Mobile menu toggle

News - page 790

Divisive iPhone ‘notch’ could disappear as early as next year

By

Apple Watch
The iPhone notch may not be long for this world.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

It’s probably the most iconic aspect of Apple’s iPhone X design, but according to a new report Apple will get rid of the “notch” design for future handsets released as early as 2019.

“Apple decided to get rid of notch design starting from 2019 models, and is having discussions with relevant companies,” an unspecified supply chain source is quoted as saying. “It seems that Apple is planning to implement full-screen that is more complete to its new iPhones.”

Ah, gwanda blitz! The Sims Mobile arrives on iOS

By

Sims Mobile
Note: "Ah, gwanda blitz!" was the stock Sim phrase for "Hey, great idea!"
Photo: Electronic Arts

After a lengthy period in soft launch, The Sims Mobile is finally available for download worldwide — and it looks impressively close to its desktop older sibling.

As one of the top-selling game franchises of all time, everyone is surely familiar with The Sims. If you’re not, it’s a game in which you create your own virtual humans, design a home for them to live in, pick a career, and then, well, get on with living everyday life. Only more fun than that makes it sounds.

Check out the trailer below.

No, the IRS won’t ask you to pay your ‘back taxes’ in iTunes vouchers

By

iTunes
Don't fall for this scam!
Photo: Apple

Do you find it suspicious that the Internal Revenue Service would allow you to pay back taxes with iTunes gift cards? That’s because it’s not true, and is in fact a scam.

Sadly, it’s a scam that people appear to be falling for. That’s why the Treasury Department has issued a scam alert to point out that, “Any caller requesting taxpayers place funds on an iTunes gift cards or other prepaid cards to pay taxes or fees is an indicator or fraudulent activity.”

Police officer resigns after stealing AirPods from Apple Store

By

Apple AirPods
Theft took place at an Apple Store in Metairie, Louisiana.
Photo: Apple

The usual informal relationship between police and criminals is that criminals commit the crimes and the police catch them. A New Orleans police officer recently decided to shake things up, however, by allegedly stealing a pair of AirPods wireless earphones from the Apple Store in Metairie, Louisiana.

24-year-old patrol officer Ayona McGilberry was issued with a summons for misdemeanor theft this week, according to a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. McGilberry has subsequently resigned from the force.

Bidding for rare Mac prototype starts at 99 cents

By

Hap Plain
This early backlit Mac laptop sold on eBay for more than $16,000.
Photo: Hap Plain

A rare Macintosh prototype that was once rescued from the trash recently sold for more than $10,000 on eBay.

But the winning bidder backed out and now, the clear-plastic Macintosh Portable M5126 laptop is back on the auction site. Bidding started at 99 cents with no reserve.

These hand-woven nylon Apple Watch bands hit all the marks

By

nylon
Casetify's Steel Mesh Band comes in Black, Iridescent, Rose Gold, Gold and Silver. Perfectly stylish and feminine.
Photo: Casetify

Nylon bands for Apple Watch are in high demand for their comfort and versatility. Add in great engineering and style, and you’ve got the ideal strap to fit your everyday needs.

Enter Casetify, a company that believes in being radically unique, creating beautifully designed, made-to-order products that are hand-inspected from beginning to end.

The company recently launched its line of Nylon Fabric Bands for Apple Watch, and we’re now featuring them all in our Watch Store. A great value at $40!

Google Street View does Disneyland

By

Google Street View
See the Magic Kingdom on Google Street View.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Google Street View now offers panoramic views from nearly a dozen Disney theme parks, giving users a glimpse inside.

These join thousands of other immersive images from attractions around the world already in the app.

Xiaomi’s copycats could invade the U.S. this year

By

Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air
Xiaomi products could soon be on sale near you.
Photo: Xiaomi

Xiaomi is gearing up to invade the U.S. with its Apple clones.

We’ve been waiting years for the Chinese company to make its most popular gadgets available outside of Asia. Now Xiaomi has confirmed that it plans to enter the U.S. market in late 2018 or early 2019.

LG could copy iPhone X notch next

By

LG could be the next Android maker to copy the iPhone X notch, according to a new leak.
LG could be the next Android maker to copy the iPhone X notch, according to a new leak.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Although the notch at the top of the iPhone X display drew quite a bit of criticism, many Android makers like the idea. LG might become the next to release a device that resembles Apple’s flagship phone.

Family blames iPhone for house fire, wants Apple to pay

By

iPhone fire
A Canadian couple says this iPhone sparked a blaze that destroyed their home.
Photo: Langley Township Fire Department

A Canadian farm couple is demanding Apple pay them $600,000 because a fire they claim was caused by an overheated iPhone destroyed their home.

Ian and Cathy Finley of Langley, British Columbia, say the October 2016 fire was sparked by a three-month-old iPhone 6 left charging on a leather living room chair. Local fire investigators found a charred handset and cord and believe the device “generated enough heat to ignite” the chair.

