Everyone should welcome skill-based matchmaking. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Buyers of the season four Battle Pass can now complete the week three challenges in Fortnite Battle Royale. There are seven altogether — four easy and three hard — which will earn you a total of 50 Battle Stars.
This massively discounted lesson bundle offers a great primer on the lucrative fields of machine learning and AI. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The artificial intelligence industry is exploding. Machines might be coming to take our jobs, but working in AI is also one of the most lucrative gigs you can get, with salaries that reach into the 6 figures. But before you get in on AI, there’s a lot to learn.
Tim Cook shared the news during an interview with Bloomberg Television, during which he also talked about Apple’s original content push and his recent meeting with President Donald Trump.
Tim Cook has shared some of the details of his recent meeting with President Donald Trump, during which he reportedly criticized the White House’s trade war with China.
“I felt that tariffs were not the right approach there, and I showed him some more analytical kinds of things to demonstrate why,” Cook told Bloomberg Television. Cook is referring to the Trump administration’s 25 percent tariffs on around $50 billion worth of products entering the U.S. from China.
Hate being forced to watch ads? You're probably not going to be too happy. Photo: Snapchat
Snapchat has started rolling out unskippable ads, promoting everything from the new Deadpool movie to Snapple and Samsung’s Galaxy S9 handset.
These six-second ads currently appear only in the professionally produced Shows found in Snapchat’s “Discover” section. Introducing unskippable ads marks a change in the company’s advertising strategy. Previously, Snapchat allowed users to skip commercials, although this proved to be unsustainable from a business perspective.
The 2015 Lexus RX450h is Apple's vehicle of choice. Photo: Lexus
Apple still hasn’t publicly announced its plans when it comes to autonomous cars. However, in the meantime it continues to grow its fleet of self-driving test cars — which are now the second largest in the state of California.
At present, Apple has 55 self-driving vehicles that it is testing on public roads. That’s up from just three in April 2017, little over one year ago. In March this year, that number was at 45. Apple lags only behind GM Cruise, which has 104 test vehicles on the road.
The Brydge 12.9 Series II might be the closest we get to a MacBook with a touchscreen. Photo: Brydge
A second version of the Brydge 12.9 add-on keyboard for the largest iPad Pro will debut in July. Its all-aluminum casing will weigh less than its predecessor’s, it will use a newer version of Bluetooth, and the backlight will be brighter.
The Brydge line uses hinges that are also clamps to convert Apple’s tablet into a clamshell laptop. There are versions for all the various iPad sizes.
These are just some of the color options for Hadoro AirPods. Photo: Hadoro
Apple’s AirPods are more than wireless headphones; they’re fashion accessories. Hadoro AirPods take that to the next level by using alligator leather to make something any starlet or internet billionaire could be proud to be seen carrying.
The French company produces these cases in seven different colors. A black version includes a pair of matching black AirPods.
Google One is apparently going to replace Google Drive, bringing lower prices for some cloud-storage plans. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Google cut the price for 2TB cloud storage plan in half, and created a new 200GB option. It also redubbed all its online storage under a new “Google One” name.
The goal seems to be to make Google’s storage offerings for consumers more competitive with Apple’s.
Up your selfie game with iPhone X's portrait lighting feature. Photo: Apple
Apple debuted a new ad today that showcases the incredible powers of Portrait Mode on the iPhone X.
The fun new ad is similar in style to some of the wild Face ID ads Apple put out earlier this year and highlights how having an iPhone X is like literally carrying an entire array of studio lights in your pocket.
EFAIL lets hackers read encrypted emails on your iPhone. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Researchers in Europe have discovered a way to read the contents of encrypted emails sent with iOS and macOS devices. The so-called Efail exploit is significant enough that the Electronic Frontier Foundation calls it an “immediate risk.”
Apple is certainly working on a patches for all its devices, but there are ways to protect your laptop, phone and tablet now.
Spigen's new iPhone X case is inspired by the original iMac G3, bringing some retro charm to Apple's latest handset. Photo: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac
I test a lot of iPhone cases and rarely get comments. Most of them aren’t that distinctive. But a new iMac-inspired case from Spigen attracted the attention of my teenage kids and even elicited a compliment: “Cool case, Dad!”
This post is presented by Fat Cat Software, maker of PowerPhotos.
