This week we use our iPhones to replace the missing screen on an $8k camera, we sketch on the screen with Linea Go, and we breathe a sigh of relief that we can finally replace that terrifying new Tweetbot 5 app icon.
Wirelessly revive your iPhone at home or on the road with these convenient, quick chargers. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Wireless charging is one of the coolest features of today’s smartphones. But depending on where you are, it can be more or less convenient. So we’ve rounded up a pair of wireless chargers for Qi-enabled phones, perfect for any home, office, or automobile.
Compare the battery sizes of the iPhone 8, iPhone XR, iPhone 8 Plus, and the iPhone XS. The one from the XR is thicker than the 8 Plus'. Photo: IFIXIT
The first teardowns of the iPhone XR reveal a surprising fact: it has a larger battery than virtually all previous iOS smartphones, even the iPhone XS.
Reviews of the iPhone XR indicate it lasts a long time between charges, though no one agrees on exactly how long. Apple promises that this device will go 1.5 hours longer than the iPhone 8 Plus.
Just how good is the iPhone XR? We're head over heels! Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
The world can’t stop raving about the iPhone XR, Apple’s reasonably priced underdog. Sure, it’s not exactly cheap. And it doesn’t pack all the features of the iPhone XS and XS Max. However, it does check most of the boxes. And in some ways, it’s actually better than Cupertino’s current high-end offerings.
Find out why everybody’s going completely nuts for the iPhone XR in this week’s issue of our magazine. It’s free and it’s fun to read on an iPad or iPhone. Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes now.
Bonus: Read on for a chance to win the iPhone XR we showcased in our unboxing video!
We've rounded up some of the best deals on gear that'll enhance your active life. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The more technology enters our lives, the harder it can be to stay physically active. So, to help keep healthy, we’ve rounded up some of the best tech for staying fit. We’ve got workout-ready Bluetooth earbuds, a year of online personal training, a portable home gym, and a fitness-oriented smartwatch. Most are discounted by more than half, read on for more details:
Nyloon is offering two NATO-style Apple Watch bands for $65 on the Cult of Mac Apple Watch Store. Photo: Ste Smith / Cult of Mac
Halloween is right around the corner and to celebrate this spooky holiday, Nyloon is offering a limited-time deal through the Cult of Mac Watch Store on their top-notch NATO-style bands.
Starting Saturday October 27th and ending on Wednesday October 31 (Halloween night) you can snag two Nyloon Apple Watch bands for only $65 from our online Watch Store. This is the perfect time to stock up on gifts for friends and family, or to just treat yourself!
Enter to win this gorgeous blue iPhone XR. Photo: Kristal Chan/Cult of Mac
After unboxing the brand new iPhone XR, I can confidently say that this is a fantastic phone. Apple cut very few corners. The iPhone XR is beautifully designed, with a great big, edge-to-edge display. It’s incredibly fast, and camera performance is excellent. It looks awesome. The drawbacks are mostly minor.
Basically, it’s a $1,200 phone in a $750 package.
Check out the video to see our first impressions. Then read on to find out how you can enter to win the 128GB blue speed demon showcased in the video. Yep, it’s free to enter our iPhone XR giveaway. (Frankly, it’s going to be hard to part with this beautiful machine.)
The iPhone XS' new bokeh tool is just the beginning. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
The iPhone XS camera is pretty incredible. The device uses its two rear cameras, plus the A12 chip’s Neural Engine, to record such an accurate 3D map of the scene that you can adjust the background blur with a slider. But that depth map is useful for more than just blurring backgrounds. It can be used by other apps to:
Add realistic lights to a scene.
Choose any subject to be in focus, not just the one you picked when shooting.
Add custom background blurs.
Remove and replace backgrounds, like movie green-screen effects.
The iPhone XS is the gold standard for iOS cameras, but the XR manages some excellent tricks of its own. Despite having only one rear camera, the XR can still recognise people, and then use AI and the super-powerful A12 Neural Engine to separate out the person form the background. While this portrait matte isn’t as detailed as an iPhone XS depth map, it can in theory still be used to do many of the same tricks.
Today we’ll look at the best depth apps for the new iPhone XS, XR, and XS Max.
More than a year of reporting went into "The Big Hack," an explosive story about Chinese spy chips. Photo: Bloomberg Businessweek
Apple and Amazon are already starting to make retaliatory moves on Bloomberg Businessweek for its claims that the two companies’ servers were hacked by China.
Amazon pulled its Q4 ads from Bloomberg’s website, cutting off significant ad revenue. Meanwhile, Apple has decided to give Bloomberg the old Gizmodo treatment — by banning the company from next week’s “There’s More in the Making” event.
Europeans, you can easily save your wearable from an Apple Watch DST bug causing you problems on Sunday. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Daylight Saving Time comes to an end in Europe early Sunday morning, and this could cause problems for Apple Watch Series 4 owners.
There could be a repeat of what happened in Australia earlier this month. Apple Watch wearers saw their wearable crash over-and-over on the day DST ended because one of the Watch complications couldn’t deal with a 25-hour day.
The new iPhone XR sure is nice. With a large, drool-worthy Liquid Retina display, and a lightweight aluminum build sporting a bunch of new colors, they’re worth showing off. Unfortunately, they also carry a steep price. You’d be smart to get a tough case — but not one that obscures their beautiful design.
iPhone XR performance is stellar, far better than many Android devices that cost more. Photo: Apple
The new iPhone XR costs at least $250 less than the iPhone XS models but has the same A12 Bionic processor. That gives Apple’s latest significantly faster performance than any of its Android rivals, even the most expensive.
