'Don't be evil' went from the first sentence of the Google code of conduct to the very last. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Google’s founders tried to define their corporate philosophy with a single phrase: “Don’t be evil.” Now that phrase has all but disappeared from the company’s official code of conduct.
But there are questions about whether Google could be anything but evil, given that its entire business model is violating the privacy of its users.
Streamers, prepare to have your mind blown. Photo: Erfon Elijiah
Want to become the next big Fortnite star but don’t have a professional-looking streaming setup? The folks at Elgato are ready to solve all your woes with their brilliant new collapsible green screen.
Most green screens we’ve used are a pain to deal with, but not only is the new Elgato screen dead-easy to use, it’s pretty cheap, too. The CultCast producer Erfon Elijah has been playing with Elgato’s green screen the last few weeks. It blew him away with features that allow anyone to create an immersive stream instantly.
A Facebook Terragraph network provides broadband access without cable or fiber. Graphic: Facebook
Facebook and Qualcomm are working together to provide high-speed connectivity to urban areas. They’ll use Facebook Terragraph technology to build a multi-node wireless system based on 60GHz technology from Qualcomm.
The goal is to provide multi-gigabytes per second speed at a lower cost.
Podcast app Castro addresses several missing features with version 3 Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
With podcasts increasing in popularity, Castro has been one of the top third-party podcast players on the market. In version 2, Castro changed the way users manage their unplayed episodes with their podcast triage system. While it was a great update, and included some gorgeous design touches, it was missing some key listening features. With version 3, Castro adds in users most requested features to make it a truly great podcast player.
A screen glitch, frustrating to most, is beautiful to weaver Melissa Barron. Photo: Melissa Barron
The Apple II and the iconic game The Oregon Trail launched countless computer science careers – and are twin muses for weaver Melissa Barron.
The Chicago artist appreciates the similarities in a line of code and a strand of yarn as she brings analog texture to computer screens, especially the helter-skelter appearance of glitches.
When asked about Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developer’s Conference, Siri very sweetly dishes two interesting bits of news. Apple’s voice assistant will get a new voice, and she will lend it to a new HomePod.
Maybe the coolest, most tech savvy president ever. Photo: The White House
Former President Barak Obama and his wife Michelle Obama are coming to Netflix.
The duo inked a deal to produce content for the streaming service this week after reportedly being courted by Apple and Amazon earlier this year. Netflix announced the multi-year agreement today which could lead to films, scripted series, unscripted series documentaries and more.
Apple has tapped into the power of K-pop for its wild new Animoji ad that came out today. The South Korean group HYUKOH gave Apple exclusive rights to their catchy new song for the fun ad that features a dazzling array of lights and animated cityscapes.
The minute-long ad is similar in style to the Grammy-themed Animoji ads Apple put out earlier this year. Only in this one, the visuals are ramped up to an all-new level.
The Kindle app is the perfect platform for reading e-books on iPad or iPhone. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Reading books. It’s something we’ve all done at some point in our lives. People read for fun, learning or taking a break. The trouble is, having a huge collection of books takes up space and can literally weigh you down.
E-books are the solution, and the Kindle app is an excellent way to enjoy the world of literature without straining your back or your physical space. With the Kindle app, you can carry an entire library’s worth of books on your iPad or iPhone.
The rankings released this morning put Apple in the number 4 spot as ExxonMobile leapfrogged the iPhone-maker and Berkshire Hathaway to claim the number 2 spot.
Great for anyone running an Airbnb, this programmable lock opens with private codes, fingerprint ID, and Bluetooth. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
In our digital day and age, why are house keys still a thing? They’re easy to lose, easy to copy, and with a little skill and a paperclip someone can get through anyway.
A second screen that’s as portable as your MacBook. Photo: AOC
Adding an additional screen to your setup can result in a huge boost to productivity. And now it’s even easier for those who work on the go, thanks to AOC’s portable USB-C monitor.
This 15.6-inch screen is slim and light enough to take anywhere, and it can be hooked up to your MacBook or MacBook Pro using a single cable.
Headcount tax would charge Apple for every employee in Cupertino. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Cupertino could introduce a tax that would charge Apple an additional fee based on its number of employees. The city has hired a firm to poll residents asking their thoughts on such a tax, and how it should be spent.
At present, Apple has upwards of 25,000 employees in the Bay Area, although it’s not clear how many of these are specifically based in Cupertino. Apple is Cupertino’s largest employer, and has been for many years.
DirecTV Now subscribers are being rewarded with a free Apple TV 4K when prepaying for three months of service. You’ll need to cough up just $105 to take advantage of the deal. That’s $75 less than you would have to pay for a new Apple TV in stores.
