TV+ dropped recently. Then they and everyone they care about are marked for death.

Clocking in at nearly three minutes, the trailer looks gritty and great, though maybe a little too relentless with the violence. If you’re a fan of intense crime dramas with high stakes, Dope Thief brings the heat. And if you’re looking for something equally thrilling, check out this dope snow crime series review on Cult of Mac. The new eight-episode crime series from Academy Award nominee Ridley Scott debuts Friday, March 14, on Apple TV+.

Update: The first two episode of Dope Thief started streaming Friday. Ridley Scott directs the first one. Reviews so far seems good-to-stellar. Esquire called it TV’s “next great crime thriller.” And surprisingly, a review in The Guardian said it’s like Brooklyn Nine-Nine meets Breaking Bad. In other words, not just grit, but humor.

Let’s face it — a new MacBook is expensive. MacBook upgrade program Upgraded offers a smarter way to stay up to date. Instead of paying the full price upfront, you spread the cost over 36 months, with the option to upgrade after 24 payments. Plus, you don’t need to worry about selling your old device on a site like Facebook Marketplace.

Pricing starts at $33.28 per month for MacBook Air or $52.17 per month for MacBook Pro, with AppleCare+ included and interest rates as low as 0%. Check out all available models at getupgraded.com.