Ive is back manning Apple's day to day design. Photo: Vanity Fair/YouTube
Jony Ive is reportedly returning to hands-on design duties at Apple, two years after being promoted to the role of Chief Design Officer.
According to an Apple spokesperson, “With the completion of Apple Park, Apple’s design leaders and teams are again reporting directly to Jony Ive, who remains focused purely on design.”
These five add-ons will make any iPhone better. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Picking up an iPhone means putting an amazing device in your pocket. But there are plenty of ways to make it even better. We’ve rounded up five deals on peripherals and lessons that can enhance anyone’s iPhone experience. That includes wireless charging batteries, a robust car mount, truly wireless earbuds, lessons in iOS coding, and more. Each is discounted massively, some by more than 90 percent. Read on for more details:
It seems that with every software update, Apple fans face new problems. A recent doozy of a security flaw left Macs wide open to attacks. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple built its trillion-dollar reputation delivering beautiful hardware that turned tedious tasks into magical experiences. But, a recent string of ridiculous bugs put Cupertino in a precarious position: If Apple doesn’t stop the screw-ups, it could permanently sully its good name.
In this week’s issue, you’ll find that story and more. Learn how to track package deliveries on iPhone, Mac and Apple Watch. Check out our Gift Giving Guides and get your holiday shopping out of the way now! Get your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes. Or read on for this week’s top stories.
We've rounded up 5 great productivity upgrades for your Mac. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
Getting a Mac is just the first step. To get the most out of your new machine, you’ll want the right apps and peripherals. So we’ve gathered five of the best extras for any Mac. That includes a port expander, portable powerstrip, Apple Mail and iTunes replacements, and a WiFi ‘heat mapper’. Everything is discounted by 25 percent or more, read on for more details:
Phil Schiller says iPhone X will dictate the direction of smartphones for the next decade. Photo: Apple
Apple marketing guru Phil Schiller has heard the haters saying the iPhone X wasn’t the first smartphone to get facial recognition. But according to Schiller, that doesn’t matter at all.
“They all stink,” says Schiller in a new interview discussing Apple’s new facial recognition feature. The wide-ranging interview touches on everything from AirPods to virtual reality, but what sets Face ID apart is what got Schiller the most excited.
Shazam, an essential iPhone app for years, just got better. Photo: Shazam
Apple is adding another key weapon to its war chest in the battle against Spotify, based on a new report that claims the company plans to acquire the app Shazam.
The popular app helps users identify any song, TV show or movie in seconds just by listening to it via a smartphone’s microphone. iOS integrated Siri with Shazam a few years ago, but it appears that Apple’s looking to bring the entire operation in-house.
Apple's Lightning cable works great, right up until it doesn't. Photo: Richard Unten/Flickr CC
Lightning cables are the most boring part of your iPhone or iPad kit, but one of the most essential. After all, without one your iPhone won’t last much longer than a day. Apple’s cables prove adequate, but we wouldn’t recommend buying one as a replacement or a spare. You can find several better (and cheaper) options for charging your iDevices. Here are our picks for the best Lightning cables.
Supercharge your life with the Tim Ferriss Tribe of Mentors Dream Setup giveaway. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
The New York Times best-selling author Tim Ferriss is widely regarded as one of today’s leading productivity gurus. His latest book, Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice From the Best in the World, just dropped, and it’s full of great pointers for people looking to make the most out of their time and energy. To mark the book’s release, we’re sharing this giveaway of top-shelf Apple tech.
VeeR Editor is super simple, incredibly powerful. Photo: VeeR
Immersive 360-degree photos and videos are a spectacular way to showcase your best adventures… until you need to edit them. But now that’s easier than ever, thanks to VeeR Editor, the world’s first 360-degree photo and video editor for iOS.
If you love Legos and the clicky feeling of using a mechanical keyboard then prepare to meet the keyboard of your dreams.
Lego master builder Jason Allemann revealed his latest creation today that transforms an old school mechanical keyboard into a fully customizable Lego creation. The Lego keyboard uses a Cooler Master Quick Fire Rapid keyboard as a base and replaces the frame and keys using 3D printed Cherry MX Lego compatible keycaps.
Pack everything and keep it all powered up. Photo: Visvo
Why bother with basic backpacks when you can buy one oozing with tech designed to make life a whole lot easier. Meet Novel, a new generation of bags that come packing everything you need on the road in the modern age.
