AT&T just began offering low-band 5G to consumers. Photo: Luismt94/Wikipedia CC
Starting today, AT&T consumers in 10 cities can connect to this telecom’s 5G network. While faster than 4G, this is low-band 5G, a slower form though with greater range than mmWave.
At this time, only one handset supports this service.
One of the most useful travel features from Google Assistant is ready for the iPhone.
After bringing its real-time translation feature to Assistant-enabled smart displays and speakers earlier this year, Google is finally adding to the feature to the Google Assistant app on Android and iOS today.
Merry Christmas from the iPad magician. Screenshot: Simon Pierro/YouTube
Instead of writing to Santa Claus, a 10-year-old boy named Aiden sent a message to iPad magician Simon Pierro asking for a few Christmas-themed magic tricks in a YouTube video.
Pierro not only came through with Aiden’s request, but he also used the kid’s drawing of Olaf, the snowman character from Disney’s Frozen, in his unique iPad magic.
The crab omelette's good and Apple's worth $1.2 trillion. Could life get better? Photo: Tim Cook/Twitter
Tim Cook’s street food tour of East Asia continues. Earlier this week, Cook enjoyed a traditional breakfast in Singapore’s Tiong Bahru Market. Now he’s hopped over to Thailand, where he chowed down on some “five star” crab omelette in Bangkok with food bloggers Yota and Jira.
Oh, and visited some developers and Apple users, too. But, you know, that crab omelette!
Apple is offering its employees free genetic testing for diseases, courtesy of a deal with California genomic testing lab Color Genomics.
Cupertino offers these tests through AC Wellness, the company’s employee health clinics. The hope is that genetic testing could help employees understand potential health problems they face — and take steps to reduce risk.
That's good news for Apple and its customers. Photo: White House
Apple has been given a welcome reprieve on tariffs for the iPhone, iPad and Mac after President Donald Trump agreed to a limited trade deal with China on Thursday.
The phase one agreement means rolling back existing tariff rates on Chinese goods and canceling new tariff rates that would have gone into effect Sunday.
Communication Limits doesn't work as intended. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
iOS 13.3 dropped this week, bringing a brand-new parental controls feature called Communication Limits. But it comes with a serious flaw that allows kids to bypass any rules set by adults.
Apple says a workaround is available, and it is working on a fix that will be included in a future software update.
Apple's back, and the Mac Pro proves it. Photo: @YSR50
This week on The CultCast: The Mac Pro isn’t just a beauty, it’s also a beast. We cover our first impressions, plus discuss some of the insane upgrades available for Apple’s new powerhouse Mac. Plus, we reveal more of our favorite tech, shows, movies and more in our Best of the Year picks, part 2!
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Well, that's your weekend viewing sorted! Photo: Apple
It’s Friday, which means Apple just unleashed new episodes of Apple TV+ shows. Apple today debuted new installments of The Morning Show, For All Mankind, Truth Be Told and Servant. That should be enough to keep you entertained over the weekend.
Here’s what this week’s new Apple TV+ episodes have in store.
Poopdie is an Android exclusive for now. Photo: Bulbware
YouTube’s biggest star just dropped a brand-new game for mobile devices, but you won’t be playing it on iPhone. Poopdie is a “poopcrafting adventure” from PewDiePie that’s too disgusting for the App Store.
Its developers this week confirmed the title was rejected by Apple for “crude imagery” — despite its cartoon visuals aimed at kids.
It could be one of many new faces. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Apple Watch users in New Zealand can now take advantage of cellular connectivity on compatible devices.
Local carrier Spark has become the first to roll out eSIM support and a new plan aimed specifically at wearables. It only serves Apple Watch Series 5 for now — but support for other devices will come later.
This isn't your everyday sports franchise. Photo: Apple/Bit Fry Game Studios
Apple Arcade is getting a sports franchise — and it sounds all kinds of intriguing. Ultimate Rivals brings together all-star athletes from different pro sports eras and leagues, including the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, WNBA and US Women’s National Soccer Team.
