Apple and JPMorgan Chase are in talks for Apple Card partnership. Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac
JPMorgan Chase could replace Goldman Sachs as the Apple Card banking partner. Apple and JPMorgan have been discussing a potential partnership since early this year.
Despite this, a potential deal between the two companies could take several months to finalize.
A installation bug supposedly bricked some M4 iPad Pro units while upgrading to iPadOS 18. Image: Apple/Cult of Mac
Apple temporarily stopped allowing access to the iPadOS 18 upgrade for the M3 iPad Pro. A bug apparently bricked some tablets during the installation process for the new version.
The problem only affects the iPad Pro M4. And if you already made it through the update process, there seems nothing to worry about.
When it comers to satisfaction, Apple sits at the top of the heap among computer makers. It beats HP, Samsung and others, according to the latest survey from the American Customer Satisfaction Index.
And satisfaction with tablets improved to the point they’re essentially on par with desktops and laptops.
A combination of economic factors put an end to this gang of time-traveling thieves' hijinx. Photo: Apple TV+
Despite positive reviews, bankable star Lisa Kudrow as a main character and much-loved source material, Apple TV+ opted to pull the plug on its fantasy adventure series Time Bandits after just one season, according to a new report.
Based on Terry Gilliam’s cult classic 1981 film (but rendered in more family-friendly fashion), the show’s 10-episode first season — now streaming on Apple TV+ — will have to stand alone.
The Kensington SD5000T5 EQ Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station offers cutting-edge features to creative professionals. Photo: Kensington
The Kensington SD5000T5 EQ Thunderbolt 5 Triple 4K Docking Station is the first Thunderbolt 5 dock to get Intel certified. It boasts 11 ports and delivers data transfer speeds up to 120 Gbps (15,000 MBps).
The dock is intended for professionals and content creators.
Plugable's new external display can be your on-the-go USB-C hub, too. Photo: Plugable
The Plugable 15.6” USB-C Portable Display connects to MacBook or iPad to add more screen space and a hub: it includes a pair of high-speed USB-C ports.
It’s intended for those who need to get loads of work done while on the go, whether from a hotel room or a coffee shop.
Don't ditch your iPhone 15 Pro for the iPhone 16 Pro unless you want these specific features. Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey
The iPhone 16 Pro is Apple’s best iPhone ever. But how does it compare to the company’s previous best iPhone: the iPhone 15 Pro? Our iPhone 16 Pro versus iPhone 15 Pro comparison puts the two models head-to-head.
Apple’s newest iPhone packs a bigger display, a faster chip and other nice-to-have upgrades. Do these changes add up to make the iPhone 16 Pro a compelling upgrade over the iPhone 15 Pro?
iOS 18 is almost here. Photo: Apple/Rajesh Pandey/Cult of Mac
Apple released iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia Monday. After Apple showcased these operating systems in June at WWDC24, it revealed the release date for iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia’s first stable build at the “It’s Glowtime” event.
They are available now for download on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.
AirPods 4 are available with active noise cancellation, even without ear tips. Screenshot: Apple/Cult of Mac
The first reviews of Apple AirPods 4 are in to answer the question, how well does active noise cancellation work without foam ear tips? The consensus: pretty well.
Early reviewers of the new wireless earbuds also had plenty to say about fit, sound quality and more.
"Slow Horses" creator and executive producer Will Smith won a Primetime Emmy for the show's writing. Photo: Apple TV+
Apple TV+ scored 10 wins at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards Sunday, including the first for darkly comedic espionage thriller Slow Horses, plus a second for The Morning Show star Billy Crudup as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
In all, five Apple TV+ shows and one commercial won Primetime Emmys, on top of the eight wins that five shows garnered recently in the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Primetime-winning shows included Palm Royale, Lessons in Chemistry, Masters of the Air and Girls State.
iPhone 16 Pro's battery replacement fee costs more than iPhone 15 Pro. Photo: Apple
Apple claims the new internal design of the iPhone 16 series makes battery replacement easier. Yet, the company charges more for the battery replacement of its latest iPhones.
After a price hike in March 2023, the Cupertino company charges $99 for an iPhone’s battery replacement. However, replacing the battery of the iPhone 16 Pro lineup costs $119, an increase of 20%.
iPhone 16 preorder numbers are apparently lower than last year. Photo: Apple
iPhone 16 preorders might be about 12.7% YoY lower than the first weekend sales of iPhone 15 from 2023. However, a highly regarded analyst says there’s higher demand for the iPhone 16 and its Plus sibling.