Learn how to build working, immersive AR apps in iOS 11. Photo: Cult of Mac Deals
One of the most exciting features in new iPhones is its specialized support for augmented reality. So for developers, that means a whole new era of interactive and immersive content. But it also means learning the ins and outs of ARKit in iOS 11 and Swift 4.
Get your hands on TV in iOS and tvOS today. Photo: Apple
Apple’s TV app is finally expanding its reach to new markets. Starting today, it is available in the U.K., France, and Germany, bringing all your favorite content providers together in one place.
But shipments will remain strong through Q1 2018. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple suppliers claim that, having enjoyed a surge in orders for the iPhone X in September and October, orders are now starting to decline.
According to sources in Apple’s supply chain, orders weakened in November, and are dropping even further this month. Shipments for Q1 are reportedly around 30 percent lower than previously forecast.
We've spent all year reviewing gadgets and we're ready to reveal our favorites. Photo: Apple
This week on The CultCast, we reveal not five, not 10, but 18 of the best gadgets of the year! Plus: The Amazon Prime Video is finally available for your Apple TV, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about iOS 11’s new Apple Pay Cash feature.
Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace.com website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off any hosting plan.
Apple is giving its iPhone batteries a boost next year. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Frequently reliable KGI Securities’ analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that all three of Apple’s 2018-era iPhones will pack more powerful batteries, while two will take advantage of the redesigned L-shaped battery created for the iPhone X.
Tim Cook personally sent Steve Wozniak an iPhone X, Apple’s latest commercial and critical smash hit. Woz’s ringing endorsement of the flagship iPhone? “It works fine, but it’s not what I would want.”
A huge vulnerability within Apple’s HomeKit software has been discovered that potentially could have allowed attackers to gain access to smart accessories like locks and garage doors.
The zero-day vulnerability was reportedly patched by Apple within the last few days but certainly shows that HomeKit might be quite as secure as some users think.
Apple makes iPhone 7 more affordable. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
It’s no iPhone X, but the iPhone 7 remains a remarkably good phone. This week, you can snap up a refurbished iPhone 7 at the lowest price yet.
That’s not the only winner in this week’s roundup of the best Apple deals, either. We found a big bargain on a tiny iPad, plus a hot deal on an iPhone X case and a handy (and free!) iOS app. If you’re on the hunt for a studio display refurbished, don’t miss this great deal on a refurbished iPad 7.
iPhone still dominates Flickr uploads. Photo: Apple
The iPhone remains the most popular camera among Flickr users.
More than half of its community used an Apple device to shoot their photos in 2017. The iPhone accounted for nine of the top ten devices, with just one DSLR making the list.
Wireless earbuds sometimes come with wires. Photo: Beats by Dre
Wired earbuds still sound better than similarly priced wireless earbuds, plus they don’t usually require charging. But the wires are a big enough pain that going wireless is a one-way trip. Never again will you have to untangle your earbuds to listen to a podcast in bed. You won’t have to put up with rustling cables as you walk, or suffer having earbuds ripped out when the wire catches on your hand.
But not all wireless earbuds are worth the switch. And there are also several big differences in style and function that you should consider. Here, then, is your guide to the best wireless earbuds around.
No, this isn't Launchpad, but it is made by Novation. Photo: Novation
Novation’s fantastic Launchpad app for iOS just got a massive update, with a whole new interface, and a great new in-app-purchase which unlocks all its features for just $15.
Newton, creator of what is arguably the best mail app on iOS, now has a beautiful new calendar app. Newton Calendar was designed to be lightweight and gorgeous. It re-imagines what a mobile calendar should look like, and it makes managing your day a piece of cake.
The Anniversary Skin gives will disguise your X as the original iPhone. Photo: Slickwraps
Want your smartphone of the future to look like the Ghost of iPhone Past? If so, this case is for you. It makes even Apple’s latest, greatest iPhone X look like the device that started this whole crazy smartphone thing.
Not this kind of safari. Photo: Cult of Mac/Charlie Sorrel
You’re going to love this one if you’re a keyboard-shortcut user. And if you’re not, then this tip might be the thing that finally converts you. Did you know that you can quickly search across all open Safari tabs on all your devices, just by hitting a key-combo and then typing?