A snowboarder takes a slow-mo selfie with an iPhone 11. Screencap : Apple
Apple doesn’t want iPhone 11 owners to forget they can record slofies: slow-motion video of themselves taken with the front-facing camera. As a reminder, the company posted a pair of selfie videos of professional snowboarders captured while they’re doing tricks.
Chris Evans takes on a dramatic role in Defending Jacob on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple
No less than seven new shows will debut on Apple TV+ before the middle of this year. There’s Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories reboot, a thriller starring Chris Evans, a mystery, two comedies and a pair of multipart documentaries.
And Apple says an animated comedy by the creator of Bob’s Burgers will launch this summer. Here’s a rundown of the other new Apple TV+ shows coming in early 2020.
Lots of nice dark app interfaces for your this week. Photo: Cult of Mac
This week we trim our SSDs, make PDF statements from our Apple Cards, and drown everything in delicious, springy reverb. These are the apps that got us buzzing this week.
The Karl has been designed by Chipperfield Architects.
Photo: Chipperfield Architects
Apple might be preparing to make a big expansion into Germany, based on the latest real estate rumors leaking out of the country.
According to a recent report, construction on the “Karl” office building in Munich is set to be completed in 2021. Currently, no tech company has publicly stated it will move into the building, which could house as many as 1,500 employees. However, strong hints point toward Apple as the upcoming occupant.
Oprah Winfrey is one of the celebrities to be profiled on the Apple TV+ series “Dear...” Photo: Apple
A documentary series dubbed Dear… will profile internationally recognized leaders in a unique way: each will feature letters written to the subject of the biopic by people whose lives they’ve changed. That’s the source for the name of the series, which is headed for Apple TV+ in a few months.
The Robin ProLine Video Doorbell now securely stores and transmits its video recordings. Photo: Robin Telecom Development
Support for Apple’s new HomeKit Secure Video system has been added to the Robin ProLine Video Doorbell. With this combination, users can see who is at their door while staying assured that this information is kept private.
Apple is the face of the Apple Card, but Goldman Sachs really controls it. Photo: Apple
Don’t expect Apple to go easy on you if you get delinquent on payments to your Apple Card. Because that is not in Apple’s control.
The credit card is underwritten by Goldman Sachs. And the bank made it clear this week that it alone makes the decisions about collections from delinquent cardholders.
Luke Miani might be eBay's ultimate Mac bargain hunter. Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Luke Miani isn’t afraid to take a header when it comes to buying used Macs on eBay. He’ll scoop up piles of Apple laptops in various states of disrepair, then swap out parts or fix them up as needed. His ultimate goal? Scoring a sweet deal — and dishing out some serious knowledge.
Miani dutifully documents his eBay adventures, then shares the fruits of his labor with a growing audience on YouTube. We talked with Miani about his operation, and you can get the scoop in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Also inside: All the latest Apple news, plus helpful how-tos for iPhone, iPad and AirPods Pro owners.
The next iOS update will have an additional off switch for Location Services after recently data privacy concerns. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
Apple is testing an iOS fix for Location Services that will potentially allay any privacy concerns among iPhone 11 users.
Apple makes privacy part of its brand yet found itself answering questions when a security news site in December discovered the iPhone 11 Pro continued to track user location even after all Location Services toggles were switched off.
Tommy Monkhouse is healthier and happier, thanks to Pokémon Go. Photo: Niantic
The world views video gamers as couch potatoes who spend countless hours in front of the TV, and that may be true, for the most part. But there are some spectacular exceptions to the rule.
Tommy Monkhouse credits Pokémon Go for changing his life in a big way by helping him lose a whopping 140 pounds in just one year simply by walking.
Every AirPods owner should have AirFly. Photo: Twelve South
Twelve South’s terrific AirFly Classic adapter lets you connect your beloved AirPods to almost anything. And you can bag yours today at 33% off the usual price through the Cult of Mac Store.
This sale ends Sunday, January 19, so enjoy it while you can!
Philip Lee makes toys that disrupt our logic boards with mushy feelings.
The Hong Kong designer, known for his cute Classicbots line inspired by classic Macs, will launch two new toys this year that should bring a twinkle to the Apple of your eye.
Apple is taking a different tone on Earth Day this year. Photo: Apple
Meryl Streep, the greatest actress of her generation, is finally teaming up with Apple.
Apple revealed today that Streep will lend her vocal talents to the company’s animated Earth Day short film, Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth. The roster also includes vocal performances by Chris O’Dowd, Jacob Tremblay, and Ruth Negga.
The Veep alum signed her first-ever multiyear content deal, which will see the actress both develop and star in TV shows and other content exclusively for the iPhone-maker.
