Mobile menu toggle

Apple Music adds new Friends Mix playlist

By

apple-music
Grab the latest update from the Play Store now.
Photo: Apple

You don’t want to be that guy who’s never heard the track all your friends are raving about. But if you use Apple Music, you don’t have to be.

The new “Friends Mix” playlist makes it easy to enjoy the songs your friends can’t get enough of. It’s updated every week, and you can enjoy it now across all devices.

EU may force iPhone to switch from Lightning to USB

By

These MFi-certified Lightning cables are sheathed in steel and designed to last forever.
What if your iPhone and iPad had a standard USB port instead of a Lightning one?
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Apple has its Lightning connector and everyone else has USB. But EU regulators are considering whether they need to force a common standard for phone chargers.

The idea is to cut down on the 51,000 tons of old chargers and cables thrown away each year.

Apple chipmaker is back up and running after malware attack

By

chips
Hopefully this won't cause delays for the iPhone.
Photo: Intel

After being knocked out of commission over the weekend by a computer virus, iPhone chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) was back up and running on Monday.

According to the manufacturer, the problem was caused by a ransomware attack from the infamous WannaCry ransomware cryptoworm. This ransomware attack first struck in May 2017, requiring victims to pay a bitcoin ransom in order to decrypt their files.

Privacy is the secret sauce that makes Apple Pay Cash special

By

Apple Pay Cash
Apple Pay Cash has one big advantage over its rivals.
Photo: Apple

From Apple Pay Cash to Venmo, there’s a growing number of peer-to-peer payment services that allow you to send cash to your friends. But which one is the safest to use?

Respected product testing publication Consumer Reports recently tested out the main apps in this space — including Apple Pay Cash, Venmo, Square Cash, Facebook Messenger, and Zelle. Although the report says that all of them work, Apple Pay Cash has one very important selling point that gives it the edge over its rivals.

Logitech’s new wireless iPhone charger solves an annoying problem [Review]

By

New Logitech Powered wireless charger for iPhone eliminates the heartbreaking nudge.
Logitech's new wireless iPhone charger eliminates the heartbreaking overnight nudge.
Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

Having a wireless charging pad on my nightstand means never having to fish around in the dark for a Lightning cable plugged into the wall. However, there’s a tradeoff: Switching to wireless charging also means I’ve awakened to a nearly drained iPhone more often than ever before.

Well, help is on the way for this admittedly first-world problem. The new Logitech Powered Wireless Charger eliminates the main drawback I’ve found when it comes to charging my iPhone wirelessly.

The WiDuo Apple Watch and iPhone charging pad back in stock [Watch Store]

By

wiDuo
The WiDuo is specifically designed to blend in with Apple's minimally-designed products.
Photo: Wiplabs

For lovers of versatility, and Apple gear, I bring you a two-in-one charging solution for iPhone and Apple Watch. Who doesn’t enjoy a twofer?

The WiDuo by Wiplabs is a beautifully minimalist charging pad that provides up to 20 percent faster charging that many of its wireless competitors. And, it’s cute and sleek to boot. Pop it in a bag or briefcase for on-the-go charging.

Android Pie spotlights Google’s broken upgrade system

By

Android 9 Pie is now available to a handful of people who own the right devices. Everyone else gets to wait.
Android 9 Pie is now available to a handful of people who own the right devices. Everyone else gets to wait.
Photo: Google

Google released Android 9 (Pie) to the public today, which should completely thrill the tiny percentage of Android users who can install it. For many, the wait for an upgrade will be months. For others, buying a new device is the only option to access this version.

Contrast this with iOS, which is always available to virtually everyone who wants it on the day it’s released.

Inexpensive LCDs could stay in Apple’s iPhone lineup until 2020

By

2018 iPhone compared to 2017 iPhone X
The 6.1-inch iPhone anticipated for this fall apparently won't be Apple's last with an LCD screen.
Photo: Jonas Dähnert

LG has reportedly been contracted to create LCD panels for an iPhone model that will be released next year. If true, it means that Apple is definitely planning a phone with a traditional LCD in 2019, and isn’t going to all OLED screens. At least not yet

An earlier unconfirmed report indicated that this fall’s LCD iPhone will be the company’s last. That’s perhaps not surprising. given that OLED displays are superior in several ways

Developers get their mitts on iOS 12 beta 6

By

iOS 12
Developers, and others testing iOS 12 beta versions, already get to take advantage of the faster performance promised at WWDC.
Photo: Apple

Apple is moving along through the beta phase of releasing iOS 12. The first version was released back in June, and today sees the debut of iOS 12 beta 6.