According to a familiar sounding note from Nomura Instinet analyst Jeffrey Kvaal, iPhone sales aren’t inspiring, and Apple could be in for a disappointing next 12 months.
One way to address the concerns about smartphone's unhealthy impact on our lives! Photo: Softbank Selection
If you’re anything like us, chances are that you pick up your iPhone way too much. Whether it’s checking your Twitter feed or your WhatsApp messages, calling a friend, or having a quick go on the latest iOS game, the temptation that comes with having a super-power, lightweight computer with you at every moment can be tough to resist.
A new Japanese smartphone case aims to help — in a slightly unusual way. The $100 case seeks to sever your iPhone X addiction by entrapping it in a 22 pound (10kg) dumbbell.
Team Rumble just got a lot better. Photo: Epic Games
Fortnite Battle Royale’s challenges for week four of season four will be available to Battle Pass buyers tomorrow morning. But you don’t have to wait until then to find out what’s in store.
The complete list of challenges has leaked out early — and it’s going to be difficult to conquer thanks to recent changes to the game.
Passwords and email addresses were available in plaintext. Photo: ZDNet
A popular app called TeenSafe, used by parents to keep tabs on their teenage children’s phone activity, has reportedly been compromised, resulting in “tens of thousands” of account details being exposed.
While no photos, messages or location data was revealed, the database featuring parent email addresses and their corresponding child’s Apple ID email address, plaintext password and device name was accessible. The TeenSafe app described itself as a “secure” monitoring app.
The rumored inexpensive HomePod might not be called a HomePod. It could be a Beats smartspeaker instead. Photo: Apple
Rumors indicate Apple’s working on a cheaper version of the HomePod. And now there’s a new wrinkle: this device might be sold under the Beats brand name.
This would let the HomePod name stand as a premier product, while still allowing Apple to make a more affordable smartspeaker.
A royal wedding is a traditional affair, but an iPad still made an appearance at the nuptials for the Duke and Dutchess of Sussex. Screencap: CBS
It would be going too far to say that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wouldn’t be married today if it weren’t for an iPad. But one of Apple’s tablets did have an important role to play in the royal wedding.
Bishop Michael Curry delivered a sermon halfway through the ceremony. The good prelate read from notes displayed on his trusty iPad during his address.
There's no doubt the design of the Galaxy S copies the iPhone. A jury will soon rule on damages in the Apple v Samsung patent lawsuit. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
The decade-long Apple v. Samsung patent-infringement trial is nearing its end. A jury is expected to announce Monday whether the premier Android-maker owes Apple $1 billion for copying the iPhone’s design.
Go off the grid and still have a connection with goTenna Mesh Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
There are plenty of times when wireless service providers can come up short. So when traveling with friends to far-flung places, crowded concerts, or even during power outages, it’s nice to know you mesh networks offer a chance to create your own connections.
There are growing reports, tons of complaints, and a new petition claiming the butterfly keyboard in the new MacBook Pro has a critical design flaw that can’t be fixed. This episode we explore the issue with Matthew Taylor, creator of the keyboard recall petition, who tells us what’s going wrong with Apple’s butterfly keyboard, why it can’t be fixed, and why almost 26,000 people are demanding it finally be recalled.
Plus: stick around for a innovative new iPhone gimbal, a very cool throwback iPhone case, and the perfect green screen for your Twitch or Youtube streams in another tech-packed roundtable of our favorite new gadgets.
Our thanks to Udemy for supporting this episode. Whether you’re looking to learn something new or just sharpen your skills, Udemy has over 65,000 courses starting at just 11.99.
Visit Ude.my/CULTCAST or download the Udemy app to learn anytime, anywhere.
In this week's Cult of Mac Magazine: Spigen's new iPhone X case is inspired by the original iMac G3, bringing some retro charm to Apple's latest handset. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
In this week’s Cult of Mac Magazine: iPhone case-maker Spigen is launching a set of iPhone X cases inspired by the original see-through iMac G3 and the first-generation iPhone.
With a see-through outer shell, Spigen’s Classic C1 resembles the original iMac. The case commemorates the 20th anniversary of the machine, which Apple launched in 1998. The iMac was the first of a string of hit products following Steve Jobs’ return that turned Apple around.
Get the tools you need to build and protect the WordPress site of your dreams. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Most of the web’s sites run on WordPress, and for good reason. It’s one of the most powerful and flexible platforms for building rich websites. Anyone can do it, from the biggest publishers to the most humble bloggers, but having the right tools help.