Mobile menu toggle

Apple confirms massive iOS leak but says it’s not so bad

By

iphone
This leak is bad news for iPhone users.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple confirmed this morning that the leaked iOS source code that hit the web yesterday is indeed authentic.

The iPhone-maker ordered GitHub to pull the iBoot source code from its servers. Security researchers remain worried that the leak could help hackers compromise iPhones and iPads, but Apple says there’s nothing to worry about.

Big Sick creators write funny immigration TV series for Apple

By

big sick
Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon are writing a TV show for Apple.
Photo: Film Nation Entertainment

Immigration is one of the hottest issues in Washington D.C. this week and with a little help from Apple, the issue is about to take over Hollywood too.

Apple is developing yet another original TV show called Little America that’s being written by Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani and his partner Emily V. Gordon.

Fine-tune your music with Visual EQ in GarageBand for iPad

By

the equalizer
Nothing says '1980s' like a stereo with a giant graphic EQ.
Photo: Pete/Flickr public domain

One great recent addition to GarageBand for iOS is the Visual EQ, an equalizer that is about as far away from the 1980s-style bank of sliders as it’s possible to get. The Visual EQ also shows you a waveform of the actual sound you’re adjusting, so you can see as well as hear the effects immediately. This visual element, combined with a clever three-“band” EQ, makes this a very powerful tool for shaping your music.

Massive online leak reveals iPhone’s deepest secrets

By

iPhone boot up
"The biggest leak in history."
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Source code for a core component of the iPhone’s software has appeared online in what is described as “the biggest leak in history.”

iBoot, a part of iOS that ensures the device is booting a trusted operating system, was posted to GitHub anonymously. The code could be used by hackers to find vulnerabilities in Apple’s software. The company has already filed a copyright take-down request to have it removed.

How to set up Apple’s Health app to unlock its awesome fitness potential

By

Turn the iPhone Health app into a dashboard for your body
Turn the iPhone Health app into a dashboard for your body
Photo: Graham Bower/Cult of Mac

If you think the Health app is just another pointless junk app that comes preinstalled on your iPhone, think again. Unlike Stocks, Compass or Tips, it is one of the few apps that Apple won’t let you delete. Set up the Apple Health app properly, and it becomes a powerful tool for getting (or staying) fit.

You see, the Health app lies at the heart of Cupertino’s growing health and fitness ambitions. And with its underlying HealthKit API, the Health app provides the framework that Apple Watch uses to gather data on your daily activity, heart rate and workouts.

But the Health app is more than just a place for storing data. With every iOS update, Apple makes major improvements to it. So, if you still think the Health app is a waste of space, it’s probably time you gave it another look. Especially if you own an Apple Watch. You’ll find it contains loads of useful, well-presented data that can help you achieve your fitness goals.

How to see Cult of Mac stories at the top of your Facebook feed

By

See posts from cult of Mac first
Click "See First" to never miss out on our updates!
Photo: Cult of Mac

Significant changes to Facebook’s News Feed algorithm mean you might not be seeing as much news as usual. Facebook started prioritizing posts from friends over posts from pages and publications.

While this might be a welcome move for everyone who uses Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, not everyone uses the social network with the same goal in mind. I’m sure a certain number of people still prefer using Facebook simply to keep in the news loop or interact with communities/brands who are not “friends.”

Would you rather use Facebook to keep yourself updated on all things, say,  Apple? If yes, here’s how you can make sure to see stories from Cult of Mac at the top of your Facebook News Feed.

This shotgun-style microphone is perfect for YouTube shooters [Review]

By

The Rode NTG4+ microphone makes our YouTube videos sound super-crispy.

Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Since I started running Cult of Mac‘s YouTube channel, I’ve been striving for the best visuals and audio possible. Compare our latest videos with some of our earlier ones, and you should see improvements across the board.

I’ve always neglected audio, but I’ve learned over time that sound proves vital to crafting quality videos. With that in mind, I recently tried out the Rode NTG4+ microphone. Now it’s part of my essential kit for creating videos.

Check out my video review below.

China busts bogus Apple store

By

Apple store in Shanghai
Chinese fakes have been an ongoing problem for Apple.
Photo: FullbridgeProgram/Flickr CC

The Chinese governement is finally starting to crack down on fake Apple stores and service centers that look just like the real deal.

Authorities in Beijing fined a store 270,000 yuan (US$43,000) after it was found to be infrining on Apple’s intellectual property and fooling customers into thinking they were getting serviced directly by Apple.

How to disable iOS 11.3’s new battery Performance Management feature

By

battery
Next time you complain about Apple battery conspiracy theories, imagine how life would be if your iPhone ran on AAs.
Photo: James Almond/Flickr CC

Ever since Apple introduced a measure to stop iPhones from unexpectedly shutting down in iOS 11, politicians and other morons have jumped on the story to gin up publicity for themselves. Now, thanks to their efforts, Apple has added a control that lets you switch off iOS 11’s Performance Management.

If you do switch it off, then your iPhone will stop slowing performance when the battery is too weak to supply enough power, and instead you can again face unexpected shutdowns. Here’s how.

This app can help you budget your finances for the future [Deals]

By

PocketSmith does more than visualize the state of your finances, it helps you predict where they'll go.
PocketSmith does more than visualize the state of your finances, it helps you predict where they'll go.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Saving money is one of the most important things you can do, and one of the most difficult. We’re told to invest our money in a 401k, the stock market or, by some dubious sources, in cryptocurrency. Unfortunately, each is a risk (some more than others); what really helps is being able to watch and predict the course of your personal finances.

Apple Watch detects diabetes with 85% accuracy

By

Apple Watch's heart rate monitor
Apple Watch's heart rate monitor is set to get a big upgrade.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Figuring out if you have diabetes could soon be as easy as strapping on an Apple Watch.

A new study from Cardiogram shows that by using heart rate monitors on wearables like the Apple Watch, neural networks can now detect whether the wearer shows early signs of diabetes with astonishing accuracy.

Microsoft Cortana comes to iPad

By

Cortana iPad
Cortana could be reading your emails soon.
Photo: Cult of Mac

Microsoft Cortana is now available on iPad. The smart assistant comes with all the features you’ve been enjoying on iPhone since July, combined with an interface that’s optimized for massive iPad screens. It also promises a much faster experience.

Happy Valentine’s! Get an extra $10 on every gadget trade-in

By

The quickest and easiest way to get paid for your old devices.
The quickest and easiest way to get paid for your old devices.
Photo: MyPhones Unlimited

With only one week until Valentine’s Day, we’re here to help pump up your budget. Whether you’re taking out your special someone or just consuming dangerous amounts of ice cream alone, we’re giving judgment-free cash for all of your old Apple devices.

In less than a minute, you can see how much your old device is worth and have a box on its way straight to your doorstep. Head over to Cult of Mac’s gadget buyback page and see how much you can get. And don’t forget to use the coupon code “cupid” to get an extra $10!