With the release just happening, we don’t yet know if it has any surprises. Beta 5 eventually revealed quite a bit about Apple’s plans.

If you aren’t sleeping with buckwheat under your head, it’s time to wake up

By

The Hullo buckwheat pillow is all-natural and made in the USA.
The Hullo buckwheat pillow is all-natural and made in the USA.
Photo: Hultex

This post is brought to you by Hulltex, maker of the Hullo buckwheat pillow.

I’ve been using a buckwheat pillow for a week now and there’s no turning back. My buckwheat pillow never needs to be turned over to keep cool or folded to provide better support, and it leaves my neck and back muscles totally relaxed while I sleep. You definitely have to try a buckwheat pillow.

dotEPUB is the best way to save and annotate websites in iBooks

By

dotEPUB turns web pages into fantastic-looking ebooks.
dotEPUB turns web pages into fantastic-looking ebooks.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

In my constant search for a way to save and annotate webpages like I used to do with Instapaper before it cut off access to Europe instead of complying with GDPR laws, I came across a great service called dotEPUB.

This quick-and-easy service lets you save and convert any webpage into an EPUB document. Then you can open the file in Apple’s Books app and mark it up just like any other ebook. Let’s take a look at how dotEPUB works.

Even a fat Apple paycheck won’t buy an overpriced Bay Area house

By

Apple salaries
Hardware engineers at Apple's Cupertino campus.
Photo: Apple

Your fantasy about working in Cupertino probably leads you to believe the pay is good. You would be correct, but according to more than half of the developers and supervisors at Apple, even their fat paychecks aren’t not enough to afford a house in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Some 60 percent of Apple workers, as surveyed by anonymous messaging app Blind, say home prices are too spendy even with salaries that exceed the national average by more than double.

T-Mobile’s cheap new unlimited data plan is always throttled

By

t-mobiles-next-uncarrier-move-could-be-unlimited-streaming-video-image-cultofandroidcomwp-contentuploads201510TMOUncarrier0517-jpg
T-Mobile calls itself the Un-carrier, and tries to undercut the prices of its competition. Its new Essentials plan is one example.
Photo: T-Mobile

T-Mobile just added a third unlimited data plan for your iPhone or Android. This one costs less than the others, but also offers less. And it comes wit a big caveat: it’s always subject to slowdowns.

No changes are being made to the earlier T-Mobile One and One Plus plans.

Your Apple Watch deserves a Proper charger [Review]

By

proper
The Proper dock is minimalist, like an Apple Watch charger should be.
Photo: Studio Proper

Sadly, most Apple Watch charging stands look like utter crap. For a device beloved by Apple fans — some of the most design-savvy people on the planet — the Apple Watch accessories selection seems strangely miserable.

Some Apple Watch chargers look like old-school joysticks. Others look like Amish craftwork or the kind of 1980s rack you might see in a department store, loaded with ugly shirts nobody wants.

Escape emails and get work done with Slack [50 Essential iOS Apps #45]

By

Slack iOS app on iPhone in front of computer
Slack helps you get work done by opening up direct lines of communication.
Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac

50 Essential iOS Apps: Slack Email can be a total productivity bottleneck. Following conversations between multiple participants gets confusing. The unfortunate result of all this email chaos? Important tasks get lost in long email chains.

Luckily for collaborators everywhere, messaging app Slack replaces the need for internal email, allowing for real-time productivity and communication for teams. Instead of redundant threads and signatures, Slack strips away the cruft of the email inbox. It turns your communication into what it was meant to be — a conversation.

In-car AR system could let you FaceTime other vehicles

By

Ford CarPlay
Apple has big plans for the future of in-car infotainment systems.
Photo: Ford

Here’s an idea that, on the surface, sounds totally dangerous: an in-car display that let you make FaceTime calls to people in different vehicles. I mean, keeping your eyes on the road is 2017, right?

