Drop in today to enjoy skill-based matchmaking for the first time. Photo: Epic Games
Skill-based matchmaking has finally arrived in Fortnite Battle Royale with today’s version 10.40 update.
The release also brings brand-new game modes and locations, big changes to controller settings, and bug fixes. But there’s one thing missing for players on iPhone and iPad.
There's stuff to like. But some banana peels too. Photo: Nintendo
It’s been a long time coming, but Mario Kart Tour has finally raced (well, maybe dawdled) into the App Store.
The free-to-play kart racing game is available to download now, although currently you can only play a New York City-based course. Other courses will roll out at a later date.
So what did we make of it? Read on for Cult of Mac’s first impressions.
Starbucks case could offer a clue concerning Apple's own $14.4 billion tax battle. Photo: Nicky Colman/Flickr
Apple has received a glimpse of hope in its giant $14.4 billion tax battle against the EU. On Tuesday, the European Commission’s similar tax case against Starbucks collapsed. The EC claimed that Starbucks had received an unfair sweetheart tax deal in the Netherlands. The European Commission’s General Court overturned this earlier 2015 decision.
But another case against Fiat Chrysler concluded with the European court saying that it had enjoyed preferential tax treatment in Luxembourg.
An iPad keyboard case with trackpad wasn’t possible before iPadOS. Photo: Sentis
Libra is angling to be the first-out-of-the-gate iPad Pro case that includes not only a keyboard but also a trackpad. This wasn’t possible before, but the just-released iPadOS adds support for mice and trackpads.
The designers are looking for backing on Kickstarter to defray the costs of developing an accessory that lets an iPad mimic a MacBook more closely than any before.
Oceanhorn 2 is one of the Apple Arcade games available with tvOS 13. Photo: Apple
After months of beta testing, the full version of tvOS 13 launched to the public today. Updates to the Apple TV operating system don’t often make headlines, but this one stands out because it brings support for the all-you-play Apple Arcade service.
tvOS 13 also allows some off-the-shelf game controllers to be used, as well as non-game improvements.
With Apple TV+ ready to compete against Disney+, Bob Iger resigned from the Apple board. Photo: Josh Hallett/Flickr CC
Disney CEO Bob Iger finally spoke about his recent resignation from Apple’s board of directors in an interview with Mad Money host Jim Cramer.
Iger resigned from Apple’s board earlier this month. As many people speculated, Iger says he felt it was time for him to step aside because of Apple TV+.
Some of Hollywood's top studios still use the trash can Mac Pro. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Hollywood film and TV studios using Apple’s Mac Pro were hit with a crippling bug this week that caused some post-production operations to grind to a halt.
The bug originated in an update to Avid’s video editing products that are used by some of the top studios in the world. After a recent update came out, studios using the Mac Pro were hit with a rebooting issue that caused their workstations to crash.
iPadOS makes it easer to switch between running applications. Photo: Apple
iPadOS just launched, and Apple wants tablet owners to know why they should upgrade. Its short video hits the highlights, like accessing full contents of USB drives, the advantages of editing video on a larger screen, and much more.
Beta testing is over. iPadOS 13.1 can be installed on any recent Apple tablet. Photo: Apple
iPadOS 13.1 is now available, ready to be installed on a wide variety of iPad models. It brings features Apple tablet users have long been asking for: allowing applications to open multiple windows, support for mice, full access to USB drives, and much more.
This new version was announced in June and has been in beta testing all summer so there are no surprises. But the time for testing is over. Almost everyone with an iOS tablet made in the past five years can install iPadOS.
iPhone 11 Pro Max outlasted four recently-released marquee smartphones in a battery showdown. Photo: Mr. Whosetheboss
In a head-to-head “torture test” challenge, the iPhone 11 Pro Max battery not only lasted longer than the ones in Apple’s other 2019 handsets — it beat Samsung’s new flagship model by a wide margin.
Apple put its largest battery ever in the new 6.5-inch iOS device, and it’s clearly paying off.
