Sorry, Alexa: Siri still the most widespread AI assistant Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
We might have a brand new way to activate Siri on Apple’s next-generation iPhones, according to one iOS developer.
References in Apple’s source code hint at a new gesture using the physical sleep/wake button, which will enable us to access the virtual assistant in situations where using the “Hey Siri” command isn’t ideal.
Don't ask Apple to fix your broken sixth-gen iPod nano. Photo: Apple
Apple is no longer providing repairs or service for the sixth-generation iPod nano.
The device was added to the company’s list of vintage and obsolete products on August 30, and a memo distributed to Apple stores and Authorized Service Providers confirms that repairs are no longer being carried out … unless you live in California.
Tim Cook is opposed to President Trump on immigration issues. Photo: Apple
Over the weekend, Tim Cook shared a post on Twitter, showing his support for the 250 of his Apple colleagues who entered the United States illegally as children — who currently benefit from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protection. Cook described how these employees, “deserve our respect as equals.”
His tweet comes as President Donald Trump is reportedly set to scrap the legal protections offered under the DACA program, which keeps close to 800,000 young men and women safe from deportation.
'Appy weekend everyone! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Looking for an app that will help you keep all your ideas in one place, whether you’re jotting down basic ideas or fleshing them out in more detail? This week saw the release of a tremendous mind-map and text editing app that will help you do just that.
That’s just one of the picks we’ve highlighted for this week’s “Awesome Apps” roundup. We’ve also got a fun update of an augmented reality favorite, a brilliant video app gone free, and an app for easily saving your bookmarks.
It's about time for a big change. Photo: Johannes Eret
This week on The CultCast: It’s official — Apple’s next iPhone event happens September 12! Tune in to catch our hardware predictions. Plus, we take a look at the leaked iPhone 8 UI, and how the new phone will work without a Home button.
Then we’ll regale you with the story behind the evolution of the Apple logo, and the story you’ve never heard about the purpose of its iconic bite. And stick around for an all-new What We’re Into, where Leander tells us why Game of Thrones has turned into his most despised show!
ARKit is going to be massively important for Apple. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s got no shortage of big launches coming in the next few weeks, but the one with the biggest long-term potential for Apple is ARKit. This is going to be massively important for Apple.
In this week’s issue of Cult of Mac Magazine, you’ll find that story and more. Get the latest iPhone 8 keynote event predictions. And learn how to stop your iCloud and Apple ID from getting hacked. Save big in our Watch Store this Labor Day weekend! Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.
Siri has received a lot of love in the latest iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra update. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple’s digital assistant is under new management.
Along with updating its corporate leadership page to include its two newest VPs, Apple also revealed that it has replaced Eddy Cue as Siri’s boss and given the task over to software VP Craig Federighi.
Apple's two newest Vice Presidents are veterans of the company. Photo: Apple
Apple has updated its Leadership page to include its two newest Vice Presidents, both of whom have now started in their new roles at the company.
Deirdre O’Brien is listed as Apple’s VP of People, while Isabel Ge Mahe is Apple’s Managing Director of Greater China. Check out more details concerning the new VPs below.
Apple Pay Cash will let you send money to friends using the Messages app. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Apple Pay Cash, Apple’s new peer-to-peer payments service set to debut with iOS 11, looks like it will be coming to Europe, alongside the United States.
That’s based on a new trademark application Apple filed with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) this week.
Apple will have to splash the cash to secure rights to new drama series. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple is reportedly battling with Netflix over the rights to a new original drama series starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.
The show is based around the workings of a morning television TV chat show, possibly (hopefully!) suggesting something similar to Aaron Sorkin’s The Newsroom or Sports Night.
Silicon Valley supports the rights of immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as kids. Photo: Apple
Tim Cook has joined the CEOs of Microsoft, Amazon, HP, Google, and others in signing a letter from immigration reform group FWD.us.
The letter asks that President Donald Trump keep in place legal protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children. Without this protection, they could be subject to deportation.
Apple fans have a lot of theories about the iPhone 8 invite. Photo: Alberto Bagnoli/Twitter
After the maddeningly vague invites went out for Apple’s next iPhone unveiling, it took fanboys on the internet no time at all to come up with crazy theories about what the picture on the invitation “really means.”