Boasting a cartoony style, the game series will let you pit athletes from different sports against one another. The first game in the series? A two-on-two hockey game called Ultimate Rivals: The Rink.
The iPhone 11 Pro's excellent camera is about to get even better. Photo: Apple
Future iPhone cameras could get some big upgrades thanks to the latest company Apple purchased in the U.K.
Spectral Edge, a start-up that combines image processing with machine learning to create sharper smartphone photos, has quietly been acquired by Apple, giving the iPhone a potentially huge advantage over its competitors.
Don’t underrate AirPods. They are as iconic as the iPod ever was. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
AirPods contribute as much to Apple’s bottom line as the iconic iPod did at its peak, according to an industry analyst. And Apple Watch long since passed that milestone.
Combined, Apple’s Wearables and Home products are expected to far outsell Mac and iPad this quarter.
The iPhone 8 and other Apple handsets see real benefits from iOS 13.3. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
There are sometimes concerns that new iOS versions will cut the battery life of older iPhone models, or slow down performance. Tests on a variety of Apple handsets with the just-released iOS 13.3 show just the opposite — this update not only speeds up these devices, it increases the time between charges.
Buttons. Who doesn't love them? Photo: Diomari/Unsplash CC
It may have nothing to do with Jony Ive leaving the company, but Apple has been adding buttons back to its devices. It’s a slow start, but hopefully it’s the beginning of a trend. The new 16-inch MacBook Pro added an Escape key, and a separate power button (you can press the Touch ID button). Plus, the recently introduced iPhone 11 battery case added a dedicated camera button.
After what seems like decades of removing useful hardware features, is Apple finally seeing the error of its ways? And, if so, what buttons would we like to see next? Let’s take a look at the current lay of the land.
Kumail Nanjiani speaking at Apple's big media event in March 2019. Photo: Apple
Apple is so confident in one of its upcoming TV shows that it’s already been greenlit for a second season before the first season has even debuted on Apple TV+.
Season one of Little America, an anthology series about the lives of American immigrants, is set to air on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020. Created by The Big Sick writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, along with Lee Eisenberg, the season is comprised of eight 30-minute long episodes and Apple just shared snippets on what each one is about.
The Orangetheory Fitness franchise has created a small accessory that attaches to an Apple Watch band to track your heart rate during exercise. Photo: Orangetheory Fitness
The nation’s 13th-largest health club chain, Orangetheory Fitness, will begin supporting Apple Watch in its 1,300 franchise studios by March, the company said Thursday. That will make it the first fitness brand to officially partner with Apple on a fitness studio solution.
The fitness franchise created a small accessory, called the OTbeat Link, that attaches to an Apple Watch band to track the heart rate of customers during exercise classes.
You might be better off with iMac Pro instead. Photo: Apple
You will soon have something to show for that $5,999+ you just handed over to Apple. The first Mac Pro orders have today started shipping out to customers. Deliveries are scheduled to begin this Friday, December 13.
These concept Apple augmented reality glasses might have just taken a step closer to reality. Photo: Martin Hajek
Rumors that Apple is hard at work on augmented reality glasses got some solid proof today. The company received a patent on a near-eye display design intended for just such an accessory.
And there’s an interesting mention of a “holographic optical element.”
Download the newest Fortnite update today. Photo: Epic Games
Epic Games appears to be planning a big change to the Fortnite Battle Pass system in 2020. A new leak reveals an annual purchase option that comes with exclusive cosmetics you can’t obtain elsewhere.
iPhone shipments in China reportedly had a rough time in November. According to Credit Suisse analyst Matt Cabral, iPhone shipments declined “meaningfully” last month — to the tune of approximately 35.4% year-on-year.
If true, that’s lagging far behind the rest of the Chinese smartphone market, which increased 0.2% year-on-year.