iOS 18.4 will be one of Apple’s biggest updates to iOS 18 since the operating system’s public release last September. It will pack plenty of changes and improvements, like a Vision Pro app, Apple News+ Food and new emoji.
That all sounds great, but these are the five iOS 18.4 features that I am most excited about.
Apple’s third-gen Apple Watch SE may not launch anytime soon, with the device running into “serious jeopardy.” Rumors have indicated Apple will switch to a plastic casing with the next Apple Watch SE refresh.
However, this move might have backfired, with the company’s design and operations team not happy with the outcome.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Griffin goes deep on the M3 iPad Air and the M4 MacBook Air, which he recently reviewed from his unique perspective as a Mac mini fanatic. He loved them both, but which one rules the day? And can either of them come close to his desktop dynamo?
Also on The CultCast:
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
Apple reportedly wants to put cameras in future Apple Watch versions. This will enable the wearable to “see the outside world and use AI to deliver relevant information.”
However, Apple needs a few more generations to turn the Apple Watch with cameras into a reality.
Sennheiser’s latest offering are the new HD 550 open-back headphones, designed to bridge the gap between audiophile-grade sound quality and gaming performance, the company said Wednesday. For Mac users who demand great audio whether they’re working with Logic Pro, enjoying Apple Music with lossless audio or diving into the latest Apple Arcade titles, these headphones promise to deliver a compelling listening experience.
“Audiophiles looking for featherlight headphones with honest voicing and deep bass extension are in for a treat,” said Sennheiser Audiophile Product Manager Klas Hanselmann. “While the HD 550’s airy detail is obvious, customers will fall in love with its delightfully polite touch — perfect for listening for hours on end.”
To avoid mistakes made by rivals, Apple reportedly will do everything it can to create a crease-free folding iPhone with a durable hinge. According to a report released Friday, that includes producing the hinges using a liquid metal process.
The innovative handset should arrive in 2026.
Apple TV+ renewed Severance for a third season Friday, delighting fans of the surreal drama series on the same day its season two finale aired. And Apple CEO Tim Cook and show executive producer and director Ben Stiller had some fun with an X.com post, below.
“What Ben, Dan, Adam and the talented cast and crew behind Severance have brought to the screen is undeniable magic,” said Matt Cherniss, head of Apple TV+ programming. “We’re so proud to be the home for this brilliant series and look forward to audiences experiencing what’s in store for Season 3.”
As someone who lived in the French-speaking part of Switzerland for a few years, I’m no stranger to poking fun when I catch a whiff of the sometimes-preposterously self-important and pretentious side of the French persona. And the new Apple TV+ trailer for Carême reeks of it.
While the premise of the streamer’s upcoming French-language series sounds interesting — a rags-to-riches story of the world’s first celebrity chef, who also worked as a spy — the series looks overwhelmingly French.
“Chef. Spy. Lover,” reads the tagline for the historical drama. Apple TV+ calls it “daring” and “provocative.” Ooh la la.
Carême premieres April 30 for those with a taste for that sort of thing.
As Apple TV+’s subscriber base continues to grow and the streamer enjoys lots of attention on Friday’s Severance season 2 finale, a new report Thursday suggests the streaming service remains a financial loser for the iPhone giant — to the tune of $1 billion in losses annually. And yet it should come as no surprise Apple TV+ bleeds money.
A fat billion a year in the red sounds bad, but it’s pretty much in line with the plan for losses of up to $20 billion over a decade for the still-nascent streaming service.
We aren’t left wondering what the four models in the upcoming iPhone 17 series will look like — not when a picture of “dummy” units posted Thursday reveals the design of each of them.
These show the rumored move from a camera hump to a camera bar in most of Apple’s upcoming handsets, and the back panel on the two Pro models will employ a new design.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows finally launched on Thursday, and Mac gamers can play the action-packed, role-playing game from Ubisoft at the same time as players on PCs and consoles. Mac owners won’t face the usual wait of months or years. There’s even a version for iPads with M-series processors in development.
The adventure is set in medieval Japan, and players can choose either a samurai or a shinobi (aka ninja) for very different gaming experiences.
An Apple reorganization reportedly brings new management to the team struggling to develop an AI-enhanced version of Siri. Apple apparently tapped Mike Rockwell, an exec with one successful Apple product launch already under his belt, to shepherd the promised Siri upgrade.
Clearly, the goal is to accelerate a project that’s been significantly delayed — and has become a major embarrassment for Apple.