This year’s invite seems very abstract and completely devoid of hints. But if you squint your eyes and huff enough glue, you too can find some clues about what Apple plans to announce on September 12.
Here are some of the most outlandish theories we’ve seen from fans decoding the invite:
Time to snap up a deal on Apple's latest, greatest iPad Pro. Photo: Apple
This week, you can score a hot deal on Apple’s latest tablet, the 10.5-inch iPad Pro. Want a Mac instead? Get a fantastic price on a new iMac or save even more on a previous-generation MacBook Air!
WriteMapper is a great app for getting your thoughts in one place. Photo: WriteMapper
WriteMapper is a new Mac app that combines a mind mapper with a text editor. It works like a regular mind-mapping app, with easy-to-create nodes to get your ideas down and arrange them. But if you open a node, you get a full-featured, cleanly-designed text editor in which to write, so you don’t have to switch to a word-processor or anything else to complete your project.
Then, when you’re done, you can export the mind map as a document to publish it, or whatever you want to do with the finished text.
An all-new iOS 11 beta is here! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple surprised developers today with the release of an all-new iOS 11 beta for testing, coming just four days after the previous beta build was seeded.
The new beta build is accompanied by the ninth beta for tvOS 11. Both of the new builds appear to add a number of bug fixes and performance improvements and likely signal that the public release isn’t that far away.
Apple has come out in favor of net neutrality. Photo: Cult of Mac
Apple has finally broken its silence on the argument for net neutrality today by sending the FCC its comments on whether carriers and internet service providers should be able to provide fast lanes for companies that pay extra.
As a company that sells content through its online stores and services, Apple warned the Trump administration to not roll back protections. The company didn’t take a stance on whether the FCC should be able to protect the Internet like a utility, but it urged FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to keep the current rules in place.
The next iPhone keynote has been officially revealed by Apple today.
After months of anticipation and a flurry of rumors, Apple finally sent out media invites to its big iPhone 8 event today, welcoming the press to come to Apple Park for the big date.
ARKit is going to be a tasty innovation for Apple. Photo: Alper Guler
From the iPhone 8 to iOS 11, Apple’s got no shortage of big launches coming in the next few weeks. But the one with the biggest long-term potential for Apple is one that Tim Cook says makes him want to “yell out and scream” with excitement.
That product is ARKit, the augmented reality platform Apple unveiled this year at WWDC. Here’s why it’s going to be massively important for Apple.
Get your passport ready! (Or be prepared to wait.) Photo: Niantic
Pokémon GO developers Niantic have debuted three new Legendary Pokémon in the popular augmented reality game.
The trio of Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, from the Gold, Silver and Crystal incarnations of the game, are arguably the best Legendary Pokémon yet. Although to catch ’em all you’re going to need to shell out for some plane tickets. (Or exhibit a bit of patience!)
The mural outside the Hengzhou Apple store in China. Photo: Apple
China has confirmed that it is reviewing a possible antitrust complaint against Apple for allegedly abusing its market position in the country.
The complaint, from 28 Chinese developers, claims Apple charged excessive fees (the company’s usual 30 percent) and also removed apps from its App Store without providing a full explanation.
The new iPhone 8 is set to be big. Next year's could be even bigger. Photo: Ben Miller
The iPhone 8 may be Apple’s most significant handset update since 2014, but if you’re a lover of large smartphones you may be better off waiting on next year’s iPhone.
That’s according to a new report, claiming that Apple has started development of an additional sized OLED iPhone for 2017, which will be the largest screen iPhone yet.
Apple has donated $2 million to relief efforts. Photo: Apple
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Tim Cook has penned an open email to Apple employees, outlining the company’s efforts to help — including a $2 million donation to aid with relief efforts.
One of Apple's self-driving test vehicles. Photo: Bloomberg
Apple’s effort to build its own self-driving car has hit some more speed bumps in recent weeks.
Some of the best minds working on Apple’s Project Titan team have reportedly left the iPhone-maker to join one of the hottest autonomous vehicle start-ups in Silicon Valley.
Health, energy, and a long life are no longer the sole rewards for taking a walk. Photo: Cult of Mac
Pedometer++, from developer Underscore David Smith, is everyone’s favorite step-counting iPhone app. It’s simple, it is accurate, and it just works. Now, in version 3.0, the four-year old app gets a neat new Today widget, and — brace yourself — Achievements.