In fact, the concept — which was the subject of a recent patent application from Apple — is pretty darn smart. Apple’s invention describes a future augmented reality windshield system that could project various bits of information as you drive in an autonomous or non-autonomous vehicle.

Google’s new Pixel 3 will fight iPhone from October

By

Pixel 2
Prepare for new Pixels right after iPhone X Plus.
Photo: Google

Google is gearing up to deliver its next-generation Pixel 3 smartphones in October, a leaked marketing ad confirms.

The devices are expected to fight the iPhone with even larger edge-to-edge displays and new features. And just like the iPhone X, the Pixel 3 could make its way into the hands of YouTube content creators before it reaches other reviewers.

$1,000 iPhone X just the start of rising smartphone prices

By

iPhone X laying down
I wanted a Galaxy S10, but I'm stuck with iPhone.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s bet on a $1,000 smartphone has paid off in a big way, and that’s bad news for iPhone fans.

As the iPhone X continues to be Apple’s best-selling smartphone, analysts warn that it will encourage even higher price tags year after year. You can expect this year’s iPhone lineup to be even more expensive, and you won’t save much by shopping elsewhere.

Apple’s new iPhone strategy for world’s second-biggest market

By

Apple supplier is increasing its ability to build masses of iPhones in India
Apple's got renewed focus on India.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple may be kicking all kinds of butt on the global stage, but it’s struggling in India, where the iPhone currently ranks 11th in the overall list of smartphones. To put that in perspective, Apple accounts for just 1 percent of India’s iPhone sales, with fewer than 1 million handsets sold in the first half of this year.

But it’s got a plan (well, several) to change all that.

Fortnite leak confirms Android users’ worst fears

By

Fortnite Wingman Starter Pack
Yes, you'll need a Samsung to play Fortnite for Android.
Photo: Epic Games

Fortnite Battle Royale will be exclusive to Samsung devices when it finally comes to Android, a new leak has confirmed.

The upcoming Galaxy Note 9 or a second Samsung device will be required to play the game initially. Even if you happen to obtain the Fortnite package for Android, it won’t run on your handset until Samsung’s exclusive deal comes to an end.

It’s not yet clear exactly how long that will last.

Pokémon Go could finally get player battles this year

By

Pokémon Go
Battling is the feature every Pokémon fan has been waiting for.
Photo: Niantic

You will finally get the chance to battle against other trainers in Pokémon Go, developer Niantic has confirmed.

The feature could be added into the game before the end of 2018. It will follow the introduction of friends lists, trading, and gifting — and should give players a big reason to keep playing.

Apple Watch Series 3 gets its first jailbreak

By

Apple Watch Series 3
If you've been dreaming of jailbreaking your Apple Watch, today is your lucky day!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Jailbreaking isn’t nearly as big news as it was in the early days of the iPhone. However, that doesn’t mean we’re not excited to hear about a new Apple device being given the jailbreak treatment.

That’s what happened recently when jailbreaker Tihmstar released the first “almost complete” jailbreak for the Apple Watch Series 3, running watchOS 4.1. However, the jailbreak will also work on older Apple Watches with slight modifications.

‘iPhone 9’ leak hints at big camera improvements

By

iPhone 9 camera leak
iPhone 9 could pack Apple's best camera yet.
Photo: Slashleaks

You’ll miss out on a secondary rear-facing camera if you opt for the more affordable “iPhone 9” this fall, but the single sensor you will get could be Apple’s best yet.

An apparent spy shot of the device corroborates claims that it will pack an even larger camera lens for snapping better photos and videos. You can also expect optical image stabilization for enhanced low-light performance.

Apple removes InfoWars and Alex Jones podcasts

By

Alex Jones
Alex Jones is a prominent online conspiracy theorist.
Photo: InfoWars

Apple has removed the entire back catalog for five of far-right conspiracy theory website InfoWars’ six podcasts on iTunes and its Podcasts app. One of these shows is the daily “War Room” show hosted by owner and radio host Alex Jones.

The podcasts were removed due to their breaking of Apple’s hate speech guidelines. It comes as part of a concerted effort by Silicon Valley to cut down on the spread of so-called “fake news” online.