Leaked Apple email hints at the possible end of iTunes

By

iPod silhouette ad, part of the marketing campaign that boosted iTunes Music Store sales
iTunes LPs won't make it out of 2018. Is the rest of iTunes next?
Photo: Apple

Apple could kill off iTunes in the near future, a new report suggests.

It cites an email that Apple reportedly wrote to people in the music industry recently, announcing the “end of iTunes LPs.” The iTunes LP format was first introduced in 2009 and let publishers add interactive artwork, along with assorted iTunes Extras, with their content.

The LP format never achieved great popularity. However, the fact that Apple plans to ditch iTunes LPs in 2018 potentially hints at the possibility that Apple may stop selling iTunes music downloads in the near future.

Apple reseller forced to close after 11,000 fans turn up for sale

By

Sale from hell
Store had 200 products to sell. 11,000 people turned up.
Photo: Switch

An Apple reseller in Malaysia had to temporarily close after 11,000 would-be customers turned up to buy a small selection of discounted iOS and Mac products.

The incident took place over the weekend after the Switch store announced that it was selling off its stock of demo products, including iPhone models 5s to 7, iPads, Apple TVs, MacBooks and more. These devices were discounted to as little as $25 and as much as $514. Unfortunately, it seems that someone underestimated demand.

iOS 11.3 beta 4 brings back ‘iBooks’ app

By

iBooks
iBooks may not be ready for a big revamp.
Photo: Apple

The latest iOS 11.3 beta, rolled out to registered developers Monday, includes a small but significant change to one of Apple’s apps. “iBooks” has returned after briefly being renamed “Books.” The move could suggest a rumored revamp is currently on hold.

Here’s how much a new iPhone battery boosts performance

By

iPhone
A battery replacement can make a big difference.
Photo: Apple

Want to know how much difference replacing the battery in an old iPhone makes to the overall speed of the handset? A new video posted online by Bennett Sorbo compares an iPhone 6s with depleted battery against one with a fresh battery.

The two iPhones are then put head to head as they run through a variety of CPU-intensive tasks, including opening apps, using the internet, playing games and videos, and more. Check out the video below.

Chinese woman locked out of iPhone for 47 years

By

iPhone China locked
Not a message you want to see on your iPhone.
Photo: Kankanews

Do you want to continue being able to unlock your iPhone in a timely manner? Then maybe don’t leave a 2-year-old child playing with your handset.

That’s the lesson learned by a mom who ended up locked out of her iPhone for 47.5 years because her son entered the passcode incorrectly enough times.

Apple’s brilliant new HomePod ad brings the Spike Jonze magic

By

2019 Creative Marketer of the Year
Spike Jonze is the perfect fit for Apple.
Photo: Apple

Spike Jonze’s surreal new short film about the HomePod is likely to go down as one of the year’s best Apple ads.

The Oscar-winning director’s four-minute creation is unabashedly joyful, which is a feeling that sometimes can get lost in all the Apple minimalism. Check out Jonze’s playful and creative HomePod ad below.

Google iOS app adds features Apple fans will love

By

The Google iOS app adds drag-and-drop.
The Google app adds drag-and-drop.
Photo: Google

The Google iOS app just added an iMessage extension that lets users conduct searches without leaving Apple’s chat app. Google also added a couple other features that should make life easier for Apple fans: a Safari plugin that serves up related content, and iPad drag-and-drop support.

Why iPhone X fails to win some Apple loyalists

By

iphone x
The iPhone X is the new Apple flagship. But some like their old iPhones just fine.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A Piper Jaffray survey of iPhone users who did not upgrade to the iPhone X came to a predictable conclusion: Most were satisfied with the performance of their current model and many find the X too expensive.

However, the financial services firm predicts Apple will coax some upgrades out of these users with a line of new iPhone models this fall, one of which is expected to be more affordable.

iPad magician wows Oscars crowd

By

Simon Pierro
The iPad magician liked this woman's outfit, so he gave her an Oscar out of his iPad.
Photo: Simon Pierro/YouTube

Simon Pierro presented an Oscar for a new category: best reaction to a magician pulling an actual golden statuette from an iPad.

Pierro, who travels the world as the iPad magician, capitalized on the buzz leading up to Sunday’s Academy Awards by strolling the Walk of Fame performing tricks for dumbfounded onlookers.

Here’s what Rome: Total War looks like on iPhone

By

Rome: Total War
Coming soon to an iPhone near you.
Photo: Rome: Total War

The classic PC strategy game Rome: Total War is coming to iPhone, and we couldn’t be more excited. The bad news? Developers Feral Interactive have announced that it is taking them a bit longer than expected. The good news? They’ve shared a gameplay video to keep us sweet, and it looks pretty darn awesome.

Check it out below.