This proposed Mac mini Pro could get more storage, or a graphics processor, just by placing a new module on top of it. Photo: Kevin Noki
A concept artists imagines a Mac mini Pro that can be upgraded simply by placing an SSD or GPU module on top of the main computer. And his basic design borrows quite a bit from the “cheese grater” Mac Pro that launched in 2019.
Six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area initiated a shelter-in-place mandate Monday that will force businesses, including Apple stores, in the area to temporarily shut down for three weeks. The goal is to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
Nearly 7 million people will be forced to stay inside except to visit grocery stores, pharmacies or doctor’s offices. The new mandate means Apple stores in the area will remain closed longer than Apple’s originally intended time frame. The company initially intended to reopen its stores on March 27.
The most convenient way to wirelessly charge on the go. Photo: Xvida
Portable battery packs are a must-have for anyone who finds their iPhone running low on juice before the day is done. But who wants to tackle tangled cables on the go? With Xvida’s wireless charging battery, you don’t have to.
This 4,000mAh power bank packs Qi charging technology, so it can top up your iPhone — and a whole host of other devices — without wires. Bag yours today from the Cult of Mac Store.
The iPhone and the Macintosh are first and second on a list of the greatest designs of our time. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
Fortune asked experts what product designs they consider truly great, and Apple features very prominently in the responses. iPhone and Mac captured the top two places in the list of 100, and has four products in the top 20.
They beat out some other amazing designs, from Lego bricks and the 747 to the Apollo 11 spacecraft.
The iPhone 8 Plus could be replaced with a budget iPhone Max. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
The 4.7-inch budget iPhone supposedly coming soon will be joined by a larger version, according to information found buried in a leaked version of iOS 14.
The new model could replace the iPhone 8 Plus in Apple’s lineup.
Anthony Schmidt, working outside his home in Washington. Screenshot: Q14 Fox
Anthony Schmidt is that boy, the one who loves cars so much, he has collected die-cast metal toy replicas numbering in the hundreds.
But his car play changed the day he picked up his mother’s iPhone. Anthony started photographing the miniatures from a perspective that fools the eye and makes them appear full-size and sumptuous.
That perspective also is shaped through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy on the autism spectrum.
Demand for Apple's iPhone is up in India. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s iPhone shipments in India grew by more than 55 percent during the first two months of 2020, a positive piece of news for the tech giant in what is an otherwise constant barrage of coronavirus-related stories about setbacks.
Apple has invested heavily in India, one of the few remaining growing smartphone markets. Over the last couple of years, the iPhone maker has established manufacturing in the country and will soon open its first Apple Store.
Apple video's new home in Culver City. Photo: Culver City Planning Dept.
Apple employees at the company’s Culver City offices may have been exposed to COVID-19 after an employee tested positive for the virus. Culver City is Apple’s entertainment hub where much of the work on Apple TV+ and Apple Music is done.
Geoffrey Cain goes deep on one of Apple's biggest rivals in his new book, Samsung Rising. Photo: Marion Ettlinger
Apple vs. Samsung is the modern Apple vs. Microsoft — a battle between seemingly unstoppable tech titans. In his new book, Samsung Rising, author Geoffrey Cain charts the surprising story of the South Korean electronics giant. He also reveals how a burning desire to beat Apple drove Samsung’s successful strategies.
Cain, a former reporter for Time and Fast Company, based his book on more than 400 interviews. Over the years, he spoke with top Samsung and Apple executives to gain an insider’s perspective on the battle between the two companies. In this exclusive interview with Cult of Mac, he serves up surprising insight into a tech rivalry for the ages.
An engineer working on the iPhone 12 can’t take a prototype home to tinker with while they self quarantine. Photo: LetsGoDigital
Many Apple employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic reportedly run into problems because of this company’s efforts to keep details on future projects from leaking out. This is forcing some of them to keep coming into the office.
Apple wants to help keep repair shops open. Photo: iFixit
Apple is prepared to pay authorized repairers maximum payouts for qualifying products amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a leaked internal memo distributed to Authorized Service Providers.
Cupertino has closed all of its own stores outside of Greater China, leaving third parties to tackle repair needs. It reportedly wants to ensure that those partners are supported financially while the outbreak spreads worldwide.
Disney+ is launching in the U.K. this month. Image: Disney
U.K. cellular network O2 has brokered a deal with Disney to become the UK’s exclusive mobile network distributor for the Disney+ steaming service.
The deal means that new and upgrading monthly customers get six months of Disney+ on O2 as a special offer. This mirrors a similar deal by Apple to offer a year’s free subscription to Apple TV+ for anyone buying a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac computer.
