The smart home industry’s universal technology standard, Matter, will get a significant update that could make it easier for Apple users to integrate non-Apple devices into their smart home setups, according to a new report. The new Matter 1.4 update introduces several key improvements, some long-awaited — including enhanced multi-admin capabilities and expanded device support.

AirPods come with no obvious controls, so it’s easy to think you just stick them in your ears and start listening. But Apple’s wireless earbuds offer features that aren’t immediately obvious. We recently published six hidden tips and tricks for AirPods. Now here are a few more you might not know.

The latest group covers how to easily control your AirPods, how to find a lost one, and a simple way to extend their battery life.

Apple’s latest M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro refresh brings significant improvements to its professional laptop line, with reviewers praising the upgraded base model and impressive performance gains across the board. Here’s what the top tech publications are saying about the 2024 MacBook Pro with M4 chips.

“All the things that have made Apple silicon-based MacBook Pros great are still here, now powered by the impressively upgraded M4 chip,” noted Jason Snell on the Six Colors blog. “Apple has also sufficiently improved the base model to finally elevate it out of ‘Why does this exist?’ territory, boosted the device’s world-class display and seriously upgraded the built-in webcam. Not bad for a small update.”

If there were concerns that Apple overstepped by shrinking the 2024 Mac mini while also dropping in a super-fast processor, lay them to rest. Early M4 Mac mini reviews praise the redesign and rave about the performance boost that comes from Apple’s latest processors.

Here’s a roundup of comments on the tiny new macOS desktop.

Concept designer Antonio De Rosa issued a slick new set of designs Thursday for what he’s calling “17 Pro Max: Thinnovation,” despite Apple’s legal department getting in his face a while back over some of his concepts looking “too real.” For the new one, he left out the word “iPhone” and used AI to help avoid copyright infringement, he said. And his passion for the work — and for Apple — outweighed his fear of retribution.

“Call me a fanboy, but I love these products and even the illusion to ‘work’ for any of those,” De Rosa told Cult of Mac. “It makes me feel happy. Maybe I can save them some headaches looking at my works; they could say ‘Naaa, this is ugly, let’s pass on [it].’ Who knows, maybe I’m helping to have less ugly phones.”

The predictions of a MacBook Air in 2027 could turn out to be optimistic, according to sources in the screen panel industry. Prices for the OLED display are high, and there’s reason to question demand for the new type of screen.

An OLED MacBook Pro is expected sooner, however.

As companies race to prevent data breaches and system vulnerabilities, aspiring cybersecurity experts need comprehensive training that covers a wide range of tools and techniques. It’s hard to learn hacking on your own, but the 2024 All-in-One Ethical Hacking Course Bundle will get you up to speed and prepare you for high-paying jobs.

Take these courses, and you will gain the practical skills you need for cybersecurity jobs. You’ll learn all about ethical hacking and receive the knowledge you need to land prestigious certifications. While it’s on sale, this bundle costs just $44.99 (regularly $719).

Despite nearing its first anniversary, the iPhone 15 was the world’s highest-selling smartphone in Q3 2024. The iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 15 Pro occupied the second and third positions, respectively.

In total, four iPhones were among the best-selling smartphones in Q3 2024.

Apple reportedly will switch its servers that power Apple Intelligence to M4 chips next year. Currently, these servers use the M2 Ultra, the same chip found inside the Mac Pro and Mac Studio.

Apple is also reportedly in talks with Foxconn to manufacture AI servers to enhance the company’s AI processing capabilities.

In a market where premium displays often command premium prices, Asus just made waves with its new ProArt Display PA27JCV, launching at an eye-catching $799 price point. The 27-inch 5K monitor aims to challenge the status quo of high-end displays. But Mac users should weigh its advantages against its limitations.

“Build quality is what you’d expect; it’s plastic, it creaks and wobbles, but the panel is super bright and crisp,” said Cult of Mac writer D. Griffin Jones, who acquired the monitor and plans to review it soon. For those looking for a high-quality alternative, the studio display apple offers a premium option designed specifically for Mac users. Read more about it here.

Mac keyboard shortcuts are a great way to speed yourself up when you’re using your computer. Mastering them means more time spent getting things done and less time spent moving your hands back and forth between keyboard and trackpad.

There are the basic Mac keyboard shortcuts like Command-C and Command-V for copy and paste; Command-B, Command-I and Command-U for bold, italics and underline; Command-Z and Shift-Command-Z for undo and redo. But for a lot of people, that’s where their knowledge ends.

You can do so much more than you may know. Here’s a guide to the best Mac keyboard shortcuts.

These days, folks who use their computer setups to work on media, especially video, tend to rely on some sort of studio controller to streamline workflow. Today’s MacBook Pro user and YouTube video maker takes advantage of one of the top products out there, Elgato Stream Deck. Now the company is on its newer MK.2 edition. The device gives you 15 customizable keys to control all sort of actions in your workflow, including launching apps, posting to social media, adjusting lights and audio, and more.