Kings of the Castle is fun for the whole family. Photo: Apple/Frosty Pop
A princess must be quick and clever to rescue a prince in Kings of the Castle, the latest addition to Apple Arcade. This game is all about speed, as players hastily collect gems and avoid traps.
The developer, Frosty Pop, is a big supporter of Apple’s new gaming service. This is its fifth contribution.
The Patriots aren't doomed, and neither is Apple. Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac
Imagine an organization that’s loved by its devoted, cultlike followers, but despised by haters. The close working relationship between its mercurial leader and one of the greatest talents in the field led to an unprecedented run of success. Even the occasional “-gate” style controversy failed to dent its success. But despite all this, analysts still question its long-term viability.
I’m referring, of course, to the New England Patriots. They may not be in the NFL playoffs this year, but people just can’t stop talking about the Pats. Kinda like the way everyone talked about Apple at CES last week, even though it barely attended.
Love them or hate them, the Patriots are the Apple of football.
Apple fan creates a Frankenstein’s monster of every macOS wallpaper combined. Photo: J3nRa1n/Apple
Ever wondered what it would look like if you combined every default macOS wallpaper, since Apple switched to OS X, into one single image? No? Well, one Apple super fan has done it anyway.
And the results look kind of like a trippy progressive rock/heavy metal album cover.
Apple's about to make your MacBook Pro even Pro-er... Photo: @YSR50
This week on The CultCast: Apple is working on a way to make your existing MacBook Pro far more powerful — we’ll tell you everything we know. Plus: Get your wallet ready … the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro you’ve been waiting for is (probably) right around the corner. And we’ll tell you why Apple might soon be forced to ditch Lightning in iPhones and iPads.
And stick around for our spoiler-free review of the full first season of See!
Out thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast, and use offer code CultCast at checkout for 10% off your first purchase.
Apple is rumored to be launching its own Tile rival. Photo: Tile
Tile, a startup that makes location-aware tracking tags, will testify against Apple in a congressional antitrust hearing today.
Apple and Tile previously enjoyed a good relationship. Apple sold Tile products in its stores starting in 2015. However, last year, Apple stopped selling Tile products. It also hired away one of its engineers — with all signs pointing to Apple having developed its own rival product.
This was one of the biggest hauls of smuggled electronics goods in Hong Kong history. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Police have arrested three people in Hong Kong after discovering a massive shipment of undeclared iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads, and assorted luxury items. The suspected smugglers were attempting to sneak the products into China to avoid paying tax on imports.
The South China Morning Post describes it as one of the “biggest hauls of electronic goods” in Hong Kong history. The total value of the tech products was $1 million. Other smuggled goods, including tech components and edible bird’s nests, were worth an extra $2.2 million.
Little America is Apple's biggest critical hit yet. Photo: Apple
After a draught of new content on Apple TV+ over the holidays, the streaming service got 5 hours and 15 minutes of new shows to watch this week. Apple debuted all 8 episodes of its Apple Originals series Little America.
The critically acclaimed anthology series tells true stories of immigrants in America. It was developed by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily Gordon, writers of The Big Sick, and former US Office writer and producer, Lee Eisenberg.
NBCUniversal decided to call its streaming-video service Peacock. And the jokes practically write themselves. Photo: NBC Universal
NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock will employ a distinctly different pricing strategy than Apple TV+, Netflix and other competitors. It’ll be free, but with advertisements.
Those willing to pay will have access to additional content, however.
It might be years before you can use the signature feature in your 5G iPhone. Photo: Ben Geskin
The 5G iPhone coming this fall is widely expected to be a huge windfall for Apple. But this handset might then turn around and hurt the company next year, according to a pair of market analysts.
And their prediction is equally bad news for those planning to upgrade to the 5G iPhone.
The Banker was originally scheduled to debut last year. Photo: Apple
Apple original movie The Banker will hit theaters and Apple TV+ this March following a delay, the company confirmed to Cult of Mac.
Starring Samuel L. Jackson, the film tells the fascinating true story of Bernard Garrett Sr. and Joe Morris, two African Americans who built up a successful banking business in the 1950s and ’60s.
The Banker’s release was put on hold last November so that Apple could investigate allegations made against one of its producers.
New regulations could force Apple to ditch Lightning cables in Europe. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is expected to deliver at least one iPhone model without a Lightning connector next year, according to a new Barclays report.
The device won’t make the switch to USB-C, as previous rumors have predicted. It is instead expected to rely solely on wireless connectivity options for both charging and data transfer.
Barclays analysts also believe that this year’s iPhone refresh will bring an improved TrueDepth camera system that could mean even better Face ID.