Almost exactly like Powerbeats Pro, only $100 cheaper. Photo: Apple
Apple on Tuesday made its new Beats Powerbeats headphones official after a series of big leaks. The $149 wireless buds pack the same technology as Powerbeats Pro, including the newest H1 chip, and last up to 15 hours in between charges.
'Helping you lead a healthier financial life.' Photo: Apple
Apple Card owners who are impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have the option to skip their March payment without incurring interest.
In an email to customers, Apple said it understands that it may be difficult for some to keep up with their payments during the outbreak. The company is “committed to helping you lead a healthier financial life,” it added.
You must be aware, however, that you need to tell Apple if you don’t intend to pay this month.
France’s competition watchdog announced on Monday it has fined Apple 1.1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) for reportedly violating antitrust laws, the biggest antitrust fine it has ever levied.
The French watchdog accuses Apple of exhibiting anti-competitive behavior through its distribution network, including reported abuse of the economic dependence of its resellers. The company plans to appeal.
A big deal for iPhone owners in China. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s newest iOS 13.4 update could roll out to everyone on Tuesday, March 17, according to leaked Alipay marketing materials. It should be accompanied by iPadOS 13.4, tvOS 13.4, watchOS 6.2, and macOS 10.15.4.
The iPhone update, which is currently in beta testing, is expected to bring Alipay support to Apple Wallet for the first time. That would make this release a pretty big deal for iPhone owners in China.
Coming to a store near you, well, now. Photo: WinFuture
Apple’s Powerbeats 4 headphones have landed in Walmart — and, potentially, other retailers — without any word of an official announcement.
An image of the new wireless buds was posted on Twitter on Sunday. Twitter user Eddie Wap shared an image of the new Powerbeats in red, white, and black color options. They are listed at $149, making them $50 cheaper than the $199.95 Powerbeats 3.
A12 Bionic introduced the 7-nanometer process. A14 will take that number even smaller. Photo: Apple
Apple’s forthcoming A14 processor for the iPhone 12 series will be the first Arm-based mobile processor to exceed 3GHz, a report published Sunday claims.
According to Research Snipers’ report, the new supercharged chip could hit a GeekBench 4 running score of 3.1GHz. That would be 400MHz higher than the current A13 Bionic chips’s 2.7GHz.
This week we “watch” our to-dos with Things, read the news really, really fast with NetNewsWire, make Keynote-style presentations with Markdown, and more.
There’s won’t be a COVID-19 version of Pac-Man, or any other equally tacky game. Apple today banned all entertainment applications that use this pandemic as a theme.
In addition, Apple reiterated an earlier rule requiring software that provides information about this global health crisis be from official sources.
The COVID-19 virus has some 270 Apple Stores in the U.S. and many others worldwide closed like this one in Tulsa, OK. Photo: Brad Gibson / Cult of Mac
Many Apple Stores across the United States are closed to consumers, but a select number are being staffed to handle pre-existing orders and already-scheduled repair pickups, according to social media posts, calls to selected stores and physical visits.
Cult of Mac was able to confirm 22 stores across the U.S. were manning their locations Saturday with a skeleton staff to finish fulfilling existing orders and repair jobs. Some stores and online agents said locations will be staffed into Sunday and as far out as March 16.
iOS leaks: We got 'em! Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
iOS 14 leaks came fast and furious this week. We rounded ’em all up in one place to give you a look at possible new features coming to iPhones and iPads this year. Yep, basically it’s everything we think we know about iOS 14.
You’ll find it all in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Download it now and read it on your iPad or iPhone. Or get the links below.
Bonus: Enter now for your chance to win an Apple TV (or other streaming hardware), delightfully paired with a free one-year subscription to the streaming service of your choice.
Apple is shuttering retail stores to battle spread of COVID-19. Photo: Tim Mossholder/Unsplash
In an unprecedented move, Apple said late Friday it will immediately close all its retail stores outside Greater China in an effort to battle the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The stores will remain closed through March 27.
CEO Tim Cook revealed Apple’s decision to close hundreds of stores late Friday in an open letter-style press release titled “Apple’s COVID-19 response.” He wrote, “This global effort — to protect the most vulnerable, to study this virus, and to care for the sick — requires all of our care, and all of our participation.”
Apple Stores in Spain are now closed for the foreseeable future. Photo: Apple
Apple has shuttered its 11 retail stores in Spain in an abundance of caution as the coronavirus continues to spread through Europe.
Cult of Mac has confirmed the closings will take effect Saturday after all the stores were open for business Friday. Social media reports indicate a small number of stores closed early on Friday.