The analyst blames the lower-than-expected demand on Apple Intelligence being unavailable at launch.
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: We’re basking in the afterglow of Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event. Time to discuss what we like most (and least) about the new iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watch Series 10, AirPods 4 and more.
Also on The CultCast:
That black titanium Apple Watch Ultra looks tempting. The barely upgraded AirPods Max? Not so much.
Which new Apple products do we plan to order? The choices seem tougher this time than usual.
And finally … the results of our “It’s Glowtime” event predictions. We have a winner! (Two, actually.).
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.
iPhone 16 Pro Max is in heavy demand. Photo: Apple
It’s already too late to preorder an iPhone 16 Pro Max and have it delivered on its September 20 launch day. Three hours after preorders began today, the delivery window for iPhone 16 Pro Max slipped to mid-October.
It’s not just customers putting in orders who care. Analysts watch these delivery times to judge demand for Apple handsets.
Update: A day after preorders began, the wait for iPhone 16 Pro Max still stretches to mid-October, while delivery for iPhone 16 Pro models now begins in early October.
Save big by buying Apple Certified Refurbished iPads. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
You can now buy refurbished M2 iPad Pro and M1 iPad Air from Apple’s online store in the US. They are available with up to 20% discounts on their retail price.
Apple unveiled these iPads in 2022, with the M1 iPad Air launching in March 2022 and the M2 iPad Pro in October.
Place your iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max preorder now. Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey
Apple is now accepting preorders for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The devices reach stores starting September 20, the same day preorders begin arriving.
In typical Apple fashion, the company took down its online store for about six hours before accepting preorders.
Apple Watch Series 10 can also be preordered, though Apple initially began taking those on Monday, September 9. The same goes for AirPods 4.
Don't wait! Or procrastinate! Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The iPhone 17 series goes up for preorder on Friday, and Apple’s latest and greatest handsets might sell out quickly. You need do some early prep work to be sure to get your hands on the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro Max or the other models as soon as possible.
Here’s how to be completely ready to put in a preorder.
Buy the iPhone 16 Pro or save money and get the iPhone 16? Photo/Graphics: Apple/Rajesh Pandey
The gap between the “regular” iPhones and the Pro models seems smaller than ever this year, which makes an iPhone 16 Pro versus iPhone 16 comparison tougher than usual.
While the iPhone 16 Pro packs a superior build quality, a bigger display, longer battery life and the predictably better camera, the iPhone 16 stands on its own with some meaningful upgrades.
So, should you save your money and go for the iPhone 16? Or is the iPhone 16 Pro a better buy despite its higher price tag? Find out in this comparison.
The new Ultimate Ears Miniroll Bluetooth speaker is tiny, but carries more strength in numbers. Photo: Ultimate Ears
Ultimate Ears’ new Miniroll is the smallest and most affordable entry in the company’s Bluetooth speaker lineup. The tiny new speaker with a “river rock-inspired design” isn’t quiet for its size, the Logitech-owned company said. But for more sound over a larger area, it easily connects to others. And it features a hook-able silicone strap to easily connect to almost anything and go where you go.
“Miniroll started with a consumer ask,” said Jonah Staw, general manager of Ultimate Ears. “We heard our fans loud and clear. They wanted a speaker that could strap in and go anywhere to keep up with their active lifestyles. This led our design and engineering teams to build our most portable speaker, showing how passionate consumers can drive innovation.”
OWC just launched a rugged external SSD with Thunderbolt 5. Photo: Other World Computing
Other World Computing’s Envoy Ultra Thunderbolt 5 SSD is for professionals needing the fastest data transfer rate available. The external solid state drive can move files at up to 6000 MBps or more, making it up to twice as fast as Thunderbolt 4 and USB4.
Plus, the SSD is rugged and designed to be ready to go wherever needed.
Early tests indicate the iPhone 16 Pro delivers up to 26% faster download speeds than the iPhone 15 Pro. This is thanks to its new Snapdragon X75 modem, which supports 5G Advanced and enhanced carrier aggregation.
Besides faster speeds, the new Qualcomm modem consumes less power, boosting battery life.