YouTube videos appearing blurry or excessively buffering on your iPhone? Videos streaming on 144p or 360p resolution despite being on a fast Wi-Fi connection?
You’re not alone in facing these problems. Don’t point fingers at your ISP either — the issue stems from YouTube’s end.
Don’t buy a separate stand and hub for your iPad until you check out the Zagg 6-port Media Hub that launched Wednesday. Add an HDMI port, a USB-A port and more to your tablet without taking up any more space on your desktop than a stand alone would.
Plus, it got a big brother: the Zagg Pro Dock is a stand for MacBooks with 10 ports, including dual HDMI and Ethernet.
These are part of a collection of new hubs from Zagg with a range of port options.
The European Commission issued “guidance” Tuesday on changes it says Apple must make to comply with the interoperability requirements of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The new mandates would open up the iPhone to work more closely with third-party smartwatches, headphones and TVs.
Apple says the new rules will undercut user privacy and slow innovation, and vows to make its case to the EU. It remains to be seen whether the changes will take effect only in Europe or globally.
Soundcore brought the party to CES 2025 this year with two powerful new Bluetooth speakers planned for spring release — and now you can buy one of them. The Rave 3S Karaoke Speaker is a big, powerful party speaker that brings AI-powered karaoke capabilities to any music source. The Boom 2 Pro is a rugged boombox designed for outdoor use.
Both new Soundcore speakers put on light shows, among other things HomePods can’t do.
Update: The new Soundcore Rave 3S Karaoke Speaker went on sale Wednesday.
“It’s a pretty cool Bluetooth speaker and comes with two microphones with a pretty slick Vocal Removal tool that can be controlled on either microphone or from the control panel on the top,” Anker told Cult of Mac. “There are different levels of vocal reduction, so for example if you are a good singer and know the lyrics, you can reduce the vocals off. However, if you need a little help with the vocals, you can make the singer’s vocals come through a little stronger so you can hear it better.”
With Microsoft winding down Windows 10, many companies could take the opportunity to switch to macOS, according to an industry analyst.
The prediction comes as U.S. Mac sales are already spiking, up a whopping 25.9% in the fourth quarter. This made Apple the third-largest computer maker in the U.S. market.
Nanoleaf unveiled its latest innovation Tuesday that should catch the attention of Mac users looking to enhance their desktop aesthetics. The new Nanoleaf PC Screen Mirror Lightstrip, available for pre-order at $49.99, offers a simplified approach to ambient lighting. You plug it right into your computer and stick it to the back of your display.
The iPhone 16e marks the debut of Apple’s in-house 5G modem. Despite missing mmWave 5G support, the modem still impresses. Apple touts it as the most efficient modem ever in an iPhone.
Ookla, the company behind Speedtest, has released a detailed analysis of the iPhone 16e’s network performance based on their preliminary data.
Thanks to AirPods 4 with noise cancellation, actor Pedro Pascal beats heartbreak and the big city’s wintry deep freeze in the colorful new Spike Jonze short film Someday.
Jonze’s second ad for Apple, the new short released Tuesday evokes what an immersive listening experience can do, waking memories of better times — and stirring hope for better ones to come.
Capcom brought Resident Evil 3 to Mac, iPad and iPhone on Tuesday. The latest AAA game to arrive on Apple’s platforms, the 2020 survival horror title lets players use a variety of weapons to fight zombies.
The new Big Time podcast, a fresh take on true crime with captivating stories of audacious dreamers and rule-benders hosted by actor Steve Buscemi, premieres March 24, Apple TV+ said Tuesday.
“I think a lot of people, myself included, are fascinated by folks who look at the rules and think, ‘No, I’ve got a better idea,'” Buscemi said. “Big Time isn’t just true crime — it’s a carnival of chaos, and I’m excited for listeners to tune in.”
In a major expansion, Apple’s Tap to Pay to iPhone has launched in several European countries. This includes Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Poland and others.
With Tap to Pay, retailers and small businesses can accept contactless payments directly using their iPhones.
Apple seemingly plans to use 24MP selfie cameras across its entire iPhone 17 lineup. The higher resolution sensor should lead to a noticeable improvement in image quality.
All current iPhone models sport a 12MP TrueDepth camera.
Apple’s 2026 flagship iPhones could use its in-house second-gen modem. The C2 baseband should be a big upgrade over the iPhone 16e’s C1 modem in terms of performance.
More importantly, it will supposedly support mmWave 5G connectivity, fixing a major shortcoming of the current C1 modem.