Benchmarks show the XR is 25 percent quicker than Samsung’s fastest, despite costing far less.
Memoji are awesome. Here's how to make your own. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
iOS 12 lets you create Memoji, your own custom Animoji. What’s an Animoji? It’s a little animated character that — thanks to some facial recognition tricks from the latest iPhones’ TrueDepth cameras — copies your expressions live. This turns the cute Animoji critters into little virtual face puppets.
Now you don’t need to rely on a stock Animoji like Apple’s monkey, dog or space alien. You can create your own custom Memoji from scratch. You can make a virtual version of yourself, or you can create an original character. Or, as we’ll do today, you can copy a celebrity. Who? Let’s see …
Apple earnings could be about to reach new heights. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple enjoyed an incredible start to 2018 thanks to a record-breaking holiday quarter, but according to one analyst, this year’s will be even better.
Thanks to an impressive new iPhone lineup and the best Apple Watch yet, revenue could reach insane new heights as we see out 2018. iPhone sales alone are predicted to surpass a staggering 81 million units!
For the first time in years, Apple's best iPhone is also its cheapest. Photo: Apple
The iPhone XR is out and, for the first time in years, Apple’s most exciting device isn’t the one that commands the really big bucks. For all the talk of an “Apple tax,” 2018’s coolest iPhone starts at just $749. That’s half the price of a top-of-the-line iPhone XS Max.
These tips will get you off to the best possible start with your new iPhone XR. Photo: Apple
For many people, the iPhone XR will be radically different from previous iPhones. Despite this, the iPhone setup process hasn’t changed much. However, while you might find yourself on familiar ground, there are still plenty of little things you really ought to do before you fire up your new phone for the first time (or pretty soon thereafter).
Let’s take a look at how to set up your new iPhone XR the right way.
The prettiest Apple Watch dock money can buy? Photo: Just Mobile
Keep your precious Apple Watch safe, charged, and scratch-free with Just Mobile’s low-profile and totally sleek HoverDock charging bed, available in the Cult of Mac Watch Store for a modest $34.95.
Visually stunning and truly functional in the same nature, Just Mobile’s charging bed is simple to use and more importantly an absolute steal. With an integrated support for Apple Watch’s Magnetic Charging Cable, HoverDock keeps pesky cables out of sight and your precious timepiece powered up and always ready to double as a bedside alarm clock all for under $40.
We filmed an unboxing video to show you why this is the best, affordable Apple Watch charging stand for you:
This week’s Apple Pay promotion lets you enjoy free track selections inside the TouchTunes app. Simply make a purchase of $10 or more before midnight on October 31 and use Apple Pay at checkout to receive three bonus credits.
It's time to upgrade if you haven't already. Photo: WhatsApp
WhatsApp is one of the biggest messaging platforms on the planet, and it has somehow gone without support for stickers — until now!
Some users now have the ability to send and receive stickers, and the rest will be able to enjoy the same functionality on both Android and iOS in the coming weeks. A selection of sticker packs from WhatsApp own designers are available, and third-party packs are coming soon.
Robbery comes shortly after massive crime spree targeting Apple Stores. Photo: Mike Mozart/Flickr CC
Upwards of $150,000 worth of Macs, iPads, and Apple Watches was stolen this week from a Best Buy stores in Peoria, Illinois. The theft took place overnight on Wednesday.
It was noticed by the manager early the following day, who filed a report with the Peoria Police Department. The theft is described by Lt. Mike Boland, who leads the department’s detective bureau, as one of the largest heists in terms of dollar value in recent memory.
Thinking the iPhone XR would have been worth the wait? Photo: Apple
The early reviews for the camera on the iPhone XR have been impressive – and that has a few who purchased the iPhone XS wishing they had waited a few weeks.
Apple, trying to accommodate more budget-minded consumers, announced the mid-range iPhone XR for $799 at the same time it unveiled the more expensive iPhone XS and XS Max.
The XS line was available on Sept. 21 while the XR, not quite ready for shelves then, went on sale today.
Easily scan and define any color on any surface, to be used for paint or digital applications. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Color is easy to appreciate, but tough to identify precisely. Is that midnight blue or navy blue? Or if you’re working on a computer, is that shade of red more firebrick (#B22222) or strawberry (#BE2625)? It’s ok, you don’t have to know the answer.
Oracle founder Larry Ellison may have been Steve Jobs’ BFF and even considered buying Apple at one point, but he doesn’t agree with everything the company does. In a recent interview, Ellison criticized Apple’s refusal to help hack an iPhone belonging to a shooter in the 2015 San Bernardino attack.
The case blew up into a massive standoff between Apple, in favor of privacy, and the FBI. Speaking on Fox, Ellison called Apple’s behavior, “bizarre.”
Face ID should work in any orientation on the new iPad Pro. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Code discovered in Apple’s latest iOS 12.1 beta confirms its next-generation iPad Pro lineup will pack Face ID — and it will work in both portrait and landscape mode.
Users will be asked to set up the facial recognition system in portrait mode, but once this process is complete, the new iPad Pro can be unlocked in either orientation.