With iPadOS, you're one step closer to replacing your Mac with an iPad. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
iOS 13 is pretty great on the iPhone, but the real deal is iPadOS 13. With the new operating system, Apple split its tablet and phone platforms for the first time since the launch of the original iPad, and the tablet went in a whole new direction. iPadOS is still iOS, but now there are contextual menus, multiple windows for apps, a home screen that isn’t just a blown-up iPhone home screen, and a proper web browser. You can even plug in mice and USB hard drives.
Apple managed a fine balancing act here. If you update to iPadOS 13 and don’t really think about it, then everything (mostly) works the same, with just extra speed and polish. But if you want to dig in, you will find a whole new computer just below the surface.
Multiple 5G iPhones are expected to arrive in September 2020. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Jefferies equity analyst Kyle McNealy thinks that the arrival of a 5G iPhone is going to be much bigger for Apple than Wall Street realizes.
The first 5G iPhones are set to arrive toward the end of 2020. McNealy thinks that in the following year, 2021, Apple will sell 208 million iPhones. That’s well above the 190 million total handset sales Wall Street estimates are predicting.
The Anchor with its titanium carabiner next to a pretty titanium Apple Watch. Photo: Patrick O'Neill
Patrick O’Neill created the olloclip, a clip-on lens system for the iPhone camera that sold millions and is now featured on the Apple web page for accessory designers as an example of compatible design.
Now O’Neill brings his clip-sense design to AirPods with an attachment solution for the charging case.
One of the new wind farms being backed by Apple. Photo: Apple
Apple-backed China Clean Energy Fund is backing three wind farms in China. Each farm is capable of generating 48 megawatts of clean energy.
All the companies involved in the fund are Apple suppliers (plus Apple.) Together, they will invest $300 million by 2022. These projects will ultimately generate a whopping 1 gigawatt of renewable energy.
Apple is the company to beat in this space. Well, and Amazon, too. Photo: Apple
Apple may be a relative latecomer to the streaming video arena but media consultant Michael J. Wolf of Activate Consulting thinks that it’s got a big advantage. Along with Amazon, that is.
In an interview with CNBC‘s “Squawk Box,” Wolf laid out reason why. And it’s a twist on the old Alan Kay saying that a company serious about software should build its own hardware, too.
Apple recently reopened its Fifth Avenue Apple Store. Photo: Apple
Apple is using its Apple Store “Today at Apple” creative sessions to showcase Apple TV+ content. As part of upcoming events at its newly reopened Fifth Avenue Apple Store, Apple will focus on promoting films and TV shows from its streaming video service.
In one case this will involve an appearance from the crew behind the production.
Everyone should welcome skill-based matchmaking. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Epic Games has confirmed major matchmaking changes are coming to Fortnite in this week’s 10.40 update.
The changes are designed to make Battle Royale a little easier and therefore more enjoyable for inexperienced players. But here’s why it could be good news for every Fortnite fan.
Can Arcade ever become the service Apple promised? Photo: Apple
Apple Arcade is now live on Apple TV for users running the iOS 13 beta.
Its arrival comes just under one week after the official launch of Apple Arcade on iOS. Subscribers get access to around 70 games (rising to 100 by the end of the year) for just $4.99 a month.
Look out for the changes next month. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple will raise App Store pricing in Japan next month in line with an update to Japan Consumption Tax (JCT).
The increase will affect sales and in-app purchases, but not auto-renewable subscriptions. Only the most affordable tier priced at ¥120 will avoid the change.
Apple is shining a spotlight on lyrics. Photo: Apple
Apple has launched a new “Lyrics to Live By” video series. The video series features artists explaining the meaning of some of their best known lines.
It accompanies iOS 13’s new real-time lyrics feature which turns Apple Music into a karaoke experience. It lets users view scrolling song lyrics for the music they listen to.
The three views from the iPhone 11 Pro's three rear-facing cameras. Photo: Apple
What makes the iPhone 11 Pro a Pro smartphone? It’s definitely not the ultra-wide camera.
According to Ben Sandofsky, co-developer of the photo app Halide, the ultra-wide camera does not support RAW capture of images or allow photographers to manually focus the camera.