High-end and midrange iPads can make full use of an external display. Anyone who uses a second screen for their iPad needs to know how to tell iPadOS where the external display is positioned: left, right or above the tablet. However, it’s not that simple to find the setting that lets you adjust your iPad display arrangement.

Apple buried the necessary setting. Here’s how to find it.

Apple gave its MacBook Pro lineup an M4-focused refresh last week. From the outside, the new laptops might look the same as their M3 predecessors, but that’s not the case.

Look closely, and you’ll notice the M4 MacBook Pros come with subtle yet important upgrades. Read below to learn everything that’s changed between the M4 and M3 MacBook Pro family.

For anyone who works with PDFs regularly, AI-powered PDF editor Afirstsoft PDF might be the secret weapon you need. This tool brings AI right into your PDF management, and you can score lifetime access at a one-time price.

If you’re tired of digging through pages of dense content just to find the info you need, Afirstsoft PDF can save you serious time. Get lifetime access for just $49.99 (regularly $179).

iOS 18.2 could introduce a new feature that would tell how long your iPhone will take to charge. As of now, iPhones only show the battery percentage while charging and little else.

Almost all Android phones show the remaining time for a full charge on the lock screen when topping up their battery wired or wirelessly.

You can use Apple Maps to plan multiple stops along the same route. You can add three, four or even 15 stops to your trip if you want.

Here’s how it works.

The CRKD Atom looks small enough to be a game controller for a doll, but it’s designed to clip on your keychain for gameplay wherever you go. It’s a way to have some fun with your iPhone when you find yourself with some unexpected time to kill.

I played with it, and while the complete lack of sticks greatly limits the controller, it’s possible to have fun with retro games.

Doesn’t it seem like the B&H Photo Holiday Head Start sale gets going earlier every year? Just kidding, never heard of it — but it looks tempting all the same. Sorting by brand, we saw that you can scroll down the page to see miles of Apple holiday deals, bagging more than 100 great bargains on pretty much the whole range of products, from MacBooks to AirTags.

There’s nothing more crucial to healthy living than clean water. One of the best ways to ensure you have it at home is to use a robust, high-capacity water filtration system like the Viomi Vortex 8 reverse osmosis water purifier. And not only will your water be clean with the Viomi V8 — it will be tasty and extra-healthy because it’s mineral-enhanced.

In a launch day special on Kickstarter, you can get the Viomi V8 for just $299 ($349 with extra filter). That’s 42% off an advanced water-purification system that will produce four years of clean water, so you can stop wasting money on bottled water.

Update: With the U.S. election now over, this feature has been disabled.

As Americans head to the polls Tuesday for the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Apple makes it easier than ever for iOS users to stay informed with real-time results. The Apple News app’s Live Activities feature displayed election results right on an iPhone or iPad’s Lock Screen and Home Screen.

You can set it up with just one tap in Apple News on each device. But watch out: Doing so could ensure you’ll obsessively look at your devices thousands of times in the next couple days as results come in.

The espresso Display 15, an ultra-thin 15-inch monitor, launched Tuesday. It boasts an aerospace aluminum casing, not the usual plastic, but a lower price than previous high-end portable displays from this company. It gets power and data from a MacBook or iPad via a single USB-C connection.

It’s paired with Stand+, an ergonomic stand with a surprising trick.

It’s hard to jump into a conversation in a second language, even if you’ve been practicing on your own. Without someone to talk to, it’s hard to know if you’re getting things just right. This HelloTalk VIP discount changes that by giving you direct access to native speakers of other languages, making language learning practical, social and genuinely enjoyable.

This isn’t just another language app — it’s a chance to explore more than 150 languages through real conversations with millions of users worldwide. And right now, a lifetime subscription is 40% off.

Apple is allegedly working on a 90Hz display for the next-gen iPad Air, 24-inch iMac, and the Studio Display. All these devices currently sport a 60Hz panel.

The 90Hz screen will apparently debut on the M3 iPad Air before making its way to other devices. Apple’s focus on display technology aligns with its iterative improvements in the iPhone lineup, including models like the iPhone 3 SE, which aimed to balance affordability with performance.

The 90Hz screen will apparently debut on the M3 iPad Air before making its way to other devices.

Everyone misplaces their iPhone.* You’re walking around, you set down your iPhone, you do some chores, you get ready to go. Where is it? If you own an Apple Watch, it really is the fastest way to find your lost iPhone.

It’s totally easy to ping your iPhone from your Apple Watch. At the push of a button, you can make your iPhone ring, even if it’s on silent. And, while you might know about the basic feature that lets you ping your iPhone, the Apple Watch also offers advanced options for tracking down your missing device.

Bonus: Even if you don’t own an Apple Watch, anyone in your Family Sharing group can ring your iPhone even louder with the Find My app. And if you don’t have a family, you can use any other device signed into your Apple account.