Mobile menu toggle

News - page 629

No need to wait on keyboard cases for latest iPad Air and iPad mini

By •

The Brydge 10.5 clip-on keyboard can be used with the new iPad Air.
The Brydge 10.5 clip-on keyboard can be used with the new iPad Air, and there are other options too.
Photo: Brydge

Apple’s newest tablets just started reaching the hands of consumers, but there are already several cases available for the iPad Air 3 and iPad mini 5, including keyboard cases in multiple designs. There are options now from Zagg, Brydge and Apple itself.

While not yet available, rugged-case maker OtterBox is designing products for these slates.

iOS 13 concept shows how iPad multitasking ought to work

By •

iOS 13 split-view multitasking proposal
Larger iPads should be able to display three applications at once.
Photo: Daniel Korpai

Building on the somewhat limited side-by-side multitasking already available to iPad users is the goal of a new concept video. Its creator proposes enabling three applications to be open simultaneously, and includes a simple method for swapping between more.

Spring has sprung! Keep it fresh with these colorful Apple Watch bands

By •

Time to get a fresh start and look the part.
Time to get a fresh start and look the part.
Photo: Juuk

Whether you’re in need of a sport band, a luxe leather strap, or cool stainless steel, your search ends here.

Sure, you could go all out on Apple’s new Spring lineup with prices reaching as high as $489, but if you’re like me and putting away the cash for bigger and better hardware upgrades down the road, then these totally affordable and equally stylish bands are just for you.

Check out this watch store guide and find your perfect color match this season for price tags as low as $25.

Inside Apple’s failed negotiations with NYT and WaPo

By •

Apple News+ trial
Some aren't happy with Apple's tactics.
Photo: Apple

Apple put a ton of pressure on The New York Times and Washington Post to join Apple News+ before the new service was unveiled at a media event last week.

Details have surfaced of Apple’s negotiations with the two major publishers, revealing Apple media boss Eddy Cue was adamant about getting the two papers on board. Both companies declined Apple’s offer, but the New York Times’ COO hinted that the newspaper of record could possibly join the service in the future.

Free VPN app encrypts iPhone connection for safer browsing

By •

Cloudflare‘s 1.1.1.1 App with Warp adds encryption for safer iPhone internet access.
Cloudflare‘s 1.1.1.1 App with Warp adds encryption for more secure iPhone internet access.
Photo: Cloudflare

Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 App blocks your wireless carrier from knowing the sites you visit on your iPhone. An update adds encryption to all connections, while also promising faster access for all apps.

1.1.1.1 App with Warp will remain free, but Cloudflare is launching an even quicker version for a monthly fee.

Portrait mode remains miraculous — but frustrating — on iPhone XS [Opinion]

By •

Portrait Mode is great, until it’s not. Fix failed focus with Focos.
When it works, Depth Control lets you dial in just the right amount of blur.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Portrait mode on the iPhone XS is pretty amazing — when it works. I gave it a good, hard workout after the device’s launch in September 2018, and found it to be an almost miraculous trick to fake the optical depth of photos taken on a bigger camera.

But after using it for half a year, does Portrait mode still seem so great? No. While it’s still just as impressive, sometimes it’s so frustrating to use that I just give up, quit the Camera app, and don’t bother to take a photo at all.

Epic plans to turn Fortnite into more than just a game

By •

Fortnite hand cannon
Epic won't tolerate Fortnite hacks.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite has become the most popular game on the planet, with 250 million active players worldwide. But it’s much more than just a game, according to its creator.

Epic Games sees Fortnite evolving into something even bigger. “Something like a Metaverse,” according to CEO Tim Sweeney.

Stream all the bags you want with this Apple AF gag

By •

WaterField Designs
Exciting new *products from WaterField Designs.
Screenshot: WaterField Designs

The serious side of WaterField Designs takes meticulous care constructing bespoke cases and bags, mostly out of the finest leather, popular with users of Apple devices.

The small-batch San Francisco shop also has a wicked sense of humor in its spirit, especially for April Fools Day.

WaterField Designs produced a product page that sends up some of the most recent news to come from Apple, including an announcement that WaterField is starting a monthly original bags streaming service.

Apple cuts prices on Macs, iPads and iPhones in China

By •

Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
Apple sales have dipped in China. Can this make up for it?
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Apple has cut the prices on multiple devices in China. Prices on everything from iPhones and iPads to Macs and AirPods have been reduced by up to 6 percent.

The slashed prices comes a few months after Apple pinned declining revenue on lower than expected sales in China. Greater China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, accounts for around 15 percent of Apple’s revenue.

Apple News+ could be another nail in magazine publishers’ coffin

By •

Some publishers report that Apple News+ isn't a 'huge boon' for business
Apple News+ may not be quite the savior some are hoping for.
Photo: Apple

Apple News+ was advertised as Apple’s love letter to print journalism. However, according to a new report, it could turn out to be just another nail in its coffin.

In an article for Monday Note, Frederic Filloux runs some numbers on Apple News. By his calculations, the service could cut revenue in half for publishers — and mean that magazines must double their readers simply to equal current figures.

Bag a free Apple TV 4K when you subscribe to DirecTV Now

By •

Apple TV Siri Remote
Sound sync woes will be a thing of the past.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Sign up for DirecTV Now and you’ll receive a brand new Apple TV 4K to enjoy it on.