If there’s one thing photo libraries do, it’s grow. And as they increase in size, they also become harder to organize. Duplicates creep in, folders get mixed up, and the size can easily get out of control. But a Mac app called PowerPhotos offers new moves for managing your digital photo library.
The Bullpup Burst could make its way to Battle Royale. Photo: Epic
Fortnite Battle Royale could get a new assault rifle in an upcoming content update.
A “Bullpup Burst” has been uncovered in the game’s data files following its most recent release. The gun deals more damage than the regular three-burst assault rifle, and could be available in epic and legendary varieties.
Week three challenges for season four have also been leaked.
This box will switch your pedals in and out using an iPhone app. Photo: DC Pedals
There are great guitar effects apps for iOS, apps which take the signal from your electric guitar and process it with weird and/or great-sounding effects. And there are also several Bluetooth gadgets that let you control those apps with your feet.
But what about the other way around? Is there a way to take a guitarist’s collection of old-school analog effects pedals, and control them from your iPhone? Well yes, now there is. It’s DC Pedals’ Bluetooth Looper and VirtualLooper app.
iOS 11.4 is nearly ready. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
iOS 11.4 looks like it’s on track for a public release sometime around WWDC 2018.
Apple just released a big batch of betas for developers this morning, including the fifth build of iOS 11.4 which brings a number of new features and improvements to the iPhone and iPad.
Square's Cash Boost rewards program offer new ways to save. Screenshot: Gabe Trumbo/Cult of Mac
Square’s Cash App just got far more rewarding. The Cash Boost program now offers cash back at several well-known restaurants and stores, including Shake Shack and Chipotle. Even better, now anybody can participate.
With a little strategy, you can save loads of money on everyday purchases. Here’s how you can earn cash back at restaurants every day with the free Cash App.
Workflow can make the most basic of tasks incredibly simple. Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
Not all tasks are simple or straightforward. Sometimes a task involve multiple complex or repetitive steps. Having the ability to use a “program” to do these tasks quickly and easily makes you more efficient. Unfortunately, we aren’t all programmers. Workflow for iOS makes performing complex or repetitive tasks a breeze, all without needing to know a programming language.
Apple could bring back its multicolored iPhones strategy, last seen with the iPhone 5c, as a selling point for this year’s iPhone 8s handsets.
The LCD model iPhone is likely to be one of the year’s more affordable iPhone handsets, therefore making it more appealing to younger consumers. According to Rosenblatt analyst Jun Zhang, Apple could introduce colors including blue, yellow and pink. 2013’s iPhone 5c came in green, yellow, white, red and blue options.
Mark Ulriksen has been a celebrated magazine artist for years. Photo: New Yorker
New Yorker cover artist Mark Ulriksen went from “technologically illiterate” to loving working on his iPad Pro, a new profile article reveals.
Ulriksen painted by hand using acryclic and gouache paint until last October when he splashed out on a fancy new iPad Pro, Apple Pencil and copy of the app Procreate.
These enhanced Lightning cables are extra tough and extra fast. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Lightning cables are critical, moving data and delivering juice for our most important devices. One thing they typically don’t do, though, is last a long time.
Enjoy Carpool Karaoke without an Apple Music subscription. Photo: Apple
You no longer need an Apple Music subscription to enjoy Carpool Karaoke.
Apple has made the first season of its original show available for free through the Apple TV app. There are 19 episodes in total, and you can watch them on iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.
The family of victims of a 2016 EgyptAir airplane crash are suing Apple, blaming the plane crash on an overheating iOS device belonging to the co-pilot.
According to the lawsuit, the co-pilot’s iPhone 6s or iPad mini overheated in the cockpit and ultimately caused a fire, which caused the plane to crash. EgyptAir is also named in the suit.
Is it time you took a break from YouTube? Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
Hello, my name is Killian and I’m a YouTube addict.
I know I’m not the only one. There’s a large number of us out there. But now we have help. YouTube’s new “take a break” reminders let you know when it’s time to put down your phone and experience life outside of videos.
"Phil? Phil Connors?" Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Apple and Samsung are heading back to court again today for the latest chapter in their never-ending legal battle.
Seven years after Apple first sued Samsung for copying the iPhone, this is the third retrial over the same five patents being contested in the suit. And we don’t expect it to be the last retrial, either!