After mass shootings in Texas and Ohio, Apple CEO Tim Cook called for lawmakers to come together to resolve the problem of gun violence.
“I’m heartbroken about what’s happening in my country,” Cook wrote on Twitter. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. It’s time for good people with different views to stop finger pointing and come together to address this violence for the good of our country.”
Apple spent more money on research and development in the past quarter than it spent in any three-month period in the company’s history. Q3 2019 R&D spending also accounted for the largest proportion of Apple revenue since 2003, back when the iPod ruled as Apple’s biggest seller.
At a time when the iPhone no longer accounts for most of Apple’s revenue, this level of investment suggests that there are some big things in the works in Cupertino.
Apple could release an iPhone with both Face ID and under-display Touch ID in 2021, a new report by renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims.
Before the iPhone X introduced Face ID, rumors abounded that Apple was trying to develop Touch ID that would work as part of the iPhone’s display. However, it supposedly ran into technical challenges.
Only 70 Apple 1 computers are known to exist. But collectors gathered twelve of them over the weekend for the annual Vintage Computer Festival West at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, Calif.
This is no small feat considering the fragility and rarity of the humble machine that launched a computing revolution — and one of the world’s most influential companies.
“They are the computers that started Apple,” Dag Spicer, senior curator for the museum, told Cult of Mac. “People are completely blown away.”
Apple eagerly anticipated Apple Card could be the most consumer-friendly credit card on the market. However, there are a few rules that could put off a small number of users.
In Goldman Sachs’ customer agreement for the card, it notes that Apple Card is not for people who jailbreak their iPhones. And it can’t be used for buying Bitcoin, lottery tickets, and a few other things, either.
Don’t panic: the introduction of new import tariffs by President Trump isn’t going to make the next iPhone even more expensive!
That’s the message from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In his latest note to client, Kuo says that he thinks Apple will absorb the cost of any tariffs, rather than pass them on to customers.
This week we block pesky privacy-invading trackers with Guardian Firewall, make sweet (weird) melodies with Ioniarics, and discover the next best thing to the keytar with Roxsyn.
Apple’s record-breaking revenues weren’t the biggest surprise in this week’s earnings call. Usually tight-lipped Apple execs Tim Cook and Luca Maestri actually uncorked a few shocking revelations!
Read all about it in this week’s totally free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Grab the iOS version now to enjoy it on your iPad, or hit the links below to read in your browser.
You’ll also find plenty of other Apple news, analysis and opinion, including a call for transparency in the wake of Siri’s eavesdropping problem. Plus, we’ve got product reviews and how-tos — like one on cleaning the lint from your filthy iPhone.
Just two companies saw increased tablet sales in the second quarter of this year. Both Apple and Amazon enjoyed strong improvement, while all their rivals dropped.
Apple further increased its dominance of this market, as iPad now makes up 38.1% of all tablets sold worldwide, gaining 4 percentage points year over year.
Brilliant and inexpensive charging stands that make your Apple Watch look like an iconic iMac or retro Game Boy are just some of the awesome accessories made by Elago.
The San Diego company also offers Watch bands that let you carry your AirPods on your wrist, ear hooks that prevent them falling out of your ears, and silicone cases that keep them protected.
And they’re all available now from the Cult of Mac Watch Store for less than $20 each! Check out Elago’s terrific range today.
Apple wants you to know that, at least for now, it has stopped listening to Siri queries made by users. It’s the right move to make. But it’s the unnecessary result of a backlash Apple brought upon itself.
The Siri eavesdropping controversy perfectly illustrates why Apple needs to be more transparent with users — even if that means sacrificing some ease of use.
The credit card Apple will launch in a few weeks will reportedly make it cheaper for users to make large purchases. Plus, there’s good news for iPad users with an Apple Card.
No matter what President Trump keeps insisting, his upcoming tariffs on all Apple products will be paid for either by the company or by Americans who buy iPhones, iPads and Macs.
A market-analysis firm warns that If Apple chooses to pass the cost of these import taxes onto its customers, sales of iPhone could drop 20%.
Verizon Wireless just did something telecoms almost never do: It lowered the cost of wireless service. This is part of the carrier’s renaming and changing of what it includes in all its unlimited plans.
The Federal Trade Commission is investigating a business deal between Amazon and Apple that may have hurt several independent sellers of refurbished Apple products.
Apple struck a deal last year to sell products on Amazon as a way to combat counterfeits and block dubious sellers.
iPhones may not be the only 5G-enabled product Apple introduces next year. According to a new report, Apple is planning its first ever cellular MacBooks for launch during the second half of 2020.
The cellular laptops will use the super speedy new mobile connectivity standard. They will supposedly use a ceramic, rather than metal, antenna component to improve reception and transmission performance.
Apple is continuing its low-key rebranding of Apple Music playlists. Its latest move is to change the name of its name of its “The A-List: Alternative” alternative music playlist.
This comes a couple weeks after Apple switched the name of the “A-List: Hip-Hop” playlist to “Rap Life.”
This week on The CultCast: Apple’s working on something BIG, and their massive increase in R&D spending proves it. Plus: we discuss all the surprises Apple unveiled in their recent earnings report, and it was another record breaker. And if you think your conversations with Siri are private, think again! Apple’s been caught reviewing your most personal sound bytes. And a new Moviepass competitor has emerged with a very interesting offer, but is it worth the price? All that and more!
Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. Easily create a beautiful website all by yourself, at Squarespace.com/cultcast. Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain..
As always happens this time of year, Apple is gearing up to mass-produce its iPhones ahead of September’s launch.
However, a new report — citing “industry source” — says that momentum for touch panels and other components have been weak so far. If true, the report of “low order visibility” suggests that Apple’s not viewing 2019 as the year iPhone sales turn around.
Apple has stopped its process of listening to a certain portion of Siri recordings for “grading” purposes.
This is the result of a backlash against the privacy-oriented company, after news broke that Apple shares recordings made by Siri with third-party contractors.
Jony Ive told the world in June he’s ready to stop being Apple’s Chief Design Officer but it seems likely he told his employers months before that. New research shows Apple went on a hiring spree in its design department early this year.
At the same time, the company has apparently been following a general “fewer suits, more hoodies” hiring strategy.
Anyone who’s fed up with iTunes can put the latest pre-release version of macOS Catalina on their Mac now and start using the new Apple Music, Apple Podcast and Apple TV apps instead. Of course, today’s public beta, the fourth in the series, comes with a long list of known problems so it might not be worth the hassle.
Apple is hoping to inject some inspiration into the lives of college students around the country with a new ad celebrating the return to school this month.
The fantastic new Behind the Mac ad celebrates the creation of art by telling students that they have no idea what they’re doing. And this is great.
Prepare to be inspired:
The iPhone is about to be caught in President Trump’s trade war with China. A month from today, the US will begin charging a 10% tax to import iPhone, iPad, and other devices. They are part of $300 billion dollars worth of imports getting new tariffs.
Trump’s decision caused a 2.0% drop in Apple’s share price.
Clear cable clutter with the brilliant HiRise Duet stand from Twelve South. It charges your iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously, and it looks darn gorgeous while it’s doing it.
Order yours today and get $20 off the usual price. This deal ends tomorrow, August 2, so take advantage of it while you can.