Those who prepay for four months of service will receive Apple’s latest set-top box absolutely free. The offer is only available to new subscribers who join before April 30, 2019.

Struggling iPhone display-maker may be thrown a lifeline

By •

iPhone XR test
Japan Display manufactures the iPhone XR's LCD screen.
Photo: Apple

iPhone display-maker Japan Display says it is in line for a financial injection that could bail out the struggling company.

The firm said Monday that it will raise up to 110 billion yen ($990 million) in new financing as early as this week. Japan Display has been suffering as a result of the slowdown in iPhone sales and Apple’s shift to OLED screens.

New Sonic game speeding onto iOS for Tokyo 2020

By •

Sonic 1
A sprinter that would put Usain Bolt to shame.
Photo: Sega

Everyone’s favorite blue hedgehog, Sonic, will be hurtling onto iOS for an upcoming mobile game to mark the 2020 Olympics.

Titled Sonic At The Olympic Games, the mobile-only title was announced over the weekend as part of Sega’s lineup of new games to coincide with Tokyo 2020.

HyperDrive Ultimate Ultimate Hub adds a whopping 40 ports to your MacBook

By •

This USB-C hub has everything but the kitchen sink.
This USB-C hub has everything but the kitchen sink.
Photo: Hyper

Many people would like to add a few ports to their MacBook Pro, but Hyper just launched a hub for people who’d like to add a ridiculous number.

The HyperDrive Ultimate Ultimate Hub offers more than three dozen ports, in an unbelievably wide variety. It goes a long way toward turning a MacBook into a desktop PC.

HomePod will ‘gain traction’ in booming smart speaker market

By •

Apple debuts HomePod in India at its cheapest price yet
HomePod is part of a growing product category.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

The smart speaker market continues to explode — and Apple’s expected to carve out an ever-growing piece of it.

According to a new report published by IDC, the global smart speaker market will grow 26.9 percent in 2019. In total, the research firm thinks that 832.7 million total smart speakers will ship this year.

iPhone XS Max beats Galaxy S10+ in drop tests

By •

Apple’s flagship phone is tougher than Samsung’s.
Repeatedly smashing both devices to the ground shows Apple’s flagship phone is hardier than Samsung’s.
Photo: PhoneBuff

Apple’s largest phone is tougher than Samsung’s. The iPhone XS Max performed noticeably better than the Galaxy S10+ in a series of drop tests.

The bad news is that neither handset proved particularly resistant to breaking when dropped.

Athletes’ and musicians’ Apple accounts hacked in phishing scheme

By •

Fraudster steals $16k from victim posing as Apple tech support
Dear sir or madam, I am from Apple tech support. What is your password? Love, totally legit guy
Photo: Donald Tong/Pexels CC

Everyone needs to watch out for hackers phishing for their account details, and that includes celebrities. A Georgia man tricked pro athletes and rappers into giving up login details for their Apple accounts, which he used to access to their credit cards, according to the FBI.

Apple snags expert on electric motors from Tesla

By •

iCar concept
Hiring an expert on electric powertrains raises the odds Apple is designing its own vehicle. Just not this one.
Photo: NeoMam Studios

Apple’s electric car program just got a major boost. It’s hired away Tesla’s VP of Engineering, an expert on electric powertrains.

Dr. Michael Schwekutsch joined Apple this month.

Win a copy of iMazing and take control of your iOS devices [Giveaway]

By •

The latest version of iMazing, an iOS device manager for Mac and PC, adds iOS 10.3 compatibility and great new features
The easiest way to create local backups.
Image: DigiDNA

Backing up your devices can save you a world of pain when things go wrong. And yet, so many people still don’t back up on a regular basis. If you’re one of them, you should change that for World Backup Day 2019 on March 31.

World Backup Day encourages everyone to back up their most important data. To make it as simple and as cheap as possible for you, we’re giving away ten copies of the excellent iMazing app for Mac and PC. It’s the best way to create local backups that prevent your precious memories from getting lost.

T-Mobile’s Phone BoothE is an unbelievable blast from the past

By •

T-Mobile CEO John Legere with the Phone BoothE.
T-Mobile CEO John Legere with the Phone BoothE.
Photo: T-Mobile

Sometimes old ideas still have some life in them. That’s apparently the thought behind the T-Mobile Phone BoothE, designed to give this carrier’s customers a space to make phone calls in peace and quiet.

As a bonus, Clark Kent once again has a place to quickly change into Superman.

Apple shows off new services, then kills AirPower [Cult of Mac Magazine No. 290]

By •

When we say
When we say "no new hardware this week," we really mean it. (RIP, AirPower.)
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple pulls back the curtain on its wily master plan, giving us our first glimpse at a squeaky-clean new TV service, an ambitious subscription videogame service, a slightly familiar-sounding magazine and news service and more. (Spoiler alert: The Apple credit card steals the show.)

And then, after all that, Cupertino unceremoniously pulls the plug on its AirPower wireless charging mat.

Get our take on Apple’s new services, plus new how-tos and reviews, in this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine for iOS. Download the free app now, or get the links below to read the week’s best stories in your browser.